THE GARDENING WORLD . 
February lo. 19U4. 
i3l 
September and October are the best months for planting, and 
when this is done a. good hole should be taken out with the 
spade of sufficient depth and breadth to allow the roots to be 
placed evenly around. Plant firmly, and place a stick to t ie 
plant to prevent its getting damaged. In the case of plants 
which are obtained in pots, it will be- necessary to keep them 
in the same until one can safely plant out in spring without 
fear of injury from frost. These will take a year to become 
established, and the second year a good show of flower should 
result; and if a good top-dressing of cow manure is given 
annually about this time little other attention, except thorough 
soakings of water, will be necessary. There is now a large 
number of varieties which provide an extensive range of 
colour, and when in full flower these are not surpassed in 
beauty by any other shrubs. If one procures plants direct 
from Japan, these will need to be carefully handled, and on 
arrival should be syringed with water which has had the chill 
taken off. They should then be placed in shallow boxes, allow- 
incr til© roots* plenty of room, and stood in a shed or similai 
place where no sun can reach them. Damp over with the 
syringe every day, but only keep the soil just moist, and when 
planting out prepare the ground as before advised, but shake 
some fine soil round the roots'. Excellent results can be ob¬ 
tained from these plants. A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Tomatos.—Late autumn-sown plants should now be' making 
good progress, and as the days lengthen, when we may reason¬ 
ably expect more sunshine, the growths' will assume a, more 
healthy appearance, and much less difficulty will be found m 
setting the fruits than has hitherto been the case. Each flower 
should be carefully fertilised daily as it opens, the atmo¬ 
spheric conditions of the house should be kept dry, and the 
plants must in no case be over-watered. After a. fair crop 
of fruit is ensured weak doses of manure water should be 
given every alternate watering and all lateral growths re¬ 
moved, exposing tire fruits as much as possible to- the light. 
Maintain a temperature of about GO deg., rising to 70 deg. on 
bright days. Successional plants should be potted on in a 
fairly light, porous compost as they require it. The soil should 
be nicely warmed, and the work performed in the house in 
which they are growing, so that no chill, which will certainly 
mean a, check, be' given them. Each, plant should be staked, and 
assign to them a position as near the glass a.s circumstances 
will allow. Make another small sowing of a good variety in 
heat. 
Capsicums and Chillies.—Many of these when well cultivated 
are extremely ornamental as well as 1 useful, and to ensure 
good plants well laden with fruit next autumn the seed should 
be sown at once and raised in beat. 
Shallots.—If not already planted lose no time in doing so, 
as these always do much better when got in early, being per¬ 
fectly hardy. These may be. cultivated on the same site for 
many years with the best results, providing it is annually 
enriched with good farmyard manure, and the ground is deeply 
worked. Plant in rows 1 ft, apart and 10 in. from plant to 
plant, just leaving the crowns above the surface. 
Parsnips.-—February is the best month for sowing, providing 
the land can be got in a workable condition. The' ground 
should be well trenched, but no manure applied. Land that 
has been occupied with Celery I prefer to any other, which 
should be got in readiness some time during the autumn or 
very early in the new year. Much, of course', will depend on 
the nature of the soil, but in any case fine weather should be 
chosen for sowing and during the first part of the day. When 
it is intended to sow, point over the surface with the fork and 
rake down to a fine tilth ; drills should be drawn about If in. 
in depth, and the rows 18 in. apart. Sow thinly, and rake 
down neatly and tidily. When extra fine specimens are required 
for exhibition, except in a very few favoured places, extra care 
will have to be bestowed to> produce them. Good holes will 
have to be bored to a depth of 4 ft. to 5 ft.; 20 in. should be 
allowed from hole to hole, and 2 ft. between the rows, which 
should be filled in with a mixture of finely-sifted soil, nothing 
being better than old potting soil for the purpose; failing 
this, loam of a light texture, leaf-soil, and road grit in equal 
proportion, adding one peck of wood ashes and a little fresh 
soot, which will make a suitable mixture. Pass the whole 
through a -|--in. mesh sieve, and thoroughly mix. This should 
be pressed firmly into the holes when in a moderately dry 
condition, and the seed sown at a depth of If in., which should 
be covered immediately with fine road sand. This I have found 
to be a great preventive against rust or canker. Though this 
may appear to entail a lot of labour, it will well repay the 
trouble, and the finest examples may be produced on any kind 
of land, providing it has been well drained. 
Any of last season’s roots which are still in the ground 
should be lifted by the end of the month or quite the beginning 
of March, and stored in sand or ashes under a. north wall, when 
they will last in good condition for a long time. 
Digging and Trenching.—This should now be pushed for¬ 
ward with all possible speed. Owing to the unusually exces¬ 
sive rainfall, heavy soil especially will be all the better for 
not being worked before this date. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Moschosma riparium. 
This plant, recently shown at the Drill Hall, is really a. most 
valuable addition to the garden. 
It was introduced to Hew a few years ago from Central 
Africa, and visitors to the gardens there have been struck with 
its usefulness when it has been arranged with other plants to 
such advantage in the greenhouse. One of its most useful 
points is that it comes into flower just when it' seems most 
needed—viz., just after the Chrysanthemums are over, and 
before the spring flowers come in. 
It. is especially useful for Christmas decoration, being so 
light and graceful that it can be used with advantage with 
almost anything. In habit it is very like Spiraea. Astilboides, 
but taller and more spreading, and it. also lasts longer in a 
suitable temperature, remaining in flower for quite six weeks, 
and when cut and placed in water will last three weeks by 
cutting the end off the stem of the inflorescence at intervals. 
The leaves are ovate, and possess a.curious scent, which to 
some is agreeable', and to others the reverse. The stems and 
petioles are of a glutinous nature. It. grows to a height of about 
3 ft., and, when arranged with Poinsettias, the brilliant red 
shows off to perfection against the feathery lightness of the 
Moschosma.. It also associates with the blue Coleus tliyr- 
soideus in a very pleasing manner, and when arranged with 
Calanthe Veitchii the effect is charming. 
The plant is of fairly easy culture, provided it has attention 
at the proper time. 
The cuttings should be struck in March in some very sandy 
soil in a warm pit, and a.s soon as they are well rooted should 
he potted off into small pots and placed in a. temperature of 
about 60 deg. to 65 deg - ., and near the glass. About, the middle 
of April, and when well rooted into 4f in. pots, they should be 
given a lower temperature, about 55 deg. suiting them and 
keeping in full sun. They should be stopped so as to' take up 
four main shoot®, which will branch out. and make a. graceful 
plant. The final potting should be into 7-in. pots, and should 
be done in July, using a. soil consisting of half good fibrous 
loam, one-quarter good leaf-soil, and one-quarter coarse sand 
and spent Mushroom manure in equal parts. 
After June a cold greenhouse or pit will suit them, syringing 
when bright, and closing up in the afternoon, and opening 
again and leaving ventilation on all night. About. October 
they should be given a temperature of about 55 deg., never 
lower than 50 deg., and always maintain a nice buoyant at¬ 
mosphere. They will benefit by frequent applications of 
manure-water when growing, but during November and after 
clear water only should be afforded them, as the flower spikes 
will then begin to' open. Kewite. 
