10 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
December 1, 1909 
= 
Streptocarpus, New Hybrid. 
Remarkable for the abundance of bloom and the continuons succession. 
Tt is admir- 
ably adapted for greenhouse and conservatory decoration. their pretty trnmpet-shaped 
‘flowers being produced in the utmost profusion throngh the Summer and early 
Autumn months. 
The colors range from pure white to deep rose and violet purplg 
"and the flowers last for a long time in perfection. 
The Flower Garden. 
Notes for the Month. 
Heat, mulching, and watering are the 
principal elements with which the gar- 
dener has to deal during this month 
Mulching the surface of the garden plots 
with stable manure, or anything else that 
will protect from the direct rays of the 
sun, will be found an- astonishing 
economy in the water bill. Not only in 
money, but in time and labor. The plots 
should be thoroughly watered once or 
twice a week, and the next need be only 
a littlé sprinkling to freshen up the plant, 
To wash their faces, as it were, after the 
scorching heat and particles of dust. 
— Chrysanthemums. — 
Chrysanthemums have been growing 
. apace up to now, when they should be 
pinched back and cut down to six inches. 
- Somo. growers advocate reducing the 
plants two or three inches of the strongest 
shoots, The after treatment will depend 
upon the kind of plants required. If for 
show purposes one stem will carry the 
one bloom required. This practice is all 
right for show fanciers whose aim is at 
size of bloom. But the ‘cottage gardener 
likes to see a plant worthy of the name, 
aud should leave enough of it when 
cutting to make a decent show of 
blooms. 
— Petunias, — 
Petunias may be planted out, choosing 
a cool day, and, if possible, catching a 
shower of rain. These delightful flowers 
should be grown in the open beds more 
than they are at present. Few flowers 
command betier attention, as they have 
_ an elegance of their own that distin- 
guishes them at once when in bloom, and 
they last well, too. Yor pot plants they 
are most excellent, Ina four or fiye- 
inch pot plant half-a-dozen close round 
the edge. The double varieties are really 
superb blooms, and when well grown the 
single flowers are finely veined and 
colored. 
— Morigolds and Zinnias. — 
If your garden has to grow by itself» 
without any attention whatever, put in 
somo French Marigolds, double and 
single They bloom profusely, good 
colorings, aid will grow anywhere and 
anyhow, and in the droughtiest summer. 
So will Zunias, thoagh with a little 
The- 
hotter the sun the more they seem to 
wilt and 
wither under the trying summer condi- 
attention thry make better blooms. 
smile at other flowers that 
tions. 
— Cannas. — 
Chief among the fine bloomers during 
this month and later are Cannas. The 
fashion that set in for these handsome: 
foliaged and rich flowering plants seems. 
Just 
so cannot very well be 
Nothing 
foliage can excel them, and the flowers. 
to have been rather short lived. 
why this is 
explained, in luxuriance of 
are entirely distinct in form and charm- 
ingly colored. One secret of maintaining 
their beauty for large bedding is not to 
They look to. 
unwieldy unless alongside a large pond, 
allow them to grow to big. 
In the average garden bed they should 
not be encouraged to grow more than two 
or three feet, when they are handsome 
enough, and the flowering is better. It is 
only during recent years that they have 
been made to flower at all. he plant is. 
remarkable in this respect, inasmuch as 
the development of the flowers has not 
affected the tropical appearance and 
beauty of the foliage. They can be 
planted this month in a tichly manured 
bed, and _ plentifully watered. The 
name, Indian Shot, refers to the seed, 
refers to the seed, which is very hard, 
and the natives used them in warfare. 
— Portulacas. — 
Now, we wonder if it is possible to 
advance our readers a step in the culti- 
vation of Portulacas. If you have ncne 
in your garden, throw in a few seeds 
now. They will most likely grow, and if 
