592 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 23, 1904, 
Adiantum macrophyllum albo-striatum. 
This iis a truly unique Fern, forming an exception, to all 
others by the several colours seem at, one time in a single 
plant. The fronds when young are of a rose-pink shade. They 
then gradually develop 1 with age to pale green, when the pinnae 
are also blotched and striped with white. The stalks are of a. 
dark chestnut-brown. 
Adiantum maorophyllusi originally belongs to' the West 
Indies. The variety albo 'striatum, however, found birth in 
ai provincial nursery among a> batch of seedlings in 1889. 
Although the spores are said toi be highly fertile, and a good 
means of reproduction, sul>divisdon seems easier under most 
circumstances, and is certainly surer urder any. 
Small plants of this variety have a greater appearance than 
larger 1 ones. When, grown in 3-in. and 4-in. pots—4-in. prefer¬ 
ably—they are exquisite, to say nothing of their extraordinary 
usefulness either for purposes of edging or for genera! deco¬ 
rative utility. 
The plants grow quickly when given proper treatment, which 
is similar to most other species of Adiantums—Maidenhairs foir 
instance—though not relishing so cool a temperature ag 
the example often experiences during the resting season. A 
warm and moist atmosphere is, appropriate to its healthy de¬ 
velopment. 
The natural exuberance and the remarkable blending shades 
of the fronds make the variety deserving of a higher place ini 
the fernery than it at present occupies. 
James P. Dickson. 
Making New Strawberry Plantations. 
As the time of preparation for new plantation® is at hand, a 
few remark® upon the subject will not, be inopportune. Differ¬ 
ence of opiiniom exists 1 as to the duration of a Strawberry bed, 
but I think soil and locality rule this point more than theory. 
On some soils and situations a, bed may keep 1 on producing 
excellent fruit year after year; on . others it is not worth 
while to retain a plantation, after the second or third s'eason—• 
in fact,, it is simply a waste of ground to d'o so. Where a 
large supply of delicious fruit is required, considerable space 
is, occupied by it; therefore it i® desirable that, a full crop 
should be obtained from eveiy plant. The earliest and best 
fruit are from young plantations—that is, those which were! 
planted the previous autumn, and never retain a quarter after 
the third year. The Strawberry thus follows in rotation, other 
crops! in the kitchen garden. New beds may follow early 
Peas and Potato®; and Broccoli succeeds the old one®, which 
are destroyed as soon as the fruit is gathered. This, may bet 
considered a wasteful practice by some, but I do nob find it so ; 
on, the contrary, I think the new beds far exceed the old, 
both in quantity and quality. But to ensure success, with 
plantations, close attention must be given to securing the young 
plants in the best condition ; also to the preparation of the 
ground for their reception, so that they may be put out as 
soon as they are ready. 
The site and the plants should be ready for planting out 
during the second week in August, as 1 there is then a long 
season for them to grow and become well established before 
winter sets in. If the plantation follow® early Pea,®, as soon 
as they are all gathered the ground should be cleared and given 
a dressing of burnt- refuse' and 1 manure and trenched. The 
Strawberry -delight® in, a- deep tilth, which is even more desir¬ 
able than a, rich staple, a® manure can be applied to the surface 
afterwards. Thei aim of the cultivator should be to encourage 
a, firm, hardy growth of both roots and leaves and well-ripened 
crowns, such a® will withstand frost and snow with impunity. 
The layer®, asi soon a® they can he obtained, are pegged 
into small pot®, and when sufficiently rooted, and before they 
become pohbound, should be severed from the parent plants, 
carried straight to the site prepared for them, and planted 
out to voitt'c, 18 in. a,part and the same distance from plant 
to --lant in ftp row® top weather is drv a good watering' 
should be given to- each plant, and a little later on the so 
made firm by treading. 
The surface between the rows should' be occasionally stirre 
with the Dutch, hoe, at the same time removing all runner. 
When planted the above distance apart, there is no room ft 
any other crop between. I do not approve of croppino 1 V 
tween Strawberries' at -any time. Immediately after the fin 
crop of fruit is gathered every other row should be taken ou 
leaving the rows 3 ft. asunder, the plants remaining the aarnj 
as before in the row®. Bunnera and litter are then cleared of 
mulching with manure being deferred until the followin 
spring. If manure is given, in the autumn a too suceuler 
growth 1 often follows, which doe® not, mature, and consequent! 
often' lead® to barrenness. The varieties which succeed hei 
are Royal Sovereign, Vicomtess'e Hericart de Thury, Leade 
and Latest, of All. For continuing the supply as long as po 
sable, some of the latest varieties should be grown, on a nort, 
border or the coolest part of the garden, so long as it is nc 
shaded by trees. J. W. J. 
. Baptisia australis. 
is a plant that should find its way into every herbaoeou 
border, it being extremely attractive both in, growth and bloon 
It make® a, sturdy and shapely bush, capable of siupportin 
itself without the aid of stake or string, while its long raceme 
of flowers are of a pleasing shade of blue—a colour alway 
acceptable and useful. It isi, moreover, a plant that can b 
depended upon to remain where it is wanted, for, while bein 
perfectly hairdy, it, is not prone to wander beyond its allotie 
space, although ea-sy of propagation by division, of the root 
stock. a. J. MacSelf. 
Foroiby. 
The Transvaal Marguerite (Dimorphotheca 
Eckloni). 
Though this beautiful composite, which grows in the Tram 
va,al at an elevation of 4,000 ft,., is described in the nurser 
catalogues as a greenhouse perennial, growing to a height c 
18 in., and flowering in spring, it may be of interest to som 
of the readers! of TAe Gardening World toi know that it sue 
ceeds well in' the 'Open garden here, where we have a nic 
bushy clump, which has been flowering freely for fully a mont 
past, and promises to continue to do so' for some time to come 
At the time of writing the clump' has seventeen expandet 
flowers, and a, large number, of buds. 
To produce this, some seeds were sown, in pots in the latte 
part of last spring too latei to> flower during that year. Tli 
seeds quickly germinated; the potsi were kept in an ordinar 
living room, and given plenty of air and 1 light and well watered 
placing them outside during fine days. They grew rapidly 
and when about 18 in. toi 2 ft,, high, which they attained a 
the latter end of January or the early part of February, the; 
began to branch towards the top. In the early part of Marc! 
they were planted out, as a clump, some ten or twelve plants! 
in the border in a somewhat, sheltered position, protected fron 
the ea,st and north winds, when they at once began to brand 
more freely, producing abundant, buds, and growing to i 
height of about 4 ft. 
For outdoor culture the plant seems more suited than foQ 
indoors, for the flowers deb’ght in the full rays of the sun 
and the blue tint of the under side, of the ray florets, as re 
fleeted strongly through them, together with the golden, anther! 
of the disc florets, become more deeply golden in the -strong 
sunlight, which is only got in the open garden. 
I write a,bout t-hisi lovely flower in, the hope that, the plan! 
may be more frequently grownl out-of-doors than seems to be 
the case at present. ' Ethel M. Jackson. 
Readers’ Competition.- —Particulars of weeklv prize see 
■entre page. 
