December  10,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTIGULTURB  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
569 
detrimeatal  to  their  well-being.  As  we  flower  them  ia  2i's  and  32’a,  we 
support  the  plants  with  liquid  manure,  given  weak  and  often,  than  too 
strong  at  once. 
As  the  plants  are  subject  to  aphis,  a  light  fumigating  with  tobacco, 
when  the  leaves  are  dry,  on  two  successive  nights,  will  put  a  check  to  their 
ravages.  It  is  better,  however,  to  prevent  than  destroy  insects.  Should 
mildew  appear,  the  affected  parts  should  be  dusted  with  sulphur.  Expose 
the  plants  to  the  sun  as  much  as  possible,  till  they  show  signs  of  flagging, 
and  then  slightly  shade. — B.  T.  E. 
Botanising. 
As  “  F.  W.  G.”  writes,  many  of  us  know  little  about  our  native 
flowers,  and  I  think  that  more  of  our  time  might  be  spent  in  extending 
onr  small  stock  of  knowledge  in  that  direction.  I  have  derived  much 
information  and  also  pleasure  by  seeking  and  gathering  specimens  of 
native  flowers  during  the  summer  months,  and  drying  them  between 
sheets  of  blotting  paper.  Too  many  of  our  craft  (as  well  as  others)  are 
too  fond  of  the  social  glass,  which  means  much  time  wasted  that  might 
be  more  profitably  spent,  even  in  the  pursuit  of  wild  flowers.  Some¬ 
times  the  bothy  is  a  very  uncomfortable  one,  which  is  often  an  excuse 
for  public  house  visits,  but  it  is  a  poor  one.  I  wish  all  foremen  would  do 
their  best  to  make  bothy  life  pleasurable,  and  all  who  are  under  them 
would  join  in  the  effort. — Anothek  Junior. 
Steps  in  the  Ladder. 
Like  myself  many  young  gardeners  have  not  had  the  opportunity  to 
be  educated  sufficiently  to  be  brilliant  scholars  or  accurate  writers,  but 
nevertheless  we  are  anxious  to  improve  and  to  benefit  by  correction. 
We  ought  to  be  always  ready  and  willing  to  learn,  and  embrace  every 
opportunity  of  doing  so,  also  in  gaining  practical  experience.  It  gives 
pleasure  to  our  chiefs  to  see  young  men  taking  interest  in  their  work, 
although  it  may  seem  to  be  work  of  minor  importance,  yet  it  is  to  them 
important  to  do  all  things  well,  as  steps  in  the  ladder  of  success. 
— C.  W.  M. 
K.H.S.  Examination. 
I  NOTICE  on  page  546  one  of  the  older  school,  who  styles  himself 
“  Practice  with  Science,”  has  answered  my  article  on  the  above  subject. 
I  did  not  think  when  I  wrote  that  we  were  to  be  favoured  by  an  answer 
from  one  who  from  his  article  agrees  with  the  way  the  examination  is 
conducted  in  every  detail.  He  is  the  first  I  have  heard  of. 
It  is  all  very  well  to  write  about  sticking  to  the  point  of  elementary 
questions,  but  the  difficulty  is  to  find  the  point  of  many  of  them.  I 
note  that  our  mentor  does  not  consider  the  exams  really  useful  in 
teaching  practical  gardening,  for  he  says  there  is  no  need  of  any  society 
to  undertake  that  duty.  I  am  thankful  to  say  I  hold  several  first-class 
certificates  from  employers  for  practical  work,  and  I  think  if  gardeners 
are  not  practical  at  the  present  day  they  will  soon  have  to  give  place  to 
others,  as  the  order  seems  to  be  big  returns  for  a  small  outlay  with 
employers  now.  I  am  not  blaming  them,  but  only  stating  facts. 
How  many  young  gardeners  passed  through  the  last  exam  with 
pleasure  and  confidence  ?  ” 
Where  was  the  college  student,  and  where  the  young  gardener  ? 
Read,  mark,  learn,  and  digest  the  results,  my  older  brother,  if  you  have 
not  already  done  so.  Out  of  152  candidates  who  sat  sixteen  only  were 
placed  in  the  first-class  list.  The  twelve  college  students  who  had  been 
trained  to  answer  questions  on  paper  would  not,  I  suspect,  have  been  a 
match  for  twelve  others  I  could  pick  out  of  the  third-class  for  practical 
work  and  the  management  of  a  garden.  I  am  in  touch  with  some  of  our 
largest  bothies,  and  can  with  confidence  write  that  the  “  exam  ’’  will 
never  take  on  to  any  great  extent  with  practical  men  in  its  present 
form.  I  should  like  to  hear  the  opinions  of  other  young  gardeners  who 
have  sat  for  the  examinations. — Young  Gardener. 
Herbaceous  and  Mixed  Borders. 
