408 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 14, 1904. 
of glass may bei had in bloom during March, and might be 
used for giving variety in the greenhouse or conservatory a.t 
that early period of the year at a very trifling cost. In the 
open border the plants grow much stronger after being estab¬ 
lished than, the specimen which we illustrate. Quite 'small 
bulbs will flower with stems only 3 in. high, but well-estab¬ 
lished plants grow 18 in. high with larger flowers:, usually in 
pairs. 
f rhe species is sometimes imported by mistake under the 
name of F. Elwesii, but the latter has quite a. different appear- 
anc-e from that represented in our illustration. Here it will 
be noted that the leaves are flat., the lower pair being opposite 
and the uppermost three or four in a whorl under the flower. 
In F. Elwesii the leaves are linear, nearly erect, deeply grooved 
or channelled on the upper face, and scattered throughout the 
length of the stem. In the form of the flower, the shape and 
arrangement of the leaves, F. ponbica is, therefore, a very 
different, plant from F. Elwesii. 
The pot specimen, from which our illustration was prepared, 
was supplied us by Messrs. Wm. Cutbush and Son, Highgate, 
London, who have- been very energetic- in recent years in get¬ 
ting a collection of hardy plants together. 
Slugs and How to Keep Them Under. 
To think of exterminating these out of the garden is out 
of the question ; it would be a blessing could this be done. Ac¬ 
cordingly, the cultivator has to adopt the next- best, thing- 
namely, to adopt measures to keep them in check. This, in¬ 
volves a, continual warfare, and, unless persevered in, they 
will get. the upper hand and ruin many things. 
In some soils and localities they are far more abundant than 
others. Where I operate (West of England) they are a big 
foe. Devonshire is noted for them, and some years ago a 
gentleman residing at Newton Abbott told me he could not 
grow a Delphinium and things -of this nature: in, the -open for 
them. We hear so: much about, the birds and the: good they do 
in destroying them. Surely this idea, is carried too- far, or 
how is it we have them in such abundance, seeing the country 
abounds with birds of almost, every kind, and this, during 
winter, seeing the: mild, moist state of the climate seldom locks 
up the .soil and surrounding haunts, so that, they can obtain 
food in frosty weather? 
I once resided on a. light soil in North Hants for eleven 
years, and on a soil of the same kind in West Norfolk for t.wo 
or three years, and we see more of these pests here in a. year 
than we should in either of those: places in hal-f-ardozen years. 
This convinces: me that light, rough soil is most detrimental 
to them, and they cannot increase so much. 
During the past two years these have had a good innings, and 
this many can verify from the trouble they have caused in 
destroying their crops. Last year I know many that lost the 
greater portion of their -Chrrots, Beet, Lettuces:, and Brassicas 
of all kinds, to say nothing of Peas and a h-ost of things in the 
flower garden; and, according to: present prospects-, this spring 
promises nothing better. Accordingly, everyone should 
give the greatest attention to preparing the soil and providing 
material to keep them in check. 
When I took charge of this garden fifteen years a.go they 
were a terror to me the first two seasons, but n-ow they are 
nothing so numerous. This arises from our using all available 
means to keep them down. I am convinced that much may 
be done by thought when preparing the land for certain crops 
■* and at 'Sowing time. 
After a winter like the past extra, care must b-ei taken in 
working down the soil previous to s-owing many crops, and I 
would rather take extra precautions than sow two or three 
times. -Should the: soil be -so rough and ungenial, rather than 
cover the seed with, rough, lumpy soil I should provide material 
such as o-ld potting soil, burnt earth, ashes with a. little. fresh 
lime (or any material that can be made light, and fine), all 
mixed together, covering the seed with this. It is astonishing 
how rapidly this can be d-one with the soil in a harrow, throw¬ 
ing it in the drills. In this way the seed has a fine seed-bed, 
and, added to this, there are no- lumps for them to secrete 
themselves under. Should it be necessary to make extra pre¬ 
vision. just before the seeds appear, a. coating of rough cinder 
ashes, material from a smother fire, or, failing these, lime and 
soot, may be used, throwing a c-oat over the rows. 
When the soil is so. rough the slugs hide under them, often 
eating off the plants before they come through the ground. I 
have both had and seen in other gardens numerous instances of 
this, and could name many. Only last year I was visiting a 
neighbouring garden, and the chief said to- me he could not get 
the: Broccoli and things of this kind to come- up, and he, being 
a young man, I asked to see the beds, when I found by re¬ 
moving the small lump- of soil the slugs had eaten them off 
just under them, and the lime he had dusted them with had 
no effect. Two- years ago one of the best kitchen gardeners I 
know lost, his crop of Beet, from his man leaving the soil the 
same. 
In our garden we make a. rule to provide a large heap of 
material from a fire we keep going all through the first half 
of the year. Having a, large amount of rubbish from garden 
and shrub pruning^ from our pleasure grounds, when we have 
a go-od body of fire we keep this going by covering with useless 
soil or rubbish of any kind. In. this, way we: get many cart¬ 
loads during the: year. We make a point to keep it dry. 
When our seed-beds: are finished we throw a coat of this over 
the soil, making it level. In this there is a large portion of 
charcoal; this being rough, the slugs cannot travel over it. 
When sowing winter S-pinaoh or plant ing winter Cabbage this 
is: done, and fo-r years I have not had trouble with these crops. 
Should the weather be very wet, then, we throw a coating of 
cinder ashes from the garden fireis over it,. During this winter 
I could but no,the how few slugs were to be seen on these crops, 
and after our maim cro-p- of Carrots came off the charcoal 
was much in. evidence on. the surface of the soil. Added to 
this theisiei are great stimulants. 
Wherever the soil is heavy and lime can be had, it would 
be wise to dig in a good coating, leaving the soil rough for a 
time, then working all together. Lime is much used to dust 
the young plants, likewise so oh; but, both of these soon lose 
their effect with continuous radofliS, and I have seen it used so 
excessively that the-soil was, coated, and these wo-uld run over 
it. Added to- this, by its abundant use the.plants are choked 
and soil also-. Far better use a coating of ro-ugh cinder ashes: 
these remain in this state, and the slugs do not care to crawl 
-over it,. In so doing they get their slime off -o-n the hits of 
cinder and soon. die. 
There are a dozen, chickens ini an adjoining, place to our 
kitchen garden, a,nd during the winter these, are allowed an 
hour’s run night and morning over the garden., and it is 
astonishing hov they frequent, places- where slugs', etc., 
abound. Chard. 
Tydaeas. 
Hybrid varieties of the ab-o-ve are sho-wy subjects for the 
stove o-r intermediate house; the plants are much more com¬ 
pact than formerly, being dwarf a,s well as floriferou-s. Similar 
treatment to that afforded the Achimene-s appear to suit these. 
Last autumn we took several cuttings and looted them in heat, 
and kept them gently moving through the winter, with the re 
suit that in early April we had nice plants in full flower in pots 
5J in. in diameter. Seed sown in February and well cared 
for comes intoi blo-om towards the middle of August, and are 
much admired, and though pinching of the young plants has 
not been resorted to, I can >see no reason why they should not 
respond to that treatment, and intend giving it a trial this 
season. Six-inch p-ots are large enough to grow good decorative 
stuff, and when the po-ts are full of roots a weekly supply of 
an approved stimulant for Gloxinia,s will be found to- suit 
Tydaeas. When in flower keep the plants dry overhead, as 
the individual flowers quickly damp if much moisture settles 
on them. J- M. 
