z 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 4, 1908. 
BORDER h 
PENTSTEMONS. 
Much as we admire the giant forms and 
brilliant colours of the popular florists’ 
type of the Pentstemon, collections of 
hardy herbaceous perennials cannot be 
considered representative without two or 
three at least of the true species. There 
is an indescribable charm about them to 
the student of plant life., for we know that 
they have been moulded by nature alone 
(and she makes no mistakes) without the 
assistance of man. Moreover, they will 
often continue to appear from the time 
• they are planted until it becomes neces¬ 
sary to re-arrange the border, and in¬ 
crease in size to sortie extent, without the 
yearly striking of cuttings, although it is 
always well to have a few protected plants 
by one for stock in case of loss. In the 
South of England in light soils and in 
many parts of Ireland they require no 
protection, unless we include such plants 
as P. Cobaea, one of the plants used in 
the production of the florists’ varieties. 
As this plant is not quite hardy, it be¬ 
comes necessary to lift and box it up 
-after the manner recommended for her¬ 
baceous Lobelias, but dividing it up in 
the process of boxing if increase of stock 
is required. On the other hand, I have 
had a plant of P. Hartwegi in the border 
in the front of my cottage for four suc¬ 
cessive seasons. Right up in the hills 
here above the Forth I suppose we get 
as much cold, wet weather during winter 
as in most parts, and in January’ we often 
register 24 degrees of frost. The soil is 
not of the best. 
Most of the plants are readily increased 
by cuttings taken in September, inserted 
in sandy’ soil in a cold frame, and giving 
air on all possible occasions. Where 
cuttings are not obtained, a handlight 
should be placed over clump to protect 
it during cold, wet weather, removing the 
top on dry days. It is also advisable to 
let the growths remain on the plants all 
t?,ie winter. This in itself helps them, and 
is not at all unsightly. They thrive best 
in a light, porous soil and a sunny expo¬ 
sure. Pentstemon barbatus (commonly 
known as Chelone barbata), easily grown, 
has scarlet flowers; P. campanulatus, 
purple ; P. confertus caeruleo-purpureus, 
as its name implies, blue purple ; P. Hart¬ 
wegi, scarlet in the variety Newbury gem, 
of the most variable species ; P. digitalis, 
white ; P. ovatus, blue, a'handsome plant ; 
P. Richardsonii, a loose growing plant 
which rapidly’ increases in size, blue ; P. 
murrayanus, scarlet; and P. pubescens, 
purple. 
This by no means exhausts the list, but 
would make a good nucleus for anyone 
starting a collection. 
H. Arnold. 
-f+4 - 
Cypripedium Ernest Read. 
The large upper sepal of this hybrid is 
greenish with brown veins and a broad 
white edge. The petals are pale purple, 
and the lip darker. Award of Merit by 
the R.H.S. on November 26th when shown 
by J. Gurney’ Fowler, Esq. (gardener Mr. 
J. Davis), Glebelands, South Woodford. 
Lysimachia clethroides. 
Although not so showy as the yellow 
members of the genus, the subject of this 
note is a most useful border plant, especi¬ 
ally if planted in conjunction with 
Veronica subsessilis, the beautiful blue 
flowers of this plant acting as a foil for the 
pure white spikes of the Loosestrife. These 
spikes are somewhat arching and about a 
foot in length, the flowers being disposed 
very’ thickly on the upper sides. The stems 
are from 18 inches to 30 inches in length, 
and well furnished with handsome foliage, 
which is also quite a different green to that 
of the Veronica. As it becomes invisible 
after being cut down, it should be cor¬ 
rectly labelled, ft requires no staking, 
and is propagated by division in the 
spring. 
H. Arnold. 
Midland Carnation and Picotee So¬ 
ciety. —The annual show of this Society 
for iqoS has been (provisionally) arranged 
for August 6th and 7th at the Botanical 
Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham. 
- Q. W. - 
Prize Competitions. 
