5 66 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 29, 1908. 
Oswego Tea. 
It may not be every amateur gardener 
who knows the plant of which I intend to 
speak under the above name, but the 
botanical name, Monarda didyma, is not 
known to everyone either. The plant is 
well known in many gardens, but its cul¬ 
tivation might well be extended. Some 
are under the impression that there is 
more than one variety of the plant, dif¬ 
fering in the colour of its bracts, but 
in some gardens at least it is not planted 
in a full}' exposed situation, and the 
bracts do not colour well. Those who 
would wish to see it at its best should 
plant in a fully exposed border, where it 
will get plenty of light and air. Under 
those conditions the stems will be rela¬ 
tively dwarf, and, indeed, there is no need 
for them to be tall, as nothing is gained 
by the plants being drawn. One other 
thing should be attended to, and that is 
to plant it in good soil. If the soil of 
the garden is poor, the plants may be 
lifted in March, and the whole border 
deeply dug, after giving it a good dress¬ 
ing of cow manure. This will help fo 
retain moisture in the soil and avoid the 
necessity for watering. In good exposure 
the bracts assume a rich bronzy red hue, 
forming a good background to the scarlet 
flowers. 
D. W. 
f^osa Apdersoni. 
Under the name of Ayrshire Roses 
several improved varieties of the field 
Rose are cultivated in gardens, but those 
improvements seem to be due to enthusi¬ 
astic raisers of bygone times. Consider¬ 
ing that Rosa wichuraiana belongs to 
the same group of Roses as R. arvensis, 
much more might be done in improving 
a native Rose, in view of the fact that 
rambler Roses are so popular at the pre¬ 
sent time. Improved varieties might be 
raised for the purpose of growing on pil¬ 
lars, arches, pergolas and even on chains 
in imitation of the Italian style of a Rose 
garden. R. Andersoni is really a variety 
of the wild field Rose, R. arvensis, and 
those who have seen it must admit that 
it is a very beautiful single Rose. It 
has got size and a beautiful pink colour, 
and these large Roses are freely produced 
on a well established bush. The flowers 
are frequently employed in floral decora¬ 
tions, especially at Rose shows, and their 
large size and beautiful soft colour have 
a telling effect when set up with their 
own foliage. . 
R. Andersoni would seem to be of re¬ 
cent introduction, although the raisers 
would seem to be unknown. The Na¬ 
tional Rose Society regards it as a species, 
describing it as a vigorous bush Rose 
that flowers only in summer. In this 
respect, of course, it would agree with 
our field Rose, which blooms only dur¬ 
ing the summer, and is soon over. The 
large flowers and the number of them 
produced in a bunch would suggest that 
varieties might be raised from it bearing 
large bunches of flowers that would cer¬ 
tainly excel those known as rambler Roses 
and Polyanthas. The wild form of these 
latter has very small white flowers, so 
that, presuming on the strength of the 
size of the blooms of the field Rose, it 
would not be difficult to get size in a 
new race of ramblers having both large 
flowers and bunches. 
Bell Heather. 
Culture of Cyclamens. 
Early in August is the time for the 
sowing'of Cyclamen seed, for a good early 
spring display of flowers, especially when 
other blooms are very scarce, as this 
makes them all the more valuable. Their 
fragrance and beauty, also their free 
flowering qualities are items of first im¬ 
portance in the early months of the year 
when flowers are often hard to come by. 
The seed should be sown thinly in 
large pans, and placed in a greenhouse, 
or a warm frame, the pans being covered 
with a piece of brown paper, and a piece 
of glass, slightly tilted to allow a little 
ventilation. W hen the seedlings appear 
the paper can be withdrawn, and more 
air admitted. When the little plants are 
large enough to handle, prick them out 
into a frame about three inches apart each 
way. As soon as they have grown large 
enough to fill every gap allowed them in 
the frame, they should be potted up 
singly into 3 inch pots, a good compost 
consisting of fairly rich soil, turfy loam, 
and silver sand being used. After this 
they should be placed near the glass to 
attain sturdiness, and should be kept well 
watered. A moist airy atmosphere is es¬ 
sential to success, and it keeps away that 
dreaded foe, the red spider. 
Directly the roots just begin to touch 
the sides of the pots they must be trans¬ 
ferred to 45 inch pots, and finally to a 
6 inch pot, in which to develop into 
strong bushy plants. This latter opera¬ 
tion will be amply repaid by the large 
and magnificent flowers which , this treat¬ 
ment is sure to give. 
After the flowering period is over, they 
can L-e placed in a frame, and kept care¬ 
fully watered and ventilated, and when 
active growth again commences they 
must be repotted, syringed, and shaded 
for two or three weeks. In October they 
should be taken into the greenhouse, and 
during the winter be kept in a medium 
temperature, say of 50 degrees. After 
two or three years of flowering the old 
plants should be discarded, as the flowers 
lose their size and beauty as they attain 
their third .or fourth year of blooming, 
and for this reason a new sowing should 
be made every year to displace the old 
and worn-out plants, with young and 
vigorous corms which give us our 
brightest and best flowers. 
Joseph Floyd. 
The Granadilla. 
The Granadilla, a species of Passiflora, 
is a green-skinned fruit, with soli, pulpy 
flesh, much favoured by Jamaicans. 'Ine 
flavour cannot be compared to any Bri¬ 
tish fruit. It leaves in the mouth a curious 
after-taste that is both novel and stimu¬ 
lating. 
R.H.S. 
An exhibition of flowers, plants, etc., 
will be held by the Royal Horticultural 
Society, at their hall in Vincent Square, 
Westminster, on September 1st, lrom 1 
to 6. At 3 Mr. Thomas H. Mawson. 
A. R.T.B.A., will lecture on “The Histon 
of Garden Making. 
The Cactus. 
The Cactus is the strangest and most 
fascinating plant in the world. Some 
specimens are no larger than, a thimble, 
whilst others often attain a heigm ol 
60 ft., and weigh several tons. Scientists 
state that these larger plants are as much 
as 2,000 years old. 'the “Water Barrel 
of the Desert is the name given to the 
giant Cactus of America, for the plant 
contains a fluid which is a fair substitute 
for water. Paper of an excellent quality is 
made from the Yucca, while the Aga'e 
species, largely grown in Mexico, sup¬ 
plies the Mexican with his nat.onal drink. 
This latter plant may be likened to a 
good-sized bush made up of a series of 
flat armoured blades radiating from a 
central bulb. The “honey water” is 
found in the innermost leaves, which roll 
themselves into a conical shape. 
Poisonous Microbes'in the Soil. 
At the meeting of the British Associa¬ 
tion, which opens in Dublin on Septem¬ 
ber 2nd, under the presidency of Mr. 
Francis Darwin, papers will be read deal¬ 
ing with the problems of intensive culti¬ 
vation. The subject of the microbes of 
the soil is likely to be discussed, and new 
discoveries, it is believed, will be dis¬ 
closed. The problem has been studied 
persistently of late years, here and in Ger¬ 
many and America, and now it has been 
discovered by an English student that cer¬ 
tain microbes distil an active poison into 
the soil. They poison the wells, so tc 
speak, for their followers; and this, no! 
the exhaustion of the land, prevents the 
farmer growing, for example, two crop; 
of clover consecutively on the same field. 
The subject has, of course, special in 
terest to gardeners. 
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