706 
means well nourished, each plant will throw 
up a number of flowering ste > s, but of all 
plants I think none looks so forlorn 
and miserab'e as a dried-up, starved 
Veronica. J hese varieties I have mentioned 
are quite distinct from the shrubby species 
that have come to us from New Zealand. 
Oi these last, the we’l known V. buxifolia 
is to be recommended both for ihe seaside 
and the town garden. It rarely fails to 
dower prodigiously, and enjoys a well 
drained position. It makes a capital 
summer flowering shrub for the rock 
garden. 
Achillea the Pearl. 
So frequently it happens that the Del¬ 
phiniums and the earliest of the Campanu¬ 
las, and the laiest of the Doronicums fade 
and vanish so far as their colour goes, there 
is a sudden lack of blossom in the mixed 
border for a while. The Hollyhocks and 
the Phloxes (paniculata), the Carnations 
and the later Campanulas are in bud, but 
not in blossom, and it is just at this season 
that we hail with delight anything that will 
fill the gap. I know nothing that does this 
quite so effectively as Achillea the Pearl. 
The large heads of double white flowers 
make striking mas es if they have been 
well staked and tied out. The plant 
requires this attention to be seen to advan¬ 
tage. There is scarcely another summer 
flowering perennial so long enduring as is 
this Achillea. It is worth growing well 
because so strikingly docorative, and this 
means that it should have an open, position, 
and soil in good condit on, and on no 
recount must it be half choked by having 
other plants crowding upon it. As it is, the 
flowering stems are none too strong and 
robust, and when they are further weakened 
by neighbouring plants in too close proxi¬ 
mity then the plant cannot be had in tA r cn 
presentable condition. 
F. M. Wells. 
Ihe Potato Chop. —The value of Potatos 
grown on holdings of above one acre in extent 
in Great Britain and in Ireland last year was 
about £20,000,000. The area devoted to the 
growing of Potatos in 1904 was 1,188,742 acres 
in the United Kingdom, and the produce 
reached the large total of 6,230,272 tons. The 
quantity of Potatos used for household food 
in the United Kingdom was about 5,640,000 
tons, or rather more than 2g cwts. per head 
of the population. We imported last year 
500.000 tons of Potatos, of the value of 
£2,440,000. Lincoln, with 76,249 acres, last 
year yielded 416,417 tons ; Lancashire, with 
44,665 acres, gave 380,239 tons ; and York¬ 
shire, with 52,933 acres, gave 316,217 tons, 
followed by Chester, Cambridge, Kent, North¬ 
ampton, and Stafford. In Scotland, Fife leads 
with 15,831 acres, producing 118,642 tons, 
Perth having 13,678 acres and 109,260 tons, 
and Forfar 13,305 acres and 104,706 tons. The 
production of Potatos last year was large, 
having only been three times exceeded. Eng¬ 
land and Scotland both had a yield per acre 
largely above the ayerage, the former by 
6 cwts., the latter by almost 30 cwts., while 
an average of over seven tons per acre, as was 
secured in Scotland, had never previously 
been noted in any of the thi-ee divisions ot 
Great Britain. Wales was not so fortunate, 
the 4.84 tons per acre there returned, repre¬ 
senting about 12 cwts. less than the mean. 
The Flower Garden. 
The summer is now well advanced, the 
season of the sere and yellow leaf is at, hand. 
We note with regret the passing glory of 
many of the more strictly summer flowers. 
Yet the autumn days bring their compensa¬ 
tions. Dahlias are now at their best, and 
should have careful attention as regards stak¬ 
ing and tying. High winds are prevalent in 
September, and much injury to plants and 
disappointment to the gardener will result 
unless all shoots likely to be broken are care¬ 
fully, though not clumsily, tied. Climbers 
are especially liable to injury from rough 
winds, and all should be examined as oppor¬ 
tunity affords. 
Lobelia Fallens.— For late summer and 
autumn blooming this and its varieties are 
among the finest of flower garden plants. 
Though strictly a herbaceous perennial in 
many parts of the country the roots do not 
survive the winter. It is therefore necessary 
to “ manipulate ” the root stocks more like a 
bedding plant. After the first frost the roots 
should be dug up, and either potted or placed 
in boxes for the winter, just keeping free from 
frost. No water will be required throughout 
the winter till the shoots are seen to be grow¬ 
ing again in spring. At this time they may 
easily be divided up, SO' the stock can be 
increased, planting out in May. 
