JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  August  4,  1898. 
THE  YOUNG  GARDENERS’  DOMAIN. 
*  Streptocarpus. 
These  are  free  flowering,  and  very  interesting  blue  or  lilac-coloured 
flowering  plants,  which  well  deserve  more  extensive  cultivation,  on  account 
of  the  easy  culture  and  floriferous  habit. 
Propagation  can  be  effected  either  by  division  of  the  plants  or  seed, 
the  latter  method  being  more  generally  practised.  Sow  the  seed  thinly, 
and  very  near  the  surface  of  well-drained  pans,  filled  with  a  fine  compost 
of  loam,  peat,  leaf  soil,  and  sand  ;  cover  with  a  square  of  glass  and  a  sheet 
of  brown  paper  to  prevent  evaporation.  As  soon  as  the  seedlings  appear 
light  should  be  admitted  gradually,  and  the  pau  placed  near  the  glass, 
where  it  may  be  shaded  from  the  hot  sun. 
As  soon  as  the  seedlings  are  large  enough  they  should  be  transferred 
singly  into  small  pots,  and  kept  close  until  root  action  has  commenced 
again  ;  then  place  them  in  a  position  where  they  will  receive  as  much 
light  as  possible  to  encourage  sturdy  growth.  When  the  plants  become 
sufficiently  rooted  they  may  be  repotted  as  required,  using  a  compost  of 
fibrous  loam  and  peat  of  equal  parts,  with  a  quantity  of  leaf  soil  and 
sand,  and  a  few  pieces  of  charcoal. 
Although  it  is  advisable  never  to  syringe  Streptocarpus,  yet  they 
delight  in  a  moist  atmosphere  during  bright  weather.  An  even  tempe¬ 
rature  of  50°  to  55°  at  night,  and  a  few  degrees  higher  during  the  day, 
will  be  found  to  suit  them  admirably.  During  their  flowering  season  and 
the  winter  months  they  should  be  kept  somewhat  drier  and  a  few  degrees 
cooler.  As  the  spring  approaches  they  may  be  repotted  and  started  into 
growth,  when  they  will  eventually  produce  abundance  of  flowers  for 
several  weeks. — J.  F.  D„  Yorks. 
Useful  Greenhouse  Climbers. 
Many  amateurs  are  at  a  loss  to  know  what  to  plant  as  climbers  in 
their  greenhouses,  often  running  away  with  the  idea  that  the  most 
beautiful  climbers  require  to  be  grown  in  a  stove  temperature.  This, 
however,  is  a  mistake,  and  I  will  enumerate  a  few  which  are  of  easy 
culture  and  yet  beautiful. 
Clematis  indivisa  lobata  is  an  evergreen  climber,  producing  numerous 
-clusters  of  white  flowers  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves  during  the  months 
from  February  to  April  inclusive.  It  is  well  worth  a  place  in  even  a 
small  house,  while  its  season  of  flowering  and  usefulness  place  it  as  one 
of  the  first  plants  of  its  kind.  A  light  position  should  be  afforded  it. 
Flowers  are  produced  on  wood  of  the  current  season’s  growth,  and 
pruning  is  best  carried  out  immediately  after  flowering,  the  growths  left 
being  laid  in  thinly  at  full  length. 
Lapageria  alba  is  one  of  the  best  evergreen  climbers,  producing  an 
abundance  of  pure  white,  waxy,  bell-shaped  flowers  during  the  month  of 
October  ai.d  onwards  through  the  winter.  These  flowers  last  a  long 
time  on  the  plant,  but  being  produced  on  very  short  stalks  are  unsuitable 
for  use  in  a  cut  state  except  for  wreaths  or  table  decorations  ;  long 
sprays,  however,  cut  and  suspended  from  a  tall  vase  have  a  telling 
effect.  Young  growths  are  sent  up  from  the  base  in  spring,  and  some 
protection  may  be  afforded  them  by  placing  a  tiny  piece  of  wadding 
around  each  shoot  until  it  becomes  strong  enough  to  resist  the  attacks  of 
slugs.  The  red  variety,  L.  rosea,  is  also  useful,  and  even  more  floriferous 
than  the  foregoing,  with  which  it  makes  a  pleasant  contrast.  The  soil 
best  suited  for  Lapagerias  is  a  rough  peat  with  a  sixth  part  of  fibrous 
loam  added,  and  plenty  of  charcoal  and  sand.  The  position  for  this  plant 
should  be  a  shady  one,  and  the  site  or  tub  for  planting  efficiently 
drained. 
To  those  who  desire  a  variegated  climber  Coboea  scandens  variegata 
cannot  fail  to  recommend  itself.  It  is  evergreen  and  of  very  quick 
growth,  and  will  cover  a  large  house  in  an  incredibly  short  time ;  thus  it  is 
well  adapted  for  planting  against  the  back  wall  of  a  conservatory,  or  if 
trained  on  the  roof  of  a  lofty  house,  and  the  growths  allowed  to  hang 
down  in  festoons,  the  effect  produced  is  very  agreeable.  The  flowers, 
which  are  purple,  are  produced  from  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  but  are 
worthless  from  a  decorative  point  of  view. 
