THE GARDENING WORLD 4 * 
- OUR - 
NORTHERN GARDENS. 
June 17, 1905. 
ften lake the form of applications o£ liquid 
|!>anum 
I need hardly say lliat no seed pods should 
K* allowed to form, for the effects of fruition 
.ro too well known to need comment. 
I referred to the fact that Sweet Pea. plants 
an bo pruned. The main object of this prac- 
ice is to keep the plants from growing too 
all. The method is simple. Two or three 
j'eeb of the tops of the tallest branches can be 
removed, thus helping the growth of lateral 
lhoots. These will bear good flowers, and, in- 
leed, some have said that the practice of 
riming tends to increase the length of the 
lowering season. If the plants are becoming 
•rowded they can also frequently be thinned.° 
I here is little to be added, for if the gar¬ 
dener treats his plants as I have described, 
md if he guards against any chance enemy, 
he will certainly be rewarded with an abun- 
lant supply of excellent blossoms until his 
plants are cut down by frost. 
G. F. Draysox. 
Rhododendron ledifolium 
narcissif/orum. 
Rhododendron ledifolium, which is some¬ 
times called R. or Azalea indica var. alba, is 
|a white flowered species from China and 
tapan, and is useful on account of beiim 
hardier than the ordinary Rhododendron 
indicum set. It is known by reason of its 
(eaves being covered with soft silky hairs, 
ind by its large white flowers. About London 
it thrives in the open, but is occasionally 
I am agecl in winter, especially when growth 
has been continued until late autumn and the 
ripening process lias not been completed 
before bad weather has set in. The variety 
narcissifloruni is of comparatively recent in¬ 
troduction, and is quite different from' the 
type, and somewhat hardier. It is of fairly 
rapid growth, and forms a.shapely bush with 
brighter-coloured leaves than the type, and 
semi-double flowers, 2in. or more across, of 
a pretty rosy lilac colour, the upper petals 
being dotted with red. To have it at its best 
it should be given light peaty soil and a cosy 
corner sheltered from cold winds, in which 
position it can be depended on to bloom well 
during April and May each year. Both type 
and variety are increased by means of cut¬ 
tings of half-ripe wood in summer. 
W. I). 
Lamium puralbum. 
Under the above name—significant of its 
parentage—came recently into commerce a 
plant that is interesting as being a hybrid 
between two native species, viz., L. pur- 
[iureuni and L. album. The cross results in 
i floriferous and free-growing plant of much 
jieauty, the colour of the flowers being an un¬ 
usual and very charming shade of silvery 
pink. A form of Chelone Lyoni named 
delicata produces flowers of similar colour, 
and is the only flower with which we are 
acquainted possessed of this pleasing shade of 
.•olour. Its hardiness and freedom equal those 
>f its parents, and make it a useful and desir- 
ible addition to our rock and border plants. 
1 lie plant should—and we trust will—stir up 
t livelier interest in the cross-breeding of 
native species of plants, for there is ample 
icope among these for the exercise of skill and 
judgment, and it would assuredly be a most 
nteresting occupation to endeavour to pro- 
luce improvements and hybrids of our wild 
flowers, which have the great advantage of 
>eing well adapted to the climate and condi- 
- ions that here prevail. Heather Bell. 
Conservatory and Greenhouse. 
Brugmansias. —These handsome trumpet- 
flowered plants should find a place in every 
conservatory, either as pot plants or planted 
out. They are now growing rapidly and be¬ 
ginning to flower, and should have some 
liquid manure or other stimulant occasionally. 
Woodlice are very partial to the succulent 
leaves, and should be trapped by means of 
Rotates halved and scooped out. 
Humea elegans. — This plant is not nearly 
so much grown as its merits deserve, for it is 
when in flower a graceful object, either in the 
conservatory or in the flower garden. Seed 
should now be sown in a well-drained seed, 
pan in sandy loam, with a little leaf soil. 
Cover the pan with a pane of glass till the 
seed germinates, place the pan in a cold 
frame, and keep shaded from bright sunshine. 
C. Comfort. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Winter Vegetables. —The planting of 
these should now be finished as soon as pos¬ 
sible, as they require a long season’s growth 
to have them at their best. Brussels Sprouts 
are the most important of our winter crops, 
and should be planted in quantity. Sutton’s 
Matchless I find to be a wonderfully produc¬ 
tive and hardy sort. It is also of excep¬ 
tionally fine flavour. Another good sort, is 
the old Dalkeith ; a fine strain of this takes 
some beating. For those with limited space 
I • can strongly recommend Sutton’s Dwarf 
Gem. The sprouts are small, but solid, and 
produced in great abundance, and this 
variety can be planted much closer than the 
tall kinds. 
