294 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  '-7,  1900. 
CARDEN,  GKEANINCS 
Tomato  Zilster’s  Prolific. — One  of  the  best  Tomatoes  we  have 
grown  this  year  is  Lister’s  Prolific.  We  have  tried  several  varieties,  bub 
this  has  proved  the  best.  In  pots  it  was  one  of  the  earliest  to  ripen,  a 
free  setter,  with  medium  sized  fruit,  which  are  preferred  rather  than 
large  ones  in  private  places.  The  colour  is  of  a  bright  scarlet.  Planted 
in  an  inside  border  it  has  produced  an  excellent  crop,  many  of  the 
clusters  having  twenty-five  to  thirty  fruit  on,  hanging  down  like  ropes 
of  Onions.  For  myself  I  should  say  it  is  an  ideal  Tomato  for  either 
the  private  or  market  grower. — J.  B. 
materials  for  Forming:  Vine  Borders. — The  present  is  a  much 
better  time  to  cut  turf  than  after  it  has  been  soaked  by  the  cold 
autumnal  rains.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  pare  or  plough  it  oS  and  leave 
for  a  few  days,  especially  in  the  presence  of  clear  days  and  frosty 
nights.  This  causes  larvae  to  pass  from  the  cub  part  in'^o  the  soil 
beneath.  The  top  2i  inches  or  3  inches  of  a  pasture  where  the  soil  is 
a  good  friable  loam  is  suitable  for  Vines,  and  should  form  the  staple  of 
the  compost.  Place  it  in  narrow  ridges,  sprinkling  a  mixture  of  kainib 
and  basic  cinder  phosphate  in  equal  parts  at  the  rate  of  2  ozs.  per 
square  yard  of  reversed  turves  as  they  are  placed  on  the  heap,  and 
have  the  top  ridged  so  as  to  throw  off  the  wet.  The  lime  of  the 
phosphate  powder  will  act  favourably  on  the  vegetable  matter,  and  the 
kainib  on  destructive  larvae,  while  affording  a  supply  of  potash  and 
magnesia,  which  are  essential  for  Vines,  and  never  over-abundant  in 
turf.  Stacking  in  narrow  ridges  will  aid  nitrification,  as  the  formation 
of  nitrates  in  the  turf.  Let  the  site  bo  open  and  dry. — G.  A. 
Celmlsla  IVIunrol. — The  New  Zealand  flora  is  productive  of  many 
curious  and  ornamental  plants  suitable  for  cool  greenhouse  culture,  and 
of  the  number  the  subject  of  this  note  is  one  of  the  most  interesting. 
Altogether  there  are  about  thirty  known  species  of  Celmisia,  three  or 
four  only  of  which  are  known  in  gardens.  This  is  a  dwarf-growing 
plant,  forming  a  dense  tufc  of  leaves  6  or  7  inches  high.  The  leaves 
individually  are  very  curious.  They  are  strap-shaped,  very  tough,  and 
7  or  8  inches  long.  The  upper  surface  is  deep  green,  sparingly  clothed 
with  white  silky  hairs ;  the  under  surface  is  clothed  so  densely  as  to 
form  a  thick  felt  with  buff-coloured  matted  hairs.  The  flower  heads 
are  borne  singly  on  scapes  8  inches  long  well  above  the  leaves ;  the  ray 
florets  are  white,  the  disc  yellow  ;  each  inflorescence  is  2  inches  across. 
Occasionally  in  old  plants  a  short  stem  is  produced  which  becomes  quite 
woody.  A  mixture  of  peat  and  sand  forms  a  suitable  compost,  and  as 
little  fire  heat  as  possible  should  be  given.  A  free  circulation  of  air  is 
necessary  to  prevent  damping.  A  plant  producing  several  flowers  may 
be  seen  in  the  south  wing  of  the  temperate  house  at  Kew. — R.  G.  K. 
