88 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 6, 1900. 
INTS FOR 
MATEURS. 
Hippeastrums.—The Hippeastrum or, as it was 
lately called, Amaryllis, is grown by all who admire 
handsome and beautiful flowers. The bulbs are 
being selected for potting at the present time. They 
always do best in a moderately rich soil, one which 
contains some spent Mushroom-bed dung. When 
they have been potted they are placed on the stages 
of a cool greenhouse till root action is brisk. They 
must be attentively watered and cleaned when growth 
has fairly started. A slight amount of feeding is also 
a good thing after the pots have become filled with 
roots. 
The Blue Water Lily, which botanically is called 
Nymphaea stellata, is one of the fairest plants 
cultivated in British gardens. Unfortunately for 
many amateur gardeners it is not quite hardy, 
although during the warm summer months it is 
amenable to culture in water tubs set out in the 
open. I have also seen it doing fairly well in a 
shallow tub whose water was slightly heated, the 
tub being within a frame. The sashes can be partly 
or entirely removed during the warmer weather, 
when the tubs are thus placed in frames. Perhaps 
after some years it may become so adapted in consti¬ 
tution that it will succeed entirely out of doors from 
spring till autumn. What a glorious sight it would 
be to see a sheet of vigorous plants out at the end of 
a long lake, each plant sending up half-a-dozen of its 
large blue stellate flowers! Mr. J. Hudson, of 
Gunnersbury House, dries off the tubers of this and 
other of his Water Lilies shortly after this season of 
the year, and stores them during winter; so that 
when so economical a means can be practiced, surely 
these grand aquatic plants will become more 
liberally grown. 
Phloxes. — After the recent notes that have 
appeared in this journal very little is needed in this 
place. One thing which has not been sufficiently 
emphasised is the need for mulching the Phloxes 
during winter. Not only does this protect the 
crowns, hardy eaough though they are, but it so 
enriches the soil that the plants start off strongly 
when the genial spring returns. When Phloxes 
have been long on one piece of ground they should 
be lifted and divided. For myself I prefer to divide 
and replant when the ground has been manured and 
deeply dug. Some correspondents, however, would 
have us propagate from cuttings and slips. I quite 
believe the best plants will result from well-treated 
cuttings, but then there’s so much else to take 
cuttings from just now that the quickest plan is the 
best in this case. 
Pentstemons.—The newer varieties or " strains,” 
as the nurserymen call them, of Pentstemons are far 
superior to the strains of a few years ago, and which 
are largely to be seen in gardens yet. I think it is 
but fair to a nurseryman or other grower of plants, 
to take an interest in, and so far as possible encourage 
him to raise improved types of flowers. In the south 
here, the newer strains of florists’ and other flowers 
are more eagerly watched and sought for than they 
are in the north, consequently the traders vie with 
each other in their efforts to have something new and 
improved before their customers. The same thing 
would take place everywhere if gardeners and 
growers showed the right spirit. There is too much 
repetition in the bulk of places. Why not have a 
change ? It costs a little; but is the gain in interest 
and pleasure not worth the cost, to your gardens and 
yourselves ? Then do away with the long, slender 
tubed Pentstemons and secure a strain of the best 
and most brilliant, wide-mouthed varieties, whose 
racemes deck the stems from the ground upwards to 
a couple of feet. The following are good varieties in 
this line:—President Carnot, Phryne, Ninon 
d’Enclos, Edina, deep rose; Domino, glowing 
scarlet; Hilda, crimson ; John Forbes, violet-purple; 
Standard Bearer, rosy scarlet ; George Bush, bril¬ 
liant scarlet; Lilian, rosy lilac ; Antigone, white, 
and Champs Elysses, white bordered with maroon. 
Housing Chrysanthemums.—In all except dry and 
high lying, or southern places, it will not be safe to 
leave the plants out later than the present time. 
