J anuary 5, 1905- 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
ticulturists (such.as Messrs. Carter, Messrs. 
Barr, Messrs. Sutton, &e. )t for potting and 
for glasses; hyacinths for bedding are 
usually sclected, in quantity, by their tint 
and not by name. 
The giant Hyacinthus candicans (syn. 
Galtonia), from the Cape, is a handsome 
plant for the herbaceous border, where it 
will increase and multiply year by year. 
The white flowers it produces are not, how- 
ever, in proportion to its height, which is 
about 5 feet. . 
The Alpine hy eneneh (EL. amethystinus) 
‘is quite a contrast to the last- nanied EN, 
for it is a little gem in soft blue, only 6 
inched high, wie makes a charming edge 
to a border in spring. 
' The Muscari group of hyacinths are very 
hardy, and not at all particular as to soil. 
The grape Muscari ‘Heavenly Bine” (in- 
troduced from Trebizond by Mr. Bar) is 
extremely brilliant in color, and also frag- 
rant; M.- Armeniacum is also good; and 
M. azureum blooms with pale blue 
flowers. The yellow musk hyacinth (M. 
moschatum flavum) bears fine spikes of 
bloom, and is quite a contrast to the blue 
varieties; whilst the tassel hyacinth (M. 
comosum) is very singular in appearance, 
producing a tassel. of deep blue on each 
flowering stem. 
The ostrich-feather hyacinth (M. plumo- 
sum mostrosum), too, is quite unlike the 
rest. This old-fashioned flower has no dis- 
tinct petals, the whole blossom resembling 
wx curled blue feather. 
Then the scillas (to which, group the 
wild hyacinths belong) are quite a. large 
family, although the Siberian, squil (Scilla. 
Sibirica) is well known for ite habit of early 
‘flowering and rich blue tint. This bulb, 
with the beautiful Chionodoxa {Sardenis 
(the Sardinian squill), should be grown 
by every one, for its exquisite coloring is 
not too common, and the bulbs multiply 
themselves most satisfactorily in the gar- 
den, contrasting delightfully with, yellow 
and white crocuses or dwarf early daffodils. 
The chionodoxas may be distinguished 
from the Siberian squill by their larger 
size and silvery white eye, and their color 
is the blue of the nemophila. GC. gigantea 
is the largest of the species, but the flowers 
of this plant are in clear lavender, very 
delicate, and pretty. None of the squills 
will bear much forcing, and if grown under 
glass they must be kept as cool as possible. 
Besides these early dwarf scillas we have 
many wood hyacinths, as well as the wild 
S. nutans; and these graceful plants are 
very useful in a shady spot, where few blos- 
soms will open.  Eyen under the shade 
of pine trees, where nothing else will grow, 
these bulbs flourish; and they ean be 
placed in groups between shiubs which ex- 
haust the soil too much for ordinary plants 
to survive amongst them. 
The Spanish variety (S. campanulata) is 
specially strong in growth, with flowering 
spikes, which are erect ; 5. campanulata 
rosea is in pink, and 8. aperta has striped 
blue and white petals, whilst S. alba is in 
pure white. The rose color and white 
varieties of 8. nutans and the pyramidalis 
“position under 
seillas are all beautiful, too, and are too 
seldom seen in our gardens. 
Scilla autumnalis is the latest’ variety. 
The Japancso autumnal scilla is very 
handsome, with rich pink bells; the Peru- 
vian scilla (Per cae grows to the height 
of 1 foot, with large he ads of dark Bite 
flowers ; and the Italian variety (S. Italica) 
is in pale blue. Blue flowers are never 
to be seen in superabundance, and, in- 
deed, many gardens lack this jlovely 
color almost entirely ; so that it is specially 
desirable to add to our collections any 
plants which will produce blue blossoms; 
and when perfect hardiness and the power 
of flourishing under the most simple cul- 
tivation is found in one plant it is indeed 
a treasure in the garden. 
Half-wild nooks, woodland paths, or a 
a north wall may all bo 
decorated with these graceful hyacinths, 
which seem to defy all the difficulties of 
want of light or soil, under which most 
other plants would quickly collapse. 
T. L. Ricnmonp, FLR.ALS. 
DOUBLE PETUNIAS FROM SEED. 
