July 25, 1908. THE 
GARDENING WORLD. 
489 
ientioned, but is more approaching to 
iccinea. It is fixed except that it pro¬ 
ices a few plants of Miss E. F. Dray- 
n. The latter came quite true. 
Etta Dyke from more than one English 
iser came quite true, but is very little 
perior to Nora Unwin, although it is 
ore waved than the latter. The Ameri- 
,n White Spencer is an unfixed strain of 
tta Dyke. Its best flowers resemble the 
.tter, but the majority are distinctly in- 
rior. Nor is the Cream Spencer any 
;tter, for it is also mixed. The best and 
-esumably the true plants of Cream 
pencer are the best cream Sweet Peas 
e have, but there are very few truly 
aved plants produced. In this case, 
lara Curtis, the English stock, is also 
nfixed, some plants coming unwaved, 
at it is safe to prophesy a future for the 
■earn form of Countess Spencer. 
Menie Christie and Rosie Adams are 
irge waved mauvy-purple varieties, and 
re both quite fixed. They differ in that 
osie Adams has more blue in it. They 
re both in advance of all previous intro- 
uctions. The Marquis has proved dis- 
ppointing. Las. year at Reading it ap- 
eared fixed, but this year it has given 
lany unwaved forms. St. George is a 
access, its colour being a very brilliant 
irm of Helen Lewis, and in advance of 
nv previous introductions, but it cannot 
rrpass the variety mentioned as to size. 
There are other good 1908 novelties, 
lannah Dale, Audrey Crier, and Olive 
luffill being worthy of mention. The 
itter pair are truly magnificent when 
rue, but unfortunately totally unfixed. 
Next month I will mention the hovel- 
ies of merit that are not yet in commerce, 
'hese include some splendid varieties; 
or instar.ee, a true stock of a Countess 
ipencer form of Queen Alexandra is 
lready in existence. 
All who can should make an effort to 
isit the N.S.P.S. show at Vincent Square 
n the 24th of this month. 
G. F. Drayson. 
-f+4- 
'he Bottom of the Greenhouse. 
We often think a lot about decorating 
he stages of our glasshouses, but the 
.(uestion is, do we think enough about the 
lottom? One often sees a house full 
if flowers, and yet there is a sort of bare- 
less at the bottom which ought to be, and 
an be, easily improved. The two best 
reeping plants for planting under the 
tage are Selaginella and Tradescantia, 
>oth of which repay for any trouble be- 
towed upon them. Perhaps the best way r 
s to let it grow over stones or clinkers, as 
he ruggedness makes it look more pro- 
ninent and artistic than on the ground. 
The early spring, when they make most 
growth, is the best time to plant, but that 
js optional, as it will grow at all times of 
he year, providing it has sufficient mois- 
ure. When once established, sufficient 
noisture is generally obtained from the 
catering above, so they only require cut¬ 
ting back every year. Selaginellas are 
xiuch esteemed for using with - table 
olants. 
J. M. Stevens. 
Guildford. 
-- 
The Seakale-Beet exhibited at Holland 
douse show was a novelty to most people, 
lut it is common in France, and might 
be grown in almost every English garden. 
The Flower Garden. 
Lawns. 
As the soil varies considerably in different 
parts of the country, so will the present con¬ 
ditions of the lawns vary. Light, sandy 
ground does not retain moisture very long, 
whereas clayey, retentive loams do, and 
where the latter kinds obtain the grass on 
lawns will be fairly fresh, notwithstanding 
the prolonged spell of dry weather and ex¬ 
cessive heat. Small lawns may be soon 
watered where the water supply is ample 
and convenient, but the chief mistake made 
is generally that of delaying to commence 
the watering so that the roots of the plants 
become aust-dry and the grass itself brown. 
But many coarse kinds of grasses are re¬ 
duced in vigour and somewhat refined in 
appearance by being subjected to dry 
weather and great heat. No time should be 
lost in giving a thorough soaking to all 
dried-up lawns, even though we may have 
had some rain recently, as it requires per¬ 
sistent watering to get the subsoil moist 
again. The new growth, after a spell of hot 
weather, is generally a very good one and 
remains in capital condition until late in the 
autumn. 
Violets. 
Healthy plants are now producing runners 
freely, but it would be a mistake to leave 
the latter on the plants as they would greatly 
weaken them and not be of much service as 
regards the production of flowers. Clumps 
of Violets which are being grown for win¬ 
ter forcing in frames should be carefully ex¬ 
amined and all runners found cut off. Fig. 
c 
Fig. /.—Examine Violet -plants now, and re- 
vjove all runners. 
1 shows the old plant at A, the runners at 
B, the dark line C denoting the point where 
the latter should be cut off. There are two 
runners shown in the sketch, one large, the 
other small. It is a wise plan to pinch off 
all of them when small and not allow them 
to grow to a large size. 
Sweet Peas. 
The plants are now at their best. I do 
not mean by this that they are greatly laden 
with blooms,, but that the latter are marked 
by high quality. Do not be afraid to cut 
the blooms as the more regularly you do so 
the longer the flowering period will be. 
If all flowers be left to fade on the plants, 
fresh buds will not form. Also give water 
regularly and in sufficient quantities each 
time as to thoroughly moisten the soil down 
to the lowest roots. Put on a fresh mulch 
and stimulate growth by applying super¬ 
phosphate of lime at the rate of 2 ounces 
per yard run of row. 
Hollyhocks and Dahlias. 
At this season the lower leaves of Holly¬ 
hock plants quickly turn yellow and fall off 
during a dry spell of weather. Do not wait 
for the soil to get very dry, but give water 
freely and apply a mulch. These plants 
like a rich rooting—medium and frequent 
doses of liquid manure will be very bene¬ 
ficial. 
Fig. 2.—Pinch out all laterals on summer 
pruned, branches. 
Support the plants and Dahlias, too, with 
neat stakes. 
Cuttings of Bedding Plants. 
We are on. e more approaching the season 
when cuttings of various kinds of bedding 
plants must be inserted. Boxes should be 
repaired, new ones procured, pots got ready, 
and composts made up. By making due pre¬ 
parations the actual work of taking and 
inserting the cuttings will be expedited. 
The Fruit Garden. 
Summer-Pruned Trees. 
' After the summer pruning of fruit trees 
is finished a number of young shoots com¬ 
mence to grow at the extreme ends of the 
cut-back branches. If allowed to remain, 
these branches would soon be overcrowded 
with the young shoots, so that the latter must 
be pinched off as soon as they are large 
enough to handle. 
Fig. 2 shows the branch A cut back, with 
the young shoots B, B, growing on it. These 
shoots, B, B, are the ones to remove. The 
branch A will, of coui se, be cut back fur¬ 
ther at the winter pruning. 
Fig. ?. — Outdoor Tomat'd plants may now be 
topped. 
