216 
December 1, 1900. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
Joints for Amateurs. 
Roses.—Plant Roses! you will never regret plant¬ 
ing Roses. “ The extraordinary beauty of the 
autumnal Rose crop this year,” as a lady recently re¬ 
marked, was enough to cause one to lay out the whole 
garden as a rosery pure and simple. Really the 
wealth of Roses to be had until quite lately was most 
surprising. We have ouj: hybrid perpetuals, but 
against the Teas and hybrid Teas they are 
nowhere in keeping up a display. It has been fully 
demonstrated too, that the latter are quite hardy 
enough for all ordinarily situated gardens. They do 
as well in Scotland, along its east coast, too, which 
is much the colder part, as they do away in the south 
here. By all means choose the best ground and the 
most sheltered spot you car. The plants will be all 
the happier for it, but plant them — that’s the 
injunction. 
As a rule I abjure poetry, unless it is very simple 
and beautiful. The following words by Louise 
Chandler Moulton have both these recommend¬ 
ations:— 
" Roses that briefly live, 
Joy is your dower ;—- 
Blest be the Fates that give 
One perfect hour :— 
“ And, though, too soon you die, 
In your dust glows 
Something the passer-by 
Knows was a Rose.” 
These lines are pretty but though more or less 
true of the Rose flowers in a cut state—I refer to 
the ephemeral nature of them—we cannot accept 
the description as fitting Roses in growth. Rather 
would we sing " Roses, Roses, it is Roses all the 
way ; ” they can be had so long in bloom. 
I have said enough about how to plant and how 
one might arrange the Rose dell, or bed, or border. 
The following favourite varieties of Teas and hybrid 
Teas are best when planted in little beds so as to 
afford a decent sized patch of one variety at a time. 
The true ornamental value of the Rose is also 
brought out by planting in masses. Where accom¬ 
modation is very restricted a mixed collection in 
bjrders and beds should be chosen. Here are those I 
think will find acceptance at the hands of all: Mdme. 
Hoste, Medea, Bridesmaid, Papa Gontier, Souv. de 
Catherine Guillot, Perle d’Or, Marquis of Salisbury, 
Gustave Regis, Mdme. Guinoissean, L’Ideal, W. A. 
Richardson, Francisca Kruger, The Bride, Muriel 
Grahame, Marie Van Houtte, Maman Cochet, Ma 
Capucine, Isabella Sprunt, G. Nabonnand, La 
France, Kaiserin Augusta Victoria, and Vicountess 
Folkestone. Many others might be named but any 
one wishing to form a nice little collection to start 
with, will find these all choice sorts. If he is in 
doubt about any variety succeeding in his special 
district let him consult the nearest reliable nursery¬ 
man or gardener. Unless those who are consulted 
are of wide experience and have ( tried a number of 
varieties and have formed an estimate on their needs 
and hardiness, the advice is of little avail. There 
are many plants thought to be too tender out of 
doors in various parts of the land, but it will very 
frequently be found that under experienced manage¬ 
ment and careful treatment they can be made to do 
fairly well. 
Grape Culture. — Many amateur gardeners would 
like to try the growing of Vines. I have seen capital 
crops from canes grqwn in small span-roofed houses. 
Having a house at disposal, any person who has a fair 
amourt of leisure and who can leave the ventilating 
arrangements in capable bands when occasion 
requires it, should have no hesitation to planting a 
few good canes. Plants, or at least, some plants, 
notably Ferns, can be grown with tolerable success 
in a vinery. The vinery can be used at this season 
of the year for the Chrysanthemums, and when these 
are past and cut down, the spring seeds, cuttings, 
&c., will find the vinery the most suitable 
place for growth. Canes can be bought 
for 7s. 6d. each. Choose Black Hamburgh, 
Buckland Sweet Water, Lady Downes, Royal Mus¬ 
cadine, Frontignan for flavour. Any of these ought 
to succeed. They are tried and favourite sorts, the 
first and two last named being particularly com¬ 
mendable for all ordinary purposes, or greenhouse 
treatment. Then about the border. To start with 
this need not be very large. Four feet wide and 2 ft. 
deep will be quite sufficient. 
