222 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
April 3, 1909. 
NOTICES. 
To Readers and Correspondents. 
u THB GARDENING WORLD ” is published b> 
MACLAREN AND Sons, 37 and 38, Shoe Lane, London, E.C. 
Telegrams and Cables: “Buns,” London. Telephou* 
Number: 997 Holborn. 
“THE GARDENING WORLD” is published even 
Tuesday, and dated for the following Saturday. Pric* 
One Penny. Annual Subscription (prepaid), post free. 
6a. 6d. United Kingdom; 8s. 8d. Abroad. Cheques and 
remittances generally should be made payable tt 
Maclaren and Sons, and crossed London City and Midlann 
Bank. 
Advertisement Orders should be addressed to the Pub 
lishers. The insertion of advertisements cannot b« 
guaranteed for the following issue unless received b.\ 
Saturday before date of publication. 
EDITORIA_L.—Letters for publication, specimens foi 
naming, requests for information, manuscripts and 
photographs must be addressed to the Editor. Oorrt* 
spondents should write on one side of the paper only, 
and give name and address as well as nom-de-plume. 
The Editor will not be responsible for loss of unaccepted 
manuscripts, photographs, etc., but if stamps be enclosed 
ordinary care will be exercised to ensure return. If 
payment for photographs or text is desired, the price for 
reproduction must be distinctly stated, and it must be 
understood that only the actual photographer or owner 
of the copyright will be dealt with. All contributions 
of any kind in the Prize Competitions become the 
property of the Proprietors of “THE GARDENING 
WORLD.” The Editor’s decision in Prize Competitions is 
Inal. 
SPECIMEN COPIES.—The Publishers will be pleased 
to send specimen copies of “THE GARDENING WORLD " 
for distribution amongst friends, and will appreciate the 
services rendered by readers in this cnnnertim, 
REVIEW. 
“ She T^aUwie of TtaUree.” 
The agitation for a better distribution of 
the land amongst the community is and 
will be responsible for many other side¬ 
lights to be thrown on the question. For 
some time past we have heard and read 
much about nature teaching in schools, 
but there is another, but kindred, subject 
to which the prospective holders of land 
will be directed by the book which has 
just been published, “The Balance of 
Nature,” by George Abbey. This takes 
a broad view of British birds and beasts 
throughout the land that are harmless to 
the crops of the farmer, market gardener, 
small holder, or even the fisherman and 
sportsman; secondly, those which are 
partly harmless and partly injurious; 
while those in a third section are looked 
upon as decidedly injurious, although 
even they have some redeeming features 
in their favour in some cases. 
The book runs to 278 pp., including a 
good index, and has a list of contents as 
well as a list of illustrations or diagram¬ 
matical drawings which number 150, in¬ 
serted with the text. The book contains 
such a variety of matter that we can only 
refer to it in general terms, but the matter 
is arranged jn chapters under the heading 
of wild animals, wild birds, water birds, 
migratory birds, reptiles and game. 
Those, again, are divided into sections ac¬ 
cording to their degree of injurious or 
harmless character. 
The second part of the book deals with 
the influences of the classes of animals 
just enumerated, and those who are not 
naturalists would be surprised to find so 
manv birds and animals in the country 
harmless or injurious. In no place, how¬ 
ever, are all of these animals likely to 
give trouble to the occupier of the soil, as 
they are so distributed over the land that 
only a few on any one farm or holding 
would require to be held in check where 
that happens to be necessary. 
In the case of w'ild animals that are de¬ 
cidedly hurtful, the numerous illustra¬ 
tions of traps and the method of setting 
them will prove useful to all concerned. 
The book, therefore, appeals to the many, 
as it is so comprehensive that the holders 
of the land, as well as sportsmen, fisher¬ 
men, foresters, and landlords, would find 
a reference to any particular pest amongst 
British animals. Even domesticated ani¬ 
mals are dealt with in four chapters, 
where the author shows how it is possible 
to make many of the wild animals of use 
by taming or otherwise controlling them, 
so that they may prove useful in the des¬ 
truction of insect and other enemies of 
that ■ character. Amongst the animals 
which may be turned to useful purpose in 
this direction are cats, dogs, ferrets, 
hedgehogs, gulls, lapwings, poultry, etc. 
The book is published by Messrs. George 
Routledge and Sons, Ltd., London, at 
7s. 6d., with postage extra. 
The Reserve Garden. 
Where large quantities of cut flowers 
are much in request, a piece of ground 
should be set apart for the purpose of a 
reserve garden, and this will help much 
to relieve and so preserve the beauty of 
the herbaceous and other borders, situated 
in more prominent positions in the gar¬ 
den. 
