August  8, 1895. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
123 
rank  growth,  and  bringing  to  perfection  abnndance  of  bloom.  The 
system  of  summer  bedding  has  been  completely  revolutionised 
during  recent  years,  the  acquired  taste  for  elegance  and  graceful¬ 
ness  having  superseded  the  stiff  formality,  the  straight  lines  and 
acute  angles,  that  characterised  the  flower  garden  of  half  a  century 
ago.  Now  is  the  time  to  note  what  has  proved  the  most  effective, 
and  form  ideas  for  future  development. 
In  some  gardens  Fuchsias  are  largely  used  for  bedding,  and 
those  who  have  seen  the  plantations  of  them  in  Hyde  Park  will 
not  hesitate  to  say  that  nothing  could  be  more  suitable  for  the 
purpose,  as  there  they  are  quite  a  feature,  being  graceful  in  habit 
and  covered  with  a  profusion  of  flowers.  Violas,  Iresines,  and 
Lobelias  are  often  used  to  form  a  groundwork,  and  above  them 
tower  the  tall  Fuchsias,  entirely  doing  away  with  any  tendency 
towards  stiffness  or  formality.  In  cold  wet  seasons  they  are  apt  to 
become  dashed,  and  do  not  flower  so  well  ;  but  in  a  summer  like 
the  present  one  they  are  worthy  of  being  grown  to  a  far  greater 
extent  for  the  above  purpose  than  is  at  present  the  case.  Then 
there  are  the  tuberous  Begonias,  rapidly  becoming  the  rival  of 
“  Geraniums”  as  bedding  plants,  and  with  their  beauty  and  diversity 
of  colour  and  their  adaptability  to  most  conditions  of  soil  and 
weather  they  are  indeed  more  effective  than  the  latter  for  that 
purpose.  The  main  object  in  their  culture  is  to  get  them  sturdy 
previous  to  planting,  and  this  accomplished  they  keep  dwarf,  and 
their  profusion  of  bright  flowers  is  seen  to  advantage. 
Those  who  anticipate  the  culture  of  these  charming  plants 
should  sow  the  seeds  in  pans  and  placing  the  latter  in  a  gentle  heat 
in  the  spring.  When  the  seedlings  are  large  enough  to  handle  they 
may  be  pricked  into  small  boxes,  and  when  they  become  larger  it 
is  the  custom  of  some  growers  to  plant  them  in  frames  in  free 
rich  soil  in  April,  protecting  during  frosty  weather,  and  removing 
them  to  their  flowering  quarters  at  the  beginning  of  June.  The 
tubers  should  be  taken  up  in  the  autumn,  and  may  be  easily 
preserved  through  the  winter,  as  they  only  require  to  be  kept  dry 
without  shrivelling  and  safe  from  frost,  when  by  starting  these 
tubers  in  gentle  heat  the  following  spring  an  abundant  and  con¬ 
stant  supply  of  plants  may  be  easily  kept  up.  Perhaps  nothing 
forms  a  more  pleasing  feature  in  the  flower  garden  than  a  mass  of 
tuberous  Begonias. 
Another  comparatively  recent  addition  for  bedding  purposes  is 
the  Canna,  and  in  a  warm  sunny  position  we  have  no  other  plant 
possessing  similar  qualifications.  Without  mention  of  the  beauty 
of  its  flowers  there  is  a  touch  of  the  tropics  about  the  graceful 
habit  of  the  foliage  which  renders  it  extremely  suitable  for  forming 
a  contrast  in  the  flower  garden.  The  art  of  the  florist  has  been 
brought  to  bear  perceptibly  on  this  beautiful  flower,  with  the  result 
that  the  old  form  known  in  days  gone  by  has  been  superseded  by 
the  beautiful  specimens  that  have  been  exhibited  by  various 
nurserymen  at  recent  summer  shows.  Size  of  flowers,  richness  and 
delicacy  of  the  tints  of  colour,  combined  with  elegance  in  habit,  are 
points  indispensable  to  a  good  Canna,  and  these  perfected  there  can 
be  no  more  pleasing  object  in  the  flower  garden,  while  as  a  pot 
plant  for  decorative  purposes  it  has  no  superior,  providing  varieties 
of  suitable  habit  are  chosen. 
