May  19,  1904. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
425 
The  Flower  Garden,* 
Its  Sunmiep  Embellishment. 
Now  tliat  the  time  lias  ariived  M'hon  the  heauty  of  Hya- 
ciiitlis,  liilips,  and  .spiinir  bedding  in  general  has  waned,  and 
the  task  of  clearing  the  flower  beds  is  in  contemplation,  the 
gardener  looks  at  the  .stock  of  plants  he  has  been  busily  propa¬ 
gating,  and  thinks  out  his  best  methods  for  effective  ariange- 
ment,  and  how  they  shall  differ  fi'om  those  of  the  previous 
season,  as  frequent  lepetition  or  adherence  to  one  plan  is  apt 
to  become  monotonous.  The  projier  hardening  oft  of  plants 
that  have  been  subjected  to  a  greenhouse  temiierature  is  a 
matter  of  the  gi'eate,st  importance,  and  must  be  very  carefully 
aud  gradually  caiaded  out,  even  perfectly  hardy  plants  that 
have  been  raised  in  heat  feeling  the  check  very  greatly  if 
prematurely  exposed  to  the  cold  nights  often  experienced  at 
the  beginning  of  the  summer  months. 
PREPAR.A.TION. 
If  tlie  weather  is  favourable  in  the  last  week  of  this  month, 
some  of  the  most  hai’dy  jilants  inaj’  be  bedded  ont,  but  if  this 
can  safely  be  done  or  not  will  depend  on  the  climatic  conditions 
and  \\hether  the  garden  is  situated  in  an  exposed  or  sheltered 
position.  Three  weeks  ago  1  saw  Lobelia  planted  out  in 
liOndon.  Needless  to  say,  the  foliage  has  assumed  a  blueish 
tint,  the  result  of  the  cold  weather  we  have  lateh'  been 
experiencing. 
So  soon  as  the  beds  have  been  cleared,  they  should  be  pre- 
l^ared  for  their  summer  occupants  by  being  deeply  dug  and 
manured,  if  necessary,  although  a  too  liberal  use  of  manure  is 
injudicious  where  such  plants  as  Pelargoniums  are  to  be 
employed,  as  it  has  a  tendency  towards  the  production  of  too 
lampant  growth  and  vei’y  few  flowers.  Another  mistake  fre¬ 
quently  made  by  amateurs  is  in  purchasing  plants  such  as  Pelar¬ 
goniums  (or  Geraniums,  as  they  are  more  commonly  called), 
.Marguerites,  and  Fuchsias  in  full  bloom,  and  expecting  them 
to  last  throughout  the  .season.  Such  jilants  when  offered  for 
sale  are  generally  at  the  height  of  their  beauty,  and  fresh 
growth  has  to  be  made  before  they  again  begin  to  bloom,  so 
that  part  of  the  sea.son  is  lo.st  before  the  energies  of  the  plants 
are  fully  renewed.  Better  by  far  to  purchase  plants  that  are 
making  .some  growth,  and  not  flowering  so  freely,  unless,  of 
coui'.se,  immediate  effect  only  is  desired.  It  is  almost  usele.ss, 
and  at  the  same  time  unreasonable,  to  expect  a  gardener  with 
insufficient  help,  space,  and  convenience,  to  produce  and  main¬ 
tain  such  displays  of  flowering  plants  as  are  to  be  seen  in  many 
of  our  first-cla.ss  parks  and  public  gardens,  as  the  methods  often 
adopted  in  such  places  can  only  be  compared  to  high  class 
examples  of  furnishing,  a  sufficient  quantitj*  and  variety  being 
grown  to  renew  the  appearance  of  the  beds  from  time  to  time 
throughout  the  season.  I  mention  this  incidentally,  as 
po.ssibly  some  gardener  who  reads  this  has  been  told,  “  Your 
flower  beds  are  nothing  like  some  we  have  seen,”  when  what 
the  man  has  been  aiming  at  after  all  is  something  to  cut  from 
to  supply  innumerable  bowls,  which  are  kept  filled  for  table  and 
hou.se  diecoration.  Among  annuals  suitable  for  the  twofold 
purpose  of  being  useful  to  cut  from  and  helpful  towards  making 
an  effective  outdoor  di.splay  in  the  summer  months,  the  fol¬ 
lowing  may  be  mentioned  : — 
Suitable  Annuals. 
