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FLOEIST, FEUITIST,

GARDEN MISCELLANY.

1856.

LONDON:

28, HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

INDEX TO COLOURED PLATES.

Achimenes carminata splendens, 321

„ Parsonsi, 321

Cineraria, Brilliant, 161

„ Earl Clarendon, 161
„ Emperor of the French, 161
Correa cardinalis, 225
Dahlia, Bessie, 1

,, Perfection, 1
Erica Spenceri, 97
„ Esoniensis, 97
„ Spenceriana, 289

Erica Andrewsi, 97

Fuchsia, Emperor Napoleon, 65

„ Venus de Medici, 65

Grape, Golden Hamburgh, 33
Obeliscaria pulcherrima, 321
Rhododendron Hookeri, 193
Rose, Souvenir d'Elise, 257

„ Lord Raglan, 353
Yanda t. flavescens, 129

„ t. formosa, 129

INDEX TO WOODCUTS.

Abies Menziesii, 77
„ Pinsapo, 269
Aqua-vivana, 212
Earwig trap, 88
Eugenia Ugni, 42
Garden plans, 17, 181, 372
Garden implement, new, 340

Glass case for a wall, 148
Ouvirandra leaf, 50
Pinus Hartwegi, 121

,, I^ambertiana, 299
Pteris aspericaulis, 83
Thujopsis borealis, 245
Wardian cases, 212

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ILalexOS.

FLORIST, FRUITIST, AND GARDEN
MISCELLANY.

THE DAHLIA.

(Plates 108 and 109.)

With the commencement of a new volume we present our readers
with coloured illustrations of two of the leading Dahlias exhibited
last season as seedlings, and to be sent out in spring next for the
first time. Both of these have obtained first class certificates at
the National Floricultural Society, and are generally esteemed as
two first class flowers by our best growers, as Avill be seen from
the returns given in another part of the present number.

Bessie was raised at Bath by Charles Sainsbury, Esq., whose
name is familiar to Dahlia growers as the raiser of Beeswing, Sir
R. Whittington, Duke of Wellington, Bob, and several other
varieties. Bessie is not only the finest yellow variety that has
come under our notice, but is the best model — i. e., possesses the
greatest number of good points — we have in any Dahlia, when at
its best, having a smooth evenly cupped petal, and great depth.
The only fault we could at any time discover was a want of firm-
ness in the centre of a few of the blooms exhibited. It, however,
should be added that it was shown in very large numbers, — six,
twelve, and twenty-four blooms at a time, and that frequently.

Perfection is the production of Mr. John Keynes, of Salisbury,
and is a good companion to Sir F. Bathurst, Rachel Rawlings,
and others by the same raiser. It was first named Eugenie, and
is best known as Orange Perfection, but it is in future to be called
Perfection. This variety was raised from Morning Star, and
partakes of the colour of that old variety, bright shaded orange.
The petal is very good, cupped, and beautifully arranged ; we have
heard it described as a little too flat and low in the centre. In
this respect it partakes a little of the character of its parent,
as well as in colour. It is, however, a very great improvement on
Morning Star, as will be evident from the representation we
have given.

NEW SERIES. VOL. Vr., NO. LXl. B

THE FLORIST.

To take prominent places and obtain first class certificates in
such a prolific season for good flowers as 1855 has been,
testifies greatly in favour of the two varieties we have now
figured.

HORllCULTURAL SOCIETY.

The late proceedings of this Society, in reference to its circular, and
subsequent sale of plants, have given rise to rumours, \vhich are rife
everywhere, that the Council intend to break up the Society. It is
therefore our duty to bring the subject forward, with the view of
eliciting some opinion from those of our readers who may be Fellows,
on the present critical position of the Society, and, if possible, to avert
so disastrous an end to this excellent institution.

That the Society has been declining in public estimation for several
years past has been painfully evident to all who have watched its
course and are interested in the pursuits of horticulture ; and yet, on
looking at the state of that science in the British empiie generally, never
at any former period has it been so flourishing, or attained a posi-
tion to enable it more to support an institution calculated to assist
materially in developing the practical principles of horticulture, and, by
experiment and research, of showing the theory on which those prin-
ciples are founded. We think we are right in asserting that, as the
interest felt in all matters relating to gardening has never been stronger
than at the present time, a proportionate encouragement would have
been given to this Society, had not some cause existed which has pre-
vented that cordial co-operation of the horticultural body which in all
societies is necessary for successfully carrying out specific objects. We
may here notice the success which has attended the Koyal Agricultural
and other societies founded for the promotion of objects similar to those
of the Horticultural Society, as well as to the numerous local horticul-
tural societies which on the whole are well supported throughout the
country ; and yet, in the case of the London Horticultural Society,
commenced under the most favourable circumstances, and supported for
many years by all the rank and influence of the country, and professing
to carry out objects second to none in importance, whether regarded as
adding to the resources of the soil or furnishing examples of horticul-
tural skill, actually failing in the midst of ad\ antages such as never
presented themselves so favourably before.

_We of course do not believe that any apathy exists in the public
mind in regard to tlie Horticultural Society as an institution ; on the
contrary, we believe that it would receive the cordial and energetic
support of every admirer of a garden, if the principles and objects of
the Society had been fairly carried out ; and we are therefore com-
pelled to look to the ruling body, as being partly, if not wholly, the
cause why this has not been done. It is no part of our present intention
to point out how, step by step, these fundamental principles of the
Society have been sufiered to become obsolete ; nor yet to give an

JANUARY. 3

opinion through whom or by what means so unfortunate a result has
been arrived at ; but as the difficulties of the Society are now acknow-
ledged by its executive to exist, it should be the duty of all interested
in the welfare of horticulture, whether Fellows of the Society or not, to
come forward and rescue this institution from its present position, and
reinstate it in its original sphere of usefulness.

Since the above was written, we have heard that in addition to their
having disposed of the collection of plants, the Council also intend to
dispose of the Society's Herbarium. Without questioning the right of
the Council in this matter, we think it would be a most impolitic step,
unless the rumour we noticed at our commencement is true, and that
the entire abandonment of the gardens is intended. Under these cir-
cumstances, we hope some influential Fellows of the Society will take
steps for calling a special general meeting, to ascertain what the plans
and intentions of the Council are ; and, if necessary, to appoint a
committee of inquiry, to examine and report on the actual position of
the Society's affairs, and the causes which have led to their present
embarrassment ; and likewise to suggest such alterations in the
governing body and management as will more effectually promote the
prosperity and usefulness of the Society in future.

According to the bye-laws of the Society a special general meeting
can only be held while Parliament is sitting, and therefore we hope
that this will be fixed for as early a day in February as will be con-
venient for Fellows to attend ; and considering that the peculiar financial
affairs of the institution must have been well known to the Council
during last session, we are surprised that no steps were taken to bring
the matter before the Society at that time.

Since the above was in type, we learn that a special general meet-
ing has been convened for the 5th of February next. Let us hope that
it may be a full one, and that the result may be the placing the Society
in a position to effectually carry out its original intentions.

FERNS AND LYCOPODIUMS.
Of all modern favourite plants, I think there are none more desernng
of general cultivation than Ferns and Lycopodiums. To take them
individually, there is much that is interesting in most of them ; and a
group of nice healthy specimens, tastefully arranged, presents the most
pleasing variety.

There are many of the exotic species which look unsightly when
cramped up in small pots, but where sufficient space can be given them
to develope their fronds, they aie exceedingly beautiful. The species
are so numerous, and varied in their habits, that it is possible to fill
any given space it may be convenient to devote to their culture,
whether it be a " Wardian case," or a " Crystal Palace."

For the winter decoration of sitting rooms, &c., the Ferns are found
exceedingly useful, particularly where the means for having a large

B 2

4 THE FLORIST.

quantity of " forced" plants is limited; with a few Roses, Hyacinths,-
Narcissus, &c., tliey are well adapted to mix; and for larger groups,
with the addition of such plants as Euphorbia fulgens, Justicias, &c.,
not only will less plants be required, but the effect will be better, and
the trouble less, as it obviates the necessity of using so much moss for
rsufacing the parts.

Of Howernig i)lants, there is no class which possesses that richness
of colours so general amongst the ( 'rchids ; but, unless large and well-
grown specimens, they have a stiff, naked appearance; but a plant even
with only a few flowers will look well when placed amongst Ferns, their
characteristics being so opposite as to naturally require the assistance
of each other.

Ferns and Lycopodiums are, most of them, of easy culture : most of
the Ferns delightmg in a fibrous compost of loam and peat in equal
proportions, with a small quantity of leaf-soil and sand. For the Lyco-
podiums a lighter composition is necessary ; some nice fibrous peat,
sphagnum moss, and leaf-soil in equal quantities, with a little sand, will
grow them luxuriantly.

During their growing season (from February till August), they
should be carefully shaded Irom bright sunshine, and the atmosphere
kept moist, at a temperature of from 55° to 70°, for most of the tro-
pical species. During the autumn and winter they may be subjected
to a much lower temperature, provided they have properly matured
their growth; to ensure this, they must be inured to light and air fr m
the early part of September, when a temperature of about 40° to 45°
will be quite warm enough. If they are required fir winter decoration,
of course it will be necessary to subject them to different treatment, in
order to maintain their fronds in a fresh green state.

Many of the British species, and others that are hardy, from various
parts of the world, are equally beautiful when seen as large specimens,
either in pots or planted out.

J. Shuter.

REVIEW OF THE PAST YEAR.

Amidst the din of war, and consequent pressure on the energies of the
country which the calamities of war entail, it is satisfactory to record
the fact that, hitherto, the pursuits with which this Journal is con-
nected have felt none of that depression which might reasonably have
been expected. On the contrary, although both Horticulture and Flo-
riculture are professions especially of a peacefid character, and in a
great measure dependent on a high state of civilization and luxury, yet
beyond the severe trials caused by the income tax and the high price
of food, no diminution has taken place in the interest felt for gardening
in general ; and we may safely affirm that the nursery trade (a sure
index of the prosperity of Horticulture), has not been so brisk for years
past as in the one just closed. While this is true for general nursery
stock, the demand for all the useful and popular plants of the day has

been unusually great ; so much so, that, with many kinds, a number
of orders remain on hand, for want of stock to supply them. This
not only affords evidence of the increasing cultivation of ornamental
plants, but shows likewise, that, notwithstanding our somewhat strait-
ened position, the admirers of Flora have yet wherewithal to follow up
the cultivation of their favourite plants ; and if this be true with the
admirers of the Carnation, the Fink, Pansy, Dahlia, and Hollyhocks,
it is no less so with those who patronise the more rare productions of the
greenhouse and stove. At the various public sales of Orchids during
the past season, the prices given for all the leading kinds have been
high, and warrant the conclusion that there is a great demand for really
good varieties, and that their cultivation is increasing. Nor are we
surprised at this ; for, assuredly, no class of plants presents such end-
less variety, such brilliant colouring, or such delightful fragrance, as
this interesting group ; and now that their culture has been reduced to
a simple line of practice by the writings of Williams and Lyons, &c., their
management may be taken in hand without much fear but that with
common care, and an avoidanc3 of quackery, all will go on well.

If there is one class more than others which has fallen in public esti-
mation, it is the Cape Heath, which for a few years back has not been
so popular as its merits really deserve. This has arisen chiefly from
a want of variety ; or, in other words, from a general sameness when
viewed in the mass, and perhaps for that love of showy colours which
seems to have taken a strong hold on the public taste, to the evident
detriment of the more delicate, but equally beautiful classes of plants.
Chinese Azaleas, Pelargoniums, and one or two other groups, are cer-
tainly more effective for forming a display of colour at the great exhi-
bitions, but they la'k, on closeriaspe^tioa, that neat habit of growth
and exquisite form and colouring so peculiar to the family of Heaths.
But as we shall soon witness the exhibition of varieties of more decided
character, and which will contrast well with each other, we hope these
old and deserved favourites will soon regain their former position in
public favour.

Calceolarias, as exhibition plants, are losing ground ; they are best
treated as annuals, and are therefore sscarcely worth iiaming. On the
contrary, Gloxinias have made a decided advance ; the best strains of the
erect blooming kind are very beautiful, and will be grown by every one
who can command a warm pit. When in bloom greeenhouse treatment
will suit them.

Variegated-leaved plants are much sought after, and deservedly so ;
for this interesting class is invaluable, either for mixing up with other
plants, or for forming single groups — one of the handsomest new ones
we figured at p. 65.

If we may judge of the interest taken in Ferns from the number of
works now issuing from the press to describe and illustrate this family,
we should say they are really at the head of the list ; they are, how-
ever, worthy all that is said in their praise, and, as forms of graceful
beauty, superior to many plants cultivated solely for their flowers.

Plants remarkable for fine foliage have likewise many admiiers.
We shall not soon forget how admirably these plants worked up

b THE FLORIST.

with Orchids, in forming those magnificent groups exhibited at the
Crystal Palace Show.

Of plants generally, as exhibited at our leading Exhibitions, we have
chieHy to notice a reduction in the size of the specimens, to their mani-
fest improvement as examples of culture. We have all along advocated
that mere size was not at all times a fair criterion of a plant's excellence ;
and although fur a few years it enabled one or two large growers to
maintain the lead, we see by the plants which have been exhibited this
past season how much superior they are when shown with luxuriant
healtliy foliage down to the rim of the pot, and the size and clearness
of bloom which belong to plants in the freshness of youth.

Of the Fruit which has been exhibited, if it has not surpassed the
productions of former years it has, to sr.y the least, been fully up to
the mark, and has bean brought forward in much larger quantities.
The Cayenne Pines are becoming (now they are more known) great
favourites both as summer and winter fruits. In Melons some of the
new one promise well ; ]\Ir. Fleming's Hybrid and one from Mr.
McEwen, of Arundel, were the best we tasted. Of the new Grapes, the
Stockwood Golden Hamburgh will be an acquisition. Mr. Spencer, of
Bowood, has likewise exhibited a seedling Muscat, which promises to be
valuable ; and we hear of another early white Grape being raised at
Brighton Of other fruit, several specimens of the Stanwick Nectarine
have been exhibited, with recommendations which spoke highly of its
qualities ; we confess, however, that our own opinion is unfavourable to
this ever proving a really useful fruit. Of the Salvvay Feach — a very
late variety, introduced by Col. Salway from Florence — we hear from
excellent authority that not only is it valuable for its lateness, but that
it is likewise a delicious melting variety. Of the new Strawberries of
1854 which have been proved, we have only seen Omar Pacha, Filbert,
and Sir Charles Napier, which have answered expectation ; we hear,
however, that Sir Harry has turned out well.

Space forbids our proceeding further. A notice of vegetable produc-
tions shall be given hereafter.

G. P.

THE EXETER NURSERIES.
It is much to be regretted that these large establishments lie so far
away m the west of England, beyond the reach of a great number of
visitors from various parts, to whom the great metropolis is the chief
source of attraction. The city of Exeter, as most of our readers aie
aware, is situated in the west of England, and is about 200 miles on
the Great Western Railway. We very recently visited the two Exeter
nurseries, and as that of Messrs. James Veitch and Son was the first
to which our attention was directed, we shall first detail a few observa-
tions respecting that establishment. This is one of the largest and best
kept nurseries in the kingdom, in which will be found full collections of
all the principal classes of plants in cultivation. Here you find growing

luxuriantly such plants as Piptanthus nepalensis, Eleagnuses, Pitto-
sporums, and a number of shrubs and plants that are treated as
greenhouse plants in the more rigid north. Devonshire is indeed a
favoured locality, and a number of shrubs and plants live out during
the winter that, with us, and especially further north, require consider-
able shelter, and in some cases greenhouse protection. In the open
ground is to be seen growing freely large patches of the rarer sorts of
Arbutus, Hollies, Photinias, and many of that better class of shrubs
too seldom seen and cultivated ; and a large collection of Conifers are
grown here, and we particularly noticed a very beautiful specimen of
Araucaria imbricata, with the same regular symmetrical form as the
famed Dropmore specimen, only not so large. How such an exquisite
tree must tempt many to become a purchaser of one or more of this
noble plant! Many fine specimens of Conifers are to be seen here, and
our attention was attracted by two varieties of Cupressus Lambertiana,
one throwing its shoots in a horizontal direction, and the other
maintaining an erect and close growth. Both varieties are handsome,
and appear to be equally hardy. A small plant of Picea amabilis,
which promises to be a noble companion for Picea Nordmanniana and
nobilis ; and small plants of Picea grandis and bracteata, both of which
give promise of great beauty, are also planted out. No doubt these
three species will prove very valuable additions to our hardy orna-
mental Conifers.

Close by the nursery is the private residence of Mr. Veitch, in the
garden belonging to which are some new species of Conifers, of which
we hope to give a description at some future time. Here, in a sheltered
nook, close by the dwelling house, the beautiful Eugenia Ugni had
ripened its fruit, which is of the size of a large black Currant. It is our
impression that the Elugenia Ugni is destined to become an important
plant, and that it will be much valued and cultivated for its fruit, for
when peifectli/ ripe, the flavour bears a close resemblance to a good
Pine-apple ; in fact, it is a rich aromatic and indescribable flavour,
being something between that of a good Pine and the Hautbois Straw-
berry, and even in gathering this rich odour is left on the fingers. In
the Camellia house is a large plant of the Lapageria rosea trained over
a portion of the house, and had then several of its rich scarlet blossoms
fully expanded. It is a most valuable and beautiful climber, and
seems to do best in a soil composed chiefly of peat and fibrous matter.
This plant is not sufficiently known yet, for on its first introduction
many were puzzled as to the treatment it should have, and in some
instances it was treated as a hothouse plant, and in others as a green-
house plant. A cool and shaded situation seems to suit it best, and
when planted out in a border in a Camellia house, or in a cool and
shady conservatory, it will no doubt do well. In the same house
Fuchsia pendulina was in full bloom, and the Camellias were in most
luxuriant health, and covered with a profusion of plump buds such as
are not often seen. Geraniums are grown very well here, a house
being devoted entirely to specimens. We noticed at the outside end
of one of the houses a large plant of Fuchsia Dominiana, that had been
flowering freely, and was now cased for the winter. This is really a

8 THE FLORIST.

valuable winter-blooming conservatory plant, but somehow or other it
is sadly mismanaged at times. It should be grown freely early in
summer, and then checked, and its wood ripened early in autumn, so
as to induce freedom of blooming in winter. Two or three houses
devoted expressly to new and rare plants, many of which are not yet
proved, are of the greatest interest, as well as one or two pri-vate
gardens, in which new shrubs, herbaceous plants, &c., are planted for
proving. In one of these, we noticed the true Embothrium coccineum,
which has a broad leaf, and was well set with flower buds and is quite
hardy. We have however seen another species with a narrow leaf,
under the same name, but the latter seems to be Embothrium salici-
folium, and is not liardy. We also noticed a new hardy herbaceous
plant named Phygelium capense, which of course was not in bloom at
that late season of the year, but we were told it vvras a welcome addition
to this very useful class of plants, as was a new scarlet hardy Delphi-
nium cardiiiale, the entire stock of which is in the hands ot Messrs.
Veitch and Son. Will not this plant indeed be a valuable acquisition ?
The beautiful little Leptodactylom cahfornicum was blooming freely,
and seen.s to require the same treatment as Roellia ciliata, and is a
delightful winter blooming plant. In the Orchid house the charming
Utile Sonerila margaritacea, with its spotted foliage and pale pink
flowers with bright yellow stamens, was blooming freely, and the
various species of Ansectochilus were growing freely in a much drier
atmosi here, and with less nursing, than we generally see adopted, and
whicli seems to be quite unnecessary. In this house was the beautiful
Ouvirandra fenestralis, or lattice plant, immersed in tepid water, and
growing luxuriantly. What an interesting plant this is ; the leaf being
so totally different to that ot other plants, and a woodcut of which shall
be given in our next number.

Close to the principal entrance of Messrs. Lucombe, Pince and Co.'s
home nursery, is the original Lucombe Oak, now a noble tree, the
trunk of which is several feet in circumference. At the entrance to the
show house are two superb pyramidal Irish Yews in tubs, and in the
show house, which is 120 feet in length by 18 feet in width, w-as a
display of flowers such as we seldom meet with at this dormant season
of the year. Several fine plants of Fuchsia Dominiana w'ere in full
bloom, as well as Primulas, Chrysanthemums, and other blooming
plants. Several plants of the Pampas Grass in bloom were gi'ouped
among other things, and produced a very pleasing effect. Close by is
the Camellia house, a noble structure, 240 feet in length by 24 feet in
width, and filled with splendid specimens of Camehias loaded with buds.
These are all carefully thinned to one bud at the point of each shoot.
Passing through the Camellia house we enter upon the Rockery, situated
in a circle, the diameter of which is about 150 feet, and enclosed by a
thick Laurel hedge, several feet in height. Here is to be found a piece
of rockwork, arranged with truly artistic skill. What was once an
ordinary basin for a fountain, has, by the skilful arrangement of large
blocks of stone, been converted into rocks and caverns, between which a
stream of water passes gently on. A natural ruggedness is thrown over
the whole, and various plants suitable to the locality are charmingly

JANUARY. 9

interspersed. It would shame half of our landscape gardeners of the
present day. At one side of the rockwork is a splendid specimen of the
majestic Pampas Grass, about 10 feet in height, and possessing 12 fine
spikes of silvery feathers glistening in the sunshine. What a noble
ornamental hardy plant for a lawn, with its handsome drooping foliage !
Here, too, is a noble specimen of Pinus insignis full 40 leet through,
and about 50 feet in height, a fine specimen of Pinus Sinclairi, 8 teet
high : Pinus macrocarpa, 15 feet high, and a beautiful specimen of
Biota japonica, 8 feet high. On the rockwork are Desfontania spinosa,
Skimmia japonica, and other new and ornamental plants. By the side
of a long walk, reaching nearly half a mile, are superb specimens of
Pinus insignis, Abies Douglasi, Picea Nordmanniana, and various other
valuable Conifers, planted in large tubs composed of stout pieces of
wood, banded tolerably close together so as to admit of a partial egress
of the roots, and to f^nsure the safe removal of the specimens, as many
of the Pinus insignis and other conifers are of considerable height and
size. At the end of the walk is a small Pinetum, in which we observed
one of the finest specimens of Picea pinsapo we have ever met with.

This nursery is remarkable for the immense stock of Conilers it
contains. There are large quantities of Araucarias, all handsome well
grown plants from 2 to 6 or 7 feet in height, large quantitiess of Pinus
Cembra, Juniperus sinensis, Irh^h Yews of all sizes ; and, in short the
finest stock of Conifers in the kingdom. Great attention has been paid
to standard Portugal Laurels, of which a quantity is to be seen with
clean straight stems, and symmetrically trained heads. Ours was a
hurried visit to both of these fine establishments, and we hope on a
future occasion to give further details respecting many new plants that
are in both nurseries, and that we had not time to notice. Passing
through the houses, and specimens, Heaths and green house plants are
well done and extensively grown here. We noticed the fragrant and
beautiful Luculia in lull bloom, as well as the graceful winter blooming
Thyrsacanthus rutilans, with its pendent racemes of scartet blossoms.
Here also was a good plant of the handsome Bouvardia longiflora, with
its clear white Jasminum like flowers. It is a charming winter
blooming plant, and is very valuable for bouquets ; there is a fine col-
lection of Orchids here, several of which were in bloom, but unfortunately
we had not time to take notes respecting them.

CONSIDERATIONS ON SOILS.

There is no subject of so much interest and of such vital Importance
to mankind, as a knowledge of the nature, constitution, and origin of
soils ; the causes of diversity in mineral character, and of their natural
productiveness. When we consider that the corporeal frame of every
organised being requires a certain amount of food to keep up its
healthy action, and that the products of the soil supply this food, and
that the amount of this supply will be in proportion to the fertility of

10 THE FLORIST.

the soil — its importance is at once apparent. And yet, how completely
ignorant of the subject were mankind in general until lately !

That concentrated force of scientific discoveries and mechanical
inventions which so wonderfully increased the productive powers of so
many mechanical arts and manufactures at the close of the last and
the commencement of the present century, also set in action the wheels
of horticulture and agriculture, thereby augmenting the productive
powers of the soil in a ratio proportionate to the degree of scientific
knowledge brought to bear on the subject. To the practical application
of chemistry and geology are we principally to ascribe the rapid
progress made of late years in every department of gardening and
liarming. Geology informs us that the surface of our globe consists
everywhere of a more or less solid mass of rock, covered with a layer,
generally thin, of loose material ; that the upper part of these loose
materials forms the soil.

The geologist has examined those rocks which lie beneath the soil,
and has discovered them to be very different in appearance and com-
position— some are sandstones, others limestones, and so on. These
rocks, when exposed to the action of the weather, are seen gradually to
crumble away ; in this manner are soils naturally formed, and they
consequently assume the character of those rocks. This at once
accounts for the diversity of soils. Armed with a practical knowledge
of this science, we shall be able to ascertain the nature of the soils we
cultivate, and shape our practice accordingly. But though geology tells
us the general character of land in a district — throws much light on the
nature and origin of soils, and on the causes of their diversity — still it
is chemistry which tells us that soils, of whatever kind, are made up
of two parts — an organic and inorganic part. It is chemistry that tells
us that vegetables are made up of two parts — an organic ani inorganic
part. It is chemistry which tells us that though vegetables not only
may, but actually do, derive a considerable portion of their organic part
from the atmosphere, they derive the whole of their inorganic part from
the soil. Chemistry also tells us that those soils which contain these
inorganic parts in greatest abundance are naturally the most fertile.

It is not necessary that we all become professed chemists to be able
to ascertain the quantities of the different inorganic constituents in a
soil sufficiently accurate at least for all practical purposes. " The
instruments," says Sir H. Davy, "required for the analysis of soils are
few and but little expensive. They are a balance capable of containing
a quarter of a pound of common soil, and capable of turning when
loaded with a grain ; a wire sieve sufficiently coarse to admit a mustard
seed through its apertures ; an Argand lamp and stand ; some glass
bottles ; Hessian crucibles ; porcelain or Queen's ware evaporating
basins ; a Wedgewood pestle and mortar ; some filters made of half a
sheet of blotting paper ; a bone knife ; and an apparatus for collecting
and measuring aeriform fluids." " The chemical substances or
reagents required for separating the constituent parts of the soil are
muriatic acid, sulphuric acid, pure volatile alkali dissolved in water ;
solution of prussiate of potash and iron ; succinate of ammonia ; soap
lye, or solution of potassia ; solution of carbonate of ammonia, of muriate
of ammonia, of neutral carbonate of potash, and nitrate of ammonia."

JANUARY. 1 1

The professed chemical analyst now-a-days requires more things
than those enumerated by Sir H. Davy. But even with these much
may be done. If l>y the appHcation of a chemical test any of the salts
of iron are detected, they can be decomposed by lime. If we find an
excess of silicious sand, it is improved by the application of clay and
calcareous matters, and so on.

The physical properties of soils are also a most important considera-
tion, and must be attended to, as well as the chemical qualities, if we
are to cultivate successfully. By an attentive study of these sciences —
by obtaining a thorough knowledge of vegetable physiology, and by
being intimately acquainted with everything in any way appertaining
to vegetable life, gardeners will raise themselves to the rank of profes-
sional men. And if to these they unite a practical knowledge of their
business, it will then matter little to them whether they are called upon
to manage a garden or an estate ; they will have within themselves
resources equal to any situation. Nor will it matter to them what
part of the habitable globe they may have to exercise their caUing ;
they will be able to adapt their practice to any circumstances.

M. Saul.

WINTER FLOWERING PLANTS.

Flowers, always desirable, are more than ever so at this season, when
the lack of them in the open garden is not much compensated for by
what is obtained by our ordinary greenhouses and stoves. It is winter,
and plants feel that it is so ; and were it not that we m.w-a-days grow
many plants from southern climes, which come into bloom naturally at
this season, our display of winter flowering plants would by no means
be so effective as it is. I append descriptions of a few I grow myself,
for your journal.

Euphorbia fulgens. — This is a stove plant from Mexico, throwing
out long flexible shoots, sparingly furnished with leaves ; the flowers
(as they are commonly called) are in clusters of from four to six, on
short footstalks produced from the joints or axils of the leaves for a con-
siderable length at the upper end of the shoots. The flowers (or
coloured involucre) are of a bright scarlet colour, and exceedingly
showy ; and when the plant is well grown we have nothing so brilliant
at this season. This plant is a bad one to grow either as a bush or
trained, in consequence of its straggling habit. Well ripened wood will
strike freely in bottom heat in February or March, after blooming.
When potted, plunge them close to the glass in a slight bottom heat,
and stop them back ; they will soon form three or four lateral shoots,
and if small plants only are required, these should be trained on boards
and then upright, so as to form nice shaped specimens ; five or six-inch
pots will be large enough for them, and after the young wood has
grown five or six inches the plants may be removed to a light part of the
stove ; when fully exposed to light, and near the glass, they should be
kept comparatively dry and cool during October and November, to ripen
the summer growth ; after which, by again placing them in the stove.

12 THE FLORIST.

they will quickly come into bloom, and continue gay throughout the
winter. It' larger specimens are required, the spring struck plants
must have each slioot stopped again in July or August, and at the same
time an additional shift. Keep them close and warm for a week or
two, to induce them to break ; and when the young shoots have grown
a few inches the plants may be taken to the stove or any house with a
moderately warm temperature, expose them to the sun, and give them
air freely ; here the young wood will ripen. This st cond stopping and
late growth rarely produce blooming shoots, nor is that the object.
When winter arrives let the plants be watered very sparingly, and they
need only have a ve y moderate heat, as they will bear a low tem-
perature, if kept dry. In March repot the plants, shaking from the
roots all the old soil. Half peat and loam, with a good portion of small
charcoal mixed with it is a good compost for them. The shoots should
be carefully tied out and cut back to six inches. If the previous
stopping has been well managed, a good bottom will be obtained, firom
which, with care, well formed plants can be grown. Place them in the
stove close to the glass ; they will soon break, and when the young
shoots are six inches long, stop these, which will be in April. The
plants may now be shifted into their blooming pots, eight inches, and
the shoots carefully tied out as they grow. To prevent the young wood
becoming elongated, let the plants, during the entire period of their
growth, be both fully exposed to the light and kept as near the glass as
possible. During the summer water freely with liquid manure ; but
water (as before noticed) should be gradually withheld towards the end
of September, and the plants placed in a drier and cooler house, to
ripen their wood. Treated in this way. Euphorbia fulgens is really a
most attractive object. I have had bushes three to four feet high, and
three feet through, the ends of each shoot being thickly studded with
their bright-coloured bracts. For the winter decoration of the con-
servatory or drawing-room there is nothing more beautiful than this.
Placed in a vase, and surrounded with Ferns, to hide the lower parts of
the plants, where there is a deficiency of bloom, it forms a most
effective group, and at the same time it is equally valuable for cutting
from.

Erantliemum pukhellam. — This is another free-growing stove plant,
producing flowers of the brightest blue at mid-winter ; hence it is
extremely valuable for mixing with other plants, blue flowers being
very rare at this season. There is no better place to grow this during
the early part of the season than a common Cucumber or Melon pit.
After blooming, form the shoots into cuttings, place them singly in
thumb pots, and plunge them in a brisk bottom heat ; in a month they
will be ready to pot off" into three-inch pots, when they should be again
plunged and kept near the glass ; by May they will be nice stocky
plants, and will want repotting, which should be into 6-inch pots ;
plunge as before, and stop the plants, when they will soon grow into
bushy specimens, and by June or July may be transferred to the stove.
Loam, peat, and a little leaf-soil will suit them best, as they are strong-
rooted plants, and will require liberal help with liquid manure. They
should be always kept near the glass, and require a stove heat all through

JANUABY. 13

tlieir growth. Towards Christmas the heads of flowers will appear, and
the plants will continue producing a succession of bloom for two or three
months, if taken care of, and well supplied with manure water.

Jiuticia carnea and carnea major may be treated in the way
described for Eranthemum, but as they are free growers larger pots
must be used for them ; tliey require plenty of light and an abundance
of water when growing. By management these may be made to flowers
for several months in the year ; they produce large spikes of deep rose
or flesh-coloured flowers, which are very showy and useful at this
season ; and as they are easily grown, a stock for winter blooming should
always be prepared.

Gonoclinium ianthinmn is a coarse-growing stove plant, flowering
likewise in the winter months, when its pale blue heads of flowers —
resembling the well-known Ageratum mexicanum — form a useful con-
trast for mixing with other jilants, or as single specimens. This Cono-
clinium may be treated the same as recommended for the Eranthemum,
except that it will require more pot-room and plenty of manure-water
when growing. Expose them to plenty of light, and frequently syringe
them overhead, to keep down red spider. Towards September they
should be placed in a cooler house, with a drier atmosphere ; this will
check their growth, and induce them to set for blooming, which they
will readily do when placed in a warmer house again.
(To be continued.)

THE PEACH.

Op all wall fruits the Peach and Nectarine are considered the most
valuable in this country; and as their cultivation is very often a failure
with amateurs, I send you a few hints on their treatment, with a hope
that it may prove of benefit to your amateur readers.

In the first place, all remarks made as to the cultivation of the Peach
will apply to the Nectarine as well, unless special reference is made to
the latter.

Your talented correspondent, Mr. Saul, and other contributors, have
written such practical good sense on the advantages of thorough drainage
to all fruit tree borders, that I need only refer your readers to their
articles on the subject generally. For the Peach in particular it
should be ample, unless the subsoil consists of dry rock or gravel ;
excavate the side of the border three feet, and fill up with eighteen
inches of rubble stone, brickbats, mortar rubbish, clinkers, or, in fact,
any materials that will act as drainage. The bottom of the borders
should slope up from the front upwards to the wall, and as I do not
care for a border more than ten feet wide, a rise of twelve or eighteen
inches may be allowed, taking the greatest rise for districts which are
unfavourable from too much wet or a cold climate. We premise one
or two good drains will run lengthways beneath the rubble to carry away
the water, which, in heavy rains, will percolate through the drainage,
as well as to remove water from the subsoil. Over the drainage place

14 THE FLORIST.

any odd litter, leaves, or loose spray from the clipping of hedges, with
the object of preventing the soil from washing down into the drainage,
which should, by the bye, have the finer portions placed uppermost.
The excavation for the border should be so managed that when the
border soil is placed on the bottom it should be eight or ten inches at
least above the level of the front of the border ; this will throw the
border considerably above the general surface, a point of much
importance especially — as we noticed above — where the climate is un-
favourable. So much for drainage ; I must next proceed to notice soil.

In many places this is a great drawback to Peach growing, and
parties planting this fruit, sooner than be at much expense in procuring
proper compost, plant the trees in common garden soil, which most
likely has been annually enriched for years with manure, and the
result is that in two or three years the trees are in that state of
luxuriance that no after management can save them, and they fall a
prey to canker or gum, or the equally fatal blight — i. e., the black and
green aphis. This is no over-coloured statement. If all the Peach
trees which are yearly planted had proper care taken in providing them
with a suitable soil, why one-third or less of the number would suffice.
But I think I hear some one say, How are the nurserymen to live ?
I hope they will forg've me for naming them, but, if a gentleman had
not to buy so many young Peach trees as formerly, he has the cash for
something else in the nursery way. Besides, did more success attend
Peach growing than is now the case, many others would follow the
example ; and I doubt not, instead of losing a customer they would
gain by the result.

The Peach will grow in almost any soil, excepting those very sandy,
or of a stiff clay. Some other soils are inimical to the Peach, as those
which contain a large proportion of iron. I have found that the Peach
is a very short-lived tree, when growing on the upper greensand
formation ; no doubt owing to the soil containing particles of the silicate
of iron. The soils most suitable are calcareous loams, especially when
of a marly texture ; the yellow loams found round London, and in
most of the south-eastern counties, the red loams of the new red sand-
stone ; in fact, colour is not so essential as consistency, and any soil
between yellow and a dark brown inclining to peat will answer if it
contain a sufficiency of clay or marl to come under the term loam. If
possible, it should be taken from pasture land, spit deep, and can
generally be procured from commons, moors, or waste land, selecting it
from high ground, as preferable to low, the latter being sometimes
soured from springs or lying damp. When this is unavoidable, a little
fresh lime should be thrown over the under-sides of the turves when
stacked. When the loam is got together stick it up in narrow ridges,
and in a couple or three months it will be fit for use. But fresh loam,
as I have described, cannot be obtained, and therefore a substitute must
be provided ; the cleaning out of ditches, and parings of roads, &c., are
within every one's reach ; these should be mixed with soaie heavy loam
from arable land, or common garden soil which has not had much
manure ; these should be well mixed together, and if the compost
appear too close and heavy, a small quantity of stubble or Bean-

JANUARY. 15

straw may be strewed over the compost when it is put in the
border, and which may be further improved by a small quantity of gritty
road scrapings, which is a capital material for improving strong clayey
composts, and may be added to the turf with advantage, if it is too
heavy. The mixing and turning over of these ingredients should
always be done when in a dry state ; the best time to collect the dif-
ferent soils is the autumn, and once or twice in frosty weather, they
should be turned over. This is not absolutely necessary with turves,
unless of heavy texture and sour ; but where the scourings of ditches,
&c., are used, the mixture is much improved by exposing it to the
action of the weather. By the beginning of March it will be ready for
filling in the border.

A Gardener in the Country.

THE LATE MR. GROOM'S TULIPS.

Who has not heard of the famed bed of Tulips grown at Clapham
Rise by the late Mr. Henry Groom, which we once heard described as
resembling Tottenliam Court Road in length? This bed, as well as
the extensive collection of breeders, &c., is now distributed, having been
sold by auction by Messrs. Protheroe and Morris on the 30th October
last. It may not be known to some of our readers that Mr. Groom
died suddenly last summer of disease of the heart.

To Mr. Groom's perseverance we are indebted for the introduction of
many beautiful varieties of the Tulip, the result of forty years' practice
in hybridising and improving this chaste flower. Many of Mr. Groom's
best seedlings, however, are only known to those who have had the
opportunity of' seeing them growing at Clapham Rise, as Mr. Groom
did not exhibit, and the high prices quoted for them prevented their
being generally distributed. The last priced catalogue published by
Mr. Groom in the autumn of 1854, contained three varieties at the
enormous figure of one hundred guineas each, namely, Duchess of
Cambridge, Princess Mary of Cambridge, and Miss Eliza Seymour, all
of Mr. Groom's own raising. There is also one at fifty guineas, twelve
at twenty-one guineas each, and four at ten guineas each We need
not add that such prices for a single root would prevent their being
distributed to any great extent. We expect to see some of the varieties
improved by being grown away from Clapham, others may not be
so good by the change, as Mr. Groom's method of culture was to starve
them into purity. No one can admire a delicately marked pure flower
more than ourselves, but we must have an average sized flower with it.
If they must be dwarfed into pigmies to give them that waxy
appearance we should be afraid of them ; but having grown several of
Mr. Groom's varieties we are of opinion they will stand good growth
without becoming foul. For instance, we have seen much finer
specimens of Groom's Queen Victoria grown in other collections than
we have ever seen in Mr. Groom's bed. Mr. Groom adopted the plan
of mixing large quantities of coarse river sand in the soil.

As regards the sale, the prices averaged but low, there being but a

16 THE FLORIST.

poor attendance of purchasers. The best bed consisted of 235 rows,
seven in a row, which gives 1645 bulbs in the long bed alone. They
were sold in lots of one row each, the highest lot fetching 60s. only lor
the seven roots. There were many very fine and valuable seedlings
sold equally low in price. There is now, therefore, a probability of the
finest of Mr. Groom's flowers finding their way into many more
collections than have hitherto contained them, at least we do not think
exorbitant prices will stand in the way. We were pleased to see that
the unnamed breeders, with a few exceptions only, fell into the hands of
one person. This will prevent confusion hereafter, as we do not want
a repetition of the Chellaston mixture again, having quite " aliases "
enough already.

We have annually inspected Mr. Groom's collection when in bloom,
and in May last we noticed as being fine, which are but little known :
— Marquis of Bristol, Orpheus, Lord Raglan, Louis Napoleon, Duke of
Newcastle, Dr. Horner, Mr. F. Perkins, Earl Stamford, and Omar
Pacha These are bizarres. The following are bybloemens : — Duchess
of Cambridge, Baron Gersdorff, Eurydice, Viscountess Canning, and
Themis. Good roses were not numerous ; Lady Grey, Fleur de Marie,
Princess Mary of Cambridge, and Miss E. Seymour were the principal
of Mr. Groom's seedlings in this class.

LANDSCAPE GARDENING. No. IV.
The accompanying plan was made for a case which may be taken as
the type of a very large class of London villa residences, comprising an
elegant and well-arranged mansion of comfortable dimensions, and a
pleasure-ground of two or three acres, well furnished with magnificent
shrubs. On one side of the house the coach-ring separates it from a
lawn, appropriately occupied by clumps of choice shrubs. From the
next side extends a long broad lawn, fringed on each side by fine
detached specimens of large shrubs and trees ; and the third side, which
was most contracted, and unavoidably so, had, nevertheless, a very fine
distant landscape, which only required a little improving in the way of
cutting down non-ornamental trees which interfered therewith.

The weak points were — the poverty of the foreground on this side,
which was the more to be regretted, as the library and drawing-room
looked out upon it ; — the absence of the element of flower-garden, or
rather, that the beds occupied by the usual plants coming within the
meaning of the phrase, were scattered about, and most of thtm out of
sight of the house ; — and that the house itself was simply seateil upon
the cold turf, the abruptness of the connection between it and the sur-
rounding almost natural scenery being unsoftened by any transition link.

There being a slight inclination from the house, we took advantage of
this to obtain a gravel terrace, broken only by a few shrubs, some of
which were existent, and we arranged the boundary curb with reference
to them. Beneath this we extended a level platform, as a fitting place
for the parterre proper. We believe the woodcut and reference table
will explain the cut. The beds are bounded with Box, and the feathers
springing out of the volutes of side scrawls are also Box. The whole is
laid down on white shell gravel.

1. Neutral tint Heliotrope.

2. Scarlet Geranium (tall).

3. Purple Verbena.

4. Yellow Calceolaria.

5. Blue Lobelia.

6. Rose and pink Verbenas.

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXI.

7. Box.

8. Laurustinus bushes existing
8a, Ditto, planted to match.

9. Thuja aurea.
10. Taxus erecta.

WILLIAM DAVIDSON.

18 THE FLORIST.

NEW PLANTS OF THE YEAR.

(From " Edwards's National Garden Almanack," by permission of the
Proprietor.)

Abies IJookerianj. \ Californian Conifers, forming large handsome evergreen

Abies rattoiiiana. J trees. Mr. Murray.

Abutilon insiijne. A large-growing handsome flowered plant, with large foliage :
flowers white, almost covered by rich carmine veining. New Grenada. Stove
evergreen shrub. M. Linden.

Acacia Drummondii microphylla. A fine variety of a well-known handsome
yellow-flowered greenhouse evergreen shrub ; habit compact. Swan River.
Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son.

Acacia Neilli. A distinct greenhouse variety. German Gardens.

^ckmea mucronijlora. A pine-apple-like plant, with scarlet bracts and yellow
flowers. Demerara. Stove perennial. Kew Bot. Gard.

Albuca Gardeni. Dwarf, white Scilla-like flower spikes. Natal. Greenhouse
bulbous perennial. Kew Bot. Gard.

Amphicome emodi. A beautiful half-hardy perennial ; flowers large funnel-
shaped, with an orange tube and pale rose-coloured limb. Northern India.
Kew Bot. Gard.

Amygdalus pumula albo-plena [Primus Sinensis) . A fine novelty. German
Gardens.

Andromeda formosa. A fine hardy evergreen shrub, with prodigious clusters of
white flowers. Messrs. A. Henderson & Co.

Aphelandra Porteana. A very showy shrub ; bracts deep orange ; flowers
yellow ; leaves blotched with white near the centre. Brazil. Stove evergreen
shrub. M. Morel.

Apheluhdra variegala. A fine stove shrub, similar but inferior to A. Porteana ;
bracts brilliant orange ; flowers yellow ; leaves variegated. Brazil. Stove
evergreen shrub. M. Morel.

Aralia jatrophoffolia. A graceful greenhouse species. M. Linden.

Aralia juglandifolia. A hardy ornamental foliaged plant. Belgian Gardens.

Araucaria multiceps. Greenhouse variety. German Gardens.

Bambusa nigra. A fine ornamental plant for open ground ; black stems.
French Gardens.

Begonia natalensis. Neat, in the way of B. Dregii, but larger ; flower flesh-
coloured. Natal. Greenhouse tuberous perennial. Kew Bot. Gard.

Begonia picta. An ornamental variegated foliaged plant for the stove. Messrs.
E. G. Henderson & Son.

Begonia S2)lendida. A stove plant with ornamental foliage : striking and mag-
nificent. Messrs. Rollisson and Sons.

Begonia urophylla. A fine species ; leaves large, cordate with a tail ; flowers
white, in large dense panicles. Introduced to Kew from the Belgian
Gardens.

Billhergia Quesneliana. A handsome Bromeliaceous plant ; leaves externally
zoned with white ; bracts forming a densely imbricated spike, rose colour,
with scattered white wool ; the flowers violet. French Guiana. Stove per-
ennial. French Gardens.

Billbergia viridiflora. A slender-growing pine-apple-like plant, with a long
pendent raceme bearing distant deep rose bracts, and green flowers. Stove
perennial. German Gardens.

Billbergia Weiherelli. Showy ; pine-apple-like leaves, and a pendent spike of
deep blue flowers issuing from large rich scarlet bracts. Bahia. Stove per-
ennial. Kew Bot. Gard.

BolbophyUum lasianthvm. Flowers nearly two inches long; dull purple, copiously
covered with long fleshy hair-pointed bristles. Manilla. Mr. Loddiges.

Bougainvillea glabra. Interesting stove climber. French Gardens.

Bouvardia Houtteana. A fine showy plant ; flowers orange red, in crowded
terminal corymbs. Central America. Greenhouse sub-shrub. M. Van
Houtte.

JANUARY. 19

Campanula primvlceflora. Handsome ; flowers purple lilac. Portugal. Hardy

perennial. Kew Bot. Gard.
Canna Warczrwiczii. Showy ; a fine species of this stately genus; flowers deep

scarlet, bracts blood red. (Josta Rica. Stove perennial. M. Warczewicz.
Catasetum incurvum. A fine orchideous epiphyte ; flowers dull green, streaked

and stained with purple ; very large ; probably the largest among Orchids.

S. America. Stove epiphyte. M. Warczewicz.
Chcetogustra Lindeniana. A magnificent Melastomaceous shrub ; foliage neat ;

flowers large, deep crimson. K'ew Grenada. Stove shrub. M. Linden.
Chamarops palmttta. A palm, said to be hardy. French Gardens. [Possibly

the old Virginian C. palmetto.']
Clematis campanulwflora. A very distinct variety with bell-shaped flowers.

Belgian Gardens.
Coelogyne micrarUha. Flowers small, pale brown Malacca ? Stove epiphyte.
Coelogyne pluntaginea. A fine epiphyte ; flowers greenish yellow, with a white

tip, streaked with brown. India. Stove epiphyte. The Bishop of Win-
chester.
Craufurdia fasciculata. A beautiful climbing Gentian ; flowers rich violet

purple. Khasya. Greenhouse climber, probably annual. Messrs. Veitch.
Cuphea eminens. Flowers tubular, greenish yellow, tinged with red at the base.

Mexico. Greenhouse sub-shrub. M. Linden.
Cupressus Laws niana. A handsome evergreen tree, with graceful foliage,

growiug 100 feet high. Mr. Murray.
Cupressus M-Nabiana. An evergreen shrub of moderate size, exceedingly hand-
some. California. Messrs. Veitch.
Delphinium cardinale. A beautiful hardy plant ; flowers brilliant scarlet with

the petals yellow. California Hardy annual. Messrs. Veitch.
Dendrobium Amhoinensis. An Orchid with blossoms of a bright rosy red colour,

tipped with green, and freely produced in clusters up the stems. Amboyua.

Messrs. Rollisson & Sons.
Dendn bium cymbidioides. An interesting and distinct Orchid, with lemon-
coloured flowers. Java. Messrs. Rollisson & Sons.
Dendrobium cumulatum. A beautiful epiphyte ; flowers delicate transparent

pink, the lip freckled with rose colour, vanilla scented. Native country not

known. Stove Orchid. F. Coventry, Esq , and C. B. Warner, Esq.
Dendrobium MacCarlhicB. A charming epiphyte ; flowers pale rosy purple, the

lip veined with darker purple. Ceylon. Stove epiphyte. Kew Bot. Gard.
Dipladenia acuminata. Very showy ; the flowers large, bright rosy pink.

Brazil. Stove evergreen shrub. Messrs. Veitch.
Dipladenia Harrisii. Showy ; a climber with fine foliage and noble clusters of

yellow flowers. Trinidad. Stove evergreen climber. Messrs. Veitch, also

Messrs. Low & Co., Garaway & Co., &c.
Drymonia villosa. Shaggy leaves and stems; Achimenes-like flowers. Surinam.

Stove soft shrub. M. Van Houtte.
Embolhrium coccineum. Very showy ; leathery shining leaves, and rich scarlet

flowers in racemes. Straits of Magelhaens. Hardy evergreen shrub. One

of the finest plants of the season. Messrs. Veitch.
EscaUonia densa. A greenhouse plant of neat and dwarf habit. Belgian and

French Gardens.
EscaUonia pterocladon. A Pernettya-like shrub ; flowers creamy white, tinged

with red. Patagonia. A hardy free-blooming fragrant evergreen shrub.

Messrs. Veitch.
Eucharis grandifiora. Flowers of a clear white colour, and twice as large as

E. Candida. M. Linden.
Eugenia javanica. An ornamental foliaged stove plant. Java. Messrs.

Rollisson & .""ons.
Eup malia laurina. A botanical curiosity; flowers yellow, highly fragrant.

Australia. Greenhouse evergreen shrub. Messrs. Arthur Henderson & Co.
Fagra-a jn or inda' folia. A stove plant with magnolia-like foliage, and spikes of

rosy coloured flowers, with pure white mouth. Java. Messrs. Rollisson &

Sons.
Fagrcea pelegrina. A stove plant, very handsome and free-growing, producing

clusters of large white flowers. Java. Messrs. Rollisson & Sons.

^ c 2

20 THE FLORJST.

GenetyJlis Ilookeriana. A fine shrub, less showy than G. macrostegia ; figured

by ":Sir W. Hooker under the latter name, and known in gardens as G.fuch-

siuidcs. Bracts purplish red. W.Australia. Greenhouse evergreen shrub.

Messrs. Cunningham & Fraser, and E. G. Henderson & .^on.
Gciu'li/llis macrostegia. A fine shrub, known in gardens as G. tulipifera.

Bracts white, streaked with red, pendent, arranged like a tulip-flower. W.

Australia. Greenhouse evergreen shrub. It is the Hederoma tidipifenim

noticed last year. The names of this plant and the preceding have recently

been rectified by Prof. Meisner. Figured in the Florist for July. E. G.

Henderson & Son, Garaway & Co., and Low & Co.
Gilia daiil/ioides. Pretty, dwarf, and suitable for beds; flowers rosy lilac;

Hardy annual. Messrs. Veitch.
J/oya grandijiora. Similar to H. imperialis, but the blossoms are pure white.

Java. Messrs. Rollisson & Sons.
Iloya lacunosa. Curious ; the habit neat ; the flowers small, cream-coloured.

Eastern Archipelago. Stove evergreen trailer. Messrs. Veitch.
Iluntleya cerina. A lovely Orchid, of a delicate canary colour ; very showy,

and one of the handsomest species of this section. St. Paul. Messrs.

Eollisson & Sons.
Ixora affinis. Stove evergreen shrub with scarlet flowers. Amboyna. Messrs.

Rollisson & Sons.
Jxora amboinensis. A stove shrub, and truly magnificent, with orange and

scarlet blossoms, in heads eighteen inches in diameter. Amboyna. Messrs.

Rollisson & Sons.
Jacarai.da velutina. A very fine shrub with velvety leaves, and splendid blue

bell-shaped flowers. S. America. Stove shrub. M. Linden.
Juniperus pyriformis. A low tree, 10-12 feet high. California. Messrs. Veitch.
Lajmgeria rosea alba. A greenhouse climber of great merit, with large pendent

white bell-shaped flowers. Fiench Gardens.
Lepiodactylo', californiciim. A lovely dwarf sub-shrubby plant, with the

appearance of a Phlox ; flowers delicate rose-pink. California. Half-hardy

sub-shrub. One of the best plants of the season. Figured in the Florist for

October. Messrs. Veitch.
Lilium nepalense. A fine hardy bulb ; flowers yellow, or in the garden specimens

greenish, speckled inside with purple. Nepal. Horticultural Society.
Loasa Schliiniana. Curious ; flowers yellow, of singular form. New Grenada.

Half-hardy annual. M. i inden.
Locheria magnifica. A handsome Gesneraceous plant ; flowers scarlet, lined and

dotted on the face with dark, purple. New Grenada. Stove perennial.

M. Linden.
Lycaste mesochlcena. A fine epiphyte, with large green flowers having a dull

yellow lip, which is fringed on the lower half of its middle lobe. In the wild

state, it is said to have ivory-white flowers. S. America. Stove epiphyte.

M. Warczewicz.
Lychnis Sieholdii. A fine white-flowered herbaceous plant, with the habit of

L. grandiflora. Japan. Hardy perennial. M. Van Houtte.
Mandirola laiutta. A very curious Gesneraceous plant discovered by M.

Ghiesbreght in Mexico. M. Linden.
Maiidirola picturata. Handsome variegated leaves, and deep rosy lilac spotted

flowers. A hybrid stove peienuial. M. Van Houtte.
Mavdirola Roeziii. A fine Gesneraceous hybrid ; flowers large lilac ; leaves

blotched like Gesnera zebrina. Stove perennial. M. Van Houtte.
Meyeim erf eta. A beautiful shrubby plant ; flowers Achimenes-like, with a

wide tube ; rich deep violet purple, with a yellow throat. W. Africa. Stove

shrub. One of the best plants of the season. Messrs. Rollisson & Sons.
Nepenthes javanica ]iv ta. A distiuct and compact growing Pitcher plant, from

Java. Messrs. Rollisson & Sous.
Nicotiana fragrans. Fragrant white flowers, with a long slender tube. Isle of

Pines. Half-hardy perennial. Kew Bot. Gardens.
Nyviphwa Boucheana. A handsome flesh-ooloured hybrid stove aquatic, between

N. Lotus and N. rubra, raised by M. Bouche in the Berlin Bot. Gard.
Oncidium Skinneri. One- of the finest of the yellow-flowered species ; flowers

JANUARY.

21

large, brilliant golden yellovr. S. America. Stove epiphyte. Horticultural
Society.
Ouvirandra feiiestralis. A very curious stove aquatic, called the Lattice plant, the
submersed leaves consistmg merely of ribs iuterlacmg so as to resemble
lattice work. IMadagascar. Rev. Mr. Ellis and Messrs. Veitch.
Passijiora cinnabarina. A graceful climber ; flovrers pretty, red, with a coronet
of yellow threads, ^^ew Holland. Greenhouse climbing shrub. Horticul-
tural Society.
Pelargonium Endlicherianum. A handsome novelty, and a great curiosity :
flowers large, deep rose. Cape of Good Hope. Greenhouse tieshy-branched
shrub. Horticultural Society.
Peluma (var.) imperialis. A double flowering Petunia with white blossoms,

and of good habit. French Gardens.
Pinus Beardsleyi. \ Galifornian Conifers, forming large handsome evergreen
Pinus Craigiana. J trees, the former exceeding 120 ft. in height. Mr.

Murray.
Pinus Gnffithii is P. excelsa.
Pinus khasganuS is probably P. sinensis.
Pinus JUaderiensis is probably P. canariensis.
Pinus Royleana proves to be P. inops. Noticed last year. Horticultural

Society.
Pinus spinulosa is Abies Morinda.
Podocarpus saligna. An ornamental coniferous plant. Messrs. Rollisson

and Sons.
Phygelius capensis. A handsome Scrophulariaceous plant, with fine scarlet

tubular flowers. Cafl'raria. Hardy perennial. Messrs. Veitch.
Posoqueria revoluta. A fine shrub, with Laurel-like leaves, and clusters of
graceful snow-white flowers. Brazil. Stove evergreen shrub. Messrs.
Veitch.
Psychotria leucocephala. A stove plant of great merit, producing superb

bouquets of white flowers.
Rhododendron Boothii. Appears to be allied to R. Edgworthii. Bhotan.

E. G. Henderson & Son.
Rhododendron californicum. Showy, producing large heads of rosy blossoms.

California. Hardy evergreen shrub. Messrs. Veitch.
Rhododendron cilophyllum. Somewhat similar to, and discovered with, R.

Jenkinsi. Bhotan. E. G. Henderson & Son.
Rhododendron eximium. The foliage clothed beneath like R. Falconeri. Bhotan.

E. G. Henderson & Son.
Rhododendron Hookerii. Allied to R. Thomsonii, but distinguishable by the

peculiarities of its foliage. Bhotan. E. G. Henderson & Son.
Rhododendron Keiidricki. A fine species, having some affinity with R. arbo-

reum. Bhotan. E. G. Henderson & Son.
Rhododendron Keysii. A curious and pretty plant, quite unlike a Rhododendron;
flowers Correa-like, orange-red, whitish at the mouth. Bootan. Hardy or
half-hardy evergreen shrub. Noticed last year, but had not then bloomed.
Mr. Booth.
Rhododendron jdvanicum album. Similar to R. javauicum ; but with white

flowers. Java. Cold greenhouse shrub. Messrs. Rollisson & Sons.
Rhododendron retusum. A fine showy plant ; neat foliage, and orange scarlet
tubular flowers. Java. Cold greenhouse evergreen shrub. Messrs. Rol-
lisson & Sons.
Rhododendron tubiflora. A distinct species with tubular formed flowers, of a

pale rosy purple colour. Java. Messrs. Rollisson & Sons.
Rhododendron Windsori leucunthum. A fine dwarf hardy variety of R. Wind-

sori. Bhotan. E. G. Henderson & Sou.
Rhopala Jonqhei. This and the following are stove shrubs of upright habit,
with very ornamental pinnate foliage. This is one of the most striking.
S. America. M. de Joughe.
Rhopala obovata. Very elegant habit. Popayan. M. Linden.
Rhopala organensis. Very ornamental habit. S. America M. de Jonghe.
Rondeletia anomala. A beautiful stove shrub, with the appearance of a

22 THE FLORIST.

Bouvardia ; flowers vermilion, with a yellow eye. Guatemala. G. U.

Skinner, Esq. ; Horticultural Society.
Salvia asperata. Herbaceous; flowe'-s creamy yellow. Half hardy perennial.

Isaac Auiierson, Esq.
Salvia caxluacea. Curious and pretty; flowers lilac, curiously fringed. Cali-
fornia. Half- hardy perennial. Isaac Anderson, Esq.
Spalhodia pentaphylla. A Bignoniaceous plant with yellow blossoms. Kaised

from seed received from Siberia. Messrs. Rollisson & Sons.
Spat hoylottis plicata rosea. An orchid received from Java. Messrs. Rollisson

and .Sons.
Sii/lophorum diphyllum. A small Poppy-like plant with yellow flowers. N.

America. Half-hardy perennial. Kew Bot. Gard.
Streptocarpus Gurdeni. A pretty plant, with the habit of S. Rexii ; flowers

with a green tube and lilac limb. Natal. Greenhouse perennial. Kew.

Bot. Gard.
Streptocarpus polyanthus. Handsome ; the leaves few, lying on the ground ;

the flowers, in a panicle, delicate pale lilac-blue, veined. Natal. Greenhouse

perennial. Kew Bot. Gard.
Strophanthus capensis. A greenhouse shrub ; flowers yellow, funnel-shaped.

Cape of Good Hope. Messrs. Backhouse.
Talinum polyandrum. Pretty, with Oxalis-like rosy flowers. W. Australia.

A dwarf annual, related to Calandrinia. Kew Bot. Gard.
Taxus adpressa is the proper name of the shrub known as Cephalotaxus

adpressa.
Taxus Lindleyana. A low tree, with long pendulous branches. N. W.

America. Mr. Murray.
Tecoma spectabilis. A greenhouse shrub discovered in New Granada. An

acquisition. M. Lindeu.
Tecoma velutina. A flue acquisition for the greenhouse. Horticultural Society.
Thermopsis barbata. A fine herbaceous plant ; flowers large pea-like, dull violet

purple ; shaggy stems. Himalaya. Half-hardy perennial. Glasueviu Bot.

Gard.
Thuiopsis dolabrata. A fine hardy pyramidal evergreen tree. Japan. Leyden

Bot. Gard.
Thyrsacanlhus barlerioides. Handsome ; flowers slender, deep crimson, in a

close thyrse. Brazil. Stove soft shrub. M. Van Houtte.
Thyrsacanlhus Scho7nburi.kianus. A very showy plant, known as T. rutilans ;

flowers rich scarlet. Guiana and New Grenada. Stove soft shrub. M. Linden.
Tiyridia violacea. A neat bulbous plant with purple flowers. Mexico. Green-
house. M Van Houtte.
Tradescantia Martensiana. A simple white-flowered trailing stove Spider-wort.

Mexico. Kew Bot. Gard.
Tropa'olum chrysanthum. A graceful plant, with orbicular-triangular leaves,

and large yellow blossoms. New Grenada. Stove climber perennial. M.

Linden.
Tydwa giyantca. A fine showy plant, raised between Tydwa Warczewiczii and

T. (AchimenesJ picta; flowers scarlet and yellow spotted ; leaves variegated.

M. Van Houtte.
Tydoia Warczewiczii. A handsome soft-stemmed plant, with flowers like

Achimenes picta, known as Sciadocalyx Warczewiczii. (?)
Vaccinium erythrinum. Greenhouse evergreen shrub, of dense and bushy habit,

with dark green foliage, the bright crimson flowers produced in bunches at

their axils. Volcanic Mountains, Java. Messrs. Kollissou & Sous.
Vanda helveola. Flowers straw colour, tinged with brownish violet on the sepals

and petals ; lip soft yellow. Java. Stove epiphyte. T. Brocklehurst, Esq.
Viola capiUaris. Pretty ; flowers blue with a white centre. Chili. Half-
hardy perennial. M. Van Houtte.
Weinmannia trichosjierma. A handsome foliaged plant of peculiarly light and

graceful character. Messrs. Standish & Noble.
Zebrina pendula. A new and unnecessary name for Cyanotis viltata.

23

REVIEWS.

A Popular Histori/ of the British Ferns and Allied Plants. By-
Thomas Moore, F.L.S., Curator of the Chelsea Botanic Garden,
Author of the " Handbook of British Ferns," " The Ferns of Great
Britain and Ireland, Nature Printed," &c. Second Edition.
London : Reeve.
This book is one of Mr. Reeve's popular series on subjects of natural
history. It was to be expected that a topic of such general interest
as the Fern family should form part of such a series ; and that, if at all
creditably handled, it v^rould find , favour with the public, as the
appearance of a second edition bears evidence has been the result in
each case. It is, in fact, a book such as we can highly recommend, on
account of its excellent typography, its beautiful coloured portraits,
twenty-two in number, by Fitch, who is without a rival as a botanical
artist, and the excellent tone, and very complete manner in which the
author has fulfilled his duties. One of the features of the book is a
very extensive list cf the habitats in which the plants are found in
this country ; the most complete record of the kind which has as yet
appeared, and which we perceive has received much extension in the
present edition.

We gather from the preface some intimation of the changes the
present issue has undergone. It " wiU be found to contain notices of
the more striking varieties which are now known to occur among the
British Ferns. The species which have been added to our flora since
the former edition was prepared are now described, and figures of them
have been added. The list of localities has moreover received very
numerous additions. The author, indeed, has not found space, neither
did the design of the book seem to render it desirable, to mention,
much less describe, all the variations from the normal form of the
species which have been observed — variations of which some of our
Ferns have proved very prohfic. Those who are desirous of more
extended information on this part of the subject are referred to the
author's ' Handbook of British Ferns,' and to the text and figures in
the ' Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland, Nature-printed.' The search
for varieties of the British Ferns has become so unexpectedly successful,
that the modifications of form which it is found are assumed by some
of the species furnish important evidence against species making — the
bane of modern botany."

The text of the volume before us answers to these announcements.
There are no unmeaning changes of names, such as disfigure some
recent books on the same subject, while the account of the plants is
plain and honest, and sufficiently detailed for an elementary book.
The figures are admirable. Taken in all its parts this is, we believe,
the best book on the subject for a beginner ; and we have no hesitation
in saying that for those who require a more complete account of these
popular plants, the same author's " Handbook" which is accompanied
by neat wood engravings of the species, is the most useful and sound.
As a splendid contribution to the literature of botanical science, and to
that of Ferns in particular, the " Nature-printed Ferns of Great Britain

24 THE FLORIST.

and Ireland," noticed in our last volume, may be again mentioned, as
fully maintaining the high character we have already given it.

Edwards" National Garden Almanack for 1856.
The volume for the new year has just reached us, and it will be strange
indeed if it is not found a most useful garden companion for the year.
" New Flowers of the Year " afford a great deal of sound and valuable
information respecting many seedling fiorists' flowers and other plants
now about to be circulated for the first time. " Carnations and Picotees "
will be read with interest by a great many growers of those popular
flowers. " Dahhas in Classes " show a better classification of colours
than we have before seen attempted, although one or two inaccuracies
appear, such as Annie Salter, which is not a self flower, but should be
in the second division. Descriptive lists of the new as well as the best
of the old varieties of Hollyhocks are given, and a pleasant gossiping
article on " The Pink " that will be cordially welcomed by the Pink
grower. We quite agree with Mr. Edwards " that the progress of the
Verbena during the past season has been something marvellous," and
we are glad to find all the best varieties classified in such a manner as
to assist purchasers. New Fruits and Vegetables add their quota of
information, although we do not agree with Mr. Edwards that " Celery
Turc " and " Incomparable Celery " are identical. A valuable and
elaborate descriptive list of new plants is also given, which, by permis-
sion of Mr. Edwards, appears in another part of the present number.

With regard to the Directory, it is by far the most complete and
comprehensive ever yet put forth. Corrections, even so late as the very
recent announcement of a partnership between Messrs. Kennedy and
Kempton, of Covent Garden, have been made, and the accuracy of this
trade hst is the result of great labour and considerable expense. Even
the advertising columns, and there are 70 pages of them, foi-m a
descriptive list of almost all the new things to be offered this spring
for the first time. The " National Garden Almanack " is an exceed-
ingly cheap shilling's worth of information, and we recommend all to
ascertain the truth of our assertion.

The Garden Book of Annuals. By William Thompson. Simpkin

and Marshall.
The want of such a work as the present has been in some measure
anticipated by the copious descriptions which nearly all the leading
seedsmen af!ix to their seed lists of annuals. However, this neat little
volume is none the less acceptable on that account. It is just the thinw
wanted, for there are hundreds of amateurs who are completely in the
dark as to the description and cultivation of the charming class of plants
of which this work treats. In fact, it records all the information requisite
to enable any one to grow any class of annuals as successfully as the best
practical gardener, and to keep their gardens gay at a small expense.
To make extracts would be superfluous, for the book itself should be in
every one's hands who are interested in the culture of annuals.

JANUARY. 25

Rendle's Price Current.
Not long since it was the custom with seedsmen to issue long and
uninteresting lists of seeds, merely giving the names only, without
further assisting the purchaser by any information respecting them.
Mr. Rendle was, we believe, the first to step out of the beaten track,
and the " Price Current " has now become a complete garden book,
and that, too, of a very pleasing and instructive character. This season
it is published uniform with "The Florist,'' and contains 120 pages of
close letterpress, including an almanac, a descriptive catalogue of seeds,
in which will be found a mass of very useful information, particularly
to those who are not proficients at gardening ; some very useful hints
on the culture of annuals by Mr. Errington ; a monthly calendar of
operations that should be carried out in the kitchen garden for the
whole year ; an article on floriculture by Mr. John Edwards, and
information on various other subjects. The " Price Current " is a
multum in parm gardening book, and one we heartily commend to the
perusal of all who have a garden.

DRYMONIA VILLOSA.

This is a rather pretty new Gesneraceous plant, with good sized white
flowers stained in the throat with purple, and lined outside the tube with
the same colour. It is stated in the " Botanical Magazine " to have
been received from Mr. Low, of Clapton, under the above name. It is
reported to have been introduced by one of Mr. Van Houtte's collectors
fi-om Surinam. It appears a very distinct species, remarkable for the
thick woolly coat with which it is covered. It is a sub-herbaceous
rather leaty plant, which grows a foot or a foot and a half high.

THE NEW DAHLIAS.

In compliance with the request made in our last number, we have been
favoured with returns from eight gentlemen, who are well-known
growers of the Dahlia, and which is the result of their observations
made at the principal exhibitions during the last autumn. These lists
will be found both interesting and instructive ; and, to be more readily
understood, they are arranged in a tabular form. There are twenty
varieties enumerated, each having their admirers in a more or less
degree.

It appears that seven kinds have been returned by each ; this alone
must place them very high. They must also have been seen pretty
frequently to be known by so many growers. Two have been returned
by seven, one has six votes, two five ; five has two, and four one vote
each only.

As to those that are placed highest on the list, Bessie appears to
be greatly the favourite, having but one " No. 2 " placed against it.

2(j

THE FLORIST.

Perfection stands next, having the " No. 1," and placed equal with
Bessie in one of the returns. Then follow Mrs. Wheeler, Miss
Burdett Coutts, Lollipop, Lord Palmerston, Duchess of Wellington,
Yellow Beauty, Grand Sultan, Shaded Model, and Eclipse. Duchess
of Wellington and Lord Palmerston should, we think, have stood
higher.

We have been urged to give our opinion, but others may object,
from the position we hold. The lists are most valuable, and tor which
we beg to thank our correspondents. We will only add that the new
Dahlias of 1855 will be the best lot that has ever been sent out in one
season, as it contains several very desirable flowers as regards colour,
and many of them are of the most approved form.

i

^

i

p

g

w

^

__

s.

a

ai

3

P

Name.

g

3

1

1

1

fl

S

0.
0
K

Ph

1

o

3

1

1-5

i

Bessie . . . . .

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

8

Colonel Wyndham

...

...

...

12

12

2

Corsair .

...

...

i"i

...

...

1

Chameleon .

i"i

io

2

Duchess of Wellington

6

1

"5

'9

4

"7

"7

7

8

Eclipse .

12

9

10

12

...

10

5

Grand Sultan .

9

3

11

10

'9

9

"9

7

Lollipop

4

6

7

5

"3

3

8

3

8

Lord Palmerston

3

...

4

4

8

5

3

4

7

Lord Raglan

...

U

1

Lady Raglan .

».

8

...

i'i

12

2

Mrs. Wheeler .

5

2

"3

3

"5

"8

2

10

8

Magnet .

9

1

Miss Burdett Coutts

v

5

*6

2

6

2

5

5

8

Perfection

1

4

1

8

2

4

4

2

8

Princess

...

12

12

2

Reginald .

9

.'.

...

1

Shaded Model

io

i'i

...

"7

U

io

8

6

Tyrian Prince .

12

11

2

Yellow Beauty

8

10

"s

"e

"i

6

"i

'*6

8

As many of our readers will be unacquainted with the colours of
the above kinds, we subjoin them.

Lord Raglan, buff

Lady Raglan, buff

Mrs. Wheeler, deep scarlet

Magnet, white tipped with purple

Miss Burdett Coutts, fawn colour

Perfection, orange

Princess, rose

Reginald, primrose tinged with purple

Shaded Model, orange and buff shaded

Tyrian Prince, dark mulberry

Yellow Beauty, bright yellow

Bessie, deep yellow

Col. Wyndham, deep rose, with small

bronze tip
Corsair, crimson
Chameleon, yellow slightly edged with

lake
Duchess of Wellington, pale cream
Eclipse, dark purple maroon
Grand Sultan, dark maroon shaded
Lollipop, salmon buff
Lord Palmerston, common scarlet

27

ON DEEP CULTIVATION.

The importance of deep cultivation cannot be too strongly insisted on.
Not that I would advise bringing up to the surface the raw, sour sub-
soil ; where such is the case the bottom spit should be turned up to it,
and the subsoil forked over 12 inches deep, leaving it rough at the
bottom of the trench ; the air will by this get access to it, and some of
the fertilising properties of the soil above will be carried down likewise ;
these will assist in neutralising the crude salts contained in it, and it
will in a year or two alter greatly in consequence, and may be mixed
by degrees with the other soil. A good plan with such subsoils is to
spread over the bottom of the trench, before breaking it up, some fresh
slacked lime, which will assist in ameliorating its condition. Land
intended for ordinary crops of vegetables, as Cabbage and the Brassica
tribe generally. Peas, Beans, Onions, Endive, and many other vegetables,
should be free and open to the depth of 24 inches at least, for on
examining the roots of the above when in a growing state they will
be found to extend downwards that depth ; and a good depth of soil
not only increases the luxuriance of crop by enlarging the pasturage for
their roots, but to a certain extent a preventive to drouglit, directly and
indirectly ; the former by allowing the roots to penetrate to a greater
depth than in ordinary soils, it is well known ; and likewise that the
more open and porous a soil is, the greater its power of capillary
attraction, whereby moisture is more readily drawn upwards when the
surface soil becomes dry ; and as the number of fibrous roots of any
plant are much increased in open soils, the chances of a plant suffering
from a dry season is materially guarded against.

Another advantage is, that by frequently trenching to a good depth
a change of surface soil is often effected, the benefit of which to crops
of the same kind which have quickly to succeed each other can hardly
be overstated. I have indeed grown a crop of Potatoes by this means
for 25 consecutive years on the same piece of ground without the crop
diminishing or the crop being affected. This, I admit, is a bad
practice, but I name it to show what may be done by trenching and
changing the seed, which I did every year.

For such vegetables as Rhubarb, Seakale, .Asparagus, &c., the
land can hardly be too deep, nor yet, I may add, too rich. It should
be a point, where these have to be planted, to trench the ground more
than once and to well mix throughout the whole mass of soil a good
mixture of the best dung you can command. The putting in dung in
layers for this purpose, as is often seen, is a bad method ; the dung
should be well incorporated with the soil, which it helps to keep open,
and admits the free passage of water and air through the soil. This
preparation is likewise necessary for Strawberries, Raspberries, and
the like.

CULTOR.

28 THE FLORIST.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Auriculas. — The Auricula is not a very interesting plant at this
season of the yeai-, being almost devoid of foliage. Neither should they
be excited to grow before February, when they may be watered more
freely — at present they should have very little water. The old foliage
will continue gradually to decay, and should be removed as fast as the
leaves turn yellow. This should be done with care, not to injure the
plant. Give them a slight protection during severe frost.

Camellias and Azaleas. — CamelUas coming into bloom will be
benefited by a watering of liquid manure once or twice a week, and
when fires are required they ought to be occasionally syringed. Large
Azaleas not intended to flower until May will only require careful
attention in watering, and a steady temperature. Young plants will
require to be kept a little warmer as they begin to grow.

Carnations and Picotees. — The cold we have already had, and are
still likely to experience, will not injure these plants if they have been
kept dry, as recommended in previous numbers. The same treatment
may continue during the present month.

Cinerarias. — These plants will have attained a good size by this
time, and must have corresponding room to keep them dwarf, and
they will now grow still more rapidly. Green-fly must be looked after
and kept down. The Cineraria flourishes best in a pit, which should
be heated with hot water, however slightly. The plants should be
raised near the glass. Towards the end of the month, tie out the side
shoots. This is done in a similar manner to that adopted for the Pe-
largonium when young — namely, by placing a strong piece of bass
round the pot underneath the rim, to which the outer shoots are tied —
by this means a dwarf bush is obtained.

Cold Frames. — In mild weather give all the air possible, pulling off
the light on dry and sunny days. But little, if any, water, will be
required. Be always prepared to protect from frost, by coverings of
some description, by night.

Conserratory and Show House. — Keep up a temperature of 45° by
night and 55° by day, allowing it to rise a few degrees by sunheat.
When the weather admits give a little air, but be careful of cold
draughts, as this house ought now to be gay with Indian Azaleas,
Camellias, Heaths, Epacrises, Tulips, Narcissus, Hyacinths, AmarylHs,
Primulas, and of such stove plants as Epiphyllums, Poinsettias,
Aphelandras, Euphorbias, Justicias, Bletias, and such.

Cucwhbers. — Plants in bearing must be carefully attended to. At
this season of the year they should be trained to a trelhs, and as near
the liglit as possible, without allowing the foliage to touch the glass.
Never allow the plants to carry too many fruit on at one tmie. Keep
a bottom heat of from 80 to 90 d'^grees, and see that it neither rises
above nor falls much below this point ; much depends on this, for no
matter how well treated in other respects, if a steady bottom heat is
not regularly maintained, the growth of the plants will be anything but
satisfactory. Keep the temperature about 65 degrees by night and

JANUARY. ' 29

70 degrees by day, in severe weather, and in mild weather a few degrees
higher, ahvays allowing it to rise ten degrees or so more by sunheat.
]Maintain a moist growing atmosphere. Give air freely every day, but
avoid cold draughts. Water but sparingly, at the same time do not let
them suffer for want of it. Do not let the shoots get crowded ; rather
have them too thin if anything. Sow for a spring crop, and place them
in good bottom heat, and as near the light as possible.

Dahlias. — It will be necessary to carefully examine the roots, par-
ticularly those from the ground, to see they are not decaying at the
crown. If they appear to be rotting downwards, put them to work in
heat, or they may be entirely lost. It is best and most secure to grow a
few pot roots, as they are termed — roots from plants that have been kept
in pots. These will keep sound longer than those from the open ground,
particularly if the latter have been grown freely, in rich soil, causing
them to have large, hollow stems. These pot roots are also best adapted
for transmission to a distance, and, if not required to be used to produce
cuttings for the purpose of propagation, they make excellent strong
early plants, by startmg them in gentle heat early in April.

Flower Garden. — At this season of the year keep lawns, walks, &:c.,
as clean and orderly as possible. Tender Roses and other tender plants
should be protected from frost. Protect bulbs, &c

Forcing Hardy Slirubs. — A mild steady bottom heat, a temperature
of from 50 to 60 degrees, with a rise of 10 or 15 degrees by sunheat,
and syringing morning and evening with warm water, will ensure
success here. As soon as the plants in bloom are removed to the
conservatory and show house, fill up with fresh plants. Introduce
Kalmias, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Deutzias, Lilacs, and Roses.

Forcing Ground. — Prepare beds for Asparagus to succeed former
crops. Keep the roots near the glass, and on fine days pull the lights
off" occasionally ; the buds will, by this means, acquire more of their
natural flavour and colour than they otherwise would. Cover Seakale
and Rhubarb roots with pots, and then cover with sufficient fermenting
material to cause a heat of about 80 degrees. But a better plan is to
make a bed of fermenting materials and put the roots in it, and exclude
the light ; or they may be forced under trellis in a Vinery or Peach
house. Bring Ash-leaved Kidney Potatoes forward in pots and boxes,
to be planted out in pits or beds when ready for them. Put roots of
Tarragon and Mint into one of the hotbeds. Sow Mustard and Cress
once or twice a week, according to the consumption. Sow Early Horn
Carrot in a slight hotbed ; also some Radishes. Have always in
readiness a good heap of fermenting materials ; if the weather suddenly
becomes very cold you will then be able to keep up the heat in any of
the pits where it may be declining.

Fruit, Hardy. — Without pretending to be weather prophets, we may,
from present appearances, expect severe weather the early part of
January. If this should be so, see that the wood of Fig trees is well
v/rapped up with straw or Fern. If the weather is open, all kinds of
hardy fruit trees may be planted. Pruning may also be proceeded with
in open weather. Espaliers also may be tied, and wall trees nailed.
Not a moment in fine weather should be lost in prosecuting such work.

30 THE FLORIST.

Greenhouse : Hard Wooded Plants. — The chief work in this house
is careful attention to giving air and watering, and proper attention to
fires where they are rendered necessary by severe frosty weatlier. In
frosty weather a night temperature of 40° is quite sufficient. Give all
the air possible in mild weatiier. Be careful in watering, but do not
let anything suffer for want of it. Soft Wooded Plants. — No time
should be lost in pruning and repotting Fuchsias, if they are intended
to be large plants. Young plants sliould be potted and put into a
moist genial atmosphere of from 45 to 55 degrees artificial heat.
Pelargoniums require considerable attention at this season. Large
plants will require tying out ; remove all dead leaves, and those small
ones at bottoms of the shoots ; the air by this means circulates more
freely through them. Plants that require it should be shifted into
larger pots forthwith ; keep them close for a short time, but ventilate
freely afterwards, always avoiding cold draughts. Water carefully, but
do not let them want it. Watch for insects, and fumigate. Keep up
a temperature of from 45 to 50 degi-ees. A similar treatment will suit
fancy Pelargoniums, only they will do with little warmer temperature.

Hollyhocks. — Roots potted up from the ground in autumn, for the
purpose of producing cuttings, may be excited with a little heat ; it
should, however, be very gentle at first. When they have pushed
shoots to about three inches long cut them off, similar to the method
adopted in propagating the Dahlia. The cuttings should be put into
thumb pots, using sandy soil, and placed in mild bottom heat. The
plants struck now will tiower well in September. Seed sown in heat,
and the plants grown under glass till late in May, will flower in the
autumn.

Kitchen Garden. - Drain, trench, manure, and dig vacant ground
when the weather permits. Where not done already, throw up into
rough ridges vacant ground. Plant Box edgings. In frosty weather
push forward all work connected with the wheelbarrow. Place heaps
of manure on spots where it can be made available for dressing those
quarters that are soon to become vacant. Prepare composts and
manures ; also Pea sticks and other sticks requisite for kitchen
garden purposes. Prepare labels for naming vegetables. There are
innumerable little jobs that may be done under cover in severe weather
that are as necessary as some of apparently greater importance. Protect
Cauliflower plants. Lettuce, and Parsley in frosty weather ; Artichokes,
if not already done, should have a good mulching of half rotten leaves.
Before severe weather take up some Turnips ; top and house them.
Take up some Horseradish and house it. Broccoli showing flower
(which Snow's, litrue, will), take up with a ball, and put in a shed or
other place of shelter. Sow a crop of early Peas and Broad Beans on a
warm sheltered border. Sow also some Radishes and Horn Carrot,
and cover with litter in frosty weather.

Melons. — Most people have their favourite sorts of these. For an
early crop, sow at the beginning of the month some of the scarlet-
fleshed kinds ; many of these are of a much hardier nature than the
green fleshed sorts : they set their fruit more freely, and do not require
so high a temperature ; but they all require a good steady bottom heat.

JANUARY. 31

Towards the end of the month, sow the green fleshed kinds, to
succeed the others, and place them in a good bottom -heat. The
following is a very safe way of raising young plants: — Get some
60-sized pots, fill them about a third full with soil, and put one seed in
each pot. When the young plants make their appearance, get some
soil and keep it in the house, so that it may be always warm ; with
this daily earth up the young plants. At this season of the year we
find this plan much better than sowing several seeds in a pot, and when
up dividing them to pot.

Orchard House. — All fruit trees in pots and tubs intended for the
house should be got in without any loss of time. Put a good covering
of dry leaves, straw, or fern round the pots and tubs, to keep the frost
from the roots in severe weather. In open weather, give all the air
possible.

Pansies. — If the weather should be mild and open towards the end
of the month, those for blooming in pots should be repotted. For this
purpose, keep the soil dry and in readiness.

Peach House. — In severe weather, hard forcing must be avoided with
everything, but more particularly with Peach trees. Do not hurry them
on any account : a crop is often lost by this error. Light is a most
essential agent in all stages of its culture ; and when forced, it must
be flowered under a comparatively low temperature. If any of the
roots are in borders outside, see that they are covered from the frost.
The borders inside should have a good soaking of water when forcing
commences ; they will then require but little until the leaf is fully ex-
panded, when they will require to be supplied liberally, if the trees are
large and healthy. Begin with a temperature of 40°, then raise to
45°, afterwards to 55°, which ought not to be exceeded till the fruit is
set — after the fruit is set, raise the temperature to 60°, this will be suf-
ficient until the stoning is over. Then raise it to 65° and 70°. This
is the amount of artificial heat aimed at in a general way, but the
weather will often cause wide departure from it. If the weather be
bright, mild, and sunny, when forcing is commenced, little artificial
heat is necessary ; and if severe and frosty, the above standard will be
a safe guide — a moist atmosphere should be kept up, excepting the time
of flowering. Air should be given freely, and as early in the day as
the weather will permit. Trees in flower will require all the air pos-
sible, and a steady night temperature of about 50°. Trees not in
flower should be syringed with tepid water three or four times daily.

Pelargoniums. — Young stock will require but little labour during this
month ; but the large plants, either grown specimens or those in-
tended to make exhibition plants, should now be tied out with neat
small willow sticks. The method of doing this has frequently been
detailed in the Florist. All the stock should be kept comfortably warm
and tolerably dry ; they should not be excited to grow till next month.
Fancy varieties, however, may be helped along with a little more fire
heat than is judicious for the large kinds.

Pinery. — A steady bottom heat is indispensable here ; they must
not be kept too hot one day and too cold another — one regular heat of
about 85°. Plants in fruit will require a dry temperature of about

THE FLORIST.

75° which may be allowed to rise by sun heat to 85° and 90° : they
will also require a moist atmosphere. Plants in flower will require a
dry atmosjihere. Plants intended to fruit during the autumn must be
kept steadily growing. Water plants in fruit — give air daily. Keep
young plants of all descriptions in a moderate temperature — do not
attempt to push them too fast into growth, and don't allow them by any
means to receive any sudden checks.

Finks. — But little will have to be done this month. If the frost
should loosen the plants, press them firmly in the ground after a thaw.

Pleasure Ground and Shrubbery. — Should the weather prove favour-
able all kinds of shrubs should be planted without delay. Put a dressing
of manure or leaves round all new planted trees, to keep frost from the
roots. After snow storms be careful to have the snow shook off all
evergreen trees and shrubs ; we have often seen a fine specimen dis-
figured through neglect in this respect ; the weight of snow breaks the
branches. In mild open weather proceed without delay in pushing
forward trenching, digging, and alterations of every kind.

Stove. — Plants in growth will require careful attention. Cut back
Clerodendrons, Allamandas, Justicias, &c ; remove some of the old soil
and carefully repot them. Bring on a few Achimenes, Gloxinias, and
Gesneras. Give air daily if possible, but avoid cold draught near
growing plants. Keep up a temperature of from 55 to 65 degrees
artificial heat. Water sparingly until the plants grow freely.

Strawberries. — Put a batch of plants into the Peach-house or
Vinery ; place them on a shelf near the glass, where they can have
plenty of light and air. When the fruit is set, they should be removed
to a warmer place. To keep up a succession, a fresh supply of plants
must be introduced every fortnight. The temperature should at first
be low, and be raised gradually Plants in flower should have all the
air possible, otherwise they go blind. Fumigate for green-fly.

Viner//. — Vines in action require careful attention ; those in bloom
need much care. A dry night temperature of 65° for Hamburghs, and
70° for Muscats, will make them set well. With sun heat it might
rise 10° or 15° more. If the roots are in a border outside, not only
must the frost be kept from them, but a steady heat of about 70° must
be kept up, if not from hot water pipes below, from fermenting materials
from above. Inside borders should be well watered. Tie down shoots,
stop laterals, and thin directly the berries are formed. Begin Vines just
started with a moist, genial atmosphere of 45° artificial heat, and in-
crease 10° or 15° in a month, always allowing a rise of 10° or 15° by
sun heat.

During the frosty weather the florist should have a general exami-
nation of his stock of things necessary to the exhibitor. Travelling
boxes in time require repairing and painting. Exhibition stands should
be repainted annually and varnished. Then come shades, glasses,
stakes, cards, and Carnation pins, not one of which, after a season's
use, but will require looking over, to be put in order, that they may be
taken from the store and used at a moment's notice, when the time
arrives ; and as there should be a place for everything, let everything
be put away in its proper place.

t

-%.

►

^:

FECRUARV.

THE STOCKWOOD GOLDEN HAMBURGH GRAPE.

(Plate 110.)

We are indebted to Mr. Busby, gardener to J. Crawley, Esq.,
Stockwood Park, Beds, for having raised from seed this valuable
acquisition to our Jist of really useful Grapes. Its immediate
parent, we understand, was the Black Hamburgh, some blooms of
which Mr. Busby fertilised with pollen from the Dutch Sweet-
water, and tlie result produced has been the hybrid in question,
which approximates to the Hamburgh both in size of bunch and
shape, and also in size of berry, but instead of being black it is of
a white colour, which merges into a rich amber as the berries
attain full maturity. Our plate, by Mr. Andrews, so well
represents the appearance of Mr. Busby's Grape that we need not
more particularly notice it in this respect. The flesh is moderately
firm, with a cool refreshing juice, slightly vinous, more so than
either the Sweetwater or the Muscadine, but in this respect
inferior to the Hamburgh. As our plate attests, it is a very
handsome showy Grape as regards both bunch and berry, and wc
are informed that it sets freely, forming a well filled up bunch,
and that the Vine has a vigorous habit of growth — two excellent
qualifications for a forcing Grape. The Sweetwater and Muscadine,
the only two white Grapes we had which would bear forcing with
the Hamburgh, are botlrvery inferior to that variety as regards
productiveness and appearance, and therefore a white Grape equal
to that deservedly popular kind was much desired. Mr. Busby's
Grape ripens with the Hamburgh, and we therefore think he has
supplied us with the desideratum we have been so long seeking
for. The berries, he tells us, never burst, and the footstalks are
not liable either to shrivel or shank. He also adds that it is very
hardy in constitution — so much so, indeed, that it will succeed
even in a.greenhouse.

For particulars respecting its sale we must refer our readers to
Messrs. Veitch and Son's advertisement in another page of our
present number.

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXII

84 THE FLORIST.

THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.

The scheme now proposed for the continuation of this Society holds
out, in my humble opinion, no probable hope of success. It is the old
story over again — a mighty parade of scientific principles, and the
vaguest of all possible hints as to the practical means by which our
downward progress is to be arrested. The Horticultural Society can be
maintained in a state of efficiency only by a thorough re-organisation of
its Executive. We must have not only " new men," but " new mea-
sures." Old prejudices must be scattered to the winds — obsolete
customs resolutely ignored ; and then — but not till then — we may look
for the full development of those elements of greatness which are still
inherent in the Institution, fallen and degraded though it be.
" Even in its ashes live its wonted fires."

Let me make myself a little more catholic, and put away, as a worn-
out garment, all those antique, stiff, and constrained notions, which are
as unsuited to modern plant-growing as they are objectionable to modern
plant-growers. I assert — and can adduce ample proof of my assertion
— that Horticultural exhibitions (in other words, flower-shows) are as
popular as ever. How comes it, then, that so noble an institution as
the Horticultural ' Society of London is at this moment tottering to its
fall ? "I pause for a reply." In the mean while, let me offer a few
suggestions, the adoption of which would, I believe, again place our
Society at the head of similar institutions.

In the first place, I would increase the number of our Executive.
The Council at present is composed of fifteen members, from whom are
elected a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These
fifteen consist, for the most part, of noblemen and gentlemen more noted
for their high position in society than for any practical knowledge of
gardening, or any peculiar interest in gardening pursuits. Let the
fifteen be increased to thirty- six, retaining, by all means, the noblemen
and gentlemen as heretofore, with the addition of (say) seven exhibiting
amateurs, seven exhibiting nurserymen, and the like number of gentle-
men's gardeners, all exhibitors. Thus, while the " upper " fifteen
might continue to rule the financial department, the " practical "
twenty-one could watch over the general interests of exhibitors, the
neglect of whom has been one chief, if not sole, cause of the present
sad state of the Society's affairs.

With respect to the privileges of Fellows — although, in truth, they
have not of late years been of much importance — I would again intro-
duce the system of popular extension. Give to each existing life
Fellow the right of entree for himself and three {or four) frien'ds to every
meeting, exhibition, &c. Institute (as now proposed) a new class of
Fellows, who, on payment of two guineas each annually, shall be
entitled to all the privileges of existing Fellow-!, save that their right of
introduction shall be available for one (or tieo) friends only. From the
adoption of this course I should anticipate the greatest advantages,
inasmuch, as the power of introducing friends would assuredly lead to

FEBRUARY. 35

the enrolment of many new Fellows, who, in the course of time, would
bring us thei}' friends, by which means our ranks would soon be crowded
with recruits. I would do away at once with the objectionable rule,
that the persons introduced must be " maids, wives, or widows," &c.,
residing in the houses of Fellows! Let a Fellow freely pay his sub-
scription, and as freely "do what he pleases with his own " purchased
rights and privileges. Continue to give Fellows the option of purchasing
ti{ kets at a reduced price ; but abandon the troublesome formula which,
up to the present time, has had the effect of a " prohibitory duty."

Judging from the annual subscriptions received for the three years
1852-3, 1853-4, and 1854-5, I make an average of about 2500/.,
which gives us some few less than 600 paying members ! Are we to
conclude that a country at the head of scientific horticulture, as Old
England is universally admitted to be, cannot number more than 600
paying admirers ? The question is too absurd to call for a serious reply.
And yet it needs no prophet's eye to see that even this limited number
will soon be sorely reduced, if the affairs of the Society and its manage-
ment be not immediately thrown widely open, and some important
restrictions made in the cost of conducting its business. I am told
that one office-bearer receives 500/. annually for his services. If this
be true, is not the amount excessive ? and, under existing circumstances,
would it not be advisable to reduce that amount ?

Apply the pruning-knife freely in all directions, and our annual
expenditure might be soon reduced to about half the sum at which it
has stood for some years, and this might be effected without impairing
the usefulness or jeopardising the stability of the Society. On the con-
trary, vigorous measures of this kind would soon place large sums at
thi command of the new administration ; present habilities would be
gradually liquidated, and the Council enabled to put forth more liberal
schedules of prizes at future exhibitions, which may, even yet, become
as productive of revenue as at any period of the Society's existence,
even though they be held at the Chiswick Gardens — a place above all
others suitable for grand metropolitan horticultural fetes. To effect
this, however, all the present restraint and mystification must be
removed, a result which can only be brought about by tlie exertions of
a numerous and practical Council, composed in the way I suggested at
the commencement of this paper.

I look upon the destruction of our fine old institution as a foul and
indelible blot upon Horticulture. Even the scheme just proposed for
our consideration tells too plainly that its framers, even if they possess
the will, are ignorant of the imij to redeem our fallen fortunes. The
vessel must be newly manned if we hope to escape the shoals and
quicksands among which she has been steered, and from which her
pilots are unable to extricate her.

The present visionary scheme includes the holding of " London
exhibitions yearly, during the spring and autumn," in "some spacious
place to be hired for the purpose ; " it further proposes " that monthly
meetings be held as heretofore, in Regent-street, &c.; but that Medals
AT THOSE MEETINGS BE DISCONTINUED." May I be permitted to
enquire, in all simplicity, if our exhibitions have been distasteful to

THE FLORIST.

exhibitors for lack of remunerative prizes, what are we to expect from
that quarter when the usual medals are withheld ? Flower shows
without prizes! In the name of wonder what next?

I cannot quit my ungracious su!>ject without inviting particular
attention to some facts connected with the financial department of the
Society. Any one who possesses the least experience in tlie getting up
of flower shows will at once perceive that the expenses of tlie exhibitions
have been, to use a mild term, enormous ; and that large sums have
been lavished in this manner which ought, in common justice, to have
been available for increasing the value of the medals awarded to the
toiling exhibitors.

COMPARISON OF THE COST OF EXBIBITIONS

IN THE TEARS 1852, 1863, AND 1854.

Expense of Exhibitions.

1852.

1853.

1854.

Total.

AVERAGK

PKR Show.

£ «. d.

£ s. d.

£ s. d.

£ s. d.

£ s. d.

Miscellaneous timber . .

18 7 7

9 11 10

40 6 1

68 5 6

„ repairs

45 13 4

30 2 0

13 1210

99 8 2

Carpenters, painters, "1
tent-pitchers, &c. . /

140 2 5

118 2 3

124 12 4

382 17 0

42 11 0

Labour beyond service S

of garden J

Miscellaneous printing .

72 13 8

77 17 0

61 6 0

21116 8

23 10 9

59 17 4

56 9 0

66 2 6

182 6 10

Admission tickets . . .

25 7 0

23 5 0

23 2 0

71 14 6

Advertisements . . .

119 1 0

104 1 6

87 6 0

310 8 6

34 910

Judges

31 10 0

34 13 0

24 3 0

90 6 0

Extra clerks and tempo- \
rary rooms ... J

24 0 0

2811 6

33 6 0

85 17 6

Police

71 12 0

76 13 0

61 15 0

210 0 0

23 0 0

Bands and all music "1
expenses .... J

270 0 0

270 10 0

270 0 0

810 10 0

Provisions for exbibi- "1
tors, police, &c. . . J

56 16 10

01 13 7

60 3 11

178 14 4

Watering roads . . . .

15 15 0

10 10 0

11 12 6

47 17 6

Miscellaneous station- \
ery, postages, &c. . J

41 4 8

40 19 3

43 4 4

125 8 3

13 18 C

Cost of new tents . . .

32 0 0

-

32 0 0

Green baize for tables . .

5 0 0

5 0 0

Extra on Her Majesty's \
visit /

-

-

18 5 6

' 18 5 6

1029 0 10

942 16 11

938 18 6

2910 16 3

323 8 5

Medals awarded . . .

1227 0 0

975 10 0

967 10 0

3170 0 0

352 4 5

Total

2256 0 10

1918 Oil

1906 8 6

6080 16 3

67512 10

The foregoing table shows that while the average of the awards made
to exhibitors for the nine exhibitions held during the three years above
named was 352/. 4.s. 5(/., the expenses paid during the same period for
" getting up the shows " were no less than 323/. 8s. bd. for each
exhibition ! — a sum out of all conscience disproportionate, and, to my
mind, wofully extravagant. Take the simple item of advertisements,
involving an outlay of 310/ 8s. 6r/. for the three years, or an average of
34/. 9s. 10c/. per show. Printing alone has cost more than 28/. for

FEBRUARY. 37

each show. Under the head of " Miscellaneous labour beyond the
ordinary service of garden," I find a charge of 211/. 16s. 8d., or
23/. 10s. 9d. per show — the wages of nearly 100 workmen for the day
at labour prices, beyond winch, there are the heavy items for carpenters,
painters, tent-pitchers, timber, and repairs, amounting to 550/. 10s. 8(/.,
or 61/. 3s. 4f/. per show. Prodigious! 23/. per show represents the
cost of " Police," and every other charge is in proportion — I ought to
have said out of all proportion. It is useless to analyse the expenditure
more closely. The figures (with the exception of the averages) are not
mine. I have simply copied them from the latest published accounts
of the Society ; they tell their own tale, and a very pretty state of
affairs they, to my thinking, unfold.

In the " National Garden Almanack," just issued, I have given
expression to my honest and candid conviction relative to the discour-
teous treatment exhibitors have received from the Society ; and I hold,
the letter published in the Gardeners' Chronicle of Jan. 12th,
signed " F. H. S.," to be under a veil too thin for us not to receive it as
emanating from a spirit closely allied to those who have so long held
paramount power — and used it too — against exhibitors. I fear that all
hope of change must be considered as past.

Wace Cottage, HoUomay, Jan. 18.

John Edwards.

In the Gardeners" Chronicle of January 12th, there appeared a
letter fi-om an old Fellow of the Horticultural Society of "thirty-five
years' standing," on the present crisis in the affairs of the Society, well
calculated, I think, to cause the Council to exclaim " Save us from our
friends." The object of " F. H. S.," the writer, appears to be three-
fold : first, to proclaim his own foresight, as he says he always felt the
maintenance of the Garden to be beyond the Society's strength, and he
has always refused to support it; secondly, to express his "joy at the
present crisis in the affairs of the Society, because the proposals of the
Council are rational, and better calculated to promote gardening than
a costly garden and public shows ; " and thirdly, to throw a little dirt
in a sly manner at the exhibitors, saying that the shows "have degene-
rated into something very like a race-course, for people will no longer
exhibit for honour or the sake of horticulture only, but purely and
simply for the money they can make." But, alas ! his joy is but
short-lived, for he states, in a subsequent part of his letter, that the
(" rational ") propositions of the Council embrace the continuance of
the shows, only changing their ground ; this, he says, is very wrong,
and recommends the Council to leave these (degenerated) shows to
their " friends " in the Regent's Park and at Sydenham, but, with sin-
gular inconsistency, he admits that the shows, which he stigmatises as
degenerate, " have been carried to a pitch of perfection the like of

as THE FLORIST.

which the world never saw — the one at Gore House (the last he saw)
surpassing all others " (does he mean in its resemblance to a race-
course ?) ; and he winds up the letter with saying that he and his
friends are willing — and he hojies the Fellows generally will be so too —
to subscribe funds to put the Council so nicely at tlieir ease that they
may think of something else than the readiest way of providing ways
and means. Don't they wish he may doit? But, seriously, it is an
unmerited insult to the exhibitors generally to say tliat the shows have
degenerated. The Society has for many years reaped a considerable
revenue from the shows, whilst the exhibitors have rarely received in
prizes enough to cover the expenses of carriage, to say nothing of the
expenses of cultivation ; and as a large number of exhibitors are nur-
serymen, whose legitimate object is business and profit, it is very
irrational to upbraid them for requiring that some portion of the money
they work hard to gain should reach their pockets. If " F. H. S." is the
best advocate and adviser the Council have in this their time of difficulty
may they not well say " Save us from our friends ? "

The decline in the attendance at the shows dates from the time, and
has gradually increased since, the unwise conduct of the Executive in
refusing any encouragement to seedlings and florists' flowers, which
were always much more attractive to the company than plants of
greater pretensions ; in confirmation of this, it is only needful to
remark that, generally, the splendid plants of Ericse failed to gain more
than a passing glance, because the same plants were so constantly seen
at all the shows ; but it was not so with the seedlings and florists'
flowers : they always attracted attention from a large number of the
visitors, and, in a commercial point of view, they were generally the
most valuable plants in the show.

What the decision of the Council may be for the future I know not,
and whether the garden at Chiswick should be abandoned or not I don't
feel disposed to give an opinion ; but if they continue to hold the shows,
I would urge the Council to adopt a course that will secure the widest
support, by making the shows attractive as well as splendid, encouraging
seedlings and new flowers of all kinds ; and I shall be glad to see at all
the Metropolitan shows a more extended encouragement given to
florists' flowers and seedlings ; the expense is trifling, whilst the number
interested in them is great.

Florist.

LIGHT: ITS INFLUENCE ON VEGETATION.

How wonderful is the contemplation of the mysterious agency of light
on the surface of the globe ! And while its effects are everywhere
evident, how little do we know of the principle by which, unseen, such
mighty changes are effected through its influence on organic Ufe! Man,

FEBRUARY. 6\)

with the countless thousands of the animal kingdom, which, before and
since his creation, have occupied the earth's surface, have been, and are,
still dependent on this subtile agency for their very existence.

I purpose noticing shortly its effects on plants. When first the
Almighty fiat went forth — " Let there be light," the earth, a mere
chaos before, began gradually to assume the garb of beauty ; a tiny
vegetation crept o'er those roclis of granite, which emerging from that
primeval ocean, gave first evidence of a condition necessary to support
vegetable life. How long the reign of Mosses, Lichens, &c. — of those
races whose highest organisation was a simple cell — lasted, is beyond
the sphere of investigation ; under the influence of light they performed
their allotted part, and as race after race died away, and left their
remains on the rock on which they grew, a thin coating of vegetable
matter would be formed, which, mixing with the disintegrated portions
of the rock beneath, in the course of time produced a depth of soil
capable of supporting a larger race of plants. The war of organic life
on inorganic matter had, in fact commenced ; and from that far distant
time to the present, through all the various phases of the earth's exist-
ence, Ii^//t has been the motive power — the invisible mainspring —
which set in action the first principles of organic matter, and, as an in-
strument in the Creator's hands, has brought to perfection, and con-
tinued to the present time, the various races of the animal and vegetable
kingdoms which have spread themselves over the earth.

We have no evidence by the examination of the fossil remains of the
earliest vegetation, that a progressive advancement from a lower to a
higher class of plants took place in any regular order — the inference is
rather to the contrary ; and, in all probability, successive races of
plants (as with animals), were bought into existence as the conditions
necessary to insure them full development became ready for their
reception. Each change of sea bottom to dry land would find the
latter perhaps better able to support vegetation as marine life became
more abundant ; and as larger races of plants came into existence
they would assist more materially, by their roots penetrating the rocky
subsoil, its decomposition. Whatever may have been the kind of
plants which replaced the earliest form.s of vegetable life, the knowledge
of the Flora of the coal formation is sufficient to show us, that at that
period a luxuriant vegetation was spread over vast areas of the earth's
surface, embracing a great variety of species — some of them differing
widely, while others are nearly identical with the races now living.
This state of things must have continued for a period beyond the power
of calculation, judging from the number of submerged forests which now
form our coal-fields, and which show a succession of vegetation on the
same spot which must have occurred at intervals of time of great extent
between. It has been argued that, at the period in question, the con-
ditions for promoting a luxuriant vegetation were in greater abundance
— that the atmosphere was charged with a far greater per centage of
carbonic acid — and that the splendour of the vegetation of that day,
when Mosses assumed the port of lofty trees, must have been owing to
this circumstance. There is no reason whatever for assuming such to

40 THE FLORIST.

have been the case ; all analogy is against such a theory. The peculiar
constitution of plants, as well as of the atmosphere, niust have been
different; and experiments made to show whether plants could de-
compose a larger amount of carbonic acid, if the atmosphere contained
it, infirm us that such is not the case. We must therefore refer the
peculiar vegetation of that period toclimatal intiuences, favoured perhaps
with a tropical sun and abundance of light ; for we can hardly reconcile
the close approach to tropical forms, among the Flora of the. coal period,
with a climate similar to what exists on the same spot at the present.
Passing onwards, we find, subsequently, remains of vegetation differing
from those of the period just noticed, and by degrees approximating in
form and character towards those of the present time.

