May 2, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
THE LARGE FLOWERED 
Woaipdwoft. 
(Stachys grandiflora robusta). 
For many years past the ordinary form 
of the large flowered Woundwort has been 
grown as a border plant in gardens. It 
is of the easiest cultivation and requires 
quite ordinary border treatment, and to 
be kept clean. That plant in our expe¬ 
rience grew 2 ft. high, sometimes a little 
more. Curiously enough the variety now 
finding its way into gardens is named ro¬ 
busta, although it is dwarfer than the 
type. The stems flower well when only 
12 in. high. The flowers are larger than 
those of the ordinary form and of a deep 
purple. These plants are wonderfully 
hardy, although they are native to Asia 
Minor, and bloom in a border even where 
the temperature sometimes falls to zero 
in winter. The accompanying illustra¬ 
tion shows a plant of the variety robusta 
growing in the rockery at Kew, where we 
had it photographed about the middle of 
July last year. Propagation is easily ef¬ 
fected by dividing the plant or taking off 
pieces in March. 
-- 
Hardy Fruit. 
A FEW 
CULTURAL HINTS. 
c~ 
To obtain success with fruit much re¬ 
lies on their treatment, so I will en¬ 
deavour to make clear to the reader a few 
points which are essential to their success. 
One of the chief points in any fruit rear¬ 
ing tree is their roots and the condition 
'of the soil in which they are planted. 
Before planting the soil should be deeply 
lug or trenched. The best time for doing 
this is early autumn. For planting, one 
should choose the time when the soil is 
in the best condition. This is when the 
soil is neither wet nor dry, but it should 
he well cultivated before planting, as 
much lies in the soil and planting. If 
planted in autumn they stand a much 
oetter chance of recovering from their 
shift before the following summer, but if 
-triable- to plant in autumn the present 
month is the best for the purpose. Care 
■hould be taken not to plant too deeply, 
f planted deep they are liable to canker 
ind also make too vigorous a growth, and 
consequently no fruit spurs will be 
ormed. If the soil is of a cold, retentive 
tature, it is a good plan to add some 
turned refuse and a small quantity of 
line when trenching; also sprinkle some 
n the hole and around when planting. 
Jn no account should rotten manure be 
mowed to come in contact with a newly 
) anted tree, but it should be used for old 
■stablished trees as a top-dressing, either 
n spring or autumn, the former being 
’referred. This gives the tree more time 
0 reap the benefit of the manure before 
ru F n ^j^ lrne - Good rotten stable manure 
r blood manure is the best for the pur- 
lOSP 1 
Cirencester. 
W. Lediard. 
2 99 
Stachys g-randiflora robusta. 
-- 
Maclaren and Sons. 
First fruits of all our labours past 
Each plant now strives to show, 
Its training has the lesson taught 
Of how it best can grow. 
So we, though trained and pruned for 
long, 
Shall learn at last to sing life’s song. 
Baynton-Taylor. 
“Through much tribulation” applies to 
Roses as well as to men. The cold and 
storms of winter, its gloom and other 
trials, were duly followed by the pruning 
knife, and now those plants which have 
survived these many evils being dressed 
in new robes and about to adorn them¬ 
selves with flowers are assailed by pests 
of all descriptions, and we who love them 
well must now be very busy or they will 
even yet disappoint us. 
May is the month of insects, and if we 
would find June to be “ the month of 
Roses ” we must now incessantly go over 
our plants, to preserve them against, and 
to deliver them from pests. So very per¬ 
sistent are our enemies that on a plant 
which we cleared in the morning we may. 
in the afternoon find new invaders in the 
shape of caterpillars. 
“Slay and spare not” must be the 
rosarian’s motto, for so fertile are our 
enemies that only one couple spared will 
soon produce a multitude of new enemies. 
Show them no mercy if you love vour 
Rose plants. 
When you see a Rose leaf rolled up you 
will probably squeeze it a few times and 
fancy you have annihilated the foe within, 
whereas probably he has managed to es- 