Khyncospermum  jasminoides  is  an  evergreen  greenhouse  climber, 
bearing  small  bunches  of  pure  white  strongly  scented  flowers  during 
the  month  of  July.  In  form  and  odour  it  is  suggestive  of  the  Jasmine, 
as  the  name  jasminoides  implies.  This  plant  is  well  adapted  for  a  pillar, 
and  is,  like  the  Lapageria,  of  slow  growth,  and  requires  scarcely  any 
pruning.  Flowers  are  much  used  in  the  making-up  of  buttonholes, 
and  with  a  background  of  Asparagus  plumosus  nana  forms  an  agreeable 
lady’s  spray. 
Plumbago  capensis  is  an  excellent  plant  for  a  back  wall.  Its  clusters 
of  pale  blue  flowers  are  produced  in  great  profusion  from  May  to  the 
end  of  summer.  In  pruning  lay  in  a  number  of  young  shoots,  as  on 
these  the  flowers  are  produced  the  following  season.  There  is  a  white 
form.  P.  c.  alba,  which  is  not  so  good  as  the  foregoing,  being  more  suitable 
where  a  large  space  has  to  be  covered. 
Solanum  jasminoides  (fig.  18),  a  deciduous  climber,  produces  white 
flowers  abundantly  from  May  to  October  on  well  matured  wood  of  the 
previous  season’s  growth.  I  have  not  seen  the  flowers  in  a  cut  state,  but 
judging  from  appearances  the  stalk  would  be  too  weak  to  bear  the  weight 
of  the  flowers.  Red  spider  and  mealy  bug  are  the  pests  most  likely  to 
attack  these  plants.  The  former  may  be  kept  at  bay  by  the  judicious  use 
of  the  syringe  when  the  plants  are  not  in  flower,  while  mealy  bug  is  best 
eradicated  by  well  washing  or  syringing  the  plants  with  an  approved 
insecticide  always  immediately  after  the  flowering  season  has  passed, 
the  time  chosen  for  the  operation  being  a  dull  day  or  late  in  the 
evening. 
The  foregoing  are  suitable  for  cultivation  by  amateurs  and  professional 
men  alike,  and  will,  with  the  exception  of  the  Lapagerias,  thrive  in 
ordinary  loam.  They  may  be  purchased  from  a  good  nurseryman  in 
pots  at  reasonable  prices,  and  all  are  perfectly  safe  in  a  temperature 
which  does  not  go  below  45°  at  night  during  winter. — T.  P. 
Early  Peas  on  Apricot  Border. 
It  is,  I  believe,  an  understood  thing  among  all  gardeners  that  heavy 
cropping  of  fruit  borders  is  of  detriment  to  the  trees  if  great  care  be  not 
exercised.  In  most  gardens  the  common  practice  for  general  crops  is  not 
to  plant  within  a  yard  or  so  of  the  wall,  but  where  there  is  a  limited 
space  without  proper  appliances,  and  such  crops  as  early  Peas  are  a 
necessity,  then  one  has  to  adopt  a  plan  which  is  the  most  feasible.  Such 
is  the  case  with  us. 
Our  Apricot  border,  which  faces  south,  is  about  22  yards  long  and 
3  in  width,  has  to  serve  our  end  for  the  above  purpose,  and  has  done  so 
this  season  with  great  success.  Chelsea  Green  Pea  is  the  variety  we 
used.  It  is  a  fine  cropper,  good  in  flavour,  and  of  dwarf  habit.  The 
seeds  were  sown  on  January  4th,  allowing  a  space  of  2  feet  between  the 
Fig.  18.— Solanum  jasminoides. 
rows,  and  close  to  the  wall,  the  rest  of  the  border  being  used  for  early 
Potatoes.  The  earliest  Peas  were  picked  on  the  8th  of  June,  and  the 
last  on  the  28th.  This  border  has  been  cropped  in  the  same  way  for 
seven  years,  and  without  any  harm  to  the  trees,  which  are  at  present 
carrying  a  heavy  crop,  and  as  healthy  as  one  could  wish  for. 
The  utmost  care  is  taken  with  this  border,  and  it  involves  much  extra 
work.  Each  year  the  surface  where  the  Peas  are  grown  is  removed  and 
replaced  with  fresh  soil,  and  this  with  supplies  of  liquid  manure  during 
the  season  of  growth,  completes  the  management  of  the  border.  I  may 
also  add  that  on  an  average  the  Peas  were  used  four  times  per  week,  and 
coming  in  as  they  did  relieved  the  Asparagus  bed  from  too  severe 
cutting.— Multum  in  Parvo. 
GLORIOSA  SUPERBA. 
This  handsome  stove  climber,  with  its  flowers  of  a  deep  rich  orange 
and  red,  its  foliage  a  cheery  green,  makes  a  noble  plant  when  tastefully 
trained  in  pyramid  or  balloon  form.  It  is  of  easy  culture,  but  must  have 
a  stove  temperature  from  the  time  the  bulbs  are  started  in  February, 
abundance  of  pot  room,  and  most  efficient  drainage,  for  copious  watering 
is  essential.  Equal  parts  peat  and  loam  suit  it.  One  plant  we  use  in  the 
mansion,  and  its  abundant  blossoms  last  well,  and  receive  the  admiration 
of  everyone. — W.  R.  B. 