Dwarf Green Curled Savoy is about the 
best, and can be put out 18in. apart. Onus- 
kirk is a good selection of the Drumhead 
type. 
Kidney Beans. —Another good sowing of 
this useful vegetable should now be made, 
and, except in favoured localities, should be 
the last for the season. It is not generally 
known that both Kidney and Runner Beans 
can be preserved for the winter at very small 
cost. I will give the recipe in due season. 
It is therefore well to sow a larger quantity 
than is absolutely wanted for current use, as 
these preserved Beans are a treat during the 
winter months. 
Leeks. — Plant the more forward of these in 
very heavily-manured soil. For general use 
it is unnecessary to dig trenches for Leeks. 
Simply draw a good deep drill with a hoe, 
and you will grow good, useful specimens 
with but little trouble. Sutton’s Prize is a 
quick grower, and quite hardy, and for late 
use nothing can come near Musselburgh. 
Turnips. — Make another small sowing of 
Golden Ball, as it is only small, tender-bulbs 
tliat are appreciated in the kitchen. For 
winter use a row or two of Swede may yet be 
sown. These are of much better flavour in 
winter than any of the yellow kinds. 
General Work. —Continue hoeing among 
and thinning crops as they require it. Finish 
planting Celery, as very late planted crops of 
this are seldum satisfactory. C. Blair. 
Preston, Linlithgow. 
Hardy Fruit. 
The plentiful fains of last week have given 
a great impetus to growth of all kinds, ami 
trees and crops of all kinds are progressing 
very quickly. Wee.ls are very troublesome, 
and require almost constant work. 
Keep the hoe going on all fruit ground, 
especially amongst Gooseberries and 
Currants. 'The use of the Dutch hoe is 
greatly to be recommended amongst the 
latter, as it keeps the surface loose, and 
lessens radiation. Weeds are thus kept 
under, and a good opportunity is afforded of 
watching the attacks of caterpillar or red 
spider, which are so troublesome now. 
Raspberry borders are greatly benefited bv 
a run over now, and all superfluous growths 
cut away. This throws the strength into the 
young growth for next year’s canes. If time 
permits a watering now with a weak liquid 
is very beneficial both in Raspberry and 
Strawberry quarters. At no season is there 
such strain on any plant as in its flowering 
stage. Such a treatment, therefore, helps to 
set the flowers and perfect a better crop. 
Pots of forced Strawberries which have 
finished fruiting are excellent for planting 
now, and give a splendid crop the following 
year. Plant these at once, using a little bone 
meal or bone flour, and water well afterwards, 
so as to settle the soil about them. Older 
beds will require to be weeded over now, and 
a mulching applied to preserve the fruit, and 
•help to keep in the moisture after watering. 
In the case of newly-made be Is there will be 
little required but to keep them clean. I 
prefer to grow a crop of winter Onions be¬ 
tween the lines of young Strawberries rather 
than Lettuce or Turnip, as they do not cover 
the foliage like the latter. 
J. Fraser Smith. 
Roses and Dahlias. 
Roses. —Roses should be freed from all 
kinds, of pests before the blooms begin to show 
colour, or the work will be rendered more 
difficult afterwards. Aphides, mildew, and 
the larvae of several kinds of Saw fly are the 
most troublesome. Aphides can readily be 
destroyed by syringing the plants with 
XL All liquid insecticide according to the 
directions on the bottle, or with soft soap 
and water at the rate of 81b. of soap to 
13 gallons of water. Dusting with flowers of 
sulphur is a good antidote for mildew. This 
latter remedy is often effective in the case of 
larvae, but hellebore powder freshly ground 
is more effectual. A moderate dressing with 
soot, Clay’s fertiliser or guano will assist the 
trees to swell their flower buds. Showery 
weather is best for this operation, and the 
surface of the ground should be stirred with 
the flat hoe after the dressing. 
Dahlias. — Measures must be taken to 
trap earwigs as soon as they make their 
appearance, as they soon make serious havoc 
amongst the young growth, especially on light, 
dry soils. The old-fashioned trap is still one 
of the best, viz., an inverted small flower-pot 
on the top of the stake, with a little moss in 
the bottom of tin pot, where the marauders 
will be .found in the morning. 
