June 1, 1905 
part turfy loam, | part leaf mould, | part 
well-rotted manure, and enough sand to 
keep it cpen, and mix it well together. 
Pot moderately firm, and when well cstab- 
lished they delight in a plentiful supp-y 
of liquid manure and scot water. The~ 
plants should be fumigated every few 
weeks to keep down the green fly. I at- 
tribute my success mainly to growing them 
as cool as possible, just keeping the frost 
from them. 
ORNAMENTAL AND USEFUL. 
In many greenhouses the space under- 
neath the stage is not utilised. In span- 
roofed houses with paths of fair width, and 
stages about 3 ft. high, plant Maidenhair 
Ferns underneath. Holes should be dug 
out 18 in. apart and about 8 or 10 in. in 
diameter and depth, near to the edge of the 
path, and the ferns planted in them in a 
compost of loam 2 parts, leaf mould | part, 
and sharp river sand 1 part. Occasional 
waterings with weak liquid manure from 
poultry manure or Clay's fertiliser when 
‘the plants are established will prove bene- 
ficial. Suitable plants are those estab- 
lished in 48 size pots, in need of potting on. 
These, if planted out, will grow with as- 
tonishing vigor and produce an abundant 
supply of fronds for cutting. Selaginella, 
denticulata planted between makes a good 
carpet and finish to the arrangement. If 
slugs are troublesome, slices of carrot laid 
down and examined nightly form an excel- 
lent trap. — 
CANNAS WITH WHITE FLOWERS. 
A writer in the Revue Horticole, in 
speaking of the efforts of hybridists to ob- 
tain a canna with pure white flowers, men- 
tions the following sorts that have heen 
offered in the trade as belonging to that 
section: Alba rozea grandiflora, white, 
dull rose; Ideal, rose white; Candeur, 
same color; Rosalba, white, lightly spotted 
rose; Apollon, straw, passing to pure 
white; Mlle. Fray, cream white; Alsace, 
ereenish! white; Seduisant, white, lightly 
spotted rose. 
More recent varieties include: Mlle. 
Meriem:i Lombard, almost pure white; Al- 
batros, straw, passing to white; Mme. H. 
Coufourier, white spotted rose; Poéte, 
straw, passing to white; Jeanne d’Arc, 
etraw, passing to pure white; Miss Anny- 
ker, pretty cream, almost’ pure white; 
Mlle. Ant. Cresp, almost pure white; Flo- 
pure white; Bolue de Neige, straw, passing 
- to white; Frau Maria Nagel, almost pure 
white; Valentine Delalande, pure white, 
with light rose centre; Le Lys, a dwarf 
plant, flower white, lightly striped with 
rose. 
Says the same writer: “We hope that 
rome day a truly pure white-flowered canna 
will be obtained with beautiful green 
foliage, or, what is better, purple black 
foliage. From a decorative point of view, 
the latter would be ideal.” 
PANCRATIUM MARITIMUM. 
As the seedlings are now pricked off you 
had better leave them in the larger pans 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
and transplant them, again in early spring, 
when you should select’ the warmest site 
you possess, and there place a temporary 
frame wherein to plant the seedlings. Well 
planted, they will be safe enough tall ait 
least three years old, or even four years 
old. Let your frame be about 1 ft. deep, 
and give the light a sharp pitch to south or 
south-west. Make up the soil of the frame 
6 in. above outside level, using old potting 
mould, if not better material is available, 
and abundance of sand or grit intermixed. 
Make this firm and plant the small bulbs 
in shallow drills at a short distance asun- 
der. Keep the small bulbs quite close 
to the surface, with what roots they have 
in a straight-cuti trench. From your de- 
seription cf the seedlings, yow have the true 
plant; with age, however, the leaves will 
lengthen to 12 in. or 15 in., and nearly 14 
in. broad. If you consider you are quite 
favored in respect to climate, iti is possible 
this species may do in the open, with: cer- 
tain modifications. The bulbs should be 
buried 3 in. deep, and planted in a sunny 
hed of well-drained loam and plenty of 
sand ; for example, a narrow border against 
a warm wall, though even here a glass- 
frame would be infinitely better for them. 
