May  21,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
445 
Hardy  Flovier  Notes. 
As  we  look  into  the  garden  the  eye  roams  with  pleasure  from 
flower  to  flower.  By  the  path  there  hang  the  myriad  flowers  of 
a  fine  specimen  Cytisus  prsecox,  which  have  gradually  changed 
from  the  canary  yellow  of  their  first  appearance  to  tlie  creamy 
white  of  the  later  days.  Glorious  are  these  fountains  of  little 
flowers,  and  we  shall  grudge  the  coming  of  the  time  when  these 
blooms  are  over,  and  the  bush  must  be  cut  hard  back  in  pro¬ 
vision  for  the  year  which  is  to  follow.  We  need  not,  nay,  ought 
not,  to  spare  the  bush,  for  its  beauty  depends  largelj"  on  this 
drastic  process.  In  that  corner,  too,  are  the  larger  and  sparser 
flowers  of  the  pretty  C.  biflorus,  or  ratisbonensis,  whose  leaves 
are  singularly  in  harmony  with  the  yellow  flowers.  The  white 
Portugal  Bi'oom,  too,  begins  to  show  its  tips  of  white,  and  will 
soon  give  us  its  chaste  flowers  in  profusion.  Rhododendron,  Lilac, 
and  other  hardwooded  iflauts  also  yield  their  share  of  the 
garden’s  joys. 
We  are  fast  parting  from  the  Narcissus,  though,  as  I  write, 
the  white,  beautifully  ringed  Poets’  Narcissus  is  yet  fresh  and 
bright,  helped  by  the  unusual  coldness  of  the  time.  Of  different 
forni,  indeed,  they  yet  associate  well  with  the  many  Tulips 
which  stay  long  as  well,  as  if  to  keep  us  happy  until  the  coming  of 
the  Poppy,  whose  colours  rival  those  of  the  once  pampered,  yet 
now  more  loved  Tulip.  Ev'en  now  the  “  Welsh  ”  Poppy,  Meco- 
nopsis,  a  pretty  “  weed  ”  in  my  garden,  calls  for  one’s  care  in 
preventing  it  from  seeding,  though  it  seems  so  short  a  time, 
though,  in  reality  many  years  ago,  since  I  rejoiced  in  giving  it  a 
pleased  welcome  here.  Even  yet  I  do  not  desire  its  extiriiation, 
but  merely  its  appearance  in  more  moderate  numbers.  Then 
the  great  Eastern  Poppies  in  the  shape  of  several  forms  of 
Papaver  orientate,  have  great  buds  upon  them,  the  promise  of 
Jiiagnificent  flowers  in  a  few  days  at  most. 
But  meanwhile,  the  Tulip  remains  unchallenged.  There  are 
“  Florists’  TuliiDs,”  “  Darwin  ”  Tulips,  “  Cottage  ”  Tulips,  with 
Nature’s  own  children,  the  species,  so  full  of  interest,  and  many 
of  the  greatest  beauty,  as  well  as  the  curious  and  fantastic 
“  Parrot  ”  Tulips,  which  are  always  appreciated  by  those  who 
prize  the  informal  and  the  effective  in  the  way  of  flowers.  Then 
there  are  Irises  in  fair  numbers.  On  the  study  roof  there  have 
been  several  blooms  of  I.  iberica,  and  now  there  are  with  some 
others  one  of  the  prettiest  of  these  Cushion  or  Oncocyclus  Irises 
of  the  Regelia  group,  I.  Leichtlini  or  vaga,  has  come  to  fascinate 
us  with  its  elegant  form  and  its  indescribably  beautiful  colours, 
Avhich  no  verbal  description  can  portra.y.  It  is  long  since  I  fell  a 
victim  to  the  charms  of  these  Cushion  Ii’ises,  and  I  have  long  sat 
at  the  feet  of  the  late  Rev.  IT.  Ewbank,  who  is  sadly  missed  by 
many  of  us  in  connection  with  these  and  other  flowers.  I  do  not 
suppose  any  of  us  can  claim  to  be  absolutely  successful  with  all 
these  Irises,  but  it  is  something  to  be  able  to  flower  some  at  least 
every  year,  and  their  beauty  is  sufficiently  great  to  lead  us  to 
persevere  in  hope  of  reaching  the  final  goal  of  annual  success 
with  all  of  these  delightful  flowers.  This  year  I  am  more  satis¬ 
fied  than  before  that  I  am  on  the  right  lines,  for  Mr.  Ewbank’s 
teaching  of  the  application  of  lime  in  some  form  is  apparently 
beneficial.  We  want,  however,  to  retard  their  autumnal  growth 
as  much  as  possible,  and  I  imagine  that  the  glass  frame  over 
them  to  ripen  them  off  wants  replacing  with  something  less 
stimulating.  I  have  been  led  to  these  remarks  as  timely,  though 
a  digression  from  my  original  intention,  to  dwell  more  upon  the 
beauty  of  the  dwarfer  Irises  of  the  pumila  section,  which  are  so 
easily  grown,  and  which  form  such  delightful  precursors  of  the 
noble  bearded  Irises  of  the  succeeding  month. 
