24 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 8, 1900. 
|flNTS FOR ||mATEURS. 
Hardy Plants.—Though the pages of The Garden¬ 
ing World have lately described a large number of 
beautiful and interesting hardy plants suitable for 
small and large gardens, as the year advances there 
are still others appearing, and which one cannot 
allow to pass unnoticed. 
Polygonum divaricatum.—Amongst the species 
of this varied genus there are at the present time 
some which must be classed with the most outstand¬ 
ing ornamental subjects of the garden in early 
autumn. P. divaricatum grows 4 ft. to 5 ft. in 
height, is of loose, bush-formed habit, the numerous 
slender, twisting shoots being woven about each 
other. Each shoot all over the plant, terminates in 
a straw-coloured inflorescence, while the Willow-like 
leaves are bright shining green. This species is 
sometimes subject to the attentions of a parasitic 
plant of the Dodder family and named Cuscuta 
reflexa. This pest twines and retwines around the 
slender stems of the Polygonum and can scarcely be 
detected, so like are the stems of parasite and host. 
P. divaricatum would appear to be propagated by 
means of layers and suckers, though seeds or division 
are more general. An open position, some slight 
support, and a deep sandy soil will answer all that it 
requires. 
Polygonum lanigerum.—Only those who have 
seen a bed of this plant on the edge of a large lawn 
or such-like place can form a proper appreciation of 
its worth. In such a place and used for that 
purpose, when well treated, it will grow 5 ft. or 6 ft. 
high, and it always produces large and somewhat 
curving leaves, broad in the middle, and tapering to 
each end. They are sinuous along the edges and 
covered on both sides with a silvery coat of downy 
hairs. It is this covering which gives the plant its 
greater merit as a decorative subject. To see a bed 
of this handsome plant all dewed over and glistening 
in the sun, gently shaken by the winds, it certainly 
is effective to say the least. A deep and well 
enriched soil should be chosen. The stems of the 
plants are rounded, the basis of the leaves, or rather 
their stalks, forming each a sheath around the stem. 
The leaves, by the way, are 1 ft. or more long. It is 
a plant to be recommended. 
Polygonum orientale.—This species is belter 
known than the two which I have just described. 
It is also a greater favourite with me than the 
others, though this is not meant to detract from 
what I have said about them. This species grows 
erect, attaining about 5 ft. in height, and has large 
drooping, pea-green lea\es of an irregularly oval 
shape, and they are glabrous. The inflorescences 
are drooping spikes of crimson-purple flowers. 
These spikes are some inches in length, one or two 
appearing at the apex. The droopiDg character of 
the plant, and its freshness and distinctness, make it 
a very desirable subject for the shrubbery or hardy 
plant border. It is a native of the Orient, and will 
succeed under exactly the same conditions as its 
neighbours of the genus, though the warmer the 
conditions the better. Being a hardy annual it is 
raised from seeds, whereas the perennial members 
are mostly propagated by division of the root-stock, 
SalYia Horminum bracteis-violaceis.—Though 
probably not so well known by this long name, this 
is at the same time an old favourite border plant in 
gardens. It is of bushy form, with cordate-oval 
leaves, and crenate, the somewhat crinkled surface 
being also gray. The habit is bushy, and in height 
it varies from 1 ft. to 2 ft. At the apex of the erect 
flowering spikes or racemes (the pale flowers being 
in verticels), these violet coloured bracts, described 
in the name, appear to the number of eight or twelve. 
They are about i-in. long and broad, furnishing a far 
more attractive feature than the flowers which very 
speedily perish. This, like most of the Salvias, can 
easily be raised from seeds, it being an annual. It 
flowers for the greater part of the summer and keeps 
the bracts when the flowers have long disappeared. 
Cedronella mexicana cana.—In this we have 
one of the showiest and best dwarf border plants 
now in bloom. It might almost be mistaken for a 
well grown specimen of Centranthus ruber, only that 
the foliage is greener and lacks the metallic hue found 
in the Red Valerian. It should be set toward the 
edge of the border and may be planted In large 
enough masses to make it effective at a distance. 