This species is less hardy generally than 
P. illyricumi cr even P. equestre. Both of 
thesa grow and flower in certain parts of 
England in the open, but P. maritimum 
less so. 
What is needed in the case of P. mariti- 
mum even move than the cthers, we believe, 
is an absolute rest in summer, when growth 
appears, as a rule. The growing and rest- 
ing pericds are controlled chiefly by the 
treatment accorded. This also will be re- 
sponsible for the bulks arriving quickly or 
the reverse ab the flowering stage. It is 
not likely, however, they will flower in. less 
than eight years. Meanwhile, grow the 
bulbs as well as possible. Keep them in 
growth go long as the leaves remain, green, 
and keep them without waiter entirely 
when. the foliage is ripened off. And not 
merely without water, but airy and dry - 
withal above. In brief, these very definite 
periods are the best means of cultivating 
these plants known. at the present time. 
The species is by no means free or certain 
in its flowering, however. 
PHLOX DRUMMONDII. 
Where a selection of twelve of the most 
desirable hardy annuals is requested, Phlox 
Drummeondii should always he given a 
prominent place therein. Few, if any, an- 
nuals can furnish more brilliant displays 
of coloring than are to be supplied by the 
many offsprings of this plant. In common 
with most hardy annuals, their culture is 
simple; nevertheless, to obtain thighly 
satisfactory results, give them some good 
rich material to grow in. Successive’ flower- 
ings can be had by sowing the seed indoors 
and transplanting the young seedlings, giv- 
ing thus early results, or by sowings in the 
open. ground, when all danger from frosts 
is past, for later. 
Joun F, JOHNSTON, 
11 
GRASS FROM THE LAWN MOWER. 
Often this is regarded as material of but 
little value; perhaps where the lawn. is of 
emall extent it may be so, but it must be a 
poor garden that could not find a use for 
lawn grass fresh from the week's mowing. 
A. purpose for which we invariably employ 
a good deal of short grass is as a mulch to 
something it is deemed necessary to protect 
from. the direct rays of the sun. Celery 
trenches afford an illustration for its use. 
When small plants of this are freshly put 
out, and the weather sets in bright and 
warm, the soil needs frequent watering to 
keep the surface moist, and, as celery 
plants are soon injured by drought, and 
there is not so much time for watering, a 
lignt covering of lawn grass saves labor, 
while it preserves a greater equality of 
moisture about the roots. We have known 
instances where celery, after being planted, 
has gone through the season without any 
help from watering save that given to settle 
the soil down in the first instance. We are 
not so fortunate as this, the nature of the 
soil demanding more effort. Celery when 
neglected in the matter of root.moisture is 
much inclined to bolting. Scme objection 
may be raised against the use cf grsas be- 
cause it is not lasting. True, the action of 
sun and air quickly reduces its bulk; but 
as the mowing has to be done often, so can 
additions be given to surfaces already 
treated. Tomatoes against hot, sunny 
walls are benefited by a surface mulching, 
for, if water cannot be applied often, the 
soil gets hot and very dry, and consequently 
plants languish instead of progress. Un- 
less afforded sufficient moisture at the roots 
hese set their fruits indifferently. During 
hot summer weather grass and clover seeds 
mature sufficiently to vegetate from one 
mowing day to another. This may be re- 
garded as a nuisance, which, should wet 
weather ensue, may be the case; but in 
hot weather this growth’ is easily destroy- 
ed by mowing it on a sunny day. In the 
celery trench we have not found grass and 
clover seeds give rise to any such troubles. 
Tf no uge can be put to grass ina green state 
it can be collected in a heap week by week, 
and when decayed employed either alone 
or in conjunction with manure for digging 
or trenching into the garden in winter. To 
this, again, objection may be raised, for, if 
used too freely, it has been found to render 
soil heavy or rather close in texture, but 
this only when employed alone. Unless 
other material can be jointly used, it is not 
advisable to dig rotten grass into heavy 
land.—W. S. 
BUY 
‘THE AUSTRALIAN 
GARDENER. 
Ss. 6d. per Year. 
* 