The  present  is  a  good  time  for  re-arranging  herbaceous  borders,  or 
making  new  ones.  In  the  case  of  new  ones,  the  site  chosen  may  advan¬ 
tageously  face  south  or  west.  The  border  or  bed  may  be  from  10  to 
12  feet  wide,  well  drained,  and  composed  of  good  loam  and  vegetable  or 
leaf  mould.  If  the  border  is  to  be  re-arranged,  all  the  plants  should 
have  been  previously  labelled,  with  name,  colour,  height,  and  time 
of  flowering,  so  that  there  shall  be  proper  harmony  in  colour,  and 
the  bloom  equally  distributed  throughout  the  borders,  at  the  different 
periods. 
The  plants  must  be  carefully  lifted,  the  choice  sorts  with  good  balls 
of  soil  attached  to  them,  and  laid  in,  in  some  corner,  until  the  border  is 
dug.  It  is  better  to  save  the  young  suckers,  or  those  growths  which  are 
found  around  the  outside  of  such  free  growing  plants  as  the  Helianthus, 
Asters,  and  others,  as  they  produce  blooms  of  better  quality,  and  which 
lash  longer  in  a  cut  state  than  the  old  stools  produce,  which  can  then 
be  thrown  away.  The  ground  ought  to  be  well  trenched,  and  a  good 
dressing  of  decayed  manure  incorporated  as  the  work  proceeds.  Should 
the  soil  be  composed  principally  of  clay,  a  good  dressing  of  vegetable 
manure,  such  as  leaf  soil,  also  wood  ashes  or  burnt  earth,  would 
pulverise  and  sweeten  it.  If  the  land  is  of  a  light  texture,  deep 
trenching,  with  a  dressing  of  rich  manure,  would  improve  it,  as  almost 
all  herbaceous  plants  like  deep  rich  soil. 
The  borders  having  been  dug,  planting  should  be  done  as  rapidly  as 
possible  when  weather  permits.  I  consider  the  grouping  system  to  be 
the  best,  as  the  object  in  view  should  be  to  obtain  colour  in  such 
quantity  as  to  prove  effective  at  a  distance.  The  groups  should  be  of 
irregular  form,  and  the  number  of  plants  in  each  group  may  vary  from 
seven  or  nine  of  the  small  growing  kinds,  to  three  of  the  taller  and 
more  robust  varieties. 
As  regards  varieties  ;  for  the  back  rows  tall-growing  sorts,  which 
attain  the  height  of  6  to  8  feet,  are  suitable,  such  as  Helianthus 
orientalis,  H.  atro-rubens,  H.  giganteum,  Chrysanthemum  maximum, 
and  Hollyhocks  in  variety. 
Plants  growing  from  2  feet  to  5  feet  are  Michaelmas  Daisies  in 
variety,  Pasonies  (both  herbaceous  and  tree  or  Moutan),  Scrophularia 
nodosa  variegata  (a  plant  that  is  attractive  all  the  summer),  Tritomas, 
Lupins,  Aquilegias,  Delphiniums,  Chelone  barbata,  (Enotheras  or 
Evening  Primrose,  Papaver  bracteatum,  Erigeron  speciosa  superba, 
Bupatorium  pnrpureum.  Spiraea  aruncus,  and  Veronicas. 
Towards  the  front  such  plants  as  Heuchera  sanguinea,  Hypericum 
Moserianum,  Iberis  corifolia,  dwarf  Asters,  Splriea  filipendula,  S.  pal- 
mata,  S.  japonica,  Pyrethrums  in  variety.  Daphnes,  Trillium  grandi- 
florum,  Potentillas,  Oxalis,  Saxifragas,  and  a  host  of  others. 
A  few  ornamental  shrubs  (deciduous  and  evergreen)  are  very 
effective.  Such  Conifers  as  Retinosporas  and  Cupressus  brighten  the 
borders  during  the  winter  months.  Weigelas,  Deutzias,  and  Hydran¬ 
geas  dotted  here  and  there  help  to  keep  up  a  succession  of  bloom. 
In  summer  annuals.  Gladiolus,  and  half-hardy  plants  may  be  used  to 
fill  up  any  blank  spaces — in  fact,  a  fine  display  of  bloom  may  be  had 
almost  all  the  year  round  in  our  mixed  borders. — X. 
[We  do  not  know  what  age  this  young  gardener  may  be,  but  he 
writes  very  much  like  an  old  practitioner.] 
LINTON  PARK. 
