56 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September 22, 1900. 
(nts for Amateurs. 
Seasonable Work.—Though the season is pro¬ 
nounced by those who ought to know best as being a 
late one for bulbs, the potting of these is, neverthe¬ 
less, now briskly proceeding. The early flowering 
Narcissi and Snowdrops must be planted in lawns 
and throughout woody glades wherever it has been 
contemplated that such plantings should be done. 
Besides looking to the bulbs which are to provide 
the winter and early spring flower display, the 
needs of the kitchen must not be forgotten. Those 
who are fortunate in possessing an empty cellar or 
convenient shed may turn these to capital use by 
growing winter Mushrooms in them. I am not 
going to go all over the cultural details for Mush¬ 
rooms, for that has been done not so long ago. 
Moreover, some other correspondent will very 
likely come to the rescue with an article shortly. 
Still, you know the beds are to be prepared and 
made, the earliest of them being generally spawned 
towards the end of this month or during the first 
ten days of October. Lettuces for the table in early 
spring must be planted into cosy frames not later 
than the end of this month. Allow the plants 5 in. 
or 6 in. space on eithsr side, and so long as the 
weather permits of the sashes being left off this 
may be done. Otherwise give the young Lettuces 
(once they have taken root in the frames) as much 
fresh air as will meet prevailing conditions. 
Celery should be overhauled (this is about the best 
word to employ) so that their needs may be attended 
to. The superfluous bottom growths should be 
pulled away from any plants which may not have 
been earthed up yet. But careful cultivators will at 
this time be giving the third earthing at the least. 
In their case the centres of the plants should be 
kept together, preferably by a moderately firm tie 
with ‘‘matting,” “Last,” or such-like ligature. 
When this has been dore fill in the soil between the 
rows and up and around each stem, making it 
firm. 
The vegetable garden should at the present time be 
accorded a thorough good cleaning. If a Dutch hoe 
be run between the lines of growing crops, and if 
vacant brakes, alleys, paths, and other features be 
cleaned by the various means adapted, the general 
appearance of the grounds will be pleasant, comfort¬ 
able, and real garden like till the final (if we can 
call anything final) clean-up takes place after the 
leaves have fallen. 
The planting of fruit trees, Conifers, deciduous 
trees, Roses, and hardy plants begins in October, 
and as we are within a fortnight of that glorious 
autumn month, it is high time to consider, at least, 
what’s to be what. Alterations are almost a 
certainty in ali gardens, and going by the motto that 
'* a work begun is half done,” have everything “ cut 
and dry ” before the period of practical operations 
advances. 
Chrysanthemums will very shortly required to be 
housed. It will, therefore, be wise to turn a share 
of the attention for a short while also in this direction. 
Tomatos finishing their crops will soon make way for 
the “ Autumn Queen,” and should the weather 
become frosty it would be best to cut what fruits 
remain, so that the house may be set at liberty. But 
more frequently the fruit houses are utilised for the 
Chrysanthemums. Only the earliest may be taken 
in at this time, the remainder being left (if possible) 
until the leaves of the Vines, or Peaches have nearly 
all fallen. Finish selecting the buds of incurved 
Chrysanthemums. Roses in pots, after they have 
finished flowering, may be stowed away in a cold 
frame, packing dry leaves between the pots. Others 
for early spring flowering may now be top-dressed 
to be retained in the greenhouse. 
