832 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 3rd, 1903. 
nor do they suffer from the shade, for by the time the trees 
are in leaf the bulbs have nearly completed their growth. 
Chief among the genera suitable for the purpose we must 
place the Narcissus, and, while most of the varieties live and 
orow well in grass, some are especially benefited by it. A 
pretty contrast to the foregoing are the Muscari, the variety 
known as Heavenly Blue being exceptionally good. 
But before the warm showers and sunshine of spring have 
caused these to unfold their splendour, our old friend the 
Crocus makes its appearance, oftentimes spangling the rem 
nants of yesterday’s snow. Following closely are the early 
Scillas, S. siberica, S. s. alba, and S. bifolia. Later, but still 
more beautiful are the Chionodoxas, or dory of the rfnow, tlie 
popular name being a translation of the botanical one. 
Although Tulips are sometimes used for this purpose, they 
are not a success. With the exception of a few varieties, they 
are soon choked by the grass; besides, their gay colours, 
though very striking, are too suggestive of the Dutch garden, 
and not in keeping with coarse grass and other surioundmgs. 
Perhaps an exception might be made in the case of the Cottage 
or late-flowering Tulips, which are stronger, and hold then 
own against the grass better. One named Golden Ciown, a nne 
yellow 0 flushed with orange-red, harmonises splendidly with 
the Buttercups in flower at that time. These Tulips should be 
planted at least 6 in. deep. 
In more shady spots, where the grass is less overpowering, may 
be planted the Wood Hyacinth (Scilla nutans), with its lovely 
white and rose varieties. Another Scilla, flowering about the 
same time, but stiffer and less elegant, is S. hispanica, more 
often known as S. campanulata ; this can be had in three colours 
—blue, rose, and white. 
A more graceful plant, but less showy, is the Snake s-liea,d 
Fritillary ritillana IVleleagris). A close inspection reveals 
its beautiful markings. It grows naturally in the meadows of 
Oxfordshire, and also on the hills surrounding Pangbourne 
The Wood Anemones grow freely in grass m partially shaded 
places ; so, too, does A. apennina. These should have a rather 
heavy top-dressing of leaf mould applied in autumn. 
In arranging natural groups of bulbs on grass, let them lie 
as irregular as possible, heavily massed towards the centie, 
more thinly towards the outside, until at the extreme edges 
some stand like sentinels—alone. 7 
If the time and labour at disposal allow of its being done, 
there is no better plan than to dig in the turf m August, put¬ 
ting a dressing of peat-moss manure at the bottom of the 
trench—no bulbs like direct contact with it—and, having broken 
up that part of the sod now uppermost, allow it to settle for 
two or three weeks, then plant the bulbs, the depth varying with 
their size—generally twice their own depth. An easier plan, 
and that more usually followed, is to use an iron crowbar to 
make the holes, the man using it being followed by a boy, who 
drops a bulb into each hole. A liberal quantity of soil is after- 
wards spread over the ground, and swept in. If the grass is 
mown rather closely in October, and mice and other vermin, 
trapped or poisoned, the display in spring amply repays tor 
the cultivator’s care. 
Letter to the Editor. 
Troubles of an Amateur. 
To the Editor of The Gardening W oiild. 
Sir,— Permit me to thank you and your several correspondents 
for the very kind advice given through the columns of your 
valuable paper. The letters have been read both by myseL and 
hardener with much interest, and, I hope, profit, too. Reply- 
fnc to the letters in your issue of September 19th, first, m reply 
to°the writer who writes under the signature of “ Gardener, 
there is much truth in what he says : “ Leave out the stables 
and the cows.” The circumstances apply pretty much to my 
situation, but these outside duties do not occupy more than 45 
minutes per .day, and are strictly defined ; and, therefore, 1 
must take exception to the remark “ mean advantage as apply¬ 
ing in my case. The wages I pay are ?6s. per week without 
house. , , „ T i i 
“ Gardener ” is not quite right when he says if I had 
enia^ed an experienced man at first I should know who to 
blame. Had I been fortunate in doing so these letters would 
never have been written ; but there’s the rub. Being, as 1 must 
admit, about as green in the knowledge of gardening as the 
Cabbages we attempt to grow, how am I to tell whether I have 
a gardener or a tinker until results prove it? My man came 
to me with good references from the head gardener where he 
was last employed. The conclusion I came to about him and 
others was that when it was a question of labour they did not 
apply all the knowledge they possessed. As an instance, our 
early Potatos were frost-bitten. I suggested covering them with 
some litter. My gardener replied that he did not hold with my 
suggestion, as it made them more susceptible to the cold and 
frost. A foolish reply, I thought, but I am not sufficiently 
qualified to say whether he was right or wrong ; and therefore 
1 do not know who to blame—the weather, the gardener, or 
myself. 
Permit me to assure your correspondent, Mr. C. Blair, that 
I am far from being offended by anything he has written or is 
likely to write respecting my troubles. Why I sigh for the advice 
of a practical man is because experience has taught me that 
ability and inclination do not always run together. The willing 
man wants guiding by a practical mind. I shall certainly take 
the Editor’s advice about trenching the ground. 
With regard to growing Peas, we planted several rows of our 
late ones this season in trenches. I cannot say if the trenches 
were made according to your advice, but when the Peas were 
about full grown I could put a walking-stick 1 ft. or 18 in. 
deep into the soil with little or no exertion. The ground just 
under the outer crust seemed to be quite hollow, and, as I saiu 
in my previous letter, the results were anything but a success. 
Just one word in reply to Mr. Blair’s remark about too many 
cooks spoiling the broth. There is another saying, “ The 
master’s eye cleans the horse,” and I think this applies equally 
to the garden as it does to the stables. I am pleased to say 
that our winter greens and Celery are looking first-rate. Potatos 
are also turning out a good crop, and, after reading the article 
on plant food in present issue, I cannot help but think we are 
getting and shall get in other seasons some return for the manure 
applied during the last four years on what was previously, no 
doubt, a very impoverished piece of ground. Jones. 
On the Editor’s Table. 
Carnation Miss Lora Armstrong. 
We are in receipt of a bunch of blooms of the above new 
Carnation from Messrs. Wm. Watson and Sons, Clontarf Nur¬ 
series, Dublin. The flowers were cut from the open border, and 
were, of course, only side-blooms, a.s the season is now very 
late for Carnations, at Dublin. For this reason the blooms 
were only moderate in size, but for cut-flower purposes cer¬ 
tainly large enough. The petals were all neatly arranged, and 
of a lovely rich and uniform salmon colour, not by any means 
too common in this particular hue or strain of Carnations. 
The plant is of splendid vigour, with stout, erect stems, so 
desirable in a hardy border Carnation. 
It was raised by Mr. Dowling, gardener to Mrs. L. Armstrong, 
Hollywood, Carrickmines, co. Dublin, who says that from 200 
plants of the variety in his gardens this year not one burst 
flower was produced. The calyx of the flowers sent us. was 
firm and opened regularly all round. 
Messrs. Watson and Sons have now acquired the stock of 
this beautiful variety. On August 25th last they exhibited it 
at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland, and 
received their Certificate for the same. Again, on September 
2nd, flowers, were exhibited by the firm at the flower show at 
Glasgow, when an Award of Merit was accorded the variety. 
Its beauty and utility have thus been well recognised within 
the brief period stated. There is yet plenty of room for Car¬ 
nations that do not burst the calyx amongst border varieties. 
*** The prize last week in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “C. C.” for his article on “An Amateurs 
Luxury,” page 818. 
