March 9, 1901o 
433 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
ably, it being peaty and wet, which enables them to 
grow luxuriously throughout the summer after they 
have done flowering. The mild climate too no 
doubt is greatly in their favour, as.they are growing 
within thirty or forty yards of the shore of the Holy 
Loch. As an illustration too of the mildness, there 
are trees of Eucalyptus Globulus. They are planted 
out in a straight line along the side of the flower 
garden, attaining to the height of 20 ft., and well 
furnished with foliage, down to within 3 ft. of the 
ground. Any interested in horticulture, if in the 
neighbourhood with an hour to spare, might do 
worse than have a walk round the garden and 
grounds.— Walter Hogarth, Norton Gardens, Ratho, 
M idlothian. 
" ■ - 
DEUTZIAS. 
To have these beautiful flowers in perfection and 
profusion every season, two batches of plants are 
required to be grown, namely, one now in flower and 
the ether planted out to supply next year’s stock. 
When in a former situation, we used to grow a 
quantity for cutting. The method there adopted 
may be useful to some of the readers of The 
Gardening World. The plants that had been 
forced were cut hard back after flowering and stood 
out of doors in a sheltered spot until they could be 
planted. At any convenient time during April or 
May they were turned out of the pots and planted 
out 18 in. apart either way. The largest plants were 
divided into twos or threes—a small, sharp hatchet 
was used for this purpose, the roots being too tough 
for a spade to divide them safely. The following 
spring they were again cut back to within 3 in. of 
the ground, when they would throw up a lot of stout 
healthy shoots, which, with an occasional watering 
with liquid manure during summer, were 18 in. high 
by autumn and thoroughly ripened. In October 
they were lifted, potted into 32 or 24-sized pots, 
according to size, the straggling shoots pruned into 
shape and stood in a cold frame until required for 
forcing. I need hardly say these plants were a mass 
of bloom, and some of them nearly 2 ft. through.— 
tr. B., Mona Cottage, Holbeach. 
PRIMULA SINENSIS AND ITS VARIE¬ 
TIES. 
These are pretty and useful plants for greenhouse 
decoration during the winter and spring months. To 
obtain a succession of bloom, seed can be sown now 
until the month of May. Sow in shallow, well- 
drained pans, in a light, open compost of loam, leaf 
mould and sand, covering the seeds lightly. It is 
also a good plan to cover the pans with a piece of 
glass to ensure keeping the soil uniformly moist. 
Place the pans in a warm propagating pit until 
germination takes place, then place them in a cooler 
temperature. As soon as the plants are large 
enough, prick out into boxes, and in a short time 
they can be potted into 3-in. and 3$-in. pots, using a 
light compost. After potting, shade for a few days 
until they start growing, then place them in a cold 
frame, and in the course of a few days admit air freely. 
When the small pots are fairly well filled with roots, 
re-pot into 5-in. and 6-in. pots, using a compost of two 
parts loam, one leaf mould and one well-decayed 
stable manure, with enough sand added to keep the 
soil open. During summer attention should be paid 
to the ventilation, shading and watering, and when 
the plants are growing freely, occasional waterings 
with weak liquid manure are beneficial. During 
winter, when the plants are in flower, a temperature 
of 50° is sufficient.— G. D. 
FOLIAGE EFFECTS 
Are not so much studied as colour blending, yet fhe 
former is emblematic of higher art and superior taste. 
Where both are studied and foliage plants arranged 
artistically with and over those in bloom, gorgeous 
pictures may be and often are produced as the 
natural result, making a breathing picture bathed in 
a living atmosphere. After all, the deeper study of 
grace and beauty may best be demonstrated by an 
arrangement of varied and variegated foliage. 
Lightness is the charming side on which not many 
err. Though we seldom see it, lightness can be 
spoilt by scantiness, and the more easily when using 
solid foliage than perforated (so to speak). It is in 
the judicious blending of varied foliage where the 
master-hand excels, each leaf being a study of the 
carver’s art which enhances the beauty of its dis¬ 
tinct neighbour, both serving as a ground-work to 
show up a semi-veiling of lighter leafage displaying 
a swaying informal surface under the (walking) line 
of vision. Tall Palms, rising here and there and 
showing half their stems, should throw their spread¬ 
ing fronds well above one's "headgear." While 
lending a furnished appearance they provide shade, 
so very essential to many of our richest foliage 
plants. The days of formality and measured lines 
are gone now the truly beautiful is beiDg appreciated. 
