July 6, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
The- 
pierce plower 
In Greenwich Park. 
(Tropaeoltim speciosum). 
Various popular names have been given 
to this plant, including Flame Flower 
Nasturtium and Glory ot the Highlands. 
The plant is peculiarly at home in the 
Highlands simply for the reason that the 
climate is highly suitable to it. It likes 
a cool atmosphere and plenty of moisture 
in the ground, though the latter should 
be well drained. It is not by any means 
a bog plant, but likes plenty of moisture. 
For this reason there is a considerable 
difficulty in growing the plant with suc¬ 
cess in the southern counties of England, 
owing chiefly to the aridity of the atmo¬ 
sphere. 
The accompanying illustration shows 
that it has been established and blooms 
successfully in Greenwich Park by plant¬ 
ing it in a cool situation and training it 
up a fence. Several cultivators in dif¬ 
ferent parts of the country have suc¬ 
ceeded by selecting a shady situation 
where it will not be scorched by the sun, 
and in other cases by making up a suit¬ 
able soil for it, so that the creeping stems 
or rootstock can ramble far in search of 
moisture. Those who would like to try 
it should select a northern aspect, such 
as the north face of a fence or wall that 
is not very high. Though shade from 
direct -sunshine is desirable in the South 
of England, light is also very necessary 
to enable the plant to make vigorous 
growth. For this reason high walls 
should be avoided, but more particularly 
in situations that are in any way over¬ 
hung by trees. 
In various parts of Scotland, including 
remote and out of the way places in the 
Highlands, it grows like a weed, even 
when planted in sunny southern expo¬ 
sures against the walls of houses. For 
similar reasons it would also flower well 
in Wales. We know also that it flowers 
splendidly in Ireland planted amongst 
shrubbery and in various other situations. 
The rainfall of Ireland is sufficient to en¬ 
sure its success, and where it succeeds as 
it should, one can scarcely imagine a 
more brilliant blaze of colour during 
August and September, when the plants 
are in full bloom. Being a climber, it 
requires some sticks for support, but this 
may often be supplied by some low tree 
that is getting shabby and over which the 
Tropaeolum may be allowed to climb. 
Where the stems are not too numerous 
they do not prove injurious even to Rho¬ 
dodendrons and other shrubs amongst 
which it may often be seen at home in 
various parts of the British Isles, but par¬ 
ticularly in those with a cool, moist cli¬ 
mate. 
-- 
Iris caterina. 
Here the parentage was I. cypriana 
and pallida. The falls are blue, netted 
at the base with a yellow beard. The 
standards are nearly orbicular, of great 
size and a beautiful soft blue. Award of 
Merit by the R.H.S. on June nth when 
shown by Messrs. Barr and Sons. 
The chief point in the successful cul¬ 
ture of Cucumbers in frames is in keep¬ 
ing the growth well thinned, as over¬ 
crowding is fatal to the setting and 
ripening of the fruit by obstructing the 
free access of light and air. 
Early in April is the best time to set 
a young Cucumber plant in the frame, 
which should be prepared in March with 
a fresh hotbed, covered with a layer six 
to eight inches deep of soil; this is best 
composed of two parts of lumpy fibrous 
loam and one part of well decayed 
manure, with a potful of soot to each 
barrow-load of compost. 
When the young plant is established in 
the frame, pinch out the point to induce 
a break, and as the resulting side shoots 
usually produce a fruit at each of the first 
two leaves and a growth bud at the third, 
they also should be stopped just beyond 
the third joint. If the successive shoots 
are also treated in this manner, pinching 
each off one joint beyond the first fruit, 
the frame will soon be filled with healthy 
well-set growths, and cutting by knife 
will be unnecessary, except in removing 
barren or exhausted growths, and for cut¬ 
ting the crop. 
It is not necessary to fertilise the blooms 
unless seeds are required, as this spoils 
'the shape of the fruit, also the quality is 
affected owing to the Cucumber being 
more seedy. 
Cucumbers require a liberal supply of 
Summer Treatment. 
water, which should always be used at 
the same temperature as the frame; dur¬ 
ing the growing season at least twice a 
week is necessary always giving a good 
soaking, driblets being worse than useless. 
As regards ventilation, a little air at 
the back early on bright warm mornings 
is safe, increasing this at 11 o'clock. 
Then, after giving a thorough syringing 
with'tepid water at from 2 to 4 o'clock 
(according to the weather) the frame 
should be completely closed until the fol¬ 
lowing day. 
Daily syringing is very important, as 
not only does it supply the necessary 
atmospheric and leaf moisture, but helps 
to keep troublesome insect pests at bay, 
which when once established are very 
difficult to eradicate. 
As each fruit sets, place a piece of glass 
or slate under it, as this prevents rotting, 
and also allows free access of light all 
round, which gives the fruit a uniformly 
good colour. 
When the plant is flourishing thread¬ 
like roots will appear above the surface; 
over these sprinkle a little fresh warm 
soil once or twice a week, and later on 
in the season, when in full bearing, a top 
dressing of short mellow horse manure is 
very beneficial. Weak liquid manure 
may be applied weekly, as this helps the 
late set fruit to come to a healthy 
maturity. 
A. E. Yates. 
Cucumbers in Frames. 
The Flame Flower in Greenwich Park. 
