October 15, 1904. 
:*HE GARDENING WORLD. 
817 
during spells of dry weather, as seedling weeds, natural to the 
soil, make greater headway often than plants set therein. 
Taken altogether, the past summer has been favourable to 
the gardener and fruit grower, and there should be well 
ripened wood for another year’s fruit supply. Very little 
artificial watering ha.d to be done in this locality, tliejJ ourntiful 
rains coming at opportune times. Strawberries look well and 
are plumping up fine cro wns', with here and there a stray string 
or two, which should be cut. away while stirring the soil among 
the plants. James Matnb. 
Bicton, Devonshire. 
Hardy Herbaceous Border. 
Now that the autumn is advancing, it will be necessary to 
remove all the soft-growing material which helped, to fill up 
the borders during summer, as this will have passed out^ of 
flower and not be of much value. This will consist of 1 ea- 
benas, Petunias and the like', which are used for clothing the 
front.; and any other decayed rubbish should also be cut down 
and burned. It is not advisable -to cut back the stems of the 
permanent herbaceous plants until these and the leaves are 
quite yellow. The borders should be raked over and all fallen 
rubbish removed, so that they present a neat and tidy appear¬ 
ance. The rough wind which we experienced last week will, in 
all probability, have loosened some of the supports of the late 
autumn-flowering subjects, and these should be given attention 
without delay, or serious damage may accrue. Especially with 
regard to some of the larger Asters is this the ease, hut if t iey 
are staked out and securely tied, as I have advised, there is 
little chance for any harm to be done; it isi when, the whole 
plant is bunched to one stick that this danger occurs. When one 
sees a well-grown collection of the best varieties at this turn 
of year, it is not surprising that they are so greatly aclmnec , 
for no plants with which I am acquainted can compare with 
these at this time of year. The older, upright-growing varie¬ 
ties are not much sought after now we have such great im¬ 
provements, and I shall hope to give a selection of the best and 
most desirable kinds in! a. future number of The Gardening 
World. 
Montbretias. —The large majority of these, have ^ now 
finished flowering, and the foliage is turning yellow. Where 
this is itliei case, they can be caifc down to within a* few inches 
of the ground and lifted with a. fork ready for placing in boxes. 
The boxes should be well drained and from 4 in. to 5 in,, m 
depth ; and a, light, sandy loam will be ai suitable compost. 
The bulbs and growths should be separated and placed, not too 
thickly, in 'the box, covering Ave-11 with the soil, and when com¬ 
pleted place in a cold frame or sheltered position where rain¬ 
water cannot reach them. They will require very little mois¬ 
ture during the winter, ais it is not necessary that any growth 
should be made before planting time next spring. It is often 
thought that it is unnecessary to lift Montbretias and place 
them in boxes; for the winter, but I am well satisfied that by 
far the best results are obtained by so doing. They are also 
secure from frost, which often does much damage, especially 
with the rarer kinds, if left in the ground. 
For all general purposes' I do n.ot know of a better Mont- 
bretia than the old croeosmiaeflora, for, in addition to 1 having 
a. good constitution, it is a good colour and gives a. splendid 
effect when bedded. 
Violas. — The cuttings of these if not already inserted should 
be without delay in. a cold frame, and to. induce them to' root 
readily a layer of fine soil should be strewn over the surface. 
This should consist of road sand and a liberal quantity of leaf- 
soil, to, which Violas are particularly partial. 
Spring Bedding Plants. — These will now occupy the atten¬ 
tion of those who i have to make a good display during the 
early months of the year, and the summer-bedding subjects will 
have to be lifted without delay. The ground should be. cleared 
of all weeds and rubbish and forked over ; and the Polyanthus, 
Myosotis, Wallflowers, Sweet Williams 1 , etc., got in without 
delay, so that they become well established before any sharp 
weather sets in. 
Digitalis. —In many soils; these charming perennials an¬ 
nually reproduce themselves in quantity, but on a heavy clay 
like this it is necessary to sow the seed, and where this has 
been done the plants should now be large enough for placing 
where they are to flower, and no place suits, them better than 
in the woodland walks. A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldemham House Gardens, Elstree. 
The Flower Garden. 
Glaucium flavum tricolor. — This variety of the Horned 
Poppy is not commonly met with in gardens, but has neverthe¬ 
less much to recommend it. The flowers are freely produced 
in- a much-branched inflorescence, and are of a deep orange 
colour, in form resembling a Poppy. The leaves, which are 
chiefly radical, are also of considerable beauty, having a 
pleasant silvery-gray appearance, contributing not a little to 
the beauty of the plant as a whole. Cultivation similar to 
that suggested for Argemones a fortnight ago will be found 
suitable for this plant. 
Bouvardia Humboldtii. —In the struggle nowadays to have 
flowers in variety over as long a season as possible, many plants 
are brought into use in the flower garden which some years ago 
were only to he found in the greenhouse or stove. The subject 
under notice may be used with excellent effect in the warmer 
parts: of the country, and will make a nice show in September. 
The flowers are of the purest white and valuable in consequence. 
Plants; required to, flower at the; above, time must, be started 
early in the year, and gradually hardened oft’ in a cool frame 
as; the season advances. Pinching of the young shoots may 
be resorted to to induce the formation of bushy plants, but 
this operation must not be unduly continued, or the flowers 
will fail to appear early enough. 
Bulbous Irises. — Wherever quantities of flowers are re¬ 
quired in early summer, either for cutting or for garden 
decoration, the English and Spanish Irises will be found of in¬ 
estimable value. The; present is a good time to plant, and the 
best way is to have beds of mixed varieties. It is not ad¬ 
visable to plant in a heavy, cold soil, as in, such a medium the 
bulbs arei apt to rot during winter; where the soil is of such 
a nature the beds may he raised somewhat by working in some 
lighter material on tlie surface. 
The Spanish Irises (Iris Xiphium, syn.-hispaniea) are always 
the; first to flower, and show a wide range of colour, varying 
from pure white to blue, brown, yellow, etc. The English 
Iris (I. xiphioides, syn. anglica.) is rather stronger in growth 
and larger in flower 1 than the Spanish varieties, whilei the 
colours vary through white, lilac, crimson, dark purple, etc. 
The present is also a suitable tune for making plantings of 
the; Flag Irises, of which there are many handsome varieties ; 
these, however, are fairly well known, and need not be enlarged 
upon. 
There is, however, a class of Irises known as the pumila 
section which do not appear to' be grown as much as they 
deserve to he. When in flower these lovely little, varieties 
do not averagei more than. 6 in. or so in height, and form 
charming additions to- the flower garden in early summer, while 
the positions which they occupy may be furnished with annuals 
later on without detriment to the Irises. Among other good 
sorts. I. pumila, I. p. caerulea, I. Chamaeiris, I. C. olheinsis 
and I. C. olbiensis alba, will be found useful. B. W . J. 
Fruitful Ty knt.— The orchards and gardens in particular situa¬ 
tions have this year been uncommonly productive. In Kent, one 
gentleman’s growth of Apples, Cherries, and Filberts is said to 
have brought him at the co mm on market prices £1,000, viz.,. 
Apples ancf Cherries £600, Filberts £400. 