This short epitome of vegetable history I have thought necessary, to
connect tlie chain of evidence in respect t ) the influence that light has
exercised, through all time, in changing and modifying the aspect of
external nature.

That light has great influence in deciding the colour of both plants
and animals, is well known. In tropical climates, under the effects of
a brilliant sun, vegetation assumes her darkest and ricliest green ;
flowers and fruits are tinged with colours of the deepest dye. In tem-
perate climates, plants present a more subdued colour, and we miss the
gaudy colours of the flowers of tropical regions : while, farther north,
there is but little colour in the flowers, and the subdued forms of vegetable
life show how much they miss the invigorating stimulant of light. So
it is with plants cultivated under glass, freely exposed to even the light
of an English climate ; they will show, by the greenness of their foliage
and bright colour of their flowers, how congenial light is to their welfare:
on the other hand, when grown in- dark, badly -constructed houses,
the sickly foliage and drawn-up stems show the want of this necessary
element. I shall, however, reserve what I have to say on this to the
conclusion of my paper.

The green colour in plants is dependent on the presence of a peculiar
matter formed in the leaves of plants, called chlorophylle, and which is
the result of the action of the sun's rays on the leaves. This chloro-
phylle is a carbonaceous compound, and no doubt it serves important
purposes in the process of assimilation. The sun's rays, as they fall on
the surface of the earth, possess very different properties, and these may
be separated, so as to be made to act independently of each other.
These properties and principles are represented by the red, yellow, and
blue colours of the prismatic spectrum, and which respectively represent
the caloric or heating rays, the luminous rays, and the actinic or
chemical rays ; each, as I shall show hereafter, have theii- allotted
sphere of duty in reference to promoting vegetation.

The influence of light on vegetation, in promoting the decomposition
of carbonic acid, contained at all times in atmospheric air, is well known,
and will be noticed more at length hereafter, as I purpose ending this
paper by again adverting to the influences of the three principles found
in the sun's rays on vegetation.

Writers on the subject inform us, that the actinic or chemical rays

FEBRUARY. 41

are as essentially necessary to the germination and early growth of
plants as the luminous rays are, at a further stage of their progress, to
enable them to decompose carbonic acid, and assimilate the carbon fur
their use ; and that neither actinisfn nor the luniinous principle are of
themselves sufficient to perfect the growth of plants, or to induce the
power of reproduction, which is mainly effected by the caloric or heating
rays, these latter having a tendency to produce that change in the planfs
system which ends in the production of flowers and fruit.

In reference to this, one of the most scientific writers of the present
day says : — " Observations which have extended over many years,
prove that with the seasoils the solar powers are, relatively to each
other, subject to an interesting change. In the spring, the actinic power
prevails, and during this period its agency is required for tlie develop-
ment of the germ. As the summer comes on, the actinic rays diminish,
and those of light increase. We see the necessity for this, since luminous
power is required for the secretion of carbon, with which the woody
fibre is formed, and also the proximate principles of the plant. Autumn,
the season of fruit, is characterised by an increase of the heat rays and
a diminution of the others ; this change being necessary, as science now
teaches us, for the production of flowers and fruit." — Poetry of
Science^ hy Robert Hunt. 2nd ed.

INIuch as I admire the writer, I have doubts whether thi^ attempt at
generalising the phenomena alluded to is altogether correct. In fact,
the forcing of flowers and fruits, whereby the blooming of plants and
ripening of fruits takes place at seasons the opposite of that in wdiich
they occur when not subjected to artificial treatment, goes to prove,
either that the separate offices or powers of the three principles — the
chemical, luminous, and heating — on vegetation, at different stages of
the plant's growth, are over-rated ; or, that plants themselves, at any
season, according to their period of growth, exercise an influence in
inducing a preponderating power in those rays which at the time are
essential for the due fulfilment of their functions. This power may be
reciprocal, according to the age of the plant, or rather, in accordance
with its secreting power ; for no doubt can be entertained, but that the
power of assimilation changes with the age of the organ by whose
agency it is effected. On what principle besides are we to account for
the ripening of Grapes in March, or Peaches in April, or the blooming
of Roses and Pelargoniums in February, a;:d numerous other instances,
familiar to every gardener ?

J. S.

(To he continued.)

42

THE FLORIST.

NEW FRUIT-BEARING SHRUB.— EUGENIA UGNI.

This new and valuable
fruit - bearing evergreen
shrub is of the Myrtle
family, and belongs to a
genus of plants named
" Eugenia " in honour of
Prince Eugene of Savoy.
This variety has been re-
cently introduced by Mr.
Veitch, of the Exotic Nur-
sery, Chelsea, and was
obtained through Mr. Lobb,
from Patagonia.

The fruit is said to be
much used there by the
natives as food, and eaten
in Chili as dessert, which
statement no one would
doubt if once having ate
of the fruit. It is of the
most exquisite flavour, and
difficult to describe. The
pulp is soft and white, very
sweet, and has a Straw-
berry flavour, combined
3 with sweet spices, and ex-
tremely aromatic. The fruit
is round, of a brownish red
colour, flat eye, and small
reflexed segments. The
stalk is like that of a
Gooseberry, and hangs on
the tree in a similar
manner.

The plants are increased
by cuttings or from seed,
and will grow freely in rich
loam, and if kept in a
greenhouse it will blossom
in the spring and ripen its
fruit early in the autumn.
Small plants in pots bear

well, and form very pleasing objects with their dark green polished

leaves studded with ruddy fruit.

Doubtless we have something yet to learn in regard to the cultivation

of this new shrub. It is not improbable that it would thrive and pro-

FEBRUARY. 43

duce an abundance of fruit if trained on a south wall, and occupy a
place in the garden among other fruit-bearing trees. It fully merits a
trial, and 1 hope at some future time to return to the subject.

Froginore. J. PoAVELL.

A FEW MORE WORDS ON THE NEW DAHLIAS.
I CAN but feel highly gratified at the result of my criticjue of the
new Dahlias in a late number of the Florist, inasmuch, as it has been
the means of eliciting the sentiments of some of the most successful
growers and exhibitors, whose collective opinions are, undoubtedly,
entitled to the highest consideration.

If it be a true saying, that " in the multitude of counsellors there is
safety," then may intending purchasers safely make their investments
upon ten or a dozen of tlie new sorts, on the authority of the interesting
table compiled and published in the last number.

I am by no means surprised to find myself in a considerable
minority with respect to the best flower of the year ; and it is rather a
remarkable circumstance, that the gentleman whose opinion entirely
coincided with my own is the only one of the eight whom I have never
had the pleasure of meeting. It would be mere presumption on my
part to press my own individual notions in opposition to those of so
many more experienced and more successful cultivators ; still, I am
not yet convinced that my judgment is altogether erroneous. I there-
fore refer the matter to the arbitration of Time.

Tliere are yet a few of the most persevering Dahlia amateurs who
have not favoured us with their views of the case. The names of Mr.
Holmes and Mr. Cook, in particular, occur to my mind. It may be
said that the former gentleman has abstained from expressing his
opinion because a seedling of his own is among the number of novelties.
If this be the case, I applaud his motives, while I can but regret that
a feeling of delicacy on his part should hqve deprived the floral com-
munity of the results of his extensive knowledge and undeniable judg-
ment. For the silence of the latter gentleman I am at a loss to account.

It tends not a little to the value of the recommendations, that growers
for sale have (with a discrimination which does them infinite credit)
abstained altogether from giving expression to their convictions. I do
not mean to insinuate that dealers would be more prone than amateurs
to be biassed in their opinions ; but I think they have acted wisely in
pursuing the only course by which they could escape the possibility of
such an imputation.

And now let me endeavour, as well as I can, to extricate myself from
a little scrape, in which my own imprudence has involved me. As the
pith of a lady's letter is generally to be found in the postscript, so have
I — in this instance — put forth the foregoing remarks as a kind of peg,
whereon to hang a few words which may serve both in the way of
explanation and apology.

It will be remembered that I ventured, not long since, to become a
sort of sponsor for my eccentric friend B., that he would prepare for the

44 THE FLORIST.

Florist a series of articles in which the principal flowers exhibited
during the season of 1855 should be passed under review. I regret to
state that no such papers from his pen will be forthcoming, notwith-
standing liis reiterated and apparently serious promises. The truth is,
that witii the return of winter my old friend's ideas have again become
completely stagnated, and it is utterly hopeless to look for any exercise
of his thinking faculties on this side of the 1st of April. 1 must con-
fess that I had considerable hopes of him. His housekeeper informed
me that he had gone so far as to purchase a quire of foolscap ; that his
old pens had been duly pointed, nibbeJ, and put into complete working
order by the parish clerk and schoolmaster ; that his desk was regularly
placed beforehim every evening ; and that at the end of three weeks he
had actually filled as many sheets of the foolscap before mentioned. This
precious manuscript cannot now be found, although I have, with the
assistance of Mrs. Stickleback, the aforesaid housekeeper, made the
most diligent search after it : the presumption, therefore, is, that it has
been destroyed. To be brief: — I called on my friend B. shortly after
the setting in of the first frost. I was told he had kept his bed for the
last three days, during which time he had slept heavily and uninter-
ruptedly ; but that, as he was now awake, and had just partaken of a
light refection, he would not, in all probability, have any indispensable
objection to see me. I found him with a peculiar dreamy and wandering
expression of countenance, half sitting up in bed, and half reclining
on a number of pillows of various shapes and wondrously luxurious in
appearance. On an ingeniously contrived table, placed upon the bed, I
observed the reuiains, or rather the skeleton, of a grilled chicken, and
two emptj/ decanters, labelled " Port" and " Sherry" respectively. He
vouchsafed me no greeting beyond an almost unappreciable inclination
of the head. After a few unimportant observations, I ventured to hint
the necessity of bestirring himself, adding, by way of incentive, that
the printer was becoming clamorous for " copy." With a considerable
effort he raised himself on one elbow, — looked me steadfastly in the face
for the space of a minute, — and then, in three emphatic words, con-
signed the Florist, and every person and thing thereunto pertaining, to
a place I do not think it necessary to indicate further than by remark-
ing that it is supposed to be the natural " local habitation " of the
printer's boy, to whom the curious reader is respectfully referred for
more minute particulars. Having delivered himself of his abjuration,
with an energy of tone and manner that both surprised and alarmed
me, my friend B. sank slowly back upon his pillows, and, lazily rolling
over on his side, fell immediately into a sleep, so profound — so appalling
in its intensity — that I feel persuaded nothing short of an earthquake,
or some other violent perturbation of nature, will arouse him, until his
full period of hibernation shall have been duly accomplished.

Feeling myself, in a manner, compromised by this unseemly conduct
of my friend B., 1 am exerting myself to find a substitute to perform
the work, for the execution of which he has proved himself utterly
incapable. If I should be successful (and I have reason to believ^e I
shall be ; — though I make no promises this time) the result of my
endeavours shall be forwarded to the office of the Florist without
unnecessary delay. A. S. H.

45

NOTES ON SOBRALIA.

Tins terrestrial genus of Orchids, of which there are at present
many species in cuhivation, is one of the most distinct in habit, and
has a widely different aspect from the usual typical forms which are
characteristic of tliis superb family of the Vegetable Kingdom. They
are without pseudo-bulbs, having erect reed-like stems, varying from
one to six or seven feet high, with grassy plaited evergreen leaves,
some of them bearing the most exquisitely-beautiful flowers, of which
S. macrantha is one of the best ; it is a plant that no collection should
be without (where hothouse plants are cultivated), as it is a free grow-
ing kind, producing flowers from May until October. There are two
varieties of it cultivated : one has slender green stems five or six feet
long, and flowers about four or five inches across ; the other has stems
about three feet long, of a darkish hue, deep green leaves, and flowers
six to eight inches across. This latter is marked in catalogues as
" IMacrantha splendens." ■ INIost of the others have small flowers com-
pared with this ; but where there is room they may be grown, as they
are interesting, and help to make variety. The geographical range of
all the known kinds is tropical America. In cultivation, they require
to be kept in what is termed a Mexican house, or in any ordinary
plant-stove, where there is not an excessive degree of heat, they will
grow and flower if kept on logs of wood ; but it is far preferable to treat
them as. pot plants, for which they seem naturally adapted, potting
them in a rough mixture of fibry peat, turfy loam, half decayed leaves,
and gritty sand, with sufficient broken potsherds to ensure porosity.
They are moist loving plants, and should be freely supplied with water
while growing ; syringing over head is indispensable once or twice a day
when the thermometer exceeds 55°, as it will be found the best method
of keeping down the thrips, which are troublesome to these plants,
especially if kept too hot and dry. The flowers are produced in spathas,
one at a time, on the apices of the stems, remaining m perfection two,
or at most three, days. They are developed in succession, six or seven
being produced from each spatha. Wlien the flowering season is past,
cut all the stems down that have flowered ; it will strengthen the plant,
and impart vigour to those that are progressing, as those of S. macrantha
only flower one season. If the plants require potting, let that be per-
formed before they make much growth, observing to under-pot rather
than over-pot them, as they will be found to flower better when the
roots are a little confined. They are easily propagated by division of
the plant, taking pieces of not less than two or three stems each, or they
will be many years in forming a good specimen. The following are the
named species in cultivation, with their native habitats ; but th6re are_
several others, recently introduced, that are to be found in collections : —
S. macrantha, Guatemala; S. liliastrum, Demerara and Brazil ; S. frag-
rans, New Grenada; S. sessilis, British Guiana; S. decora, Guatemala;
S. violacea. New Grenada ; S. chlorantha, Brazil ; S. carravata, Guate-
mala ; S. dichotoma, Mexico ; S. Galleottianum, Mexico.

J. HOULSTON.

4G THE FLORIST.

THE EARWIG.

Your remarks in the Florist of October, under the head of "A Boon
to Dahlia Growers," having called forth numernus enquiries respecting
the earwig-trap, I have resolved to give your readers some information
on the subject, together with a few remarks on the habits and tastes of
the greatest of all enemies to the florist — " the earwig."

A few years ago, having been regaling some friends in the garden
with Strawberries and cream, I accidentally left some pounded lump-
sucar, wrapped in a paper, in the arbour. About a week afterwards
I fnuid the sugar-paper where I had left it, and upon opening the
parcel, you may guess my surprise in finding, instead of sugar, a com-
plete mass of earwigs, as many as would fill a half-pint measure. The
sugar had been devoured by them, with the exception of a small
portion, which they were then engaged in despatching. From this
simiile circumstance I learned that saccharine matter was their fixvourite
food. Every Dahlia grower must have perceived the preference of the
earwig for particular varieties of Dahlias, the petals of which upon
examination would be found nuich sweeter to the taste than those kinds
they do not attack.

The inverted flower-pot is the only article T have ever used as a
decoy for this insect ; I have occasionally placed some treacle at the
bottom of the pot, which has always proved attractive ; but the porous
character of the material, coupled with the heat of the sun, caused all
trace of the treacle soon to disappear. In June last, Mr. E. Edwards,
a neighbour of mine, came into my Dahlia garden, and was much
amused with the singular appearance of about 200 pots on the tops of
long sticks, which, to his view, were very unsightly. Having enquired
their pvu-port, he said something more effective and less obnoxious to the
eye might be constructed. Being a manufacturer of glass wares, he
asked if they could walk up the sides of a glass vessel. Not being
much of an entomologist, I could not answer this question. However,
a few days afterwards he brought me a glass vessel about the size of a
small tumbler, made with a cone inside, very similar to the exciseman's
ink-bottle. We at once caught some earwigs, and, to our astonishment,
they could walk up and down the sides with as much apparent ease as
a fly. We left them all night, and by the following morning they had
disappeared. The glass trap having failed, ]\Ir. Edwards turned his
attention to other materials, and in a few days brought me an oblong
tin box, with a hole at the bottom, to fit on a stick, at the same time
stating, that he thought he had puzzled them. Six of the interesting
creatures were soon consigned to their new abode, and, pleasing to
relate, there they all were the next morning, looking fresh and well.
The day follo>ving found them also there. The third revealed only four
livintT specimens and two skeletons, the latter being the remains of those
that had either died of starvation or fallen victims to the cannibal-like
propensities of their companions. The detention of the insect being now
a fact, the next question to enquire into w^as, would they of their own
free will enter this box ? Accordingly, some sugar was sprinkled at the
bottom, and the box was placed at the top of a Dahlia stick in a locality

FEBRUARY. * 4/

where the earwigs had committed considerable ravages. The box
remained there for two days and nights, and, upon being taken down
and opened, upwards of sixty living examples were at once turned out.
The experiment was repeated several times with very similar results.
I\Ir. Edwards immediately registered the invention, and is at the present
time engaged in adapting the principle to an article that will combine
elegance with utility. When these traps become generally used
the poor earwig will be well nigh exterminated from our gardens In
examining the traps there will be no chance of escape, as is now the
case from the inverted flower-pots, and when once inside they cannot
emerge from their resting-place to take their evening walk, and return
at pleasure with a well-filled stomach from the young petals of a
Rachel Rawhngs or Baron Alderson.

Charles Perry.
Handsworth, Birmingham.

[We have received drawings and description of the earwig--trap from
the inventor, which shall appear in our next.]

THE TREATMENT OF CLERODENDRONS.

This is a beautiful tribe of plants ; when well done, they are grand
objects for summer and autumn display in the conservatory. They are
easily grown ; but they require some room. The principal points to be
attended to in their culture are, a good bottom and top heat, plenty of
moisture, large pot room, and a rich soil. They are all beautiful, but,
as they are large growing plants that take up a considerable space, the
following will be sufficient for most private collections : — C. fallax
superbum, Ktempferi, paniculatum, and squamatum. Paniculatum is
not 30 showy as some of the others, still when well grown it is a beau-
tiful object.

The present is a good time to procure young plants ; the smaller
they are the better, provided they are not pot-bound. If the roots are
in a good condition they should have a small shift at once, using a soil
composed of two-thirds loam and one-third leaf-mould with a little
sand Plunge them into a bottom heat of about 80 degrees, and let
them have a top heat of about 70 degrees by day, with an increase by
sun-heat. Keep them near the glass. Maintain a moist atmosphere ;
but do not let them have too much water at root. In three or four
weeks' time they will be fit to have a shift into larger pots ; — the roots
should come well through to the pots, but not get very matted. The
same soil will do for them this shift, with the addition of a little rotten
dung. After they are potted plunge into a bottom heat as before, and
keep up a moist atmosphere. In about another three or four weeks
they will be fit for another shift : this will be about the middle or end
of April. Supposing the plants are in eight-inch pots, they may be
put into twelve or fourteen -inch pots at this shift ; — the soil this time

48 • THE FLOR/ST.

should bS" two-thirds rich loam and one-third rotten dung, with a little
sand. When potted plunge them mto a bottom heat, and keep up a
moist atmosphere as before. Do not let them stand too close together ;
and, if grown in pits or lean-to houses, the plants should be turned
round every other day — this will make them handsome symmetrical
specimens. If the green Hy makes its appearance fumigate directly.
About the end of May or the beginning of June they will be fit for
their final shift : the soil this time may be nearly the same as at last
shift ; it should, however, have a little more rotten dung in it. The
strongest plants should be put into tubs or very large pots, which should
have proper drainage in them ; the small plants will not require so large
pots when shifted ; place in a good heat and maintain a moist atmo-
sphere. Under this treatment they will grow fast, and the leaves will
attain a very large size — they should not be injured. When they
begin to fill the pots and tubs with roots they will make vigorous
growth, and they will require a liberal supply of water. About the
middle of July they will begin to show flower ; the atmosphere should
then be kept drier ; they should also have more air afterwards. In a
few weeks they will be splendid objects, and may then be removed to
the conservatory, where they will continue in bloom for many weeks.
By beginning a few plants earlier they may be in bloom for months.
By the foregoing method plants can easily be grown eight feet high and
six feet through, which when stood about in conservatories are noble
objects. After done flowering they will throw up young shoots ; a few
of these taken off and potted, and put into heat under glasses, soon
root and make good plants for another season. The old plants I throw
away, preferring young plants for growing into specimens.

M. Saul.

GARDENERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

The Anniversary Meeting of this excellent charity took place on Wed-
nesday, the 16th of January, at the Horticultural Society's Rooms,
21, Regent-street, and brought together many of the principal supporters
of the Society. Mr. George Paul, of the Cheshunt Nurseries, was
called to the chair, when the report was read by the Secretary, and
adopted. The following resolutions were also proposed and adopted : —

1. That the report of the Committee now read, together with the balauce-

sheet, be adopted, and that the thank.s of this meeting be given to the
Committee for their exertions during the past year.

2. That Messrs. Wrench & Sons be re-elected Treasurers, and that the

thanks of this meeting be given to them, for their care and attention to
the interests of the Societ)' during the past year.
."}. That Mr. John Lee, of Hammersmith, be elected a Trustee of this Society,
in the room of the late Mr. Henry Groom, deceased.

4. That Messrs. Charlwood, Lee, and Forsyth be re-elected Auditors, and

that the thanks of this meeting be given to them, for their trouble in
auditing the accounts of the Charity.

5. That Messrs. Addiscott, Hogg, Charles Turner, Duncan, Peel, and

Harding be elected members of the Committee, in the room of Messrs.

FEBRUARY. 49

!Marnock, Thompson, Hamp, Eagles, Dandy, and Osborn, retiring by
rotation.
That Mr. E. R. Cutler be re-elected Secretary

Statement of the Receipts ami Payments for the year ending
'dist December, 1853.

Dr. £

s.

d.

Cr.

£ s.

d.

To Balance, 1854. . .180

12

10

By Pensions .

442 0

0

„ Annual Subscribers . 347

1

0

,, Stock purchased, 300Z.

269 2

6

„ Donaiious received at

„ Secretary's Salary

50 0

0

and in consequence of

,, Stationery . . .

6 1

0

Anniversary Festival,

,, Printing .

41 14

0

June 11, 18.35 ... 181

12

0

„ Advertising . . .

6 13

0

„ Dividends on Stock . 95

12

6

„ Expenses of Anni-

versary Festival

29 3

y

,, Office Furniture . .

3 3

0

„ Postage, Parcels, Cir-

culars, Messages, and

sundry expenses

23 6

11

£876 8

8

Balance at Bankers .134 9
£1010 18

8

£1010

18

0

4

Stock in £3 per Cent. Consols, £3700.

Audited. Jan. 14, 1836.

William Forsyth.
John Lee.
The election of tliree pensioners, on the funds of the Institution was
then proceeded with, there being sixteen candidates for election ; and at
the close of the poll the successful candidates were —

GEORGE KIDD 634 Votes.

JOHN BL.ACKE 003

JOHN KENT 576 „

]\Iuch interest was excited, and no less than 527 polling papers were
sent, each recording not less than three votes, and many considerably
more. We are glad alsa to state, that the Institution is well supported.
Still, we cannot too earnestly urge our readers to become subscribers,
and by thus increasing the funds, enable the committee to place a larger
number of pensioners on the list. There are always a great many
candidates, none of whom are eligible to take that position until quite
unable, fr.m age and infirnnties, to support themselves. We are quite
confident that if many of the candidates could be seen, and the urgent
nature of their necessities known, many would gladly subscribe their
guinea annually to the Institution, for the double purpose of helping
the funds, and, by their votes, contributing to the happiness of their
necessitous fellow-creatures.

KEW SERIES, VOL. VI., HO. LXII.

50 THE FLORIST.

OUVIRANDRA FENESTRALIS.

It is more than thirty years ago, we are told, since the Kew Museum
was enriclied by specimens in alcohol of this most remarkable water
plant, gathered by Professor Bojer in Madagascar, and it is stated that
it was even known to botanists some thirty years previous to that.
Singular to say, however, no living plants of it reached this country
until last year, when a considerable number was brought home from
Madagascar by the Rev. Mr. Ellis, who had visited that region in the
capacity of a missionary, and, fortunately for horticulturists at home,
had carried with him, together with an ardent love of botanical enter-
prise, drawings and other information respecting this beautiful Ouvi-
randra, which has been aptly described as " one of the most curious of
nature's vegetable productions."

Mr. Ellis having succeeded so well in the introduction of this much
desired novelty, liberally enriched the collections at Kew, Regent's
Park, and Chiswick, by the presentation of specimens to each, and the
whole of his remaining stock passed into the hands of Messrs. Veitch k
Son, of Chelsea and Exeter, in whose establishments, it may be grati-
fying to learn, it has thriven most satisfactorily.

In its native stations, the plant is described as growing on the
margins of running streams. The root, or rhizome, is about an inch
in thickness and six or nine inches lo g, and is valuable to the natives,
who, at certain seasons of the year, gatlier it as an article of food, the
fleshy rhizome, when cooked, yielding a farinaceous substance resembling
a Yam ; hence, it has been called Water Yam. The plant, Mr. Ellis
states, is attached to the sides of the stream in which it grows by
numbers of fibres, which penetrate and adhere firmly to the loam or
clay of the banks. Entangled among these roots were large quantities
of decayed leaves and other vegetable substances, from which the plant
probably derived some portion of its nutriment ; though, from the
bubbles of air found under the leaves, it seemed to possess the property
of decomposing a portion of the water in which it grew. Mr. Ellis was,
however, informed that it also grew in places which were dry at certain
seasons of the year; that the leaves then died down, but the root, buried
in the mud, retained its vitality, and when the water returned fresh
leaves burst forth, and that the natives spoke of it as very tenacious of
life.

FEBRUARY. 51

The mode of treatment which has been so successfully adopted by-
Messrs. Veitch, is as follows. A single plant has been placed in the
centre of a small quantity of soil, in the bottom of a round glass pan,
and filled with water, which is kept as nearly as possible at a tempera-
ture of 70°; the skeleton leaves float gracefully just beneath the surface
of the water, and produce a most charming effect, which is enhanced
by placing bits of white spar or marble over the surface of the soil in
which the plant grows.

At present, these Water Yams are in an almost dormant state, the
leaves of last year having died gradually away according to natural
habit ; but already signs of renewed vitahty are evident, and shortly
the plants will, doubtless, again be covered with " net- work " leaves,
the colour of which, as they increase in age and size, changes from the
most vivid green to every shade of that colour, being, when fully ma-
tured, of the darkest olive tint, and they become almost black before
they decay.

The effect of many leaves in different stages of growth, on a fine
specimen cultivated in the manner here described, is strikingly beautiful,
and must be seen to be thoroughly appreciated.

It is not too much to say, tha , in addition to its intrinsic botanical
merit, which will secure it a place in the collections of all lovers of rare
and beautiful exotics, the " Ouvirandra fenestralis " is likely, in these
days of " fine-foliaged plants," to become even a drawing-room orna-
ment of the first class.

Our wood-cut, which represents a small leaf, will convey a good idea
of the general appearance of this singular lace-like foliaged aquatic.

THE CHRYSANTHEMUM.

The past season has confirmed the impression we had previously
formed of the great advantages the Pompone Chrysanthemum possesses
over the old large-flowering kinds, both for pot culture and also as a
border plant.

They more freely flower a little earlier, and require but very few
stakes. Those that visited the exhibition of this flower on the
14th November, at Stoke Newington, must have come to the same
conclusion.

Easy of culture as the Clirysanthemum is, we find many fail,
chiefly, we think, from putting the cuttings in too early, from which
cause they become leggy, instead of dwarf green bushes with foliage
down to the pots. The best plan, however, and with the least trouble,
is to grow them in the ground from cuttings put in late in May,
stopping them once, after they have got hold of the ground, and pot
them up after the buds have been formed

By giving them tolerable room in a south border, this plan will be
found by far the best.

52

THE FLORIST.

We have found the followhig among the best that have come under
our notice : —

Large-Flowered.

Bright rosy purple.

Yellow, fine.

Rosy purple.

Pale carmine, with yellow tip, fine form.

Bright orange brown.

Blush, fine.

Deep orunge, slightly shaded with red, fine form.

Orange yellow.

Pale rosy purple, fine.

Deep rosy carmine, large and fine.

Golden yellow, dwarf and good.

Bright yellow, good.

Shaded carmine, distinct.

Fine yellow.

Fine white.

Delicate blush, with rose tip, good form, fine.

Shaded purple, fine.

Pale yellow, fine.

Deep chestnut.

Rosy purple.

Very fine incurved yellow.

Bright buff, yellow centre, good form, fine.

Orange, tipped with brown red, fiue.

Delicate blush white, fine.

Delicate blush white, fiue.

Bright red salmon.

White.

Red eged with gold, fine.

POMPONE.

Bright buflr.
Yellow, very early.
Orange cinnamon edged with gold.
Incurved pale yellow.

Reddish salmon, gold edge, orange centre, fiue.
Primrose, fine.
Golden cinnamon.
Bright criinsou.
Crimson, fine.
Red and orange, striped.
Bright brown red.
I.ibic pink. good.

Pale blush changing to white, fringed,
pal . Yellow tipped with red.
Peach.

Pale blush, yellow centre.
Rosy pink, white tip.
White.

Golden yellow.
White, rosv purple tip.
Deep rosy purple.
Orauire yellow.
Pale yellow.
White with rose tip.
Bright red, fine.
Rosy lilac, yellow centre.

Albini Godereau
Annie Salter .
Aregina
Auguste Mie .
Australie .
Beauty .
Bernardiuium
Berryer
Bossuet
Conspicuum .
Chevalier Domage
Didon .
Dupont de I'Eure
Gluck .
(loliah
Hermione
Leon Lequay
La Proph -te .
Madame Poggi .
Pilot .
Plutus

Phiisd'Or .
Prince Jerome
Queen of P^ngland
Trilby . ^ .

Triomphe du Noir
Vesta
Zephyr .

Anna Boleyn

Annie Henderson

Aurore Boreale .

Aigle d'Or

Aureole

Berrol .

Bernard de Rennes

Brilliant

Bob .

Comte Achille Vigier

Dr. Bois Duval .

Durnfiet

Marabout .

Madame CelpstinePhil

Madame de Vatry

Madame .lules d'Kvry

Mdlle Felicie Albert

Modele .

Nonsuch

President Decaisne

Requiqui

Sacramento .

Solfiiterre .

Surprise

Scarlet Gem

Zebra

FEBRUARY. 53

THE PFACH.
(By a Gardener in the Country.)
Suppose the month of March has arrived, and tlie compost for the
border has been duly prepared, as directed in my last |)aper ; take
advantage of the first dry weather in the month to wheel the compost
to the borier. As this has been duly prepared by turning (if its ci>m-
position rendered such necessary), no further trouble will be requisite,
further than sjireading it evenly over the bottom of the border, unless,
as before noticed, the soil contains mucii clay, or is deficient in hbruus
materials, when the bean-s^traw, stubble, kc, may be spiead over each
layer oi soil of three or four inches. 1'liis will help to keep the border
open and porous, and in a measure will serve as a substitute for turf
Proceed with the ti hng in till you have the border nine or ten inches
deep. Let this be levelled and slightly trod (provided the compost is
quite dry) ; if at all damp, the less it is trod down the belter, and
]lanks, in such cases, must be provided ibr walkir.g and wheelii.g en,
while completing the border and planting the tiees.

y.y pri vious directions on the drainage will allow for the border to
be only eighteen inches in depth. This, experience tells me, is quite
sufficient, unless in very dry localities, when I would reduce the
drainage so as to allow the borders to be two leet ; but, in the greater
number of situations, eighteen inches of i'order in depth, ten leet in
width, need on no account (so far as the trees themselves are con-
cerned), be exceeded.

The width of border should in som.e respects be regulated by the
height of the wall: thus, for walls of less height than ten feet, the
border may be reduced, as a rule, to the height of the wall. This
brings me to the consideration of the Walls mcst suitable for growing
the Peach. It was formerly the practice to erect very high walls for
gardens, under the idea that they produced fruit of a superior quality.
Such is not the case ; and where great shelter is not reqmred, low walls
— that is, from eight to ten, or twelve feet high — are the best in every
point of view for growing wall fruits. Were I to begin now with a
series of walls for fruit culture, I would not care to have them more
than ten feet higli, and in many places consider even eight feet as
preferable. Eight-feet walls, with a coping four or five inches wide,
and shallow sloping borders, would be far more likely to realise good
annual crops, than the high walls so universally in use. However, as
I am not giving directions for a new garden, but simjly supplying a
few hints to the amateur, I wish merely to remark, that if new walls
liave to be built, look carefully at what I have stated, and do not care
to be as ambitious as your neighbour the Squire, whose garden walls
are sixteen or eighteen feet high, and with perhaps only one-third of
their surface covered with trees — but let one-half of that height suffice.
As, how'ever, new walls are not within the scope of every one, it follows
that \fn nmst take things as we find them, and if there are ex'sting
walls, why, the best must be done with them that circumstances admit
of For our present purpose, let us take them to be from eight to ten

54 THE FLORIST.

feet. I did not recommend the border to be more than half filled with
the compost, because the trees can be better planted at this stage, and
must, therefore, next consider the kind of Trees most suitable for
planting.

Tlieie have been writers on fruit trees who have recommended to
plant maiden trees — i.e., trees one year from the bud or graft — against
walls; " For," say they, " the trees will better establish themselves, last
longer, and make handsomer trees withal, when planted young and
be re the rudiments of training have commenced in the nursery." But
the fact is, that to plant walls with maiden trees is not only an un-
profitable plan, from the length of time which must elapse before the
trees become productive, but such plants grow too strong and luxuriant
through the want of the salutary checks which their removal once or
twice in the nursery produces, and become quite unmanageable in con-
sequence. Trees should therefore be selected from a nursery which are
what is called " two years trained," and consequently are three years
old from the bud. If they can be procured four or five years old, I
should prefer them, provided they had not any strong gross wood,
which the usual nursery practice of heading them back every year
encourages. Let the age be what it may, mind the head is properly
balanced — i. e., with an equal number of slioots on each side, generally
three or four, a centre one for furnishing the middle of the tree, and
that it has a clean stem of from nine to twelve inches high — if fifteen
inches, so much the better ; for dwarf trees are usually budded too
close to the ground, and all dwarf trees would both look and train better
with a clear stem above the border of twelve or fourteen inches. This
would allow the lowermost shoot to be trained at nearly a right angle,
and twelve inches above the border.

(To be continued.)

NOTES ON A JOURNEY.— No. 11.
From Buxted Park, it is about two miles to Maresfield, at which place
is the well-known establishment of the Messrs. Wood, famous for Rose
growing, the soil being admirably suited for that purpose. Near Mr.
Wood's house is a very fine specimen of Cryptomeria japonica, and
many other rare specimens of Coniferje. Adjoining the house, ' in a
boundary hedge, are many fine standards of the Cratwgus family,
always attractive, from their varied habit, interesting flowers, and
diverse foliage.

The Queen of flowers is very largely cultivated here, and pre-eminent
among them I noticed the fine Rose " Duchess of Norfolk." Mr. Wood
has a number of small, close, cheaply constructed houses and pits, quite
in the Rivers' style, in which the grafting of Roses is carried on.
Immense quantities of Coniferous plants, in all stages of growth, were
here to be seen, and all seemed in the most vigorous health.

The view of the nursery from Mr. Wood's house is most charmingly

FEBRUARY. 55

picturesque ; the ground slopes gently from you to a valley, beyond
which are gentle undulations covered with rich masses of Oak, against
which the large breadth of Roses, " of all hues," is most happily con-
trasted; it must be seen, to be fully appreciated. In the height of the
season (for it was now September), it must be enchanting, and will
repay the tourist for a trip by railway.

Retracing my steps, I returned via Lewes, and from thence to
Arundel Castle, the noble residence of the Duke of Norfolk.

Those who have heard of the far-famed productions of Mr M'Ewen,
his Grace's gardener, and who, like myself, are fortunate enough to get
access, and experience tlie kind courtesy of that gentleman, have a treat
of no ordinary kind in visiting this unique establislmient.

There is something very impressive in the general expression of our
old baronial castles ; their generally commanding position, venerable
aspect, massiveness of structure, and the interesting historical associations
connected wnth most of them, excite in our minds feelings of the most
lively interest. In looking at them, our mind's eye is carried back to
the age of feudalism, when the despotic owners of such residences were
the inheritors of not only the broad lands on which their proud castles
frowned grimly, but were also the lords of the vassal population which
was located upon the estate. This was the age in which the " strong
man armed " kept his house, and awed his dependents by acts of
tyranny and deeds of daring misrule ; this was the age when " might"
constitute] " right," and when oppression was the first-born fruit of
power. Happily for us, the magnates of our land can now reside
peaceably in their castles, without the necessity of employing warder,
watch-tower, or portcullis. The bulwarks which protect their residences
are the result of the fostering care and the consequent development of
the peaceful arts. The occupier of the neat and comfortable farm-
house, with its well-arranged homestead — the tenant of the humble but
not less happy cottage, has, each in his home, a castle ; while the
blessings of the education which is now given in almost every village by
its proprietor, aided by its most powerful auxiliary, the allotment
garden, and the general extension of the principle of " fervent charity
to all men :" — all these things win for our exalted men the love and
esteem of those in humbler life, and raise around them and their castles
bulwarks much stronger than those formed by warlike strategy, and
which will be far more imperishable than the legends of chivalry.

How great " a change has come o'er the spirit " of the age ! In by-
gone years, the powerful baror.s were "ever and anon" taking umbrage
at some petty offence on the part of their haughty compeers, sum-
moning their retainers, and waging barbarous warfare. Now, the prince,
the peer, and the farmer only enter the lists together in honourable
competition for prize oxen, horses, and sheep. The sword of civil strife
is sheathed, let us hope for ever, and converted into "the ploughshare."
We see the most "high and mighty" of our land doing all in their
power to increase the sum of human happiness, by devoting themselves
to the improvement of their estates and their natural dependents —
whether farmers, artisans, or labourers — not only by cultivating and
expanding their minds by fit methods of instruction, but by permitting

56 THE FLORIST.

them to participate with themselves in the enjoyment of scenes of
kixurious beauty, wliich were formerly inaccessil)le to the plelieian
portion of society. Tlie liberal kindness of the Dukes of Noif Ik and
De.onshire, in allowing the [lublic to see their beautiful gardens, is
worthy of the most " honourable mention," and it is most gratitying to
observe many others " followmg in the wake" of them. Men who,
like these and other illustrious personages, do so much to elevate and
improve the minds and condition of the middle and humble classes, will
never require castles for their protection, as of old. They have strong-
holds in the affection of their countrymen, which will endure when
massive walls shall have fallen io decay, and the record of such will be
verdant and undying, when that of the Warwiiks and Leicesters of past
days — the warriors anl accomplished courtiers that were, (^«/ a?-^ »o;
— shall have been forgotten ; when their proud castles, with their
" clr,ud-capt towers" shall have perished, and left "not a wreck
behind."

The kitchen -garden at Arundel Castle is a fine and extensive esta-
blishment. ""] he houses are light useful metallic structures ; and the
Peach trees are worthy of es|iecial mention — the hearing wood is laid
in very thinly, and it is hard as mahogany. ]\lr. M'Kweii's practice is
» — do all necessary pruning in the summer months.

In some of the houses there were trees, as low standards, having
their heads trained down in the balloon fashion : these, when the ripe
fruit is on them, must be very pretty objects. Strawberries are largely
and most successfully grown here; and, among others, Mr. M'Ewen
has tried the llautbois for forcing ; all the plants in course of prepa-
ration were magnificent. Pears, eveiywhere abundant, were here par-
ticularly fine; more particularly Marie Louise, on tall pyramidal trees.
Passing from the kitchen-garden and forcing-houses, I entered a flower-
garden, radiant with colour, charmingly arranged. I ascended a lofty
tower, called Bevis's Keep, from whence the isometrical view of the
garden was perfectly beautiful. Descending again, I went into the
garden, and found that at one end of it there were three terraces, with
vails, one above the other, each covered with beautiful Peach trees,
leaded with high-coloured, fine Peaches. This display of fruit and
flowers was, to my mind, exquisite ; it seemed as if Pomona and Flora
were striving to outvie each other, and I know not which of them
deserved the palm — certainly, I never saw anything so charming as the
tout enseniUe. An old apartment of large size, near this place, has
been converted into an excellent fruit-room ; the great thickness of the
walls being conducive to the equability of temperature essential to tb.e
long keeping of fruits.

I have seen few places where good taste is, in my humble opinion, so
conspicuous as it is at Arundel Castle. Unity of expression pervades
the whole, aud the introduction of the flower gaiden I have mentioned,
in an episodical manner, rather than mixing it with the sterner features
of this fine old place, is, I think, a lesson in its way.

Flowers are ever abstractedly beautiful, and callous is' the soul that is
insensible to their charms. We strew the joyous paths of youthful
life with them, and we place them on the graves of our dearest friends.

FEBRUARY. 57

fit emblems as they are of our ephemeral existence ; but lovely as they
are in themselves, their beauty is capable of being heightened or
diminished by asstciation. The cliaplet of Rosfs does not lend the
charm to the aged brow of tlie matron which it gives to that of the
young maiJen. We feel that in 'he one case it is misjilaced; in the
other it is part of a beautiful and consistent whole. Surely, for the stern
grandeur of an old baronial castle, the plain breadth of giassy slope or
lawn, the overhanging rock, the gnarled and contorted Oak, the noble
Cedar of Lebanon, the mantling Ivy, with the more sombre and dark
toliaged shrubs, are the more htting accomjianimtnts, each lendinn- its
aid to the general expression of wild dignity.

But I shall be told the requirements of modern civilisation indis-
pensably require the accompaniment of a flower garden — granted, that
none who has the means would be without flowers. I .<jh'iuld say have
them by all means, but do not spot and fritter a grand [ilace with
pigmy parterres or mop-headed looses. Have them, but take a lesson
from Arundel, and instead of their looking like new patches on old
garments, thi y will, if introduced as an ejdso le, lend the charms of
variety and contrast to what is grand, consistent, and imposii'.g.

Arundel is one of the few jilaces in this country nhat is a perfect and
harmonious whole; all its parts are subservient to the general expression;
its grandeur is without alloy, and is perfectly unique. Every edifice of
a subordinate character is built in the style of castle. The domain is
vast, and all its parts are great in proportion. 'Ihe grounds have fine
undulations ; the masses of wood are imposing from their extent ; and
the great breadths of lawn, aided by the irregularity of surface, leave
nothing to be desired.

In my opinion, there are few places which rank with Arundel for
beauty and grandeur of design, or as illustrative of clever practical
gardening.

heaving Arundel, I continued my route by the South Cof ?t Railway
to Havant, near Portsmouth, visiting the gardens of Sir (ieorge
Staunton, Col. Harcourt, at Hyde, and Osborne, the marine residence
of our gracious Queen ; from thence to Strathfieldsaye, the seat of .he
Duke of Wellington, and Heckfield, the seat of the Right Honourable
the Speaker, a brief account of which places I purpose giving in a
future number of the Florist.

Henry Bailey.

Nuneham, Oxford.

P.S. — I must not omit to mention, that in a valley flanked by beautiful
banks of wood at Arundel, Mr. M'Ewen has made a lake, which is
very effective, and is upon a scale commensurate with the other parts
of the place. In its execution great skill is evident, and its margins
are well stored with the most interesting bog and aquatic plants,
including large patches of the beautiful Gynerium argenteum, or
Pampas (iiass.

THE FLORIST.

REVIEWS.

Trade Catalogues.
Our Trade Catalogues are now becoming part of the Horticultural
literature of the day ; and the compilers of them, in many cases, invite
criticism. It is our intention, therefore, occasionally, to devote space to
this purpose, believing that a vast improvement has, in some cases, been
effected in the compilation of catalogues over past years ; and it cannot
be doubted that such should be the case, for nothing assists the pur-
chaser more than accurate descriptions of the articles offered, together
with such information and correct nomenclature as can be readily
obtained.

No one seemed more alive to this desideratum than the late
Mr. Carter, of Holborn, who for many years issued an admirably
compiled catalogue of seeds. This plan is worthily followed by his
successors,

Messrs James Carter & Co., op Holborn,
whose Catalogue is now before us, and is certainly the best and most
useful .Seed List we have seen, not only on account of its botanical
interest, but for its general and valuable information. We observe
that it is the twentij-first annual issue.

Messrs. Kennedy & Kempton's Catalogue op Seeds
appears, to a great extent, to be a copy of Messrs. J. Carter & Co.'s,
and is useful, although not got up with the same care and elaborate
detail.

Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Sons' Catalogue op Seeds
contains a woodcut of the Dioscorea Batatas, or Chinese Yam — a
plant, in our opinion, not yet understood in this country ; and the Cata-
logue itself, although not so full of detail as Messrs. Carter's, is still
very creditably got up, and contains a large and varied collection of
seeds, together with a brief list of new plants.

One of the most interesting features of the year, however, is an
Illustrated Plant Catalogue, issued by

Mr John Keynes, op Salisbury.

This Catalogue is confined to a few kinds of florists' flowers, but
Dahlias principally, and contains about the usual number of New
Dahlias and typographical errors to be f jund in Mr. Keynes' Annual
List. One of the new Dahlias, " Archbishop of Canterbury," is
described as having " a very dark centre ; " but we cannot help
thinking, the purchasers of a IO5. 6(/. new Dahlia would like to have
some information as to the colour of a new flower offered at that price.
We also notice, in the description of " Perfection " Dahlia, that " at the
full meeting of Seedlings at the National, the middle of September, it
was the onhi flower which received the highest award on that day ; "
but Mr. Keynes has omitted to state that several seedlings exhi-
bited that day had received first class certificates at previous meetings.

FEBRUARY. 59

At page 5, we find " Bessie (Turner)," and at page 7, " Bessj/ (Drum-
niond) ; " but who would suppose or believe that this is the same
flower ? yet such is the case ; and in a small catalogue of 14 pages
there is no excuse for this and so many other palpable mistakes. The
other plants enumerated are, Carnations, Picotees, and Pinks, of which
Mr. Keynes grows a full collection.

The illustrations are novel, and consist of a man looking over a gate
— but we cannot see what at ; a windmill ; and — but we are unable
to make out what it is.

Messrs. Downie & Laird's Plant Catalogue

has also reached us, and contains full collections of Pansies, Hollyhocks,
Phloxes, Dahlias, &c. ; but why call the new Dahlia " Lollipop " by
the more feminine and gentle name of " Lilliepope ? " We also notice
a new Tropajolum Vanderi (?), twenty feet in height, which seems a
very questionable recommendation. Altogether, this is a well got up
Catalogue of florists' flowers, and contains select lists, including many
of the best new things offered for the first time.

Buttons Spring Catalogue and Amateur s Guide for 1856. Sutton
& Sons, Seed Growers and Merchants, Nurserymen, &c., Reading,
Berks.
We have as already stated noticed the improvements which have taken
place in compiling nursery and seed Catalogues. Many of them con-
tain not only lists of what are offered for sale, but much original and
useful matter besides. We last month noticed " Rendle's Price
Current," which affords proof of the energy and expense bestowed on
getting up these periodical lists ; and this month we have to advert to
that of the Messrs. Sutton, of Reading, which heads this notice. From
a rather lengthened experience in making out seed orders, we have
been, at times, perplexed to select what were best, from the numerous
varieties of garden-seeds entered ; and this difficulty must be much
more felt by amateurs and others not so well acquainted with the sub-
ject. In the little work before us, the selections and descriptions of the
various seeds, &c., offered, entirely obviate the above. The selections
made are very judicious ; and the descriptions may be safely relied on
as being correct, and will form a complete guide to the gardener and
amateur to select from. The work is divided into five parts. We
strongly advise our agricultural and horticultural readers to purchase
the work as a book of reference, as it contains much valuable informa-
tion, and the perusal will amply repay the trifle it costs.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Auriculas. — The mildness of the winter has excited these plants to
commence growing at an unusually early period. They will now
require water, which they should have more freely as the season
advances. As soon as the ball of earth has been penetrated to the
bottom with water, top-dress the pots with rich soil. Remove the

60 THE FLORIST.

plants to a south aspect. As they will now have made considerable
growt!), protect tlie plants during cold frosty nights, and pinch off
premature blooms.

A;:akas. — "^'oung plants beginning to grow should be potted towards
the end of the montli, and be put into a little heat: a fibrous peat and
sand suits them. Bj careful in watering larga plants. Give air freely
when weather admits.

Variialiona and Flcotees. — After such mild and moist weather, care
must be taken that these plants do not get too much water for a time,
or they will start into premature growth. Throwing up their blooming
shoots early, and during the time tliey are in small pots, is much against
a g lod or large bloom. The plants will now require g'>ing over to be
cleaned of all dead foliage. As they make then- growth, the expe-
rienced grower will not need to be reminded of the importance of
keeping the sparrows frnm destroying the young shoots.

Cainellian and Azaleas. — ^Ve wish we could persuade people to
appropriate a house to Camellias, and to plant them in a good bed of
properly prepared soil. They do much better when planted out than
when stuntei in pots and tubs, and they do not require near so much
attention. Water carefully.

Cinerar'ms. — If late bloom is required, a ft w of the last struck
plants should be repotted and stopped. The general stock will have had
their final shift. Tie out the side shoot?, and g've them all the room
that can be afforded. Aphides will make their appearance : these must
never be allowed to get a-head.

('old Frame. — The principal thing to be attended to here is to keep
out frost and damp, and to give all the air possible on fine days. If
the weather be frosty, cover up well, and water as little as possible, and
when obliged do it, in the forenoon. If you want cuttingc^ of any things
they ought to be put into heat to grow.

Conservatort/ and Shous House. — The arrangement of the plants is
a matter of the utmost consequence. We have often been through
houses which have pleased us, and which in reality contained nothing
very remarkable ; and other houses we have seen which have not
pleased us, though they contained many really good things. The cause
wa^-, that in the latter the plants were all huddled together, whilst in
the former everything was effectively arranged. Now that variegated-
leaved plants and plants remarkable for fine foliage have come into
fashion, we have a great hel|) for decoration. Cleanliness is also of the
utmost consequence ; but this we nec'l not insist on, as most people
admit it. As soon as plants in fiovver begin to go off remove them, and
supply their places with others that are just coming into flower. Prune
and train creepers on rafters and trellises. Where there are other
houses to bring forward plants, there will be no difficulty in keeping
these gay at present. Have always a good sprinkling of fragrant
plants, such as Neapolitan and Tree Violets, Mignonette, Musk plants,
Lily of the ValU-y, Hyacinths, Narcissus, and other bulbs. Be careful
in giving air, and in watering.

Cucumbers. — Keep up a moist growing atmosphere, and a tempera-
ture of about 70° by night and 75° by day, with an increase by sun-

FiiBHUAKV. 61

heat of 8° or 10°. Guard against red spider by syringing. Water a
little more freely, but be caietUl not to overdo it. Train young shoots,
and stop beyond tlie fruit. Keep the young plants near the glass and
in a nice steady bottom heat. Shift into hnger pots as they require it.

Dahlias. — Many of the new kinds have l^een at work ibr some time,
but now is the proper season for the general stoik to be put to work.
A large number of [ilants can be made from roots started now, with the
advantage ot the plants not being liable to become stunted with being
kept a long time before they can be planted out. The shoots taken off
in the ordinary manner strike readily in a moist — but not too moist — -
heat. They succeed best in pits or frames, the heat being moderate at
first, and increased when the cuttings became callused.

Floit'er Garden. — 'i he Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) is one of
the best things we have for winter flowering. In severe weather put
some covering over the plants to protect the flowers. Plant Anemones
and Ranunculuses. AH alterations intended to be made should be done
as soon as possible, so as not to interfere with planting when the sei>son
arrives. Prune hardy kinds of Hoses. Attend to Ptock plants ; some
of them are very pretty in spring.

Forcing Hardtf Shrubs. — As soon as you remove any plants coming
into bloom, introduce in their places more hardy Azaleas, Kahnias,
Rhododendrons, Deutzias, Lilacs, Honeysuckles, Ribes, Daphnes, and
Roses ; also, for a variety, a few double-flowering Cherry and double
scarlet Thorns. Give them a gentle bottom heat, and syringe freely.

Forcing Gro'tnd. — Keep up a regular succession of Sea-kale, Aspa-
ragus, and Rhubarb. Put a lot of Ash-leaved Kidney Potatoes into
pots and introduce them into heat, to bring forward for planting out in
frames and pits when ready for them. Sow Mustard and Cress. Sow
Kidney Beans. Sow Radishes and Early Horn Carrots, also some
Celery in boxes, and place in gentle heat.

Fritd (Jiurdif). — Finish pruning Gooseberry and Currant bushes as
soon as possible. Cut back the tops of Raspberry canes, and dig or fork
over the soil. In open weather, prune and nail Peaches, Nectarines,
Apricots, Plums, and Cherries. Prune Pears and Apples, and if any
of the trees are crowded with spurs, thin them out pretty freely — those
that are left will have a better chance, the fruit will be finer, and you
will be more likely to have a crop of fiuit another season. Fruit trees
of all kinds may still be planted, but the sooner it is done the better ;
but before planting, see that the borders are thoroughly drained, for
unless they are, it is labour in vain to plant. Make good wide holes,
and spread the roots out well in planting — afterwards, mulch them.

F/tc//sias-. — Late autumn-struck cuttings, or those struck during the
winter, make fine pyramidal plants, if pushed along in a little heat from
this time, by giving them plenty of root room. If dwarf bushes are
required, such as those usually exhibited at Brighton, stopping the
young shoots must be resorte 1 to. Old plants may now be shaken out
of the old soil, and reootted into pots about one-half the size of those
used for blooming the.n in, after which place them in a shady moist
situation, using a little heat. The syringe should be drawn over them
twice a day, morning and evening. Continue to propagate for late
bloom.

62 THE FLORIST.

Greenhouse: Hard-wooded Plants. — Have soils, pots, crocks, &c.,
ready for use when potting time comes round. Use fire-heat only to
keep out frost. Give air freely on fine days. Attend regularly to
watering the plants, as they will now begin to require a little more of
it. When Heaths are grown in the same house with other hard- wooded
plants, they ought always to have the coolest and most airy part. As
soon as any of them are done flowering pinch the faded blooms oiF.
Plants beginning to grow will require more water.

Soft- wooded Plants. — Attend to Fuchsias, and shift as soon as they
require it. Do not pinch them for pot-room if you want large
specimens ; and do not let the plants stand too close together. Mimu-
luses are a nice tribe of plants, not grown so much as they ought to be.
They should now have plenty of pot-room and water, and they will
soon flower if placed in a hght situation. Pot Liliums, but do not
water for a few weeks.

HoUi/hucks. — Repot cuttings, as soon as they are rooted, into three
or four-inch pots, using rather rich soil. Cuttings may still be put in ;
any struck during February will flower weU if properly managed.
Autumn-struck cuttings should now be repotted, or they are liable to
become pot-bound before the time arrives for planting them out. Fine
spikes of bloom cannot be expected if the plants are prematurely driven
into flower, which is likely to be the case if they are allowed to become
pot-bound. Feedlings should be pricked off" into small thumb-pots, one
in each, as soon as they show their second leaves.

Kitchen Garden. — When the weather is favourable, lose not a
moment in pushing forward all operations. Endeavour always to be
beforehand with your work. When the soil is wet, do not meddle with
it ; if it be in a nice working condition towards the end of the month,
plant Globe and Jerusalem Artichokes, also autumn-sown Onions,
Cabbages, Cauliflowers, and Lettuces — the two latter on sheltered
borders. Plant hardy herbs of all kinds, also Eschallots and Garlic.
Sow Peas and Beans in pots or boxes, and put them into a little heat ;
when up gradually harden, so that towards the end of this or the
beginning of next month they may be planted out when the weather is
favourable. Sow Peas and Beans in the open borders twice during the
month. Sow a good breadth of Parsley. Sow some Cabbages for
autumn crop. Sow some CauHflower and Lettuce in a little heat, also
Celery ; and sow Radishes on warm borders. Plant early Potatoes in
warm sheltered situations, and, if the soil be pretty dry and the
weather favourable, the general crop of early ones may be planted.
We grow our earliest crop of out-door Potatoes as follows: — We sprout
the sets, and towards the end of this or beginning of next month, when
the soil and weather are favourable, we plant on a warm sheltered
border the Peas which have been brought forward in pots and boxes
in rows from five to six feet apart, and between the rows of Peas we
plant the Potato set which had been previously sprouted. We rod the
Peas as soon as they are planted, and on each side of the Potato rows
we raise a little ridge of soil, s* that when they begin to push through
the earth we draw a little of this soil over the young shoots ; this,
together with the Pea rods, protects them from the frost — indeed, it is

FEBRUARY. CS

rarely they ever get injured by the frost, as we always go over them
daily in frosty weather, and draw a little soil over any we see peeping
through. By this simple plan we always get Potatoes out of doors
early in June — a week or so earlier or later according to the season.
The Potatoes and Peas come off about the same time ; and we generally
plant this border afterwards with Cauliflower and Walcheren Broccoli,
at three different times — one part of it about the 1st of July, another
about the 15th, and the remaining part about the 30th of July : these
come into use during October, November, and December.

Melons. — These require careful attention in watering, potting, &c.
Keep them in a steady bottom heat and a moist growing atmosphere,
and as near the glass as possible ; by this means the plants will be
strong and stiff, and after planted out, if properly attended to, there will
be no disappointments in the dying-off suddenly. Poor, lanky, weak
plants always require careful nursing, and, notwithstanding, they often
cause serious disappointments ; but strong, stiff, healthy young plants,
when planted in a good loamy soil, and with a regular bottom and top
heat, and attention to watering, training, and thinning of the shoots,
&c., will always give the greatest satisfaction : — this, therefore, is a
point well worth attending to.

Orchard House. — In severe frosty weather protect the roots. If
towards the end of the month the weather be mild, see if any of the
trees are very dry at root ; if so, give them some water. Give all the
air possible on mild days.

Fansies. — Now is the time for a general repotting of all that are
intended to be bloomed in pots. The size of the pot to be used depends
on the strength and vigour of the plant. If for exhibiting in pots, the
rules for the guidance of exhibitions must be attended to ; eight-inch
pots is the size generally used ; six-inch however is quite large enough
for many varieties. Towards the end of the month top-dress beds
with rich soil ; if half- rotten manure so much the better.

Peach House. — Trees in flower should have all the air possible.
Houses just commenced will not require much fire heat if the weather
be mild. Syringe two or three times daily with tepid water. See
Calendar for last month.

Pelargoniums. — These will now begin to grow, and must have
especial attention in watering, room, and air. In watering, care should
be taken that the soil is well saturated to the bottom of the pot. Tie
out the shoots of specimens as they grow. If late bloom is required
from young stock, such plants should now be stopped. Sufficient room
and cleanliness are the two principal things to attend to for the successful
growth of the Pelargonium.

Pinery. — Get soils under cover, that they may be in a proper state
for potting when wanted for the general shifting, which is approaching.
See that the whole stock of plants has a regular bottom heat ; they will
now require a little more water and a slight increase of temperature.

Pinks. — When the soil is sufficiently dry, stirring it on the surface
will be a great advantage, pressing it firmly round any plants loosened
by the frost at the same time. Top-dress similar to that recommended
for the Pansies, either late in February or early in March.

6-4 THE FLORIST.

Pleasure Ground and Shruuberi/. — Rather than lose a season, we
woull still plant when the weather is favourable ; but the Sijoner such
work is brouglit to a close the better. Secure newly plantei trees from
the effects of wind. In mild weather p':oceed with cutting and pruning
shrubs and digging borders.

IStravcbemes. — Give plants in flower all the air possible, and be
careiul in watering them; do not give them too much, nor let them
suffer for want of it. When the fruit is set, pinch off all the small
ones, and remove the plants to a shelf where they can be kept pretty
close, and where they will have plenty of light. Water frequently with
liquid manure, but cease as soon as they begin to change colour ; then
keep them rather dry, and give more air : by these means you will
secure the three principal points of a good Strawberry — sizi;, colour,
and, last but not least, flavour. Introduce into heat, regularly every
Ibrtnight, a fresh s'lpply of plants. Keep a keer» look-out for green-fly,
and fumigate as soon as you perceive any.

Stoce. — Water sparingly until the plants are potted. Cut back
creepers and other plants not done before. Keep a moderate tempe-
rature, increasing towards the end of the month. Pot Amaryllis,
Achimenes, Gesneras, Gloriosa, &c. Start some Gloxinias. Begonias
are "■ favourite tribe of plants ; most of the kinds will be growing :
have a general examination of the entire stock, and pot all plants that
require it.

Tulips. — These are appearing above the soil. They will take no
harm if tolerably dry. If severe frost sets in after wet they should be
protected by a slight covering. If the bed is well drained there is not
nmch to fear from cold.

Verbenas. — Strong healthy cuttings put in now will make the best
plants, either for bedding out or pot culture.

Viner//. — Thin the berries in the early houses as soon after they are
set as possible. Disbud Vines that are breaking. Syringe two or three
times daily Vines just commenced. IMaintain a tolerably moist atmo-
sphere in all except where the Vines are in flower. II you would
avoid " rust,'' " shaking." id (/eniis ornne, give a httle air ar the top of
the iiouses early in the morning ; this lets out heated moisture, which,
when co.ifined and the sun comts on the houses, causes serious injury
to the young berii s. Do not admit much air through the iivint venti-
lators at this early season. Avoid a high tem[)erature at nights, but
alwavs get the flt!e> or pipes pretty hot early in the mornings ; but let
the fires get low before tl.e sun gets very powerful. When the pipes
are hot in the mrrmngs, you can always with safety give more or less
air according to the weather. We never have a badly coloured buncli
of Grapes, which we attribute, in great measure, to our giving air
early \\\ the mornings, and properly attending to it at all other times.
Shut up early in the afterno! ns, and spinkle the paths at the same time
with tepid water, and not cold water, as is too frequently done. In
tving down the young shoots, do not attempt to tie them .0 tluir proper
]"lace at once~if you do many of them will break off"; bett».r go over
them two or three times, and tie them each time as close as you can
without any danger of breaking them.

Plate m.

J^Jlutra,sJ}tit,£ Zma)

65

FUCHSIAS,

EMPEROR NAPOLEON (Banks), AND VENUS DE MEDICI (Banks).
(Plate 111).

E. Banks, Esq., of Sliolden Lodge, near Deal, has produced more
really good Fuchsias than any other raiser. His Glory, Queen
of Hanover, Elegans, Vanguard, Autocrat, and many others, even
much older varieties, are universally grown. The late Mr. Story
has done a great deal in the way of procuring NOVELTIES in
Fuchsias, but he aimed chiefly at producing new characters, as in
the white and striped corolla'd varieties. Mr. Banks sought more
to obtain varieties excelling in form and of robust short-jointed
habit, by means of carefully effected crosses. We need only point
to Queen of Hanover for perfection in habit, and we much question
if it is not still the finest white Fuchsia yet sent out. There
never was a finer batch of Fuchsias let out than those we sent
out in the spring of 1854, of Mr. Banks's raising. There was
Queen of Hanover, Clio, and Charmer, all light sorts ; and
Elegans, the gem of the dark ones still when well grown ; Autocrat,
with its large bold dark flowers of a distinct character ; Vanguard,
which wants a well reflexed sepal to make it perfect, and should
be the parent of many for habit ; and Omega, with its exquisite
slate blue corolla. Since then, Banks's Prince Albert (figured in
the Florist for February, 185,5), a good dark variety; and
Climax (Banks), a good habited kind, but wanting substance
in the sepals. Others of Mr. Banks' raising reached us last year,
but we failed in blooming them. The two varieties we now figure
will be found acquisitions : Emperor Kapoleon is a very fine dark
variety, and Venus de Medici highly deserves a place in every
collection. Other new Fuchsias are to be sent out this season, of
which we are unable to speak, none of them, with one exception
only, having been brought under our notice. The exception is
Wonderful, one of Mr. Banks's seedlings we believe, and it is
certainly a wonderfully large and coarse flower, with not a good
quality to recommend it beyond size. We, however, saw but two
blooms of it, and have not seen the plant.

Believing that a few practical hints on the culture of Fuchsias
would be acceptable to our readers, if from a person who was
really a grower, we applied to Mr. J. Miles, of Hurstpierpoint,
Brighton, who showed some well grown specimens at Brighton in
September last, and he has furnished us with the following
remarks : —

This useful genus now contains an immense number of
varieties, many of which are worthy of being classed with our

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXIII. F

66 THE FLORIST.

finest ornamental plants ; all flower very profusely, remain long
in perfection, and are all of comparatively easy culture. Large
well formed specimens are more easily grown from cuttings than
from old cut back plants ; these may come in for summer tlowering,
but the symmetrical form, luxuriant foliage, and increased display
of blossom which young plants furnish, when properly managed,
cannot be expected from old plants. The old plants will require
a little heat to stimulate them into growth, which should be
commenced the end of December. The best time to take cuttings
for propagation is in January or early in February, and the best
kind of cuttings are the young shoots taken off close to the
old wood as soon as they are an inch long. Fill a sufficient
number of 5-incli pots, carefully drained, with a compost of good
loam and leaf-mould or peat and silver sand in equal parts, to
within one inch of the top, adding on this half an inch of silver
sand; water it gently to make it firm, then put in the cuttings
rather thin, after trimming ofl" the lower leaves ; give another
gentle watering and place them in a mild hotbed or in a propagating
house; if in the latter, place bell glasses over them. As soon as
the cuttings are sufficiently rooted to bear handling, pot them
singly in 3-inch pots, and keep them close and moist until they
are lully established ; a temperature of from 50° to 55° at night
to 55° or 60° by day will- be sufficient during the first month, and
if kept free from insects and properly supplied with water and a
moist growing atmosphere, their progress will be very rapid. But
it is probable that some of the plants, despite of every precaution,
especially the weakly growing varieties, will prove more inclined to
flower than to make strong growth ; such had better be set aside, as
there is little chance of their forming good specimens. The plants,
if struck in January, should be vigorous examples the end of March,
ready for a shift into 6-inch pots, but the size of the pots must be
regulated by the strength of the plant ; the stronger growers, if
properly managed, may be potted into 6- inch pots, while 5-inch
may be sufficiently large for others ; keep the plants rather close
after shifting, in order to encourage the roots into action. Syringe
over-head on fine warm days freely, and keep the atmosphere
moist, and ranging from 55° by night to 65° by day, but water
verycarefully till the growth of the plants indicates that they have
taken to the fresh soil. When the plants appear to have laid hold
of the fresh soil, admit air at all times wlien the external
temperature is mild and the house or pit rises to 65°, but close
early in the afternoon. Syringe over the plants, and keep the
atmosphere moist ; clear manure water should be used as soon as
it is supposed that the pots are moderately filled with roots. Now
some attention will be required to secure the desired form of plant ;
if the pyramidal shape is preferred, there should be a stake for the

MARCH. 67

leading shoot, and a timely and systematic stopping of the side
shoots, which should not be allowed to get more than three joints
from the stem before stopping, beginning at the first lateral
branches, and proceeding upwards as they get to the proper
length ; this will cause the leading stem to push forward, and the
lateral branches will increase. But if the plants are to be of a
bushy compact growth, the stopping of the leading stem should
take place before, or at the time of first, potting the plants,
which will cause them to push several shoots ; these again must
be stopped before the second potting, ^'ow, if these directions
have been attended to, the plants will be in (3-inch pots, and with
the lateral branches again breaking forth in greater number, and
the leading stem advancing in height, if pyramidal plants, when
they should receive another stopping of the lateral branches,
previous to the final shift, which should take place as soon as the
pots are moderately filled with roots, which will be by the end of
April or beginning of May. Plants of this bushy compact mode
of growth should be again stopped before receiving their last shift.

Now, as to the size of the pots for the flowering of the specimens
in, the cultivator must be guided by the time at which he may
require the specimens to be in perfection. If they are not in
request until September they should be potted into 1 2-inch pots,
and receive another stopping in June, and another in July, dis-
continuing it after this period. But if the plants are required in
perfection in July or August a pot of 9 inches will be found
sufficient, discontinuing the stopping after the middle of June.

If the plants are of the pyramidal form but only stick is
required, but if of the compact bushy growth one must be placed
to every shoot ; this is most essential when they are intended for
exhibition, as it will show the plants to great advantage if neatly
done, and will support them in travelling, the blossoms of some of
the large varieties being very liable to drop ofi" if not securely fixed.

One of the greatest points in culture to secure well grown
specimens is to maintain a regular temperature from . 5° to 65°,
excepting the rise by sunshine, for if this is not carefully attended
to the lateral branches will be placed at unequal distances, and the
joints will not be of a regular growth, which will greatly lessen the
beauty of the specimen. The plants will require clear manure
water three times a week at all times, when the pots are
moderately filled with roots, and if it is applied every day a month
before the plants are to come into bloom, it will greatly add to the
number, duration, and quality of the bloom, provided the drainage
is good, which should be carefully done at the time of the last
potting.

When the sun becomes powerful use a thin shade in themid^e
of bright days, but apply this sparingly, and afi'ord the plantsall

F 2

DO THE FLORIST.

the light and air possible without subjecting them to the direct
rays of the sun, sprinkling the floors of the house or pit at times
during the day, and using the syringe morning and evening. The
green fly and red spider are very apt to find their way to the young
shoots ; the first should be destroyed on its first appearance by
fumigation, and the latter, should it appear, may be destroyed by
adding a small quantity of sulphur to the water with which the
plants are syringed for a few times, and also syringe the floor of
the house with the same.

The soil in which the Fuchsia delights is a light rich porous
soil, consisting of strong mellow loam one half, well decomposed
manure one quarter, leaf-mould one quarter, with a good sprinkling
of sharp sand ; it should not be sifted, but well mixed and broken
together.

A cool airy house is the proper situation for the plants while in
blossom, and during this time they should be liberally supplied
with water, and they will continue to bloom until the end of the
season. It will greatly prolong the blooming season if the seed
vessels are removed as they appear, as plants in most cases after
having formed seed soon fall off in the production of bloom. The
bees also must be guarded against, as they in no small degree
hasten the dropping of the flowers.

By carefully attending to these few simple remarks, plants 12
feet in diameter may be grown, having from 100 to 200 branches
loaded with bloom. But as to the merit of each plan of growth
I have only to add that both of them are equally good, and if
plants grown on both plans are arranged alternately the effect
is most beautiful ; but the plants which have been exhibited by
various growers at our floricultural exhibitions will speak for
themselves ; and now that we have the addition of some good and
novel varieties, the display at the coming exhibitions may be
expected to be of the greatest brilliancy.

GIVING AIR.

More mischief is done at this season of the year than is generally
supposed, by not giving sufficient air to Geraniums and greenhouse
plants, but especially to soft-wooded plants. We could point to many
greenhouses about the country, where the weak and half-matured
growth of the plants says plainly — " Give us more air." Many keep
their houses closed during the winter months, and are afraid to give air.
We do not, but air well whenever we can. This is of the greatest
importance to plants, and cannot be too closely attended to. If the
weather has been wet and the house is damp, put on a little fire heat
and give air, and drive the damp out. By giving air freely you obtain
short vigorous growth and well-matured plants, but by observing an
opposite course, you get weak growth and stunted flowers. How many
a variety has been unjustly condemned in consequence !

THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Your readers will remember that in your two last numbers allusion
was made to the position of this Society. In your January number,
you offered some opinion on the steps the Council were then taking, and
pointed out that a Committee of Inquiry was imperatively called for,
to investigate and report on the Society's affairs, beibre allowing the
Council to abandon the garden at Chisvvick, a step which that body
seems to all to be extremely anxious to take, for reasons well under-
stood by others as well as myself In your February number appeared
two letters, both of them from Fellows of the Society, and your readers
and every Fellow of the Society particularly, should look carefully into
the statements therein made by ]\lr. Edwards, as he shows at a glance a
system of extravagance and mismanagement, which would soon entail
insolvency on the most flourishing institution, and this too at a season
when the Society's affairs were in anything but a prosperous state, and
when a corresponding amount of economy and prudence should have dic-
tated the proceedings of its officers. But this is not all. Horticultural
exhibitions, like all other exhibitions of a pubhc nature, can only be
kept up by liberal patronage. The day is gone by when gentlemen or
their gardeners will interest themselves by growing plants and fruits, at
a loss to themselves, for the mere sake of obtaining honorary medals, or
an equivalent in cash, which makes their chance — even if successful —
a loss individually ; while to those competitors who stand lower in the
prize Ust, the trouble and expense of cultivation for exhibition are thrown
away, and they lose in proportion as they descend in the scale of
success. This should not be. Prizes should be given which will allow
a fair chance for rising cultivators, who may require only time to enable
them to compete successfully, but whose energies are damped by having
to enter the lists when a positive loss is certain, even to the extent ^of
including the transit of plants to the exhibitions. Gardeners are by no
means a wealthy body, and many a young gardener, anxious to show
what he can do, is prevented by the pecuniary loss he must sustain.
With these observations, I beg every exhibiting gardener to look at
the statement given by Mr. Edwards of the cost of niedals for three
years awarded to exhibitors, and the expenses incurred in gelling up
the shows : — a sum so utterly beyond what really is necessary, that no
wonder the Society found its exhibitions unprofitable, as I find the
charge for holding each exhibition approximates so closely on the
amount awarded for medals, that I may as well state the amounts to
be nearly the same. With these facts before us, we need not feel
surprise that a meagre list of prizes was given ; while, through the
mismanagement of those superintending these exhibitions, an expense
twofold what it ought to have been was incurred, and this sum, under
good management, would have materially assisted in making a prize
list that would have induced far greater competition, and a spirit of
content amongst the exhibiting body — a feeling that has not been
experienced lately at Chiswick. I may be told that the mere increase
of prizes does not always command close competition, as the Society

70 THE FLORIST.

gave higher prizes for the last year without any corresponding advantage.
To this I answer, that it came too late. Distrust and discontent had
taken possession of the exhibitors, the managing powers were unpopular
with them, and it became evident that Chiswick must fall under such
management. It is falling fast, and nothing but a thorough change
and a searching inquiry into the Society's affairs wih restore it to its
former level of success.

However, a Select Committee is appointed ; and although I forbear
saying anything as to its constitution, I shall content myself by
waiting to see what they can suggest. I, however, caution the Com-
mittee, and your readers too, not to be led away by anything contained
in the very plausible report which the Council have published in vindi-
cation of their reasons for abandoning the gardens at Chiswick. Here
is an instance : — " It is needless to say with what extreme reluctance
this conclusion was arrived at. Upon public grounds, indeed, the
abandonment of the gardei s was less important than it would appear to
be, now that the magnificent Royal Garden at Kew, which is so much
more accessible by water and railway, has gained its present complete-
ness, &c." Permit me to ask, what there can be in common between
a public botanic garden and an institution founded for objects in a great
measure different, and supported from a different source ? What ! are
the noblemen and gentlemen who have founded and supported the
Horticultural Society at a liberal expense, to be told that their property
has become valueless, and the promoters' objects useless, because a
public botanic garden is become (as theirs should have been), a model
of good keeping and usefulness ! — and that therefore it will be better to
throw it up altogether ? No doubt, it would have been expedient for
those who have brought about so deplorable a result, to abandon the
gardens by giving up the lease, with the hope, perhaps, that all trace of
their incompetency would thus pass into oblivion. Why did not the
Council cite the Glasnevin Botanic Garden, or the Experimental
Gardens at Edinburgh, as bearing upon the subject ? They might have
done so with equal show of reason.

Let the Committee appointed make a close scrutiny into all the past
proceedings of the Society, and give in their report on the past, and
suggestions for the future ; and when the proper time comes, I hope
means will be forthcoming for making this noble and useful institution
instrumental for carrying out the well-meaning intentions of its
founders.

F. H. S.

Lapageria rosea var. albiflora. — Tn the Jardin des Plantes
at Paris, a fine healthy plant of this has produced large white flowers
— approaching, indeed, to cream colour — with a tinge of rose at the base,
the flower stalks being each two to three flowered. The blossoms of
this important variety are stated to be larger than those, of the species
with which it forms a striking contrast, and it is altogether well worth
attention. It is figured in the " Botanical Magazine" for January last,
where it is reported to bloom freely in a cool moist greenhouse or
temperate Fernery.

71

THE PEACH.

(By a Gardener in the Countrt.)
The majority of writers on fruit trees recommend to plant in autumn,
and such is a good practice provided there has been time to get every-
thing in readiness beforehand ; if not, it had better be deferred till the
month of JMarch, whicli we are supposing is the case. Havmg selected
the trees and brought them to the spot, let the broken ends be cut
clean off with a sharp knife, and having marked the places where the
trees are to stand, place a barrowful or two of the compost on the
spot, on which, when made moderately firm, place the trees, and care-
fully train out the roots, securing them in tlieir proper positions by a
few turves or a spadeful of compost ; this will give the trees a slight
elevation. The rest of the compost should now be brought in and
levelled evenly over the border, covering up the roots as the work
proceeds, till the whole is finished and worked off to the proper slope.
In filling up the border due allowance must be made for settling down ;
for even should the compost be moderately dry, it should not be trod
very firm ; and will therefore settle down a few inches in the course of
the summer ; and if wet it should be trod on as little as possible, and
will require to be left eight inches at least higher than the intended
level, to allow for settling.

The distance at which the trees should be planted apart will depend
on the height of the wall; fur walls 10 feet high, 16 feet apart; for

9 feet walls, 18 feet apart ; and for 8 feet walls 20 feet apart, are
about the distances which the trees would easily fill.

Where the walls are higher, standards are generally introduced,
which will require a separate notice. If the trees are well furnished
with roots, the shoots, which will be from three to four feet in length,
should be cut back one-half, excepting the centre shoot, which should
be cut to within five or seven joints or buds of the bottom, as this will
have to furnish wood to fill up the middle of the tree. We are sup-
posing that the trees have either two, three, or five side-shoots each,
and a centre one ; the side shoots will require nailing or tying to the
wall (which, however, need not be done before the beginning of April).
Bring them down gently, so as to form an easy curve ; the lowermost
one will afterwards be trained nearly horizontal with the border, and

10 or 12 inches above it (according to the height of the stem) ; and
the others at equal distances, that, with the three or five additional shoots
which are to be obtained from the centre piece of wood, the skeleton of the
tree may be set out. Should the weather after planting prove dry,
the trees will require water for a few times ; and during the summer
a wheelbarrow load of half rotten dung spread over their roots will
prevent them from suffering from an occasional drought, should it
occur. As the trees progress into leaf, disbudding, or the removal of
all the young shoots except such as are required to fill up the tree,
will be necessary. Great caution and foresight will be required, as on
this being properly done the future shape — and I may add, also, the
well-doing — of the tree depends. As a rule, the uppermost bud on each

72 THE FLORIST.

last year's branch must be allowed to remain to form a shoot, and the
lowermost, or that nearest the preceding year's wood ; and besides, if
the last year's shoots are left more than 18 inches long, a shoot shouli
be allowed to grow half way between the uppermost and lower ones ; '
furthermore, it will add much to the simplicity of arranging the wood
hereafter, if all these proceed from the upper side of the shoot, We
shall then have three buds left to grow into wood on the upper side of
each main shoot, as I call last year's wood, for filling up the tree, and
forming bearing wood for next season. All the rest should be pinched
out, when a few joints long, by the thumb and finger ; for knives are
useless for summer pruning until much later in the season. There
will then only remain the centre branch, which has been cut back
much closer than the other, for the purpose of forming a set of shoots
to fill up the tree. In disbudding this, leave as many young buds
proceeding from the side of the shoot as will, when grown, fill up the
space in the middle ; of course these will have to be trained much
more upright than the others. The remaining foreright shoots, or
those which proceed from the front of the wood, should be carefully
pinched back in all cases to two or three joints. We much prefer this
to cutting them out entirely, as they form short natural spurs which in
many cases will produce fruit more readily than the ordinary wood :
and should they hereafter interfere with the growth of the tree, by
crowding it too much, they can at any time be removed. Nothing
will remain further than watching the young shoots and nailing or
tying them in to the wall. When they grow to be five or six inches
long, laterals or shoots proceeding from the axils of the leaves must be
pinched back ; and should any additional wood than that selected for
bearing be produced in the course of the summer, it should be removed
immediately. Insects must likewise be looked for ; for in all proba-
bility the green of black fly, popularly called blight, will make their
appearance soon after the leaves, and if not kept down will soon ruin
the hopes of the planter. They are easily kept under, if taken in
time, by the following means : Procure some tobacco-water, which is
sold by the wholesale tobacconists at about lOrf. or \2d. per gallon, and
mix one quart of this with one gallon of water ; take a good syringe or
garden engine, and well wash the trees over, first with clear water —
this will dislodge the insects from the underside of the leaves, where they
are mostly found — and then follow with the tobacco-water, syringing
the trees over gently, that each leaf may become wetted ; this, when the
water is of a proper strength, quickly kills the fly. Should it not,
however, as sometimes the tobacco-water varies in strength, more
must be added to the water till it has the desired eflfect. We have
added soapsuds with benefit, as it causes the water to adhere better to
the leaves. As these insects increase with great rapidity, the trees
should have a look over two or three days after the first washing, and
the application repeated if necessary. When the insects are very
numerous some of the leaves will become curled up, and are easily
distinguished ; these should be hand-picked, not taking off the leaves,
but merely dislodging the insects by a small brush before syringing ;
otherwise they are difficult to get at. Later in the season, should red

MARCH. 73

spider attack the trees, a little flowers of sulphur added to the water
used for syringing will keep them down. B ai- in min( , however, that
whether syringing for insects or merely with clea.i \vi ter, the foliage
should have time to get dry before night.

{To be continued.)

A WORD OF ADVICE TO YOUNG ROSE GROWERS.

Considering all that has been "said or sung" in behalf of the Rose,
from Anacreon downwards, — considering too that it is, indisputably,
the most popular of all flowers — it is really remarkable in what a state
of profound ignorance the great mass of Rose admirers appear to be
regarding the cultivation and treatment of their acknowledged favourite.
The doings of a neighbour of mine, which I have been watching with
some little curiosity, have induced this reflection. The worthy
individual of whom I speak appears to have been incontinently
smitten with the uncontrollable desire of becoming the proprietor of a
Rosery. The mode whereby he has carried his purpose into effect is
by no means an uncommon one, and is in strict accordance with the
following

Recipe.

" Take a certain quantity of half-starved, ill-conditioned, uneven
ground ; level it ; raise it to the required height by throwing in as
many gwe7i cartloads from the nearest sand-pit as may be needful,
and cover all with a crust of turf. Your ground is now in order. Next
procure a cheap lot of Roses from an adjacent nursery — so many dozens
at so much per dozen, as low as you can conveniently arrange it :
standards about three feet high will do very well, — but be sure and
stipulate that they must all be distinct varieties. Now open as many
holes in the aforesaid turf as will correspond with the tale of your batch
of plants ; put (if you can spare it — if not, they will grow without)
half a shovelful of manure at the bottom of each hole, and a Rose tree
on the top of that ; fill up the hole, and be particularly careful to replace
the turf close around the stem — it looks so neat ; by no means neglect
to fasten each plant securely to its proper stake — the heads may become
large enough to require such aid. You have now a Rosery complete,
and have nothing more to do than to wait patiently for the season of
blooming."

Having comphed with this formula, in the most approved manner,
my good neighbour next did me the honour to ask my advice and
opinion. Had he done so before he commenced his operations I believe
I should have saved him the misery consequent on that " hope deferred "
which " maketh the heart sick." As the matter stands his case is
immedicable. But I see no reason why others should not take warning
from his example. Hence the few observations I propose to make.
As certain benevolent individuals do not only volunteer, but also, at
their own proper costs and charges, make public (by means of advertise-
ments pertinaciously inserted in the daily and other papers) their

74 TUE FLORIST.

disinterested advice how " Persons about to Marry " may best set forth
and furnish their respective domiciles, in like manner do I — the costs
and charges aforesaid always excepted — purpose to advise Persons about
to grow Hoses how they may best accomplish their laudable intentions.
My very good alumnus ! pray do not be alarmed. I have not the
most remote intention of inflicting upon you a learned dissertation on
the origin, history and progress of the Rose ; all that sort of thing is
quite beyond my mark ; — neither will I detain you with any directions
for the laying out of a Rosery, which must be dependent on a variety
of circumstances — such as locality, space, individual taste, &c. I will
not even go into the question of dwarfs or standards — plants " worked "
or on their own roots, &c., far less diverge into the debateable ground
of the best material for " stocks." What I have to say is of so general
a character that I believe it will apply to each and every mode of
culture, and may be summed up in very kw words. I have somewhere
read of a roving Englishman whose boast it was that he had travelled
in perfect comfort from one end of Europe to the other, notwithstanding
that his whole vocabulary, over and above his mother tongue, was
confined to two words — " Manger " and " Changer." Even so you,
young aspirant to the honours of Rose growing, by fixing indelibly upon
your mind the words Selection and Cultivation, and making their
import the basis of your operations, will experience no difficulty in
blooming Roses to perfection ; and — experto crede — much delight you
will find in the innocent and healthful occupation.

With regard to cultiration proper, it is scarcely necessary for me to
dwell on that point at present. You will find ample directions in scores
of manuals, which you will do well to consult and follow. Respecting
choice of sorts, I hope to offer some hints, the result of many years'
experience, which may be useful to you, presuming always that a
selection is more your object than a collection. Notwithstanding the
liberal addition of novelties, I find my number of sorts decreasing year
by year, as I have found it more satisfactory to grow half a dozen plants
of really beautiful kinds than to occupy the space with a like number of
second-rate varieties. I now proceed to enumerate a few of the very
best Roses in each of the famihes into which — for reasons unfathom-
able by me — they have been divided ; and you may safely depend on
all or any of these as first-rate hardy sorts, prolific bloomers, and free
openers. I append the names only, the colour, form, habit, &c., of
each individual may be gathered from the very complete catalogues
which the magnates of the Rose trade now compile with the utmost care,
and disperse with boundless liberality. The present list has regard
more especially to perfection of form in the flower, irrespective of the
habit of the plant. If desirable, I will, on a future occasion, enumerate
a few sorts more peculiarly adapted to the purposes of general decora-
tion. These are as beautiful, in their way, as those exquisite specimens
which form so great an attraction at the great metropolitan exhibitions.
The bold dashes of a Grieve or a Beverley are works of art no less than
the more delicate touches of a Guido or a Raffaelle.

One word more. Do not allow the prevailing rage for Autumnal
Roses to render you oblivious of the beauties of the good old summer

MARCH.

75

bloomers. Roses in August and September are, I admit, highly
desirable, but Roses in June and July are no less so ; and you will do
well to depend on your old friends for an early display. There are some
of them so exquisite that no one possessing a particle of taste would
think of discarding them. I must see Autumnal Roses able to cope
with Coupe d'Hebe, Ohl, Paul Ricaut, &c., before I — for one — will
consent to be separated from my ancient favourites.

Roses having but one season

Moss.
Blush

Common old
Celina "I , r -i
Laneii } ^^^''^

Provence.
Cristata
Old Cabbage
Rachel
Reine de Provence

Hybrid Provekce.
Adrien de Cardoville
Blanchefleur
La Volupte
Princesse Clementine
Rose Devigne

Gallica.
Boule de Nanteuil
D'Aguesseau
Gloire de Colmar
Kean
Ohl
Sanchette

Autumnal Moses — Varieties having more
designated
Hybrid Perpetoals.
Auguste Mie
Baronne Hallez
Baronne Hecheren
Baronne Prevost
Caroline de Sansal
Colonel de Rougemont
Duchess of Sutherland
Geant des Batailles
General Castellane
General Jacqueminot
Graziella
Jeanne d'Arc
Lady Stuart
Leon des Combats
Louis Peyronny
Madame Phelip
Madame Rivers
Pius IX.
Paul Dupuy
Prince Leon
Reiue des Fleurs
Robin Hood
Sidonie
Souvenir de Leveson Gower

of blooming, viz., in Summer.

Alba.
Felicity
La Seduisante
Madame Audot

Damask.
Duke of Cambridge
La Ville de Bruxelles
Madame Zoutman

Hybrid China.
Blairii
Brennus

Charles Foucquier
Chenedole

Comtesse de Lacep^de
General Jacqueminot
Gloire de Couline
Juno

Hybrid Bourbon.
Henri Barbet
Charles Duval
Coupe d'Hebe
Paul Perras
Paul Ricaut

than one season of blooming, improperly
Perpetuals.

Trioraphe de Paris

William Griffiths

William Jesse

BotlEBON.

Acidalie

Aurore de Guide

Charles Souchet

Dup-itit Thouars

George Cuvier

Henri Lecoq

La Gracieuse

Souvenir de la Malmaison

Vorace

Tea Scented China.
Adam
Devoniensis
Eugene Desgaches
Moire
Niphetos
Souvenir d'un Ami

Noisette.
Cloth of Gold
Lamar que
Solfaterre

76 THE FLORIST.

If you cxnnot r fford a south wall for the varieties comprising the
two last sec ions, 1 advise you not to attempt to grow them out of doors.
You will on.y meet with disappointment.

A. S. H.

DESCRIPTIVE LIST OP HARDY CONIFERS.— No. XIX.

ABIES MENZIESII — MENZIES' SPRUCE FIR.

In a short description of the Pinetum at Nuneham Park, Oxon, which
we gave at page 305 of our last year's volume, we alluded to the many
fine Conifers we found in that Pinetum, and having obtained permission .
from the liberal proprietor, George Vernon Harcourt, Esq., to figure any
we thought proper for the Florist, we now avail ourselves of this kind-
ness by presenting our readers with a woodcut of A. Menziesii, which
represents one of the handsomest trees of the kind we have met with.

Menzies' Spruce Fir is an upright-growing tree, forming a regular
pyramid, und closely resembling in its general outline the common
Spruce ; but is readily distinguished from all other Firs by its glaucous
hue, which makes it a conspicuous object even at a distance. It grows
to the height of 70 or 80 feet, and with branches produced very regu-
larly in whorls ; these, when the tree is in good health, are thickly
clothed with leaves of a light vivid green, marked with distinct silvery
lines underneath ; both branches and branchlets are covered with
tubercles, and hence this Fir is sometimes called " the warted-branched
Spruce." The leaves are resupinate, or turned upwards, from being
twisted at their base ; and this peculiarity, by turning the under sides
of the leaves upwards, and exposing the silvery lines beneath, gives the
tree the peculiar glaucous appearance we have just alluded to, and which
adds very considerably to its character as an ornamenial tree. The
cones are pendulous, cylindrical, and about three inches long. Seeds
very small.

As an ornamental tree, Menzies' Spruce is entitled to consideration.
Its regular mode of growth has something attractive in it, but it is to
the peculiar silvery hue of its foliage that we wish most to direct the
attention of planters. When the professors of landscape gardening have
made more progress in their art, by paying greater attention to the
colour of foliage in grouping trees, our present subject will form an
important item in landscape composition. Those who may have seen
what Mr. Barron has done at Elvaston, by grouping different foliaged
evergreens, will be able to judg6 what may be effected by artistically
grouping the various Pinuses, Spruces, &c., in masses. Menzies'
Spruce Fir, the Pinus cembra, and other light-foliaged Conifers, will
contrast admirably with the Stone Pine, Pinus austriaca, and other
dark-foliaged species.

Our esteemed friend Mr. Bailey informs us, that the Pinetum at
Nuneham was planted in the autumn of 1846. The soil is a deep
sandy loam, in places mixed with the gault clay. The ground was

MARCH. 77

prepared by trenching lar:;e spaces two feet deep, and raising upon the
surface large hillocks ofgooi soil. 'J he plants, which were in pots, were

If

/

-"^^^^^^^^^ss^^ ^-

Abies Menziesii.

78 THE FLORIST.

entirely shaken out, and the longest root was let in as deep as it would
reach, as a kind of tap-root. As soon as this root took hold of the soil,
the plant was in a great measure secure from being blown over by the
winds, an evil to which all trees transferred to the ground from pots are
extremely liable, from the roots having a natural curved form by growing
round the sides of the pot. This practical hint is well worth remembering
by those who have to plant trees from pots, especially if they have been
grown for any length of time in them.

This species was named in honour of A. Menzies, Esq., who had
previous to Douglas travelled over a great part of the north-west coast of
America, and had discovered this and many other interesting plants.
Douglas found it in North California, and describes it as furnishing a
useful kind of timber.

Menzies' Spruce appears to thrive best in situations where the soil
is moist for the greater part of the year ; in low bottoms, not absolutely
flooded, with a moist atmosphere, it grows extremely fast. It is like-
wise found to thrive well in Scotland ; where, on the most exposed
moors, it never suffers, but, on the contrary, the peaty soil and humid
atmosphere appear favourable to its growth. On dry soils it frequently
loses a portion of its leaves during the dry weather, and this gives it a
shabby appearance and has led some to condemn it. In such situations
it should be liberally supplied with water during the growing season.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT BEDDING PLANTS.

]\IuCH attention has for some years past been paid to the development
of resources in bedding plants, and the consequent introduction of many
new varieties. We can well recollect the time when annuals were
generally used for bedding purposes, when Candytufts, Clarkias, Mary-
golds, &c., were in request, and many have been the changes in varieties
of plants up to the present day. In Verbenas alone, how many
varieties have been introduced since Tweediana and Melindres came
out. Not that all are suitable for bedding purposes ; such is far from
being the case, as many varieties are best grown as pot plants, and
we often wonder why they are not oftener cultivated in pots ior summer
decoration. Our purpose now, however, is to point out such varieties
of recent introduction, or such as are about to be introduced, that will be
found useful additions to the flower garden. In scarlets, for a brilliant
orange scarlet, none is better than King of Scarlets, a capital variety
for a bed, and fills well. In dark scarlets there is Defiance and Mrs.
Woodroffe, but the latter variety is even a stronger grower than the
former, and not so useful. John Edwards will, we think, prove a good
useful bedding scarlet variety ; so also will Comet and Glowworm, and
Lord Raglan is a good pale orange scarlet kind. In Gloire de
France we have a beautiful soft salmon pink variety of the finest form,
but we are afraid it is not a very good grower, or it would be very
valuable. Esther is a pale cerise, ol dwarf close habit, and a capital
bedder. In shaded reds or crimson, Brilliant de Vaise is a good bedding

MARCH. 79

variety, but rather a robust grower ; and Due d'Almida, scarlet and
crimson, and of good habit. Passing on to deep crimsons. Rouge et
Noir was one of the best, but was deficient in form. This defect is
happily remedied in King of Sardinia, which has the same colours, but
is much better. We are somewhat deficient in this colour, of which
old atrosanguinea was the type. Crimson Perfection is a capital
variety, but not so deep in colour, being more of a bright ruby crimson,
and will make a very lively bed. There is a great deficiency in rose
or pink coloured varieties ; indeed, we cannot name one old variety
that is really useful. In this class, Lovehness is a great acquisition,
clear rosy pink, an excellent close growing variety, which braves sun
and rain. In light blue, Auricula has hitherto held a place, but an
improvement is effected in Prince Arthur, which is of a similar colour,
but better. Blue Bonnet will, however, be the best light blue for bedding,
and keeps its colour well, and is of a good habit. In blue purples, we
have Blue Beard, a good bedding variety, and Violacea, which is of a
deep rich colour with white centre, and most useful for bedding.
Purple King is the best light purple, and in dark purples we are now
somewhat rich, having Tyrian Prince, rich dark purple with white
centre, Duke of Cambridge, which is an improvement on Tyrian
Prince, and Field Marshal, which will be found a very useful close
growing variety of a violet purple colour. There is also Wonderful,
which makes a good bed, and keeps in bloom so late in the autumn, of
a plum purple colour with large white centre. There has been very
little improvement in whites. The best in colour and habit is, in our
opinion, Celina Mallett. Mrs. Halford is a superb variety, waxy French
white and very large truss, but appears to be a very strong grower, but
in pots it is very fine ; and there is Mrs. F. G. Caley, white with a small
pink eye, that is useful for bedding purposes.

In Scarlet Geraniums we have now many valuable varieties. Attraction
is one of the best we have seen, and is grown at Frogmore ; it is bright
scarlet in colour, of medium growth, with very large trusses. Royal
Dwarf is also another first-class bedding sort and a profuse bloomer.
Sutton's Scarlet Perfection is an improved Tom Thumb. General
Pelissier is first-rate as a bedding variety, something like Cerise Unique
in habit. General Simpson is of a brighter orange scarlet than any we
have seen, with a clear white centre, and a dense bloomer. One of the
most novel and distinct, however, is Lady Downes, soft rosy carmine,
good truss, shape, and habit, being very dwarf and a dense bloomer — a
most pleasing colour for a bed. There was room for some improvement
in pinks, and we have it in Ingram's Princess Royal, which is of a
bright rose colour with white centre, large truss, and a profuse bloomer.
This was raised at the Royal Gardens, and will be found an acquisition.
In whites, much has yet to be done, Hendersoni is the best. Boule
de Niege is not a clear white. We hope some one will soon effect an
improvement here. For an edging, or even for a bed, the pretty dwarf-
growing Pricess Royal, or Baron Hugel, with its dark small horse-shoe
foliage and scarlet flowers, must not be lost sight of.

Variegated Geraniums have now become very useful accessories to
flower gardening. Golden Chain and Lady Cottenham are the best for

80 THE FLORIST.

yellow-bordered foliage, but we yet want a good scarlet-flowered
variety. In white variegated-leaved sorts, Flower of the Day has
hitherto held precedence ; but we think it will give way to Alma, which
is quite as good a grower, with smoother foHage, clearer white markings,
and bright scarlet flowers, and is all that could be wished for. Osborne's
Brilliant is in foliage more like IMangles' old variety, with a profusion of
deep scarlet flowers, but with free growth it has a tendency to lose the
variegation. Of Mrs. Lennox, we have not yet seen enough to speak
with any certainty ; and this remark applies to others, of which we know
very little. Silver Queen is a variegated " Lucia rosea," but of no
particular value as a bedding variety. Dandy and Variegated Prince of
Orange are two small growing and distinct kinds that are very useful for
margins. One other class of Geraniums still remains, the hybrid
bedding varieties. In this, we like best, Mrs. Toward, Purple Unique,
Diadematum Spini, Pretty Polly, Morgani, Quercifolium superbum,
and one or two others.

In Fuchsias, none seem more appropriate than some of the old sorts,
excepting Othello, which is quite a dwarf free -blooming variety. We
have also noticed lately a variety named Miellezi, very much resem-
bling the old Microphylla, and useful for small beds or for margins.

Yellow is a colour much needed in flower gardening, and, excepting
in Calceolarias, we are somewhat deficient in this colour. One of the
most useful deep yellow coloured plants we have seen is the double
Chrysanthemum regalium, which, when kept pegged, will be found a
very useful bedding plant, as it blooms very freely until late in the
autumn. For a late bed of this colour, Chrysanthemum Annie Hen-
derson, if grown on early in pots and planted out, would be useful, as it
is an early blooming variety. There is also the Double Yellow Nas-
turtium, (Enothera macrocarpa, the YeUow Bouvardia, and Lantana
crocea superba, which is of a deep orange colour, and makes a good bed.

In Petunias, the new double white will, no doubt, be found a useful
plant for bedding, but autumn-struck plants will be found to flower
more freely. Not but what young plants will do well, but it is evi-
dently a free grower. Alba magna is the best single white variety, and
makes a good bed. Amazon is a very good purple variety ; and Crimson
King, or Crimson Perfection, the best of the small-flowered crimson
kinds foi a bed. Prince Albert is unrivalled as a crimson, when it
does well. This variety is also known as Semi-duplex, and has large
shaded crimson flowers. In rose-coloured varieties, none is better than
Shrubland Rose for beds, although Marquise de la Ferte is an improve-
ment on it ; but we have yet to see if it will do for planting out.
British Queen and some of those beautifully veined varieties make
showy beds, but as they are not of decided colours, the clearness and
beauty of the marking is often lost. Among these. Purpurea alba will
be one of the most distinct and best for out-door decoration. Some of
the new Petunias, to be sent out this spring for the first time, are very
beautiful for pot culture, especially the new Carnation -striped sorts
from the Continent ; also Smith's Hermione, Majestic, and Major
Domo.

Much has been done in shrubby Calceolarias lately, especially by

MARCH. 81

Mr. Cole, of St. Albans, who exhibited such a fine batch of seedlings
last year. Among these are some distinctly spotted kinds, of good
habits and dense bloomers. His King of Sardinia, a crimson variety,
Orange Boven, Goldfinder, and Orange Perfection, will be very useful
for bedding. What a little gem is Cole's Prince of Orange ! — of a
brownish orange colour, exceedingly dwarf, and an immense bloomer ;
no variety stands brilliant sunshine or a pelting storm better. The bed
may sustain injury for two or three days, and it is as bright and gay as
ever, and continues in full bloom until quite late in the autumn. No
garden should be without this variety, which everybody can manage,
as it is so easily propagated and kept. Purity turned out well, clear
white in colour, a free bloomer, and of good habit. It has a tendency
to get up, and should be kept dwarf and not grown too luxuriantly.
Autumn-struck plants are best. We had a row of about twenty spring-
struck plants out last year on an outside border of one of the green-
houses, the plants being about eighteen inches in height and a mass of
flower. In crimsons, Beauty of Montreal is one of the best and most
effective, a small-flowered variety, but very bright in colour, almost a
scarlet, of good habit, and stands the weather well and continues
flowering late. Crimson King is a good dwarf-growing, large-flowering
sort. Two or three of Henderson's new ones of last year are also
good as bedding varieties, but we have unfortunately mislaid a memo-
randum respecting them, taken when they were in bloom. We are
now rich in yellows. Pallida is the best pale yellow — Erecta, one of
the best dark yellows ; and we have previously named Goldfinder.
Wellington Hero is a good deep yellow variety, and Kayi should not be
lost sight of Golden Chain is a free-growing dwarf yellow variety,
blooms freely, and is well worth growing.

There are now several varieties of Lobelia Erinus, of different shades
of colour, but Maxima or Speciosa are as good as any. Densa multi-
flora, a variety from Scotland, pleased us very much as a bedding plant,
although it is not very distinct from some of the others. Passing on to
miscellaneous subjects, the blue Anagallis and pale blue Ageratum are
both useful, but the latter requires pegging down to get a compact bed.
The Double Purple Senecio is a very useful bedding plant of a service-
able and effective colour. Among Heliotropes, Beauty of the Boudoir
is one of the very best, dark purple and of close habit, with good foliage.
Corymbosum is the best light variety for bedding. Phlox (General
Radetsky makes a good bed, but the plants should be summer struck.
It is a bright carmine striped variety, of Drummondi habit. Saponaria
calabrica makes a pretty dwarf rose-coloured bed, and is easily grown
from seed, but should be sown in February or March. In Salvias, we
want improvement as bedding plants ; Patens and Fulgens are the best,
but (he habit is against them. There are many other plants we could
name that are most useful for bedding purposes. There are Delphinium
magnificum and D. Hendersoni, with their bright blue flowers, and
both varieties have a tendency to continue throwing up shoots through
the summer. A bed of either, separately, or edged with any other
colour, is very eff'ective We have often thought that many of the fine
hybrid Gladioli would be very attractive for beds, planted as well with

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXIII. G

82 THE FLORIST.

some dwarf-growing plant of a contrasting colour. Many bedding
plants should, if possible, be struck the previous autumn. It is not
necessary for Verbenas and a few other things, but it is certainly best
for Geraniums, Senecios, Petunias, Cupheas, AnagaUis, Lantanas, kc,
as the plants are woody and begin blooming earlier, and do not generally
■produce such exuberant growth. We have seen beds of spring-struck
scarlet Geraniums and other plants, about London, growing vigorously
in the autumn, with a very scanty display of flowers. In wintering
bedding stuff, the plants should be kept dry and well aired, and in the
case of variegated Geraniums, for instance, a little gentle warmth for
three or four weeks now, will materially assist them in producing good
foliage, before hardening off for planting out.

The mixed system of planting seems to be dying out, and the riband
system more generally followed. This is the plan adopted so success-
fully at the Crystal Palace, Enville, and many eminent gardens ; and
in our opinion, it is by far the most eifective. For this purpose,
variegated plants, such as Flower of the Day and Golden Chain
Geraniums, and the variegated dwarf Koniga, are most useful ; so also
is the silvery-leaved Cineraria maritima an excellent plant for riband
planting.

In the November number for 1855, we entered somewhat fully into
an explanation of this style of planting, in our report of the celebrated
flower-gardens at Enville Hall, the seat of the Earl of Stamford and
"Warrington, to which we beg to refer our readers.

IS YOUR DAHLIA GROUND PREPARED ?
This question is superfluous to many of our Dahlia-gi'owing friends, as
we know quite weU their ground was trenched in readiness before
Christmas last ; at the same time, we know that a great many growers
of Dahlias through the midland districts and the north have not done
so, and do not see the importance of it. We know, in many cases, that
the ground will not be trenched or dug up until planting time, unless
our observations urge them to do so. Many, in planting out their
Dahlias, think that a hole opened with a trowel or spade on a hard
border is sufficient : but it is not. The piece of ground should be
trenched and allowed to remain untouched until planting time. No
manure or anything need be trenched in. At planting time, which
should not be earlier than June, mark out the ground for each plant,
and let three or four spits of earth be thrown out, and the same quantity
of rotten manure dug in and mixed with the soil. Plant with the hand,
and take care that beside the centre stake you have three short stakes
at a triangle, about a foot from the plant, as by tying the matting to the
centre stake, thence to the plant, and fastening to the shorter stakes,
the plant is quite secure from winds. Should any of our readers wish
for information, at the proper time, as to watering or the application of
manure water, we will gladly give it. As soon as you receive your
plants, pot them into a larger size, pot and keep them growing into
sturdy healthy plants. By doing this, much time is saved.

NEW FERN— PTERIS ASPERICAULIS.
Through the kindness of Mr. William Cole, of Fog Lane Nursery,
Manchester, who has sent us specimens, we are enabled to give a

/

woodcut of this beautiful Fem, seed of which was sent home from the
East Indies in 1852, by Dr. Wallich (carefully placed on the roots of

G 2

84 THE FLORIST.

Dendrobium Paxtoni), to E. Howarth, Esq., of Sale, near Manchester,
with whom the seed vegetated, and we beheve the surplus stock was
placed in Mr. Cole's hands for distribution. It thrives in a tolerably-
moist atmosphere, at about 75° to 80°, and Mr. Cole tells us that the
foliage should be kept dry, and that a mixture of peat, leaf-mould, and
sand suits it best.

