978 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 23, 1905. 
SUPPLEMENTARY REPLIES^ 
BY OUR READERS 
To Answers in the “ G. W.” Enquire Within. 
Vine; in Palestine I think 1 noticed it on 
the Olive; in France and Switzerland it 
“ inhabits ” the Spruce Fir; while in the 
Himalayas (for it is by no means confined to 
one continent) it appears, inter alias arbores, 
on the Apricot. 
In Sweden a ring of this wood was formerly, 
and perhaps is now, regarded as a talisman 
against sickness and misadventure. To con¬ 
clude, there is the old but little known tradi¬ 
tion that it has descended from its original 
place in the vegetable creation-—in other 
words, that originally it was a fine forest tree 
taking its place and holding its own among 
the mightiest and best of its kind, but that 
the wood for the immortal Cross having been 
shaped out of its heart, it was henceforth con¬ 
demned to have no further existence of its 
own, but to be for ever after only a parasite 
dependent for its sustenance and very life 
upon others. J. A. Carxegie-Cheales. 
-♦- 
The Plume Poppy. 
(Bocconia cordata.) 
(See Supplement.) 
The Plume Poppy is a native of China and 
Japan, two countries from whence we get 
a large number of plants suitable for our 
climate. It is perfectly hardy in this country, 
even in places where the temperature often 
falls considerably below zero in winter. Being 
deciduous this is not at all remarkable, al¬ 
though there are some plants which fail to 
give satisfaction under like conditions, even 
when they die down naturally in the autumn. 
The plant belongs to the Poppy family, al¬ 
though very unlike a Poppy in the eye of 
the casual observer. The flowers are of a 
dusky or buff colour, very numerous, and are 
followed by small seed pods. They are pro¬ 
duced in enormous numbers in a panicle ter¬ 
minating each stem, and that gives some com¬ 
pensation for the lack of size in the indi¬ 
vidual. 
The plant represented in our supplemen¬ 
tary illustration had been flowering for some 
time, so that the lower portion of each panicle 
represents fruit only, while the expanded 
flowers are still borne in dense clusters at 
the tip of the panicles. Both flowers and 
fruits, but particularly the latter, have a 
plumy appearance, which is still further sug¬ 
gested by reason of the deep buff or amber 
colour, lienee the name Plume Poppy. The 
leaves’are heart-shaped, rather deeply lobed 
along the sides, and of a striking silvery-grey 
underneath. 
Usually the Plume Poppy is planted in 
herbaceous borders, and where the soil is suit¬ 
able the stems run up to the height of 6 ft. 
or 8ft. ; perhaps more under very favourable 
conditions. This height makes the plant 
stately, while the foliage is also very hand¬ 
some. It would also make an admirable sub¬ 
ject for planting in sub-tropical gardens, 
where plants of a hardy character would be 
even more suitable than the sub-tropical sub¬ 
jects themselves. 
Declixe oe the Mulberry.— In the days 
of King George the Fourth the Mulberry 
gardens of Chelsea and the surrounding dis¬ 
trict were largely patronised by the “ nobilitie 
and gentrie,” according to an old announce¬ 
ment, where not only was the fruit consumed 
in various forms, but a considerable consump¬ 
tion of Mulberry wine is reported to have 
taken place. 
Border Shaded by High Wall. 
I have seen Black Currants do really well 
on a north border, planted 5 ft. apart, and 
with the American Land Cress (an excellent 
substitute for Watercress) growing well in 
rows between the Currant bushes. Black 
Currants develop finer berries when not fully 
exposed to the sun. Nearly all the ordinary 
culinary herbs do well on a north border, 
Mint especially. Montbretias are flowers that 
will also grow and flower luxuriantly on a 
north border, if not crowded. 
Harry S. Stevexs. 
Baldslow, St. Leonards-on-Sea. 
Worm Casts on Lawn. 
Does “ G.” use “ fresh ” lime for watering 
his lawn ? This is absolutely essential to 
success, as spent or stale lime has little or no 
effect on worms. I would advise “ G.” to 
obtain two or three bushels of good new lime 
from his local builder (unless he resides near 
a limekiln); the cost will not be more than 
fourteen or fifteen pence per bushel, and a 
bushel will make enough solution for dressing 
forty rods (^ acre). The worms will soon 
crawl out on the surface of the lawn, and 
should be picked up and thrown away. 
Harry S. Stevexs. 
Baldstow, St. Leonards-on-Sea. 
Clearing a Garden of Slugs. 
