400 
seem at all to be the delicate subject 
which early cultivators considered it. 
Those who have an alpine house or 
merely a greenhouse would succeed with 
these Irises admirably by supplying their 
requirements in the way of moisture at 
the proper time. As indicated above, 
the species comes from Palestine, where 
the climate is not only dry at certain 
seasons, but the temperature is always 
higher than in this country. 
Nova Scotia Blackberries. 
A consignment of Nova Scotia Black¬ 
berries recently arrived at Covent Garden 
market, and the fruit being very large 
realised good prices for show purposes. 
-- 
Hippeastrums. 
How to Grow these 
Handsome Flowers. 
These handsome bulbous flowering plants 
will'now be making a brilliant show, where 
they are made a special feature, and their 
cultural requirements are attended to. I 
have thought that a few remarks describ¬ 
ing hmv they were grown in a well-known 
private collection, might be appreciated. 
In this short article I purpose only to 
deal with the bulbs after they have 
reached the flowering period, as up to 
that stage they are kept almost continu¬ 
ally growing, whereas now, to expect the 
best results, they must have a decided 
annual rest. 
Early in the new year, or later if 
desired, as they can be fairly easily re¬ 
tarded, preparations should be made for 
starting them into growth. It was our 
practice to repot one-half and top-dress 
the others, and vice versa the next season. 
Those to be potted should be shaken 
out and the loose covering removed, and 
then washed in an insecticide, afterwards 
laving them out to dry, and keeping each 
variety carefully labelled. A compost of 
good turfy loam should be used, together 
with leaf mould, a sprinkling of sheep 
manure, and a liberal quantity of broken 
charcoal and coarse sand, to keep it 
porous and sweet. 
Five and six inch pots will be found 
suitable, unless the bulbs are exceptionally 
large. Pot moderately firm, leaving 
barely half of the bulb exposed. To ob¬ 
tain the best results, thev must be plunged 
pot to pot in a mild hot bed, preferably 
made of oak leaves or tan. An inter¬ 
mediate house with a night temperature 
of about 60 degrees will suit them admir¬ 
ably, and under these conditions the flower 
spikes will rapidly push up. 
Careful watering for a time is essential, 
and frequent syringing and a humid at¬ 
mosphere will almost suffice until root 
action becomes active. Shade from 
brilliant sunshine, and admit air whenever 
favourable. 
Remove the plants to cooler quarters 
when they are coming into flower, and 
when making growth, give an abundance 
of water and feed them liberally, gradually 
inuring them to more light and air, and 
finally drying them right off to await nebct 
year’s routine. 
Journeyman. 
The Flower Garden. 
I am thinking it is well nigh time that 
the Government gave us protection—protec¬ 
tion from bird pests, protection from slugs, 
protection from Aphis ; in a word, protection 
from all the pests that assail the poor gar¬ 
deners. I am led to cavil in this wise owing 
to the pestilential attacks by vermin of every 
description. 
“ Birds are not vermin,” exclaims the 
kind-hearted person who feeds all and 
sundry that care to apply, but I feel tempted 
to retort, “ Some are, some ain’t.” If they 
were content to forage out the myriads of 
leather jacket grubs, etc., that are so nume 
rous this season I should hail the birds as 
benefactors; but, alas! they do no such 
thing, preferring to add to our troubles. 
Roses. 
The Rose maggot still continues to feast 
upon our plants, and it is necessary to make 
daily visits in order to prevent the loss of 
many of our best buds. Rust disease, too, 
is already showing itself, and it should 
never be allowed to entrench itself strongly. 
Affected leaves should be picked off and 
burned, and the trees sprayed with weak 
Strawsonite or Bordeaux mixture in a clear 
state. Liver of sulphur—correctly, sul¬ 
phurated potassium—is also a good preven¬ 
tive. Half an ounce in a gallon of water 
is sufficient, but it must be fresh and not air- 
slacked, or it will do much damage. Liquid 
manure will be appreciated by established 
trees, especially in dry weather. Spraying 
with clear water after the sun is off them is 
also beneficial to Roses. As to green Aphis, 
or Aphis of any kind, give them no mercy. 
