12 THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
Soot is cheap and an excellent fertilizer. 
The beds should be 4 feet wide, raised 
fully 6 inches higher than the path ; these 
beds will hold three rows of plants 16 
inches apart. One of the secrets of suc- 
cessful culture is firm planting, spreading 
the roots out neatly (that is if the plants 
are not in pots). Press the soil firmly 
down well around the plants. The roots 
should be well covered with soil, but at 
the same time do not bury the plants in 
a hole, rather let their foliage stand clear 
of the surrounding soil. If in damp 
ground let each plant stand on a slight 
mound and receive a gooa watering to 
settle the soil around it. If from pots 
plant the same depth as the pot they were 
in. Ifin heavy soil some light material 
may with advantage be placed around 
before the heavy soil is filled in, 
The after cultivation consists princi- 
pally in keeping the ground free from 
weeds, giving water in dry times (though 
none will be required during winter), 
supporting the flower stems as they rise, 
thinning the buds more or less, and des- 
troying earwigs and other pests. 
Top dressing is a valuable aid to the 
cultivator, especially where the soil is 
shallow, sandy, or impoverished, or when 
the plants make poor growth. The best 
time to apply it is when the shoots start 
to rise in spring and before the buds 
show. A good top dressing consists of 
leaf mould, old hot bed manure, some 
sifted mortar rubbish, with a good 
sprinkling of soot and bonedust, mixed 
well together and spread over the bed to 
a depth of two inches, working it around 
and between the plants. Water this well 
in and the result will soon be apparent, 
for the roots will begin to work and soon 
improve the appearance of the plants. As 
the flower stems rise in the spring they 
should be supported, as in the early 
stages of growth they are very brittle and 
easily broken by the wind, Laths used 
by plasterers are cheap and_ suitable, 
_ One-year-old plants are best supported by 
each shoot being tied out to a lath; older 
plants would need four laths placed in a 
square with reaper twine wound in the 
shape of hoops. This I find gives the 
plant a good support and a graceful 
appearance, Nothing looks worse than 
habit. 
‘panula, 
May 1, 1909 
CAMPANULA PRIMULASFOLTA. 
‘nineteen eee 
slovenly tied-up Carnation plants. As 
the buds show form, if good flowers are 
required, they must be thinned, For 
ordinary purposes little or no thinning is 
required, but for show purposes not more 
than two buds should be left on a strong 
shoot, or one on a weak one. After the 
plant has done blooming the flower stems 
should be cut right down to their base. 
Campanula (Bellflower). 
The Canterbury Bell deserves to be 
raised from the somewhat common level 
to which many gardeners assign it. By a 
good many it is thought that this flower 
lacks character, and is straggley in 
growth. This may be.so, but the white 
persicifolia is a delicate looking bloom, 
and the striped red Punctata is a good 
variety. The cup and saucer Calycan- 
thema is a large flowering variety well 
worth cultivating, while the other 
extreme miniature Garganica makes an 
effective basket plant of graceful trailing 
The Primulcefolia variety 
(illustrated above) is a noble, rich- 
flowering and extremely handsome Cam- 
with slender, close-flowered 
panicles of upright cornflower-blue- 
flowers. 
Up to-date Tailors 
We have a largo 
stock of Woollens- 
to choose from. 
ee 
~ Fitand workman- 
ship guaranteed. 
Also, a large stock 
of Gents’ Mercery’ 
to choose from,. 
which can be pur- 
chased at 20 per 
cent. less than 
elsewhere. 
Self-measurement 
forms supplied oD’ 
application. 
A. BROWN & CO- 
15 CENTRAL MARKET. 
G CMMEROIAL AND ORNAMEN- 
TAL PRINTING of every descrip” 
tion in first-class style, on the shortés 
notice, and at cheapest rates, at the 
“ Australian Gardener’ Office, corner of 
Pirie and Wyatt streets. 
