July  28,  1898. 
•JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
61 
Arum  (Calla  palustris),  the  rosy  flowers  of  N.  marliacea  rosea,  and  on 
the  margin  rise  the  quaint  brilliant  blooms  of  the  Panther  Lily 
{L,  pardalinum).  From  a  carpet  of  Coronilla,  flourishing  by  the 
water  side,  grows  this  Canadian  Lily,  delighting  in  the  moisture, 
which  never  fails,  though  days  of  drought  may  come.  Overhanging 
the  opposite  bank  is  Spiraea  astilboides,  or,  as  it  may  more  properly 
be  called,  Astilbe  spirseoides,  or  A.  astilboides,  with  its  plumes  of  white 
flowers  almost  mingling  with  those  of  Spiraea  purpurea— a  beautiful 
plant  also,  with  flat  corymbs  of  the  pale  purple  blooms. 
In  a  still  smaller  pool  is  Nymphsea  chromatella  with  its  creamy 
yellow  flowers,  enhanced  by  the  deep  coloured  leaves,  from  among 
which  it  emerges,  and  margined  by  white  and  yellow  Stouecrops, 
the  leaves  of  the  double  Lady’s  Smock,  now  over  for  the  season, 
and  by  branches  of  the  single  white  Rosa  pyrenaica,  whose  flowers 
will  soon  be  succeeded  by  the  distinct  hips  now  beginning  to  form 
where  the  earlier  flowers  have  been.  A  small  tank  about  3  feet 
across  will  grow  one  of  these  Lilies,  a  great  factor  to  success  beiDg 
that  the  water  should  remain  long  enough  to  be  warmed  by  the  sun. 
V  here  there  is  no  outflow  (and  this  is  unnecessary)  it  will  be  found 
in  order  to  keep  the  water  pure  that  it  is  needful  to  allow  the  growth 
of  the  natural  green  conferva,  which  is  disposed  to  grow  in  stagnant 
water.  This  can  be  kept  from  entirely  covering  the  surface  of  the 
water  by  removing  that  which  rises  to  the  top,  but  that  which  grows 
beneath  the  surface  should  never  be  entirely  removed,  or  the  water 
will  become  offensive.  Running  water  is  not  liked  by  the  Nymphseas, 
and  they  never  flower  so  well  or  look  so  healthy  as  when  growing  in 
a  calm,  currentless  corner,  where  the  water  heats  with  the  warmth  of 
the  sun. 
An  old-fashioned  unobtrusive  flower  is  Nepeta  Mussini.  It  may 
-be  true,  as  has  been  said,  that  it  is  not  quite  ornamental  enough  for 
the  choice  border,  but  this  is  an  expression  to  be  modified  by  taste  and 
by  circumstances.  The  writer  has  seen  it  used  with  good  effect  in  one 
of  the  most  picturesque  gardens  he  has  ever  seen,  and  there  it.  was  not 
out  of  place  among  flowers  of  the  choicest  and  plants  seen  but  seldom 
anywhere.  True  it  is  a  labiate  flower — not  often  a  recommendation — 
but  its  rather  downy  leaves  and  spikes  of  blue  flowers  make  it,  if  a 
quiet,  at  least  a  modest  and  pretty  plaut.  It  comes  from  the  Caucasus, 
a,nd  will  grow  almost  anywhere,  although  on  strong  rich  soil  it  is 
liable  to  become  coarse  and  lose  some  of  its  neatness.  It  grows  about 
a  foot  high  in  moderately  dry  soil. 
The  Brodiaeas  are  deservedly  coming  in  for  more  attention. 
Previously  the  writer  has  referred  to  B.  ixioides,  formerly  known  as 
•Calliprora  flava,  which  is  at  present  very  deserving  of  its  name  of 
“  ’t  el  low  Pretty-face.”  Several  other  plants  of  the  same  genus  are 
also  in  bloom,  and  among  these  may  be  selected  B.  laxa,  which  is  of 
entirely  different  character  and  appearance.  It  grows  here  nearly  a 
foot  high,  and  has  rather  long-tubed  flowers  of  a  deep  purple  blue.  A 
native  of  California,  it  should  have  a  rather  dry  and  light  soil,  but  is 
quite  hardy  in  my  garden. 
