THE GARDENING WORLD. July 20, 1907 
The Flower Garden 
490 
dusted in the crowns is a splendid anti¬ 
dote against aphides which hide amongst 
the unexpanded leaves. 
Malmaison Carnations. 
Repot any cuttings which may have 
been rooted in May, because if they were 
potted off as soon as they were rooted the 
roots will again be extending round the 
sides of the pots. This frequent shifting 
is necessary to keep the plants moving. 
The present is a splendid time to get a 
good constitution into the plants by keep¬ 
ing them close to the glass or in well- 
lighted houses, pits or frames, and abun¬ 
dance of air should be given at all times 
and allowance made for free passage of it 
through the structures in which the Car¬ 
nations are housed. 
Marguerite Carnations. 
The early batches of this class of Car¬ 
nation are now pushing up their flower 
stems, and should receive timely staking 
before they get twisted and bent by the 
heavy rains. 
American Carnations. 
In the habit of growth there are two 
types of American Carnations, namely, 
those with loose, free-growing stems and 
long joints, and those of a slow-growing 
character, with very short spaces between 
the leaves. The latter must not be so fre¬ 
quently stopped as the free-growing ones, 
otherwise they take a long time to re¬ 
cover themselves and develop fresh 
growth. Indeed they should not be 
stopped after this month, and the same 
applies to those varieties which are natur¬ 
ally late. When about a dozen stems or 
so have been secured on even the freest 
growing varieties they should be allowed 
to develop naturally, and the slow-grow¬ 
ing ones should certainly not be stopped 
after the end of this month. J. D. F. W. 
- f+4 - 
Notices. 
Messrs. Webb and Sons. 
W T ebb’s stand at the recent show of the 
Royal Agricultural Society of England 
was every way worthy of the great reputa¬ 
tion of this firm. In addition to a grand 
exhibit of agricultural seeds, roots, grasses 
and cereals, Webb’s vegetable and flower 
seeds were represented by a magnificent 
exhibit of Webb’s Excelsior Gloxinia, 
Webb’s Liliums, and Webb’s Large 
flowering Sweet Peas, the masses of bloom 
and beauty and diversity of the colours 
presenting a gorgeous sight. Webb's 
Tomatos, in pots, and W r ebb’s Cucumbers, 
Melons, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Peas, 
Onions, etc., also attracted considerable 
attention. 
Messrs. Sutton and Sons. 
In addition, of course, to a large and 
comprehensive exhibit of agricultural 
seeds, roots, etc., staged by Messrs. Sut¬ 
ton and Sons at Lincoln recently on the 
occasion of the Royal Agricultural So¬ 
ciety’s Show, a brilliant display of Cine¬ 
rarias, Begonias, and other flowers illu¬ 
strated another department of this great 
seed business. The flowers formed a bril¬ 
liant centre piece, the beauty of which 
was enhanced by its bank of velvety turf 
grown from Sutton’s grass seeds. There 
was also an attractive show of cut flowers, 
embracing English and Spanish Irises, 
early-flowering Gladioli, Tritonias, Lilies, 
etc., with a fine batch of Sutton’s Giant 
Mignonette. 
I used to know a song which ran : “ Same 
old bitter, same old bun.” I am strongly 
disposed to add another verse : “ Same old 
weather, same old wind.” And this is sum¬ 
mer ; at least the almanack declares it to be 
so. 
I need not say any more, for the above 
few words fully explain my feelings, and I 
venture to say the feelings of my readers. 
Everyone I meet seems to be suffering from 
“ that tired feeling,” which patent medi¬ 
cine people talk about. 
Sweet Peas. 
In my notes for the 6th inst. I said I 
hoped to have a few Sweet Peas by that 
date. I did, just three sprays, the top buds 
of which were only half expanded. Still it 
is comforting to be able to say that the 
plants are growing slowly, yet surely. As 
Mr. Drayson recently remarked, the plants 
have made very rank growth everywhere, 
and the foliage and haulm of some sorts is 
of tremendous size. At the moment of writ¬ 
ing the great show is some days ahead, but 
it will surprise me if there is any great 
change in the list of prize winners. The 
work among Sweet Peas does not call for 
any great amount of time. Flowers must be 
constantly cut, and if the growth is becom¬ 
ing too thick it is advisable to cut away 
some of the weaker stuff. Crowded growths 
cause a general weakness of the plants, for 
the stems become drawn and thin, owing to 
lack of air and light. 