Seeing that flowers of a pink colour begin to get 
scarce in August, it ought to find a place in every 
garden. This is regarded as only half hardy, so that 
growers in any unfavourable situations would do 
well to strike cuttings of it or raise young plants 
yearly from seeds. A deep, rich, warm sandy soil 
should be chosen for it. The foliage is deliciously 
scented. 
Mimulus cardinalis.—I do not know whether 
many gardeners grow this particular species or not. 
It certainly is worth even pot culture, for it is a 
showy annual. The flowers are orange-scarlet, and 
are of a peculiar shape, the top-most of the petals 
being folded right back, and the others are variously 
contorted. They spring from the axils of the 
pliable, dark green, hairy leaves, and but for their 
size and brilliance the plant would not otherwise be 
worth growing. A moist, half shaded border suits 
it. 
Monarda fistulosa.—In all the n ore important 
points this species resembles the well-known M. 
didyma, commonly called Bergamot. The sub¬ 
ject under notice is, perhaps, slightly taller and 
slightly more slender than M. didyma ; the flowers, 
too, are pink-mauve, and the heads are larger. Still, 
it is not such a likely favourite as the old and better 
known species, though it may be included along 
with it. The treatment is the same. 
Incarvillea elegans. — This elegant annual I 
recently saw for the first time, and I liked it. The 
leaves are dissected in the manner of those of a 
Pyrethrum ; the flowers are almost the same as those 
of Incarvillea Delavayi. 
Lythrum alatum.—This must satisfy us in the 
present notice of herbaceous plants. It is dwarfer 
than the common Loosestrife, and altogether a finer 
flowered plant, having a dense rose-purple spike 
almost an inch in diameter, and a foot or more in 
length. It is an easily grown plant, and very hand¬ 
some. 
The Dracocephalums, or Physostegias, as some 
of them are now named, are also amongst the best 
plants now in bloom. Calceolaria mexicana is a 
pretty little thing, and there are quite a host of 
annuals and ornamental grasses now in bloom. 
lYies. — A well-chosen collection of Tree Ivies for 
training erectly to supports which may reach 10 ft. 
high, or for covering wall space and various other 
ornamental purposes, forms a distinct and beautiful 
feature of any garden. Where trained to posts, 
&c , at distances of about 15 ft. apart bordering 
the sides of paths, they are permanent objects 
to be proud of, and as a rule they improve as 
they become more established. Plants grown in pots 
may be set in the ground at any time with perfect 
success. They do not demand any special site or soil, 
nor any peculiar method of treatment. Once they 
begin to grow (and they are sure to, if planted care¬ 
fully in a free loam), the attention given is generally 
that of keeping the surface-soil free from weeds, and 
a yearly trimming of the foliage. The Irish Ivy 
(Hedera Helix canariensis) is a fine old sort; and other 
varieties of the most ornamental character are aurea 
spectabilis, latifolia maculata, dentata, lucida, caen- 
woodiana, algeriensis, arborescens variegata, chryso- 
carpa, chrysophylla, elegantissima, madeirensis foliis 
variegatis, Silver Queen,and Taurica. Nice specimens 
sell at from 18s. to 24s. the dozen.— Beacon. 
Correspondence. 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
Anyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. Those who desire 
their communications to appear on this page should write 
"Amateurs' Page " on the top of their letters. 
