August 17, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
547 
cifolia. Turning from the Conifers to 
he other trees and shrubs, good speci- 
nens of Maples were seen in Acer col- 
hicum rubrum, A. platanoides lacinia- 
um, A. Pseudo-platanus Leopoldii, A. 
\egundo variegatum, A. P. Worlei, and 
V. P. purpureum, Ailanthus glandulosa, 
be Golden Oak, the purple Beech, 
’runus Pissardii, and variegated Elm. 
15 a front undergrowth line, Olearia 
laastii, Veronica Traversii, Berberis 
larwmii, a variegated Euonymus, Coto- 
easter Simonsii, and Pernettya mucro- 
ata are planted. 
Shrubs in beds and disposed in other 
arts of the grounds were Cassinia 
llvida, Rhododendron hirsutum, Laurus- 
nus, Golden Elders, Viburnum Opulus, 
kimmia oblata, shrubby Spiraeas, and 
Teigelas. The climbers and shrubs on 
le mansion and terrace walls are parti- 
ularly fine. They include Clematis 
lontana and C. Henryii, Rambler 
loses, Ceanothus veitchianus, Crataegus 
yracantha, Escallonia macrantha, 
yracantha globosa, Azara microphylla, 
orsythia suspensa, Wistaria chinensis, 
.mpelopsis Veitchii, A. Hoggi, and 
iarrya elliptica. Under the steps were 
mall plants of Desfontainea spinosa and 
lagnolia conspicua. This I consider 
ery creditable for this district, and with 
le exception of Picea schenkiana and 
inus balfouriana, with, perhaps, Ginkgo 
iloba, all of them could be grown any- 
here south of the Forth. H. ARNOLD. 
-- 
he Ageratum-Leaved 
= YARROW = 
(Achillea ageratifolia.) 
Several of the exotic species of Yar- 
w or Milfoil have silvery foliage, and 
at under notice is one of the dwarfest 
id neatest. The leaves are linear, 
:eply sawed on the edges, and silvery- 
- ey. The flower stems rise up to a 
fight of 6 in., each bearing a single 
rwer head, the rays of which are white 
id those of the disc creamy white. At 
short distance they bear considerable 
semblance to Daisies, but the foliage, 
pecially on close inspection, is alto- 
fiher different. Of the two British 
lecies this one may be compared to the 
ogle wild type of A. Ptarmica, but it is 
together dwarfer and the foliage silvery 
'ey instead of being green. 
The most suitable place for this species 
on the rockery where the roots will be 
:pt fairly dry in winter, and the foliage 
rt of harm’s way at all times. Another 
rod way of growing it is in pots, for it 
ien can be used for the decoration of 
ie greenhouse, conservatory, or any 
her cool house in spring. As the plant 
a native of Greece, the method of pot 
rlture is no doubt the safest, as the 
lants can be kept in a cold frame dur- 
ig winter and thereby kept dry. When 
ie cultivator has succeeded in raising a 
umber of specimens, he can then afford 
p risk one or two of them on the rockery 
ren in districts that are not the best 
rr south European plants. 
The readiest means of propagation 
'ould be to pull the clumps to pieces so 
s to have a few roots on each crown or 
fiece broken off. Those who are not 
Xpert at this kind of work would do 
Achillea ageratifolia. Maclaren and Sons. 
better to take off a few of the shoots and 
use them as cuttings. A light sandy soil, 
consisting of equal portions of loam, leaf 
mould, and sand would answer the pur¬ 
pose admirably. In districts where 
porous stones, that is sandstone, can be 
obtained, some growers pound these up 
into small pieces, thus forming at once a 
very gritty soil that serves to keep the 
roots dry in winter by allowing all the 
superfluous moisture to pass freely away. 
In drier districts it will be found conveni¬ 
ent to use a certain proportion of leaf 
mould in the compost to retain a suffi¬ 
ciency of moisture during the driest part 
of summer. Instead of porous stones, 
soft red bricks may be pounded up and 
used for the same purpose. 
The Flower Garden. 
I daresay some readers are tired of me 
and my tirade about the weather; but never¬ 
theless I know only too well that many 
others have no better opinion of the present 
season than I have. August is in as I am 
writing, and among my most recent corre¬ 
spondence I have several letters from the 
north and midlands. All contain the same 
complaint. Such a season seems to be be¬ 
yond the recollection of anyone. Damp 
fogs, sunless weather, cold winds, and bit¬ 
ter nights seem general. 
Kent is the garden of England ’tis said, 
but I would add, some parts of it. Imagine 
a sharp frost which injured Potatos and 
Beans on July nth, and a light, yet visible 
frost on July 23rd. 
Under the circumstances it is easy to un¬ 
derstand why - a lady visitor advised my 
sending all my plants to the Riviera for a 
change of air. ' As late as August 6th I had 
not cut a single flower of Horace Wright, 
Queen of Spain, Mrs. Chas. Poster, and 
several other varieties of Sweet Peas. 
The local shows have gone past without 
my being able to cut enough of any one sort 
to make a bunch. Friends suggest that I 
shall have to try the late northern shows. 
Watering Dry Soils. 
However, talking will not alter matters, 
but when I remember that I was at this 
period of last season speaking of 120 degs., 
.and a parched throat, I cannot pass it over 
lightly. I ought to be thankful for some 
things I suppose. Flies do not torment me, 
and the lemonade bottle reposes undis¬ 
turbed ; consequently I am saving money. 
Some of my soil, owing to its shallowness 
and chalk bottom, is very prone to get dry, 
consequently watering is one of my greatest 
tasks, for unlike the northerners and mid¬ 
landers we have had no great amount of 
rain during the past few weeks. 
Hoeing. 
However, I follow my own advice given 
in these columns respecting hoeing. The hoe 
must be everlastingly on the go on soils that 
tend to dry out. It makes me tired to see 
people running round with a hoe jabbing 
at visible weeds. Such a process is not hoe¬ 
ing. Every inch of soil should be stirred, 
and if the’ weeds are of any size they 
should be picked up. Large weeds look un¬ 
tidy if allowed to dry up on the soil, and 
there is a chance, too, of their taking root 
again, especially if a shower follows the 
hoeing. 
