468 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 10, 1905. 
pretty well certain that tlie plant m ques¬ 
tion was no other than Acroclinium. That 
being the case the information supplied was 
more wonderful than the reputed new produc¬ 
tion. The celebrated raiser, Luther Bur¬ 
bank, could have made no pretensions to 
having so changed the flower that such as the 
Lily or the Rose could have been rendered 
fadeless. The fact is, he has merely been 
working upon an already fadeless flower ; 
in other words he has been merely improve- 
ing the size and colour of what we have been 
accustomed to speak of as Everlastings from 
our first acquaintance with them. There *s 
not merely one fadeless flower, but several 
genera of them, and, in some instances, a 
considerable number of species. The bracts 
surrounding the nower-heads of these ever¬ 
lasting flowers, are, by nature, thin and dry, 
or almost without juice from the time they 
are fully developed. They are also highly 
coloured, and that is what makes them so 
valuable, either for garden decoration, or for 
drying in the usual simple manner, and using 
as cut flowers, it may be in the winter when 
other flowers are scarce. Besides Acrocli¬ 
nium roseum, we may also remind our 
readers of Rhodanthe Manglesii and its 
varieties, also the Waitzias, Helichrysums, 
Ammobium alatuni (the winged everlasting), 
the Antennarias, and the common white ever¬ 
lasting (Anaphalis margaritacea). In 
America this is named “ Moonshine,” which 
is a native of North America, and has become 
naturalised in various parts of Europe. In 
this country it is well established in Wales. 
It is the everlasting which is so extensively 
dyed in various colours, and sold in our 
markets at Christmas. 
—o— 
Seedling Shrubby Calceolarias. 
Tears ago we heard more about shrubby 
Calceolarias than we have recently. It 
remains, however, that some of the 
bedding forms, including Golden Gem, 
are really shrubby Calceolarias. Other 
types with woody stems are C. 
fuschiaefolia, and the hybrid C. Bur- 
bidgei. Several other garden strains are 
also used for bedding purposes, but have 
been more or less neglected in recent years. 
Another strain was brought up at the Temple 
Show by Mr. John E. Jefferies, Oxford, who 
had a number of plants, each 3 ft. high, 
branched and bushy, and showing a variety 
of colours, with flowers of large size for this 
type. The flowers, we presume, would be 
about the same size as herbaceous Calceo¬ 
larias were about thirty to forty years ago. 
In colour they varied from yellow to a 
maroon-crimson, or bright crimson, the 
yellow ones being more or less flushed or 
spotted with crimson on the face of the 
lower lip or slipper. It is just possible that, 
with the reaction in favour of less formal 
plants for conservatory decoration, these 
Calceolarias will meet with some encourage- 
ment from the general public, provided 
several people take up their cultivation, and 
make neat and shapely plants of them, and 
then place them before the public at London 
or other shows. 
The Flower Garden. 
Iceland. Poppies (Papaver nudicaule).— 
Eew of our hardier biennials give better re¬ 
turns than these little gems of the Arctic and 
Alpine regions, so easily are they grown and 
so freely do they flower”. The colours range 
from deep orange to pale yellow and white, 
and many lovely tints and shades are to be 
found among seedlings from good strains. 
The plants seed themselves freely, and gene¬ 
rally any amount of seedlings will be found 
where the plants bloomed the previous season. 
If grown in open parts of shrubberies, young, 
plants will appear annually and need only be 
thinned out, when abundance of bloom: will 
result. The present is a good time to sow 
seeds with a view to planting out in autumn. 
As soon as the young plants are large enough 
they should be pricked out at about eight 
inches apart, subsequently transferring to 
flowering quarters in late September or Octo¬ 
ber. 
The Double Catchfly (Lychnis Viscaria 
fl. pi.).—This is one of the most charming of 
our early summer flowers, and one which lasts 
in beauty for a considerable time. The 
flowers are borne in panicles, on stems a foot 
or fifteen inches high, and are bright rosy 
red in colour. Propagation is easily effected' 
by division after flowering, each offset making 
a nice plant by autumn. Seeds may also be 
sown now, thinning out the young plants 
when large enough. 