Dr. Wallich sent dried specimens to Kew, we understand, but Mr.
Howarth was the first to introduce it in a living state.

NOTES ON A JOURNEY.— No. III.

From Arundel to Havant the country is flat and monotonous, presenting
little to interest the traveller, excepting the old town of Chichestei-,
with its cathedral. From the proximity of the railway to the sea-coast
there is a scarcity of arborescent vegetation, and what there is is of a
stunted character. English scenery is generally characterised by fine
trees and gentle undulations of surface ; but here it is much like the
travelling in Holland, for sameness. Looking hack towards Arundel,
the fine masses of dark trees which that noble domain comprises are
very striking.

The garden of Sir George Staunton, near Havant, is a very interesting
one, most skilfully arranged by Mr. Scott. This place is noted for its
fine specimens of stove plants, amongst which the rarer tropical fruits
are worthy of special mention. Of the Nutmeg, the Clove, the Bread-
fruit, the Bamboo, the Date Palm, and the varieties of the genus
Ficus, there are very fine specimens in the lofty stove, the side benches
of which present some glorious Orchids. There is a small octagonal
house appropriated to the reginal Water Lily, known better by the
name of Victoria. The grounds are not extensive, but were in very
nice order, and I was much struck with the splendour of the Gera-
niums, the flowers of which, throughout the south coast, have a vivid-
vess and intenseness of colour which puts our midland and northern
" displays" in the shade.

From Sir G. Staunton's I next visited St. Clare, the marine residence
of Colonel Harcourt, at Ryde, Isle of Wight. This place is a large
villa, with a lawn sloping to the sea. Its great charm consists in the
fine Oaks which grow between the house and the sea, and between
whose dark and luxuriant foliage the marine blue, on a bright day, is
exquisitely beautiful. A large and choice collection of Roses is grown
here, which have attained a just celebrity ; and Colonel Harcourt,
who is a great patron of gardening, possesses many choice and good
specimens of trees and shrubs. Situated just opposite to Spithead, this
place has almost an Italian climate, and the colours of all flowers are
much enhanced in brilliancy : Fuchsias and Myrtles seem to luxuriate
in this " Paradisus terrestris.'"

A short walk brought me to Ryde Pier, and from thence by steam-
boat to Cowes. This is an old, ill-built place, but some beautiful
viflas have lately sprung up beyond the old town, on the road leading to

MARCH. 85

Osborne House, on arriving at which I found my clever and indefatigable
friend, Mr. Toward, at home, and, by his kind courtesy, I had a great
treat here.

It might be deemed a breach of good faith, and manners too, were I
to particularise all I saw at this charming place ; I will therefore only
make a few general remarks upon it.

Osborne House, the marine residence of our gracious Queen, is an
elegant Italian villa, built upon a large scale, to suit the requirements
of the royal household. It is remarkable for its pure and classic elegance
of design. Situated upon high table land, it is surrounded by a spacious
and noble terrace garden, enriched with vine-clad arcades ; the walks
are made of asphalte, and the margins of the beds formed of the most
durable woods, painted and sanded to appear like stone. When I saw
it, I was in ecstacies at the brilliancy of colouring which the well-filled
beds displayed — it presented a tout ensemble, such as has, I think, been
rarely seen, and such as the favoured clime of the Isle of Wight can
alone depict. Scarlet colour was, in Geraniums, incomparably dazzling
— crimsons were rich, in its fullest sense — pinks were peculiarly vivid
— blues were ethereal, and white of matchless purity. Beyond the
terrace was a noble expanse of unfrittered lawn, and then the eye looked
over rich banks of wood, beyond which the bright, blue, and beautiful
waters of the Solent Sea extended, till they blended with the horizon.

In my former Notes I have remarked upon the admirable unity of
expression which is evident at Arundel ; Osborne is another exemplifi-
cation of that principle of congruity which is so pleasing to a well-
regulated mind. Although the character of Arundel is very opposite to
that of Osborne — the one being the expression of stern dignity, while
the other is an example of all that modern luxury can develope with
tasteful propriety — still each is, in its way, charmingly consistent.

Returning via Basingstoke, I next visited Strathfieldsaye, well known
as the seat of the late and present Duke of WeUington, and formerly
belonging to Lord Rivers.

This place is about eight miles from Reading, and is upon the London
clay ; a cold, wet, and — until of late years — an undrained district.
The visitations of early autumnal and late spring frosts are most severe,
and my intelligent friend, Mr. Johnson, his grace's gardener there, has
for years lost his crops of fruit; till, under the advice of Mr. Parkes, the
eminent drainer, he adopted the Deanston plan of deep drainage,
coupling with it an efficient canvas screen, with temporary coping,
removable at pleasure. He had previously drained but two feet deep,
fearing the water would not soak through the unctuous and stiff clay,
but at the instigation of Mr. Parkes, he lowered all the drains to four
and five feet deep. The result was, that from being the latest garden
in the neighbourhood it has become one of the earliest. One drain, five
feet in depth, was made on the south side of a wall, the north side of
which was covered with trees of the Morello Cherry ; these ripened
their fruit very late in the season, made wood which was ill matured,
and were mossy. The drain was made in March, when a thermometer
placed in it indicated 45°, but afterwards, during the summer, it rose
gradually to 61°. This, at five feet deep, was very satisfactory, and

86 THE FLORIST.

resulted in the fruit of the trees ripening three weeks sooner ; in that
season, the wood became well ripened, and the moss disappeared.

During some years after drainage, test holes were made in the drained
and undrained soils, and the temperature of these was accurately noted.
The results of these observations w^ere most interesting ; but although
the records are in ]\Ir. Johnson's possession, he does not feel at liberty
to give them to the public (and this with a sensitive dehcacy which does
him honour), as the experiments were made at the expense of Mr,
Parkes, who we hope will, at some future opportunity, make them
public.

The test holes in drained soil indicated no water within four feet of
the surface, while in the undrained land the water was only one foot
below it. " Many persons," says Mr. Johnson, " who visited me were
sceptical as to the ailvantage of deep draining, but after examining the
test holes, invariably went away converts to the deep system."

Mr. Johnson says, " 1 saved a good crop of fruit this season, which,
without covering, I should not have done." This I fully believe, and
it is only consonant with the experience and practice of a host of our
best gardeners, who have arrived at the same conclusion. Mr.
Spencer, of Bowood, uses broad, projecting coping boards, and makes
breaks in his walls, to shelter his trees from the cold, cutting easterly
winds ; Mr. Fleming, of Trentham, has covered nearly all his walls
with glass ; Mr. Ingram, of Windsor, uses screens to his trees ; so also
Mr. Tillyard, the clever gardener of the Speaker of the House of
Commons; and all succeed, not biennially, but always since they
adopted them.

Many of the readers of the Florist have, I make no doubt, been
startled by the communications of Mr. Saul and his favourite theory of
thinning the spurs to give the flowers more " protecting properties," (as
Sir H. Stewart would call them), and by this means to ensure crops of
fruit in alternate years. Mr. Saul very justly condemns allowing fruit
trees to be overcropped, and says that the result of excessive bearing is
generally shown in a deficient crop the following year. He is correct
to a certain extent, but in this county I can adduce many instances of
trees in the villages known as the " Apricot villages," where trees have
not failed in bearing heavy crops for many years running, and which
have scarcely ever been touched by a knife since they were in the
nursery. I can point out to Mr. Saul not only one, two, three, or four
instances, but can prove the truth of my assertion in hundreds of them.
I think that as regards the Apricot, we gardeners are too fond of the
knife, and not unfrequently for appearance sake we remove the fruc-
tiferous growths but to replace them with rank, overgrown wood. It
is well to occasionally shorten back and thin the old spurs ; and who,
worthy the name of gardener, does not do it ? Why is it that we
almost always see the apparently ill cared for and ill trained trees of the
•cottagers producing fine crops of fruit, and generally much overcropped.
It is in my opinion for the reasons I am about to give.

There can be no doubt that the more massively a wall is built, or
the thicker it is, even if hollow, the longer it will be in radiating at
night the heat it has accumulated during the day. The walls of the

MARCH. 87

cottages about here are generally built of thick stone, and, in addition to
the heat absoi'bed by the sun's rays, they are wanned internally by
the fires of the house ; the wall, therefore, of every cottage is, in fact,
a hot wall, slowly giving off its heat to the tree trained upon it, and
repelling the action of frost, while the projecting thatch or tiles keep all
perfectly dry, and arrests the heat radiated from the surface of the wall.

I am sorry to differ from the opinion given by Mr. Saul, but the
success of Mr. Johnson bears so much and so forcibly upon the advan-
tages of protection, that I thought it well to advert to it.

Remember, then, gentle reader, that at Strathfieldsaye there is as
fine a wall of Apricots as any in the country, which produced no fruit
till protected, and yielded a splendid crop the first most trying season
after its application.

JSuneham Park. Henry Bailey.

EDWARDS' REGISTERED EARWIG TRAP.

In our last number a description of this valuable invention to Dahlia
growers was given by ]\Ir. C. J. Perry, of Birmingham, who is well
known as a very successful cultivator of the Dahlia. Since the
publication of his letter we have visited Birmingham and examined
the invention, and found it to be singularly effective in trapping ear-
wigs, and no one should now think of using flower pots, as they are to
be offered at a low price, and will be advertised immediately. We now
give two illustrations of the trap, to enable our readers more fully to
comprehend its usefulness.

The earwig trap is a bell-shaped iron box, preserved from atmo-
spherical injury by being japanned ; its colour is a dark shade of olive
green ; it is three inches in diameter at the bottom, and four inches high.

Figure 1 is a representation of the external appearance of the trap,
and Figure 2 is a section showing the internal arrangement. A is a
fluted cone, open at top and bottom. B is another cone of plain
metal, joined to the top of the cone A, but having a wider base, so
that there is a clear space about half an inch wide between the cone
A and the cone B. C is a third cone, joined to the others at the top,
but spreading at the bottom, so as to leave another half-inch space
between it and the middle cone B. D is the outer case, fitting closely
round the base of the cone A. E is a moveable cover or lid.

In using the trap, the training stick is placed inside the fluted cone
A, the projecting portions of the flutes hold the stick tightly, and there
are spaces for the insects to crawl up ; a little coarse sugar is placed
inside the trap. The insects enter the trap through the opening at the
top of the cones, and passing down the outside of the cone C, drop on
to the bottom of the case D ; they are now effectually imprisoned, for
there is no o her outlet than the hole by which . they entered, to reach
which they must traverse the whole up and down route intimated by
the dotted lines and arrows in Figure 2, besides which they wifl have
to turn the sharp angles at the bottom of the cones, a process almost

88

THE FLORIST.

impossible to them from the peculiar construction of their bodies, the
legs being all at one end, and the chief weight at the other.

It is our intention to adopt this new earwig trap for the forthcoming
Dahlia season, and we earnestly recommend all growers to secure a
supply before the season commences.

The inventor, Mr. E. Edwards, of Birmingham, in a circular just
issued, offers the following remarks : —

" Earwigs are the most destructive insects that the florist and
horticulturist have to contend against ; they feed chiefly upon substances
containing saccharine matter, such as the most luscious fruits, and the
tender petals of flowers ; they never feed in the day-time, but as
evening closes in they begin to move, and they are in constant activity
during the night. Their bodies being a favourite food of all kinds of
birds, an instinct of self-preservation induces them, on the approach of
daylight, to seek for dark, close, and safe places to roost in during the
day, and it is singular that they always climb as high as possible in
search of such places.

" Taking advantage of this instinct, the plan hitherto adopted for
their destruction has been to place an inverted flower-pot containing a
little moss, or other soft material, on the top of the training stick,
these pots being examined daily, and the earwigs killed. This has
been a very troublesome and ineffectual remedy, for it was found that
many escaped. The appearance, moreover, of the pots, was so down-
right ugly, and was such a disfigurement to an otherwise tastefully-kept
garden, the wonder is that the Dahlia has not been excluded altogether
from ornamental gardens.

" The little invention now offered to the florist will obviate both these
objections. It is ornamental in shape, forming an elegant terminal to

MARCH. 89

the training stick, and being japanned of a fine neutral tint of olive
green, it is a pleasing object to the eye,

" Its utility is no matter of speculation, as it was thoroughly tested
during the season of 1855, by one of the most eminent Dahlia growers
in the kingdom, whose report on the subject appears in the Florist for
October in that year. It may, however, be mentioned here, that as
many as sixty earwigs were caught in one trap in a single night."

CLIANTHUS PUNICEUS.
It appears somewhat strange that this fine Leguminous plant is so
seldom seen in that degree of perfection which its exquisite habit and
charming racemes of inflorescence so richly deserve. Perhaps a few
remarks on its cultivation may prove a word in season to some of your
readers.

This fine plant was introduced from New Zealand in 1832, and is
probably better adapted for training against a conservatory wall than
any other situation. It may be easily struck from cuttings in any
ordinary propagating pit, and when rooted should be shifted into 48
pots, in soil composed of loam, leaf-soil, and sand. It should then be
kept near the glass in a close pit, or other structure where a growing
temperature is maintained.

In the course of six or seven weeks they will be well-estabhshed
plants, suitable for immediate removal to the conservatory border. The
soil should consist of good calcareous loam and good half-decayed
leaves, to which should be added sufficient burnt clay, or other porous
material, to keep the soil in a good healthy condition. It now requires
to be plentifully supplied with water at root, and frequently syringed
over-head, with the usual course of stopping, tying, &c., as occasion
requires.

In the autumn, water should be partially withheld, in order that the
tissue of the plant may become consolidated or ripened sufficient to
carry out, in the following spring, the brilliant effusion of drooping scarlet
pea-shaped flowers, which will assuredly ensue if the above directions
are carried out.

Henry Munro.

Clevelands Gardens, near Lyme Regis, Dorset.

Tecoma fulva. — This is Bignonia fulva of Cavanilles, a handsome
plant, with clusters of long yellow tubular flowers, streaked with red.
A good figure of it is given in the " Botanical Magazine " for February
last. It was raised by Messrs. Veitch.

90 THE FLORIST.

REVIEWS.

Rendles Price Current and Farm Directory.

More thrn a hundred pages of sound practical information on farming
matters — such is the " Farm Directory," a work that should be read
by everybody who has a bit of farming land. From page 10 to 30 is
devoted to the history, culture, and uses of all the chief Grasses,
Turnips, Mangolds, Clovers, Carrots, &c., used in agriculture, telling
us which sorts are best suited to certain soils, and giving just the sort
of information a purchaser wants. " A Few Words on growing Carrots
from Seed," and forthwith we are told, that " It is not desirable to sow
Carrot seeds in the open fields until the temperature of the earth is
raised to such a degree as to impart warmth to the soil. If sown too
early the weeds will have the ascendancy, and completely smother the
tender plants. Before sowing, the seed should be sprouted, by steeping
it in moist sand. This will be found to be an excellent plan, but the
seed and sand must be very frequently turned, so as to prevent heating.
Carrot seed should never be sown in very dry weather, the best time
being just after a gentle shower. It should not be put hito the ground
until the third week in April or the first week in May." Messrs. Rendle
and Co. observe at page 27, with regard to the Lentil {Ervum lens), —
" This is of great antiquity as the food of man ; it was in esteem in the
days of the patriarchs, and is much prized even at the present day ; it
possesses the most nutritious qualities, and the invalid food advertised as
' Revalenta Arabica,' is nothing more than the flour of the Lentil. It
is grown to a considerable extent on the Continent, as well as in our
own country." If such is the case — and we have no reason to doubt it
— it is highly interesting to note that one of our old articles of food, so
often named in the Bible, should in the nineteenth century be again
found a useful article for food. A few hints on testing guanos and
superphosphates follow, together with a " Calendar of Farming Opera-
tions for the Year," and various papers on farming subjects, by Mr.
J. B. Lawes, and otlier eminent practical men. One of the most inter-
esting papers is that on " Capital needed in Agriculture," which will be
read with interest. How so much is prepared and published at the
small cost of sixpence to the purchaser, is a mystery.

The Ferns of Great Britain and their Allies, by Thomas Moore, F.L.S-
Edited by Dr. Lindley, and Nature-printed by Henry Bradbury.
London : Bradbury & Evans. Nos. 5 and 6.
We have before noticed this valuable contribution to botanical science
at page 279 of our last year's volume, and the favourable opinion we
recorded of the numbers then published is fully confirmed by those now
under review, which secure to us representations of this interesting
group of plants perfectly life-like, and such as no other process could
produce. The assistance which Nature-printing is calculated to afford
the botanist can scarcely yet be determined ; but, from what has
already been effected in the work before us, we venture to say, the
time is not far distant when Nature-printing will be the means em-

MARCH. 91

ployed to communicate the forms and structm-e of vegetation to all
classes, and thus prove the means of increasing our knowledge of vege-
table life. It is surprising how httle is yet known of the vegetation of
other cHmates, or even of our own, by people in general. It is true
herbariums (or collections of dried plants) give those who may be for-
tunate to have access to them a tolerable knowledge of exotic plants ;
yet, beyond the few who possess this opportunity, but little is known of
foreign plants. Nor has, in fact, anything been done towards popu-
larising botany, on a scale sufficiently extensive for its introduction into
the routine of an ordinary education — a consummation we hope Nature-
printing will materially help to realise. Nor are the advantages of this
new art likely to end here ; for, no doubt, it will give important aid to
all interested in the art of designing for the embellishment of manu-
factured goods. Vast as is the improvement which has taken place of
late in this department, by designers selecting subjects, as decorative
objects, taken from nature, and more especially plants, the very limited
knowledge possessed by artists of the many beautiful and graceful forms
met with in Exotic plants, has hitherto prevented their more extensive
introduction. We therefore hope Nature-printing will be the means
of bringing within the reach of designers a wide field of subjects,
which will tend to improve the taste and elegance displayed in our
textile fabrics, as well as in pottery, and manufactures in metal. On
these, as well as on grounds purely botanical, we hail its introduction
to Britain as an important event to art generally ; and, as such, the
editor, writer, and printer, are alike entitled to our praise for the
manner in which the work is brought out, which, we hope, is only
the forerunner of similar works having the same object in view.
The present numbers contain figures of different kinds of Lastrea.

HORTICULTURAL THERMOMETERS.
Good thermometers are but seldom to be met with amongst cultivators,
yet how essential it is that we should be able to ascertain to what tem-
perature our stoves and greenhouses descend on cold nights. Scarcely
two thermometers are found to be correct ; indeed, if we happen to
possess half a dozen we are only puzzled by finding we have half a
dozen different results. Too much stress cannot be faid on the im-
portance of having good instruments, for gardeners are too apt to
consider, if they happen to have a thermometer, that it must be a good
one ; unfortunately, good ones are few and far between. Then, again,
how seldom do we find self-registering thermometers in use in our hot-
houses, although their great utility in recording the extremes of heat
and cold, especially the latter, in winter, cannot by any one be questioned.
Feeling the want of a really good instrument, I stated to Messrs.
Negretti and Zambra (the celebrated opticians of Hatton Garden,
London), my desire that they should turn their attention to the con-

92 THE FLORIST.

struction of a thermometer which should be correct within half a degree
at any part of its scale, and yet capable of being sold at a reasonable
price. It frequently happens that after a time, the exposure of an
instrument to a damp warm atmosphere will induce Confervte to grow
upon it and thus obliterate the index ; therefore it seemed requisite that
the scale should be raised, in order to prevent the destruction of the
instrument by this troublesome pest. This was a point strongly urged
with these opticians, and I am happy to be enabled to state that Messrs.
Negretti and Zambra have succeeded in producing a self-registering
thermometer, which they can warrant correct within half a degree in
any portion of its scale. The instrument is placed on a metal stand,
and the scale itself is raised metal, whilst the price is only three
shillings and sixpence. It is now, therefore, within the reach of every
gardener to possess a really good and trustworthy instrument for every
greenhouse or stove. The " Horticultural Thermometer" is so good
that when well known it must become universally adopted. — E. J.
Lowe, Esq., F.R.A.S., FG.S., &c.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Auriculas. — The powdered foliage of this early spring flower has
already expanded, which, without being as attractive, is almost as
interesting as the flower. Cover the glass carefully at night in frosty
weather, the young growth being tender, and the flower buds will be
developing. If the top-dressing has been done as recommended last
month, watering and giving air will be the principal things to attend to
for some time to come. As aphides generally appear with the young
growth, the plants should be subjected to one or two good smokings with
tobacco or tobacco paper.

Azaleas. — Pot, if not already done, young plants ; stop and tie out
shoots, and place them in heat. Thrips are troublesome pests to
Azaleas ; look out for them and fumigate two or three evenings succes-
sively ; this will rid the plants of them ; but for small plants the best
plan is to dip them for a few minutes into tobacco water, this will clear
the plants of thrips. Attend carefully to the watering of large specimen
plants ; give them plenty of air on fine days.

Came/lias. — Those plants that have been in a little heat will be done
flowering and commencing growing ; they should be syringed freely,
and should occasionally be watered with liquid manure. Any plants
in rather small pots which are full of roots may now be shifted, but
this operation is in general better performed at a later period.

Carnations and Picotees. — The soil for blooming these plants in
having been sweetened by the frost and frequent turnings, and the pots
having been cleaned, potting may be commenced with the first fine
weather. We have so often described how this is most effectually per-
formed, that it is only necessary to remind our readers, that now is the
time for the operation of potting them into their blooming pots, for

MARCH. 93

particulars of wliich we refer them to previous volumes. It is yet too
early for planting into beds or borders.

Cinerarias. — Re-pot succession plants for late bloom. Few plants
grow so rapidly as the Cineraria does at this season of the year, and in
consequence require plenty of growing room, light, and air. To form
good shaped plants, the principal shoots should be tied out and arranged
similar to the plan adopted for forming handsome plants of Pelargoniums.
The Cineraria will always please best if flowered early.

Cold Frames. — All bedding and other plants that have been
wintered in their cutting pans or boxes should be potted off without
delay ; when potted, place them in a frame by themselves, or at one
end of the frame, so that they can be kept rather close for a few days,
until they begin to get established, when more air should be give a to
them. Except on frosty or wet days remove the lights daily off of
established plants in pots. Mignonette, Stocks, and Violets should
have plenty of air.

Conservatort/ and Show-house. — These ought to be now a blaze of
flowers. Besides those plants mentioned before, Indian Azaleas,
Cinerarias, Pelargoniums, Epacrises, Acacias, &c., will now be coming
into flower. Begonia manicata is also a very useful plant at this
season. Attend to the tying up and training of climbers. Give air
freely on mild days. More watering will now be required. Keep
everything as clean as possible.

Cucunibers. — Attend carefully to the plants in bearing ; pinch off
all fruit not required to swell. Under the increasing influence of solar
light, they will require more liberal supplies of water ; and they should
occasionally have some liquid manure. Train, stop, and thin shoots.
Plant out young plants, and see that they have a steady bottom heat.
They will not need much water for a few days. When they have
fairly started growing they will want good supplies of water. Whether
trained to a trellis or grown on a bed the shoots will require proper
attention in thinning, training, and stopping. Do not leave too many
shoots ; never let them get crowded. Bear in mind, every leaf ought
to get solar light. A soil composed of turfy loam, leaf-soil, and some
rotten dung answers well for Cucumbers. Keep up a moist growing
atmosphere, and give air as freely as the state of the weather permits.
Dahlias. — March is the month for propagating the Dahlia. It is
necessary, however, that the roots should be at work at least a month
before, to ensure a plentiful supply of cuttings during this month. If a
few strong plants only are required, the roots may now be started in a
vinery, and divided when the shoots have grown a few inches long.
Pot roots may also be put to work towards the end of the month. These
make one or two good plants each without trouble, if properly managed.
Many prefer them to spring-struck plants. Soft-eyed or thin flowers
produce finer bloom from large roots divided, or pot roots ; but very full
varieties, or such as are liable to produce green centres, bring the most
perfect flowers from plants grown from cuttings. The end of the
month, sow seed.

Flower Garden. — Look over the stock of plants, and see if you are
likely to fall short of anything at bedding out time ; if you are, and can

94 THE FLORIST.

take off a few cuttings, do so without delay, and put into heat ; they
will soon strike root, and if potted off and pushed on, will be ready at
bedding time. Cupheas, Lobelias, Verbenas, Petunias, and similar
plants may still be propagated. Bring forward creepers and annuals,
such as Phlox Drummondi, for planting out when the season arrives.
If the soil in any of the beds requires replacing with fresh, it should
be done without any loss of time ; also any turf to be laid should be
finished as soon as possible. Plant and cut Box edgings, turn gravel
on walks.

Forcing Hardy Shrubs. — As soon as you remove any plants in
flower, fill up their places with others. Roses wiU now flower well,
also Lilacs and Deutzias. Weigela rosea forces well. Introduce good
plants, full of buds, of hardy Azaleas, Kalmias, and Rhododendrons ;
nothing looks more showy than they do when in flower. Keep up
a moist atmosphere, and give air in fine weather freely.

Forcing Ground. — Keep up the succession of Seakale, Asparagus,
and Rhubarb, also of Mustard and Cress. Sow French Beans,
Tomatoes, Capsicums, Sweet Marjoram and Basil, and put into heat.
Sow Celery and prick out that sown last month either into boxes or into
a frame where there is a little bottom-heat and some nice soil ; keep
close until they begin to grow, then expose freely in fine weather.
Water Potatoes in pits. Sprout Potatoes and plant when ready. Put
some roots of Mint and Tarragon into heat.

Fruit, hardy. — No time should be lost in seeing to the protection of
wall trees. Mats, canvas, or calico make a good covering. They
should be so contrived as to be put up or taken down at pleasure.
They should be let down every day, except in severe frosty weather,
cold cutting winds and snowstorms, as trees in flower require all the
light and air they can get. The branches of Spruce Fir make an
excellent covering, but they should be put on very carefully, so as not
to prevent the sun and air getting to the blossoms ; this is easily
managed by getting branches not very full of foliage, and thinning
out some of the side shoots ; they should be put on so as to stand
out clear two to four inches from the blossom ; this will break the frost
and yet admit sufficient light and air to the blossom. They should
not be put on until the flower-buds are beginning to open ; if put on
then, they will hold green and good until the fruit is set, by which
the foliage of the boughs will begin to wither and drop. We know of
no better protection for fruit trees than this is, when properly put on.

Greenhouse : Hard-wooded Plants. — All young growing plants
may now be shifted ; have the pots clean and well drained. When
potted, they will not require much watering for some time ; and when
they are watered, it should be with the greatest care and attention.
Syringe occasionally in bright sunny weather. It is not necessary to
mention the several kinds of plants that ought now to be shifted, as all
young growing stuff in small pots will be benefited by it. A compost
of peat, turfy loam, and a Httle silver sand will suit many kinds ; but
there are some famihes that require more peat than others, and others
that require more loam, &c. In shifting plants, if the old balls be very
dry, they ought to be placed for a short time in a tub of water, before

MARCH. 95

they are potted. Heaths will now require shifting. All newly potted
plants should be kept rather close for a time, but they should have air
freely when the weather is fine. Guard against cold currents of wind.
Soft-icooded Plants. — Specimen Fuchsias will now require liberal
supplies of water. Stop any loose straggling side shoots that may be
taking the lead. Shift scarlet Pelargoniums intended for decorating ;
also Cupheas, Heliotropes, Salvias, &c. ; start Dielytra spectabilis.
Hydrangeas are very little grown in the country, which has often been
a matter of surprise to us, as they are grand objects, are very easy to
grow, and last a considerable time in flower. Indeed, by having a
good stock of plants, and introducing a few at a time into heat, they
may be had in flower eight or nine months in the year.

HolhjJwcks. — As it is a month before these can be planted out with
advantage, re-pot any that are getting pot-bound. Transplant seedlings,
and continue to put in cuttings for late bloom.

Kitchen Garden. — There must be no delays, no procrastination, no
putting off till to-morrow. Every advantage should be taken of
favourable weather to get in crops of all descriptions. The actual con-
ditions of the ground now, will, in great measure, depend on the
trenching and ridging it received in October and November. The
principal crop of Onions should be got in as soon as the ground is in a
fit state ; the best sorts are — white and brown Spanish, James'
Keeping, Globe, and Deptford. The principal crop of Parsnips should
also be got in as soon as possible, and towards the end of the month the
principal crop of Carrots should be got in. Sow Parsley, Spinach,
Early Horn Carrots, and Early Dutch Turnips. Sow Radishes every
two or three weeks. Sow Lettuces of sorts, CauUflowers, also Wal-
cheren and Early Cape Broccoli. Sow the main crops of Brussels
Sprouts, also Savoys and Borecole. Sow Leeks ; sow Peas and Broad-
Beans twice during the month ; sow herbs of sorts. When the soil
and weather are favourable proceed with planting Potatoes ; plant Ash-
leaved Kidneys in rows from two feet to two feet six inches apart ; you
can then plant Brussels Sprouts, Borecole, and Broccoli between, and
the Potatoes will come off before the plants get any great size. Plant
out in mild weather the Peas and Broad Beans raised in pots and boxes ;
rod the Peas as soon as they are planted. Plant, if not already done,
Artichokes, Rhubarb, Seakale, Asparagus, and Horse-radish. Plant
out of frames Cauliflowers and Lettuces. Plant out Cabbages and fill
up vacancies in the autumn-planted ones. Strawberry plants laid in
in nursery beds since the autumn should now be planted out on some
good land. Keep a keen look-out in frosty weather, and protect all
tender growing crops. Cut Box edgings, and clean walks, and get
every place into as good order as possible.

Pansies. — Plant out such as have been wintered in pots. Top-dress
autumn-planted beds, and plant out any late sown seedlings that have
been wintered in pans.

Pelargoniums. — What an exciting time for the exhibitor ! By the
end of the month he will see if his plants will be in flower by the first
show, or not. If east winds prevail, the " May " plants must be fired
a little, but this must be done with judgment. Watering, giving air,

96 THE FLORIST.

and keeping the plant clean, both of green fly and dead foliage, will be
the principal things to do. There will, however, be some tying out of
the shoots of late plants. Fancies should now have a little extra warmth,
and seedlings all the room that it is possible to afford them.

Pinks. — After stirring the surface of the soil, top-dress the beds with
good rich stuff", choosing an opportunity when the beds are dry. Any
vacancies caused by the winter should now be filled up, either by those
wintered in store pots for the purpose, or from stock beds. If the soil
has been much loosened by the action of the frost, press it firmly round
the plants when dry, but not before.

Pinery. — Many of the large plants will now be " showing." When
in bloom keep the atmosphere rather dry ; by this means you will get
perfect and handsome shaped fruit. See that the bottom heat is always
regular. The whole of the young stock should be potted some time
during the month ; choose calm, mild days for the job. Strong vigorous
plants with good healthy roots may have a liberal shift. Pines will
grow in almost any soil not too gravelly or chalky. A mixture of turfy
loam and a little rotten dung answers admirably. Peat soil or " bog,"
where it is plentiful, may be used, as Pines grow and fruit remarkably
well in it. When potted, plunge in a steady bottom heat of about
85°, and keep a moist growing atmosphere, but do not water until they
begin to fill the pots with roots.

Roses. — Do not allow the very premature state of the Roses to
induce the commencement of pruning, as this can only tend to increase
(what we fear a late frost will constitute), the evil. But should a
reference to former calendars show directions for partial pruning — /. e.,
the cutting out superabundant shoots — we noio say, delay it altogether
till the end of the month at the earliest. Planting. — Unless this is
concluded at once, all hope of bloom this year must be abandoned.
In pots, too, the plants are very forward, and our old enemies, green
fly and maggots, are not backward. Dtath or victory, must be the
motto.

Tulips. — As we must yet expect frosty nights, keep the wet from
getting into the hearts of the plants.

Verbenas. — Good healthy cuttings put in now will be in ample time
for flowering, either in pots or for bedding out. Healthy young plants
will succeed better than a large old stunted one.

Vinery. — It has been favourable weather lately for early forced
Vines Vines in flower the latter part of January ought to have set
well, as we had many sunny days. Keep a moist atmosphere in the
early house until the Grapes begin to colour, but always mind and give
a little air in good time in the mornings, and in fine weather increase it
freely in forenoons. Attend to thinning the berries in other houses as
soon as they are set. Attend to disbudding and tying down the shoots
in late houses. Keep a moist atmosphere in all except when in flower,
when it should be rather dry. Water liberally all inside borders, and
occasionally with good liquid manure.

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J-'^ntirem JJrU i linai.

Erica s
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2. Z Zxonimsis

3. -Zf Andrewsit

Hate. 112. .

Trmtecl h\ (' If'n

97

CAPE HEATHS.

(Plate 112).

How beautifully compact and ornamental in their growth are
most of our varieties of Cape Heath ! They are easily grown,
too, and remain a long time in blossom, which, with a few well-
selected kinds, may be kept up nearly the whole year round.
Although in-door gardening loses much of its interest in summer,
when Nature is so prodigal of her beauties in the open air, still,
even then, pleasure may be derived from an inspection of the
section of Cape Heaths which flower at that season ; and in
winter and spring, when there is little in the way of flowers to
induce us to stray beyond the walls of our little greenhouses,
these afi"ord us a source of real delight ; for who can look upon
their deep green leaves and charmingly polished waxy blossoms of
various forms, when there is little else to cheer us, without a
feeling of satisfaction ? And some of them may always be had
in flower, even in the dull months. Such being some of the
many recommendations belonging to this tribe of plants, we
therefore off"er no apology for introducing our readers to three
new and excellent additions to this useful genus. Their colours,
it will be seen, are brilliant and well contrasted, and their flowers
conspicuous and striking. For the opportunity of figuring them
Ave are indebted to Messrs. E. G. Henderson, of the Wellington
Koad Nursery, St. John's Wood. They were raised from seed,
we believe, by the late Mr. Story, whose improvements on the
Fuchsia and other popular flowers have often been the subject of
remark in our pages.

Much as has, however, been done in the way of cross-breds,
there is yet one point to which little attention has apparently been
paid, and that is, the crossing our tender Heaths with hardy ones.
It strikes us, and the idea is not new, that there could be no im-
practicability in crossing the splendid species of South Africa with
the hardy natives that adorn our shrubberies. We need not say
that a successful result in that direction would be most interesting,
and the additional beauty that would be thus introduced to our
beds and borders would more than compensate for the trouble
which such an attempt would cause. That much may be done by
hybridisation has of late years become marvellously manifest ;
and surely there can be no obstacle to a union between the tender
sorts and the little hardy varieties which we find already every-
where in flower. Let the experiment be but fairly tried by skilful
hands, and we have little fear of the result.

As regards cultivation, nothing, we imagine, need now be said,
so much having been written on that subject in previous numbers.

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXIT. H

98 THE FLORIST.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The adjourned general meeting of this Society took place on the 11th
of March, to receive the report from the committee appointed at the
preceding special meeting, " to investigate the Society's accounts,
and report on what is best to be done as to the continuance of the
Society." After some discussion, the original motion, for adopting the
report, was lost ; and an amendment carried, that the report be
referred to the Council, to consider and report on it to the next adjourned
meeting, to be held on March 31. We believe this was all that could
legally be done, as, according to the Society's charter of incorpora-
tion, the management of the whole of its aft'airs is vested absolutely
in that body.

We abstain this month from makir\g any comment on the report
which the committee drew up, reserving our remarks until we see
what is really to be done with the Society, which we presume must be
settled one way or the other on the 31st inst., a day too late for us to
apprise our readers of the result. There can, however, be no harm
in appending a few suggestions of our own, which may be worth con-
sideration, if the Council decide to retain the Cliiswick establishment.

In the first place it is certain that the Pomological department of the
gardens is the one which has conferred most credit on the Society, and-
proved of most benefit to the Fellows and the country generally. Not-
withstanding this, it has failed of late years to keep up with the
requirements of pomologists ; and an independent society has been
established, with every prospect of its fulfilling the intentions of its
promoters. It cannot be questioned that if the Horticultural
Society had paid more attention to this department than they have
lately done, a Pomological Society would not have been needed. Now
we see no reason (supposing the Pomological Society agreeable) why a
union should not be effected between the two — i. e., that the Pomo-
logical Society should merge into that department of the Horticultural
Society. If combined together, the advantages to those Fellows of the
Horticultural Society attached to Pomology would be increased, and
the members of the Pomological Society would likewise be benefited
by the union. We would suggest a new class of Associates belonging
to this department, which should also comprise those members of the
Pomological Society who might wish to join, under the name of
Pomological Associates of the Horticultural Society, allowing them
the privilege of attending the exhibitions of hardy fruits, of having the
Society's reports on fruits, and a share in the distribution of grafts, &c.
The subscription might perhaps be the same as is now paid by the
members of the Pomological Society, or, as the privileges would be
greater, raised to 15s. or 21s per annum, with a guinea for the
admission fee.

The mode of obtaining correct information as to the value of orchard
and other hardy fruits, whether in reference to their quality, pro-
ductiveness, or hardiness, as practised by the Pomological Society, is
much more comprehensive, cheaper, and altogether better calculated to

APRIL. 99

attain the object in view, than the trial system adopted at Chiswick.
That a considerable space of ground ("if thought desirable) might be
dispensed with (if the former system were enforced), to be devoted to
other objects ; and as we have a strong opinion that by widening
the basis of this part of the Society's operations a considerable
increase of members would be the result, we think it worthy
of being considered, in a friendly spirit, by the Councils of both
estalilishments, more particularly as the Horticultural Society
already possesses much information on fruits, a valuable set of fruit
models, and certainly the best practical pomologist, in the person
of Mr. Thompson, in Europe. We believe, on the grounds we have
named, if this were carried out with spirit, this department would
pay its own expenses, and might ultimately prove a source of revenue
to the general Society. To effect this, however, it should be considered
as on a separate basis, and kept as a distinct department, except as
regards its officers being under the orders of the Council of the general
Society.

Next we are of opinion that the arboricultural department might be
usefully increased, so as to make it a standard of reference in all
matters pertaining to wood and forest management. We are not
advocating so much the growth of exotic trees (as the Society has
already a very complete collection) as the farming of a collection of
forest trees, as well as of such others as may be considered useful in a
commercial point of view. To this should be added a museum,
wherein the damage done to timber by certain systems of pruning (or
by pruning of any kind?), want of judicious thinning, improper soils,
and bad drainage, should be illustrated by specimens kept for the
inspection of gentlemen and foresters. We apprehend there are very
few country gentlemen who know the difference between the two
varieties of British Oak, which now occupy public attention ; and it is
yet an unsettled point with many which is the best variety of Elm for
timber purposes. These questions are of importance to gentlemen
holding landed property ; and as we have in England no Arboricul-
tural Society, we see no reason why some additional space could not be
afforded at Chiswick for specimens of forest trees, which, if under
proper management, might, by collecting information as to rate of
growth on particular soils and exposures, quality and durability of
timber, furnish much valuable data, which could be registered for the
information of all concerned in planting, whether gentlemen or their
managers. We think an addition of members might reasonably be
expected to follow a better developed scheme for illustrating, as far as
practicable "forest culture" than what the Society at present possesses.

We are not so sure as to our next proposition ; but as the Society
has ground enough, which it is very desirable should be made useful,
why could not a section of the garden be devoted to growing specimens
of every kind of agricultural produce ? We believe the Royal Agricul-
tural Society has at present no means of examining live specimens of
farm produce, growing together, so as to admit of a close comparison
and description. Collections of agricultural grains, roots, and grasses
might not prove of great practical utility to the farmer, as observation

H A

100 THE FLORIST.

and experience teach him what the particular class of soil he cultivates
is best capable of producing ; but to a numerous class among the
Fellows cf the Royal Agricultural Society a collection of growing
specimens of every kind of farm produce would prove of great service.
It is the interest of landed proprietors, as well as practical farmers, to
make themselves acquainteil with every description of plant capable of
cultivation on the farm. Among the great variety of farm produce now
offered to the public some must be better than others ; and although,
on the limited scale which under any circumstances could be attempted,
no results of great practical value as to superiority could be established,
yet a complete knowledge of every kind and variety would be obtain-
able ; and some general and extremely useful information to many
would certainly be the result.

We may be too sanguine on this subject, but we think nevertheless
some accession of members would follow the introduction of so useful
a feature ; and that it would prove an interesting department of the
gardens, and increase the claims which the Horticultural Society would
have on the support of the Royal Agricultural Society and the public
generally.

That these schemes would not be attended with any great expense,
we feel sure all who consider the subject will agree. Our object in
suggesting them as auxiliaries to the promotion of ho ticulture proper,
is to make the most of the gardens — in fact, to make them not only
represent horticulture, but every subject connected with the landed
property of Britain, whether relating to the farm, the garden, or
timber, so that every one interested in landed property might know
where to obtain all the information he required relative to his property ;
and we need not add, we hope, would likewise be induced to support
liberally an institution which, under good management, would be cal-
culated to improve his knowledge of cultivation.

Much might be done likewise by a well considered course of lectures
on the various subjects connected with the establishment. We think,
further, that these in turn might be productive of revenue ; but we
forbear saying more for the present on this and other subjects connected
with the retention of the garden, but wait to see, first, what is the
determination of the Council in this respect.

NOTES ON A JOURNEY.— No. IV.
Thorough drainage is admitted by all good cultivators to be an indis-
pensable preliminary to the development of those results which may
be obtained by increased depth of soil and aeration. But the intro-
duction of this system has been met by the most dogged opposition on
the part of both farmers and gardeners, of whom your humble servant
was one (in earlier days) strenuously opposed to making drains too
deep in clay soils. He has, however, long seen his mistake, and has
sought and had opportunities of being convinced that both himself and
those who do not drain deeply are, or have been, in error.

APRIL. 101

It ought not to be forgotten that rain-water is charged with salts of
ammonia, which are stimulating to the growth of plants. It is there-
fore desirable that such water should percolate slowly through the soil,
and enable the roots to absorb the soluble food thus afforded ; but,
having parted with its nutritious elements, it should not remain to
stagnate and chill the soil, excluding air, lowering its temperature in
summer, and raising it in winter — an unnatural course.

I have often seen gra^s fields injured by shallow draining, producing
much less grass than they did before. This arises from the rapidity
with which the fertilising summer and spring showers pass off into the
drains, with all their nutritious ingredients, while in deeper drains
there is time for the roots to assimilate the saline matters.

Shallow drains run quickly and rapidly soon after heavy rains ; they
discharge turbid water, loaded with the inorganic constituents of the
surface soil Such drains — say at two feet deep — soon become choked
with the silt which is washed into them ; while deeper drains do not
run for some time after, and discharge clear water, minus its nutritious
salts, and are not liable to derangement by choking.

I have seen a great extent of shallow drains which were perfectly
useless, their annual derangement involving an annual outlay ; these I
have seen pulled up and replaced by four-feet drains which discharged
a pipe full of clear water, the pipe being six inches in diameter, and
this, too, in a soil where it was said the shallow drains were too deep.

With the remark that shallow drains soon cease running after rain
ceases, I will close this digression upon drainage by referring to the
gardens at Strathfieldsaye for an illustration of what I have advanced.

The park at this place is large, but little varied in surface. It con-
tains many fine trees, particularly in a part called "Switzerland,"
where the Silver Firs are of gigantic size.

The house is a plain and unpretending edifice, quite in keeping with
the unostentatious character of the late Duke. All the rooms are fitted
up with double sashes, thus economising the heat generated in them,
and giving a hint which might be applied with much advantage and
economy in other mansions. From the house the ground slopes gently
to the river Lodden, immortalised by Pope as the nymph " Ludena."
Adjoining the house is a conservatory, in which are two Araucaria
excelsa, 22 feet in height — a Dacrydium cupressinum, 20 feet —
Eugenia myrtifolia, 20 feet; very handsome specimens. The pleasure-
grounds are extensive, but unvaried as to surface. They contain many
fine trees — as Cedars, Pines, &c. Among them, the following are
worthy of record : —

HEIGHT.

A very handsome Diospyros Virginiana . . .50 feet.

Tulip-tree 90 „

Several Scarlet Oaks 90 „

Cedar of Lebanon 103 ,,

Spruce and Silver Firs . . varying from 80 to 110 „

Weymouth Pines . . . . • • • 95 „

Hemlock Spruce . . . . • • . . 50 „
„ „ 180 feet in circumference of branches.

Flowers are but sparingly introduced, but there are fine breadths of

102 THE FLORIST.

lawn ; and, from the number of fine stately evergreen trees, the
expression of the place is one of quiet seclusion and solemn grandeur.
In various parts of the grounds tliere ai'e very pretty rustic seats,
ingeniously put togetlier, and quiet and unobtrusive in character.

The kitchen-garden is large, and well managed by I\Ir. Johnson.
Pines are grown extensively, and many Providences, weighing 91bs.
each, were cut in the autumn. He is a most successful Cucumber
grower. Vines, Figs, and Peaches are grown here ; the latter, in a
low pit, were in a beautiful state. There are some Pear-trees 15 feet
high, trained pyramidally, which are much admired.

Mr. Johnson cultivates his soil deeply. Great advantage results
from this practice ; exposure to the atmosphere rendering soluble many
constituents of soils which are insoluble without the access of air, and
the mechanical arrangement of deeply moved and loose soils permits the
roots of plants to penetrate freely.

From Strathfieldsaye it is but a short distance to Heckfield House,
the charming residence of the Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of
Commons ; a gentleman most highly and deservedly respected by all
who know him, and one of the most liberal patrons of the art of gardening
in this country. His gardener, Mr. Tillyard, is an enthusiast in his
profession ; and, with his perseverance and energy, and the encourage-
ment given to him by his kind employer, great results are achieved.

In the park, in approaching the house, there are some fine Deodars
and Pines.

The house is built of red brick, and charmingly situated. It struck
me as the beau ideal of the residence of " a fine old English gentle-
man." As seen from it, the grounds are prettily wooded and un-
dulated, sloping in one direction to a clear and mirror-like piece of
water.

The mansion has a terrace-garden in front of it, which was unique
in arrangement of colour and high keeping — the variegated Alyssum
was extensively and most effectively used. Many improvements are
contemplated ; amongst others, a considerable addition will be made to
the dressed grounds.

All the world has heard of the fine Pears, Grapes, and Strawberries
produced at Heckfield, and the London exhibitions have borne high
testimony to the superior quality of these fruits. The Pear walls at
Heckfield are admirable, and at the time of my visit were profusely
covered with the finest fruit. Strawberries are magnificently grown.
The vphole place abounded with the finest produce of fruits and vege-
tables. A wall of Peach-trees here vied in health and fine produce
with those in the more favoured climate of Arundel Castle. But these
had been protected I

Heavy manuring, deep digging, and hard cropping are the order of
the day here, and the most minute detail of everytliing that is attempted
is well and thoroughly done, and "what is not worth doing well is not
worth doing at all."

In a Vinery here there was one of the finest crops of Grapes which
I have ever seen. They were perfectly monstrous in the size of the
berries, and black as sloes. These were intended for late use, and the

APRIL. • 103

outside border was therefore protected by light wooden shutters covered
wiih asphalted felt. Mr. Tillyard is of opinion that we ought to pay
much more attention than is usually given, to preserve the borders of
late Vineries from being saturated by the autumnal rains — a hint to
which all good gardeners will, I am sure, give unqualified assent.

I shall reserve for the May number of this periodical an account of
the admirable fruit-room here.

Henuy Bailey.

Nunekam, March 20.

FRUIT TREES AND FRUIT TREE PROTECTION.— No. I.
I DID not intend resuming this subject at present, but as Mr. Bailey
has, in the last number of the Florist, attempted to fasten on me
opinions that are not mine, I feel called on in self-defence to offer some
remarks. Mr. B. says, " Many of the readers of the Florist have,
I make no doubt, been startled by the communications of Mr. Saul and
his favourite theory of thinning the spurs to give the flowers more
' protecting properties,' (as Sii H. Stewart would call them), and by
this means to ensure crops of fruit in alternate years." When or
where, I beg to ask Mr. Bailey, have I recommended the thinning of the
spurs to ensure crops of fruit in alternate years ? I ask again when or
where Mr. B. found this practice recommended by me? I have
never advised the thinning of the spurs to ensure crops of fruit in
alternate years. No. If Mr. Bailey will have the kindness to read
my communications he will see that I have recommended the thorough
drainage of the land, the thinning of the spurs when too crowded, the
tliinning of the fruit, &c., to ensure good crops of fruit annually. Yes,
IMr. Bailey, annualhj, and not biennially, as you would make me say.

I cannot conceive what Mr. B. has seen in any of my communica-
tions that could startle either him, or any of the readers of the Florist.
I have advanced nothing but what has been much better said before,
and by persons far better qualified for the task than my humble self

Mr. Bailey's remarks would lead one to infer that I rejected all
protection, of whatever kind, under all circumstances. If Mr. B.
would have the goodness to look into the Florist for 1854 he will see
that my first article was written in defence of fruit tree protection by
canvas rolls and Fir branches, which Mr. Ewing designated the
"antiquated plan." In another article of mine, written subsequently,
Mr. Bailey will find these words : " When I ventured to defend this
plan (fruit tree protection by canvas rolls and Fir branches) I did not
then, nor do I now, consider it perfection ; far from it." If Mr. Bailey
woul i read those articles of mine, he would see tliat they were a defence
of coverings for wall trees, and not a condemnation of them. At the
conclusion of the second article above-mentioned, I said, " If the wood
is well ripened I would not, nor do I, use them (coverings)." Some
correspondents of the Florist, who advocated orchard houses and glass
cases tor fruit trees, in adverting to my articles on canvas rolls and Fir
branches, condemned these coverings as inefficient. They wanted

104 THE FLORIST.

something better. These correspondents attributed the failure of all
the fruit crops solely to " late frosts and precarious springs." One of
them said, " From my own experience I can affirm that Apples, Pears,
Plums, and Cherries are all but entirely gone ; and, going from the
subject, that Potatoes, early Strawberries, and some other crops, suffered
equally." In my reply (see Florist, 1855), to these correspondents, I
asked them if they were prepared to advocate the covering, with glass,
in order to save the crops, of all the Apple, Pear, Plum, and Cherry trees
in Great Britain. I now take the liberty of asking Mr. Bailey if he
is prepared to recommend his protection for all these trees to save tlie
crops. After showing, in the article just mentioned, how preposterous
such a proposition would be, I said, " We must, therefore, adopt those
means w^hich, even in our variable climate, will remunerate the grower,
and at the same time place these fruits within the reach of all." I also
said, " This is to be done, not as those correspondents would do, by
covering all our orchards with glass, but by taking a lesson from M. de
Jonghe, as to pruning, selection of scions, &c., and paying attention lo
the soil, that is, in raising its temperature by drainage and other
means, in improving its texture, &c., and by selecting such sorts as
are suitable for the localities." And again I said, " My own opinion,
founded on experience, is this — that throughout the length and breadth
of the British Isles, by proper attention as to the selection of stocks and
sorts, by proper attention to soils and localities, and by performing all
the operations connected with the planting and growth of trees from
early infancy to old age ; I say by these means we can produce a supply
of all our fruits equal to the wants of our population."

Is there anything in all this to startle Mr. Bailey ? When I wrote
the above, I did then think, and do so still, that to recommend protec-
tion for our orchards would be the height of absurdity. I was then of
opinion, and am still, that good average crops of fruit could annualli/ be
secured by good cultivation, by thinning of the spurs when croicded,
by thinning of the fruit, kc. There is nothing very startling in this.
On the contrary, it rests on the very soundest principles.

In the article already referred to (see Florist for 1855), I mentioned
a few facts to show that the climate is not always the cause of the
failure of our crops. One of these was that " In these gardens there is
a very old Apple tree — the sort is Sir Walter Blackett's Favourite ;
it appears never to have anything done to it in the way of pruning, for
the branches are as crowded as possible. Well, this tree only bears
every alternate year ; one year it has not a dozen fruit on it : the
following season it is bent to the ground with its load of fruit. This
ha? been the case for the last six years to my knowledge, and I am
informed it has been the same for 20 years before." I now ask Mr.
Bailey, as I then did the correspondents to whom I was replying,
if he really thinks this tree misses a crop of fi-uit every other year
in consequence of our " precarious springs." No, Mr. B., that
is not the cause. It is because the crop of one season robs the tree
of all the organisable matter fit for the formation of fruit, so that it
takes a year to store up sufficient for another crop. This tree had
•several bushels of fruit on it in 1854, but not one single Apple in 1855 ;

APRIL. 105

I shall be surprised if it does not have a heavy crop this season. Does
Mr. Bailey see anything very startling in this ? Now, I ask, are not
too many of our orchards something like this tree — " overloaded with
spurs," as M. de Jonghe says ! " In fact," as the editor of the
Gardeners' Chronicle remarks, " Orchardists never dream of removing
them ; the more they have the greater they fancy is the chance of a
good crop ; they are like those speculators who, in their eagerness for
immense gain, contrive to realise nothing." Another fact I mentioned
was, " That in these gardens there are six trees of Calville Apple ; five
of these trees have been regularly pruned, the other one never. Their
situation is similar in every respect, yet the one not pruned has not
for the last six years had anything like a crop of fruit, whilst those
pruned have never failed to bear an average crop." The third fact
stated was, " Here are nine trees of Manks' Codlin Apple ; for the five
years previous to 1854 they had no fruit except a very few misshapen
ones. These trees have been covered with spurs, and nothing could
exceed their beauty when in blossom ; but year after year no fruit
except, as just observed, a few misshapen ones. A pressure of other
engagements prevented me from giving them any attention until last
spring. I was well aware that thinning of the branches, thinning of
spurs, and thinning of blossoms and fruit, was sound practice founded
on science. Our grandfathers knew this, and some of them followed
it, though, unfortunately, it has not been carried out so fully as it
ought to have been. Well, then, I cut off a third part of the spurs of
some of the trees, and more than that of others, and the result is I had
the past season a fair crop from all the trees, and the fruits were
particularly fine and well formed. One tree, the smallest of them,
which was operated on very freely, in order to get it to grow, was much
admired by many gardeners who called here during the season ; the
fruit on it was very fine. To the pruning of these trees last spring I
attribute the crop of the past season." I can now add that the crop
the second year after the operation (that is the crop of 1855) was even
still finer. In the article from which the foregoing extracts were made,
after stating one or two more facts of similar import, I said, " Had not
this article already extended beyond all reasonable limits, I could adduce
scores of facts similar to those mentioned, all showing that with proper
cultivation we may in nine years out of ten expect average crops."
Can Mr. Bailey find anything in this that he can misconstrue into " to
insure crops of fruit in alternate years ? " No, he cannot. Neither
can he find anything very startling. Nor can he find that I have ever
condemned the use of canvas coverings and Fir branches for wall fruit
trees, nor of glass cases, if people hke to go to all that labour and
expense. But I have contended, and do still, that by thoroughly
draining and improving the land, a proper selection of stocks and scions,
a proper selection of sorts, careful attention to pruning and thinning of
the wood and spurs when crowded, and above all, never, on any account,
allowing the trees to bear too heavy a crop ; by these means I am fully
persuaded, from aU my observations and experience, we can, no matter
whether the season be late or early, secure good crops of fruit in nine
seasons out of ten ; not in alternate seasons, as Mr. Bailey would make

106 THE FLORIST.

US say. And, with respect to wall fruit trees, such as Peaches,
Nectarines, and Apricots, I have nevercondemned the use of temporary
coverings for these ; but I did say, and I repeat it now, and every day's
experience tends more and more to confirm me in this opinion, " If the
wood is well ripened I would not, nor do I, use them (coverings)."
Does Mr. Bailey see anything very startling in this? Mr. B., in
his interesting " Notes on a Journey," has informed us how thin that
very clever gardener, Mr. M'Ewen, kept the wood on his fruit trees ;
that it was hard as whalebone, and that one of Mr. M'Ewen's maxims
was to do all necessary pruning in sunmier. This is what I have
always contended for. I have over and over again insisted on the
necessity of having all fruit tree borders well drained ; I have insisted
on the necessisty of proper and timely disbudding of shoots, thinning
of fruit, &c., in order to get the wood well ripened. I have said that
with well drained borders and well ripened wood we would secure good
crops of fruit in nine seasons out of ten. Whereas, if the borders are
undrained and the trees neglected as to thinning, disbudding, kc, so
that the wood never got properly ripened in one season out of ten ; I
have said that when this was the case late springs would not ensure
good crops, not even with coverings. Spring frosts are often blamed for
the failure of crops, when the real cause often is unripened wood and
imperfect blossoms ; I have scores of times noticed cases of this kind,
when the wood is well ripened, and the blossoms are perfect, so far
from regretting having some of the flowers killed by frost, I think it a
great gain, for by some of the blossoms being killed they do not rob
the tree of any of its organised matter, consequently there is more left
for those that remain, which will be much finer ; and by there not
being too many, the trees will make better wood, and will be prepared to
bear a crop of fruit another year. Now, if a tree that has the wood well
ripened, is protected, it will generally happen that so many fruit set,
that oftentimes four-fifths, and sometimes a great deal more, has to be
thinned. Now, these fruit, if only the size of Peas, will have robbed
the trees of some of their organised matter. The Apricot trees here are
now (March 13th), in sheets of blossoms ; if forty-nine out of every
fifty were killed by the frost, there would even then be four times too
many for a crop.

In the number of the Florist for August last, I said, " The crop of
Apricots in these gardens is very good, and as the fruit has for several
years been regularly thinned, I have no fear as to the results another
season, whether late or early, precarious or otherwise." The prospect
at present is most cheering, and I anticipate having the pleasure in a few
weeks of thinning many quarts of young fruit. Mr. Bailey will perhaps
say, don't count your chickens before they are hatched. If my other
work allowed, and I could spare the time, I would thin the blossoms
now, so as to prevent them from robbing the trees. I may here mention
that the Apricot crop this season promises to be a very heavy one in
Yorkshire. Everything is three weeks earlier than it was last season,
which was a late one. The Apricot crop was a failure last year in
Yorkshire, though the spring was a late one. This militates against
Mr. Bailey's theory of retarding, and confirms the opinion I have so. often

Apr.iL. 107

expressed — that failure of crops was often owing to excessively heavy
crops the previous seasons, which rob the trees of their organised
matter, so that they require a season of rest to store up sufficient for
another crop. The Apricot crop in Yorkshire in 1854 was a very heavy
one, and as they were not thinned (except in some gardens) they
exhausted the trees of their organised matter, so that in 1855 the trees
required a rest to store up sufficient for anotlier heavy crop, which,
from present appearances, there will in all probabihty be this season.

M. Saul.
Sitourton.

WINTER BLOOMING PLANTS.

Luculia gratissima. — This plant is generally acknowledged to be one
of the most valuable we possess, whether for the beauty of its flowers
or their fragrance ; and blooming as it does during the autumn and
winter months renders it still more desirable. This plant is thought by
some to be difficult to manage as a pot ])lant, and certainly it is very
impatient of extremes when growing, disliking alike cold draughts and
scorching sun, but as these are easily avoided it need not deter any
from attempting its culture. Leaving the propagation to nurserymen,
we will suppose young plants in February, at which season the previous
year's growth should be well matured, and in that case shortened back
to three or four inches of its base ; they should then be plunged in a
bottom heat of about 70°, and that of the atmosphere 10° lower ; this
v.'ill induce a gentle root action. When the buds begin to swell they
should be repotted in pots two sizes larger in a composition of nice
turfy loam and peat in equal portions, with a little leaf-soil and sand ;
they should again be plunged as before, keeping a moist atmosphere.
Let the temperature be gradually increased to 65° and 70° by day,
with shading in bright weather. As they advance in growth they
should be assisted with manure water rather frequently, stopping strong
growing shoots to induce a bushy compact habit ; this must not, how-
ever, be done later than the early part of June, for unless there is rather
strong and well ripened wood little bloom need be expected. From
the early part of August the plants should be fully exposed near the
glass in order to ripen the wood ; when this is done they will flower
li-eely in a warm part of the greenhouse. If the plants are only
required to furnish flowers for cutting, the best way to manage them is to
plant out against the back wall of a Vinery or some such place. In
the Vinery it will be quite at home, as it will make its growth with
the Vines, and with them ripen it, and flower when they are at rest.
In this situation all the attention it will require will be to prune after
flowering as described above, watering occasionally with liquid manure,
and keeping free from red spider, thrips, &c. These pests appear to
be remarkably fond of the Luculia, and unless kept in check will soon
do serious injury to its foliage, and check its growth.

Rhododendron jasminijiorum. — This is one of the very best hard-
wooded greenhouse plants, and will bloom during the winter in great

108

THE FLORIST

profusion. Pot firmly in fibrous peat and a small admixture of sand,
and place the plants in a temperature of 55° in the spring ; keep a
moist temperature and rather shady till June, after which inure them
to light and air ; and as soon as the flower buds are set remove them
to the open air for a short time. In the early part of September they
will again require greenhouse protection. From this time a few plants
should in succession be introduced to a cool part of the stove, where they
will furnish a supply of the most beautiful flowers during winter.

Siphocampi/lus microstoma is a soft-wooded stove plant that deserves
more general cultivation, as a succession of its bright scarlet blooms
renders it very attractive during the winter months, and flowering as it
does at the end of the young wood makes it very desirable for cutting.
It strikes freely from the cuttings of the young wood in a slight bottom
heat, and if this is done early in the spring they will make nice
flowering plants by the following winter. This, like most of the soft-
wooded plants, requires plenty of pot room and a liberal supply of liquid
manure when growing ; in fact the treatment recommended for the
Eranthemum pulchellum in a former number will apply in every
respect to this Siphocampylus.

Justicia speciosa. — This is another winter flowering plant too seldom
met with, for although the flowers are of short duration they are
produced in .great abundance, and being of a bright rose colour, are
very attractive. Little need be said respecting its culture, as the
treatment recommended for Justicia carnea will equally suit this. The
great point to attend to with most of this tribe of plants is, in the first
place to insure a vigorous growth, which must be regulated by frequently
stopping in the early part of the season. After this a more free exposure
to light and air is wanted, to obtain weli-matured wood, to insure tlieir
blooming abundantly, and a liberal supply of water to prevent flagging,
which, if allowed, will disfigure the plants, by causing the foliage to
turn yellow and fall off; and lastly, to prolong their beauty, a liberal
supply of manure water must be given when the pots become filled
with roots, and continued throughout the blooming season.

THE PEACH.

[Continued from page 73.)

As the season advances, the young wood must be kept closely tied or
nailed to the wall, and after midsummer, should the trees be crowded
with more young wood than can be fully exposed to the light, it should
be removed. In fact, now is the proper time for performing what
pruning or cutting-out the Peach requires ; and therefore the trees
should be gone carefully over, and what wood is not required for bearing
the following season, or filling up vacant spaces, should be cut away.
The wood retained for bearing will thus be more fully exposed to the
influence of light, and will become better ripened in consequence, with
the fruit-producing buds bolder and more numerous than when the

APRIL. 109

wood is allowed to become crowded and ill-ripened, through the want
of timely summer pruning ; this will leave little to be done in the
spring, further than shortening back the wood, and perhaps re-arranging
some of the shoots.

It will greatly assist the ripening of the present year's wood, if the
border can be protected from rain after August. Some of your readers
may perhaps be surprised at this statement, which is nevertheless true.
The Peach is a native of the dry, warm climate of the East, and is
found to live longest and thrive best in climates similarly constituted ;
as in America and the south of Europe, the autumns of which are dry
and hot, and therefore well adapted for ripening the wood of the current
season's growth, which becomes hard and solid to a degree beyond
anything the most favoured season in this country produces. If,
however, we can prevent rain from penetrating our Peach borders after
about the middle of August, we shall check that luxuriant growth
which the rains of our autumns produce, and which, aided by a damp
and not over bright atmosphere, is continued often till very late in the
autumn, and the results are wood of great strength and greenness
without fructivorous buds, and with a strong tendency to gum and
canker in the next season. It should, therefore, be the aim of the
cultivator to counteract this evil, incident to our climate, by remedies
I am endeavouring to point out ; viz., shallow and somewhat poor
borders, and keeping the latter dry during the autumn and winter.
No fears need be entertained that the trees will suffer in consequence ;
if it appears to stop the growth of the wood (which will hardly be the
case all at once, unless the border was previously very dry),, so much
the better ; you will have obtained an important step towards success,
as by this the wood will have time to ripen better, and to form fruit-
bearing buds in greater abundance. We need scarcely point out how
this can best be effected — a coating of concrete spread an inch thick
over the border, is an easy, and to some an inexpensive, method ;
while slates, tarpauling, and various other contrivances, may be
employed by others ; it matters not how, so long as it is done in some
way. The borders I have recommended are narrow, for one reason,
that they may more easily be protected from rains. In this operation,
some regard must be had to the peculiar locality of the situation. For
instance, on the east coast — say from Norfolk to Hampshire — much
less rain falls than on the opposite coast, or even in the midland
counties ; and in such places the precautions I am advocating are not
so imperatively necessary as when the climate is wet, a condition
generally accompanied by a cloudy sky, rendering the ripening process
more difficult, and therefore a dry border indispensable for obtaining
well ripened wood.

Towards the middle of October, the leaves will be fast changing
colour, provided the wood is in that state of forwardness we expect,
and as they are readily detached, they may be brushed off with a kw
sprays of birch tied together. This will admit the air more freely to
the wood, and when the greater part of the leaves are fallen off,
unnail or loosen the present year's wood from the wall ; this will freely
expose them to all the weather, and if the wood is (as I take for

110 THE FLORIST.

granted it will be), well ripened, no harm will follow : on the
contrary, the wood will become hardened and of a dark red colour, and
the buds, in the spring, will open strong, and will be but little likely to
fall off, or fail in setting their fruit.

The beginning or middle of March will be quite time enough to cut
back the wood and tie in to the wall. The great object just now
is to keep them from blooming too early, and the longer, therefore, they
remain free from the wall, the less liable will they be to get into bloom.
In shortening the shoots back, some regard must be had to the age of
the tree. Young trees will require all the leading shoots left nearly
their whole length — say, shortened back one-third — while the
secondary and subordinate shoots must be cut back, some one-half,
and others two-thirds of their length. With older trees, the whole will
require closer cutting in ; more especially when the trees are fully
developed, when it will perhayis be necessary to cut back most of the
shoots to one-third of their length, and even, in places, closer than that.
In cutting back, select what is called a triple eye, or bud ; that is,
where there are two fruit-buds with a leaf-bud in the middle, as these
generally break stronger than when cut to a single wood bud. Great
care must be taken to secure a wood bud to cut back to ; as, should
this not be the case, and only blooms produced, you will lose perhaps
the best part of the shoot, and what fruit forms above the growing
shoot will be worthless. There are some Peaches — as the Bellegarde,
Chancellor, and others — which, when in a full bearing state, produce
wood-buds very scantily, except as terminal ones, and a few at the
base of each shoot. In this case, the shoots must not be shortened
back at all, but left their entire length, and when they break they must
be gone over, and cut back, or not, according to the position and number
of buds.

After tying in the wood, remove the covering from the border, to
allow it the benefit of rains, and a surfacing of fresh loam may be laid
over and very slightly forked in, but further than this the border
should not be disturbed. In the course of time, however, as the
borders may become exhausted, a good mulching of cow or sheep dung
will assist it ; or, what amounts to nearly the same thing, two or three
soakings of manure water from a cow-yard.

A Gardener in the Country.

LIGHT— ITS INFLUENCE ON VEGETATION.

( Continued from page 41.)
Whether the principles contained in the sun's rays influence
vegetation, as some writers affirm, according to the season when their
different properties are most active — or whether, as I have previously
suggested, plants themselves possess the power of calling into action
these properties, according to their stage of growth, under circum-
stances different from those which occur when vegetating at their
natural season, I leave for the present, as not materially affecting our

APRIL. Ill

question, and therefore proceed shortly to notice some of the secretions of
phmts.

It must be obvious to the most common observer, that the pecuhar
products of plants vary, as much as do their flowers or outward
appearance. The exquisite fragrance of some is only equalled by tiie
most offensive odour of others. While some produce the most delicious
fruits, others cannot be tasted for their nauseating qualities. One class
furnishes us with food so indispensable to our very existence, that the
epithet " staff" of life" alone adequately conveys to us their importance;
while, again, we find others producing the most deadly poison ; while
the various other ingredients found in plants — as gum, sugar, starch,
tannin, resin, albumen — show how widely diff"erent are their secretions.
But whatever these may be, they are all dependent on the subtile
agency of light for their formation, and tlie qualities of their respective
products are increased, or otherwise, as the plants producing them have
been fully, or not, exposed to its influence.

It follows, then, that by a vital function, common, in a greater or
less degree, to the entire vegetable kingdom, plants are enabled, under
the influence of solar light, to decarbonise the air in which they grow,
and by assimilating the carbon (found in the atmosphere combined with
oxygen in the form of carbonic acid), they furnish themselves with the
principal material for building up their own structure from the air, and
likewise for forming the base of such carbonact ous compounds as oily
matter, sugar, gum, and starch, found in all plants. In connection
with the decomposition of carbonic acid and water (which is effected by
the same agency), is the liberation of oxygen, which is restored to the
atmosphere, by which means this element is maintained in a state of
perpetual purity and freshness. By the decomposition of water, which
takes place in the cells of the plant, hydrogen is retained, and forms
one of the proximate elements of which resin, turpentine, and many
aromatic products consist. The formation of those constituents which
render plants valuable as producing food — as gluten, albumen, and
casein — is owing principally to the presence of nitrogen and the phos-
phates of lime and magnesia. These enter the plant in a soluble state
by absorption through the roots — the former in the shape of ammonia
— and, with the alkaloids, undergo the various chemical changes into
which they are afterwards formed, when exposed to the same potent
power whose influence we are considering.

The exact way in which all the various products found in plants are
elaborated from the four simple elements of which they are composed,
is beyond the pale of scientific research ; we only know the great agent
is Light, acting in connection with heat and the vital powers of the
plant.

We have before noticed, that we consider that the leaves of plants are
acted upon differently at certain stages of their growth. When young,
and while they are being developed, their principal action appears to be
the assimilation of carbon, which takes place very rapidly in bright
weather. At a later period of their growth, the sap undergoes a
change, which renders it more susceptible to chemical affinities, and
it is then that we find the peculiar secretion common to each plant in
greatest abundance.

112

THE FLORIST.

These principles being understood, it matters little whether the
object to be obtained by cultivation be the production of a plant in
flower — one of those matchless specimens which the horticultural
stimulus of modern days has called into existence — or, of fruit, such as
we see exhibited at the metropolitan shows or find in our best managed
gardens : the principal agent in producing so much that is excellent —
either as specimen plants or fruits — is Solar Light.

J. S.

{To he continued.)

CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES RECENTLY INTRODUCED.

Mr. Ainsworth (Holland). — Scarlet Bizarre. An extra fine variety. Habit
of flower first-rate ; undoubtedly in this respect the best of its class. Petal
very broad, smooth on the edges, gently cupped, and of good substance.
Marking bold and distinct ; white good, scarlet dull. This fault, and the want
of a few more petals for the crown, removes this variety in my judgment from
the first place in its class. As it is, I place it second. Its habit of grass is
narrow and flowing, closely resembling Captain Edwards, from which we pre-
sume it was originated. Appears very constant.

Lord Goderich (Gill) . — Crimson Bizarre. A very sweet variety. Not very
large, but very refined, and admirably marked. The colours are very rich,
though the bizarre is not so dark as in Lord Milton and others in the class. It
is also very distinct, and taken altogether I think it a most desirable variety.
Being rather late in blooming, it should have the advantage of a frame or the
warmest situation in the garden, to bring it forward for the general bloom. —
Habit of grass dwarf.

Young liJilton (Hopwood). — Crimson Bizarre. This flower has every good
property except the white, which with me was very inferior. Evidently, it
should not be overgrown.

Alice (Dodwell). — Pink Bizarre. A sport from a purple flake, raised from
Rachel. A large and full flower, very showy on the home stage. For exhibition,
the front bud should be removed just before it opens, leaving two, or, if the
plant be very strong, three side-buds.

Fanny (Dodwell). — Pink Bizarre. Another seedling from the same parent,
but of very different habit, being of medium size only It has a very fine petal,
■well marked with rich light colours.

Admiral Napier (Holland). — Purple Flake. A good useful flower on the
home stage, full and well formed, with a finely shaped petal. The white is in-
ferior, and this, in my opinion, will keep it from taking a leading place in its
class. A good grower.

Comet (Kaye). — Scarlet Flake. Not new, but as yet comparatively unknown
in the Midlands and South. A well-formed flower, with a rich bright scarlet,
and a good white. The colour is distributed in narrow stripes, which is a
defect.

Christopher Sly (May) . — Scarlet Flake. A truly splendid variety. Petal
broad, nobly marked with a dense scarlet of a peculiar crimson shade ; white
'good; flower full, well formed, and of large size. A vigorous grower.

JSxit (May). — Scarlet Flake. As bloomed by me, certainly second to
Christopher Sly. It has a remarkably finely formed petal, well marked with a
rich scarlet ; white good. A shy grower, apparently, and of weak habit.
Should not be over-potted.

Ivanhoe (Chadwick). — Scarlet Flake. Another flower not yet generally
known, but which, when more distributed, will, I think, be much esteemed. It
is finely formed, with a broad petal well marked with dense scarlet. White
good.

Magnet (Kaye). — Scarlet Flake. This variety is said to be too small. As

APRIL. 113

shown at Manchester by Mr. Kaye, it was certainly large enough, and I
thought a very superior flower. Its habit of petal closely resembles that of
Admiral Curzun, aud it was splendidly marked with rich distinct scarlet.

Victoria Regina (Headly). — Scarlet Flake. A large and splendid flower.
Finely formed petal, bold markings of very bright scarlet, but unfortunately so
late in bloom that it will rarely be of use to the exhibitor north of the Trent.

Wilfred (Dodwell). — Scarlet Flake. A seedling from Admiral Curzon. A
thin flower, of medium size, but of extra fine quality ; white very pure ; scarlet
rich and well distributed ; petal gently cupped and very smooth. A good
grower.

King John (May). — Rose Flake. Evidently a seedling from Flora's Garland,
and as grown in the south superior to that fine old variety. Very large, full,
and finely marked with a rich rose ; white good. Unfortunately, it is late
in blooming, and from this cause I fear it will not be a useful flower for the
Midlands and North.

U/icle Tom (Bramma). — Rose Flake. A fine variety. Has been, and
deservedly, much admired. White good ; petal finely formed, smooth, and of
good substance, and well marked with a rich salmon-rose. Apt to spindle in
autumn and early spring, and should not be overgrown.

PICOTEES.

Mrs. Headly (Headly). — Medium-edged Red. An improved Esther (Bayley),
being without the spots on the under side of the petal, which disfigured that
variety. It is a fine noble flower when well bloomed, but being so full, requires
care to prevent the bursting of its pod. It was raised from King James, and,
like that variety, appears to be a shy rooter.

3Irs. Hoyle (Hoyle). — Also a seedling from King James, but in a very
diflerent style to the preceding, being a broad heavy edge. It has a good petal,
fine white, and solid colour, but is unfortunately late in blooming. Like 3Irs.
Ileadly, with me it appears very shy to root.

Mrs. Kelke (Turner). — Light edge, sometimes medium edged. A fine, noble
flower, undoubtedly. Large and full, without confusion, with a fine broad
petal and solid marginal colour, fairly free from bars. But, like many of the
reds, it sufi'ers in the white when compared with the best of the purple class.
A fine grower, and does not need driving.

Mrs. Dodwell (Turner) .—Heavy-edged Red. This flower has one of the
best petals I have ever seen, with a very rich, distinct, marginal colour, and
fine white. It is rather thin, but it speaks highly for the variety, that both
blooms from the single plant grown by me could be successfully shown It is
evidently a seedling from King James, but with an improved habit of growth,
judging from the results of one season.

Prince Albert (Headly).— A broad heavy edge. Colour very dark aud rich ;
fine petal, and good general form. In some localities it has been condemned as
possessing too much colour, whilst in others it has been thought to be amongst
the best of its class.

lioselta (Turner).— Light-edged Red. A most beautiful variety, possessing,
with an admirable outline, great depth of flower, or, to te more explicit, a
high crown. The marginal colour is bright and solid, and t e white quite free
from bars. As seen, 1 thought the petal rather too much cupped, nevertheless
it is a great acquisition to this limited class. A fine grower.

Annot Lyle (Dodwell). — Medium or light-edged purple ; outline and form of
petal very fine, with great substance and extra tine white. Being a thin flower
it requires hard disbudding, aud like all seedlings of the Princess Alice breed, it
is peculiaily subject to the attacks of green fly and thrip. If these pests are
allowed to get ahead, they will inevitably produce such debility that semi-double
flowers only will be produced.

Amy Robsart (Dodwell) .—Light-edged Purple. This flower, a seedling from
the Duke of Rutland crossed with pollen from Alfred, has apparently a fine
constitution, and is a far better grower than any others of the same batch. It
has the splendid petal of Duke of Rutland, with the rich white and form of
Alfred. During the past season it has decidedly beaten Haidce, a feat which,

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LSIV. I

114 THE FLORIST.

speaking for myself, I must say I never expected to see performed. It will
carry three blooms on each plant, and .=hould not be excessively stimulated.

Captain Dalgctly (Dodwell). — Another seedling from the same cross; a
narrow-edged heavy. A fine-formed flower, being well crowned. The flower
should be well matured before it is shown, that being its best character. A
good grower.

Finis (May).— So named, as indicating the close of this celebrated raiser's
career, and is most certainly a noble finish. The petal and substance are all
that can be desired, while the extreme purity and brilli:incy of its white con-
trasts most admirably with its solid and regular edging of rich purple. A fine
grower, and rather early in bloom. Any one who has Amy Rohsart, Haidee,
and Finis, possesses not ouly the three best light-edged purple Picotees, but
three of the best Picotees in cultivation.

Mrs. Bayley (Dodwell). — Heavy-edged Purple. Petal fine in form, with an
exquisite white, great substance, and regular marginal colour of medium width ;
this flower is undoubtedly the best of the narrow-edged heavies whenever
properly bloomed. But, as said in the case of Annot Lyle, it requires skill and
care to develop it in perfection, being peculiarly susceptible of the attacks of
insects, whils% like all the varieties with very succulent grass, it is evidently
the favourite food of these pests. It is also a bad winter doer. It will be found
to do best from pipings, and as during summer it grows like a weed, it may
easily be propagated by that mode.

Mrs. Keynes (Norman). — Light-edged Purple. Apparently a seedling from
Beauty (Norman), which it closely resembles in its habit of growth and bloom.
It is a small flower, and should not be allowed to carry above one bloom, but
has a very fine petal, with a distinct solid margin, and fine substance. The
white is rich, but not so pure as in Finis, Haidee, and Amy Robsart.

Mrs. May (Turner). — Heavy-edged Purple. Extra fine in form. The petal
is broad, of good shape, and the marginal colour very distinct and regular.
The white is wanting in the lustrous richness which belongs to one or two
flowers in its class, but nevertheless it is a fine flower. Not a strong grower.

Alice (Hoyle). — Heavy-edged Rose. Quite a gem. Unfortunately, like most
gems, it is small, which is its only drawback. It is admirably formed, beauti-
fully pure in the white, with a dense, even, and well-proportioned marginal
colour of the richest orange rose. It was shown at Oxford with the richest
colour and nearest approach to scarlet I have as yet seen in the Picotee. If
grown with one bloom on the plant only, it is probable size suflicient to enable
it to occupy the front tier in a stand may be obtained, and it will evidently
enjoy good generous growth. Undoubtedly originated from King James, and
another illustration of the value of that celebrated "break" to the seedling
raiser.

Countess of Errol (Turner) . — ^Light-edged Rose. A large flower with fine
broad petal, but as seen during the past season the marginal colour was too
pale. The absence of sun -light and warmth during the period of bloom un-
doubtedly seriously aggravated this fault. A very vigorous grower.

Flore?ice Nightingale (Dodwell). — Light-edged Rose. Like the variety
described above, the marginal colour is sometimes too faint, but in proper cha-
racter it is a sweet flower, well formed, and of extra fine quality. Raised from
the same cross as Amy Robsart, it is of raiher dehcate habit, and will be found
to do best grown singly in eight-inch pots.

Lady Grenville (Turner). — Heavy-edged Rose, of the soft, sweet colour
peculiar to Mrs. Barnard. A very distinct and delightful variety, being well
formed, smooth, very pure in the white, and regiilarly margined with a band of
colour of the shade described. The habit of the petal is not good, being, in
floristic phrase, sadd'ed, and therefore calling for much attention when ex-
panding, to correct this peculiarity. It is rather small and delicate in habit,
and should neither be over-potted nor excessively stimulated.

Lizzie (Dodwell.) — Medium-edged Rose, very similar in colour to the pre-
ceding. Has a fine petal and white, with a vigorous habit of growth, but,
like others already described, requires to be carefully shielded from the ravages
of the insect tribe, if it is to be seen in good character.

APRIL. 115

Miss Sainsbury ( ). — Light-edged Rose. A good useful flower, much in

the way of 3Irs. Barnard^ but not so smooth on the edge of the petals. The
marginal colour is also different ; a fiery salmon. Grows well.

Derby. E. S. Dodwell.

NOTES ON THE MONTH.

The dry weather during the early part of the month, and indeed of
the two previous months, has brought the land into a first-rate con-
dition for all spring crops, even stiff' retentive clays giving indication
of falling to pieces under the influence of the dry winds which prevailed
up to the third week ; while all ordinary soils which have been exposed
by rough digging or ploughing, are, as a farmer told me the other day,
as dry as ashes. This, to the gardener and farmer, is the primary
element of success for the coming crops ; as getting seed well in is the
crop half saved, as the old adage informs us. Swedes and Turnips
have stood well — as have Winter Greens and Broccolies — as a glance at
our own and neighbouring gardens testify. And as Potatoes are abun-
dant, good, and cheap, and the labouring population in full work and
earning good wages, there is a spirit of contentment and good feeling
among them very different from what we have met with in former
years, and, as it is so, we are very happy indeed to record the fact.

The season has not been so propitious to the forcing gardener. For
several weeks past we have experienced easterly winds — as usual, cold,
black, and dreary — with little sun. This has compelled them to make
fires do the work of sunshine ; a very sorry and expensive substitute —
one that neither satisfies the gardener nor his employer. Inferior
produce is no satisfaction to our brethren, no more than large bills are
to his employer, and we therefore always sympathise — feelingly, per-
haps— when such adverse incidents arise in the cultivation of fruits —
I will say plants too — for plant-growing, and especially plant-forcing,
is influenced largely by the cost of production. The frost which com-
menced on the evening of the 10th, and increased in severity on the 11th
and 12th, caught some of us napping, no doubt — myself in some degree,
as well as others. Those who have not taken precautions to protect
their Apricot blossoms would suffer, as the trees were in full bloom, and
10° of frost — dry though it was — is not easily kept from coming in
contact with the moist stigma of the Apricot bl om, which, clever men
tell us, is the cause of mischief, in which we are strongly disposed to
coincide. Peaches would escape, as they were not in flower ; but young
vegetables just transferred from the frames and shelters where they
have been kept through the winter, look miserable, even when partially
protected by branches, &c., stuck around them. We, in our day, are
unfortunate, to what we remember the gardeners of twenty years
back were, when we could keep this kind of stuff" in frames long enough
to harden them completely before turning out ; but now-a-days room
is wanted for bedding -stujf, and of course, as the beds on the parterres
must be filled, out must go, the first days of March, the Cauliflowers,
Lettuce, Peas, and a host of things brought forvaardfor early supply

I 2

116 THE FLORIST.

without much chance of preparing them, and then comes a frost, like
that we had on the 12th, and farewell all the gardener's hopes of early-
Peas, Cauliflowers, &c. Surely gardeners ought to be wise in their
generation, to fight against so many contrarieties. Want of sunshine we
complained of above. Up to the day we write, this deficiency of the
gardener's friend continues. We have had rain, very acceptable to
vegetables and other things, but sunshine we have had but little.
This is unfortunate for Strawberry- forcing, as they are not much with-
out an abundance of light. The wind has veered from the West to the
East again, and dark foggy weather with it. What a month for newly
planted trees! Those whom circumstances compelled, or who were
misled by the appearances in February, to plant (and much we know
was done) evergreens, will grieve over disappointed hopes, and may
perhaps learn wisdom fi-om experience. During the end of February,
and up to the full middle of March, the easterly wind has been as dry
as a " Sirocco " of the desert, and has taken away every particle of
moisture from the leaves of plants exposed to its withering influence.
Some of those which had roots (unhurt and growing) to supply the
daily waste by evaporation, have had hard work to go through the
ordeal. But what can we say about those planted previously ? We
can only sympathise with the planters who were then compelled to
plant, perhaps agamst their conviction ; to those who planted from
choice we forbear saying much, as we hope it will be the last time they
will act " so indiscreetly," as the polite phrase has it. Should rain and
dull weather follow, now will be the time for planting evergreens. Let
them, however, recover themselves a little before moving ; and if not
compelled — and time is no object — if you allow them to stand over till
September next, take my word for it, you will succeed all the better.
March 22. G. F.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
At a meeting of this Society, held February 26, a few interesting
plants were brought together. Messrs. RoUisson contributed some
Orchids, among which were one or two remarkable Vandas, of which
we hope soon to give coloured illustrations. They also sent an example
of the double white-flowered Chinese Plum, which " wfell done," is a
very ornamental plant. Messrs. Veitch had a brilliant-coloured Correa,
which was stated to have been raised from Australian seeds. They
also sent some well-grown Epacrises. Eucharis grandiflora was con-
tributed by Messrs. E. G. Henderson. It has large and striking
snow-white flowers, which very m.uch resemble those of a Pancratium,
to which the plant is evidently nearly related. From the Society's
Garden was Thyrsacanthus rutilans, whose pendent bunches of gay
scarlet tubular blossoms at once point it out as one of our most showy
winter-flowering stove plants. In the same collection were also Reseda
grandiflora, a robust new kind of Mignonette, and a Crimean Snowdrop,
1, it was said, on the heights of Sebastopol by Colonel Munro.

APRIL. 117

Some observations on grafting were made on this occasion by the
Vice-Secretary. He began (says the Gardeners' C/ironkle) by
stating that grafting often occurs naturally, as is instanced by branches,
fruits, and even petals of flowers in close contact, and «nder certain
conditions growing together, and went on to show that such accidents
had doubtless led to effecting the same thing artificially. It is in
reality, he said, the property of all living vegetable tissues to form per-
manent adhesions under certain circumstances. Veri/ young or nascent
tissue may be made to grow together with facility, as is exemplified in
practice by what is called herbaceous grafting. Ripe tissues were next
alluded to ; but even in the case of these it was shown that a union
could only be effected by bringing into contact nascent matter, which
practically consists in fitting the line of the cambium in the stock
neatly to that of the scion, or in other words fitting the two together
exactly. If this manipulation was not effected skilfully, the union,
it was stated, would be imperfect, as would also be the case if the
stock was broader than the scion. It was mentioned that some
believe that the scion sends down wood into the stock, but that
this theory was attended by many difficulties. The point had been
illustrated by Dr. Maclean, of Colchester, who grafted a yellow Beet on
a red one ; when the two were split down the middle after they had
been united, it was found that the yellow Beet still remained yellow,
and that the red kind on which it was grafted still remained red. In
this case there was no blending together of the tissues ; the two varieties
kept quite distinct. Cellular tissue, it was stated, would not unite with
wood, nor wood with wood ; with unskilful operators and the employ-
ment of unsuitable stocks, bad joints were therefore of frequent occur-
rence. Although the scion was not of the same nature as the stock,
there might be adhesion ; but the line of separation between the two
would always remain distinct, and in bad cases it not unfrequently
happened that the two parted company across the line of union.
Nevertheless, when stock and scion were alike in kind and constitution,
as when a Pear is grafted on a Pear, and the workmanship well per-
formed, all traces of their having been grafted disappeared. It was
stated that under proper conditions adhesions might therefore be per-
manent and perfect, and that grafting might result in as complete a
plant as any seedling. Of this various proofs were produced. It was
shown, however, that adhesions might be temporary either from bad
workmanship or from want of consanguinity. The ancients, it was
stated, were of opinion that Apples would grow on Plane-trees, and
Beechmast on Chestnuts ; but it was explained that this was a mistake,
and that no permanent union could take place unless stock and scion
had the same constitution. Sometimes durable unions might be effected,
as was instanced in the case of Pears on Quinces and Peaches on Plums ;
but they were not permanent. Evergreen trees, it was stated, did not
succeed on deciduous ones, in illustration of which an example of
Quercus Turneri ^vorked on the common Oak was produced ; the ever-
green in this case had grown 13 or 14 years, but was now dead, while
the stock was alive and throwing out suckers. Similar cases, with
nearly as bad results, were also laid before the meeting. But what, it

118 THE FLORIST.

was asked, is " the same constitution ? " Peaches take on Plums,
although constitutionally unlike ; but what is very curious, French
Peaches, which take freely on the Pear Plum, dislike the IMuscle Plum,
and other examples of the same kind were brouglit forward. It was
stated to be far easier to say what was not the same in constitution.
The Cedar of Lebanon, for instance, would not long agree with a
Larch, nor the Medlar with the Whitethorn, or the purple Cytisus with
the Laburnum. In general the following conclusions might be drawn :
— 1. A scion will always form a perfect and permanent union with its
stock if both are from the same individual. 2. A scion will generally
form a perfect and permanent union with its stock if one is a mere
variety of the other. 3. A durable, but not permanent union may
be effected when one species of a genus is worked on another species.
4. No union either durable or permanent can be expected when stock
and scion are widely different. 5. Bad workmanship will render any
kind of grafting perishable. Grafted plants, then, are not necessarily
worse than seedlings ? A letter from a Fellow of the Society was read
to show that in the case of Rhododendrons at least they were. Exam-
ples in the shape of grafted Rhododendrons, apparently proving the
contrary, were, however, produced by Messrs. Standish and Noble. It
was, nevertheless, universally admitted that except the stock and scion
were identical in their natures plants thus increased were not so good as
seedlings. Both reason and experience therefore showed that every-
thing depended on the consanguinity of the stock and scion, and that
what is wanted is not to have new methods of grafting invented, but to
know more about consanguinity.

Mr. Glendinning objected to the statement that evergreen Oaks did
not live long on deciduous ones, and pointed to the fact that in Devon-
shire the Lucombe Oak worked on Quercus Cerris had attained the size
and age of timber trees.

The room was plentifully supplied with specimens of grafted plants
from Messrs. Standish and Noble of Bagshot, Veitch and Son of Chelsea
and Exeter, Masters of Canterbury, Osborn of Fulham, Rivers of
Sawbridgeworth, and from the garden of the Society.

Another ordinary meeting of this Society was held on the 18th ult.
On this occasion Mr. Anderson, of Edinburgh, received a certificate of
merit for a singular hybrid Rhododendron, a cross between the hardy
R. dauricum and the tender R. formosum. Its flowers were of a pale
peach colour and larger than those of dauricum, while it was reported
to be quite as hardy as the last-named kind. It may, therefore, prove
a good addition to our flower-borders. Messrs. Lee showed Imato-
phyllum miniatum, a Clivia-like plant, with long dark-green Leek-like
leaves, from among which shot a short stout erect stem, surmounted by
a noble head of salmon-coloured blossoms. The same nurserymen also
sent several nice Camellias ; among which were Jubilee, a carnation-
striped kind, a rosy-pink sort called Normani, a bud of a very pretty
white variety, and Archduchess Augusta. Of these the last was, per-
haps, the most remarkable, inasmuch as it is new in colour, being
violet-purple with a stripe of white down the centre of each petal.
From Messrs. Veitch came a little tree, beautifully in bloom, of the

APRIL. 119

double red Chinese Almond, a truly pretty plant, and one to which we
would direct the attention of all who are anxious about keeping their
greenhouses or conservatories gay at this season of the year. The
freedom with which it flowers renders it particularly striking. Among
plants from Messrs. Henderson, Pine-apple Place, was Pteris asperi-
caulis, a tender Fern, figured in our March number. Mr. Butcher sent
some well preserved Grapes of the Barbarossa kind, which received
honourable mention. Among plants from the Society's garden was the
golden-flowered Lachenalia, a rather pretty bulbous plant, imported a
.year or two ago from the Cape of Good Hope, by Mr. Wicks.

At this meeting the Vice-Secretary gave a short lecture on our two
kinds of British Oak, viz., the Durmast, or Quercus sessiliflora, and the
common sort, or Q. pedunculata. Of these the Durmast was shown to
be the most valuable; for, in addition to its timber being at least equal,
if not superior to that of the common Oak, evidence was adduced to
show that it grew faster and formed a much handsomer tree. Planters,
therefore, would do well to bear this in mind, and in future should take
care to select the Durmast, of which examples are to be found in the
New Forest and other parts of England, in preference to the common

THE BALSAM.
This is one of the most beautiful of plants, and certainly one of the
easiest to cultivate. Many good articles have been written respecting
the best mode of growing it, but still in this particular there is, appa-
rently, room for improvement, and some of your readers may possibly
like to be put in possession of the practice by which plants such as those
exhibited by me at the National Floricultural Society's meeting, in
July last, may be produced. The following, then, is my mode of
proceeding.

In sowing the seed, I prefer the method of putting one seed in a
thumb or small 60-sized pot, especially if the object is to exhibit at
shows. This should be done about the middle of March, for flowering
in June or July. Place them on a gentle hotbed or hot-water tank, as
near the glass as possible. The lights should incline towards the south,
in order that the plants may catch every ray of light. The precaution
of letting all superfluous moisture escape at the highest point of the
frame must be adopted, by opening it about a quarter to half an inch
on bright sunny days, if the wind be not too cold or strong ; a little air
may be given as soon as the plants begin to form their first leaves ; '
when the latter are well developed, the plants should be shifted into
larger pots ; if plenty of convenience exists as to warm greenhouses or
intermediate houses, with a tan or hot-water pit within them, and it is
desired to gfow the plants to a large size, they may be shifted into 32's
(six-inch pots) at once, and plunged halfway in bottom heat of from
50° to 55°, as near as possible ; the roots will soon appear at the sides
of the pot, and before they turn halfway round the ball they should be
again shifted, for the last time, into 16's, 12's, or 8-sized pots,
according to the size that may be desired.

120 THE FLORIST.

In the above instructions size of plant has been kept in view, but
those who have not the above-named conveniences should be content to
sow a fortnight later, still following the same plan as regards the
primary treatment. In this case, the first shift ought to be into 48's
(four-inch pots), and if the help of a hotbed can be obtained, the plants
may be plunged therein, using due precaution to ascertain that the heat
is not too great at this stage. Another plan presents itself, and one we
generally adopt : — It is, to plant them in a pit heated by hot water
pipes from about 60° to 65° of temperature by night, allowing an
increase on bright days of ten additional degrees. The plants should
again be shifted into 32's or 24-sized pots, as before, for the last time.

These matters as to raising and shifting being settled, let us proceed
to show that, as the Balsam is a native of climes where light and heat
are more constant than in England, every attention must be paid to
protect the plant from sudden chills, either from cold air or failure of
bottom heat ; for, if once they become stunted by cold, farewell to
symmetry or size of plant, or equality of flowering ; yet these plants
are very fond of free atmospheric circulation, with all the light it is
possible to give them. Care must be taken to give them plenty of
room ; to do them full justice, they should stand as far apart as they
are high.

Having now stated the method of raising, potting, and general
management, there yet remains to be explained the nature of the com-
post to be used. This should be the top spit, about four inches thick,
from a meadow of rich, soft, light loam, a year old ; if this is not to be
had, take fresh soil of the same quality, and, after paring off the turf
from the loam, char the former, so as to reduce it to a state fit for
breaking up and mixing with the loam ; add to this an equal quantity
of manure from a spent hotbed, if it be turned over to sweeten and dry
before mixing, all the better. This compost should then be thrown
together and well chopped and turned (not sifted), so that the incor-
poration may be complete. In potting, always endeavour to sink the
plants low enough for the soil to reach the cotyledons ; if that cannot be
done in the first, it can be accomplished in the second shift, and it is
necessary, in order to obtain firmness in the pot, and also fresh surface
of stem from whence to obtain more root. The pots should be drained
increasingly as the plants are shifted, and over the drainage should be
placed about one or two inches of fresh manure from the stable ; this
will be found very useful to the plants as they increase in size.

As regards manure water, the larger the plants are required to be,
so, in proportion, should it be used ; but its application must be left to
the discretion of the grower, for words fail to convey how often, how
strong, how early, &c., it ought to be given : its use may heighten the
colours, but it is very dangerous in unskilful hands ; the employment
of it is likely to diminish the size and doubleness of the blossoms, by
forcing the plants too much ; it also produces, sometimes, rot in the
stem, often blighting our hopes when expectation of success is at the
highest. In general, the compost we have recommended and pure
water answer every purpose.

Let me remark, in conclusion, that my plants are grown in 32-sized

APRIL. 121

pots, which seem to afford all the requisites (of plant and flower) that
can be desired.

The above results may also be obtained by sowing in the first, or
even so late as the third week in April, on a slight or nearly spent hot-
bed, transferring the plants at once to the last-named pots, and placing
them in a cold pit in the middle or end of May. These will bloom in
August and September, and will well repay the little trouble bestowed
upon them, by a splendid display of many-coloured blossoms.

S. T. F.

DESCRIPTIVE LIST OP HARDY CONIFERS.— No. XX.
PiNus Hartwegi — Hartweg's Pine.

This species is a native of Mexico, where Hartweg discovered it on
INIount Campanario, growing at an elevation of 9000 feet, and ranging
immediately above Picea religiosa. It forms a tree of moderate size,
with leaves six inches and upwards in length, of a pale green, and
covered with a glaucous bloom. Although this Pine belongs to the

PiNus Hartwegi.

five-leaved section of Pinus, it is often found with four only in a
bundle. The cones are 4 — 5 inches long, and pendulous. Many of

122 THE FLORIST.

the species in the group to which Hartweg's Pine belongs are remark-
able for the length of their leaves ; and this, added to these, there
being five in a sheath, gives them a peculiar and striking appearance,
and as such they are much prized by collectors. Unfortunately the
winter of 1853-4 and the following one proved fatal to many of the
handsomest kinds, and they may be pronounced too tender for our
climate. Of this section we lost from our collection leiophylla, Win-
cesteriana, Gordoniana, filifolia, Russelliana, Devoniana, Grenvilleaj,
and even palustris (australis) ; while Hartwegi, Montezumse, and
apulcensis of the long-leaved species survived. And we find pretty
nearly the same results happened in other Pinetums. This greatly
enhances the value ,of those which have turned out to be hardy —
among them Hartwegi — which is now the finest of the long-leaved
species, capable of enduring our winters, excepting, perhaps, P. micro-
phylla, which our readers will find engraved in our last year's volume.

No collection of Coniferse can be called complete except it contains
our present subject, which, even in a young state, has something grand
and striking in its appearance. Although the soil should be naturally
dry or well drained for growing it, it prefers a good rich loam, rather
heavy than otherw^ise.

In composition this section should be grouped together, as they do
not harmonise well with the short-leaved kinds. Planted in this way,
and in appropriate situations, they will form a striking mass, very dis-
tinct from anything else.

Our engraving was taken from a fine specimen in the Pinetum at
Nuneham Park, near Oxford, alluded to by us in our last number.

BEDDING PLANTS.

We now daily see increasing evidence around us that nature is already
breaking from the chilling thraldom of cold winter. The Aconite,
despite wind and frost, has long since put forth its blossom, to gladden
the heart of man. Snowdrops, too, are already beautiful ; and buds
of all kinds are full of promise for the future. Nor are the indications
of the coming season confined alone to the vegetable kingdom : animated
nature, too, has long since given unmistakable signs of returning spring
— the feathered race daily pour forth their cheerful melody. All this
reminds the gardener, and all who delight in gardens, that a busy time
is at hand, calling for more exertion and labour, but at the same time
affording greater pleasure.

The pleasures we take in a garden are the most innocent delights of
human life. Kings and nobles have in all ages busied themselves in
garden pursuits. A garden was the habitation of our first parents
before their fall. It is naturally apt to fill the mind with calmness and
tranquillity, and to lay all its turbulent passions at rest. It gives us a
great insight into the contrivance, goodness, and wisdom of Providence,
and suggests innumerable subjects for meditation. The very com-
placency and satisfaction which a man takes in these works of nature is

APBIL. 123

a laudable, if not a virtuous habit of mind ; and leads him to look
from " Nature up to Nature's God."

Among the various demands on a gardener's time, those of the
flower garden are not the least. Great is the change which of late years
has taken place in flower gardening. Instead of the herbaceous plants,
annuals, &c., which were its usual tenants in our boyish days, we have
Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, Verbenas, Petunias, and a long catalogue of
other things too numerous to name here. To provide annually a
sufficient stock of this " bedding stuff," is oftentimes attended with no
small degree of labour. And yet, if we fall short of anything at planting
time, and are not able to fill every bed with the colours we intended,
the effect will be anything but pleasing — even one bad bed spoils the
whole effect. Some persons advocate bedding out about the beginning of
June, and not before; they say, plants do not grow if bedded out before.
They may not grow much at top if bedded earlier, but they will be
making roots, and when they begin to grow, they push stronger and
more rapidly than late-planted. " Bedding out " should never, if pos-
sible, be deferred until June, because the days are then nearly at their
greatest length, and if dry weather prevails, it causes a great deal of
watering, and half the summer is over before the beds have any effect.
We always like to " bed out'' as soon after the first week in May as
the weather permits. Last May was unusually cold up to the 20th,
but after that the weather was most beautiful for planting out. I have
seen in this county (Yorkshire), scarlet Pelargoniums planted out as
early as the 24th of April, and I have myself planted them out several
times as early as the first week in May.

I would not lose a day after the 10th of May, if the weather was
favourable, for though the plants do not grow much at head, they will
require little or no watering ; and if the soil is in proper condition — as it
ought to be — they will make roots fast, so that, when warm weather
comes, they push away strongly and rapidly. I also like to plant the
beds pretty full at first, for it is very easy to cut and thin away as
they grow, and much better than not having the beds half filled nearly
the greater part of summer. The great point is to have plenty of
plants. There ought always to be a good stock struck in the autumn,
and either potted off", or wintered in cutting-pans or boxes. Most
gardeners winter their "bedding stuff"" in Vineries, Peach-houses,
pits, &c. ; but, when these are wanted in spring, the difficulty is then
— when the plants require potting off", and consequently more space —
to find a place for them until planting time. There are a great many
things which, if properly managed, may be put out of doors the begin-
ning of April, protecting them a little at night and during frosts.
A dry, sheltered situation should be selected — if a hard road, so much
the better ; but if it be a border, cover it with boards, slates, or tiles,
and on these place a compost of rotten leaves, sand, and a little loam,
from four to six inches in depth ; turn the plants out of their pots and
plant in the compost ; when planted, stretch some rods over them, so
that they may be covered at nights and during frosts with mats or
boughs. They will not require any watering, so that there is no more
labour attending them than if kept in houses or pits, when they would

124 THE FLORIST.

daily require watering, and occasionally fumigating. By the middle of
May they will have made a large quantity of roots, and will move well
and do much better than if cramped up in pots. Pelargoniums, Ver-
benas, Petunias, &c., may be planted out in this manner. By getting
as many thiiigs as possible put out in this way, it gives persons au
opportunity to bring forward more delicate plants, and anything that
one may be rather short of There are nearly in all places some
sheltered warm spots that may be made available for this purpose, and
by a little contrivance a great quantity of " bedding stufF" may be had
in first-rate order, for planting out any time after the middle of May.
It is better to take a little extra trouble now, so as to have sufficient
plants, than, when bedding-out time comes, to find oneself short of this
thing and of that.

M. Saul.

ON ESPALIER TRAINING GOOSEBERRIES AND
CURRANTS.
By training these fruits espalier fashion, they present a neater appear-
ance in gardens, and are well adapted for accompanying walks or
dividing plots of ground. The fruit is likewise more easily gathered,
and can be more effectually covered with netting when birds are
troublesome. The plan practised at Bowood, after the ground has
been duly prepared, is to plant the trees in lines four to five feet apart
(if intended for a plantation), and the plants four feet apart in the
rows. After planting, the back and front shoots will require cutting
away, reserving those which range with the line of trees, for training ;
the first season it will only be necessary to place a few stakes crosswise
against each tree (in the same manner as young fruit trees in the
nurseries are trained), and tie in the wood to these in a fan-shaped
manner. The second winter a regular espalier must be formed by
placing upright stakes, 3 feet apart, in the direction of the rows of trees.
The part of these inserted in the ground should be charred, by which
they will last for several years ; to these, rails or horizontal rods should
be tied with osier twigs ; the lowermost one should be one foot from
the ground, and the next nine or ten inches higher. The espaliers
here are about four feet high, which is sufficient for all the kinds
except the Upright Red, or Ironmonger, which is a strong grower,
and takes a five feet espalier. The rails may be of any kind — Hazel
or Ash — the slenderer the better, as then the uprights need not be so
strong. The trees will fill a trellis four feet high in three years, after
which they give very little trouble, excepting cutting back the young
wood not wanted for filling up, which is done after the fruit is gathered,
and occasionally replacing a rotten stake. The cflltivation in other
respects is similar to the old plan ; on dry soils a mulching of half
rotten manure spread between the rows in May will keep the ground
cool, and greatly benefit the crop. We find by this plan enormous
crops are produced on a small space of ground, and although rather
more trouble, the many advantages espalier training has over the old

APRIL. 125

bush plan will repay the cultivator. It would be more expense in the
first place, but iron uprights with three-eighths wire for the horizontal
bars, similar to the cheap wire fences, would make a very neat trellis
for these fruits where wood is scarce, and would in time repay the
outlay. S.

Bowood, March 1856.

STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY.
During my rambles in quest of Ferns and various wild flowers
which grow luxuriantly in the neighbourhood of Bath, I have been
grieved to find the country people not only ignorant, but indifferent,
about the objects around them : birds, insects, and flowers are un-
heeded, and it is in vain to ask for any particulars beyond the mere
names, and even that knowledge is so scanty that I can seldom find a
villager who can tell me when the swallows arrive or the song of the
nightingale is heard. A clever writer has powerfully written in the
Athenceiim, and in other metropolitan publications I have recently
noticed letters on this subject. Portions of those letters are so suitable
to the pages of the Florist, that I will enclose copies of them.

For twenty years I have been endeavouring to inculcate a love for
nature amongst the young people of my acquaintance, and 1 am happy
in believing that my efforts have been successful amongst the educated ;
but I feel a much deeper interest for the poor, and would fain provide
them with sources of enjoyment that would soften their hard lot, and
give them pursuits tendmg towards moral improvement and unbought
pleasure.

During the last month, I have placed in my parlour window several
glass jars in which plants and animals are displayed, in the way that
you may have seen them, on a grander scale, in the Royal Zoological
Gardens. Diving water spiders {Argyroneta aquatica), prove very
attractive. " These spiders," says De Geer, " spin in the water a cell
of strong, closely woven, white silk, in the form of half the shell of a
pigeon's egg, or like the diving-bell. This is sometimes left partly
above water, but at others it is entirely submersed, and is always
attached to the objects near it by a great number of irregular threads.
It is closed all round, but has a large opening below." Into this
opening the spiders convey air-bubbles and there burst them, so that
their habitation is gradually expanded with atmospheric air, until they
have a large dry room, surrounded by water, to deposit their eggs in
and bring up their progeny. There is a crowd dally round my parlour
window to watch the operations of those balloon spiders. I hear the
conversation of my juvenile visitors, and, when I find occasion to do so,
give open-air lectures to the auditors. I have, besides spiders, fishes,
beetles, and marine animals, all healthy, and kept with very little
trouble. The only thing needful is to establish a balance of animal and
vegetable life. If the Vallsneria spiralis becomes brown, I put in a
water-snail, which soon removes the Confervse ; if the water becomes

126 THE FLORIST.

cloudy, I add plants or animals, as experience directs, and without ever
changing the water it remains pure and bright.

If gardeners would give themselves the trouble to attend to a few of
the marvellous objects around them, they would augment the pleasures
of their occupations and obtain valuable knowledge, and thus might be
established a bond between youth and age ; for, if once a child is roused
to the pursuit of natural history, he will become a pleasant companion
to grown-up people — he will become merciful, for it is impossible to
love God's creatures and be cruel to them, and it is impossible to know
the wonderful works of our Almighty Creator and not to love them.

Schoolmasters should, by command, instruct their scholars in the
outlines of natural history. Nothing is more easy — nothing tends
more to give purpose to pleasure, or lo fill up spare moments more
profitably.

I would not have lads made collectors but observers. Instruct them
to venerate life, and to destroy it only as an act of necessity — never
in wantonness — never needlessly, not even the life of a plant.

C. E.

Bath.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Auriculas. — As many of these will now be in bloom, the frame
should be removed to a north aspect, to prolong the beauty of the
delicate tints of colour these possess. Late blooming kinds, however,
should for a time remain in their old quarters. A rather free supply
of water will now be required, with plenty of air.

Azaleas. — Attend carefully to the watering of all the young growing
plants that have been potted ; syringe occasionally, and give air freely
in fine weather. Shift such large plants as are not showing bloom, if
they require a larger size pot. The bloom buds of those that are going
to flower will now be coming forward ; water freely, and give plenty of
air on fine days. To prolong the period of flowering, some of the later
kinds should be placed either in a house or pit with a north aspect.

Camellias. — These should be kept pretty warm while they are
making their young shoots ; they should have but little air, and should
be syringed freely.

Carnations and Picotees. — The season and the weather are in
favour of speedily finishing the potting of these plants for blooming.
Those for blooming in beds or borders may now be planted out, without
risk. Avoid planting them in soil infested with wireworm.

Cinerarias. — Many now will be in full bloom, others will be opening.
In either state they are a most pleasing flower at this season of the
year, well grown plants being in every respect very interesting. The
improvement made in the Cineraria within the last few years has been
very great, both in form and variety. Flowers, such as Lady Hume
Campbell, thought perfect a few years since, would not now be tolerated.

Cold Frames. — Remove the lights off daily, if the state of the weather
permits, so as gradually to harden off before planting out ; water freely,
and, as soon as you perceive any green-fly, fumigate.

APRIL. 127

Conservatory and S/iotc-Ziouse. — As there can be no want of flowering
plants for decorating at this season, be scrupulously attentive with
regard to cleanliness ; dead leaves and dead flowers, if not removed, will
mar the effect of the finest display of flowers. Cinerarias will now be
gay ; also some of the Azaleas that have been forwarded with a little
heat. Tropseolums, when well done, are good objects for the conserva-
tory ; Roses ought now to be very fine. Genistas, Epacrises, Choro-
zemas, Pultenteas, Hoveas, Acacias, Boronias, Leschenaultias, &c., will
now add to the display and give greater variety. Give plenty of air
and water freely.

Cucumbers. — Attend to the directions given in previous Calendars.
Dahlias. — Repot all tliat are struck, and grow them on in a gentle
bottom heat until well established. When established, repot into a
size larger pot, and place them in a cold pit, free from slugs or snails.
Cover the pits or frames up during frosty nights. Sow seed in shallow
pans, placing them in a hotbed having a brisk lieat. When a sufficient
number of cuttings has been obtained, divide the roots ; they will
make several strong plants each, which are best adapted for planting in
the most exposed situations.

Floicer Garden. — No time should be lost in getting the beds in
readiness for the summer plants. The soil should be frequently turned
over ; do not on any account make it over-rich, as this will give more
foliage than flowers. Look often over the stock of plants for the beds,
and endeavour to have sufficient to fill each and every bed with its
proper colour. Harden off spring-struck cuttings ; bring forward
annuals. Roll the grass frequently before mowing, you will afterwards
see the benefit of it. Prune Roses.

Forcing Hardy Shrubs. — Keep up a moist atmosphere ; syringe
freely, and give plenty of air. As you remove plants in flower, fiU up
with others. Attend to previous directions.

Forcing Ground. — Keep up a succession of French Beans. Bring
forward Tomatoes and Capsicums, also Cucumbers for ridges. Prick
out into boxes or frames, on a little heat, Sweet Marjoram and Basil ;
also Celery. Sow Mustard and Cress.

Fruit {Hard)/). — Attend to the protection of Peach, Nectarines, and
Apricot trees until towards the end of the month, when, if the weather
be mild and fair, they may be dispensed vdth. Uncover Fig-trees.
Apricots will be set now, and should often be gone over, thinning a few
at a time. Finish grafting.

Greenhouse ; Hard -wooded Plants. — Pay the greatest attention to
the watering of all newly-potted plants, but more particularly slow-
growing plants. Give air freely on fine days, but shut up early ;
syringe occasionally. Keep everything clean and tidy, and look out
for insects. Soft-wooded. — Stop, and pinch off the end of the shoots of
Cupheas, Heliotropes, Salvias, &c., if large specimens are required.
Shift the strongest plants into larger pots.

Hollyhocks. — Repot spring struck plants ; they will make greater
progress in pots if good rich soil is used than if planted out before the
weather is settled. Strong plants may be planted out at once, giving
each plant a few spits of rotten manure.

128 TUE FLORIST.

Kitchen- gar den. — Plant the general crop of Potatoes ; plant Cauli-
flowers, Lettuces, Savoys, Borecole, and Cabbages ; plant herbs. Sow
Peas and Broad Beans for succession ; sow Broccoli of sorts for general
crop ; sow Caulitlowers for succession ; sow Savoys, Borecole, Beet-
root, and Carrots, for general crop. Sow Turnips, Spinach, and Parsley.
Sow Celery for late crop ; sow Radishes ; sow herbs ; sow Salsafy and
Scorzonera ; sow Asparagus ; sow Lettuces. Destroy weeds as soon as
they appear, and keep soil open among crops. Keep everything clean
and tidy.

Melons. — Do not let the shoots get crowded ; when the flowers are
expanded, fertilise ; give air pretty freely, unless the weather be
cold. Plant out young plants as soon as the beds are ready — use a
good loamy soil. Keep up a steady bottom heat and a moist growing
atmosphere. Sow for successional crops.

Fansies. — Gather any premature flowers these may produce ; this
will cause larger and finer flowers in May, the time they will be
required for exhibiting. Those in pots will require constant looking
over with the watering pot. Use weak liquid manure two or three
times a week.

Peach Forcing. — Attend to the disbudding and tying of the shoots ;
do not remove too many at a time, but go over the trees often. When
any of the trees are deficient of wood, endeavour to get some young
shoots to fill up. In thinning the fruit, be guided by the condition of
the tree ; on a strong, vigorous-growing tree, leave a good large crop,
that will check over exuberance ; on weak growing trees, leave rather
a light crop, this will give them a chance to grow stronger. Keep a
steady temperature of about 50° or 60° until after the stoning of the
fruit ; when this is completed, gradually raise the temperature. Water
the borders freely when they require it.

Felargoniums will now be in vigorous growth, the early bloomers
throwing up their trusses. Attend to tying out the branches to neat
osier stakes. Do not permit any to be crowded ; a free circulation of
air all round the plants is indispensable. If needful, wash the foliage
thoroughly, using a syringe and soft water. About the end of the
month fumigate thoroughly, whether you perceive green-fly or not ;
and this should be done in every house and frame on the premises.
Do not allow the plants to want water long, and use clear, weak
manure water once or twice a week.

Finks. — These having been top-dressed will require but little
attention for some time. Disbudding will be the next thing to be done,
if large blooms are required.

Tulips. — April is the most trying month for Tulips, from the fre-
quency of showers, followed by frosty nights. It will be better to give
a good watering between the plants when they require it than to allow
them to have rain, which remains so long in the heart of the plant.
Avoid hall night or day, by covering up, if threatening -showers appear.
During very cold wind secure the canvas used for protecting them at
night the exposed side of the bed ; this will greatly protect them without
drawing the plants.

2^>

^W

YaiKla_ s
I tricolor flavescene
Z trwoloT farmoscv'

Hale 113,

129

VANDAS.

(Plate 113.)

The subjects of our present illustration belong to a genus of well-
known (Jrcliids. Vanda suavis, tricolor, teres, casrulea, &c., have
long ranked amongst the most beautiful of that family, and there
is little doubt that the two varieties now figured will be e(;[ually
prized as they become known. It is to the Messrs. Ivollisson
and Sons, of Tooting, that we are indebted for the opportunity of
figuring these two varieties of V. tricolor, which appear to be
distinct from any we have hitherto possessed. Unfortunately the
size of our page does not allow us to do justice to these noble
plants, as we can only give a few tlowers on each spike of bloom ;
we hope, however, our readers will remember that an ordina*-y
"spike" of bloom consists of from 10 to 15 flowers, and that
strong plants will frequently produce three and four such spikes ;
in that state they are truly grand objects. They are, moreover,
so highly scented as to render them worthy of cultivation for that
property alone.

The two beautiful varieties of this genus now under notice
were sent to Messrs. W. llollisson & Sons by their collector,
Mr. J. Henshall, during his researches in the western parts of
Java. Mr. Henshall, in his notes, states that the section to
which V. suavis, tricolor, and insignis belong is seldom found
growing on any other trees except the old and neglected Coffee
trees of the northern valleys in the districts of Tugu, Blaboer,
Tapost, and Chiseroa, at an elevation seldom below 2600 feet
above the level of the sea, with a temperature ranging from 55°
to 76° Fahr. These valleys are formed by the central range of
mountains which run through Java and almost parallel with the
equator. It is remarkable that the southern valleys produce but
few Vandas, Dendrobiums, Coelogynes, or Saccolabiums ; while
Phalaenopsis granditlora grows in profusion. On the other hand,
the northern valleys produce almost every species of Orchid that
is indigenous to Java, excepting Phalaenopsis grandiflora, which
is rare to meet with.

Many of the Orchids are thought difficult to cultivate ; such is
not, however, the case with the Vandas. Under favourable cir-
cumstances they are fast and strong-growing plants. The Vanda,
like most of the East Indian Orchids, delights in a moist shady
temperature of from 70° to 85° during its season of growth,
which for ordinary purposes should commence in May (by
varying this season, however, they may be had in bloom at the
will of the cultivator) ; in four months they will have made suf-
ficient growth for one season, the object should then be to get it
well matured, for unless attention is paid to this particular point,

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXV. K,

130 THE FLORIST.

little bloom need be expected, and there will always he a greater
risk of the plants suffering during the winter when their growth
IS not properly ripened. JBy means of more light and air, and
less moisture, the temperature should be gradually lowered to
50° or 55°, which will be found sufficient during the winter. In
February they may be induced to flower by giving them a some-
what higher temperature, say 65°; treated thus, the plants would
most likely bloom in April.

Various composts have been recommended for the potting of
Orchids ; whatever it may be, it shriuld be very porous, and
capable of resisting decay for as long a period as possible ; for
during the growing season it will frequently be saturated with
water ; and if the compost used consists of materials which rot
quickly the roots will soon be surrounded with decayed matter,
which will retain the water and injure the health of the plant.
This applies to other Orchids as well as our present subject.
Sphagnum moss, charcoal, and potsherds are found to answer the
purpose well.

THE PEACH.

(Continued from page llOJ.
As the ordinary routine of disbudding the trees of their surplus w^ood
has been already detailed at page I'l, I need not notice it further, as
the same course will have to be followed until the trees cover their
allotted space ; before which time they will be in a full-bearing state,
which will act as a check to over-luxuriance, and by managing this the
trees may be kept at about the same size for a number of years. One
fact in reference to disbudding should be remembered ; that as the
leaves are the natural mode by which the stored- up sap is converted
into wood, if a large quantity is removed at once, it frequently induces
gum and other diseases. The more forward foreright shoots should
therefore be taken off first ; after an interval of two or three days, the
strongest side buds not wanted for making wood ; and thus gradually
going over the whole trees two or three times a week, for three or four
weeks, which will get the wood left regularly, and the trees will
experience no check, which would otherwise be the case. So much
has been written about protecting the bloom of the Peach, that I almost
fear your readers are beginning to consider it a case incapable of satis-
factory explanation. That a deal of mischief is done to the bloom of
the Peach, Nectarine, and Apricot, by over-covering, there is no doubt,
let the covering be what it may. Netting, canvas, boughs of trees,
straw ropes — all of them — if suffered to remain on the trees constantly
while they are in bloom, weaken their development, and consequently
their setting ; while, on the other hand, to fully expose the bloom to
the effects of frosty and cold easterly winds, is equally fatal. The
safest plan lies between the two extremes ; i. e., a protection available
when wanted by day, and to place before them each night, excepting in

MAY. 131

very mlkl weather. This plan exposes the bloom fully to the action of
the sun and air by day, and even by night when mild, and gives
tliem the requisite protection from frost and cutting winds when
wanted ; this is to be obtained by canvas, or even hexagonal netting,
on rollers made to wind up and let down as wanted. The expense is
not very great, and with care the covering will last many years ; and,
moreover, if the netting is employed, it will be foimd serviceable at
another season, when the ripe fruit will require protection from wasps
and flies. The next best substitute we have used (which, however, is
not to be obtained in every locality), is the spray from Beech trees with
the dry leaves of the preceding summer on ; these are light and open,
admit a good share of air to the bloom, and at the same time break the
effects of frosty and cutting winds. They must of course be tied or
nailed to the walls, and remain on the trees during the blooming period ;
as the danger decreases, remove them by a few at a time, so as not to
expose the trees all at once.

Retarding the bloom, in the same way, has its advocates and oppo-
nents. The rationale of the practice is this : — If the Peach can be
kept from blooming for a fortnight, say from the second or third week
in March to the second week in April (which was the case last year,
owing to the lateness of the season), the chances are that at the latter
period the weather will be more settled and the temperature higher,
and that, therefore, independent of protection, a crop is more certain,
other causes being the same. But retarding by shading is a bad
practice, as this also has a tendency to weaken the bloom. The best
way is to tie the wood away from the walls to rods, supported by
stakes ; the wood is thus cut off from the heat the wall absorbs from
the sun's rays, and is, moreover, fully exposed to the full influence of
Virind and weather, which will prevent the blooms from opening so soon
by ten days or a fortnight ; when they are no longer safe, untie them
and nail them to the wall. If the wood has been well ripened, 1 find
this plan very efficient in keeping the bloom from opening so early, and
thus they flower all the stronger for it, as the weather hardens the wood.

{To be continued.)

BEST DAHLIAS.

It is some time since I had the pleasure to offer so valuable a list of
Dahlias as the following. It is not too much to say that all growers with
whom I am in the remotest degree acquainted have, with the charac-
teristics of true florists, enabled me to frame a return so universal that
it will serve the country at large as a standard for the year.

I know how valuable the space of the Florist is, and have therefore
condensed the lists with my utmost care, yet not, I would hope, in a
manner at all to impair their usefulness. My application was for the
names of the best 36 varieties ; it will be found that 20 such lists have
been received, for which I tender my best thanks ; but to have given
them in detail would, 1 think, have rather injured than benefitted the
cause for which they were collected. When I state that the whole number

132 THE FLORIST.

enumerated extends to 114 varieties, it will be seen that in giving those
with the greatest number of votes the main point will have been
accomplished.

It would not be without interest if some one of our statistical friends
were to test these returns by the winning flowers at the close of the
coming season, and to report the issue to gro'.vers at large.

The returns are by iVTr. T. Barnes, dealer, Stowmarket, Suffolk ;
Mr. Cook, Netting Hill, private ; Messrs. Downie & Laird, Edinburgh,
dealers ; the Rev. C. Fellowes, Norwich, private ; G. Holmes, Esq.,
Norwich, private ; Mr. Jarvis, Camberwell, private ; Mr. Keynes,
Salisbury, dealer ; Mr. Legge, Edmonton, dealer ; Mr. Oswald,
Edinburgh, private ; Mr. Pope, Pimlico, private ; Mr. Perry,
near Birmingham, private ; Mr. Robinson, Pimlico, private ; IMessrs.
Robertson, Paul, & Co., Paisley, dealers ; Mr. Schofield, Leeds,
dealer ; Mr. Smith, Hereford, dealer ; Messrs. Soden & Son, Wood-
stock, dealers ; J. Sladden, Esq., Sandwich, private ; C. K. Sive-
wright, Esq., Edinburgh, private ; Mr. Turner, Slough, dealer ; and
Mr. Walker, Thame, dealer. By a coincidence worthy of comment,
the dealers and private growers are on a par — ten of each.

Votes.

1. Dxxke o{ Vf eWmgton (Bmmmoud) returned by all . . . .20

2. Fanny Keynes (Keynes) „ „ 20

3. Pre-Eminent (Fellowes) „ „ .... 20

4. Rachel Rawlings (Keynes) „ „ 20

5. Sir F Bathurst (Keynes) „ „ .... 20

6. Robert Bruce (Drummond), re^MTOec^fiy «W, except Mr. Barnes . . 19

7. Sir C. Napier (Hale) ,, ,, except Mr. Jarvis . . 19

8. Annie (Rawlings), by all, except Mr. Jarvis and Mr. Schofield . . 18

9. Empress (Prockter) „ except Mr. Schofield and Mr. Walker . 18

10. Lilac King (Rawlings) ,, except Messrs. Downie & Laird and Mr.

Robinson , . . . . . 18

11. Lord Bath (Wheeler) ,, except Mr. Jarvis and Messrs. Soden . . 18

12. Miss Caroline (Brittle) „ except Mr. Jarvis and Mtssrs. Soden . . 18

13. Amazon (E. Holmes) „ except Messrs. Downie & Laird, Mr. Pope,

and Mr. Oswald 17

14. Mr. Seldon (Turner) „ except Mr. Cook, Mr. Keynes, and Messrs.

Soden 17

15. Ruby Queen (Keynes) „ except Mr. Jarvis, Mr. Pope, and Mr.

Walker 17

16. Annie Salter (Salter) „ except Messrs. Downie & Laird, Mr. Oswald,

Mr. Smith, Mr. Sivewright, and Messrs. Robertson, Paul, & Co. . 13

17. Sir J. Franklin (Turner), by all, except Messrs. Downie & Laird, Mr.

Legge, Mr. Oswald, Messrs. Robertson, Paul, & Co., Mr. Schofield,
and Mr. Sivewright . . . . . . . . . . 14

18. Sir R. Whittington (Drummond), by all, except Mr. Barnes, Messrs.

Downie & Laird, Mr. Keynes, Messrs. Robertson, Paul, & Co.,
Messrs. Soden, and Mr. Sivewright ...... 14

19. Beauty of Slough (Bragg), % a^^, except Mr. Barnes, Mr. Fellowes,

Mr. Holmes, Mr. l>egge, IMessrs. Robertson, Paul, & Co., Mr.
Smith, Messrs. Soden, and Mr. Sladden 12

20. Bob (Drummond), by all, except] Mr. Cook, Mr. Fellowes, Mr. Jarvis,

Mr. Keynes, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Perry, Mr. Pope, and Mr. Walker 12

21 Fearless (Barnes), by a!!, except Messrs. Downie & Laird, Mr. Fel-

lowes, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Oswald, Messrs. Robertson, Paul, & Co.,
Mr. Sivewright, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Walker . . . .12

22 Admiral Dundas (Lawton), was returned by Mr. Cook, Downie & Laird,

Keynes, Oswald, Perry, Robertson & Paul, Robinson, Smith,
Sivewright, Sladden, and Turner 11

MAY. 133

23 Constancy (Hopkins), returned brj Mr. Cook, Downie & Laird, Fel-

lowes. Holmes, Oswald, Perry, Smith, Soden, Sivewright, Turner,
and Walker . . . . "* . .' ' 1

24 John Keynes (Dodds), returned by Mr;' Barnes, Downie & Laird,

Jarvis, Keynes, Oswald, Perry, Kobertson, Paul, & Co., Schotield,
Smith, and Sivewright . , . ' . . . . . .1

25 Lady Folkestone (Keynes), returned by Mr. Cook, Downie & Laird,

Keynes, Legge, Oswald, Perry, Smith, Soden, Sivewright, Sladden,
and I urner . . . . . . . . . . . 1

26 Miss Spears (Lament), re<wr/iec?i?/ Mr. Barries, Cook, Fellowes, Holmes,

Legge, Pope, Kobinson, Soden, Sladden, Turner, and Walker . 1

27 Nigger (Fellowes), returned by Messrs. Downie & Laird, Fellowes,

Holmes, Oswald, Schotield, Smith, Soden, Sivewright, Sladden,
Turner, and Walker . . '. ■ 1

28 Triumphant (Keynes), returned by Mr. Cook, Fellowes, Holmes, Keynes,

Pope, Robertson, Paul, & Co., Schofield, Soden, Sladden, Turner,
and Walker . . . . ... . . . . .1

29 Essex Triumph (Turville), returned by "Mr. Cook, Fellowes, Holmes,

Jarvis, Keynes, Pope, Robinson, Smith, Sladden, and Turner . . 10

30 General Faucher (Rose), returnedby Mr. Barnes, Jarvis, Keynes, Legge,

Perry, Pope, Robertson, Paul, & Co., Soden, Sladden, and Walker 10

31 Incomparable (Ablitt), returned by Mr. Barnes, Fellowes, Holmes,

Jarvis, Legge, Robertson, Paul, & Co., Schofield, Soden, Turner,
and Walker 10

32 Malvina (Howard), returned by Mr. Cook, Downie & Laird, Fellowes,

Holmes, Keynes, Pope, Smith, Sivewright, Turner, and Walker . 10

33 Espartero (Turner), returned by Mr. Barnes, Cook, Downie & Laird,

Fellowes, Schotield, Smith, Sivewright, Turner, and Walker . . 9

34 Mrs. Rawlings (Rawlings), returned by Mr. Barnes, Downie & Laird,

Keynes, Oswald, Perry, Robertson, Paul, & Co., Smith, Soden, and
Sivewright ........... 9

35 Agincourt (Fellowes), reterreerffiy Mr. Cook, Downie & Laird, Fellowes,

Holmes, Robertson, Paul, & Co., Robinson, Sladden, and Turner . 8

36 Miss Susan (Drummond), returned by Mr. Barnes, Fellowes, Holmes,

Oswald, Perry, Pope, Robertson, Paul, & Co., and Robinson . . 8

37 Cossack (Fellowes), returned by Messrs. Downie & Laird, Fellowes,

Holmes, Robertson, Paul, & Co., Sivewright, Sladden, and Turner 7

38 Edmund Foster (Turner), returned by Mr. Cook, Fellowes, Holmes,

Legge, Oswald, Turner, and Walker ...... 7

39 Queen of Whites (Drummond) returned by Mr. Barnes, Jarvis, Pope,

Schotield, Smith, Turner, and Walker ...... 7

40 Richard Cobden (Stem), returned by Mr. Fellowes, Holmes, Jarvis,

Perry, Pope, Robinson, and Sladden 7

41 Beauty of the Grove (Burgess), returned by Mr. Cook, Jarvis, Legge,

Robinson, Schofield, and Soden ....... G

42 Mrs. Seldon (Turner), returned by Mr. Perry, Pope, Robinson, Soden,

Sivewright, and Sladden ......... 6

43 Queen of Lilacs (Turner), returned by Mr. Holmes, Legge, Pope,

Robinson, Sladden, and Walker G

44 Ringleader (G. Holmes), returned by Mr. Fellowes, Holmes, Schotield,

Smith, Soden, and Walker 6

45 Salvator Rosa (Miquet), returned by Mr. Cook, Fellowes, Keynes,

Perry, Sladden, and Turner ........ 6

4G Bishop of Hereford (Union), returned by Mr. Cook, Fellowes, Jarvis,

Smith, and Sladden .......... 5

47 George Villiers (Union), returned by Mr. Barnes, Legge, Robinson,

Soden, and Walker .......... 5

48 Magnet (Kimberley), returned by Mr. Barnes, Jarvis, Legge, Perry,

and Schofield 5

49 Primrose Perfection (Keynes), returned by Messrs. Downie & Laird,

Robertson, Paul, & Co., Schofield, Soden, and Walker ... 5

50 Sir R. Peel (Drummond), returned by Mr. Legge, Perry, Robinson,

Soden, and Walker 5

134 THE FLORIST.

The following eleven varieties have been returned by four growers :
Coeur de Lion, Diadem, Edwin Harrison, Exquisite, King of Yellows,
Louisa Glenny, Ne plus Ultra, Port Royal, Rosea elegans, and Scarlet
King ; and these ten varieties by three growers : Absalom, Admiral,
George Glenny, Glenlyon, Goldsmith, Lady Mary Labouchere, Plan-
tagenet, Royal Sovereign, Shylock, and White Standard. These ten
sorts get each two votes : Colonel Baker, Deutche, Duchess of Kent,
General Canrobert, Immortal, King of Dahlias, Mon Dugere, IMorning
Star, Mrs. B. Stowe, and Queen of Beauties — equal to 81 varieties.
There yet remain thirty-three sorts, each with but a single vote.
Of these, not one is returned by that leviathan grower, Mr. C. Turner,
and therefore not worth occupying the pages of the Florist by enume-
rating them. Mi. Keynes gives one vote each to Haidee and Omar
Pacha. I therefore for the present close from public gaze 31 sorts,
leaving 83 varieties from which to make selections.

Of the 50 most popular sorts I think I am correct in assigning 12 as
emanating from Mr. Keynes's establishment, and 20 from the Royal
Nursery ; five sorts were raised by Mr. Sainsbury, although bearing the
name of Drummond or Turner ; four sorts were raised by the Rev. C.
Fellowes. Mr. Keynes also has many sorts to which his name is
affixed, that were raised by Mr. Brown, Mr. Dodds, &c. Mr. Raw-
lings claims the parentage of some sterling sorts, while Mr. Barnes and
Mr. Bragg are represented by only one sort each.

Of these 50, 15 were sent out in 1855, eight in 1854. Essex
Triumph has been before the public by far the longest, dating back to
1843. Richard Cobden was sent out in 1848, and the only variety of
that year now enumerated ; 1849 gave us Mr. Seldon, Duke of Wel-
lington, and Fearless ; these, after seven years' probation, maintain
forward positions, the Duke being one of five sorts returned by the
whole twenty growers. What a triumph for Mr. Sainshury, its raiser !

In conclusion, I give the returns received in reply to my hurried
application for the names of the best twelve fancy varieties ; these are
treated in the same way, except the use of initial letters by way of
abbreviations ; these will doubtless be readily understood.

B., Mr. Barnes ; DL., Messrs. Downie & Laird ; F., tlie Rev. C. Fellowes ;
J., Mr. Jarvis ; K, Mr, Keynes; L., Mr. Legge ; Po., Mr. Pope; Py., Mr.
Perry; R., Mr. Robinson ; RP., Messrs. Robertson, Paul, & Co.; Sc, Mr.
Schofield; Sm., Mr. Smith; SI., Mr. Sladden ; T., Mr. Turner ; and W., Mr.
Walker ; in all 13.

Votes,

1. Ba,ron Alderson (Ferry), returned by all 15

2. Duchess of Kent (Knight) ,, „ except DL 14

3. Pigeon (De Knyff) „ „ except J. and Sc. . . 13

4. Miss Frampton (Rawlings) ,, ,, except B. F. J. . . . 12

5. Gloire de Kaiu (Cailloux) „ „ except F. K. L. R. RP. . 10

6. Topsy (Keynes) „ ,, except F. J- Py. R. Sm. . 10

7. TriomphedeRoubaix (Busine),, „ except J. Po. R. RP. S. W. 9

8. I aura Lavington (Keynes) returned by i. K. Po. R. Sc. Sm. SI. W. 8

9. Butterfly (Salter) „ F. J. Py. R. RP. SI. T. . 7

10. Comet (Keynes) „ DL. F. K. L. Py. R. Sm. . 7

11. Imperatrice Eugenie (Addis) ,, DL. F. K. Py. R. Sm. SI. . 7

12. Empereur de Maroc (Haidoux) „ DL. F. L. Po. RP. Sm. . 6

13. Marvel (Pope) „ DL. K. L. Py. RP. T. fi

14. Mrs. Hansard (Edwards) „ J. Py. R. Sc. SI. W. . . 6

15. Elizabeth (Prockter) „ K. Po. SI. T. . . .4

16. Miss Herbert (Keynes) relurnul bij Po. Py. R. Sm. . . . 4*

17. Admiration (Green) ,, J. Sra. W. . . . 3

18. Miss Ward (Turner) „ DL. F. RP 3

19. Phaeton (Miquet) ,, P. R. W 3

The following eight sorts have each two votes : Claudia, Duchesse de

Brabant, Flora M'lvor, Forget-me-not, Janas, Lady Grenville, Reine
des Fleurs, and Wonderful. Fourteen varieties having each but a
single vote are therefore not given in detail. It will be observed that
the 15 lists extend to 41 sorts ; of these but one, Baron Alderson
(Perry) obtains what I may term universal suffrage.

Originally, I believe, the fancy Dahlia was introduced to our notice by
our Gallic neighbours, and for a time we were indebted mainly to im-
ported varieties ; this is not now the case, as will be evident from these
returns, the majority of the varieties being those of home produce.

Again thanking those gentlemen who so readily responded to n;y
application, and trusting they may not regret the use I have made
of their ideas, I subscribe myself theirs faithfully,

John Edwards.

PELARGONIUMS.

In trying to judge of the progress made in the improvement of florists'
flowers from one year to another, we are sometimes unable to perceive
any great advance. Now and then, certainly, a list is made, and all
can see at a glance the improvement that is made ; but to gain a clear
and definite idea of what has been done, it is needful to look back for a
few years, that, by comparing the favourites of the past with the new
flowers, we may be made aware of what has been achieved. These
reflections occurred to my mind on looking over the plates in the
Florist, and contrasting that of Pelargoniums in the first number with
those in the number for September, 1854, and certainly the most un-
initiated could not fail to be struck with the immense improvement that
has been effected in those seven years, and it should be particularly
noticed that this improvement has been effected upon flowers already
highly cultivated, and which it was thought by the talented editor of
the Gardeners' Chronicle could not be surpassed, when he recom-
mended seedling Pelargonium raisers to give up their pursuit and try
some fresh crosses of the wild species, according to a long series of
directions given in the Chronicle. But I am not aware that any one
has followed them ; and the rich success that has rewarded those who
persevered in their own way, proves how incorrect were the editor's
views. Perhaps he was misled by the high-sounding names sometimes
given ; for we have had the " Perfection" of one raiser, the " Victory "
of others, and " Defiance " often hurled about, and he might take it
for granted that raisers themselves really thought they had reached
perfection ; but it may now be, I confess, somewhat difficult to point
out in what Hoyle's "Wonderful," one of the varieties figured in
Plate 92, can be improved upon. Of course, we now want to get every

136 THE FLORIST.

variety of colouring on flowers of equal merit as to form, and size, and
tiuality, which, no doubt, will be done in time, and probably new
beauties will be brought out of which none but the ardent seedling
raiser ever dreamed. I know of no flower that presents so great a
variety of colouring and fine form as some of the new varieties, and
we may confidently anticipate still greater things in this justly favourite
flower.

The exhibitions have, no doubt, been very useful in stimulating the
cultivation and the raising of seedling Pelargoniums, and I believe the
collections from Slough exhibited last season at Gore House, the Crystal
Palace, and Regent's Park, were by far the best, both in quality and
cultivation, that ever were seen. It would be well had the general
cultivation kept pace with the examples exhibited at the shows, but,
alas ! it is far from being so ; to see a house or a collection of Pelar-
goniums even decently grown, is a rare exception. I saw a houseful
the end of last February, with the main shoots scarcely an inch long
and the leaves about the size of a shilling — a state of growth which
they ought to have attained full five months before. What can be
expected of such plants ? May and June is the natural period of their
blooming, and they cannot be had mgood bloom at other periods. And
this is no exceptional case, but is nearly the rule ; the plants are not
cultivated, they are barely kept alive. The first error is their not being
cut down early enough, so that neither the cuttings nor the old plant
have time to make sufficient growth before winter ; then they are
huddled together, often in a cold damp house, half their leaves either
fogged or eaten by the green-fly, so that spring and blooming time finds
them not only unprepared to give a generous head of flower, but, lank
and sickly ; they are not really fit to furnish cuttings, and their most
appropriate place is the rubbish heap. No plant better repays good
treatment, and I would ask all who profess to grow it to bear this in
mind ; there is no secret in the best cultivation, and no difficulty, the
needful conditions of success are easily learned, and as easily followed
by all who try to succeed.

An Old Geranium Grower.

FRUIT TREES AND FRUIT TREE PROTECTION.— No. II.
Mr. Bailey says : " In this county I can adduce many instances of
trees in the villages known as the ' Apricot villages,' where trees have
not failed in bearing heavy crops for many years running, and which
have scarcely ever been touched by a knife since they were in the
nursery." I can easily believe this, more particularly from what Mr.
Bailey says afterwards ; but I think " heavy cropping for many years
running " a practice which cannot be too strongly reprobated. These
Apricots of the " Apricot villages " are Apricots only in name — they
are nearly aU stone and very little flesh. Hear what the Editor of the
Gardeners' Chronicle " says : " It is an axiom in applied physiology
that no animal or plant can bear more than its system can nourish ;

MAY. 137

where an attempt is made to contravene this natural law, abortion is
the result, or the produce, whether animal or vegetable, if it survives,
is degenerate or imperfect. Let a Pear (the case is applicable to
any other kind of fruit tree) contain a pound of nutrition, or natural
food, ready to be attracted into its spurs, let each receive a drachm of
such food, then the tree may carry 256 spurs, supposing the food to be
equally distributed. But if a thousand such spurs are present, it is
probable, not that 750 will be starved and 250 fed, but that the whole
will be starved : in the struggle among them for food none will obtain
what is requisite to sustain lite, and all will perish." The truth of the
foregoing Mr. Bailey will not, I think, question. If, then, those trees
in the " Apricot villages " have never failed in bearing "■heavy crops
for many years running,^'' must we not conclude that at the end of
these " many years " bearing heavy crops, the fruit is worthless — as
in reality it is — and not like the fine spotted, rosy, large, luscious fruit,
which the trees here bear annually — not biennially — and which many
gardeners can corroborate ?

I know a Vinery, which, like the trees in the " Aprico!; villages,"
has, for " many years running,''' borne very heavy crops of Grapes.
The person to whom it belongs once told me, that he had the finest
crop of Grapes in England. When I inqu^'red how many bunches were
on each Vme, I was told, upwards of forty bunches. I saw some of
these Grapes afterwards — and such Grapes — as much like Grapes as
the Apricots of the " Apricot villages " are like Apricots ; they were
Grapes in name only — not such as Mr. Bailey would like to acknowledge
as his growing, nor were they such Grapes as I have exhibited at the
]\Iidsummer Shows at York the last four years successively, and to
which was awarded the first prize each season.

Need I tell Mr. Bailey, I did not leave forty bunches on a Vine. —
No, I am sure I need not. In size of berry, for colour, bloom, and
flavour, better Grapes than these were never exhibited at the Chiswick
shows in their palmiest days : I have seen larger bunches. Yet there
was no mystery in the growth of these Grapes. The house is an old
lean-to, heated with a flue ; but bear in mind, the border is all
right — the roots do not perish in the winter — the Vines are never
overcropped — the berries are always thinned immediately they are set,
the wood is also kept thin, not overcrowded : these, with proper attention
in heating and giving air, are ah the means that were adopted
in the production of these Grapes. And here I would ask how it
happens, that we do not always see Grapes of superior quality in all
Vineries, which we ought, if glass and heat were all that is required :
— the cause is in badly made and badly drained borders, together with
bad management. So it is with the covering of wall-fruit trees, if not
accompanied with good management. Apricots, in the market here,
were, last year, four shillings per score ; this season, the best samples
will not be more than two shillings per score, and I make no doubt
there will be some samples, as there were two years ago — like the
Apricots of the " Apricot villages " — that will not realise more than
fourpence per score.

Mr. Bailey says, " Why is it that we almost always see the appa-

138 TUE B'LORIST.

rently ill-cared for and ill-trained trees of the cottagers producing fine
crops of fruit, and generally much overcropped ? It is, in my
opinion, for the reason I am about to give. There can," continues
Mr. Bailey, " be no doubt the more massively a wall is built, or the
thicker it is, even if hollow, the longer it will be in radiating at night
the heat it has accumulated during the day." This kind of theory looks
very well on paper, but practically it amounts to nothing. I wonder
how much heat a thick wall would accumulate during a month like
March, 1855. "The walls," continues I\Ir. Bailey, "of the cottages
about here are generally built of thick stone, and, in addition to the
heat absorbed by the sun's rays, they are warmed internally by the
fire of the house ; the wall, therefore, of every cottage is, in fact, a hot
wall, slowly giving off its heat to the tree trained upon it, and repelling
the action of frost, while the projecting thatch or tiles keep all perfectly
dry, and arrest the heat radiated from the surface of the wall."
Here we have hot walls introduced, of which I have not expressed any
opinion, but of which I am as great an advocate as Mr. Bailey. Mr.
Bailey makes these hot walls stand in the place of coverings. If I
were in search of a fact to support what I have so often advanced, I
have it in these hot walls of Mr. Bailey's cottages ; the soil round the
foundations of these thick hot walls must, of course, be dry and warm
— what a grand place for the roots of Apricot trees to luxuriate in — and
then we have the wood trained to these hot walls ; the roots dry and
warm, the wood trained on a hot wall — what favourable conditions to
ensure well-ripened wood and thoroughly matured buds, and, as a
natural consequence, plenty of fruit, which, owing to their not being
thinned, are almost worthless. In April last, Mr. Bailey said, " Let
our inquiry, then, be this : By what means can we best retard the
progress of the abundant blossom with which our fruit trees in the
open air are this spring covered." Pray, how do those cottagers
retard the progress of blossoms on their hot walls in early springs ?
We are not informed of this, which is a very material point ; for if these
cottagers, without retarding or covering, get heavy crops of fruit many
years running, is it not a proof of what I have so often said, viz. — that
with dry warm borders, and well-ripened wood, we may dispense with
coverings. Mr. Bailey winds up thus : " Remember, then, gentle
reader, that at vStrathfieldsaye there is as fine a wall of Apricots as any
in the country, which produced no fruit till protected, and yielded a
splendid crop the first most trying season after its application." How
Mr. Bailey could pen the above, alter all he had just before told us of
the doings at Strathfieldsaye, is to me an enigma. In the same article
Mr. Bailey informed us, that " Mr. Johnson, his grace's gardener
there (Strathfieldsaye), has for years lost his crop of fruit ; till, under
the advice of Mr. Parkes, the eminent drainer, he adopted the Deanston
plan of deep drainage, coupling with it an efficient canvas screen, with
temporary copings removable at pleasure." ..." The result was,
that from being the latest garden in the neighbourhood, it has become
one of the earliest." Mr. Bailey quotes Mr. Johnson's words :
" Many persons," says Mr. J., " who visited me were sceptical as to
the advantages of deep draining, but afler examining the test holes.

MAY. 139

invariably went away converts." Again, Mr. Johnson says : " I saved
a good crop of fruit this season, which, without covering, I should not
have done." What ! then deep draining, though it has made Mr.
Johnson's garden, from being tlie latest in the neighbourhood to be one
of the earliest, has done nothing towards securing a crop of fruit. How
does Mr. Johnson know that he would not have saved a crop of fruit
last year without covering ? It appears he never covered his trees
until he adopted the plan of deep draining. If, before he adopted the
plan of deep draining, he had covered his trees, and year after year
secured good crops, then, in his case, we would be compelled to admit
the benefit of covering. But as Mr. Johnson has not done so, I cannot
admit that the crop of last year was owing solelij to his covering.

This is the real point between Mr. Bailey and myself He ascribes
everything to retarding and covering : I do not. I think much of the
good results are due to thoroughly drained borders, well ripened wood,
&c. Mr. Bailey believes that Mr. Johnson's crop was owing solelij and
entirely to the covering : I do not. I am of opinion it was owing more
to his deep draining, and consequently to the wood being better ripened.
]\lr. Bailey says: " ]\Ir. Spencer, of Bowood, uses broad projecting
coping boards, and makes breaks in his walls, to shelter his trees from
the cold, cutting winds." But Mr. Bailey did not tell us that Mr.
Spencer, before he applied these, thoroughly drained all his borders,
and renewed some of them. This, Mr. Bailey omitted to tell us,
which is a very important affair. I can ascribe his success more to
this than to the use of coping boards, &c. When I visited Bowood, in
October, 1853, though very much pleased with everything about that
beautiful place, the wall-fruit trees pleased me more than anything I
saw. Widely different was the appearance of the trees then to what
it was twelve years before. I ascribe this great change to the thorough
draining and renewal of the borders. Mr. Bailey may, as I dare say
he will, attribute it to the coping boards. If Mr. Spencer had left his
borders in the state they were sixteen years ago, he might use coping
boards in vain. Mr. Bailey thinks that retarding and covering will
alone secure good crops. Though I do not object to coverings, if people
like to use them, I still am of opinion that by thorough drainage and
improvement of the land — by proper selection of stocks, scions, and
sorts — by proper cultivation, especially disbudding and summer pruning
— by thinning of the spurs, when crowded — and, above all, by never
overcropping ; I say, I am of opinion, that by these means we can,
in nine seasons out of ten, secure good crops of fruit. I have done so
myself, here, the last seven years.

M. Saul.
Stourton.

Weigela AMABilis. — This, we presume, like rosea, is a native of
China or Japan. It has flowered with Messrs. Low and others, and is a
pretty shrub ; though, of the two, we certainly think rosea the hand-
somest. It is figured in the " Botanical Magazine" for January last.

140 THE FLORIST.

ON DEEP CULTIVATION.

Were we to examine the depth to which the roots of many of our cul-
tivated plants will penetrate a loose open soil in quest of food, we should
be less sceptical as to the advantages which deep cultivation affords to
the roots of plants. The market gardeners around London trench ofien
and deeply, not only to change the surface, as some suppose, but to
allow the roots of their crops to range as deep as they please, and with-
out this assistance the enormous crops of first-rate produce they obtain
from the land could not be obtained. If deep cultivation is requisite in
the rich and deep alluvial soils of the Thames valley, how much more
so is it on poor and shallow soils, which afford comparatively only a
limited pasturage for the roots of plants.

It is true, gravelly and rocky subsoils are almost beyond the reach
of improvement; as the expense of breaking up the substratum would,
in most instances, be too great to pay. But this is not always the
case, for I have seen the brashy subsoil of some localities broken up
with good results, as well as some gravelly subsoils, particularly where
the layers of gravel are thin and mixed with clay or ferruginous matter,
rendering them impervious to water, as well as to the roots of plants.
By breaking through this crust, so as to admit a free passage for the
water, a marked improvement follows. Clay subsoils, however reten-
tive, are capable of being reclaimed ; but this is a work of time, as all
you can do, after thorough drainage, is to break up the clayey bottom
to the depth of twelve or eighteen inches, according to its nature, each
time the ground is dug or trenched. This bottom, when forked up,
should be kept as open as possible, which will facilitate the passage of water
through it, and the salts and ammonia carried down by the rains from
the manuring, &c,, of the upper soil will in time reduce its tenacity,
assisted by the decomposing action of the air, which will now have
better access to it ; and in a kw years, by practising this, you will find
your land gradually increasing in depth and productivtness. Many
calcareous and slaty rocks are likewise capable of improvement when
broken up and exposed to the action of the weather, and when shallow
soils rest on these descriptions of rocks, by all means, break up a
stratum of it yearly, below the top soil. Many hard compact marls of the
red sandstone and lias formations are as unfavourable for the growth of
plants as rock or gravel, and yet when broken up and exposed to atmo-
spheric influences, they make fertile soils capable of producing every
kind of crop. I remember some fifteen or sixteen years back paying a
visit to the garden of the late E. Davis, Esq., of Bath, whom many of
your readers will recollect was the first amateur Dahlia grower of that
day, and his plants were growing apparently in a mass of stones. The
garden of this gentleman was situated on the side of one of the oolitic
ranges which surround Bath, with barely a covering of soil over the
rock; this Mr. Davis had broken up two feet in depth, and had mixed
with it the surface soil and a little manure ; the luxuriance of his Dahlias
and general garden produce was remarkable, and may perhaps be
remembered by those of your readers who visited Entre-hill at the
time in question.

MAY. 141

To obtain a sufficient depth of soil for the roots of vegetables to pene-
trate is one means, and a great one, of increasing their produce.
Plants growing in soils made open for a considerable depth are much
less liable to suffer in dry weather, as their roots are in a position to
obtain moisture at a lower depth, and hence the suitability of deep soils
for summer crops ; the same soils are likewise warmer in winter. A
soil from which the water passes through freely can never be very
damp, and relatively never very cold ; nor are they so dry in summer,
for this reason, the action of the sun's rays on the surface soil causes the
moisture therein to be given off by evaporation, and this produces an
upicard action of the moisture contained in the soil below, to supply
that wdiich has escaped by exhalation and the surface. We shaU find,
then, that in proportion to the' power of the evaporating process on
the surface there will be a corresponding rise of watery particles
throughout the entire mass of soil below. This will positively keep the
soil moister, because it is more open and porous, than a shallow soil, with
a compact subsoil, which would obstruct the progress of moisture from
below, at the same time as it prevented its escape downwards. By all
means then for vegetables, have a mass of soil, if practicable, from two
to three feet deep, sufficiently open to admit air and water to pass freely
each way when needed. X. Y. Z.

NOTES ON THE MONTH.

Since writing my last remarks the weather throughout the month
('March) was cold and hazy, with keen easterly winds, varied only now
and then by a bit of sunshine. On the night of the 27th there was 12°
of frost, and about 15° on the 29th and 80th. Severe for the season,
the air up to the Ist of April was remarkable for its dryness, even for
March. On the 1st of April we had a change and milder weather ;
from this time up to the 14th there was rain almost daily, which
swelled the brooks and filled the springs to overflowing. On the l4tli
the wdnd shifted back to its old quarters, the East — piercing, and at
times blowing a gale, with frosts on the 19th, 20th, and 21st; to-day
(23rd), there is a change indicating rain. If we are to credit
" Howard," the ensuing summer will be a dry one, the winds during
the vernal equinox being E. and N. E. The temperature for the last
two weeks has been rather above the average, but yet the season is by
no means a forward one, owing to the low temperature of March and
part of April.

The weather, on the whole, has been more favourable for the farmer
than the gardener. Young Cauliflower, Lettuce, and other early
vegetables which we noticed as suffering last month, have not pro-
gressed with the season, owing to the absence of mild, genial weather.
Potatoes and root crops generally have been got in well, and the present
weather is favourable for clearing foul land, completing alterations,
preparing borders, &c.

The main task before the gardener just now is the flower-garden
work ; and during the next month, everywhere, " bedding-out" will be

142 THE FLORIST.

the all-engrossing care. About this I am glad to notice good taste is
beginning to sicken with the everlasting repetition of red, yellow, and
blue, with which colours almost every garden — from that of the palace
down to the humblest manse — has been crammed for the last few
years. Not that I object to masses of colour — not I — but 1 like to see
the thing properly done. Artistically, if you like that word better ; —
and, as we have a whole range of colours, we may as well, make them'
enter into combination a little, as dab them about in spots. To do this
there are two ways of managing the matter : — one, by keeping one
colour to a bed, having the brightest and most distinct in the middle,
and shading them down to the margin by varieties of less intense colour
— excepting where the mass is a great one, wdien a band or divisional
line may be introduced ; — the second is to blend the colours, by planting
rows or bands of different colours round a centre. When the plants
employed are judiciously selected, according to their habit and colour,
most pleasing combinations of colours can be obtained — the same
results follow planting in borders in right lines. In this style a great
variety of plants can be introduced, and the general effect is pleasing
and harmonious. By-the-bye, will nobody have a word to say in
favour of some old IHends in the shape of Larkspurs, Campanulas,
and other herbaceous plants ? What is really so fine as the now
neglected Double Siberian Larkspur, unless we might find it with our
old friend at Dropmore, who I like all the better ibr sticking to these
old-fashioned things ?

I had nearly filled my space, Mr. Editor, without saying one word
about fruit trees, on which I see there is a vehement discussion in your
columns, into which I do not care to enter. For certain, however,
Apricots " caught it " last month ; there are, however, enough left for
a crop. Peaches appear to be safe, or nearly ; but I am sorry to see,
in places, evidences of gum, resulting from the autumn of 1855 not
being so favourable for ripening the wood as 1854. Plums and Cherries
are now in full bloom, how they will escape the frosts of the last few
nights is more than I can say now ; one thing in their favour is that
the air is very dry. Early Pears, the same ; some kinds are not out yet
— the bloom appears scant. Apples, on the contrary, abundant.

As a hint worth remembering, I say, for this next month care more
about keeping the tops of newly-planted trees, &c., damp, than their roots.

By way of postscript let me add that the subscription-list for raising
the 5000/. required by the Council of the Horticultural Society to enable
them to carry on the Garden, fills slowly. Let the nobility of England
take for example the nobIe-mm6.<n\ German, H. Behrens, Esq., who so
liberally subscribed 100/., and the list would soon be complete.

NATIONAL FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY.

3Iarch 27. — As the meetings of this Society give greater oppor-
tunities than are afforded by any other society for seeing seedling
florists' flowers as well as new plantS; it is our intention to report fully

MAY. 143

the meetings of the season, and we were much gratified at finding this
— the first — so well attended. There were a great many seedling
plants, and several novelties were produced. The principal plants
were Cinerarias, Hyacinths, Rhododendrons, Camellias, and Gera-
niums.

Mr. Williams, gardener to A. Farrie, Esq., Liverpool, exhibited two
new Rhododendrons : Hookeri, of a deep rich coral crimson colour, and
a beautiful variety, as well as very dissimilar ; also a light kind named
nervosum, with large noble foliage, but the flower is not very attractive.
Messrs. Wood and Ing am, of fiuntingdon, received a certificate of
merit for a bright-coloured Geranium, named Crimson King. This is
by far the best variety we have seen for early work, the habit is so
good ; a very free grower as well as flowerer, and of much better form
than those hitherto grown for forcing. It appears to be a continuous
bloomer.

Messrs. Henderson and Co., of Pine-apple-place, received a first-
class certificate for a Camellia named Enl'ant de France, rosy crimson,
very double, and of the finest imbricated form. Mr. Gaines, of
Battersea, received the same award for a white Camellia named com-
pacta alba. This also is of fine form, but not a large flower.

Mr. G. Smith, of Hornsey-road Nursery, received a certificate for
his blue-tipped Cineraria, Princess Royal. This is a showy bright
variety with clear white ground, but the ends of the petals are square
instead of being well rounded. ]\lr. C. Turner, of Slough, received
similar awards for Lady Jane Peel and Prince of Wales, both white
ground flowers ; the former being tipped with rosy purple, the latter
with bluish purple : they appear to be of good habits, and were of
excellent shape. Mr. Bousie, gardener to the Right Hon. H. Labou-
chere, Stoke Park, sent two kinds, of which Miss Labouchere ap-
peared to be the best ; it is tipped similar to Picturata, but has a
dark disc.

The ]\Iessrs. Smith, of Dulwich, sent a large number of seedlings,
some of which were of new shades of colour, but deficient in form.
The best of these were Decision, Pourpre de Tyre, Crimson King, and
Beauty of Dulwich.

Mr. Sharman and Mr. Crockford also exhibited seedlings of this
showy useful spring flower.

Hyacinths and Camellias were the subjects prizes were offered for in
collections. The former were exhibited by IMr. Cutbush, of Highgate ;
Messrs. A. Henderson and Co., Pine-apple-place ; Messrs. E. G.
Henderson and Co., Wellington-road ; and E. Rosher, Esq., Hamilton-
terrace. The prizes were awarded respectively in the order named.
The best Reds were Mrs. Beecher Stowe, Robert Steiger, Diebitsch
Sabalskanski. Blush : Duke of WeUington (very fine), Norma,
Cavaignac, Catherina. Dark Blues : William the First, Laurens
Koster, Graff Van Nassau, Baron Van Tuyll, Prince Albert, Mimosa.
L/(/la Blues: Grand Lilac (very fine), Schiller, Murillo, Bloksberg,
Charles Dickens. In W/iites we noticed as fine. Prince of Waterloo,
Mont Blanc, Mammoth, La Tour d'Auvergne, Peine Blanche, La
Deese, and Anna Maria. The Camellias were not fine. A. Farrie,
Esq., sent the best three blooms; 2nd, E. Rosher, Esq.

144 THE FLORIST.

A]ml 24. — Cinerarias were the principal feature at this meeting,
being shown in considerable numbers and in excellent condition.

Mr. Bousie, of Stoke Park, exhibited two varieties : Mrs. Turner,
white tipped with lilac ; and Mrs. Edwards, light purple — both
possessing good quality, the latter being the best in shape. Mr. C.
Lidgard, of Hammersmith, sent two kinds, but in bad condition. Mr.
Pope, of Pimlico, had eight seedlings. Vivid was selected by the
judges for a certificate — white with bright crimson tip, style of Esther,
but of better form. The others were too thin. Mr. C. Turner, of
Slough, received a similar award for Mrs. Hoyle, white tipped with
crimson purple, marking very distinct and good form. Mr. Turner also
exhibited Earl of Clarendon, dark purple with red ring round the disc ;
Lavinia, lilac with white ring, novel ; Admiral Lyons, dark purple with
white ring ; and Alice, white and lilac rose. These all possessed good
properties. Mr. Clark, of Cheltenham, sent a white ground variety
with very bright tip, but thin and of bad form. Many others were
shown, but none worthy of notice.

Mr. Kinghorn, of St. Margaret's, Isleworth, received a certificate for
a seedling Epacris named carnea rubra ; its name denotes its colour. It
is free, and of good dwarf habit,

Mr. Hamp, of South Lambeth, received a certificate for Azalea
potissima, a good-shaped kind, strong grower — colour, rosy salmon
marked with crimson in the upper part of the flower — a pretty variety,
but not particularly new in colour.

Mr. Beck, of Isleworth, and Mr. Wheeler, Hendon, exhibited early-
flowering varieties of Pelargoniums, adapted for forcing. Helen, from
Mr. Beck, has pale lilac lower petals, dark top ; very free, but dull in
colour. Mr. Wheeler's is a white, free, but of bad form. A label of
commendation was awarded to the latter. Mr. Hoyle, of Reading, sent
two Pelargoniums — Review and Ion. The former, a large free-
flowering variety, evidently a very early bloomer. It has a clear
white centre, lower petals scarlet rose, top rich dark blotch, shaded
bright margin. Ion, a dark variety, of fine substance.

A seedling Heliotrope was exhibited named Florence Nightingale.
It is no improvement on Beauty of the Boudoir, if so good.

Messrs. Ivery, of Dorking, sent a w^ell-bloomed plant of their Azalea
Criterion, figured by us in 1852. This is a very fine thing.

The prizes offered were for Cinerarias, Auriculas, and Polyanthus.
None of the latter were sent, and only two of the former. These were
in very good condition. The four best Cinerarias were Rose of
England, Magnum Bonum, Emperor of the French, and Brilliant : the
two latter are new varieties, both of which received first-class certificates
last season, and have well maintained the high opinion then expressed
of their merits. These, with a collection of specimen plants, were
exhibited by Mr. C. Turner. The same grower also sent a collection
of healthy well-bloomed Auriculas. The four exhibited for the prize
were Dickson's Unique, Bolivar, Lovely Ann, and Blackbird.

Mr. Richards, of Oxford -street, exhibited a collection of wire baskets
for suspending flowers, similar to those so extensively used at the
Crystal Palace, and flower-stands made of the same material, some of
which are beautifully designed. The baskets are very elegant.

145

HOW TO HAVE GRAPES FROM THE BUD OR EYE THE
FIRST YEAR.

Not long ago Vine growers were startled at the fact of Mr. Elphln-
stone having fruited pot Vines the same year in which they were struck.
We had supposed that to do this the second year was as early as it could
be done. JBut happy are they who live to learn ; and though I am not
aware how the feat was accomplished by Mr. Elphinstone, I can state
a way, if not the way how. Strike the eyes in January, grow them on
Vigorously, potting as required; when about two feet long stop them,
and when four feet or so stop them again ; the laterals from the second
stopping produce the bunches. The Vines should now be quickly grown,
and in due course the fruit will ripen. Those who have had charge of
vineries will recollect how that from repeated stoppings the laterals
often show bunches, particularly at the terminal bud. It is by applying
such observations that we make progress. We do not think that
the practice of so fruiting Vines will become general, still it is worth
trying, and perhaps tliis may be cited as an illustration of the theory,
that in a bud are the germs of a perfect tree, which the gardener may
develope at will. Geo. M'Ewen, Arundel.

THE ROYAL GARDENS, FROGMORE.

It is now more than two years since we gave an account of these noble
gardens, and we believe we need make no apology for again placing
before our readers the following memoranda of what came under our notice
during a recent visit. The forcing of fruit is carried on very exten-
sively, and forms the principal feature at this season of the year, when
each kind is in different stages of forwardness, as required for furnishing
a supply up to the period when forced fruit is succeeded by that from
the open air.

We noticed eight houses, each varying from sixty to one hundred feet
in length, occupied by Vines in different stages of growth. The earliest
Grapes are growing at the back of the Pine stoves, situated in the
principal range of houses. The crop is a very good one, and fast
approaching maturity ; indeed, some of the bunches at the warmest end
of the house were rijie. The forcing of these Vines usually commences
about the end of November, and at that time the fruiting Pine plants
are planted in the pits occupying the front part of these houses, and
remain there till the fruit is ripe, which is late in the autumn ; conse-
quently, the Vines get but a limited season of rest, and although sub-
jected to this severe treatment, they remain remarkably healthy and
produce excellent fruit.

The next Vinery for succession is a half-span house, eighty feet long,
situated at the back of the principal range ; it contains a splendid crop
of fruit, which is thinned and swelling fast. They are chiefly Black
Hamburghs together with a few fine seedlings raised here.

The Vmes in this house have been planted four years, and it is
intended ultimately to use this house for forcing early Grapes. Mr.

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXV. L

146 THE FLORIST.

Ingram has adopted an excellent plan for warming the borders of this
house, which undoubtedly will be a great assistance in early forcing.
This is done by a hot-water pipe carried round the edge of the borders,
placed in a narrow chamber two teet below the surface. From this
chamber air-drains run underneath the border to the back of the house ;
ventilators are fitted to the chamber containing the hot-water pipes,
which causes a circulation of warm air to pass under the border to the
back of the house.

The large Vinery in the front range is one hundred feet in length ;
it was started the end of January, and the Vines are now in bloom,
promising a heavy crop of well-formed bunches ; indeed, we never
remember seeing Vines more healthy and vigorous. In the same
range is another Vinery of the same dimensions, where the Vines are
just breaking without the aid of fire heat.

The variety grown in the latest house is " St. Peter's," and they are
taken out and tied to stakes in the front of the house, where they will
remain until they begin to break naturally, when they will be again
placed inside. The fruit from these Vines was in use up to the middle
of March, so only a few weeks intervene between the late and early
Grapes. This house at present is filled with French Beans and Straw-
berries.

Last season, the Vines in one of the small Vineries in the principal
range had become somewhat weak from hard forcing and heavy crops,
therefore Mr. Ingram had them cut down in June last, immediately
after the fruit was gathered ; they soon made strong shoots, and
ripened tlie wood well by the end of the season. The rods are now cut
back to about seven feet in length, and there is every prospect of a good
crop. Thus a season is gained by the above treatment.

French Beans are grown on all the Vinery borders ; some are in full
bearing, and others are but just planted. Strawberries are grown in
large quantities, and occupy the shelves in the forcing-houses ; two
small span-roofed houses were also filled with them. We noticed some
beautiful ripe fruit of Mr. Ingram's seedling Prince of Wales, which is
a favourite sort here for early forcing ; British Queen is also largely
grown for use later in the season.

In the Plum-house there is a fine crop, and the fruit is beginning to
stone. Several varieties are forced, among which are the Washington,
Early Orleans, and Green-gage, but the Victoria is considered the best
for early forcing. In a division of this house there are two trees of the
Jefferson Plum, carrying a good crop. It is an esteemed American
variety recently brouglit into notice. This sort is found to force well,
and is also hardy and productive when grown in the open air. On the
back wall are trained some promising seedling Peaches and Nectarines,
now in fruit. Plants of the Eugenia Ugni are planted in bottomless
pots on the border of this house, where they are intended to fruit.
They are growing freely in rough loam with a mixture of peat and
broken pots. A short account, with a woodcut, of this new fruit-bearing
shrub appeared in our February number.

Two span-roofed houses, sixty feet in length, are filled with Cherry-
trees growing in pots, and forced every alternate season ; after the crop

MAY. 147

is gathered, the trees are turned out of the pots and plunged in the open
ground, where a fresh set of trees is in preparation for next season,
'ihe forcing of the early house commenced the first week in January,
and the fruit is now ripening ; in the second house they are about the
size of Peas, having been started a month later, to succeed those in the
early house. In both houses the trees are well furnished with fruit.

The whole of the Pines were looking strong and remarkably healthy,
especially those planted in loam on a bed of leaves in the larger fruiting
pits, without the assistance of more bottom heat than the bed of leaves
affords. The heated air is supplied through hot-water pipes placed in
the front part of the pit. Some of the best Pines are grown in these
pits, and with comparatively very little trouble. The Pines in the
principal range are grown much in the same way ; only, instead of a
bed of leaves, hot- water pipes supply the bottom heat.

Cucumbers are produced throughout the year, and the plants from
which the supply is now obtained have been in bearing all through the
winter months. The plants are growing in a bed of earth placed over
a heated chamber, forming a pit in the centre and back of the house,
which is a half-span, and the plants are trained near the glass.

Early Potatoes are looking strong and healthy ; they are chiefly grown
in cold pits over a bed of leaves, without the aid of fire heat. Carrots,
Peas, Turnips, &c., also occupy several cold pits and frames.

Most of the plant-houses were exceedingly gay, especially the stoves
in the front range, where many varieties of Begonias are now in great
perfection. The following are amongst the best : — Albo-coccinea, a
pretty variety, with scarlet and white flowers ; manicata, nitida, and
hybrida, which is an exceedingly good variety, raised a few years since
at Cliveden, between manicata and hydrocotylifolia ; it partakes of both
its parents, and 'is of good habit and fine foliage. Fuchsioides, Ingrami,
and coccinea contrasted well with other varieties of less colour. We
also noticed several hybrids raised by Mr. Ingram, among which was
nitida rosea, a fine variety of better habit, and the flowers deeper
coloured than nitida. Suaveolens rosea is also a great improvement on
the old variety. There were also several other seedlings — varieties of
Fuchsioides — not yet named. Several other stove plants were in flower
— such as Hibiscus rosa sinensis and flore plena, Adamia versicolor,
Centradenia rosea, Franciscea Hopeana and confertifolia, and many
more, too numerous to admit of their being noticed here.

We observed two fine plants of Impatiens Hookeri, not yet in
flower, but growing very strong in rough turfy loam.

The greenhouses were also very gay with the different varieties of
Cinerarias, Azaleas, Camellias, Ericas, Epacrises, and scarlet Rhodo-
dendrons, intermixed with other plants — such as Boronia tetrandra,
Dielytra spectabilis, Hardenbergia monophylla, Cytisus racemosus,
Deutzia gracilis (a useful little plant for forcing and early spring-
flowering), Tropseolum tricolorum. Cyclamens, &c. On the back-wall
we noticed a fine plant of Clianthus puniceus, covered with scarlet
flowers

We were much pleased with some seedling Ericas which Mr. Ingram
showed us in one of the principal houses. Three varieties — seedUngs

L 2 -

148

THE FLORIST.

from hiemalis fertilised with other good kinds — deserve especial
notice ; these are all decided improvements on E. hiemalis, which variety
they most resemble ; they are all free blooming and of vigorous habit,
and the plants were covered with flowers of a purple colour, tipped with
white ; but one variety, which was considered the best, had more of a
carmine tint in it. Several other promising varieties raised between
Willmoreana and Linneana, were in bloom, and we hope at some
future time to present our readers wuth coloured illustrations of some of
the seedlings which are not yet named.

Among the new erections in these gardens, is a glass-case placed
over a portion of a south Cherry wall, which the accompanying wood-
cut represents. The principal feature in this glass covering is the plan

which Mr. Ingram has adopted for giving air, viz., the opening of the
front sashes, which are nine feet long, and turn on a pivot at each end ;
when opened they are simply fastened with a small hook. This allows
plenty of air in every part without moving the top sashes. This
case is eighty feet long and made portable, so that it may be easily
moved or packed away when not in use. The trees were in full bloom
early in April, and every part of the wall completely covered.

There is an excellent show of all kinds of fruit in the hardy fruit
department, and if fortunate enough to escape spring frost, doubtless it
will be a season of plenty. The Peach, Plum, and Cherry walls are in
fine condition : most of the Peach trees cover a space of two hundred
square feet, and are well furnished with bearing wood quite to the stem,
with not the least sign of becoming bare in any part of the trees. These
trees are protected with canvas screens through the spring months.

MAT. 149

Strawberries have suffered much in the open quarter from the effects
of a wet autumn, and at the same time an attack of mildew ; several
plants are quite dead, and others so weakened that a crop will be long
uncertain ; the Filbert and Prince of Wales remain the most healthy.
Lettuce plants also suffered from the same cause. All other kitchen
crops stood the winter well.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

April 22. — A large quantity of Sikkim, Bhotan and other Rhododen-
drons was exhibited on this occasion. Some of them were in flower,
but many others were not. The most conspicuous among those in blos-
som was a pale yellow kind, called R. campylocarpum. This was a
standard worked on catawbiense, and having a fine head of bloom, was
really very handsome. It was stated to have flowered out of doors at
Holkar, near the seashore in Lancashire. Hopes are, therefore, enter-
tained that it may be sufficiently hardy to withstand the vicissitudes of
our climate. This came from Messrs. Standish and Noble. Messrs.
E. G. Henderson had also an extremely interesting exhibition of these
plants, among which were R. Hookeri, of which we soon expect to be
able to give a coloured representation, the fragrant Edgworthi, Nuttalli,
a Bhotan kind reputed to possess wonderful beauty, Boothi and Java-
nicum, Messrs. Veitch and Son, of Exeter and Chelsea, sent R. jas-
miniflorum, which is one of the prettiest tender Rhododendrons in culti-
vation. Its numerous clusters of long waxy white tubular blossoms
make it an object of universal admiration. It may be mentioned as a
curious fact connected with this charming genus of plants, that as they
approach the eastward of Asia they all more or less partake of the long
tubular form of flower ; while in Sikkim and Bhotan, the head quarters
of the race, the blossoms are for the most part of a more open and
spreading character. The same nurserymen also sent Dodecatheon
integrifjlium, a new kind something like D. Meadia, cut specimens of
one of Mr. Skinner's Fuchsias, a Primula, and a variegated East Indian
Carex. Mr.Glendinning furnished a fine specimen of Gesnera Doncklaari,
which has been figured by us in a former volume. It is certainly a
beautiful variety, considerably handsomer than G. discolor. Gaultheria
furens, a hardy evergreen from Chili, with little white bell-shaped
flowers, like those of an Andromeda, came from Messrs. Standish and
Noble. Messrs. Henderson, of Pine-apple-place, supplied a collection
of greenhouse plants, in which Tetratheca ericifolia was perhaps the
most remarkaljle, inasmuch as its pale lilac blossoms are sufficiently
large and abundant to point it out as just the plant for an amateur who
wishes to cultivate a few select kinds, and those only of the best
description Messrs. Lee had some variegated Geraniums and other
hybrids, among which was a very pretty Begonia, called Splendida,
which was said to be sweet scented. From the garden of the Society
also came Begonias and other plants, among which was Nemesia versi-
color, a blue-flowered Cape perennial, which it was thought might
make a good bedding plant. .

150 THE FLORIST.

After the Rhododendrons and other interesting plants just described.
Cinerarias were the most showy and striking. These were sent by
Mr. Turner, of Slough, and Messrs. Dobson & Son, of Isleworth. JMr.
Turner's were mostly new kinds, some of which, Brilliant, white tipped
with blue, and Emperor of the French, crimson with a ring of white
round the disc, were by far the best in shape. The other kinds were
Magnum Bonuni, Scottish Chieftain, Lord Stamford, ]\Irs. B. Stowe,
Loveliness, Rose of England, Ringleader, Optima, Sir C. Napier, and
Esther. Messrs. Dobson's plants were well grown and bloomed, but
the kinds were indifferent, with the exception of Lady Camoys and
Picturata. Mr. Miellez, of Lille, sent two new Azaleas, Modele, rosy
purple, a very pleasing flower, of great smoothness and substance, and
Madame Miellez, white slightly striped with pale purple, also very good
in shape. Both are promising varieties. The Rev. Mr. Beadon, of
North Stoneham, sent an mteresting collection of cut Camellias, grown
on a south-east wall. — Some fruit, in the shape of Pines, Grapes, and
Strawberries, were shown, as was also an example of a double iron
espalier, concerning which we may have somethmg to say hereafter.
Wood of our two British Oaks, from the ancient log church at Green-
sted, in Essex, were produced, to show that the one is as good as the
other as regards durability ; at least in this instance, if there was any
advantage it was in favour of the Durmast ; and it has been proved
that the latter grows faster and forms a handsomer tree than the
common Oak.

GOSSIP.

There is now on private view, at 14, Newman-street, the bark of
a portion of the Wellingtonia, stripped off the wood at twenty feet from
the surface. The specimen is twenty feet in diameter inside the bark,
and gives an idea of this stupendous tree, such as no drawing or
description can convey. — Gardeners Chronicle.

The Crimean Snowdrop (Galanthus plicatus), represented lately as
a rarity in England, was introduced years ago by the Hon. W. F.
Strangeways, F.H.S., who sent plants to Abbotsbury, Melbury, and
other places.

The Crystal Palace Company intend this season to test the strength
of the Horticultural world. The programme for three grand Horticul-
tural Exhibitions are before the public. The first, which is for one day
only, will take place on I\Iay 24 ; the second, a two days' show, on
June 25 and 26 ; and an autumnal one on September 10 and two
following days. The prizes to be given for plants and fruits are on a
scale commensurate with the list of classes and number of articles in
each. The class embraces a wide extent of subjects, well chosen, and
we are particularly glad to see provision made for encouraging the
humbler class of exhibitors. The prizes offered for the three Exhibitions
exceed in the aggregate 2350/. Surely there is now something to sharpen
the faculties of our exhibitors. We can only hope that the prizes will be
well contested and fairly won, and that the liberality of the Company
will meet with a hearty response.

151

SHRUBLAND PARK, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK,
The Seat of Sir William Middleton, Bart.

The flower-gardens at this place have of late years acquired great
celebrity, and the alterations recently in progress being now completed,
we have great pleasure in presenting our readers with a short descrip-
tive notice of them, for which we have tlie permission of Sir William
Middleton.

The mansion and gardens are so intimately blended together, both
from situation and design, that our sketch of the grounds would be
imperfect did we not devote a few lines to describe the mansion, as each
affords evidence of great taste in design (and execution also) ; and we
should not be doing justice to the liberal proprietor of Shrubland and
his estimable lady, if we omitted informing our readers that Shrubland
is the work of their own creation — the designs for the gardens and
parterres, we understand, as well as the main features of the mansion,
having been laid dowm by themselves. A residence for a considerable
period in Italy appears to have embued both Sir William and Lady
Middleton with the spirit of the great Italian masters in architecture
and gardening, which they so well knew how to combine. And they
have thus been enabled to carry out at Shrubland the purest designs of
the Italian school, as exhibited in the palaces and villas near Rome.
True, we cannot assimilate our climate and scenery to that of the south
of Europe ; but, notwithstanding, Sir William has been wonderfully
successful, and without question has formed a very perfect copy of
Italian gardening ; and, taking into consideration the great superiority
of English gardens, as regards floral embellishment, Shrubland must
far outvie the best gardens of Italy, though we must yield in com-
parison to her glorious climate — her groves of Orange, Myrtle, and
Bay, and the classic associations of her Villas.

First, then, the mansion is situated on the brow of an eminence,
which rises abruptly from the general level of the country to the west,
which is overlooked by the commanding position on which the house
stands. Within these few years great alterations and additions have
been made to- the exterior of the house, under the direction and from
the designs of that eminent architect. Sir Charles Barry. From the
south \ving rises a lofty campanyle tower : the view from the upper
story of this comprises a wide extent of country, and affords a bird's-
eye view of the magnificent gardens below ; we may also add, that the
entire designs of the upper and lower terraces, and adjoining grounds,
are seen to best advantage from this elevated position.

The situation of the house and ground immediately in front was
extremely well adapted for displaying the Italian style of gardening.
As before noticed, the ground on which the mansion stands shelves
rapidly to the west, and forms naturally a steep woody bank: advantage
has been taken of this position to form two grand terrace gardens — the
lower one being some seventy or eighty feet below the upper one, with
which it is connected by a noble flight of stone steps, leading from a
pavilion which forms a centre of the balustrade, the boundary of the
upper terrace, and directly opposite the centre of the mansion.

152 THE FLORIST.

We omitted to name that, connected with the house, on the west front,
is a plant conservatory, which is kept constantly gay with plants in
bloom, and which can be thrown' open to the morning gallery. The
balcony garden, as we have before stated, is directly in front of the house,
and is divided in two by a centre walk leading to the pavilion, through
which a fine view is obtained of the country beyond, and likewise of a
loggia, at the extremity of the lower garden.

To describe any of these gardens without referring to a plan, is almost
a hopeless task. The principal feature in the design of the balcony
garden is a group of four large beds on each side the centre walk.
These have raised stone borders, wide and massive ; next a band of
turf; and between the turf and box edging inside a band of white sand.
This gives a high architectural finish to the garden, and is, besides,
quite in keeping with the walls, balustrading, vases, and other archi-
tectural accessories which surround it.

The great object in this garden is to have large masses of colours ;
hence it was imperative that the beds should be large, to produce a
grand eff'ect, and rich warm colours are only employed for the like
purpose — four of these beds are scarlet, two purple, and two blue.
The scarlet beds are planted in this way : — In the centre, .Shrubland
Scarlet Geraniums ; next, a band of Punch Geraniums ; then a
band of Mangles' Variegated, followed by Tom Thumb ; the edging
to finish being a band of " Harkaway," a very dwarf scarlet Geranium.
When in full bloom, nothing can exceed the richness of these groups,
as regards arrangement of colour.

The two purple beds have for centres a mass of " Prince's Feather;"
surrounding this, " Love-lies-bleeding ; " next. Geranium Purple
Unique ; followed by a band of Golden Chain, and finished off by an
edging of the Baron Hugel or Princess Royal Geranium, with a well-
defined horse-shoe leaf, from which the flowers are taken off, that they
may not interfere with the colour of the bed.

The two blue beds are planted with a centre of Salvia patens, mixed
with the Blue Chinese Delphinium (Larkspur) ; next a band of the
African Lily (Agapanthus) ; then a band of Lobeha racemosoides ; next.
Golden-chain Geranium, finishing with an edging of Baron Hugel, as
for the purple beds, the scarlet flowers also taken off.

Two long square turf plots flank each side of these beds, forming
altogether a balcony garden. These have a tracery pattern in white
sand with stone tripods, and in the centre a fine plant of Libocedrus
chilensis, planted by H. R. H. Prince Albert, when he visited Sir
Wifliam and Lady IMiddleton in 1851.

The eight beds described above are connected by a stone pattern and
three circular beds. The centre one is planted with Hydrangeas, and
the one on each side with Yuccas. There are stone boxes planted with
Humeas, and the same on each side the centre walk, planted with
Portugal Laurel, in imitation of Orange trees, for which they are
excellent substitutes. The borders under the retaining wall at the top
nearest the house, which supports the terrace walk, is planted with
Hollyhocks in lines, fronted with Lady IMiddleton Geraniums, a rosy
coloured scarlet raised here by Mr. Beaton, and very valuable for bedding
purposes.

MAY. 153

Before leaving this part we must not forget to mention two beds of
yellow Calceolarias, which fill up a vacant space to the right and left,
at the top of the garden ; these have a good effect, and contrast well
with the warm-coloured beds in the centre. To the left, leading
towards the entrance gate from the park, is a long border under the
conservatory terrace, formed into the " chain pattern." The oval
centre beds are filled with Cerise Unique and Commander-in-chief
Geraniums, alternately ; the bands are yellow Heartsease and blue
Lobeha, with the space intervening between the beds and the parallel
lines of the border filled in with white sand.

On leaving the balcony garden, and descending by the steps to the
panel garden (a lower terrace), the view is very striking, with the
loggia directly in front, in the boundary line within which is a large open
space, filled with beds, vases, and statues. Towards the bottom the steps
branch off right and left, forming a circular sweep, the area of which is
filled with a fountain in a large stone basin, with a circular walk leading
from the steps round it. A wide central walk starts from this direct to
the loggia, and four grass terraces diverge to the right and left, having
the fountain as a common centre. Passing through the loggia, a
deep dell separates the highly dressed grounds from those beyond.
This part has only very recently been added ; and crossing the dell
by a rustic bridge, we find ourselves among great masses of shrubs
(selected chiefly for their foliage), herbaceous and common wild plants
— everything, in fact, which conveys the idea of wild and natural
scenery. Looking from the upper paviUon — or, indeed, any part of the
higher grounds — these masses of shrubs are completely under the eye,
and it was important that they should by contrast set off the floral
embellishment within the boundary, as well as form a back-ground for
the panel gardens and other part of the grounds on a line with them ;
arid we doubt not, as they grow up, they will produce the desired eftect.

We must, however, retrace our steps to the panel garden, to notice
the long green glade or drive which passes through it, having the
fountain in its centre. This green walk is nearly a mile in length,
and terminates at one end with a flight of steps and balustrade to
a platform from which diverge walks and drives in the woods.
From this eminence there is a fine vista of its entire length, passing
through the lower ground, and ending near the Swiss cottage at the
other extremity of the grounds. This drive is margined by parallel
beds of Savin, Irish Yews, Arbor-vitaj, vases raised from the ground,
filled with choice Geraniums, &c. To the right of the panel garden
is the French garden, enclosed within a Laurel wall, in which, set
in niches cut out of the usall, are a number of marble busts, four
feet high. This garden is laid down on gravel with Box edgings, and
is planted with dwarf flowering plants, as Lobelias, Brachycomes,
Cupheas, Golden-chain Geraniums, &c.

Proceeding southward from the panel garden by the long walk,
we reach the fountain garden, which lies to the right. This is nearly
circular in shape, and has a fountain in its centre, from which four
walks radiate, throwing the garden into four divisions. There are,
besides, a boundary wall and a conservative wall, taking the sweep of

154 THE FLORIST.

the garden to the west. This wall is built hollow, and is heated by
hot-water pipes ; the west side is covered with greenhouse and half-
hardy climbing plants, which have the protection of glass during winter;
the plants grow with great luxuriance, and bloom profusely in the
summer months, when the glass is removed! On the garden side plants
of a more hardy nature, including Roses, &c., are planted ; and the
border at the base contains many interesting half-hardy plants.

The four divisions of the fountain garden are each planted in six
colours, with white to begin and finish with. Each division has
its separate plants, but the colour and height of each are the same.
Commencing with the centre it is white, which is continued all round
through the four divisions ; next purple, yellow, scarlet, blue, pink ;
and lastly, white again, at the outside. This arrangement takes up a
vast numljer and variety of plants, as the height and habit have to be
studied, as well as the colour of each ; but the arrangement, when well
done, is unique and very pleasing.

Beyond the fountain garden are some beds on gravel, with raised
stone edgings, and planted with mixed colours ; amongst others, the
shot-silk bed our esteemed friend Mr. Beaton speaks so much of, is very
conspicuous : its composition — variegated-leaved Geraniums, mixed with
Verbena venosa, or any light-purple variety — is now well known.

Below these beds is the Rosery, which contains a very choice
collection of summer Roses. The climbing varieties are trained to a
fancy iron trellis, which forms bowers over the walks. A circular bed
in the centre is in the form of the heraldic York and Lancaster Rose,
with red and white Roses and a yellow centre bed.

Towards the southern extremity of the grounds is an exceedingly
characteristic Swiss cottage, with the accompaniments faithfully carried
out. It contains a museum of curiosities collected by Sir William
Middleton, and among other things, some interesting relics of Napoleon
the First, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Nelson, &c.

At a short distance from the Swiss cottage is the Verbena garden, in
which are planted those kinds not used in other arrangements. By
this garden is the Box terrace, forming a beautiful scroll pattern laid
down on a smooth surface of fine sand of a reddish tint, completely in
the parterre style of the French. The interior is planted with very
dwarf flowers — as Silene Schafti, dwarf French Marygold, Lobelia
ramosa, &c.

The whole of the retaining and dividing wall is surmounted with
rich balustrading, in the same style as the mansion, pavilion, and loggia,
all of which are from the designs of Sir C. Barry. Hence, there is a
harmony and unisow between the several parts rarely met with, which
does credit to the admirable taste and judgment of Sir William
Middleton. In addition to the Italian features of the entire place, a
great number of busts, vases, and statues are disposed throughout the
grounds in appropriate positions. These greatly assist in forming the
peculiar tone of Italian scenery so characteristic of Shrubland.

Mr. Foggo, the present head-gardener, iniorms us that 80,000
plants of Geraniums, Verbenas, Petunias, Lobelias, &c., &:c.,are amiually
required for turning out into the numerous beds, borders, vases, &c..

MAT. 155

and this independently of annuals, &c., raised from seed, which are
Ukewise worked into the general arrangement. To procure annually-
such a large number of plants, and to arrange each to the several com-
partments for flowering, requires a large amount of care and forethought.
Both .Sir William and Lady Middleton are deeply interested in all that
is going on, and provide liberal help to keep the whole in the highest
order of neatness ; and to keep Up so large and brilliant a display of
bloom throughout the season, large reserves are always ready to fill up
vacancies and maintain uninterrupted the display. We purpose noticing
the kitchen -garden, forcing, and extensive plant-growing departments,
hereafter, as well as the grand Spanish Chesnuts on the Brownlow
terrace.

To be appreciated, Shrubland should be seen in its summer glory —
say between June and October. The coup lVcpaI from the steeps leading
from the upper temple, which overlooks the panel garden, eighty feet
below, with its fountains, statuary, parterres, and exquisite loggia, or
open temple, at the further side, in the foreground, and a wide stretch
of country beyond, has few equals.

Mr. Beaton, so well known to the horticultural world, was for many
years gardener here, and many of the Geraniums, &c., employed were
raised here by him. He was followed by Mr. Davidson, who super-
intended the principal improvements noticed.

Mr. Foggo, who succeeded Mr. Davidson eighteen months back, is
very successful in meeting the requirements of so large an undertaking,
and will maintain the high character Shrubland for many years has
enjoyed, as one of the finest and best kept places in the country.

BEDDING ROSES.
This family is not made the most of in the generality of gardens. We
have seen splendid beds of the following : — Geant de Batailles, dwarfs,
with Aimee Vibert (Noisette), planted between and pegged down over
the surface in the autumn ; when the surface was covered with the
glossy foliage, and white blooms of the Noisette, out of which grew the
Geant with its bloom of glowing crimson, the effect was beyond any-
thing beautiful. We saw the Chinese Madame Fabvier tried with the
white for a bottom, but the effect was not so good. Devoniensis makes
a noble bed on dry warm soils, as does Souvenir de Malmaison and
Mrs. Bosanquet.

THYRSACANTHUS RUTILANS.
It has been stated that many of the "continental nurserymen" deem
a plant worthy of their attention so long as it is new, without regard
to its merits as an ornamental plant. This doubtless arises from the
fact that newly introduced plants are more sought after, or find a
readier sale than those that are more common. I can scarcely imagine,
however, that we should accept the censure to its full extent, although
doubtless there are many plants sent out to the public which are worse
than useless, and in no class is it more evident than with those requiring

156 THE FLORIST.

a stove temperature. The most valuable, as decorative plants, requiring
the protection of a glass structure, are those that are ot" dwarf compact
habit, with elegance and beauty of flower or tbliage. These qualities will
at all times recommend themselves, whereas plants of an arborescent
nature are totally useless in this country, with one or two exceptions ;
for such plant houses as the large Palm house at Kew, the conservatory
at Chatsworth, and one or two others, there is no place to accommodate
them : and even for such houses as those there are so many beautiful
plants that it is desirable to cultivate, that there is room only for
very few of the large growing kinds. Of another section, by far too
numerous, are those that are termed of " botanical interest." Now, if
an ordinary admirer were to see a collection of those botanical curiosities
he would undoubtedly condemn them to be consigned to the rubbish
heap, and with great justice ; for however interesting they may be in a
botanical point of view, they are not what are required for tilling up
our plant houses.

That we possess a great number of plants that can scarcely be
surpassed in beauty and adaptability is evident to those who have been
accustomed to visit the metropolitan exhibitions ; but on the other hand,
if we glance over a list of plants that have been introduced to this
country during the last two or three years, we shall see the names
of many that are worthy of every attention requisite to bring them to
their highest point of perfection, and amongst that number will be found
the name which heads this paper.

This Thyrsacanthus was, I believe, brought to this country from
Belgium, and will undoubtedly compensate for many disappointments,
allowing what has been stated to be true. It is a plant of easy
culture, growing freely when treated as the well-known Justicia carnea,
which plant it much resembles in habit of growth. In that of
flowering, however, it is so totally distinct as to lend quite a new charm
to our plant houses. The flowers are produced on pendulous branching
stems of from two to three feet in length ; the flowers are tubulous,
nearly two inches long, and are of a bright scarlet colour, and certaiidy
there are few plants so easy of cultivation possessing such desirable
qualities, for with it are combined brilliancy and an elegance which
can scarcely be surpassed. It is also in possession of another quality
that will recommend it to many — that of flowering during the winter
months ; for however much the exhibitors at our summer flower shows
may regret this quality, to the many it will enhance its value. For
the last few years there has been a great love of plants trained as
standards, and this " rage " has led many to train plants as such
without regard to their natural habits, or at least one would suppose
such to be the case, as there is not much in the habit of an Azalea or a
Geranium to point to that system of training ; and if such plants do
look well it arises from the fact that they cannot do otherwise when in
good health and full of bloom. With the Thyrsacanthus, however, it
is quite different, for undoubtedly that is the most natural, consequently
the best, and it would look quite as unsightly if dwarfed by too frequent
stopping, as some do when mounted on a naked stem of three feet in
height.

J. Shuter.

157

CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR MAY.

Auriculas. — The cooler the situation the plants are placed in at the
present time, the longer they remain in flower. As soon as the blooms
begin fading, remove the plants to a more exposed yet cool situation ; a
raised bed is best suited to stand them on, with lights placed over them
during wet weather. Give the plants a good fumigating before they are
taken from the pits or frames to be stood out of doors.

Azaleas. — Examine carefully for thrips, and if you discover any,
fumigate immediately. As soon as the large specimen plants go out of
flower, pick off the seed vessels ; if any of them require a shift they
should have it, as they will be commencing to grow ; when potted, keep
them rather close for a time and syringe daily. Young plants will
require attention in stopping and training of the shoots.

Camellias. — Keep a tolerably high temperature to assist the forma-
tion of flower-buds. Give liberal supplies of water, and occasionally
some liquid manure ; syringe daily.

Carnations and Picotees. — There will be but little to do for the next
three weeks with these plants, excepting watering in dry weather.
Choose a mild day for this. Towards the end of the month, stake
them permanently. Keep the plants trimmed of all dead fohage, and
clear of aphides.

Cinerarias. — Procure seed from the finest kinds, a little of which
should be sown as soon as ready, and the plants will bloom about
Christmas next, giving plenty of bloom at a time when flowers are
scarce. As soon as the named kinds are past their best, stand them
out on a shady border to produce cuttings, which should be taken off in
a young state, and struck in sand in a cool situation.

Cold Frames. — Leave air all night when plants are hardening off;
and in very mild weather the lights may be left quite off all-night. Pot
off spring-struck cuttings, also seedlings of all kinds ; propagate all
desirable plants.

Conservatory and Show-house. — Attend to the regulating and
training of climbers. Keep a watchful eye for insects, which are
generally troublesome at this season, if once allowed to get ahead.
Remove all plants as soon as the flowers begin to die away. Examine
the soil around all plants in beds, and see they do not suffer for want of
water. Syringe plants not in flower. Give abundance of air, and
water freely. In fine weather, towards the end of the month, leave
some air in all night.

Cucumbers. — Regulate the growth of the plants, and never let the
shoots become crowded. Water freely, and do not let the plants carry
too many fruit at one time. Prune back plants that have been in
bearing for some time ; and when they make a fresh growth regulate
the shoots, but do not stop them too fi-eely. Keep a watchful eye to
insects, particularly red spider, which, if not kept down, will soon over-
run old plants. Keep a steady bottom heat and a moist atmosphere. ,
When grown in pits and frames, attend to the Hnings, and renew them
when the heat declines.

Dahlias. — Re-potting and growing on the young plants in cold

158 THE FLORIST.

frames is of more importance than early planting. Planting may be
commenced towards the end of the month. We do not plant ourselves
before the first week in June. See that the points of the young plants
are not mfested with green-tiy when planting time arrives. Fumigate
before they leave the pits, if this troublesome insect is visible, as it will
not be easy to get them under after the plants are in the ground. Seed-
lings will require considerable care, watering, &c., the first few weeks
after being planted.

Flower Garden. — This is a busy month here. We presume the
arrangement has long since been determined on ; if so, and the weather
be favourable, you may begin to " bed out " after the middle of the
month, planting first, of course, such things as have been well hardened
off, and the more tender plants towards the end of the month ; a nice
showery day after all are planted would save a deal of trouble ; if the
weather sets in dry you will be obliged to water. Propagate by slips
double Wallflowers, and divide the roots of Violets and similar plants.
Roll and mow the Grass weekly ; roll the walks frequently, and keep
every place neat.and tidy.

Forcing Ground. — Plant about the middle of the month ridge
Cucumbers and Vegetable Marrows under glasses, on a bed of fermenting
materials. We generally plant ours in turf pits where we grow
early Potatoes. As soon as the Potatoes are taken up in May we
plant the Cucumber, and on the same bed, placing glasses over them.
But the following plan answers equally well : Take out the soil in any
open situation about one foot deep, four or five feet wide, and as long as
may be required. Fill this trench with the fermenting materials, and
raise the bed twelve or eighteen inches above the soil ; on this place
the earth that was taken out of the trench, always putting about a
barrowful of fresh soil under each glass for the young plants to strike
root into. If4he weather be bright and sunny, the plants will require
shading for a few days, and air must be admitted freely on fine days.

Fruit (Hardy). — Apricots are with us, this season, a most extra-
ordinary crop ; they have set in clusters of ten, fifteen, and twenty in
a cluster. Thinning is indispensable, and it must be done with no
sparing hand. The young leaves of Apricot trees are often devoured by
little caterpillars ; their presence is plainly indicated by the curling up
of the leaves ; the only way to get rid of them, and to save the trees
from serious injury (for they make sad havoc when not looked after),
is to unfold the leaves and kill them. This is rather tedious work ; but
as it is the only effectual way of getting rid of the caterpillars, and as
the present and future well-being of the trees is by this means secured,
the labour is well bestowed. Peaches and Nectarines appear to be
setting pretty well : the trees will require disbudding, but do not
remove too many at one time, but go over the trees often. In dis-
budding Peach and Nectarine trees, the general rule is to divest the
bearing wood of the present year of all shoots except the terminal one
and those issuing near the bases ; when there is no fruit, the buds
should be rubbed clean off; but when there is fruit at the base of the
buds, instead of rubbing the buds clean off, merely pinch off the point
between your finger and thumb nail, leaving two or three of the leaves

MAY. 159

nearest the base. Keep a watchful eye to aphis ; as soon as you per-
ceive any, give the trees a syringing of weak tobacco water, which will
soon stop them.

Greenhoase (Jiard- wooded). — Shade plants in flower ; give abun-
dance of air, and leave some on all night. Many of the young plants
potted early in the season will now be beginning to grow freely ; they
will require attention as to stopping of the shoots, training, &c. ; they
will also want liberal supplies of water — do not let them get too dry,
and do not saturate them. Pick off seed-vessels from all plants as soon
as they go out of flower. Shift such plants as require it ; stop back
and regulate the shoots. So/t-ioooded Plants. — If not already done,
the specimen plants of all kinds should be shifted into the pots they are
intended to flower in, and they should not be stopped very much after
this.

Hollyhocks. — Late struck plants may now be planted to bloom with
the Dahlias in September ; watering and staking are all that is required
to be done during the present month.

Kitchen Garden. — Keep the hoe always going when the state of the
soil permits ; hoe deeply and frequently among crops, weeds or no
weeds. Thin young growing crops — as Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips,
Beet, Onions, Parsley, &c. Dung and dig deeply ground as it becomes
vacant, for the winter crop of Greens, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, &c.
In the early part of the month, go daily over the early Potatoes, and
draw some dry soil over such as are above ground ; this will save them
from frosts, if any should occur ; towards the end of the month the early
crops of Potatoes will require regular soiling up. Sow Scarlet Runners ;
sow successional crop of Peas and Broad Beans ; sow also French Beans.
Sow also for succession, Cauliflowers, Lettuces, Turnips, Radishes,
Spinach, &c. Transplant from seed-bed the strongest plants of Lettuces
and Cauliflowers. Plant against a wall, or other vsTarm situation,
Tomatoes and Capsicums ; plant sweet Marjoram and Basil on a warm
border ; plant Celery in trenches weU filled with good manure, and
plant Leeks in a somewhat similar manner. Rod Peas and Scarlet
Runners. Water freely in dry weather. Give the Strawberry plants
two or three good soakings of water. Cut Box edging and bring up all
arrear of work.

Melons. — See the directions in last month's Calendar.

Orchard House. — Water freely and occasionally with liquid manure.
Give air freely in fine weather. Thin the fruit, and go .over the trees
frequently to disbud and stop shoots. When fruit is set, syringe freely.
Keep down insects.

Pansies. — Water the beds freely, to prolong the blooms in good cha-
racter. Those in pots should now be stood in a cool situation, sheltering
the plants in bad weather only, on all other occasions keep them quite
open. Cuttings strike readily if put in now ; the small side shoots
should be chosen for this purpose.

Peach-forcing. — See our directions in previous Calendars.

Pelargoniums. — The directions given last month will apply to the
plants generally. The early or May plants will now require shading
'during the brightest part of the day, as the bloom expands. Bees

160 THE FLORIST.

must be carefully excluded from the house; muslin or thin garden
netting may be used for this purpose at the openings. This, with careful
and judicious shading and watering, prolong the bloom to a considerable
time. No plant in fact lasts longer in flower than the Pelargonium if
" well done."

Pinery. — Attend carefully to the bottom heat, and see it does not
fluctuate. Plants in fruit will now require liberal supplies of water,
and occasionally some liquid manure. Give air according to the state
of the weather; always close up early in the afternoon, and syringe well
all fruit done flowering overhead ; sprinkle paths well with water ; keep
up a moist atmosphere. The young plants will now be beginning to
grow freely, and will require more air and water. Syringe daily.
Towards the end of the month many of them, if not all, will require
shifting ; and at this season of the year strong well-rooted plants should
have a liberal shift.

Pinks. — If dry weather continues, water freely, using weak liquid
manure about twice a week. The shoots should be thinned if large
flowers are required for exhibition, leaving a good number to bloom on
such kinds as Great Britain, Narboro Buck, Duke of Devonshire, and
other full kinds. Thin flowers, such as Criterion and Lola Montes,
should not be allowed to carry more than two blooms.

Pleasure Grounds. — Roll and mow the Grass every ten days or a
fortnight ; clean and roll walks. Attend to newly-planted trees and
shrubs. If very bright weather prevails, valuable specimens recently
planted should be shaded, to check evaporation ; they should also be
well watered, and should be syringed night and morning until they are
considered safe.

Roses. — In reply to inquiries as to the reason of our advocating late
pruning, or rather shortening the branches, it is principally to guard as
much as possible against the destruction by weather or accident of the
outer bud, to which we have so frequently directed the shoots to be cut
back. The green-fly and rose-maggot will soon commence their
destructive work, and we again urge, as we have in former Calendars, to
attack the enemy ere they have time to entrench themselves, or they
will sap most effectually all hopes of an early bloom. Buds that
are pushing in a direction that will interfere with the shape of the
plants, or are growing too thickly in the centre, should be removed.

Stove. — Shift all growing plants that stand in need of it. Tie out
and stop plants intended for specimens. Water freely and syringe
dailv. Give air plentifully in fine weather, but guard against dry
cutting winds. Use every means to keep down insects, and attend to
the training of climbers.

Strawberries. — If the early-forced plants, instead of being thrown
away, are planted in a south border, and well watered for a time, they
will produce a good crop in September next.

Tulips. — On a mild day water between the plants, so as not to wet
the foliage ; the morning is the best time. Shade with care, to protect
' the expanding bloom without drawing the plants.

J''jiJidnits JDelt &■ 2uur

Cuifirarias

1. JMbiTTit' ILidqarcl'

3 Herd dorfrrder/- Tvrrur'

3. Emperor i7f tiie Trench Turner'

TnttUd U C Chahat

161

. CINERARIAS.

(Plate 114.)

We this month furnish our readers with a plate of Cinerarias.
Within the last few years this flower has become, and most
deservedly so, an especial favourite, whether we view it as an
ornamental plant for the conservatory, or for exhibition ; and
although it may be said to thrive and flower in almost any soil, a
little more care and attention are necessary to bring it to a state
approaching perfection, and for this care it will repay the cultivator.
In the first place it is absolutely necessary that strong cuttings
should be selected and inserted in a light sandy compost, and
placed in a shady situation, in a cold frame, until rooted, which,
under favourable circumstances, will be in a few days. As soon
as rooted pot off" into 60-sized pots, in a compost prepared of
fibrous loam and leaf-mould, with a good admixture of silver sand.
As soon as the roots reach the outside of the pot, which will be in
a short time, they should be repotted into larger pots, and kept
close for a few days — sprinkling them overhead, and throwing
them open for an hour in the morning and evening, will be found
very beneficial. As soon as they attain the height of about three
inches they should be stopped, which causes them to Ijreak into
strong laterals. (Jnce stopping is all that is necessary, as the
second o[)eration produces weak growth. When first-rate plants
are wanted for exhibition, care will be required to keep them in a
healthy and growing condition, to which end they should be shifted
every lew weeks until they receive their final potting, which should
be about January. Every care should be taken that they do not
get pot-bound in the small pots, as that will throw them in a
blooming state immediately. The compost we would recommend
for larger plants generally, is two parts of good turfy loam,
and equal parts of good well-decomposed cow-dung and leaf-
mould, with an admixture of silver or river sand. As the plants
grow take care to thin out all the superfluous leaves and all
small shoots, so as to admit air freely and prevent mildew,
which is a great pest among Cinerarias, and which can only be
removed by applying sulphur to the parts aff'ected. Fumigating
is highly necessary, to prevent the green-fly. As the plants grow
they should be pegged down or tied out, so as to keep them as
open as possible. It is indispensable that they should be kept as
near the glass as possible, which is the only way to insure dwarf
and compact plants.

As seedlings make fine ornamental plants, it is necessary to select
a few examples of the most esteemed kinds, bearing in mind
that those chosen should be of the best possible form, clear colours

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXVI. M

162 THE FLORIST.

and marking, as mucli depends on this in producing new and
first-rate varieties. As soon as the seeds are ripe they should be
sown immediately in some shady place; and, as soon as large
enough, prick off tliinly into flat pots or pans, and keep close for
a few days until thoroughly established. They may be stopped
and treated in all ways similar to those struck from cuttings.

Alter flowering, the old plants should be partially cut down (as
cutting them down cljse is very injurious, and in many instances
rots the crown), and placed in a north situation — and protected,
should a continuance of rain prevail. Water moderately through
the winter months, and as spring advances and the plants get
stronger, weak liquid manure may be given. For the guidance
of the amateur and those interested in the culture of this charming
plant, we append a list of the best and most useful varieties yet
sent out.

Admiral Dundas (Henderson), white, with bluish purple margin and dark

disc ; good show flower.
Admiral Dundas (Ivery), rich crimson purple, with white centre and dark

disc ; good habit.
Brilliant (Lidgard), white with an azure bine edge, blue disc and fine form.
Emperor of the French (Turner), a bright rosy crimson with white ring and

dark disc ; fine show plant.
Earl ot Clarendon (Turner), violet purple with red centre — of good form ;

a first-rate show flower.
Fascination (Henderson), light blue with light circle — good form.
Lord Stamford (Henderson), white with light blue edge, light disc, and

very free.
Lady Paxton (Turner), white with a broad margin of purple — dark disc ;

large and showy.
Lady Camoys (Sutton), pure white with deep blue edge and disc ; dwarf

habit.
Lablacbe (Henderson).
Mrs. Sidney Herbert (Henderson), white, with rosy carmine edge and pure

disc ; fine habit.
Monarch (Turner), rich purple with fiery centre; dwarf and distinct.
Optima (Bousie), white with deep blue edge and disc; a good show plant.
Optima (Hopwood), white with a broad crimson edge; good form and

dwarf habit. .
Octavien (Ker), white with rosy purple edge ; good.
Prince Arthur, scarlet crimson ; good form and substance.
Prince of Prussia, bright azure blue with light centre.
Picturata (Henderson), rosy violet with light centre and disc; a good show

flower.
Scottish Chieftain (Sievewright), white, with deep violet edge and dark disc ;

dwarf.
Sir Charles Napier (Turner), an intense blue self— of good form ; good

show flower.

Aquilegfas. — A pretty hybrid has lately been raised in the gardens
at Chiswick between A. fragrans and A. calitbrnica. It is exactly inter-
mediate between the two parents, and is a plant of great beauty.

163

LIGHT:— ITS INFLUENCE ON VEGETATION.

(Continued from page \\2.)

The great desideratum in plant growing is to have a symmetrical
growth, green healthy foliage, and short-jointed wood, which, at the
proper season, should be well furnished with bloom. As this last con-
dition is the admitted criterion of excellence for exhibition plants, it
follows that a too luxuriant state of growth must not be encouraged
beyond a certain limit, as this would interfere with the full develop-
ment of bloom, the great object to attain in growing plants for display.
I need hardly remind your readers, that to know exactly how to regu-
late or control the growth of plants, so as to check further growth and
direct the energies of the plant towards the maturation of the wood, or
to induce that state of repose necessary to enable it to form the requisite
secretions for organising flower-buds, is one of the great triumphs of
the gardener's art, and only to be obtained by a practical acquaintance
with the peculiar habits of each race of plants ; the agent by which he
effects his purpose is light, in connexion with heat, due regard being
paid at the same time to the state of the roots.

Supposing then a collection of ordinary hard-wooded greenhouse
plants are being started into growth in the spring, it should be the main
object of the manager to see that every plant is exposed to as much
light as can be made to reach it. This premises that the plants should
be as near the glass as possible, and sufficiently wide apart to allow the
light to" fall on every part of tlie plants, as well as fjr tlie air to circu-
late freely between them. As each shoot advances, it will be acted
upon by the agency we are considering, and as each leaf is formed it
will be enabled to perform its allotted functions in the |)lant's economy :
there will be no drawing, because each leaf, having the full exercise of
its powers, will therefore be enabled to build up and make strong the
young growth ; and as the general health of the plant will depend on
the healthy action of the leaves, we shall in time have plants possessing
all the properties which constitute their value as specimens, and which
we have pointed out at the commencement of this article, attention
having in the meantime been paid to supplying their roots with the
necessary elements for their growth. But as tlie time will arrive when
further growth should be gradually arrested, and when subjected to a
drier atmosphere a more complete exposure to light will be necessary,
to perfect the growth already made and allow time for the due formation
of the embryo flower-buds.

In stating that plants are benefited — and, indeed, can only be grown
in perfection — when every leaf is brought under the influence of light,
I by no means wish it to be understood that in all cases full exposure
to the sun under glass sliould be permitted, being fully aware tliat,
under glass, the plants we are considering would suffer, not perhaps from
free exposure to light alone, if attended with complete ventilation, but
to the heating rays of the sun, which are injurious to many plants when
under glass, although not so when fully exposed out of doors. Shading,

M 2

164 TUE FLORIST.

therefore, will have to be adopted, to prevent that brown, rusty tinge of
fuliage which tliis class of plants get by being exposed to the sun's rays.

