192 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
February  27,  1902. 
do  with  the  plant  in  its  late  stages,  and  contended  that  when  a 
plant  was  potted  imperfectly,  it  was  not,  so  much  for  want  of 
knowledge  and  skill,  but  usually  through  carelessness.  He  then 
dealt  briefly  with  the  general  routine  of  plant  growing,  com¬ 
mencing  with  the  proper  selection  of  suitable  material  to  use  for 
potting,  also  the  necessity  of  providing  suitable  drainage,  and 
the  judicious  use  of  the  watering  pot.  He  strongly  urged  upon 
all  young  men  to  acquire  an  elementary  knowledge  of  the  many 
and  varied  scientific  aspects  relating  to  horticulture,  more 
especially  to  gain  a  knowledge  of  the  chemistry  of  the  soil,  and 
the  general  structure  of  plants,  so  as  to  know  the  why  and  the 
wherefore  of  all  work  that  came  under  notice  regarding  plant 
life,  and  thus  have  a  thorough  foundation  to  work  upon.  A 
discussion  followed,  in  which  several  members  took  part, 
especially  on  the  theoretical  part  of  the  paper.  A  hearty  vote 
of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Mr.  Sherry  for  his  excellent  lecture  ; 
also  to  the  chairman  for  presiding. — J.  S. 
Figs  under  Glass. 
Eakliest  Forced  Trees  in  Pots. 
To  assist  the  trees  in  swelling  the  first  crop  fruit,  apply  a  top¬ 
dressing  of  rich  material  to  the  surface  of  the  pots,  space  being 
provided  for  this  purpose  by  a  layer  of  turf  placed  around  the 
rims,  thus  forming  a  dish.  The  dressings  should  not  be  heavy, 
but  a  little  of  the  rich  compost  supplied  at  weekly  intervals. 
Liquid  manure  will  also  be  needed  to  sustain  the  health  and 
vigour  of  the  trees,  it  being  better  to  supply  a  varied  rather 
than  a  uniform  regimen.  Thus  watering  with  liquid  manure 
from  stable  or  cowhouse  tanks,  or  Peruvian  guano,  loz  to  a  gallon 
of  water,  will  act  more  potentially  if  a  sprinkling  of  some 
approved  fertiliser  be  given  about  every  ten  days  or  a  fortnight. 
The  following  mixture  will  be  found  useful ; — Three  parts  bone 
superphosphate,  two  parts  sulphate  of  potash,  and  one  part 
sulphate  of  magnesia,  mixed  and  sprinkled  on  the  surface.  Let 
the  water  or  liquid  manure  be  of  the  same  temperature  as  that 
in  which  the  pots  are  placed.  Driblets  are  of  no  use,  and 
insufficient  supplies  of  liquid  nourishment  often  cause  the  fruit 
to  fall. 
It  is  very  important  to  maintain  a  genial  condition  of  the 
atmosphere,  effecting  it  by  syringing  twice  a  day  when  the 
weather  is  bright,  but  avoid  keeping  the  foliage  constantly  wet. 
In  dull  weather  damp  the  walls,  paths,  and  beds  instead  of 
syringing  the  trees,  but  an  occasional  syringing  will  be  necessary 
to  keep  down  red  spider.  If  this  pest  appears  paint  the  water  pipes 
thinly  with  sulphur,  using  skim  milk  for  mixing.  Commence 
ventilating  a  little  at  70deg,  increasing  it  with  advancing  sun 
heat  up  to  85deg,  which  ought  not  to  be  exceeded  before  noon,  a 
rise  to  90deg  or  95deg  then,  or  after  closing,  being  beneficial. 
The  night  temperature  may  range  from  GOdeg  to  65deg ;  55deg  in 
the  .morning  in  severe  wmather  is  safer  than  the  higher  tempera¬ 
ture,  advancing  to  Godeg  by  day.  Avoid  crowding  the  trees,  but 
instead  of  very  close  pinching  it  is  desirable  to  tie  shoots  out  or 
down  as  the  growth  advances,  and  confine  the  stopping  to  nipping 
off  the  points  of  the  unruly  grow'ths  at  the  fifth  leaf,  rubbing  off 
those  not  required. 
Planted-out  Trees. 