Saxifraga Wallacei. —This is one of the hand¬ 
somest of the large genus Saxifraga, and one 
that is comparatively ©a-sy h> grow, thriving 
well in any good garden soil. The flowers 
are white, half an inch or more in diameter, 
and freely produced. The foliage also is 
highly ornamental, the leaves being deeply 
lobed and having somewhat of a Fem-like ap¬ 
pearance. For those who have not facilities 
for raising quantities of tender plants, Saxi-' 
fraga Wallacei will prove useful, as, owing 
to its free growth, increase is, easily effected 
by means of cuttings or offsets, which will 
root freely in a cold frame, kept close and 
shaded for a week or two. B. W. J. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Since waiting my last notes we^ have expe¬ 
rienced some very trying weather, which has 
seriously affected much of the early vegeta- 
tion. On Sunday and Monday nights, on 
May 21st and 22nd, sharp frosts occurred in 
most districts, and, as is generally the case, 
gardens situated in low, damp situations have 
been damaged most. Fortunately, the atmo¬ 
sphere was dry, or the damage would have 
been much more severe. We may now reason¬ 
ably hope, that a recurrence will net take 
jdace again this spring, and every means 
should be taken to replenish the losses in¬ 
curred as speedily as possible. Where Runner 
and French Beans have been ruined, sow in 
small pots, and where possible! raise in a gentle 
moist heat, thoroughly harden, and plant out 
as soon as the second growth is visible. Jf 
these are nursed along carefully little loss of 
time will iiave occurred as regards these. 
Mulching. — There is every prospect of a 
continuous spell of dry weather, and on all 
kinds of soil, more especially where it is ex¬ 
posed, a surface dressing of stable litter will 
prove invaluable to the growth of the various 
crops. Much less water will be required at 
the roots, as the moisture will be conserved, 
the roots kept cool, and the ground will be 
much less apt to, crack. Peas, Beans of all 
kinds, early Cauliflowers and Globe Arti¬ 
chokes are among the many subjects that are 
especially benefited by such treatment. Half- 
spent horse droppings, such as old Mushroom 
bed, form a capital dressing for Beetroot. 
Carrots, Onions, and Parsnips, which should 
be put on about one inch thick. The early 
Oarrot crop, which is frequently attacked at 
this season with the Carrot fly and green 
aphis, should be dusted with, tobacco powder 
and fresh soot early in the monring when the 
dew is on them, and the same applies to 
Celery hi all stages. Take the earliest favour¬ 
able opportunity of planting out good 
breadths of Brussels Sprouts, Borecoles, 
Savoys, and Cauliflowers. Where the land is 
addicted to clubbing, fill in the holes with 
finely-sifted cinder ashes, the finest remedy I 
know for this trouble. E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Violets. —Owing to the continued drought 
it has not been advisable to plant these in 
open quarters so early as we could wish ; but 
it is te' be hoped that ere these notes appear 
the ground will be in good order to receive 
them. It is in such, seasons, as this that the 
methods I have frequently advised of pulling 
the old plants apart early in April and de¬ 
posing the young side shoots in cold frames 
fur a, few weeks, is fully demonstrated. The 
dry state of the ground and the 1 prevalence of 
severe frosts in May would have been inimical 
toi their starting into growth, and the chances 
are that they would have been almost killed 
in some districts. Young plants may now be 
lifted, with some soil adhering to the roots, 
and planted in the border prepared for them. 
If plenty of room is at command I advise 
planting fifteen inches: apart either way, as 
then the hoe can the more readily be plied 
about them, and the workman is enabled to 
water and cut off superfluous runners without 
injury to the plants. 
Plants for Balconies. —Basket and climb- 
ing plants are now immensely popular for 
embellishing balconies, verandahs, and win¬ 
dows, and provided suitable plants are chosen 
and grown on freely in the greenhouse early 
in spring, the effect produced is charming. To 
give a list of the best subjects for the purpose 
would occupy too much space, and the matter 
is pretty well understood by all interested in 
gardening. Essential points are to have them 
well furnished! and properly hardened off by 
tliis time ; they will then continue to thrive 
and flower the whole summer. Plants of this 
description require regular applications of 
liquid manure once or twice a week. 
Heibaceous Calceolarias. —I know of 
nothing so well suited for amateurs with 
limited accommodation as these. They are 
easily grown, and require no fire-heat at any 
period of the year. Seed should be procured: 
from a reliable source to ensure a good strain,; 
and the present time is opportune for sowing 
it. Finely-sifted light soil should be used,' 
and the pan or pot must be well drained. An 
hour after watering the soil with a fine-rosed 
