THE GARDENING WORLD 
365 
May 30, 
1908. 
perish before roots are present to support 
the plants, in which case their appear¬ 
ance will be spoiled. 
The old stems may also be cut into 
pieces about i| inches long, as there is a 
dormant eye at the joint where each leaf 
has sprung from; these will make roots 
and form a stem. The pieces may be 
placed in seed-pans, well drained, and 
about half filled with sifted loam and 
sand, the top being all sand. Insert 
them half their depth, and place them m 
a warm stove. When the tops have a few 
leaves each, move them singly into four- 
inch pots, and keep them in heat for an¬ 
other year, for it not pushed on in a grow¬ 
ing temperature, the plants are a long 
time before they make much headway. 
All that is further required is to give 
more pot room as the plants increase in 
size. When once established, manure 
water may be given frequently during the 
growing season. 
The most useful kinds to grow are 
Yucca aloifolia, Y.a. variegata, Y. quad- 
ricolor, \.q. Stokesii, and Y. recurvi- 
f0l,a ' J. M. S. 
Earnock Gardens, Hamilton. 
- ¥+4 - 
Seed Sowing 
And How to ... . 
Circumvent the Birds. 
No doubt most readers of The Gar¬ 
dening World have suffered from the 
depredations of birds, especially, perhaps, 
those with suburban or town gardens 
where the lawn is not quite so perennial 
as one would wish, and where, at least, an 
annual renovation seems to be necessary 
about this time of the year. Many hints 
from time to time have been given as to 
protective coatings to be applied to seeds 
to render them distasteful to birds, and 
the result of a few experiments as to the 
best method may just now be welcome. 
For some years I used to slightly 
moisten the seeds with water and spiead 
them out on a newspaper with a bone or 
wooden paper knife or spatula, and then 
when just damp, but not wet, dust over 
them some powdered red lead previously 
rubbed together in a mortar with pow¬ 
dered gum arabic or dextrine mixing and 
separating the seeds thoroughly after¬ 
wards. This method answers in dry 
weather, but the coating is easily re¬ 
moved, of course, by a shower of rain. 
This season being a rather wet one, I 
have discovered a more successful method. 
Place the seeds in a basin and pour a 
small quantity of linseed oil on them, 
leavening the whole mass with, a paper- 
knife, so that every seed is moistened; 
then add powdered red lead only, mix 
until every seed is coated, and spread out 
on paper until dry. 
This, of course, forms a slightly water¬ 
proof coating, which will stand a little 
rain, and it is surprising how the news of 
the slight stomachic discomfort caused by 
jthe red lead is spread amongst the birds. 
It is particularly good for grass seed or 
janv other favourite, such as the Radish, 
| and one’s confidence in the germinating 
j power of the seed, which had perhaps been 
(severely shaken by previous failures, is 
;soon restored. 
A. Brooker. 
A plesh-Goloured Water Ltily 
(Nymphaea colossea). 
The flowers of the above Water Lily 
are of large size, with very numerous 
broad and pointed petals. These are of 
a pleasing, delicate flesh colour. The 
leaves of this garden variety are broad 
and of a deep metallic green. 
There is no more suitable time for the 
planting of Water Lilies than the month 
of May, because they are then commenc¬ 
ing to make their growth, and soon get 
established in their fresh quarters. Just 
how they should be planted depends upon 
would thereby be obtained, as some of 
the Lilies would be more or less shaded 
during certain periods of the day by the 
tub on the top. The plan is to partly fill 
the tub with good loam and then plant 
the Lilies, or merely submerge them in 
it during May or June, when they soon 
take root and become established. Our 
illustration shows a single bloom in its 
natural position on the surface of the 
water. It is, of course, very much re¬ 
duced in size. 
Nymphaea colossea. 
Maclaren and Sons. 
the convenience of the cultivator. It is 
not everyone who has the convenience of 
a pond or specially-built tank in which 
to grow them. In some instances the 
garden is so small as to preclude the idea 
of a pond or tank. Nevertheless, Water 
Lilies may be grown in the smallest gar¬ 
dens if the aspect is exposed to the south, 
which is favourable to the development of 
the flowers. 
Strong barrels are usually obtainable 
locally, and at the present day, paraffin 
casks 'are usually the most plentiful, and 
can be converted into a miniature water 
basin by cutting it in half and using both 
ends as a tub for Water Lilies. The in¬ 
terior should, of course, first be burned out 
to get rid of the oil and then well 
scrubbed, after which they may be let 
more or less deeply into the ground if the 
cultivator objects to the appearance of the 
tubs. 
More recently, however, a number of 
these tubs have been used one elevated 
above another, while trailing plants are 
allowed to hang over the sides. For in¬ 
stance, three of the tubs could be partly 
let in the ground and a fourth one stood 
on the edges of the three others just where 
thev come in contact. Different aspects 
The Culture of . . 
Gloxinias. 
Charming 
Greenhouse Plants. 
These easily-grown plants have been so 
greatly improved of late that an amateur 
with a heated greenhouse can grow them. 
Although a native of tropical America 
they can be grown to perfection without 
subjecting them to a very high tempera¬ 
ture. 
First of all procure a packet of seed 
from a good, reliable firm. Then get a 
pan or box prepared by being well 
drained and having a little rough ma¬ 
terial over the drainage. Fill this to 
within an inch of the top with a compost 
of equal parts of sand, peat, and good 
leaf mould passed through a i in. sieve. 
Mix this thoroughly, press down the 
whole, water with a fine rose, and allow it 
to stand for a few hours, and then sow 
the seed, exercising great care as the seed 
is very minute. Cover the seed very spar¬ 
ingly with the same mixture passed 