One  cannot  proceed,  either,  without  a  word  in  praise  of  the 
lovely  little  Schizocodon  soldanelloides,  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
little  alpines  which  has  ever  delighted  the  eye  of  an  enthusiast 
in  such  miniature  beauties.  It  is  known  as  a  “  miffy  ”  subject, 
and  one  would  hardly  like  to  compute  how  many  plants  have  been 
lost  by  British  connoisseurs,  who  have  bought  plants  newly 
imported  from  Japan.  There  is  a  big  margin  in  price  between 
the  cost  of  the  plant  in  Japan  and  what  it  can  be  brought  for 
from  our  own  nurserymen ;  yet  from  my  experience,  I  do  not 
think  that  the  British  price  is  too  high  when  we  consider  the 
losses  in  establishing  the  plants.  Most  people  have  tried  and 
lo't  it  in  pots;  but  it  was  seeing  a  plant  established  in  the  late 
Mr.  G.  F.  Wilson’s  garden  which  made  me  resolve  to  succeed 
Avith  it  planted  out.  And  now,  after  waiting  a  while,  it  is 
in  bloom,  having  stood  the  winter  unprotected,  and  charming 
with  its  exquisite  little  pink,  fringed  flowers,  and  delightfully 
tinted  leaA'es.  It  had  for  its  benefit  a  rather  deeply  prepared 
little  pocket  filled  Avith  peat  and  sea  sand  Avithout  any  loam. 
This  is  on  a  rocky  terrace  about  3ft  above  the  ground  level,  and 
in  partial,  but  not  complete,  shade.  It  has  daily  Avaterings  in 
summer.  No  lover  of  alpines  Avill  pass  it  unadmiringly. 
Just  finishing  their  annual  contribution  to  the  garden’s 
pleasures  are  the  neat  and  pretty  Romuleas,  Avhich  delight  in  a 
Avarm  and  sunny  corner,  where  as  little  Avind  as  possible  can 
reach  their  pretty  floAvers,  Avhich  seem  to  re.sent  shade  and  rude 
Avinds  alike.  These  little  bulbous  plants  delight  also  in  a  light 
and  sandy  soil,  Avith,  perhaps,  a  soupcon  of  peat.  There.  Avith  a 
slight  covering  of  cocoa  fibre  or  similar  material  for  the  first 
winter,  they  aaIU  increase  quickly,  and  soon  form  clumps  of 
grassy  leaves  adorned  Avith  neat  little  flowers.  One  of  the 
hardiest,  and  also  one  of  the  easiest  to  procure,  is  R.  bulbocodium, 
a  beautiful  thing  Avith  small  purple-blue  flowers. 
But  one  must  not  dAvell  in  so  much  detail  upon  the  floAvers  of 
the  day.  There  are  loA’ely  Violas,  there  are  clumps  and  single 
plants  of  spiked  “  Honesty,”  VA’hich  has  here  sported  into  practi¬ 
cally  all  the  A’arieties  offered  noAvadays.  There  are  Avhites,  pale 
and  deep  purple  and  liurple-crimson,  Avith  A'ariegated  leaA'ed 
ones,  all  of  Avhich  a  little  timely  thinning  out  Avill  perpetuate  from 
seeds  in  the  garden.  The  fir.st:  of  the  Aquilegias  have  come  into 
bloom,  the  old  double  Primroses  and  Polyanthuses  are  some  in 
bloAv  and  others  over  for  the  year.  Masses  of  Avhite  Iberises, 
yelloAv  Alyssums,  bonny  trailing  Phloxes,  and  of  Aubrietias  of 
various  colours  and  shades;  golden  Ei-y.simums,  fragrant  Wall- 
floAvers,  green  and  Avhite  Ornithogalums,  Trilliums,  Trolliuses, 
pretty  Polygalas,  several  Primula  species,  such  as  P.  frondosa, 
P.  Stuarti,  P.  involucrata,  P.  Sieboldi,  and  others,  AA’ith  the 
many  other  floAvers  of  the  time  Avhich  constitute  the  loA'e.s  of  the 
admirer  of  herbaceous  and  alpine  ffoAvers. 
One  Avonders  at  times  hoAV  such  a  collection  can  groAv,  and  one 
thinks  of  one’s  “  salad  days,”  feeling  that  even  the  keen  delights 
of  the  sight  of  the  fir.st  bloom  of  a  neAv  fioAver  then  is  equalled 
Avhen  one  might  have  been  surfeited  Avith  the  A'ariety  of  those 
noAv  seen  or  known.  We  are  happy  Avho  neA'er  become  satiated, 
but  Avho  Avholo-heartedly  enjoy  these  provisions  of  creation  for 
pleasure  in  this  .sojourn  of  ours  on  earth. — S.  Ahnott. 
