2.32 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  14,  1899. 
i  CHR 
Housing  Chrysanthemums  and  other  Plants. 
Fast  flies  the  season  of  the  year;  the  glorious  summer  with  its 
Indian  sunshine  is  once  more  left  behind,  and  the  early  days  of 
autumn  are  with  us.  Still  sunny  are  they,  though  the  nights  are  cold 
and  dewy,  and  ere  long  a  watchful  eye  will  be  needed  to  note  and  prepare 
for  threatening  frosts,  which  are  ever  ready  to  steal  upon  us  unawares, 
and  leave  havoc  if  not  ruin  behind.  It  behoves  us,  therefore,  to  have 
as  far  as  possible  everything  in  readiness  for  housing  plants  quickly 
when  they  are  no  longer  safe  in  the  open  air.  Much  can  be  done  during 
the  next  fortnight  in  the  way  of  preparing  h<  lists  for  the  reception  of 
plants,  and  a  clear  idea  should  be  formed  as  to  the  position  most 
suitable  for  the  various  stocks,  so  that  when  the  work  of  housing  is 
carried  out  it  can  be  done  methodically,  instead  of  through  want  of  a 
plan  of  operation — jumbling  the  plants  together,  ai.d  afterwards 
spending  much  valuable  time  in  rearrangement. 
An  early  vinery  is  usually  a  suitable  structure  in  which  to 
place  Chrysanthemums,  and  although  the  housing  of  them  in  such 
quarters  is  of'en  not  beneficial  for  the  Vines,  because  the  borders  get  in 
too  sodden  a  state,  few  gaidens  have  sufficient  space  to  allow 
them  to  discontinue  the  practice.  The  wood  of  early  Vines  should 
now  be  hard  and  ripe,  and  the  shoots  may  safely  be  shoitened  back  to 
within  four  or  five  eyes  of  their  base;  this  will  admit  sufficient 
light  to  prevent  the  Chrysanthemums  from  becoming  unduly  drawn 
before  the  few  leaves  left  begin  to  fall. 
Where  there  is  plenty  of  head  room  for  the  plants  it  is  an  excellent 
plan  to  erect  a  temporary  staging  of  boards  a  few  feet  above  the  border, 
as  a  free  circulation  of  air  is  then  insured  to  the  surface  of  the  soil, 
which  is  thus  kept  sweet  and  in  a  suitable  condition  for  the  roots. 
Even  vineries  in  which  the  Grapes  are  still  hanging  have  sometimes 
to  be  filled  with  Chrysanthemums,  but  in  such  instances  it  is  necessary 
to  judiciously  shorten  the  laterals,  dealing  the  most  severely  with 
those  not  carrying  a  bunch.  If  the  plants  are  then  arranged  thinly 
neither  crop  need  sutler  greatly  ;  it  is  one  of  those  compromises  which 
gardeners  continually  have  to  be  making,  though  they  would  prefer 
not  to  do  so.  Last  autumn  I  saw  a  good  example  ot  what  may  be 
accomplished  in  this  direction,  for  at  Coton  House,  Rugby,  where  Mr. 
Chandler  had  fine  Muscats  and  grand  Chrysanthemums  m  the  same 
house,  both  of  which  won  the  highest  honours  at  several  exhibitions. 
Tomato  houses  are  invariably  filled  with  Chrysanthemums  after 
the  summer  crop  is  cleared,  but  it  often  happens  tl  at  large  quantities 
of  fruits  are  hanging  just  at  the  time  the  Chrysanthemums  need 
housing.  Another  compromise  can  in  such  cases  be  adopted,  when 
the  Tomatoes  are  trained  to  the  roof.  If  the  majority  o'  the  fruits 
are  on  the  point  of  colouring,  although  there  are  no  actual  signs  of  it, 
the  bottom  leaves  can  be  entirely  cut  away  and  the  greater  portion  of 
those  near  the  top;  plenty  ot  light  is  then  admitted,  aud  a  good 
position  secured  for  early  flowering  Chrysanthemums.  Abundance  of 
air  throughout  the  day,  a  little  at  night,  and  fire  heat  in  dull  weather 
are  conditions  which  suit  the  Tomatoes,  and  also  Chrysanthemums 
expanding  their  flowers.  In  other  houses  the  Tomatoes  may  be  ready 
for  clearing  out  completely,  aud  the  structures  may  be  filled  with 
Chrysanthemums  or  other  jlants. 
