Lilies For Pots

Several of the Liliums are deservedly popular plants for pot cultivation, as they make a charming display in conservatories. Candidum is sometimes grown, though the old "Madonna Lily" is perhaps more generally planted in the garden. Kraetzeri is a lovely white pot Lily, as it is of dwarf, branching growth and flowers freely. It is a variety of Speciosum, which has spotted flowers, and is also well worth growing. Auratum and its fine varieties, Wittei and Rubro-Vitta-tum, are frequently grown in pots. Longiflorum and its variety, Harrisi (Bermuda Lily) are popular - the latter in particular. British-grown bulbs of most of these Lilies can be bought in October, but the buyer must expect to have to pay a higher price than for the imported bulbs which are on sale at mid-winter. They may be potted and plunged like Hyacinths.

Pansies And Violas From Cuttings

There is perhaps no better month in the year for propagating Pansies and Violas by means of cuttings than October. As a rule, plenty of side shoots, with a few roots attached, can be found on the plants at this time of year, and if they are taken off and inserted firmly in sandy soil in a box they will eventually make nice plants. They may or may not form fresh roots before winter, but whether they do or not (and it is just as well if they do not), they will grow early in spring, and form good material for planting out in April. The boxes may be placed in a frame, as no ordinary winter is likely to see injury done to the cuttings by frost. In exceptionally severe weather a mat may be placed over the glass.

Propagating Pentstemons And Snapdragons

Both of these splendid hardy plants are thoroughly worthy of wide cultivation, and although they are readily raised from seed, and flower the same year if sown early, the fact that it is often desired to keep a particular variety true to colour and habit turns attention to propagation by means of cuttings. Both Pentstemons and Antirrhinums strike from cuttings, and plants so raised are identical with their parents. The cuttings should be of young growths free from flower buds, but this is more important in the case of Pentstemons than Snapdragons; the latter will not refuse to grow merely because they have buds. The cuttings should be inserted firmly in sandy soil in boxes, and put in a cold frame now; they will make nice plants for spring planting.

Fig. 79. - Striking Pansy Cuttings.

a. A suitable cutting from the base.

b. How to insert the cuttings.

c. Line for the next row.

d. Sand at base of the cutting.

A Frame Of Violets

It is delightful to be able to pick Violets, large and sweet, throughout the winter. Can this be done with regularity? In the main, yes. It is true that in a severe winter there may be spells when there will be very few flowers, but it is not likely that there will be many days on which none can be found. In almost every large garden there is a range of frames, sometimes extending to half-a-dozen, devoted to winter Violets, but in smaller places it is possible that only one frame can be spared. Well, such provision is not to be despised. Let us make the most of it, and hope for a fair reward in the way of winter perfume. If we have strong plants of our own growing - possibly struck from divisions or runners late in spring - well and good; if not, we can buy them from a florist, but in the latter case we must stipulate for strong forcing plants. We want a steady heat beneath our plants, and this we can get from a mixture of stable manure and leaves. They should be trodden into a firm mass about thirty inches deep after the manure has been turned a few times, and surfaced with a foot of loamy soil. The Violets can be planted about nine inches apart. With watering as required, and ventilation in favourable weather, the plants will make and maintain healthy growth, and will throw up a steady succession of flowers. They are sometimes attacked by insects, notably red spider, but not, as a rule, when enough water and air are given. Among double varieties, Mrs. W. W. Astor and Marie Louise are great favourites. Princess of Wales is a charming single.

Fig. 80. - Striking Pentstemon Cuttings.

a. Basal leaves to be removed.

b. Cuttings inserted in a small frame.