656 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
June 8, 1901. 
Warm weather has set in at last, and considering 
the time of the year it should be safe now to get out 
into their blooming quarters all tender plants. 
Dahlias should be got out as soon as possible 
now and carefully attended to until they are estab¬ 
lished. They must never be allowed to get dry at 
the root as they soon look miserable and the flower 
buds are injured and do not open properly. Slugs 
and snails are very partial to young Dahlia shoots 
and, if not prevented, soon do irreparable harm- 
One of the best substances to drive them off is a 
mixture of soot and lime in equal parts, or a piece of 
fresh Cabbage leaf placed in a flower pot and laid 
near the plant may be employed to entrap them. 
Earwigs evince a special liking for Dahlia buds, ,&c., 
and must be trapped either in small flower pots 
filled with hay in hollow canes, or in Bean stalks. 
Dahlias are very brittle subjects to deal with and 
are soon snapped off by the wind if not securely tied. 
A great mistake is often seen in tying Dahlias and 
other quick growing plants ; they are tied too tightly 
at first, and no room is allowed for the swelling of 
the shoots as the growth advances, consequently the 
flow of sap is checked, and the part above the 
stricture suffers from lack of nourishment. The tie 
should be broad and moderately loose. If it is found 
necessary to make a close tie to prevent the part 
from moving, it should be looked at frequently to see 
that no damage is being done by cutting. They 
require a stout stake to hold them, as when grown 
to perfection they produce bulky plants. When 
growing Dahlias it is advisable to see that plenty of 
manure is incorporated with the soil if it is inclined 
to be poor, as they are gross feeders. I will not 
attempt to give a list of good varieties, as often they 
are only known by the local names given by nursery¬ 
men in the district. Double Dahlias are pretty in 
their way, but they do not appeal to the artistic eye 
with so much effect as tbe single and Cactus 
varieties, which are freely produced and have an 
exquisite grace and elegance of form which well 
adapt them for effective arranging in vases when cut. 
Cactus Dahlias have the advantage over many other 
flowers in lasting well when cut. Young plants can 
be obtained very cheaply at any good nursery, and 
if intended for this year’s blooming they should be 
obtained immediately. If they are inclined to grow 
without producing side shoots when young, they 
should have the growing point pinched out, this will 
induce them to push their lateral buds and thus 
form a bushy plant. Once pinching will be found 
sufficient; after that they should be allowed free 
growth and always plenty of light and air. 
I have dwelt longer on these than I intended, 
but certainly there are not many flowers so easy for 
the amateur to manage and which produce such 
pleasing results with little labour. 
Adonis pyrenaica.—Why this handsome flower is 
not more frequently seen in the amateur’s garden is 
difficult to understand. Perhaps it is because its 
good qualities are not sufficiently well known. It can¬ 
not be because it is a new plant to English gardens, 
for it was introduced as long ago as 1817. Its native 
home, as the name denotes, is in the Pyrenees. The 
flowers are of the purest yellow and freely produced 
throughout the spring and summer. The leaves are 
a pleasing feature also, being finely divided and 
standing up in such a manner that the inflorescence 
is surrounded by them. It is no trouble to grow and 
may be raised easily from seeds or by dividing the 
roots of old plants. If in a moderately rich soil and 
open position it should be left for several years 
without lifting; it will then produce large striking 
clumps if the soil is not too wet for it. It does not 
like a wet soil neither will it succeed in a dry one. 
There are no yellow flowers to be found in the garden 
to surpass it for tone of colour and largeness of bloom, 
which often measures 3 ins. across when fully ex¬ 
panded. There are several annual species but these 
are much inferior to tbe species mentioned above. 
Ten Weeks Stocks.— These are well known plants 
both to the amateur and professional gardener, and 
are perhaps more extensively grown than any other 
flowers by the former. This being so, it would be 
superfluous for me to eulogise their merits, but a few 
remarks on their treatment may not be out of place. 
