74 ° 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 23, 1907. 
color, and several other annuals, besides 
Potentillas, Veronicas, Plumbago Lar- 
pentae, etc. 
For the herbaceous border, where a 
good summer effect is especially aimed at, 
early and large flowered Chrysanthe¬ 
mums are invaluable, and also Achillea 
Ptarmica the Pearl, Lilies, Anemone 
japonica, Aster Amellus, A. amelloides, 
Hollyhocks, Carnations, and, if the soil 
is sufficiently moist, herbaceous Phloxes. 
An alternative arrangement would be 
to make the Rose borders surround the 
lawn and to have the rock garden in the 
position I have previously suggested for 
the Roses; that is to say, running entirely 
across the garden below the poles. I am 
careful to mention this alternative, be¬ 
cause, whereas the first arrangement 
makes for a display of flowers in the rock 
garden from the early months of the year, 
and we have to remember that the rock- 
work is an excellent position for the es¬ 
tablishment of winter flowers, the early 
Irises, Cyclamen and others, the other 
makes for the more beautiful summer 
garden. 
I have said nothing about flowering 
shrubs for the small garden, but they cer¬ 
tainly have to be reckoned with, and they 
should be selected with the idea of pro¬ 
ducing their blossom at a time when it is 
most needed in the general scheme. 
F. Norfolk. 
- ¥++ - 
-A FEW CHOICE- 
Herbaceous Plants. 
+++ 
During the past summer and autumn I 
have noted several new plants which were 
thriving in just the ordinary border, and 
I now present them for readers of the 
“G. WV 
One of the finest was Aconitum Wilsoni, 
a splendid acquisition, attaining a height 
of 5 or 6 feet. The flowers are a pale 
blue, and when the plant becomes fairly 
established these are produced in great 
profusion upon terminal racemes about 
the middle of September, and continues 
till the end of October, from the numer¬ 
ous side branches which are a special 
feature of this noble plant. 
A. hemsleyanum is a climbing Aconite 
and well adapted for poles, trellis work, 
etc. It is mot quite such a good blue as 
the preceding, but at any rate it is a 
pleasing novelty. 
Another ideal subject for massing in 
beds or as small clumps is Artemisia 
lactiflora. It attains a height varying 
from 3 to 5 feet, the erect branching 
spikes of milk-white flowers being very 
effective, and although individual flowers 
are small collectively, they make some 
very showy heads. The lower portion of 
the stems are clothed. with dark green 
foliage, which is more or less lobed. 
The Senecios form a section of strong¬ 
growing plants, which will thrive 
wherever the soil is damp, and are 
specially adapted for bog gardens, al¬ 
though as single specimens in the her¬ 
baceous border, they are not to be des¬ 
pised. Three of recent introduction are 
S. veitchianus, S. clivorum, and S. tan- 
guticus. 
Astilbe Davidii may in general appear¬ 
ance be likened to a form of Spiraea 
japonica, but having tall spikes of deep 
rose-pink flowers borne on stems from 5 to 
6 feet high. It shows off to the best ad¬ 
vantage when grouped in clumps of 3 or 4 
plants. It possesses a robust constitu¬ 
tion, and in addition to the herbaceous 
border, it would no doubt succeed 
wherever the soil was moist. 
Romneya Coulteri has been flowering 
exceedingly well in several places this 
summer in slightly sheltered positions. 
It is almost an impossibility to grow large 
specimens off this glorious Californian 
Poppy, but if a few plants are raised 
annually from root cuttings, then we can 
secure a moderate display if not a gor¬ 
geous one. 
Polygonum baldschuanicum is in bloom 
nearly the whole of the summer, its white 
flowers being produced from every branch- 
let in abundance. The best method to 
adopt is tying it to a stout pole and prun¬ 
ing close into the main stem in March. 
When in full bloom it is indeed an object 
of admiration and horticultural merit. 
Observer. 
- Q. W. - 
Prize Competitions. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS— Competitors must 
write on one side of the paper only. Regular 
paid contributors to THE GARDBSING 
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 sent for competition. The Editor’s 
decision is final, and he reserves the right 
to reproduce, in any wayjl any article or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The condition i- 
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 “ Oom- 
petitihn,” and post not later than the Monday 
folk wing date of issue. Entries received later 
thrn Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
tl ie 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 “ Thos. Francis ” for the article 
on “Sparmannia africana,” page 732. 
- BULBS. - 
Some Selections 
For Amateurs. 
. 
The amateur naturally wants to gro 
everything, and therefore crowds h 
available spaces overmuch, the result tc 
often being failure. It is far better 
make a selection of the most suitah 
kinds and have effective, therefore sati 
factory results. The amateur having 
limited space at command should ende; 
vour to make the best of it by careful si 
lection. For bedding, bulbs of mediui 
size should be chosen; for naturalisatioi 
smaller bulbs ; for pots and window boxe 
the choicest and largest; and for greer 
house and conservatory, the extra choic 
kinds are necessary and will prove th 
most effective. 
Hyacinths are deservedly populai 
Personally I do not admire the small an 
early Roman Hyacinth which is so usefv 
for forcing, nor the clumsy double kmc 
but the singles are always artistic an 
more satisfactory in growth. For glasse 
or bowls well shaped extra large kinds ar 
desirable, and for pots it is well to selec 
for form and colour if a fine display o 
single specimens is required, but for bed 
ding, somewhat inferior sorts are read- 
best, as they produce a more effective re 
suit than we could obtain from large am 
well coloured flowers, which would seen 
out of place in the open ground. 
Due Van Thol Tulips are only usefu 
for border lines, as the flowers, thougl 
showy, are very small. For pots, tin 
early singles, flaked and flamed, are more 
effective than self colours, which are besi 
for bedding and borders out of doors. 
Double Tulips—Parrot Tulips anc 
florists’ varieties—should be avoided by 
the amateur who wants the best kinds for 
display. 
Crocus—white, yellow, blue, and 
purple seifs—are most satisfactory,' the 
striped kinds being more curious than 
effective. For beds the medium sizes, for 
pots the extra large, and for planting in 
lrorders or grass the “smaller kinds are 
best. Always let the golden ones pre¬ 
dominate if you wish to have the most 
showy results. 
A few reliable kinds of Narcissus are| 
more satisfactory than many uncertain 
ones. Lenten Lilies and the small 
flowered sections and the very pale colours 
are not recommended. Of bold trumpet 
varieties, Empress, J. B. M.“ Camm, 
Madame de Graaff, Mrs. J. B. M. Camm, 
Ard Righ, Emperor, Glory of Leiden, 
and Princeps, and some of the Poeticus 
section are best for the amateur. English 
Iris, Spanish Iris, Madonna Lilies, 
Heavenly Blue, St. Brigid Anemones, 
Scilla, and Montbretia are the consum¬ 
mation of my list. 
There are many other kinds which the 
amateur might like to grow, but these I 
will treat of when dealing with curious 
and specimen bulbs, my present endea¬ 
vour being to suggest something bold and 
effective rather than to occupy his limited 
space with varieties that are more interest¬ 
ing than effective. 
Baynton-Taylor. 
