NoveMBER 1, 1902. 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER, 
cut flower. It is from the Cape-born 
“Watsonia Ardernei,” a novelty of the first 
watér, which blossoms very early. The 
snow-white delicately perfumed flowers are 
set on a strong growth, and keep for a long 
time when cut. The single flower has a 
great likeness to the valuable Gladioli, ‘‘ The 
Bride,” only that the flower is smaller in all 
parts. 
ADVICE TO AMATEURS. 
A very low-growing plant which by its 
white and many blossoms is very effective 
and allows cutting for table use is lonopsi- 
dium acaule, which ought to be sown and 
planted out in the same way as “Silene.” 
Winter them in a. box, transplant them in 
the spring, and they will flower for a long 
time, and will form by their compact growth 
and abundance of flowers a perfect orna- 
ment. 
In bluish violet colour, ‘‘ Linaria Cymba- 
laria” is a great success. This plant is also 
richly blossomed, low growing, and stands 
cutting. - é 
A third plant which ought to be sown 
early, and which appears in brown-red 
colours similar to the summer colouring of 
“Coelus Verschiaffelti,” is “‘ Atriplex hortensis 
fol. purpureis.”.; It ought to be sown on the 
flower bed, and it soon blossoms in a good 
red. colour. It must be sown very closely, 
and weed out at once the seedings of the 
green kind which may appear. ‘This plant 
also stands cu ting. 
Of great effect are the Sempervivum 
specialities, of which Sempervivum arachnoi- 
deum in the green colouring, as well as in 
the brown, receive the greater attention: 
I must not forget Sempervivum atropur- 
pureum, which: has a great effect with its 
dark carmine red colouring. 
An ther very: g ateful low-growing plant, 
which one can’ eventually ‘cut down to the 
root, is “ Oxalis tropacoloides fol. atropurp ” 
It has in its leaves a dark carmine red glow 
and produces | in great number small 
yellowish flowers, which. look well against 
the dark leaves! The one drawback to this 
plant is that it sows itself. out)’and there- 
fore springs up again in thenext year. 
The green ‘Spergula pilifera,” which 
grows into many-sided uses in summer, is 
also of value ‘in spring planting; also the 
white-grey “Santolina tomentosa,” whose 
green remaining stem form is also often 
used. ee | og va 
Instead of the silver-grey ‘“ Antennaria 
tomentosa,” one may also use with success 
the “Cerastium tomentosum” and “ Bieber- 
steini,” which -is lasting and ‘hardy, and 
which will decorate itself still late in the 
season with its rich white blossoms. 
There is also worth mentioning a creeping 
Veronica, It grows a great number of 
Prisma nite blossoms, remains as low as 
pergula, will stand cutting, and is 
lasting, so that it stands in the same rela- 
tionship as the others, 
é We have now the colours white, silver-grey, 
light green, brown, and dark grey. TForblue 
we have the low Myosotis, “Victoria”: for 
red and rose, the Silenen kind. Therefore, 
here only remains yellow, which will be 
epresented by “Alyssum saxatile,” It grows 
a little higher than the before mentioned 
plants—about 15-20cm.—but in the hands 
of an expert one might be able to grow a 
miniature form, as in the case of the 
“Myositis” kinds. With all these before 
mentioned yarieties, in conjunction with 
kifferent sorts of Pansies for completion 
perhaps of some necessary colour blend- 
ings, one ought to make a good spring show, 
which ought not to be far behind the rich 
colouring of summer.— C. Rimany, Vienna. 
@Sses= 
Early Spring in the Garden. 
[By “ Hawrnorn.” | 
FTER the dull monotony of a long and 
tedious winter, when the eye ha- longsince 
ceased to be satisfled with mere ferm and 
craves hungrily for colour, more colour, every 
swelling bud, every tender leaf that pro- 
claims the approach of spring is hailed with 
keenest pleasure. During the winter we 
look ruefully, if not reproachfully, at the 
twiggy trees and bushes, the dec'duous varie- 
ties of which our garden is largely com- 
posed and transfer our affections to the faith- 
ful evergreens. No garden should be en- 
tirely without them, especially the variegated 
varieties. ‘Ihe golden Oleandcr, the fresh 
foliage of Pittosporum Undulatum, the 
luxuriant and varied foliage of the Abutilons, 
among others, which relieve the gloom of a 
winter’s day and never fail us in fair weather 
or foul. But alas! for the frailty of human 
nature. When the faintest, tenderest, most 
delicate green appears on the Lilacs, the 
Guelder Roses, Poplars, Elms, and Oaks, 
in short everything of a decidous character, 
our allegiance wavers. The early spring 
toilette’ of the Roses, the Tea Roses conspi- 
cuously, are indescribably lovely, especially 
with the sun behind them, they become 
illuminated, brilliant. The double flowering 
dwarf Pomegranate can also vie with them 
in this respect. It is now a blur of reddy- 
brown ; soon it will change this fascinating 
morning wrapper for a raiment of vivid 
intensest green, and cover itself with bright 
scarlet flowers. . In.autumn its leaves turn to 
lovely gold, and it is always beautiful. Was 
there ever a greater variety of tints in the 
garden and landscape, unlike the sensuous 
colouring of summer or the gorgeous hues of 
autumn all is soft, fresh, harmonious, many- 
toned. . 