Two or three on a shoot to-day will be two 
or three hundred a day or two hence. Deal 
with them as I do, by drawing the thumb and 
finger up the shoot. Never mind if the 
fingers get stained. One must expect dirty 
hands when gardening. A bit of pumice 
stone or Lasso soap is first-rate for getting 
rid of such stains. All Rose beds that are 
not mulched should be constantly hoed. I 
know men who never step upon their Rose 
beds without immediately obliterating the 
foot-mark with the hoe. 
Summer Bedding-. 
The majority of bedding plants will be in 
position by this time, and planters should 
not overlook them as regards watering and 
hoeing. Until they are well established 
there is a danger of their suffering through 
drought. Such plants as Verbenas-, Phlox 
Drummondi, etc., will require pinching to 
make them branch out. Never pinch Asters, 
however, as they always break naturally. 
Stocks, if they have been well treated, also 
do without pinching. 
Carnations, 
I find, still continue to show spot disease. 
All affected foliage should be removed and 
burnt. If the fungus is kept in check in 
this way the plants will not require spray¬ 
ing. See that stakes and ties are kept in 
place, an$ continue to remove some of the 
buds if good blooms are desired. 
Lawns. 
My word, hasn't the grass grown fast 
during the past two or three weeks ! There 
is no doubt but what lawns and grass verges 
set off a garden, but they need constant 
attention. Where there is a tendency to 
dry out it is advisable to set the knife more 
off the ground by lowering the roller, 
grass is cut very short during the summ 
months it is liable to burn badly unle 
watered. 
Tuberous Begonias. 
The last of the Begonias should go o 
ere long, and on no account plant in po 
soil. Tuberous Begonias are voracio 
feeders, but the manure must be well rotte 
Cover the oorm entirely, not flush with t 
surface, as for pot culture. 
Cuttings of Pinks. 
Pinks are sending up plenty of fine shoo 
and these may be pulled out and set out 
sandy soil in some shady spot. A frame 
handlight will induce quick rooting. _ 
Herbaceous Borders. 
Perennials in the borders are moving 
a cracking pace, and it is a joy to see t 
Delphiniums, Aquilegias, Paeonies, etc., 
bloom. Pyrethrums, too, are doing remai 
ably well. Phloxes and other plants tb 
send up numerous shoots should be thinn 
out. The shoots may be put in a frai 
and will serve to increase stock. Aste 
rooted from cuttings will bloom this autum 
but they will be dwarfer. Some people c 
ject to the tall growth of some sorts 
Asters and cut them back half way abo 
now, thinning out the shoots that follow. 
Sweet Peas. 
These are now moving very well, b 
nevertheless they are very backward in mai 
places. Encourage them to grow by consta 
stirring of the soil and sprinkling early 
the evenings. Too frequent applications ■ 
nitrate of soda is not desirable, or it wi 
make the growth very sappy and possib 
bring about disease. A close watch mu 
be kept for maggot, which seems to ha- 
settled upon Sweet Peas as legitimate pre 
I have found a great many small gref 
beetles upon my plants. What they are 
cannot say, but I blame them for the notch 
in the foliage, therefore I kill all I fin- 
Novelties on the whole are doing fairly wel 
but, as might be expected, they are prevt 
upon by pests much more than the oldc 
sorts. I received a surprise the other day, f 
a big American grower has promised me son 
seed next autumn, of pure yellow, blue ar 
scarlet varieties, so keep your eyes open ne: 
season, merry Sweet Pea growers. 
The Fruit Garden. 
Gooseberry Mildew. 
Mildew is showing on Gooseberries in son 
places, and' a dusting of sulphur should 1 
given to affected bushes. 
I, of course, speak of the ordinary nrildev 
not the much-discussed American mildev 
The caterpillar, too, is on the prowl, and b 
is a wise man who looks over his busln 
frequently, so that he may grapple wit 
the pests at the first onset. Jiujitsu and othf 
feats of strength are not required to cop 
with caterpillar. Give them a pinch an 
pass on. 
Strawberry Runners. 
Strawberries must be kept free from rui 
ners, which are pushing freely. There- i 
plenty of time to peg down a few, unle. c 
forcing plants are wanted. 
Fruit Trees. 
We shall soon be hearing the rattle of th- 
gun in the Cherry orchard, and the live gai 