In addition to the good advice given under 
this head, apply gas lime at the rate of 
4 oz. per yard to all vacant ground at this 
season. Ground lime—much the best—or 
freshly slaked lime, are also very effectual 
remedies when applied directly to the slug. 
This is a little difficult, but may be accom¬ 
plished by a little foresight. Whenever the 
weather is moist and rather warmer than 
usual sow bran thinly over the ground, and 
as soon as the slugs are busy feeding and 
exposed, dust them thoroughly with ground 
or freshly-slaked lime. Do this frecpiently 
when favourable occasions occur, and hun¬ 
dreds will be killed at each operation. Hoe¬ 
ing acts principally by exposing the slugs’ 
eggs to the birds and to injury by drought. 
But, even when all this has been done, it is 
wise to protect young plants by putting a 
handful of furnace ashes round each. Mr. 
Beckett often recommends this in these pages, 
and we find it very efficacious. J. O. 
Construction of a Greenhouse. 
In reply to “New Reader, Salop,’’ page 825 
of The Gardexixg World, I have learned 
from experience the cheapest way to construct 
a greenhouse is to buy the whole material 
ready to fit up, and put it together yourself. 
In placing order give full dimensions of the 
house, stating ventilation and the size of 
glass you intend using (18 in. by 14 in. is a 
good size). If it is a matter of economy, 
21 oz. Belgian glass would do as well, and is 
much cheaper than home manufacture. Allow 
the horticultural builder whom you patronise 
to supply you with everything, including nails, 
bolts, etc., and I can assure you he will do it 
at a price that will astonish you for cheap¬ 
ness. I should also advise you to use plastine 
for glazing; it has many advantages over the 
ordinary putty. We have recently con¬ 
structed a large house on the above principle, 
the material supplied by W. Duncan Tucker, 
South Tottenham, and for quality and cheap¬ 
ness it is a perfect wonder. The Twelve 
Hours Stove Syndicate, Limited, supply a 
very cheap and effective heating apparatus. 
H. MacSkimmixg. 
Renewing of Pinks. 
If I were “ Dianthus ” I should at 
once make a fresh start with them 
by putting into a cold frame, or hand- 
light, a good batch of pipings or cut¬ 
tings. First make up your frame with a good 
bed of light, sandy compost, then get your 
cuttings or pipings, either will do, and prick 
them into the frame say from 2in. to 3in. apart 
each way, water them well and keep the frame 
close until they root; never allow them to 
get. thoroughly dry, rather keep them on the 
moist side. Now prepare your border or bed 
ready for next spring. Make up a mixture 
of three parts good new loam and one part 
rotten cow manure (there is no manure equal 
to good rotten cow manure for Pinks). Spread 
a good coating of this on your border and dig 
it well in. Then early in spring, when your 
cuttings are well rooted, lift them with a good 
ball and plant them out about 9in. or a 
foot apart. If “ Dianthus ” were to strike a 
good batch of cuttings every other season he 
would always be able to keep his Pinks in 
good condition, and they would always look 
neat and tidy. Japoxica. 
Garden Infested wiih Slugs. 
I would advise “ Novice ” to treat as much 
of his garden as possible (especially his Cab¬ 
bage bed) in the following manner :_First 
clear out weeds from the ground, and rake 
the surface as fine and smooth as possible. 
Prepare some finely sifted fresh lime, allowing 
about one gallon to the square rod to be 
treated, choosing a quiet evening for the 
operation. Then pay a visit to the garden or 
Cabbage plot after dark, when the slugs will 
have already commenced feeding operations, 
lime in hand, dust the whole of the ground 
carefully and also the Cabbage foliage. This 
diessmg will jirove ten times more effectual in 
ridding the ground of slugs than when ap¬ 
plied in the day time, because the lime comes 
m direct contact with the slugs and they are 
cuied with one dose. This remedy is a 
case of “ diamond cut diamond.” At night 
the slugs become “very busy,” and it well 
repays one to be “ busy ” after dark also. An 
ordinary storm lamp may be suspended on a 
6 ft. stake near the plot should the night prove 
too dark for effective working. 
Herbert Morris. 
Lachen alias 
I would most certainly not plunge these 
and other small bulbs that are at all inclined 
to “ draw,” as if anything should prevent the 
plunging material being removed, and it re¬ 
mained even one day too long, it will be cer¬ 
tain to spoil the handsome foliage, making the 
whole thing unsightly, the foliage spindly and 
thin, and elongating the stems quite unneces¬ 
sarily. The great aim of the grower should be 