As a striking contrast to the soft shades of 
the foliage, yellow is the predominating colour 
among flowers, Wallflowers supply a deep 
rich tone. In spite of the _ their name 
conveys they are rarely given the position 
they are traditionally entitled to. ‘They are 
ever associated with crumbling walls, ruins, 
and simi-wild places, and though we have 
not these advantages, stonework or rockeries 
form a good substitute. They are never 
seen to better advantage than when thrusting 
their luxuriant trusses of flowers and foliage 
through the crevices in stone or rock work. 
A few straggling Daffodils remain to contri- 
bute their delicate yellow to the general 
scheme. Still more delicate are the Prim- 
roses, which are still flowering profusely, re- 
fusing to be daunted by the preliminary 
7 
canter of ‘a hot north wind riding roughshod 
over their tender blooms. The vivid tone 
of the Berberis is another contrast, and the 
double Kerria, equally showy, is covering its 
slender shoots with bright yellow pompons. 
Like the Wisteria, and a few others, it pre- 
fers to pose at first as beauty unadorned, 
that is to say without the aid of outward 
adornment in the shape of leaves. A Pine 
tree, or group of Pines, a little distance form 
a very effective background to the garden. 
They are such a strong contrast, their out- 
line is so bold. In the presence of much 
that is fleeting, the evanescent glory of fruit 
blossom, the transient lovliness of a rose, the 
brief and lovely season of a deciduous tree, 
the pines suggest permanence and stability ; 
they may be regarded as types of the eternal. 
No other tree invites effects of light and 
shade to such a degree. The morning and 
evening mists, blue and purple, lurk in their 
recesses. The tips of the boughs catch 
every gleam of light and sunshine, while be- 
tween are deep, velvety caverns of shadow. 
There is a particularly lovely Conifer, the 
Silver cedar. Why does not this splendid 
variety find more general recognition and 
acceptance ? ‘To see its colour to perfection 
it should be placed on an upland lawn. The 
delicate glaucous growth gives an impression 
of the snows of yesterday lingering on its 
boughs. It calls to mind other climes, the 
forests of Germany with their snow-laden 
irs. It will be readily acknowledged that 
these specimens give greater variety to a 
garden, and it is variety we are striving after, 
variety of colour and variety of form. The 
European Silver Birch can be grown quite 
well locally ; it is the ‘‘ Lady of the forest” 
of MacWhirter. With a slender form and 
modest habit it can grace even a small 
garden. It is beautiful by reason of the ex- 
quisite silver stem and graceful pendant 
leaves. In autumn it drops pure gold. 
Amidst a group of plants whose foliage is 
somewhat delicate and tender a single speci- 
men of something of the character of a 
Yucca, Recurva Pendula preferably, or 
better still the Furcraea Bedinghausii form a 
notable contrast. The latter also serves ad- 
mirably to emphasise a point. It gives 
strength and dignity to.a garden. It comes 
from Mexico. What opportunities we have 
of being cosmopolitan in our garden, of 
federating the world of plants. 
The variegated Bamboo should be a feature 
in every garden, especially in contrast with 
the red tones of Prunus Pissardi, which in 
the lamentable unavoidable absence of the 
Copper Beach in this climate serves us so 
admirably as a substitute The garments 
that the Bamboo elects to sleep in are dis- 
gracefully ragged and untidy, but now that 
it is putting forth the most immaculate deli- 
cately-coloured blades we would fain forget 
and forgive. 
The White Lilac is supreme among white 
flowers, but is only to be won by waiting. 
For eight years we worried it and coaxed it 
to bloom, but it remained stolidly indifferent 
to our entreaties. At the end of that period 
it began to flower regularly and freely, and 
has continued to do so ever since. 
Lilies of the Valley are now spearing the 
soil and showing quantities of incipient 
blooms. They increase amazingly in a cool, 
sheltered position, and all the attention they 