To produce good Stocks, good rich soil is essential 
and a bright sunny border. A great mistake often 
made when planting out Stocks is that of having the 
soil too loose. It should be made somewhat firm by 
treading, but not hard. Another very common 
mistake is that of selecting the tallest and largest of 
the plants and discarding the small ones when plant¬ 
ing out; the result of this selection is that a large 
percentage of the plants produce single flowers. I 
am no advocate of double flowers as a rule, but I 
think everybody likes the double Stocks. They can¬ 
not be called elegant or graceful when looked at 
closely, but their exquisite fragrance compensates for 
what they lack in beauty. Many people would not 
like to hear me say that they lack anything in beauty, 
and certainly anyone with the most fastidious of tastes 
cannot fail to admire a well grown clump or bed of 
Stocks. They amply repay for generous treatment, 
and should have a little weak stimulant when they 
are flowering, anij never lack moisture at the roots. 
Novel Strawberry Culture.—Strawberries are not 
usually grown as decorative plants, but they may be 
grown for both utilitarian and ornamental purposes 
at the same time in the following unorthodox 
fashion, which I believe owes the idea to a lady 
amateur. An ordinary barrel is procured and plenty 
of holes cut in the bottom to allow the surplus water 
a free passage. These are covered by a substantial 
layer of stones, crocks, &c., with some rough dung 
or half decayed leaves on the top to prevent the soil 
mixing with the drainage. Three rows of holes 
about 6 in. across are cut out leaving about 18 in. 
between each hole; one row is near the bottom, the 
other round the body, and the third near the top. 
The tub is then filled with soil and Strawberry 
plants planted in the apertures. A few may also be 
planted on the top. A drain pipe should be in the 
centre and reach about three parts of the way down 
the tub to ensure the bottom row of plants getting a 
fair supply of water. When in full fruit the tub 
makes a fascinating feature in any garden. Fol¬ 
lowing this idea some very pretty mounds of plants 
may be produced at a very trifling cost. 
A Queer Plant.—Anastatica Hierochuntina has 
too long a name to be talked about much, but never¬ 
theless it is a very interesting plant. It is not 
strikingly pretty, yet there is something in its simple 
flowers that appeals to every plant lover. It borrows 
its lengthy appellation from anastasis, meaning 
resurrection, and very often it is known as the Resur¬ 
rection Plant or the Rose ot Jericho, but why it 
should be called Rose is hard to imagine. It pos¬ 
sesses the remarkable property of resuming the 
appearance of vitality after being kept perfectly dry 
for years, if placed in water for a short time. This 
illustrates another of Nature’s marvellous methods 
of seed dispersal. When the seed is ripe and the 
hot sun dries up the plant it rolls itself into a ball 
and is then blown from place to place by the wind. 
When it reaches a damp spot it again uncurls and 
the seeds germinate in the moisture. It is an annual 
and should be raised in heat like a half hardy annual 
to bring it to perfection. 
Clarkias.—More elegant and showy annuals need 
not be wished for than these. They are specially 
adapted to filling small beds or planting in masses 
on the borders. They are easily cultivated and do 
not require any special treatment. The seed may 
either be sown in the spring or in the autumn out of 
doors. They are not large growing plants and 6 in. 
to 9 in. apart ought to allow them sufficient room. 
Polyanthuses.—These are another very fine class 
of plants for spriDg work. They have been greatly 
improved in form during the past few years, and 
without the endless number of named varieties some 
exquisite seedlings may be obtained. They quickly 
increase if the plants are divided annually. By 
careful seed raising the number of varieties may be 
multiplied considerably. They are becoming very 
popular now for filling the flower beds in the spring, 
when they make a very welcome addition to the few 
flowers available at that time. They do not like too 
much sunshine, neither must they have the extreme 
of shade. A moist loamy soil is best suited to their 
requirements. If made into a bed. and Tulip bulbs 
planted with them in the autumn a very fine show is 
produced in the spring, the Tulips making a pleasing 
break in the somewhat monotonous flatness which 
is unavoidable when only Polanthuses are used to 
fill the bed. 
