5«4 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
September 7, 1907. 
plete their flowering period if the summer 
be at all unfavourable, so that it may be 
well worth while to sow seeds at the pre¬ 
sent time, winter the seedlings under 
glass, probably a cold house would be 
ample protection, and of course they 
would flower earlier next season than 
those not sown until the spring. The 
same treatment, I find, succeeds admir¬ 
ably for Antirrhinums. 
F. Norfolk. 
-- 
Gold pranpes. 
Their Treatment 
in Winter. 
Cold frames are such necessities in a 
garden of whatever dimensions, that a 
few hints as to their proper management 
in the winter months will perhaps be ac¬ 
ceptable to those who possess one or two 
light frames in which to keep some of 
their favourite plants. From November 
to February is the most critical period, 
the short dull days, damp, frost and fogs 
prevailing making it necessary to exer¬ 
cise some judgment and forethought, so 
as to carry the cuttings and plants 
through that time. Taking cuttings that 
are inserted in the usual way in the 
frames or in boxes, these require an abun¬ 
dance of air, w'hen they have so far re¬ 
covered after from four to six weeks’ care 
to shade and root them. Failures re¬ 
sult from keeping the frames shut up and 
moist, just “coddling them to death” in 
garden language. An abundance of out¬ 
side air is most urgent through the day, 
and a portion all night also, when cold 
winds, rains, and frost are absent. Make 
an effort to run off the sashes on good 
days only, but these are best put on at 
nights, however mild and promising the 
weather may be, for rain may come down 
during the night. 
Damp is more the cause of losing frame 
material than any other cause, so the foli¬ 
age w T ants to be kept thoroughly dry. A 
very simple ventilating block can be cut 
out in this shape, using a good piece of 
stout inch wood 
Ventilating Block. 
and have it attached behind the frame 
with a chain for handiness to admit air in 
quantity, and have it lessened in colder 
weather. Remove all decaying leaves 
and stems, trapping snails and slugs by a 
night light search, or lay down pieces of 
cut Potatos or crumbled Lettuce leaves, 
for these pests soon nibble off choice cut¬ 
tings in preference to old stuff. Plants 
in pots, such as Campanulas, Carnations, 
tender herbaceous and alpine plants all 
require unlimited supplies of fresh air. 
Pots are just as well standing on a good 
ash bottom and not plunged to the rim 
amongst leaves or litter, for that in itself 
causes damp and prevents a free current 
of air through the pots. A frequent turn¬ 
ing round of the pots and cleaning of 
bad foliage should be done. Have the 
sashes rainproof, and wash them down 
occasionally to remove the filth that floats 
about in the smoke and fog district; 
this operation gives good light. For frost 
protection use dry material; good mats 
and straw do splendidly. When very 
severe a double mat is necessary or a 
thick layer of straw or bracken, with 
boards laid on to keep all in position. 
When a thaw sets in, remove the protec¬ 
tion at once, and gradually admit air 
again — the valuable asset. With due 
consideration to the small details of the 
frame (for it is these trifling things we 
must not omit) success should not be 
wanting. 
A. V. M. 
- +++ - 
Golden Syrup Exhibited as Hgney. 
From time to time many frauds are per¬ 
petrated by exhibitors at flower shows. 
According to the “Hastings Times” Mr. 
G. Squires, the gardener of Whittlebury 
Hall, in judging run honey at a flower 
show recently tasted it and found it was 
golden syrup. It is stated that the ex¬ 
hibitor had won many prizes for his ex¬ 
hibition of fine golden syrup as run 
honey. 
- o. w. - 
Prize Competitions. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS. —Competitors must 
write on one side of the paper only. Regular 
paid contributors to THE GARDENING 
WORLD or other gardening journals are de¬ 
barred from entering, but occasional con¬ 
tributors may compete. The name and ad¬ 
dress of the competitor must appear on each 
article sent for competition. The Editor’s 
decision is final, and he reserves the right 
to reproduce, in any wayj! any article or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
- -M-f 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINGS will be given 
for the best paragraph or short article on any 
gardening subject, such as hints of practical 
interest to gardeners, notes on the propaga¬ 
tion or cultivation of flowers, fruits or vege¬ 
tables, eradication of pests, etc. The para¬ 
graph or article must not exceed a column, but 
value rather than length will be considered in 
making *he award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
following date of issue. Entries received later 
thi,n Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
the following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. 6d. will be awarded each 
week for the two best letters, not exceeding 
150 words, on any interesting gardening sub¬ 
ject. 
♦♦♦ 
RESULTS OF 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the best papers in this competition 
are too long, and we desire readers to keep 
within a column. 
The prize in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “ C.F.A.” for the article on “ The 
Aphis Brush,” page 578. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize 
was awarded to “ B. Mitson ” for the article 
on "Slugs and Celery”: and another to 
“ Pomona ” for the article on “ Canker on 
Apple Trees,” page 572. 
Afdisias: - - 
Beautiful Stove 
- - Berried Plan;. 
I should like to call attention to e 
above useful genus of plants, as, see ? 
their value for decorative purposes, f. \- 
are not nearly so well known as they . 
serve to be. They are generally ] 
garded as berried plants, the flowers f 
most of the species being inconspicu 3 
with the exception of such as A. ere - 
lata, A. humilis, and A. panicuk 
Both the flowers and the berries that fol v 
are for the most part rose or coral a 
colour, and they flower during the mon 5 
of June and July, the berries hanging n 
for a considerable time. 
They may be propagated in two w; , 
either by taking cuttings of the h;- 
ripened wood during summer or by - 
lecting some of the largest, best ripe i 
berries and sowing in early spring, e 
latter being by far the best method. Bi 
cuttings and seedlings are easily rail 
in light soil, the pots being plunged 1 
bottom heat. The compost best suij 
to them in the early stages is equal p; 5 
loam and peat or leaf soil, with a gd 
sprinkling of sand, adding a little w - 
decomposed manure for the later p 
tings. Keep them growing briskly in 
warm position near the glass until e 
berries are well coloured, when they e 
best removed to a warm greenhouse r 
part of them) to prolong the display. I 
may also mention that although genera 1 
classed as stove plants, they may be s- 
cessfully cultivated in a much lower te- 
perature, provided that it does not il 
below 45 or 46 degrees in winter; they e 
also more free from scab and other insa 
than when grown in the stove. Wh 
growing briskly and the pots are nl 
filled with roots, weak liquid manu 
given once or twice a week is beneficiab 
them. 
When the plants begin to get naked t 
the bottom, they may be cut down 7 
within an inch or two of the pots 1 
spring), afterwards allowing them to '- 
come dry at the roots for some timea 
afford them a rest. After the cuts He 
dried off apply moisture to the roots aga 
to induce them to break,, when tiy 
should be shaken out and repott, 
syringed, and kept close for a few da. 
and watered with care until the roots h;e 
taken to the fresh soil. Then, if oner 
two of the best placed shoots only ,e 
retained, and the plants have had prop 
treatment, they will make fine specimts 
and flower and fruit the same seas<. 
There are several species in general c - 
tivation, the following being amongst ie 
best of them : — Ardisia crenula , 
notched leaved, fruit coral; A. villa 
(hairy); A. v. mollis (soft); fruit laiS 
and red; A. paniculata, fruit red; • 
Oliveri; A. macrocarpa (large fruit', 
beautiful); A. humilis (beautiful); ai 
A. crispa. 
E. T. L 