These  and  other  flowers  present  themselves  to  our  gaze  as  we  walk 
among  them.  There  are  Rock  and  Sun  Roses,  ot  delicate  beauty; 
there  are  tall  spires  of  Delphiniums,  creamy  white  and  yellow 
Anthemises,  great  hardy  Chrysanthemums,  some  with  deeply  laciniated 
ray  petals;  charmingly  coloured  English  Irises,  with  others  of  the 
genus;  Stonecrops  and  Houseleeks  with  fleshy  leaves,  and  white, 
yellow,  and  red  flowers ;  tall  spikes  of  Sisyrincliium  striatum,  and  the 
fantastic  but  attractive  Phlomis  Russeliana  with  its  whorls  of  yellow 
and  white  flowers.  There  are  gay  Californian  Poppies ;  blue,  white, 
yellow,  and  pink  Alliums;  bright  Snapdragons,  floating  Feather 
Grass,  flaunting  Poppies,  tall  Globe  Thistles,  and  the  distinct  and 
beautiful  Morina  longifolia.  There  are  the  tawny  yellow  flowers  of 
Hemerocallis  fulva,  the  clear  yellow  small  blooms  of  Euphorbia 
capitata,  the  bright  yellow  and  clear  white  of  day  and  night  blooming 
Evening  Primroses.  Many  more  there  are,  some  wearying  for  rain, 
others  rejoicing  in  the  sunlight  and  dryness  of  the  present  time. 
Happy  do  they  seem,  and  happy  are  we  in  contemplating  their  sweet 
beauties. — S.  Arnott. 
STRAWBERRY  YEITCH’S  PROLIFIC. 
Amongst  the  several  exhibits  of  Strawberries  at  the  Royal  Horti¬ 
cultural  Society’s  meeting,  on  the  13th  inst.,  was  a  variety  named 
Veitch’s  Prolific.  Trusses  of  fruits,  plants  in  bearing,  and  selected 
•specimens  were  represented,  and  the  Fruit  Committee  recommended  a  first- 
class  certificate.  The  variety  w  as  raised  from  a  cross  between  Empress 
of  India  and  Royal  Sovereign,  and  is  extraordinarily  free  fruiting.  The 
fruits  are  broad,  wedge-shaped,  of  bright  attractive  colour,  and  have  the 
additional  advantage  of  good  flavour.  From  the  firmness  of  the  flesh 
the  fruit  should  prove  an  excellent  traveller,  and  as  it  i3  a  good  grower 
it  ought  to  attain  great  popularity.  A  typical  fruit  is  depicted  in  the 
woodcut,  fig.  11. 
SPRINGI-FLOWERING  STOCKS. 
Stocks  of  the  hardy  biennial  class  are  among  the  freest-flowering, 
most  robust-growing,  and  deliciously  scented  of  spring  flowers. 
Provided  the  plants  have  not  been  unduly  crippled  by  a  spell  of 
changeable  wintry  weather,  they  will  be  in  such  a  hardy  stocky  con¬ 
dition  on  the  approach  of  spring  that  it  will  only  require  congenial 
weather  to  induce  free  growth  and  the  production  of  flower  spikes. 
Although  the  double  Brompton  Stock  is  very  popular  in  its 
colours  of  scarlet,  white,  and  purple,  either  massed  in  separate  colours 
or  in  combination,  it  is  also  found  that  Intermediate  Stocks  are 
similarly  useful  for  spring  displays,  but  being  rather  less  hardy  they 
may  not  always  stand  through  the  winter  in  a  variety  of  situations. 