Although, generally speaking, most hard-wooded plants will perfect
their growth and form tlower-buds (" set for bloom"), if kept under
glass throughout the year, yet I am convinced that placing them out
of doors, during the latter part of the summer, very much assists the
process and is beneficial to the plants. But while advocating their free
exposure to sun and air while out of doors, they should be protected trom
rain, and the sun should on no account be permitted to shine on the
pots, as this is frequently the cause of much mischief to the plants by
its extracting the moisture from the ball of earth, and perhaps entailing
death on the plant itself

I was forcibly reminded of the effect produced on shy-blooming
plants, by setting them out of doors during summer, some years ago,
when I had under my care a very large plant of Erica depressa, which
had been treated as an ordinary greenhouse plant, and kept in the
house throughout the year. Having to repair the house, I placed all
the plants on a gravel walk in front. This was in July, and they
remained there till the end of September. My depressa had only
bloomed very sparingly before, but in the following spring I was much
gratified by seeing one mass of bloom ; the surprise died away with the
decay of its bloom, and the plant, as formerly, remained all the autumn
in-doors. The following spring there were no blooms ; but ever since,
this and some other shy-blooming varieties have been accommodated
with a seat out of doors the last months of summer, and each spring
since have bloomed in the greatest perfection. I may add, the plants
were completely exposed to the sun, care being taken of their roots and
preserving them from rain.

Respecting the kind of houses for growing plants, I am of opinion
that, for purposes of culture only, our houses are by no means what
they should* be. To grow a plant is one thing, and to display a plant
in bloom is another ; and it by no means follows that what is good for
one is so for the other. We think that where very high cultivation is
carried on, structures must be erected for the special purposes of culture,
and I am pretty certain that we shall find that a series of low light pits
or houses will be devoted solely for growing and bringing plants up to
the blooming period, when other structures which may have more
architectural pretensions, and may be expressly adapted for displaying
plants when in bloom, will be in general use. How often do we see a
well-finished span-roofed house, half full of plants in flower, requiring
a dry cool atmosphere, and close shading from the sun, conditions
necessary to preserve the plants in flower, as fresh and as long as possible,
while the remainder of the plants probably required exposure, and a
course of treatment the reverse they were subject to, owing to its not
suiting their neighbours.

(To be continued.)

Delphinium oardinale.— It is a hardy perennial, and is repre-
sented in coloured plates to be a bright scarlet.

166

STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY.

Recently you did me the honour of inserting a letter of mine, and
you encourage me to pursue my endeavour to wm the attention of your
readers to the subject of Natural History.

In a charming volume* which Her iMajesty has caused to be pubHshed,
and copies of which have been presented by H.R.H. Prince Albert to
nearly all the public institutions in the United Kingdom, I find the
following impressive remark : —

•' Our object in examining the stone, the rock, the lichen, the moss,
the flower, the fruit, the insect, the bird, or the quadruped, is to exer-
cise our faculties by learning how beautifully, and with what wisdom
all things have been constructed, how wonderfully they are formed with
relation to each other, and how manifestly they display a power of
which we could form no conception were we not to attend to its working
as exhibited by them. It is true, we cannot fully comprehend the
complicated relations of the most common objects, much less understand
the ordination of the universe, or even of our own world; but we labour
in hope, we are studying — some of us, no doubt, very imperfectly,
others, more profoundly — the works of the Deity, and the more progress
we make, the more we glorify Him by an intelligent, not a vague
admiration.

" There are some who aim at the knowledge of general laws, more
who seek simple facts. Both parties will find enough to engage their
faculties, and neither will do the work of the other efficiently. There
is no reason why one should despise the other ; contempt of anything
but vice indicates an unsound mind, a defective judgment, an ignorance
of the relations which men have to each other and to their Creator, an
undue self-estimation, and a contempt of the rights of other men. He
who measures the orbit of a comet has not, therefore, higher faculties
than he who examines the cytoblast of a fungus, and there is far more
to be seen by us in a beetle than in a planet — upon that granite
mountain opposite, at the distance of nine or ten miles, than in the sun,
the moon, and the stars."

Words feeble as mine are may not be added to the above eloquent
passage until next month; therefore I conclude, and will then endeavour
to stimulate the industry of your readers in the acquisition of knowledge
which will be to them a never-failing source of innocent gratification.

C. E.

Balk.

SONERILA MARGARATACEA.
This is unquestionably one of the most handsome variegated plants in
cultivation; for, although its prettily marked foliage may not be so striking
or beautiful as that of some of the Anaectochiluses, Marantas, &c. ; the
beauty of these is confined to their foliage, while this is one of the freest
blooming stove plants which we possess, and it would certainly be diffi-

• " The Natural History of Dee-side and Braemar." By the late William Macgilliyray,
M.D. Printed for private circulation.

166 TUE FLORIST.

cult to name a more attractive plant than a moderate sized specimen of
the Sonerila, when well covered with bloom. It is also much more
accommodating in its habits than some of our variegated plants, being
of easy culture, and readily increased to any desirable extent ; and for
amateurs and persons liavnig but small accommodation for stove plants,
it is a real gem. It would appear, however, that there are two varie-
ties of this plant in cultivation, the one having the markings on the
foliage much larger and clearer than the other; and persons having yet
to })i.irchase will do well to make sure that they procure this variety,
which is very much handsomer than the variety with the smaller spots.
But, as it is stated in your remarks accompanying your plate ot this
plant, — and this, doubtless, on the authority of Mr. Veitch, — that it
may be propagated from seed, it is probable that the plants which the
Messrs. Veitch supplied had been obtained in that manner. Be this as
it may, however, your representation is either unworthy of Mr. Andrews,
or the variety represented there is greatly inferior to one in cultivation ;
hence those who, like myself, may not have been fortunate enough to
obtain the best variety have no cause to find fault with the Messrs.
Veitch, for having served some of their customers better than they had
engaged to do. But either variety is well worthy a place in every col-
lection, for the foliage of the worst is very pretty; and when the plant
is covered with its trusses of rose and yellow coloured flowers, it would
be difficult to name a more attractive subject for decorative purposes ;
and then it blooms at a season when attention is not diverted from it
by the presence ofsucli showy plants in bloom as Echiteses, Dipladenias,
&c., and it also remains long in beauty.

Fortunately this charmingly pretty subject appears to be as easily
managed as it is beautiful ; but it is more than probable that, with our
present limited experience, we may not have hit upon the best treat-
ment for it. I will, therefore, only profess to state the treatment I
have adopted, and leave your readers to judge for themselves, whether
it is the most suitable that could be pursued. My plant, which was a
very small bit in a four-inch pot, came to hand about the middle of
May last ; and as I entertained a very high opinion of it, special care
and attention were afforded it from the first. I was afraid, however, to
treat it too kindly at first, lest it should damp off; and for two or three
weeks it occupied a shady place near the glass on a shelf in the stove.
When it had made some little progress, and I had obtained a cutting,
it was re-potted, plunged in moss in a ten-inch pot, covered with a
large bell glass, aud plunged in a brisk bottom heat. The glass was
removed at night for some time, until it was evident that there was no
danger of the plant damping off; and then the glass was only raised a
little on one side for a night or two after watering. Here it grew
rapidly, and towards the middle of July was shifted into a nine-inch
pot, plunged in moss again and treated as before. Shortly after this,
however, the foliage began to curl and damp at the points ; and to pre-
vent this, it was removed to a shady part of the house, the bell glass
removed and kept rather dry, which, to a great extent, had the desired
effect of checking the evil; and I fancy it will be found that the old
leaves are subject to get disfigured, especially if they are allowed to

JUNE. 167

grow very thickly together. I have, therefore, been careful to keep
the shoots nicely distributed, and have regularly removed as many of
the old leaves as could be done without causmg the plant to look bare ;
and I think it advisable that the foliage should be rather freely thinned
out, if only for the chance of having the leaves left larger and more
vigorous than would be the case without thinning ; and my plant has
certainly been much more handsome since I have practised thinning
its foliage. The little specimen bloomed nicely late in autumn, carrying
some twenty trusses, which continued in beauty for some six weeks.
As soon as the last of the flowers had disappeared, it was placed close
to the glass on a shelf in the stove, and very sparingly su[)plied with
water at the root ; but, instead of its remaining dormant as I antici-
pated, it seemed very much inclined to grow, and was in consequence
more freely supplied with water at the root than I had intended that it
should be during the winter. After blooming, something like a third
of the plant was cut out to afford cuttings, but it is as compact again as
ever, and is now covered with flowers, having upon it something like
thirty trusses. I did not look for it to go on blooming through the
winter, and have been looking for signs of exhaustion, fearing that 1 had
been over-driving a willing subject, but no symptom of the kind is
perceptible, and 1 think it all the more valuable for having deceived me
this way. And I see no rei^'son to doubt but that with kind treatment
the plant will bloom for months in succession during the winter. But
it will doubtless be advisable, when the object is to increase the size of
the plant, not to let it bloom too freely, and to place it in a sufficiently
low temperature to prevent growth for some three months after bloom-
ing, and I think it may be wintered safely enough in a temperature of
about 50°. For soil I have used rich fibry peat, turfy loam, and leaf
soil, in about equal proportions, mixing it liberally with silver sand,
and in this the plant seems to do perfectly well. Young plants I have
tried in peat and sand, thinking this might improve the colour of the
foliage, but without any apparent improvement. Propagation is easily
effected by means of cuttings, which root freely enough under ordinary
treatment, but shoots for cuttings should be secured off the main stem if
possible, as the runners do not seem to make as good plants. As to
raising it from seed, my plant has not exhibited any signs of producing
any ; but if seed can be obtained, there can be no doubt that the plants
would be more vigorous than those from cuttings. X. Y.

PROTECTION OP FRUIT TREES.
Having perused the very elaborate papers on the protection of wall
trees by Mr. Saul, and having had during the last twenty years a
tolerably good share of practice in the management of wall trees, my
experience compels me to dissent from some of the opinions expressed
by your correspondent at Stourton.

Now, it matters not whether we prosecute our investigations in
acquiring a knowledge of the laws that govern either the animal or

1G8 THE FLORIST.

vegetable kingdom, we shall find that certain causes produce certain
effects. Anything that tends to interfere with Nature's performing her
systematic action necessarily involves to a certain extent imperfect or-
ganisation. If Nature's laws are infringed, her machinery, if i may be
allowed the expression, is thrown out of gear, and her perfect action
impeded, if not absolutely destroyed.-

There is such a word to be found in "Johnson" as accidental, and
what does that one word imply? why, a whole host of unforeseen
events and vexatious disappointments.

We are the creatures of circumstances. Is there no analogy between
plants and animals? most assuredly. A man leaves his happy do-
mestic hearth in full vigour in the morning, and in the evening per-
haps returns a mutilated mass. A plant may to-day be hi most
beautiful condition, but alas — the Ice-king and the morrow — and its
beauty is faded and gone.

A gardener may be proud of the healthy fruit-promising condition of
his trees, but if he does not efficiently protect, his pride, in all proba-
bility, will result in mortification. I hope this is not the case with Mr.
Saul. At page 106 he states that he hopes to have the pleasure in a
few weeks of thinning many quarts of young fruit. Has this been
verified? If sO; he must have well covered up his trees the last week
in March, i.e., if the frost was as intense at Stourton as it was in the
neighbourhood of London. I very much question if in this part of the
country there will be any occasion to thin ^le Apricots, having been
subjected to eight or nine degrees of frost, unless the trees were well
protected. I can scarcely conceive it possible that any one at all con-
versant with the physiology of plants should presume for a moment that
such very tender and succulent orgar.s as the stamens, pistils, and the
stigmas, &c., could escape hijury if exposed to the biting blast. Is it
not of the greatest importance that no obstacle presents itself to prevent
the full development and maturation of the flower ? As to the para-
mount importance of this part of nature's work, who so well convinced
as the hybridiser, the raiser of new and choice seedlings ? We cannot
and must not expect successful results except under circumstances purely
conditional.

I have had and have seen excellent crops of wall fruit without pro-
tection, although the season may have been frosty ; and I account for
it in this way : the atmosphere was dry, the days clear, no clouds to
intercept the warming influence of the sun's rays, the walls, the earth
absorbed heat sufficient during the day to keep the Ice-king under
subjection during the night, by radiation. Frost is at this season of
the year, generally speaking, the most severe, or its intensity more
sensibly felt, just before the rising of the sun at dawn of day ; this is
in my humble opinion on account of the radiating powers of the earth,
&c., having become, if I may so speak, exhausted. When fruit trees
are blooming, I much prefer two or three degrees of frost, with a fine
light atmosphere, to wet ; as a wet, dripping season is the worst, de-
cidedly, as regards the fructification of the fruit blossoms.

Trees may be ever so well managed by the most skilful manipu-
lator, they may be in the most robust condition possible, yet for all

JUNE. 169

that, if seasons are not propitious, artificial means must be had recourse
to, or all our efforts as regards a successlul issue will prove abortive.

Geo. Fry.
Manor House Gardens, Lee, Kent.

FOLIAGE versus FLOWERS.
To contemplate the past history of British gardening, the rapid strides
it has made of late years, and the great number of new and beautiful
plants introduced, together with the perfect state of cultivation attained,
must be a subject of the highest gratification to all lovers of horticul-
ture. It is also pleasing to find so many of our countrymen, when
travelling abroad either upon business or pleasure, instinctively turning
their attention to the collection of seeds or plants, feeling desirous to
add something to the botany of their native lands ; and some of these
amateur collectors have been fortunate in sending home plants of the
highest importance, and all have given a proof of their love of fiowers.

But while we have been collecting and improving the class of plants
that produce fine flowers, we have to a great extent neglected those
that produce fine foliage. Now, if we take into consideration the
transitory nature of the flowers and the permanent character of the
foliage, we cannot but regret that the latter class is not more exten-
sively cultivated.

In this particular branch of gardening we are far behind our conti-
nental neighbours. They appear to consider foliage of the first im-
portance, and many fine plants imported by nurserymen to this
country have met with so little favour that the importers have been
obliged either to send them to the continent to find a market, or sell
them to foreigners for the same destination. But let us hope that this
state of things is nearly at an end, and that foliage wiU soon carry with
it as much influence as flowers.

Persons who have seen the magnificent Palm stoves at Chatsworth
and Kew would be better able to estimate the real value of beautiful
foliaged plants. The noble and varied leaves of the Palms, Cycads,
Musas, Agaves, tree and other Ferns, &c., presenting as a whole the
most enchanting aspect, and giving us, as the late Dr. Wallich enthu-
siastically observed, " a perfect miniature of a tropical forest."

The first large house of this kind in England was undoubtedly built
by the late Messrs. Loddiges, of Hackney, who attained a world-wide
celebrity for their unrivalled collection of these interesting plants,
althougli that collection is now no longer for sale. We are happy to
find the nucleus to another has been rapidly formed, and will, we doubt
not, if encouragement be given, be as rapidly increased by Mr. Veitch,
of the Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, where may be seen some excellent
specimens of this class of plants.

We are quite aware that large plant houses, such as those referred
to, will never become universal, and that large specimens of Palms, &c.,
cannot become generally cultivated ; still there are many fine foliaged
plants which may be introduced into our ordinary stoves and green-

170 THE FLORIST.

houses, and with the best possible effect; such, for instance, as
Browneas, Rhopalas, Ficus, Dracaenas, Cycads, tree and other Ferns,
&c., for the stove, and Aguostus sinuatus, Stadmannia australis, Dick-
sonia antarctica, Berberis nepalensis, and others; Dacrydiums, Arau-
carias, and many other kinds for the greenhouse. HorticuUural
societies aiipear to have been fully impressed with the importance of
tliese plants, and are offering liberal prizes for them at the tbrthcoming
exhibitions. Let us hope that it may be the means of bringing them
into more general cultivation.

EDGINGS.
What are the best materials for forming edgings with ? This is a
question which admits of a variety of answers, as several things are
used for the purpose. Amongst " dead matter," may be mentioned
slates, tiles, bricks, stones, boards, &c. ; and amongst plants. Box,
Thrift, London Pride, and a dozen other kinds of dwarf-growing
things, all of which are capable ot being formed into good and neat
edgings. Much, however, depends upon locality ; for what would
answer in one place might be perfectly useless in another : the chief
object in view should be to lay down that kind of edging which looks
most sightly, or is the most efficient with the least trouble and expense.
What I am going to state is, perhaps, neither novel nor rare ; but,
nevertheless, it may be of practical use to some of your readers. For a
kitchen-garden, where there are straight lines, if yellow bricks are laid
down with their angular edge uppermost, resembling the roof of a
house, they form one of the neatest looking edgings possible. Let the
face of the bricks slope inwards towards the path, then lay gravel to
within two inches of the upper edge ; they should be good smooth
bricks, and laid or fitted close and even together, so as, when finished,
to form a small angular ridge. They are easily cleaned with a little
trouble, form a good permanent edging, and afford no protection to any
kind of vermin : round the corners a few rough burrs, if fitted together,
prevent its being trodden down, and, if laid uniformly with the bricks,
are by no means unsightly, but rather an improvement.

J. H.

TEDWORTH HOUSE, WILTS,
The Residence of Tuomas Assheton Smith, Esq.
Everyone will have heard of Tedworth and its hospitable proprietor,
T. A. Smith, Fsq., the warm patron of British field-sports,^ and the no
less liberal supporter of gardening. What the stables and kennels of
Tedworth are to the sportsman, the giant conservatory and gardens are
to the admirers of horticulture. We may add that both are objects of
especial interest, and are supported with the utmost liberality by
LIr. Smith, who, in every sense of the word, is the model of an
English country gentleman.

JUNE. 171

The domain of Tedworth lies on the extreme verge of Wiltshire,
bordering Hants. The road from Devizes passes through the rich corn
district of the Pewsey Vale, and next over a more open down country,
till, past Everleigh, the woods and coppices of the Tedworth estate
become a marked feature, and we find ourselves surrounded by all the
indications of a fostering landlord, as shown by the neat and comfortable
cottages of the district.

Tlie gardens at Tedworth, which are so widely knowm, have been
for more than twenty years under the charge of our friend Mr.
Sandars, a gentleman well known as one of our best and most intelli-
gent gardeners, as everything at Tedworth abundantly testifies, and of
which we shall have to speak hereafter.

The mansion is situate in a valley well furnished with timber trees,
and surrounded by gentle eminences richly clothed with wood. The
views from the house, though not very extensive, are much varied, and
comprise some pleasing peeps over the diversified home scenery to the
distant downs. The house itself is large, and internally fitted up with
every comfort and luxury suitable to the position of its proprietor,
and of the distinguished company who, during the season, enjoy the
sports and princely hospitalities of Tedworth.

In front of the mansion is a large space of ground laid out in a style
of mixed gardening, having large masses of the rarer evergreen shrubs
and American plants, standard Roses, &c., interspersed with beds
solely devoted to flowering plants. Near the house the flower-beds
partake of a regular design, and were well filled with the choicest
bedding plants ; we noticed particularly some large beds filled with the
" Crystal Palace Dahlia," a very dwarf scarlet variety raised here by
Mr. Sandars, and which is likely to be a very valuable acquisition for
bedding out in masses, as it only grows 1 J foot in height, and is pro-
fusely covered through the season with bold double flowers of an intense
scarlet. The Messrs. Henderson, of the Wellington Nursery, have the
stock, the demand for which, we understand, is very great. To fill the
beds in this garden, and a smaller flower-garden between the house and
the kitchen-garden, in addition to the borders, &c , a large quantity of
bedding-out plants are required, which is now being transferred to
their summer quarters. Adjoining the mansion is a conservatory
devoted -to Camellias, Oranges, and plants in bloom, which are furnished
from the reserve houses in the kitchen-garden ; this house, like the
larger one, having to be kept gay with flowering plants throughout tlie
year. From this conservatory a corridor leads through a part of the
grounds to the great conservatory, and is continued to the stables, which
lie beyond. The corridor has an opaque roof, with glass sides made to open
for ventilation in the summer, and is heated by hot-water pipes, to
preserve an agreeable temperature in winter. By this arrangement
Mr. Smith and his friends are enabled to visit the conservatory and
stables in bad weather without the least exposure ; and as the con-
servatory is admirably adapted for walking or even riding exercise, the
luxury of getting there during bad weather in winter — a suggestion of
Mr. Smith's — cannot be too highly appreciated.

This conservatory is 310 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 16 feet high

172 THE FLORIST.

in the centre. It has a simple span-roof of wood, and is glazed with
sheet-glass of the best quality; a row of handsome pillars gives support
to the roof on each side, and these, and the braces and ties which con-
nect them with the roof, are made available for training climbing
plants, which not only hide the supports and braces, but give an
additional charm to the interior. The house is heated by one boiler
and a well-arranged system of hot-water pipes ; both the heating and
ventilating apparatus appear perfect. A gravel walk, seven feet wide,
runs down the centre of the house.

The borders on each side the centre walk are divided into eight com-
partments ; four of these have borders of prepared soil, in which,
among some plants that remain permanently, plants in bloom are
turned out, so as to maintain an uninterrupted succession of flowers :
the other four compartments (which occupy the centre of the house),
are furnished with stages for plants in pots ; at the present time these
were filled with a miscellaneous collection of plants blooming at this
season — Calceolarias, Pelargoniums, Begonias, Fuchsias, Cmerarias,
Acacias, Roses, Azaleas, and a host of other things, forming a double
bank of bloom, very brilliant and striking. Our readers will be able to
form some idea of the quantity of plants which have to be kept in
stock for furnishing this house, when we inform them that it takes
annually 60,000 pots of plants to keep up the requisite succession of
bloom; and, independently of the great number of things which remain
permanently in the borders, we should say 5000 plants in bloom are
kept constantly in the house, all good-sized plants, many of them being
fine specimens. On looking down the centre walk from either end of
the building, the appearance of the masses of colour on each side, and the
graceful climbers arched over-head and hanging from the roof, has a
beautiful effect ; from the north end, this view is heightened by the
vista being connected with an avenue continued through the grounds,
from the south door, for a considerable distance into the park. At the
north end, which abuts on the kitchen-garden, Mr. Sandarshas planted
an admirable screen, opposite the end of the building, which effectually
cuts off all appearance of the garden ; the foreground of this is made
into a Piosery, of which we shall have something to say hereafter.

Many of the specimens which have been growing for some time in
the open borders of the conservatory are high bushes, of which we
noticed Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Callas, and many others. Oestrum
aurantiacum, occasionally grown as a stove plant, flourishes here like a
weed ; and the like may be said of many other stove plants. The
climbers for the roof comprise everything in that way — a profusion of
Passion-flowers, Tecomas, Fuchsias (which, by the way, look exceed-
ingly fine, with their branches of bloom hanging pendant from the roof),
as does Begonia fuchsioides, which, treated as a climber, had reached a
distance of 25 feet, and was covered with its crimson blossoms ; Roses,
Acacias affinis, dealbata, and pubescens, and many other things, very
fine. Mr. Sandars has raised a number of new varieties of popular
plants from seed, among which he has a strain of Calceolarias, very
striking and distinct ; they have been obtained by crossing Sultan with
other varieties of a larger size, and the breed has rich crimson grounds

JUNE. 173

blotched with yellow, dark maroon, and other colours ; we noticed one,
a bright crimson self, very distinct, and likely to prove the parent of
some choice varieties. One good thing Mr. Sandars studies in hybrid-
ising, which is to induce a shrubby habit in his seedlings, and many of
the newest batch are a decided advance in this respect.

We question whether any other design would have so well answered
the purpose for which this house was erected as the present structure.
Built and finislied in the most substantial manner, its large size gives
an air of grandeur to its plain elevation, to our minds, much superior to
the over-ornamented style of many similar structures. We omitted in
the proper place to name, that the exterior walls are built up from the
basement (four feet) with masonry, on which rest the upright sashes,
forming the sides ; a broad stone shelf runs round the interior, well
adapted for growing plants requiring a deal of light. There is likewise
a smaller path on each side of the house, accompanying this shelf for
purposes of culture, &c. Connected with the large conservatory is a
kind of reserve, or preparing-house for bringing on stove plants. This
was filled with young stock ; and, suspended trom the roof, were mag-
nificent specimens of Hoya imperialis, AUamandas, Ipomseas, &c.

The kitchen-garden we must notice in our next.

THE CULTURE OF THE HOVEA.'
The Hovea is one of the most ill-used plants in cultivation ; it na-
turally grows erect and fast in excitable compost, but the soil cannot be
too simple, provided it be healthy and clean. It is essential even
when it is first struck as a cutting, that stopping should be attended to
with unremitting attention ; not more than the two leaves next the soil
should be left, and these throwing out two more lateral shoots, give
us an opportunity of stopping them at the first joint, and thus obtain-
ing from each two more lateral shoots, which should be stopped in turn,
for the same number again, thus continuing till it is perfect, but, like
other plants, it cannot be neglected many days. This constant stop-
ping should be continued till we have shoots enough to form a perfect
bush ; it is then by taking ofl' all that are in the way, and leaving
only su£h as will help to make a perfect bush, we may allow the plant
to go on till it blooms ; but after blooming the plants require pruning
as regularly as a wall-fruit tree, and the new shoots should be regularly
stopped and tied out, and the same provision made for the beauty and
symmetry of the plant as in the first instance. Were the shrub left
to itself and planted in rich soil, it might be made to grow six or eight
feet in a single season, and in a season or two be absolutely unmanage-
able after the blooming season. The decayed bloom should by all
means be removed, because the formation of seed pods would retard
growth, and the shoot cut back as before intimated, because the bloom
comes at the ends of the shoots, and the long under portion becomes bare
of leaves and flowers. The two most beautiful are Hovea ilicifolia and
Celsi. Loam and peat, with a free drainage, will answer well.

John Mould.
Devizes,

174 THE FLORIST.

THE PEACH.
{Continiitd from i^age 131.)

Thinning the fruit, like disbudding, should be done at two or three
times, and should be performed with care, so as to have the fruit finally
left at regular intervals over the tree. On young trees, where the wood
has been left long, two and even three fruit may be allowed to remain
on each, as it is presumed the wood has been left long in consequence
of the vigour of the tree. But where the trees have filled their allotted
space on the wall, and the young wood has been cut closer in — to three
or four eyes — one fruit will generally be sufiicient ; when this is deter-
mined on, the leading bud from these short shoots should be stopped,
as tw^o shoots to each would only crowd the tree with useless wood ; the
leading bud should therefore be pinched back, leaving two or ihree
leaves and joints, and allow the shoot at the base to grow for next
season's bearing wood ; the lateral shoots made during the summer
should be pinched out of the shoot stopped, but care must be taken of
the leaves, as they will cause the sap to fiow on freely, and on its return
will nourish the fruit. Should these leaves not be left, or become
injured, the fruit, although it would swell fully and be to all r.ppearance
as good as the rest, would be flavourless, as we have before observed
when noticing the importance of having a growing terminal bud to
each shoot. It may be recorded, that a rather larger crop of Nectarines
than Peaches may be taken from trees, the size and vigour of each
being the same.

It was formerly the practice to thin out the fruit, leaving a still extra
quantity to allow for a number to drop off in stoning 1 may here remind
your readers that if proper attention is paid to thinning off the crop,
and regulating it according to the strength of the tree, no fear need be
entertained that any will drop off by the process if the trees are healthy.
When you see such to be the case, you may be sure too many has
been left on, or the tree is become sickly and cannot accomplish all you
have allotted it to do. A tree wh;ch may be healthy enough to give
support to and perfect the formation of the seed of 100 fruit, may fail in
accomplishing the same for 200, or even 150. But here is the mischief:
in this case the whole are supported alike up to a point, and when the
energies of the tree cannot go further, the weakest fruit goes first, and as
all are more or less affected, there is now no drawing a limit how far
this dropping off" may go; much will depend on the rapidity with which
the first gives way, as there may yet be time for the tree to rally and
perfect the rest. On the other hand, we have seen, particularly when
being forced, the entire crop of Peaches and Nectarines fall off"; where-
as, had the trees been thinned in time, and those only left which the
trees could carry out, the whole would have been saved.

In regulating the crop, it should be borne in mind that over-cropping
has a deal to do with preventing the wood from ripening, for if the tree
has to support an extra heavy crop a certain amount of energy is
expended to effect this, which should have gone towards maturing the
wood and organising fruit-buds for the following year ; and where this

JUNE. 175

has been the case, a weak growth and a great number of abortive fruit-
buds the following spring are the result. Your able correspondent,
Mr. Saul, very justly lays great stress on this as an important point
in fruit-tree culture, in which I entirely concur.

At page ] 09, I gave directions relative to keeping the borders dry
after the middle of August. As, however, the border becomes filled
with roots, it will require to be well supplied with water in dry weather
up to that time ; and where the trees are in full bearing, manure
water may be given in July and the beginning of August, to assist the
swelling iruit. 1 on no account advise strong ammoniacal liquid manure
for the Peach — such as guano water, and water made from stable
dung — but prefer the soakings from a cow-yard, or made with cow and
pig manure, as more cooling and suitable to the Peach. If the border
is well watered up to the middle of August, our directions at page 109
may afterwards be put in force. When the fruit begins to colour, go
over the trees and hnally lay in any stray wood omitted, and likewise
remove any leaves which may shade the fruit too much ; they will by
these means get a high colour and flavour. I leave the protecting of
the fruit from wasps and flies, as within the reach and comprehension
of all. Avoid, however, wrapping the fruit in cotton wool, as I see
many do, as the iruit is never good-flavoured, and in wet weather this
plan spoils more than the insect^. The hexagonal netting placed on
irames, and hung before the trees, is the best plan where these pests
are troublesome.

There are some kinds of Peaches, of which the Royal George is one,
very subject to have the young shoots during the sunmier attacked with
mildew, the leaves having the appearance of being covered with a white
]iowder, which spreads rapidly over the adjoining leaves and young
wood, destroying the leaves and preventing the growth of the shoot. To
stop the progress of these fungi, mix quick hme and flower of sulphur
in equal [iroportion ; syringe or dip the infected shoots and leaves in
water, and then cover them with the mixture, either by a brush or
blowing it on the wood by a small machine sold for the purpose, or an
old flour dredger may be used. This application must be repeated till
the leaves assume their natural healthy colour.

Gather the fruit as it approaches ripeness, and allow it to remain for
twenty-four hours in a dry room of medium temperature ; this much
improves the flavour.

When the fruit is all gathered, go over the trees, and at once cut
away every piece of wood not wanted : next season, this will relieve
the trees of an incumbrance, and the wood left will be more fully exposed
for ripening. As the leaves change colour remove them by degrees,
gently sweeping them off" by a bunch of spray. The rest has been
detailed in former papers, to which I must refer your readers for
particulars.

Your readers will, I hope, bear in mind that these papers have been
written from time to time, as wanted, without having had the advantage
of that revision and comparison which, had they appeared as a whole,
they would have had. They have been written from daily practice,
and if found to contain points of practice worth following by the

17G THE FLORIST.

amateur, as well as by my fellow-professionals, I shall be amply repaid
for any trouble they may have cost me.

I beg to append a short list for the amateur to select from.

PEACHES.

Royal George . . This is the most generally useful Peach, though apt to

mildew in some situations.
Acton Scot . . . A good useful Peach.

Malta . . . Hardy, and succeeds well in cold situations.
Barrington . . . Fine hardy handsome Peach.
Bellegarde . . Rather tenderer than the above, but a fine Peach.

Noblesse . . . Wants a warm situation.

Chinctll^r''^^'^'^ ' ' } ^'^^^ recommended where late Peaches are required.

NECTARINES.
Videue Hative ' [j These are both good Nectarines.
Pitmaston Orange . Hardier than the above and a good Nectarine.

A Gardener in the Country.

HINTS ON IMPROVING ENGLISH SCENERY.

In our previous pages we have pointed out the importance of placing a
proper value on such hardy trees and shrubs as are remarkable either
for the colour or beauty of their leaves. If we examine the different
varieties of Maples, Oaks, Sumachs, &c., at this season, whose leaves
die off in the autumn to brown crimson and intermediate shades of colour,
we shall find that the leaves, when first expanded, are tinted more or
less with the prevailing colour they assume in the autumn. Acer coc-
cineum, purpureum, rubrum, and circinatum ; Liquidamber ; Rhus
typhina, toxicodendron, kc. ; Quercus coccinea, rubra, tinctoria, &c. ;
the American Hickories, and many others, have their newly-formed
leaves of various shades of brown or purple-brown colour,, and are
therefore valuable, as affording a pleasing contrast with the beautiful
bright green of the Beech, Birch, Thorn, Limes, Horse Chestnuts, &c.,
at their period of coming into leaf, as they do in October, when their
warm glowing colours so admirably enrich the landscape.

To those of our young readers who are making the composition of land-
scape scenery their study (and all young gardeners should do so), we
recommend a careful examination of this peculiarity in certain trees
to their notice, as worthy of being noted down, in addition to more par-
ticularly noticing the effect produced by their various shades of colour
in the autumn.

If there is one thing more generally to be lamented in rural or park
scenery than another, it is this deficiency in our plantations of trees,
which, during the autumn, would, by the rich colour of their dying
foliage, give an expression of warmth and tone to our scenery, and as
such should make them worth sjecially introducing for the purpose.
What an additional feature would be given to our ordinary plantations
in the spring and autumn, if groups of the scarlet- leaved Maples, Oaks,

JUNE. 177

Sumachs, &c., were judiciously introduced — and how rich might
English scenery really become with the deep browns, oranges, and
crimsons of the kinds named, and others, intermixed with our ordinary
forest trees.

These trees are now to be rnet with in most nursery grounds, and
their expense is but trifling ; in fact, there exists no reason why they
should not be as commonly planted as Poplars, Elms, and the like,
except that we fear taste is sometimes wanting, and, in other instances,
the plants are not known sufficiently to be appreciated, or they may be
thought too expensive.

Gardeners who have the management of plantations should take
every opportunity of bringing these facts under the notice of their
employers, or should introduce them on their own responsibility. As
far as landscape gardeners are concerned, especially those who have
commenced with being artists, we have not much hope that it will be
done by them. Their profession, in a great measure, precludes that
practical knowledge of trees — their colour, habit, and peculiarities — so
essential to dictate their exact position in the landscape ; and, with the
most correct knowledge of design and effect, they fail in not being so
well up to the study of colour in trees as the subject demands. Those,
therefore, who have to carry out the designs of landscape gardeners,
should be prepared to suggest what would recognise the admission of
more colour into park and rural scenery.

ROYAL NATIONAL TULIP SOCIETY.

May 24. — The seventh anniversary meeting of this Society took
place at the Crystal Palace, in connection with the great exhibition of
plants, &c., and is fully reported in another page.

The spring has been unfavourable generally to the growth of the
Tulip, yet there was a good show of blooms, far better than many were
led to expect. Eighteen stands were put up for competition in one class
alone, so that there were plenty in number. It was, however, too
early for the midland growers.

The show for this season differed from its predecessors, there being
no class showincr. The committee may congratulate itself on the result
— the experiment was in every way successful; neat uniform stands set
the flowers off to advantage, besides the desirable change of being with-
out the unsiglitly bottles.

The principal new flowers were Groom's Duchess of Cambridge, a
feathered bybloemen ; Groom's Lord Raglan, a flamed bizarre in the
way of Shakspeare, but much finer shape ; and Willison's Mr. San-
derson, a feathered bizarre, a small but beautiful flower.

There was a fine specimen of Lawrence's George Hayward exhibited
— decidedly the best bizarre in the entire exhibition.

No premier prizes were given. Had there been, we should have
placed them thus :— Feathered Bizarre, George Hayward (figured by
us in 1854) ; Flamed Bizarre, Lord Raglan.

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXVI. N

178 THE FLORIST.

In Roses, Heroine would have taken first for feather, as it generally
does. Headky's Mary Headley would have been the best flamed. Byb-
loemens, feathered, by far the best was a Chellaston, shown in the first
stand tor siiX blooms. The same flower was figured by us in 1852,
under the name of Chellaston Beauty, but there is no certainty what
the names of these Chellaston flowers really are.

The finest flowers of each class are marked with an asterisk. The
first stands of twelve and six blooms were finely-grown specimens, very
pure, and generally well marked. We subjoin the awards.

Class A, twelve varieties: 1st, Mr. C. Turner, Slough, *Lord Raglan,
*Duchess of Cambridge, Aglaia, Maid of Orleans, *Triumph Royal,
*Dr. Horner, *Bloemat, ^Heroine, Selim, David, *Mary Headley,
Polyphemus ; 2nd, Mr. Lawrence, Hampton, Musidora, Caliph, Violet
Alexander, Madame Vestris, Polyphemus, Lady Wildair, Duke of
Devonshire, Don Pedro, Chellaston Rose, Vivid, David, Heroine ;
3rd, R. H. Betteridge, Esq., Milton Hill, Abingdon, Thalia, George
Hayward, Royal Sovereign, Aglaia, Triumph Royal, Lord Denman,
Gygas, Seedling, Admiral Codrington, Madame Catalini, Due de
Boufleurs, *Claudigna ; 4th, B. Colman, Esq., Norwich, Caliph,
Kosciusko, Godet Parfait, Madame Vestris, Musidora, Polydora,
Brulante Eclatante, Friend, Strong's King, Aglaia, Earl Douglas,
Arlette ; 5th, J. Hunt, Esq., Wycombe, Fabius, Violet Quarto, Shak-
speare, Madame Vestris, Triumph Royal, Polyphemus, Lady Catherine
Gordon, Julia Romano, Salvator Rosa, Brulante Eclatante, Princess
Royal, Vivid.

Class B, nine varieties, for Amateurs only : 1st, C. Williams, Esq.,
London, Duchess of Sutherland, *Royal Sovereign, G. Bournonville,
Duke of Devonshire, *Triumph Royal, Garrick, *La Belle Manette,
John Kemble, Claudiana ; 2nd, R. Betteridge, Esq., Triumph Royal,
*George Hayward (very superior), Violette Alexander, *Royal Sove-
reign, Seedling, Emily, Incomparable, Brulante Eclatante, Shakspeare ;
3rd, Mr. T. Westbrook, Abingdon, Royal Sovereign, Reine de Sheba,
Triumph Royal, David, Claudiana, Shakspeare, Countess of Wilton,
Vivid, Gibbon's Bybloemen ; 4th, S. M. Sanden, Esq., Staines, Sylvia,
Sampson, Sappho, Princess Maud, *Lord Denman, Duke of Devon-
shire, Seedling, Duchess of Sutherland, David ; 5th, Mr. Lymberry,
Nottingham, Rosa Blanca, Bacchus, Platoflf, Rose Camellia, Shakspeare,
Gem (Abbott's), Paul Pry, Violet Quarto, Lac.

Class C, six blooms, one feather and one flame in each class : 1st,
Mr. C. Turner, *Lord Raglan (bizarre), Queen Charlotte (bybloemen),
*Chellaston Beauty (bybloemen), *Aglaia (rose), * Heroine (rose),
*J. Sanderson (bizarre) ; 2nd, Mr. R. J. Lawrence, David, Duke of
Devonshire, Triumph Royal, Queen of the North, Polyphemus, Heroine;
3rd, R. Headley, Esq., Cambridge, Phoenix, David, Friend, Aglaia
(flame), Aglaia (feather). Royal Sovereign ; 4th, Mr. Bragg, Slough,
Madame Vestris, Aglaia, Violet Blondeau, David, Sphinx, Shakspeare ;
5th, S. M. Sanders, Esq., Royal George, Thomas Brown, Enchantress,
Aglaia, Platoff, Bijou des Amateurs.

Class D, three feathered roses : 1st, Mr. Turner, ^Heroine, *Aglaia,
Arlette ; 2nd, J. Hunt, Esq., Claudiana, *Bion, Heroine ; 3rd, Mr.
Thorniley, Manchester, Celestial, Rose Imperial, Comte de Vergennes.

JUNE. 179

Class E, three flamed roses, 1st, Mr. C. Turner, Triumph Royal,
Aglaia, Anastasia ; 2nd, Mr. R. J. Lawrence, Madame Vestris, Lady
Wildair, Aglaia ; 3i'd, Mr. Treacher, Wycombe, Lannia, Triumph
Royal, Bacchus.

Class P, three feathered bybloemens : 1st, Mr. C. Turner, *Duchess
of Cambridge, Coupe de Hebe, Victoria Regina ; 2nd, Mr. Hunt, Lady
Denman, Helen, Eliza ; 3rd, J. Brown, Esq., Sydenham, Eliza, Mid-
land Beauty, Gem (Abbott's).

Class G, three flamed bybloemens : 1st, Mr. J. Hunt, East Hendred,
Passe Salvator Rosa, Incomparable, Chellaston Bybloemen ; 2nd, Mr.
R. J. Lawrence, Beauty of the Glen, Don Pedro, Violet Alexander ;
8rd, I\Ir. C. Turner, Sarah Anne, Marshal Pelissier, David.

Class H, three feathered bizarres : 1st, Mr. C. Turner, Eurydice,
Dr. Horner, King (Willison) ; 2nd, J. Hunt, Esq., Rembrandt, Poly-
phemus, Fabius ; 3rd, Mr. R. J. Lawrence, Ulysses, Fabius, Vivid.

Class I, three flamed bizarres : 1st, Mr. C. Turner, *Lord Raglan,
*Polyphemus, Selim ; 2nd, Mr. Bragg, Polyphemus, Shakspeare,
Darius ; 3rd, J. Hunt, Esq., Charbonnier, Marcellus, Pilot.

Class K, six rose breeders : 1st, Mr. Westbrook ; 2nd, R. Headley,
Esq. ; 3rd, Mr. C. Turner.

Class L, six bybloemen breeders : ■ 1st, Mr. C. Turner ; 2nd, R.
Headley, Esq. ; 3rd, J. Hunt, Esq.

Class M, six bizarre breeders : 1st, R. Headley, Esq. ; 2nd, Mr.
Slater, Manchester ; 3rd, J. Hunt, Esq.

GRAPES FROM EYES THE FIRST SEASON.
In reference to what Mr. M'Ewen states on this, as having been
practised by Mr. Elphinston, I beg to say, without wishing to detract
anything from the party in question, that I saw it done for several
years consecutively at Woodchester Park, in Gloucestershire (formerly
a residence of the 'Earls of Ducie), by my friend Mr. Wm. Pillans, now
gardener at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland. This is now more than
twenty years ago, and his success was complete, as I saw him cut
bunches of Sweetwater Grapes l^lb. by this method, in Septeniber.
Mr. Pillans, who was then — as now — one of the most enterprising
gardeners I know, was likewise a great hybridist, in Pelargoniums
particularly, which the late Earl Ducie much admired. Had he
continued his experience up to the present day, he would have had a
strain of Pelargoniums second to none.

Gloucester.

LANDSCAPE GARDENING, No. IV.
It has been our aim, in the course of articles we have given in this
periodical, to make the examples illustrative of such modes of treatment
as are suitable for the various contingencies and requirements which
mark different cases. However, we necessarily deal with principles

n2

180 THE FLORIST.

rather than details, as the former apply with equal force to every case
of the same kind or class, and the latter are seldom suitable, excepting
to the special case for which they are designed. It has been our
impression that such treatment of the subject is most likely to be prac-
tically useful, and we shall from time to time, by a retrospective article,
bring the detached articles into such systematic order that the leading
principles exemplified in each may be so arranged as to serve as an
index, and aid such end by reference ns may render them of service.

The subject we have taken this time is a garden to a villa in one of
the southern suburbs, in which a small piece of very irregular shape
was submitted to us to be arranged, with a view to make it useful
to a certain extent, as well as ornamental. The useful elements
required were a consistent amount of fruit garden, and a moderate
portion of ground for the choicer vegetables. We have taken itfoi- tlie
subject of this paper, as it affords us an opportunity to give prominence
to some matters of economical gardening.

The house was already built at the north-east corner, and the south
end, occupied by large trees which the proprietor had covenanted not
to destroy. The wall at the north end was existing, and bounded the
property.

The portion for the kitchen garden was the first thing to decide
upon. It was not expedient to place it under the shade of the large
trees, neither was it desirable to let it occupy too large a space at the
north-west corner, where the direct view from the windows would have
looked on to, or against it. We made it our object, therefore, to pre-
serve the greatest space possible of lawn, in direct line from both the
west and north fronts, and bringii gdown the broadest part of the fruit
and kitchen garden opposite the corner of the house. The wall at the
north end having a south aspect towards the garden, it was determined
should be devoted to the choicer wall fruits, with an intermixture of
ornamental climbing plants, which should be allowed to occupy all the
space which the fruit trees did not make use of The wall thus be-
came an appropriate link between the flower garden and kitchen
garden, and the walk after leaving the terrace ; passing the wall ;
entering, passing through, and emerging from the kitchen garden, and
skirting or winding through the thick planting, returned to the terrace.
The terrace is excellent in its effect of increasing the extent of the
ground, by detaching the flower garden proper from the open lawn.

The site for the conservatory was fixed upon, partly on account of
existing wall, and partly that it might stand in the confines of both
kitchen garden and lawn ; being too large and important an object to
conceal, it was determined that it should be ornamental.

The semicircular outline to the kitchen garden is obviously a suitable
arrangement, where it is desirable to conceal all semblance of formality
on the outside.

The fruit trees on the borders are all dwarfs aad pyramids, to be
kept within compass by root-pruning, the only mode of growing them
by which they are preserved in size and shape fit for gardens generally,
and especially small ones.

The kitchen garden is bounded on the lawn side by a hedo-e of

181

182 THE FLORIST.

common Arbor-vitfe, clipped on the inside and broken on the outside by
masses and groups of various kinds of shrubs. We would specially
call attention to the excellence of the common Arbor-vita? as a material
for evergreen fences, being cheap, efficient, and ornamental.

William Davidson.

CRYSTAL PALACE EXHIBITION.

The Crystal Palace Company issued a schedule of prizes that was well
responded to on the 24th ult., as on that day an excellent display of
plants and fruits was brought together, and was inspected by a
numerous attendance of visitors. The arrangement of the exhibition
this year was much more efficient than last, and on the present
occasion was confined to the transept and nave. We do not consider
the exliibition so extensive as last year, but it was much more select,
and in many respects better. The Messrs. RoUisson and Sons did not
compete, and the absence of their collections of course detracted from
the general display.

In some remarks we made at the time on the show of last year, in
reference to the suitability of exhibiting plants under a glass roof, we
expressed our dissent from the plan as one ill calculated to show off
plants to the best advantage, owing to the glare of light falling from the
roof having an overpowering effect on the colour of the flowers. This
season a canvas screen was placed over the stage containing the plants,
to intercept the light from the roof, and this was found to be a great
improvement, and, so far as preventing the vertical light from reaching
the plants, answered the purpose ; but in a building all glass, and
consequently admitting the light from every side, it is very difficult to
place plants in a position where their colours can be seen to the best
advantage : add to this the many objects to detract attention, all of
which help to lessen the effect of the plants themselves, and render them
less interesting.

Notwithstanding these drawbacks, however, the show was a glorious
one ; the collections of plants presented wonderful instances of horticultural
skill and energy. Much of the fruit, too, was fine, though why some
exhibitors will persist in sending green Grapes and other things unfit
for exhibition is to us a mystery. Mr. Davis, of Oak Hill, had a fine
collection of Pine-apples and Grapes. There were also some remarkably
good Melons ; two, under the name of Orion, shown by Mr. Boreham,
were both fine, and, we understood, well flavoured. We have seen
better Strawberries, but then Mr. M'Evven was not there. Cherries
were very good, and Nectarines particularly fine for the season.

We hope, supposing the Company intend holding their June show
in the building, they will have the September one in the grounds under
tents. In wet weather the building, so far as the comfort of the visitors
is concerned, is the best place ; and as the weather, even in June, may
be uncertain, it might not be safe to venture out. We hope, however,

JUNE. 183

that if the season is at all favourable, the September exhibition will
take place under canvas ; and it will be much more enjoyable, and
will leave more room for the public to inspect the many and varied
treasures of the building at leisure.

In 25 Stove and Greenhouse Plants grouped for effect, Mes-srs.
Veitch and Son were first with a splendid collection of ornamental
plants ; Mr. G. Young, of Dulwich Hill, 2n<i ; and Mr. James Morris,
gardener to Coles Child, Esq., 3rd. For 20 Stove and Greenhouse
Plants, Mr. May, gardener to H. Colyer, Esq., Dartford, was first with
a collection of fine plants, among them being the veteran gigantic
Epacris miniata grandifiora, a fine Eriostemon nerifulium, and good
plants of Pimelea spectabilis, Hedaroma tulipiferum, but not sufficiently
in bloom ; Aphelexis speciosissima, and Gompholobium polymorphum ;
2nd, Mr. G. ]5arter ; 3rd, Mr. John Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus,
Bart., in whose collection were good })lants of Tetiatheca ericifolia, a
very pretty greenhouse plant, with a profusion of bright lilac flowers,
and Franciscea calycina ; 4th, Mr. Rhodes, gardener to J. Philpot, Esq.,
Stamford Hill. For 12 Stove and Greenhouse Plants in Flower, Mr.
Dods, gardener to Sir John Cathcart, Bart., Englefield Green, was
deservedly first with a collection of superb plants, the most attractive
being fine plants of Azalea Gledstanesi, Pimelea spectabilis, Epacris
miniata grandifiora, and Boronia pinnata : this exhibitor seems
determined to maintain his position as a skilful cultivator ; 2nd, Mr.
Carson, gardener to W. F. G. Farmer, Esq., among whose plants were
fine specimens of Azalea variegata, Chorozema Lawrenceanum, and
Aphelexis macrantha purpurea. Mr. Roser also exhibited in this
class, and had a good plant of the charming Boronia Drummondi.
Extra prizes in this class were awarded to Mr. C. Smith, gardener to
A. Anderson, Esq., Norwood, and Mr. Jas. Morris, gardener to Coles
Child, Esq., Bromley. For six Stove and Greenhouse Plants, 1st, Mr.
Cutbush, Barnet ; 2nd, Mr. Taylor, Streatham ; 3rd, Mr. W. Laybank,
Norwood ; 4th, Mr. Williams, gardener to Miss Traill. Extra prizes
were also awarded to Mr. G. Brush, Norwood, and Mr. Page, Streatham.
Four other collections were also staged.

Orchids were supplied in their usual profusion and beauty ; and,
judging from the eager and patient attempts of many to get a glance at
them over the shoulders of the crowd which continually surrounded
them, we should say that they have lost none of their interest. A very
fine collection was furnished by Messrs. Veitch. It contained Ca-
lanthe veratrifolia, a noble plant; Cattleya Mossise, covered with showy
flowers of extraordinary size ; C. intermedia, the large variety of
Oncidium ampliatum, Dendrobium Farmeri, the purple variety of
Aerides odoratum, a handsome variety of Saccolabium Blumei, two
beautiful plants of Phaltenopsis, the rich orange scarlet Ltelia cinna-
barina, the rare Cypripedium villosum, and other Lady's Slippers ;
Vanda suavis, and the greatly prized Epidendrum vitellinum. An-
other excellent collection came from Mr. Gedney, gardener to Mrs.
Ellis. In this we observed beautiful examples of Oncidium ampliatum.
Cattleya Mossite, Saccolabium guttatum, Dendrobium nobile, D. den-
siflorum, a magnificent plant, beautifully in bloom; the Rhubarb

184 THE FLORIST.

scented D. macrophyllum, extremely well-flowered ; Calanthe veratri-
folia, with many spikes of snow-white blossom ; Phalcenopsis grandi-
flora, finely bloomed ; Phaiiis Wallichi and Lycaste Skinneri, both, but
more esjfecially the latter, literally covered with flowers. Mr. Mylam,
gardener to G. Peed, Esq., also furnished a very fine group. In this
was the stately Phaius Wallichi, one of the best bloomed plants of
Vanda teres that has perhaps ever been shown ; the sweet smelling
V. suavis, Epidendrum alatum, Dendrobium densiflorum, with some
twelve bunches of yellow flov/ers ; D. Earmeri, the rare Cattleya Aclan-
dia?, Barkeria sjiectablis (beautifully bloomed), Cattleya Mossise, nearly
three feet high, as much through, and covered with flowers ; the
charming Saccolabium preemorsum ; Odontoglossum hastilabium ;
Lselia purpurata, a comparatively little known species of rare beauty ;
and Odontoglossum citrosmum, with much more colour in it than is
usually found in flowers of this plant. Mr. Woolley, gardener to H. R.
Ker, Esq., and others, also showed Orchids, but the above formed what
may be termed the cream of the collections.

For 12 Azaleas, Mr. Green, gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, Bart.,
was first with superb plants loaded with flower, the foliage of many
being scarcely visible ; the best were Perryana, Gledstanesi, Triumphans,
Iveryana, and coronata. Mr. Gaines, and, we believe, others, exhibited
in this class, but we could not get near the plants. For six Greenhouse
Azaleas (amateurs) Mr. Carson was first with Broughtoni, sinensis,
speciosissima, rubra pleno, a splendid plant of lateritiu, and variegata,
all very fine well flowered plants ; 2nd, Mr. R. Roser, in whose collec-
tion was a superb plant of Optima ; 3rd, Mr. R. Grix ; 4th, Mr. J. May,
gardener to H. Colyer, Esq., Dartford. Extra prizes were also awarded
to Mr. W. Taylor, Streatham ; Mr. Brush, Norwood ; Mr. H, Smith,
Roehampton ; and Mr. Jas. Morris, Bromley. In the class for 12
Greenhouse Azaleas of new kinds, Mr. R. Roser, Streatham, was
first, the best among his being Marie, brilliant orange scarlet ; Formosa,
Frotheniana, a fine light carmine variety ; Magnifica, a fine white
variety ; Juliana, pale orange scarlet, fine ; Formosa, a striped white
variety ; Glory of Sunning Hill, Delicata, Admiration, and Constantia
rosea. 2nd, Mr. Green ; 3rd, Messrs. Frazer ; 4th, Mr. Taylor.
An extra prize was awarded to Messrs. Lane and Son. None of these
plants were large, but it was an interesting class. For 10 Cape Heaths,
1st, Mr. Williams, gardener to Miss Traill ; 2nd, Mr. Roser ; 3rd, Mr.
May, Dartford ; 4th, Mr. B. Reed, Norwood. Messrs. Frazer also
exhibited in this class. In Mr. Williams's collection were good plants
of Devoniana, a very fine variety ; tortulaeflora, ventricosa coccinea
minor, and mutabilis. An extra prize was also awarded to J. Philpot,
Esq. For six Cape Heaths, 1st, Mr. Taylor, gardener to J. Coster,
Esq., Streatham ; 2nd, Mr. W. Cutbush, Barnet ; 3rd, Mr. W. Lay-
bank, gardener to J. Maudsley, Esq., Norwood ; 4th, Mr. Young,
gardener to W. Stone, Esq., Dulwich. An extra prize was also
awarded to Mr. G. Barter, gardener to A. Bassett, Esq., Stamford Hill.
Three other collections were exhibited in this class. Two collections of
six Tall Cacti were exhibited: 1st, Mr. Green ; 2nd, Mr. R. Grix,
Cheam. For six Rhododendrons, 1 st prize to Messrs. Lane & Son, for

JUNE. 185

good plants of aureum, Sabinum, decorum majus, primulum elegans,
sulphureum, delicatum, all distinct and good varieties of the " aureum "
section ; 2nd, I\Iessrs. Standish & Noble ; 3rd, Mr. Gaines.

The Roses in pots were an especial feature. The first prize for
twelve Roses in pots was awarded to Messrs. Lane and Son, for some
superb plants, the best being H. P. Baronne Prevost, H. P. Leon des
Combats, Noisette Lamarque, a very fine H. B. Paul Perras, H. P.
Duchess of Sutherland, with more than fifty fully-expanded blooms ; a
very fine Tea Adam, Comtesse Mole, Souvenir d'un Ami, fine ; Louis
Peyronny, and Coupe de Hebe ; 2nd, Messrs. Paul & Son, in whose
collection was a superb plant of the rich yellow Tea China Rose,
Viscomtesse de Gazes ; also fine plants of Jules Margottin, Paul
Perras, Ghenedole, Mad. Laffay, Geant des Batailles, Blairi, Belle
Marie, Coupe de Hebe, Louis Bounaparte, Tea Mansais, and Paul
Ricaut; 3rd, Mr. Francis, Hertford, his best being Ehse Sauvage,
Coupe de Hebe, and Noisette Lamarque. Mr. Wilkinson, of Ealing,
also exhibited twelve small plants budded on Celina Stocks, among
them being Tea Madame Willermoz, a very fine pale creamy-blush
variety.

In the amateur class for six Roses in pots, Mr. Busby was first
with some very good plants, the best being Chenedole, Paul Perras,
Madeline, Gen. Jacqueminot, Auguste Mie, and William Jesse ; 2nd,
Mr. A. Rowland, Lewisham ; 3rd, Mr. W. IMortimore, Hornsey.

The first prize for six Calceolarias in pots was awarded to Mr.
George Lambert, Oakwood, near Chichester, for very fine well-grown
plants-; 2nd, Mr. John Cole, nurseryman, St. Albans, with six
shrubby varieties, among them being Grandis, a fine variety for pot
culture, something like Ajax in colour, but not so tall a grower ; 3rd,
Messrs. Dobson & Sons, with compact well-grown plants. Seven
others also exhibited in this class, one of them being Mr. John Liley,
gardener to G. King, Esq., Edenbridge, whose plants were of inferior
growth, and rendered very unsightly by a mass of large sticks.

The first prize for six Fuchsias in pots was awarded to Mr. Bousie,
gardener to the Right Hon. Henry Labouchere, M.P., Stoke, Bucks,
for some of the finest plants we have ever seen. The sorts were.
Queen of Hanover, Autocrat, Alpha, Macbeth, Glory, and Othello.
These were grown on a single stem, tall, bushy to the bottom, and
well flowered ; 2nd, Mr. 0. Rhodes, gardener to J. Phillpot, Esq.,
Stamford Hill; 3rd, Mr. H. Chilman, gardener to Mrs. Smith,
Epsom. Three other collections were staged, Mr. George's plants being
large, but grown too freely, and Mr. Lamy's were old varieties that
should now be discarded, and the plants were not well bloomed.

There was a good display of Pelargoniums. For twelve Pelargo-
niums, Mr. Charles Turner, Slough, was first with some superb plants,
well grown and blooms of excellent quality. The varieties were. Na-
tional, Wonderful, Una, Sanspareil, Basilisk, Majestic, Governor-Ge-
neral, Arethusa, Lucy, Petruchio, Carlos, and Magnificent ; 2nd,
Messrs. Dobson & Son, with Harriet, Bouquet, Arethusa, Rosamond,
Delicatum, Ambassador, Conqueror, Gertrude, Lucy, Purpureum, and
Roseum, the colour of Governor- General, but not so good. Messrs.

186 THE FLORIST.

Frazer's collection, although containing many of these varieties, was
deficient in clearness and brightness of colour, so apparent in the first
and second collections. Mr. Gaines exhibited a collection, consisting of
French and other varieties, some of them quite unknown to us, and
possibly new, but we did wot recognise any good varieties among them.
In the amateurs' class for six Pelargoniums, I\Ir. Nye, gardener to
E. Foster, Esq., Clewer Manor, near Wmdsor, was first with very fine
plants, covered with flowers of good quality ; 2nd, ]\Ir. Wiggins, gar-
dener to E. Beck, Esq., Isleworth. Others exhibited in this class, but
we were unable to take notes of them.

For twelve Fancy Pelargoniums : 1st, Mr. Charles Turner, with
Empress of France, Electra, Madame Sontag, Delicatum, Celestial,
Mary Hovvitt, Lady Hume Campbell, a superb plant of Jenny Lind,
Queen of Roses, Cloth of Silver, Conspicuum, and Richard Cobden.
These plants exhibited the peculiar qualities characteristic of the Slough
collections ; 2nd, Messrs. J. and I. Frazer, with Advancer, Delicatum,
Madame Sontag, Princess Alice Maude, Formosissimum, Princess Marie
Galitzin, Miss Sheppard, Jenny Lind, Argus, Floribunda, Celestial, and
Gaiety; 3rd, Messrs. Cutbush & Son, Highgate ; 4th, Messrs. Dob-
son & Son.

For six Fancy Pelargoniums ; 1st, Mr. Winsor, gardener at Kidde-
pore Hall, Hampstead, with Magnifica, Duchesse d'Aumale, Fairy
Queen, Berrier, Electra, and Princess Alice Maude, all fine plants and
well flowered. Mr. Bousie was a good second, with Delicatum, Per-
fection, Princess Marie Galitzin, with a superb head of fine bloom ;
Triumphant, a well-flowered plant of Formosissimum, and Richard
Cobden. Mr. Weir, of Hampstead, had six well-grown plants, but
not sufficiently in bloom, excepting Jenny Lind, which was a very fine
plant, and there was not sufficient variety in this collection. ]\Ir. Car-
rigan's collection had evidently been grown too freely, and was in con-
sequence very deficient of bloom. Mr. Joseph Monk, Cranbrook Park,
Ilford, sent six wretched-looking plants that would not have found a
ready purchaser in Covent-garden market. IMr. Lambert's were
nicely grown plants, but not sufficiently in bloom. There were also
four other exhibitors in this class.

In the classes for newly introduced plants were exhibited Begonia
splendida, with large crimson leaves, and the Hedaroma tulipiferum, to
which a second prize was awarded ; both plants came from Mr. Epps,
nurseryman, Maidstone. The judges, however, seem to have made a
mistake in awarding a prize to the Hedaroma, as the schedule states
that " no plant will be considered new that has been shown at the
metropolitan exhibitions in a previous season," while examples of
Hedaroma tulipifera have been frequently exhibited. Mr. Miellez, of
Lille, sent a new Gesneraceous plant, of no great beauty, with pale
Gesnera-like flowers ; and Messrs. Standish & Noble sent Azalea
amoena floribunda and A. amcena grandiflora. Messrs. A. Paul &
Son had a new Bourbon Rose, Bacchus, of good form, colour pale rose.
From Messrs. Veitch & Son came the beautiful Ouvirandra fenestralis,
or Lattice Plant, and a plant of the Sundew (Drosera dichotoma), two
of the most interesting plants in the exhibition. The same firm also

JUNE. 187

exhibited the beautiful Embothrium coccineum, a hardy shrub, with a
profusion of bright scarlet flowers : this will be a valuable addition to
our hardy shrubs ; Philopodendron species, a New Zealand shrub, of
no beauty, and only to be valued as a botanical curiosity ; a beautiful
dwarf growing Fern, Gleichenia microphylla, Rhododendron cinna-
barinum, Brodisea species, a new hardy bulb from Calilbrnia ; Ceanothus
origanus, a new hardy dwarf growing shrub, with a profusion of white
flowers ; Corrtea cardinalis, with very bright scarlet flowers ; and a new
Tropaeolum Schumannianum, of a pale yellow colour, with dark blotches
in the upper petals, and partaking of the habit of the garden Nasturtium.
The first prize for six Nepenthes was awarded to Messrs Veitch & Son,
among them being very fine plants of N. Isevis and N. phyllamophora.
A great many subjects were shown in the Miscellaneous Class.
From the conservatory at Trentham were cut flowers of Cantua
dependens, of a bright rosy carmine colour, and handsome ; a box of
cut Rhododendrons from Mr. A. Ingram, gardener to J. J. Blandy,
Esq., Reading, among which were ignescens, a very fine rich scarlet
variety ; Ca]itivation, pale rose ; and Blandyanum, deep rose, also very
fine. Mr. Bragg had a collection of Pansy blooms ; and Mr. R. Roser,
of Streatham, sent a handsome brace of the Himalaya Cucumber, a fine
smooth Black Spine variety. Mr. H. White, of Chelmsford, exhibited
a brace of the Essex Rival Cucumber, both of which were nearly two
feet long, handsome, but a little ribbed : black spined ; both of these
varieties carried the flowers at the points. Mr. Cole, of St. Alban's,
sent a collection of 12 shrubby Calceolarias, but we did not observe
any of them to be decided acquisitions as bedding-out plants ; and Mr.
Dennis, of Chelsea, sent 12 plants of his Geranium Alma, a good bright
coloured market variety. Mr. Hamp had a collection of Amaryllis ;
Mr. Taylor, Streatham, a collection of compact well-grown Aphelexis ;
Mr. Dall, gardener to tiames Renny, Esq., Pimllco, exhibited six good
Gloxinias, among them being fine plants of Haacke, shaded purple ;
Stellata, white, with carmine throat, fine ; and Castilloni, pale rose, with
bright carmine throat. These are fine varieties of the erecta section,
the upright growing Gloxinias, and are much superior to the other
varieties for exhibition purposes. Mr. G. Young, gardener to W. Stone,
Esq., Dulwich, also sent 12 Gloxinias, the best sorts being Imperial, a
fine light coloured variety ; Carminata splendens, Duke of Wellington,
Maria Van Houtte, and Victoria Regina. Mr. Forsyth, gardener to
Baron Rothschild, contributed a collection of seedling Calceolarias, fine
varieties, but small plants ; and Mr. Lavey, gardener to E. A. De Gram,
Esq., of Fitcham, a collection of Petunias and other plants, and a collec-
tion of 24 Ferns. Mr. C. Turner sent 12 fine plants of Cinerarias,
consisting of Emperor of the French, Admiral Dundas, Purple Standard,
Viola, Orlando, Etoile du Vaise, Duchess of Wellington, a fine formed
variety ; Sir C. Napier, Lady Paxtori, Magnum Bonum, Bousie's Optima,
and Brilliant, an extra fine light blue edged variety ; Mr. Wiggins,
gardener to E. Beck, Esq., Isleworth, also sent 12 Cinerarias, among
them being Excelsior, a good variety, and an improvement on Scottish
Chieftain. A collection of good seedling Calceolarias came from Messrs.
Smith, Dulwich. Miscellaneous plants from Mr. Dunsford, Chingford ;

188 THE FLORIST.

seedling Heaths, triumphans rosea and andromedseflora rosea, from
Messrs. Jackson & Sons ; and four fine Azaleas from Messrs. Ivery &
Son, of Dorking : these were Beauty of Reigate, a handsome striped
white variety, of Lateritia habit ; Iveryana, .also a handsome striped
variety ; Criterion, and Rosea superba. Messrs. Ivery also exhibited a
collection of Azaleas, among which we particularly noticed Criterion,
Trotteriana, bright rosy carmine, and a free bloomer ; Lord llaglan, pale
salmon pink, large, but deficient in form andsubstance ; General Williams,
a fine variety, pale orange scarlet, of good form ; and the beautiful Crispi-
flora. From this firm also came cut fiowers of Rhododendron ponticum
coccineum, very deep rich scarlet, fine truss, one of the parents evidently
being arborea. Messrs. Dobson & Son staged 12 Pansies in pots, the
sorts being Queen Victoria, Omar Pacha, Father Gavazzi, Mary Taylor,
Marian, Emperor, Aurora, Satisfaction, Nonpareil, Great Western,
Constance, and Topaz. Some of these subjects received awards, but
owing to the difficulty of getting a full report, the company being so
numerous, we are unable to give them further.

Fruit. — Only one collection was sent, by Mr. Fleming, of Trentham.
It contained a well coloured and swelled Moscow Queen Pine, very fine
Black Hamburgh Grapes, some beautifully ripened Nectarines, good
Bi'itish Queen Strawberries, two nice Melons, two dishes of Plums (well
ripened), and fine May Duke Cherries.

In letter B, collections of Pine-apples, Mr. Davis exhibited a fine
collection, which obtained the first prize, containing Providence, Black
Jamaicas, one Blood Pine, Enville, and several Queens — in all, thirteen.
The next prize was awarded to Mr. Nichol, Oxton Park, Devon, for an
Enville Providence and Cayenne. Mr. Hobinson, of Hedson, also
exhibited three fine Providence Pines in this class, but being all the
same variety, -the judges could only award them an extra prize of the
first class. For single specimens of Providence, Mr. Davis was first
with a well swelled fruit ; Mr. Robinson, second ; and Mr. Bailey,
Shardelowes, third : these were all well swelled fruit for the season.
For single fruit of the Queen, Mr. Turnbull, of Blenheim, was first
with a well swelled fi-uit ; Mr. Davis, second ; Mr. Jones, Dovvlais,
South Wales, third, with a fine fruit rather past its best ; and Mr.
Peed, of Norwood, fourth. In Jamaicas, Mr. Davis, of Oak Hill, was
first, with a well-grown Jamaica ; Mr. Jones, second, with the same ;
Mr. Taylor, Streatham, third, with a smooth Cayenne, a nice fruit ;
Mr. Turnbull, fourth, with a prickly Cayenne, over-ripe.

For collections of three dishes of Grapes, Mr. Turnbull, gardener to
the Duke of Marlborough, Blenheim, was awarded the first prize. His
collection contained very fine Muscats, very good St. Peter's, and well-
ripened Black Hamburgh ; the second prize was given to Mr. Monroe,
gardener to Mrs. Oddie, Colney Hatch, for Grizzly Frontignan, Black
Hamburgh, and Sweetwater ; a third prize was also given to I\Ir. Tegg,
Roehampton. Single dishes of Black Hamburgh : A large number of
dishes was exhibited. The best were sent by Mr. Davis, of Oak Hill,
and were fine specimens of gocd cultivation; the second })rize fell to
Mr. Clarke, of Hoddesdon, for fruit not much inferior to the above ; the
3rd, to Mr. E. Bundle, Streatham ; fourth, to Mr. Spary, Brighton —

these latter were rather small, but were intensely black and well-
ripened. For single dishes of Frontignans, &c., the first prize was
gained by Mr. Henderson, of Coleorton, with the Grizzly ; the second
prize was given to Mr. Reid, gardener to J. Hunt, Esq., Sydenham,
for Chasselas Musque. For single dishes of Muscats, Mr. TurnbuU's
were the dishes selected for the first prize ; these were good both in
bunch and berry, and tolerably ripe : some others exhibited were not
considered ripe enough for exhibition. In class J, Sweetwaters, &c.,
Mr. Davis was first with some beautifully ripened Sweetwaters ; Mr.
Jackson, Lambeth, was second for a dish but littie behind the first ;
]\Ir. f mith, gardener to — Ricardo, Esq., third ; and Mr. Williams,
Hoddesdon, fjurth, for fine and well-ripened Muscadines.

For single dishes of Peaches, Mr. Gardner, gardener to Sir George
Phillips, had some well-ripened Royal George, which were placed first;
Mr. Fleming was second with Royal George ; Mr. Evans, gardener to
C. D. Newdegate, Esq., M.P., Arbury, Warwickshire, for Violette
Hative ; and Mr. Hill, fourth, with Hoyal George.

Nectarines were very good. Mr. Fleming was first with a dish of
large well-coloured Violette Hative ; Mr. Hill, second, with the same ;
Mr. Evans, gardener to C. D. Newdegate, Esq., M.P., was third.

The prize for the heaviest Melon was awarded to Mr. Boreham, for
Orion, weighing 5 lbs. In the next class (Green-flesh), Mr. Boreham
was also first for the same variety ; the second prize was given to Mr.
Nichol, gardener at Oxon House, Devon, for a small but highly-
flavoured Melon called Marnal Patamn ; the same grower had also a
fine Bromham Hall. Of scarlet-fleshed Melons, the only one was from
Mr. Ewing, Bodorgan, a fine-flavoured variety and handsome fruit.

For single dishes of Figs, equal first prizes were given to Mr.
Richards, Grinston, York, and Mr. Busby, Stockwood ; the second to
Mr. Tegg ; and fourth to Mr. Bain, gardener to — Perkins, Esq.

Collections of Cherries — three dishes : Mr. Fleming, first, with
Elton, Black Eagle, and May Duke — all excellent fruit ; second, Mr.
Evans, Arbury, with Early Purple Griotte, Circassian, and Duke. Single
dishes : 1st, Mr. Shute, gardener to Lord Wilton, Heaton, for May
Duke ; 2nd, Mr. Evans ; 3rd, Mr. Monroe ; Extra, Mr. Fleming.

Plums : Mr. Fleming for Early Prolific, a dark purple fruit.

Strawberries — three dishes : 1st, Mr. Ewing, Bodorgan, for good
Queens, Bicton White (a dirty looking fruit), and Keens' Seedling ;
2nd, Mr. Turnbull. Single dishes: 1st, Mr. Dunsford, for fine Queens;
2nd, Mr. Gillham, for very good Keens ; 3rd, Mr. Ingram, gardener
to — Blandy, Esq., Reading, for exceedingly well-grown Alice Maudes.

Mr Forsyth, of Gunnersbury Park, exhibited four pot Vines (Black
Hamburghs), in fruit. We counted twenty-one bunches of nicely grown
and coloured fruit on the four Vines.

Miscellaneous class : 1st, Mr. Davis, for a basket of his fine Black
Hamburgh Grapes ; 2nd, Mr. Spary, for a nearly similar basket— the
fruit smaller, but very highly coloured ; 2nd, Mr. Allport, for Black
Frontignan Grapes. Mr. Hill, for Black Prince (fine) ; Mr. Williams,
Hoddesdon, for Citrons ; Mr. Clarke, for ditto, new variety ; Mr. Till-
yard, Heckfield, for some exceedingly well preserved Pears, were like-
wise awarded prizes in this class, in the order we place them.

190 THE FLORIST.

The exhibition altogether was most successful, and Mr. Eyles and hi s
staff of assistants were unremitting in their exertions for the accommo-
dation of the exhibitors.

CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR JUNE.

Auriculas. — By no means allow these plants to become saturated
with too much rain. Follow generally the treatment recommended
last month.

Azaleas. — Any young plants of new kinds, which it may be desirable
to increase in size, should be shifted into larger pots and should be kept
in the closest part of the house, and should be shaded in very bright
weather and syringed daily. See previous Calendars.

Camellias. — Many of the early flowering kinds will now show their
bloom buds. If wanted to flower early they must still be kept warm,
but the atmosphere must be kept drier ; discontinue syringing, for if
kept too moist it will induce a second growth, which generally spoils the
bloom. Prepare some strong turfy loam and peat for potting them
next month.

Carnations and Picotees. — The staking of these having been by
this time completed, keep the plants clean of all dead foliage, as well as
aphides. Remove the surface of the soil, should it become sour, and
top-dress both pots and beds with good rich soil. It will be of ad-
vantage to turn the pots round occasionally. The pots must not be
stood on the ground, but be kept well drained by being placed on strips
of slate or wood.

Cold Frames. — Though the plants which have occupied these during
the winter and spring will now be all planted out, they should not be
empty one single day. They can be turned to a variety of purposes ;
either to grow tender annuals, or Melons and Cucumbers, or soft-
wooded greenhouse plants.

Conservatory and SJww-house. — Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, Fuchsias,
Roses, &c., wfll assist in keeping up a good display of flowers. Observe
the most scrupulous order and cleanliness. Give plenty of air, and in
fine weather leave the lights open all night. Attend to the tying and
regulating of tlie creepers. All planted-out specimens in a growing
state should have liberal supplies of water, and occasionally a good dose
of liquid manure.

Cucumbers. — Keep up a regular bottom heat ; do not let the shoots
get crowded. Attend to directions in former Calendars.

Dahlias. — These having been grown into good plants as previously
recommended, should now be planted out, choosing a fine day when
the soil is tolerably dry. Use a little fine rich soil for planting them
in, after turning in a few spits of rotten manure underneath the spot
marked out for planting them out. The distance from each plant
should be from four to five feet, according to the nature of the soil. If
it be rich and deep, the Dahlia grows to a much larger size than it
does in a poor or very stiff soil. Stake them securely as they are planted.

JUNE. 191

Flower Garden. — In dry weather water all newly-planted flowers :
this should be done towards night and effectively, rather than too often.
Arrange and fix with pegs in the proper places, the shoots of Verbenas,
Petunias, &c. Attend to stirring of the soil amongst Pelargoniums,
Calceolarias, &c. Plant annuals and sow for autumn bloom. Stake
perennial and other tall-growing plants as they advance in growth.

Fruit {Hardy). — Thin and nail in the shoots of Peaches and Nec-
tarines, leaving as little wood to be removed at the winter pruning as
possible ; thin the fruit to about one foot apart in a general way ; but
on strong vigorous growing trees they may be left much thicker, whilst
on weak growing trees they should be left much farther apart. By this
means the weak growing trees will have a chance to make stronger
woods, and the luxuriance of the more vigorous growing trees will be
checked. Thin the fruit of Apricots, and stop and thin shoots. Net
Cherries from birds. If any caterpillars appear on the Gooseberry
bushes, dust them with white hellebore immediately ; this will effectually
stop them. Thin the shoots of Figs, and do not on any account either
stop or lay in the shoots that are left. Secure the young shoots of
grafts.

Greenhouse {hard-wooded). — After the middle of the month all the
large specimens of the stronger growing and more hardy plants, such as
Acacias, &c., should be placed out of doors in rather a sheltered, shaded
situation. All the tenderer and more delicate kinds should remain in
the house. The young stock ought to have the protection of a cold
frame, or pit ; they should have plenty of air, and should be slightly
shaded in very bright weather ; water in the afternoons. Shift any
plants that require it. Soft-vooded Plants. — These must not be
allowed to suffer for want of water ; they will now be commencing
flowering, and should have more air.

Hollyhocks. — Stake and securely tie the spikes as they start for
bloom. If dry weather sets in, keep them well watered after mulching,
i.e., placing some half rotten manure round each plant.

KitchenGarden. — Thin all crops that require it, and hoe deeply
among them, leaving the soil light and porous. Sow Peas for late
crops ; sow Lettuces, Radishes, and Spinach for succession ; sow French
Beans and Scarlet Runners ; sow Endive, Turnips, and Coleworts.
Plant out Celery in well prepared trenches ; plant Leeks ; plant out
Broccoli of sorts, Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, &c. If ground be limited,
Brussels Sprouts and Borecoles may be planted between the rows of
early Ash-leaved Kidney Potatoes, and the sooner they are planted the
better. Plant Cauliflowers and Lettuces for succession.

Melons. — Keep up a regular bottom -heat to late crops by renewing
the linings Do not let the foliage get too crowded, and let the fruit have
the sun. Water late crops, but those with fruit approaching maturity
should not have any.

Orchard House. — Go frequently over the trees to thin and stop the
shoots ; do not on any account retain too much, it is a very frequent
and a very great mistake to do so. Thin finally alMhe fruit ; and here
also I would caution not letting too many fruit remain on the trees. Give
air freely, and water Uberally with liquid manure. Syringe daily, to
keep down red spider.

192 THE FLORIST.

Peach-forcing. — Keep a drier atmosphere and give more air in the
early houses, but in the late ones maintain a moist warm atmosphere.
Water inside borders liberally ; give air early and abundantly in the
forenoon ; shut up early in the afternoon, syringing the trees well at the
same time, and well wetting the paths, borders, &c. Keep down
insects.

Pansies. — Propagating should now have especial attention. Healthy
cuttings strike readily in a shady border. Procure seed as often as it
can be gathered in a ripe state.

Pelargoniums. — Here will be much to do as regards seedlings and
new varieties, in comparison with the old. Careful shading and water-
ing will prolong the bloom, but in other respects there is not much to
be done before the general cutting down.

Pinery. — Give the plants regular supplies of water ; fruiters may
have liquid manure every other time, and the young plants occasionally.
Syringe every afternoon, excepting any in bloom. The young plants
will now be growing freely ; those not shifted last month should now
have larger pots ; the roots should never become very matted before
they are shifted. When potted they should be kept rather close, and
slightly shaded for a few days ; afterwards, they should have all the light
and air possible.

Pinks. — This month is the month for Pinks. Both blooming and
propagating must have good attention, and both is perfectly easy if set
about in a proper manner, and at the proper time.

Pleasure Grounds. — Attend to the regular routine.

Stove. — Guard against thrips and red spider, which, if not well
watched, will soon increase on many stove plants. Do not stint any
for pot room, and do not on any account let any of the plants stand too
close together. Syringe plants not in flower and keep everything
perfectly clean.

Roses. — The check vegetation has received during the last month has
been so favourable for the increase of the aphides and Rose maggots,
that more than ordinary vigilance must be exercised to keep them in
check. So soon as the blossom buds are formed, liquid manure will be
found very advantageous in increasing the size of the blossom.

Strawberries. — In order to have good plants for early forcing next
season, runners should be layered in small-sized pots as soon as
possible ; one, or at most two in a pot, is quite sufficient.

Tulips. — Collections growing in some localities will be ready for
lifting by the latter part of this month. The bloom has been short-
lived when not protected from an early time. Many beds have been
failures this season, others have been altogether fine. We shall review
the bloom in our next. For the present we recommend the perusal of
the meeting of the Royal National Tulip Society, given in the present
number.

Vinery. — After the fruit is gathered from the first houses, the
greatest care must be taken to keep the foliage in as green and
healthy a state as possible. Keep the house containing ripe fruit dry,
and give abundance of air. Grapes that are colouring should have
plenty of air ; attend to later houses, and keep fire heat while in
bloom.

AnirtMsDiIJp Si'lincc.

Ei-odfldfiaSxciL Eookeri

Ihnted-hC.Chaict

193

RHODODENDRON HOOKERL

(Plate 115.)

TniS fine Rhododendron is one of a number of remarkable species
discovered in Assam and Bhotan by Thos. J, Booth, iisq., and
introduced by him to English gardens. The one we now figure
has bloomed this present spring with Mr. Fairie, of Liverpool.
Messrs. E. G. Henderson, of Wellington Road — an enterprising
firm — have purchased the entire stock of these Rhododendrons
from Mr. Booth, which includes twelve species, and which will, we
doubt not, prove equal, if they do not surpass, the splendid species
of the same tribe, introduced from Sikkim by Dr. Hooker, some
of which, including R. Edgworthi and Dalhousise, have already
flowered in this country. We are told respecting the present
group, that amongst these brilliant discoveries from the Bhotan
Alps are the most wonderful sized flowers, delicious fragrance,
and distinct colours of any that are known to exist in this gorgeous
tribe of plants. We are therefore the no less indebted to Mr.
Booth than to Dr. Joseph Hooker, for having enriched our
gardens with these magnificent natives of the Indian Alps.

Considering the many grand plants which yet remain in Bhotan,
Nepal, Cashmere, and adjoining districts, we are surprised that
none of our enterprising nurserymen have thought it worth their
while to send a collector for the purpose of procuring the many
treasures yet unknown beyond their native haunts. Those of our
readers who have been fortunate enough to have seen the splendid
work on the plants of Nepal and Cashmere, edited by Dr. Hooker,
from drawings made on the spot by Lieut. Cathcart, will be able
to form some idea of the magnificent plants yet to be introduced,
and whose value will be additionally enhanced by the fact that
they may be expected to prove hardy. It is not more than 20
years ago when nothing but K.ponticum,catawbiense,and maximum
worth naming, were cultivated in this country ; and these, though
very valuable introductions at the time (and useful plants still),
possessed but a poor variety of colour, the prevailing tints being
a dull or rosy purple. By crossing these with the scarlet-flowered
arboreum from Nepal a strain was obtained having scarlet flowers
but retaining the tender habit of their Indian parent. This pro-
geny was again crossed with hardy kinds, and so up to the present
dav, when our collections (as may be now witnessed, and to
which our pages this month amply refer), present us with every
intermediate shade of colour between intense scarlet, rich purple,
and down to a pure white, produced on plants in every respect
hardy. This great triumph of the hybridiser's art has already
produced a great improvement in our gardens; and from the
quantities which are annually raised by the great growers of

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXVII. 0

194 THE FLORIST.

American plants, the demand for them must be great. Amongst
the many names of those who have been successful raisers of
hybrid Rhododendrons, are Mr. Burn, of Tottenham Park,
Wilts, whose display of his own seedlings at Tottenham is worth
Visiting; Mr. Carton, late of Highclerc, Hants, who raised
many magnificent varieties, some of which may now be seen.
(Mr. Carton was warmly supported in this branch of gardening by
J. R. Gowen, Esq.) Messrs. John and Hosea Waterer, of
Bagshot and Knap Hill ; Messrs. Lee, Hammersmith ; Messrs.
Standish and Noble, Bagshot ; Mr. Baker, and many others.

That the species now introduced will prove a valuable material
in the hands of the hybridisers there can be no doubt. But very
few of our present hybrids are fragrant ; the Bhotan as well as
some of the Sikkim species are deliciously so, and this fact,
we know, is not escaping the notice of these indefatigable culti-
vators ; we may therefore expect, in the course of time, to see the
size and colour of these Asiatic species added to the habit of
plants now in common cultivation ; and, to crown the whole,
with their exquisite fragrance too.

TEDWORTH HOUSE, WILTS.

(Continued from page 170).
The kitchen-garden at Tedworth is, as may be supposed, extensive,
and, besides a large breadth of vegetable and fruit ground, contains a
number of forcing-houses ; — Pines, Peaches, Grapes, Plums, Cherries,
and Apricots are forced here in large quantities. The houses in which
these fruits are grown are principally of the lean-to description, and
have mostly been erected by Mr. Bandars. We need hardly remind
our readers that Mr. Sandars has for many years paid great attention
to fruit culture, and is the author of a very useful little work on the
culture of the Vine, which contains the result of his experience, as
practised at Tedworth, and of which Mr. S. informed us he was pre-
paring a second edition. To return to our subject : — there are several
houses devoted solely to Grapes (which are supplied throughout the
year), two large Peach houses, and a range, in two divisions, for Plums,
Cherries, and Apricots, besides Pineries, and a great number of pits,
&c. The earliest crops of Grapes are furnished by Vines in pots, of
which a large number are grown ; at the time of our visit (the third
week in May), one crop had been cleared and a second was then ripe,
among which were some very excellent Muscats, quite ripe. We next
found a house filled with Black Hamburghs, about half swelled.
These Vines have borne heavy crops for more than twenty years, and
are still very vigorous, as their wood and luxuriant leaves bore witness,
and produce very superior fruit. Mr. Sandars thins out his bunches
more than is usually done, aiming at having large berries, some of
which, he informed us, he has measured in past seasons, and found to
be five inches in circumference, and we have no doubt that this season

JULY. 195

some of them will be equally large. There are two houses exclusively
devoted to the Muscat Grape, which is a great favourite with Mr.
Assheton Smith. The border, in both houses, occupies the body of the
house, excepting the path along the back. The Vines are planted in
the middle of the house, two together — one being trained downwards
towards the front, and the other towards the back. In one of the houses
the Vines have been planted many years, and, notwithstanding that
their roots are confined within the limited area of the interior of the
house, produce large crops of fine fruit, and the Vines were growing
vigorously. This fact should teach us that Vines may be kept for years
at the highest pitch of health and productiveness with a very limited space
for their roots, when well managed in other respects. The second house of
Muscats is planted and trained in a similar manner ; but in the case of
these, as the house was larger and the Vines had more room to grow,
he has allowed them to pass through the arches of the front wall to a
narrow border outside. Nothing can exceed the health of these Vines,
nor the quality of their produce. Respecting the economy of planting
Vines so thick as Mr. Sandars does, as compared with the ordinary practice
of one to a rafter, we are of opinion that for Muscats, and perhaps one
or two other kinds of Grapes, this plan has its advantages, as we think
heavier crops can be obtained under a given space of glass, than where
one Vine only is planted. As to the advantage of having the principal
part of the roots of Muscats within the house, there is, in our mind, no
doubt whatever, as in this case the roots are under the direct control of
the manager. If we remember correctly, the late Mr. John Wilniot
was of opinion that for Muscats, planting thick, allowing a limited space
to each Vine, and taking five, or six, or eight bunches from each, was
the best plan of securing heavy crops ; and we recollect seeing, a few
years back, several houses planted in this way at his establishment at
Isleworth. The house to produce the last Grapes, which are retarded
until the early Grapes come in, is planted with Barbarossa — a variety
now admitted to be very valuable as a late Grape, as we have noticed
in a separate article in our past volumes. These are turned outside
the house after the fruit is cut, and the house is occupied by a variety
of forced articles, while the Vines are having their winter.

There is one point respecting the mode by which Mr. Sandars keeps
his late Grapes which deserves special notice. The Grapes, when ripe,
are not permitted to remain on the Vines ; Mr. S. considering that
when once the fruit is ripe, it can be better and more economically
preserved, when cut and kept in a suitable room, than by letting
them remain on the Vines. His practice is, therefore, with the last
houses of Muscats, &c. — say towards tlie middle of December — to cut
the fruit with the wood attached to the bunch ; the cut end of the shoot
is closed over with sealing-wax, and the bunches are taken to a dry
and dark room, where they are suspended from the ceiling on rods
which are placed across the room, and on temporary tressels : the
bunches must on no account touch each other, and will require looking
over once in a week, to remove any berries which may happen to get
mouldy among them. Mr. Sandars informed us he has practised this
for years, and keeps the Grapes without shrivelling, and in very good
condition for the table, until the beginning of the March, by which time

196 THE FLORIST.

the early forced Grapes are ripe. There can be no doubt that after
Grapes are once ripe they will keep better when cut in the manner
described and hung in a dry dark room where a uniform temperature
of something like 40° can be maintained, than when allowed to
remain on the Vines. The great drawback to keeping Grapes
through the winter is damp and the action of the sun's rays,
which, by exciting a circulation in the sap of the Vines, tends to
produce decay in the ripe fruit. We were ourselves forcibly reminded
of this at the end of last February with a house of the St. Peter's.
The mild warm weather of that month put the sap in rapid motion,
and we found it even exude from the berries, which rapidly decayed in
consequence. Now, had these Grapes been cut previously, and kept
according to the plan of Mr. Sandars, this would not have happened,
and the Grapes would, we doubt not, have kept till the end of ]\Iarch.
The economy of the system must be obvious to all ; the expense of
firing houses with retarded Grapes is great, particularly in wet weather,
as air must be given largely at the same time, and this expense is
increased when, as often is the case, only a few Grapes are left, as
they are just the same trouble. We need not say, as an additional
recommendation, that when the fruit is cut the house can be used for a
variety of purposes, which would be impossible when it contained the
fruit. As the best plan for fruit rooms is now often discussed, we hope
a dry compartment for the above and other similar purposes will be
connected with it, as one of the most useful garden structures which
could be built where fruit has to be kept, and which no good garden
should be without.

The Peach houses are of the usual lean-to form, the trees being
trained close under the glass. We found fine crops, and were pleased
to see the White Nectarine successfully grown with others. On one
side of the Melon ground is the range devoted to Cherries, &c. ; this is
likewise a lean-to erection ; Cherries occupy the back wall. A semi-
circular trellis runs along in front, on which are trained Plums,
Cherries, and Apricots ; one division had been cleared of the Cherries,
while the Plums and Apricots were progressing ; the trees are all
planted permanently, and nothing could exceed their health, and we
never saw finer fruit ; the Royal Duke, Churchill's Heart, Bigarreau,
and Elton were particularly fine. We have purposely noticed the
forcing houses being of the common lean-to form, as we are convinced
that for early forcing they are much superior ; and as Mr. Sandars'
Cherries, &c., have been hard forced for several years, and the trees are
now as healthy and productive as they can possibly be, we think the
planting the above fruits permanently to remain in the houses much
preferable and far less trouble than growing them in pots, as is usually
done. The Pinery was well filled with plants ; many of the fruit had
been cut, as Pines are chiefly in demand here during the season from
November to April, but a number were swelling off for the summer.

Forced Asparagus is in great demand here throughout the winter ;
the beds are planted in the open ground, with a trench three feet wide
between each ; these are filled with a mixture of leaves and stable dung
a month or so before the crop is wanted, which excites the roots to
action, and the beds at the same time are covered with a span-roofed

JULY. 197

glass frame about one foot high on the side, with arrangements for
giving air and cuttiwg the grass. By this process Asparagus is obtained
of excellent quality and with httle trouble. Glass frames have this
advantage over wooden ones : they admit light, and the grass has in
consequence the green colour and flavour of out-door produce. The
beds are forced each alternate year, and have been now worked for 20
years, and appear as strong and as good as four year old beds. Mr.
Sandars informed us he allowed the dung to remain between the beds
the year they rested, which materially helped the beds, and he did not
find cutting the roots away where the trenches were cleared out for
forcing at all injure the plants, as the fact of their lasting so long
sufficiently demonstrates.

We have overrun our space, and some other notes we made must
stand over, and we cannot conclude without thanking Mr. Sanders for
his kindness in imparting to us the many interesting points in his
practice.

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, REGENT'S PARK.
May 28. — This, the first exhibition of this Society this season, was in
every respect first-rate. Generally, however, the plants were the same
as those exhibited at the Crystal Palace on the 24th, and which were
fully described by us in our last number. No prizes were offered for
fruit on this occasion, and as a matter of course none was shown.
The number of new plants was also very limited. Azaleas, pot Roses,
Orchids, and Pelargoniums were fresh and most gorgeous. Mr. Beck
changed places with Mr. Foster on this occcasion with Pelargoniums,
I\Ir. Foster being first at the Crystal Palace, but second only here.
The prizes generally were taken by the same exhibitors as at the
Palace. Florists' flowers in a cut state were far from being plentiful ;
there was, however, a fine collection of Tulips, 72 blooms, embracing
many of the leading kinds. Pansies were not good ; the only collection
well coloured was from Mr. James, of Isleworth. Seedling Pelargoniums
consisted of Viola (Hoyle), Matilda (Hoyle), Rose Raglart (Hoyle),
Conspicuum (Turner), Mr. Hoyle (Turner), Carminatum (fancy),
Emperor (ditto), Helen Faucit (ditto). The few new plants shown
were contributed by Messrs. Veitch, Messrs. Henderson, and Mr.
Linden. Mr. Barnes, of Bicton, sent cones and catkins of Araucaria
imbricata. The afternoon, unfortunately, was wet, preventing many
from enjoying one of the best, if not the best exhibition of the season.

June 18. — This, the second show, was very successful, both as
regards the collections of plants and company. The day was very fine.
On this occasion there was the additional attraction of fruit, and the
wonderful exhibition of American plants alluded to elsewhere. There
were not so many large specimens of stove and greenhouse plants
perhaps as we have formerly seen, but what were shown were generally
well flowered and fresh. Pot Roses were not so good as they were last
month, and the out-door Roses, being late, this beautiful class of flowers
was by no means strongly represented.

Large collections of stove and greenhouse plants came from Mr. May,

198 THE FLORIST.

gardener to H. Colyer, Esq., of Dartford, to whom the first prize was
awarded. Among them were Dipladenia crassinoda, beautifully
flowered; Ixora javanica, with abundance of orange coloured blossoms ;
some huge specimens of Aphelexis, Epacrises, and Pimeleas ; Rondeletia
speciosa in full growth and well flowered ; the pale yellow AUamanda
grandiflora, and a large bush of Dillwynia clavata. Next came Mr.
Taylor's collection from Streatham. It contained Adenandra fragrans ;
Aphelexis spectabilis grandiflora, literally a ball of blossoms ; Pimelea
hispida, and Ixora coccinea. Mr. Peed showed Cyrtoceras reflexum,
in good condition ; Epacris miniata, two well flowered Azaleas, and
Pimelea Plendersoni. Of other plants in this class Mr. Barter had
Roella ciliata, covered with handsome blue blossoms ; Dipladenia
crassinoda, Statice arborea, and AUamanda grandiflora, from the same
exhibitor, were also excellent specimens of good cultivation. Of groups
of 16 plants the above may be said to have been the cream. In the
Nurserymen's Class of 12 Stove and Greenhouse Plants the first prize
was awarded to Mr. Cutbush, of Barnet, in whose group were beautiful
bushes of Aphelexis, Polygalas, Heaths, and Statices. Messrs. Eraser
had Statice Holfordi, Pimelea Hendersoni, Rhynchospermum jasmini-
oides, and the bright red-flowered Azalea refulgens. — In collections of
10 Stove and Greenhouse Plants, Mr. Carson, gardener to W. F. G.
Farmer, Esq., had an excellent Musssenda frondosa, covered with large
white floral bracts, in which the beauty of the plant resides ; two Ever- •
lastings, two Allamandas, two Polygalas, and two handsome Azaleas.
Mr. Green sent Epacris miniata, beautifully flowered, and certainly the
finest plant in his collection. Mr. Green also showed Allamandas,
Azaleas, and Everlastings. Mr. Dods' collection contained Phsenocoma
proliferum in good condition, and Aphelexis humilis rosea, a fine kind
with large showy blossoms. Among Mr. Morris's plants were Hoya
imperialis and campanulata, the latter with numerous bunches of
greenish-yellow saucer-shaped blossoms. — Stove and Greenhouse
Plants, in sixes, came from Messrs. Roser, Williams, Morris, and
others. Among them were Aphelexis macrantha purpurea. Erica
Cavendishi, Eriostemon buxifolium, Abelia floribunda, a handsome
greenhouse shrub ; Ixora coccinea, and Stephanotis. Mr. Hamp
showed Relhania squarrosa, a plant with bright yellow Chrysanthemum-
like flowers, and Mitraria coccinea.

Tall Cacti were shown by Mr. Mortimer, in whose group we
remarked the white Cereus crenatus, and Mr. Green ; and a beautiful
seedling, a cross from Cereus speciosissimus, came from Mr. Davey, of
Colney Hatch. Each petal was of a beautiful violet colour with a rib
of red down the centre.

Orchids were not very numerous. In groups of 20, Mr. Gedney, of
Hoddesdon, was first ; it contained the seldom seen Galeandra Funcki^
Lycaste Skinneri, beautifully flowered ; Phalsenopsis, Cattleya Mossice,
Harrisonise, and superba, the latter a very handsome crimson, with
yellow-streaked lip ; Calanthe Masuca, and Aerides maculosum.
Among Mr. Woolley's plants, which stood next, were Dendrobium
transparens, a small-flowered species but extremely pretty ; Barkeria
spectabilis ; Cattleya intermedia and superba, the latter with two
blooms on it ; Sacrolabium guttatum, the white Phaius, and Sobralia

JULY. 199

macrantha ; the last was better flowered than ever we remember to
have seen it. Orchids in groups of 12 plants came from Mr. Keel,
gardener to J. Butler, Esq., of Woolwich, who was first. His collection
contained Cattleya Mossise and aurantiaca ; Dendrobium tortile, with
sulphur-coloured trumpet- shaped lip ; and Laelia cinnabarina. Mr.
Clarke, of Hoddesdon, had Epidendrum macrochilum, with large white
lip stained with purple ; Phaius Wallichi and Oncidium stramineum,
the last more rare than beautiful. — In collections of six Orchids, Mr.
Grix, gardener to A. Palmer, Esq., of Cheam, was first. His group
contained a large and fine Aerides odoratum, also A. crispum, a mass
of flower. Mr. Carson showed Dendrochilon filiforme, with long tails
of green blossoms ; Saccolabium Blumei, which is one of the hand-
somest of the genus ; and Oypripedium barbatum superbum. Mr.
Dods had Anguloa Ruckeri, two beautifully flowered Stanhopeas,
especially S. tigrina, and Cattleya Mossise. Mr. Morris sent Acineta
Humboldti, Maxillaria tetragona, and the deep brown and purple-
flowered Epidendrum Hanburyanum, a distinct-looking kind, which is
not so common as it ought to be.

To Roses in pots we have already referred. They came from
Messrs. Lane and Francis. Mr. Lane's Persian Yellow was fine, and
so was his Miss Glegg. Some other kinds, such as Paul Perras,
Duchess of Sutherland, Louise Peyronney, Great Western, and
Souvenir de Malmaison were also " well done." Mr. Paul had some
boxes of cut blooms ; but in the crowded state in which the tents were,
we could not get near enough them to closely inspect them.

Cape Heaths were shown in good condition. Among the different
varieties were tricolor Wilsoni and other sorts belonging to that class ;
metulaeflora, denticulata moschata, depressa, ventricosa grandiflora,
Cavendishi, propendens, Bergiana, mutabilis, ampuUacea, gemmifera,
and tortiliflora.

Of plants having fine foliage Mr. Parker and Messrs. Henderson sent
collections, in which were Fern.^-, some pretty Lycopods, including L.
IMartinsi, the variegated Hydrangea, Caladiums, Rhopalas, and
variegated Orchids. The plants composing these groups were, however,
for the most part, small, and therefore made but little display.

Ferns were shown by Mr. Fletcher and others. Among them were
Woodsia Ilvensis, Hymenophyllum Tunbridgense, and other rare kinds.
Their arrangement was judicious and good, and the eye, tired with
looking at gayer objects, turned to these inhabitants of our woods and
glens with delight.

Pelargoniums were good and numerous, and formed one of the chief
features of the day. Mr. Turner was first for twelve finely grown and
Avell bloomed plants ; they were Sanspareil, Lucy, Astrea, Governor-
General, Painter Improved, Esther, Enchantress, Virgin Queen, Carlos,
Queen Eleanor, Rowena, and Leonora. Messrs. Dobson sent the next
best collection. These were large, finely grown plants, but thin of
bloom. The finest plants in this collection were Arab, Delicatum,
Astrea, Painter Improved, Fidelis, and Arethusa. Messrs. Fraser, of
Lea Bridge ; Mr. Gaines, of Battersea ; and Mr. Cutbush, of High-
gate, exhibited in this class, and were awarded prizes in the order

200 THE FLORIST.

they are given. — For collections of 10 plants, private growers, Mr. Nye,
gardener to E. Foster, Esq., Clewer Manor, was first, with a select lot
of plants, some of which were exceedingly well bloomed. Attraction,
Golden Fleece, Enchantress, Carlos, Purple Perfection, and Seraskier,
were very fine. Mr. Holder, gardener to the Rev. E. Coleridge, was
second : these were large plants, of good kinds, but a little drawn.
Mr. Windsor, gardener to A. Blyth, Esq. ; and Mr. Weir, gardener to
J. Hodgson, Esq., sent ten plants each, but they were indifferently
flowered. The most interest attaches to the class of six plants, new
varieties, open to all growers ; we therefore give the whole of the
names. 1st, Mr. C. Turner, with Snowflake, Wonderful, Lord
Raglan, Phaeton, Omar Pacha, and Admirable ; 2nd, Mr. Nye, gar-
dener to E. Foster, Esq., with Wonderful, Saracen (these two were
very fine). The Clipper, Edith, Sparkler, and Phaeton ; 3rd, ]\Iessrs.
Dobson, with Wonderful, Conqueror, Gem of the West, Fandango,
Mr. White, and Commander-in-Chief; 4th, Mr. Gaines, with Eugenie
Duval, Feu Follett, Wonderful, Raphael, Argus, and James Odior.
The Gem of the West in Messrs. Dobson's collection was very fine.
Mr. Gaines's plants were one and all poor in the extreme. It will be
seen that one variety, namely, Wonderful, was in all four collections.
Fancies were never seen so fine before. The best six, sent by Mr.
Turner, were covered with bloom, and good blooms too ; four of the
plants were very large : they consisted of Celestial, Evening Star, Lady
Hume Campbell, Criterion, Perfection, and Erubescens. Messrs.
Fraser, Mr. Gaines, Messrs. Dobson, and Mr. Cutbush also contributed
to this class. There were also the same number of amateurs who
exhibited fancy varieties. Mr. Bousie, gardener to the Hon. H.
Labouchere, M.P., Stoke Park, was first; Mr. Windsor and Mr. Bray
sent very good collections. Mr. Thompson, of Barnet, sent four very
large plants of the old free-flowering kind, Princess Marie Galitzin.
It is a good grower, but by no means an attractive variety. These
plants created quite a sensation from their immense size ; but when
we consider the large pots they were grown in, they were nothing very
wonderful, and being full of growth did not produce what is termed a
" head " of bloom. The plant of Celestial in the first collection of six
had as much bloom as the four put together, and this was in an eight-
inch pot only.

Fuchsias were beautifully exhibited by Mr. Bousie, Mr. Bray, and
others. Mr. Bousie's collection was very varied. It contained a well-
bloomed plant of the white corolla variety, named Queen Victoria,
figured by us last year.

Ranunculuses were shown very good by Mr. Tyso, of Wallingford.

Calceolarias were shown well by Mr. James. The sorts were Bru-
nette, Fandango, Beauty, Marie, Commander-in-Chief, and Duchess of
Northumberland. Of shrubby kinds Mr. Turner produced the following:
. — Echpse, bright red ; Hebe, yeflow ; Hawk, spotted yellow ; Harle-
quin, spotted yellow and brown ; Albira, a free flowering yellow, slightly
spotted ; and Orange Perfection, extra fine. Some good unnamed
seedlings of the herbaceous class were shown by Messrs. E. (t. Hen-
derson, and some fine shrubby kinds by Mr. Turner, viz. : — King of

JULY. 201

Yellows, a very fine dwarf yellow for bedding ; King of Sardinia, the
best dark ; Orange Boven and Pilot were fine. Mr. Cole, of St.
Albans, also sent some pretty varieties of this class.

Pansies were not good. Mr. Bragg was first ; Messrs. Dobson,
second. There were also two collections from Edinburgh, finely grown
flowers, but had become damaged from the length of tha journey. A
pretty fancy kind, exhibited by Mr. Stark, of Edinburgh, named
Mazeppa, we have seen years ago on the Continent, under the name of
Magpie. It may be compared to some of our fancy Dahlias in its style
of marking, being purple tipped with white. The white extends
down each of the five petals in a three-cornered or wedge shape. There
were some fine new varieties in Messrs. Downie & Laird's collection.

