828 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
October 28, 1905. 
The Flower Garden. 
Double Primroses.— While it may seem 
well-nigh impossible to find a sweeter flower 
than the wild Primrose “ growing by the 
water’s brim,” yet in gardens where they are 
suited the double Primroses are decided 
acquisitions. Perhaps the double white and 
double lilac forms are the best, and certainly 
both are well worthy of extended use in all 
flower gardens. The chief essentials to suc¬ 
cess are a fairly heavy soil, which is always 
fairly moist in summer, and if the position is 
semi-shaded finer leaf growth is encouraged 
after the flowering period is over in spring. 
Now is a good time to plant these Primroses, 
as they have still time to get a hold before 
the weather becomes too severe. It is a good 
plan to plant these Primroses in a position 
where they may remain for at least a year 
without being disturbed, as the second season 
after planting they will, under ordinary con¬ 
ditions, yield a great wealth of bloom. When 
the plants have formed several crowns they 
may be divided, either after the flowering 
period or in late autumn. 
The Cowslip (Primula veris).—This is 
another charming native not half so much 
grown in our gardens as it should be. Seed¬ 
lings are easily raised, and if grown in 
beds through the summer excellent plants 
may be had ready to plant in autumn. This 
species is admirably adapted for naturalising, 
ancl appears particularly charming on a 
sloping grassy bank, where the lovely yellow 
flowers in clusters on fairly long stalks are 
seen to great advantage. We have seen the 
Cowslip successfully used under deciduous 
trees, where the branches are not too near 
the ground, the half shade seeming to favour 
the growth in summer. 
Primula elatior (the Oxlip) may also be 
used with good effect, and if the foregoing, 
together with clumps of Polyanthus, Primula 
denticulata, Primula japonioa, and others, 
were only planted extensively wherever an 
open space occurs among shrubs by the side 
of shady walks, and left for a couple of years 
or more, a beautiful display would be had 
annually with less trouble than it takes to 
plant beds of Tulips, etc., charming though 
they are. B. AY. J 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Mushrooms. —In nearly every household 
good Mushrooms are highly prized, and espe¬ 
cially so through the winter months ; conse¬ 
quently every care should be taken to keep 
up a steady supply. Only in large establish¬ 
ments, of course, can this be achieved all 
through the year, and even then plenty of 
material and labour is absolutely essential. 
Nevertheless, when their culture is well 
understood it is surprising what a large num¬ 
ber can be picked and the length of time 
beds, well made up, will continue to bear 
even under the greatest difficulties. Roughly- 
made structures are often preferable to ex¬ 
pensive made houses, especially if a site can 
be found on the north side of a wall. No fire 
heat of any kind need be introduced provid¬ 
ing it is thoroughly thatched, of good thick¬ 
ness inside, with good wheat straw sufficient 
to exclude intense cold and heat, and by add¬ 
ing fermenting material in the building 
during winter no difficulty need be expe¬ 
rienced in growing them thus all through the 
year. In gathering the crops, never cut them 
off, but twist them out carefully by the root, 
and it will be well to till in the holes occa¬ 
sionally with a little finely-sifted loam. The 
Mushroom house proper should never exceed 
a temperature of 55 degrees during the 
winter months, and in cold weather 50 degrees 
will be ample. Endeavour to maintain a 
moist growing temperature, and if the hot 
water is turned on at all, do so in the morn¬ 
ing when syringing, and turn off again an 
hour after. 
Cucumbers —Much cafe will be required 
during the next two or three months to' keep 
these in a healthy bearing condition. The 
plants must not be allowed to become dis¬ 
tressed by over-cropping them ; it will be 
far better to err on the side of cutting them 
too small than over large. Mildew and red 
spider must not be allowed to infest them, 
and means must be taken immediately either 
makes its appearance to arrest their progress. 
A good brisk heat must be maintained night 
and day. The plants should not be syringed 
only on very bright mornings, and then 
slightly with tepid water, but the atmo¬ 
spheric conditions of the house must be kept 
moist; keep the evaporating pans filled with 
farmyard manure water, and damp down the 
paths early in the afternoon with this also. 
