December 28, 1907. 
THE HARDENING WORLD. 
8ix 
Teucrium Chamaedrys, 
Maclaren and Sons. 
this each stem and branch produces a long 
flower spike, and the blooms are pro¬ 
duced in a succession over a considerable 
period of time. The whole plant is, there¬ 
fore, of light and elegant appearance. It 
never presents the same dense, bushy 
habit, as S. malvaeflora, and is always a 
much more sprightly plant. Our photo¬ 
graph was taken in the herbaceous 
ground at Kew towards the end of Sep¬ 
tember, but the plant had been flowering 
for some time previously. Propagation is 
easily effected by seeds or by division of 
the old clumps when growth 'is just com¬ 
mencing in spring. 
-- 
THE 
Wild Germander. 
Teucrium Chamaedrys. 
Although native of Continental Europe, 
the wild Germander is so well suited to 
our climate that it has become natural¬ 
ised in some parts of this country, on old 
walls and other places where it has es¬ 
caped from gardens. The plant only 
grows about gin. high as a rule, and forms 
a neat bush that does not require any atten¬ 
tion in the matter of staking or keeping 
in order. The flowers are rosy-purple and 
spotted with white and deep rose on th-e 
lower lip. These flowers are produced 
in clusters of about six in the axils of the 
leaves all along the stems, so that a plant 
in full bloom presents a cheerful aspect 
over a long period extending from July 
to September. 
Owing to its dwarf habit it may be 
planted on the rockery in full sunshine, 
or, in all cases, in a well-lighted position. 
Being perfectly hardy, it may also be 
planted in the ordinary border. We have 
seen it planted as an edging to a shrub¬ 
bery extending for a distance of some 
100 yds., and the effect was both neat and 
pleasing. The flowers, being not unlike 
those of a Calamint, are not very large 
individually, but their united effect is 
handsome. Those in want of a beautiful 
edging plant, easy to manage, not over¬ 
running the walk, or getting too tall when 
neglected, should get this plant. 
Propagation is easily effected in autumn 
or in spring by division. Seeds are also 
obtainable, and the plant may readily be 
raised in that way. It may also be pro¬ 
pagated by means of cuttings by taking 
off the flowerless shoots during July or 
August. As a rule, however, these shoots 
are not very plentiful owing to the ten¬ 
dency of every stem to flower. Division 
and seeds will, however, enable this plant 
to be propagated to any extent. 
-- 
Nerlne Purple Princes*. 
The flowers of this variety are of a strik¬ 
ing purple hue. It was raised by H. J. 
Elwes, Esq. (gardener, Mr. W. H. Wal¬ 
ters), Colesbourne Park, Cheltenham, 
who received an Award of Merit for it 
from the R.H.S. on 12th November. 
A Fruit Catalogue. 
We are in receipt of a Catalogue of 
Hardy Norfolk-grown Fruit Trees from 
Messrs. Bamber and Son, The Norfolk 
Nurseries, Emneth, near Wisbech. It 
offers some of the best new and old varie¬ 
ties, of sorts and in variety to meet the 
wants of different people and collections, 
at very reasonable rates. 
It may, perhaps, be considered rather 
early to speak of sowing Sweet Pea seeds 
under glass, but as next month I intend 
dealing with the 1908 novelties, I will 
describe this method of culture now. 
It has already been pointed out in these 
pages that sowing under glass is the 
favourite method with almost all our best 
growers, and as the period from about the 
third week in January to the second week 
in February is recognised as the most suit¬ 
able for sowing the seed, by considering 
the question now, the reader will have 
ample time for the necessary preparations. 
Before passing on I might add that 
some few growers sow their seed under 
glass in December or early January. 
The advantages of sowing under glass 
for planting out are several. The plants 
make better growth, and the flowers come 
earlier and finer than from seed sown in 
the open ground in the spring. Not the 
least advantage is that practically every 
seed may be relied upon to produce a 
plant, whereas we all know the risks run 
by plants raised in the open ground. 
When seeds cost, as many novelties do 
cost, their weight in gold, the sowing is by 
no means inconsiderable. 
A cold frame is almost as suitable as 
a greenhouse, and it saves the gardener 
from the temptation to unduly force his 
plants. The idea should be to keep the 
plants as hardy and sturdy as possible. 
More harm may be done the plants by 
attempting to force them than by allowing 
the frost to get at them. The aim in 
raising the plants under glass for plant¬ 
ing out is not to force them, but to allow 
them to become well established before 
thev commence their rapid growth. The 
Sweet Pea is a perfectly hardy annual. 
Those who have no glass whatsoever, 
but who yet wish to realise some of the 