To  the  average  visitor  any  garden  on  a  drear  November  day  has  not 
a  particularly  inviting  appearance.  Take  the  pleasure  ground,  for 
instance  ;  everything  seems  topsy-turvy  ;  flower  beds  are  upside  down, 
dead  leaves  rustle  mournfully  about,  transplanting  and  alterations  are 
going  onj  the  neat  appearance  of  a  few  weeks  before  is  entirely  gone, 
and  the  gardener,  if  his  visitor  be  a  novice,  apologises  for  something  that 
he  cannot  avoid,  and  extends  an  invitation  to  come  again  in  the  summer, 
when  ”  they  are  looking  gay.”  The  brother  craftsman,  however,  needs 
no  apologies  ;  he  knows  how  affairs  are  at  home,  and  therefore  takes  no 
notice  of  November’s  untidiness,  but  enters  into  the  details  of  fresh 
plantings,  proposed  alterations,  and  so  forth,  with  a  zest  that  shows 
gardeners  are  not  only  interested  in  their  own  work,  but  also  that  of 
others. 
Here,  then,  comes  the  pleasure  of  garden  visiting  even  at  the  dullest 
time  of  the  year,  and  recently  as  the  writer  walked  up  the  carriage 
drive  leading  to  the  beautiful  Kentish  home  of  F.  S.  W.  Cornwallis,  Esq., 
the  aspect  was  anything  but  dismal.  A  wide  tract  of  fine  park  land 
sweeps  gently  away  from  the  mansion,  which  is  situated  on  a  hillside 
facing  south.  The  expanse  is  studded  with  timber,  and  the  Kentish 
downs  stretching  away  for  miles  beyond  complete  a  picture  of  truly 
English  scenery.  The  air  on  the  day  in  question  was  clear  and  crisp 
without  being  cold.  From  a  preserve  close  by  the  sharp  crack  of  fire¬ 
arms  followed  each  other  in  rapid  succession  (it  was  the  occasion  of  a 
big  shoot),  and  pheasants,  disturbed  from  their  usual  haunts,  flew  aim¬ 
lessly  about,  uttering  distressful  cries.  The  scene  was  at  once  exhili- 
rating  and  the  surroundings  in  character,  for  are  not  November  and 
sport  inseparable  ?  But  gardening  was  our  errand,  and  soon  we  were 
chatting  with  the  somewhat  portly  and  still  more  genial  head  gardener, 
Mr.  J.  Mackenzie. 
As  the  name  implies,  Mr.  Mackenzie  hails  from  the  north  of  the 
Tweed,  and  for  a  period  of  fifteen  years  has  successfully  managed  the 
extensive  gardens  at  Linton  Park.  As  an  exhibitor  too  he  has  a 
reputation  ;  fruit  perhaps  is  his  strong  point,  and  the  result  of  his  skill 
as  a  cultivator  has  figured  creditably  in  many  a  keen  competition.  Like 
many  another  gardener  too,  he  has  been  Chrysanthemum  struck,  and  to 
use  his  own  expression  he  went  in  for  exhibiting  till  he  brought  home 
one  of  the  most  coveted  trophies  from  the  Aquarium  and  then  retired 
on  his  laurels  (the  proper  time  for  retiring  we  thought).  Since  then 
Chrysanthemum  shows  have  known  him  no  more,  at  any  rate  as  an 
exhibitor,  though  we  had  only  one  opinion  about  his  blooms  being  quite 
good  enough  for  that  purpose. 
The  plants  were  tastefully  arranged  in  a  large  conservatory,  and 
presented  a  pleasing  contrast  to  the  graceful  verdure  of  several  fine 
specimens  of  Dicksonia  antarctica.  It  was  not  difficult  to  see  that  the 
majority  of  the  plants  had  been  grown  on  the  cut-back  system,  the 
dwarf  habit  pointing  to  this,  while  each  was  crowned  with  several 
superb  blooms.  Some  of  them  seemed  familiar.  "  Oh,  yes,”  remarked 
Mr.  Mackenzie,  “you  saw  them  at  Maidstone  yesterday.”  Then  we 
remembered  the  elegant  group  “  not  for  competition,”  which  had  been 
a  conspicuous  feature  in  the  Corn  Exchange  the  day  before.  The 
collection  is  well  up  to  date,  most  of  the  novelties  and  best  varieties 
being  included,  and  amongst  them  were  noticed  splendid  examples  of 
Edith  Tabor,  Mdlle.  Marie  Hoste,  Madame  Carnot,  Mutual  Friend, 
Charles  H.  Curtis,  Baron  Hirsch,  anc^  other  familiar  figures  in  the 
Chrysanthemum  world. 
The  generous  owner  of  Linton  Park  makes  it  a  rule  to  throw  open 
the  gardens  and  grounds  to  the  public  on  two  days  a  week.  Would  that 
his  example  were  followed  more  generally.  Mr.  Mackenzie  on  his  part 
contrives  to  always  have  something  for  the  visitors  to  see.  In  the 
summer  the  25  acres  of  pleasure  ground  are  sufficient,  and  later  the 
Chrysanthemum  show  keeps  up  the  interest.  The  gardens  at  Linton  are 
of  an  all-round  character,  and  one  quickly  observes  that  the  gardener  is 
