THE GARDENING WORLD. 
612 
bare and desolate, and colourless from 
that time to the end of the year. Good 
late flowering subjects are Campanula 
carpatica, Sedum Ewersii, S. spectabile 
roseum, S. Sieboldii, and among bulbous 
plants the 'Colchicums or Autumn 
Crocuses make grand patches of colour, 
while the Schizostylis coccinea, if planted 
in a cool position in deep, rich soil, flower 
splendidly, and are among the last flowers 
of the year. It is a pity so many neg¬ 
lect to cut off the dead flowers in the rock 
garden, but it is as important here as in 
beds or borders, and a great saving of 
the strength of plants to ripen no seed. 
F. Norfolk. 
- +++ - 
The 
ScQtchi Rocket. 
Its Culture. 
(Hesperis matronalis alba plena.) 
In the columns of a^contemporary con¬ 
siderable correspondence has been going 
on of late regarding this grand border 
plant, and many are the ideas advanced 
as to how it ought to be treated so as to 
obtain the best results. 
It seems that this plant has become 
very scarce in England, ^nd only in Scot¬ 
land does it appear to really thrive. Some 
writers who claim to have great success 
with this Rocket must, I fear, be con¬ 
founding it with the coarser French form, 
which is a much less desirable plant, but 
one that is easily managed. The true 
varieties (white and lilac) are only about 
18 inches high at their best. The white 
opens slightly tinted, but passes to pure 
white, and resembles a very fine form of 
Stock. The lilac is scarcely so dense in 
the spikes, but when well grown is a very 
valuable border plant. It has been won¬ 
derfully fine here this season. 
This is one of the plants that can only 
be successfully Cultivated by having 
yearly attention in the way of propa¬ 
gating. There is no use in planting it 
and then allowing it to take its chance, 
like the bulk of hardy border plants. I 
cannot advocate the lifting and dividing 
of the rootstock plan, as I think it is sel¬ 
dom that such fine plants can be had by 
this method. 
The plan I have adopted and followed 
with great success for the past ten or 
twelve years is to take cuttings annually, 
root in a cold greenhouse, or even a 
cold frame, and winter in one of these 
structures. Cuttings are not always easily 
got, and a few plants should always be 
grown in the reserve garden that are not 
allowed to bloom. These send out strong 
shoots during August and September, and 
if these cuttings are removed with a slight 
heel every one of them will root easilv. 
Insert in either 4-inch pots or in ordi¬ 
nary cutting botes, using very sandy soil 
in which a good amount of leaf mould 
has been mixed. Make firm, give a gentle 
watering, and place in a frame. Shade 
carefully from all sunshine for three or 
four weeks and afterwards admit an 
abundance of air, as the Rocket much 
dislikes stuffiness. By March fine, sturdy 
little plants will be formed, and if they 
are potted off singly into 4-inch pots and 
returned to the frame for a short time 
they will thrive better than if planted 
direct from the cutting box or pot. 
A good loam, inclined to be moist, 
seems to suit them, and I think they suc¬ 
ceed best and are more satisfactory if 
planted in beds by themselves. Some of 
the flnerst plants I ever saw were grown 
on stiff clay soil, but in planting I took 
out holes 6 inches wide and 8 inches deep 
and filled in with a nice light compost, m 
which was mixed a fair amount of wood 
ashes. These plants did so well that I 
left them for a second year without dis¬ 
turbing them, and was rewarded by hav¬ 
ing some grand specimens. All the same, 
annual propagation by cuttings is the 
only safe plan, although I would cer¬ 
tainly leave all healthy plants to bloom 
the second season, and if they survive a 
grand display is assured. 
C. Blair. 
-- 
Polycycnis Charlesworthii. 
The curious flowers of this Orchid re¬ 
semble an insect on the wing, with a 'brown 
body and wings and a long, arching neck 
and yellow head. The lip is very slender 
and bearded with white hairs-. Botanical 
Certificate to Messrs. Charlesworth and Co., 
on August 20th. 
- Q. 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. 
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 the award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
follr wing date of issue. Entr:e» received later 
than Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
t> /e 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’ OomDetition was 
awarded to “ Baynton-Taylor ” for the 
article, on “ Clematis Classified for Amateurs,” 
page 598. 
September 21, 1907. 
Those who have an old stump of a tre 
which is an eyesore in the garden ca 
make it an object of beauty by studyin 
nature a little and setting various creej 
ing plants in the crevices and talk 
climbing plants to train up froi 
the base. Nasturtiums, Canary Creepe: 
Convolvulus, Japanese Ivy, and man 
others could be employed to gret 
advantage. If the stump is hollo 
at the top, such bulbs as Crocu. 
Tulips, Snowdrops, or Hyacinths may t 
planted to brighten the early spring, whe 
nothing else is in bloom. When thes 
have finished flowering summer beddin 
plants may be used, such as Lobeli; 
Geraniums, bronze and yellow Calcec 
larias, etc. 
If the stump of the tree is not hollo, 
a novel method is to get a lard tub, sa 
it through six or seven inches from th 
bottom and make holes for drainage at tb 
base. Next get some wood shavings an 
burn them inside the tub so as to char 1 
as this prevents fungus getting in th 
soil from the sides of the tub. Havin 
done this, nail it securely to the top c 
the stump, put some gravel and croc! 
at the bottom, and fill up with good soi 
It is then ready to receive bulbs, plant 
etc. 
These tubs can be placed about a bad 
yard and set out with plants of variousl 
coloured blooms. Used in this way the 
make beautiful objects. 
In the crevices - 6f the old tree may 1 : 
placed plants in pots, or Lysimachi 
Nummularia (Creeping Jenny), Saxifrag: 
too. These dwarf creepers are very vah 
able for covering old stumps, formin 
charming cushions of mossy soft gree 
foliage, beautrFul in summer and winte 
alike, but especially so in May and Jurv 
when they are in bloom 
At the back side of the stump, aboi 
four feet distance, can be planted Hollj 
hocks, Delphiniums, or any simile 
stately growing plants. At the front an 
sides may be planted Ten-week Stock 
Pansies, Primroses, Zinnias, or any 0 
the dwarf bushy plants. 
In the space between the stump an 
the plants may be planted bulbs f( 
spring flowering. 
If stakes be driven in the stump, mar 
climbers can be trained up them, an 
some of the following will suit admirabl 
Honeysuckle, Lathyrus (Everlasting Pea 
and for winter blooming do not om 
Chimonanthus fragans. 
Those who try this experiment will fir 
a great amount of pleasure in transforn 
ing an ugly object into a thing of beam 
and delight. 
Joseph Floyd. 
Cold Storage for Plums. 
So great has been the glut of Plums i 
the market during the past few weeks th; 
immense quantities are being sent to tl 
chilling rooms of the various cold storag 
warehouses, where they are kept in 
temperature of 36 deg. to 38 deg. Fahr, 
: 