Where  these  Avere  started  early  in  the  year  they  will  noAv 
require  disbudding  and  stopping.  The  former  should  be  performed 
Avhilst  the  growths  are  quite  small,  not  retaining  more  growths 
than  there  is  room  for,  and  stopping  the  growths  at  about  the 
fifth  or  siS^th  good  leaf.  This  secures  good  sAvelling  in  the  first- 
crop  fruits,  and  also  favours  the  formation  of  the  second  crop 
Figs ;  these  being  best  produced  at  the  base  of  the  current  growths 
and  the  second  breaks,  will  be  sturdy  and  short-jointed,  im¬ 
portant  for  securing  first  crop  Figs  another  season,  the  points  of 
the  growths  being  well  exposed  to  the  light.  Water  the  border 
freely  when  necessary  at  the  temperature  of  the  house,  or  supply 
liquid  manure,  not  too  strong,  and  mulch  the  border  with  rich 
compost.  This  will  attract  the  roots  to  the  surface,  Avhere  they 
can  be  fed  by  sprinkling  with  a  mixture  of  dissolved  hones,  three 
parts,  powdered  saltpetre  two  parts,  and  soot,  one  part,  mixed, 
applying  at  the  rate  of  2oz  or  4oz  per  square  yard.  Where  the 
trees  are  confined  to  narrow  and  shallow  borders  encourage  the 
emission  of  roots  from  the  collar  or  stem  by  placing  pieces  of 
fibrous  turf  and  partially  decayed  manure  in  contact  with  it,  and 
by  extending  the  material  outwards  a  number  of  feeders  will  be 
secured.  If  these  are  supplied  with  water  or  liquid  manure,  or 
top-dressings  of  chemical  manures,  they  will  extend  and  multiply 
and  greatly  assist  the  first  and  second  crop  of  fruit.  Keep  the 
night  temperature  at  55deg  to  GOdeg.  When  it  reaches  G5deg  by 
artificial  means  in  the  day  admit  a  little  air,  increasing  the 
ventilation  with  the  temperature  and  reducing  it  in  like  manner, 
closing  at  70deg,  syringing  twice  a  day,  and  othenvise  maintain¬ 
ing  a  genial  atmosphere. — Grower. 
Palermo. 
I  forget  whether  I  told  you  of  the  wealth  of  Roses  which 
more  than  anything,  perhaps,  characterises  Palermo.  There  are 
two  public  gardens  which  were  one  mass  of  colour.  The  hedges 
round  the  walks  were  entirely  Rose  bushes,  all  in  full  blossom. 
Overhead  hung  the  Judas  Tree  all  flower,  and  higher  still  the 
quaint-looking  Coral  Tree  stretched  out  its  crippled  arms  tipped 
with  scarlet  blossoms,  bearing  some  resemblance  to  sprays  of  coral. 
The  Caper  plant,  with  its  delicate  lake-coloured  flower,  clambered 
up  the  steps  of  the  entrance,  forcing  out  the  large  blocks  of 
granite  with  its  powerful  grasp.  The  Lemon  Grass  woos  you  into 
quiet  corners  by  its  grateful  perfume,  and  water  bubbles  up  in 
different  parts  to  add  a  neAv  delight  Out  of  this  paradise  you 
look  one  way  to  the  sea,  another  to  the  everlasting  hills,  one  of 
which,  Monte  Cuccio,  a  conical  mountain,  is  considered  to  con¬ 
tain  within  it  the  death-warrant  of  Palermo,  its  shape  showing, 
its  volcanic  origin,  and  threatening  some  day  to  break  out  and 
bury,  the  city  in  its  sleep. 
On  another  side  is  a  new  garden,  lying  under  the  famous 
Monte  Pellegrino,  where  the  young  Santa  Rosalia  went  away  toi 
spend  her  hermit  life.  A  new  road  to  the  garden  from  the  gate 
is  perhaps  the  most  beautiful  part..  It  is  lined  with  young  Syca¬ 
mores,  springing  out  of  beds  of  crimson  Verbena,  and  twining 
round  the  stems  are  sprightly  Rose  trees,  which  mingle  their 
garlands  of  flowers  with  the  transparent  leaves,  and  ride  securely 
in  their  blushing  beauty  in  the  arms  of  these  graceful  striplings. 
