May is, 1901 . THE GARDENING WORLD. 603 
The beds have been arranged in such a manner as 
to allow of two more walks through the house from 
end to end. Visitors will appreciate this much 
required improvement, as it will obviate much of 
the uncomfortable crowding that is often experienced 
in this house on Sundays and other days when there 
are many people about. A much better view of the 
specimens is also obtained, as they can now be seen 
from the underside, whereas before they could only 
be seen from the outside, in the form of a bank. 
Pots for the large specimens have almost entirely 
been dispensed with aDd have been replaced by neat 
teak tubs, which must have necessitated a tremen¬ 
dous outlay of money, and a large amount of labour 
to change the enormous quantity of plants from pots 
into these. One does not expect to find a large 
amount of bloom in a Palm house, but here there is 
nearly always something attractive in bloom. At 
the present time there is a large number of Crinums 
and allied plants in bloom. The beautiful Crinum 
asiaticum, a native of tropical Asia, and introduced 
into this country about 1732, is producing magnifi¬ 
cent umbels of bloom, which focus the attention of 
everyone who passes up that side of the house. The 
variegated variety is also in bloom. The flowers are 
not so good as those of the green one, but the 
foliage is very conspicuous. C. Moorei is also pro¬ 
ducing a profusion of blooms. This is really a 
greenhouse species, but it seems to thrive well under 
the warmer conditions. It is a magnificent species, 
having large funnel-shaped flowers, which are faintly 
tinged with red. It was first introduced from Natal 
in 1874. C. podophyllum magnificum has been in 
bloom but has passed its best. It is a beautiful 
species, and one that is rarely met with. It delights 
in a high temperature, being a native of Old Calabar. 
The flowers are borne in umbels of two, and are of a 
beautiful white, tinged on the outer side with green. 
It was introduced in 1879. C. pedunculatum is 
bearing some tremendous umbels of flowers. It is a 
species perhaps more common than the others, but 
none the less beautiful. It is a native of Australia 
and will thrive well either in the stove or greenhouse 
if given generous treatment. 
There are many Palms in fruit, including Sabal 
blackburniana Astrocaryum Malybo, Synechanthus 
fibrosus, which has a cluster of bright red fruits ; 
Wallichia densiflora has a cluster of fruit lying down 
on the surface of the soil; it is a very interesting 
genus, only containing two or three species. The 
Cycads look much happier where they are now, 
dispersed amongst the other plants, than when in a 
heap in front of the door, looking as though they 
had just been turned out from somewhere and 
thrust there in a hurry. Many of them have pro¬ 
duced new fronds, and look the picture of health and 
vigour. Encephalartus Fredrici-Guilielmi looks 
magnificent, having thrown up forty new fronds 
which are just falling into their positions. Sterculia 
neo-caledonica has some pretty racemes of bloom, 
the scent of which pervades the surroundings for a 
considerable distance. It blooms on the old stem, 
the flowers lasting a long time, and gradually getting 
lighter in colour as they get older, and also changing 
their perfume. Clavija ornata is in bloom close by, 
also producing its flowers on the old stem 
Gnetum Gnemon is also in fruit. This is one of 
the few leafy Gymnosperms, and we believe this is 
the first time it has been known to produce fruit in 
this country. Carapa guianensis is making a striking 
display with its young fiery coloured foliage. It is 
found both in South America and in West Africa, 
■where it makes the forests a blaze of colour when 
growing. Saraca indica is a mass of bloom and 
comes in for a lot of admiration. The first Passi- 
floras of the season are just opening, and are draping 
the somewhat bare roof with their graceful branches. 
