May 28, 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
441 
Notes on Hardy Plants. 
Carnations.—Those which were planted in the open earlier 
l the year should now be making a, good growth, and will re- 
jire staking. For this purpose neat Willow stakes answer 
Jell for, when used in quantity, they are not prominent and at 
ie 'same time are sufficiently strong to support the flower- 
ems. Bast is the best material for tying, and this should 
ot be twisted round the stake, but tied loosely, so> that the 
Dikes do not become twisted, but are able to expand naturally. 
' any vacancies have occurred, owing to wireworm or other 
ruses, these should be filled up with those reserved in pots. 
dusting of soot should be given occasionally, in showery 
reather if possible, as this will be a check for slugs and other 
tests, and in dry weather good soakings of weak soot water 
•ill prove very beneficial. Keep the stems tied up as they 
equire it, and the hoe should be frequently used to stir the 
in-face soil and prevent it becoming hard. Pieces of Carrot 
hould still be 1 placed about in the bed to catcli wireworms. 
Hollyhocks.—For the back of herbaceous borders, in the 
lirubberies, or for massing in a. border by themselves, these 
terennials are exceedingly beautiful and useful, and one notices 
pith pleasure: that they are again growing largely in favour 
P ith the public. The double varieties, of which there are a 
lozen or more distinct colours, are undoubtedly the greatest 
avourites, and on this soil—a. heavy, cold clay—we find the 
oest results are obtained from plants treated as annuals. By 
treating them in this way the disease, which is unfortunately 
very destructive in many gardens, does not often appear if 
seed of a reliable: strain is obtained. If this was sown early 
in January the plants should now be' ready for planting out, if 
the operation lias not been already done, and ample space 
should be given bet,ween the plants, quite 6 ft. apart each way, 
to allow them to expand properly, as disease is sure to appear 
if they are overcrowded and plenty of light, and air cannot 
reach, them. Some fine ashes should be placed round each 
plant to prevent slugs eating theni off, and a damp over given 
in diy weather with a rose attached or a syringe. If the plants 
are liberally treated by being well mulched with rotten cow 
manure, and also well soaked with clear and liquid manure 
water, they should flower towards the end of the summer, and 
have reached a height of between 7 ft,, and 10 ft., and be well 
furnished with side-shoots. A light dusting of soot over the 
foliage should be given during the. growing season in showery 
weather, and every endeavour should be made to keep thei 
plants as healthy as possible. 
Pentstemons. —The shoots of these should be kept loosely 
tied up, and the surface soil stirred with the hoe to promote 
a, free growth. A dusting of some reliable artificial manure 
in showery weather and occasional soakings of weak soot, water 
will assist the plants to become strong and a good colour. On 
diy days the tops should be damped over either during early 
morning or evening with clear water. 
Violas. —Keep the old flowers and seed-pods picked off and 
the soil loosened, and the longest shoots will present a, neater 
appearance if they are lightly pegged down. Thin Spiraea 
sticks will do well for this if cut about 3 in. long. 
Gentiana verna. —This is one of the most, beautiful of the 
family, and for some time has been making a fine mass of 
colour on the rockery. Unfortunately, it cannot always be 
induced to grow and flower freely, but, this is generally owing 
to it not being planted in a favourable position. We find it 
succeed well in good loam, with a moderate amount of fine brick 
or mortar rubble added, and it should be given the hottest 
position in full sun. Plenty of water should be given during 
the growing season, but this should be able to pass away freely. 
Lithospermmn prostratum. —This is another most beautiful 
alpine, and when allowed to grow over a large rock it. is a 
striking picture during the latter part, of May. Given a, poor 
loam and plenty of sand it, should thrive in a sunny position. 
Plant between a, crevice of the rocks if possible 1 , SO' that the 
roots can he kept cool and moist. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. A. E. Thatcher. 
The Flower Garden. 
Of late years there has been a great increase in the c-ultivar 
tion of May-flowering Tulips, and well do they merit their 
increasing popularity, for few ether spring plants make such 
a, brave show outside, or last so loug in a .cut state. Many 
of the newer varieties are of great excellence, but somewhat 
expensive for the majority of gardens. A glance through the 
catalogues of some of the larger dealers will, however, reveal 
many excellent, sorts at reasonable prices. As mentioned 
above, these late Tulips are excellent for cutting cn, account 
cf their lasting qualities and long flower-stalks. Even if 
grown in small groups of a dozen or so in, positions: where the 
bulbs need not be taken up' after flowering, they will be found 
cf great value. Individual tastes differ greatly, and varieties 
are so numerous that it is 1 useless to give a, long list of names, 
but to follow the early varieties, Thomas Moore:, a well-known, 
variety, and Rose Luisan.te are excellent ; later still, elegans, 
retroflexa, Bouton d’Or, Parisian White, Picotee La Mer- 
veille, Harry Veitch, etc., will carry the display right on till 
the autumn flowers take their place. 
Preparations must now be made for bedding out in the: 
course of the next fortnight. The earliest flowering bulbs may 
be taken up and laid in ashes or other suitable material until 
thoroughly ripened. Arabis albida, Aubrietias, etc., may be 
divided up, if necessary, and planted in nursery beds for use 
again in autumn. 
Many of the half-hardy annuals may now he planted in their 
fiowering quarters, and all should be thoroughly hardened off 
before being put out. 
Hardy annuals of various kinds are now fit for thinning, and 
this should he done before the seedlings become overcrowded. 
Small stuff, such as Alternantheras, etc., required for carpet 
bedding may still be propagated, as such root readily at this 
season, and do not require to be of large size when planted out. 
Where tuberous Begonias are used for bedding, it is a usual 
and excellent, practice to sow a small quantity of seed annually ; 
the seedlings may be grown in moist heat for a time to en¬ 
courage growth, subsequently planting out in a frame or in 
fairly deep boxes where the best may be selected for future use. 
B. W. J. 
Seeds.* 
I have ventured to speak to you to-night upon a subject 
which is perhaps almost, beyond me, for it is one ot such 
magnitude that even if I were a learned professor in this in¬ 
terestin'* subject, it would make it, impossible for me to do 
more than give a brief sketch. My reason, gentlemen, for 
venturing on this subject is principally to raise discussion 
which will not only benefit the company, hut, benefit myself. 
It has struck me a.s rather remarkable that, in this enlightened 
aoe. I have not come across a book, or even a pamphlet, bear¬ 
in'* on this subject, alone, and, after all, the seed is the principal 
and first consideration of all gardeners. I myself (entirely 
apart from trade) have always taken a great interest in the 
many varieties and classes of seeds, hut have always ielt a 
thirst for information which has never yet, been, satisfied. 
The seed (as everyone knows) is that part of a plant vluch 
by bein'* sown gives rise to a new plant, and propagation is 
not only necessary if an increase be required, but it is also 
essential for the maintenance and vigour in our garden plants 
Firrt of all let, us touch on what is necessaiy for the successful, 
propagation of seeds, for which several conditions are necessary. 
First, we must see that the seeds have been perfectly ripened 
Second, that they have been; properly kept until the period of 
sowing. Third, that the seed be sown at a proper time and 
in a proper manner. . 
The: perfection of the seed can often he determined by the 
external and internal appearance, and in many cases: by specific 
gravity, their sinking or swimming in water being a g ood test, 
~TZ -ape^ead lx Ur.~ II. at a meeting of the 
Barnsley Paxton Society on Ma. 10. 