The  tendrils  hang  down  and  dance  upon  the  wind  in  eAmry  alluring 
attitude,  yet  not  one  is  snatched  away,  though  this  is  a  public 
road,  the  haunt  of  all  the  world  in  the  cool  evening;  and  famish¬ 
ing  beggars  are  groaning  for  a  baiocco  under  them.  Fancy  a 
road  thus  decorated  running  for  a  mile  from  Hyde  Park  Corner — 
how  long  would  it  last?  Tlie  Giardino  Inglese — for  thus  it  is. 
called,  in  compliment  to  its  capricious,  wild,  Avandering,  wilful 
ways^ — is  formed  out  of  a  used-up  quarry,  and  all  the  irregularities 
of  the  ground  have  been  kept  to  make  the  Avails  as  romantic  and 
quaint  as  possible.  Some  of  the  holloAvs  form  little  sun  traps, 
and  are  filled  with  tropical  plants.  Others  have  been  made  into 
lakes,  and  noAv  bear  the  Lily  and  Arum  floating  on  their  surface. 
— Vincent  S.  Lean,  Naples. 
Verbenas  from  Seeds. 
Time  Avas  Avhen  there  were  but  few  gardens  which  did  not 
possess  a  stock  of  these  brilliant  summer  flowers,  but  fashion,, 
which  changes  so  many  things,  removed  them  from  their  once 
high  station.  The  floAver  garden  of  to-day  differs  materially 
from  that  of,  say,  thirty  years  ago,  because,  not  of  changing 
tastes,  but  the  infinitely  greater  variety  aA'ailable  for  its  em¬ 
bellishment.  Then  sub-tropical  gardening  was  not  so  familiar; 
tuberous  Begonias  unknoAvn  for  bedding.  Ivy-leaved  Pelar¬ 
goniums  and  Cannas  much  more  rare  than  now.  There  are  many 
other  tender  plants  now  used  that  were  absolute  strangers  ta 
the  flower  gardener  at  that  period.  Verbenas,  however,  then 
shared  a  place  of  honour  in  a  few  selected  colours.  That  they 
have  not  lost  touch  with  some  specialists  is  proved  by  the  fact 
that  even  at  the  present  day  quite  a  beautiful  assortment  of 
varieties,  differing  greatly  in  colour,  are  to  be  had  from  seeds,, 
and  the  flowers  are  of  a  size  that  comparison  in  this  respect  may 
bear  with  that  of  their  “  good  old  times.”  In  the  flower  garden 
there  is  a  great  need  for  variation  in  the  planting  and  kind  of 
material  employed ;  to  adhere  closely  to  one  method  is  to  court 
monotony,  and  monotony  certainly  cannot  please  in  these  days 
of  increased  enlightenment  and  of  changing  fashions.  Obtained 
from  seeds,  one  gets  a  goodly  assortment  of  colours,  and  which, 
when  bedded,  look  very  Avell,  especially  when  surrounded  with  a 
wealth  of  other  flowers  in  brighter  hues.  In  the  mixture  there 
is  a  quietness  of  tone  differing  materially  from  the  employment 
of  one  variety  alone,  especially  of  the  reds  and  pinks.  Verbenas 
are  fine  objects  when  the  weather  continues  bright  and  dry,  but 
rainstorms  quickly  rob  them  of  their  splendour.  The  fragile 
nature  of  the  individual  flower  pip  is  such  that  they  cannot 
endure  heavy  rain ;  but  while  this  is  true,  there  is  soon  a  fresh 
supply  on  the  advent  of  bright  sunshine  and  a  drier  atmosphere. 
Those  who  may  wish  to  restore  a  feature  in  the  floAver  garden 
once  revered,  will  find  the  present  an  opportune  moment  to  get 
the  necessary  seeds  and  sow  them  at  once.  Given  the  same 
care  and  after  treatment  usually  bestowed  on  Lobelias,  Agera- 
tums.  Golden  Feather,  and  such  like  plants,  there  is  no  reason 
why  a  new  feature  cannot  be  imparted  without  any  great  effort  in 
cost  or  labour.  It  is  often  the  occasion  of  a  call  on  a  friendly 
gardener  one  comes  across  instances  of,  it  may  be,  long-forgotten 
favourites  being  used  with  telling  effect  that  leads  others  with 
ambitious  minds  into  prompt  resolutions  for  the  acquirement  of 
future  ideals.  Many  useful  impressions  may  be  “  laid-up  ”  by 
any  gardener,  who,  on  pleasure  bent,  calls  on  a  friend  of  the 
