,May I, 19¢3. 
The flower Garden. 
7X Steer 
Operations for May. 
"The a of digging, trenching, re- 
modelling flower-beds, and all necessary 
_alterations should be persevered in when- 
ever the weather is favorable. The 
planting. of deciduous trees and shrubs 
shculd not be postponed later than this 
month. The hints given elsewhere in 
ccnnection with planting orchard trees ap- 
plies equally well to the planting of sub- 
jects in this department. Neatness and 
cleanliness is the principal consideration 
ali the year round, but at this season it 
is more difficult to maintain a trim ap- 
pearance. Exhausted summer flowering 
annuals and biennials, fallen leaves, and 
every scrap of litter and untidy matter 
should be promptly carted away to the 
rubbish pits or heaps, where, together 
with the accumulating waste of the house 
and garden, it will be gradually converted 
into valuable manure. The winter gar- 
den can, never attempt to rival the sum- 
me: garden in wealth of bloom and color, 
nor is it altogether desirable that it 
should, for, as Dean Hole remarks with re- 
fe.ence to winter gardens: “He who feasts 
every day feasts no day, and with flowers, 
as with friendship, a little absence makes 
the heart grow fonder.” It need not, 
howeyer, be wholly destitute of color. 
During the btlb season, which may be 
said to begin with the autumn Crocus, and 
to continue with short intervals until the 
last Poeticus Narcissus in the spring, no 
garden need look dull, but as we have al- 
ready recommended for the culture of this 
class of plants in a specially allotted space 
of their own, we should depend on some- 
thing of a more permanent character to 
reliéve the gloom of winter. For this 
purpose some of the variegated evergreens 
are admirably suited, among these the 
golden-leaved Oleander (Nevin variegata), 
variegated Abutilons, viz., Darwin  tas- 
sclatum and Werdenienniar Bonn, the 
latter a lovely variety, with maple-like 
leaves, Eleagnus  ferruginea aurea, 
Coprosma variegata, the golden. and silver 
variegated Euonymous, Pittosporum eu- 
genoides argentea variegata, Deeringia 
Ambhersti variegata, New Zealand varie- 
gated Flax, golden and silver grasses, all 
these effectively disposed and grouped 
among darker evergreens, or seen through 
and forming a contrast to the dark and 
lacy forms of the deciduous subjects, do ‘a 
great deal towards cheering and lightening 
the otherwise sombre aspect of the garden. 
In addition to these attractive foliage 
plants many flowering shrubs, including’ 
Pyrus Japonica, Ribes’ yellow and pink 
flewering currants, and Berberis contribute 
bright color when color is scarce. 
Dahlias and Cannas can now be cut 
down and lifted to facilitate digging, and 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
5 
to allow of the soil being renewed from 
which they have been taken. The former 
should be allowed to dry a little before 
being placed on the floor of the shed or 
cellar, where they are to remain for the 
wu:ter. They should be carefully 
labelled with their respective colors as a 
guide in planting when the season arrives. 
Cannas should be divided if necessary. 
Michaelmas Daisies, Rudbeckia, Perennial 
Phlox, Helianthus, Heliniums can also be 
lifted and divided snnually. Lift every- 
thing that it is convenient to do, so as to 
ensble the digging to be done more thor- 
oughly, and the soil to be more easily re- 
newed. 
Anemones supply bright patches of 
color in the winter and early spring. 
Plant them out now about three inches 
deep, covered by a light soil, in lines or 
groups as preferred. 
2- GESSISESRSES © 
PRACTICAL POINTS. 
EscattoniA MACRANIHA. | 
This charming rose-flowered shrub suc- 
ceeds well in most localities. Its rich, 
glossy green foliage and compactness of 
growth renders it invaluable as a garden 
shrub. It is also useful as a hedge plant, 
being of vigorous growth, and stands cut- 
ting. Cuttings may now be put in, half 
sand and half loamy soil, and place in cool 
frame. 