Coffea arabica is just ripening a heavy crop of 
berries and creates a lot of interest. Anthurium 
scherzerianum is making a bright dash of colour in 
a small bed near the side door. The curious spathes 
and spadices cause much amusement to the amateur 
visitors, but they are also greatly admired for their 
brilliance. The stages are looking better than they 
have done for some time; they have been embel¬ 
lished by a few Codiaeums, &c., but a house of this 
height is not adapted to the culture of small plants, 
as they are so far from the glass, and often overhung 
by their larger neighbours, and only seem to linger 
out a miserable existence until cut down by 
the friendly knife and consigned to the rubbish 
heap. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
" Doing things in good time is the main secret of 
successful gardening.” These are words from a 
work by Alfred Austin, Poet Laureate, and no truer 
expression was ever made by professional or amateur 
gardener. There are many things which require 
doing at the same time, in the spring, and it is 
difficult to decide which shall receive attention first. 
One that demands first attention is the thinning and 
transplanting of annuals, for with the wa r m sunny 
weather they are growing vigorously and soon crowd 
and struggle for life if left too long. 
Mignonette.— An old favourite in the garden is 
Mignonette. It does best if left almost entirely to 
itself. A good position for it is on the Rose border. 
Here it gets plenty of good soil and a supply of water 
in the dry weather, that is, if the Roses are carefully 
attended to. When once established in a good soil 
it will require no more attention for years, beyond 
watering occasionally, as it is a favourite of bees and 
seeds freely. No better groundwork can be obtained 
for covering the bare ground so often seen under 
standard Roses. It does not take much nutriment 
from the soil and helps to protect the Rose roots 
from the heat of the sun. Growing wild, it is gener¬ 
ally found in chalky districts and to grow it to per¬ 
fection as a special plant in the flower garden a light 
chalky soil should be provided for it. 
Fritillaria imperialis. —These beautiful old 
fashioned flowers are now coming into bloom. They 
were introduced from Persia as long ago as 1596, and 
mentioned by Shakespeare in his “ Winter’s 
Tale ”: - 
.‘‘The Crown Imperial; Lilies of all kinds, 
The Flower de Luce being one! O, these I lack, 
To make you garlands of.” 
They were very popular then, but have now been 
crushed out of many gardens by the craze for new 
plants. It cannot be because they are not beautiful 
that they have been neglected, for they rank amongst 
the best of the early spring plants on the herbaceous 
border. When once they are planted they resent 
any interference with their bulbs for several years. 
This must be borne in mind when planting them. 
The ground should receive a good application of 
manure when it is being prepared for them so that 
it does not soon get exhausted. They have been 
^greatly improved during the past few years and seem 
once again to be coming back into public favour. 
There are many shades to be sem now that could not 
be found twenty years ago. One variety has beauti¬ 
fully gold striped foliage and makes a conspicuous 
plant in the early part of the season. They require 
a sunny position but must not be in too dry a soil. 
Sweet Peas. —This bids fair to be very soon one 
of fashion’s favourites. Certainly one cannot wish 
for a much more graceful and varied hued flower, 
either when cut or when growing. It makes a useful 
and pretty screen to hide the borders from the 
vegetable garden when fruit trees are not employed. 
There is an endless variety of shades to be had, and 
year by year they are being improved in some way. 
So great has the enthusiasm become that a National 
Sweet Pea Society has been formed. They require 
a light, deep, rich soil, and a light, open position. 
When blooming care must be taken to remove all 
the old blooms as they fade, and not allow them to 
stay on the plant and seed, for if this is allowed the 
flowering season is greatly shortened by the seeds 
demanding all the nutriment the roots can supply. 
If they are well supplied with water a good supply 
may be obtained throughout the summer. 
Chrysanthemums. —These form a useful addition 
to the flower border in the autumn, and must be 
carefully attended to during the hot dry weather, for 
failure is sure to follow any neglect in this direction. 
A great help will be given to the plants if a little 
nitrate of soda is pricked in round the roots when 
they are making active growth. They must not be 
fed too much or they will produce nothing but rank 
growth. The condition of the plants must be the 
guide. 