Select a yellow, fibrous loam. Chop up the turves 
(which should lie in stack for about six months) ; 
and to five barrow loads of this add one barrow 
load of fairly rough old mortar, broken up pieces of 
brick (crushed bricks), with a good dash of charcoal, 
wood ashes and some spent Mushroom bed dung. 
Mix this well together. The bottom of the Vine 
border should be drained. Two pipes taken to the 
outside will be sufficient. Above them place rough 
stones, broken bricks, crocks, &c., for more perfect 
drainage. Then over this undermost stratum, lay 
newly cut turves, grass side downward. Fill in some 
soil and plant the Vines from g ins. to i ft. deep, 
making them firm. Finish off the surface and 
keep the house aired. After a week, water the 
border. This is practically all you will have to do. 
It only requires to be masterly taken in hand, when 
the difficulties pass away. The gardening papers 
usually contain sufficient advice come the season, 
about how to pinch and deal with the shoots, &c. 
Planting Shrubs.—Notes on the finer classes or 
species of shrubs are always of interest to those who 
love their outdoor gardens, whether the notes appear 
at the flowering season or now, when the shrubs are 
being planted. In order to induce planters to select 
a wider representation of the fine trees and shrubs 
with which all the best nurseries are stocked, I wish 
to name a number of them. Even the private gar¬ 
dener or he who has much of such work, might do 
worse than consider the addition of a few lesser 
known, but highly desirable subjects in this section. 
It is to be regretted that a considerable number of 
the most graceful and decorative of the shrubs are 
not robust enough to succeed north of the Thames. 
Nearly all of them, of course, do admirably south¬ 
ward from the Bristol Avon, and along the south 
coast, but while they may grow seemingly well about 
London and up through the Midlands, it is only once 
in a while, when exceptionally favourable seasons 
happen, that their owners ever enjoy a sight of their 
blossoms. I refer to the Ceanothus tribe, to Fre- 
montia californica, Eriobotrya jiponica, some of the 
Magnolias, the Pomegranate, Berberidopsis corallina, 
and such other shrubs. The gardeners whc are not 
favourably situated for the successful culture of such 
subjects as those just named might use their persua¬ 
sion when new houses are being erected to have a 
Temperate House included. By a careful system of 
planning such a house could do turn for a green¬ 
house and Chrysanthemum house, and at all times 
of the year it could be most attractive. 
Our present ptrpose, however, is to select some 
hardy ornamental shrubs. 
Forsythias.—To begin with an especially valuable 
genus, the Forsythias. come quickly to mind. This 
is a happy fact, too, for they are among the earliest 
of the hardy shrubs to flcwer. Their long, 
moderately slender brown shoots a-e “ strong ” from 
base to top with pendant yellow flowers,and any sunny 
bank, or even a spot on the rockery will suit them 
well. So much was written in reference to them in 
The Gardening World last spring that I need not 
entail further space here. Only one word more, to say 
that the small villa garden is as suitable for the 
Forsythias as a great one. In public parks and 
larger gardens they may be planted in large masses, 
and with blue Squills below them the contrast pro¬ 
duced is charming.— Beacon. ' ~ 
(To be continued.) 
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. 
Lasiandra.— L. S. : Come up with the times 11 L. S ,” 
and name your plant Tibouchinia macrantha! 
Happily this splendid greenhouse climber is well- 
known all over the country, but a great mistake is 
often made in having a number of ill-grown, un¬ 
developed plants instead of one or two full-spread 
specimens. Vigorous and well tended plants will 
bloom freely and will always be a pleasure. The 
plant under notice can be propagated from cuttings 
of the young wood taken in spring and rooted in the 
same way as a Pelargonium or Fuchsia. The plant 
enjoys a temperature averaging 50° to 6o°. The 
roots should be confined, but regular supplies of 
1 iquid manure are desirable. 
