346 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 25, 1907. 
blossoms of the dainty M. tricolor in 
some position in close proximity to the 
Sedums and Sempervivums. 
F. Norfolk. 
-- 
Hydrangeas. 
How to Grow 
Large Blooms. 
From May right on to the end of sum¬ 
mer immense heads of Hydrangea blooms 
are conspicuous in conservatories and 
florists’ shops, and are sometimes the 
envy of the amateur. Anyone wishing 
to have a few plants for next year must 
now make preparation. From July to 
the middle of August procure cuttings 
from old plants. When Hydrangeas get 
a few years old they may be planted out 
in a sunny position, somewhat sheltered. 
These will furnish you with excellent cut¬ 
tings. 
I will endeavour to trace out how to 
grow these delightful plants on what I 
may term the single stem system, or one 
bloom to a plant, as in Chrysanthemum 
culture. Make the cuttings at the third 
of fourth joint, and trim off the bottom 
pair of leaves only. The best rooting 
medium is the stove propagating pit, in¬ 
serting the cuttings firmly amongst^ the 
sawdust or cocoa fibre refuse. Keep 
moist and well shaded. In a fortnight s 
time thev will be well rooted, and should 
be boxed off into a sandy mixture and 
kept in the stove a few days, and thence 
to a vinerv or other cool house for a week 
or so, and then cold frames will 'do. 
Afterwards gradually expose to full air 
and sunshine. The cuttings may then 
be poitted into 3-inch pots, containing 
two parts loam, one part leaf mould, with 
a free sprinkling of sand, which will form 
a suitable compost. Keep them in a 
frame, and damp overhead occasionally 
for several davs. The plants will now 
be able to bear full exposure to the 
weather. This will ripen the wood and 
prepare the plants to winter well and pro¬ 
duce big blooms for next year. 
Another method of rooting, better 
adapted to the limited facilities of the 
amateur, is to prepare a box of cutting 
soil, consisting principally of leaf mould 
and sand. Insert the cuttings thickly 
together and give a good watering, which 
will suffice until they are rooted. Place 
the box in a shaded portion of the green¬ 
house or whatever glass structure is at 
command. A little bottom heat will 
assist root action, but is not indispen¬ 
sable. Spray the cuttings overhead and 
shade on bright days. It will probably 
be four weeks before roots are formed, 
after which treat them in the same way 
as advised for those grown in pots. 
Towards September keep the plants in 
a frame, where frost can be excluded, but 
expose to light and air on all favourable 
days. During winter accommodate the 
Hvdrangeas in the greenhouse or a light 
airv position, and keep fairly dry. For 
early use, a few can be potted in Febru¬ 
ary, when a moderate heat will push them 
on ; while repotting may extend to April, 
the later lots being retarded in cool 
frames and potting deferred. Five and 
a half inch pots are the most suitable, a 
lesser size being used for smaller plants. 
A strong compost is required, consisting 
of heavy loam 3 parts, 1 part of decayed 
manure, with some sand and soot added, 
and a 4-inch pot of bonemeal to each 
barrowload of the mixture. The plants 
stand plenty of feeding when the buds 
are on the move. Only such plants as 
have a bold, stout terminal bud should 
be potted on. 
A. V. M. 
The Auricula. 
The Auricula is a native of the Alps, 
and it owes its present improved state to 
the assiduous industry of those fanciers 
who have made its culture a study over 
the long period of a couple of centuries. 
The original type is found illustrated in 
Gerard’s Herbal, published in 1597, un¬ 
der the name of “ Bears’ Ears,” and it is 
there stated “that it is much esteemed 
around London, particularly in Mr. 
Tradescant’s garden at Lambeth.” This 
man was gardener to Charles I., and is 
believed to have been the first who at¬ 
tempted its improvement. 
- Q. W. - 
Prize Competitions. 