CENERAL CONDITIONS—Competitors must 
write on one side of the paper only. Regular 
paid contributors to THE GARDENING 
WORLD or other gardening journals are de¬ 
barred from entering, but occasional con¬ 
tributors may compete. The name and ad¬ 
dress of the competitor must appear on each 
article sent for competition. The Editor’s 
decision is final, and he reserves the right 
to reproduce, in any wayjl any article or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINCS will be given 
for the best paragraph or short article on any 
gardening subject, such as hints of practical 
interest to gardeners, notes on the propaga¬ 
tion or cultivation of flowers, fruits or vege¬ 
tables, eradication of pests, etc. The para¬ 
graph or article must not exceed a column, but 
value rather than length will be considered in 
making Lie award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
folk wing date of issue. Entries received later 
than Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
t) .e following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. 6d. will be awarded each 
week for the twp best letters, not exceeding 
150 words, on any interesting gardening sub¬ 
ject. 
RESULTS OF 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the best papers in this competition 
are too long, and we desire readers to keep 
within a column. 
The prize in the Readers* Competition was 
awarded to “Joseph Floyd” for the article 
on “ Growing Lilies of the Valley,” page 808. 
Outdoor 
Propagating. 
I will mention a few of the most useful 
plants that can be readily’ propagated by 
an amateur gardener and which give a 
great interest in so doing. I will mention 
the Rose first. November is the best 
month for rooting Roses entirely in the 
open. Choose an open piece of ground 
(free from weeds). It will not require 
digging. Make a trench 6 inches deep 
and the same in width, and insert the cut¬ 
tings about 4 inches apart, the rows 
15 inches apart. Then cover the heels of 
cuttings with road drift or sand, put a 
little soil and tread very firmly, fill up the 
trench, and tread again. It is better to 
get good strong cuttings with about an 
inch of last year’s growth as a heel to the 
cutting. This heel helps to keep the cut¬ 
ting firm; besides, the roots come from it. 
If the frost makes the ground loose in 
early spring, a good treading when the 
ground is dry will be beneficial. I have 
rooted hundreds each year in this simple 
inexpensive way. 
The undermentioned varieties have 
proved most successful with me each 
year:—La France, La Tosca, Caroline 
Testout, Augustine Guinoisseau (all Hy¬ 
brid Teas); Dorothy Perkins, Crimson 
Rambler, Paul’s Carmine Pillar (clim¬ 
bers) ; and the Monthly Roses. These 
varieties give almost 100 per cent, of 
rooted plants. I also get quite 75 per 
cent, of the H.P's. to root. It is also re¬ 
markable the large quantity of flowers one 
cuts even from the cutting bed. 
There are many shrubs which root 
readily treated in this way’. The under¬ 
mentioned are a few suitable for small 
gardens (or large):—The Symphoricarpus 
variegatus is most useful to work up with 
cut flowers; the Diplopappus chry’so- 
phyllus, with its golden tint to the under 
side of the leaf; the golden Privet; the 
Tamarisks are also very effective, ar¬ 
ranged with cut flowers. Almost every 
cutting of these root freely; also the hard- 
wooded Spiraeas. (The cuttings of shrubs 
are better pulled off with a heel). Now 
is also a good time for making borders 
of Pinks. If the cuttings are pulled off 
the old plants and put in firmly with a 
dibber (they do not require making, only 
to be pulled off with a little heel), they 
will all root freely and flower well next 
year. Double Arabis, Aubrietias, and 
Violas do well treated in the same man¬ 
ner. If those who have not tried the 
above methods will give it a trial, I am 
sure they will be well paid for their 
trouble, besides taking a great deal of in¬ 
terest in it. 
H. E. Edwards. 
-f-M- 
Juniperus chinensis nana aurea. 
This is a tiny dwarf and compact grow¬ 
ing variety of the hardy and well-known 
Chinese Juniper. The foliage is tinted 
with y’ellow and produced when the 
growths are being made. Award of Merit 
by the R.H.S. on November 26th, when 
shown by Messrs. John Waterer and Sons, 
Bagshot. 
