June i, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
367 
an amateur at Ealing, so that there is no 
difficulty if placed under suitable condi¬ 
tions. While it likes shelter it must not 
be too much overhung by trees, while free 
exposure to sunshine is necessary to ripen 
the wood and develop a profusion of 
flowers. While it is flowering at present, 
notwithstanding the cold weather, it may 
be had in bloom much earlier by growing 
the plants in large pots and placing them 
in a greenhouse early in the year. 
-- 
Daphne odora. 
d A Charming 
Flowering Shrub. 
Of the many species of Daphne in culti¬ 
vation, the subject of this brief article is 
undoubtedly one of the most charming. 
Grown as pot plants for the embellish¬ 
ment of the greenhouse or conservatory 
during the early months of the year, they, 
are a most decided acquisition. The 
delicious fragrance of the clusters of 
bright pink flowers never fails to afford 
delight. Although it is generally con¬ 
sidered a greenhouse shrub, it will thrive 
equally well outside in the West and 
South of England, when planted against 
a wall in a sheltered position. The most 
suitable soil for this particular, species 
and its varieties, alba and rubra, consists 
of good fibrous loam, peat, and sand. 
Great care should also be exercised in 
affording thorough drainage. Perhaps 
it will prove interesting to a few readers 
of the “ G. W.” to learn that this exquisite 
Daphne may also be grown most success¬ 
fully as a window plant. While penning 
these few lines, I have before me a most 
delightful little plant covered with clusters 
of fragrant flowers. This particular 
plant was struck from a cutting four years 
ago, and is now a neat, compact little 
shrub in a 6 in. pot. During the sum¬ 
mer months it is stood out in the open, 
to enable the wood to become well ripened, 
, but at the approach of the dull days of 
winter, it was removed inside, and placed 
in the window, where it has been allowed 
to remain until it has produced its inflore¬ 
scence and made new growths. 
Success with the culture of Daphnes in 
pots depends upon growing them in a good 
porous compost, careful watering, and not 
too much coddling. It is the custom of 
a good many gardeners to graft the more 
rare and choice species of Daphne. The 
stock generally used is D. Laureola, a 
species found growing wild in many parts 
of England. Equally fine plants, how¬ 
ever, may be obtained from cuttings. The 
cuttings should be taken off about the 
end of July and inserted in a good sandy 
compost, with a bell glass over them, or 
keeping them in a close frame in a cool 
house. After they are callused, they 
may be afforded a little warmth, which 
will stimulate the formation of roots, and 
prove an incentive to more rapid growth. 
[It is frequently named D. indica in 
gardens.—E d.]. 
F. G. Tutcher. 
The Meadow Crane’s=Bill 
(Geranium pratense). 
The above is a good example of a true 
Geranium which is hardy and can be 
grown out of doors all the year round. It 
is also the finest of the British native 
Geraniums, and is sometimes named the 
blue Geranium, as the flowers are of a 
shade of purple which is more nearly blue 
than most of the known species, British 
or otherwise. They are also of large size 
and undoubtedly both showy and conspicu¬ 
ous when in full bloom. This year it is 
doubling of the flowers. All of these may 
be grown in a herbaceous border, even of 
moderate dimensions, for it is one of the 
finest of all the Geraniums. 
The plant will grow in any well-tilled 
garden soil, and, of course, the better it is 
tilled he more vigorously it will grow. 
The blooms are still showy, although small, 
but it well repays to grow the plant so that 
all parts would be seen to advantage. 
When once established it requires little or 
The Meadow Crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense). 
rather late, but will presently be in bloom. 
The plant grows about 12 to 18 in. high, 
according to the fertility of the soil and 
produces a large number of flowers, car¬ 
ried well above the foliage. 
Besides the ordinary blue one, there are 
also a pale variety, a white variety, and a 
double flowered one, the last named being 
the latest to come into bloom and the most 
durable when in bloom on account of the 
no other care beyond keeping it free from 
weeds. If grown in a fully exposed situa¬ 
tion the stems are stout enough to support 
themselves without staking. The pro¬ 
cess of staking is not well understood by 
many, and we think nothing more un¬ 
sightly than a plant with its leaves and 
stems all squeezed together like a sack of 
Potatos tied in the middle. 
Propagation may be carried out by 
