130 
TUB GARDBMNQ WORLD. 
PRIZE LETTER COMPETITION. 
f Readers are invited to contribute to this 
\ column short letters, discussing any 
f gardening subject. 
f Letters should not exceed ijo words 
» each in length, and must be written 
Four Seasonable Hints. 
(1) In planting fresh trees be sure the 
hole is large enough to lay out the roots 
evenly, and if possible use dry soil for 
working between the fibres and other 
roots. Not only is the work easier to do, 
but the tree can be made firm with the 
foot without the soil adhering to the boot. 
Especially is this worth noting in plant¬ 
ing new Roses. (2) When planting bulbs 
in very damp soils, a little sand will be 
found very beneficial if placed about each 
bulb. (3) Make sure all grass-edged beds 
and borders are clipped close, otherwise 
the overhanging grasses become slug re¬ 
sorts in winter. (4) Look over Del¬ 
phinium clumps occasionally for slugs— 
they are rather partial to them—and after 
removing, dust well with lime to ensure 
their safety. 
Highgate, N. C. T. 
How I Grow Begronia Gloire de Lorraine. 
This is one of the most beautiful of 
winter-flowering plants, but it is rather 
difficult to grow. First take cuttings an 
inch or so in length from old plants that 
have been cut down the previous year, 
and allowed to grow again. Do not take 
side shoots, as these do not flower so 
freely as those taken from the base of 
the plants. Insert the cuttings in boxes 
or pans containing a compost of equal 
parts of good fibrous loam, and leaf- 
mould, and a larger quantity of sand, 
and also sprinkle sand on top so as to 
help the cuttings to strike quicker. Cover 
with a piece of glass till the seeds have 
germinated, when the glass may be re¬ 
moved and keep in a temperature between 
60 degrees and 70 degrees all through 
the growing period. Then pot in 3 in. 
pots, the soil being as before, adding a 
little fine dry cow manure. Do not water 
very heavily, but sprinkle overhead once 
a day ; this helps to keep disease away. 
bn one side of the paper only. 
Two Prizes of 2 s. 6d. each will be 
awarded each week for the two Letters 
which the Editor considers to be the 
best. 
In six weeks’ time they will be ready for 
removing into 5 in. pots, using similar 
compost as before. About the latter end 
of August they may be put into their final 
pots, 6 in. or 7 in., adding a little more 
cow manure. Keejr all flowers pinched 
away until about the first week in October 
when they may be allowed to flower, and 
will continue for six or eight weeks. Then 
cut down the plants and commence as 
before. 
Prestbury. JOHN ARROWSMITH. 
Rain Water Cisterns. 
Nearly all greenhouses are furnished 
with a cistern for storing rain water, but 
oftentimes the difficulty arises of obtain¬ 
ing water to use of the same temperature 
as the house. By arranging and filling 
up the pipes as described below a lot of 
trouble will be saved, for many plants 
are killed by using water which is many 
degrees colder than the temperature of 
the house. In a large measure this diffi¬ 
culty can be surmounted at a trifling cost 
by the following method. Fit up a small 
zinc box about six inches square fitted on 
one side to the inlet pipe into the bottom 
of the box. Then fix a pipe one inch in 
diameter, long enough to reach within two 
inches of the bottom of the tank. Oppo¬ 
site to the inlet pipe fix another pipe 
which should be of the same size as the 
inlet pipe; this will be the overflow. After 
the tank is full all the water will now 
escape through the box out by the over¬ 
flow pipe without cooling the water 
already in the tank. 
Wilton, Wilts. J. ScAMMELL. 
Lupinus arboreus Snow Queen. 
The ordinary Tree Lupine is a well- 
known plant, having for its chief char¬ 
acteristics finely divided foliage, a bushy 
habit and fragrant pale yellow flowers. 
The variety Snow Queen has pure white 
February 27, 1909. 
flowers, which are very serviceable in th 
cut state. The plant seems a slighd 
stronger grower than the type, and cei 
tainly produces flowers for a longer perioc 
Consequently it deserves a place in ever 
herbaceous or cut flower border. It 
easily propagated by seed sown in a bo 
of light soil some time during April 0 
Alay, and placed in a cold frame, shade 
from bright sunlight, and not on an 
account allowed to become dry. Whe 
large enough to handle, transplant into 
nursery bed, and plant into permanen 
quarters the latter end of October. Fror 
its sub-shrubby nature it may be seen tha 
losses will occur and that a light, well 
drained soil is essential; seed shouh 
therefore be sown every year to keep ui 
the stock. 
H. Arnold. 
The Gardens, Carron Hall, 
Carron, N.B. 
Salvia splertderts. 
Salvia splendens is esteemed for th. 
vividness of its colour and for house em 
bellishment. This tends to brighten u; 
the autumnal decorations which woulc 
otherwise be too suggestive of the seasor 
of winter. They root readily from cut 
tings which are obtained by pruning ar 
old plant hard and inserting the cutting: 
in a good sharp compost in small pot: 
under a bell-glass in a greenhouse. Wher 
nicely rooted, before they become en 
tangled, transfer into small pots, using z 
compost of good fibrous loam, leaf-soi 
and sand. Eventually pot into 24’s foi 
flowering, using the same compost as 
previously recommended with an addition 
of cow manure and soot. Pinch accord¬ 
ing to requirements. During summer 
plunge them in the open and at this 
stage feeding may commence if necessary. 
Subsequently transfer them to the flower¬ 
ing house, when the cultivator will be 
rewarded with brilliant coloured flower 
spikes fully a foot in length. 
LI. F. Stevens. 
Bawdsey Manor Gardens, 
Woodbridge. 
-- 
Gardens for Schoolboys. 
The Middlesex County Council have 
laid out gardens in connection with six¬ 
teen elementary schools in rural parts of 
the county, and 400 boys are to receive 
practical instruction in market garden¬ 
ing. 