For borders and beds Lobelia Fulgens, is 
splendid on account of the glowing shades of 
scarlet found in the type and its varieties, 
while the flowers surmounting the shining 
bronze leaves form a harmonious blending of 
colours. 
The type is itself a charming plant, but 
with so many fine varieties at command it is 
scarcely necessary to grow the original. L.f. 
Queen Victoria, Firefly, and Scarlet Gem are 
three beauties which should be grown in every 
garden. 
Those who are growing their own spring 
flowering plants, such as Arabis, Aubrietia, 
Myosotis, etc., should look to them well at 
the present time. Keep the surface'soil well 
stirred around them, as this helps greatly 
the formation of numerous roots, which, when 
the plants are placed in their flowering 
quarters, will soon get hold and become 
established. B. W. J. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Cabbage.— The earliest sown plants should 
by this date be ready for transferring to their 
final quarters. It is always well in every 
garden, be it large or small, to make at least 
two or three plantings in various positions, 
and where space can be found it is advisable 
to make the first on a south or west border, 
as these will be ready for cutting a week or 
ten days before those in the open. The 
ground should be heavily manured, and either 
trenched or deeply dug. Plant in rows, allow 
a distance of either eighteen inches or two 
feet according to the variety, and one foot 
from plant to plant. I always advise and 
practise this, so that in the spring when vege¬ 
tables are none too plentiful every alternate 
one can be cut when quite small. Plant very 
firm, well water in, and place a few finely- 
sifted cinder ashes round each. The princi¬ 
pal batches should, if possible, follow Onions ; 
it is an old but capital plan following the same 
directions. Make one more good planting of 
Coleworts and Hardy Green, twelve inches 
apart all ways. 
Cauliflowers. —Make two sowings of these 
during the present month for next spring’s 
supply. Sow in a sheltered part of the garden 
on finely prepared soil of a somewhat poor 
character, thoroughly net to protect it from 
the ravages of birds. Walcheren and Sutton's 
M agnum Bonum are two of the best and most 
reliable varieties for sowing at this season. 
Parsley. — This is one ok the most useful 
and important items in connection with 
kitchen garden crops, especially during the 
winter months, and in many establishments it 
is in request every day in the year. To in¬ 
sure an uninterrupted supply special means 
must be taken to protect it during severe 
weather, and, where possible, at least one cold 
frame should be devoted to it. The soil should 
be raised to within one inch of the glass, and 
carefully lift part of the young plants from 
late sowings ; allow a distance of nine inches 
from row to row, and four inches from plant to 
plant. It is a capital practice also to put out 
some at the foot of a south wall or fence, 
where it can be easily protected. 
TomatOS.- -Plants intended for giving fruit 
during the winter should now receive their 
final potting. Grow on steadily in a cool 
house to promote a sturdy growth. Later 
sowings for spring use should be shifted along 
as they .require it. Keep these near the glass 
in a growing temperature. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Hardy Herbaceous Border. 
Radbeckia speciosa. —There are few plants 
more useful or more admired than this showy 
Cone-flower during the autumn months, and 
when seen at its best it produces a very 
bright display and lasts a long time in jjer- 
fection, but a certain amount of attention is 
necessary. Throughout the summer plenty 
of water must be given, and also during the 
flowering period if we experience a dry spell 
then, or :t, will flag badly, and especially is 
this the case on light soil. The most suit¬ 
able soil is a heavy loam or clay which has 
been well worked, and in such it increases 
quickly, and needs replanting frequently. 
This is an important point in its culture 
and one always notices that it grows anc 
flowers much more freely after being wel 
split up ; but when doing this the outsidt 
pieces should be selected which have no 
flowered. 
Pentstemon barbatus Torreyii. —A gooi 
strain of this plant is not often met with 
but when well grown it proves a most effec 
tive border plant. The spikes have nov 
finished flowering, and those who look fo 
good results next year will have to commenc 
propagating, as the plants do not prove satis 
factory if left for more than one year 
Numerous young growths will now be oh 
served round the base of the plant, and thes 
should be taken off and made into cuttings 
or detached with pieces of root. Place i 
