THE GARDENING WORLD 
November 4, 1905. 
846 
OUR . . . 
Northern Gardens 
which, although it may not he apparent at 
the moment, ultimately leads to deplorable 
results. The ill-efEects in this respect are 
considerably magnified at the resting period 
by fluctuations of temperature, often caused 
by the changeable conditions prevalent out¬ 
side at this season. Plants never appear to 
be greatly affected during periods of low 
readings of the thermometer, providing there 
is a corresponding reduction of the moisture 
in the atmosphere and about the roots of the 
plants. What the plants require, and all 
that is necessary for them, is such conditions 
and sufficient moisture only to retain the 
pseudo-bulbs and foliage in a normal state 
during the dormant period. 
Immature growth at this season is far more 
troublesome to deal with when plants' are 
growing. At this season of the year, with 
due discretion, they are not difficult sub¬ 
jects to manage, but when plants are just 
reaching maturity without having ripened 
their pseudo-bulbs they require a lot of care. 
In the case of Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, and 
allied genera, where their growths are of con¬ 
siderable substance, it is by no means an easy 
matter, even in the most favoured situations. 
Light, of course, is one of the principal 
factors to aid the ripening growths of this 
description. Thus, in the fog-laden districts 
of London and other large towns, how greatly 
are the difficulties increased. Under such 
conditions one has practically toi depend on 
artificial heat to accomplish the desired end. 
I consider it advisable to bring both light 
and heat into proper use for the purpose. 
The plants should be placed hi the lightest 
and driest position in the house, where they 
may obtain every assistance from the procur¬ 
able light and at the same time will obtain 
the drier conditions of the atmosphere, and 
thus, while receiving practically sufficient 
moisture from the atmosphere to retain their 
normal state, there is less possibility of 
secondary growths making their appearance. 
It is sufficiently early enough to place plants 
under strictly resting conditions when the 
growth is thoroughly ripened and the endsi 
of the roots have become sealed. 
H. J. Chapman. 
The Weeping Willow ln New Zealand.— 
It may be of interest to know that the Weep¬ 
ing Willow in New Zealand came from the 
Willow tree that grew beside the grave of 
Napoleon at St. Helena. In the year 1840 
H.M. brig Britomart cast anchor in the 
harbour of Akaroa (Bank’s Peninsula, Can¬ 
terbury). The object of the brig’s advent to 
this place was the proclamation of the Queen’s 
sovereignty over the southern islands of New 
Zealand, and thus to forestall the expected 
French mission, which was known- to> have a 
similar object in view on behalf of the French 
Government. Five daysmfter the British flag 
was unfurled the French man-of-war L’Aube 
arrived, but too late. The next day the Comte 
de Paris entered Akaroa with emigrants from 
Bordeaux to found their expected colony. On 
the voyage to New Zealand the vessels touched 
at St. Helena, and cutting® were taken from 
the Willow that grew beside the grave of their 
great countryman, and from these cuttings 
we have the Weeping Willows in New Zealand. 
Batsford Park, Lord Redesdale’s lovely seat 
near Moreton-in-the-Marsh, -and where the 
King recently stayed, is notable for the many 
Japanese plants and shrubs, including Bam¬ 
boos, which are to be found in its gardens. A 
Kneciality is made of the dwarf trees, and 
possibly nowhere in England can a finer 
collection be found. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Broccoli.— No time should be lost in pre- 
paring this to stand the winter. In some 
localities there is great difficulty in saving 
this valuable crop. As it (the- late spring 
varieties at all events) .comes in season, when 
other vegetables are scarce, it is of the 
greatest importance to have a good crop of 
useful heads during as long a period as 
possible. 
Where labour is- plentiful it is often as good 
a plan as any to grow in an open quarter of 
the garden, and then at this season to lift the 
entire crop and replant on a sheltered border 
having a western exposure. In planting, 
incline the tops to the north, and tread the 
earth firmly round each plant. 
An easier method, and one that is very 
successful, is to take a good spadeful of soil 
from the north side of each plant, bend the 
plant over to the north, and place the spade¬ 
ful of earth up round the collar. All this 
work should be done in dry weather so as not 
to “ bake ” the soil. 
Storing Roots. —Where press of other work 
has delayed the harvesting of these, no time 
must now be lost in having the work done. It 
is often advantageous to lift and trim off the 
tops on a fine day, while the actual storing 
part in sand may be left for wet weather. 
