April 30, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
357 
The Flower Garden. 
Continuing the notes of a, fortnight ago on spring-flowering 
plants, one isi struck with the free-flowering qualities of 
Anemone Pulsatilla, often; called the “ Pasque Flower.” This 
plant, is found wild in places 1 , but under cultivation the plants 
are stronger and flower more profusely. It is an excellent 
plant, for* beds or borders, the; pretty lilac flowers making a 
nice change from the blue and yellow shades so; prevalent in 
spring-flowering plants 1 . To increase the stock of Anemone 
Pulsatilla the plants may be lifted and divided after flowering, 
but probably the best results are got by planting in positions 
where they can remain permanently. 
One of the brightest patches of colour in, the flower garden 
at present is a, group of the scarlet Windflower, Anemone ful- 
gens. The roots of this species may be planted in, autumn in 
beds or borders of moist loamy soil, a; tine show resulting in 
spring. 
Anemone eoronaria, is now showing flower freely, and will 
shortly make a fine; display. There are many varieties of this; 
species, and the colours, vary through red, white and purple 
or blue. The roots: may be planted at the same time and in 
the same way as Anemone fulgens ; but the latter come® into 
flower a, few weeks earlier. Of bulbous! plants; following the 
earliest Scillas and Chiouodoxas we have several beautiful 
species of Muscari. One of the best-known and prettiest, -isi 
Muscari botryoide®, which produce® spike® of blue flower®, ' 
growing about 9 in. high. Another useful specie® is Muscari 
coniicumJ somewhat, resembling the former and at present a 
mass of dark blue flowers;. 
Muscari armeniacum isi one of the best and most useful, 
flowering rather later than the above pair; the, spikes of in¬ 
tense dark blue flowers are very effective. Tliei Muscari® may 
be planted in beds; or borders of any good garden soil, but, like 
many other bulbous plants, they benefit by not being taken 
up yearly. In positions such as the margins of shrubberies or 
under deciduous shrub® they will make a, fine show every 
spring. 
An excellent annual, not ®oi often seen as it might he, i® the 
single form of the China Aster, viz., Callistephus hortensis ; 
young plants may be raised in the usual way and planted out 
later, but seed.® may also be sown in the open at present. In 
good soil the plants attain a height of from 15 in. to 18 in., 
and produce abundance of flowers! of a pink or lilac, colour. 
B. W. J. 
Notes on Hardy Plants. 
-Nymphaeas — There isi no other genus of aquatic plant® 
which has received so much attention from the hybridist a® 
this during recent years, and there are certainly no water plants 
which are more greatly admired. They are so easily cultivated, 
too*, that anyone can grow them, whether a stream exists in 
the garden or not, but, the best results 1 are, of course, obtained 
from a stream or pond reserved specially for their culture, 
and if this is a gently running one so, much the better. There 
are two enemies which Water Lilies have to fight against, the 
one being rats, and the other pond weeds, both of which must 
lie kept down, or the result® will be disappointing'. The best 
way I know to guard against these is to have a, pond constructed 
with a concrete bottom, and though this may be a little more 
expensive at first, one will be well repaid afterward®. We 
have for some year® cultivated a, collection in a, pond of this 
■ ort, and no trouble from pests has accrued. It is necessary 
to build brick pockets in which to place the soil, and holes 
should be, left at the sides so that water is able to, pass through. 
A® to what depth of water Nymphaeas should be, planted in 
there seems to he a. difference of opinion, but we have attained 
excellent results in, the depth® I give below. 
I or the common white variety alba, and its two forms, ean- 
d id is si m a and plenissimn, we have found from 6 ft. to, 8 ft. of 
water none too much, and for the centre, or in deep water 
these, three are excellent, the two, latter having immense white 
flowers. For the Marliaceia, type and similar varieties, such as 
tuberosa, odoraita, Laydekeri, earoliniana, Seigno-uretii and 
Rob-insoni, from 2£ ft. to 3 ft. is not too, deep. I consider it 
a mistake to plant these strong-growing kinds in about 18 in. 
of water, as is often advised, and I am well satisfied that the 
plants much prefer the depth mentioned above. They are 
then able to expand and develop properly, and are also secure 
from fffeist. For the varieties pygmaea and p. helveola 1 ft. 
to, 18 in. of water is sufficient, as these are very small growers 
and well suited for cultivating in tubs or pans. 
The beat time for planting Nymphaeas is from the middle 
till the end of April, just as the young growth is commencing. 
If the plants are received from a nursery they will, in all pro¬ 
bability, b© small and should be placed in punnets or small 
baskets and, laid in shallow water till nicely rooted, after which 
place in a larger basket and stand in their permanent, position. 
Any old basket will answer for this purpose, as it will rot after 
a time when, the plant is rooted into 1 the bed of the; stream. 
No special soil is at any time necessary, and nothing suit® them 
better than rich, dark clay. 
The Marliaceia type are among the best, being good growers- 
and free powering. A few more very excellent, sort® are: N. 
ellisiana, N. aurora, N. exquisite, N. glorio-sa, N. andreana 
and N. fulva. 
Aponogeton distachyon. — At the present, time this, is quite 
the most, conspicuous plant in the water garden, and I think it, 
would be more largely cultivated if better known. It, corned 
into flower at, the end of March and continues till the autumn, 
and these are pure white with black spots in the centre. It isi 
commonly called' the Cape Hawthorn, the flowers being de¬ 
liciously scented. The cultivation is; the same asi that advised 
for Nymphaeas, except, that division, should be done in early 
spring, and it, should not be planted in, water more than 18 in. 
deep. 
Thei Dutch Hoe should now be frequently used among all 
growing plants:, which will greatly assist them in going away 
freely and also; destroy weeds. Violas should have the flowers 
picked off until they become established, and a dusting of soot 
in showery weather will be beneficial to these and early-flower¬ 
ing Chrysanthemums. A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldenham House Gardens 1 , Elstree. 
Grape Thinning. 
The season is, here or almost when the general run of Grape 
grower® will be turning their attention to the thinning of the 
berries and bunches. This operation is one of the most im¬ 
portant in Grape culture, and many a good bunch of Grape® 
is spoilt, by being badly thinned. It require® great, care and 
practice to thin, a, bunch of Grapesi properly, no matter what,- 
variety it may be, and I trust a. few words may be of use to 
readers of our valuable paper. 
In, the first instance, the- fools which one- has: to work with, 
should be considered. The scissor® should always; be kept 
clean, bright, and well sharpened, especially at the- ends of 
the blade,, which part, ha® to do the most cutting; and so 
that the bunch need not be touched by the hand, a pointed 
stick should be kept, handy, and this can b-e used to turn tliei 
bunch in, any position. The time, to start thinning a, bunch 
is when the berries are about the size of small peas, but this 
must be judged according to the variety and the way the 
bunch ha,si “ set.” Some of the Hamburghs set very thickly, 
and no time should be lost, in getting to work on, these, or 
the, berries; may swell quickly and render the operation diffi¬ 
cult. The Muscat varieties do, not always set, so thickly as 
some, and care should be, taken not, to, thin, too much, or the 
bunch will never fill up. Start thinning at the bottom of the 
bunch, holding it firm with the stick, and remove most- of the 
inside berries, leaving enough to keep- the bunch from, falling 
flat, when laid on, the- dessert, dish. Do not take all the berries, 
out the first time of thinning, but chiefly those that are small 
or badly set. Always leave the berries that are at the point 
of each stalk, and especially those on the shoulders, as nothing 