Seedling Pelargoniums were exhibited in large numbers by the prin-
cipal growers, there being a large bank of them, some of which were
great improvements on existing varieties. The first prize for the best
scarlet kind was awarded to Mr. Turner for King of Scarlets. This
is a very bright free flowering variety. The second prize was also
awarded to the same exhibitor for Prince of Prussia, a bright flower,
with large rich blotch on the top petals. It is a large bold flower.
The judges selected the following for certificates : — Spotted Gem
(Turner), the finest of all the varieties, having distinct spots on the
bottom petals; Mr. Beck (Turner), another spotted kind; General
Williams (Turner), a rich dark flower of good shape ; Viola (Hoyle),
pale lavender lower petals, dark top — a distinct new variety. The
following were also good : Symmetry (Foster), a fine bright flower ;
Golden Fleece (Foster), very bright orange scarlet, exceedingly showy ;
Miss Foster (Turner), a dark flower with white centre, very free and
attractive, but not of the finest form ; Agnes (Hoyle), large rose with
white centre ; Standard (Hoyle), large Carlos-like flower, but of finer
form; Bianca (Hoyle), resembling, but finer than Virginia; Marvellous
(Hoyle), a free flowering dark variety with strongly veined bottom
petals, very showy ; Josephine (Hoyle), light purple ; Mr. Hoyle
(Turner), a showy spotted kind; and Conspicuum (Turner), a strongly
marked and beautifully spotted variety. These two latter had certifi-
cates awarded them at the first show. May 28.

In Seedling Fancy Pelargoniums we noticed General Pelissier,
Emperor, Helen Faucit, Sir J. Paxton, Madame Rougiere, King of
the Fancies, and Jenny Ney ; all of which were more or less good, and
considerable improvements. The three first named received certificates.

There were some interesting new bedding plants exhibited. Mr.
Turner sent a basket of the new variegated Geranium, Alma. This
has smoother foliage than most of the variegated kinds, with bright
scarlet flowers ; it is also of good habit, being free flowering. A certi-
ficate was awarded to it ; also to a new striped Petunia, Marquis de
St. Innocent, exhibited by Mr. Turner : this is striped like a Carnation.
There were also three seedlings marked in the style of Picturata, of
very good shape — Gem, Picotee, and Nonsuch.

Mrs. Halford, a new white Verbena, was shown, very good, and is
certainly the best of its class.

Mr. J. Salter, of Hammersmith, sent a collection of herbaceous
Pseonies, which were exceedingly gay. "

202 THE FLORIST.

Mr. Field sent his free flowering Heliotrope, Miss Nightingale.

Messrs. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place, sent a small group of plants,
the most remarkable of which was a finely grown plant of the sweet-
scented white Bouvardia longiflora.

Mr. Cutbush received a certificate for a variegated variety of Shrub-
land Rose Petunia. It is curious, but not very showy.

The best of Cole's seedling shrubby Calceolarias were Model,
Empress, Brilliant, and Nymph.

We also noticed the new double white Petunia, Imperial.

The fruit, as usual, excited a good deal of interest. There were up-
wards of 30 Pine- apples. The heaviest Providence weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz. ;
this was from Mr. Fleming, of Trentham, and obtained the first prize.
The second prize was awarded to Mr. Gilham, for a finely formed and
well finished fruit. There were several other good specimens, but they
were either over or under ripe. The Queen Pines were very superior,
and mostly from growers in Wales. Mr. Jones and Mr. Burn obtained
the chief prizes for handsome fruits averaging 5 lbs. We observed a
very good Lemon Queen from Mr. Jones which weighed 6J lbs., but it
was not nearly ripe, and therefore received no award.

The 1st prize for Black Hamburgh Grapes was justly awarded to
Mr. Fleming ; the bunches were not extraordinary for size, but they
were finely coloured, and had large berries. There were seventeen
exhibitors in this class, but none of the others passed mediocrity. Mr.
Hill, gardener to R. Sneyd, Esq., had first-rate examples of Black
Prince, which were rewarded accordingly. Mr. TurnbuU had the best
Muscats ; they were, however, deficient in that fine golden yellow
which they should possess when in perfection ; but this perhaps must
not be looked for in June. In the Frontignan class Mr. Forbes, of
Woburn, was placed at the top, and in Muscadines Mr. Baillie and
Mr. Clarke were equal. Mr. Turnbull exhibited three bunches of a
seedling Black Grape, but the judges deemed it so like the West's St.
Peter's as to make it no award.

The prize Peaches, as usual, came from Mr. Snow, gardener to Earl
de Grey ; the sort was Noblesse. Mr. Hill and Mr. Drummond were
second with Royal George. In this class there were nineteen exhibitors
and thirteen prizes awarded.

The Nectarines were generally very good and beautifully coloured.
Mr. Davis, of Oakhill, was first, with Violette Hative ; Mr. Ayres and
Mr. Mitchell were good seconds with Elruge. Mr. Monro exhibited
several boxes of this fruit. An extra award was made to Mr. Burn for
an excellent dish of Apricots.

For Plums Mr. Fleming was 1st, with Goliath. In Figs there were
five or six competitors ; Mr. Snow and Mr. Richards were equal with
" Brown Turkey." Mr. Bousie had very good May Duke Cherries,
which were placed on a par w^th Mr. Fleming's Tartarians. Mr. Smith
showed very superior examples of British Queen and Sir Charles
Napier Strawberries, for which the judges gave an extra award.
Mr. Bailey had good examples of Admiral Dundas, a new sort in the
way of British Queen, but coarser. Among others shown were Sir
Harry and Black Prince ; these were stated to have been ripened out
of doors.

JULY. 203

Of ]\Ielons there was a fair display ; Mr. Ruffett and Mr. Bailey
obtained first prizes for Hybrid Greenflesh sorts ; and Mr. Dawson
was first for a Scarlet Hybrid. No second or third prizes were
awarded for Scarlet-fleshed sorts, as they were very deficient in
flavour.

Among Miscellaneous Fruits were Plum trees in pots from Mr.
Fleming ; on one tree of Jefferson, about two feet high, were a
dozen of fruits. Mr. Tillyard had a nice dish of White Currants ;
there were also Strawberries in pots from Mr. Drummond. They
were British Queens and extremely well flavoured.

LIGHT : ITS INFLUENCE ON VEGETATION.
Having in my last expressed an opinion that where the highest points
of cultivation were aimed at, structures specially erected for growing
plants would be adopted, in which all the requirements of light, heat,
and ventilation could be afforded them, I may notice, as regards the
materials of which plant houses and pits should, in my opinion, be
constructed, that nothing so well complies with all the wants of the
cultivator as metal framework glazed with a good quality of sheet glass,
and I consider these materials cheapest in the end ; and as metal bars
may be made very slight in comparison with wood ones, the squares of
glass need not be so large, whereby a saving is effected when repairs
are wanted ; and besides the sashes are really stronger, and there is
less danger from breakage than with wooden ones. It is true more
shading may be considered necessary — which is, however, not true in
the abstract, as I shall notice hereafter.

It is in the early spring, when the annual growth of most plants
commences, that the influence of light is of most importance in producing
short joints and healthy leaves, and again during autumn, when the
ripening of the wood has to be completed, that the advantages of metal
frames, as compared with wooden ones, are made manifest. As regards
the opinion on shading offered above, I may observe that plants grown
under a free exposure to light from early spring are better able to
withstand the brilliant light of a summer's sun than when they have
been grown with a less share of it, and consequently do not require
more or thicker shading than the latter, by reason of their having been
accustomed to more light during their growth ; the same amount of
shading will therefore affect both in an equal degree.

That some plants are more susceptible than others of the influence
of light is obvious enough, from an inspection of plants growing in a
natural state. On this point let me quote what Dr. Lindley has to say
on the subject : — " The capability of plants to bear the action of direct
light varies according to their specific nature. One species is organised
to suit the atmosphere of a dense wood into which diffused light will
only penetrate ; another is planted by nature on the exposed face of a
sunburnt rock, upon which the rays of a shadeless sun are daily
striking ; in these cases the light which is necessary to the one would
be destructive of the other. The organic difference of such species

204 THE FLORIST.

seems to consist chiefly in the epidermis, which regulates the amount
of perspiration. It is, therefore, to be remarked that it is not the
greatest quantity of Hght which can be obtained that is most favour-
able to the healthiness of plants, but the greatest quantity they will
bear without injury." — (Theory of Horticulture, p. 79.) As examples
of plants commonly cultivated, I may notice that the Calceolaria,
Cineraria, and Pelargonium quickly draw and become yellow in the
leaf when not placed near the glass in houses, while the Camellia and
many other plants do not suffer in the same degree, and in fact grow
best in a partial shade.

But the effect light exercises on the functional power of plants is
most strikingly shown when the period for blooming arrives. For as
the great object of the plant's economy is the reproduction of itself by
seed, preceded by the opening of the petals or flowers, which it is the
cultivator's object to produce in the greatest quantity, it follows that in
proportion to the activity of the secretory organs stimulated under free
exposure to light, so will be the number and brilliancy, or pureness of
colouring of the flowers, as the case may be. I frequently observe
what a difference exists in the size and colour of the flowers of plants
of the same kind ; one shall have its colours, whatever they may be,
clear, distinct, and brilliant as compared with the dull muddy colour of
the other. This marked difference is to be accounted for by the
explanation given above, and forms a point of great importance in plant
cultivation.

{To he continued)

PROTECTION OP FRUIT TREES.
In the last number of the Florist, your correspondent, Mr. G. Fry,
alluding to a statement of mine at page 106, where I said I hoped
to have the pleasure in a few weeks of thinning many quarts of
young fruit, asks, " Has this been verified ? " I reply, yes, it has ;
even better than I anticipated. Never have I seen so many Apricots
set before. The Apricot crop is, as far as I can learn, an average one
this season in Yorkshire. Peaches and Nectarines are also a very good
crop with me. Pears on the wall trees, a fair crop ; on standards, thin,
owing more to the wet than the frost. Plums, thin, also owing to
heavy showers ; Apples, a fair crop ; Cherries, above an average ;
Gooseberries, Currants, Raspberries, and Strawberries, most abundant
crops.

In the Gardeners' Chronicle of June 7th Mr. Fry will see a
communication from a person who signs himself " G. A., Leytonstone,
Essex." This person (" G. A.") says that he always used coverings
for his Apricot trees, but that six years out of seven he failed to obtain
crops, so this year he determined to do without covering, and the result
is he has a most abundant crop of fruit. I merely quote this
correspondent's communication to show Mr. Fry that though he may
have failed to get a crop of Apricots, there are persons nearer to him
than I am who do, and that without protection.

JULY. 205

My time has been lately, and is now, much taken up with some
extensive improvements that are being completed here, so that my
reply to Mr. Fry is in consequence brief; but I could not let it pass
unnoticed lest my silence may be misconstrued.

Stourton. M. Saul.

MESSRS. WATERER AND GODFREY'S EXHIBITION OF

AMERICAN PLANTS.
The above firm, so well known for their extensive collection of American
plants, as well as for hardy nursery stock, have this season an exhibition
of the former at Ashburnham Park, Chelsea, arranged in a series of
beds, under a very spacious tent. The beds are well arranged for
filling the space and showing off the plants to the best advantage. A
gallery runs across the upper end, and the view from this, looking over
the various groups with the colours well mixed, has a striking appear-
ance, and would alone repay a visit to the exhibition. The plants
consist of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, and a few others. Many
of the specimens are large and well bloomed ; the object has been
rather to show what effect good varieties of American plants will
produce when planted in masses than merely a display of rare sorts,
of which in the nursery at Knap Hill they have a large stock, and no
one can have visited the exhibition without being impressed with the
great value of these plants for the decoration of country residences.

Among some of the more striking varieties we noticed Atrosanguineum,
a good old sort, of a dark crimson ; Archimedes, bright rose ; Brayanum,
vivid scarlet, a first-rate kind; Currieanum, a late blooming sort, of a
lilac colour ; Delicatum, blush, pretty ; Fastuosum, a double variety,
with lilac flowers ; Hogarth, rosy scarlet, fine ; Nero, dark rosy purple ;
Pelargoniflorum, rose, with distinct spots ; Cato, rosy blush, very
fine ; Catawbiense elegans, a beautiful light variety ; C. grandiflorum,
blush, a fine truss ; C. delicatissimum, ditto, changing to white, very
fine ; C. roseum grandiflorum, C. grandiflorum : these two are splendid
varieties, with large trusses, and bloom freely, as are C. roseum elegans
and C. roseum pictum, which, like the above, were covered with bloom ;
C. hyacinthiflorum, a double kind, distinct ; C. Everestianum, a good
old light variety. The hybrids from R. catawbiense and ponticum are,
many of them, extremely beautiful, and as the plants are hardy, and
will grow in almost any soil ; and besides, blooming late they are the
sorts to select for extensive planting. The other hybrids, including
the scarlets, are more brilliant in colour, but scarcely grow so free
except in suitable soil. We noticed some fine plants of Kalmia latifolia
7 or 8 feet high and nearly as many through ; with a good sprinkling
of Azaleas. The bringing of these collections together is a good
opportunity for country gentlemen and gardeners to select for themselves.

206 THE FLORIST.

NATIONAL FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY.

June 12. — The Rev. J. Dix in the chair. The following are the
awards of the censors, Messrs. Parsons, Keynes, Cook, Andrew
Henderson, T Moore, and Robinson, who furnished the following report :
— First Class Certificate to Pelargonium Viola. Habit first-rate, truss
well arranged, formed by four to five pips ; form good, size full, substance
good, upper petals deep plum maroon, with margin of pale lilac ; lower
petals pale lilac, throat white, colour new, and general good qualities.
From G. W. Hoyle, Esq., Reading. — First Class Certificate to Pelar-
gonium Spotted Gem. Truss of five pips, form first-rate, size full,
substance good, colour bright rose, with beautifully defined spots of
dark crimson maroon ; throat white. From Mr. C. Turner, Slough. —
First Class Certificate to Fancy Pelargonium Warrior. Truss five to
six pips, form good, size full, substance thin, upper petals rich carmine,
lower petals mottled and veined with same colour, throat white. From
Mr. C. Turner, Slough. — First Class Certificate to Pansy, Duchess of
Wellington. Form, size, and substance all very first-rate ; colour,
deep velvet purple upper petals, and broad margin of same on lower
petals ; yellow ground, eye well defined. From Messrs. Downie and
Laird, Edinburgh. — First Class Certificate to Rose, Bacchus. Form
good, size large, substance stout, rich glowing carmine crimson, foliage
large, stout, and compact, of the Bourbon character ; the three outer
rows of petals very stout, large, and fine, remarkably smooth ; centre
petals small, well arranged throughout. From Messrs. A. Paul &
Son, Cheshunt. — Certificate of Merit to Pelargonium, Matilda. Truss
four to five pips, form of lower petals first-rate, upper petals somewhat
deficient, full size and stout, bright salmon lower petals, upper petals
margined with same, blotch rich crimson, throat clear white, a new and
delicate colour. From G. W. Hoyle, Esq., Reading. — Certificate of
Merit to Pelargonium, Standard. Habit good, truss four pips, flowers
large, lower petals first-rate, upper petals somewhat deficient, colour
bright rose lower petals, upper petals crimson maroon, throat white.
From G. W. Hoyle, Esq., Reading. — Certificate of Merit to Pelar-
gonium, Emperor. Truss four to five pips, form good, size average,
substance medium, upper petals black maroon with scarcely a margin,
lower petals deep carmine, veined ; the colour of this flower is rich.
From E. Beck, Esq., Isleworth. — Certificate of Merit to Pelargonium,
King of Scarlets. Truss somewhat irregular, five pips ; form and
substance but medium, colour a near approach to scarlet, and for that
rewarded. From Mr. C. Turner, Slough. — Certificate of Merit to
Pelargonium, General Williams. Truss four to five pips, form and
substance good, size full, upper petals rich black maroon, regularly
margined with carmine ; lower petals carmine mottled crimson, throat
white, colours rich. From Mr. C. Turner, Slough. — Certificate of
Merit to Pelargonium, Conspicuum. Truss five pips, stout, bright
rose, with distinct and dense spots of maroon ; in all, five petals ;
attractive. From Mr. C. Turner, Slough. — Certificate of Merit to
Pelargonium, Prince of Prussia. Truss four pips, size large, substance

JULY. • 207

good, form middling, lower petals scarlet crimson, upper petals crimson
maroon, margined with iiery crimson ; throat bluish ; colours rich.
From Mr. C. Turner, Slough. — Certificate of Merit to Fancy Pelar-
gonium, Helen Faucit. Truss five pips, form and substance good,
size full, upper petals dense rich carmine, lower petals paler. From
Mr. C. Turner, Slough. — Certificate of Merit to Fancy Pelargonium,
Emperor. Truss five pips, form and substance good, size large, upper
petals deep maroon margined with lilac, lower petals spotted with
crimson, throat white. From Mr. C. Turner, Slough. — Certificate of
Merit to Fancy Pelargonium, Carminatum. Truss four to five pips,
form and substance good, size medium, rich bright carmine, with a
well-defined throat of pure white. From Mr. C. Turner, Slough. —
Certificate of Merit to "Heliotrope, Miss Nightingale. Habit good,
trusses large, and equally in bloom ; light lavender, highly fragrant,
improved truss, with well-expanded flower. From Mr. Field, Kensal
New Town. — Certificate of Merit to Daisy, Annie Salter. Quilled
white, deeply edged with rose. From Mr. Salter, Hammersmith.

The following subjects were also exhibited : — Pelargoniums: Bianca.
A striking flower from the contrast of colours ; the upper petals maroon,
shading off to a narrow belt of purple near the edge, and bordered
with another narrow zone of white ; the lower petals white, almost
imperceptibly tinged on the veins with purple. Exhibited by Mr. Hoyle.
— Marvellous. Upper petals dark maroon, with narrow rosy edge ; the
lower, pink with crimson veins ; throat white ; in the way of Beck's
Emperor. Exhibited by Mr. Hoyle. — Rose Raglan; A bold flower,
but wavy ; deep rose, passing to crimson in the upper petals, which
have a moderate-sized dark veiny blotch. — Mr. Hoyle. The upper
petals mottled pink, with very dark blotch, shading off to veiny crimson ;
lower petals also marked with smaller dark spots. Exhibited by Mr.
Turner. — Hermione (Hocken). A free-blooming white of fair properties,
the upper petals having a medium-sized veiny spot of crimson maroon.
Exhibited by Mr. Turner. — Mr. Beck. Upper petals dark maroon,
passing into crimson, and edged with rose pink ; the lower, rose-pink
with maroon spots. Exhibited by Mr. Turner. — Queen of the Fairies.
A free bloomer ; the upper petals blush with maroon spot, feathery,
and passing into crimson towards its edge ; the lower, with smaller
crimson spots, from which two coloured lines extend to the base.
Exhibited by Mr. Turner. Fancy Pelargoniums. — Sir J. Paxton.
Upper petals maroon purple, white at the edge ; the lower heavily
marked with mulberry. Exhibited by Mr. Turner. — Mrs. Colman.
Upper petals bronzy rose, with white border ; the lower heavily marked
with paler rosy purple ; very free. Exhibited by Mr. Turner. Mr.
Westwood, of Turnham Green, exhibited — Bijou. A variegated variety ;
the foliage grayish, edged with white and flaked with gray ; flowers
bright scarlet, with narrow upper petals. Phloxes. — The following
was exhibited by Messrs. Downie & Laird, Edinburgh : — Countess of
Morton. A tall overgrown variety, with bold foliage and pyramidal
heads of bloom ; flowers 1^ inch in diameter ; pure white, well
formed, and of firm texture. Mr. Cunningham exhibited Oculata
Cunningham! (inconveniently long in name). A variety of P.

208 THE FLORIST.

Drummondi ; bright pale rose, with a white feathered eye ; cut blooms.
Calceolarias. — From Mr. Oddy, of Epping, came — Count Cavour. A
shrubby variety, apparently well suited for bedding ; tlie flowers oval
in outline, the upper lip large and closing the mouth, the colour clear
bright yellow ; cut blooms. Messrs. A. Henderson & Co., of Edgeware
Road, exhibited — Brilliant. Herbaceous ; flowers large, broader than
long, well inflated, rich bronze, unequally marbled with yellow. From
Mr. James, of Isleworth, were cut blooms of several bright- coloured
spotted herbaceous varieties. Verbena. — Mr. Fozard, of Paddington,
exhibited — Minnie. Rosy lilac, with dark red eye, and blotch of brighter
rose at base of each segment ; good truss ; flowers large, the segments
broad, rather wavy, but, except the lower one, without notches.

Recjistered Pot. — Mr. Thorniley, of Heaton Mersey, near Manchester,
exhibited under this name a new garden pot, furnished with a shallow
ledge-like trough on the exterior half-way down, with holes pierced
through to the interior, the object being to more readily furnish
moisture to pot-bound plants. The contrivance is not likely to become
of general use.

The following Prizes were awarded: — Pelargoniums: 1st, Messrs.
A. Henderson & Co., Pine Apple Place, for Magnet, Galate-, end
Painter Improved. These were in bad condition. Fancy Pelar-
goniums: 1st, Mr. C. Turner, for Cassandra, Richard Cobden, and
Erubescens ; 2nd, Messrs. Henderson & Co., for Constance, Advancer,
and Formosissimum. Calceolarias: 1st, Messrs. Henderson, for Agnes,
Constance, Leopard, and Louisa. Mimuluses: 1st, Mr. G. Smith, for
seedlings. Pansies in pots : 1st, Mr. Bragg, for Marchioness of Bath,
Miss Talbot. Satisfaction, Mr. Thompson, Kate, and Magnum Bonum.
Pansies, 24 blooms, 1st, Messrs. Downie & Laird, for Cyrus, J. B.
Gough, Royal Standard, Flower of the Day, Miss Talbot, Sir J.
Cathcart, Miss Walker, Duchess of Wellington, Jeanne, Jubilee, Alice,
Indian Chief, Royal Albert, Sovereign, Miriam, Lady Emily, Nonpareil,
Admiral Dundas, Satisfaction, Royal White, Una, Beauty, Lord John
Russell, and Princess ; 2nd, Mr. James, for Duke of Perth, Pandora,
Earl Mansfield, Duke of Newcastle, Royal Visit, Father Gavazzi, Mrs.
Campbell, Marie, Emperor, Miss Talbot, Goldfinch, Marion, Argo, Sir
J. Cathcart, Flower of the Day, Jubilee, C. Cowan, Sultan, Isabella,
Topaz," Beauty, Great Western, and Mary Taylor; 3rd, Mr. Bragg,
for Black Prince, Marchioness of Bath. Lord John Russell, Telegraph,
Blanche, Grace Darling, Harlequin, Miss Talbot, Dr. Phillips, Omni-
flora. Emperor, Pandora, Royal Standard, Lord Cardigan, Mr. Bragg,
Evangelina, Glory, Magnum Bonum, Sir C. Napier, Sir E. Lyons,
Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Marriott, Yellow Model, and Seedling. The
Pansies from Messrs. Downie & Laird, of Edinburgh, were very fine.
The seedling Pelargoniums were also very fine. Altogether it was a
very interesting meeting.

209

GARDENERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.
The anniversary dinner of this excellent charity took place at the
London Tavern, on Wednesday, the 11th of June, and was well
attended; S.r Joseph Paxton, M.P., in the chair, supported by Sir
Charles Fox, Frank Crossley, Esq, M.P., J.J. Mechi, Esq., imd
several gentlemen, nurserymen, and many of the leading gardeners-
The interests of the institution were ably advocated by Sir Joseph
Paxton, and donations to the amount of 270/. were announced dur i g
the evening. A liberal supply of fruit was contributed by several
friends of the charity, and a bank of Geraniums and other plants behind
the chair added very much to the decorations of the room. These were
gratuitously contributed by Mr. Charles Turner, Messrs. Henderson
and Son, and other nurserymen.

On the 9th mst. an election of two pensioners on the funds of the
charity will take place, and subscribers of one guinea per annum are
entitled to two votes. We cannot too earnestly recommend the institu-
tion to the notice of our readers, to many of whom the amount of the
subscription is but a trifle, whilst to the charity it is a gain. There
are .ixboen candidates at the next election, their ages ranging from
54 to 83 years of age, and the greater tiie funds at the disposal of the
committee the more they will be able to increase the number of pen-
sioners.

THE AMERICAN EXHIBITION IN THE REGENT'S PARK.
On the occasion of the Royal Botanic Society's June show, these plants
were in perfection, and it is scarcely possible to see a grander disi.lay
of flowers at one time. The immense undulated banks of Rhododen-
drons were a complete mass of flower, and away in the distance could
be seen a magnificent tree— which seemed to look almost contemptu-
ously on its smaller companions — of Lady Eleanor Cathcart, towering
above the rest. There is this year an improvement in the arrange-
ment of the ground, and the plants are exclusively Rhododendrons.
We last year described many of the best varieties in the preceding
exhibition, and on the present occasion we particularly noticed —
Mr. Johr> Waterer, a very fine variety, deep scarlet with dark spots. This

should be in every collection, as it is one of the finest, if not the finest

of the scarlets, and is a free bloomer.
Mrs. John Waterer, pale rosy scarlet with spots, fine truss ; a fitting com-
panion for the other, and of a different shade of colour.
Lady Eleanor Cathcart, soft salmon blush, with very dark spots, very free

bloomer. This is a beautiful variety, of great merit.
Brayanum, soft rosy scarlet, fine form and truss. This is an exceedmgly

fine variety, worthy to be in every collection.
Concessum, delicate blush pink with warm pink margin, good form and

truss. A very fine light variety, of great beauty, an<l a good bloomer.
Fleur de Marie, light rose with bright salmon rose margm, good form, but

rather loose truss. A variety possessing beautiful colours and much

to recommend it.

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXVII, ^

210 THE FLORIST.

Maculatum grandiflorum, pale rosy purple with lighter centre, dark spots,
large truss, and a very free bloomer. A very showy variety, contrasting
well with its surrounding neighbours.

Everestianum, an excellent light coloured border variety, and a dense
bloomer.

Gloriosum. partakes of the " catawbiense " habit, with immense trusses of
pale silvery blush flowers.

Blandyanum, bright rosy scarlet, fine truss, and a free bloomer. A first
class variety.

Blatteum, spotted like " Victoria," but not so dark in colour as that variety.
Both are very free bloomers and good, but Victoria is the least showy.

Reedianum, one of the best and most useful in the whole collection, and
should be in every garden where Rhododendrons are used. It is a
variety of ponticum habit, partaking of the characteristics of that
variety, evidently quite hardy and a late bloomer ; bright rosy scarlet
colour with spots. Tliis variety will be valuable, as it is so bright and
a later bloomer than many of the scarlet varieties.

Levefrianum, bright rose tinged with purple, and with very dark spots. A
fine attractive variety.

Delicatum, pale blush tinged with deep blush, with green spots; good truss,
a very showy free blooming variety.

Roseum eiegans, soft pale rose and a dense bloomer ; excellent for out-door
decoration. A superb standard of this variety was planted near the
fine specimen of Lady Eleanor Cathcart we have alluded to.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The adjourned special meeting of this Society took place in Regent-
street on June 24, to receive the Report of the Council and decide on
the future plans which the Report nriight recommend ; Col. Challoner
in the chair.

The Report informed the meeting that of the sum of 5000/. originally
fixed on, as the amount to be subscribed to enable the Council to carry
on the gardens at Chiswick, 3256/. Is. had been promised in furtherance
of that object ; but as this sum was promised only on the conditions
that the full amount should be subscribed, they could not avail them-
selves of any part of it ; and it therefore remained for the Council to
consider whether or not other plans might not be resorted to, to avoid
if possible (which every Fellow of the Society must regret), giving up
the lease of the Chiswick garden, and thereby abandoning the most
important part of the Society's operations. With these views the
Council asked for the meeting to confirm the powers already granted
them by the bye-laws of the Society, so as to enable them to exercise
their discretion as to what part of the Society's property should be first
disposed of. The Report stated that could the Council obtain sufficient
room for the purpose of the London exhibitions, &c., either in Burling-
ton House or some other Government building, they would consider
whether it might not be advisable to dispose of their present office in
Regent-street, the value of which was estimated at nearly 5000/. ; this
would materially relieve their fixed debt. (We understood an applica-

JULY. 211

tion to Government was about to be made, for the purpose of ascer-
taining how far Government would agree to afford them the necessary-
room.) In the next place they will take into consideration whether or
not a uniform rate of two guineas, as the annual subscription of Fellows,
should not be substituted for four guineas, the amount at present paid.
But the privileges of existing Fellows to be by no means curtailed.
Although the Council do not, and in fact could not, pledge themselves
as to whether they should keep on the gardens or not, the Report stated
that every available means should be tried before an event so disastrous
to Horticulture should be allowed to take place ; and that nothing short
of the determination of the Council not to increase their present
liabilities on any account, would induce them to abandon them. They
hoped, by widening the basis of the subscription, and by good manage-
ment, to be able to retain the gardens ; and with the expression of their
desire to effect this, hoped the meeting would strengthen their hands by
affirming the Report.

It was moved by J. J. Blandy, Esq., and seconded by Mr. Spencer,
" That the Report be received." Considerable discussion followed,
several Fellows asking for information on various parts of it. The
general tone of the discussion was entirely in favour of the Report, and
a resolution embodying the principles of it was then put from the chair
and carried unanimously.

We can only say, that we consider the Report was the only one which,
under the peculiar circumstances under which the Council are placed,
could be presented. Should the Council succeed in obtaining apart-
ments from Government or elsewhere, the sum which the house in
Regent-street would bring would go a long way towards liquidating the
more pressing claims against the Society ; and when once the Council
can see their way clear to retain the gardens, and this fact becomes
known to the public, we have no doubt that many of the subscribers to
the garden fund will allow their subscriptions to remain, as adverted to
in the Report ; and should this be the case, a large portion of the
Society's debt will be provided for, many gentlemen in the room having
promised to double their subscription when they knew for a certainty
that the gardens would be retained.

WEIGELA AMABILIS.
In your number for May, page 139, is a notice of this plant, comparing
it with rosea, which, as an early forcing pot shrub, it far surpasses, and
only requires to be more known to become a general favourite, and
admired as much, I have no doubt, as it has been here for the last two
seasons. It blossoms freely in a 48 sized pot ; its light graceful
branches, when covered with pinky blooms, make it a fit companion
for the pretty Deutzia gracilis, which it much resembles in the treat-
ment it requires. When done blooming I cut the plants down hke
the latter, inducing them to make as many young shoots as possible
for the next season's display. By a succession it can be had in b^om
from February up to the present month. J • ■'^ •

p2

212

THE FLORIST.

WARDIAN CASE AND AQUARIUM COMBINED.
[The following is extracted, by permission, from the Gardeners'
Chronicle. The second illustration is our own.]

Not being aware that a fresh-water aquarium has before been con-
nected with a Wardian case, I beg to furnish you with sketches of a

contrivance combining the tw9, which I have had in operation for some
time. The apparatus consists of four parts made of flint glass, with a
little cobalt, to give it a tinge of blue. Contrivances of this kind are

JULY.

2/^

made of various sizes. In the one from which the first sketch was taken,
the tank which contains the water in which are the aquatic plants,
fishes, mollusks, and insects is about twelve inches in diameter and
about nine inches deep ; near the top in the inside is a flange with a
groove, into which runs the condensed water from the bell-glass, which
forms the Wardian case for the Ferns, Lycopods, &c. ; from the groove
it descends to the tank below. Into the centre of this vessel I put the
glass pedestal. I then cover the bottom with about 2| inches of fresh,

but not very rich soil, in which I plant my aquatics: I use for this
purpose Valisneria spiralis, Aponogeton distachyon, Nymphsea odorata
minor, and N. macrantha. On tlie soil I put one inch of well washed
flints, or sea gravel, which prevents the insects or mollusks from makmg
the water toul. 1 then introduce the water through a fine rose to about
four or five inches deep, into which I put gold fish (small) or stickle-
backs, or any other small fish, mollusks, Succinea putiis, Planorbis
corneus, carinatus, and marginalis, Cyclas rivicola and cornea ; msects
—any species of Colymbetes, Hygrotu?, Hadaticus, Gyrnius, and
several other aquatic genera ; care nmst be taken not to introduce any
of the large carnivorous larvse. I then prepare for introducing the

214 THE FLORIST.

plants proper for a small Wardian case — I put the soil into a blue glass
dish, with a rim at the bottom to keep it steady on the pedestal ; this
dish is 1| inch deep by seven in diameter, the soil is raised in the
centre about two inches; in this 1 plant the tallest Feins or Lycopods,
and the smaller round the edge of the dish. Ihe Ferns I plant are
Adiantum Capillus Veneris, Lastra?a dilatata Sthofieldi, a beautiful small
Yorkshire variety ; Asplenium viride and trichomanes ; Asplenium
fontanum, &c. ; Lycopods Willdenovi, umbrosum, stoloniferum, mutu-
bile, densum, and lepidophyllum. "When planted I cover the soil in
imitation of rockwork with agates and pebbks of any sort. I then give
the whole a good watering before placing the dish on the pedestal ; the
whole is then covered with the bell-glass. One before me at the present
time has been standing in a window eight months, the water has never
been changed, or any addition made except a small quantity once given
to the Ferns, &c., in the dish. Should the water become green in the
summ.er a small piece of gutta-percha pipe, with a small rose at the end,
will draw off the water, which may be replaced. The beil-glass may
likewise be removed with benefit to the plants, and a sprinkling of water
given them.

Museum, York. Henry Baines.

THE SCOTTISH PANSY SOCIETY.
This Society held its first meeting for the season at the Caledonian
Society's Garden, Inverleith, Edinburgh, on the 5th ult. For some
time previous, the weather had been unusually unfavourable, and much
against the success of growers in exposed situations, many of whom
were unable to make up their stands ; consequently, the flowers pro-
duced were not as numerous as usual ; those which were exhibited,
however, were quite up to the usual average — indeed, some of the
stands, especially in the Gardeners' and Amateurs' classes, were superior
to those brought forward in 1855. The following is a list of the
awards ; to avoid useless repetition, the names only of the flowers in the
winning stands are given.

Nurserymen, best 24 : — 1st, Messrs. Downie and Laird, Edinburgh,
with ^ir Colin Campbell (Pater & Small), Duchess of Wellington
(Downie & Laird), Royal Standard (Dickson & Co.), Jubilee
(D. & Co.), J. B. Gough (D. & L.), Father Gavazzi (Holland), Cyrus
(D. & Co.), Flower of the Day (D. & L.), Lord Raglan (P. & S.),
Princess (D. & Co.), Lady Emily (D. & L.), Lord J. Russell (Turner),
Rev. H. Gosset (Turner), Beauty (D. & L.), Jeannie (D. & L), Alice
(D. & L.), St. Andrews (D. & L.), Miriam (D. & Co.), Gem (Syme &
Middlemas), Farl of Cardigan (Holland), Sovereign (D. & Co.), Non-
pareil (D. & Co.), Sir J. Cathcart (Turner), Indian Chief (D. & Co.) ;
2nd, Messrs. J. Dickson & Sons ; 3rd, Mr. J. Black, Currie ; 4th,
Messrs. Robertson, Paul & Co., Paisley.

Gardeners and Amateurs, best 18; — 1st, Mr. James Henderson,
gardener to C. K. Sivewright, Esq., Cargilfield, with Flower of the Day

jui.Y. 215

(D. & L.), Mrs. Dodwell (Fisher), Sir J. Cathcart (Turner), Royal
Albert (Turner), Lord Raglan (P. & S.), Royal Standard (D. & Co.),
Charles Cowan (M'Nab), Alice (D. & L.), Beauty (D. & L.), Emperor
(Hale), Jeannie (D. & L.), Cyrus (D. & Co.), Sir R. Kapier (— ),
Duke of Perth (Handasyde), Lord J. Russell (Turner), Minerva
(D. & Co.), Monarch (Hale), Mesmerist (Veitch) ; 2nd, Mr. T. Reid,
gardener, Broomfield, Blackhall ; 3rd, Mr. Alexander Shearer, gardener
to Marquis of Tweeddale, Yester ; 4th, Mr. W. Campbell, gardener,
Pollock, Glasgow.

Gardeners and Amateurs, best 12 : — 1st, Mr. Shearer, gardener,
Yester, with Fanny Kemble ( — ), Lady Emily (D. & L.), Miriam
(D. & Co.), Alice (D. & L.), British Queen (D. & Co.), Sovereign
(D. & Co.), Earl of Mansfield (D. & Co.), Cyrus (D. & Co.), Juventa
(Hooper); Uncle Tom's Cabin (M'Nab), Monarch (Hale), St. Andrevjr
(D. & L.) ; 2nd, Mr. W. Campbell, Pollock ; 3rd, Mr. MTntosh,
gardener, Inglis Green ; 4th, Mr. Hampton, Dundee.

Gardeners and Amateurs, best 6: — 1st, Mr. M'Intosh, vsrith Duke
of Sutherland ( I inley), Alice (D. & L.), Flower of the Day (D. & L.),
Father Gavazzi (Holland), Alpheus (D. & Co.), J. B. Gough (D. & L.);
2nd, Mr. J. Cunningham, Cowglen Cottage, Glasgow ; 3rd, Mr. Hen-
derson.

Classes open to all, best 12 — 4 yellow, 4 light grounds, and 4 selfs :
— 1st, Mr. J. Cunningham, with Father Gavazzi (Holland), Alice
(D. & L.), Lord J. Russell (Turner), Cyrus (D. & Co.), Charles Cowan
(M'xNab), Sir C. Campbell (P. & S.), Royal Standard (D. & Co.),
Princess (1). & Co.), Wonderful (Hooper), Jeannie (D. & L.), Royal
White (Thompson), St Andrews (D. & L.) ; 2nd, Mr. James Gibson,
Glasgow ; 3rd, Mr. Henderson.

Amateurs exclusively, who cultivate their own plants, best 6: — 1st,
Mr. J. Cunningham, with Cyrus (D. & Co.), Sir C. Campbell (P. & S.),
Jeannie (D. & L.), Alice (D. & L.), Mrs. Dodwell (Fisher), Miss
Talbot, (D. & Co.) ; 2nd, Mr. Alexander W. Lamond, Arbroath ; 3rd,
Dr. Stuart, Chirnside.

Sweepstakes : — Mr. Wm. Campbell, Pollock, with Yellow Climax
(P. & S). Sir C. Campbell, (P. & S.), Lord John Russell (Turner),
Duke of Sutherland (Tinley). Princess (D. & Co.), Father Gavazzi
(Holland), Sir C. Napier (P. & S.), Royal Standard (D. & Co.), Sir J.
Cathcart (Turner), Satisfaction (Turner), St. Andrews (D. & L.),
Royal White (Thompson).

JBest Self in the Room : — Mr. J. Cunningham, with Jeannie (D.&L.).

Best Yellow ground : — Messrs. Downie and Laird, with Cyrus
(D. & Co.).

Best Light ground : — Mr. James Henderson, with Royal Standard,
(D. & Co.).

Best Pansy in the Room : — Mr. J. Cunningham's bloom of Jeannie.

Best Dark Self in Amateurs' class : — Mr. J. Cunningham with
Jeannie.

Best Yellow ditto: — Dr. Stuart, Chirnside, with Sovereign (D.&Co.).

Best Yellow ground : — Mr. J. Cunningham, with Cyrus (D. & Co.).

Best Light ditto : — Mr. J. Cunningham, with Sir C. Campbell (P.& S.).

216 THE FLORIST.

Cyrus, which won the prize for the best yellow ground in 1855,
was, it will be seen, again successful this season ; the same also was the
case with Royal Standard among the light grounds ; establishing these
two at the head of their respective classes. With respect to the above
there seemed to be no doubt as to which was the best variety in its
class ; the only difficulty was which bloom to select of each. The
bloom of Jeannie which won the prize for the best self, and also that
for the best flower in the room, was an exceedingly fine one, far
superior to any other of the same variety which was exhibited on the
occasion, most of which were deficient in smoothness.

Many seedlings were sent in competition for the prizes offered. No
award, however, was made, as none of them came up to the require-
ment " that they must be superior to varieties already known in their
class."

The Scottish Pansy Society has now been in operation for twelve years,
during which period it has effected much improvement in the flower
which it so liberally encourages — many are the sterhng good varieties
which it has been the means of calling into existence. The interest
shown in the Society seems to be on the increase ; for at the general
meeting held after the exhibition, the contributions towards the prize
fund for 1857 were considerably larger than has been the case on any
previous occasion.

GRASS? OR MOSS? ON LAWNS.
Fond as I am of every part of my garden, and of every one of its
inmates, I think its lawn ranks highest with me ; perhaps because its
velvet surface is the best platform from whence to see the serpentine
belt of minature fruit trees and flowers, and flowering shrubs, by which
it is engirdled ; perhaps because it has cost me some time, trouble, and
expence to bring it to its present smoothness. But, that human
pleasure in things mundane may not be unalloyed, I was troubled last
year, as the whale is said to be, by a peculiar insect, from which it
cannot shake itself free, by a fear that the moss which I saw in patches
over the whole of it, might in time supersede the grass and leave my
beautiful carpet threadbare and unsightly. After the first mowing
this spring I carefully examined it, and discovered, or thought I
discovered, to my horror that the enemy was gaining upon me. Just
at this time the Gardeners Chronicle came to my rescue, and in an
answer to some correspondent who was" suffering from the same disease,
said, " Water your lawn with gas- water. The moss will die and the
grass flourish." With a proud consciousness of certain victory I went
immediately to the gas-works, hired a water-cart and two men, and
in spite of the exclamations of my family, who afl declared they
should be poisoned (in fact there izas some danger of the younger
children being stifled by the fumes of highly creosoted ammonia and
hydrosulphuric acid) in the course of the day 150 gallons of gas-water,
diluted with 300 gallons from the pond, were distributed over the
lawn, with effects that are worth recording.

JULY. 217

In the first place the children did not die, though the moss did.
The gases are all very volatile, and the water-pots had hardly ceased
their work when the horrible stench Had dissipated itself. But, under
the influence of the stimulant, the grass, each part as it was watered,
assumed the delicate green of fresh growth, all the more striking from
the general stagnation around, owing to the long drought and the cold
north-east winds. But, by the next day, this had changed to a
suspicious apple green ; by the day after to a decided yellow, which
finally turned to the brown of death ; in which state it continued a
full fortnight. Oh, that fortnight ! The titterings of the family might
be silenced by the voice of authority ; but it required the self-conmiand
of a courtier to answer, with an unruffled mind, the condolence of one
friend at the extent to which my beautiful lawn had suffered by the
trying spring ; the enquiries of another, who called on purpose to know
whether I had been using arsenic to poison the worms ; and the
impertinence of a third who thought I had done it to have it all gravel.
I almost myself believed at last that the grass was injured. That,
however, was not to be added to the list of my annoyances. The
Gardeners' Chronicle was right. The moss has slowly perished, and
the grass has still more slowly shown an intention of supplying its
place, though it seems more rank than it was and less velvety. But
the unkindest cut of all was still to come ; and that was a question put
to me by a knowing one, " But why did you wish to get rid of it ?
Beaton considers moss good for a lawn, as he stated not long ago in
the Cottage Gardener, in reply to some one who asked how to
destroy it ? " Really the question never occurred to me before. Will
you kindly answer it for me, and tell me whether I ought to have
wished to destroy it ; for certainly the moss is both the softest and the
driest part to walk upon. It is gone now, every shred of it, and for
twenty-four hours after every mowing the places look patchy, where
it once did its best to please me. And is it absolutely true that I have
spent fifteen shillings, incurred much of domestic reproach, and trial
of the serenity of my temper, and encouraged sympathizing or
facetious remarks from neighbours, all to get rid of my best friend ?
In other words — is moss bad for a lawn ?

Iota.

[On lawns which have been mown for a number of years. Moss is
frequently met with, particularly when the soil is dry and sandy. We
do not consider it objectionable, as it assumes its greatest luxuriance in
the autumn and winter months, when the natural Grasses go into a
state of rest ; and as the Grasses grow in the spring, the Mosses mostly
die away, and are soon hidden. Unless, therefore, its growth pre-
ponderated greatly, and was destroying the Grass, we do not recommend
it to be eradicated ; and not then by such a dangerous remedy as gas
water, whose effects are worse a hundred times than the disease.
Where the Grass on lawns gets thin, sow among it in April or August
a mixture of Crested Dog's-tail, Sheep's Fescue, and Wood Meadow
Grass, with a little Trifolium minus — these will spring up and thicken
the bottom ; or dress your lawns over in April with a mixture of
guano, superphosphate of lime, and nitrate of soda. Any respectable

218 THE FLORIST.

dealer in artificial manures will make you up a mixture of the above
of the proper proportion for the extent of lawn ; this will greatly
improve the appearance of your lawn, by promoting a close thick
growth, without driving the Grasses too much ; and we strongly
recommend you to try this, if your Moss again gains on you. — Ed.]

CRYSTAL PALACE EXHIBITION.

The Company was favoured with fine weather for their second
show this season, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday,
the 25th and 26th ult. The arrangement of the plants this time
was somewhat different from that in May, and was, perhaps, the
best that could have been adopted under the circumstances ; still,
however, we feel compelled to adhere to our opinion that nothing
beats the open lawn and canvas tents for rendering a flower-show
effective and pleasing. As it was, however, the alteration was an
improvement, and on the first day upwards of 14,000 people visited
the budding. The display was chiefly confined to the principal transept,
along the sides and middle of which the plants were tastefully arranged,
and in the centre, so as to form an object at once grand and striking,
was a raised circular dais or clump quite 30 feet in diameter, surmounted
by an Araucaria, and surrounded with stove and greenhouse plants.
Here Mr. Collyer's noble specimens were exhibited to much advantage,
as well as those from other growers. On the two stages in the middle
were Orchids, Ferns, and Pitcher Plants, all of which, we need not say,
associate well together, and round the sides were variegated plants,
of which there were several charming collections; Azaleas, Pelargoniums,
Roses, and Heaths.

The ends of the stages, at the four corners where the nave
crosses the transept, were rounded off in an architectural and
tasteful manner, by means of circular stagefuls of plants crowned with
different kinds of figures in statuary, which overtopping and looking
down, as it were, upon the plants, served to furnish variety, and set
the latter off to good advantage. The magnificent Orange trees, too,
with their lively green foliage, rearing their heads above the stages in
front of them, served to fill up the spaces between the top of the
plants and the lower gallery ; while above these, again, the gaiety was
maintained by the hanging baskets, about which there was a wild
beauty and luxuriance which was quite delightful.

With respect to the exhibition, the names of the different plants
composing the great classes of which it was chiefly made up, having
been fully given in our report of the Royal Botanic show, which will
be found in another page, little more now remains for us to do than to
refer to the new things which were produced on this occasion.

Though not in flower, Mr. Glendinning, of Chiswick, furnished some
interesting plants, among which were the new Larch called Abies
Ktempferi, to which we hope to allude more particularly by-and-by ;
a species of Rhanmus, from which the green dye of China was said to
be obtained ; and an Orange from the North of China, which was stated

JULY. 219

to be hardy ; it is furnished with sharp spines and small cut leaves.
The same exhibitor likewise showed Erica Spenceriana, of which we
hope soon to give a coloured representation. Messrs. Veitch sent
Philesia buxifoha, flowering freely in a small state ; Sonerila, Leptodac-
tylon, two Nidularias, a species of Capsicum with yellow Iruit ; Ixora
floribunda and Lobbi ; Gesnera Doncklaari, of which we some time ago
gave a coloured plate, and beautiful plants of Wellingtonia. The same
firm also showed Rhopala Jonghi, Myrtus microphylla, Ouvirandra
fenestralis, or Water Yam, of which we lately gave a drawing ot a leaf;
Aralia japonica, and Theophrasta imperialis ; the last has leaves of
great size. Of flowering plants, though not all quite new, Messrs.
Veitch had a fine variety of broad-leaved Kalinia called picta, two
Hoyas, an Aerides, the beautiful pink-flowered Rhododendron called
Princess Royal, a parasol-shaped plant of Lapageria rosea, beautifully
flowered, a yellow annual called Wartzia aurea, and a Thibaudia.
Messrs. Jackson, of Kingston, sent the white variety of Agapanthus
umbellatus, which is rather a pretty plant. From the above, some
idea may possibly be gathered of what kind of rarities this exhibition
was possessed ; and as our space is but limited, let us now pass on to
the florist flowers.

For collections of twelve Pelargoniums, Mr. Turner was
a long distance before the other competitors. The only variety
shown that we have not before seen this season was a fine plant of
Portia. Messrs. Dobson, Messrs. Fraser, and Mr. Gaines came next,
and an extra prize to Mr. Cutbush. Private growers for six plants,
Mr. Holder, gardener to the Rev. E. Coleridge, Eton College, was
first ; second prize, Mr. Windsor. Mr. C. Turner sent twelve plants
of twelve fancy kinds : these were beautifully flowered, and were
deservedly first. Lady of the Lake, Queen of Roses, Cloth of Silver,
and Evening Star, were very good in modern varieties. Celestial,
Cassandra, Magnum Bonum, Perfection, and Erubescens were fine.
Messrs. Frasers were 2nd, with old kinds, with the exception of
Evening Star ; 3rd, Mr. Gaines ; 4th, Mr. Cutbush. In the class of
six plants for private growers, Mr. Windsor was 1st, with nice fresh
plants. The same seedling Pelargoniums have been so frequently
shown that we shall not now describe them ; we give the awards on
this occasion, however, to show what varieties remain good to a late
period, as prizes were liberally offered on this occasion for flowers raised
in 1855-1856. First prizes were given to Spotted (lem (Turner),
Prince of Prussia (Turner) ; 2nd prizes to Viola (Hoyle), Matilda
(Hoyle), Conspicuum (Turner), and 3rd prize to Miss Foster (Turner).
King of Scarlets (Turner), Agnes (Hoyle), Standard (Hoyle) were also
shown good. Ardens (Beck) is a nice bright scarlet crimson, and
Amethyst, a pretty purple, by the same raiser, were promising flowers.
Clarissa (Topping), a Virgin Queen style of flower, was exhibited by
Messrs. Veitch. It is a free-flowering, good-shaped kind, but shown
in bad condition.

Cut Flowers were short, Roses not yet being in good bloom.
Messrs. Paul, of Cheshunt, were first, the same award to Mr. Francis,
Hertford. Mr. Wilkinson, of Ealing, also exhibited a collection in this

220 THE FLORIST.

class of fifty varieties. Mr. Francis was first for twenty-four varieties.
In private growers, 1st prize, A. Rowland, Esq., Lewisham ; 2nd,
Mr. G. J. Brush, Gardener to J. Tretton, Esq., Norwood ; 3rd,
Mr. G. Bradstock, Gardener to T. Anderson, Esq., Carshalton.

In the Miscellaneous Class Messrs. Lane sent a collection of, cut
Rhododendrons in good variety, Mr. Tyso, of Wallingford, a large
and well-bloomed collection of Ranunculuses, a smaller collection also
from Mr. Mitchell, of Brighton. Mr. Salter, of Hammersmith, sent
Herbaceous Pseonies. Some Verbenas came from Mr. Shrimpton, of
Putney Heath, in single trusses.

Mr. C. Turner exhibited 24 varieties of finely-grown and well-laced
Pinks, the best of which were, Adonis, Mr. Stevens, Mrs. Stevens, New
Criterion, Purity, James Hogg, Sarah, Cardinal, Purple Perfection,
Rival, Mr. Hobbs, Sovereign, and Optima. Prizes were awarded to
Mr. Turner for the Pinks, and to Mr. Tyso for Ranunculuses. Also
to Mr. Salter for his Peeonies. Pansies were not good, but three prizes
were awarded.

There were fine collections of Calceolarias. Mr. James, of Isle-
worth, was first, with good plants of Purity, Marie, Duchess of
Northumberland, Virago, Commander in Chief, and Golden Pleece ;
2nd prize, Mr. C. Turner, with Orange Perfection, Tamberlik, Lady
Grenville, Eclipse, Albira, and David Copperfield. These were all
shrubby varieties of excellent habit. Messrs. Dobson and Son had a
3rd prize, and extra prizes were awarded to Mr. Gaines, and Mr.
Bates, of Oxford.

Fuchsias were but poor. 1st, Messrs. Dobson ; 2nd, Mr. Blundell,
Gardener to W. D, Rowland, Esq. The best kinds were Queen of
Hanover, Omega, and Glory.

In Bedding Plants Mr. Kinghorn, of Isleworth, sent well-bloomed
specimens of General Pelissier, Annie, and Countess of Warwick.
These are excellent free flowering Pelargoniums ; the two latter have
variegated foliage, and have maintained the high character we gave
them in our reports last season. Mr. Kinghorn exhibited some new
kinds, Richmond Gem was very fine, being very bright with a very
large truss. It has white footstalks, in this respect resembling
Pelissier. Captivation and Prim are two good scarlet kinds, the
latter has very long footstalks. These were also exhibited by
Mr. Kinghorn.

Messrs. Lee, of Hammersmith, sent nine plants of a Scarlet
Geranium, named Stunner, of a deep rich scarlet colour ; but has not
much to recommend it. A Bedding Geranium, exhibited b\' Messrs.
Veitch, of Exotic Nursery, King's Road, Chelsea, is an excellent free
flowering variety, named Quercifolium floribundum ; colour rosy pink,
with spot on the top petals. The same firm exhibited Belvidere
(Topping) rich lake, with dense spot on each petal.

The show of Fruit was tolerably extensive, and included many excel-
lent productions. The Pines exhibited by Messrs. Fleming, Burn,
Jones, Povey, and Barron, were good specimens of culture. There were
some fine dishes of Hamburgh Grapes exhibited, in addition to those
which obtained prizes ; amongst which we noticed some Hamburghs

JULY. 221

from Mr. Frost remarkable for their size, but had been spoile 1 in tra-
veUing, and a dish of finely coloured Hamburghs from Mr. Manby.
A seedling white Grape was exhibited by Mr. Carpenter, call 1 Perry
Bar Hamburgh. This Grape has round berries, larger than th Dutch
Sweetwater, it has a full vinous flavour, but rather a thick sk a ; we
understood it to be a cross between the Black Hamburgh and Sweet-
water, and it appears to partake of the habit of both parents. Some
very capital Muscat Grapes were shown by Messrs. Clark and Turn-
bull, very fine Peaches by Mr. Snow, and good Nectarines liy Mr.
Davis. There was a scant supply of out-door Strawberries, a id some
well managed Vines in pots.

Collections of Fruit, eight dishes : 1st, Mr. Fleming, Tre itham ;
2nd, Mr. Nichol, Oxton House, Devon ; 3rd, Mr. Monro, Colney
House.

Pines, collections of three : 1st, Mr. Fleming ; 2nd, Mr. Jones,
Dowlais ; 3rd, Mr. Beale.

Pines — Providence : Mr. Povey and Mr. Fleming, equal 1st ; 2nd,
Mr. Gilham. Queens : Equal 1st, Mr. Burn, gardener to Colonel
Pennant, and Mr. Barron, Singleton ; 2nd, Mr. Jones, Dowlais ; 3rd,
Mr. Davis, Cardiff; extras to Mr. Burn and Mr. Dalrymple. Jamaicas,
&c. : 1st, Mr. Davis.

Grapes, three varieties : 1st, Mr. Turnbull, Blenheim ; 2nd, Mr.
Young, Dulwich. Single dishes, Hamburgh : Equal 1st, Mr. Fleming,
and Mr. Smith, Norwood ; equal 2nd, Mr. Hudson, Wandsworth, and
Mr. Hill; extra, Mr. Davis. Single dishes, Muscats: 1st, Mr. Clark,
Hoddesden ; 2nd, Mr. Turnbull ; 3rd, Mr. Davis ; extra, Mr. Taylor.
Single dishes, Sweetwaters, &c. : 1st, Mr. Forsyth, Gunnersbury ;
2nd, Mr. Blake. Baskets of 12 lbs.— Market Gardeners : 1st, Mr. Hill,
gardener to — Sneyde, Esq. ; 2nd, Mr. Davis ; 3rd, Mr. Spary and
Mr. Hindle; extras, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Kay.

Peaches, single dishes : 1st, Mr. Snow; 2nd, Mr. Turnbull; 3rd,
Mr. Frost, Preston, and Mr. Mitchell ; extra, Mr. Monro.

Nectarines : 1st, Mr. Davis ; 2nd, Mr. Ayres, Whittlebury ; 3rd,
Mr. Hill.

Melons, green -fleshed : 1st, Mr. Dalrymple, Pontypool ; 2nd, Mr,
Teg ; equal 3rd to Mr. Snow, Mr. Evving, and Mr. Taylor. Scarlet-
fleshed, Mr. Bailey, Shardeloes.

Figs : 1st, Mr. Snow ; 2nd, Mr. Ewing.

Cherries, three dishes, distinct : Mr. Fleming. White, single dish :
Mr. Fleming. Black, single dish: 1st, Mr. Ferguson, Stowe ; 2nd,
Mr. Fleming.

Plums: 1st, Mr. Fleming; 2nd, Mr. Monro.

Strawberries, three dishes : Mr. Turnbull. Single dishes : 1st, Mr.
Wortley ; 2nd, Mr. Cuthill.

Grapes in pots : 1st, Mr. Forsyth ; 2nd, Mr. Page, Streatham.

Plums, Apricots, &c., in pots : Mr. Fleming.

Fruit of superior excellence : Extra prize to Mr. Carpenter for
seedling Grapes noticed above ; Mr. Turnbull, for seedling St. Peter
Grape; Mr. Dalrymple for Strawberries ; Mr. Clarke for Citrons; Mr.
Hill for Black Prince Grapes ; Mr. Monro for collection of Peaches.

222 THE FLORIST.

The Bath Hanoverian Band Committee held their first
Horticultural Fete for the present season on the 28th of May, in
Sydney Gardens. Last year we announced in our pages that horti-
cultural exhibitions were about being established in Bath, under the
management of the principal tradesmen of the town, who, determined
to have some rational enjoyment for themselves and families, had formed
a committee, and had engaged the services of the Hanoverian Hand for
the purpose of performing daily in the park and other public places.
This display of public spu-it was properly appreciated by their leilow-
townsmen, and it was last year suggested that a horticultural fete would
be an additional source of gratification to the members and the public
generally. Notwithstanding the complete failure of the old horticul-
tural society in Bath, the suggestion was entertained by the committee,
and warmly taken up by the body of exhibitors, who offered to exhibit
their productions for nothing, should the fete prove a failure. So far
from this being the case, however, the public spirit of the committee was
responded to by the whole neighbourhood, as well as by the inhabitants
of Bath. They realised a large sum by the fete, gave the exhibitors
liberal prizes, and had something left in hand, tmboldened by the
good feeling which had become established between themselves and the
exhibitors, they issued this season a programme for three shows, the
first of which took place as above noticed, and we have the greatest
pleasure in asserting that it was by far the best exhibition ever seen in
Bath. We can only find space to notice a few of the articles shown ;
pre-eminent among which were the Chinese Azaleas of — Lawrence,
Esq., which were not surpassed by any we have seen at the metro-
politan shows ; those exhibited by the Rev. — Rhodes were nearly
equal, some of them quite so. In the next class of sixes, E. Barton,
Esq., of Laycock, exhibited six plants not quite so large, but in splendid
condition ; in fact, we never saw better grown plants. Stove and
greenhouse plants and Heaths, contributed by Messrs. Lawrence and
Tugwell, contained fine specimens of good culture. Mr. Bassett, of
Weston Birt, had a fine collection of ornamental-leaved plants, including
many rare things. This gentleman had also a group of Ferns and
Lycopods, of which interesting family half a tent was exhibited.
Orchids and cut flowers and fruit were all equally meritorious, and
prove how greatly the cultivation of plants is increasing.

CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR JULY.

Carnations and Picotees. — There has been too much rain for these
plants, but the grower for exhibition will not be so likely to be teased
with thrip as a hot dry season produces. Keep the plants neatly and
well tied up. Those that require large blooms must now attend to dis-
budding, leaving one, two, or three, according to the strength of the
plant and the known character of the flower, some varieties being much
larger and more full of petals than others.

Conservatory and Show-house. — Here little need be added to the
directions in previous calendars. Keep a sharp look-out for insects.
Syringe freely all plants not in flower.

JULY. 223

Dahlias. — These must be coaxed to grow as fast as possible, to be in
time for the early exhibitions of this flower. If dry weather, watering
overhead early in the evening, stirring the soil about the plants, keeping
down insects, and securely tying the plants, are the ordinary methods
adopted to secure this end. If slugs are troublesome, fresh lime strewed
about the soil as well as over the plants, when they are out, either late
in the evening or early in the morning, will be effectual, if followed up
for a short tune. If earwigs destroy the points of the plants, we have
a remedy in Edwards's trap. A little short manure spread round the
plant as mulching is very beneficial. This should be done about the
middle of the month, as it can be done more easily before the side
stakes have been used to tie the plants to.

Flower Garden. — The frequent showers of rain we have lately had
will have obviated the necessity of much watering ; this will have saved
much labour, which ought to be usefully and profitably employed
otherwise. Pegging down and tying up will demand considerable
attention. Keep everything as neat and trim as possible.

Greenhouse {hard-wooded). — Attend to the young stock in pits and
frames ; there will be every now and then some plants that will require
shifting into larger pots ; turn them round occasionally, and stop and
train the young shoots. Towards the end of the month, if the weather
be fine, the lights may be left off during the night. Attend to large
specimens out of doors ; see they do not suffer for want of water in dry
weather, nor from excess of water in wet weather. Soft-wooded
Plants. — See directions in previous calendars.

Eollifhocks. — Side shoots should be taken off This answers two
purposes : they make cuttings which produce early plants for next
season, and it strengthens the main shoot, thereby producing larger
blossoms. The Hollyhock, like the Dahlia, will be strengthened by
mulching.

Kitchen Garden. — The sowings of the chief crops of the various
kinds of vegetables being now over, the principal work will be to attend
to thinning in proper time, to make good all vacancies, to guard against
their suffering either from insects or drought, and to keep constantly
hoeing among them, in order to' promote a healthy and luxuriant
growth. Plant out immediately the principal breadth of Celery in well
manured trenches ; also Leeks. Plant every vacant space with
Broccolis of sorts, Brussels Sprouts, Borecole, Savoys, &c. Plant
Lettuces and Endive. Sow a good breadth of Turnips ; sow Endive,
Lettuces, and Radishes ; sow Cabbages. Plant a good breadth of
Cauliflower now — they will come during the autumn.

Melons. — Give abundance of air when the fruit are approaching
maturity ; keep the atmosphere dry ; attend to late crops ; thin shoots,
water, &c. ; still keep up a regular bottom heat.

Orchard House. — Attend carefully to watering. Syringe freely, and
give abundance of air. Stop and thin shoots, and do not retain one
more than is necessary.

Pansies. — Seed should be gathered for a short time longer, but not
from flowers that have become small and out of colour from the plant
having become exhausted. Continue to propagate by putting in cut-

224 THE FLORIST.

tings that are young and healthy. Plant out in sandy soil the young
stock, as soon as rooted.

P each-forcing . — When the fruit is all gathered in the early house,
give the trees a few good heavy syringiiigs to clear them of red spider,
&c. ; keep the foliage in a good healthy state as long as possible ; by
tliis means the v\rood will be properly ripened, and this is a point of the
utmost importance, as on it depends in a great measure the success or
failure ot next season's crop. When late crops of fruit are swelling,
water must be supplied liberally, and where it is ripening it should be
withheld.

Pelargoniums. — We are fast approaching the general cutting down.
Before doing this the plants should be gradually dried off. It is better,
both for the young wood intended for cuttings, as well as for the old
stool. Seed should be sown as soon as ripe enough. There have been
some fine new things shown this season by the principal raisers.
Foster, Hoyle, Beck, and Turner have each exhibited some very
promising seedlings. There appears to be a never-dying interest in
this most showy and most interesting greenhouse plant. Nothing,
certainly, can exceed the beauty of a well-grown house of Pelargoniums.
Fancy varieties may be cut down also, and used generally pretty much
hke the large-flowered kinds. The cuttings, when put in, should be
longer, or they are liable to dry up. They will break up at the bottom
— the plants will not be long.

Pinks. — The bloom in the south will be drawing to a close ; the late
varieties are, however, good yet, as well as in colder districts. The
bloom has been very fine. Tlie showers experienced during May and
the early part of June have caused them to lace beautifully. Cardinal,
New Criterion, Sovereign, Purity, Mrs. Norman, Adonis, Mrs. Stevens,
Mr. Stubbs, Kuh-i-noor, Criterion, Brunette, James Hogg, have been
very finely exhibited. Finish putting in cuttings with all dispatch, in
the ordinary manner, under small glasses with a little bottom heat.

Pleasure Ground. — Rolling, mowing, and sweeping are, at this
season, the principal matters to be attended to ; and, if the weather be
showery, they will often require doing, to keep up anything like an
appearance of order and neatness.

Roses. — Where our previous directions respecting searching for
maggots and destroying them have been neglected, the large number of
the earliest flowers rendered imperfect is now apparent, and will, we
trust, be a lesson for the future. We never remember, either, so much
destruction being committed by the maggot, which bores the young shoots.
Where the ends of them are seen to flag, let them be cut off" below the
perforated part and trodden under foot. If fine blooms are required, the
buds must be thinned and copious doses of liquid manure freely adminis-
tered. When the sun is powerful, shading will be requisite. This may be
easily done by means of hoops of split hazel or willow, with cross
pieces to foi-m a dome, being covered with thin calico or paper, and
fixed in a couple of cleft sticks, the flowers being tied so as to pr-event
rubbing. In pots, where flowers are over, they should be cut back,
plunged in aslies, liberally top-dressed with decayed manure, and
watered as frequently as dry weather may render necessary.

J'-'JMnns det'llinai

Con^ea Cardmalis .

Tlate 16

Jhnbui' If C duiiot

AUGUST. 225

CORREA CARDINALIS.

(Plate 116.)

Among the new plants exhibited by Messrs. Veitch and Son at
the Crystal Palace in May last, that figured in our present
number was one of the handsomest and most interesting. It was
raised by Messrs. Veitch and Son from Australian seeds found in
the vicinity of the Latrobe River, where plants were discovered
in sandy places, on the plain of Port Albert, Gipps Land, Colony
ofVictoria, South Australia. In habit it resembles Correaventricosa,
but it is far superior to that kind in colour and attractiveness,
producing rich scarlet flowers an inch to an inch and a half in
length. It is an abundant bloomer and of compact habit, and
continues blooming longer than any other variety. As Correas
are so easily cultivated, we hope to find this valuable greenhouse
plant more generally grown.

NEW PEAS, &c.

Three new Peas were ushered into notice this spring with very high
recommendations. One of them, Dillestone's Early Prolific, was to be
the earliest, and Harrison's two new varieties, were to be as early as
the Early Frame, with Knight's Marrow flavour. These, with several
other varieties, have been proved by an eminent gardener in our
immediate neighbourhood, and with the following results :

Dillestone's Early Prolific, sent out as a fortnight earlier than Daniel
O'llourke. In this instance we could see little or no difference as to
earliness. It may be a day or two earlier, but we could not detect it.
A friend in Yorkshire says that he sowed this and Daniel O'Rourke on
the same day, and that it was about a week earlier. It is a free bearing
variety, from three to four feet high, with a short well-filled pod, and
in this respect we think Daniel O'Rourke the best podder, if not the
best Pea.
Harrison's Perfection, white Marrow \ „ x a r i.
Harrison's Glory, blue Marrow . . / "^ "^o * ^eet.
In these two varieties no perceptible difference can be seen when growing;
either or both may be regarded as most desirable, because so early as the
Early Frame, with the productiveness and flavour of Knight's Marrow.
The pods are produced in pairs, as in Hairs* Mammoth, from which they
seem to be seedlings. They are both very heavy croppers, and come in
immediately after Daniel O'Rourke.
Dickson's Favourite, 5 to 6 feet. One of the very best second early Peas,
producing an abundant crop of handsome well-filled pods, from eight to
ten peas in a pod.
Lord Raglan (Epps), 3 feet. An excellent late Marrow Pea, bearing a close
resemblance to Hairs' Mammoth. This variety should not be sown
thickly in good soil, as it is a robust grower and a good cropper.

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXVIII. Q

226 THE FLORIST.

Monarch (Epps.) A very tall-growing kind, and the pods fill rather better
than British Queen, which it resembles, but is not prelerable to it.

Danecroft Prolific, 3 to 4 feet. A capital late Pea and a good cropper.

British Queen. The best of all the tall late Marrows.

Ne Plus Ultra. Closely resembling British Queen.

Thurston's Reliance, G to 7 feet. A late ISIarrow Pea of very good quality,
resembling Ne Plus Ultra and others in growth.

Champion of England, 3 to 6 feet. A good second crop Pea, and a good
cropper.

Fairbeard's Surprise, 5 feet. A good second crop Pea, and a good cropper.

All the above varieties were sown on the 23rd of April, in ^ood,
well-trenched soil, indispensable requisites to the growth of good Peas.
With regard to early Peas, we do not consider that an earlier than
Daniel O'Rourke is requisite, unless a much hardier race can be pro-
cured to resist spring frosts ; but it is essential that a Pea as earh/ as
Daniel O'Rourke, with the flavour and productiveness of our best
Marrowfats, should be procured, and to the attainment of this object
we direct the attention of hybridisers. For small, or even large
gardens, we recommend the following sorts : —

First Early — Daniel O'Rourke (with a succession a fortnight after for large
gardens) .

Second Early — Harrison's Perfection or Glory, Dickson's Favourite.

Third Crop — Champion of England.

Fourth Crop — Lord Raglan, Hairs' Dwarf Mammoth, British Queen.

Near these Peas was a breadth of CauUflowers, consisting of —

Early London — the earliest.

Walcheren and Waite's Alma — second early.

The Alma seems to be an improved "Walcheren, is dwarf and compact in
growth, with a close head, and may be regarded as an excellent variety.

Mitchell's Hardy. We cannot see that this is better than Waite's Alma,
although rather later, with more pointed foliage and of a little dwarfer
growth. All were sown and planted out at the same time.

In Cucumbers, we have found —

Weedon's Symmetry a very good black spine, growing from 18 to 20 inches
in length, with a rather long heel, but a very good cropper for frame-
work.

Ipswich Standard, black spine, an excellent one for winter work in houses or
in pits on trellis, being a very prolific variety and a good setter. It is
also an excellent Cucumber for frame culture in summer, but does not
produce such fine fruit as when grown on a trellis, or in a house.

Wheeler's Improved Sion House, white spine, an excellent variety for winter
work, and the best of all the Sion House class ; also a very prolific
Cucumber for frame culture, crisp, and of good flavour.

LIGHT— ITS INFLUENCE ON VEGETATION.

(Continued from page 204) .
The influence which light exercises on vegetation and on vegetable
products is in no instance more clearly demonstrated than in the culti-
vation of fruit, where, as a conditional law, favour must be combined
with size and colour, to form the highest examples of horticultural
skill. It is to the late President of the Horticultural Society —
T. A. Knight, Esq. — that we are mainly indebted for having directed
attention to the importance of light to fruits grown under glass, as well

AUGUST. 227

as In the open air, and many of his interesting experiments in culti-
vation and the construction of glass houses had a direct reference to this
important end.

I need not point out to the grower of fruit under glass the absolute
necessity of his trees or plants having their full share of light, as this
fact is fully substantiated. The superiority of houses for fruit culture,
where a large portion of the light which falls on the roof is enabled to
pass through, is seen by the excellence of the productions grown under
them in comparison with others, where the heavy materials of the roof
and small squares of glass cause a considerable portion of the sun's rays
to be reflected or thrown back, and therefore useless for every purpose
connected with the well-being of the plants within the house. I may,
perhaps, here notice, as affording evidence on this part of my subject,
the iron and glass forcing-houses in the Royal Gardens at Frogmore,
whose productions are unequalled, the new houses at Arundel Castle,
and Pennant Castle, Bangor, which are all nearly alike as regards
materials and construction, and which are known to produce some of
the best specimens of fruit exhibited.

As regards the form of houses for fruit growing, here again the angle
at which the roof is placed is a point which should be carefully studied,
and on which there can be no doubt that, where fruit is to be ripened
much out of its natural season — i. e., either very early, or late — houses
with a considerable angle of elevation are preferable, on account of their
admitting more light at those periods of the year to houses with
flatter roofs. Lean-to houses we consider better adapted for forcing-
houses than those having span roofs, not so much in respect to the
quantity of light which passes into them, as in their longer retention of
the heat which enters with light, and which, as every gardener
knows, escapes more rapidly from houses having glass on all sides, than
from those having only glass on one side, and that facing the south.

The colouring of fruit depends not altogether on the direct action of
light on the fruit itself, but on the vigour and consequent healthy action
of the leaves, from which source fruits draw the principal part of their
support; but they have in addition the power within themselves of
organising those peculiar products which give to each particular kind of
fruit its value ; all, however, depends on the healthy action of the parts
engaged in forming these secretions, for neither can a high or deep
colour, nor yet first-rate flavour, be imparted to fruit, if the leaves are
unhealthy, and incapable of producing organizable matter of a healthy
character. To carry out, therefore, the ripening of fi-uit to its highest
point of excellence, the leaves, from their earliest development, must be
kept fully exposed to hght, to ensure the healthy action of their organs
in furnishing an abundant supply of the necessary food for the fruit
while in a young and growing state; and as the fruit approaches
maturity, light, and a more full exposure to air than what may even
be necessary during the period of growth, should be admitted, to enable
the vital force within the fruit itself to perform the changes requisite to
give flavour and proper consistence to its component parts. To effect
this more effectually, fruits should, if possible (I here allude to forced
fruits), be allowed to ripen slowly, that the processes whereby their

228 THE FLORIST.

characteristic qualities are obtained may have time to be formed with-
out being hurried, and the fruit consequently may attain its fullest
development of size, colour, and flavour.

{To be continued.)

ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY, REGENT'S PARK.
July 9. — This, the last meeting of this Society for the season, was a
most successful one. We do not remember to have seen plants exhi-
bited so fresh in July on any previous occasion. Fruit was also in
great abundance, and contained many excellent examples of superior
culture.

The prizes were very generally awarded to the same exhibitors that
have been successful at the previous shows, which have been fully
reported by us : we shall, therefore, on this occasion^confine our remarks
principally to subjects not before exhibited.

The Messrs. Veitch sent a very interesting collection of new plants,
conspicuous amongst which was the new scarlet Delphinium cardinale ;
four spikes of this handsome plant were sent : Gesnera Miellezi ; this
resembles an upright Gloxinia, with a creamy white tube, the top of
which is of a rosy lilac colour and very pretty : Eucharis amazonica, an
Amaryllidaceous plant, shown before as E. grandiflora ; it has beautiful
white flowers, which are large in size and very showy. The I\Iessrs.
Veitch also exhibited flowering plants of Leptodactylon californicum,
Philesia buxifolia, and Sonerila margaritacea : these last named have
been made familiar to our readers by our artist, Mr. Andrews.
Messrs. Veitch also sent a plant of the beautiful shrub Desfontania
spinosa (in flower), a new Burlingtonia, cut specimens of the pretty
Rhododendron Princess Royal, and a plant of Topping's light Pelar-
gonium Clarissa, described in our last number.

The most remarkable new f)lant in the entire exhibition was Clematis
lanuginosa pallida, a noble specimen with numeious flowers, from
Messrs. Standish and Noble, Bagshot. This was figured by us in
1854. The same firm also sent 12 blooms of a new Hybrid Perpetual
Rose named Victor Trouillard, being of the rich deep shade of colour of
the old Tuscany, but like Geant des Batailles, from which it was raised,
the colour soon fades. It is very dissimilar to existing varieties,
particularly of the Hybrid Perpetual class. Mr. Glendinning, of the
Chiswick Nursery, sent plants of Abies Ktempferi, and other new
plants, both in and out of bloom ; the most conspicuous among the
former were Erica Spenceriana, and Mandirola Roezli, a plant resem-
bling a Gesnera in habit ; as exhibited, it was dull in colour — a shaded
lilac. Mr. Taylor, of Streatham, sent a small but well-bloomed plant of
his new striped Azalea striata formosissima, which is an excellent variety.

Verbenas were shown in a cut state by Mr. G. Smith, Mr. C.
Turner, and Mr. Weatherill, in good variety and condition. General
Simpson, Standard Bearer, Jaquinta, John Edwards, Victory, Gloire de
France, Reine des Amazones, Mrs. Halford, Noel, Duke of Cambridge,
Blue Bonnet, and Lord Raglan were very distinct and good.

AUGUST. 229

In new bedding plants, the most remarkable was a collection of shrubby
Calceolarias from Mr. Turner. These were raised by Mr. Cole, and are

of almost every shade of colour — selfs, blotched, and spotted flowers

from white to dark maroon. It should be mentioned that these are more
effective for pot plants, both for the home stage and for exhibition, than
the herbaceous kinds, and the majority of them are well adapted for
bedding-out purposes.

Mr. Hally, of Blackheath, sent two variegated-leaved Geraniums —
IJurning Bush and Scintillatum — but not being in bloom no opinion
could be formed of then- merits.

Messrs. Henderson, of the Wellington- road Nursery, St. John's
Wood, sent Tydsea amabilis. This is one of the class of plants between
Achimenes and Gloxinias ; free-flowering like the former, and appears
to be of easy culture ; the flowers are rosy crimson, beautifully
spotted.

Mr. Parsons, gardener at Danesbury Park, near Welwyn, exhibited
a seedling Achimenes named Vivid — a pretty, distinct, new variety ;
colour, bright carmine.

Pinks were shown very good. Dr. Maclean, of Colchester, took a first
prize for 12 blooms in the Amateur class, with varieties all of his own
raising. Dr. Maclean also exhibited several seedlings, the best of which
were Purity, William Hale, and Essex Buck. Mr. Bragg, of Slough,
sent a pretty bright variety named Venus ; it is too thin, and a little
serrated on the edge.

Cut Roses were exhibited in very fine condition by the Messrs. Paul,
of Cheshunt ; Mr. Francis, of Hertford ; Mr. Mitchell, of Piltdown ;
and Messrs. Lane, of Great Berkhampstead. In the Amateur Class,
by Miss Palmer, Portland Place; C. M. Whittington, Esq., Caversham;
and ]\Ir. Hume, gardener to R. Hanbury, Esq., Ware. Many of the
varieties were exquisite. We should give the preference to General
Castellane for shape ; for colour, to General Jacqueminot and Lord
Raglan. Some of the light kinds were very double, and of the most
approved form.

Several new Grapes were shown. Mr. Snow's Muscat Hamburgh
is a fine addition, being of the most pleasant rich flavour. Three
bunches of anew white Grape, Marchioness of -Hastings, were of an
immense size. These were from Mr. Mitchell, of Brighton.

THE SUMMER PRUNING OP FRUIT TREES.
The advantages of summer pruning have of late years been so
repeatedly pointed out, that it may appear to some perhaps almost
unnecessary to insist further on it, or to repeat what has already been
so often said before. I, too, should be of this opinion were the practice
now universal ; this, I am compelled to say, is not the case. I there-
fore hope that a few remarks on the subject wiU not be deemed
mistimed.

The importance of solar light and air in motion to vegetation is now

230 TUE FLORIST.

generally admitted, and yet how often do we see all the young wood
left until what is called the winter pruning, not only on Gooseberry
and Currant bushes, but on standard Apple, Pear, and Plum trees.
Peach, Nectarine, and Apricot trees fare a little better ; but in general
much more wood is retained at the summer pruning than is required
for next season. The air should freely pass round every portion. of
wood retained on trees, whether standards, dwarfs, trained or untrained,
and solar light should directly reach the surface of every leaf When
the wood or leaves are so close as in any manner to obstruct these
(the free circulation of air round the wood, and the direct action of
solar light on the leaves), the consequences are that even in the most
favourable seasons the wood does not get properly ripened, and in
unfavourable ones it is much less matured. To retain, therefore, any
superfluous shoots at summer pruning is very bad practice, as they
prevent the wood that is wanted for next year from being properly
ripened ; and unless the wood is thoroughly matured it is in vain to
expect good crops of fruit. Unless every leaf receives the full influence
of solar light, and unless air in motion pass freely about every part of
the tree, we cannot secure well-formed buds ; even then we must
always keep the leaves clear of insects, so that their functions be not in
the least impaired. If we wish annually to have good crops of fruit,
we must timely and properly attend to the summer pruning of our
trees ; and we must not limit this operation to our Peach, Nectarine,
and Apricot trees, nor to our Apple, Pear, and Plum trees, but must
extend it to every tree of every description, from which we expect a
crop of fruit. Instead of Gooseberry and Currant bushes being summer
pruned in general, it is quite exceptional. I am perfectly aware that
all this summer pruning occurs at a time of the year when there is an
accumulated demand of absolutely necessary and immediate require-
ments on the too often rather limited labour which a gardener has at
his command. This it is, I know, which sometimes causes that work,
which, though at that time it may not be so immediately urgent, but
which, nevertheless, is oftentimes of much more consequence, to be
postponed. And as a matter of course, not being done at the proper
time, it is not done until winter, consequently the wood is never in such
case properly ripened ; and trees, when the wood is not ripened,
always suffer more from insects ; and the young shoots from unripened
wood, if summer pruning is neglected, stand a still worse chance of
ripening. When this goes on year after year it is in vain to expect
crops of fruit. No matter, then, how " immediate and urgent " other
work may be at the time, the summer pruning of fruit trees of every
kind must be attended to properly. It is labour well bestowed, and
when trees get into a healthy bearing state, full of ripened and fruc-
tiferous wood, they will require but very little summer pruning. It is
when this is totally neglected, that trees that bear little or no fruit put
out a forest of shoots instead.

Pomona.

231

MESSRS. LANE AND SON'S NURSERIES, GREAT EERK-
HAMPSTEAD, HERTS.

There are few of the gardening world who have not heard of the
magnificent pot Roses and greenhouse Azaleas exhibited by this firm
at our Metropohtan and other flower shows. Their nurseries during
the blooming season of these plants will well repay a visit, while
for the past month their extensive Rose grounds have been one
mass of bloom. Their stock of Roses is perhaps one of the largest
in this country, and comprises all the most esteemed varieties in
cultivation. Of Hybrid Bourbons we noticed a fine stock, amongst the
best of which Paul Perras, Paul Ricaut, Chenedole, and Coupe d'Hebe
were pre-eminent. The Hybrid Perpetual Roses are, however, the most
extensive class, and on account of the length of time during which they
continue to bloom are the most desirable to cultivate. Of these a long
list might be given ; we must content ourselves only to name such
varieties as we consider very superior. Of deep crimsons the
new Rose, General Jacqueminot, Geant des Batailles, and Empereur
Napoleon III. are very striking ; these are Roses which, as Mr. Lane
expresses it, warm you to look upon them. Of pink and rose coloured
varieties Jules JMargottin, JMadame Domage, Chereau, Madame de
Cambaceres, Madame Hector Jacqueler, Duchess of Norfolk, Comtesse
Vaillant, Colonel de Rougemont, and Baronne Heckeren are amongst
the best. Of Bourbons there are many very splendid varieties :
Apolhne, Aurore de Guide, Francois Henrincq, Louis Odier, Sir J.
Paxton, and Souvenir de la Malmaison. The Tea-scented, though
somewhat tender, deserve every attention to bring them to perfection.
Messrs. Lane's stock of these is particularly good ; Adam, Canari,
Comte de Paris, Devoniensis, Gloire de Dijon, Madame de St. Joseph,
Madame Melanie Willemorz, Moire, Narcisse, Souvenir d'un Ami, and
Vicomtesse de Cazes are all very beautiful. Long beds of the above,
and many other splendid varieties, were in most luxuriant health, and
covered with bloom, the fragrance of which completely loaded the
atmosphere. They are worked in a great variety of shapes — dwarfs,
pillars, and standards, the latter so high as seven and nine feet, the
tallest of which are much in demand for covering high walls, &c., for
by the aid of such plants' it is possible to cover such places at any time.

Of forest trees Messrs. Lane's young stock is very extensive and
good ; this will easily be understood when we state that' their nurseries
consist of about 60 acres of land which is well adapted for the purpose.

Coniferous plants are propagated in large quantities. The more
common are sown in beds in the usual way, after which the surface is
thinly covered with chopped Furze ; this answers the Ivvo-fold purpose
of preventing excessive evaporation during the summer, and of
protecting the young plants from cutting wind during winter and the
early spring months. Of Araucaria imbricata Messrs. Lane's stock is
the largest we have seen ; many of the plants are large and handsome ;
seedlings of the present season amount to several thousands; and are
now growing freely in a cool greenhouse. When these plants can be

232 THE FLORIST.

propagated so freely from seed it may be a matter of surprise that any
other means should be adopted. For certain purposes, however, plants
struck from cuttings are very useful, for by this means quite another
habit is acquired : instead of the erect symmetrical plants which we
have from seed we have dwarf trailing plants which are admirably
adapted for planting on rock-work, &c. Messrs. Lane have long directed
their attention to this fact, and are now in possession of a nice stock of
such plants.

American plants are very extensively grown. There are large quan-
tities of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, Andromedas, &c., all of
which are very healthy, and have been one mass of bloom ; in fact,
some of the late varieties of Rhododendrons were still so. Standard
Rhododendrons, so much in demand for planting singly on lawns and a
variety of purposes, are here in great numbers ; as are also standard
Bays and Portugal Laurels — the latter full of flowers, which have a
pretty effect.

Plant-houses and pits, as may be supposed, are very numerous :
besides those for specimen plants, there are a number for the young
stock of stove and greenhouse plants. Achimenes, Gloxinias, Pelar-
goniums, &c., are here in their newest and best variety ; their young
stock of greenhouse Azaleas is the largest we have seen, and remark-
ably clean and healthy.

For specimen Azaleas three large span-roof houses are devoted.
The Messrs. Lane have long been celebrated for the culture of such
plants ; at the present time these, like their young stock, evince the
best of management. Of the more rare, we noticed tine plants of Alba
melior, considered one of the best white Azaleas in cultivation ; Beaute
de I'Europe, a very pretty carnation- striped variety ; Chelsoni, one of
the best in the way of Perryana : there are also some fine plants of
Azalea Lanei, a seedling of ]\Iessrs. Lane, which they consider by far
the best white Azalea in cultivation. Of old varieties they have mag-
nificent plants of Conspicua purpurea (a very showy variety, the flowers
of which have sometimes measured five inches in diameter), Duke of
Devonshire, Iveryana, IMurrayana, Perryana, Rubra plena (a very large
plant), Variegata, Gledstanesi, and many others ; we' also noticed
several plants on which three and four varieties had been worked
together — these, when in flower, are very pretty. In one of the
Azalea houses we noticed remarkably fine plants of the two varieties of
Rhododendron javanicum ; they are each about four feet high, bushy,
and well clothed with foliage to the pot's rim — a condition in which
they are rarely met with.

Messrs. Lane's stock of orchard-house plants cannot possibly be sur-
passed. There are four span-roof houses devoted to this branch of
plant culture, the largest of which is 150 feet by 24, and it is now
intended to extend it to 300 feet, in order to meet the demand for
these trees. One house is specially devoted to fruiting plants ; it
contains most of the best varieties of Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots,
Plums, and Cherries, besides several new or little known fruits, which
it is the object to test : we noticed plants in ten-inch pots of the Kaisha,
Moor Park, and several other Apricots, loaded with fruit — in fact, this

AUGUST. 233

was the case with the whole contents of the house. In their large
house are planted all the known varieties of Hamburgh Vines. These,
it is expected, will not only furnish a supply of Grapes, but also a
quantity of " eyes," from which a stock of young plants can be propa-
gated and kept under their proper names. The stock of young trees
in pots in this house is in excellent condition. Out of doors, there are
large quantities of Pears, Plums, Gooseberries, and Currants, also in
pots, and many of them loaded with fruit.

Messrs. Lane have long been known as among the most persevering
and ardent lovers of good gardening, at the present time there is every
appearance of their long retaining their high standard ; everything,
both in their plant-houses and grounds, evinces the best order and good
management, and we have to thank them for the very kind manner in
which they allowed us to inspect every part of their establishment.

THE PINK.
Knowing as we do the estimation in which this sweetest, as well
as oldest and most interesting of Florists' Flowers is held, we have,
by permission of the proprietor, introduced the following remarks by
" J. H. B.," from the " National Garden Almanack " for the present
year. As we know the discriminating taste of" J. H. B.," he will be found
a safe guide, and we hope in a future number to give our readers the
result of his experience of the present year's bloom.

" If we examine the whole catalogue of Florists' Flowers, I question
if we shall find one more improved of late years than this lovely
favorite.

" When we remember the fringed mop of Dry's Earl of Uxbridge,
or Pigott's Earl of Cheltenham ; the confused colouring of Unsvvorth's
Omega, or Blackheath Hero ; and the uncertain lacing of Akers' Lord
Brougham, or Barrett's Conqueror, all acknowledged favourites a few
years since, and contrast them with the fulness and compactness of
Ward's Great Britain, or Turner's Duke of Devonshire, the solid
edging and lovely colours of Mrs. Norman or Maclean's Criterion, or
the dense margin of Norman's Colchester Cardinal, we cannot fail to
be struck with the great advance made by this flower, and although we
must allow perfection has not been attained, yet we cannot certainly
deny that immense strides have been made in that direction.

" Among the first (in my remembrance) improvers of this flower,
Mr. John Sharp, of Clop Hill, near Selsoe, Bedfordshire, must be
named, as with Splendid and Wm. Cobbett ; he gave us the first
indication of that breadth and smoothness of petal, we have since seen
so much more fully carried out ; Mr. Garrett gave us a still further
improvement with Alpha, and Queen of Roses ; Mr. Hodges gave us
Gem and Melona, and Mr. Creed, of Woolwich, gave us President, a
further advance in the right direction.

" Mr. Cousins, of Welling, with Little Wonder, and James Cousins
followed well in this road, and Mr. N. Norman, of Woolwich, in con-

234 THE FLORIST.

trlbuting Henry and Duke of Wellington, made a vast stride in advance
of his cont(2mporaries.

" Mr. Solomon Hale, of Hillingdon, gave us Queen of England, a
flower which for refinement of style and precision of marking was un-
rivalled. Mr. E. Stow, of Chiselhurst, gave us Elizabeth, one of the
best dark edges of its day, and Mr. Meade, of Lewisham, contributed
Blackheath Rival, a James Hogg on a small scale.

" Mr. Smith gave us Diana, Whipper-in, Goliath, &c. &c., and Mr.
Read, a neighbour of Mr. Sharp, of Clop Hill, gave us Jermy Lind
(wrongly called Harrison's), which to other good qualities adds that of
its prolificacy, as a numerous progeny (among which Kossuth, Ada,
Bertha, &c., are worthy of note) fully shows.

" Dr. Maclean, of Colchester, gave us Narborough Buck, Criterion
(aptly named), Narborough Nymph (now I fear lost), and later, New
Criterion, and Purity, two of the best Pinks in cultivation ; while Dr.
Norman, of the same neighbourhood, has given us Colchester Cardinal
(a perfect gem), and I\Irs. Norman, a flower which for breadth of petal
is unrivalled — while Messrs. Bragg and Turner, of Slough, and Keynes,
of Salisbury, have of late years done the cause good service, the former
with Jupiter, Koh-i-noor, James Hogg, Hercules, &c. &c. Mr. Turner
with Optima, Esther, Sarah, Perfection, Richard Andrews, &c. &c.,
and Mr. Keynes with Mrs. Wolfe, Mrs. Lewis, &c. ; nor must we
omit, while on the subject of Pink improvers, the name of Mr. Marris,
of Leicester, who in giving us Theresa, Theodore, and Geraldine, has
insured the knowledge of his name, at least for some years, in our
locality.

" The north has hitherto been singularly backward in producing any
worthy Pink novelty — Mrs. Burman, of whom we were promised such
<jf7-eat things, proving too liltie for anything useful ; but even the north
has at length made a step in the right direction, and in giving us Eli-
zabeth Gair, Mr. Lightbody has chronicled himself as another Pink
grower's friend. The south has had worthy representatives in the
Chatham growers, and while Mr. Eldridge has evinced his predilection
for the yacht line of business in naming his seedlings Volante, War
Hawk, Alarm, &c. &c., they have by no means disgraced their name-
sakes' aqueous reputation. Central Kent was worthily represented by
Mr. Hardstone, of St. Mary Cray, whose last contribution was Fanny,
a Yery fair specimen of a Pink. (I regret to say icas represented, as
I have just heard of his rather sudden death, on the 22nd October.
The Pink, Tulip, Carnation, and Picotee world, have sustained a con-
siderable loss in the person of this persevering old florist ; may his son
follow worthily in his footsteps.)

" Mr. Looker, of Oxford, must by no means be overlooked in these
remarks, for whether we take old flowers, or new ones, he seems
equally in the foremost rank. Of the former, Jane Sarah, Glory of .
Oxford, and Duchess of Marlborough, were excellent representatives ;
while, in novelties, John Stevens, Juliet, Mr. Hoyle, Mr. Hobbs, &c.
&c., bear conspicuous places ; and if Mrs. Stevens prove to be only as
great a trimmer as report says she is, her possessor may congratulate
himself on having added at least an A 1 to the Pink catalogue.

AUGUST. 235

" Yet with all these improvements, and no one can deny that they
are improvements, I miss the dense black and wire edge I so well
remember on Aker's Lord Brougham, Ibbot's Captain Dean Dundas,
and Keynes' Ne Plus Ultra : and while our growers are conning over
these few rambling and discursive remarks, I can only say, if they are
fortunate enough to produce a flower combining these qualifications,
with the present breadth of petal, fulness of flower, and smoothness of
edge, no one will be more ready and willing to chronicle their success,
and rejoice at their good fortune than

^ "J. H. B.

" I append a list of the best thirty-six Pinks cultivated by me in the
past season.

New Criterion (Maclean).
Mrs. Norman (Norman).
James Hogg (Bragg).
Jolin Stevens (Looker).
Richard Andrews (Turner)
Elizabeth Gair (Lightbody).

Criterion (Maclean).

Jupiter (Bragg).

Theresa (Marris).

Mrs. Lewis (Keynes).

Lord Cliarles Wellesley (Bragg).

Fanny (Hardstone).

Mr. Hobbs (Looker).
Koh-i-noor (Bragg).
Alarm (Elri(Ige).
Brunette (I\Laclean).
Criterion (Ellis).
Field Marshal (Hale)

Colchester Cardinal (Norman).

Hercules (Bragg).

Ada (Read).

Great Britain (V7ard).

Juliet (Looker).

Mr. Hoyle (Looker) .

Duke of Devonshire (Turner).
Sarah (Turner).
Esther (Turner).
Sappbo (Colcutt).
Mrs. Wolfe (Keynes).
Favorite (Hudson).

Adonis (Maclean).
Perfection (Turner).
Optima (Turner).
Louisa (Phillips).
Colchester Buck (Norman).
Titus (Edwards).

" Our kind contributor, an amateur florist, has been no less happy
than just in his retrospective and recommendatory hints on Pinks.
[J.E.]"

THE APPLE CROP OF 1856.

The crop is this year a very thin one in Yorkshire, considerably below
the average. This is what I anticipated fi-om the very heavy crops of
last year, which not being thinned, robbed the trees of all their
nutritious matter, so that a season of rest is required to store up
sufficient for another heavy crop, to be followed by another season of
rest. To remedy this state of things, I have advocated a proper
system of culture, such as thinning of spurs, buds, fruit, _&c. Our
orchardists attribute the failure of their crop to our late spring frosts,
and not to their own mismanagement in letting the trees go unpruned
and uncared for, never thinning the fruit when the crop is very heavy.
In America they have their " bearing year " and season of rest in
neglected orchards, but they do not, as we do, attribute it to late spring

236 THE FLORIST.

frost. Downing, in his work, the " Fruits and Fruit Trees of
America," treating on orchard culture, says, " The hearing year of the
Apple, in common culture, only takes place every alternate year, owing
to the excessive crop which it usually produces, by which they exhaust
most of the organisable matter laid up by the tree, which then requires
another season to recover, and collect a sufficient supply again to form
fruit buds. When half the fruit is thinned out in a young state,
leaving only a moderate crop, the Apple, like other fruit trees, will bear
every year, as it will also if the soil is kept in high condition. He adds
in a note, " One of the finest orchards in America is that of Pelham
farm at Esopus, on the Hudson. It is no less remarkable for the
beauty and high flavour of its fruit, than the constant productiveness
of the trees. The proprietor, C. J. Pell, Esq., has kindly furnished us
with some notes of his experiments on fruit trees, and we subjoin the
following highly interesting one on the Apple : — ' For several years
past I have been experimenting on the Apple, having an orchard of
2000 bearing Newtown Pippin trees. I found it very unprofitable to
wait for what is termed the ' bearing year,' and it has been my aim to
assist Nature, so as to enable the trees to bear every year. I have
noticed that from the excessive productiveness of this tree, it requires
the intermediate year to recover itself — to extract from the earth and
the atmosphere the materials to enable it to produce again. This it is
not able to do, unassisted by art, while it is loaded with fruit, and the
intervening year is lost. If, however, the tree is supplied with proper
food it will bear every year ; at least such has been the result of my
experiments. Three years ago, in April, I scraped all the rough bark
from the stems of several thousand trees in my orchard, and washed
all the trunks and stems within reach with soft soap ; trimmed out all
the branches that crossed each other, early in June, and painted the
wounded part with whitelead, to exclude moisture and prevent decay.
I then, in the latter part of the same month, slit the bark by running
a sharp pointed knife from the ground to the first set of limbs, which
prevents the trees from becoming bark-bound, and gives the young
wood ain opportunity of expanding. In July I placed one peck of
oyster-shell lime under each tree, and left it piled round the trunk until
November, during which time the drought was excessive. In November
the lime was dug in thoroughly. The following year I collected from
these trees T700 barrels of fruit, part of which was sold in New York
for four and others in London for nine dollars per barrel. The cider
made of the refuse, delivered at the mill two days after its manufacture,
I sold for 3f dollars per barrel of 32 gallons, exclusive of the barrel.
In October I manured these trees with stable manure in which the
ammonia had been fixed, and covered this immediately with earth.
The succeeding autumn they were literally bending to the ground with
the finest fruit I ever saw, while the other trees in my orchard not so
treated are quite barren, the last season having been their ' bearing
season.' I am now placing round each tree one peck of charcoal
dust, and propose in the spring to cover it from the compost heap.' "

If time and space allowed, I could make many more extracts from
this work to show that in America orchards, when neglected, bear crops

AUGUST. 237

every alternate year only ; but where under proper culture they bear every
year. When our orchardists imitate the labour and perseverance of
this American gentleman, who takes so much pains with his Newtown
Pippin trees, then may we hope to hear no more outcries as to the
failure of our crops.

M. Saul.

SHRUBBY CALCEOLARIAS.
A VERY great improvement has lately been effected in this most useful
decorative plant by Mr. Cole and others who have devoted some
attention to hybridising for the purpose of obtaining improved varieties.
We have this season bloomed a full collection in pots for the purpose of
testing their respective merits, and ascertaining which of them are
most useful for bedding uses. Many of them have proved most valuable
for this purpose, others are only suitable for pot culture, and are not
shrubby enough in habit to stand the wear and tear of out-door work,
and give a succession of bloom for the season. Our aim now is to give
some account of all the varieties we have grown, and particularly to show
which are really useful as bedding plants. And with regard to the
culture of Calceolarias in pots, our opinion is, that the shrubby varieties
are far superior to the herbaceous kinds for pot culture. In habit,
and in duration of blooming especially, they are greatly superior, as
they yield a succession of flowers for the season, while the herbaceous
varieties do not remain in bloom half so long. They are also not so
subject to green-fly. The shrubby varieties are very easily grown
from cuttings, and require much less attention in wintering, as well as
in their culture. Our method of growing them is this : — The plants
are just cut down from which cuttings will be taken in .September.
During the winter they will be kept in dry cold frames or pits, provided
with small hot-water pipes in front to keep out frost and damp, and
the plants will be kept as near the glass as possible, to prevent
drawing. They should be kept well aired and hardy, and quite free
from green-fly by repeatedly fumigating them. Fspecial care should
be taken to keep them growing, and not allow them to receive a check,
either from want of water, too much water, or any other cause. Tlie
soil we use consists of maiden loam, leaf-mould, and sand, mixed in a
rough state, and not sifted. The plants should he stopped two or three
times at various periods, and shifted as required, and 8-inch pots are
quite large enough for full-sized specimens. Plenty of ah-, kept
growing, and cleanliness are most important points to be kept in view.

Albira (Cole), yellow with brown spots, very free blooming, of shrubby habit,

but more suitable for pot culture than for bedding.
Ajax (Pince), brownish red with yellow margin, very large and showy, but

only fit for pot culture.
Attraction (Perkins), crimson with orange margin and cap; a very good

variety for pot culture.
Brunettia (Henderson), like Crimson King.
Beauty of Montreal, bright light crimson, small flower, but a free blooming

and good variety for bedding.

238 THE FLORIST.

Crimson King, deep crimson, large, and of rather tall liabit, yet one of the

best crimsons for bedding.
Cotton-ball, a white variety of no value.

Correggio (Henderson), large brovenish crimson, best for pot culture.
Desirable (Perkins), bright crimson, a good variety for pot or bedding.
Don S;iturnio (Henderson), orange brown, large flower, best for pot culture.
Don Francisco (Henderson), dark crimson. Sultan habit, best for pot culture.
Eclipse (Rollisson), bright crimson scarlet, a very fine variety, but unfortu-
nately not a free grower.
Ethel Newcome (Henderson), yellow, not so good as many others.
Erecta, rich yellow, a first rate bedding variety with stiff footstalks, very

bright, and of good habit. Different shade of colour to any other.
Emperor Napoleon (Youell), orange crimson with yellow margin, large; a

good pot variety.
Empress Eugenie (Youell), large yellow, only fit for pot culture, and of not

much value.
General Caurobert (Henderson), rich rosy crimson, a very good pot variety,

but not for bedding out.
General Pelissier (Henderson),- light crimson, Sultan habit, very good for

bedding or pot culture.
Goldiinder (Cole), rich yellow, a fine bedding variety of good habit.
Golden Cap, brown and yellow with yellow cap, dwarf habit, best for pot

culture.
Hawk (Cole), orange, densely spotted with large brown blotches, very bright,

and of good habit ; a good bedding variety, and an excellent pot plant.
Harlequin (Cole), dull orange and brown, spotted, novel in colour, but only

fit for pot culture.
Heywood Hawkins, a half shrubby variety, in colour and marking somewhat

similar to Hawk, but not so desirable.
Kayi, yellow, a well known and useful variety.
King of Sardinia (Cole), rich crimson, large flower, dwarf and good habit,

and a free bloomer, very fine. The best of all the crimson varieties for

bedding purjjoses.
Kentish Hero ; this variety is well known.

Lemonade (Cole), pale yellow, an excellent bedding variety, and best late.
Lady Isham (Perkins), reddish brown edged with yellow, best for pot culture.
Maggiore (Henderson), dark brownish crimson, like lied Rover and Wildfire.
Minnie (Henderson), bright scarlet crimson, small flower, very free, but

not a strong grower.
Norma (Henderson), large dark brownish crimson, Sultan habit.
Negro (Nelson), of Sultan habit and the darkest of all, only fit for pot

culture.
Orange Perfection (Cole), soft pale orange, an exceedingly beautiful and

valuable variety for bedding or pot culture, and very distinct.
Orange Boven (Cole), bright brownish orange, dwarf habit and a free

bloomer, good for bedding.
Pallida (Cole's), pale canary yellow, very free, distinct and good for bedding.
Pilot (Colo), crimson brown, small flowers and very free, best for pot culture.
Prince of Orange (Cole), bright orange brown fading to light orange, very

dwarf habit, and an immense bloomer. This is a most valuable

bedding variety, and should be generally grown.
Pygmaea (Perkins), brown and orange, Sultan habit, not worth growing.
Rosy I\[orn, dark crimson, something like Crimson King.
Red Rover (Henderson), like Wildfire.
Sir Charles Isham (Perkins), crimson with orange cap, dull colour, of not

much value.
Surprise (Henderson), very much like Correggio.
Sultan, rich dark crimson, fine for pots, but superseded by King of Sardinia

for utility.
Shirley (Henderson), pale yellowish brown, something of Prince of Orange

habit, and not so useful.
Purity (Cole), clear white and free blooming. This variety is very fine out

AUGUST. . 239

of doors, if autumn-struck plants are used, and not allowed to grow too
freely. A somewhat dry situation suits it best.
Shaukleyana, very like Kentish Hero, but darker.

Superb (Turner), very dark, of good dwarf habit, and a good bedding variety.
Variabilis (Rullisson), creamy white, of no value.
Wellington Hero (Henderson), deep yellow, large flowers, and very free ; a

very good variety, but Goidfinder is an improvement on it.
Wildfire (Henderson), brownish crimson, large flowers, best adapted for pot

culture.
There are a few other old varieties that we have not enumerated, as
they are so well known. The best, in our opinion, for bedding purposes
are —

Yellow. — Erecta, creamy yellow.
Goidfinder, deep yellow.
Lemonade, pale yellow.
Pallida, pale yellow.
Orange. — Orange Perfection, soft pale orange.

Orange Boven, bright brownish orange.
Prince of Orange, bright orange brown, fading to light orange.
^roM^ra— Kentish Pfero.
Crimson. — King of Sardinia, rich dark crimson.

Beauty of Montreal, bright light crimson.
Superb, very dark.

These are a few first-rate varieties for out-door purposes. In
planting beds of yellow Calceolarias, we have found Superb an
admirable border to a bed of bright yellow, or Prince of Orange a good
border to King of Sardinia or any other dark variety. With regard to
Prince of Orange, it is an invaluable variety, and should be grown
generally, and Erecta is a first-rate yellow variety, that is not
sufficiently known.

PLEROMA ELEGANS.

This is one of the most beautiful summer and autumn-flowering
plants in cultivation ; there is a neatness in the glossy green foliage
and compact habit of well managed plants of it, that is at all times
pleasing. And if we add to this the large round dark purple flowers,
which are produced on every branch in great abundance, we shall find
that we have k\\ plants more attractive.

The culture of this Melastomad is so simple that any one, with a
little attention to its wants, may have good plants; still with this, as
with other things, it is an easy matter for them to get into ill health,
and when that happens it requires some time and skill to induce a free
growing condition. Neglect in stopping the shoots, tying them out, or
repotting, as the case may be, or even a lack of water for a few hours,
when the pots are full of roots and the plants in vigorous growth, are
each sufficient to spoil a plant for a season. Many, too, commit the
mistake of allowing plants intended for specimens to flower when too
young ; when this is done, there is little chance of producing first-
rate specimens, particularly with such plants as the Pleroma. The

240 . THE FLORIST.

object should, be, first, to obtain a good foundation, by carefully
stopping and tying out the branches. When this is properly done, the
greatest art of plant-growing is complete. On the other hand, if these
points are neglected when the plants are young, no after care will
compensate for the omission.

