October27,1900 THE GARDENING WORLD. 137 
open air in any part of the Midlands of England is 
not very satisfactory. They demand a deal of care 
during the time the trees are in bloom in spring. On 
the other hand if you have an old lean-to greenhouse 
or could erect such a structure against the wall this 
would furnish quite sufficient protection for late 
Peaches. In any case when you are planting provide 
a bottom layer of rough stones, broken bricks and 
rubble for drainage, and over this place turves with 
the grassy side downward. A compost of ordinary 
loam having a moderate percentage of fibre in it, 
and used at the rate of two parts to one of horse, 
cow or spent Mushroom-bed dung, and half a part 
of sifted lime rubble (old mortar), may be prepared 
for the benefit of the trees. It is well to spare no 
pains in the first making of the border and it may 
save much annoyance at a later date. Buy or other¬ 
wise secure the hardiest and healthiest trees possible, 
and plant them exactly at the level they have 
previously been planted at. Spread out the roots in 
all directions, always endeavouring to keep them well 
up. Work the soil in amongst them and ram it 
moderately firm. Do not spread the roots out all on 
one level, but have some raised at a higher tier than 
lower growing ones. If you are about to plant now 
it will lessen the effects of the check if the trees are 
damped by means of the syringe once or twice a day, 
and kept shaded for a week. For late fruiting and 
for the conditions under which yours will be grown 
we advise the varieties Dymond, Royal George, 
Bellegarde and Crimson Galande. 
Pruning Flowering Shrubs.— J. G.: The best 
time to prune flowering shrubs is the period imme¬ 
diately after they have gone out of bloom. You 
then leave them the whole season in which to make 
their growth. We do not advise you to prune any 
but late flowering shrubs during winter, though ever¬ 
greens may be operated upon. Hard pruning in 
most cases is advisable as by so doing •very' stout 
shoots develop and these are usually smothered with 
flower buds. Where space can be allowed for expan¬ 
sion, a little less pruning will still keep the trees in 
flowering condition. 
Prevention of Fungus growth.— A. J. L .: It is 
sometimes very troublous to entirely eradicate such 
fungus growths from the soil, walks, lawns, &c., 
owing to the mode of fungus propagation, Such 
growths are a sure sign of a soil rich in decaying 
matter, and which is more or less damp. Dress as 
much of your ground as possible with quick lime, 
and fork it into the soil. This will overcome the 
fungus mycelium and "sweeten " the soil. As an 
alternative you could saturate the worst infested 
places with a solution of phenyle or with a liquid 
known in the trade as Jeyes’ fluid ; supplying these 
at the rate of one ounce to the gallon of rain 
water. 
CARNATION DUCHESS OF FIFE AT 
DANKEITH. 
The accompanying illustration of a border of 
Carnation Duchess of Fife will show, better than 
A Border ®f Carnation Duchess of Fife. 
words can express, the perfection to which this 
variety is grown by Mr. Alexander Dewar, gardener 
to J. Mann Thomson, Esq., Dankeith, Symington, 
Kilmarnock, N.B. Mr. Dewar sent us a handful of 
flowers cut from the open border in the fourth week 
of September, and we have to admit they were very 
fine, even if they had been cut a month earlier. After 
the journey by post they kept well in water for some 
days, and several of the unopened buds expanded 
under that treatment. 
The variety is a great favourite at Dankeith, and is 
kept flowering practically all the year round. For 
instance, a batch is layered about the end of July, 
and when rooted the layers are potted up for flower¬ 
ing in the Carnation house during winter and spring. 
The flower stems and buds of these young plants 
have been in evidence for some weeks past. In 
spring they are planted out in a Carnation border 
covered with glass. Here they develop into fine 
specimens, 4 ft. to 5 ft. high, and flower profusely. 
By and by they are followed by those in borders in 
the open air, such as the one here represented, 
PUBLIC GARDENS AT BOURNEMOUTH. 
To those who can remember this seaside resort from 
thirty to forty years ago, the change that has taken 
place is truly wonderful, and this the more so when it 
is viewed from a public garden point of view. Early 
in September, as I gazed on these from the centre of 
the place (namely, by the square), looking on, and 
looking back, I was induced to ask myself if any¬ 
thing could give greater enjoyment than the sight of 
the floral beauty to be seen here, which must be the 
means of bringing sunshine into many a life of the 
strong, as well as the invalid, and do much to diffuse 
a love for floriculture in many. I am not a lover of 
a formal garden, nor of a set flower garden ; hence, 
gardens of this kind are in my way. 
Amongst the many pleasing things I was charmed 
with was an edging of Viscaria (in several colours well 
blended) to a long border, allowed to grow in a 
natural way. The soil being high and dry had 
induced them to grow not too much, and not being 
tall they produced a glorious sight. In these irregu¬ 
lar borders, many kinds and many light plants were 
used. Amongst them Malvas were associated with 
lower growing things around them, and these, too 
gave more bloom and less foliage from not having 
too rich a larder. Most effective was a group of 
African Marigolds, both yellow and orange, growing, 
side by side. Blue colour was given by groups of 
the branching Larkspur. Coloured Snapdragons, 
Mignonette, double Hollyhocks, and a host of other 
decorative plants, being grouped in an informal 
manner, produced a natural picture, showing what 
may be done with annuals and things from seed. 
There were several combinations in beds that 
deserve notice, namely, one of Fuchsias, red, white 
and golden-leaved, with a groundwork of tuberous 
Begonias, well chosen as to colour, and an edging of 
Golden Harry Hieover Pelargonium. A dwarf, 
deep blue Heliotropium as an undergrowth to Malva 
was pleasing, although the latter had made a little 
too much growth. An old favourite I noticed in a 
large wide band of Gazania splendens variegata, and 
as the sun was shining, it was opeD, showing its 
large, rich orange-yellow flowers. In the centre and 
