July 16,1904. THE GARDENING WORLD. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Statice3. —Plants bearing blue bowers do not receive that 
shares of attention at the hands of present-day gardeners that 
they should do-, and, having in view the popularity of them 
with most flower-lovers, it is to be regretted. A decade or two 
ago the Statices were extensively grown in most collections of 
greenhouse plants, and they added a charm unsurpassed by 
few other subjects. The: natural habitat of these plants is 
ngar the seashore, many of the species emanating from the 
Canary Islands. 
The cultivation is not by any means difficult, and their pro¬ 
pagation is readily effected by cuttings or seeds. The first- 
nauied method is that generally adopted, but I have raised 
numbers of plants varying in form and colour of flowers by 
sowing home-saved seed as soon as quite ripe. The best place 
in which to strike' cuttings is a half-spent hot-bed, and the pots 
should be plunged nearly to their rims in the material. Half- 
ripened side-shoots may be inserted at any time dux-ing spring 
and summer in a. mixture of light loam, peat, and leaf soil, 
adding plenty of sharp silver sand. Dibble the cuttings near 
the sides of the pot, and cover with a bell glass or hand 
light until rooted, when they may be potted off singly and 
grown on freely on light stages or shelves in the temperate 
house. By another year they will make nice plants for flower¬ 
ing in the conservatory. 
Clerodendron fallax. —This handsome stove shrub requires 
liberal treatment, and those plants that are throwing up 
flowers should be fed regularly with liquid manure' from the 
farmyard, alternated with guano or some other fertiliser. 
Later struck plants or seedlings raised this year will be ready 
for a shift onwards into larger pots, and when these are well 
filled with healthy roots, apply weak lhanure' water. It fre¬ 
quently happens that these late plants produce good spikes' of 
flowers late in autumn, when they are' much appreciated. 
Gloriosa superba. —Attend closely to the lying of the shoots 
of this handsome climbing plant as growth advances, or the 
tendinis at the extremities of the leaves will attach themselves 
to other plants near by, and much harm will accrue in re¬ 
moving them. Feed liberally from this time until in full 
blossom, when clear waiter only should be given. 
Epiphyllums. — These are among the most showy and useful 
winter flowering plants for the temperate house. Growth will 
be by now completed, and the plants should be removed to' 
cooler and sunnier quarters in order to ripen the wood ; on this 
depends in great measure a wealth of bright blossoms. Any 
cool, dry structure will suit them, but. they should be placed 
'.within a foot or two of the roof glass if possible-. Replace : n 
the stove early in September. 
Carnations. — Assuming that the plants intended for pro¬ 
viding layers or cuttings have been partially hardened by 
placing in a cool, airy house or pit, the Malmaisons may be 
layered, and cuttings of the tree type inserted. If the 
growths are soft and drawn, as sometimes happens when the 
plants have stood among other subjects in the conservatory 
whilst in bloom, they do 1 not root so readily as when half ripe. 
It is unnecessary in this note for me to' direct how the work 
should bei performed, as Carnation layering is so simple. 
Suffice it to say that Malmaisons are best layered in a frame 
that has been utilised for early Cucumbers, or for propagating 
bedding plants. Six inches of good soil should be put into the 
frame, that saved from the potting bench answering very well, 
with the addition of some sand and old mushroom bed material 
l passed through a half-inch sieve. 
Keep the plants shaded on hot days, shutting up and 
| syringing early in the afternoon in order to hasten the forma- 
tion of roots. When rooted nicely, lift and pot up and aim at 
S inducing unchecked growth. Maintain a free circulation of 
arr about the plants to- ensure sturdy growth that will pass 
through the winter well. “ K. M. 
Readers’ Competition.—P articulars of weekly prize see 
centre page. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
Seasonable Work. — Now that the large majority of flower¬ 
ing trees and shrubs are over, and an amount of summer 
growth has been made, it will be necessary to pay consider¬ 
able attention to pruning, and this is of far more importance 
than many suppose. Few parts of the garden present a more 
untidy and neglected-looking appearance than the shrubbery 
if the pruning is noifc annually attended to, and, in addition, 
it is impossible to grow, well-shaped, evenly-balanced speci¬ 
mens. if all are allowed to- grow as they please. The aim 
of every cultivator should bei to have a clear space for each 
shrub to- grow in, and only by this and judicious knifing can 
perfect specimens be obtained, providing, of course, that at¬ 
tention was given to drainage and working the soil before 
planting. One far too often sees shrubberies which seldom 
receive any attention whatever, and yet they can be made 
as beautiful and interesting as any other part. Where shrubs 
and trees are allowed to- grow closely together, and no attempt 
is made to- thin them out. or prune sufficiently hard, it soon] 
becomes a dense mass of little or no- beauty, and many, if 
not all, of the shrubs are spoiled for ever. When planting a 
shrubbery border, sufficient space should be allowed between 
each fer them to develop, but a certain amount, of transplant¬ 
ing will have to be done annually before they can be perma- 
nently left to fully develop-. Now is a good time to look over 
the borders' and mark any which will have to co-me- out later 
ca this year, as this can easily be seen now the leaf is on; 
but it. is difficult to- know which require moving when the leaf 
is off. 
Summer pruning will have to- be done largely now, and, if 
possible, this is best done with a knife, except with such as. 
the Common Privet, which can be done with a pair of shears. 
Many of _the spring and early summer flowering shrubs can 
be cut fairly hard back, which will include such as Syringas, 
Prunus, Philadelphus, etc. Hedges of Yew, Holly, Laurel, and 
the like should be kept well clipped, as this induces them 
to make a close growth, and keeps them well in shape. 
As the diy, hot weather continues, it will be necessary to 
water any of the choicer shrubs and those which have been 
replanted, as the ground is opening badly, and serious injury 
may result if the roots are not kept- moist. A syringe over 
the foliage will also do much good in the evening, and every 
endeavour should be made to keep the shrubs in a growing, 
healthy condition. 
Veronica Xraversii. —At this season this Veronica is quite 
one of the best flowering shrubs, and, being the hardiest, is 
the best for general cultivation. It is evergreen, with dark 
green leaves, and is quite covered during July with numberless 
spikes of white flowers, which makes it a good shrub for 
bedding, being about 4 ft. in height, free growing, and with 
a, compact habit. A fairly light, well-drained soil will suit it 
be-st, and, although it may be called hardy, a sheltered posi¬ 
tion is the best, as I have seen strong plants killed when the 
glass' fell below zero. The variety of this named ro-busta is 
larger in, all its parts, and is, perhaps, more showy when in 
flower, but not so- neat in other respects. 
Rubus canadensis roseiis. This is one of the bes-t Brambles 
for general cultivation, and, as it succeeds in poor, stony soil, 
it is. of great advantage for covering banks, unsightly parts, 
etc. It has. large, handsome foliage, and clusters of pink 
flowers a,n inch or more across. 1 or massing in the wilderness 
or woodland it is also very fine, and very pleasing - effects can 
be obtained by planting good-sized beds. To. retain it in a 
pleasing condition the stems should be partially or wholly 
pruned every year when the leaves have fallen. It is easily 
increased by the numerous suckers, and, of course, succeeds 
much better if the ground is worked before planting. 
Amygdalus orientalis. —Little appears to be known at pre¬ 
sent of this beautiful Peach, hut I am sure it will become a 
favourite with lovers of hardy trees and shrubs on account 
of its distinctive appearance from all others. It is a fairly 
quick' grower, and appears to be perfectly hard}-, a- it has 