With the good weather which we are now having it 
is rather tempting to leave the Chrysanthemums out 
for just a little while longer. If the collection is a 
small one and can be taken undor protection at short 
notice, and if the blooms are not wanted in any 
particular haste, it will be correct to leave them 
exposed. But it is laying oneself open to risks 
which need not be encountered, to leave valuable 
collections out of doors after September has gone. 
Lean-to fruit houses are exceedingly well fitted for 
Chrysanthemums. The staging of the plants of 
course will depend on the shape and style of the 
structure. With plants like Chrysanthemums the 
only decent method of arranging them is in the 
made-up bank fashion which one sees everywhere. 
The surveyor should be able to see down on the 
blooms, or, failing that, to look straight at them, and 
this latter view is obtained by raising the plants 
slopingly. Where pillars arise, or where corners 
require to be filled, the beautiful variety Margot, 
which is a well known, tall growing sort, should be 
trained uprightly. The clusters of blooms at the 
tops of the stems may be left hanging loose. Source 
d’Or, another brilliant variety, is also suitable for 
this special sort of arranging. Lady Selborne is yet 
another. If these three, the Creamy Lady Selborne, 
the orange Source d’Or, and the pink or white forms 
of Margot, are intermixed, a finer presentment 
cannot be conceived. Among the best of the dwarf 
growing favourites to be arranged around the edge 
may be mentioned Soeur Melaine, Precocite,. 
Souvenir d'Un Petit Ami, Souv. de la Marie, 
La Vierge, O. J. Quintus, white O. J. Quintus, 
Vivid, some of the early flowering incurved Japs., 
which may have been taken at the first crown bud. 
Mrs. Wingfield, a pink sort, Ryecroft Scarlet, and 
Ryecroft Glory, come within the category of dwarf 
bushy varieties. The popular Market White and 
Mytchett Glory are grown in gardens both north and 
south, and they, with Gloire du Rocher, and such¬ 
like, fill an admirable place. I would also like to 
say a word in favour of two old favourite varieties of 
mine which it is feared are but little grown now. I 
refer to the yellow incurved George Glenny and Mr. 
Bunn, which is of a lighter shade. Both are beauti¬ 
ful sorts, and for decorative purposes they stand 
pre-eminent. 
Amongst recently introduced Japanese varieties 
none excel R. Hooper Pearson, a glowing golden- 
yellow. H. J. Jones is a good, deep rich crimson 
novelty, and Mrs. W. Seward is also a very fair 
crimson Jap. Lady Anglesey is a yellow variety of 
merit, while Queen of the Exe is likely to become 
more known as a good white. Rivers H. Langton 
is doing well—it is a canary-yellow; and lastly, 
Eastman Bell and Mrs. J. Bryant are two splendid 
additions. The latter is pink, the former being like 
the well-known Edwin Molyneux. 
Fritillaria or the Crown Imperial may be 
planted at this time. These handsome flowered 
bulbs succeed much better in a deep, sound loam 
than in any other quality of soil. They should be 
planted about 4 in. deep, and an open though 
sheltered spot should be selected. 
Hardy Cyclamen which have been grown in pots 
are being exhibited by nurserymen at some of the 
Drill Hall shows. The idea seems so good that I 
bring it before readers of “ Hints,” and should like 
to know of their giving the pot culture of hardy 
Cyclamen a trial. If we can have a batch of these 
pretty, small flowered plants in bloom before the 
persicum ” varieties are advanced, then let us have 
them. By the way, this is the season for planting 
corms out of doors. The hardy species do exceed¬ 
ingly well beneath the shelter of trees where there 
is a sufficient supply of humus and soil. They are 
also much employed on rockeries. Hardy Cycla¬ 
mens are one of the best classes of winter flowering 
hardy plants, yet their merits, if they are recognised 
certainly do not tempt growers to plant at all 
liberally. Cyclamen Coum, C. europaeum, C. neo- 
politanum, and C. hederaefclium are most generally 
grown. C. repandum is also one of the mostdeserv- 
ing : and this species is certainly the sweetest 
scented. 