The Lyre-flower, or Bleeding-heart (Dielytra 
spectabilis) is one of the best of hardy flowering 
plants that one could pot up for forcing. The plants 
must be potted at this time, to be kept in a cool 
house free from frosts' influence, till such time as 
forcing has commenced. This plant answers readily 
to the stimulous of heat and a sufficient supply of 
moisture, but at no time should it be too ardently 
urged. A good forcing temperature ranges between 
65° and 70°. During the period it is grown in the 
cool house prior to being forced, I would advise 
growers to be careful how they water it, or rather, 
be sure that it really requires moisture. Growth 
shall, during this period be dormant, and it is much 
the safer course to keep the soil on the dry side; and 
this is a term whose meaning ought to be effective 
to all earnest plant and flower lovers. Nearly all the 
plants, such as Spiraeas, Deutzias, Azaleas, 
Camellias, Myrtles, and the like, which have 
flourished out of doors since about June, will 
necessarily be removed to the protection got from 
glass houses. If the Deutzias were pruned when 
they finished blooming in the early months of the 
year, the young wood they have since made will 
most likely be well furnished with lateral buds for an 
increased display next spring. I do not believe in 
frequent shifts for this lovely plant. When once 
fine specimens have become established in large pots 
or tubs, it has been my experience to find them 
clustered for years in succession with their beautiful 
pendent white flowers, even when next to no care 
has been bestowed upon them. If they are fed 
regularly with quick-acting liquid manures during 
their growing season, they retain their vigour and 
healthfulness. Young plants which have their 
proportions yet to make, must undoubtedly be 
well done by ; and frequent pottings are commend¬ 
able. 
In the Fruit Garden the Strawberry plantations 
are being laid out. Nowadays when the Strawberry 
is becoming so much more frequently treated as an 
annual plant there is much more work each year on 
this account. The annual system or treatment is 
all very well for those who have plenty of ground to 
allow, and abundance of time and the conveniences. 
They certainly obtain larger and earlier fruits from 
these robust young plants, but they do not get the 
quantity. I would rather vote for the system that 
gives one quantity, especially when Strawberry 
fruits are the subjects to be settled about, because, 
as I have written before now, sugar and cream soon 
dispel the lack of flavour and sweetness which the 
" quantity " Strawberries are blamed for. Runners 
recently potted up for forcing will do well in the 
frames until such time as they are taken to the 
forcing houses or pits. 
Ground for Raspberries should be made ready. It 
is pretty well known that Raspberries enjoy a rather 
heavy soil, and that ground for them must be rich. 
The suckers which may be taken from the old 
plants should be finally planted in the plantation 
stations when their leaves have fallen. Such 
worthy varieties as Hornet, The Guinea, Golden 
Queen, and Superlative, might well be taken notice 
of by planters. One’s ground may be filled with 
the best kinds of plants or fruits, just as well as 
with older and perhaps less meritorious varieties. 
When I mentioned Strawberries a few lines above, 
I had also intended to call attention to the later 
varieties which are being brought out. St. Joseph, 
of course, is now well known, and it is one of the 
best. I can also speak well of Richard Gilbert, 
Princess of Wales, and Queen of Denmark. Their 
producer has been working with the best varieties 
for years, and his aim has always been to raise 
good, late varieties of Strawberries, preferably to 
early or mid-season ones. When one comes to 
think of it, in a summer such as this, good Straw¬ 
berries were scarcely on the market longer than 
three weeks. Well, with such a workable subject as 
the cultivated Strawberry this should not be. We 
ought to have them for two months at least.— 
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. 
Lobus corniculatus.— W. J.: The name we give 
is the botanical title of the Birds'-foot Trefoil. It 
was'mentioned some time ago by Beacon in " Hints,” 
where he recommends it to be planted on dry banks. 
It is adaptable for such a purpose. 
Book on Gardening. —Beginner : There is no end 
of books devoted to the details of practical gardening. 
We think "The Amateur’s Handbook on Garden¬ 
ing,” published by Messrs. Blake and Mackenzie, 
Liverpool, would suit you as a cheap and reliable 
work. W. P. Wright's “ Pictorial Practical 
Gardening ” is also very full of information which 
is easy to understand. The former is 2s. 6d., the 
latter is is. 
Herbaceous Borders.— L. T. 0 .: Probably the 
article on " Herbaceous Borders,” which we printed 
last week, will supply you with the ideas you desire. 