- - - 
The  Bedding  Season. 
When  is  the  best  time  for  “  bedding  out  ”  is  a  question  often 
asked,  and  ansAvered  in  many  different  Avays.  Indeed,  no  answer 
can  be  given  Avhich  is  equally  applicable  to  all  districts,  or  even 
to  any  district,  Avithout  taking  into  account  the  special  circum¬ 
stances  of  each  case.  The  first  Aveek  in  June  is  usually  considered 
the  most  suitable  time  for  nearly  all  localities,  the  exception 
being  the  Avarmer  districts  in  the  South  of  England.  The  great  point 
in  favour  of  planting  early  in  June  is  that  there  is  then  practically 
no  danger  of  injury  by  'fro.st,  although  slight  frosts  may  occur 
even  at  that  adAmnced  season.  The  one  disadvantage  of  plant¬ 
ing  then  is,  that  in  hot  seasons  the  plants  do  not  haA’e  time  to 
become  thoroughly  established  before  the  most  tropical  Aveather 
of  the  season  sets  in.  This  is,  perhaps,  not  a  particularly  serious 
matter  AA'here  modern  appliances  are  at  command  for  AA’atering  ; 
but  it  is  a  serious  one  indeed  Avhen  Avatering  cannot  be  easily  and 
quickly  performed  Avhen  necessary. 
Although  I  haA"e  giA^en  the  first  Aveek  in  June  as  being  gene¬ 
rally  the  most  suitable  time  for  bedding,  there  are  many  conditions 
under  Avhich  it  may  AA'ith  advantage  be  practised  earlier.  For 
instance,  in  gardens  the  fioAver  garden  proper  is  situated  in  a  most 
sheltered  position,  and  those  on  the  spot  knoAV  pretty  accurately 
at  AA’hat  time  the  Avork  may  be  carried  out  Avith  safety ;  in  some 
sea.sons  this  is  as  early  as  the  second  or  third  Aveek  in  May, 
and  AA-hen  bedding  can  be  done  thus  early  Avith  safety  a  distinctly 
long  season  is  secured,  as  the  Pelargonium,  Begonia,  or  Calceo¬ 
laria  Avill  continue  to  floAver  till  frost  comes  in  the  autumn,  no 
matter  Iioav  early  they  Avere  planted  out. 
In  all  instances  the  most  tender  plants  should  he  planted  last, 
as  Palms,  Pelargoniums,  ^'erbenas,  Abutilons,  and  most  other 
plants  of  a  like  nature  Avill  receive  no  injury  from  cold  at  times 
Avhen  Iresine,  Heliotropiums,  and  Alternantheras  Avould  become 
stunted.  Whenever  possible  I  like  to  plant  Calceolarias  eai'ly  in 
May,  because,  if  properly  hardened,  they  Avill  withstand  a  con¬ 
siderable  amount  of  frost  Avith  impunity,  and  it  is  surprising  hoAv 
much  better  they  thrive  under  early  rather  than  late  planting. 
The  mysterious  “  going  off  ”  during  hot  seasons  Avoiild  be  but  little 
heard  of  if  early  planting  Avas  generally  adopted.  Violas,  too, 
should  always  be  planted  early.  Being  often  employed  for  .spring 
beddino-  the  beds  are  sometimes  so  arranged  that  the  Violas  are 
left  the  AA-hole  season,  and  taller  “dot”  plants  arranged  among 
them  at  bedding  time.  The  disadvantage  of  this  plan  is  that 
it  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  keep  the  Violas  flowering  throughout 
the  season.  An  excellent  method  of  getting  over  this  difficulty 
is  to  use  autumn  struck  plants,  keep  the  flowers  picked  off  till 
early  in  May,  then  plant  in  the  beds  they  are  to  occupy,  and  add 
the dot  ”  plants  later  on.  ^  ^  i  f  i  i  r.  „ 
Noaa'  that  such  a  great  A'ariety  of  plants  a.re  used  for  beddin„ 
it  is  necessary  in  many  cases  to  liaA'e  the  soil  richer  than  toimei  a  . 
when  Pelargoniums  Avere  principally  employed.  An  excellent 
plan  to  adopt  is  to  manure  the  Avhole  of  the  beds  in  the  autumn 
when  they  are  being  prepared  for  spring  bedding;  then,  as  the 
beds  are  cleared  at  this  sea.son  of  the  year,  in  some  imstances  it  is 
onl\'  necessary  to  add  a  dressing  of  soot,  but  aa  here  stiong-gi  oAA  ing 
tropical  plants  are  to  be  grown  an  additiona  application  of  Avel  1- 
rotted  manure  Avill  help  to  promote  that  quick  clean  groAA  th  "  hicli 
forms  half  the  attractiveness  of  modern  flower  beds.  Ml  plants 
which  are  to  be  used  for  bedding  should  be  gradually  haidened 