Although serving the useful purpose to 
which it is allotted, there is no reason 
why this particular piece of ground should 
be the less interesting and instructive; 
and this recalls to my mind a visit I paid 
to a large ducal establishment where this 
system was in vogue, and where row's of 
plants were to be seen neatly arranged 
and correctly labelled. Of course the 
formation and size of this garden will en- 
tirelv depend upon the requirements of 
the establishment, and the choice of sub¬ 
jects left to those that are suitable for 
packing and decorative purposes, also 
with the aim of prolonging the season of 
flowering over as long a period as pos¬ 
sible. 
The choice of site is not of particular 
consequence, but for preference I would 
suggest a low-lying one, with south-west 
or west aspect. The ground should be 
thoroughly tilled, and a good dressing of 
rotten farmyard manure worked in. The 
present is an excellent time to plant, pro¬ 
viding the weather be suitable. 
Plant firmly, and give the clumps room 
to develop, leaving free access to the 
plants, between every few rows. When 
the planting is completed, neatly fork 
over, and a light mulching of spent 
Mushroom bed manure, or decomposed 
hot-bed material will be beneficial. Of 
herbaceous plants there is a wide selec¬ 
tion of suitable subjects w'hich will readily 
establish themselves, and these should be 
arranged according to height and colour, 
to produce a good general effect. Addi¬ 
tional interest and effect can be provided 
bv the iudicious planting of spring flower¬ 
ing bulbs, and sowing or planting of an¬ 
nuals. 
Occasional attention to cleaning, stak 
ing, watering, etc., and care in cutting 
will do much towards keeping this depart 
ment in a dean and tidy condition, so tha 
the res.erve garden may be attractive a 
well as serve a useful purpose. 
E. B. 
-♦-++- 
Gannas: 
To those w'ho have never seen thi 
modern varieties of CannasTt would b< 
difficult to believe that such a wonderfu 
improvement in the size and colouring o 
the blooms had taken place. Some year 
ago we only grew' these plants for th> 
sake of their handsome leaves, the flower 
being so insignificant that they were usu 
ally passed over, but now', thanks to sue! 
men as Monsieur Ammiee and Crozy w 
have an entirely new race, dwarf in habi 
and carrying large trusses of flower 
which for form and colour rival the bes 
of Orchids. Many Cannas are still grow; 
for their foliage alone, which is often 0 
a beautiful bronze colour and in sonr 
instances variegated, which renders then 
very effective when used for bedding pur 
poses; they should, however, be plantec 
in a sheltered position as rough wind 
soon spoil their beauty, but it is in th< 
greenhouse where they show to the bes 
advantage. 
Their cultivation is very easy. 01 c 
roots which have been stored during thi 
winter should be divided and the youn; 
shoots or rhizomes potted singly in pot: 
just large enough to accommodate then 
and placed in the greenhouse. They wil 
soon start into growth and when the pot’ 
are filled with roots they should be potte< 
on into larger sizes according to the vigou 
of the plants. The best soil to use is twe 
parts loam and one part rotted manure 
well broken up. With a little judgmen 
in potting and starting a succession o 
flowers may be had from June unti 
Christmas. They delight in free drain 
age, plenty of water, plenty of food anc 
partial shade. 
After they have done fiow'ering the; 
may be stored away the same as Dahlias 
Good varieties may be grou'n from seed 
which sometimes takes three months ti 
germinate, but this may be expedited b; 
cutting the hard skin or soaking them ii 
hot water for a few minutes. When usee 
for bedding they should‘be planted ii 
rich soil and be well mulched with man 
ure and watered twice a week with liquic 
manure. 
The two best flowering varieties are the 
Gladiolus and the Orchid type, the fol 
lowing being a good selection :— 
Gladiolus Flowered Varieties : Au 
rore, bright red ; Beaute Portevine, red 
Duchess of York, yellow spotted red 
Capri, salmon-scarlet; Germania, crim 
son-edged yellow; Sultana, yellow ver 
milion spots ; Madame Crozy, vermilion 
edged yellow; Ischia, sulphur; and Fla 
mingo, red. 
Orchid Flowered Varieties: Ameri 
ca, orange; Burbank, yellow; Pluto 
bright red ; Australia, salmon red, brovi 
foliage; Italia, scarlet with yellow mar 
gin ; Africa, scarlet and gold ; and Wilj 
helm Beck, sulphur yellow.with scarle 
pencillings. 
A. Dennett 