An  interesting  article  appeared  in  a  recent  issue  of  the  Journal 
of  Horticulture,  entitled  “  A  Garden  of  Violas,”  and  any  thoughts 
in  season  will  naturally  turn  in  the  direction  of  these  popular 
flowers.  A  garden  of  Violas  may  seem  a  new  idea  to  some  who 
are  not  up  to  date  in  their  culture,  but  there  are  many  enthusiastic 
growers  who  devote  the  greater  part  of  their  gardens  to  the 
cultivation  of  these  favourites.  In  this  age  of  fashion  and  craze 
the  Viola  has  advanced  in  popularity  by  leaps  and  bounds  ;  readily 
responding  to  the  art  of  the  hybridist,  it  would  be  puzzling  to 
any  but  an  adept  in  their  culture  to  endeavour  to  enumerate  or 
describe  the  many  varieties  now  obtainable.  Their  name  is  legion, 
but  for  those  who  only  grow  them  for  effect  a  few  decided  colours 
is  more  preferable  to  a  greater  number,  many  of  which  closely 
resemble  each  other. 
For  forming  beds  and  planting  in  lines  in  the  flower  garden 
the  Viola  presents  so  many  charms  and  is  so  well  known  that 
no  further  recommendations  are  necessary,  though  it  may  not 
be  out  of  place  to  remind  your  readers  that  with  the  advancing 
summer  care  should  be  taken  to  keep  the  seed  pods  removed,  as 
now  the  first  blooming  is  practically  over,  and  a  later  one  may  be 
secured  by  cutting  the  old  flowers  off.  For  forming  bright  and 
pleasing  contrasts  Countess  of  Hopetoun,  a  profuse  flowering 
white  ;  Bullion,  bright  golden  yellow  ;  Archibald  Grant,  a  fine  rich 
blue  ;  Sylvia,  cream  ;  William  Niel,  pale  rose  ;  and  J.  B.  Biding, 
deep  mauve,  are  all  well  tried  varieties,  and  can  be  thoroughly 
recommended,  though,  as  already  stated,  there  are  many  others, 
each  possessing  some  qualification  peculiar  to  itself. 
In  spite  of  the  recent  additions  for  the  embellishment  of  the 
flower  garden,  it  would  be  impossible  with  justice  to  omit  that 
old  favourite  the  Zonal  Pelargonium,  which,  through  the  many 
changes  in  design  and  fashion,  is  still  to  be  found  grown  to  a  greater 
or  lesser  degree  in  all  gardens.  Not  to  the  extent  it  once  was  used, 
it  is  true,  but  still  so  indispensable  is  it  that  nothing  has  yet  been 
found  to  take  its  place.  In  sunless,  wet  summers  Pelargoniums,  or 
“  Geraniums  ”  as  they  are  more  commonly  termed,  present  such  a 
dull  appearance  with  their  rank  growth  and  scarcity  of  flowers  that 
growers  have  from  time  to  time  threatened  to  dispense  with  them 
altogether  ;  but  when  the  next  summer  comes,  and  perhaps  bright 
sunshine  is  the  order  of  the  day,  the  “  Geraniums  ”  present  such  a 
blaze  of  beauty  that  all  threatenings  are  forgotten,  and  their  position 
is  again  secure.  What  can  be  more  pleasing  than  a  bed  all  aglow 
with  the  brilliancy  of  Henry  Jacoby,  forming  a  charming  contrast 
to  foliage  of  Flower  of  Spring,  rendered  so  attractive  by  the  power 
of  the  recent  long  continued  sunshine  ?  Then  there  are  the 
Lobelias,  both  blue  and  white,  how  effective  they  are  now,  and  so 
beautiful  in  their  charming  simplicity  that  they  render  themselves 
indispensable  in  any  garden.  Iresines,  Alternantheras,  Mesembry- 
anthemums,  and  in  fact  all  such  members  of  the  bedding  family 
are  also  now  at  the  height  of  their  beauty,  and  to  each  of  these  a 
thought  is  justly  due. 
