2Q2 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
April 25, 1908. 
place would not be likely to get built over 
tor some years. A considerable number ot 
frames would be necessary for the forcing 
of Violets or merely for bringing them on 
■with the aid of the natural temperature. 
Violets for this purpose are planted in the 
frames towards the end of September. It 
would require less capital to get Violet run¬ 
ners in Apri', though the growing of them 
would make ithe oast albout equal. You 
■would have less time to wait for a return by 
getting Violet plants in September. On the 
same principle, Carnations may be procured 
in March, planted in prepared ground, and 
you would secure a return in July. The 
best plan, therefore, would be to commence 
same time in winter, giving yourself suf ; 
ficient time to properly prepare the ground 
in advance for the Carnations. By this re¬ 
turn for your outlay it would enable you 
'to continue, and while you get young Car¬ 
nations m March you could get Violets in 
April and grow them upon other land pre¬ 
pared for the purpose. The Violets would 
then bring the next return after the Carna¬ 
tions. If you succeed with Violets and "bor¬ 
der Carnations it would ‘be worth your while 
building a greenhouse or two so that you 
could grow American Carnations for a sup¬ 
ply of cut flowers in winter. If the soil is 
rather heavy oald frames again would be 
necessary for the preservation of the Carna¬ 
tions in pots during the winter. It is not 
every district or .soil that is suitable for 
planting Garnations out in the autumn. All 
this you would have to ascertain, however, 
so that there is no necessity for running 
too great risks to begin with until you get 
the proper experience and know the capa¬ 
bilities 0‘f your ground. You have had a 
year’s practical study and we presume that 
was in some- .garden or nursery. It is not 
a- strong equipment for gardening, but if 
’ 5 r ou are energetic and open for continued 
study it will, no doubt, serve you well. 
Gardening is a subject in which it is neces¬ 
sary to be continually on the outlook for 
good varieties and for markets in which you 
can sell your stock at good value. 
You must be within easy reach of 
good markets either by road or rail and 
you must keep yourself in close touch with 
the requirements and the prices going. The 
best prices are obtainable before the market 
gets glutted either with Violets or Carna¬ 
tions, and from that point of view you would 
endeavour to get some- flowers at least in 
advance of other people and thereby secure 
th'evbest prices. After Violets are obtainable 
from the Continent prices then go down con¬ 
siderably, but there is a continual demand 
for such flowers although the price is not 
always very high. 
2806. Book on Gardening, 
Could you (recommend a good book on gar¬ 
dening .generally? Thanking you in antici¬ 
pation and begging you to excuse the trouble 
I am giving. (R. McW., Middlesex.) 
There is a good book entitled “ The Cul¬ 
ture of Vegetables and Flowers,” by Messrs. 
Sutton and Sons, Reading, price 5s., with 
postage extra. This is the twelfth edition. 
There is another entitled “ Pictorial Prac¬ 
tical Gardening,” published bv Messrs. Cas¬ 
sell and Coi, Ltd., La Belle Sauvage, Lud- 
gate Hill, London, price is., or is. 6d. in 
cloth, with postage extra. This latter book 
deals wiith a greater variety of subjects, per¬ 
haps, although not at very great length. 
The illustrations might assist you. To get 
a book that would include the whole sub¬ 
ject of .gardening would lie an expensive one 
and more suitable for those who are in the 
profession. 
NAMES OF PLANTS . 
(R. L.) 1, Aulbrietia dehtoidea - variegata ; 
2, Arabis albida ; 3, Narcissus incompara- 
bilis Sit Watkin; 4, Doronicum plan- 
tagineum; 5, Adonis amurensis; 6, Sedum 
acre aureum; 7, Sedum reflexum mons- 
trosum. 
(G. Wallace) 1, Viburnum Tinus; 2, Spi¬ 
raea Thunbergii; 3, Forsythia suspense. 
" (A. T. Wood) 1, Daphne oleoides; 2, 
Acacia armata ; 3, Abutilon megapotamicum 
variegatum; 3, Primula ^erticillata; 4, 
Pteris Childsii; 5, Lomaria giiibfca. 
TRADE CATALOGUES RECEIVED. 
John E. Knight, Arcade, Wolverhamp¬ 
ton.—Dahlia Catalogue. 
J. Cunningham, F.R.H.S., Shergrim, 
Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Ireland.—'Catalogue of 
Choice Hardy Perennials and Seeds. 
■ —- 
Sweet Peas. 
In growing Sweet Peas, whether for ex¬ 
hibition or for the adornment of the gar¬ 
den, the deepest cultivation of the soil is 
necessary. Success or failure depends 
largely upon this. A great mistake is 
made by not working the soil deep 
enough, for there is nothing more opposed 
to their ultimate success than trying to 
grow them on a poor shallow soil. In 
preparing the soil it is essential to get it 
turned as early as possible, as frost and 
wind are of great benefit. 