Top-dressing a lawn.— A.G.: The present is 
altogether a wrong time of year to think about 
enriching your lawn. Leave the work till March. 
Toogood recommends as a suitable fertiliser the 
following, which should be mixed: 56 lb. pure 
dissolved bones; 27 lb. sulphate of ammonia; 
18 lb. kainit; 5 lb. commercial sulphate of iron ; and 
6 lb. gypsum. This may be applied at the rate of 
2 oz. per square yard in spring. Or it may be given 
in the evening in the form of liquid manure, by 
dissolving 1 lb. of the mixture in ten gallons of water. 
If this artificial fertiliser is too inconvenient, we 
advise you to scatter very rich, and very fine soil 
over the surface. Bone meal, sifted loam, wood 
ashes, finely sifted dried natural dung, all mixed and 
applied in the form of a light dressing, will have a 
wonderful recuperative effect on the lawn. Soot 
dusted over on showery mornings is also a valuable 
enricher. At this season, keep the lawn well 
brushed, so as to disperse the rich worm casts. 
Occasionally too, you might take a roller over the 
surface, to consolidate the bottom. A good lawn is 
a grand feature of any garden, and no pains should 
be spared to keep the lawn right. 
Fruit Trees Stunted.— Ranger : Evidently your 
Pear and Apple trees have been much neglected, 
both in pruning and feeding. From your remarks 
we conclude that the trees have been excessively 
spur-pruned. To remedy this you will have to judi¬ 
cially thin out the boughs, and the old spurs. If 
you are not experienced in pruning leave the spurs 
alone, and when the young shoots develop, chose 
and leave only the stoutest and best placed ones. 
Do little pruning for two seasons, the idea being to 
furnish the trees with a sufficiency of fresh, young 
wood. Another year look to the state of the roots; 
meanwhile top-dress them with manure, soot, wood- 
ashes and dustings with fertilisers. 
Small Ferns to he Potted.— Nina : We think that 
if you can find space to keep the Pteris Fern plants 
through the winter it would be decidedly better than 
potting a number of them into a large pan. As you 
have no warm house it would be a check to the 
plants in their present condition. If you must pot, 
be sure you crock the pan very well, make up a 
light compost and keep tfie Fernlets well up to the 
surface. In the after treatment, do not be lavish in 
watering them, and place them in the lightest and 
cosiest part of the house. 
Laying a Stone Edging .—Ned Roy: The Box- 
plants may be lifted and placed closely together, in 
trenches half a foot deep, making them firm by 
treading. They may be placed where they will not 
be disturbed. Then in place of the Box edging we 
think the flat stones you refer to can be 
admirably adopted.. Make the ground firm and 
stake out the line of the edge. A garden line should 
then be stretched from pin to pin, and a notch out 
by means of a spade, straight down in front of the 
line. A depth of 5 in. or 6 in. should be cut out. 
Then trim the flat-sided stones to something 
approaching evenness. Place them end to end, 
closely, level at the top, straight up, and having 
looked to these points fill in a few stones on either 
side, after which make the base firm and cover in the 
soil. Such edgings are best for kitchen gardens. 
Strawberry Forcing.—A. T.: The Strawberries 
in pots will not grow much at this time. They are, 
however, still making roots. The pots should be 
fairly well filled, and with plenty of roots and a good 
crown, your plants will be quite up to the standard. 
Early forcing commences at the beginning of 
January, usually in Peach houses that have been 
started by then. In your case place them on a shelf 
within ij ft. from the glass ; allow a temperature of 
6o° at first. This may be increased up to 75 0 after 
a week or two. Dew the plants over, and feed with 
weak liquid manure, twice a week. Maintain a drier 
atmosphere at the flowering period. Thin the fruits 
to ten per plant. In the meantime protect them from 
too much rain or likely frosts. 
Apples Still Hanging.— A. L. : Your adviser was 
in error ; you were right. Sturmer Pippin and some 
others ripen late. The fruits sometimes hang even 
after the leaves have fallen, but so long as they will 
not readily come off the tree leave them alone. Ten 