The Pleroma may be propagated either by means of seeds or
cuttings ; if the latter, a little practice is requisite to be able to insert
them at a proper time. They will not root readily if the wood is
allowed to be ( me too ripe ; and on the other hand, if too young,
there will be the danger of damping. Those who have been accus-
tomed to propagate the Azalea will probably find httle difficulty with
this plant.

Supposing we have young plants in February or early in March,
they should be placed in a growing temperature — say about from 45°
to 55°. A suitable place for this and many other plants intended for
specimens, such as Leschenaultias, Eriostemons, IBoronias, &c., is a
pit heated with a hot-water pipe, to apply a little heat in cold, damp
weather. In such a situation they can he kept near the glass, to enjoy
the light and a circulation of air, or shaded from bright sun, as the
weather may require. In such a situation they will soon commence
growing freely, and should be carefully potted in pots a size or two
larger, as the amount of roots may seem to require. It will be better,
however, to give a rather small shift until the plants are fairly started
into growth ; when such is the case, liberal shifts may be given at
intervals of six or eight weeks, giving the final potting for the season
in July, as it is better for the pots to be rather full of roots during
winter. Stopping the shoots should also be discontinued after the first
week in July, and attention paid to having the growth well matured
before the dark days of autumn. This done, the Pleroma may be
wintered in the greenhouse, if the temperature is not allowed to fall
below 40°. It should be placed so as to receive a good amount of
light and air, without incurring cold draughts.

If the plants are required in bloom in the early part of the summer,
they should not be repotted in spring ; but for plants to bloom in
August and September a good shift should be given in March, and the
shoots regularly stopped about a month later. By following the
practice of stopping and potting at different periods, this plant may be
had in bloom for three or four months together at a time.

J. Shuter.

PINKS.
The Pink bloom this year has been very fine, — unusually so. Almost
every variety produced large well-laced flowers, there being scarcely a
failure out of the hundred kinds grown here. The season has, however,
been much in their favour, particularly the spring months, for, if it
prove an adverse one, the most careful treatment will fail to produce
that uniform fine bloom we have just experienced in every part of the

AUGUST. 241

country. Many entertain the idea that the application of manure-
water adds to the colour and quality of lacing. It is true this will help
tliem during a dry season, but this year none has been applied by me,
and I never before saw Pinks bloom so finely. If the beds are made
rich, and also have some rotten manure trenched in the ground when
they are planted, and carefully top-dressed in early spring — say, about
the beginning of March — with good rich soil, but little manure-water
will be required. Experience proves that manure water used in excess
is injurious to the young stock, causing the foliage of many sorts to
become spotted and sickly, that it should be used or not according to
the season, and when its application is resorted to let it be given in a
very weak and diluted form. Let it be attentively seen to that the soil
for them to grow in is sweet, rich, and good.

The following are the best varieties for exhibition : — Mrs. Stevens,
new shade of purple, broad petal, medium size, fine quality, a very fine
flower ; Adonis, rosy purple, very fine, a variety much improved by
being wintered in pots ; Mrs. Norman, reddish purple, of very fine sub-
stance and petal, requires disbudding to one ; Purity, this has been very
fine, colour reddish purple, fine quality and full size, a first class show
flower ; New Criterion, red, fine quality, requires assistance when
opening, as the petals sometimes open curly ; James Hogg, one of the
best, very fine, usually shy to lace, but good in every respect this year :
unquestionably one of the finest Pinks in cultivation when bloomed in
its best character : it has a broad petal, large, and of fine substance ;
Optima, dark, very smooth, a full flower, very fine ; Alma, red, a large
flower, rather full ; Colchester Cardinal, red, rather thin, fine quality,
requires disbudding hard ; Gem of the Season, large petal, and well
laced; Admiral Dundas, purple, smooth, and of fine quality, medium
size ; Peter Young, red, a thick full flower : disbud sparingly, extra
fine ; Lady Blandford, rosy purple, a fine full flower : in thinning out
leave two buds on each stem ; Sovereign, rosy purple, fine ; Richard
Andrews, rosy purple, rather late, but a fine show flower ; Mr. Hoyle,
red, very constant ; Arthur, purple ; Titus, reddish purple, large ;
Narboro' Buck, violet purple, full flower : leave several buds ; Brunette,
dark broad lacing, a variety much improved by being wintered in pots ;
Goliath, red, a very large full flower : disbud sparingly ; Sappho, pale
red, rather faint in colour, good quality ; Purple Perfection, a large full
flower, rather pointed petal ; Hector, red, a very useful flower ; Criterion,
dark purple, very fine ; Fanny, red, large, and bold ; Ganymede, rosy
purple, a pleasing flower ; Climax, red, very large, leave nearly all the
buds ; Prince of Wales, rosy purple : disbud to one only, or it will be
too thin ; Field Marshal, rosy, very constant ; John Stevens, violet
purple, a little serrated on the edge, but very attractive ; Sarah, bright
red, broad lacing, and very constant ; Mr. Weedon, purple, smooth,
and constant ; Mrs. Maclean, lilac rose, a very distinct variety ; Mr.
Hobbs, rosy purple, fine thick flower, full size ; Lord C. Wellesley, rose,
a very useful variety ; Jupiter, purple, rather thin, large petal, and
good quality ; Elizabeth Gair, small and thin, but very good quahty ;
Harry, dark.

The above are the best varieties to grow for exhibition. There are

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXVIII. R

242 THE FLORIST.

a few varieties of Pinks that should be wintered in small pots and
planted out in March, as some of them are delicate growers, and there
are others which, by adopting this treatment, produce much smoother
flowers. The varieties that succeed best treated in this manner are
Criterion, Colchester Cardinal, INIrs. Norman, Optima, Sappho, Great
Britain, Napoleon, Peter Young, Brunette, Narboro' Buck, Adonis, and
James Hogg. In the month of October these should be potted into
three-inch pots, a pair in each, or one plant only if a smaller pot is
used, and wintered in a cold frame the same way as Carnations. In the
beginning of March, if the weather is favourable, they should be planted
out into a bed that has had some good rotten manure well mixed in
during the winter. In planting them out great care should be taken
not to disturb the roots by breaking the ball. In choosing plants for
potting or for planting into the blooming beds, medium sized plants are
better than large ones, as they winter and bloom better.

Slough. • J. S. Ball.

BRITISH POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

A SPECIAL meeting of this Society was held on the 17th ult., chiefly
for the purpose of testing the merits of some of the newer kinds of
Strawberries. Mr. Turner, of Slough, in the chair. ]\Ir. Kitley, of
Bath, furnished specimens of his new Strawberry Carolina superba,
which was sent out in the autumn of 1854. It is a cross between the
Old Pine, or Carolina, and the British Queen. The fruit is large and
handsome, frequently measuring five inches in circumference ; in colour
it is a pale red, even to the point of the fruit ; the seeds are small and
deeply indented, which gives the surface a rather smooth appearance.
The flesh is clear white, very firm in texture, like the Old Pine, and
has the fine aroma and excellent flavour which characterise both its
parents, while in addition to these qualities it is far more productive
than the Old Pine, and hardier than the British Queen. A plant taken
from the open ground and placed in a pot was exhibited, and was
literally covered with fruit. This variety was highly commended by
all present, and there is no doubt that it is a very first-rate and valuable
accession to our list of Strawberries. Mr. Underbill, of Birmingham,
exhibited his Sir Harry. It is a noble- looking Strawberry, and partakes
more of the furrowed cockscomb shape than of heart shape. Its colour
is dark red, and, when highly ripened, of a very deep blood red,
approaching black. Unfortunately the merits of this fruit could not be
discussed, as it had been packed in moss, the flavour of which had been
communicated to the fruit, and spoiled its flavour. Mr. Underbill,
however, intends sending another supply to the next meeting. Sir
Harry was raised between British Queen and Trollope's Victoria. It
ripens at the same time as Keens' Seedling, and bears abundantly.
Mr. Snow, gardener to Earl de Grey, produced specimens of Myatfs
Admiral Dundas Strawberry. It is of a pale reddish-orange colour,

AUGUST. 243

very large size, and inclined to the cockscomb shape ; in flavour it was
considered to be too acid to be agreeable. Mr. Snow also exhibited two
seedling late Strawberries of his own raising, which presented singular
discrepancies in quality, and it was therefore considered desirable that
he should again produce them at the meeting this month. Mr. Knevett,
of Isleworth, sent a basket of a new seedling Strawberry of very large
size, one specimen measuring six inches and a quarter in circumference.
It is heart shaped, dark red in colour, and the seeds, which are small,
almost level with the surface. The flesh is of a deep colour, and
tolerably solid for the size of the fruit. It was considered a very good
Strawberry for its size, with a flavour which renders it worthy of
cultivation, and certainly superior to most of the other large Strawberries
which have hitherto been introduced. Mr. Snow again furnished a
bunch of his new seedling black Grape, raised from the Black Hamburgh
fertilised by • the White Muscat. The berries are of good size,
varying in form from round, like the Hamburgh, to oval, like the
Muscat. The skin is black, and, though not thick, is tough — a property
which enables the fruit to hang and bear carriage well. The flesh is
melting and remarkably rich in flavour, fully charged with the aroma
of the ]\Iuscat, and with an unusually high perfume. The number of
seeds varies from one to two, and in some cases they are wanting.
Mr. Snow having expressed a wish that the Society should name his
new Grape, Mr. Hogg proposed that it should be called Snow's Muscat
Hamburgh, which was approved of It ripens as early, and with the
same degree of heat as the Black Hamburgh. Mr. Snow also
exhibited a basket of remarkably fine specimens of Elton Cherries from
a wall, which were greatly admired. Mr. Rivers exhibited specimens
of Muscat St. Laurence, a white Grape of the Chasselas or Muscadine
family. The bunch is similar to that of the White Muscadine ; the
berries small, round, and greenish in colour ; the skin is thin, flesh very
tender and juicy, with a slight trace of Muscat in it. The specimens
exhibited were ripened under glass ; but Mr. Rivers stated, as its
chief recommendation, that it would ripen out of doors as freely as the
Sweetwater and Muscadine. Mr. Theodore Von Spreckelsen, Hamburgh;
and Mr. Lewis Solomon, of Covent Garden, were elected new members, j

HILLINGDON COURT, UXBRIDGE,

THE SEAT OF CHARLES MILLS, ESQ.

Mr. Mills has long been an ardent patron of horticulture, but it was
not till within these last few years that he has carried into practice so
successfully every branch of gardening, and to so great an extent, as
may now be seen at Hillingdon Court. Mr. Constantine, the gardener
here, is a most successful grower of forced fruits, plants, and general
garden produce. A new mansion has lately been erected, and
surrounded with grounds of considerable beauty. A Box garden,
designed by Mr. Nesfield, is situated at the east end of the mansion,
r2

244 THE FLORIST.

and is one of the best we have seen. In the conservatory at the west
end of the buildhig was a brilUant display, consisting of Smith's
Balsams, many of them very fine indeed ; Fuchsias, Pelargoniums,
Fancy Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, Scarlet Geraniums, Pihynchospennum
jasminoides, Salvia splendens grown on freely in large pots for autumn
iiowering in the conservatory, and nothing is more showy ; Lisianthus
Russellianus, very strong and well grown plants, the culture of which
Mr. Constantine so well understands ; and Scarlet Geraniums Cerise
Unique and Commander-in-Chief, two fine varieties for pot culture.
Roses and various other plants were also in full bloom.

The forcing department is very extensive, and one of the most
complete in the kingdom, Mr. Mills having spared no expense in this
particular department as well as in all others. Pines, both turned out
and in pots, were very fine and healthy ; Queens are chiefly grown
here. Peaches were fine, and in one of the Peach houses w'ere specimens
of the Stanwick Nectarine, which Mr. Constantine regards as a failure.
Vines were in good health and fine. These are grown chiefly in low
semi-circular roofed houses, one of them partly devoted to Muscats,
promising an exceedingly fine crop. In another was a heavy crop of
Black Barbarossa, with very fine bunches from 15 to 20 inches long.
The Hamburghs were fine, with from 20 to 21 bunches on each rod ;
but the Richmond Villa Hamburgh is of very inferior quality, smaller
than the Hamburgh, not so rich in flavour, and liable to shrivel, and
does not hang so long. Figs are extensively grown here, the White
Nerii being the best for an early crop, and Lee's Perpetual is also a
good variety.

Strawberries are forced on a somewhat extensive scale, and in a
range of pits plants that had been forced into bloom were planted out in
good rich soil the first week in April, and fruited abundantly, contiiuiing
much longer in fruit than if they had remained in pots. In this range
of pits Roberts's tiles were used fur fruiting the Strawberries on, and
seemed to answer well. Among the out-door Strawberries we noticed
Omar Pacha, which here seemed a very thin cropper and of inferior
quality ; Filbert Pine, one of the finest Strawberries grown, if not the
best, of excellent flavour, a free bearer, and best late ; Keens' Seedling,
Patrick's Seedling, which is a good forcing variety, very prolific, but
only second rate in flavour out of doors ; British Queen and Scarlet
Nonpareil, which appears to be a shy bearer and colours irregularly.

Among Cucumbers grown here Constantine's Incomparable is the
most extensively used. This is grown chiefly on trellises, and is
a handsome and very prolific variety, from which Mr. Constantine has
been cutting since the 1st of January. Wheeler's Improved Sion
House is another good variety, and Ipswich Standard and Trollope's
King were also very fine.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
July 22.— The Right Hon. T. F. Kennedy in the chair. S. F. Win-
terbottom, Esq., H. Conybeare, Esq., and Mr. Alderman Finnis were
elected Fellows.

AUGUST. 245

]\Iessrs. Henderson, of Pine-apple Place, sent a collection of plants,
among which were Cattleya Leopoldi, the prettily spotted-leaved
Maranta pardina, two Achimenes, Streptocarpus biflorus, three sorts of
•Begonias, Impatiens Jerdonite (figured m one of our previous volumes),

and the two hardy Conifers, Thuja gigantea and Thujopsls borealis. Of
the appearance of the last some idea may be gathered from the above
illustration, reproduced from our volume for 1855, page 28. The
specimen shown was, however, more compact in growth than that here

246 THE FLORIST.

represented. The growing interest which attaches to this fine plant
has induced us again to Ijring it prominently under notice.

Messrs. E. G. Henderson, of WeUington Road, contributed a gi'oup
of plants remarkable for their beautifully variegated leaves, Gesnera
Miellezi, described elsewhere, and Tydsea amabilis, the last wuth
clear and beautiful rose-coloured flowers closely dotted over with
minute dark spots. The same firm also furnished a collection of
Gloxinias, comprising many of the newer and better kinds. From
C. Leach, Esq., came a withered flower stem ofiiuphane toxicaria, one of
the most poisonous of Cape bulbs. Messrs. Veitf h furnished a beautiful
plant of Wellingtonia gigantea, and a spike of their new Delphinium
cardinale covered with brilhant scarlet flowers. This is indeed a real
acquisition. Mr. Glendinning, of the Chiswick Nursery, again showed
plants of his new Larch (Abies Kjempferi), which we hope some day
to more particularly refer ; Lysimachia hneariloba, a Chinese species
with small white starry blossoms, the Chinese green dye [ilant, stated to
be a species of Rhamnus ; Limonia tritoliata, stated by mistake to be a
hardy Orange from the north of China ; and the singular hybrid called
Mandirola Roezli. Mr. Parker, of Hornsey, sent Epidendrum macu-
latum and Galeandra Stangeana, two unimportant looking Orchids.
Two sorts of Grass received from Buenos Ayrts along with the Pampas
Grass were furnished by E. Brande, Esq., of Turnham Green, to show
that all of what is imported under that name may not be Gynerium.
One was a species of Setaria, the other was stated to be some Sorghum
or Panicum.

Mr. Wrench showed a few specimens of Myatt's Pine-apple Straw-
berry, the best flavoured of all Strawberries ; but unfortunately so difficult
to keep that most people have discontinued cultivating it. From the
Garden of the Society came a large collection of plants, among which
were Arduina bispinosa, an old-fashioned evergreen shrub, remarkable
for its delightful fragrance. Veronica variegata, a charming hybrid
raised by Mr. Anderson, of Edinburgh, and certainly one of the very
handsomest greenhouse shrubs in cultivation ; the Chinese Adamia
versicolor and the Indian A. cyanea, the former pink, the latter blue,
and decidedly the handsomest.

The same Garden also furnished Myrtus Ugni in fruit. The great
excellence of flavour of the fruit of Eugenia Ugni (which this is now
called) has already been referred to in our pages, where an illustration
of the appearance of this shrub is also given, and the high character it
then received it still deserves. Though not altogether hardy it was
stated that it was by no means difficult to cultivate, and that Fig-
houses and places of that description wou|d doubtless be found to suit it
perfectly. A collection of yellow or iather straw-coloured French
Balsams also came from the Garden. They were beautifully grown
and flowered, a state into which they had been brought without the
aid of artificial heat. They had been raised in a cold pit and after-
wards transferred to a greenhouse.

Dancer's Prolific White Gooseberry was also shown in a pot loaded
with ripe fruit. This was from the orchard-house, and was produced to
prove that, contrary to the opinion of many, Gooseberries will set and
ripen under glass.

AUGUST. 247

Among vegetables were specimens of White Paris Cos and Neapolitan
Cabbage Lettuces, two first-rate kinds ; Dancer's Cabbage, one of the
very best sorts for market, as well as for home consumption, being very
tender though of large size ; and Leyden Cauliflower, with heads large
and good from plants raised from seed sown in February last ; excellent
Caulidowers may tlierefore be had at this season without the trouble of
keeping the plants over winter. The Garden also contributed a collec-
tion of Beans, among which Mackie's Monarch (alias Sangster's Won-
derful), had very long pods, plentiful on the stalk, each pod nine and
ten inches in length, and containing five Beans. Another sort did not
rise above a foot from the ground. This was also full of pods, and
appeared well adapted for small gardens. It was called Marshall's
Dwarf Prolific. Other sorts were the Mazagan common and early ;
Green Long Pod, valued for its colour, which it long retains ; Johnson's
Wonderful, a good kind of Bean ; and two varieties of Windsor.

HOW TO HAVE A SUPPLY OP CAULIFLOWERS AND

BROCCOLI ALL THROUGH THE YEAR.
These vegetables being in daily demand throughout the year in
most families, a few cursory remarks as to how to supply that demand
may not be unacceptable to the less experienced of your readers. The
subject being a rather threadbare one, the regular " practical " will
not need my observations ; but as there are always youngsters coming
in, if I can serve in the smallest degree even only one of these, my
labour is more than rewarded. A statement of the method of my own
proceeding will be the easiest way of accomplishing my purpose.

The production of a regular supply of Cauliflowers and Broccoli all
the year round is an easy matter, where there is a considerable extent
of ground, as is the case here ; but where ground is limited, it requires
some forethought and care to efi^ect it. I generally plant out a
considerable breadth of ground with the different sorts of Broccoli from
the middle of June to about the middle of July, always taking advan-
tage of showery weather ; these plants are from seed sown in April.
I go on planting Cauliflowers to the end of July, by which time there
is ground to spare ; the early crop of Peas and Potatoes will all
be cleared off, and if planted with Cauliflowers they will come into use
during October, November, and December ; these, with the autumn
Broccoli, furnish an unfailing supply until February. About the
middle of December I take up all that have heads formed, and hang
them in the sheds for a day or two, to let all the water out of them.
I then cut off the leaves, and pack them with the heads outwards in a
cool, dry, airy situation, where it is not over light ; here they keep
well until the middle of February, by which time, if the weather be
open, some of the winter Broccoli will be fit for use. From that time
until the end of May the various sorts of Broccoli will furnish an abun-
dant supply ; by that time the Cauliflowers sown in August and planted
in October under glasses will be fit for use, and these will continue the

248 THE FLORIST.

supply until those planted out in February and March are fit for use ;
and these again will continue the supply until those planted later still
are ready, and so on until we come to October, when those planted
early in July will again be ready. By always planting out plenty of
plants, and always at the proper time, I never fail to be without this
much esteemed vegetable.

The whole of the tribe require good, well-manured land, dug
deeply. In dry weather they require copious supplies of water, and
will be much benefited by liberal doses of liquid manure.

One of the market gardeners at a provincial town exhibited, in
May, 1855, in the market-place, one Saturday, a waggon-load of
Mammoth Broccoli, with heads averaging 14 lbs. each ; he had supplied
the plants liberally with the sewage manure of the town. For private
families such monstrous heads would be nearly useless ; but it shows
what can be done. Young Cauliflower plants stand the winter exposed
much better than some persons imagine. I generally plant out a good
lot in October, the same time I plant under glasses, and I find them
in general stand the frost pretty well ; some do suffer, but many escape
uninjured, and come into use nearly as soon as those under glasses ;
and as there is no trouble with them, and as there is generally plenty
of spare ground at that time of year, even if they are all killed in an
extraordinary cold winter, the loss is but trifiing ; whilst, if they
escape, which some of them generally do most winters, they come into
use at a season when most required.

Brassica.

HIGH GROVE, READING,

THE SEAT OF J. J. BLANDY, ESQ.

This neat-looking mansion is situated near the Basingstoke road, from
which it is partly screened by evergreen trees and shrubs. The house
stands on rising ground ; at the north-east front lay the lawn and
flower-garden — a square piece of ground, broken into an irregular
outline by numerous trees and shrubs. On the lawn are planted
numerous Conifers, several of which are fine specimens. Near the
mansion is a Dutch flower garden, the beds in which are filled with
choice Verbenas, Geraniums, Calceolarias, &c. ; the colours of the
different plants are tastefully arranged, and have a gay and striking
effect from the high ground near the mansion. At the west end of the
house is a quantity of beds, filled with American plants. Of Rho-
dodendrons there is a choice collection ; we noticed fine plants of
ignescens, a very bright scarlet variety, Everestianum, Towardianum,
Leopoldi, Lady E. Cathcart, &c. Of R. Blandyanum there are some
fine plants ; this beautiful variety was raised at High Grove, and is
well known, ranking, as it does, amongst the best of this splendid genus.
The whole of these plants are kept thoroughly well watered during
their growing season, but when the growth approaches maturity water
is withheld, and the beds (weather permitting) are allowed to become

AUGUST. 249

dry ; by this means ]\Ir. Ingram, Ihe gardener, considers that the
plants receive a sakitary check, and set their flower-buds more freely.

From the pleasure ground we are conducted by a broad turf walk to
the conservatory, a large span-roof house, originally intended for
Orchids, but at present devoted to greenhouse plants. Through the
centre run beds for Camellias ; these are divided in the middle by a
fountain, which, when playing during hot weather, has a cool, refreshing
appearance and a beneficial effect upon the plants, by keeping the
atmosphere moist. The Camellias were in beautiful health, and were
well studded with flower-buds. On the sides of the house were numerous
fine plants of Fuchsias, Geraniums, &c. At the end of the conservatory
is a small house devoted to Ferns and Lycopods, of which there is a
choice collection, and we do not recollect ever seeing this beautiful class
of plants in better health than the specimens in question. At the end
of the house, opposite the entrance, stands a magnificent specimen of
Cibotium Schiedei, the large fronds of which spread gracefully over a
space of several feet, and on each side is a plant of Dicksonia antarctica.
By the sides of the house are some fine plants of Adiantums, Gymno-
grammas, Aspleniums, &c. ; amongst these are arranged groups of
statues, while the walls are adorned by numerous embellishments in
bas-relief. The mouldings and rafters are tastefully enlivened with
white and blue. At a short distance from the conservatory is a house
devoted to stove plants. On entering this we are struck not more by
the gay appearance of flowering things than by plants of fine foliage ;
Draceenas, Musstenda frondosa, Cissus discolor, Marantas, &c., give a
variety scarcely to be equalled by plants in flower. Of the latter there
were some fine specimens, consisting of AUamandas, Echites, Gar-
denias, Ixoras, &c. Of Orchids there was a nice collection, comprising
Vandas, Aerides, Saccolabiums, Phalccnopsis ; and of other kinds
there were some fine masses of newly imported Cattleyas, Ltelia pur-
purata, &c. These were all beginning to grow freely. Mr. Ingram's
system of potting this family of plants deserves notice ; for most of
them he uses soft peat and sphagnum in equal proportions, and in
potting these are placed together so loose that when pressed by the
hand they feel like a sponge. He also attaches great importance to
raising the plants high above the rim of the pots.

In the forcing houses were some capital Grapes, Peaches, Figs, &c.
The kitchen garden contained an excellent stock of culinary products,
and exhibited, what indeed every part of the premises presented, the
best of order and good gardening.

o.

NATIONAL FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY.
July 3. — Mr. W. P. Ayres in the chair. Dr. Maclean, of Colchester,
sent some seedling Pinks, the best of which were Gem, a medium
sized flower of good form and substance, the lacing good, of a light
purple colour, and Miss Nightingale, a full-sized red-edged flower, of
good form, and the lacing well defined. These are both first-class

250 THE FLORIST.

flowers, to each of which a certificate of merit was awarded. The other
varieties were Lizzie, Slough Buck, Eugenie, and Napoleon. Several
seedling Verbenas were exhibited, none of which can be regarded as
important additions to the fine varieties we now have, Mr. Todman
exhibited a seedling fancy Pelargonium named Sir Colin Campbell, but
it is too much like many others already in cultivation. In Mr. George
Smith's stand of Verbenas, General Simpson and Glory of France were
very fine. Messrs. Keynes, W. P. Ayres, Andrew Henderson,
J. Baker, and T. Moore were the judges. Mr. Wyness, gardener to
Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace, Mr. W. Chater, Saffron Walden,
and Mr. R. E. Taylor, Camberwell, were elected members.

THE ORANGE TREE.
A FEW words on the cultivation of the Orange tree, the Citrus auran-
tium of Linnseus, may not, perhaps, be uninteresting. This plant,
although extensively cultivated by our continental friends, is, generally
speaking, ail but neglected by us, although our ancestors were great
admirers of it, and beautiful specimens and collections of this tree were
formerly to be met with in the plant-houses of the nobility and gentry ;
even " Orangeries " were devoted to its growth ; but now, ,with few
exceptions, we are compelled to look for it in our modern Greenhouses,
in which may here and there be found one or two solitary, half-starved
specimens.

The delicious fragrance of the exquisitely formed wax-like flowers,
and the handsome foliage, which, like that of the Camellia, retains its
beauty throughout the year, make the Orange tree a most desirable
plant for ornamental purposes, or for grouping with effect in the
conservatory. The poet Cowper thus eulogises it: —
" Who loves a garden loves a greenhouse too.
Unconscious of a less propitious clime,
There blooms exotic beauty, warm and snug,
While the winds whistle and the snow descends.
The spiry Myrtle with unwithering leaf
Shines there and flourishes. The golden boast
Of Portugal and western India there,
The ruddier Orange and the paler Lime,
Peep through their polished foliage at the storm,
And seem to smile at what they need not fear."

In all stages of growth Orange trees are pleasing objects, the leaves
even yield an agreeable aromatic perfume ; and, on looking at the
graceful form of a large specimen, one may readily picture what a
beautiful effect masses of those trees must produce in the more sunny
climes of the south. In our ungenial isle, however, we must be content
to grow our favourites for the most part under glass, where they will,
nevertheless, always amply repay the trouble bestowed upon them.

The cultivation of Orange trees is exceedingly simple. I find that
they require rather large pots, a compost of equal portions of peat and
rich loam, with the addition of a small quantity of sand and leaf-mould.

AUGUST. 251

The knife must be used sparingly. Little fire heat is needed during
winter ; as spring advances air must be given more abundantly, and
the house closed early, shutting in the solar heat ; the plants will also
be benefited by being syringed two or three times a week during their
growth. When in full bloom they should be kept rather shaded ; after
the growth is completed they are best placed out of doors, in a sheltered
spot, to mature the wood for next season's bloom, but in autumn they
must be replaced in their old quarters.

W.G.

HOW TO DESTROY THE GOOSEBERRY CATERPILLAR.
From the many communications and inquiries which have appeared in
gardening periodicals as to the best means of destroying the Gooseberry
caterpillar, these pests seem to have been very numerous and destructive
last year. A few remarks, therefore, pointing out a certain means how
to destroy them, may not be out of place.

JVothing can exceed the health of my Gooseberry trees at present,
which I attribute principally to having kept the foliage uninjured the
last five years, since I adopted the means of destroying the caterpillar,
which I am about briefly to detail. I tried most of the remedies 1
saw recommended, sometimes with more or less success, such as dusting
with powdered quicklime, soot, &c., liming the ground, &c. I also
tried handpicking, and I recollect once having to be absent from home
about ten days. I had some women picking off the caterpillars from a
lot ot fine young trees, full of fruit. I charged them particularly to
persevere during my absence in picking the caterpillars ; but on my
return home I found the caterpillars liad completely stripped the trees
of every leaf Nothing could look more deplorable ; fine young trees
full of fruit, and denuded of their foliage. This settled my resolve, not
to cease until I had found means to destroy these devouring pests.
I had occasionally seen powdered white hellebore recommended as a
remedy, but had never previously tried it.

My friend and neighbour, Mr. Massey, the gardener at Kirby Hall,
happened to call here at the time the trees above mentioned were in
the state just described ; he named white hellebore as a certain means
of destroying the caterpillar, and advised me to try it, which I imme-
diately did, and with the very best results. It may be applied two
ways — either by dusting the caterpillars with the powder, or putting
the powder in water, well stirring it, and syringing the trees. I prefer
dusting the caterpillars with the powder. Very little hellebore is
required, if a sharp look-out is kept for the first appearance of the
insects on the trees ; and as they generally begin at the lower part of
the tree, a little powder of hellebore from a small tin box with a few
small holes, dusted upon the caterpillars, soon destroys them, without
injuring any of the fruit. By carefully going over all the bushes as
soon as the caterpillars are observed, and dusting among them, will in

252 THE FLORIST.

general stop them for that season ; at least it is not often requisite to go
over the bushes twice during one season. Wlien this simple plan is
annually persevered in, little injury need be apprehended from the
Gooseberry caterpillar.

I am perfectly aware there is nothing very new or original in the
application of white hellebore ; I am also fully persuaded many persons
cannot- know how efficacious it is in the destruction of the Gooseberry
caterpillar ; otherwise we should not hear so many inquiries as to the
best means of getting rid of them. It is as cheap a remedy as any
that can be adopted. White hellebore can be purchased at any
druggist's for about two shillings per lb., and half a pound is sufficient
to dust all the trees in any garden ; indeed, a quarter of a pound will
be sufficient, if the trees be done as soon as the caterpillars are first
observed.

M. Saul.

SKETCHES OF NATURE IN THE ALPS.
Friedrich von Tschudi, the author of these, draws a broad panoramic
view of the Alpine range — the forelands and the ridges — the lower
regions full of scenic effects — forests and meadows, springs, streams,
cascades, villages nursed in the lap of valleys, roads that rise upon the
mountains, and lakes that lie in the hollows, with a faint, changing
glow on tlie surface of the water. Even to these seclusions, he says,
the Fon of Africa penetrates like a warm breath, colouring the clouds
with purple, the outline of tbe moon with red, the background of tlie
hills with violet. Here the Vine flourishes, the Chesnut, the Mul-
berry, with corn and vegetables — but above this line are only woods
and flowery pastures. In the second zone — between the forests and
the beds and masses of eternal snow — are the high vales, at intervals
bright with fields, and alive with the hamlets of the peasantry, but in
general dreary and monotonous.

" The Alpine flowers,'' Tschudi remarks, " have a remarkably deep
and vivid colouring. The most brilliant blues and reds, with a rich
brown shading to black, are observable amidst the white and yellow
fliowers of the low countries, and these tints likewise seem to assume a
purer and more dazzling hue in these high regions. A similar richness
of colouring is met with in the vegetation of Polar districts, where the
hues not only become more fiery, but ■ undergo a complete alteration
under the influence of the constant summer light and the rays of the
midnight sun, white and violet being often deepened into a glowing
purple. The Alpine plants often grow in dense masses, and their
extraordinary splendour of colouring lends consequently that magic
charm to the fresh green turf which renders the pasture lands of the
High Alps so famous. Their balsamic fragrance is no less remarkable
and characteristic ; from the brilliant Auricula down to the Violet-
scented Moss (Byssus colithes) this strong aromatic property is widely
prevalent, and far more so than in the lowlands. As further charac-

AUGUST. 253

teristics of the Alpine Flora may be mentioned the absence of plants
possessing narcotic or highly poisonous qualities, the marked distinction
of species which exist, the comparative variety of hybrids, the bitter
taste and astringent properties of many plants, and the disproportion of
stem and foliage to the luxuriance of the blossoms."

The Alpine Rose, purple and yellow Gentian, the lilac Campanula,
Auricula, Anemone, Violet, and the blue Columbine flourish brilliantly
amid these lofty desolations.

REVIEWS.

Fruit Culture. No. 1. The Strawberry. By George McEwen,

Gardener to W. B. Beaumont, Esq., M.P., Bretton Hall, and late

Gardener to His Grace the Duke of Norfolk, Arundel Castle.

London : Groombridge and Sons. Pp. 30.

In our last number appeared an advertisement under the above

heading, informing our readers that Mr. JMcEwen was about pubhshing

the results of his practical experience in fruit cultivation, in which

department he has achieved great results, as those of our readers who

have visited our metropolitan exhibitions for the last few years can

testify.

The essay before us is a valuable contribution to practical gardening,
and contains instructions both for managing this really useful fruit in
the forcing-house, as well as for its out-door cultivation ; and although
on a subject which is successfully practised by hundreds of gardeners,
there is much in this little work worthy of being considered, if not
imitated, by our best growers, while to the amateur it will afford an
invaluable help in aiding him to force, or cultivate out of doors, this
fruit in perfection. The price is only one shilling.

List of Plants cultivated and sold by Messrs. E. G. Henderson and

Son, Nurserymen, Wellington Road, London. Spring, 1856.
A PERFECT volume, containing eighty-six closely printed pages, com-
prising lists of plants cultivated and for sale (arranged under suitable
headings), nearly the whole of which are described, and many of the new
plants very particularly so. The immense number of plants contained
in this Catalogue renders it invaluable as a work of reference to the
gardener and amateur, and it should form part of every plant-grower's
library, for which reason alone we advise those of our friends who do
hot receive it in the way of business to procure it at once.

The Gardens of England, from Paintings and Drawings on the Spot.
By E. A. JBrooke, Esq. Pubhshed by T. McLean, 26, Hay-
market.
We went the other day to see the exhibition of the original oil paintings,
from which the tinted lithographs to illustrate this work have been
taken. Among some of the most striking, taken as works of art, and
as representing the best examples of English gardens, we may notice

254 THE FLORIST.

No. 1, "The Trellis Window, Trentham," and Nos. 3, 11, and 20,
being views of the fountain garden, terrace, and lake at the same
princely residence. No. 15 is a well executed painting of the colonnade
at Alton Tower ; No. 8, a view in the gardens at Elvaston, is likewise
cleverly done, as is No. 21, "The Alhambra Garden" at the same
place. As the pictures are open for the inspection of the public, we
hope patrons of gardening will avail themselves of the opportunity and
judge for themselves. There are 25 paintings in the whole, and, as
they are views taken from our best gardens expressly for this work, they
are worthy of a visit. We hope both the publisher and artist will meet
with every support in their spirited undertaking.

CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS FOR AUGUST.

Auriculas. — Encourage the growth of seedlings, as many, with
judicious treatment, will flower next spring. The general stock should
now be shaken out of the old soil, and repotted in pots varying in size
according to the size of the plant, using good drainage. For a time,
keep the plants close in pits or frames facing the north, but as soon as
they have drawn root gradually increase the air, until they can be quite
exposed to all weather excepting wet.

Azaleas. — Shift any of those that were in flower late. Specimens
intended for flowering next season should have all the sun, light, and
air possible. Young plants that it is desirable to increase in size
should be kept warm and moist, with slight shading in bright weather.

CameUias. — Finish shifting these with all dispatch. They should
have plenty of air night and day, and should be occasionally syringed
in fine weather.

Carnations and Picotees. — It will now be too late to put in pipings ;
layerings should, however be proceeded with with all despatch. The
bloom here is now at its height. The flowers have not been large this
season, but are remarkably clean and free from blight. Again we urge
the importance of getting the stock layered. If late, and a severe long
winter follows, the plants will be few and weak next JNIarch.

Cinerarias. — Continue to pot in cuttings, repotting them as soon as
struck. Those first struck should now receive a good shift, to ensure
an early bloom. Seedlings to be similarly treated as the named plants.
Mildew and green-fly must be kept under with the usual remedies.

Cold Frames. — Prepare these as they come at liberty — some of
them for receiving cuttings of " bedding stuff," and others to receive th&
young plants when potted off.

Conservator// and Slioic-house. — At this season of the year, when
there are plenty of flowers in the open garden, as few extra plants as
possible should be kept here ; a few good specimens of Clerodendrons,
some Fuchsias, Liliums, Achimenes, Begonias, Balsams, &c., tastefully
arranged, will make sufficient display — the permanent plants will
have a better chance of ripening their wood. Air should be given
freely, night and day. Water abundantly all plants in borders.

AUGUST. 255 ■

Attend to the regularity of the chmbers ; do not trim them too much,
neither let them get entangled, but suffer them to hang freely from the
rafters. Syringe freely all plants not in flower, to keep down red
spider.

Cacuinbers. — Sow immediately, if not done last month, for a winter
crop. By getting the plants planted out whilst the sun is powerful,
they make vigorous, strong growth ; and by giving them plenty of air
whilst the weather is fine, and by not letting them bear too soon, there
will be little difficulty in getting plenty of fruit during the winter
months. If the red spider makes its appearance on the plants in
bearing, thin out the leaves and syringe night and morning. If the
weather should set in wet and cold, make fires in houses and renew the
linings to frames.

Dahlias. — Thinning out the small side shoots and disbudding will be
the principal work .for some time, with the exception of watering,
neither of which must be neglected. It is in the former operation,
however, that most care and judgment is necessary. Commence with
such varieties as produce small flowers, leaving the largest kinds till
last. It will be superfluous to remind the exhibitor of the importance
of keeping down insects, or the necessity of tying out the principal
side shoots securely.

Flower Garden. — Attend to the tying out and pegging down of the
young shoots, so as to get all the beds covered as early as possible.
Hoe and rake after heavy rains, to open the surface soil. Water freely
plants in vases. After the middle of the month, if the weather be fine,
everything wiU be in perfection ; attend to climbing plants. Roll and
mow when requisite, and keep everything in the neatest order.

Fruits (Jiardy). — Do not leave one single shoot more on any of the
trees than is absolutely wanted. The young wood on Peaches and
Nectarines should have all the light and air possible ; the fruit, also,
should be fully exposed to the light: this remark applies to fruit
of every kind. Nail in and stop shoots of Apricots. Remove the fore-
right growth of Pears and Plums. Protect Figs from wSsps. Net
Morello Cherries. Net or mat Gooseberries and Currants intended for
late use. Cut away the Raspberry canes just done bearing, also the
weak ones of the present season. Make new plantations of Straw-
berries.

Greenhouse (hard-wooded). — As plants complete their growth, they
will require less water and more light, but they should be protected
from heavy rains. The more delicate growing plants, such as Lesche-
naultia, should not be set out of doors. Look to the young stock in
pits, and see they have plenty of air and light. (Soft-wooded Plants.)
— Put in cuttings of those kinds required for stock.

Kitchen Garden. — Hoe and fork the ground among growing crops,
and earth up as they require it. Attend to earthing up of Celery.
Clear the ground of the spring and summer crops as soon as they are
over, and dig and plant, or sow it with a winter or spring crop. Sow
good breadths of Spinach and Turnips, to stand the winter. Plant a
good breadth of Endive ; also Lettuces and late Celery. Sow Onions
and Lettuces about the middle of the month. Sow Cabbages of sorts ;

.256 THE FLORIST.

SOW Cauliflowers from the 10th to the 26th. Seasons and locaUties
often make a great difference in these sowings, to meet which, and to
be on the safe side, I generally make two sowings — one from the 10th
to the 14th, and the other from the 20th to the 24th. Cut and dry
herbs ; take up Shallots and Garlic.

Melons. — See directions in previous Calendars.

Orchard House. — Pay the greatest attention to watering, syringing,
and ventilating. Use every endeavour to keep down red spider. Stop
and thin any shoots not wanted.

Pansies. — The young plants will require frequent watering, should
dry weather continue. The principal danger to the stock at this season
is mildew, which must be kept down with sulphur ; this is easily
effected, if taken in time.

Peach-forcing. — Towards the end of the month, if the weather be
fine, the lights should be taken off the early house, for two, or at most
three weeks ; the wood will thus, by being fully exposed to the influence
of the hot drying winds, get firm and ripe. When the fruit is gathered
in the late houses, the trees should have a few heavy syringings. See
Calendar for last month.

Pelargoniums. — Propagating will be the principal work this month.
Sow seed as soon as it can be saved. The old stools, after being cut
down, should not be allowed to have much rain ; in fact, none, if the
weather is cold with it.

Pinery. — All plants that have " shown" should be put in a house
or pit by themselves. They should have a nice regular bottom heat, a
moist atmosphere, and liberal supplies of water. All plants intended
for fruiting next season should be shifted into their fruiting pots without
delay.

Pinks. — Plant out these into store beds as soon as struck, in sandy
soil. The beds should be closely examined every morning, to prevent
the plants being destroyed with green grubs, which are very destructive
at this season. Gather seed as often as it can be procured ripe.

Roses.— -T\\Q autumnal blooming varieties will now require going
over, and the branches which have bloomed should be cut back about
half their length, and always to a bud growing outwards ; and should
the weather continue dry a good soaking with liquid manure (so soon
as the buds appear) will much improve the blossoms in colour and size.

Straicberrles for forcing. — These should be shifted without delay into
the pots they are intended to fruit in. We prefer pots from six to nine
inches, according to the kind grown. As much of the success in forcing
depends on the attention paid to the plants at this season, no pains or
labour should be spared to get strong, vigorous plants, with bold, well-
formed crowns. Turfy loam and about one-third rotten manure make a
good compost. When potted they should be set in beds four or five feet
wide, and fully exposed to the sun. Pinch off all runners as they appear.

Vinert/. — Towards the end of the month the lights may be removed
off the early house for a few weeks. Late Grapes should have fire heat
in dull cold weather, more during the day than at night ; by this air
can — not only with safety, but advantage to the Grapes — be given more
freely than otherwise it could be.

--• J:

■It

\

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Tea Chma.

Sativmir oUIlise.
HateUT.

Z"* Andreas Sllti ImO!

Pnjinj }>)■ C Cnahot

SEPTEMBER. 257

NEW TEA ROSE— SOUVENIR D'ELIZE.

(Plate 117.)

This new Tea Rose, which is very correctly represented in our
plate for this month, is a seedling raised by M. Marest, nursery-
man, of Paris, and was taken by our artist, Mr. Andrews, from a
plant in the nursery of Messrs. Standish &: Noble, of Bagshot.
This addition to our list of Tea Roses is a very desirable and
beautiful one, fragrant, and quite hardy, which is an advantage
not to be lost sight of by Rose growers; for the great failing in the
beautiful section of Roses to which this belongs is that they are
rarely hardy enough to thrive without some protection during
winter, for which reason we do not find them so extensively grown
as out-door plants as they otherwise would be, and for which their
delicate shades of colour and delightful fragrance would render
them invaluable.

Messrs. Standish & Noble pay great attention to the introduction
of new Roses from the continental gardens, and import annually
all the best new kinds. They have very kindly furnished us with a
select list of a few good new Roses, which have been well proved
in their nursery, and which will, we doubt not, be very acceptable
to Rose growers in making additions to their stock. We hope to
increase this list by further notices in our next number.

H.P, Victor Trouillard, flowers of the deepest crimson, foliage very fine,
and in every respect a magnificent Rose. The entire stock of this
variety is in our own (Messrs. Standish & Noble's) hands; we
purchased it from the raiser, a gentleman at Angers.

P.M. Madame Edouard Ory, bright carmine, a fine globular flower.

H.P. Madame Masson, large full flower, clear crimson.

H.P. Emperor Napoleon, very fine, bright crimson, petals velvet-like.

H.P. General Jacqueminot, vivid red ; one of the finest Roses yet raised.

H.P. Gloire de France, large and full, crimson shaded.

H.P. Madame Place, lively rose colour.

H.P. Colonel de Rougemont, clear carmine, shaded.

H.P. Madame Cambaceres, rose colour ; a charming flower.

H.P. Souvenir de la Reine d'Angleterre, very large flower, lively rose
colour.

H.P. Triomphe de I'Exposition, bright reddish crimson.

H.P. Lord Raglan, centre bright red, outer petals purplish.

H.P. Prince Noir, deep crimson, petals like velvet.

M.P. Salet, bright rose.

B. Gloire de Dijon, pale flesh colour, centre yellowish, large full flower.

H.P. Jules Margottin, carmine, fine full flower, very handsome.

P. Nicholas d'Assas, clear rose, very full, finely imbricated.

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO . LXIX.

258 TUE FLORIST.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
I AM given to understand that several meetings have been lately held
by the Council of this body, for the purpose, I believe, of coming to
some decision as to the future plans on which the garden establishment
shall hereafter be conducted. My own opinion on this subject has been
expressed on previous occasions : it is, that a radical change is necessary
in the management. I presume, of course, that nothing will be done until
the result of the sale of the house in Regent-street informs the Council
what sum that will place in their hands, and further, until they have
ascertained what amount of the subscription to the garden fund the donors
will allow to remain. Provided the house sells well, and that some
considerable portion of the garden fund will be permitted to remain
at the disposal of the Council, the fixed debt may at once be cleared
off, when the Council, unshackled from this dead weight, will have a
clear field before them — not an easy one.

The Society must be re-organised, and made more in unison with
the progress of the times, before any great success can be achieved.
This will be no light task, I imagine, from the fact that for several
years past the Society has declined in public favour; and that it takes
some time to recover a lost prestige, every one conversant with the
management of public bodies will allow. I have hopes the Council
will succeed in placing the gardens under as good management as they
can procure, and that they will not act the part of many similar
governing bodies — meet to talk the news of the day, and leave their
immediate business in the hands of the secretary, but that they will
themselves see that their plans are faithfully carried out. They are
responsible to the Fellows at large, who look to them to take care that
all is done which can be to maintain in an efficient state so useful and
important an institution, and likewise that the money of the Fellows,
subscribed for the advancement of horticulture, is not dribbled away
in unmeaning experiments, or to gratify peculiar whims. The praise-
worthy way in which your periodical brought the affairs of the Society
before the public a few months ago, induces me to trouble you to insert
this, which not only expresses my own opinion, but, I know, that of
many other P.H.S.'s as well.

F. H. S.

[We readily give insertion to the foregoing very sensible letter,
and think we may assure the writer that at the present time the
Council are engaged on the very plans our correspondent points out.
How far they will succeed must depend on the co-operation of the hor-
ticultural world, who, we hope, will join in helping the Council to carry
out those practical measures for remodelling the Society which we
believe they have in hand. This can only be done by becoming sub-
scribers themselves, and inducing their friends to do so also. Two guineas
a year is the new scale of subscription ; no great sum, certainly, but one
which, if responded to by lovers of gardening, in the way we hope it
will, will enable the Council to place the Society on a firm footing of
usefulness, and again render it one of the most really important public
bodies in the kingdom. — Ed. Flokist.]

SEPTEMEEK, 259

LONGLEAT, WILTS,
THE EESIDENCE OF THE MARQUIS OF BATH.
This place has long been celebrated for its magnificent mansion of
palatial dimensions, which, as Loudon observes, is the proudest archi-
tectural monument in the west of England — and its noble park and
domain. The house occupies the site ot an old religious establishment,
and was built by John of Padua in the 16th century, in the transition
style of the day, placed in the bottom of a valley. The park stretches
away from it in every direction, diversified by hills richly clothed with
fine timber ; it contains within its boundary a delightful variety of
park-like and sylvan scenery. The view from the range of hills which
run across the park, on the Warminster side, has few equals in the
west. Immediately below the spectator lies the beautiful valley,
encircled with rising grounds, covered with wood, in which the house,
gardens, and lake are situate, looking over which the eye takes
in a wide expanse of rich landscape, terminating with the Somerset-
shire hills in the extreme distance. To the left the eye catches
" Alfred's Tower," a conspicuous object for miles around, rising from
the wooded range of Stourhead, the great feature of that part of Wilt-
shire and Somerset. At a distance of some twenty miles to the right
" Beckford's Tower," on Lansdowne, near Bath, is visible ; and much
nearer the spectator lies the picturesque market town of Frome, on the
skirts of the park, and apparently a part of the domain, which in a
great measure it is.

The noble proprietors of Longleat for a long series of years have been
great promoters of planting and gardening. Switzer describes Longleat as
being, towards the end of the IJth century, laid out on a grand scale ;
and from a plan of the place we have seen of this period, it appears to
have been surrounded with gardens, in the regular Dutch style prevalent
at that time, with long avenues, vegetable sculptures, and embroidery
parterres, occupying a large extent of ground. The park likewise
appears to have been regularly laid out with avenues, &c., in a similar
formal manner. When these were replaced, by substituting the present
disposition of the grounds, and planting, we are not informed, but
suppose it to be the work of Brown, who, nearly a hundred years ago,
formed the lakes running through the park, and introduced a deal of
planting. That the lakes were formed by Brown there is no doubt ; in
fact, they are the worst feature in the park ; their tame outline and
bald shores assure us Brown was their designer, as well as of some of
the clumps of trees. Brown, though more extensively employed as a
landscape gardener than any person of the last century, had no genius
for his work, and were it not that many of the gardens he laid out have
been altered from his designs, the tame formal outlines of his water,
and ever-recurring clumps of trees, would have transformed the natural
features of many of the places he altered to a mere formalism, infinitely
less artistic than the Dutch or French style he was so anxious to
obliterate.

Nearly the first Weymouth Pines introduced to England, and' called
after Lord Weymouth (afterwards Lord Bath) were planted here in

s 2

260 THE FLORIST.

1705. One or two of the original trees are yet standing, and are of
large size. There are, besides, some grand Silver Firs and Cedars ; of
the former Mitchell relates that there was formerly a grove of sixteen
trees, 22 feet apart, 110 feet high, and from 10 to 13 feet in circmii-
ference. One of the trees felled produced 299 feet of timber. Loudon
describes a Silver Fir here as being (in 1835) 138 feet high ; the
diameter of the trunk 5 feet 8 inches. There is a tree yet standing
considerably (we should say) above 100 feet high and 15 feet in
circumference. In the grounds is a good plant of Cunninghamia
sinensis 30 feet high ; likewise fine specimens of Taxodium distichum
(deciduous Cypress), the branches of which are cut and grouped with
flowers for filling large vases, where its Fern-like leaves have a pretty
effect.

The flower-gardens and grounds under the scythe occupy a large
space between the mansion and one of the lakes ; there is, besides, a
regular geometrical flower garden in the rear of the house, and fronting
one of the old-fashioned conservatories of the last century. ]\Iany of
the beds on the lawn are partly filled with dwarf flowering shrubs and
herbaceous plants, and thus become gay and interesting at a much
earher period than when only the ordinary bedding plants are employed.
We are very partial to this mixed system, particularly when the beds
are large and no exact arrangement, rendering it indispensable for
them to match, occurs. In the geometrical garden, on the contrary,
the utmost regularity is preserved, and the beds w^ere filled with a good
variety of showy plants ; among others we were much struck with
some circular beds of Zelinda and scarlet Ranunculus ; Dahlias, pegged
down close, the flower-stalks elevated the blooms one foot from the
ground, and being one mass of bloom, they produced a very brilliant
effect. We likewise observed some fine beds made by mixing
Mangles' variegated Geraniums andj Heliotropium Voltaireanum ; the
beautiful play of colour produced by mixing these two plants was very
striking.

The kitchen garden is planted a mile away from the house, at the
southern verge of the park ; it contains ten acres, and encloses the two
sides of a valley which runs through from east to west. This is found to
be an advantage rather than otherwise, as the slope facing the north is
found very useful for vegetable crops and Strawberries during the summer.
The subsoil of the garden is strong clay, and although the crops are found
to be later by a fortnight than when grown on lighter soils, the produce
and quality are excellent, for we observed the vegetable crops generally
and Strawberries were growing vigorously, and looking quite green
and healthy, notwithstanding the extreme hot weather of the last
month. The subsoil is rather too cold for Peach trees out of doors,
which suffer much in the spring. But Apricots, Pears, Plums, and
Cherries thrive well, and even this present season are producing very
fair crops of fruit — in fact, the best crops of Pears and Plums we have
seen. On the north bank of the garden is a range of forcing houses
350 feet long, in eight divisions, four of which are devoted to Pines,
having Vines as well on the rafters. Mr. Anderson, who for many
years has been head gardener here, very wisely grows only two sorts of

SEPTEMBER. 261

Pines — the Queen and Jamaica. The whole stock was in fine health —
indeed Longleat has long been noted ftir its excellent Pine-apples, many
of great weight having been exhibited from this place. In addition to
the usual selection of Grapes, the White Frontignan is a favourite here,
Mr. Anderson growing it largely for white Grapes. Although usually
considered delicate, it grows and fruits here remarkably well. In one
house, set apart for Vines alone, the different varieties of the Ham-
burgh Grape were originally planted, with a view to test their merits.
The whole, however, with the exception of the common Hamburgh,
have been cut away, as Mr. Anderson is of opinion that though larger
and more showy, they were more or less deficient in the many good
qualities for which the old Black Hamburgh is so justly esteemed.
This was therefore selected to fill the house, and was trained horizontally
along the bottom, and a rod taken up each rafter. This is now
a vigorous young Vine, and has this year upwards of 200 bunches of
fine fruit on it. At each end of the range is a Peach-house, in a good
healthy state ; the sashes are removed each year, in August, as soon as
the wood begins to change colour.

In an old pit 40 feet long, and heated by a common flue, is obtained
a constant supply of Cucumbers. A large wooden trough stands on the
ilue in which the Cucumbers are planted four lights at a time for
succession. The Sion House Improved and Lord Kenyon's are the
favourite kinds. The winter crop had just been planted ; this house
presented to us a very economical mode of obtaining a crop of this
useful fruit, the flue requiring merely a few cinders or small coal to
keep it going.

An experiment has been tried here by Mr. Anderson of considerable
interest to gardeners, by way of proving what effect the different kinds
of glass now recommended for plant and fruit houses had on the plants
grown below them. Five years ago a four-light frame was devoted to
the purpose, having one light glazed with Hartley's rough plate, one
with Hartley's corrugated, one British sheet, and one with Crown glass.
During the five years a variety of plants have been grown in this
frame, including Strawberries ; and Mr. Anderson informs us no per-
ceptible difference could ever be detected, either in the growth of the
plants, the colour of the flowers, or flavour of the Strawberries. We
may therefore infer that as regards cultivation, no great amount of
difference exists between the descriptions of glass mentioned ; while,
to suit particular purposes, one sort may be substituted for another,
without causing any detriment to the vegetation they cover.

About 2000 pots of Strawberries, principally Queens and Troflope's
Victoria, are forced annually here. In the Vineries we noticed large
quantities of Achimenes, Gesneras, and some very good Orchids, which,
with a variety of other plants, are used for house decoration. There is
likewise a nice collection of Heaths and other greenhouse plants grown
for similar uses. J- S.

262 THE FLORIST.

BRITISH POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

August 4. — The annual meeting of this Society was held this day,
Richard Underhill, Esq., in the chair. The Secretary produced a
report of the progress of the Society, its present position, and its
prospects for the ensuing year, showing that it was steadily, surely,
and firmly establishing itself, and increasing in usefulness.

During the past year 44 new members had been elected, and the
number of members brought forward from last year being 87, from
which four had been removed by death and other causes, the members
on the roll on the 1st of August this year was 127-

From the accounts of the past year, furnished by the Treasurer, it
appeared that

£ s. d. £ s. d.

The total receipts had been 79 0 0

Added to a balance brought forward from

1854-35 21 3 10

100 3 10

And that the expenditure had been

For Rent 16 0 0

Advertising 13 0 6

Printing, Stationery, Postage, &c 17 13 11

Fixtures and Furniture 3 18 0

Carriage of Parcels and Expenses connected

■with Meetings : 4 14 3

Assistant Secretary's Salary 20 0 0

75 6 10

Showing as a balance to be carried forward of

Cash in hand £24 17 0

The following abstract was laid before the meeting, comparing the
receipts, expenditure, and prospects of the Society at the close of the
financial year ending 31st July, 1856, with those of the year ending
31st July, 1855.

July 31, 1855. July 31, 1856.

£ s. d. £ s. d.

Received by Donations 16 10 0

„ Entrance Fees 34 0 0 18 0 0

„ Subscriptions 33 10 0 49 0 0

„ Arrears 12 0 0

Total Receipts £84. 0 0 £79 0 0

Expenditure 62 16 2 75 6 10

Balance carried forward 21 3 10 24 17 0

Cash uncollected 17 0 0 26 0 0

Revenue from Members in current year 43 10 0 63 10 0

Comparative prospect July, 1855, and July,

1856...... £81 13 10£114 7 0

This estimated income for the ensuing year being exclusive of what
may arise from the entrance fees and subscriptions of any new members
who may be enrolled.

It was explained that the expenditure this year, though apparently
greater, was proportionately much less than in the previous one, as it

SEPTEMBER. 263

included the assistant secretary's salary ; and that although the cash
uncollected appeared greater in amount, it was only in proportion to
the increased number of members.

The accounts having been examined, it was moved by Mr. Rivers,
seconded by Mr. Adams, and carried unanimously, that the same be
approved.

The Secretary reported that although the Transactions had not yet
been published once a quarter, in accordance with the original inten-
tion, he considered the present and prospective state of the Society's
finances, and the promise of important and useful communications from
members, would enable the executive to ensure greater regularity in
future.

It was ordered that the Assistant Secretary should represent the
importance of the subscriptions being punctually paid, in order that the
Society's exertions and progress should not be crippled by the possibility
of their expenses exceeding the funds at their disposal, and especially
that the early payment of all arrears now due be respectfully solicited.

It was also ordered that as soon as possible after each meeting a report
thereof be printed and sent to each of the members and to such news-
papers as it might be desirable to have the Society's proceedings
noticed in.

The Secretary then brought up a report of a committee which had
been appointed to meet on the IJth July, to consider certain alterations
which appeared necessary in the rules regarding the days of meeting
and other matters.

The alterations recommended were discussed seriatim and approved,
and it was proposed by Mr. Adams, seconded by Mr. Taylor, and
carried unanimously, that the amended code be adopted.*

The meeting then proceeded to the election of office-bearers for the
ensuing year.

Mr. Hogg regretted that he could not give the attention he desired to
the duties connected with the office of Secretary, and expressed his wish
to resign, but promised to give all the aid in his power as a member.
It was then agreed that Mr. Hogg be elected a Vice-President of the
institution in lieu of W. Stephens, Esq., deceased. Mr. J. E. Lane
was elected a Member of Council in heu of Mr. Hogg, and J. Silver,
Esq. , in heu of Mr. F. G. Malleson, resigned.

It was moved by Mr. Hogg, and seconded by Mr. Rivers, and
carried unanimously. That a Publishing Committee be appointed to
watch over the Publications of the Society, and assist in collecting useful
information for the Transactions, and Messrs. Hogg, Rivers, Taylor,
G. Paul, and J. B. Whiting were appointed to form such committee.

Fruit sent to the Meeting. — Mr. Carpenter, of Barr Hall,
near Birmingham, furnished another bunch of his Seedling White
Grape, with a reply to inquiries which had been sent to him concerning
its origin, hardiness, and productiveness. It was reported to be raised

* A copy of the Amended Rules, with the corrected List of Members and
the ofRce bearers for the years 1856-7, was forwarded to each member along
with the Report.

264 THE FLORIST.

in 1852 from Black Hamburgh crossed by the Royal Muscadine, and
first fruited in 1854 ; to set as freely and ripen with the same heat and
in the same time as the Black Hamburgh, partaking of the Hamburgh
in the character of bunch, and of the Muscadine in foliage. It is also
said to be a good cropper, and the fruit having been ripe in the end of
May on the plant from whence the specimens were taken, it appears to
be valuable for its keeping properties. The council considered it a new
and very distinct variety, the berry oblate, skin thick and astringent,
white, and reticulated with russet ; flesh hard and of good flavour, but
not equal to many varieties of white Grapes already in cultivation ; the
seeds are large, and adhere to the footstalks and to the flesh in separating
from the berry.

Mr. Rivers brought a bunch of an early and nearly hardy black
French Grape, the Muscat de Sarbelle, very black in colour, of the
Frontignan flavour and habit. Also a dish of his Plum, Early Pro-
lific, No. 2. This is well known as a useful and very productive
variety. Mr. Rivers mentioned that it is loaded with fi-uit this year,
but is the only one producing a crop out of about three hundred
varieties in his nursery.

Mr. Underbill brought specimens of his Sir Harry Strawberry in
fine condition, so that its qualities can be fully tested ; the berries were
large, firm, and well coloured, and the flavour betokens a strong flavour
of Hautbois. It was unanimously pronounced a first-rate fruit. A
two-year-old plant was produced with its fifth crop of fruit, ripe and
ripening ; it had been forced last year, fruited again early in autumn,
and afterwards prepared for early forcing ; it produced its first crop
this year in January, and being planted out in the usual way bore its
second crop in June, and again as exhibited. These matters were
mentioned to draw attention to the prolific tendency it displayed, and
to suggest the desirability of endeavouring to originate and perpetuate
a race of Strawberries having this desirable property in a greater
degree than those we at present possess.

Mr. Kitley, of Lyncombe Vale, Bath, sent a dish of his variety,
Carolina superba, which was so highly approved at the previous
meeting.

Messrs. Stewart and Neilson, of Liscard, Cheshire, sent another
sample, according to request, of their Late Seedling Strawberry. It
was not, however, found equal to the requirements of the Society, its
flesh not appearing firm enough to endure the heat of the sun.

Note. — In forwarding this Report to the members of the British Pomological
Society, they were respectfully solicited to bear in mind how much might be
done by individuals in extending its power and usefulness, if they would take
Buch opportunities as occur of making known its existence and objects to those
friends and others whom they might meet with, and who, from their tastes and
pursuits, were likely to be interested in the matters which come under its
cognizance. Copies of the llules can be obtained on application to Mr.
Davidson, at the Rooms of the Society, 20, Bedford Street, Coveut Garden.

SEPTEMBER. 2G5

ON HYBRIDISING FRUITS.

It is a subject of common remark with all my neighbours who have
gardens, that so little has been done in the way of producing improved
races of fruits, that I venture to bring it before your readers. Though
not directly connected with practical horticulture, I have for years taken
great interest in all pertaining to it, particularly fruit culture. If I
am correct, we are indebted for our best Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots,
Plums, and Clierries, to generations long passed away ; for by consulting
the old fruit catalogues, I see most of the best kinds of the above
were known a century and a half ago, some even earlier than that.
Now, as we may suppose that these were raised from inferior varieties
existing before, how comes it to pass that no improved kinds have been
raised from them within this period ? — or, are we to understand that
the Royal George, Bellegarde, and Noblesse Peaches (and likewise
other fruits long cultivated), have reached their climax of perfection,
and are incapable of further improvement ? But then why is it that
some Pears, and one or two other things, such as Strawberries and
small fruits, contemporary with the above a century ago, are now dis-
carded as being comparatively worthless, and in the place of the old
kinds of Pears, we have the delicious fruit, now found in almost every
garden, from France and Belgium ? I conclude from this that the
fruits I have named have not been experimented on in the same
manner as the Pear and Strawberry, at least in this country, for I am
ignorant what has been done with them on the Continent. I beg to
ask, therefore, if you or any of your readers can afford me any
explanation why so important a part of gardening as raising new fruits
should be so neglected.
Somersetshire, August. A Country Rector.

POT CULTURE OP STRAWBERRIES.
The forcing of Strawberry plants is so common, that there are few
gardens of any pretension in which a greater or less quantity is not
potted for the purpose. The various operations of layering, potting,
storing for winter, &c., have been so frequently detailed, that there is
little that is new to be advanced. As, however, there are differences of
opinion on certain points of their culture, so must there necessarily be
a difference in their relative merits ; and such being the case, I think
there is generally an amount of truth elicited by candidly stating what
is considered a good practice. Now although the layering Strawberry
runners is a very simple operation, yet it is one on which opinions
widely differ.

Some gardeners consider there is an advantage in planting the
runners in the fruiting-pots in the first instance ; and I am aware that
first-rate plants are obtained by this practice, and the plants have been
in every respect equal to those layered in any other way. In my
opinion, the only objection to this system is, the unnecessary trouble of
carrying large pots to the ground where the runners are to be obtained.

266 THE FLORIST.

The most common practice is to fill a quantity of small pots with
soil, on which the runners are laid, secured by placing a stone close to
the plant. Now, although good plants are obtaniable by this practice,
it is open to many objections, one of which is the large amount of
attention requisite to keep the soil in such small pots suthciently moist
to prevent the plants from suffering, for although the runners will be
kept alive by the parent plant, little progress will be made unless
attention is paid to supply the roots regularly with water. Another,
and perhaps a more serious objection to small pots, is that of having the
roots coiled and cramped up in so small a compass. I may perhaps be
told that the plants should not remain in the small pots till such has
taken place, or that it is an easy matter to liberate them at the time
they are re-potted. Strong runners — such as should be selected for
potting — will in a very short time fill a small pot full of roots, and it is
not at all times convenient to attend to the re-potting just at the time
they require it. As regards the liberating of the roots, it cannot be
done without giving a severe check to the young plants, nor are the
roots, after that operation, in a good state to ramify into the fresh soil
in which they are potted.

The planting of the runners in the ground in which the old plants
are growing, though practised by some, is not so generally adopted as
its merits deserve, as I consider there are many advantages in this
system. The practice is to make a hole so large that it will contain
about as much tresh soil as a 48-sized pot ; it is then filled up with the
approved compost — loam and leaf - mould, through which a liberal
sprinkling of soot has been mixed, to keep the roots free from worms.
In this the runners are pressed down and well watered. In a
short time the fresh soil will become full of young fibres, and the
plants will grow vigorously ; water will occasionally be required during
hot weather. In about three weeks the plants are taken up and potted
into the pots in which it is intended to fruit them, taking care that each
plant is well watered before lifting. If this is attended to, the plants
will lift with the whole of the soil placed for them, and their roots will
be in a better state to take to the soil in which they are potted than
after being cramped up in small pots.

P. S.

NATIONAL FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY.
July 7- — Mr. Thomas Moore in the chair. Messrs. Downie & Laird,
of Edinburgh, sent a collection of fine Sweet-williams, remarkable for
rich colours, and some of them having distinct white centres. These
were of fine shape, and if they had possessed a smooth edge would have
been perfect in form. The whole of them were serrated on the edge,
notwithstanding which they were beautiful and attractive varieties.
Mr. W. Chater, of Saffron Walden, sent some spikes of seedling
Hollyhocks. The best of them were Beauty of Walden, shaded rosy
pink, high full centre and good guard, to which a first-class certificate
was awarded ; Sir William Middleton, light rosy salmon ; and Buff,

SEPTEMBER. 267

No. 1, pale creamy buff — both of which were awarded certificates of
merit. A label of commendation was awarded to Summit of Perfection,
pale rosy carmine, large, but loose in the spike, and somewhat rough,
still a useful variety, and of a novel shade of colour. The same grower
also contributed some cut blooms of seedlings, the finest of which was
Queen of Buffs, a superb variety of a pale salmony buff colour, large,
and very high centre. This is a first-rate variety, and received a first-
class certificate. The best of the others were Sceptre d'Or, a large
salmon variety ; Ochroleuca, pale yellow, and large, forming a close
spike ; Canary, pale yellow ; Satellite, light salmon, and Lady Middle-
ton, light blush, somewhat resembling Joan of Arc in colour, and forms
a close spike. Mr. Cole, of St. Albans, sent some seedling shrubby
Calceolarias, the most striking being Ackbar, of a brownish crimson
colour edged with orange, and very dwarf shrubby habit ; a label of
commendation was awarded to It for its utility as a bedding variety.
For 6 Carnations, first prize to Mr. C. Turner, for King John, Seed-
ling, Victoria Regina, Hope, Lord Goderich, and Great Northern ;
2nd prize to Mr. Bragg. Plcotees : 1st prize to Mr. C. Turner, with
Mrs. Dodwell, Bessie, Queen Victoria, Mrs. Lochner, Dr. Pitman, and
Lamia. Yellow Picotees : 1st prize, Mr. C. Turner, with Cuirassier,
Champion, and Aurora. Hollyhocks, 12 blooms : 1st prize, Mr. C.
Turner. Hollyhocks, 3 spikes: 1st prize, Mr. W. Chater. Verbenas,
12 blooms: 1st prize, Mr. George Smith; 2nd prize, Mr. Weatherill.
In these stands the best were General Simpson, a very fine variety ;
Geant des Batailles ; a seedling named Venus, pure white, with small
crimson eye and good shape ; Gloire de France, and a light seedling
named Hunt's Defiance. Mr. Salter sent a small-flowered Antirrhinum
striped like Youngi, named LoUipop, and a bedding Geranium, Rose
Unique, not bloomed freely enough to see if It was useful.

RIBSTON, YORKSHIRE,
THE SEAT OF JQS. DENT, ESQ.
There are very few gardeners to whom the name of Ribston is not
famihar — the far-famed Apple of that name having originated here.
The place is about fifteen miles west of York, and about six miles
south-east of Harrogate. JVIany hundreds of visitors to the last-men-
tioned place avail themselves of Mr. Dent's liberality during the season,
Ribston being shown on every Tuesday. The mansion is situated near
the river Nidd. At the east end of It there is an ancient chapel ;
and within a very few yards of it (the chapel) there is a very old
Mulberry tree. The terrace garden is at the south front of the
mansion, and about 200 yards beyond flows the winding Nldd. The
" bedding " in the terrace garden is remarkably wefl done ; every bed
is perfect — no gaps or bare places, nor is there any loose rambling
growths ; there is not a poor bed In the whole garden, consequently the
effect is very good. At a short distance from this garden there is a

268 THE FLORIST.

sort of irregular flower-garden, which is a most excellent connecting
link between the terrace-garden and the pleasure-grounds. There are
a great many of the best kinds of Hoses in this garden, which have
been very grand this season. There are also some very good raised
flower-beds here. Among them there is an oval raised two feet above
the Grass ; it is made of Larch poles driven into the ground ; these
are all covered with Ivy. The white Ivy-leaved Geranium is used for
the outside border (and which hangs nearly to the Grass) ; next this a
dark-coloured Calceolaria for the second border, then yellow Calceolaria,
then scarlet Geraniums, then Ageratum mexicanum, and for the centre
scarlet Salvias, the whole forming a very effective and pleasing bed.
There are several mixed masses in this garden, which are very good.

The pleasure-grounds, which are extensive, varied, and very beau-
tiful, contain many fine specimens of trees and shrubs ; the evergreens
are particularly fine. There are a great many handsome promising
young Conifers about the grounds, and among them some very fine young
trees of Cedrus Deodara. also two very handsome young specimens of
Abies Pinsapo, one about eight and the other about twelve feet high ;
both are perfect gems, of the general appearance of which some idea
may be gathered from the accompanying representation of one of them.
We also noticed a nice healthy plant of Taxodium sempervirens, which
has stood out several years unprotected. It is, however, growing in a
dry sheltered spot. Cryptomeria japonica has also stood the winters
well unprotected. There is also a fine tree of Pinus excelsa ; there are
a number of other very flourishing young plants of Conifers in the
grounds.

Approaching the kitchen garden from the pleasure-grounds, there is
a conservatory and two plant-houses, in which there was a good display
of flowers. Passing from these we entered the kitchen garden, which
is extensive and good. Notwithstanding the season, the fruit crops are
an average. Peaches, Apricots, Pears, and Plums on the walls are all
nearly an average crop ; they have not had any protection whatever.
Many of the Apple trees in the open garden, both dwarfs and standards,
have a fair crop of fruit, not loaded. We were rather struck with the
quantity of Apples in these gardens, as in going to Ribston we passed
some orchards that had scarcely a fruit. The cause of the difference
we attribute to the trees in Ribston garden being annually attended to
in pruning, &c., and the orchard trees being neglected.

There are two good ranges of glass houses in the gardens, besides
pits, &c. Ribston has long been celebrated for its hothouse productions.
Mr. Abbott, the head gardener, is a most successful grower of Pines,
Grapes, Figs, Peaches, &c. Everything is at present in the greatest
possible perfection ; the Pines are exceedingly good : Queens from five
to six pounds is an ordinary occurrence at Ribston. We venture to
assei't that few, if any, places surpass Ribston for Grapes. We have
seen Muscats in many parts of the country, and at many of the
metropolitan exhibitions, but have never seen any as good ; we repeat,
as good as those we have seen at Ribston ; and at the present time
they have some bunches that will weigh four })ounds or upwards. The
Black Hamburgh Grapes also are first rate \ many of the bunches will

SEPTEMBER.

269

Abies Pinsapo.

270 THE FLORIST.

weigh from two to three pounds each. In fact, everything, both in-
doors and out-doors, is in the best possible state, and reflects the highest
credit on Mr. Abbott. Every part of the place is also in the neatest
order and good keeping.

Before closing this brief and imperfect notice of this beautiful place,
we may remark that the spot where once flourished the ' original '
Ribston Pippin, is about 200 yards distant from the principal entrance to
the gardens. Mr. Dent has enclosed it (the spot) with a substantial wire
fence. A young tree, said to be a sucker from the original, is growing
where the parent tree stood ; it grows pretty freely, but the stem is not
a clean, healthy one, and some of the last season's wood is dead, so
that it is not likely to attain either a large size or great age.

Beta.

FERNS AND MOSSES.

It has often been a source of wonder to me that man, wth all his
imitative powers — more especially the gardening class — has not made
Ferns and Mosses more subservient to the many decorative purposes
to which they are so appropriate, and to which a bountiful Creator has
set so liberal an example in the decoration of the universe — from pole
to pole, from the torrid to the frigid zones, on the mountain's top and
the cavern's shade, and from the tropics' heat to Iceland's cold, are to
be found those unassuming yet most beautiful of Nature's adornments.
Yes, most beautiful ! For instance, take a small portion of one of these
plants, and examine its every part. See the chasteness of its general
outline ; see the accuracy of its divisions and incisions ; see the won-
derful organisation of its fructiferous organs ; see the wonderful and
distinct formation of the same in thei;c every genera. In one you will
find its fronds studded with small circular golden forms ; in another
you will see a brown marginal band, encircling its every incision ; and
upon another, the reproductive organs are produced in broad parallel
stripes ; then, again, kidney-shaped, &c. Then examine its every
species, and see the extraordinary and distinct shape and make of each,
together with their elegant and very graceful appearance, and then say
if the class Cryptogamia is not one of the most interesting and beautiful
of all inanimate creation.

Then why not bring this class more generally into use ? Is it
because they wiU not thrive in our shrubberies ? — or won't they do on
the margins of our ponds and lakes ? — or won't they grow and cover
with a face of green our old unsightly walls and buildings, and stumps
of old trees ? — or, is it even our cottage itself that Ferns and Mosses
win not do upon ? I answer in the affirmative ; for many of our most
handsome and hardy species luxuriate in such localities. Then, again,
for the nooks and corners of our stoves and forcing-houses, &c., where
can we find anything more at home thah Ferns, whether in pots, or
springing out from the holes and crevices that otherwise would be un-

SEPTEMBER, 271

sightly ? Then why not more freely introduce them ? I am very glad
to see that the cultivation of" this charming class of plants is become
so popular — aud justly so — for I am sure that no admirer of nature
can pass one of those most unobtrusive of all her works without feeling
a thrill of delight, and which must lead — as has elsewhere been justly
said —

" Through Nature up to Nature's God I"

It is not my province or intention, here, to write a treatise upon the
cultivation of those plants, which has so often and ably been done by
far wiser heads than mine ; but I merely throw out these hints, to
endeavour to show what a very wide field there is open for the more
natural cultivation of them ; sufficient, I trust, to induce many of your
readers to find some nook or corner where they can try " effect ;" and
if once a trial be made, I will vouch there will be no stopping short, for
be it understood there is no such word as finality admitted into the
gardening vocabulary.

Ribston Park, Wetherhy, York. Thos. W. Abbott.

NOTES ON THE NEW PANSIES OF 1856.

Jeannie (Downie & Laird). — A very smooth dark puce self, of fine
substance. Bottom petal rather small.

Indian Chief (Dickson k Go?) — Rich purple self; form and substance
extra ; size small.

Glory (Hampton). — Pure white self, very smooth and flat ; fine
eye, substance rather thin, form good, full size.

Defiance (Hampton). — ^Yellow self, of no value whatever as a show
flower.

Mrs. Dodwell (Fisher). — The best yellow self out; imperfect in
form ; still, all points considered, the best in its class.

Gem (Syme & Middlemas). — A very smooth beautiful dark self;
in its composition perfect, but with me under-sized.

Red Rover (Schofield). — A very distinct yellow-ground variety,
beautiful in every point, rather under-sized.

Cyrus (Dickson). — Rich chrome yellow ground, bronze crimson
belting ; large, smooth, and of fine form.

Rubens (Dickson & Co.) — Rich yellow ground, clear bronze belting.
A fine sort, but a bad doer.

Charles Napier (Dickson & Co.) — Yellow ground, rich puce belting,
very fine and very small.

Splendid (Schofield). — A worthless yellow-ground variety.

Earl of Cardigan (Holland). — A good pale yellow-ground flower,
much in the style of Pandora (Hunt), on which it is a slight improve-
ment.

Empress Eugenie (Stuart).— A white-ground flower, of no value
whatever.

Princess (Dickson & Son).— White and clear blue purple ; large,
smooth, and of fine form. Deficient in substance.

272

THE FLORIST.

Miss Nighlingale (Dickson & Co.) — White ground flower, extra
fine in every respect.

Mrs. Ham'pton (Hampton). — A very constant good white ground
flower, similar to Argo (Paton & Small), but larger and of better sub-
stance.

Countess (Addis). — A singular and beautiful white-ground variety.
Colour of margin pale soft blue ; very distinct, and a useful show
flower.

Sckamyl Bey (Douglass). — Rich smooth dark self, but too small
for exhibition.

Mrs. Dimdas (Downie & Laird). — Straw ground, deep puce belting,
very smooth, and of fine substance ; form defective.

BEST TWENTY-FOUR VARIETIES OUT.

YELLOW GROUND.

Alphcus (Dickson & Co.)

Cyrus (Dickson & Co.)

Rev. H. Gossett (Turner)

Emperor (Hall)

Catherine Dundas (Downie & Laird)

Lord John Russell (Turner)

WHITE GROUND.

Beauty (Downie & Laird)

Miss Nightingale (Dickson & Co.)

Mrs. Hampton (Hampton)

Miss Walker (Syme & Middlemas)

Princess (Dickson & Co.)

Lord Raglan (Campbell)

Birmingham.

DARK SELF.

J. B. Gough (Downie & Laird)
Jeannie (Downie & Laird)
Gem (Syme & Middlemas)
Indian Chief (Dickson & Co.)
Duke of Sutherland (Tunley)
Royal Albert (Turner)

YELLOW SELF.

Mrs. Dodwell (Fisher)

Yellow Climax (Paton & Small)

Golden Eagle (Dickson & Co.)

WHITE SELF.

Alice (Hampton)

Mrs. H.B.Douglass(Downie& Laird)

Countess of Strathmore (Flamden)

R. R. Oswald.

CULTURE OF FUCHSIA SERRATIFOLIA.

When well managed this is a valuable and truly useful plant for the
autumn decoration of our greenhouses and conservatories. For these
last three years it has been a favourite with me, and I have found it
to realise my highest expectations. I strike my cuttings early in
March, placing them in a gentle hotbed ; in three weeks they get well
rooted, I then repot them into 60-sized pots, in a compost of equal
parts of well decomposed cowdung, leaf-mould, and loam, with a
sprinkling of road-sand. I again place them in a little bottom-heat,
to establish them in their pots, taking care to exclude the hot rays of
the sun ; after which I remove them to a cold frame, shifting them as
they may require, but especial care must be taken not to let them get
pot-bound. This is a point in the cultivation of this plant which
requires particular attention, for if neglected, the leaves either curl or
turn yellow and fall off. This practice I follow till the middle of Sep-
tember, when I give them their final shift, leaving out this time the
portion of cowdung, which up to this time is employed ; this I find
tends to throw them into a flowering state, and to stop that vigorous

SEPTEMBER. 273

growth which it is essential to do at this stage. The most important
point, however, to attend to in cultivating this Fuchsia is to keep on it
clean and robust foliage, which to get in perfection will require much
care. To attain this I have used weak manure water two or three
times a week, taking advantage to syringe the plants with the same
after a hot day, which I find improves both the health and growth.
After that I leave them fully exposed to the night air and morning
dews, and these, I have learnt from experience, they enjoy ; but after
you have gone thus far a few hours of midday sun will deprive you of
that luxuriance of foliage you have so long been trying to maintain.
To guard against this, the plants must be shaded at least six hours a
day, if the sun is hot in August ; as the season advances, however, the
length of time the shading must be on must be reduced. By following
this practice I have found them do admirably, and amply rewarded me
for my trouble. I have now plants standing in 24 size pots, with
which, for health and vigour of foliage, few could compete, with
beautiful spikes of flowers, which will be visible about the middle of
October, when I shall have but little else to decorate my conservatory
with, and will prove a source of gratification to all who see them,

Holland.

NATIONAL CARNATION AND PICOTEE SOCIETY.

August 5. — The Sixth Annual Exhibition of this Society was held in
connection with the Handsworth Horticultural Society, at the Leverets,
near Birmingham. The exhibition was a very good one indeed. The
southern growers just managed to keep their flowers to the day, and
the extreme heat which has been experienced for some time brought
the northern flowers well into bloom. Derby, York, and Nottingham
were well represented, making one of the best " Nationals " we
remember to have seen. We subjoin the awards : —

Class A. — Nurserymen. 12 Carnations. 1st, Mr. Charles Turnei*,
Royal Nursery, Slough, with Victoria Regina, Prince Albert, King
■ John, Seedhng S. B., Ascendant, Admiral Curzon, Seedling S. P. (fine),
Kirke White, Hope, Poor Tom, Royal Purple, and Jenny Lind ;
2nd, Mr. John K«ynes, Salisbury, with Flora's Garland, Prince Albert,
Splendour, Mayor of Oldham, Squire Meynell, Exit, Lord Rancliffe,
Morgan May, Admiral Curzon, Splendid, Sarah Payne, and Mr.
Ainsworth ; 3rd, Mr. R. R. Oswald, New Vauxhall, Birmingham, with
Sarah Payne, Flora's Garland, Premier, Friar Lawrence, Prince Albert,
Falconbridge, Uncle Tom, Admiral Curzon, Beauty of Woodhouse,
Comet, Lord IMilton, and Lady Curzon.

Class B.— 12 Picotees. 1st, Mr. Charles Turner, with IMrs. Lochner,
Amy Robsart, Sultana, Mrs. Hoyle, Bessie, Green's Queen, Alfred, Mrs.
Strahan, Mrs. Dodwell, INIiss Puxley, National, and Charles Turner ;
2nd, Mr. Keynes, with Mrs. Kelke, Theodore, Mrs. Barnard, Mrs.
Norman, Countess, Amy Robsart, Mrs. Bayley, Miss Puxley, Dr.
Pitman, Lady H. Moore, Venus, and Mrs. Hoyle; 3rd, Mr. R. R. Oswald,

NEW SERIES, VOL. YI., NO. LXIX. T

274 THE FLORIST.

with Miss Wake, Mrs. Drake, Lavinia, Bertha, Lady Grenville, Mrs.
Kelke, Eugenie, Green's Queen, Finis, ]\Irs. Barnard, Venus, and Lady
Frankhn.

Class C. — Amateurs. 12 Carnations (not less than nine varieties).
1st, H. Steward, Esq., York, with Squire JMeynell, Uncle Tom, Fire-
brand, Falconbridge, Sarah Payne, Falconbridge, Julia, Africanus,
Admiral Curzon, Cradley Pet, Poor Tom, and Admiral Curzon ; 2nd,
Mr. E. S. Dodwell, Derby, with Premier, Lovely Ann, Exit, Sarah
Payne, Lorenzo, Admiral Curzon, Black Diamond, Premier, Fanny,
Sportsman, Seedling P. F., and Splendid ; 3rd, Mr. Samuel Eyre, of
Nottingham, with Lord Milton, Premier, Uncle Tom, Lord Rancliffe,
Uncle Tom, Kossuth, Firebrand, Premier, Firebrand, Admiral Curzon,
Unknown, and King of Scarlets ; 4th, Mr. Samuel Brown, Birmingham,
with Poor Tom, Admiral Curzon, Premier, True Briton, Friar Lawrence,
Mr. Ainsworth, Uncle Tom, Premier, Uncle Tom, Lord Milton, Admiral
Curzon, and Ascendant S. F.

Class D. — 12 Picotees. 1st, Mr. E. S. Dodwell, with Eugenie, Mrs.
Turner, Finis, Calliope, Helen, Mrs. Norman, Alfred, Amy Piobsart,
Lord Nelson, Rosetta, Miss Holbeck, and Mrs. Drake ; 2nd, Mr. John
Bayley, Derby, with Duke of Devonshire, Mrs. Turner, Amy Robsart,
Calliope, Mrs. Turner, Seedling (heavy purple), JMrs. Norman, Finis,
Amy Robsart, Miss Holbeck, Finis, and Venus ; Equal 3rd, Mr.
Samuel Eyre and Mr. Henry Steward : Mr. Eyre's stand contained
Robin Hood, Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Eyre, Lord Nelson, Green's Queen,
Mrs. Barnard, Duke of Devonshire, Amy Robsart, Mrs. Barnard, Miss
Holbeck, Princess Royal, and Dr. Pitman; Mr. Steward had Lord
Nelson, Mrs. Barnard, Alfred, Eugenie, Mrs. Headley, Amy Robsart,
Mrs. Headley, Mrs. Drake, Florence Nightingale, Prince of Wales,
Miss Holbeck, and Countess ; 4th, Mr. Samuel Brown, with I\Irs.
Barnard, Amy Robsart, Mrs. Drake, Miss Holbeck, Miss Wake, Finis,
Green's Queen, Amy Robsart, Mrs. Norman, Eugenie, Venus, and
Finis.

Class E. — 6 Carnations. Open to all. 1st, I\Ir. Charles Turner,
with King John, Victoria Regina, Squire Meynell, Hope, Cradley
Pet, and a Seedhng S. B. ; 2nd, Mr. E. S. Dodwell, with Lorenzo,
Christopher Sly, \ oung Milton, Seedling P. F., Lovely Ann, and
Admiral Curzon ; 3rd, Mr. John Keynes, with Lord Rancliffe, Flora's
Garland, Black Diamond, Firebrand, Prince Albert, and Squire
Meynell.

Class F. — 6 Picotees. 1st, Mr. Charles Turner, with Amy Robsart,
Mrs. Lochner, Mrs. Dodwell, Charles Turner (Holland), Sultana, and
Mrs. Hoyle ; 2nd, Mr. E. S. Dodwell, with Mrs. May, Mrs. Headley,
Mrs. Turner, Amy Robsart, Finis, and Mrs. Norman ; 3rd, Mr.
Henry Steward, with Countess, Finis, Venus, Mrs. Drake, Lord Nelson,
and Miss Holbeck.

SINGLE SPECIMENS IN CLASSES. — OPEN TO ALL.

Scarlet Bizarres : — 1st, Mr. Ainsworth, Mr. John Keynes; 2nd,
Admiral Curzon, Mr. S. Eyre; 3rd, Ditto, Mr. Henry Steward; 4th,
Ditto, Mr. J. S. Hedderley ; 5th, Ditto, Mr. H. Steward.

Crimson Bizarres : — 1st, Hope, Mr. Charles Turner ; 2nd, Lord

SEPTEMBER. 275

Milton, Mr. Henry Steward ; 3rd, Black Diamond, Mr. E. S. Dod-
well ; 4th, Hope, Mr. C. Turner ; 5th, King of Carnations, Mr. John
Keynes.

Pink Bizarres: — 1st, Tenby Rival, Mr. C. Turner; 2nd, Ditto,
ditto ; 3rd, Rainbow, Mr. Wood ; 4th, Premier (Puxley), ]\Ir. c'.
Turner ; 5th, Tenby Rival, ditto.

Purple Flakes : — 1st, Squire Meynell, Mr. J, Keynes; 2nd, Premier,
Mr. E. S. Dodwell ; 3rd, Ditto, Mr. H. Steward ; 4th, Julia, Mr. E.
S. Dodwell ; 5th, Ditto, Mr. Henry Steward.

Scarlet Flakes : — ] st, Sportsman, Mr. J. S. Hedderley ; 2nd, Ditto,
ditto ; 3rd, Ditto, ditto ; 4th, Ditto, ditto ; 5th, Ditto, ditto.

Rose Flakes: — 1st, Uncle Tom, Mr. Henry Steward ; 2nd, Lorenzo,
I\rr. E. S. Dodwell ; 3rd, Flora's Garland, Mr. John Keynes ; 4th,
Lorenzo, Mr. E. S. Dodwell ; 5th, Constellation, Mr. John Keynes.

Picotees. Red. — Heavy Edge. 1st, Mrs. Hoyle, Mr. C. Turner ;
2nd, Ditto, ditto ; 3rd, Mrs. Norman, Mr. J. S. Hedderley ; 4th,
Sultana, Mr. John Keynes ; 5th, Mrs. Norman, Mr. James Taylor.

Red.— Light Edge. 1st, Charles Turner (Kirtland), Mr. C. Turner ;
2nd, Ditto, ditto ; 3rd, Miss Holbeck, Mr. E. S. Dodwell ; 4th, Charles
Turner, Mr. C. Turner ; 5th, Ditto, ditto.

Purple.— Heavy Edge. 1st, Alfred, INIr. H. Steward ; 2nd, Ditto,
ditto ; 3rd, Mrs. JMay, Mr. E. S. Dodwell ; 4th, Lord Nelson, Mr.
Wood ; 5th, I\Irs. Bayley, Mr. John Keynes.

Purple.— Light Edge. 1st, Finis, Mr. E. S. Dodwell; 2nd, Ditto,

ditto; 3rd, Mrs. Eyre, Mr. S. Eyre; 4th, Ditto, ditto; 5th, Ditto, ditto.

Rose. — Heavy Edge. 1st, Green's Queen, Mr. C. Turner ; 2nd,

Ditto, ditto; 3rd, Venus, Mr. J. Taylor; 4th, Alice, Mr. C. Turner ;

5th, Venus, Mi-. John Keynes.

Rose.— Light Edge. 1st, Mrs. Turner, ]\Ir. E. S. Dodwell ; 2nd,
Bertha, Ditto ; 3rd, Mrs. Barnard, I\Ir. John Keynes, 4th, Ditto, ditto;
5th, Ditto, ditto.

Premier Carnation, selected from the entire exhibition : — Admiral
Curzon, exhibited by Mr. Henry Steward.

Premier Picotee, also selected from the entire exhibition : — Mrs.
Eyre, exhibited by Mr. Samuel Eyre.

Twenty-three stands, each of twelve blooms ; and fourteen, each of
six blooms, were staged for competition, with about 400 single specimens.
Three first- class certificates were given for Seedlings: — To Sports-
man, exhibited by Mr. Hedderley, of Nottingham, a scarlet flake
Carnation, of a bright colour and very true marking : it is a sport from
Admiral Curzon ; — to Llrs. Eyre, exhibited by ]\Ir. Eyre, of Notting-
ham, a light purple-edge Picotee ; it has a true-veined edge, large petal,
and is a full-sized flower ; — to Charles Turner (Kirtland), a bright rosy
red-edge Picotee, light ; the white of this flower is very pure, without
the least spot or bar, and much the best of its class. It was exhibited
by Mr. C. Turner, of Slough. Six blooms were also exhibited of Eaii
Stamford, a promising purple flake Carnation.

Dodwell's ]Mrs. Turner, a light rose-edged Picotee, was shown very
fine by the raiser, and is a first- class flower. We do not know any
variety that has so fine a petal.

T 2

276 THE FLORIST.

To Mr. George Tye are due the thanks of the Society for this very
successful meeting of the National Carnation and Picotee Society.
The exhibition for 1857 will be held at Manchester.

HIGH-CLERE,
THE SEAT OF THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF CARNARVON.
This princely demesne is situated near the Newbury and Andover
road, distant about six miles from Newbur3^ The mansion, an
elegant castellated building by Sir Charles Barry, stands on an eminence
in the centre of an extensive and beautiful park, of about 2000 acres,
the whole of which is undulated in the most pleasing manner ; in fact,
there are few parks in the kingdom which display a surface more
varied, or scenery more interesting. The pleasure-grounds are on a
most extensive scale, and, like the park, present a great diversity of
surface. The whole is laid out with excellent taste, and contains a rich
collection of trees and shrubs. Higliclere has long been celebrated for
its magnificent Rhododendrons. Mr. Carton, so well known as one of
the most successful hybridisers of his day, was for a number of years
gardener at this place, and his attention was particularly directed to
the raising of new varieties of this plant. Of his success the numerous
fine hybrids produced from R. arboreum, maximum, caucasicum, pon-
ticum, &c., give abundant evidence.

Near the mansion are numerous beds principally filled with a choice
selection of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. The greater part of these
have been taken up and re-arranged by Mr. Phipps, his lordship's
gardener at the present time. There are also numerous detached
clumps, belts, and single specimens throughout the whole extent of the
grounds. We noticed one plant, of the arboreum family, 15 feet high, and
10 feet through, which had been a complete mass of bloom. The use of
Laurels is to a great extent superseded by the Rhododendron ; for the
various purposes for which Laurels are used the Rhododendron answers
well, with the decided recommendation of being one of our gayest
flowering shrubs, Li some parts of the grounds the walks are flanked
by shelving banks to the height of twenty or thirty feet ; these are
clothed with dense masses of Rhododendrons, the effect of which when
in bloom is grand in the extreme.

Besides the numerous attractions presented by the park and pleasure
grounds, there are several pieces of artificial water. " Milford Lake,"
about 22 acres in extent, is of the most interesting character, its banks
are indented by numerous bays and inlets, while at other parts they
rise boldly to a considerable height. The Rhododendron is used here
with the best effect ; the promontories are in part covered by large
masses of that plant, while in different parts large masses of rockstone
protrude. These, with a variety of appropriate trees, give to the whole
a wild and picturesque appearance, which is much more pleasing to
the taste of most people than the smooth even banks of many, in other
respects, beautiful lakes.

SEPTEMBER. 277

In a low situation near the above lake we noticed remarkably fine
specimens of Abies Douglasi and A. Menziesi, the latter of which
undoubtedly enjoys a damp situation. The specimen in question is
remarkably vigorous, without the slightest tinge of brown, — so common
to it in high and drier places.

In a small garden detached from the pleasure ground is a range of
Vineries, in two divisions, each about 38 feet in length. The Vines
have been planted by Mr. Phipps ; one planted in the summer of 1854
has this season produced a heavy crop of Grapes of excellent quality.
The other division was planted last summer — 1855 — and in this the
rods ai-e unusually strong.

Thinking that the system of preparing the borders, &c., as practised
by Mr. Phipps, might be of interest to some of our readers, we
requested a few particulars, which were very obligingly supplied. In
the making of Vine borders jAIr. P. considers thorough drainage of
the greatest importance. To insure this, broken bricks and rough
stones are placed over the bottom of the intended border to the depth
of two feet, and over this some turfs to prevent the smaller particles
from choking the drainage. On this is placed a compost of the following
ingredients : — three loads of turfy loam, one of fresh horse droppings,
one of lime and brick rubble, and half a load of leaf-mould. In about
a week from the time the border is made it will be found that the mass
will have become moderately warm. The Vines are then planted and
kept in a moist and rather close atmosphere for about a month, by
which time they will have rooted into the border and be growing freely ;
they are then inured to more air, which in a short time is given in
great abundance. Mr. P. considers June the best month for the
planting of young Vines. The kitchen garden consists of about four
acres of land, in which is a quantity of wall and other fruit trees, all
of which are under the best management. There is also a French
flower garden, designed and laid out by Mr. Phipps ; the beds are
filled with a choice variety of Geraniums, Verbenas, &c., which have a
gay appearance.

His lordship kindly allows the whole of the gardens and pleasure
grounds to be opened to the public twice a-week — Wednesdays and
Saturdays.

LOOKER'S PATENT IMPERISHABLE GARDEN LABELS.
We have tried some of these labels, which are very neat, durable
looking things, and much better adapted for placing out of doors than
any form of painted label, which are soon acted upon by the atmosphere.
These have the letters coloured with some kind of vitrified black, which
brings out the letters effectively. They are cheap, and we can
recommend them to our readers tor labelling hardy plants, as the best
that have come under our notice.

278 THE FLORIST.

THE AIREDALE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

We do not often notice the proceedings of the various horticultural
exhibitions so frequent in the midland and northern districts ; but
happening to be in the vicinity of Bradford on the 19th ultimo, we
paid a visit to Shipley, for the purpose of seeing what progress had
been made in that district in the culture of plants and flowers. We
found a long and spacious tent well filled with plants, cut flowers, fruits,
and vegetables, some few of the plants showing evidence of good culture,
particularly the twelve stove and greenhouse plants exhibited by Mr.
Charles Henderson, gardener to R. Milligan, Esq., Acacia, near Brad-
ford, and which gained the first prize — a silver cup. Among these,
Gesnera Merki and Schubertia graveolens were very good, as also was
Tritonia aurea, a plant excellently adapted for conservatory decoration,
as it blooms so freely late in the summer. The second prize was
awarded to E. Ward, Esq., Bradford, for plants by no means equal
to those we saw at Bradford last year from the same grower. A
very fine Oncidium flexuosum obtained the first prize for single
specimens of Orchids. Four good stove and greenhouse plants exhibited
by Mr. Henry Tuke, gardener to R. Nickolls, Esq., Bramley, near
Leeds, were awarded a first prize. These were AUamanda neriifolia,
Aphelandra cristata, very fine, Cyrtoceras retiexum, and Begonia Pres-
toniensis. Achimenes were somewhat extensively shown, but Ambrose
Verschaffelt, Sir Treherne Thomas, reticulata, and one or two other
very fine and distinct varieties, do not seem to be known by the
exhibitors, or they would certainly use them. Geraniums were also
shown extensively, and were badly grown, or rather flowered. As a
general rule, they are overpotted and not grown hardy enough.
Sufficient air is not given to them in a growing state, and the wood
becomes soft and produces only a few blooms and those of very inferior
quality. These remarks apply not only to the growers in that neigh-
bourhood, but generally, and we regret that the simple instructions
given monthly in our pages are not followed, or at least read more
closely. Nothing pains us more than to see these plants so terribly
mismanaged. Similar remarks apply to Verbenas, as these are
generally grown too tenderly, as was shown by several of the collections
exhibited. Two of the collections, however, showed better culture, but
there was still room for improvement. They should have plenty of air
and light, and be kept clean from insects. Fuchsias were shown better,
awd six plants which obtained the first prize, exhibited by Messrs.
Leach & Son, of Bradford, were very good, and included a fine plant of
Venus de Medici, but the blooms were not in good character. It is
evidently a free-growing variety, and we doubt its blooming in fine
character this season, thinking it will bloom finest from older wood.
Mr. Parkinson, of Bradford, also had some good plants. Some very
good Petunias were exhibited, including Hermione, Dr. Andry, which
is one of the best and brightest coloured striped varieties. Alba magna.
Major Domo, and Sappho. No one exhibited the new double white
variety, Imperial. We heard doubts expressed as to its usefulness.

SEPTEMBER, 279

All those who are at all sceptical should see beds of It in full bloom at
the Royal Gardens, Froguiore, where it may be seen covered with clear
white tlowers. It is an excellent pot plant, but should be grown hardy
and not nursed too much. As usual at these meetings, a large number
of cut flowers was shown, many of which had not received the care in
growing due to them, and seemed to have been cut merely as chance
directed. This was particularly the case with Vei-benas. In York-
shire, for some time past, violent thunderstorms and wet gusty weather
have prevailed. Under such circumstances bell glasses or some other
substitute (of course mounted on small pots) should be placed over the
blooms four or five days before the show. Many of the Dahlias also
showed that sufficient care had not been taken in protecting them.
Some of the Carnations and Picotees were of tolerable quality, but
many very fine sorts have not yet found their way generally into this
district. Exhibitors at these provincial shows would also do well to
invent some better plan of carrying their cut flowers than placing them
indiscriminately in a basket and selecting them in the tent. Cf course
this remark does not apply to all, but it does apply to many ; and we
hope they will take it in the spirit in which it is offered, bearing in
mind that what is vt^orth doiug is worth doing well. The first prize of
two guineas was most deservedly awarded to Mr. George Edwards, of
York, for 24 Dahlia blooms, and although the season is late here, these
were fine, particularly a noble bloom of Lord Palmerston, one of the
finest flowers yet sent out ; Salvator Rosa, Ablitt's Incomparable,
Cossack, Mrs. Wheeler, Yellow Beauty, Yellow Victory, Lord Bath,
Fanny Keynes, Corsair, Miss Burdett Coutts, Ruby Queen, and
LoUipop ; the second prize was awarded to Mr. Schofield, Leeds ; and
the third prize to ]\Ir. T. Milner, Bradford. In the class for twelve
Dahlias Mr. Edwards was again victorious, with good blooms, including
many of the new sorts ; the second prize was awarded to Mr. Harrison,
Darlington ; and the third to Mr. T. Rlilner, who also exhibited a very
promising seedling Dahlia named Airedale Beauty, of Bathurst form,
with close high centre and good outline, and of a rosy purple colour.
Several Cucumbers were shown, among them a fine specimen of the
Himalaya fully 24 inches long, exhibited by Mr. Croft, gardener to
A. Harris, Esq., of Bingley, and which obtained a second prize. This
is a handsome black-spined variety, with very short heel, but the
specimen was rather too old. We should like to see the names
attached to plants and flowers more generally at these shows. A great
number of the cut flowers and plants were not named. This should
be done, as it enables visitors to make notes of any of the varieties
exhibited. We hope to see this done another season, and the detestable
practice of smoking in the foicer tents put a stop to. It should be
borne in mind that many of the gentry who visit these shows are in
the habit of attending the metropoUtan exhibitions, and to them the
comparison must be very apparent. It is also a practice that would be
more honoured in the breach than in the observance. Surely, while
contemplating the beauty of plants and flowers in a confined space,
pipes and cigars may be abandoned.

280 THE FLORIST.

NOTES ON THE MONTH.
Well, August has passed away from us, and a downright old-
fashioned summer month it has been ; for, with the exception of a few
partial thundei storms, we have had no rain since the middle of July,
and up to the 17th the weather was truly tropical, the thermometer
ranging by day between 80° and 90° in the shade. On the 17th and
18th the temperature was perceptibly lower, with rain on the former
day, accompanied with an east wind of considerable force. The extreme
high temperature of the last month has brought to maturity the grain
crops very rapidly. Wheat good everywhere. Barley and Oats the
same, except on very sandy or brashy soils, where they have ripened
too quickly, and Barley especially has suffered in quality. Agricultural
green crops wanted rain, and in many places Swedes are late or thin,
from the ravages of the fly. Potatoes seem good everywhere, excepting
on poor sands, where the hot weather in June appeared to set them,
and in many instances they have made but little progress since ; in
these cases the crops will be very small, which however will be more
than compensated for by the fine appearance of those on heavier soils.
In this neighbourhood, generally speaking, the disease has shown itself
only partially, and the bulk of the crops is still looking green and
healthy ; this augurs well, and we may still hope for a fair crop of this
useful root. The prize Potato this season will unquestionably be the
Fluke, which withstands the effects of drought better than any other,
and the crops will be great.

Garden produce, like that of the farm, has suffered more especially
where a shallow soil or bad management had not provided a good
depth of open soil for the plants to root in. The past month will teach
many a gardener a useful lesson of the advantages of well trenched
ground for summer crops. Peas, Beans, Cauliflowers, Lettuce, have
hardly been kept moving, even with the assistance of the water-pot ;
and where they had not good, free, open soil they have suffered much,
and in many instances failed altogether. A word on watering. Soak
what you water well, not merely pouring a little water round the stem
of the plant, but soak the surrounding earth ; this may be only once
or twice a week, but it will do more effectual good than daily sprink-
lings, where only the surface is wetted, or just round the plant, which
the dry atmosphere and dry soil adjoining quickly absorb, and leave
your plants very little if any the better. We say again, water
thoroughly plants requiring it, and mulch if practicable, but to give
water to plants in driblets, such weather as we have had, is useless.
The season for transplanting evergreens is now upon us ; the wood this
season will ripen early, and therefore planting may commence as soon
as a favourable state of the weather occurs. A good plan with large
trees is to open a trench round them at a distance according to their
size, leaving the ball, but carefully taking up and preserving the roots
in throwing out the trench, and cutting clean the ends of those broken
by the operation. A little half decayed litter or leaves may then be
thrown over the roots, to preserve them from the air ; this will stop

SEPTEMBER. 281

the tree from malcing further growth, and in two or three weeks they
will be in capital condition lor transplanting. When the tree is
removed the roots taken up previously will be found calloused, in some
instances making fresh roots, and just in a condition to take hold of
the new soil when planted. Another note we have made, and must
press its adoption to all who have fruit trees, whether wall, espalier,
orchard, or Gooseberry bush, the principle is the same, and that is,
" summer pruiiing." I have not time to write a bit of physiology
to show " the reason why," but must insist that it exists, and can be
forthcoming any day; take my advice, therefore, and proceed at once
to remove all and every bit of wood made this season, excepting what
you can easily foresee will be wanted for bearing, or filling up the trees
where too thin. It is a positive waste of power to allow these to remain
any longer, and I should have noticed this last month, had not my friend
the editor told me he was full of matter, and kept me back. However, go
over every tree and cut out to within two or three eyes of their base
this summer wood on Apples, Pears, Plums, some Cherries and Goose-
berries and Currants ; it will strengthen the embryo fruit buds for
next year, and help the formation of those for the year after : and by
leaving the terminal or leading shoots on Apples and Pears untouched,
you will frequently find fruit buds form on them also, when the useless
wood has been removed in August or September.

