July ii, 1908. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
459 
Rhododendrons 
At Carrowdore Castle. 
The mild climate of Ireland is pecu- 
lrly favourable to the growth and flower- 
g of Rhododendrons, and the relatively 
:avy rainfall furnishes a sufficiency of 
oisture to enable the plants to make pro- 
;r growth during the warmer parts of 
tmmer. Rhododendrons are not parti- 
Uar as to soil, provided it is sufficiently 
oist and contains little or no lime. In 
arts of the country' where the climate 
dry and the soil in any way likely to 
2t baked in summer, Rhododendrons 
ave a very trying time during July, Au- 
ust, and sometimes September. The 
ender roots soon suffer when moisture 
lacking, and if the leaves of Rhododen- 
rons show distress by flagging during 
rose months, as they often do in sandy 
nd even in clay soils, they cannot be ex- 
ected to flower well in the natural soil, 
t is necessary when those conditions pre- 
ail to prepare a bed of considerable 
lepth in order to succeed with them. 
The accompanying illustration shows 
,ow freely they bloom at Carrowdore 
lastle, County Down, Ireland. The 
ariet-y here shown is a rose coloured 
ne, and so thickly was it covered -with 
lossom, that scarcely, a green leaf was 
isible at a short distance away. We are 
bliged to Mrs. Somerset Ward for the 
hotograph, which was taken by her 
aughter, Lady Dunleath. 
- 
The Germans are the most liberal sup- 
orters of British Cucumber growers. 
|uite recently as many as 45.000 English 
hcumbers were sent by one firm to the 
atherland in a single day. 
The Flower Garden 
Filling Gaps in Flower Beds. 
It sometimes happens that a few plants die 
in the flower beds and thus cause gaps. The 
vacant spaces should be filled up as soon as 
possible with spare plants of the same kind. 
But where there are not any such spare or 
surplus plants available, one or two speci¬ 
mens in the beds nearest the gap may be 
carefully moved a little to fill the latter; or 
some of the branches of the plants may be 
pegged down to serve the same purpose. 
Gaps in the body of the bed may, in due 
time, be filled by the natural spread of the 
surrounding plants, and so not be very 
noticeable, but vacant spaces in the edgings 
of borders spoil the general effect, and care 
should be taken to make good all such gaps 
as soon as possible. 
Propagating Border Pinks. 
Even before the old plants have finished 
flowering the work of propagating pipings 
should be commenced. Select strong side- 
shoots free from flower stems, and place 
them in water in a bucket, so as to keep 
them quite fresh. A cool, shaded border— 
but not under trees or shrubs—is the best 
place in which to insert the pipings. Remove 
the two lowest leaves on each piping and 
then make an upward cut partly through the 
joint, using a very sharp knife for the pur¬ 
pose, as shown in Fig. 1. 
Then level the soil and cover the surface 
with road grit one inch deep. The shallow 
drills should be opened about 6 inches apart, 
coarse sand scattered in the bottom of the 
drill, as shown at A, and each cutting, while 
moist, dipped in dry sand before it is out 
in. The loose soil, B, must be replaced and 
made very firm around the base of the pip¬ 
ing. Give water when required. 
Hollyhocks. 
Strong seedlings generally bear flowers 
freely and escape the dreaded disease. These 
plants should receive liberal treatment. In 
addition to putting on a rich mulch of soil 
and manure, mixed, plenty of liquid manure 
should be given also. But always apply 
clear water just before you give the liquid 
manure. Stake the plants securely to pre¬ 
vent the winds breaking off the flowering 
spike. 
Sweet Peas. 
These plants will now be in full flower, 
and should be assisted with copious supplies 
of water. Also give some superphosphate, 
using 2 ounces td each yard run of row. 
This stimulant is more effective than liquid 
manure. It improves the colours of the 
blooms and induces lengthened stems and 
free flowering. But all blooms should be 
gathered every day if it is wished to have a 
long supply of them. On no account allow 
seed pods to form, unless some early seeds 
are required. Apply a mulch to the rows of 
plants at once if you have, so far, neglected 
to do so. 
Herbaceous Plants. 
Keep these borders very neat and clean. 
Do not allow weeds to grow, and cut off the 
stems of all plants bearing faded flowers. 
Such kinds as Delphiniums throw up a 
second crop of flower spikes when the first 
ones are removed, but of course they are 
not as strong as the first spikes. 
Rose-coloured Rhododendron at Carrowdore Castle. 
Photo by Lady Dunleath. 