Hollyhocks. — For making an elegant back¬ 
ground to the flower garden, there are not many 
plants to beat the Hollyhock. It can be obtained in 
a variety of colours, from pure white to deepest 
crimson. They should be planted out now into well 
prepared soil. It must be deeply dug, light, and rich 
soil which they are put in if they are to do well. 
They look nice when in a row, but look much better 
if they can be planted in a clump somewhere where 
they will not be crowded, for if they are the dreaded 
Hollyhock disease is almost sure to attack them. If 
in an exposed position they must be securely 
staked. 
In ordinary seasons the tender bedding plants and 
Dahlias would be safe out in the beds, but this year 
we are a week or two behind with everything, and 
it is not safe to trust them out yet, especially in 
low-lying gardens.— P. R. 
» ■ » 
KitcQen Garden Calendar. 
The recent rains have done the garden good, but 
the cold winds accompanying them have somewhat 
checked the growth of tender vegetables. 
Cauliflowers. —The earliest batch of these 
should now be consigned to the open ground as soon 
as possible, giving them plenty of room and a good 
soil. 
Brussels Sprouts. —The strongest plants of 
these also ought to be got out now without delay. 
Celery.— Prick out the young plants into nursery 
beds in a sheltered position, or even in frames if the 
same can be spared, and prepare the trenches for 
them. 
Lettuces. —The ridges of the Celery trenches 
make admirable positions for Lettuce plants. A row 
should be sown about half an inch deep and the 
thinnings planted in any vacant positions between 
rows of Peas, &c., or on a warm fruit border. 
When planting crops on a fruit border only those 
should be grown that are dwarf, and those that will 
not exhaust the soil to any serious extent, for it is 
unfair to expect a fruit tree to thrive where its roots 
are intersected by the roots of other rank growing 
plants which rob them of the nutriment. 
Runner Beans. —The main crop should now be 
sown, and those that are up should have the soil 
gently drawn up to their stems to prevent them fall¬ 
ing over. The early Dwarf or French Beans sown 
on the borders should be ready for thinning by now; 
6 in. to 9 in. should be allowed between the plants. 
Vegetable Marrows.—Too often ground is 
wasted on these when it could be better occupied by 
other things. I do not mean that Marrows are not 
worth growing, but they occupy a lot of room on the 
soil when they might be grown much better on an 
old manure heap. It is a mistake to sow them too 
early, as they only have to stop in their pots and 
starve if the weather is cold. When they are 
planted out it is a good plan to place a handlight 
over them and take off the top during the day, or 
they may get nipped by a late spring frost. When 
grown on a ridge or bank of manure they require a 
large amount of water in the dry weather, as it so 
soon drains away from them. As soon as the fruits 
get a serviceable size they should be cut; this helps 
the others to swell. 
Peas — Another batch may be put in for late use, 
and carefully attended as to watering, for if allowed 
to get dry they often go off. 
Turnips.— Sowings for late summer use may now 
be made. The earliest batch should be thinned as 
soon as they are large enough. 
Radishes. —These should be sown cn light, well 
prepared soil at intervals, to keep up a succession. 
They should be given every inducement to grow 
quickly, as when they grow slowly they are gener¬ 
ally pithy and rank. 
Carrots.—S owings of these for the main crop 
should be made at once if not already done. 
Cabbage. —Those for winter use should now be 
sown. The others may be planted out as soon as fit, 
either on to special ground or between the rows of 
early Potatos. 
Asparagus. —Keep this closely cut, taking care 
not to injure the crowns. Asparagus beds seem well 
adapted to all sorts of weeds, for they seem to 
flourish there better than anywhere, or perhaps I 
ought to say worse than anywhere. If they are 
taken in hand early they may be kept down, but if 
once allowed to seed, there is always a difficulty in 
eradicating them. 
Leeks.—A sowing for the late crop should be 
made now to be planted out on the ground, previ¬ 
ously occupied by early Potatos. The early crops 
should be planted out now in open positions .—K 
The Bird Cherry (Prunus Padus) is becoming 
popular as a lawn tree. 