Linaria Cymbalaria.—This pretty little plant 
ought to be found in every garden especially where 
there are any old walls, &c. For rockwork it is 
invaluable, but being a quick grower it will soon 
take possession of the room required for other plants 
if not constantly watched and cut back. It is well 
adapted for pot and greenhouse culture, and thrives 
amazingly if afforded a limy soil and a light position. 
There are many towns and villages in which it may 
be found wild in abundance on old walls. I recently 
saw it also growing profusely on the walls of 
the ruined cloisters surrounding Peterborough 
Cathedral. It may be seen growing there at a great 
height in interstices between the stones, formed by 
their decomposition, and with the Wallflowers which 
may be seen at the altitude of considerably over 
100 ft. on the side of the minster are an object of 
admiration from the numerous visitors to this 
historic edifice. In many parts of the country it-is 
commonly known by the name of Ivy-leafed Toad 
Flax. 
Double Arabis.—This is a beautiful hardy plant 
for the herbaceous border or the rockery. It far 
excels the beauty of the single varieties as far as 
masses of bloom are concerned. It should be ob¬ 
tained and planted immediately it has finished 
flowering, which is about this time of the year. It 
is a moderately dwarf plant usually growing to about 
9 in. or 1 ft. in height. 
Correspondence. 
Questions ashed 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' Pase " on the top of their letters. 
Ornamental Grasses.— Pevensey: It is too late to 
sow seeds now for this season's use, they should be 
sown in March or early in April. It is a good plan 
to sow them in August; by doing so they do not 
have time to flower during the first year, but pro¬ 
duce much finer clutpps during the next season. If 
they are grown for drying purposes, the spikes 
should be cut on a fine day just before the seed is 
ripe and dried gradually. Some of the best annual 
grasses are Hordeum jubatum, Lagurus ovatus, 
Eragrostis elegans, Bromus brizaeformis, Briza 
maxima and B. minor, Agrostis elegans, A. nebulosa, 
and A. pulchella. Two of the most striking of the 
perennials are Gynerium argenteum, the Pampas 
Grass; and Stipa pennata, the Feather Grass. They 
like a good loamy soil and plenty of moisture at tbe 
roots. 
Gloxinias. — V .. It is useless for you to try and 
grow on the plant for next year unless you have a 
warm greenhouse at your disposal, for they require 
a rather strong heat when growing, but will last a 
long time under cooler conditions when in flower. 
Gentianas.— Alpine: It is not a wise plan to shift 
these beautiful little plants, as they are extremely 
sensitive to root disturbance, and there is no doubt 
but that it is due to transplanting your stock that 
your plants are in a poor condition. They can be 
easily raised from seed, which should be sown as 
soon as it is well ripe. They are often slow to 
germinate, sometimes allowing two years to elapse 
before they show signs of life. 
Galax.— Alpine: The soil you are trying to grow 
this pretty, little rockwork plant in is not quite suit¬ 
able for it, as it requires a compost of nearly all leaf 
mould and sand, or peat and sand. Try your plants 
in soil of this nature, and we think you will find that 
they will succeed if allowed plenty of root moisture. 
Autumn is the best time to transplant and divide 
them. 
Basket Fern . — Publican : One of the best Ferns 
for large basket work such as you require is Nephro- 
lepis exaltata. It is a very quick grower, and will 
stand a large amount of rough usage if properly 
hardened off. When the basket is full of roots you 
will find that the plants derive great benefit from 
occasional watering of liquid sheep manure alternated 
with waterings of soot water. 
- I 
Fatsia.— Window Plant: We should recommend 
you to top your plant in the following way. First 
make an incision neatly half-way through the stem 
and insert a small stone or piece of wood in it to pre¬ 
vent it closing; a pot should then be split in half, 
placed round the stem over the cut and tied together 