Buddlela  varlabllls. — This  is  a  plant  which  should  be  in  every 
garden,  as  it  is  easily  grown,  and  makes  a  grand  display  of  flowers 
during  August.  It  was  introduced  from  China  a  few  years  ago,  and  to 
those  who  have  seen  it  under  favourable  conditions  it  has  given  every 
satisfaction.  There  are  two  forms  of  it  in  cultivation,  one  of  which 
forms  a  shrub  4  to  5  feet  high,  and  the  other  a  prostrate,  spreading 
plant,  which  covers  a  large  area  in  a  very  short  time.  Neither  of  these 
has  been  distinguished  from  the  other  by  a  varietal  name  as  yet,  though 
it  would  save  confusion  in  the  future  if  the  upright  form  were  taken  as 
the  type,  and  the  other  called  B.  v.  var.  prostrata.  In  flower  and  leaf 
the  two  forms  are  identical,  but  the  erect  one  is  by  tar  the  better  of 
the  two,  the  other  being  spoilt  by  carrying  its  flowers  on  or  near  the 
ground,  where  they  get  covered  with  dirt  by  the  first  shower.  It  is 
more  suitable  for  a  rockery  or  a  spot  where  it  could  grow  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  display  its  flowers  to  the  best  advantage,  and  also  protect 
them  from  injury.  B.  variabilis  is  hardy  enough  in  the  London  district, 
but  in  the  Midlands  and  North  would  require  a  certain  amount  of 
shelter  in  winter.  It  is  easily  propagated  by  cuttings  or  seeds,  the 
latter  being  freely  produced,  and  ripening  in  favourable  seasons.  The 
small,  tubular  flowers  are  borne  in  terminal  racemes  6  inches  to  a 
foot  in  length,  and  are  of  a  lilac  colour,  with  an  orange  coloured  throat. 
The  leaves  are  opposite,  ovate  lanceolate  in  shape,  4  to  6  inches  long  by 
about  2  wide,  deep  green  above,  and  covered  beneath  with  a  fine 
whitish  pubescence.  The  edges  are  coarsely  serrated. — C. 
Fleldla  australis. — Nearly  one  hundred  years  ago  this  Australian 
plant  was  in  cultivation  in  English  gardens,  and  at  the  time  when  New 
Holland  plants  were  the  rage  appears  to  have  been  fairly  common. 
Now,  however,  with  many  other  interesting  and  beautiful  plants 
common  in  that  time,  it  has  almost  ceased  to  exist  in  other  than 
botanic  gtrdens.  Although  not  so  showy  as  some  other  Australian 
plants,  it  is  interesting  and  worth  growing.  It  forms  a  mass  of  semi- 
woody  shoots,  which  sometimes  assume  a  climbing  habit,  has  a  large 
quantity  of  small,  very  hairy  leaves,  atid  greenish-white  Bignonia-like 
flowers,  2  inches  long,  and  freely  produced.  It  thrives  well  in  a  cold 
house,  potted  in  a  mixture  of  peat  and  loam  with  plenty  of  sand. 
Cuttings  of  half-ripe  wood  root  readily.  D. 
Alpine  Gardens. — A  mass  of  greenery  dotted  over  with  withered 
blooms  is  largely  true  of  our  alpine  gardens  at  this  season,  so  that 
every  additional  autumnal  flowering  plant  is  doubly  welcome.  This 
is  equally  true  of  herbaceous  types  in  contradistinction  to  the  prostrate 
habit  of  hardy  plants,  as  implied  by  the  term  alpine.  In  this  category 
the  Rudbuckias  are  augmented  by  fulgida,  whose  value  lies  in  the  period 
of  flower,  as  it  is  not  so  effective  as  Newmani  or  speciosa.  Amongst 
the  prostrate  types  the  Androsaces  are  looking  gay,  especially 
lanuginosa.  This  plant  thrives  apace  in  Blackheath,  Glontarf,  in  fact 
it  grows  like  a  weed;  one  clump  of  it  measured  at  least  4  feet  through. 
Senecio  pulcher  has  flowered  exceedingly  well  this  season. — A.  O’N. 
