39b 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
May 13, 19C5. 
varieties so far in commerce, and representing all tlie colours. 
The varieties must be King Edward VII., Prince of Wales, 
Lovely, Miss Willmott, Duchess of Sutherland, Lottie Eckford, 
America, Princess of Wales, Hon.' Mrs. E. Kenyon, Jeannie 
Gordon, Navy Blue, Dorothy Tennant, Duke of Westminster, 
Black Knight, Lady Grizel Hamilton, Dorothy Eckford, Grade 
Greenwood, George Gordon, and Coccinea. 
, Hardening Off of Plants, 
In attempting to touch briefly on this 1 most necessary and 
important adjunct towards successful gardening, I am fully 
cognisant of the many difficulties which beset gardeners at 
this season of the year, and as a. sequence of which they are 
prevented from giving that careful attention to* the hardening 
off of plants in general which is molt essential to ensure their 
future success either in the flower-beds or when they are again 
required for the embellishment of the plant houses. 
There are few establishments where the accommodation for 
those plants which are ultimately to be relegated to the flower¬ 
beds and borders is unlimited. Thus it is from the fact of 
having the houses crowded up with bedding plants during the 
early spring months that the average gardener is at his wit's 
end to know what to do whereby he may provide additional 
space for other batches of plants which are required for 
furnishing the houses at later periods of the year. The only 
and last resort is to unceremoniously rush the things to the 
open, more often than not heedless of the late conditions under 
which they have been growing. This sudden change of expos¬ 
ing plants to' the full effects of the outside elements proves 
most harmful and should at all times be avoided. Whether 
they be of the commonest kind, they undoubtedly receive a 
check, the evil effects of which are often seen right throughout 
the summer months. 
The transference of plants under glass into the open air 
needs much forethought, and the cultivator should be guided 
by his knowledge in relation to shade and moisture of those 
particular plants which he has under his charge. The safest 
mode of procedure 1 , and which will entail no after ill-effects, is 
to gradually render the atmospheric conditions of the- houses 
as far as is practicable similar to the conditions of the open 
air. With this end in view, the ventilators of the houses 
should be thrown wide open day and night for at least a week 
before the plants are moved wholly to the open. In respect 
to those plants receiving the protection of frames, the lights 
may be subsequently entirely removed. B}^ following this 
method of gradually inuring plants to full exposure, many of 
the complaints relating to stunted growth and sickly appear¬ 
ance may he obviated. 
Another point to bear in mind when removing certain plants 
to the open air is that care should be exercised that they are 
not placed in the full blaze of the sun and the teeth of the 
wind, as over-exposure at the onset, when the growths are 
somewhat tender, causes untold injury to the plants, and in 
many cases they are killed outright. For at least a fortnight 
after being placed outside they should be allocated a some¬ 
what sheltered place, partially shaded from the sun for about 
two hours on either side of noon. When this slight protection 
is accorded them the plants will become gradually hardened 
and will be able to stand almost anywhere. 
As a general rule, it may be said of all plants that their 
roots need protection even more SO' than the tops. With such 
plants as Ericas, Callistemons, Rhododendrons, etc., it is always 
a good practice to plunge the pots up to the rims in coal ashes 
or other suitable material, thus keeping the roots cool and 
active, which is a most vital point to their after success. 
G. T. 
Thf. Chi.tot. or Stove Tree.—T he wood of a tree called the 
Chijol, which grows in Mexico, is said to have the remarkable 
Quality of getting gradually harder after being cut, until, in 
the course of a few years, it resembles stone. Houses are built 
of this wood. 
Eucalyptus Globulus. 
This beautiful plant is the famous Blue Gum Tree of Aus¬ 
tralia, also known as the Fever Tree, owing to its supposed 
properties in purifying tlie air. The foliage is fine silvery 
blue-green ; the tree is of rapid growth, and the leaves emit an 
aromatic odour. It can be easily raised from seed ; if placed 
in bottom heat the plants soon appear. When the second leaf 
shows they should be potted off singly in a compost of sandv 
loam, leaf-soil, with a little peat. Care should be taken in 
watering, keeping them shaded until established, when thev 
should be kept near the glass. It is distinctly ornamental 
when in a young state. I have grown many of these plants in 
greenhouses, and they have a pleasing effect when mixed with 
flowering plants. Young Eucalyptus trees are good for rooms 
and verandahs, and have a noble appearance when placed in 
the entrance hall. Unfortunately, the efforts which have been 
made to grow it in the open have not been very successful. 
I have seen it cut down by frost to a single leaf. If plants 
are protected for two winters it would be hardened to stand 
tlie frost, and would succeed in a sheltered situation with a 
south aspect ; in severe frost it should be covered with mats, 
giving them as much light as can be admitted in mild weather. 
Lhider this treatment the plants can be preserved for a number 
of years. W. J. Welch. 
Brackland Gardens. 
Tccoma grandiflora. 
Although this plant was introduced from Japan a century 
ago, it is not so' generally cultivated as it deserves. It is a 
trailing plant, and produces its blooms in terminal panicles 
O'li growths made the same season. The flowers are scarlet, 
with a palei yellow reverse, the upper petals being slightly in¬ 
curved, thus bringing the two colours in direct contrast. The 
graceful trailing growths are from 5 ft, to 7 ft. long, so that 
provision must be made for keeping the flowers from sweeping 
the stages, unless it. is grown as a. climber or trained round a 
balloon. To attain this it should be grown as a standard, 
having a clean stem of 2 ft. or 3 ft. If three 4-ft, canes are 
placed round the edges, of the pot, and on the top of these 
a ring of fine' wire, the growths can be looped up to' the' wire, 
and allowed to display their habit and flowers evenly placed 
all round the plant. 
Its culture is simple. A compost of two parts loam and one 
of peat with somei leaf-soil and sand added is suitable. Give 
plenty of light and water during the whole season of growth, 
and thoroughly ripen the growths by November. Only 
enough water should be given during the resting season, from 
November to February, to' keep the plants from becoming dust- 
dry. In practice this means that a good drink once in three 
or four weeks will be sufficient. It should be wintered in a 
temperature ranging from 40 deg. to 45 deg. F. Prune the 
growths hard back in February, and top-dress with the mixture 
advised, with a little approved fertiliser added. Repotting is 
not necessary every year. Place the plant in an intermediate 
temperature, use the syringe freely, and keep on the dry side 
until well into growth; more water at the roots will then be 
required. Soot-water and diluted stable drainings are helpful 
when given occasionally. If it is desired to increase the stock, 
the prunings should be cut into lengths, about l in. of wood 
being left on each side of a joint or eye. Put half a dozen 
in a 5-in. pot, in light soil, in. below the surface, and 
plunge in a heat of 70 deg. F. These root freely if kept moist. 
Pot off as soon as rooted into 3-in. pots, and shift on as re¬ 
quired into larger pots, as they grow quickly, but do 1 not over- 
pot them, as it is as well to remember that a. 10-in. pot will 
accommodate and keep in health a fair-sized specimen for a 
number of years. This is a. superior plant to Tecoma radicans 
in appearance, but it is not hardy. 
It is generally thought that Tecomas and Bignonias do not 
thrive as pot plants. The plant under notice must be an ex¬ 
ception, as it not only does well, but makes a good exhibition 
plant from the middle of July to the second week in August. 
H. Arnold. 
