THE GARDENING WORLb 
49 
January 23, 
1909. 
Address : The Editor, The Gardening 
orld, 37 and 38, Shoe Lane, London, E.C. 
The Editor invites enquiries, which may 
,ver any branch of gardening. Questions 
.Quid be as brief as -possible and written on 
,e side of the paper only; a separate sheet 
, paper should be used for each question. 
Replies cannot be sent by post. 
Garden Plans .—Gardeners who would make 
,» best use of this column are invited to 
epare and forward to us a rough outline 
\ awing or plan of their gardens, indicating 
position of beds and lawns, the charac- 
STOVE AND GREENHOUSE. 
>54. Treatment of Freesias. 
During the last two seasons-I have been 
ring to grow Freesias in a greenhouse, 
t have not been so successful as I should 
;e. The plants grow all right, but get 
hndly and lanky, and then fall over the 
les of the pots. They are stood on the 
le stages amongst Hyacinths and Gera- 
ums. I can get the house up to 60 degs. 
tsily. Is my treatment right? (B. Lewis, 
ants.) 
ter and height of the fence or wall; posi¬ 
tion of vegetable garden, orchard, etc. The 
north side of the garden and any over¬ 
shadowing buildings should be denoted. It 
should also be stated whether the garden is 
flat or on a declivity, and all large trees 
should be marked. Particulars of the na¬ 
ture of the soil will also help us to give 
satisfactory replies. When such plans are 
received they will be carefully filed, with 
the name and address of the sender, and 
will be consulted by the Editor whenever an 
enquiry is sent. 
The temperature you mention is too high, 
and evidently the plants ara drawn up by 
this heat with the lack of proper ventilation, 
and they may also be unduly shaded by the 
Geraniums. You should pot up the bulbs 
in August and stand them in a cold frame. 
If the soil is suitably moist no water will 
be necessary until they commence growing 
as a rule. It will depend upon the condi¬ 
tion of the weather, however, and you 
should keep an eye upon the soil, because if 
it gets too dry it will hinder the emission 
of roots. Here they will gradually com¬ 
mence growing and may then be taken into 
the greenhouse at the end of September. As 
little growth will yet have been made above 
the pots you should stand the latter on a 
shelf close to the glass. The greenhouse 
should also be well ventilated whenever the 
weather is favourable, and the Freesias will 
get the advantage of the light and air, 
which is essential to their well-being, by 
keeping them dwarf and sturdy. When the 
flower stems are about 4 in. high or there¬ 
abouts give weak liquid manure once or 
twice a week. If there is any likelihood of 
the stems falling over under that treatment 
you should put two or three stakes round 
the sides of the pats and put one string of 
matting round the stakes, which will be 
sufficient to keep them up. They will not 
require this, however, unless they have been 
drawn in any way by the high temperature. 
It would be beneficial to the other plants, 
however, to keep down the temperature to 
50 degs. at night. Cease feeding when the 
plants are coming into bloom. 
FRAMES. 
3555. Seedlings and Hotbeds. 
Last year I commenced about this time to 
raise seedlings of various kinds, but I had 
very little success. I made up a hotbed, 
according to instructions in one of your 
numbers, and I got on all right till the 
seedlings were well up, when they gradu¬ 
ally damped off. Please let me know where 
the fault was and oblige. (A Novice, Kent.) 
In the first place you commenced too 
early for anyone not having previous ex¬ 
perience. At this early period of the year 
the atmosphere is very damp, and that, of 
course, is intensified in the interior of the 
frames heated with fermenting manure. 
You had better wait till the beginning of 
Marcn, when the da}-s will be longer and 
In placing before practical gardeners my special collection of vegetable seeds, I 
believe I am offering splendid value. The seeds are carefully selected under 
my own supervision, and are guaranteed to produce exhibition quality vegetables. 
You will find that the utmost variety has been introduced into these collections, 
and I know those growing from my tested seeds will have cause for congratus 
lation at the proper Season. The testimonials I have received in past Seasons 
give me every confidence in recommending a trial to new friends. 
JECKFORD’S OFFER 
Ideal Collection of Vegetable Seeds. 
The quantities in the collection are sufficient for Ordinary Gardens. Allotments, etc., and 
contain the following : Four half-pints of Eckford’s Pedigree Culinary Peas for Succession ; 
half-pints each of Broad Beans, Dwarf French Beans and Scarlet Bunners; and liberal 
packets of the following small Seeds: Beet, Borecole, Broccoli (three varieties—early, 
medium and late), Brussels Sprouts, Early Cabbage, Pickling Cabbage, Savoy. Carrot, 
Early Cauliflower, Celery, Cress, Bidge Cucumber, Lettuce (two varieties). Mustard, Onions 
(two varieties), Parsley, Parsnip, Radish, Tomato, Garden Turnip, and Vegetable Marrow. 
The above are all Excellent Kinds—Fine for Exhibition. 
Sent Carriage Paid for 5/6 cash with order. 
If pints of Peas and Beans are required instead of half-pints, the iprioe of the 
Collection will be 8 /-, carriage paid. A specially written Booklet on Vegetable 
Culture for the Amateur is given free with every order. 
HENRY ECKFORD, F.R.H.S. 
(Dept. 8), WEM, SHROPSHIRE. 