In  such  cases  I  like  to  thoroughly  wash  walls,  woodwork,  and 
glass,  not  only  to  make  all  clean  in  appearance,  but  also  to  remove 
any  disease  sj  ores  which  may  have  found  a  resting  place.  In  plant 
houses  Fuchsias  past  their  best  may  be  set  in  the  open  air;  several 
degrees  of  frost  will  not  injure  them,  but,  on  the  contrary,  help  to 
insure  wood  ripening.  Tuberous  Begonias  may  be  placed  in  cold 
frames,  and  Coleus  and  plants  of  a  similar  nature,  which  have  done 
good  service  during  the  summer,  be  destroyed.  When  the  above 
matters  are  attended  to,  and  plants  in  other  structures  re-arranged  to 
make  the  most  of  space,  the  work  of  housing  from  the  open  air 
becomes  a  pleasure,  because  it  can  be  conducted  with,  orderly  dispatch. 
Callas  and  Eupatorimns  are  damaged  by  frosts  more  quickly  than 
the  majority  of  winter  flowering  plants,  and  these  should  therefore 
receive  attention  first.  If  they  have  been  planted  out  they  ought  to 
bo  lifted  and  potted  at  once.  If  placed  in  a  shady  position  and  kept 
syringed  several  times  daily  they  quickly  recover  from  the  check 
received  through  lifting,  and  are  ready  for  placing  under  glass  towards 
the  end  of  the  present  month.  Camellias  and  Azaleas  should  also  be 
placed  in  the  houses  as  soon  as  convenient,  for  although  a  lew  degrees 
of  frost  will  not  injure  them,  we  often  get  checking  cold  rains  at  this 
season,  which  are  inimical  to  their  welfare,  and,  moreover,  if  such 
things  are  dealt  with  early,  more  lime  is  allowed  for  the  removal  of 
big  batches  of  p  lants  when  the  “  rush  comes.” 
Early  flowering  Chrysanthemums,  such  as  Mad.  Desgrange,  Lady 
Filzwygram,  and  Mytchett  White,  are  now  just  unfolding  their  buds, 
and  need  placing  under  glass  to  secure  untarnished  flowers,  but  for 
midseason  varieties  the  last  week  in  September  is  generally  early 
enough  to  perform  such  woik.  That  particular  week  is,  however,  a 
critical  one,  and  not  many  years  ago  thousands  of  plants  were  ruined 
on  the  24th.  Bearing  this  in  mind  after  the  first  warning — which 
generally  comes  in  the  shape  of  a  slight  frost — it  is  well  to  house  the 
bulk  of  the  plants,  except  the  late  ones  ;  these  I  like  to  leave  in  the 
open  air  till  the  buds  are  visibleyGor  if  taken  in  too  early  many  of  the 
shoots  do  not  flower,  and  others  are  weak  on  the  stem.  Of  course 
some  means  of  protection  must  be  afforded;  a  rough  framewoik  formed 
over  them,  and  covered  at  night  with  canvas  answers  well,  or  the 
plants  may  be  placed  against  a  wall,  and  covered  with  canvas  fastened 
to  piles  ;  with  this  little  attention  the  plants  are  made  safe,  and  a  long" 
succession  of  flowers  obtained. — H.  D. 
CLERODENDRON  TRICHOTOMUM. 
Though  this  cannot  be  placed  in  the  first  rank  of  hardy  shrubs,  still 
it  is  worthy  of  a  p'ace  in  any  garden  in  the  warmer  parts  of  England 
where  it  can  obtain  the  sunshine  necessary  for  its  proper  development. 
The  hot,  dry  summers  of  the  past  few  years  have  suited  it  admirably,  and 
it  is  now  flowering  splendidly.  It  requires  a  warm,  sheltered  position,  to 
enable  it  to  thoroughly  ripen  its  wood,  for  though  it  will  stand  an 
ordinary  winter,  in  so  far  that  it  is  not  killed  by  frost,  still  the  wood — 
which  is  rather  soft — is  liable  to  be  cut  back  by  severe  weather.  It 
succeeds  best  if  the  lower  branches  are  gradually  cut  away,  when  it  will 
form  a  small  tree  or  large  shrub  10  to  15  feet  high,  and  as  much  in 
diameter. 
The  star-shaped  flowers  which  are  borr.e  in  axillary  clusters  near 
the  ends  of  the  branches,  are  about  an  inch  across,  pure  white,  and 
when  removed  from  the  conspicuous  red  calyx  have  a  certain  resemblance 
to  those  of  the  Jessamine.  They  are  also  sweetly  scented,  but  the  leaves 
and  branches,  when  bruised,  have  the  peculiarly  unpleasant  odour  of 
many  of  the  Solanaceae,  though  Clerodendron  is  a  Verbenaoeous  plant. 