Fucustas. 
Cuttings of Fuchsias should now be put 
in. | This will produce excellent material 
for next spring. It never harms Fuch- 
siags to prune severely. 
PHILADELPHUS CORONARIUS. 
The Syringa, or Mock Orange, as this 
shrub is popularly called, is a great favorite 
with most people, and most gardens, even 
those of small dimensions, include it among 
the occupants. Its popularity is due to 
several causes: Firstly, it is an exception- 
ally free flowering shrub, and secondly, the 
flowers are of good size, and very fragrant ; 
thirdly, it isilasait during ear sei 
February, after most of the flowering 
shrubs are over; and, fourthly, it Pees 
in almost any kind of soil, and often under 
very adverse conditions. It is an extreme- 
ly old introduction, numerous varieties 
have been raised. <A few of the best are 
Double-flowered Flore Plena, the White 
Variegated, the Golden-leaved Aurea, To- 
mentosus, Lemonei, Microphyllus. - Cut- 
tings of soft shoots root readily in a close 
frame in early summer. 
Many people think that Ferns should 
not be given liquid manure. This is a mis- 
take, as a little decayed manure liquid, 
given once a week is excellent ; as also is 
weak soot water applied twice a week dur- 
ing growing season. 
probably least known. 
Verbenas make bright and beautiful 
beds during the sumimer, and are easily 
raised from seed or cuttings. 
Carnations in pots need careful water- 
ing in winter, Always allow the soil to 
become fairly dry before giving a’ fresh 
supply, and if grown. aiden glass, give 
plenty of ventilation. 
With one or two exceptions, the older 
varieties of Zonale Geraniums compare 
badly with the newer sorts, and should be 
discarded in favor of the latter. The time 
is at hand for propagating plants for flow- 
ering next season ; ib is rather ES for 
cold "districts, 
Adiantum Farleyense should not be fre- 
quently repotted ; this noble fern is impa- 
tient of root disturbance. 
Leonotis Leonurus, from leon, a lion, 
and ous, an ear; in reference to the fan- 
cied resemblance i in the corolla. It is a 
very ornaméntal, small-growing shrub, 
with long spikes of brilliant scarlet flowers. 
It is sometimes called a Salvia, which it 
resembles very much. 
When planting dwarf budded Roses, see 
that the union is placed below the surface 
of the soil ; this will give the Rose a) chance 
to make roots upon its own account. 
Foye SS OOS = 
‘NATURE STUDIES. 
BRENT LIFE, 
Sass \ 
an 
x en 
By F.Scorr. Bui, 352 p. ” 3/6.) 
It speaks well for the demand for Bo- 
tanical literature that this excellent work 
can be published at so small a price. It 
is concerned with descriptive botany from 
the most modern point of view, and lays: 
under contribution the works of German 
as well as English writers, besides the au- 
thor’s own observations. It ranges from. 
the giant Eucalypta to the microscopic. 
Diatoni. It has more than forty illustra- 
tions and diagrams, and a complete index. 
Needless technical words are carefully 
avoided, for, as the writer remarks, modern 
botanical terminology is appalling. The 
kind of information given is just that 
which is interesting to ordinary observers, 
and while the common examples cited are 
intended for Scotch students, the same 
principles apply to our own native flowers, 
which much stand in need of systematic 
study. Where every statement is interest- 
ing, ib is difficult to select for quotation, 
but one or two may be chosen which are 
Thus, in speaking 
of hardness, it is stated that “the curious 
glossy shell produced by the enlarged tract 
of Job’s Tears (Coix lachryma) is as hard 
as opal.” Also that the average breaking 
weight of the seeds of the Dog Rose was 
334 Ibs.; of the Australian Peach stone 
117 2-3 Ibs. ; ; and that it required’ over 24 
tons pressure to crack a Brazilian nut. 
Again, in another table, it states . that, 
areas of section the same, New- Zealand 
Flax was twice as strong as copper wire. 
