GARDENING NOTES. [By Experience.l THE FLOWER GARDEN.

Evening Post, Volume LIX, Issue 112, 12 May 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

GARDENING NOTES. [By Experience.l THE FLOWER GARDEN.

All the Spring-flowering bulbs should be got in immediately, .after this time they will be losing strength, as the top will begin to grow before the roots, which is the reverse of what it should be. Anyone wishing, to grow really good Pansics should plant them now, using ground that has been well worked and liberally manured ; the plants have time to strengthen during the winter, and are sturdy, with a good root-hold by the time they flower in Spring, and Autumngrown plants give the best flowers of the year. Other tiung& that are best planted now include Polyanthus, Primroses, Carj nations, and Heuchera Sanguinea. This last is ,a most beautiful and homewbat rare plant, which no garden should be without. It is of a dwarf branching habit, and Nbears in profusion spikes of coral-coloured flowers of striking beauty ; it is perlectly hardy, grows well in any ordinary garden soil, and is easy to increase. Huimemania Fumarisefolia, is a new plant with beautiful lasting flowers of a clear yellow colour. The growth and general appearance is like the Escholtzia, but lar more beautiful. Alpine Auriculas are very beautiful plants lor edging beds, and it is strange that they are not more extensively used. They form a grand contrast with the ordinary Primrose and Polyanthus, and are equally hardy. The Auricula does best on a sandy loam, and it is only necessary to see that they do not lack moisture during the driest months of the year to ensure success. Salvia Violacea is at the present time covered with its bright vio- | spikes, which, contrasted with its grey I foliage, form a striking picture and will continue to do so tor a long time to come. Lovers of the Arum Lily should certainly go in for its congeners Little Gem and Richardia Alba Maculata. The latter is a small growing variety with lovely white flowers, and leaves beautifully variegated with white ; no garden or green house should be without this lovely plant. A most striking object just now is Erica Autumnalis. a mass of deep pink flowers. Hypericum Mosereanum, a j grand variety of the well-known St. | John's Wort flowers, are still numerous. Pernettya Mucronata is worth having, being just now covered with carmine berries us large as a small marble, and is re- ' markably pretty. 1 should like to go I on with this subject, for it is astonishing what a number of Avinter-noAvering plants there are of which many readers ot these notes know nothing ; but I promised to | mention a feAv good trees and shrubs of ' large? groAVth than the foregoing. Styrax Japonica is a handsome tree of fino globular habit, and is covered in Spring with spikes of Avhite flowers. Griselma Littorahs Variegata is a fine form of the native broad leaf, very fine and very hardy. Of the Retinosporas, I Leptoolada, Filifera, Squarossa, and Eri1 coides are the best, and are all fit either j for the shrubbery or as specimens on the laAvn. Then there are such varieties as Abies Douglassi, Excelsa, Nordmaimiana, and beveral others. Everyone knows the Norfolk Island Pine, but its relatives BidAvilii and Cunningham^ are not so Avell knoAvn. They are fine trees, and stand the Avind well ; they are intermediate forms betAveen the Norfolk Island' Pine and the Monkey Puzzle tree. This latter is very fine for specimens and stands the fiercest southerly winds uninjured. Sequoia SemperA'irens is similar to the AA-ell known* Weliingtonia, and is the red Avood tree Ai'hich attains such gigantic dimensions in America. Pines are well known, &o I will pass them. Acmena Floribunda is a handsome tree Avith myrtlejike leaves and flo Avers. Camphora Officinalis, the camphor laurel, Causrina Quadrivalvis is the "Sheoak" of Tasmania, with long plume-like foliage, quite distinct from all other trees. PauloAvnia Myserialis is a noble tree with broad, handsome leaves and trusses of purple iloAvers. The native Puriri is a liandsome tiee in a place Avhe're it can spread abroad to show its true habit. Many other tilings might be mentioned, but space forbids.