October 29. 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
861 
grown. Where this state of things exists, naturally some 
discretion is necessary in the treatment of the plants so a® 
to provide their requirements according to the needs of the 
individual subjects; but as the Vandas do not rest asi soon as 
the Aerides, there is n,ot that long period of drought necessary 
for their requirements, which arei governed by the same com 
ditions as that prevailing in the Aerides, after resting com¬ 
mences. J- 
Hardy Herbaceous Border. 
The sharp frosts we have experienced will have put an end 
to the flowering of many border plants, and as the foliage is 
now turning yellow and decaying the work of cutting down 
can, b© proceeded with. This, of course, only applies to those 
which are ready for being cleared off, as I am a, firm believer 
in, allowing all plants to remain with the stems on until they 
are quite yellow. If the plants were' tied up neatly when, in 
flower nothing should appear untidy now, and being well dried 
off will prove beneficial for next' year. If a trench is open 
in. the garden the rubbish can, be buried, and will prove a, valu¬ 
able ingredient, especially on light soils, but failing" this it 
can he carted away to the rubbish heap and burned into ashes, 
which, as is well known, are most useful on heavy land. 
Renovating Borders— To produce the very best results with 
herbaceous plants it' is necessary that the soil be trenched about 
every four years, and where it is considered to be advisable 
to do soi before the plants break into new growth next spring, 
preparations should now be made for soi doing. On heavy 
soils it is, of course, best to replant in the new year, before 
active growth commences, and on 1-ght soils m toe autumn, 
but one has to be so governed by circumstances that no hard 
and fast rule can bo laid down. Before thei work is commenced 
a good trench should be opened on a, spare piece of ground as 
near at hand as possible, and the plants can then be lifted. 
A fork will be found the most useful tool for the majority, tut 
with deep rooting subjects, such as, Eryngiums, Gypsophila, 
Anchusas, etc., a. good hole will liavei to, be taken out round 
the plant with a spade, and in all cases as much soil as possible 
should be left on the roots. The stocks of each variety should 
be placed altogether in the trench, soi that when the replanting 
is commenced one will easily be able to see how many plants 
one has of a, sort, and the soil should be covered well over the 
crowns, so' that they do not become injured by frost. V hen 
a, border has been' cleared of all the plants the trenching cam 
be done, and I would strongly advise this being executed in 
a, thorough manner. The soil should be turned over fully 
three feet in depth, and plenty of well decayed manure in¬ 
corporated, as the difference between plants grown on well 
and shallow-tilled ground is most apparent. 
Many herbaceous plants must have a deep root run, And 
must have deeply-trenched ground if they are to succeed ] and 
assuming that a dry summer follows the first year after re¬ 
planting, the advantages of this will he made manifest; for if 
they have plenty of decayed manure and fresh soil in which 
to* root, little watering will be required, and there is no' fear 
that they will dry up, as invariably happens on shallow- 
trenched ground. The soil should be allowed a sufficient time 
to become settled before planting, and this done during a, 
spell of mild weather. Carefully divide the plants if ne¬ 
cessary with a sharp spade or other suitable tool, and take 
out a, sufficiently large hole to allow the roots being spread 
out evenly, and not at all cramped. Fill in with some of the 
finest soil, pressing firmly all round, and bury the. crowns deep 
I enough to allow for the soil sinking, which it is sure to do 
somewhat. Carefully Label each plant or batch as completed, 
and when the border is quite finished rake over neatly, so that 
a pleasing appearance results. It will be well to say here, 
that in, dividing such plants ais Phloxes, Seleniums, Asters, 
etc., the outsides, and not the centre, should be kept for ret- 
plamting, as this will have lost its vigour. Space® can be left, 
for those plants which it is considered advisable to winter in 
frames, and have to be planted out later on ; and if the 
border can be top-dressed with decayed leaf soil or similar 
material, this will prove very beneficial. 
Plants in Frames. — Those plant® which are being wintered 
under glass should have abundance of air admitted in favour¬ 
able weather so a® to induce them to form a. short, stocky 
growth, and the pots and soil should bei kept clean, and all 
dead leaves and rubbish removed. With such plants as Pent- 
stemon® and Violas the surface soil should be occasionally 
stirred to keep it sweet, and fresh. A. E. Thatcher. 
Aldemham House Gardens, Elstree. 
The Flower Garden. 
The planting of all spring-flowering bulbs and other plants 
should be vigorously carried on, during the present, month, as 
early planting is a prime factor in producing a successful dis- 
play in. spring. 
Wallflowers, spring-flowering Phloxes, etc., must be care¬ 
fully dealt with when lifting and transplanting ; the less root 
disturbance they have, the sooner will they become estab¬ 
lished, and consequently will withstand the rigours of a severe 
winter much better. Firm planting of 'all such subjects is 
essential to their success, and an. occasional examination should 
be made during winter, firming the' soil round those plants 
which may havei become loose at. the neck. 
All cuttings of various bedding plants' should be removed 
from the propagating case as they become rooted, standing 
them ns near the glass as possible. Fuchsias, Abutilon®, etc., 
may bei potted off singly and stood on shelve® in a house having 
a temperature sufficient to maintain a, slow growth during the 
winger months. 
Old plants of Viola® may be removed from their summer 
quarters and planted in a cold frame or sheltered position out 
of doors. These, if divided up now or in, spring, will form a 
useful addition to the cuttings, and generally flower much 
earlier. 
All the hybrid Gladioli may now be taken up and laid out 
to dry in a. cool, airy shed. During wet weather, when outdoor 
work is impossible, the conn® may be cleaned and stored away 
in boxes until they again require to be dealt, with in spaing. 
Veronica gentianoides —This is, of course, a perennial her¬ 
baceous plant., but is an acquisition to the flower garden proper, 
as it flowers: early in, May, and' after 1 flowering may be removed 
to the reserve garden without injury to subsequent, growth. 
The leaves are produced in clusters' close to the soil, and the 
flower-spikes arise to' a. height, of 12 in. to. 18 in. The small, 
star-like flowers are pale blue in. colour, and create a very 
pretty effect in spring; there is also a white variety well worth 
growing. 
Schizostylis coccinea. —Those who are fortunate enough to 
possess narrow borders by the side of warm houses should 
certainly givei the above 1 plant a trial. As thei specific name 
implies, the flowersi are scarlet, produced on spikes 9 in. to a 
foot high. Flowering as it, does in late autumn, this plant, 
often, called the winter Gladiolus, is decidedly useful, not only 
on, account of its warm, bright colour out of doors, but also 
for cutting. . . 
The soil in which the roots are planted should be fairly rich 
but open and well drained ; also they should not be disturbed 
unless showing sign®: of deterioration. 
Exotic Fruits in London.— The demand for exotic novelties 
in table fruits grows steadily. In an average fruiterer s shop 
in the City of London there were offered last week Jamaican 
Mangoes at 4d. apiece, Japanese Persimmons at 2- 2 -d., West 
Indian Pomiloes (or giant Shaddocks) at the same price, Nea¬ 
politan Figs at, Id., and a large variety of Plantains and 
Bananas from several sources. The Peccan Nut, a South 
American Walnut, is having a “ success of curiosity, and there 
is a growing appetite for the yellow Tomato, the flavour of which 
is more delicate than that of the x’ed soits. 
