The century book of gardening; a comprehensive work for every lover of the garden (1900) (20400998998)

Title: The century book of gardening; a comprehensive work for every lover of the garden
Identifier: centurybookofgar00cook (find matches)
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Cook, E. T. (Ernest Thomas), 1867-1915, ed
Subjects: Gardening
Publisher: London, The Offices of "Country life" (etc. )
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library



Text Appearing Before Image:
114 THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. from 4in. to 6in. It is by some held to be merely a variety of M. sylvatica. While upon the subject of the Myosotis, the New Zealand Forget-me-not (Myosotidium nobile) may be mentioned. This fine plant succeeds well in the South- West of England, where, grown with the protection of a wall, and with its root-stock covered with sea-sand during the winter, it throws up great heads of bright blue white- margined flowers in the late spring, some of the flower stems being 2ft. and more in height, while the glossy cordate leaves often exceed I ft. in diameter. Myrtle. The Myrtles will be described in the tree and shrub chapter. Narcissus, The (Daffodils).—The Narcissus is essentially the flower of the spring in our English gardens. Brilliant as are the varied colours of the Tulips, and showy as aie the massive spires of the Hyacinths, standing in serried array, their blooms are suggestive of exotic extraction, which, though rendering them worthy occupants of the prepared bed, unfits them for the battle for existence under natural surroundings, such as the wild Lent Lilies successfully wage year by year, crowning the lush green of English orchards with a coronal of pale gold. Varied are the heights attained by the different members of the Narcissus family, ranging from the 3m. of the diminutive N. minimus to the tall, 2ft. flower scapes of Maximus and Grand Monarque. The blooming period is a lengthened one, commencing, in warm corners of the South-West Coast, towards the end of Januarv, when N. minimus unfolds its tiny golden trumpets, and extending till late in May, when, in shady gardens, the double, white Poets'Narcissus, with its Gardenia-like blossoms, is at its best. Though Narcissi are well adapted for planting in the border, many varieties are equally at home when naturalised in the grass, under which conditions, with their setting of green turf, they are seen to the best advantage. When thus naturalised by the thousand they present a charming picture, a grass)' glade filled with a goodly company of white Star Daffodils (N. Leedsi) being a sight to remember. As pot plants the Narcissi are as useful as the Hyacinths and Tulips, 8in. pots planted with half-a-dozen bulbs of the stronger-growing varieties making a fine show. In planting it should be remembered that the earlier the bulbs can be procured and put into the soil the better. August is none too soon. Late-planted bulbs must necessarily lose much of their vigour by being kept out of the ground so long, and the longer the period of root growth, the stronger should be the flower spikes. As regards soils, one that is fairly retentive of moisture is more suited to the requirements of the Narcissus than a light staple that soon dries up. Bu bs succeed well in deep and fairly heavy loam, while the friable peat and disintegrated granite of the Scilly Isles prove eminently adapted to their culture. Manure must be used with great care, and should on no account come into contact with the bulbs. Fresh manure is fatal if used at planting-time, the best time to use manure being the spring. Old stable manure may be dug in and the ground cropped with a summer crop of other flowers, Geraniums and such-like. The soil will then be in condition for the bulbs in autumn. On rich loamy, rather moist soils stable manure should never be used for Narcissi, only on light hot, rather dry and sandy ground. It is then used not as a stimulant, but to act as a sponge for the retention of moisture, and, in consequence, should be put low down, say at a depth of from 6in. to 12m. The best all-round manure is crushed bones put in with the bulb at planting-time at the rate of 4cwt. to the acre, lAoz. to the square yard, or basic slag applied at the rate of 7^oz. to the square yard. In addition to this, use on hot, dry soils in autumn after planting sulphate of potash as a surface dressing at the rate of ;oz. to the square yard ; this holds moisture during the spring and early summer, and also gives colour to the flower. It should lie applied annually Forcing in the way of subjecting the bulbs to strong heat should never be practised with the Narcissus, though thv.- flowers may be obtained many weeks in advance of their ordinary season by a judicious method of culture. To attain this end, pot or plant the bulbs in boxes, as early as they can be obtained, certainly not later than
Text Appearing After Image:
NARCISSI IN THE GRASS.