Petunias are great favorites with many 
people; especially so are the exquisitely 
beautiful double varieties, on account of 
their delightful perfume. There are now 
a good many fine-named varieties in cul- 
tivation which must, of course, be increas- 
ed by cuttings; but it may not be gene- 
rally known that these plants are as easily. 
raised fr ‘om seed as any other soft-wooded 
plant. Seed should be procured from a 
reliable seed firm, and although a good 
many of the plants will produce single 
flowers only, a good strain may he relied 
on to produce for forty to fifty per cent. 
of double flowers of great size and exqui- 
site beauty. 
Sowine tHe Srrp.—As a rule petunia 
seed is sown too late to get the plants as 
large and strong as they might be, and 
althouch the dues germinate more readily 
if placed i na slight “hot tom heat In av 
arm. 
house. such vated is not absolutely 
necessary ; for if sown in August, and the 
pots or pans are jplaced on a shelf in ai 
warm house, the plants so raised. will not 
only be much less soft and tender, but 
will be much more short-jointed, and con- 
sequently at flowering time will be more 
floriferocus and altogether better in every 
way. The seed is extremely fine, and the 
greatest care is needed to get, the soil per- 
fecthy smocth and level Tero sowing. The 
compest used should be fine and of a sandy 
nature, and may consist of about equal 
parts Team, leafmould, and sand sifted 
through a quarter-inch sieve. The seed 
is so very small that it is better to water 
the soil with a fine rese watering pgt before 
sowing, then to sow thinly, seal cover with 
a very slight sprinkling of fine silver sand. 
T like this material for covering all ver 
minute seeds, as it can. be seen better than 
sifted soil] how much is put on. Whether 
the pan is placed m slight bottom heat 
or on a shelf, the greatest care is needed 
to keep it shaded from the sun when 
bright, and water should only be applied 
f 1} 
when. necessary, and then through a very: 
fine rose we atering pot: 
Porting On. as the young 
plants are large oat to handle they 
should -be pransplanted to other pans or 
boxes of light soil, similar to that advised! 
for sowing ane se Sed, Fairly good drain— 
age is necessary, and although care should! 
be used in watering the seedlings ik & 
young state, they should never be ‘allowed 
to suffer for want of water at any time. 
The yery smallest of the seedlings should 
be treated with the greatest care, as these 
invariably produce the best double flowers; 
the strong seedlings often turning singles. 
only. When the young pricked out plants 
have become fairly strong and well rooted. . 
they should be transferred singly to three- 
inch pots, to be again shifted-on' ti]] the 
flowering stage is reached. The soil fox 
this and subsequent potting should be 
richer. and four parts loam, one part leaf 
mould, one part old mushroom bed manure; 
and one part sand will form a suitabfe 
compost. The pots ought to be fairly 
well drained, and after the first potting 
the soil should be made very firm, taking 
care, however, that the soil is in the right. 
condition as to moisture. : 
GenERAL TREATMENT.—Petunias do nets 
like much heat, and a warm greenhouse 
temperature 1s. the most rane Et 1% 
also very essential that the young growinge 
plants are always kept well up to the light. 
They are all the better transferred to = 
cool frame or pit, where they can be stoo€ 
on a bed of moist ashes. Liberal supplies 
of water at the root will be required, andi- 
when the flowering stage is reached, the 
pots being well filled with roots, frequent 
applications of weak liquid manure or soot- 
water will be very beneficial. Just as the 
flowers are expanding, a slight sprinkling: 
of artificial manure applied to the surface 
of the soil will greatly assist in bringing 
them out to the greatest perfection 
Petunias, being brittle plants, need care- 
ful staking as “growth proceeds, and it 1¢ 
advisable to occasionally pinch all strong 
growing shoots till the plants are to flower. 
Insects.—_With the exception of greem- 
fly, insects are not very troublesome te 
petunias. Green-fly or aphis is easily dex 
stroyed by an occasional fumigation with: 
one of the self-acting fumigating materials. 
WINDOW OXNES E 
No matter how beautiful are the window 
boxes themselves, or the plants that grove 
in them, the success cf the whcle effect- 
must depend upon its harmony with its: 
surroundings. For instarice, brilliant Car— 
uations, pink double Geraniums. or ma— 
genta Petunias, in bright emerald green: 
hoxes, against a new ved brick house, wilk 
he ugly! Again and again do we see pink 
flowers placed near red brick, while coke 
looking blue and white ones, which woul& 
have suited the position excellently, ap— 
pear against a grey or white dwelling, 
where they are depressing and colorless. 
Tf gold, yellow. orange, Scarlet, warn 
bright mauve or purple, pinks of all shades, 
with a little white, or preferably cream, 
are kept for all red buildings we shall make 
