450 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
May 28, 1904. 
insignificant plant, but what it lacks in this is made up when 
it exhale® its sweet fragrance in the evening. Violas are 
noted as much for their continuity in flowering as for their 
bright and charming blossoms, but whilst there are those who 
give them place in their beds and borders, fail to apprehend 
that they are of much value in a window box, where room 
can only be found for plants of a, dwarf character. Just as 
prodigal with their blossoms are the trailing Campanulas', and 
are specially attractive for covering the front of a. box ; C. 
isophylla, both the blue and white, and C. Mayii should not 
be overlooked. Nor need the window-sill look anything but 
cheerful in the autumn—and herein lies the advantage of 
growing plants in pots that may be changed as occasion, re¬ 
quires'—for in Chrysanthemums we have numbers that in, Sep 1 - 
tember and October will give a flush of beauty that is un¬ 
equalled in any other flower. Those of a dwarf habit should 
be selected, such as Lucksby (yellow), Anastasie (light, purple), 
Ruby King (ruby red), Mytchett (pink and white), and God¬ 
frey’s Pet (yellow). 
And in the darkest days of winter,-when our gardens possess 
but little charm, shrubs at least will add a little interest 
to a window until the first gleams of spring sunshine bring 
into, loveliness the earliest of the bulbs planted months before. 
W. F. 
Herbaceous Calceolarias. 
Those requiring plants for early flowering must begin with 
a sowing this month; the end of June will be early enough 
for the main and final sowing, this often producing the 
strongest and most robust plants. 
Seed should be sown in well-drained pots or pans, using a 
light, sandy compost, pressed firmly, and making the surface 
quite smooth. Before sowing, water with a, fine-rosei can. The 
seed is very small, therefore will require careful handling. 
Choose a quiet spot for the operation, as the slightest draught 
will blow the seed away. Distribute the seed evenly over the 
surface, covering with a. dusting of fine soil. Place, a sheet 
of glass over each pan, and on the top of this place some damp 
moss to cheek rapid evaporation. The pots or pans may be 
placed in the shady part of a vinery to induce quick germina¬ 
tion, which would take place in about eight days from the 
time of sowing. As soon as the. seedlings are through they 
will require attention by removing to. a cool and more airy 
structure. When large enough to handle, commence pricking 
them out into, pots or pans, allowing 11- in. between each plant. 
Shading is of great importance, and from the time the first 
seedling makes its appearance never allow the plants to 
become dry. Give frequent sprinklings of rain-water. In 
about a month the plants will be ready for their first shift 
into thumb pots; these will require careful crocking. A good 
rich porous soil is best, to use, consisting of good yellow loam ; 
prefer that which has been stacked for a season, adding 
leaf-soil, with a good proportion of silver sand. After potting, 
remove to a, cold frame, giving air on all favourable occasions. 
About the beginning of September the plants will have 
reached 4-in. pots,, in, which they should winter. Always keep, 
them cool ; the more air that can safely be given the better, 
not using fire heat, as long as the temperature can be main¬ 
tained at 45 deg. Keep a sharp lookout for green fly, so> 
troublesome to the plants. Growth will commence early in, 
March; they will now require their final shift into 8-in., pots. 
If extra large specimens are required, a few of the largest 
plants may be potted into 10-in. pots, using a good rich, at, 
the same time a porous compost, which must be pressed 
firmly, but, not overdone. Keep the plants growing steadily 
and cool; a light airy greenhouse would now suit them, 
admirably. 
Calc„eolaria,s have been much improved of late years by 
careful crossdertilisation of the finest types, and will thrive 
under intelligent treatment; they are quick in resenting 
neglect or careless treatment. Extreme variations of temperar 
ture are injurious and will often prove fatal ; therefore, to 
obtain satisfactory returns, scrupulous attention must b 
given them and will amply repay the cultivator. 
Wm. Jas. Pextox. 
Studley Castle Gardens', May 12, 1904. 
An Ornamental Bed. 
Soane years ago several large beds were made on the law: 
here and planted with Rhododendrons', which grew well, an, 
when in flower were very much admired. 
It was thought, however, that when out of flower the bed 
looked somewhat dull and uninteresting, so- it was decided b 
take the largest and most prominent in hand, and bv tin 
addition of various ornamental trees and shrubs to- add colour 
and by so doing to make it more bright and attractive. 
The Rhododendrons were severely thinned by taking plant 
out here and there and planting them elsewhere. Those lef 
were trimmed iq> a little. The whole bed was them dottec 
over with standard Acer Negundo variegatum, Prunus Pis 
sardii, C-ornus in, variety, Golden Elms,, and Privet, with s-trow 
plants of Crimson Rambler Rose, Helianthus Miss Hellish 
and a few other bright herbaceous- plants. 
Near the margin at intervals were planted American, Azalea 
in mass, also single specimens of Acer palmatum, the varied 
atropurpureum being especially handsome; Skimmia fragrans 
Andromeda floribunda (the young shoots of this is a loveh 
colour at this time of the year), dwarf Golden Privet, Ceano 
thus azure us, and Hydrangea, paniculata. The whole bed war 
then dotted over 1 with Daffodils in clumps of the various sorts. 
In summer, round the margin, Pelargonium Henri Jacoby, 
edged with Pyrethrum Golden Feather, is- usually planted 
the Pyrethrum generally being left after the Pelargoniums are 
lifted till the bedding season comes round again, when it is 
replaced by younger plants. 
It, will thus be seen that the bed is now always bright with 
foliage. There is also a quantity of bloom for the greater 
part, of the year. J. R. Allan. 
.Ashurst Park Gardens. 
Primroses and Polyanthuses. 
The extraordinary floriferousness of these plants this year, 
both fin Nature and under cultivation, is common comment. 
By “ Polyanthuses in Nature” I refer to the “ many-flowered '’ 
Primula veris, which is abundant yet, even in brick-and-mortar 
Middlesex. In. many places I have remarked these beaut,ifu 11 
border Primulas, but in none more particularly than in the 
Royal Gardens, Kew. Here they vie with the gardens at 
Hampton Court. At least one large bed near the Palm stove 
is, or has been, a cynosure. I have never seen the like at Kew i 
before. These plants appear more like Primroses at first, but 
ultimately develop into full-blown Polyanthuses. These are 
evidently garden hybrids, and range in colour from pure white, 
parsing through various shade® to dark rich crimson. More¬ 
over, the plants, were of great size, and some possessed quite 
500 or 600 flowers. The numbers, of course, are only approxi¬ 
mate, and were arrived at by multiplying the trusses or umbels 
with the average number of pips. If to this be added the same 
number of plants, one can easily conceive the value of such a, 
bed for decorative purposes. 
The verge round this bed was worn with admirers, and yet 
I heard one lady say : “ I don’t like these flowers y I never did.” 
There is no accounting for individual idiosyncrasies. There 
are many such who go to Kew and who are unable—like this 
lady—to' see wonderful floral effects even when their attention 
is directed to them. However, this grand display of hybrid 
Primroses must have given peculiar satisfaction to large 
numbers of persons, for the general tone of exclamation was 
highly refined. 
In suburban gardens it is a good plan to rely on seedlings, 
which should be put, into their places early in the autumn. 
Stools which have been divided are, in smoky areas, too much 
dependent on the ensuing summer conditions. C. B. G. 
