432 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May .16, 1903. 
Readers’ Competition—continued. 
dependent on sunny weather for the ripening process as some of 
the newer sorts. A border in the sunny side of the garden wall 
is tlie best spot in which to form the beds for planting them. The 
way to proceed to make up these beds is first to cut out a trench 
4g feet wide across the border similar to a Celery trench, but 
not so deep, 15 inches being deep enough. Fill it up to a little 
above the surface level with good old manure, and put back the 
soil over this, finishing it off in Potato pit form, only a little 
more rounded on the top. Smooth and finish it off with the rake, 
and plant four rows of the Strawberries across the bed 9in. apart, 
and in zigzag fashion. Good plants of Royal Sovereign taken off 
and “ sheughed ” into a border or frame last September, and 
lifted carefully now with a good ball of fibre and planted in 
these made-up beds, will yield a fairly good crop the first -season, 
and very much earlier than when they are planted on the level. 
This is a good system where the soil is very light, as the heavy 
manuring keeps the moisture in the plants in the warm season, 
and helps Nature to build up finer fruits. 
As seasons differ so much it would be a mistake to mention the 
date of ripening. I only practise this method -on a small scale to 
get large early Strawberries for table, but I know places on a 
much larger scale where all their Strawberry beds are made up in 
this manner, and are a complete success. 
J. C. Dick. 
Champfleurie, Linlithgow. 
The Evening Primrose. 
The garden that has no Evening Primrose is without one of the 
boldest and finest of summer flowers. Although Evening Prim¬ 
rose is the general name there are some whose brilliancy is at 
noonday ; and as there are perennial, biennial, and annual Kinds, 
they should be made a special feature of in the garden. I should 
place Oenothera lamarckiana among plants of the highest merit, 
and it is worthy of good culture in any garden, whetner large or 
small. No other hardy plant lasts so long in beauty, keeping 
up as long a display. It is a flower of the evening and early 
morning, and from June onward for quite three months it keeps 
up a succession of bloom if only a little care is taken to allow it 
free scope to grow. It grows from 5 to 8 feet high, given plenty 
of room. The fiowers are nearly 6 in. in diameter. It is a 
biennial, and therefore, fresh stock must be planted every year. 
It is a very easy matter, however, to ensure a good group ana 
fine display every year. Once introduced to the garden, it per¬ 
petuates itself freely enough, and we have only to take up a few 
seedlings and transplant them to another spot. I have heard 
complaints that it seeds too freely, and is a perfect weed with 
them. If it were a weed in some gardens a few might escape 
weeding operations, and its noble beauty would be more familiar. 
It can hold its own in the wild garden, and one of the prettiest 
groups J can remember grew in front of some Pines. It is a fine 
plant for parks and public gardens, open in all its freshness when 
business men have a few moments to spare and enjoy it. 
Among the perennial kinds a charming plant, which is the 
finest in the evening, is Oenothera taraxacifolia. When young 
it is exactly like a Dandelion. This species of Oenothera comes 
from Chili, and is only perennial in warm soil; but it seeds 
freely, so there is no difficulty in keeping it. It is as beautiful 
as Lamarck’s in growth, is stately in habit, and a charming 
arrangement could be had by using the two, one to spring through 
the other, and both at their best at night. This kind grows and 
flowers all summer. When the flowers first open they are pure 
white and about 4 in. across, but they gradually become tinged 
with pink, and gradually die away a pink shade. It is a showy 
plant that could be used in many ways. 
It has a splendid counterpart in Oenothera missouriensis, 
which comes from North America, and is much more hardy. It 
rarely ripens seed, but rarely dies unless it is on a cold, strong 
land. This kind is very brilliant in sunshine. At times its 
flowers are as- large as .Lamarck’s, a richer, deeper yellow, and 
very free for a long period on the prostrate trailing stems, as an 
edging inside a stone edge, and allowed to creep into the walks 
here and there. It is seen at its best as a plant for the rock 
garden, and is quite a novelty. Both these Oenotheras are easily 
raised from seed, and if sown in July they will bloom the follow¬ 
ing year. 