An excellent plan is to sow the seeds in 
pots and place them in a cold frame dur¬ 
ing January or February, five seeds in 
a six-inch pot, or one in a thumb pot, 
using a good light compost. Do not 
treat the plants as though they were ten¬ 
der, otherwise disastrous results may 
follow. Plant out in April. 
For outdoor sowing the middle of 
March is generally the time, but both the 
operations must be entirely governed by 
the weather. If they are sown in drills 
always secure a good flat bottom, and the 
best way to perform the operations is with 
the spade, taking out the trench about 
fifteen inches wide and four inches deep, 
and placing, not throwing, the seeds in, 
as that involves a tremendous waste of 
seeds, and in the event of thinning the 
seedlings will be found with insufficient 
strength to stand it. Place the seeds 
about four inches apart, and thin as neces¬ 
sary until each individual plant has a good 
foot of space to grow in. LTltimately 
rake in the trench, covering the seeds 
about two inches deep, thus leaving a 
slight depression in the trench. 
When the plants are just peeping 
through birds and slugs will be predatory, 
and a good sprinkling of soot occasionally 
will be a very effectual remedy. 
Staking is an operation that generally 
speaking does not get the attention it 
needs. For this purpose nothing is better 
than the common Pea bough, about eight 
feet high, placed around them when they 
have made -about four inches of growth. 
When the plants are well in bud feeding 
may commence, if necessary, and always 
apply the liquid manure when the soil is 
moderately moist, because if given when 
the soil is dry, at least half of its virtues 
are lost to the plant. Afterwards mulch 
with manure. 
In the event of very scorching sun, 
some of the varieties will need shading. 
For this purpose a piece of tiffany 
stretched across is very appropriate. If 
the seed pods are kept' constantly picked 
off the plants will last a considerable 
length of time in flower. I advocate 
planting the best of the varieties grown 
m clumps. 
Space will not allow the naming of 
many, but among the best varieties are . 
Helen Lewis, Sutton's Queen, Helen 
Pierce, King Edward VII., Miss Willmott. 
Gladys Unwin, Henry Eckford, Dorothy 
Eckford, Black Knight, Flora Norton, 
Lady Grisel Hamilton, and Queen Alex¬ 
andra. H. Stevens. 
Shows. 
Particulars are to hand of the following 
horticultural exhibitions :—Royal Ulster 
Agricultural Society (Flower Show in con¬ 
junction with the horse show), July 23 and 
24, at Balmoral, Belfast; Windsor, Eton 
and District Chrysanthemum and H.S., 
November 6th, at Windsor; Bath Floral 
Fete, July 8 and 9, at Sydney Gardens, 
Bath; The Edgware and Little Stanmore 
H.S., July nth, at Edgware; Southamp¬ 
ton R.H.S., Rose Show, June 30, July 1, 
at the County Cricket Ground, Carnation 
and Sweet Pea Show, July 28, at the 
Royal Pier, Chrysanthemum and Fruit 
Show, November 3 and 4, at the Skating 
Rink; United Kingdom Commercial Tra¬ 
vellers’ Association, Flower Show', July 
18, at the Zoological Gardens, Clifton; 
Stirling Chrysanthemum Association, No¬ 
vember 12 and 13, at Stirling; New¬ 
market H.S., July 9th, at Newmarket; 
G. E.R. EmployeeV (Southern Division) 
H. S., July 23, at Stratford. 
Croydon Gardeners. 
Lecturing on the cultivation of hardy 
flowering shrubs before the members of 
the Croydon and District Horticultural 
Mutual Improvement Society at the last 
meeting, Mr. A. E. Thatcher, of Elstree, 
made a strong appeal to the younger 
members of his audience to miss no 
chance of gaining knowledge on this sub¬ 
ject, for, popular as it is now, each year, 
he said, will add more to this part of 
horticulture. There is much to consider 
before commencing to make new pleasure 
grounds, or improving the garden, which 
perhaps may exist, and the principal 
points to bear in mind are the position 
these flowering shrubs should occupy, the 
preparation- of the soil for their reception, 
and the blending of colours to harmonise 
with each other, and also varieties which 
will be in flower practically all the year 
round. Like other phases of gardening 
let the garden appear natural, and if an 
p undulating area can be found much 
trouble will be saved. Deep trenching 
will be found very beneficial, and atten¬ 
tion must be given to the drainage, for 
almost without exception shrubs of this 
class will not thrive in waterlogged and 
sour soil. The roots should be well 
spread out to encourage the small fibrous 
rootlets they make, and it is a mistake 
to plant too deeply. Early spring or 
autumn are favourable to planting. The 
pruning is of considerable importance, 
and one must study each individual plant 
for this operation, as some require cut¬ 
ting hard back, whilst others require ten¬ 
derer treatment to produce the best re¬ 
sults. There can be no hard and fast 
rule laid down for this. He strongly 
advised labelling each variety, for with 
this adoption the interest to visitors''in 
inspecting these plants is ■ greatly en¬ 
livened- 