Some of the nurserymen’s catalogues also contain 
useful directions, notably Messrs. Kelway’s 
“ Manual.” In addition to the plants mentioned in 
the article to which we refer, you might well include 
Spanish, English, and German Irises among the 
lists of herbaceous hardy plants. The autumn¬ 
flowering plants could be more liberally grown. We 
• mean such as the tall perennial Asters, and many 
others of the Compositae order. But we hope to 
furnish a special article on this valuable class of 
late blooming plants. 
Soils and Manures for Roses.— J. T. Richardson : 
Hybrid Perpetual (H.P.) Roses nearly all delight in 
a heavy soil, as do Teas and Climbing Roses. The 
bedding sorts enjoy rather a freer soil, such as suits 
Noisettes. What we would consider suitable H.P. 
Roses likely to succeed with you would embrace 
Her Majesty, Star of Waltham, Duke of Edinburgh, 
Mrs. John Laing, Caroline Testout, Margaret Dick¬ 
son, Prince Camille de Rohan, Victor Hugo, Dupuy 
Jamain, Earl of Dufferin, Clio, General Jacqueminot, 
and Merville de Lyon. Insteading of naming Teas, 
or what are termed “Decorative” or “Garden” 
Roses, which embrace many Teas, hybrid Teas, 
bedders, climbing polyantha varieties, &c., we would 
ask you to notice the report of the last meeting of the 
Royal Horticultural Society. Roses are said to be 
partial to pig dung and night soil, so if either of 
these manures can be obtained, supply them to the 
borders. A good chemical manure would be nitrate 
of soda, superphosphate, and kainit applied during 
the growing season at the rate of 2 ozs. per sq. yd. 
Solanum jasminoides.— J. F. H. : This is not a 
very difficult subject to manage. In fact we should 
say it was a climber of easy culture, according to our 
own experience of it. It is very nearly hardy, unless 
in exposed situations or during hard winters whence 
it may succumb. It may be grown in large pots and 
trained in a variety of forms, for it grows freely, 
producing long shoots. Or it may be planted out in 
a greenhousa border. A rich, sandy soil meets its 
needs, and a temperate atmosphere, with ordinary 
greenhouse treatment in respect to watering, tying- 
in or pruning, will otherwise prove satisfactory. The 
flowers are borne in clusters, these being nearly 
white. It propagates with fair readiness from 
cuttings made from the young growths. 
Planting Yuccas in Groups.— R. L. : Your inten¬ 
tions are most commendable. It would gratify us 
greatly to see a host of other gardeners, both profes¬ 
sional and amateur, begin to plant Yuccas liberally. 
Use a friable loam, mixed with about quarter part of 
coarse sand and some sifted lime rubble. The plant¬ 
ing may very well be deferred till about April of next 
year. Planting in decayed tree stumps, in raised 
mounds and in garden rockeries, shows also good 
taste and knowledge of the likes of these ornamental 
plants. Y. gloriosa, Y. recurva, Y. flaccida, and 
Y. filamentosa are all well known and adaptable- 
kinds, each being distinct in appearance. 
Ornithogalum arabicum.— K.N., Bring : Good 
bulbs can be secured which will flower the first 
season. Though the plant is quite hardy even in the 
North, bulbs may be potted during this month for 
Easter flowering. Treat as for Hyacinths, only that 
when the flowers begin to advance, a temperature of 
65° is desirable. The outdoor bulbs will begin.to 
bloom about the third week in June. Any good 
bulb firm, we believe, will supply you at 2s. 6d. per 
dozen. 
The Briar Root Industry in Italy.—The Journal 
of the Society of Arts says :—“ The wood from which 
Briar pipes are made is the root of the large Heath, 
known in botany as Erica arborea. Our ' Briar ’ is 
but a corruption of the French bruyere. ' When a 
certain district has been exhausted of all its roots, 
the industry must come to an end there, and an 
opinion has been expressed that the Italian branch 
of it cannot last longer than ten more years. Cala¬ 
bria, in the south, is the most flourishing centre at 
present.’ * The total export from Leghorn is esti¬ 
mated at 50,000 cuts a year, valued at £28,000. 
Fully one-half the export is Calabrian root. The 
roots, which are sometimes of a circumference of 
