178 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
March 14, 1908. 
The Cultivation of . . 
Nerines. 
There are about a dozen species of these 
beautiful bulbous plants_at present known, 
all of which are natives of South Africa. 
They produce very showy flowers, borne 
on tall, slender scapes, and bloom in 
autumn at various periods according to 
the species or variety, many coming into 
flower before they show their leaves. 
The cultivation of Nerines is an easy 
matter, but unfortunately many fail ow¬ 
ing, no doubt, to the mistaken idea that 
they should be treated like Hippeastrums. 
Now, as a matter of fact, they should be 
treated exactly the reverse, giving them 
absolute rest in summer and encouraging 
active growth during winter right on till 
spring. 
A good method is to put six bulbs into 
a well-drained 6 in. pot, using a compost 
made up of loam, leaf-mould, with enough 
silver sand to make the soil porous. When 
once potted the bulbs will not require 
disturbing very often, as a pot-bound con¬ 
dition is more conducive to the produc¬ 
tion of flowers, but when it does become 
necessary to re-pot them this should be 
done immediately after the flowers have 
faded, and the whole ball of soil, bulbs 
and roots transferred to a pot two sizes 
larger. Off-sets may be allowed to re¬ 
main with advantage till there are as 
many as twenty bulbs in a 9 in. pot, and 
if properly managed almost every one will 
flower annually, making a magnificent 
potful. 
When the first sign of growth becomes 
evident water should be given till every 
particle of soil is thoroughly moistened, 
and from then right on through the winter 
till spring or early summer. When the 
leaves begin to ripen and die down, then 
water should be withheld. The top soil 
may be renewed annually, as soon as the 
flowers have faded, and weak liquid 
manure given. When leaf growth first 
begins,.. during the winter months, as 
much sun and light should be given as 
possible, to keep the leaves firm and 
healthy. After the leaves have died down 
in spring or early summer the pots 
should be .stood outside on a bed of ashes 
in a dry, sunny position, and kept per¬ 
fectly dry till growth starts again. 
N. sarniensis has been cultivated 
largely in the Channel Islands for more 
than 200 years, under the name of Guern¬ 
sey Lily, and is more commonly grown 
than the others. Its flower scape is de¬ 
veloped in August or the early part of 
September, is about a foot high, and bears 
ah umbel of from 10 to 20 bright rose 
crimson flowers with long red filaments. 
N. Fothergilli is a large-flowered form 
and a great favourite with Nerine growers. 
N. flexuosa is a pretty species, which 
produces its flowers and leaves together in 
October, the umbel being 10 to 20- 
flowered, with crisped segments and of 
pale pink colour. 
N. pudica is a notable ivory-white 
flowered variety. The other species are 
rare in cultivation, as are also most of 
the hybrids, which have been originated 
by cultivators. 
The . . . 
Herbaceous 
Remarkable ^ 0 r> Cr 
Vitality of -Ty L/ O v O . 
A Letter to the Editor. 
Sir,—On October the 30th I unpacked 
and planted, as I thought, all my Roses. 
On January 20th I found a dwarf Betty 
(H.T.) lying on the ground apparently 
none the worse. I planted it, and it is 
going on as if it had never been exposed 
for weeks on a wind-swept hill top to 
the awful weather of this exceptionally 
severe winter. May I ask can you ac¬ 
count for its marvellous vitality? 
Baynton-Taylor. 
Somerset. 
[The roots and stems must have been in 
contact with moist earth, and during the 
period stated the atmosphere was sur¬ 
charged with moisture. These conditions 
prevented the moisture from getting dried 
out of the stems and roots, thus preserv¬ 
ing the life of the Rose. Willow twigs 
without roots may lie on damp ground all 
the winter and, if planted in spring, will 
grow.—E d.]. 
-- a. w. - 
Prize Competitions. 
GENERAL 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, ’life 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 wayj any artiole or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
- - 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINGS 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 t '.ie award. Mark envelopes “ Oom- 
petitj^n,” and post not later than the Monday 
follr wing date of issue.,Entries received later 
thrn Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
the following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. 6d. will be awarded each 
week for the two best letters, not exceeding 
150 words, on any interesting gardening sub- 
jeot. 
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 “ K. G.” for the article on “The 
Cultivation of the Onion,” page 152. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize 
was awarded to “ W. C. ” for the article on 
“ A Cheap Pumigator ” ; and another to 
“ 0. 0. ” for the article on “Jasminum primu- 
linum for Pot Culture,” page 154. 
. . BORDER. 
The herbaceous border forms a promi¬ 
nent feature in most gardens to-day, anc 
during the last few years the cultivatior 
of hardy herbaceous plants has increasec 
to a great extent. 
A well-kept and representative border i 
■bound to excite interest and prove e 
source of pleasure to employers and visi 
tors alike. Owing to the large numbei 
and variety of herbaceous subjects nov 
obtainable, plants may be chosen that wil 
thrive in most positions, providing care i 
taken in selecting them. The main ob 
ject when forming a collection is to choos< 
plants to maintain a display of flower 
over as long a period as possible. Thi 
making of an herbaceous border natural]; 
depends on the space available, but i 
possible a spacious border should be de 
voted to this class of plants. A positioi 
most suitable is one with a south aspec 
sheltered from the north and east. 
The border should be thorough! 
trenched, incorporating a good amount o 
manure with the soil as the work proceeds 
as the majority of herbaceous subjects ar 
gross feeders. The planting and arrange 
ment of the border requires a knowledg 
of the plants and their requirements i: 
the matter of position and space. 
The “dotting system” formerly in vogn 
has been superseded to a great extent b 
the grouping together of plants of on 
variety; thus enabling one to make 
bolder effect. 
For the main spaces plants of a strik 
ing character, such as Delphiniums (i 
variety), Bocconia cordata, Echinop 
Ritro, Helianthus grandiflorus and Mis 
Mellish, Helenium autumnale and E 
striatum, Chrysanthemum maximurr 
Pyrethrum uliginosum, and Asters i 
variety may be used, the size and shap 
of the groups varying and the colours bt 
ing blended so that they do not clash. 
For the nearer parts of the border P; 
paver orientale, Spiraea Aruncus and ^ 
palmata, Thalictrum angustifolium, G; 
lega officinalis, Erigeron speciosu: 
Lychnis chalcedonica, L. haageana, Vert 
nica subsessilis, herbaceous Paeonies, an 
the taller growing Phloxes are a few of tf 
subjects that may be included. As tl 
Papavers flower rather early, and tl 
foliage dies back, it is a good plan to ii 
tergroup the autumn-flowered Triton 
with it, the foliage of which will th> 
furnish what would otherwise .be a blar. 
spot the remaining part of the seaso: 
Towards the edge of the border Funk 
Sieboldi, Heuchera sanguinea, Iris ge 
manica, Scabiosa caucasica, Erodiu 
Manescavii, Campanulas (in variety 
Polemonium Richardsoni, Tiarella cord 
folia and the early-flowering Phloxes a: 
all suitable. Violas make a good edginj 
Blue Bell being a splendid variety for th 
purpose. Liliums are frequently used 
the herbaceous border, L. candidum ar 
L. tigrinum being the best in this cas 
Staking should only be done where 
is absolutely necessary, and then as. so< 
as the plants require it. When this 
neglected, as it is sometimes, the plan 
get broken down by the wind and rai 
Thos. Francis. 
