THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 22, 1905. 
3 26 
perfect good-crowns by another season, and be none the worse 
for forcing again. The Sutton is a splendid Rhubarb, probably 
the best variety for all purposes ever raised. 
Seikale, which has been forced under similar conditions, 
should be treated in the same way, but place a good dressing 
of finely sifted cinder ashes about the crowns. Cuttings which 
have been planted out to make crowns for next- year should 
have the surface soil constantly stirred with the Dutch hoe. 
Reduce the growths to one when nicely started. 
Winter Greens. —The main batch of these should now be 
sown, choosing a nice open site for the purpose j scatter the 
seed thinly broadcast on nicely prepared beds, rake over neatly, 
net thoroughly against birds 1 , and should mice abound, set 
traps for them. Prick off early sown Brussels Sprouts, Cauli¬ 
flowers, and early Broccoli on a warm border. 
Turnips. — Those sown in cool frames during last- month are 
now making excellent headway. Thin sufficiently to allow 
each to mature properly. Stir up the surface soil constantly, 
about, once a week apply a sprinkling of fresh soot-, damp over¬ 
head twice daily, air freely, removing the lights entirely during 
showery weather, and whenever it is mild and balmy. Make a 
wood sowing outside on a, warm border both of early Milan and 
Snowball. The latter, though longer coming to' maturity, is 
hard to beat as a second earl}'. 
Capsicums and Chilies. —-Whether viewed from a culinary 
or decorative point of view, or both, these form a most in¬ 
teresting and useful adjunct to every well-ordered garden. 
These enjoy an intermediate temperature during the early 
stages of their growth, and should now be ready for pot-ting 
into 5-in. and 6-in. pots. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 
As stated in a previous calendar, such shrubs as the Dog¬ 
woods, Spiraeas, Willows, etc., which are used for massing in 
quantity for producing beautiful effects in winter, should be 
pruned during this month, and the sooner this is completed 
the better. With those subjects which annually produce quan¬ 
tities of shoots from the base the most important point to 
observe is that the old stems are cut clean to the ground and 
not partly down, as is often the case, for to produce highly 
coloured bark it is absolutely necessary that the wood be only 
one season old. A sharp knife or a pair of secateurs is t-Iie 
best tool for the purpose, and the sticks should be tied up in 
bundles for staking pot plants, or burned if not required. 
Some, of course, only require the young wood shortening back, 
and among them are Eu-onyrnus europaeus, Hydrangea pa-nicu- 
lata grandiflora, Rhus Cotinus, Rosa, rugosa, etc. 
Paulownia imperialis —In several of the London parks and 
gardens this fine Japanese shrub is used with marked effect 
for bedding purposes, and it- might well be used in other parts 
of the country where a- mass of tropical-looking foliage is de¬ 
sired, as it is perfectly hardy, and if desired will quickly make 
a good-sized tree. W T hen used for bedding purposes we find that 
it- answers well to. cut down to the ground at this time, and a 
uniform height of 5 ft. or 6 ft. is then reached, but if one 
wishes to form a specimen, the tips of the last- season’s growth 
should be shortened back. Owing to the inclemency of the 
weather, which often prevents the buds from opening, as they 
are formed very early, we do not often see this tree flo-wering 
well, but it- should find a place in every garden for its hand¬ 
some foliage. 
The Value of Aucubas. — One may say without any hesita¬ 
tion that the Japanese Aucuba, with its numerous- green and 
variegated forms, is one of the most valuable evergreens we 
have. It succeeds in any kind of soil, however poor, and there 
is no shrub that I am acquainted with which can be used 
with better effect for planting beneath and under the shade 
of large trees, especially the Scotch and Austrian Pine. It also 
submits well to hard pruning when it has become too large, and 
if cut clean to the ground the stock will break freely and make 
nice bushy plants. The male and female flowers are, of course, 
produced on separate plants, and to ensure them berrying 
freely both should be planted. They have seldom fruited 
more freely than this year, and the variegated forms with their 
immense quantities of red berries are very beautiful now. 
There are a host of varieties in cultivation, some of which are 
very distinct-, and others are not worth growing. The best 
among the variegated forms are: A. japonica limbata. mar- 
ginata, crassifolia a-urea, angustifolia a-urea, and immaculata 
a-urea. Among the green-leaved are several very distinct 
forms which are well worth cultivating. A good selection 
would be: Angustifolia, with long narrow leaves; longifolia, 
long leaves of medium width; immaculata, veiy deep green; 
salicifolia, crassifolia, and fructu-albot, with white berries. 
Prunus Persica flore-pleno (the double-flowered Peach).— 
The month of April is very rich in flowering shrubs, but there 
are few more beautiful than the above, and though it is often 
used for conservatory decoration, one does not see it so largely 
used as it should be in the shrubbery. It is, perhaps, seen to 
the best advantage when used as a standard or half-standard, 
and given good drainage and well-worked soil it- seldom fails 
to produce large quantities of its rich, double blossoms before 
the leaves appear. To keep it a good shape the grown 
should be partially pruned at the end of summer, which also 
assists it to flower freely. Another fine Peach is Prunus per¬ 
sica- magnifica, which lias deep-red double flower's, but to 
succeed well this must be given a good loamy soil. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. A. E. Thatcher. 
The Practical Value of Theoretical Science. 
There are some practical horticulturists to whom the terms 
“ science ” and “ theory ” are so ohnoxious that they uncon¬ 
sciously allow themselves to become bigoted and prejudiced 
against all that pertains to study and research, and to assert 
within their hearing that there is an atom of practical value 
in the scientific study of botany or plant-life is but to bring 
down a torrent of indignant expostulation. 
It is a favourite contention of these sticklers for practical 
experience that- a season’s work in a good garden will do more 
towards the' making of a- gardener than will any amount of 
scientific study. It is of little use entering into argument, for 
they are so. positively convinced they are right, and are so 
ready with their refutations of all one’s statements, that in the 
end one is 1 obliged to desist, and the practical man goes off 
with a twinkle in his eye imagining hiinself victor over another 
‘ scientific dupe.” 
A while since, a practical man who is a good gardener, and 
a bitter opponent of “ scientific humbug,” a.s he terms it, re¬ 
marked to me that he could not master the names of plants 
nearly so readily a-s a young lad could do whom he had in his 
service. “ He’s a good worker and a dabster a-t rattling off 
those crackjaw botanical names,” said the gardener. 
A few minutes’ conversation with the lad soon explained to 
me the reason of his aptness for remembering and pronouncing 
the names- of the plants around him. He is a reader as well 
as a worker, and one of his first books had been, “ Alcock’s 
Botanical Names for English Readers.” From this he learned 
that the names of plants have meanings, and as he learned 
from this and other more advanced books the meanings of and 
reasons for the names, it became easy for him to remember and 
pronounce them, and the plants themselves became more in¬ 
teresting to him. He had also dipped into garden chemistry, 
learning something of the- prime needs of vegetable life and 
the surest methods of supplying those needs. 
Pouchet’s interesting book, “ The Universe ” had given him 
a peep into, the wonders of vegetable anatomy, and the plants 
around him became daily more interesting as his studies were 
extended. All along he has been learning the practical side of 
horticulture under the guidance of his practical master. Who, 
think you, has chosen the better plan—t-he master who devotes 
himself to practice alone, or the lad who- supplements practice 
with theory? Heather Bell. 
