January 2, 1909. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
7 
Although we have selected Iris aurea 
; an example of the plant that may be 
aced close to the water edge, there is 
whole host of Irises that are never 
ore happy than when in slightly damp 
tuations, so that any of the flag-leaved 
•ises might be planted in beds extend- 
L g, it may be, along the water edge, but 
iving their roots sufficiently high above 
ie water level that they will never be 
aterlogged. These Irises are both beau- 
ful and appropriate. A distinction may 
e made between those Irises which thrive 
est above the water level and those 
hich may be planted with their roots 
ime little way below the surface of the 
ater. Either of these forms of garden- 
lg may readily be adapted to any sheet 
f water, whether the garden be large 
r small. 
-- 
Chrysanthemum maximum. ■ 
For filling up unsightly corners and for 
erbaceous borders, few of our hardy 
lants are more serviceable than varie- 
es of the above Chrysanthemum, which 
rovides an abundance of bloom that 
an be used for cutting, as well as beauty 
1 the borders. 
I have in mind a mass of Chrysanthe- 
tum maximum King Edward, a large 
'ariety, grown as a screen against a 
•ooden fence. A stock of plants are 
asily raised by dividing old roots into 
mall pieces; every' offset will grow. It 
tay also be raised from seed sown either 
1 the autumn or early spring, though 
aey do not always come true to type. 
Irs. C. L. Bell is a very good late 
ariety r . Kathleen, with wavy petals, is 
Iso a pretty one to have in a border. 
The very late blooming C. uliginosum, 
rowing five or six feet high, is too well 
mown to need describing. As a rule 
hese plants are not particular as_to soil 
r position, any' ordinary garden soil be- 
ag suitable, biit when given liberal treai- 
tent they fully' repay the extra labour 
f their wealth of bloom. 
Berks. J. B. 
-4~f4- 
ophrocattleya Doris. 
The flowers of this hybrid partake of 
he character of its parents which were 
he well known Sophronitis grandiflora 
nd Cattleva dowiana aurea. They are 
>f a rich scarlet with darker veins and 
he lip has an orange disc. A First-class 
lertificate was granted by the R.H.S. 
it a recent meeting when shown by T. 
Turney Fowler, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. 
Davis), Glebe!ands, South Woodford, 
fananas in North Queensland. 
Bananas are gross feeders and at the 
;md of five years ordinary land is con- 
•idcred exhausted for Banana growing. 
There is, however, virgin jungle land in 
North Queensland, where a plantation 
pay be grown continuously' for thirteen 
Jrears without having an application of 
nanure. It takes a planter about £20 
oer acre before a bunch is ready' for cut- 
ong and this commences at eighteen 
months from the date of planting, while 
at the termination of his lease he has 
ut 2.200 bunches per acre. The most 
ertile land seems to be on the Johnstone 
ivor. where the highest price per acre 
is obtained. 
The Flower Garden. 
A Happy and Prosperous New Year. 
May it be so for every reader of The 
Gardening World. There is a great deal of 
happiness to be derived from a garden, 
and the work there prospers to a great ex¬ 
tent according to application. That which 
is gained through exertion more or less 
hard, is generally prized beyond that which 
comes to one without any. 
Even in a very small garden there is a 
vast amount of work necessary if good re¬ 
sults are to be obtained throughout the whole 
of the year. Take, for instance, a single 
plant. If it be simply planted in undug, 
unmanured ground and afterwards left to 
grow or die, the result, at any rate, will 
not be as satisfactory' as it would if care¬ 
fully attended to from the sowing of the 
seed or putting in of the plant to the flower¬ 
ing. stage. Thus it happens in every branch 
of gardening. Application, of the right 
kind, perseverance, and a whole-hearted in¬ 
terest in one’s work make for happiness and 
prosperity. To this end we should work 
throughout the whole of the New Year. 
Cutting-Back Trees. 
Many kinds of deciduous trees as well as 
evergreens, are much improved in shape and 
considerably strengthened by' judicious 
piuning. It is while the trees are young, 
especially, that the cutting-back of certain 
cf their branches is advisable. 
Fig. 1 shows at A the way to prune a 
deciduous tree. The other side, B, is shown 
ur-.pruned. 
Even when standard trees are securely' 
staked they often grow ill-shaped unless they 
are pruned 
Sweet Peas. 
The past autumn has been very favourable 
for Sweet Teas growing in pots where there 
has not been any' undue coddling. It has 
not been necessary to put on the glass lights 
during the wfccle c-f the autumn, and the 
Fig. / shows how to -prune a young tree to 
strengthen it; A shows the branches on one 
side cut back; B, the branches uncut on the 
other. 
plants so treated are now very strong. Basal 
shoots are growing strongly and every ef¬ 
fort should be made to increase their 
strength. This can best be done by allowing 
all the plants in the pots ample space. Do 
not overcrowd them at the present time as 
if they are too much crowded the haulm 
will be weakened and receive a severe check 
later on when the plants are planted in their 
flowering quarters. Some of the plants may 
be intended for flowering in large pots 
under glass. In this case rich fibrous loam 
and clean pots and crocks should be pre¬ 
pared. 
Protect the young plants from frosts. 
Mats and straw should be put on the cool 
frames, but you must remove the protecting 
material directly the frosts have gone as 
it is harmful to exclude light from the plants 
for long periods. 
Lawns and Paths. 
Before Christmas, no doubt, these were 
thoroughly cleaned. But they soon require 
attention again, not only with a view to ap¬ 
pearance, but also to keep them in good con¬ 
dition. The gravel soon gets loose and it 
is then easily displaced, so that rolling is 
absolutely necessary at this season in order 
to consolidate the material, and this work 
cannot be as effectual if done later on when 
the ground is dry. The same remarks apply 
with equal force to the werk of rolling 
lawns. Both paths and lawns should be 
rolled at least once each week. 
Bedding;-Out Plants in Frames. 
Nearly all kinds of bedding-out plants 
should be carefully watched now. The hot- 
water pipes should be kept warm in both 
frames and houses, ventilation attended to 
and all decay'ing leaves removed. One bad 
leaf, if left on for a few days only', at this 
season, may mean the loss of many' more, 
or ultimately a whole plant. Examine all 
plants about midday. 
The Fruit Garden. 
Pruning- Apple Trees. 
The work of pruning should be continued 
in all cases where it was interrupted in the 
autumn. Very great care should be exer¬ 
cised in the pruning of y'oung standard and 
bush-shaped Apple trees. Where the latter 
are healthy and growing in a deep loam, 
strong shoots will be the result and in¬ 
judicious pruning will result in the appear¬ 
ance next summer of still grosser growth. 
But, of course, it is advisable to do some 
root-pruning in such instances, and, al¬ 
though the early' part of autumn is the best 
time for root-pruning, do not hesitate to 
carry out the work now where y'oung trees 
are very strong-growing. 
Fig. 2 shows how to prune a young 
branch, and also the spur of an old one. A 
shows the young main branch, B the shoots 
made during last summer; these must be 
cut off at the dark lines, and also the one 
shown at C D denotes a fruit bud, this 
being the first attempt at fruit spur forma¬ 
tion on young branches, and all such round, 
plump buds must be retained. The leading 
shoot on the y'oung branch should be cut 
back about one-third its length. E shows 
an older spur. The plump buds F are 
flower buds and must be retained, and G are 