Turnips, —Ill most districts it is hardly 
advisable to leave out the white and yellow 
varieties longer than the beginning of No¬ 
vember. Swedes may be left a while longer, 
as frost rather improves- the quality. 
Celery. —Where in constant demand some 
method must be adopted to give efficient pro¬ 
tection from frosts. It is a good plan to lift 
about a week’s supply at a time, and lay in 
damp leaf mould in a cool place. Otherwise 
a good supply of thick spruce branches should 
be at hand to place over the ridges during 
hard weather. I prefer these branches to 
straw or bracken, as they do not blow about 
and cause a mess, and can be removed and 
put on again with very little trouble. 
General Work —Continue to- wheel in 
manure on frosty mornings, as the work can 
be done then without cutting up walks and 
carrying soil from the breaks oil to the paths 
with the barrow wheels. Digging and trench¬ 
ing can also be pushed forward during suit¬ 
able weather. Charles Blair. 
Preston, Linlithgow. 
Flower Garden and 
Pleasure Ground. 
Lawns. —Many people foolishly think (if 
they think at all) that a lawn, like Tenny¬ 
son’s brook, should “go on for ever” without 
any attention beyond mowing and an occa¬ 
sional roll. This, however, is a great mis¬ 
take ; good grasses, like other good plants, 
require and respond to good cultivation. 
Moss on lawns is caused either by insufficient 
drainage or by the soil becoming im¬ 
poverished. In either case the finer grasses 
become weakened, whilst the moss and the 
coarser grasses flourish. The following dress¬ 
ing will in most cases renovate to a great ex¬ 
tent lawns that are deteriorating in quality. To 
every 100 square yards apply, not later than 
the New Year, 141b. basic slag and 91b. kainit, 
then in the spring when growth is commenc¬ 
ing apply to the above-mentioned area 21b. 
nitrate of soda. The prices, exclusive of car¬ 
riage, are about : Basic slag, 2s. 6d. per cwt. ; 
kainit, 2s. 6d. per cwt.; nitrate of soda, 
11s. 3d. per cwt. 
Herbaceous Plants. —Most of these will 
now be fit to cut down, but on no account 
should this be done till the stems are 
thoroughly ripened, or it will tend to weaken 
the plants. Many of the decayed stems can 
be profitably applied to the protection of such 
plants as Gunneras, Lilium auratum, 
Montbretias, Gladiolus- The Bride, and allied 
varieties, which are certainly not hardy in a 
severe winter in many parts of Scotland. 
Conservatory and Greenhouse. 
Mig nonette. — Autumn-sown Mignonette 
must at this dull, damp season be watered 
with great care, as any excess of moisture will 
cause damping, whilst the opposite extreme 
will weaken the plants. 
Brugmansias. — Where specimens of these 
are grown they should be cut back within two 
eyes or so of the old wood. 
Roses —These, whether grown in pots or 
planted out, should now be pruned. Com¬ 
mence by cutting away all diseased or very 
weakly growths, and where too thick it may 
be necessary to cut away some proportion of 
healthy wood. In shortening the young wood, 
space will only allow me at present to lay 
down the sound general rule that the weaker 
the wood is the more closely should it be cut 
back, and vice versa. Dot Roses in fair-sized 
pots can be maintained in health and vigour 
for a number of years in the same pots if the 
drainage is kept right, and if an inch or two 
of the surface soil is removed at this season 
with a blunt-pointed stick and an equal 
quantity of top-dressing applied, consisting 
of one-half turfy loam and one-half well- 
rotted cow dung for H.P.’s, and horse drop¬ 
pings and leaf soil for Teas and H.T.’s. 
1 lace in a cold pit, or frame, give abundance 
of air and very little water. " C. C. 
Mr. N. E. Hansen, professor of horticulture 
and botany at the South Dakota Agricultural 
f ollege, has been employed by the United 
States Government on various missions, notably 
on a trip to distant lands to secure new varie¬ 
ties of plants suitable for cultivation in the 
United States. He has originated many new 
varieties of fruits, besides having introduced 
numerous new plants and trees from foreign 
countries. He is said to be the largest ex¬ 
perimenter in fruits in the United States, with 
the single exception of Mr. Burbank, of Cali¬ 
fornia. 