When understood each natural effect is a luxury to 
the educated as the gradations of light and shade 
are studied with intoxicating ardour. To-day the 
informal sky-line of the rugged mountain commands 
more admiration than the costly jewels of the world 
arranged to given shapes.— H. H. Gibson, The Gar¬ 
dens, Glencairn, Belfast. 
DATURA AND HIBISCUS. 
The remarkable florlferousness of these two genera 
around Capetown has been a pleasant surprise to 
me, and as they form such showy features here I 
venture to send you a few remarks about them in 
the hope that it may enlighten some of your readers 
as to the conditions in which they grow in the open 
as shrubs, and may, perhaps, encourage some to give 
them a little more attention than hitherto. I am 
sure if they could be reproduced at home in any¬ 
thing like the condition we find them here, they 
would be a very welcome addition to any establish¬ 
ment. The climate is not so very different from the 
south of England. The sun is hotter in summer, 
with almost continual south-east winds, which make 
it drier ; but it is nearly always cool at night with 
heavy dews. The winter is milder, though we often 
register a few degrees of frost. The species of 
Hibiscus flower best when fully exposed to the sun, 
but they should have almost similar conditions in an 
airy greenhouse with clear glass at home; while 
Daturas seem to do well almost anywhere, though 
the flowers seem better where they miss the mid-day 
sun, and they must be left without cutting if flowers 
are wanted. The soil does not seem to make much 
difference on either, flowering as they do equally 
well on our stiff loam here and on light, sandy soil a 
few miles out of town.— Jim Good, Mount Nelson, 
Capetown. 
WORK UNDER GLASS- 
Fuchsias in pots should at once have their tops 
shortened a bit and be placed in a recently closed 
vinery and well syringed twice or so daily. In about 
ten days they will be ready to shake out of the old 
soil and probably have their roots trimmed in a little 
and placed in somewhat smaller sized pots than they 
have hitherto occupied. No water will be required 
for another week if the syringe is constantly played 
amongst them. As a compost use to 3 barrowfuls of 
turfy loam, 1 of leaf mould and 1 of sifted horse 
droppings with an 8-in. potful of soot, and enough 
sand to keep the whole porous. Begonias for the 
greenhouse and flower garden should be introduced 
into the same house and lightly syringed, assuming 
that the bulbs are in boxes of leaf soil now. As soon 
as growth is well on the move pot up or box off, giving 
the plants plenty of room to develop. Too much 
heat is against their well doing. Marguerites that 
are used for the flower garden can soon be trans¬ 
ferred to cool pits, if established singly in pots, which 
they should be by this date. Eradicate any leaf 
miners if on the plants, or sad disfigurement will 
ensue 
Sow Lobelia, Verbena, Celosias, Centaureas, (fine 
foliage), Celsia arcturus, Heliotrope, Gloxinia, 
Torenia, Streptocarpus, Begonia, &c , in pots or 
boxes of finely sifted light soil and watered a few 
hours beforehand. Very little covering will be 
required for some of these, just a sprinkle of fine 
sand will suffice. Cover with glass or sheets of 
paper until germination has taken place. Inure to 
the light and avoid too much watering, as these 
small seeds are soon dislodged. Continue to propa¬ 
gate soft-wooded plants for the flower garden until 
the required number is reached. Alternanthera will 
quickly root now. 
Young Cyclamen that were pricked off in pots or 
pans in December are fit to pot up into 2j-in. pots, 
using light, rich soil, and be careful not to bury the 
bulbs too deeply, about half their depth sufficing. 
Place near the glass in a temperature of 6o° at night, 
dewing overhead two or three times daily. Prick off 
later batches, giving them 3 in. apart. The earliest 
flowered double white Primulas should be moulded 
up with sphagnum, leaf mould, and sand, and be 
kept constantly moist and near the glass roof. This 
class of plant will soon require some kind of shade 
during the brightest part of the day.— J. Mayne, 
Bictcn. 