Oenothera marginata is also a North American plant, and a 
sweet and beautiful flower at night. It should have a place in 
the rock garden, or a choice place on the border. Being of short 
gsowth, and not so rambling as the two preceding kinds, it makes 
a tuft of jagged leaves one foot high, and sends up large, pure 
white flowers, which open at night, amd send up an odour as 
sweet and strong as that of the Magnolia. 
J. Beak, 
Great Ayton, Yorks. 
Hybrid Water Lilies. 
No large garden is complete without a collection of these 
beautiful fiowers, none so small that at least some of the family 
cannot be accommodated. A small tub sunk in a few yards of 
rookwork will hold a specimen of N. pygmea helveola, that minia¬ 
ture gem of Water Lilies, whose dainty yellow, starry flowers 
spangle the copper-tinted foliage ; or, where space is obtainable, 
splendid broad, massive effects may be obtained. I once saw an 
instance of this where the shallow side of a lake—nearly 100 yards 
long, and of varying width—was covered with what appeared to 
be a rosy variety ot Nymphaea alba, and as the shore was suit¬ 
ably planted with bold groups of foliage shrubs the effect was 
grand ; its simplicity was its strength. In many places the 
anxiety to provide space for a large collection results in a curious 
muddle of colours. Where space is limited it is best to group 
several shades of a colour together, rather than mix up distinct 
colours indiscriminately. 
The cultivation of the Water Lily is now much better under¬ 
stood than formerly. Previously many wmuld-be growers failed 
because they sunk their plants in water far too deep ; this should 
vaiy front one and a-haif to three feet, or perhaps a little more 
for the strongest growers as they attain size. 
The best possible place for them is a piece of water that has 
only sufficient flowing into it to keep it at a regular height. Such 
water is far warmer than where a large stream flows through; 
while it is not so likely to become green and filthy as stagnant 
water. If made artificially the sides may, of course, vary in 
height, but should in some places be low and shelving; in these 
marshy spots the Japanese Ins and many other sub-aquatics will 
find a congenial home. 
In regard to soil, that used here is a good loam, with about a 
sixth part of spent Mushroom manure ; the vigorous foliage anJ 
the fioriferousness of the plant is a guarantee that it suits them. 
But to add soil is in many lakes and ponds quite unnecessary ; a 
good depth of suitable mud is there already, while a top dressing 
of leaves and silt is brought in by the floods of winter. 
If planted in a tank attending to them is a simple matter. 
But, as is sometimes the case, they have to be planted or divided 
in a pond where no boat is available, and it is not desirable tc 
lower the water, it becomes difficult to reach the work, and not 
easy to carry it out when you have done so. Wading boots are 
costly, and stir up a lot of mud, which disfigures the leaves. 
Perhaps the best arrangement is a. series of strong posts and rails 
just below the water level, on which a ladder can be laid, planks 
being placed on this. 
A description of some of the best varieties appeared in the, 
“ G. W.” for March 4th, but there are some others which arc 
very beautiful. The pink forms of Is. .odorata are exceptionally 
delicate in colour. N. carolimiana and its varieties have flower: 
of a good size, fragrant, starry, yet full. N. Chromatella and-Y 
Laycfekerii and its varieties are indispensable. Seignouretii i> 
rather variable, but when established often produces flowers of a 
rich red colour. 
The plants usually sold are small ; it is, therefore, often belie 1 
ficial to grow them for one season in tubs ; these are easily 
obtained by cutting paraffin casks in half and charring tin 
insides. Six inches c-f the above-mentioned soil will be sufficient 
to plant in. When transferring them to their permanent 1 
quarters, previously marked out in sunny parts of the pond, lift 
the whole mass out with shovels on to a piece of mat, and takm: 
this by the four corners sink it gently to the bottom. Planted in 
this way, I find the plants root into the soil, and become estab¬ 
lished in less time than when baskets are used in the orthodox 
manner. . ,, , , 
Propagation from seed and division, together with the be-t 
means of combating weeds and other pests, will form the subject 
of another paper if the Editor thinks it of sufficient interest.— 
[Certainly.— Ed.] ___ ' 
* * The pi ize last week in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to Harold J. Baker for his article on “Interest¬ 
ing Plants and their Pollination,” page 414. 