My  pen  seems  inclined  to  run  on  still  further  in  praise  of  the 
many  charming  annuals  and  hardy  herbaceous  flowers,  each  adding 
its  unit  to  the  sum  total  of  the  summer’s  display,  and  so  large  and 
varied  is  the  floral  family  that  the  pen  and  mind  are  apt  to  wander 
simultaneously  on,  and  as  the  beauty  of  one  is  enumerated  it  only 
brings  another  to  the  mind’s  eye  with  qualifications  equal  to  or 
surpassing  the  last.  Bat  again  the  practical  must  supersede  the 
sentimental,  and  with  August  already  here  and  September  in 
prospect  gardeners’  thoughts  must  necessarily  turn  towards  propa¬ 
gation,  in  order  that  the  future  may  be  provided  for.  Much  too 
short  seems  the  glory  of  the  English  summer,  and  no  sooner  is  the 
meridian  of  beauty  reached  than  the  process  of  preparation  must 
again  be  commenced. 
The  middle  of  the  present  month  is  generally  looked  on  as 
being  the  orthodox  period  to  commence  the  propagation  of  bedding 
plants,  and  those  who  are  in  a  position  to  take  cuttings  of  Zonal 
Pelargoniums  then  have  every  advantage  in  securing  strong  well- 
rooted  plants  capable  of  passing  in  safety  those  few  weeks  of  mid¬ 
winter  so  trying  to  these  plants.  For  early  cuttings  many  adopt 
the  plan  of  dibbling  them  in  light  soil  out  of  doors,  afterwards 
lifting  and  boxing  them  in  time  to  become  established  before  the 
winter.  Cuttings  this  season  will  be  in  good  condition,  as  the 
prolonged  sunshine  will  have  been  the  means  of  maturing  the 
wood,  making  damping  less  likely.  Where  larger  supplies  of 
plants  have  to  be  kept  up  the  propagation  of  Lobelias,  Verbenas, 
Konigas,  Iresines,  and  Mesembryanthemums  will  have  to  be 
thought  of  now,  and  by  inserting  cuttings  during  the  early  days  of 
August  sturdy  plants  may  be  obtained  well  established  before 
the  winter.  Where  failures  often  arise  with  such  plants  as  the 
above  is  not  so  much  at  the  time  of  rooting  as  in  keeping  the 
plants  healthy  afterwards.  Overdryness  should  be  specially 
guarded  against,  and  slightly  moist  state  of  soil  all  through  the 
autumn  and  winter,  and  a  temperature  during  the  latter  period 
sufficient  to  keep  the  plants  growing,  is  the  treatment  they 
like. 
September,  for  various  reasons,  is  the  month  when  the 
majority  of  the  Pelargonium  cuttings  a’-e  taken,  and  following 
them  come  Violas,  Calceolarias,  Pentstemons,  Antirrhinums, 
and  many  others,  and  though  some  time  will  yet  elapse  before 
these  operations  will  be  performed,  still  they  should  have  a 
thought  bestowed  on  them  and  preparations  be  made  in  the  shape 
of  soil,  beds,  and  boxes  being  got  in  readiness,  so  that  nothing  may 
be  wanting. — G.  H.  H. 
HORSERADISH  CULTURE. 
Cultivating  the  Horseradish  may  appear  so  simple  that  at 
irst  sight  many  persons  on  reading  the  title  of  this  paper  will  think 
t  unwise  to  waste  the  space  of  the  Journal  with  a  paper  on  such  a 
ubject.  I  must,  however,  crave  the  patience  of  my  readers,  and 
lope  that  when  they  have  followed  me  through  this  article  they 
vill  think  there  is,  after  all,  something  in  knowing  how  to  grow 
'ood  Horseradish. 
Early  in  the  spring,  about  the  beginning  of  April,  the  ground 
8  prepared  in  the  following  manner  ; — A  ridge  of  good  decomposed 
nanure  is  placed  on  the  ground,  a  deep  trench  is  cut  out  on  each 
lide  of  this  ridge,  and  the  soil  from  the  trench  is  packed  on  each 
lide  of  the  manure  and  also  on  the  top.  The  manure  is  thus 
inclosed  between  two  ridges  of  soil.  The  banks  when  ready  for 
)lanting  have  the  appearance  of  well-elevated  Asparagus  beds ; 
he  higher  they  are  kept  above  the  general  level  of  the  ground  the 
letter.  -i.  j  xu 
The  beds  having  been  made  as  above  described  the  next 
