THE GARDENING WORLD * 
September 16, 1905. 
724 
i OUR . . . 
Northern Gardens. 
Flower Garden and 
Pleasure Ground. 
Bulbs -All early-flowering bulbs, such as 
Snowdrops, Crocuses, Scillas, Chionodoxas, 
etc., should now be planted with as little loss 
of time as possible, in order to obtain the 
best results. Narcissi, although not flowering 
quite so early, should also- be got in now, as 
they begin to grow early in autumn. For cut¬ 
ting in quantity, it is best to rely on the free- 
flowering sorts, such as N. poeticus, N. p. 
ornatus, Princeps, Golden Spur, Emperor, 
Empress, Horsfieldii, bicolor, etc. 
Asters. —The perennial Asters, or Michael¬ 
mas Daisies, are now beginning to brighten 
up the herbaceous, beds and borders, and 
notes should be taken if any change in the 
collection is contemplated. See that stakes 
and tyings are all secure, or the autumn gales 
will be sure to injure such tall-growing 
subjects. 
Carnations —Where these were layered 
early in the season they should now be well 
rooted and ready to lift, the border varieties 
either to be planted in their permanent 
quarters, or what is generally better, run out 
in a nursery bed or well-drained soil to be per¬ 
manently planted in spring. Pot sorts should 
be potted up and framed. 
Conservatory and Greenhouse. 
Chrysanthemums. —Where the early sorts 
are showing colour, they should be taken in 
doors before they are spoiled by the autumn 
rains. If not yet required in the conser¬ 
vatory, they can be stood in an early Peach 
house or other cool structure where they can 
have a full current of air. Give close atten¬ 
tion to taking buds and disbudding. 
Libonias. —The Libonias are not nearly so 
much grown as their merits deserve. L. 
Penrhosiensis is now commencing to show 
colour, and: L. floribunda, if placed in a warm 
greenhouse or conservatory, will turn in a 
little later. Frame culture suits them best 
during summer, and they succeed well in 5in. 
or 6in. pots, in equal parts of turfy loam and 
flaky leaf-mould with a dash of sand. 
Lilium Harrisii. —Although comparatively 
dear, this lovely Lilium is indispensable; as 
it starts early into growth, it should be potted 
up as soon as the bulbs are obtainable. 
Hyacinths. —It is not intended to deal 
with forcing on this page, but even for cool 
work the first batch of Hyacinths should be 
potted up as soon as the bulbs come to hand. 
General. —Narcissi, Crocuses, Snowdrops, 
and early Irises should all be potted up soon. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Early Frosts.- —After our long, dry, hot 
summer we are almost certain to have early 
frosts. It is therefore important to have at 
hand plenty of protecting material, so that at 
very short notice we may be able to save a 
part at least of such valuable crops as Dwarf 
Beans, Runner Beans, Lettuce, and Cauli¬ 
flower. These frosts do not as a rule last 
long, but even otoe night unprepared may 
cause irreparable damage. Nothing very 
elaborate is necessary. A supply of mats, or, 
failing these, thick Spruce branches, answer 
very well. With Lettuce and Dwarf Beans 
something in the way of a trellis on which to 
lay the mats would be an advantage. With 
the tall Beans the mats may simply be hung 
over the stakes. As usually there is an entire 
absence of wind when it is freezing at this 
season. 
Cabbage. —Finish tlie planting of these 
with all haste, and encourage earlier plant¬ 
ings with frequent stirrings with the Dutch 
hoe. Make up all blanks, and pull out and 
carry off weeds. 
Celery. —Continue to earth up carefully 
during dry weather, and keep a careful watch 
for the dreaded maggot, which is very abun¬ 
dant this season. There is no cure for this 
troublesome pest but hand-picking, or rather 
squeezing. The only preventative seems to 
be frequent dustings of fresh soot, to keep off 
the fly that lays the eggs. 
Late Peas. —These are quite as good in 
every respect as the early and mid-season 
kinds this season. After careful trials I find 
none better than Autocrat. It fills well, is 
practically free from mildew, and its quality 
is first-rate. The Gladstone and Royal Salute 
are also in the front rank of late Peas. 
Another later variety that is now rather neg¬ 
lected is Walker’s Perpetual Bearer. I 
believe that the reason for its want of popu¬ 
larity is that it was invariably sown too- late, 
and soi failed to fill its pods before frost came. 
I am certain that if sown early in April, no 
other Pea would give the same yield, and its 
quality when well grown is very good. 