They  are,  however,  excellent  for  pot  culture,  or  to  be  wintered  in  pots 
and  planted  out  in  spring.  They  simply  need  the  protection  of  a 
frame  which  is  well  ventilated  in  favourable  weather.  East  Lothian 
Stocks  belong  to  the  intermediate  class,  and  are  well  adapted  for 
spring  flowering.  The  plants  are  fairly  dwarf,  and  produce  not  only 
a  fine  central  spike,  but  a  number  of  side  shoots,  which  give  a 
Fig.  11.— Strawberry  Veitch’s  Prolific. 
succession  of  capital  spikes.  The  colours  are  white,  scarlet,  and 
purple,  any  of  which  or  a  mixture  of  all  producing  an  effective 
display  and  a  good  percentage  of  double  flowers. 
To  associate  with  a  Giant  Brompton  strain  in  the  borders  for 
cutting  or  to  cultivate  separately,  Sutton’s  Improved  Queen  is  very 
useful.  It  grows  18  inches  high.  A  strain  adapted  for  bedding  must 
possess  a  dwarf  habit  and  free-flowering  qualities,  as  well  as  variety 
of  colour.  Sutton’s  Spring  Bedding  is  found  to  be  eminently  suitable 
for  this  purpose.  A  popular  variety  to  cultivate  for  cutting  is  the 
Single  White  Cloud,  its  fragrant  flowers  always  being  acceptable. 
The  present  is  a  suitable  time  for  sowing  a  selection  of  the  Stocks 
mentioned.  Seed  may  be  sown  -  outdoors  or  in  a  frame,  but  as  the 
plants  are  invariably  improved  by  transplanting,  the  most  economical 
manner  of  raising  is  to  sow  seed  in  a  box  or  pan,  and  afterwards 
transplant.  A  wide  shallow  pan  or  a  box  should  be  efficiently  drained 
and  filled  with  a  mixture  of  light  porous  soil  pressed  firmly  with  the 
hand  and  made  level.  Use  the  material  in  a  moist  condition,  as  it  is 
imperative  to  give  the  soil  before  sowing  the  seed  thereon  a  gentle 
watering  with  a  fine-rosed  can.  If  the  soil  should  be  dust  dry  this 
could  not  be  readily  effected,  as  the  water  could  not  pass  through. 
When  sufficiently  drained  sow  the  seed  evenly  on  the  surface,  just 
covering  it  with  fine  soil  passed  through  a  sieve.  A  pane  of  glass 
may  be  laid  on  the  top,  shading  the  soil  with  paper  until  the  seed 
germinates,  when  of  course  air  and  light  must  be  freely  admitted.  A 
cold  frame  with  the  light  kept  close  is  a  suitable  place  until  growth 
commences. 
As  soon  as  practicable  prick  out  the  seedlings  in  pots,  boxes,  or  in 
a  frame,  previously  preventing  them  becoming  drawn  by  affording 
plenty  of  air  in  a  position  not  far  from  the  glass.  Directly  the  plants 
attain  size  and  strength  they  will  be  all  the  better  for  again  trans¬ 
planting,  some  into  the  open  air  on  a  suitably  sheltered  border,  others 
in  a  frame  having  a  moveable  light,  which  can  be  drawn  off  on  every 
favourable  occasion.  Intermediate  Stocks  for  pot  culture,  the  plants 
being  wanted  for  spring  blooming,  may  be  well  grown  if  seed  is*sown 
in  pots  during  August,  thinning  the  plants  to  three  in  a  pot. 
Both  Brompton  and  Intermediate  Stocks,  if  cultivated  outdoors 
from  the  first,  should  be  sown  at  the  end  of  July  or  early  in  August. 
Choose  an  open  fertile  piece  of  ground  ;  dig  it  well  over,  and  bring  the 
surface  to  a  fine  tilth  by  breaking  down  the  lumps  with  the  spade  or 
fork,  and  finally  with  the  rake.  It  is  best  to  sow  in  drills,  which 
affords  facilities  for  readily  thinning  the  seedlings,  weeding  between 
the  rows,  and  stirring  the  soil  from  time  to  time.  Avoid  sowing  the 
seed  too  thickly,  as  it  necessitates  considerable  trouble  in  the  earliest 