Asters,  in  their  varied  tall  and  dwaid  forms,  the  single  types 
of  which  are  also  becoming  most  populai'.  These  are  easily 
laised  from  .seed  sown  about  the  middle  or  end  of  March  in 
slight  warmth. 
Carnations  of  the  ^Marguerite  type,  ivliich  are  easily  raised 
from  seed,  and  give  a  quick  return  in  tlu'  wealth  of  flowers 
afforded. 
Coreopsis  (some  of  which  are  perennials),  which  may  be 
sown  out  of  doors  in  April  in  places  they  are  intended  to 
occupy ;  or  for  earliest  work  they  may  be  sown  under  glass 
and  then  pricked  off. 
Centaurea  margarita,  or  Giant  White  Sweet  Sultan,  which 
can  be  treated  likewise.  The  annual  Chrysanthemums  are 
effective  in  masses,  and  useful  to  cut  from.  Single  Dahlias  can 
be  raised  from  .seed,  and  flower  the  first  season  if  the  weather  is 
favourable  for  the  plants  to  develop. 
Dianthus  chinensis,  in  its  double  varieties,  and  also  in  its 
single  or  Hedewiggi  section,  provide  .some  of  the  most  beautiful 
flowers  we  have,  and  are  often  overlooked.  The  red  and  white 
IMall  ows  are  utilisalile,  and  Sweet  Peas  can  be  grown  in  clumps 
in  and  around  the  borders  of  the  flower  garden.  These  occupy 
*  At  a  meeting  of  the  St.  Barnabas,  Sutton,  and  District 
Horticultural  Society,  held  on  the  evening  of  May  10th,  when 
many  members  and  their  friends  were  pre.sent,  an  intere.sting 
lecture  was  given  by  Mr.  F.  James,  from  IMe.ssrs.  J.  Carter  and 
Co.’s  well  known  Holboin  seed  establj.shment,  the  subject 
chosen  being  ” 'Phe  Idower  Garden;  Its  Summer  Kmliellish- 
ment.” 
one  of  the  foixunost  positions  for  general  utility  and  effective¬ 
ness. 
Phlo.x  Diiimmoncli  may  be  treated  in  jnecisely  the  same 
manner  as  Asters.  Some  gardeners  prefer  to  plant  these  in 
twos  and  threes,  as  the  plants  have  not  quite  such  a  thin  and 
.straggling  appearance  as  if  planted  singly.  Scabious  are  useful 
in  mixed  borders  or  for  cutting.  Of  Stocks,  the  annual  and 
ten-week  varieties  should  be  sown  in  spring  in  boxes  or  fi'ames, 
and  tiansplanted  to  obtain  the  be.st  results. 
Few  plants  are  more  generally  popular  than  the  Verbena, 
as  it  makes  a  first-cla.ss  bedder,  and  is  brilliant  in  colours  and 
useful  to  cut.  It  requires  to  be  sown  in  heat  in  spring,  and 
afterwards  pricked  off  into  boxes  in  cool  frames,  where  it  can  be 
properly  hardened  before  planting  out.  The  new  and  effective 
vaiiety.  Miss  M’illmott,  must  not  lie  forgotten,  being  in  great 
demand,  and  is  grown  from  cuttings. 
Some  Perennials. 
Then  there  are  perennials,  vdiich  can  be  raised  from  seed, 
and  which  increase  in  strength  and  floriferousness  every  year, 
such  as  Aquilegias,  oriental  Poppies,  Gaillardias,  Larkspur, 
Phloxes,  Lychnis,  Ac.  These  are  only  a  few  of  the  more  imposing 
and  elegant  genera  that  can  be  named.  Then,  besides  the  stock 
of  plants  which  have  lieen  kept  on  greenhouse  shelves  and 
carefully  guarded  against  fro.st.s  throughout  the  winter,  we  have 
effective  foliage  plants,  which  are  used  to  enhance  the  sub¬ 
tropical  effect  of  the  flower  garden,  and  these  should  be 
informally  arranged.  Palms,  Dracmnas,  and  Musas  may  bo 
plunged  in  the  grass  and  turfed  over  as  if  they  had  grown 
there  ;  also  large  specimens  of  flowering  plants,  such  as  Aga- 
panthus  umbellatus.  The.se  look  very  pretty  treated  in  this 
manner,  especially  if  associated  with  Liliums  and  tall  blue  and 
w  hite  Campanulas,  with  a  suitable  background  of  green  foliage. 