Eryngiums.— L. S. : All of those named in this 
paragraph should be acceptable to you. Eryngium 
alpinum is a popular species. Seedlings attain a 
height of 2J ft. to 3 ft., bearing fine heads of their 
prickly inflorescences. The colour in this case is 
sofpgray-blue. E. giganteum grows 2 ft. or 3 ft. high 
and has the largest bracts of any, and these are of 
a silvery-gray colour. E. olivierianum is another 
good sort, the foliage leaves in this case being heart- 
shaped at the top and deeply three-lobed on the 
lower part of the stems. An interesting little species, 
but one not always found true, is E, maritima, which 
grows in sandy stretches on the coasts of the British 
Isles. It is also silvery with large-sized flower heads, 
but it is only about i£ ft. high. E. planum has a 
fine branching habit, and has small bluish flower 
heads. This is one of the oldest species. E 
dichotomum is one of the finest as a decorative sort, 
being much branched and having dark blue flowers 
with a narrow leaved involucre. E. amethystinum 
succeeds (as they all do) in a sandy border. It 
grows 1 ft. to 1^ ft. high. 
Laying lawn edges.— J.H. Berwick : Cut about a 
foot and a half off the edge which at present is 
trampled down. Level the soil by slight digging 
and adding to, if need be. Having looked out nice 
pieces of turf, proceed to lay these, and make them 
firm with a beater. A few pins may be driven 
down through the turf to keep it steady. Use 
horning rods and spirit levels when making the soil 
even. 
Crinum Powelli.— A. K., Dunoon : Though this 
handsome liliaceous bulbous plant exists through 
the winter in open-air sheltered borders around 
London and southward, it is doubtful whether yours 
would succeed, being so much further north. Still, 
the west coast of Scotland is generally milder and 
better adapted for hardy plants than along the 
eastern sea board. Provided you cover the crowns 
well with dry leaves and some mould, we shall say 
they may carry through. C. Powelli is a hybrid, 
got from a cross between C. longifolium and 
C. Moorei. During the growing season it is 
benefited by a moderate quantity of manure water. 
Perennial Lobelias.— M. : We are pleased to 
think The Gardening World has been the medium 
of guiding you in a selection of the choicer hardy 
plants. The Perennial Lobelias are beautiful 
flowering plants. The difficulty in most gardens is 
to carry them successfully through the winter—they 
are so liable to damp off, or otherwise succumb. 
But if lifted about the middle or end of the present 
month, according to weather and other circum¬ 
stances, they may be boxed off, and if kept on the 
dry side through the winter, and in a cool green¬ 
house they do well. Cuttings, or division of the 
plants in spring, are the means adopted to increase 
the stock. Pick off any decomposing leaves, 
shoots, &c. 
“Christmas Roses.”— L. F.: We think if you 
could place a frame over the plants as they stand, it 
would be wiser than lifting and potting the plants 
for the greenhouse. This latter method has much 
against it, and everything favours the frame pro¬ 
tection. 
American Tuberoses.— E. C.T.: Pot the tubers 
during January, placing them in a cool house, and 
keep them comparatively dry for some weeks. In 
due course they will send up their green shoots, when 
additional nourishment in the form of liquid manure 
may be given. Later in the season, top-dress with a 
rich compost; 5-in. pots per tuber are large enough, 
employing a turfy loam, leaf mould, soot, sand, and 
charcoal. A little sand and charcoal should like¬ 
wise be placed beneath each bulb to prevent decay. 
If the Tuberoses are wanted for Easter you may 
allow them warm treatment from the start, say 6o° 
to 75 0 . A moist atmosphere is desirable. 
Schizanthus Sowing.—L. M .: Sow seeds of S. 
retusus and S. pinnatus in 5-in. pots as soon as con¬ 
venient. Keep them, after germination, in a house 
with a day temperature of 6o° down to 50° for the 
night. Stake and water carefully. They will flower 
in spring. 
Ferns for a Back Wall of Greenhouse.— Florist : 
Your idea is right so far; some Maidenhair and 
Pteris Ferns will succeed right well in the chink of 
the wall if young sporelings are inserted at an early 
stage. If there is room enough to place a facing of 
small meshed netting against the wall probably this 
would be even better. It would help the appearance 
of the house, provided the plants grew well. What 
you would require to do would be to knock into the 
wall *' bolts ” of wood, but leave them projecting 
about 4 in. from the surface. If placed in lines at 
distances of a few feet apart, the wire netting could 
be fixed by means of staples. Then a suitable com- 
