2(50 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
PRIZE LETTER COMPETITION. 
Readers are invited to contribute to this 
column short letters, discussing any 
gardening subject. 
Letters should not exceed 150 words 
each in length, and must be written 
on one side of the ■pafer only. 
Two Prizes of ?s. 6d. each will be 
awarded each week for the two Letters 
which the Editor considers to be the ' 
best. 
Phyteuma Michelli. 
This is cne of the most charming plants 
we have for the rock garden. It is of low 
tufted growth, with dark glossy green 
foliage, from which rise numerous heads 
of pretty rosy-pink flowers, which render 
it a very useful plant for many positions. 
This delightful species is of easy culture, 
and may be grown from seed sown in the 
open ground in May; but to ensure suc¬ 
cess, plants should be obtained if pos¬ 
sible and planted in a sunny, well-drained 
position in a mixture of good loam and 
sand. And if given an occasional water¬ 
ing during hot, dry weather, it will bloom 
for a much longer period. 
W. Glover. 
Langport. 
Apple Gathering. 
The following is so useful a hint to 
fruit growers, or rather to negligent fruit 
gatherers, as to deserve attention. I am 
alluding to a valuable Apple on which 
it is said the cottagers of a certain dis¬ 
trict depend for the support of their 
families. This tree has the character of 
bearing profusely every alternate year, 
which in some degree is correct. This 
may sometimes occur from exhaustion, 
through excess of production, but I have 
observed another cause as tending to this 
effect. Its bearing spurs are exceedingly 
tender, and in the usual careless method 
of gathering fruit, nearly every spur that 
happens to have an Apple attached to it 
is broken off, and two years are subse¬ 
quently necessary to repair the injury. 
This gross negligence cannot be too 
severely reprobated. 
A. J. Heywood. 
Exeter. 
Petunias. 
These gay flowers are very easily man¬ 
aged. The following rules will serve for 
the cultivation of the plants from seed. 
Sow in pots late in January, using for 
the general compost a soil made up of 
loam, well-decayed leaf mould, and silver 
sand to lighten ft; cover the seeds very 
lightly with silver sand. Place the pots 
in a warm greenhouse and water lightly, 
and when large enough, prick out into 
other pots and keep transplanting as the 
plants grow on. It is necessary to give 
slight shade after repottings, but do not 
coddle them in any way. When well es¬ 
tablished the greenhouse will suit them, 
giving plenty of air at all times. 
Frank Smedley. 
Ashbourne. 
The Loganberry. 
This rapidly-growing and prolific fruit¬ 
ing plant deserves to be better known, for 
not only is it useful for its delicious fruit, 
but it is one of the finest plants that I 
know of for hiding unsightly corners • it 
could be planted almost anywhere for 
this purpose, and either be allowed to 
ramble over the ground or be tied up to 
supports. To prove its value, I may men¬ 
tion that last year some of these plants 
made growths quite 12 ft. long. They 
should be pruned in much the same way 
as the Raspberry, to which they are 
closely related. The berries are somewhat 
tart, but when cooked have a most agree¬ 
able flavour. I have this year made a 
delicious jam by boiling down Logan¬ 
berries and Raspberries in equal quanti¬ 
ties, which we regard as quite a luxury 
on the tea table. 
- E. Miles. 
Canterbury. 
Calceolaria amplexicaulis- 
This useful bedding Calceolaria is not 
so commonly known as it deserves to be. 
For bedding purposes, it has few equals, 
growing as it does 2 ft. high and putting 
forth its lemon-yellow, purse-like flowers 
from May till destroyed by frost. It is 
best described as half hardy; therefore 
a greenhouse where frost is just excluded 
is all that is required. Cuttings should 
be inserted during October in boxes or 
pots. Then during February pot off 
singly into 60-size pots, ultimately shift¬ 
ing them into 48’s, if room can be spared. 
Pinch them twice to make them break, 
and towards the end of April harden off 
in a cold frame prior to planting them 
out in May. To enhance their beauty, 
use a groundwork of purple Violas. 
L. S. Small. 
Beckenham. 
Feeding Plants. 
All plants are now growing actively at 
the roots and in leaf, and as everything 
will soon be on the outlook for food, the 
soil should be enriched in some man¬ 
ner. Liquid manure is perhaps the most 
effective and simple, but if this is unat¬ 
tainable, horse or cow manure should be 
well forked into the soil, while those who 
possess a stock of leaf mould will find it 
very useful to mix in where seeds are to 
be sown and also to induce rootlets on 
cuttings. Few plants are more easily fed 
than Strawberries, as all the roots are 
near the surface, and will derive much 
benefit from a layer of manure put closely 
round them. If the soil is hard, break 
it on top with a fork before placing _ on 
the manure. Every fruit tree and bush, 
also, will be the better for a good soaking 
of manure ; if the’ soil is in a little bank 
round the stem dig a little depression all 
round to catch the liquid. 
VER. 
Chippenham. 
—- 
Saxifraga scardica. 
The leaves of'this Macedonian Saxi¬ 
frage aye dark green and arranged in tiny 
rosettes forming a dense cushion. 
April 18, 1908. 
The New “Solidend” 
Garden Roller 
The above is the name of the newe 
pattern of garden roller for 1908, bei; 
put into trade by Mr. John Attwol 
Reeve, Stony Stratford, Bucks. The r- 
ler is double, a device intended for m;- 
ing it turn easily in small space, as g- 
deners have an aversion to needls 
exertion in covering a deal of ground t 
the ends of the lawn. This roller s 
lathe turned throughout and exquisite 
finished. The ends are solid and e 
edges rounded so as not to unduly ind.t 
the grass owing to inequalities of e 
ground. 
This new pattern of roller is maden 
various sizes, such as 16 by 16, 18 by i, 
20 by 20, 22 by 22, and 24 by 24 1. 
The “Solidend” Garden Roller. 
These different sizes mean, of course, if- 
ference in weight. Notwithstanding lie 
excellent finish of the c rollers of he 
solid-end type, the prio s are very read¬ 
able and have recently been reduce in 
price. Those in need of a good gaen 
roller should apply to the firm athe 
above address for catalogues or illusti ed 
lists showing the roller and the size nd 
other particulars. 
This firm also makes lawn mowe of 
various types, such as those used forut- 
ting rough or fine grass edges. The are 
also constructed so that by reversinjthe 
handle or drawing gear they ma oe 
drawn over paths or roads when beinjput 
away by the users. A number of the pe-' 
are fitted with two side wheels inste of 
the roller, as this conduces to lights. 
Catalogues or lists of these are als ob¬ 
tainable. 
- +++ - 
The Midland Carnation and Picotee Sidy. 
We have received the 17th annu; re¬ 
port of this society and the schedo of 
prizes, etc., for iqo8. This show w l be 
held on August 6th and 7th at the Bane 
cal Gardens, Edgbaston, Bimini am, 
when prizes, medals, _ etc., wil be 
awarded. Readers desiring further f° r - 
mation should communicate with tin on. 
secretary, Mr. T. Humphreys, Bot Jcal 
Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham. 