Should  one  intend  to  form  a  collection  of  Liliums,  it  must 
be  borne  in  mind  that  the  conditions  under  which  Lilies  are 
found  growing  in  their  native  habitats  differ  widely.  Some  are 
found  in  light  soils,  others  in  swampy  iilaces,  although  the 
majority  will  thrive  in  a,  mixed  border  of  herbaceous  plants, 
provided  the  soil  is  suitable.  The  best  position,  however,  is 
in  beds  or  borders  devoted  to  Rhododendrons  and  other  ever¬ 
green  and  deciduous  shrubs  of  low  growth,  or  on  the  fringe  of 
the  shrubbery  border,  \yhen  grown  in  a.ssociation  with  shrubs 
the  advantages  are  obvious.  The  tender  growths  are  protected 
from  frosts  and  ca.sterly  winds;  the  ground  is  kept  cool  bv  the 
screen  of  leafage  when  the  growth  is  being  made,  and  the 
roots  of  the  shrubs  keep  the  .soil  moderately  dry  when  the 
season’s  growth  has  been  completed.  Such  sjiecies  as  Lilium 
longiflorum,  candidum,  and  speciosum  succeed  best  in  light 
soils;  while  Lilium  auratum,  Martagon,  and  tigrinum  succeed 
best  in  deep  loam. 
Gladioli  can  also  be  appropriately  planted  in  the  variou.-i 
bends  of  the  shrubbery  border,  and  will  add  greatly  to  the 
interest  and  beauty  of  the  garden ;  while  for  covering  dead 
tree-trunks  Clematis  montana  has  few  rivals.  Planted  in  turfy 
loam,  enriched  with  decomposed  manure,  it  is  a  most  vigorous 
and  rajiidly  growing  climber. 
Climbers. 
IMany  climbers  can  be  planted  now,  as  they  are  generally 
obtainable  in  pots,  and  can  be  placed  in  the  positions  they  are 
intended  to  occupy  without  unduly  di.sturbing  the  roots.  I 
remember  a  rectory  garden  in  "Warwickshire,  where,  in  beds 
surrounded  by  a  broad  expanse  of  turf.  Clematises  of  the  Jack- 
mani  type  were  grown,  and  trained  over  large,  umbrella-shaped 
trellis  supports.  The.se  formed  huge  masses  of  colour  when  in 
full  bloom,  and  were  highly  effective. 
But,  returning  to  the  more  tender  bedding  plants.  Cannas 
in  a  favourable  season,  and  with  liberal  treatment  as  regards 
manuring  and  wateiing,  are  a  striking  and  showy  class  of 
plants,  and  among  them  the  scarlet  Alphonse  Bouvder  i.s  one 
of  tlie  best  of  its  class.  They  are  easily  propagated  by  division, 
and  every  dormant  eye  that  is  potted  in  sixties,  with  a  portion 
of  root  attached,  ancl  placed  in  bottom  heat  about  the  end  of 
February  or  tlie  beginning  of  March,  will  make  a  plant.  Then, 
again,  they  do  not  require  much  room  for  storage  through  the 
winter  months,  but  can  be  treated  in  precisely  the  same  manner 
as  Dahl  ias. 
D.vhlias  and  Celosias. 
Now,  with  regard  to  Cactus  Dahlias.  Has  anyone  ever  seen 
them  planted  in  the  turf,  neatly  staked,  and  producing  their 
flowers  in  abundance  towards  the  end  of  summer f  If  it  is 
decided  to  grow  them  in  this  manner,  thev  .should,  of  course,  be 
planted  with  an  eye  to  sub.sequent  height  and  colour.  Holes 
should  be  got  out  in  the  turf  about  across  and  18in  or  2ft 
deep.  The.se  should  be  filled  with  well  enriched,  turfy  loam, 
and  after  they  are  jilanted  a  little  gras.s  seed  should  be  scattered 
round  the  plants  and  raked  in — that  is,  if  any  Inire  ground  is 
left  in  view — but  this  will  hardly  be  possible  if  the  turf  is 
neatly  relaid.  The  following  comprise  a  suitable  .selection, 
specially  made  for  their  decorative  value  ; — Amos  Perry crini- 
son  ;  Britannia,  pink;  F.  A.  Wellesley,  rosy  scarlet;  -T.  M.  Mil- 
