278 
THE GARDENING WORLD April 25, 1908 
other perennials may be sown at the pre¬ 
sent time. Some people prefer to sow the 
seed in nursery beds outside.—personally, 
I think the more satisfactory results in 
many cases are to be obtained by sowing 
in pots or pans, and I say this even for 
cases where there is no greenhouse in 
which to stand the pots. Merely covered 
with pieces of glass or slate, the pots may 
stand at the foot of a wall, though those 
covered with glass should have a piece 
of paper over the glass if the sun is full 
upon them until the seedlings are through 
— and during heavy rain, if the coverings 
do not happen to be upon them., care will 
have to be taken, or they may be washed 
out of the soil. 
F. Norfolk. 
-- 
The Successful Culture of 
Libonias. 
To grow these beautiful free-flowering 
greenhouse plants is not always an easy 
task, as some people advocate keeping 
them on the dry side while others prefer 
to keep them on the wet side. I have 
grown a batch of about 200 here, which, 
at the present time, are presenting a fine 
show in our flowering house, being very 
ornamental. 
I recommend propagating them by cut¬ 
tings inserted in pans or boxes and placed 
in any close frame in spring. Old plants, 
I find, are better placed in heat now to 
start new growths ready for propagation. 
The cuttings should then be inserted in 
sandy soil, and kept quite close for about 
ten days, after which a crack of air may 
be admitted till they are rooted. I then 
pot them off singly into thumb pots, and 
so on into larger sizes, still keeping them 
in the frame all the summer, with plenty 
of air and frequent syringings, as I find 
this treatment induces sturdy and short- 
jointed plants. The main point is to well 
ripen the wood with plenty of sun. 
As regards the watering, I find it is 
much better to keep the plants on the 
wet side as a safeguard against red spider, 
for I find if they are allowed to get dry, 
they lose a good many of their lower 
leaves, which causes them to look un¬ 
sightly. 
The soil I use here for final potting is 
good turfy loam, well decayed leaf soil, 
and part of an old spent Mushroom bed, 
with a little sand, these ingredients being 
all thoroughly mixed together. I have 
flowered Libonias in five-inch pots and 
six-inch pots, but have obtained the best 
results in five-inch pots. I do not believe 
in too much root room. In very hot 
weather I found it wise to apply a very 
slight shading, but every bit of available 
sun should be utilised early autumn, as 
this is when the wood ripens up most. 
Old plants may be cut back after 
flowering and grown for several years, but 
T like to strike a few plants every year, as 
there is. in my opinion, much more beauty 
in young plants. No one following the 
above method of cultivation can fail to be 
satisfied with the results. 
TT J- NlBBS. 
Hollmgton Manor. 
Thomas Prentice, who died in Edin¬ 
burgh, aged 86, in 1792, was the first to 
grow Potatos in Scotland in the year 
1728. 
Century Plant Blooming. 
One of the famous Century plants of 
Kew Gardens is stated to have begun to 
bloom. 
Winter Flowering Carnation Society. 
The report of this society for 1908 states 
that, notwithstanding one member died 
during the year, four resigned, and twenty 
were struck off the roll owing to the non¬ 
payment of their subscriptions, in spite of 
repeated applications, yet the committee 
were in a position to show a credit bal¬ 
ance in the accounts for the past twelve 
months, and to report a total membership 
of 159. It is noted with satisfaction that 
at the show held on December nth, 1907, 
the classes set apart for amateurs were 
considerably better filled than formerly, 
and the hope is expressed that the liberal 
classification and prize money provided 
in the section for amateurs will induce a 
still greater number of competitors to ex¬ 
hibit at future shows, and an increasing 
number of amateurs to become members 
of the society. 
- G. 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. 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 way! any article or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN 8HILLINGS 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 *he award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
folk wing date of issue. .Entries received later 
th\*n 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 OP 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the best papers in this competition 
aie too long, and we desire readers to keep 
within a column. 
The prize in the Readers* Competition was 
awarded to “ S. H.” for the article on “ Ixias 
for the Greenhouse,” page 258. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize 
was awarded to “ E. Miles,” for the article on 
“The Loganberry”; and another to “L. S. 
Small” for the article on “Calceolaria 
amplexicauli*,” page 260 . 
Top Dressing 
Alpine Plapts. 
Many people seem to imagine that when 
once a rockery is planted, nothing furthc; 
is necessary, save, perhaps, the keepirg 
down of weeds. This, however, is a 
serious mistake, as an occasional top¬ 
dressing with fine rich soil more than re¬ 
pays the little trouble entailed in putting 
it on. Most rock gardens are built with¬ 
out due regard to the requirements of the 
plants, and usually so steep that the ram 
very soon washes a large amount of the 
soil from about the roots of the plains, 
which quickly suffer from both frost and 
drought. 
Early in April is a -good time for top¬ 
dressing these rock plants. Go over the 
entire rockery, first removing all weeds 
leaves, or other rubbish, and then spread 
evenly over all the surface about an inch 
of good rich material, working it well n 
under and around all. plants. Make 
moderately firm, and should the weathti 
be dry, give a good watering with a rosed 
can. A good mulching compost can be 
made up by mixing equal quantities of 
loam and leaf mould and about a half 
part of dry and well-rotted horse dung. 
Should the loam be at all heavy, add 
some sharp sand so as to prevent the othir 
ingredients from caking on the surface. 
For many plants a peaty soil is essen¬ 
tial, and in top-dressmg such plants it 
should be seen that their likes are at¬ 
tended to. In like manner, the plants ie- 
quiring lime must have a quantity added 
to the soil. 
C. Blair. 
Preston House, Linlithgow. 
-- 
Some Colonial Fruits. 
The Pawpaw. 
This fruit is not much thought of in 
England, I suppose, because not knowing 
how to use it. You slice it in half, take¬ 
out the seeds, sprinkle sugar over it, pour 
over some lime juice or juice of a lemon. 
Another way, after peeling off the rind 
and taking out the seeds, is to mash it 
up with condensed milk. It is very nice. 
On a hot day have this iced; it is as good 
as ice cream. There is a variety which 
retains a green colour when ripe; this ;s 
the best of all. 
Passion Fruit or Grenadilla. 
This purple fruit, not quite so large as 
an egg Plum, has been sent from Aus¬ 
tralia, but did not sell well. You did net 
know how nice it was, or they would soo:i 
have been snapped up. The skin is hard 
and wrinkled when ripe. Cut the fruit 
in half and eat it with a teaspoon. The 
flavour is between Black Currants and 
Strawberries, but still better. Cut 
enough fruit, scoop out the contents to 
half fill a tumbler, fill up with fresh milk, 
and sugar to taste. Strawberries and 
cream are not in it. They make a de¬ 
licious jam. 
How to Eat a Pineapple. 
Slice off the top, take a dessertspoon, 
and scoop out the fruit from the inside. 
You will never slice one with a knife 
again. COLONIAL. 
