435 
June 29, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
r he Broad-Leaved 
Fritillary. 
(Fritillaria latifolia). 
The species of Fritillary now to be 
und in cultivation are fairly numerous, 
lit few of them tincl their way into cottage 
id villa gardens. Most people seem 
tisfied with the common Snake’s Head, 
jt there are others, some of which are 
'etty, others quaint, while a number of 
hers may be regarded as curious. The 
oad leaved Fritillary blooms some time 
bring April, and even when well grown 
ldom exceeds a foot in height. Each 
em seems to carry a regulation number 
leaves, seldom exceeding six or eight, 
id terminates in a large drooping bell- 
laped flower. These blooms are at first 
:een, but as they acquire their full size 
ley assume a bronzy hue, checkered on 
ie outside with brown and bronze. The 
mer face is even more handsome, but 
nfortunately it is hidden. It is richly 
leckered on the inside with brownish- 
■d or chestnut-red. The best way to see 
lese flowers would be to cut a number 
f them and have them in suitable glasses 
f water, and placed somewhat above the 
ye so that the inside could be seen. For 
arden decoration, however, the species is 
ell worthy of a place to give variety 
here the Snake : s Head, the Crown Im- 
eriai and any of the others might be 
rown. 
The bulbs should be planted in Octo- 
er in light and friable, though rich soil, 
lthough perfectly hardy, it would be 
expedient to plant it in a sheltered situa¬ 
tion where it would not be swept by winds 
during the rough weather in April. The 
dwarf habit makes it, however, an easy 
subject to shelter. The quaintness of the 
flowers, their size and tolour make an in¬ 
teresting contrast with the sea-green hue 
of foliage. 
-- +++ -- 
Lime as a Fertiliser. 
Greek and Latin writers tell us that in 
the days of Pliny lime was known and 
used as a fertiliser, and its employment 
for this purpose can be traced down to the 
present time. True it is that when com¬ 
mercial fertilisers were introduced they 
took its place to some extent, but at the 
present time there is a great renaissance 
of lime, and it is crowding them out. 
Modern inventions in preparing lime, the 
machinery through which it is handled, 
the science which makes its functions 
plain—all contribute to place it in the very 
tront rank and to make it the strongest 
competitor of acid fertilisers. Mineral 
matter. is necessary to the growth of 
plants, some minerals are absolutely in¬ 
dispensable to their full development— 
magnesia, potash, iron, phosphoric and 
sulphuric acids; lime is the solvent of all 
these, so that if it be absent, the others 
may continue dormant, instead of con¬ 
tributing their full meed to the develop¬ 
ment of the plant. When lime is abun¬ 
dant in soil; vegetable life is more vigor¬ 
ous and fruit is more abundant, while 
the same plants, in an environment defi¬ 
cient in lime, would be frail and less 
prolific. 
Growing- 
Roses. 
An Amateur’s 
Experience.) 
Many of our greatest discoveries have 
been made by observant amateurs, hence 
1 offer my experience for what it is worth 
as a guide to others. Now is the time to 
begin investigation. 
In one part of my garden I have a 
fence, facing the north, composed of 
pales three inches wide and three inches 
apart. By way of experiment, I planted 
it with hybrid perpetual climbers, hybrid 
teas, and teas; also Penzance Briars. 
T hey were mostly four-year-old plants, in 
about eighty varieties, that had not pros¬ 
pered in what undoubtedly is a favourable 
position. 
My gardener strongly objected because 
of the back draught, and for other reasons. 
Much to my own surprise, the Roses did 
more than well last year. Mrs. J. Laing 
was more than a success, and so were the 
Briers and climbers. Between the Roses 
I planted Narcissus, Fuchsia, Pansies, 
St. Brigid Anemones, Gladioli, Montbre- 
tia, Wallflowers, Tulips, and Tritonia, all 
of which are doing remarkably well. I 
also have some fine Clematis, Airs. 'Chol- 
mondeley, and Jackmannii. 
Apparently the position is an ideal one. 
The roots are well sheltered during the 
hottest hours of the day, whilst foliage and 
flowers get just the right amount of heat 
and light, and therefore do remarkably 
well. 
Fritillaria latifolia. 
Maclaren and Sons. 