CENERAL CONDITIONS.— Competitors must 
write on one side of the paper only. Regular 
paid contributors to THE GARDENING 
WORLD or other gardening journals are de¬ 
barred from entering, but occasional con¬ 
tributors may compete. The name and ad¬ 
dress of the competitor must appear on each 
article sag; for competition. The Editor’s 
decision W final, and he reserves the right 
to reproduce, in any wayi any article or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINGS will be given 
for the best paragraph or short article on any 
gardening subject, such as hints of practical 
interest to gardeners, notes on the propaga¬ 
tion or cultivation of flowers, fruits or vege¬ 
tables, eradication of pests, etc. The para¬ 
graph or article must not exceed a column, but 
value rather than length will be considered in 
making the award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
folic wing date of issue. Entries received later 
thin Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
the following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. 6d. will be awarded each 
week for the two best letters, not exceeding 
150 words, on any interesting gardening sub¬ 
ject. 
RESULTS OF 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the best papers in this competition 
are too long, and we desire readers to keep 
within a column. 
The prize in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “M.V. B.” for the article on 
“A Blue A lpine Border,” page 334. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize was 
awarded to “ Katherine Curtis ” for the article 
on “ Beautifying a Wall ” ; and another to 
“ Joseph Lloyd ” for the article on “ Roses, 
and How to Treat Them,” page 332. 
Exhibiting: 
Hints to the] 
Inexperienced. 
The flower show season will soon be 
upon us again, and intending exhibitor; 
are already bending their energies in that 
direction. Inexperienced exhibitors 
naturally make many mistakes and often 
fail to profit by them because when un¬ 
successful they are ignorant of the point 
or points which led to failure. It is with 
a view to helping such that I now beg to 
offer a few practical hints. 
In the first place look well ahead. 
Take notes at your show this season for 
next year’s purposes. Note the varieties 
that have been placed high and also their 
leading qualities. Look well ahead in 
the matter of preparing the ground for 
crops, ordering seeds, etc., and see that 
things such as sowing, planting, and pot¬ 
ting are duly attended to. Where crops 
have been put in either too early or toe 
late, note the fact. Seasons vary, and it 
is better to sow two batches than one. 
In sowing Peas and Beans, for instance 
make a sowing 18 weeks prior to the 
date of the show, and another a fortnight 
later. In feeding such crops as Celery, 
Leeks, and Onions, give weak doses anc 
often, in preference to strong doses ai 
long intervals. Sow Turnips in poor sof 
in preference to rich. 
Cauliflowers should be shaded as the 
“curd” begins to show to preserve it: 
whiteness. Tomatos are better i: 
gathered when half ripe and ripened of 
in a dry, airy room on an inverted sieve 
with a layer of wood wool under the fruit 
This will give the fruit a deeper colour 
Then as to points of excellence, quality 
is of more importance than size, and size 
again is a relative term. A competen 
judge in estimating size will always take 
into account the species or variety being 
adjudicated upon. Unless otherwise 
stated, fruit should be fully ripe, and 
have flavour. Flavour is the first re 
quisite, but size, shape, and “bloom” al 
count. 
In showing flowering plants it is bette 
to have the blooms only partially' openec 
than past their best. Cleanness anc 
freshness count for much, and when 
stakes are necessary, avoid stiffness anc 
have the stakes as light and inconspicuou 
as possible. Assist nature by every pos 
sible means, but do not let the assistance 
be conspicuous. 
C. C. 
— ♦ + ♦- 
Narcissus Miss Willmott 
This belongs to the recently created sec 
tion Engleheartii. It is said to have beei 
raised between N. poeticus and N. in 
comparabilis Gloria Mundi. The crowi 
is very wide, flat, circular, and golden 
yellow, with a wide scarlet rim. Th< 
segments are very broad, overlapping 
and pure white. It is a first-class variety 
of its type, and received an Award 0 
Merit when shown by Messrs. W. T 
Ware, Ltd., Bath, at the meeting of the 
R.H.S. on April 30th. 