Disbudding Roses. 
Roses, like Sweet Peas, only need atten¬ 
tion in the way of removing dying flowers 
and disbudding: A sharp look out should 
be kept for rust or spot 'disease, and steps 
taken to check it if it appears. By dis¬ 
budding I do not refer to flower buds alone, 
but growth buds also. Well established 
plants send up more shoots than are de¬ 
sirable. Too many shoots mean poor flowers 
with little or no stem. Of course the gene¬ 
ral run of the garden or decorative Roses 
require no disbudding, iffcir nothing will 
make a Rose like Grus an Teplitz produce 
flowers equalling Duke of Edinburgh. 
There is one point about Grus an Teplitz 
that makes it particularly desirable, and 
that is its lovely perfume. “ It is the 
sweetest Rose that blooms ” declared one 
enthusiast to me. Keep the hoe constantly 
going among the Roses, and give liquid if 
needed. Up to the present I have not had to 
fall back on the water can. Rain has been 
far too frequent. 
Carnations. 
All Carnations that have made sufficient 
growth should be layered as soon as possible. 
Some people imagine that layering should 
not be done until flowering is nearly 
finished. Take no account of flowering, how¬ 
ever, only do not get among ithe plants too 
clumsily. 
Biennials. 
Wallflowers and Sweet Williams are now 
in first-rate trim for pricking out. Allow 
four or five inches between each plant. Set 
out on fairly good soil, so as to encourage 
good growth’ Have the soil firm for Wall¬ 
flowers, or they tend to grow soft, and are 
liable to suffer badly during the winter. 
All other perennial and biennial seedlings 
should be given similar treatment as soon 
as possible. 
Pansies. 
The present is a good time to sow a good 
big packet of Pansies, as they will ger¬ 
minate quickly and make nice plants for 
setting out in the autumn. Do not risk seed 
in the open ground, however. A box is 
muoh more reliable. 
Antirrhinums. 
In many places it is possible to winter 
Antirrhinums outdoors. It is rarely that I 
am able to do so, but in sheltered places 
summer-sown seed gives grand plants for 
early blooming. Of course there is no diffi¬ 
culty about keeping the plants in cold 
frames during the winter. A good strain 
sown now will produce first-rate stuff for 
pricking out later on. Sow in boxes, as the 
seed is small and slugs are partial to the 
seedlings. 
Violets. 
Violets growing in their summer quarters 
need not a little attention. Never allow 
them to get dry, and keep the ground con¬ 
stantly hoed. Weeds should be eradicated 
on sight, as should decaying leaves or 
runners. 
Primroses and Polyanthuses. 
It is not too late to divide Polyanthus and 
Primrose roots, but do not set out in a very 
dry situation. It is a surprising thing this 
season, that Primroses are making a second 
growth.' Many plants .have sent up flower 
spikes, while new leaves are abundant. I 
suppose the poor things think it is spring 
just coming. 
Pegging Down Bedding Plants. 
Beds and borders need a watchful eye. 
Such things as Verbenas, Phloxes, Ivy 
Geraniums, etc., are better if kept pegged 
down. By so doing many new shoots are 
induced to push forth. 
Begonias. 
Begonias have rhade excellent growth this 
season, owing to the moisture. A ‘little more 
warmth would be to their liking, however. 
Keep the soil well stirred and give liquid 
manure frequently. 
Staking and Tying. 
Herbaceous stuff of all kinds needs fre¬ 
quent staking and tying, especially the tall 
growing things. Thin out some of the 
growths of Michaelmas Daisies and the like 
if they .are at all crowded. 
Dahlias. 
Dahlias, like other things, are all behind, 
but they must be frequently attended to. 
Disbud freely if good flowers are wanted, 
and cut away some of the laterals if they 
tend to crowd. 
Clipping Hedges. 
Hedges are getting rather straggly, and 
the shears should be brought to bear upon 
them. Where much work has to be done I 
strongly recommend the Ridgway clipper, 
which cuts on the same principle as a hay- 
cutting machine. It is a most rapid work¬ 
ing tool. 