During wet days look over the heap of 
Potatos and sort them out for the different re¬ 
quirements. Unfortunately, these are very 
much diseased this season. AA’here are our 
disease-resisters which' were sent out with 
such a flourish of trumpets a short time since? 
E. Beckett. 
Aldenham House Gardens, Elstree. 
Hardy Herbaceous Border. 
Late-flowering Chrysanthemums —These 
are now making a good display, and everyone 
who has to provide a quantity of cut flowers 
for decorating, either in vases, on dinner- 
tables, and the like, knows their value at this 
season of the year. There are now numerous 
varieties, which vary much in colour and 
form, but the following I have found to be 
especially good:—Horace Martin (a fine 
golden yellow), Lemon Queen, Mons. Louis 
Lionette, Rosie, Notaire Groz, White Quintus, 
Mrs. Cullingford, and A. Chausson. Cuttings 
are now appearing freely at the base, and as 
the best results are obtained by growing fresh 
plants eveiy year, these should be taken off 
carefully and inserted singly in thumb pots, 
or three placed round the edge of a 60-sized 
pot. The soil used should consist of loam 
and leaf soil in equal proportions, with a 
good sprinting of silver sand, and the whole 
passed through a fine sieve. Place the 
cuttings in a cold frame, and keep close for a 
few days, but after this give plenty of air 
when the weather is ojien, so as to keep them 
in a healthy state during the winter. 
AA here sufficient frost lias occurred to cut 
off the soft plants, such as Dahlias, Begonias 
and other subjects placed in the borders for 
the summer, these should be cleared awav 
" i. other rubbish so that they are main- 
lamed in a clean and tidy condition. 
A. E. T. 
Fruit Garden. 
Outdoors. 
Continue to prepare fresh sites while the 
weather remains fine for the different kinds 
of fruit trees where such planting is contem¬ 
plated, and if fresh compost cannot be got 
V’om the loam stack to give them a start, briim 
in wood ashes, soot, or lime, and mix with 
the ordinary garden soil. In planting on old 
sites the soil should be taken out and re- 
placed by that from the open garden, which 
usually grows most kinds of fruit well. Brim- 
loot-lifting or root-pruning to an end as soon 
as practicable, as rough weather may set in 
at any time now, but up to the 15th of the 
month nothing could be better for outside 
operations. If the planter can go to the 
nursery and choose his own trees, little fault, 
can be found with the sender; at all events, 
he should despatch his or her order eaidy, 
and not wait until most of the best-shaped 
tiees ha\ e been lifted. It is full early yet for 
general transplanting; another fortnight or 
three weeks will be better, and home trees 
that have to be moved should first claim atten¬ 
tion, the nurseryman holding his until 
a ou instruct liim to forward. Now is a good 
time to give fresh rooting material to any tree 
that shows signs of exhaustion by constantly 
cropping, it being better to replace the old 
soil with new than, relying solely upon manure 
Avater or artificial manures on the surface, 
and often aged trees under such treatment 
take on, as it were, a new lease and continue 
to crop regularly for some years again. 
Ba now most of the Apple and Pear crop 
should be under cover, and much care is re¬ 
quired from now onwards in making the most 
of the year s supply. The earlier gatherings 
must be frequently examined, removing any 
that show the least signs of decay or others 
soon folloAv suit. Pears require the most 
attention, as many do not keep good many 
days after they are ripe, notably Louise 
Bonne of Jersey, Pitmaston Duchess, Beurre 
Bose, Beurre Oapiaumont, Beurre Hardy, 
and some few others. The best dessert Apples 
in season are AVealthy, M-argil, Allington 
Pippin, Oox’s Orange Pippin, Cox’s Pomona, 
American Mother, Kerry Pippin. Select the 
ripest, as most of those enumerated last Avell 
unto Christmas treated as advised. 
Indoors. 
Pot Strawberries.— The weather of late has 
been' favourable to the ripening of the 
crowns ; do not feed the .plaints further, as 
late- growth is not advisable, but afford clear 
water when necessary, and afford each plant- 
ample space by frequently moA-ing the pots, 
which will prevent the roots getting into the 
coal ashes where sucli are used, and there is 
