February 14, 1903. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
135 
Chervil.—Make frequent small sowings during spring and 
summer. The first should be sown now thinly in boxes and 
raised in a gentle heat. This is generally much appreciated for 
salads. 
Chives.—These are generally extremely useful, and when 
small young Onions are scarce, will form a good substitute. 
These should be divided annually into small clumps, planting 
them 12 in. apart each way. 
Fennel.—Make a small sowing annually during spring. 
There are many other very useful herbs which ought to be 
included in the border, but I have endeavoured to mention 
those which are generally most in demand. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Notes on Hardy Plants. 
Pentstemons.-—There are few plants which have grown more 
in public favour of late years than these, and when one sees 
a well-grown collection of the newer varieties it is easily recog¬ 
nised that they have come to stay. We owe a debt of grati¬ 
tude to* the raisers of these improved kinds, to which the older 
sorts can bear no comparison. To see them to the best ad¬ 
vantage, they should, if possible, have a border devoted entirely 
to them, with the different varieties planted in batches, taking 
care that the colours harmonise. The ground which they are 
to occupy should now be trenched or deeply dug, and some half- 
decayed manure freely mixed with it. Plants struck last 
autumn thickly in boxes will be greatly benefited if they are 
potted singly into small pots ; and when the planting out tune 
comes in April, they will be well rooted, and receive hardly 
any check. We have grown here largely, among others, some 
of the varieties raised by Mr. Forbes, of Hawick, and I append 
a list of the best that have come under my notice. The in¬ 
dividual bells or flowers are very large and open, the spikes well 
formed, and for bedding purposes generally, I doubt if there 
is any other plant which makes a more effective or lasting 
display throughout the summer and autumn. 
George Home is one of the veiy best; colour, bright red, with 
pure white throat; Rachel, almost pure white, veiy large 
spike; James Hamilton, rich rose, white throat; Lord Lister, 
bright scarlet, pure white throat; Mrs. Forbes, rich dark crim¬ 
son, and, I think, has larger flowers than any other; Talma, 
white, edged with rose, a veiy fine, well-formed spike; Ninon 
de l’Enclos, a veiy large white, one of the best of this colour; 
Verdi, deep crimson, throat white; Sir George White, crimson, 
maculated chocolate, well-built spike, and veiy distinct; Com¬ 
mandant Lamy, scarlet, throat white, striped purple; N. 
Bames, veiy large spike of crimson flowers, with white throat; 
Thomas Harvie, rose, with white throat; Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
rosy crimson, white throat, edged chocolate; Phryne, dazzling 
scarlet, pure white throat, a veiy effective variety. 
Pentstemon seed saved last autumn may now be sown in heat 
and pricked off into boxes when large enough. These should 
be planted out in April in a prepared bed, and if the seed has 
been saved from a good collection some very distinct colours 
may be looked for. 
Heucheras.—Few plants create a more beautiful sight than 
a well-flowered batch of Heuchera sanguinea splendens, but one 
often hears complaints about its shyness in this respect. Under 
the following treatment we have found it to succeed admirably. 
Choose a border, if possible, facing east, and the soil should be 
of a moderately retentive character ; a suitable mixture is three 
parts fibrous loam, one part leaf soil, and one part road sand, 
which should be thoroughly mixed together. 
. Tire plants should be taken up and divided annually, either 
in autumn or early spring, and allow a distance of 1 ft. apart 
all ways. The soil should be made veiy firm about the roots, 
and mulched thoroughly with finely-sifted and well-decayed 
leaf soil. Give copious supplies of water at the roots during 
spells of hot, diy weather, and I venture to say success will 
crown one’s efforts. Though this is undoubtedly the best, 
there are several varieties which are well worthy of a place in 
every collection of hardy flowers, including Richardsonii, 
brizoides, and the variety gracillima, sanguinea rosea, san¬ 
guinea zabeliana, erubescens, and the new micrantha rosea. 
Delphiniums.—Now wall be a good time to carefully part any 
old roots and give a thorough mulching of some half-decayed 
cow manure. Seedlings raised last year, and wintered in boxes, 
may be planted out in deeply-tilled ground. Place a few finely- 
sifted cinder ashes round each plant to prevent slugs from 
eating the young growths. 
Border Carnations.-—Those layered last autumn and potted 
up can now be safely planted out in their permanent position. 
This should be on a south or west border, and the groimd made 
firm. Allow a distance of 18 in. between the rows and 1 ft. 
between the plants. To prevent wirewonns doing any damage, 
place pieces of carrot in the bed about a yard apart, which 
should be examined every other day and the pests destroyed. 
The new scarlet variety, Herbert J. Cutbush, is the best of its 
colour, and a most desirable acquisition, well worth including 
in all collections. The old Raby Castle is still one of the best; 
its free flowering properties and good constitution render it 
invaluable where cut flowers are in demand. 
Aquilegias, sown last year and wintered in boxes, may now 
be transferred to the bads* or borders. Allow a distance of 
10 in. from plant to plant, and 1 ft. between the rows. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. A. E. Thatcher. 
Messrs. Bull and Sons’ Primulas. 
A box of flowers of choice named varieties of Primulas was 
sent to our office the other day by Messrs. W. Bull and Sons, 536, 
King’s Road, Chelsea. They represented the best of the strains 
grown by the firm, and almost every one of them possessed a high 
standard of merit. 
Amongst the single varieties their new Ruby Queen was very 
handsome, and might be described as a brilliant ruby-crimson. 
The true variety, named Avalanche, has red stems and pure 
white fimbriated flowers. Alba oculata-lutea takes its name from 
the very large yellow eye, the rest being white. Imperial Blue 
was the best of "the blue types, and was characterised by a bronzy 
angular zone round the eye. Another highly beautiful variety 
was that named Fulgens, with bright scarlet-carmine flowers. 
That named Countess has blush pink flowers of a delicate hue 
and deeply fringed. That named Chiswick Red retains its name, 
but seems to us to have made a great advance since we first knew 
it, for the flowers are of bright scarlet-crimson, and of good sub¬ 
stance. Quite of another colour is Sunshine, of a magenta- 
crimson, shaded with carmine and beautifully fimbriated. 
Another dark flower which we must not omit to mention was 
that named Comet, with dark carmine-crimson flowers, and 
having a small maroon zone round the eye. Village Maid is 
striped and mottled with rosy carmine on a white ground, and is 
a bright flower for those who like parti-coloured flowers. 
Another excellent white variety is that named Mont Blanc, 
characterised by flowers of great size. 
Two varieties still keep a hold on Covent Garden, and may 
practically be called Covent Garden Red and White. The first 
named is Primula sinensis fimbriata alba, and, needless to say, 
this one comes well up to market requirements. The other is 
named P.s. fimbriata rubra, and has deep red flowers. 
Several very handsome double-flowered varieties accompanied 
the single ones, and although the colours do not always show 
up so clearly and well-defined as in the single ones, they never - 
the less have the recommendation that they last a longer time in 
perfection. Fulgens fl. pi. has vermilion-coloured flowers of a 
bright shade, furnishing a marked contrast to the old Alba fl. pb, 
which has double white flowers, and has sustained its popularity 
longer than any other double variety. Flore pleno Blushing 
Beauty has blush-pink flowers of a very delicate and pleasing 
shade that is always a favourite with the ladies. The 
flowers of Rosea fl. pi. are, as the name describes, of a soft rose 
colour, and double. One of the darkest was that named 
Rubra fl. pi., which had dark carmine-red flowers, taking rank 
alongside of the double Fulgens as being amongst the darkest of 
colours. 