—- 
KitcRen Garden calendar. 
Peas.- —Various sowings of Peas may now be made 
in the open air. Warm quarters should be chosen, 
and the sowings are best made in trenches. Take 
out about a foot of soil a spade's breadth, along the 
length of a line stretched for the purpose. Place 
3 or 4 ins. of rotten dung in the trench and over this 
a couple of inches of soil whence the Peas may be 
sown. Small pieces of Fir or Spruce branches may 
be placed in along the lines to protect the young Peas 
from possible cutting winds. The varieties suitable 
for the present sowings include Abundance, Laxton's 
Supreme, McLean’s Best of All, Carter’s Little 
Wonder, and Early Favourite. 
Broad Beans.— The Green Windsor and Improved 
Windsor Beans are general favourites for early 
sowing. The old Early Long Pod also maintains a 
goodly number of patrons. Prepare the ground by 
hoeing or forking it, and rake up a nice even surface 
tilth. Draw out lines 3 ins. deep at distances of 2 ft. 
to 3 ft. apart, and plant the Beans half a foot from 
each other. Cover them over and rake the surface 
soil. 
Potatos. —A goodly quantity of early Potatos will 
have already been planted. Other plantings for 
successional early crops should be made now ; and 
by the middle of March the main plantings can be 
done. These early crops should be planted on warm 
dry borders. The forced tubers in frames will 
require a daily or almost daily wa'ering with chilled 
water, and will also require a greater amount of 
ventilation. The produce is apt to be very sappy 
and insipid if the foliage is weak and flabby. 
Celery.— The earliest sowing of Standard Bearer, 
Sandringham Dwarf White, or Major Clarke’s Red, 
may be made indoors in boxes. 
Cauliflowers, Cabbages, &c,—An early spring 
planting of Cabbages and Cauliflowers should be 
made at any time from the present, and in anticipa¬ 
tion of such early planting the ground can be got 
ready for them. Where wire worms infest the soil it 
is advisable to dip the roots of the plants (prior to 
planting) in a sooty liquid. Soot, lime and cow duog 
in the form of a liquid paste does the roots no harm, 
and though the preventive or antidote is a crude and 
old fashioned one, I have reason to think that it acts 
well. When once the young plants have firmly 
established themselves little anxiety need then be 
feared from insect or fungus attacks. To encourage 
growth slight dustings of nitrate of soda (2 ozs. per 
sq. yd.), may be given during showery weather. All 
kinds of the Brassica tribe should now be sown in 
the open air. Make up beds of 3 ft. or 4 ft. width 
with firm edges and narrow alleys between. Rake 
the surface as finely as possible and sow thinly so as 
to ensure sturdy plants. Cover the seeds very lightly 
with finely sifted soil. Further maincrop sow'mg of 
Beet, Carrots, Parsnips, Leeks, and Onions will now 
be necessary. Lettuces, Radishes, Parsley, and 
Turnips are always in demand and these two may 
be sown according to needs. The small crops can be 
sown and gleaned before the larger and more per¬ 
manent vegetables have developed. For instance 
Radishes and Lettuces can always be sown as a 
catch crop between Cauliflowers or Brussels Sprouts. 
Spinach will be largely in demand and an additional 
sowiogwill still supply leaves for use before the Peas 
come in. Cucumbers and Tomatos for succession 
must not be forgotten. Tomatos for outdoor planting 
should now be raised. 
Asparagus.—W ith the advent of April the new 
beds for Asparagus should be made. One chief 
point to attend to in this connection is to 
avoid exposing or in any way drying them. Beds 
of 4 ft. in width are usually made ; and three lines 
can be planted in these beds. The roots are planted 
ij ft. apart and alternate with one another, so as to 
give the plants the greatest amount of room. 
Globe Artichokes.— Young suckers of this vege¬ 
table may be planted now, in deep and somewhat 
heavy soil. When they have become established a 
mulching of dung should be given.— D. K. 