The  leaves  are  opposite,  dull-green  in  colour,  fl  to  8  inches  long,  by  about 
4  inches  wide,  and  are  covered  with  short,  greyish  hairs  on  both  surfaces. 
On  the  upper  side  of  the  petiole  these  hairs  are  of  a  reddish  colour. 
It  can  easily  be  increased  by  detaching  the  suckers  which  are  thrown 
up  from  the  roots,  or  by  cuttings  of  half-.ipened  wood  placed  in  slight 
bottom  heat  and  kept  shaded.  It  is  a  native  of  China  and  Japan. — C. 
[A  magnificent  branch  of  Clerodendron  trichotomum  (fig.  46}  was 
recently  shown  at  the  Drill  Hall  by  Messrs.  J.  Veiteh  &.  Sons,  Ltd.] 
A  STATIONMASTER’S  GARDEN. 
Those  who  are  accustomed  to  railway  travelling  during  the  summer 
months  will  often  notice  the  fine  display’  of  flowers  to  be  seen  at  many  of 
our  country  stations.  Stationmasters  on  some  lines  take  great  interest 
in  their  gardens,  and  vie  with  one  another  as  to  which  can  make  the  best 
display.  Some  of  the  railway  companies  themselves  offer  prizes  in 
certain  districts  for  the  best  flower  gardens  and  decorated  stations.  In 
other  ccses  I  believe  prizes  are  given  by  some  of  our  larger  nurserymen, 
who  themselves  supply  seeds. 
In  this  note,  however,  it  is  not  flower  gardens  that  I  wish  to  bring 
before  the  notice  of  your  readers,  but  a  stationmasier’s  vegetable  or 
kitchen  garden.  We  hear  a  great  deal  from  time  to  time  about  the  floral 
displays,  but  very  little  about  the  growing  of  vegetables.  Nevertheless, 
the  latter  we  must  admit  is  the  more  practical  part  of  gardening.  A 
short  time  ago  I  was  judging  cottage  gardens,  the  one  in  question  being 
amongst  them.  In  this  garden  the  crops  were  or  more  than  ordinary 
merit  ;  but  as  my  time  was  limited,  and  it  also  being  a  very  wet  day,  I 
could  not  get  much  information  from  the  owner  at  the  time.  Being  in  the 
neighbouihood  again  shortly  afterwards,  however,  and  having  a  little  time 
to  spare,  I  called  upon  him,  and  had  a  second  look  round  his  garden.  In 
the  course  of  conversation  I  learned  that  he  had  a  special  liking  for  the 
seeds  he  obtained  from  Messrs.  Sutton  &  Sons,  and  Messrs.  Dobbie’s. 
All  the  most  important  kind  of  vegetables  are  grown  for  exhibition, 
including  Potatoes,  Peas,  Winter  and  Spring  Onions,  Carrots,  Parsnips, 
Beet,  Celery,  Leeks,  Vegetable  Marrows,  and  Tomatoes. 
Great  attention  is  given  to  growing  spring  Onions — indeed,  he  takes 
pride  in  producing  fine  bulbs.  These  ate  grown  in  the  ordinary 
way  for  exhibition— sown  in  January,  pricktd  off  into  boxes  as  soon  as 
ready,  2  or  3  inches  apart  ;  kept  gently  growing,  as  near  the  glass  as 
possible,  until  the  end  of  March  ;  they  are  then  transferred  to  a  cold 
fiame  and  gradually  hardened,  at  the  stme  time  giving  all  the  air  and  light 
possible.  In  April  or  May,  according  to  the  weather,  they  are  planted 
out.  The  variety  grown  is  the  well-known  Cranston’s  Excelsior.  Six 
bulbs,  that  secured  a  first  prize  in  the  open  class  at  a  local  show,  weighed 
9  lbs„  one  bulb  measuring  15  inches  in  circumference.  The  following 
week  at  a  large  show,  with  strong  competition,  he  carried  off  the  first 
prizes  both  in  the  open  and  the  cottageis’  classes. 
Celery  and  Leeks  are  grown  in  the  ordinary  way  in  trenches,  and 
generously  treated,  collars  being  used  in  both  cases  ;  Dobbie’s  Champion 
Leek  is  the  favourite,  the  varieties  of  Celery  being  Dobbie’s  Selected  Bed 