Roses. — After having seen some magnificent 
exhibits of Tea, hybrid Tea, bedding and climbing 
Roses at the London exhibitions recently, the great 
value of these sections of Roses over all other sorts 
has been strongly emphasised upon many of us. 
They are in flower almost (some of them quite) as 
as early as the H.P.’s, and long after these are past 
for the year this section (which is designated as the 
decorative or garden section of the Rose, but which 
simply means the beautiful, free-flowering varieties 
which are not suitable for the exhibition boards)—the 
garden Roses, I say, are in flower long after the 
H.P.’s have passed. Why, at this time of year 
these Roses are fresher, more numerous, stronger, 
and more brilliant than at any other season ! It 
would be very wise, then, to include as many of 
these as possible, even in preference to the larger and 
more vigorous hybrid perpetual Roses.— 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. 
Sowing a Lawn.— A. D. S .: The present is a good 
time to prepare a lawn. Send for the “ Treatise on 
Lawns," which we mentioned a week or two ago f 
price 2d. This will supply you with the fullest 
information. 
Young Lauristinus in Pots.— J. Thomson : The 
young plants which you so much admired are pro¬ 
pagated and grown on in nurseries, being once or 
twice shifted to ensure fibrous roots. They are then 
lifted about this season of the year and are potted 
up. For a time they may be left outside, but ivhen 
colder weather comes remove them to a mild green¬ 
house. The recently-potted plants should not be 
placed in heat for forcing until after the new year. 
When the flowers expand they are beautifully’ white. 
Larger plants which have been in pots for some 
time can be forced earlier. 
Covering Fernery walls with Selaginellas.— A , 
Reid : A common means employed with low sloping 
walls is to fix wire netting within 3 in. of the 
wall, packing between the said netting and the wall 
a suitable compost. Pieces of Selaginella are then 
dibbled into the soil through the meshes of the wire 
netting. High walls cannot successfully be treated 
for the bottom portion becomes too damp, and is 
also apt to crumble out. The following species 
could be tried :—Selaginella suberosa, S. concinna, 
S. stolonifera, S. serpens, S.Mettenii, S. spicata, and 
S. stenophylla alba. 
Bowling Green —Gardener : Bowling greens are 
made of varying sizes, according to the numbers 
likely to be playing. For a single set a course 
measuring 36 yds. by 12 yds. is quite large enough, 
and 10 yds. may be added to the width for every 
other set. 
Asparagus Beds.— H.: Asparagus beds should be 
made in March and April, not at the present time. 
Plant to Name.— H. B. : The leaf and flowers 
you send are those of Hoya carnosa, a plant which 
is a universal favourite because of its beautiful waxy 
flowers. It is subject to mealy bug, so that in your 
vinery every care should be exercised to keep it 
clean. It flowers abundantly when somewhat pot- 
bound, but from the appearance of the leaf from 
your plant a little more nourishment would act 
beneficially. 
Small Strawberries. — A . D. : You should lift the 
layered plants from the bed and plant them without 
delay. Good rich land, well dug, and then firmed 
should be accorded. 
Raspberries.—^. D.: The suckers which spring 
from around the stools of the old plants should be 
taken clean off by a spade. Raspberries like a heavy, 
rich land. During winter, when the weather is 
open, they may receive benefit from applications of 
liquid manure, the soil first being mulched. 
Fruit-tree Borders.— A. D.: These have generally 
been made as wide as the walls are high. About 
9 ft. is a good average height. They should be 4 ft. 
deep with a layer of drainage at the bottom. We 
prefer to have narrower and more confined borders, 
and rely on feeding to ensure fruitful trees bearing 
well-finished crops. 
Old Chrysanthemums for Stock.— L. F .: Last 
year's cuttings which have been kept all the summer 
in the thumb pots, which they have never been 
shifted from, will come in useful for supplying 
cuttings in about six weeks. They will have rooted 
