THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 
4 > 1908. 
Hanging - - 
- - Baskets 
Treatment. 
in order to produce special results 
from hanging baskets good soil and' good 
cultivation are necessary, and, with a 
good selection of varieties, flowers may 
be had in profusion during the spring, 
summer, and autumn months. These ad¬ 
mirable subjects have a charm entirely 
their own, and are equally appropriate in 
the conservatory or the amateur’s win¬ 
dow, and there is a large variety of plants 
adapted for this work. 
Before putting in the plants the sides 
of the baskets must be well lined with 
moss and fibrous turf. Use a good 
fibrous compost, this being less liable to 
fall through any small holes. 
It is not possible to mention two more 
charming plants for baskets than Cam¬ 
panula isophvlla and C. isophylla alba. 
The first-mentioned has blue flowers, and 
the other white. These are grown with 
conspicuous success in many windows. I 
have noticed in some towns and villages 
that these see‘m to be favourites, almost 
every amateur’s window displaying its 
wonderful basket of the blue flowers. 
This, of course, is usually the result of 
one individual possessing a good plant 
and arousing envious feelings in the 
hearts of his neighbours, who forthwith 
go and do likewise. 
The way to treat these bell flowers is 
to allow them to increase without dis¬ 
turbance until it is seen by the growth 
that division and fresh soil are necessary; 
they are also easily propagated by suckers 
in spring. Nothing is more gorgeous or 
more interesting in the whole flower 
world than a blaze of these hanging 
blossoms. 
The tuberous-rooted Begonias form 
handsome subjects, and many varieties of 
Fuchsias having a pendant habit are ex¬ 
cellent for the purpose. The Panicum 
variegatum is a charming free-growing 
grass invaluable for hanging baskets, 
while Tradescantia zebrma may be used 
in combination with it or by itself. This 
is of a fleshy nature, its leaves being of a 
silvery grey with a purplish tinge. A 
beautiful family of plants that has at¬ 
tained a considerable amount of popu¬ 
larity, is the Asparagus, these being 
chiefly remarkable for their extremely 
delicate frond-like branches. A compost 
of good loam, peat, and a little sand will 
give excellent results. 
The Ivv-leaved Geranium is unequalled 
for hanging baskets when well grown, jts 
numerous flowers against the green 
foliage forming a pleasant contrast. 
When the old plants get ragged they 
should be replaced by cuttings struck in 
the autumn. 
Water should never remain in saucers. 
Sometimes a plant is put into a large, 
ornamental hanging bowl, and in time an 
inch of water accumulates at the bottom. 
This is fatal to the plant, as the roots are 
in a constant state of saturation, and 
quickly rot. Always water well; drib¬ 
lets are harmful* 
J. W. Forsyth. 
Durris House, N.B. 
“ Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and 
Shrubs.” 
Messrs. Smith, Elder and Company will 
publish immediately a third and thor¬ 
oughly revised edition of Mr. A. D. Web¬ 
ster’s well-known work on “ Hardy Orna¬ 
mental Flowering Trees and Shrubs.” 
• Upwards of fourteen hundred species and 
varieties are now included, with the 
natural order to which each belongs, as 
also chapters on planting, pruning, soils, 
and general management. 
County Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford. 
The School of Horticulture, County 
Laboratories, Chelmsford, is just complet¬ 
ing its year’s work with an advanced four 
weeks’ course, with the view to the 
students, on April 8th, taking the Royal 
Horticultural Society’s examination. The 
County Diary School has just completed 
a six weeks’ course of instruction, 13 
students attending. An eight weeks’ 
course commences at the school on the 
30th March, the students at the end sit¬ 
ting for the British Diary Farmers’ Asso¬ 
ciation diplomas and certificates for but¬ 
ter and cheese-mak-ing. Particulars of 
this course may be obtained from the In¬ 
structress. 
- G, W. - 
Prize Competitions. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS.—Competitors most 
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 oare- 
fully read. 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINGS will be given 
for the best paragraph or short article on aDy 
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 *iie award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
folk wing date of issue.-Entries received later 
th\in 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¬ 
ject. 
RESULTS OF 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the best papers in this competition 
are too long, and we desire reafiers to keep 
within a column. 
The prize in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “D. Chapman” for the article on 
“ Some Combinations in Flower Beds,” page 215. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize 
was awarded to “J. 0. Scammell ” for the 
article on “ Cauliflowers ” ; and another to 
“E. Miles” for the article on “The Sensitive 
Plant,” page 212. 
Seed 
Sowing 
Useful Hints. 
Seed sowing time has now arrived 
such subjects as Begonias, Gloxini 
Gesneras and Streptocarpus. Patiei. 
must at all times be exercised with th : 
subjects or else failure will be the rest 
First, all seed pans and pots should ■ 
thoroughly clean, also crocking mater i 
(potsherds). 
A. good compost for sowing the abc 
seeds is one part good loam, one pe. 
one leaf soil, and enough silver sand i 
make it porous, and it must be sif i 
through i inch sieve. Pans and p; 
should be crocked one-third their deji 
with clean crocks, and some ron 
material placed over the drainage. Ti, 
fill up with the compost prepared, pres t 
down moderately firm, then immerse j 
pans or pots, whichever are used, up i 
the rims in a pail of tepid soft water i 
thoroughly soak the soil through, as t3 
method is better than watering with a r 
can. They should then be left to dr i 
off and settle the soil evenly. 
The seed should be sown over the s - 
face very thinly, then covered or 
lightly with fine sifted soil and a pi e 
of glass placed over each to save evapc- 
non of moisture. Then plunge tne j« 
in a brisk bottom heat, and on bn t 
sunny days they should be shaded vu 
thin tissue paper. 
Should the pans or pots be found toe 
getting on the dry side, they should e 
immersed in a pail of water, as if wate i 
overhead it only makes the surface ha. 
Therefore, when the seeds germinate tly 
have not the strength to push through e 
hard surface. When the seeds are , 
care must be taken in giving air. le 
glass should be removed and the moist e 
wiped off or damping will take place, s 
soon as the second leaf is showing tlv 
should be pricked out into other pa. 
The same soil will do as advised for sd 
sowing. Carefully water, keep close, d 
shade them from bright sunshine foia 
few days till the little rootlets have tain 
fresh hold. They should be handl 
with great care and patience when beg 
pricked out. If the above are sown rv 
and gently grown on they may be hada 
bloom by the end of July or the beginng 
of August, that is, if they have had cc 
and attention bestowed on them. 
W. C. Harris 
Fetcham Park Gardens. 
Flower Pictures. 
lor the third time there has bn 
brought together in the Bail lie Galle y 
Baker Street, London, a delightful coi ¬ 
tion of flower paintings, as though o 
herald our English spring. The 
amples in oil include “Tulips” bv \ 
Huggins, “Roses” by J. D. Fergu'ssi. 
and some .beautiful studies by Stir; 
Park. In the water-colour section e 
“Carnations” by Francis James, “Sv?t 
Williams” by Miss Katherine Turir. 
“Cherry Blossom” by Jessie M. King, id 
a charming group in which are effectivy- 
weaved Bluebells, pink Campions, id 
Wild Garlic. 
