THE GARDENING WORLD 
517 
August 8, 1908. 
HE POWDERY= LEAVED 
Primula 
(Primula pulverulenta). 
[See illustration page 516.] 
Amongst the numerous Primulas which 
lave been discovered and sent home from 
Western China by Mr. E. H. Wilson, for 
Vfessrs. Yeitch, that under notice will 
ake a high position as it becomes better 
mown. Most likely, also, it will furnish 
he means of raising a new race of gar- 
len varieties, differing in the colour of 
The Flower Garden. 
The beds in the flower garden will now be 
it their best. The recent rains, falling on a 
varm soil, have caused the plants to grow 
iery freely, and though a few flowers have 
>een spoiled the new shoots will bear many 
nore in due time, and so the display will 
>e prolonged well into the autumn months. 
Propagation of Cuttings. 
Last week I advised gardeners and ama- 
eurs to make all the preparations they 
:ould so that when the work of propagation 
.vas commenced it might be carried on 
juickly. 
The first cuttings taken should be those of 
icnal Pelargoniums, and as very sappy 
hoots do not form roots as readily as those 
hat are somewhat firmer; the latter kind 
I should be selected. 
If the cuttings be carefully selected there 
will not be any gaps left in the beds, not 
mich diminution in the display of bloom, 
generally. Fig. 1 shows a zonal Pelargo¬ 
nium cutting made ready for insertion. 
These cuttings should be about six inohes 
ong, cut off immediately below a joint as 
shown at A, and the leaf B from that joint 
should also be removed. 
Where large numbers are required boxes 
Bay be used, but pots will suffice if only a 
:ew are propagated. Pots are also the most 
jseful for the mare tender variegated varie- 
sies. Both boxes and pots should be well 
trained, the compost placed in them made 
firm and well surfaced with coarse sand. 
Place the cuttings four inches apart in 
jpoxes, but rather closer, and round the edge, 
in pots. Cuttings of Heliotropes, Gazanias 
|and Ageratums, taken from the base of the 
<ld plants, should also be taken this week, 
: ind inserted in pot's. Make the soil firm 
around the base of each cutting, and 
thoroughly water all to settle the soil in 
the pots and boxes. If the weather be 
showery place the latter in cool frames, but 
admit plenty of air. These are the chief 
finds of cuttings to be taken this week. 
* Useful Hotbed. 
Other kinds of cuttings must be taken dur¬ 
ing the next few weeks, and a gentle, steady 
heat, such as that provided by a hotbed of 
leaves and litter, will be useful. Build up 
a small hotbed forthwith. 
the flowers. The leaves are not unlike 
those of the common Primrose, but they 
are more or less covered with powder on 
the under surface, as is the stem and some 
parts of the flower. The scape of the 
plant illustrated was is in. high, but as 
the flowers are produced in three or four 
tiers, one above the other, the stem elon¬ 
gates and gets taller. The flowers them¬ 
selves are of a rich rose-purple with a 
crimson eve. Readers will note that this 
bears a close resemblance to P. japonica 
in habit of growth and the way it carries 
its flowers in whorls one above the other. 
Our illustration was taken in the Alpine 
House at Kew, but although enjoying the 
protection of a cold house, we think this 
will prove as hardy as the better known 
P. japonica. 
Border Carnations. 
The compost used in the layering of Car¬ 
nations often contains many seeds of weeds 
which quickly germinate. Examine your 
layered plants and very carefully pull up 
all weed seedlings without disturbing the 
layers. Also cut off all faded flowers and 
Fig. 1 . Zonal Pelargonium cutting 
ready for insertion. 
collect supporting sticks which have done 
their duty. 
Lawns. 
The grass is now growing rapidly, so that 
it will need mowing more frequently than 
of late. If allowed to get beyond the grip 
of the mowing machine, use the scythe first 
and then the machine in two opposite direc¬ 
tions. Roll the lawn twice each week and 
also the garden paths where loose gravel is 
used on them. 
The Fruit Garden. 
Plant Out Strawberry Runners. 
Some of the very best fruits of these 
plants are grown in heavy, clayey ground. 
But though they will do well in such soil 
the plants will not thrive in soil which is 
overcharged with moisture. The excessive 
moisture may not be apparent at the present 
time, but it is in winter time and during 
long spells of rainy weather ; and if frosts' 
prevail at the same t ; me the plants are sure 
to suffer very much and be considerably 
weakened for fruit-bearing. Drainage is, of 
course, the true remedy for very wet ground; 
but where it is not possible to lay down 
drain pipes, raise the beds a few inches, as 
shown in Fig. 2. 
After deeply digging the ground lay down 
garden line and mark out the beds, having 
the latter wide enough to contain three, or 
four rows of plants. The soil taken from the 
alleys will raise the beds sufficiently. Put 
out the young plants in rows as shown by 
the dotted lines A, the space B between each 
row being about twenty-two inches. 
Naming Fruits. 
Sometimes the names of different varieties 
of fruits get lost; where this has happened 
it would be well to rename the fruits before 
the latter are gathered from the trees. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
Cabbages for Spring Use. 
No time should be lost in getting the 
seeds sown where this has not already been 
done. In southern counties sow during the 
latter part of the week, and early in the 
jweek in northern counties; all the seeds 
should be got in before August 20th. Select 
a position which is quite open to the light 
and sunshine. I favour broadcast sowing, 
scattering the seeds very thinly. But some 
persons like to sow the seeds in drills; in 
this case the drills should be at least 16 
inches apart, so that the plants will get 
plenty of light. The latter have to with¬ 
stand the winter weather, and the hardier 
they are while young the more likely will 
they be to prove satisfactory next spring. 
Seeds to Sow. 
In favoured localities a few seeds of Pars¬ 
ley should be sown on a warm border. The 
Fig. 3 . Sow Parsley, Lettuce, Endive, 
Prickly Spinach, and Radish Black 
Spanish, in drills on a south border. 