Spinach.. —■'Where too thickly sown, thin ' 
out somewhat, and stir frequently with the 
hoe between the rows. 
General Work. —Continue securing all 
crops as they mature, and clean up and keep 
tidy all ground from which crops have been 
taken, as nothing looks worse than rank weeds 
and rotting vegetables in the garden. It is 
also a harbour for slugs and other vermin. 
Preston, Linlithgow. , C. Blair. 
Hardy Fruit. 
Raspberries. —Seeing that the Raspberry 
crops are now over for the season, get nets all 
removed, carefully dried, and stored. Begin 
to thin out the old canes at once, so as to give 
more air to the young rods which are to bear 
next year’s crop. Hoe the surface, remove all 
spare canes, and, if possible, give a dressing 
of some artificial manure, with a fair propor¬ 
tion of “ Kennet,” as this is the time when an 
application of “ Ivennet ” gives the best 
results. Have the whole well washed in with 
a good soaking of farmyard liquid (proportion 
half and half). This will greatly strengthen 
the canes for next year’s crop. 
Apple trees that- have not had the present- 
year’s growth shortened should be pruned at 
once, else next year’s crop will be injured. 
Plums. —-See to the securing of crops on 
wall and standard trees from the ravages of 
birds by having all Well protected by nets. 
At this season birds cause even greater damage 
than earlier, as the other crops are now past. 
Morello Cherries should be protected ill the 
same way, as they come in most useful at this 
season for tarts and also for preserving. 
Figs grown on the wall require close atten¬ 
tion. Fruit should be picked from time to 
time as they ripen, and placed in a late vinery, 
or other dry house where heat is maintained, 
for a few days before being used. 
J. Fraser Smith. 
A Showy Annual. 
(Lepachys columnaris pulcherrima.) 
The above lengthy name applies to a very 
showy annual which proves that it is closely 
related to Rudbeckia, judging by the- long 
cone in the centre of the flowers. This cone 
is finger-like and brown, while the rays are 
golden-yellow, very broad and drooping. 
This, of course, is a selected variety of the 
type which has crimson rays. The leaves are 
very moderate in size, deeply cut, and the 
whole plant is about 12 in. to 18 in. high. 
It is of very easy cultivation and require; 
to be raised from seeds annually. In good 
garden soil it requires very little attention 
beyond planting it at proj)er distances apart 
and keeping the beds clean until the surface 
is covered with the branches of the grow¬ 
ing plants 1 . The flowering season commence; 
in July and keeps on till late in the autumr 
provided the plants are not crowded in tin 
clumps or beds. 
The White Valotta. 
(Valotta purpurea alba.) 
If the original of this plant had really hai 
purple flowers, as implied by the name, w< 
should have no difficulty, or at least but little 
in getting a true albinoi or white-flowerec 
variety. The original lias- scarlet flowers, whicl 
colour is more akin to orange than purple. 
For. that reason it is very difficult to- get « 
pure white flower where the original wile 
plant has -scarlet blossoms. White-flowere* 
varieties of this Valotta have, howe-ver, mad 
their appearance in gardens fro-m time to- time 
and are scarce, and not particularly pure 
Probably, however, their constitution is deli 
cate, owing to the lack of something, and fc 
that reason the white variety is never comrno 
in gardens. A truss of flowers of the usua 
size, but white, with a faint -shade or tint c 
creamy flesh, was exhibited at a meeting o 
the R.H.S. on August 15th by Mr. Jame. 
Whitton, Parks Department, Glasgow. 
Kochia Trichophila. 
For the past few years many growers hav 
been cultivating and admiring a species <- 
Mock Cypress, under the name of Kochi 
scoparia. It now turns out that this is no 
the correct name of the plant at all. Fo 
many years past K. scoparia has been grow 
in the herbaceous ground Kew, in proximit 
to the Chenopodiums, but it presented notl 
ing particularly desirable as a garden plan 
The stems are taller, coarser, less branchet 
and the leaves darker green and broader tha 
those of the plant which lias recently bee 
introduced to gardens under the same nann 
The more recently introduced plant- grown i 
the same bed as the -one we have just mei 
tioned, forms a cylindrical mass of slende 
twiggy stems, covered with delicate foliag 
of a pleasing light green. The plant h; 
therefore been named K. trichophila by tl 
New authorities. We are afraid, howeve 
that the wrong name will be perpetuated i 
gardens for many years to come, as a mistal 
once made is very difficult to rectify. 