Bonble  Roman  IVarclssus. — One  of  the  earliest  of  bulbous 
flowers  for  forcing  is  the  double  Roman  Narcissus,  and,  fortunately^ 
it  is  the  easiest  to  manage  of  the  family.  Any  light  soil  will  do  to 
grow  it  in,  and  the  usual  way  is  to  put  three  bulbs  into  a  6-inch  pot, 
or  two  in  a  5-inch  pot,  and  a  dozen  of  such  bulbs  may  be  had  for 
half  a  crown  or  less.  After  potting  give  a  good  watering  and  set  the 
pots  in  some  out-of-the-way  place,  where  the  heat  of  the  sun  cannot 
reach  to  stimulate  the  bulbs  to  make  leaves  before  they  have  made 
roots,  for  that  is  the  great  secret  in  forcing  all  kinds  of  bulbs.  The 
pots  should  be  at  least  half  filled  with  roots  before  you  can  see  the 
bud  of  leaves,  so  to  speak,  in  the  centre  of  the  bulbs.  This  double  Roman 
Narcissus  roots  fast,  and  when  the  roots  are  working  freely  into  the 
mould,  you  may  take  the  pots  to  some  convenient  place  for  flowering. — B. 
Clove  Carnations. — The  Clove  Carnation  is  an  old  favourite,  and 
deservedly  so.  Every  garden  ought  to  have  several  clumps  of  this 
sweet-smelling  flower ;  it  is  much  hardier  than  the  Carnation,  and  is 
therefore  more  easily  kept  and  managed.  To  increase  it,  it  requires 
layering  exactly  in  the  same  way  that  the  Carnation  does;  but  this 
operation  may  be  done  much  later  in  the  year  on  the  Clove.  Layers 
of  it  will  succeed  even  yet,  but  I  do  not  advise  delaying  layering 
beyond  the  end  of  this  month.  If  a  year-old  plant  sends  out  five  or 
six  or  more  shoots,  and  these  are  layered  now,  and  those  layers  are 
left  on  the  stool  to  bloom  next  year,  the  quantity  of  flowers  will 
be  very  large.  The  Clove  Carnation  is  an  excellent  plant  for 
bedding,  the  dark  colour  contrasting  finely  with  the  lawn,  or  even  its 
own  light  green  foliage  ;  flowering  at  this  season,  too,  when  the 
Carnation  and  Picotee  are  nearly  out  of  bloom,  renders  it  very 
desirable. — A. 
Rubus  phoenlcolaslus. — Though  this  cannot  be  recommended  aS 
a  profitable  fruiting  plant,  it  is  worthy  of  cultivation  as  a  decorative 
subject,  it  having  a  distinct  and  pretty  appearance  when  in  flower  and 
fruit.  A  native  of  China  and  Japan,  it  would  probably  be  none  too 
hardy  far  north  of  London,  and  is  seen  to  the  best  advantage  in  the 
milder  climate  of  the  south  and  west.  It  is  easily  cultivated,  a 
moderately  rich  well  drained  soil  and  a  sunny  position  suiting  it  besL 
If  trained  on  a  trellis  or  wall  it  soon  covers  a  large  space,  and  looks 
extremely  handsome  when  in  fruit.  It  should  be  pruned  in  the  same 
manner  as  an  ordinary  Raspberry,  cutting  out  the  old  wood  and 
assisting  the  young  growths  as  far  as  possible.  It  is  free  growing,  a 
good  plant  making  f^om  eight  to  twelve  or  more  stout  shoots,  each 
7  or  8  feet  long,  in  a  season.  The  stems  and  a  great  part  of  the  leaves 
are  covered  with  long,  slender,  reddish,  glutinous  hairs,  which  make 
the  plant  sticky  and  unpleasant  to  handle.  The  leaves  consist  of  three 
oval  or  rounded  leaflets,  which  are  coarsely  serrated,  and  of  a  deep 
green  above,  and  glaucous  white  beneath.  The  flowers  are  in  short 
racemes,  and  are  small,  white,  and  inconspicuous.  The  sepals  are 
covered  on  the  outside  with  the  sticky  hairs  so  common  to  this  plant, 
and  as  soon  as  the  fruit  is  set  close  over  it,  and  do  not  open  again  until 
the  fruit  begins  to  ripen.  The  fruit  is  of  a  deep  ruby  red  colour  when 
ripe,  is  sticky  to  the  touch,  and  of  a  pleasant  flavour.  Birds  are  very 
partial  to  it. — Kewite. 