Flower-gardens are everywhere a perfect blaze of beauty. This
weather has brought out in all their glory Geraniums, Verbenas,
and Petunias ; Calceolarias do not like it quite so well.

The Horticultural Society appears to " drag its feeble strength
along." Is its present position a transition state to a better state and
vpiser management, or to Mr. Stevens' hammer? Horticulture is
everywhere flourishing, except at its head quarters at Chiswick ; the
great body, however, is sound and healthy, and will, like other things,
right itself in time. G. F. .

METROPOLITAN HOLLYHOCK AND DAHLIA
EXHIBITION.
An exhibition of the above popular flowers was held at Cremorne
Gardens, Chelsea, on the 19th and 20th ult., and was most successful
and satisfactory. Great care had been exercised in framing the schedule,
which those whom it most concerned freely and gratifyingly acknow-
ledged ; and evident satisfaction was manifested by those who, in spite
of the unmitigated rain, found their way to the gardens, which are
admirably adapted to horticultural fetes.

Dahlias might have been finer and more numerous ; but such cannot
be said of the Hollyhocks ; these were, considering the intense heat of
the weather, and its duration, far beyond what was expected. One
hundred and sixty spikes, for the most part fully three feet in height,
closely yet symmetrically set with bloom, the flowers giving an average
diameter of five inches, and of those peculiarly bright shades of colour

282 THE FLORIST.

for which the Hollyhock is so notable, were staged, the contributors
being Messrs. Bircham & Ward, Mr. Chater, Messrs. Paul, the Rev.
C. Fellowes, Mr. Grant, H. Bowler. Esq., C. J. Perry, Esq., and Mr.
C. Turner. The collections of cut blooms were no less abundant, and
of a quality quite unique. The Dahlias, as a whole, were not good,
but as the be^it growers of the country contributed, and competed with
their best, this must be attributed solely to circumstances of weather
and season. The eminent Norwich growers, Mr. C. Grant, G. Holmes,
Esq., the Rev. C. Fellowes, together with IMessrs. Turner, Keynes,
Legge, Walker, Kimberley, J. Cook, Esq., C. J. Perry, Esq., IMessrs.
Wyness, Pope, &c., were foremost amongst the cultivators, as the
annexed awards will demonstrate. Nor was the meeting without
interest in the way of seedling novelties. Roses were well shown by
the Messrs. Paul, whose collection comprised four first-rate boxes,
containing fifty bunches. Messrs. E. G. Henderson, of the Wellington
Nursery, St. John's Wood, considerately contributed a van load of
Coniferous plants, which, tastefully grouped, formed an admirable
centre for the display of the Hollyhock spikes staged around them.
The Messrs. F. and A. Smith, of Dulwich, also made a good display
with thirty specimen Balsams.

The censors for Hollyhocks — Mr. Downie, Edinburgh ; Mr. Parsons,
Welwyn ; and Mr. Turner, Slough; for Dahlias, Mr. Spary, Brighton ;
Mr. Holmes, Hackney ; and Mr. J. Robinson, Pimlico, furnish the
following awards : —

Hollyhocks. — 11 Spikes. 1st prize, Messrs. Bircham and Ward,
Solfaterre, Souvenir, Pourpre de Tyre, Lemonade, Purple Perfection,
Brennus, Seedling, Fireball Superb, Standard, Vesta, and Hon. Mrs.
Ashley ; 2nd, Mr. W. Chater, with Lady JMiddleton, Walden Rlaster-
piece, Saturn, Resplendens, Canary, Autocrat, Beauty of Walden (a
first-class certificate, with the prize for the best pink or rose spike were
awarded to this variety). Empress (best buff or yellow), Geant des
Batailles, Fanny, and ]\Iont Blanc ; 3rd, Messrs. Paul, with Primrose
Perfection, Memnon, Pourpre de Tyre, Narcissus, Mrs. Oakes, Heden-
ham Rival, Beauty of Cheshunt, Solfaterre, White Globe (best white
spike), Glory, and Hon. Mrs. Ashley.

9 Spikes. 1st prize, the Rev. C. Fellowes, with Solfaterre Improved
(best yellow spike, as also the best spike in the exhibition). Lilac Model
(best spike mottled light). Fireball Superb, Purpurea elegans (best
purple or plum spike), Hon. INIrs. Ashley, Mrs. Oakes, Unique,
Brennus, and Lemonade Improved ; 2nd, Mr. C. Grant, with King of
Yellows, Eva, Pourpre de Tyre, Beauty of Cheshunt, Souvenir, Solfa-
terre, Yellow Model, Seedling, and Hon. Mrs. Ashley ; 3rd, H. Bowler,
Esq., with Atropurpurea, Hon. Mrs. Ashley, Unique, Joseph Clarke
(to this was awarded a first-class certificate), Mrs. H. Bowler, Lilac
Model, Queen, Solfaterre, and a Seedling. 4th, Mr. C. J. Perry.

24 Blooms. 1st prize, Mr. C. Grant; 2nd, the Rev. C. Fellowes,
3rd, H. Bowler, Esq. ; 4th, Mr. C. J. Perry. The best varieties in
these stands were for the most part those shown in spikes.

24 Blooms (Dealers). 1st prize, Mr. W. Chater; 2nd, Messrs.
Paul. The best varieties of these two collections were Exquisite, Nil

SEPTEMBEB. 283

Desperandum, Sulphur Queen, Ceres, Atrosanguinea, Rosy Morn,
Lilacina, Grandis, Masterpiece, Queen of Bufts, Ruby Queen, Canary,
Purple King, Leonora, Lady Middleton, Lilac Queen, Beauty of
Walden, Autocrat, Sceptre d"Or, Ignea. These are all I\Ir. Chater's
varieties, and include many of his finest seedlings, yet to be sent out.
In ]\Iessrs. Paul's stand we observed Walden Rival, Lord Jocelyne ;
Pourpre de Tyre, Mrs. Oakes, ]\Iemnon, Purple Perfection, Mr. Adams,
White Globe, Beauty of Cheshunt, Eclipse, Hon. Mrs. Ashley, Blushing
Bride, Solfaterre, Charles Baron Improved, Criterion, Hope, Rosy
Morn, and Omar Pacha.

Dahlias. — 24 Blooms. 1st prize, Mr. C. Turnerj with *Sir John
Franklin, *Col. Windham, Malvina, Captain Ingram, Incomparable,
Sir F. Bathurst, ^Bessie, '^'Lord Palmerston, *Grand Sultan, Amazon,
Rachel Rawlings, Harbinger, Sir C. Napier, *Lord Bath, Eclipse,
Espartero, Sir R. Whittington, and Duchess of Cambridge ; 2nd, Mr.
H. Legge, with *Admiral, Sir C. Napier, Crimson King, Amazon,
*Mr. Seldon, Duchess of Kent, Glenlyon, Beauty of the Grove, *Mrs.
Legge, Robert Bruce, Rachel Rawlings, *Duke of Wellington, Magnet,
Le Phare, * Louisa Glenny, Port Wine, Roundhead, and JuUien ;■ 3rd,
Mr. Keynes, with *Lord Palmerston, *Lollipop, *Sir F. Bathurst,
*Lady Folkstone, Cceur de Leon, JMalvina, *Sir J. Franklin, *Rachel
Rawlings, Dr. Gully, Bessie, Reginald, Archbishop of Canterbury,
Admiral Dundas, Lord Bath, Sir C. Napier, Sebastopol, and Annie ;
4th, G. Holmes, Esq. ; 5th, the Rev. C. Fellowes ; 6th, Mr. Walker.

Private Growers. — 24 Blooms. 1st prize, Mr. C. Grant, with *Miss
Caroline, '^Pre-eminent, *Lord Palmerston, Fanny Keynes, Malvina,
Robert Bruce, *Cossack, Amazon, Lady Mary Labouchere, Lilac King,
Lord Bath, Yellow Beaut}', Sir C. Napier, Lollipop, The Nigger, Sir
J. Franklin, Bessie, Miss Burdett Coutts, and Duchess of Wellington.

12 Dahlias. 1st prize, J. Cook, Esq., with Salvator Rosa, Lollipop,
Rachel Rawlings, Constancy, Beauty of the Grove, Beauty of Slough,
Duchess of Kent, Miss Caroline, Empress, Sir F. Bathurst, Colonel
Windham, and Essex Triumph ; 2nd, G. Holmes, Esq., with Lord
Palmerston, Caroline, Sir C. Napier, Sir J. Franklin, Cherub, Diadem,
Yellow Beauty, Sir F. Bathurst, Miss Burdett Coutts, Bijou, The
Nigger, and Lollipop ; 3rd, the Rev. C. Fellowes, with Fanny Keynes,
Miss Caroline, Mrs. Wheeler, Lilac King, Rachel Rawlings, Lord
Bath, Marion, Amazon, Miss Burdett Coutts, The Nigger, Lollipop,
and Duchess of Wellington ; 4th, C. J. Perry, Esq.

Fancy Dahlias. — 24 Blooms. 1st prize, Mr. Keynes, with ^Charles
Perry, ^Conqueror, * Polyphemus, * Carnation, Lady Grenville, *Jonas,
*Empereur de Maroc, Mrs. Hansard, Miss Frampton, *Duchess of
Kent, Mrs. Spary, Pigeon, *Model, and some unnamed seedlings ;
2nd, Mr. C. Turner, with ^Eugenie, ^Butterfly, *Marvel, *Pigeon,
La Vogue, Inimitable, ^Enchantress, *Duchesse de Brabant, *Comet,
Empereur de Maroc, Mrs. Hansard, Admiration, Miquette, Kossuth,
Laura Lavington, Phaeton, and Gloire de Kain ; 3rd, ]Mr. H. Legge,
with Butterfly, *Triomphe de Roubaix, *Vasco de Gama, Baron d'Arme,
Malvina, Attraction, Mrs. Hansard, Annie Miquet, Duchess of Kent,
Princess Charlotte, Snagretta, Laura Lavington, Gloire de Kain,

284 THE FLORIST.

Phaeton, Pigeon, Juliana, Lady Grenville, Liliput von Branduth, and
some seedlings.

12 Fancies. 1st prize, the Rev. C. Fellowes, with *Enchantress,
Topsy, Triomphe do Roubaix, Inimitable, Eugenie, Miss Ward, Lady
Grenville, Comet, *Pigeon, and Kossuth ; 2nd, C. J. Perry, Esq., with
*Triomphe de Roubaix, Pigeon, Marvel, *Gloire de Kain, Jonas,
^Butterfly, Reine des Beiges, Uncle Tom, and Comet ; 3rd, Mr. C.
Grant, with Enchantress, *Triomphe de Roubaix, *Empereur de Maroc,
Duchess of Kent, Reine des Fleurs, *Wonderful, Gloire de Kain,
Cockatoo, and Comet.

Note. — Those Dahlias to which a (*) is affixed, had duplicate speci-
mens shown in the same collection.

First-class certificates were awarded to Fancy Dahlia Polyphemus
(Keynes), flaked rose and purple ; to Fancy Dahlia Model (Keynes),
also flaked rose and purple, but of distinct shades ; and to Dahlia Mrs.
Legge (Legge), orange ground, with red or cherry tips. Lady Popham
(Turner), white, with chaste tip of purple, is of first-rate merit ; a
single flower only was staged. Fenella (Holmes), is a small flower in
the way of Amazon. Unique (Turner), orange and red. Of these we
shall report more fully as the season advances.

PEAS AND CAULIFLOWERS.
Your notice of these productions last month is useful, by way of in-
forming us of the comparative merits of the vegetables reviewed. If
you will allow me to recommend, as a second early variety, Prizetaker,
a new variety belonging to the Marrow tribe, your readers will not be
disappointed in growing it. It is suitable for either garden or field
culture ; grows three feet high, is a prolific bearer, and the produce
resembles the Green Marrow in colour and flavour. I have tried it
as a field crop, as well as in the garden, and can recommend it. As a
later Pea, I have found none to possess so many good points as Hairs'
Dwarf Mammoth ; this I consider fully equal to the loest tall Peas as
regards flavour, it continues in bearing a very long time, and even when
old the Peas boil green. From its not growing more than four feet
high it is easily supported, and I venture to say no Pea will stand hot
weather so well ; it rarely mildews, and is, for a summer crop, the best
Pea out.

Your readers should try the Standhouder Cauliflower, much superior
to the Walcheren, or any other Cauliflower, for a summer crop. It is
more especially valuable for autumn use, and where known will super-
sede all other kinds ; sown in May and June, and planted out at two
or three times, it will afford an unfailing supply of snowy white heads
up to Christmas. I have seen nothing so good.

SEPTEMBER. 285

ON HYBRIDISING FRUITS.
We beg to refer our readers to a paper inserted elsewhere in our
present number, from a correspondent who signs himself " A Country
Rector." Our correspondent has broached an important subject,
which certainly has been neglected, but not exactly to the extent he
states. It is quite true that many of the most valuable fruits of the
present day, excepting Pears and Strawberries, were cultivated more
than a century ago, but still there have been some valuable varieties
raised since that time. Foremost amongst those who devoted their
time and practical knowledge to this subject, was the late President of
the Horticultural Society — ]\Ir. T. A. Knight, of Downton, who, as
well as Mr. WilUiams, of Pitmaston, raised many valuable productions.
To the former we are indebted for the Acton Scot, Spring Grove, and
Mountaineer Peaches, and Downton Nectarine (a valuable kind) ; for
many good varieties of Cherries — as the Elton, Black Eagle, and
others ; and for a great number of Pears and Apples — of the former.
Monarch, Broompark, Eyewood, and Althorp Crassane are well-known
and appreciated kinds, as are many of his seedling Apples. Mr.
Williams raised the Pitmaston Orange Nectarine, some Plums, Grapes,
and Gooseberries, all of which possess merit. The character of the
fruit raised by Mr. Knight attests the soundness of the principles he
followed in hybridising, viz., to obtain high-flavoured fruit, on plants
endued with a hardy constitution, so as to withstand the vicissitudes of
our uncertain climate, a point which should always be kept in view by
hybridisers.

Notwithstanding the success of the above gentlemen, and of the
originators of new Strawberries, which within these few years have
been very much improved, our correspondent's remarks are very
pertinent to the question, for assuredly we have not made that progress
in originating new fruits as our neighbours on the Continent, or even
in America. The Horticultural Society ought to have been at the
head of this movement, but they have themselves done nothing worth
recording in this way, and have given but little encouragement to
those who have endeavoured to try the experiment. We confess we
are somewhat surprised that no private individuals have taken the
matter in hand as a commercial speculation, for we are assured a wide
field is before them ; and, we venture to say, not an unprofitable one
either. This is still more surprising, seeing the rapid progress made
by hybridisers of florists' flowers, through whose exertions those
beautiful varieties of Pelargoniums, Cinerarias, Heaths, &c., which
adorn our exhibition tables, have been produced, certainly not a loss to
their respective raisers ; and we advise those willing to enter into the
prosecution of raising new fruits, that a good market may at once be
obtained for anything in the Iruit way they may succeed in obtaining
above the merit of ordinary kinds, as we may gather from the avidity
with which inferior kinds, which in many instances are palmed upon
the public, are purchased.

The principal objects to aim at in raising new varieties of fruit from

286 THE FLORIST.

seed, is, first, to secure as much vigour and hardiness in the progeny as
possible ; for this purpose, one of the parents, at least, should possess
these properties. New fruits will be valuable just in proportion to
their power of withstanding the unfavourable effects of our climate.
Next, that it should be an object to obtain seedlings which ripen
earlier or later than varieties now cultivated. An Apple, Peach, or
Apricot, which could be produced to ripen a week or ten days before
existing kinds, would be valuable ; and so with some kinds of fruit
which should ripen later. Thus it is very possible to obtain Plums as
late as the common Damson and Quetch, with a flavour approximating
to the Green-gage, and hardy enough for orchard planting. Again,
melting Peaches, of good flavour, have not hitherto been met with later
than September. We see no reason why Peaches ripening in October
and November should not be obtained of a good flavour ; indeed, we
know such will be the case, as we have one already in a recent intro-
duction— the Salway Peach — which melts perfectly, and is exceedingly
good, though ripening in November. We have said nothing of the
Grapes, from which great things may be expected, but hope our
remarks will put some of our clever men on the alert, and we
are confident we shall soon have an improved class of fruits.

[Ed, " Florist."]

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Auriculas. — If not re-potted, let it be seen to at once, and but little
attention will be required for some time to come. Give plenty of air,
a moderate supply of water, look carefully for dead foliage and green
fly. Prepare a cool well-drained border, place the plants in a frame
on this, and, except in wet weather, take off the lights, that they may
receive plenty of air.

Azaleas. — Plants that have their bloom buds prominent may be
kept out of doors until towards the end of the month, if the weather be
mild and favourable. Before being taken under glass they should all
be carefully looked over for thrips. Give the young plants more air,
and let them have all the light possible after this, so that the late
growths may ripen.

Camellias. — In fine dry weather these may have a syringing now
and then. After heavy rains, examine the drainage of any that show
the least sign of its being imperfect.

Carnations and Picolees. — Be attentive to watering, cut aU dead
foliage cleanly away from the layers ; these are the principal attentions
required for some time to come. Keep tolerably dry and well turned
the soil required for wintering the plants in small pots.

Cinerarias. — Look well for mildew, attack it on its first appearance.
Use sulphur ; when properly applied it is a certain remedy.

Cold Frames. — These should be cleaned, repaired, and made ready
for all manner of things : an empty frame oftentimes comes in very
useful when King Frost comes on us rather suddenly. Put a little
fermenting material into one, just sufficient to cause a gentle heat.

SEPTEMBER. 287

cover this with about three inches of light sandy soil. Fill this with
cuttings of the different bedding plants. Shade, &c. In two, or, at
most, three weeks, the greater portion will be fit to pot oft", and the
sooner they are potted the better, as they will get established before the
short days set in, and stand the winter better.

Conservatory and IS/ioichouse. — Give abundance of air, night and
day, as long as the state of the weather permits. Shading should now
be dispensed with, as the permanent occupants require all the light
they can have after this to mature their wood. If any painting or
glazing is wanted to be done, the present is a very good time for per-
forming these operations. Every part of these structures should receive
a thorough cleaning before the plants are got in. If the weather con-
tinue fair many things may continue out until the end of the month.

Cucumbers. — Those intended for winter forcing should be planted
out immediately, if not done last month. Give them plenty of air,
and a temperature of about 60° at night ; give them every chance to
make strong, vigorous growth for the next six or eight weeks, you will
then have little difficulty in getting plenty of fruit during the winter
months. Keep a moist growing atmosphere to plants in bearing, and
use every means to keep them clear of green-fly and thrips.

Dahlias. — Carefully protect such blooms as may be required for
exhibition ; thinning the shoots and disbudding will have been com-
pleted by this time. Those that are grown for display in the garden
only should have the laterals cut away, or there will be more foliage
than bloom. Seedlings will require constant attention, particularly if
they have not proper distance afforded them in growing, or some of the
finest flowers may be overlooked.

Flower Garden. — The strictest attention in trimming all rambling
growth, in removing all dead flowers, leaves, &c., will now every day
become more and more necessary, to keep up the beauty and effect as
long as possible. A few degrees of frost, a strong wind, or a heavy
shower of rain, will destroy the beauty of any garden, if great care is
not immediately paid to put everything into as neat a trim as possible.

Forcing Hardy Shrubs. — Scarlet Thorns, Lilacs, Roses, Azaleas,
Rhododendrons, Kalmias, &c., should be potted early, so as to get them
well established, to ensure their flowering properly.

Fruit (hardy). — Look over the Peach and Nectarine trees, to see if
any of the shoots want stopping or nailing in. Protect fruit of every
kind from wasps and birds. A little short Grass from the lawns, put
about three or four inches thick at the foot of the walls, will prevent
Peaches and Nectarines from injuring, if any fall oft'. Get the fruit
room into proper order for the reception of the winter stock. Gather
the fruit as it arrives at maturity. It should be all gathered by hand,
and very carefully, especially all intended for keeping.

Greenhouse (Jiard-wooded ) . — This should be put into thorough order
before the plants are brought in. If any painting or glazing is wanting,
the present is the time to do it. Get the plants in towards the end of
the month, before heavy rains or frost come on — the tender sorts first.
The pots should all be well washed, and the plants neatly tied and fresh
labelled. After they are housed, the side sashes should be kept open.

288 TUE FLORIST.

except during strong winds. They will require proper attention to
watering, &c. Soft-wooded Plants. — Pot off all cuttings that are
struck, so that they may get well established before winter sets in.

IloUi/Jwks. — Continue to put in cuttings or plant them out in beds;
a large stock of plants can be procured if diligently attended to. Re-pot
those first struck, but do not let them become pot-bound, or they will
start into premature bloom.

Kitchen Garden. — As cropping for the season is over, the greatest
attention should be given to all crops planted outj their growth should
be encouraged as much as possible, by hoeing and stirring the soil
between them. Continue to earth up Celery when it is dry. Tie up
Endive to blanch.

Orchard-Jiouse. — As the trees will now have done growing, and the
fruit will be ripe and ripening, much water will not be required. Any
trees that are cleared of fruit should be kept well syringed, to keep the
foliage healthy as long as possible. They will need all the air possible.

Fansies. — Plant out those first struck for early spring bloom. Pot
up those required for early work towards the end of the month. Con-
tinue to put in cuttings. Sow seed not later than the first week in this
month ; if any is saved after this time reserve it for spring sowing.

Peach-forcing. — See directions in previous Calendars.

Pelargoniums. — Finally re-pot plants required for early blooming
towards the end of the month. Stop first struck cuttings to make
bushy plants. Let all plants be well housed, and kept warm and dry ;
give plenty of air during the morning. Late young stock should be
pushed along. Geraniums, to flower well, must make their principal
growth before Christmas.

Pinery. — Plants in fruit should have liberal supplies of water, a
regular, bottom heat, as much air in the early part of the day as can
safely be given, always closing early in the afternoon ; fires will not be
requisite yet.

Pinks. — Towards the end of the month plant out for next season's
bloom. If the weather should be wet, defer it for a short time. Plant
in good rich soil — Pinks thrive best in that.

Pleasure Ground. — Sweeping will now be almost daily necessary,
in order to keep up a tidy appearance. Towards the end of the month
leaves will begin to be troublesome, especially if the weather be wet
and windy. This is the best month in the whole year for transplanting
evergreens.

Stove. — Achimenes, Gesneras, Gloxinias, &c., should be gradually
dried off. Gloriosa going out of flower will require less water. Give
plenty of air, but shut up early.

Strawberries for forcing. — See Calendar for last month.

Tulips. — Look to the roots, green-fly are apt to attack them ; keep
perfectly free from these. Prepare soil for blooming them in.

Vinery. — Ripe Grapes at this season require a dry atmosphere and
thorough ventilation ; make fires in cold wet weather. The late crop
of Grapes, which will be colouring towards the end of this month, will
require a little fire heat and plenty of air. Vines intended for very
early forcing should now be pruned, and the lights should be put on
the house.

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289

ERICA SPENCERIANA.

(Plate 118.)
For the opportunity of figuring the beautiful variety of Cape
Heath which this month forms the subject of our plate we are
indebted to Mr. Glendinning, of the Chiswick Nursery, in whose
hands is the entire stock of it. It is a cross between depressa
and hybrida, and is, we need scarcely say, one of the most striking
of the many successful results which have of late, in so many
classes of plants, followed the employment of the art of the
hybridist. It is, as will be seen, a most profuse bloomer, and to
a colour new among Heaths it adds an excellent habit of growth.
It has been distinguished by prizes which have been awarded it
by the Horticultural Society, the Royal Botanic Society, and by
the Crystal Palace Company, at their grand display of plants and
fruit at Sydenham in June last. Such commendations surely
render it well worthy of attention, and therefore we have felt it to
be our duty to bring it thus prominently under the notice of our
readers. We may add that in our April number we figured a
variety of Heath called Spenceri; this, as will be seen by
referring to our plate for that month, is quite difl^erent from
the one now described, which, for the sake of distinction, has
been named Spenceriana. As regards sale, &c., full particulars
wtll be found in our Advertiser.

NOTICES OF PLACES.
Mr. Rivers' Nursery, Sawbridgeworth.

This nursery, which has long enjoyed wide notoriety for fruit trees,
Roses, and latterly for Mr. Rivers' experiments with orchard houses
and fruit trees in pots, has been in the possession of Mr. Rivers' family
for upwards of a century, and comprises quite 100 acres. Fruit trees and
Roses occupy a great extent of ground ; besides an extensive home trade
in these articles, as well as in general nursery stock, Mr. Rivers has a
large export trade with America and the continent. As our chief
object, however, in visiting Sawbridgeworth was to examine the orchard
houses, our attention was principally directed to that department.

The cultivation of fruit trees in pots dates back but a short period,
and has grown up, as it were, from our unfavourable springs of late
having rendered out-door crops of wall fruit very precarious. But
unquestionably the great impulse given to the erection of glass buildings
of this description must be attributed to the removal of the duty on
glass, which enables this useful article now to be purchased at a cheap
rate. To this wise policy, therefore, we owe the employment of glass
on so great a scale in gardens, as well as to its entering largely into
the construction of public and private buildings. We have at all times

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXX. U

290 TiiF FmnisT.

strenuously urged that orchard hovjsos arc a valuable auxiliary even to
good gardens, and in our opinion indisiiensahie in oxpoHcd and cold
situations. Tlie cases of faihire that we liave heanl of are very tew,
and can easily be traced to other causes than tlie lauMs of tlu- Imuse,
while tlieir suciess has now llie test of ex|ierience to reconnnond tliem.
We fi-el, therefore, some gralilication in knowing that our estimate of
their utility luis been satislactorily proved, and, furtlier, that ihoy are
s|iringiiig up in all directions, winch can only arise from the fact that
tluir merits are duly appreciated by loyors ot fruit. We are not quite
sure wiietlier fruiting tiie trees in pots is tiie cheapest and best way to
obtain pern\aneMt crops, but on this we reserve our remarks for the
present. We must cominence with plants in some shape or other,
and Mr. Rivers and the few other nurserymen who have so kindly
undertaken to supply our wants havo really got these up so nicely to
hand, such charming little compact buslies reaily furnished with fruit
buds, tliat no one can resist the temptation to ]iurchase. Parties iuive
now only to build their house, and despatch their order, au'l forthwith
they can have these miniature trees all ready to han<l, anil fit for
inunediate work, and a short six months over may enjoy the fruits of
their labour without having their hopes frustrated by inclement seasons
or destroying blights. As nurserymen have so obligingly taken the
trouble to get pot fruit trees ready (or bearing fruit at once, why not
attempt the same thing with trees for walls ? How rarely do we seo
trained trees, excepting what have been cut back close hoirie and
presenting nothing Imt five or six strong shoots, which they tell us
must be cut back again after planting. Why could not a part of their
stock of trained trees have their shoots cut only half way back ? With
Pears, Plums and Cherries we should get a few spurs the secontl year,
and with the I'each some smaller shoots, which, in all prol>aliility,
would proiluce fruit buds. But, say they, if we did not sell them the first
year they would be too large afterwards, and unsaleable. Kor our own
part we should prefer them to trees clt)sely cut back, and furnished only
with young wood, and so, we believe, would most others. But, let us
ask, does not the practice of cutting back strong vigorous young trees
often produce gum and canker? We have seen A[tricots, Cherries, and
Peaches, too, become gunnned and worthless through the severe pruning
resorted to to procure handsome plants, /. <?., with long straight shoots,
and which perhaps have even no leaf buds for one-half their length,
in conseipience of the gross habit induced by this system.

To return to our subject, for the above digression has no reference
whatever to anything we saw at Sawbridgeworth, — the orchard houses
here are of the usual form, most of them having an eipial span roof.
Sonte of those first built are merely glass roofs or sheds, the side plates
supported liy posts placed in the ground, the space between the siilo
plate and ground being fille.l in by clipped hedges of Arl)or-vitie or
Yew. Others, more recently put up, have the sides bnanled up, and
are furnished with shutters niiiiiing tlieir entire length to open for
ventilation. The roofs are all iixed, but are provided with the means
of allowing the heated air to escape from the apex, thus creating a
current of air from the sides to the angle of the roof A very goo<l

OCTOTIKR. 291

idea of these houses is given by woodcuts in our volume for 1854, p. 55.
T\\Qy vary in length according to circumstances, and are from 16 to 20
feet wide ; for fiarticulars, however, we must refer our readers to a work
Mr. Rivers has puhhshe<l, entitle<i "Orchard Houses."

The houses not furnished with boarded sides to close up during the
early spring months are not so favouralile for Feaclies and Nectarin<Mi,
but they answer very well for Apricots, Plums, Cherries, &c. The
cold winds of March and April sweep through the side he<lge8 rather too
freely, and all attempts at husbanding tlie solar heat, so as to obtain a
moderate warmth through the night, is lost. ITiey were at first tri«fil as
an experiment, and so far answer for the fruits we have name<l, but
for Peaches, Vnies, kc, the sides must be boarde<i, and made, when
clo8e<i up, pretty air tight. If necessary, the house can then be closed
early enough in the aftenioon, to retain a heat sufficient to keep the
trees quite safe even during sharp frost. Our readers should bear thi«
in mind when building these kinds of house. We cannot remember
how many of these houses there are, as they are place<i in different
situations about the grounds, but they contain an immense st/Kk of
young trees of all kinds preparing for working next season, and which
will be ready for purchasers in a short time.

Two or three of the houses are filled with young Vines ; some are
trained to single rods five or six feet long each, for fruiting in the usual
way by training thp shoot under the roof Another lot are grown as bushes,
merely by cutting down a last year's Vine in the winter to within four
or five eyes of the pot, and allowing three or four shoots to grow, which
are traine<l to sticks place<i in the pot, and stopped when 18 or 20
inches long ; in this way they form nice bushes, and when loade<i with
fruit have a novel appearance. Some of the prolific kinds l>ear fruiting
shoots the first year ; we notice<l among others Pr<.*coce de Malingre, an
early white Grape, and another calle<l Muscat St. Laurent, said to be
a very suitable Grape for the open air.

The crop of Peaches and Nectarines in the principal fruiting house
was very go<vl ; many of the trees were quite loaded. The pots in
which the trees grow are placed on a be<l of soil, into which the ro<jts
p-enetrate ; this, and the help given the roots within the pots by watering
them with liquid manure, makes the fruit swell to a large size. The
pots are lifted in the winter, and the roots which have found their way
into the border carefully prune<l in ; a shovelful or two of fresh compost
is then place<i below the pot, to assist in feeding the plant the following
season. By means of his orchard houses, Mr. Rivers is proving a
number of continental and American Peaches, some of which are likely
to turn out goo<l varieties. Of comparatively new or scarce kinds we
noticed Mignonne Tardive, a late Mignonne, very fine ; Pt'che a bee, a
very fine early kind ; Early Grosse Mignonne, a variety ripening
fourteen da}'8 earlier than the common Mignonnes ; Haines' Early
Peach, goofj ; Early York Peach, better kno\vn than the at»ove, but
valuable for its earliness ; as is Scott's Early Red, a high flavoure<l
American kind ; Reine des Vergers, good ; Brugnon monstreuse, very
fine ; Cooledge's Favourite, good ; Monstreuse de Doue, fine ; R<^>sanne
Nouvclle, a very handsome Peach with yellow flesh, quality medium ;

u 2

292 THE FLORIST.

Desse Peach, a late kind ; the true Bourdine Peach, very late ; Belle
de Doue appears a very useful kind. The Cherries, Plums, and
Apricots had been taken out of the houses some time ; most of them
were plunged out in open quarters. There was a large quantity of
rigs, comprising allthe best kinds in cultivation, preparing for fruiting
in one or two of the houses.

The excellent order everything was in, and the admirable manner
in which the fruit tree department is conducted, ensure sound and
early productive trees.

The soil of the Sawbridgeworth Nursery is a loam, varying from a
strong to a sandy nature, according to the character of the subsoil, which
is in places clay alternating with beds of sand. These sand-beds have
been quarried in places, and Mr. Rivers has taken advantage of these
pits, and has converted them into a primitive kind of Grapery ; to effect
this. Vines have been planted on one side the margin of the pit in the
natural soil of the nursery, a rough kind of framework is placed over
the pit, on which are fixed glazed sashes, covering it over and resting
on the opposite side. The Vines are brought in under the glass, and
fruit freely — not large, of course, but well coloured. Some of these
sand-pits are 10 or 12 yards long or more, three or four yards wide,
and seven or eight feet deep. Nothing has been done to the interior,
except making a rough path along the middle, ending with a seat
at the further end. We had never before seen old quarries turned to
so useful a purpose. Near one of these Graperies a larger sand-hollow
has been converted into a place for plunging Vines in pots intended for
planting out ; the plants are five or six feet high, and at a distance
reminded one of the sloping banks of Vines on the continent ; but on a
closer inspection they were of course minus the fruit.

We had only time to pay a very hasty visit to the Rose quarters,
which, as our readers are aware, are very extensively stocked. We
saw, however, that Lord Raglan, a new Hybrid Perpetual Rose, of a
brilliant dark crimson and fine form, is decidedly one of, if not the very
best Rose out ; it was here blooming freely, and could be distinguished
at a distance from others. Prince Leon, bright crimson, very good ;
Paul Dupuy, another beautiful Rose, was in great perfection ; Emperor
Napoleon and Deuil de Willermorz are most brilliant in colour, but are
too deficient of petals in the centre to become first class Roses. We,
however, had not time to go over the Roses as we could have wished,
and must wait for another opportunity to do them justice.

SCOTTISH PANSY SOCIETY.

The autumn meeting of this Society was held at Glasgow on the
10th of Septeniber, in connection with the exhibition of the Glasgow
Horticultural Society ; and although the season has been so wet and
cold, there was a tolerable display of Pansies, but the blooms were not
of the best quality.

In the Dealers' Class for 24 blooms, Messrs. Paton and Small, of

OCTOBER. 293

Glasgow, were first, with Duke of Perth, Alpheus, Nonpareil, Father
Gavazzi, Bride (which is a very useful white ground seedling), Sovereign,
Cyrus (tine), Miss Talbot, Royal Purple (a good useful light purple).
Miss Walker (one of the best light grounds), J. B. Gough, Sir C.
Napier, Sir Colin Campbell (one of the best and most useful wliite
grounds), Yellow Climax, Lord John Russell, Black Douglas, Lord
Palmerston, Jeannie (a very useful self), Charles Cowan, Monarch,
Hebe, Royal Visit, Omar Pasha, and a seedling. The second prize was
awarded to Messrs. White and Sinclair, of Paisley, in whose stand we
noticed fine blooms of Rev. J. H. Gossett, Lord John Russell, Lord
Palmerston, Sir E. Lyons (a fine white ground flower), Venus (a white
self, of medium quality and good eye), Cyrus, Youell's Lady Jane (a
yellow ground flower with broad purple belting). Hooper's Yellow
Model was also shown in this stand, and is by far the best yellow self
Pansy we have, possessing a dense even eye, which is well defined in
the side petals. Messrs. Dickson and Co., of Edinburgh, were third,
in their stand being blooms of their new ones — Countess of Roslin
(white, with broad deep purple belting and dense eye, smooth and of
good substance), and Col. Windham (white, with rich plum purple
belting and dense eye, a fine variety). In this stand also were good
flowers of Cyrus, Catharine Duudas (yellow ground with rich maroon
belting, eye not solid, still a large and useful flower), Miss Nightingale,
Sir Colin Campbell, and Memnon. Mr. Douglas, Edinburgh, was fourth.

In the Amateurs' Class for 12 blooms, Mr. W. Campbell, of Pollock,
occupied his usual position as 1st ; Mr. Wm. Thom, of Paisley, 2nd ;
Mr. Wm. Boyd, of Easterhill, 3rd ; and Mr. James Gibson, of Cathcart,
fourth.

18 Blooms:— 1st, Mr. Robert Wardrop, of Cathcart; 2nd, Mr.
James Gibson ; 3rd, Mr. Wm. Boyd.

6 Blooms (Gardeners') : — 1st, Mr. W. Wilson, of Cathcart ; 2nd,
Mr. W. Boyd.

6 Blooms (Amateurs) :— 1st, Mr. W. Wilson ; 2nd, Mr. W. Thom ;
3rd, ]\Ir. M. Smith, of Kilmarnock.

Open Class, for 12 blooms :— 1st, Mr. Robert Wardrop ; 2nd,
Messrs. White and Sinclair ; 3rd, Mr. W. Thom.

The prize for the best self was awarded to Mr. W. Wilson, for
Jeannie ; for the best yeUow ground, to Messrs. White and Sinclair,
for Lord John Russell ; for the best white ground, to Mr. W. Thom,
for Royal Visit. The premier prize for the best Pansy in the exhibition
was also awarded to Jeannie, exhibited by Mr. W. Wilson. Two or
three other seedlings were exhibited, but none of any merit ; one of
these, however, a yellow seedling exhibited by Mr. Boyd, may prove a
useful flower, but Yellow Model is greatly superior to it.

It seems now to have become a serious question with the Committee
whether it is worth while continuing an autumn exhibition of this
flower, and we believe it is now settled to hold a spring meeting alter-
nately at Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as an autumn meeting for
seedlings only ; thus, for the next year, the spring meeting at Edin-
burgh, and an autumn meeting for seedlings in Glasgow ; and in 1858,
vice versa.

294 THE FLORIST.

There was very little in connection with the general exhibition calling
for special notice. The usual amount of indifferent cultivation peculiar
to country exhibitions seems to have been displayed, and very much
has yet to be learned. There were some good plants from the Botanic
Gardens, and from Messrs. Austin and M'Aslan's nursery, but the
plants and flowers generally were of inferior quality. One feature,
however, connected with the show, does command our notice.
We allude to a silver cup offered by Messrs. Syme and Mid-
dlemas, of Glasgow, for 9 spikes of Hollyhocks, 12 Dahlias, and
12 Pansies. This was won by Mr. Wm. Gow, gardener to Robert
Adie, Esq., of View Park, near Uddingstone, four others competing
with him. So good a prize should have called forth better competition,
but the bad season for Dahlias and Hollyhocks no doubt sadly
interfered.

OPEN BRICK WALLS V. PROTECTION.

It appears from the opening of this case for the prosecution that
plaintiff" has occupied a very prominent position in connection with horti-
culture for some centuries in the British Isles, and having, with but
few exceptions, performed the duties imposed upon him in a satis-
factory and economical manner, would always have continued to do so
without a murmur, had the same attention been paid to him as at
the onset ;" but defendant, a mere youth, comparatively speaking, has
of late years insinuated himself into the notice of many of our horti-
culturists under promises which certainly would sound very favourable,
as they were to the effect that if they would but employ him (defendant)
they would be sure of good crops, no matter how they planted their
trees, only that their roots were somewhere in the ground ; and no
matter whether they attended to their borders, or thinning, stopping,
or ripening the wood, or, in fact, their trees might be allowed to grow
just as they pleased, but a good crop would infallibly be the result, if
defendant were only employed in some one of his garbs ; for be it
understood, he assumes various aspects — sometimes he puts on a glass
structure called an orchard-house ; sometimes another called a glass
wall ; other dresses he calls " frigi-domo," nets, mats, canvas, fir
branches, straw ropes, &c., &c. Now all these things tended to
dampen and throw plaintiff" very much into the shade, and he feared in
a very short time into oblivion ; but as he did not wish to take any
undue advantage over defendant, it ^as decided to await patiently
till the issue of some very unpropitious season should enable the latter
to test his capabilities to the utmost, and as it is allowed by all that the
spring of 1856 was an extraordinarily unpropitious one, plaintiff" decided
that the time was come for him to endeavour to vindicate his cause : —
hence the present action.

Some discussion here arose as to whether the evidence could be
admitted in the manner it was brought forward, viz., by circular letters
distributed indiscriminately through the country, soliciting the required

OCTOBEE. 295

information ; but it being shown that witnesses coming from every quarter
of the kingdom would be a heavy affair, and that to send a person
through the country would be open to objection on the score of partiahty,
therefore it was ultimately agreed that the evidence as brought forward
would be admissible, if duly attested, and bearing the post-mark of
the several localities from which they came.

The following witnesses were called to support the prosecution : —

Mr. Busby, Stockwood Park, Luton, Beds., stated that his crops of
Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums were very fine indeed ; that he had not
allowed defendant's entrance into his grounds for these ten years ; that he
had never failed to have a crop when many of his neighbours, who had
employed the defendant, had repeatedly failed. Witness stated that he
had always used broad coping to his walls, that his borders were well
drained, and that he paid great attention to the summer treatment of
his trees ; also, that throughout his general observations he had seen
equally good crops upon trees fully exposed as upon those protected.
This witness also further stated that if the trees were not too deeply
planted, and not overcrowded with wood, the spring thinning began in
time, gradually thinning through the summer, and stopped towards
the middle of August, good crops, he would venture to say, would be
the result.

Mr. H. Dowling, Woolstan Lawn, Southampton, deposed that fruit
was very thin in his neighbourhood ; that in most places they use pro-
tection, but there are better crops where the trees were not covered ;
that he is sorry to see such neglect in that most essential point, draining
the borders, and that he has generally seen better crops upon un-
protected trees than upon those protected ; he also stated that with good
coping and well-drained borders, he is confident of better crops and
trees in better health and vigour.

Mr. Abbott, Westwood, Lancashire, stated that the crops were very
bad in his neighbourhood ; that he covered his Peaches and Nectarines
with canvas upon poles, but got no fruit — Apricots without protection,
good crops ; his borders are thoroughly drained ; that he has generally
seen the best crops upon trees fully exposed, and his opinion upon the
whole is, that covering is a very useless and expensive affair.

Mr. Don, Knole Park, Sevenoaks, deposed that the crops round him
were generally as bad as could be ; that the defendant was employed in
a great many cases in the form of cotton and woollen netting ; that the
borders are not generally drained ; but, nevertheless, he has generally
seen better crops without covering than with it ; when he lived in Suffolk
they never covered, and he never remembered a failure. He also
remembered in his young time full crops of wall fruit upon the open
walls in Scotland, Apricots especially.

Mr. George Hood, Mamhead Park, Exeter, was the next witness,
who stated that crops of wall fruit were very poor in his neighbourhood ;
that defendant was denied entrance to his place, but his borders
wanted draining, and that he had generally seen better crops upon
unprotected than protected trees.

Mr. Cai-penter, Great Barr Hall, Birmingham, next deposed that
Peaches and Nectarines were bad crops in his locality ; Plums, Apricots,

296 THE FLORIST.

and Cherries average ; Apples and Pears very thin — some trees
were covered and some were not. Haythorn's hexagon netting was
used, but he has observed this season better crops upon those trees
that were fully exposed than upon those covered.

Mr. George Sclater, Stackpole Court, Pembroke, was here called,
and he stated that the crops of wall iruit in his neighbourhood were very
bad indeed, and he might say the same of all out-door fruits. The
only protection he uses are ten-inch coping-boards ; his walls are very
much exposed to the south-west winds direct from the Bristol Channel,
and he finds the coping-boards very beneficial when the trees are in
full bloom, and afterwards laid aside ; his borders he well drains, and
he finds where this is attended to, with judicious summer treatment,
that he gets equally good crops upon the unprotected as upon the pro-
tected trees, and, this season, those trees which were fully exposed are
by far the best.

Mr. E. Durrant, Bushall Park, Saxmundham, Suffolk, stated that
the crops of fruit were very thin in his locality. Some portion of his
trees he covered, aud some he did not, but has quite as many where he
did not cover. He has paid great attention to drainage these last few
years, and thinks when this is not attended to a slight covering is
necessary.

Mr. Stevens, Malvern Hall, Solihull, Warwickshire, has not employed
defendant these four years : his crops of Peaches and Nectarines,
Pears and Plums were never more abundant, and his crop of Apricots
an average one. He used formerly to employ defendant in the shape
of inch netting doubled and hung from the coping over the trees, but he
looks at protection now as an unnecesmry addition to garden expendi-
ture. He also stated that the general crops in his neighbourhood were
very thin indeed, but very little attention was paid to their cultivation
on scientific principles. This witness also stated that he had care of
the wall fruit department in the gardens of the Horticultural Society at
Chiswick, under Mr. Thompson, some few years since ; there they
never used protection for many of the Peaches and Nectarines,
excepting nine-inch coping-boards, and always had good crops

Mr. James Kitley, Lyncomb Vale, Bath, next deposed to the crops
being very thin in his neighbourhood ; he has a quarter of a mile of
wall, and being immediately upon the freestone requires no drainage.
Witness never uses protection ; he finds that he loses more than he
gains by it ; it is but seldom he fails in having a crop.

Mr. J. Stevenson, Lambton Castle, Durham, here stated that the
crops were a complete failure in his locality ; that he never covers, and
seldom fails to get a crop ; he attributed his failure to the want of sun last
autumn to ripen the wood ; as a general rule, has better crops without
than with covering.

T. W. Abbott, Ribston, upon being called, stated that he had good
crops upon all his walls ; Apricots upon a west wall set their fruit like
ropes of onions ; that defendant never enters his doors — he knows him
■ well, but can do without him ; he never fails to have a crop. He also stated
that his father, for fifty years, never admitted defendant to his presence,
and that his crops of wall fruit were yearly the admiration of the whole

OCTOBER. 297

county of Suffolk, in which he resided, but judicious summer thinning
was always attended to.

Mr. George M'Ewen, late of Arundel, but now of Bretton Hall, was
here ushered into the witness-box amid plaudits. He stated that
many years ago he came to the conclusion that, with well-drained
borders and thorough ripening of the wood, spring coverings, as
generally practised, were unnecessary. He also stated that he highly
approved of temporary coping, put on just as the blossoms begin to
expand, and removed when the fruit is fairly set. He further stated
that, notwithstanding these views, he could conceive conditions in which
it might be commendable to protect ; but not as a general rule.

At this stage of the proceedings an adjournment was asked for and
granted, in consequence of several of the witnesses not being forth-
coming ; therefore we must defer till our next the continuation of this
important case.

Thomas W. Abbott.

Ribston Park, Wetherhy.

STRAWBERRY PLANTING.

I SEND you a few hints on preparing ground, and planting this useful
fruit, for insertion in your periodical.

Choice of soil : a deep soft, unctuous loam is the best ; next, a clayey
or marly loam, if not too heavy ; lastly, sandy loam ; but avoid dry
sandy soil, or very shallow soils on gravel, unless you have great
command of water. Clayey soils should be mixed with road scrapings,
leaf soil, or any porous material, in addition to the dung prescribed.

Trench the ground, whatever it may be, two feet deep, if you can —
if not, eighteen inches. Do not throw up to the surface, however, the
subsoil, if raw and clayey, but fork it up and allow it to lie at the
bottom ; mix thoroughly the soil, as the trenching proceeds, a good
dressing of rotten dung, using more of it where the soil is light, for
which cow and pig dung are preferable. When the trenching is done
level the surface, and fork in a few inches deep some very rotten leaf
soil or manure. All is now ready for the plants : to prepare these we
must go back to the end of June, when the runners first push. Mix
up a few barrowfuls of rich light soil ; take a trowel, and with it remove
a good handful of soil whereabouts the runners can be laid ; fill up the
hole with the compost, and in it place the young plant, making it firm,
and see that future growths from it are duly pinched back, water occa-
sionally when dry, and in three weeks you will have fine healthy
plants with a good handful of roots, ready to take into the new soil when
planted. Nearly all our great men recommend layering Strawberries
in pots, both for forcing and planting out. This takes up a deal of time,
the plants are difficult to secure properly in the pots, and they require
close watching to keep them moist in dry weather ; and, lastly, if not
taken off directly, the roots reach the sides of the pots, they get matted,
and do not progress so satisfactorily afterwards ; whereas, by simply

298 THE FLORIST,

layering them as above they are very easily managed, and would grow
on without injury for a considerable time, if they cannot be removed.
Be assured, you will get much better plants, and at less than half the
trouble, by this plan.

Planting : — Large growing sorts, as the Victoria, Queen, Sir Harry,
&c., should have the rows three feet apart, and the plants two feet
from plant to plant ; but for common produce eighteen inches will be
sufficient. Short-topped kinds may be two feet six inches apart, row
from row, and rather closer in the row ; water occasionally, pinch off
all runners as they appear through the autumn : these will bear well
the following season. The crop will last in perfection from three to six
or seven years, according to the nature of the soil and management,
which I will notice hereafter.

J. Mc D.

DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF HARDY CONIFERS, No. XX.
PINUS LAMBERTIANA:

THE GIGANTIC OK LAMBERT's PINE.

We again resume our notice of this important family of plants by
giving a wood engraving of Lambert's Pine, taken from a tree growing
in the Pinetum at Nuneham Park, near Oxford.

Pinus Lambertiana belongs to the Strobus or Weymouth Pine
section of the five-leaved Pinuses, and which contains, besides the
subject of our present notice, P. excelsa, from the Himalayas, P.
ayacahuite, monticola, and the Weymouth Pine, from North America.
They are noticeable for having silvery grey leaves, rather drooping, and
for their rapidity of growth and large size.

This noble Pine was discovered by Douglas in 1825, when at the
head waters of the Multnoman river. This enterprising traveller again
met with it in 1826, " beyond a range of mountains running in a
south-west direction fi'om the Rocky Mountains towards the sea, and
terminating at the Cape Orford of Vancouver. It grows sparingly upon
low hills and undulating country east of the range of mountains just
mentioned, where the soil consists entirely of pure sand, and in appear-
ance is incapable of supporting vegetation ; here it attains its greatest
size, and perfects its fruit in great abundance." Douglas further states
that P. Lambertiana does not form dense forests, like most of the other
kinds which clothe the face of North America ; but, like P. resinosa,
which grows among them, they are scattered singly over the plains.
Its geographical limits appear to be from 40° to 4o° N. lat.

Lambert's Pine attains the largest dimensions of any of the true Pines.
According to Douglas, it grows from 160 feet to upwards of 200 feet in
height, varying from 20 feet to 60 feet in circumference. One that
he measured which had been blown down by the wind, was 215 feet
in length ; its circumference, at three feet from the ground, 57 feet
9 inches ; at 134 feet from the ground, 17 feet 5 inches ; and this was
not one of the largest trees he saw. The trunk is unusually straight, and

299

PINUS LAMBERTIANA.

300 THE PLOmST.

destitute of branches for about two-thirds of its height ; the bark is
smooth, of a hght brown colour ; leaves in fives, of a bright silvery green,
much resembling the Weymouth Pine ; the cones are at first upright,
but in the second year, when they have acquired their full growth, they
are pendulous, and from 16 to 18 inches in length.

Many of the earliest specimens planted in this country are dead, or
we should by this time have had to record some large trees. Many
others have been grafted on the Weymouth Pine ; and whether from
this cause or some peculiarity about the plant, we frequently find
specimens not growing with that freedom we should expect. Our
present illustration is, however, an exception ; for in the deep loamy
soil of the Pinetum at Nuneham, it was growing freely, and was in
vigorous health. Planted in October, 1846, it is now above 20 feet
high and of proportionate breadth, and in all probability will make a
noble tree. On account of the peculiarity about this plant noticed
above, we do not recommend its being too extensively planted, unless
good seedling plants can be obtained, when its gigantic size and upright
growth should secure it a place, where its imposing appearance, as it
grows up to a tree, could be seen to

NOTES ON NOVELTIES IN ROSES.

The list which appeared in your last Number, not professing to be
complete, or very explanatory, the following account of the characteristics
which most of the kinds possess, with some few additions, has been
derived from a close examination of them on a somewhat cold, heavy soil.
Of the more recent introductions, Lord Raglan is undoubtedly the
gem, and is certainly worthy of the highly complimentary name given
to it, being of beautiful shape, excellent habit, a sparkling scarlet
crimson centre, thrown out by the lower petals being shaded with black
or very dark purple ; one of its best recommendations is the stoutness
of its petals. Of the same warlike group, and for those whose taste
prefers a thinner, and by some said to be the more " picturesque" style.
Emperor Napoleon will be admired ; the colour, a brilliant crimson, is
very striking ; while the neat, prettily-shaped pink flowers of Madame
Place will recommend it especially for bouquets. Madame Masson,
very double, large size, and rich crimson colour, makes it a desirable
variety for exhibition ; Gloire de France is much of the same, though
somewhat darker colour, and shape, but not so large or generally good
as Prince Leon. That good old Rose, Baronne Prevost, will, it is
feared, be superseded at last, as between Madame Domage and Barron
Larray, it is, it is feared, thrown in the shade by their similarity in
style ; but Dull de P. Willermorz and Prince de la Moskowa are much
of the same character, and both very interesting for their intensely dark
velvety crimson petals, that shade having been much wanted ; but as
they are but little more than semi-double, we may reasoiiably anticipate
a new race in colour of Hybrid Perpetuals equalling the darkest Bourbon.
Victor Trouillard is, we believe, an approach to it, but not quite enough

OCTOBER. 301

of " The Nigger." Of the recently introduced light coloured Roses, to
Madame Vidot and Belle Lyonnaise is here given the preference, and
Duchesse de Cambaceres is generally admired as a noble flower, colour
bright rose, and does not belie its title as a Perpetual. We are much
pleased at the novel colour and style of Souvenir du Petit Corporal —
the outer petals being pale lilac rose shading to a bright crimson centre,
and it was hoped that a confident opinion could have been given of the
new striped Hybrid Perpetual Madame D. Giraud ; but rather than
mislead, should you not in the meantime receive a description of it, I
have no doubt of being enabled to do so in your next. The high
character given to General Jacqueminot has disappointed some growers,
from its fault of not being fully double being omitted in its descrip-
tion in most of the catalogues ; its glowing colour, however, makes it
really a glorious flov^er. Although not now coming properly within
the description of a new Rose, it is mentioned to give it a general
recommendation to all who have not added it to their collections, it
having won golden opinions for habit, colour, and shape, and is best
described, with but little exaggeration, as " a Perpetual Brennus."

Recent additions to the Bourbons are very few, but we can safely
recommend amongst those called " new," Reveil as a finely shaped,
full sized, free blooming variety, of the richest purple colour and of good
habit ; and Souvenir de I'Arquebuse, of deep but brilliant crimson,
not desirable for its shape, but for profuse flowering and strikingly
effective colour. It is very gratifying that the Perpetual Moss Roses
have lately been receiving some really excellent additions. Salet is the
nearest approach to the old Moss, and really an autumnal bloomer.
Madame Ory and Maria de Bourg are not of equally robust habit, but
still very desirable, as they give their flowers so late as to be great
acquisitions.

Many novelties in summer Moss Roses have been received, but as
they require a season or two longer to prove than Perpetuals, I hope to
speak more confidently of them another year.

C. G. Wilkinson.

Western Rosert/, Ealing.

VINES AND VINE BORDERS.

Grape growers have lately been informed of facts which, as our
neighbours say, have created a sensation. The Editor of the
Gardeners' Chronicle informs his readers, that to make a fuss about
the soil of Vine borders, or to build costly houses for their growth, is
useless ; for that this present season very first-rate Grapes have been
grown near London, in the one instance without any prepared border
— and in the next under such conditions that the generality of gardeners
would pronounce impossible. Let me, however, give the editor's own
description more at length. In the first place we are informed, at
page 499, that under a glass shed (sic) in the nursery of Mr. Glen-

302 THE FLORIST.

dinning, of Chiswick, Grapes have been produced this season which at
the last Park Show beat the entire field of Grape growers in open com-
petition, and carried away the premier medal from such men as Fleming,
Tillyard, Henderson, Turnbull, Davis, &c. ; and no small victory, sure,
when we consider that the Vines producing such wonderful results are
growing in the natural soil of Mr. Glendinning's nursery, which forms
the floor of the shed (house), the Vines having been planted against
the back wall against which they are trained, and for a short distance
down each rafter. The only object in planting them at all appears
merely to furnish eyes for propagating from : the house, we may apprise
our readers, is devoted to growing Vines for sale. We are next intro-
duced, at page 547, to another Vinery (also near London), or what
must be, from the description given of it, a very sorry substitute for
one — the roof supported by fir poles to prevent it^ tumbling down alto-
gether. In fact, the gardener, we are told, has some trouble to keep
this crazy edifice together ; while the chinks and fissures in the roof,
one would suppose, are sufficient to prevent his feeling any great
anxiety about ventilation, even during such weather as we have lately
experienced. As a kind of set-off to the roof, we are informed the
heating apparatus was good, and I should suppose there is plenty for it
to do in frosty weather — but how about rain ? During a shower the
scene inside would remind us of Shelley's lines, where he says : —

" Then the rain came down, and the broken stalks
Were beut and tangled across the walks ;
And the leafless net-work of parasite bowers
Massed into ruin, and all sweet flowers,"

did not the editor inform us to the contrary, for he gives us a glowing
description of the plants he found — Scitaminse, Orchids, Ferns, and
Mosses, luxuriant with health and verdure in the damp atmosphere
inside. Well, what will your readers say to the above as suitable
quarters for the Vine ? Why, to sum up, instead of bunches with half
their berries shanked or shrivelled, and the remainder (supposing them
Hamburghs), representing the genuine red variety of that good old
Grape (which, somehow or other, always seems as if it had the misfortune
to be planted in dark damp houses), we are informed they were even
better than Glendinning's, and would have beaten them if exhibited at
the same time ; we must therefore conclude they were as near perfection
as could be wished ! These, too, are growing inside the house ;
but whether in a prepared border or not we forget. The talented
editor of the Gardeners' Chronicle sums up with an aphorism
which all must admit to be true, that " He is the best cultivator who
can produce the most with the smallest means." But as in the
cases alluded to it has a doubtful bearing, inasmuch as casual success
cannot be placed against favourable results extending over a number
of years, even if obtained, as in the instances alluded to, with little
trouble and small means. I am no advocate for trusting to chance in
these matters, nor yet for allowing good Grapes to be spoiled through
neglecting common repairs ; and, as an illustration of Grape growing
carried out on directly opposite principles, I beg to introduce the readers

OCTOBER. 303

of the Florist to a worthy gentleman, Mr. Jonas Nash, of Bishop's
Stortford, in Essex, who, besides having an extensive business as a
maltster and brewer, possesses also the very best vineries in the kingdom.
Now, when Mr. Nash commenced Grape growing, he determined, very
wisely, as a man of business, to do the thing well. He did not plant
his Vines in the natural soil of his garden — not a very unsuitable one
either — and he has found it to be sound economy to keep his glass and
wood-work in good repair; and though his border must have cost a good
round sum, in addition to about as substantial well-built Vineries as I
ever saw, I venture to say the produce has long since squared off the
capital account, and returned a large annual profit into the bargain ; — I
speak of the market value of the crops without knowing how Mr. Nash
— who is a private gentleman — disposes of his fruit.

The site for building the Vineries was a sloping bank in Mr. Nash's
garden, the subsoil of which is gravel ; the principal range is 120 feet
in length, in two divisions, one half being planted with Muscats, and the
other with the Hamburgh : there is, besides, a separate house, planted
with the Cannon Hall IMuscat. The Vineries are of the common lean-
to description, loftier than we usually see them, and provided with front
sashes for ventilation. The roof sashes are glazed with good sheet
glass. As the ground slopes away from the front of the houses, the
border has the advantage of being almost wholly above the garden
level ; and notwithstanding the bed of gravel below, Mr. Nash
concreted the surface, to prevent any chance of the roots passing
downwards, and the sharp pitch of the ground quickly carries away any
water which may percolate through the border. Judging by the
retaining walls built at each end of the border to keep up the soil, I
should say they are nearly four feet deep at the front of the house, and
perhaps thirty feet wide ; the depth at the front is, if I recollect rightly,
two feet, but as the general level slopes rapidly the border has a good
pitch. Mr. Nash informed me the houses were built thirteen or four-
teen years since (I forget which) ; the border was made of turfy loam,
old plaster, refuse skin, hair, and dressings from a tan-yard, and lastly
one hundred tons (! ! !) of rotten London manure were added, the whole
well mixed together. Hear this, you who advocate maiden loam and
shallow borders, and who are afraid lest a little carrion or an over-dose
of manure should spoil the flavour of your Grapes and make your Vines
grow too gross. Why in this respect INIr. Nash's Vines, when pruned,
are more like the limb of a good-sized tree than the walking-stick pro-
portions of the ill-fed and of course weakly-constitutioned Vines so often
seen. The real case before us, proved to demonstration, is, that to grow
the Vine to its highest perfection a large amount of enriching food must
be placed in a favourable condition for the Vine roots to pasture in ; and
that provided the border is well exposed, drained, and elevated, and its
component parts made sufficiently porous for the rain falling on it to pass
quickly through, it can scarcely be made too rich. As for such borders
becoming sour, pasty, and choked up in the course of time, I do not believe
in it if properly put together ; at least, here twelve years have passed away,
with the Vines as vigorous as ever, and I heard that when watered the
water passes as quickly away as when the border was first made. Mr.

304 THE FLORIST.

Nash informed me that the Vines had been allowed to carry such
enormous crops that he feared he might overdo them, and this season
he gave the borders the benefit of a ton of " blood manure," spread
over the surface, in addition to a good dressing of dung, which is given
them each spring : on examining the Vines where this dressing hap-
pened to be spread thickest, the Grapes were certainly finer than else-
where, a fact which proves this kind of manure affords them additional
support. The Vines are trained up the centre of each light, and are
closely spurred in ; and where a Vine has been trained with two stems,
up separate sashes, instead of one, I saw no difference in the quantity
or quality of the fruit. Tlie Hamburghs, when I saw them a fortnight
since, were ripe ; the Muscats will ripen towards the end of this month
(September). The crop was remarkably regular all over the house ; the
bunches very uniform in size, with the berries well swelled and beauti-
fully coloured ; upwards of half a hundredweight may be allowed for
each stem — they have carried considerably more. The Muscats were
equally regular with the Hamburghs, and were bearing the same large
crops of splendid fruit ; altogether, they are the best Vines I ever
witnessed.

We see then, by the above fact, that Vines will amply repay a very
Hberal outlay, both in the construction of the house and materials for
the border. I imagine that when rich borders so often fail in producing
for any length of time fine Grapes, the cause must be looked for in the
position of the border, or the want of sufficient porous materials in it to
keep it open. I see no reason why Mr. Nash's Vines should not for
years to come keep up their reputation, and they afford to the Grape
grower — whether for private families or the market — an unmistakeable
proof of what the Vine is capable of doing under good management.

Mr. Editor, I must now leave the question — how best to secure and
retain first-rate Grapes — for the consideration of your readers. Gar-
deners have difficulty enough, I know, in obtaining the means for doing
these kinds of things as they could wish, and need not a false economy
brought forward to make matters worse ; for this reason I have tres-
passed so largely on your space, to bring forward a case in Grape-
growing obtained by* following a widely different plan to the cases
alluded to by the editor of the Chronicle, and now leave your readers
to think and judge for themselves which to adopt.

G. F.

SELECT LIST OF PINES AND FIRS SUITABLE FOR
PARKS AND WOODLAND SCENERY.

Abies pichta grows much in the way of a compact Spruce Fir, but
with very dense foliage of a dead green. This is a very distinct Fir,
and perfectly hardy.

A. Nordmanniana. — A very noble tree, belonging to the Silver Fir
section ; branches in whorls, thickly clothed with leaves of a dark glossy
green ; quite hardy, and a fast grower.

A. excelsa nigra. — A very fine looking dark variety of the common
Spruce.

OCTOBER. 305

A. PiimiUo. — This dwarf growing Pine is invaluable for planting for
cover, or for clothing the steep face of hills or rocky ground. It grows
more than six or eight feet high, and spreads itself for a considerable
distance. This Pine is not known or planted near so much as it should
be. At high elevations on the Alps and Pyrenees it covers miles of
the mountain sides, and might occupy many similar places in Britain
where hardly anything else will grow.

Pinus austriaca. — One of the handsomest of European Pines ;
grows very compactly, with foliage of a very dark green ; when old
forms a very picturesque tree. Is the Black Pine of the Hartz forests
in Germany, now to be had very cheap, and deserves to be extensively
planted ; it forms a capital tree for sheltering game.

P. PaUassiana. — Nearly allied to the above, grows rather looser ;
becomes a fine tree.

Pinus Laricio. — A very fast growing tree, with rather curiously
twisted leaves. For shutting out offensive objects, or situations where
a quick growth is required, this tree is a very useful one, as well as for
introducing among slower growers to produce effect.

P. macrocarpa. — A very free growing, bold, distinct Pine, excellent
for groups or as single specimens in parks, &c. It produces cones of
immense size, and is quite hardy.

P. ponderosa. — Something like the above, but loses its leaves on
shoots more than two years old ; this gives a tufted appearance to the
tree, but it merits a trial for its singular appearance.

Pinus Sabiniana. — Much like macrocarpa in form and growth, but
has leaves of a glaucous green, and bark of a silver grey. These three
are fine picturesque trees for parks.

P. pyrenaica (hispanica). — A beautiful Pine of the Pinaster section ;
it grows freely, and forms a very handsome tree, with rather pale green
leaves, and the young wood of a deep orange or reddish brown colour ;
by this it is easily distinguished even at a distance. This Pine
produces good timber, and should be widely planted for its ornamental
appearance.

Pinus radiata. — Closely allied 'to the beautiful P. insignis, of which
it may be said to be the hardy variety. Besides this valuable property
it grows more tree-like, with a straight bole and fewer side branches ;
it has leaves of the same intense green as insignis. As this has proved
itself perfectly hardy, it should be substituted for insignis wherever
that is found tender. I have radiata growing most freely and with-
out having a leaf injured where insignis has been killed to the ground.
It cannot be too well known or widely planted.

Pinus Lindlei/ana. — A very hardy and ornamental Pine ; grows
freely in any situation ; leaves a dull green, and the bark of the young
wood a rich brown colour. Worthy of extensive planting as a valuable
and hardy tree.

P. Benthamiana. — A truly noble looking Pine, with strong robust
shoots and leaves ; a grand tree for the park. Young plants are now
getting more plentiful, and should be made the most of

P. Monte::eumce. — This is a Mexican Pine of very ornamental appear-
ance ; it resembles P. Lindleyana, but has longer leaves than that Pine.

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXX. ^

306 THE FLORIST.

P. muricata. — A hardy Mexican Pine ; when young it grows too
much in the shape of a bush, but is said to lose this habit in time, and
become a fine tree.

P. tuberculata. — This is a very ornamental and fast growing Pine.
I have trees 20 feet high planted in 1850. It is hardy and well
worth planting on a large scale.

Pinus excelsa. — From the Himalayas ; should be introduced largely
into park scenery for its rapid growth and beautiful silvery foliage.

Cryptomeria japonica. — A species of Coniferse from China ; forms a
graceful growing tree, with small elegant foliage ; very hardy, and
grows freely.

Ciipresstis Lambertiana and macrocarpa. — These, though chiefly
adapted for lawns, are no less appropriate for the park, where ever-
green fastigiate trees are much wanted ; very rapid growers, with bright
green foliage. They stand at the very top of the list as ornamental
trees, and should be planted accordingly.

The following are suitable for low damp situations :

Abies canadensis (the Hemlock Spruce). — This is one of the most
graceful and ornamental of the Fir tribe, and is valuable for massing,
but more so for single specimens or detached groups.

Abies Menziesi. — A very ornamental tree for a damp situation. It
has leaves of a bright glaucous green, which distinguishes it at a
distance.

Taxodium distichum (deciduous Cypress). — Avery suitable tree for
low swampy situations or near water ; it will, however, thrive on dry
soils. It has delicate feather-like foliage, beautiful in summer, and
changing to a dull red or brown colour in the autumn.

The following are dwarfer growing than the above, and are more
suitable for lawns : —

Abies Pinsapo. — A very compact and ornamental tree, perhaps more
so than any other species.

A. orientalis. — An elegant variety, allied to the common Spruce.

Abies excelsa compacta, elegans, and nana are very dwarf varieties
of the Spruce Fir. Well adapted for parterres or small lawns.

Pinus si/hestris pyc/mcea. — A dwarf Scotch Fir ; very ornamental.

Pinus Laricio pj/gmcea — ditto of the Corsican Fir, — and has the
advantage of having leaves sometimes of a rich gold colour, making it
a very ornamental dwarf plant.

Pinus.

[We can confidently recommend the above list to those of our readers
who are looking out for good hardy Conifers, as it really contains all
those that are worth growing, excepting Douglasi, nobilis, grandis,
&c., and a few untried ones. We expect our correspondent has omitted
the above as not being exactly cheap enough for planting extensively as
park trees. Those he names we have ourselves proved to be thoroughly
hardy, and parties wishing to improve their park scenery will not, we
are sure, be disappointed in taking his descriptions as their guide. —
Ed. Florist.]

307

NATIONAL FLORICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Aug. 21. — Mr. E. Spary in the chair. First-class Certificate to
Fancy Dahlia Carnation. Form and general outline good ; petals
smooth and stout ; colour, white ground with narrow stripes of purple ;
a fine exhibition variety and highly commendable for its purity of
colour. From Mr. J. Keynes, Salisbury. — First-class Certificate to
Fancy Dahlia Conqueror. Form and outline good ; stout ; colour
reddish blush ground, striped and spotted with dark purplish crimson.
From Mr. J. Keynes, Salisbury. — Certificate of Merit to Fancy Dahlia
Charles Perry. Form medium ; size large, with good compact centre ;
colour reddish rosy ground flaked and striped with crimson ; a showy
variety. From Mr. J. Keynes, Salisbury. — Certificate of Merit to
Fancy Dahlia Tam o'Shanter. Form of petal, outline, and centre
each good ; colour blush purple ground, striped purplish crimson.
From Mr. Dodds, Salisbury. — Label of Commendation to Scarlet
Pelargonium Kentish Hero. Habit dwarf, with average truss, flowers
of medium form, colour bright orange scarlet with small white centre.
From Mr. S. Johnson, Dover.

Sept. 4. — G. Holmes, Esq., in the chair. First-class Certificate to
Verbena Magnet. Truss of medium size, with a fair average number
of pips, which are of good form and of stout substance ; colour rosy
carmine of a new shade. From Mr. Weatherill, Hornsey-road. — First
class Certificate to Dahlia Lady Popham. Form good, size medium,
and for a light flower very stout ; colour blush white ground, with very
slight purple tip ; a decided advance in the light flower class. From
Mr. C. Turner, Slough. — First class Certificate to Dahlia Royal Scarlet.
Form good, size full, substance stout, colour bright crimson scarlet ; a
flower with great depth, good centre, and smooth petals. From Mr.
Keynes, Salisbury. — Certificate of Merit to Dahlia Duke of Devonshire.
Form good, size fuU, substance average, colour rosy lilac shading to
white at base of petal ; arrangement of petal, depth and outline quite
first-rate, wanting solidity and finish at centre. From Mr. W. Dodds,
Salisbury. The following w^ere also exhibited : — Dahlias : Lord Car-
digan, of average size and full outline ; colour dull red. Margaret,
above medium size and tolerably well formed, with cupped incurved
florets, but the eye sunk ; coppery yellow, from the eye being suffused
with red, the latter colour more evident at the back, the whole strongly
flaked, streaked, and mottled with crimson. Edward, a large flower,
but flat on the face. Rowland, exceedingly gay, rather below medium
size, with finely cupped and well arranged petals, white heavily tipped
with bright rosy purple. Duchess of Beaufort, a good light ^ flower,
scarcely of medium size ; outline and petals good ; blush white with
tips of dense purple. Fenella, a pretty light variety ; size medium,
compact, well formed, and cupped ; blush white tipped with purple,
which is faint and mottley, producing the appearance of lilac tips.
Alliance, a dark Carnation-striped variety ; medium size and average
form : ground colour white, suffused with purple crimson, marked with
,broad flakes and narrower stripes and specks of dark purple crimson,

x2

SOS THE FLORIST.

or pale maroon. Harbinger, showy, medium size, outline full, petals
cupped, colour rich deep scarlet. Saturn, a medium sized flower, with
cupped florets ; bright yellow, with faint coppery tips. Lady Franklin,
one of a series of dull red flowers, the red in this case passing off into
buft", below medium size, close and well filled centre.

Sept. 18. — G. Holmes, Esq., in the chair. This was the best
attended meeting of the season, there being but a few less than one
hundred entries of seedlings and collections. Messrs. Paul & Son, of
Cheshunt, received a First-class Certificate for a fine white Hollyhock,
of great purity, named Queen of Whites ; it is a very fine variety.
As was to be expected, Dahlias formed by far the greatest and prin-
cipal attraction. These were brought from all parts of the kingdom,
and generally in excellent condition. Lady Popham, a fine light kind ;
Royal Scarlet, a full sized heavy scarlet, of good form ; Duke of Devon-
shire, mottled lilac, white al the base — it has a small petal ; Conqueror,
a dark striped fancy variety, of fine form ; Charles Perry, an excellent
shaped flower, of the same class, frequently throwing fine dark self
flowers ; and Tarn O'Shanter, another striped fancy kind. These were
either successfully exhibited on the 21st August or the 4th of Sep-
tember, and shown again good on the present occasion, but no awards
could be made. George Holmes. Esq., of Norwich, received a First-
class Certificate for a novel buff Dahlia named Cherub ; this is a
beautifully shaped flower, of fine substance, of a peculiar light clear
shade of buff. The same award was given to the Rev. C. Fellowes,
for Marion, white ground, edged and tipped with purple ; this flower
has a close, well made centre, and is of great depth. Mr. Dodds, of
Salisbury, also received a First-class Certificate for Lady Paxton, a
fancy variety of very good form, and general good quality ; colour red,
tipped with white. A Certificate was awarded to a pinkish lilac
Dahlia, named Mrs. Edwards, a neat, small flower. Mr. Salter, of
Hammersmith, received a Certificate for a well made fancy variety,
which is handsomely and regularly striped, named Cleopatra. Mr.
Barnes, of Stowmarket, sent Symmetry, Ophir, Minnie, and Indis-
putable, but neither flower was in good condition, and not good in the
state shown. Mr. Legge, of Edmonton, sent several blooms each of
Fancy King, buff" tipped with white, and Mrs. Legge, yellow edged
with red ; these have been exhibited much finer earlier in the season.
The same exhibitor sent Delicata, which is a bad Reginald. Mr.
Rawlings received a Certificate of Merit for Mrs. Critchett, a flower
resembHng Lollipop, both in build and colour, but it is not so deep or
good, yet a useful variety. Touchstone (Fellowes) a greatly improved
Mr. Seldon, having a fine broad petal, with close centre ; and Midnight
(Fellowes), dark maroon shaded with purple, are fine flowers. Mr.
Fellowes also sent Mont Blanc, a promising white ; and Cavalier, a red
flower, of fair form, but no novelty in colour. The Rev. Mr. Skynner,
of Rushden, sent a boxful of blooms of a scarlet, named Cardinal, a
bright promising flower, of average form and good centre. Mr. Grant,
Shottesham Park Gardens, sent four blooms from the seedling plant of the
best fancy Dahlia we have seen this season, and quite new in colour —
bright scarlet tipped with white ; it is named Frances. Mr. C. J.

OCTOBER. 309

Perry, of Birmingham, exhibited several kinds — the best were Samuel
Brown, a Ulac, and Samuel Moreton, a fancy. Four blooms of a good
shaped crimson Dahlia were sent by Mr. Smith, of Birmingham, a
flower of a shade deeper colour than Sir F. Bathurst, named John
Stainton ; this is a promising flower. Mr. Briggs, of Handsworth, sent
several kinds, the best of which was a white named Miss Briggs. Mr.
Dodds also sent a large white named Miss Dodds, and an excellent
striped variety named Souter Johnny, deep lilac, striped with purple.
Four seedling Hollyhocks were sent by Mr. Nicholson, of Bushy
Grove ; one of these, Beauty of the Grove, received a Certificate of
Merit ; and a First Class Certificate was awarded to Hollyhock Queen
of Whites, a very fine white variety, larger than White Globe, and
forming a close spike, exhibited by Messrs. Paul & Son. Mr. Geo.
Smith sent Fuchsia Sanspareil, in bad condition : but from what we
know of this flower, it will be an acquisition to the light varieties ;
and another light variety. Marchioness, colour of Queen of Hanover,
but reflexes. A Certificate of Merit was awarded to a dark variety
named Adonis, from the same grower. Certificates of Merit were
awarded to Verbenas Brightonia, pale rose, good form and medium
truss ; and Mrs. Beecher Stowe, pale blush white with small carmine
centre, medium truss, both from Mr. Weatherill, of Hornsey. Mr.
Geo. Smith sent two seedling Verbenas — Cupid (Sankey's), rather
lighter than Victory, with large yellow eye and good truss ; and Venus,
white with carmine centre and medium truss, both of which were
awarded Certificates of Merit. Mr. Cole, of St. Alban's, sent two
useful bedding Calceolarias, one of which, named rubra, is evidently
a seedling between Prince of Orange and Beauty of Montreal, of a
bright orange red colour, and a dense bloomer ; and the other, St.
Alban's Pet, is of Prince of Orange habit, very dwarf, and of a light
orange red colour. Mr. Frewer, of Stowmarket, sent a showy
variegated-leaved Petunia, of Prince Albert habit, but the flowers are
of a lighter purple colour.

NEW PEAS.

Dickson's Favourite, you say, is " one of the very best second early
Peas, producing an abundant crop of handsome well-filled pods, having
from eight to ten Peas in a pod." My experience, and that of some of
my neighbours, confirms this opinion. I have often seen as many as
eleven Peas in a pod. With your permission, I beg to recommend a
new Pea, sent to me this season for trial ; it is called Veitch's Perfection
New Marrow. The Peas are the largest I have ever seen ; it has from
eight to ten Peas in a pod. It is a strong, vigorous grower, from two
to three feet high ; as a summer Pea it is invaluable.

Oliter.

310 TUE FLORIST.

PLANTING OUT V. POT CULTURE.

The planting-out of such plants as Chrysanthemums, Salvia fulgens,
S. gesnerifiora, and a few other soft-wooded plants, during the summer
months, to be repotted in the autumn, has frequently been recommended
as a means of saving a great amount of labour, and at the same time of
obtaining better plants than by the more common practice of pot •
culture. That plants grow more luxuriantly when their roots are
unrestrained by pots we have abundant proof. Take the Camellia for
example. The difference between a pot and border plant, as they are
generally met with, will, I think, be familiar to most people. I say,
as they are generally met with, for it is well known that the Camellia
is cultivated to great perfection as a pot plant ; but I think it will be
allowed that the healthy pot specimens of this plant are as rarely to be
met with as are unhealthy ones when treated as border plants. Every
one conversant with the cultivation of plants knows full well the unre-
mitting attention requisite to bring the most common of our pot plants
to perfection. With soft-wooded plants this is particularly the case.
Take the Chrysanthemum for instance. To insure short-jointed growth,
and a compact habit, so essential in first-class culture, the plants must
be fully exposed to a great amount of solar light, and room for the air
to circulate on every part of each plant. This being the case, a very
rapid evaporation takes place, so much so that the pots, when full of
roots, will require watering two or three times daily during hot dry
weather, for if the plants are allowed to flag all hopes of producing first-
rate specimens is at an end.

Now, in most gardens the requisite attention is not practicable ;
consequently, the plants, in most instances, lose the greater part of their
foliage long before the time of flowering arrives. Under such circum-
stances I consider it infinitely preferable to plant out than to allow the
plants to suffer in the manner described.

Such soft-wooded plants as it is intended to put out should be struck
from cuttings early in the spring, and ready for planting as soon as all
danger of frost is past. The ground on which they are to be planted
should previously be well prepared by deep digging, and, if poor,
manured. In planting such plants as the Chrysanthemum, a portion
of fresh turfy loam should be placed for each plant ; this will be of the"
greatest importance when the time of lifting arrives. Plants treated in
this way will require comparatively little attention throughout the
summer ; a soaking of water occasionally during hot weather, and the
growth regulated by stopping, will be nearly all the attention necessary.
About the first week in September is the best time to lift and pot
the plants. Previous to doing this they should each be thoroughly
soaked with water ; if this is attended to, and the plants carefully potted,
and placed in the shade of a north wall, and kept well watered at the
root, and the foliage frequently sprinkled for a few days, they will in
a short time commence growing without losing any of their foliage.

The list of names of such plants that have been treated in this manner
is at present very limited, but I am confident that it might be practised

311

with a great variety of hard and soft-wooded plants. Young Heaths
and Epacrises, if planted in properly prepared borders, will, in the
course of a season, make growth with which pot plants would liave no
comparison.

0. P.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Although the Society's house in Regent-street did not meet with a
purchaser the other day, when put up to auction, we hear hopes are
entertained that an opportunity of disposing of it by private treaty will
offer itself before long. In the meantime, we understand that the Council
are actively engaged in organising a system for the future management
of the gardens, which in time will make that establishment equal to
the requirements of the Society. We are glad to learn, too, that no rash
or sudden changes will take place, but that the various suggestions and
plans for the complete remodelling of the management and maintenance
of the gardens will undergo very careful deliberation by the Council,
and when the plan for future guidance is fully determined on the
different improvements contemplated will be gradually introduced, as
the financial position of the Society will enable the Council to carry
them out. If all this be true, we feel sure that the Council are acting
wisely, and we hope a large accession of new members will be the result,
and that another year will see Chiswick regain its former position, if
it does not entirely surpass it, which, from all we hear, it is very Hkely
to do.

The Bath Hanoverian Band Committee held their last
Floral Fete in Sydney Gardens, on the 17th ult. We have before
alluded to the public spirit of the gentlemen forming the committee in
restoring horticultural exhibitions in this city, and we are pleased to
bear record to the spirited manner in which the exhibitors have sup-
ported them : as an instance of this we may cite Wm. Simpkins, Esq.,
of Everleigh, Wilts, who took a van-load of large specimen plants a
distance of forty miles by land carriage, to compete for their prizes.
The exhibition was a very varied and extensive one, and fully main-
tained the character of the exhibiting body, many of the productions
furnished being admirable specimens of good culture ; foremost among
these were the Fuchsias exhibited by Mr. Mold, gardener to William
Simpkins, Esq. — better examples of good cultivation we never saw, and
that is saying a good deal. Mr. Moid, jun., of Devizes, had also some
fine plants ; as had • — Taylor, Esq., Bath. The class in Miscellaneous
Stove and Greenhouse plants was well contested, Mr Simpkins being
first, and Mr. Burton, of Laycock, second. The classes indeed were
all well contested : Heaths, good for the season ; cut flowers, in great
abundance ; Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury, was first with a fine collection
of Dahlias, and besides had some splendid seedling flowers, which were
awarded first-class certificates. We have not room to enumerate all

312 THE FLORIST.

the various classes, which filled five or six large tents. The, show of
fruit was extensive. Wall-fruit particularly good, notwithstanding its
scarcity in many places ; Pines only middling ; and some of the Black
Grapes were a little deficient in colour. A very numerous and fashion-
able company visited the Gardens on their being opened to the public ;
and in the afternoon crowds of visitors, brought by excursion trains
from the country, enjoyed to them the rare treat of witnessing a horti-
cultural show.

REVIEWS.

Priced Catalogue of Plants sold hy Wm. RolUsson & Sons, Tooting,

near London. 1856.
The catalogue for the present year issued by this well-known and
esteemed firm is very carefully got up, and contains an extensive assort-
ment of general nursery stock not often met with. The lists of plants in
the different sections under which they are arranged contain the names of
nearly every plant worth growing, and where a selection is made, it is
judiciously done. New and rare plants form an important feature,
and are very coirectly described.

Catalogue of Stove, Greenhouse, Hardy Exotic and British Ferns,

grown for sale by Robert Sim, Nurseryman, Footscray, Kent.
Extremely well arranged, and the descriptions of each species clear,
comprehensive, and correct, so far as a hasty look over enabled us to
judge. The occasional hints on the best way of managing particular
kinds will be very valuable to young growers, to whose especial atten-
tion we must refer the author's judicious instructions on air and soil,
water and insects — to be found in the introductory page — as well as to
his remarks on Ferns grown in glass cases.

The Field Newspaper.
We name this weekly paper in our review, for the purpose of adding
our testimony to the able manner in which our very old friend Mr.
Errington conducts the gardening department. We should, in truth,
have been disappointed were it not so, for Mr. Errington has been long
known to us as a first-rate practical gardener, as well as a theorist, and
who perhaps has done more than any other cultivator to effect a reform
in the cultivation of fruit trees. We wish him every success.

GOSSIP.
We understand that Messrs. Waterer and Godfrey, of Knaphill, the
eminent growers of American plants, intend holding a grand exhibition
of that popular tribe of flowers at Manchester, next season, in connexion
with the Fine Arts Exhibition, which is already creating much interest
in the neighbourhood and manufacturing districts generally.

313

CRYSTAL PALACE EXHIBITION.

The third and last of these grand horticultural displays took place on
the lOtli, 11th, and 12th ult. Considering the lateness of the season,
the exhibition was, in most respects, a satisfactory one ; for although
the absence of the brilliant coloured flowers which attract so much
attention in May and June, was sensibly felt, there were many inte-
resting plants of another kind which are often overlooked amidst the
gay productions of summer, or are not then exhibited at all. If we
missed the Pelargoniums, Azaleas, Ericas, jmd splendid groups of
Miscellaneous Plants and Orchids, which principally make up the two
former exhibitions, the eye had time to admire the graceful and inte-
resting appearance of the Ferns and Lycopods, which were contributed
in abundance, and well repaid a close examination. The ever-varying
shapes and tints of their beautiful fronds affording delight and gratiti-
catlon to the eye of taste amply compensated for the loss of their more
showy rivals. Groups of plants with ornamental foliage were also very
numerous and striking ; the collections exhibited by Mr. Veitch parti-
cularly so. What noble and yet graceful forms the leaves of some
tropical plants assume'! — what a study for artists and modellers they
present ! Let us hope that young artists will avail themselves of the
opportunity the exhibition of these groups afford, and that we shall see
the beautiful foliage of many of these plants transferred to decorative
purposes connected with our manufactures, many branches of which
sadly want a change in the shape of new designs.

Of Stove and Greenhouse Plants there were one or two collections,
and we also noticed groups of Verbenas, Cockscombs, Balsams, Scarlet
Geraniums, and Fuchsias. Likewise Achlmenes, Pitcher- plants, and
a few of the autumn-flowering varieties of Heaths.

Fruit was largely exhibited, and generally well grown ; there was,
however, no very striking productions to call for particular notice, and
some exhibitions were decidedly inferior. Mr. Tillyard had bunches
of the new Brighton Grape, Marchioness of Hastings, which closely
resembles the White Nice, but is said to be different : it forms a large
somewhat loose bunch, with oval berries, of a fine amber colour when
ripe, and has an agreeable flavour. Mr. Snow's Black Muscat was
also there in the shape of a rather straggling bunch, not very large,
with oval berries of a brownish black colour ; skin thick, flavour very
musky and vinous ; stones rather large ; the bunches were over- ripe,
and had been in better condition. A dish of Stanwlck Nectarines,
from Devonshire, are worthy of remark. They were well grown, and,
we learn, excellent in flavour. Of Queen Pine-apples there were one
or two beautiful examples from Mr. Barnes of Bicton. Peaches and
Nectarines were generally well ripened, but small. Plums and Cherries
were good : of the former, there were some admirable specimens of the
Jefferson, Washington, Magnum Bonum, Kirks, and Green-gage ;
Cherries, with one exception (the Florence), were confined to the
Morello variety. Of Pears, there were some good Jargonelles. Apples,
with the exception of one dish of Rlbstons, were not particularly fine.

As regards the prizes awarded under the above heads, we may mention

314 THE FLORIST.

that they form a long list, for which, we regret to say, it is wholly impossible
for us to find room. The competition for them, in all departments,
was maintained with spirit, and, as far as we can learn, the decisions
of the judges appointed to act on the occasion have given general
satisfaction.

Cut flowers, as is usual at autumnal exhibitions, formed one of
the great features of the show. They were very numerous, and
in some instances extremely good. The show was too late for Hollyhocks,
but this was fully compensated for by the magnificent display of
Dahlias. There were nine entries for 50 varieties, and 28 entries of
24 blooms each, besides a corresponding number for fancy kinds and
seedlings. No seedling varieties were specially selected for prizes, but
first prizes for collections of seedlings were awarded to Mr. Turner, of
Slough, and Mr. Keynes, of Salisbury ; the best of which were Royal
Scarlet (Keynes), Lady Popham (Turner), Touchstone (Fellowes),
Cherub (Holmes), Conqueror (Keynes), Marion (Fellowes), Lady
Paxton (Dodds), King of Fancies (Legge), Lord Cardigan (Keynes),
Saturn (Turner), Mrs. Legge (Legge), Delta (Turner), Charles Perry
(Keynes), Edward (Dodds), John Stainton (Smith), and Lady Franklin
(Rawlings). The following is a list of the awards *in this department: —
50 Dahlias. — 1st prize, Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nursery, Slough, with Sir
E,. Whittington, Sir C. Napier, Cossack, Earl of Carlisle, Loid Palmerston,
Satirist, Edmund Foster, Kiug of Autumn, Grand Sultan, Lollipop, Kichard
Cobden, Lord Raglan, Ruby Queen, Sir J. Franklin, Miss Spears, Exquisite,
Duchess of Wellington, Capt. Ingram, Agincourt, Yellow Beauty, Rosea
elegans, Beauty of the Grove, Sir F. Bathurst, Modele, Miss B. Coutts, Essex
Triumph, Perfection, Colonel Windham, Princess, Lady Folkstone, Chance,
Lord Bath, Admiral Duudas, Constancy, Bessie, Lady Popham, Shaded Model,
Tyrian Prince, Salvator Rosa, Fenella, Fame, Butterlly, Rachel Rawlings,
Kclipse, Delta, Harbinger, Cherub, Mr. Seldon, Amazon, Pre-eminent ; 2nd,
Mr. J. Keynes, Salisbury, with Pre-eminent, Morning Star, Negro, Rachel
Rawlings, Andrew Dodds, Amazon, Salvator Rosa, Lord Palmerston, Dutche,
Dr. Gully, Lollipop, Sir C. Napier, Lord Bath, Admiral Dundas, Miss
Caroline, Hampden Beauty, Richard Cobden, Lord Cardigan, Lady Folkestone,
Essex Triumph, Ruby Queen, Princess, Perfection, Edward, Seedling, Hon.
Mr. Herbert, Lady Paxton, Omar Pacha, Marshal Pelissier, Goldsmith, Royal
Scarlet, Chrysalis, Seedling, Duke of Devonshire, Eclipse, Evening Star,
Chameleon, Grand Sultan, Lord R;iglan, Exquisite, Miss Nightingale, Seedling,
Seedling, The Nigger, Annie, Sir J. Franklin, Seedling, Duchess of Kent,
Miss B. Coutts, Mrs. Rawlings; 3rd, Mr. 1-egge, ^larsh Side, Lower Edmonton,
with General Faucher, Duchess of Kent, Mountain ot Gold, Lord Bath, Bishop
of Hereford, Fearless, Hon. Mr. Herbert, Beauty, Beauty of Versailles,
Amazon, Seedling, Brighton Beauty, Lilac King, Agincourt, Mrs. Rawlings,
King of "Yellows, Robert Bruce, Diadem, Mrs. C. Bacon, Scarlet King, Beauty
of Sussex, Annie, Annie Salter, Rachel Rawlings, Auticipation, Ruby Queen,
Sir R. Whittington, Ne Plus Ultra, Sir R. Peel, Mons. Dugere^ Louisa Glenny,
Absalom, Seedling, Shylock, Seedling, Sir C. Napier, Fanny Keynes, Seedling,
Sancho Panza, Una, Mrs. Legge, Beauty of the Grove, Glenlyon, Goldsmith,
Morning Star, Omar Pasha, Crimson King, George Glenny, Mrs. Wheeler,
Duke of Wellington ; 4tli, Mr. C. Kimberley, Nurseryman, Stoke, near
Coventry, with Essex Triumph, Negro, Incomparable, Lord Palmerston, Mr.
Seldon, Salvator Rosa, Corsair, Lord Bath, Constancy, Bishop of Hereford,
Rachel Rawlings, Malvinia, Seedling, Mons. Dugere, Sir C. Napier, Mrs.
Rawlings, Miss B. Coutts, Phantom, Sir F. Bathurst, Indispensable, Cossack,
Agincourt, Commandeur, Seedling, Richard Cobden, Amazon, Roundhead,
Mr. Herbert, Robert Bruce, Sir J. Franklin, Lord Raglan, George Villiers,
Seedling, Annie Salter, Annie, John Keynes, Mr. Goudry, Triomphe de

OCTOBER. 315

Roubaix, Mr. Charlesworth, Ruby Queen, Pre-eminent, Admiral, Lollipop,
Charlemagne, Admiral Dundas, Laura Lavington, Duke of Wellington,
Espartero, Mrs. Stowe, Seedling. Extra prizes to Mr. \V. C. Drummond,
Bath, and Messrs. J. & J. Fraser, Nurserymen, Lea Bridge Road.

Twenty-four Dahlias. — 1st prize, the Rev. C. Fellowes, Shottisham Rectory,
near Norwich, with Pre-eminent, Cossack, Lilac Model, Fanny Keynes, Mr.
Seldon, Robert Bruce, Miss Caroline, Sir J. Franklin, Fairy Queen, Bishop of
Hereford, Touchstone, Cavalier, Amazon, Sir R. Whittington, Rachel Rawlings,
Bessie, Sir F. Bathurst, Miss B. Coutts, Lord Palmerston, Marion, Graud
Sultan, Queen Victoria, Capt. Ligram, Lord Bath ; 2nd, George Holmes,
Esq., Brook Lodge, Norwich, with Lord Palmerston, Robert Bruce, John
Dory, Miss B. Coutts, Sir J. Franklin, Cherub, Sir F. Bathurst, Fanny
Keynes, Lollipop, Susan, Diadem, Duke of Wellington. Constancy, Salvator
Rosa, Perfection, Pre-eminent, The Nigger, Sir C. Napier, Fenella, Amazon,
Lord Bath, Bessie, Grand Sultan, Duchess of Wellington ; 3rd, Mr. Thomas
Leslie, gardener to Mrs. Alexander, Stonehouse, Ramsgate, Beauty of Thanet,
Amazon, ^Ir Seldon, John Keynes, General Faucher, Cossack, Queen of Lilacs,
Duke of Wellington, Mrs. Leslie, Lord Bath, Cleopatra, Agincourt, Sulphurea
olegaus, Comte de Chambord, Grand Duke, Robert Bruce, J. Edwards. Kachel
Rawlings, Sir F. Bathurst, Annie Salter, Pre-eminent, Magnificent, Bishop of
Hereford, Constancy; 4th, Mr. J. Sladden, Ash, Sandwich, Kent, with
Duchess of Kent, Cossack, Pre-eminent, Fearless, Mrs. Seldon, General
Faucher, Bishop of Hereford, Lord Palmerston, Amazon, Richard Cobden,
Annie Salter, Beauty of Thanet, Admiral Dundas, Lilac King, Yellow Beauty,
Beauty of the Seine, Lord Bath, Lollipop, Annie, Rachel Rawlings, Salvator
Rosa, Perfection, The Nigger, Miss B. Coutts. Extra prize, Mr. John Cook,
Florist, Notting-hill, London ; ditto, Mr. C. J. Perry, Birmingham ; ditto,
Mr. C. E. Allen, Shacklewell. The other exhibitors in this class were Mr. R.
James, Rochester Castle, Stoke Newington ; Mr. J. Slipper, Florist, Camden
Town ; Mr. J. T. Hedge, Reed Hall, Colchester ; Mr. Bragg, Star Nursery,
Slough; Mr. W. Wakeman, New Church-road, Camberwell ; Mr. C. Brown,
Kingswood, Dulwich ; ]\Ir. John Walker, Thame, Oxon ; Mr. Thomas Daltou,
Nottingham ; Messrs. Colegate and Davies, Florists, Tunbridge ; Mr. J.
Hollingworth, Maidstone; Mr. Fozard, Hall Park, Paddington ; Mr. A. Hogg,
Cadlands, Southampton ; Mr. George Brush, Gardener to E. Tritton, Esq.,
Norwood ; Mr. A. Moffat, Easton Park : Mr. W. Hooker, Norwood ;
Mr. Gaines, Battersea.

Twelve Fancy Dahlias. — 1st prize, Mr. H. Legge, Florist, Lower Edmon-
ton, with Duchesse de Brabant, Baron Alderson, Princess Charlotte, Triomphe
de Roubaix, Empress Eugenie, Butterfly, Gloire de Kain, Miss Bathurst,
Fancy King, Pigeon, Topsy, Amphion ; 2nd, Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nursery,
Slough, with Topsy, Mrs. Willis, Mutabilis, Miss Frampton, Butterfly. Miss
Herbert, Elizabeth, Comet, Magician, Mrs. Hansard, Princess Charlotte,
Pigeon ; 3rd prize, Mr. John Keynes, Nurseryman, Salisbury, with Comet,
Polyphemus, Kmpress Eugenie, Charles Perry, Crystal Palace, Tam o'Shanler,
Conqueror, Mrs. Spary, Lady Paxton, Florence Nightingale, Spot, Lady Scott
Douglas; 4th, the Rev. C. Fellowes, Shottisham Rectory, Norwich, with
Empress Eugenie, Comet, Topsy, Inimitable, Duchess of Kent, Cockatoo,
Lady Grenville, Jonas, Triomphe de Roubaix, Kossuth, Miss Ward, Miss
Frampton. Extra prize, Messrs. Fraser, Lea Brjdge-road Nursery; ditto, ^ir.
C. Kimberley, Stoke, near Coventry ; ditto, Mr. Bragg, Star Nursery, Slough ;
ditto, Mr. W. C. Drummond, Nurseryman, Bath. Mr. Walker, Florist,
Thame, Oxon; Mr. George Brush, Gardener to J. Tritton, Esq., Norwood ;
Mr. J. Sladden, Ash, Sandwich, Kent ; Mr. C. J. Perry, Handsworth,
Birmingham ; Mr. C. Fozard, Hall Park, Paddington ; Mr. S. Taylor,
Nottingham ; and Mr. Gaines, Battersea, also exhibited in this class. Extra
prizes were awarded to Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nursery, Slough, for a collection
of Seedling Dahlias, consisting of four blooms each of Fenella, Delta, Roland,
Satirist, Duchess of Beaufort, Saturn, Lady Pophara, and Cherub— three each
of Marion and Touchstone ; Mr. J. Keynes, Salisbury, for a collection of
Seedling Dahlias, viz., six blooms of Royal Scarlet, three of Edward, three of
Lord Cardigan, six of Polyphemus, six (fancy) Lady Scott Douglas, three (ditto)

316 THE FLORIST.

Charles Perry, six (ditto) Conqueror, three (ditto) Tam o'Shanter. Seedling
Dahlias. — Three blooms of Lady Franklin were exhibited by Mr. Rawlings,
Bethnal Green ; three blooms of Albion, by Mr. C. E. Allen, Shacklewell,
Loudon ; three bhjoms of seedling M.M., and a miscellaneous collection
unnamed, by Mr. John Slipper, Camden Town ; four blooms of fancy Dahlia,
Fancy King, by ilr. Legge, Lower Edmonton ; three blooms of Samuel Brown,
three of Beauty of Haudsworth, and three (fancy) of Blushing Bride, by Mr.
C. J. Perry, Handsworth, Birmingham ; three blooms of White Seedling and
three of Mr. Joseph White, by Mr. G. Brigg, Handsworth, Birmingham.

Twenty-four Hollyhocks, cut blooms. — 1st prize to Messrs. A. Paul & Son,
Cheshunt, for Glory, Solfaterre, Louis Napoleon, Sulphur Queen, Glory of
Cheshuut, Brennus, Beauty of Cheshunt, Village Maid, Miss Ashley, Hon.
Mrs. Ashley, Pearl, Lord Jocelyn, Lizzy Improved, Seedling, Lemonade, Seed-
ling, Memnon, Avalanche, Rosy Morn, Purple Perfection, Queen of VVhites,
White Globe ; 2nd, Mr. W. Chater, Saffron Walden, Essex, with Sulphur
Queen improved, Lilacina, Mr. J. Clark, Golconda, Surpass Lizzy, Black
Prince, Pourpre de Tyre, Cerise Unique, Phoebe, Sceptre d'or. Fearless, Pre-
eminent, Lizzy Roberts, William, Sulphurea, Geaut des Batailles, Queen of
Oude, Lizzy, Incomparable, Ignea, Purple Perfection, Seedling, Leonora,
Seedling ; 3rd, to Mr. C. Turner, Royal Nursery, Slough, with Comet, Lemon
Queen, Souvenir, Brennus, Mr. Parsons, Vulcan, Black Prince, Argo, Beauty
of Cheshunt, Lilac Model, Julia, Lizzy, Crimson Perfection, Miss Ashley, Ruby,
Eleanor, Pourpre de Tyre, Walden Rival, Model of Perfection, Orestes, Canary
Bird, Unique, White Globe, Eugenie ; 4th, Mr. Bragg, Star Nursery, Slough,
varieties not named.

Hollyhocks, Miscellaneous Collection in Spikes. — 1st, Mr. W. Chater,
Nurseryman, Saffron Walden, for Mr. J. Clark, Sir W. Middleton, Seedling 154,
White Globe, Purple Perfection, Delicata, Ignea, Jabez Chater, Sulphur
Queen Improved, Walden Gem, Lilacina, Alexandrina, Lizzy Roberts, Gol-
conda, Lady Middleton ; 2nd, Messrs. A. JPaul & Son, Cheshunt, with Beauty
of Cheshunt, Seedling, Purple Perfection, Seedling, Lizzy Improved, Seedling,
Walden Gem, Seedling, Queen of Whites, Seedling, Louis Napoleon, Seedling,
Solfaterre, Rosy Morn.

Twenty-four German Asters. — 1st, R. H. Betteridge, Esq., Milton Hill,
Abingdon, Berks, with some of the finest flowers ever seen; 2nd, Mr. J.
Walker, Thame, Oxon ; 3rd, Mr. Thos. Westbrook, Abingdon ; 4th, Mr. R.
James, Rochester Castle, Stoke Newington ; Extra Prize, Mr. John Lewis,
Hampton Wick ; ditto, Mr. James August, Beddington. The following also
exhibited in this class : Mr. S. Evans, gardener to C. N. Newdegate, Esq., M.P.;
Mr. W. Hudson, Wandsworth; Mr. G. Smith, Wade's Hill, Herts; Mr. W.
C. Drummond, Bath ; Mr. J. T. Hedge, Colchester ; Messrs. Colegate & Davis,
Tunbridge ; Mr. Gaines, Battersea ; Mr. W. Wakeman, Camberwell ; Mr. C.
Brown, Uulwich ; J. Thomassett, Esq. (no address) ; Mr. P. Parker, gardener
to P. Secretan, Esq., Croydon ; Messrs. J. & J. Eraser, Lea Bridge Road ;
W. Hodson, Esq., Leytou, Essex; Mr. J. Bates, Oxford; Mr. W. Hooker,
Norwood ; Mr. Taylor, gardener to Hon. A. Willoughby, Twickenham ; Mr.
H.Graham, gardener to J. J. Cope, Esq., Epsom; Mr. Bragg, Slough; Mr.
W. Monk, Tottenham Grove; Messrs. A. Paul & Son, Cheshunt; Mr. J.
George, gardener to J. W. Nicholson, Esq., Stamford Hill ; Mr. G. Lawrence,
gardener to H. Yates, Esq., Penshurst, Kent ; Mr. G. P. Francis, Hertford.

Pansies were exhibited by Mr. James August, Beddington, Surrey ; ditto
Mr. W. Bragg, Star Nursery, Slough.

Verbenas. — 1st, Mr. Weatherill, Hornsey Road.

Fifty Roses.— 1st, Mr. J Mitchell, Maresfield, with H.P. La Reine, H.P.
Souvenir de Levesou Gower, Tea Vicomtess de Cazes, B. Acidalie, H.P. L'Enfant
du Mont Carmel, B. Dupetit Thenars, H.P. William Jesse, B. Louise Odier,
H.P. Auguste Mie, H.P. Geant des Batailles, H.P. St. Jean, B. Souvenir de
Malmaisou, H.P. Madame Hector Jaquin, N. La Biche, H.P. Soleil d'Auster-
litz, B. Pourpre de Tyre, N. Ophirie, H.P. Baron de Kermont, Tea Abricote,
H.P. Leon Plee, Tea Madame Macey, H.P. Pourpre Royale, Tea Safranot,
H.P. Theocrite, H.P. Louis Bonaparte, H.P. Baron de Heckeren, H.P. Comte
de Paris, B. Aurore de Grand, H.P. Duchess of Sutherland, C. Archduke

OCTOBER. 317

Charles, H.P. William Griffiths, H.P. Pius the Ninth, Tea Louise de Savoie,
H.P. Madame Maisou, H.P. Prince Chipetouzikoff, H.P. Due de Nemours,
H.P. Caroline de Sansalles, H.P. Jules Margottin, H.P. Le Leon des Combats,
Tea Gloire de Dijon, H.P. Queen Victoria, H.P. Paul Desprez, Tea Virginalis,
H.P. Lady Shelley, Baronne Prevost, HP. General Jacqueminot, H.P. Alex-
andrine Bachmetefl', H.P. Louise Peyronney ; 2ud, Messrs. A. Paul & Son,
Cheshunt ; dissimilar to the above stand were, B. Francis Henricq, B. Queen,
Tea Madame Bracey, Madame de St. Joseph, B. Aurore de Guide, H.P. Baron
Larry, Tea Madame Villeimor, Tea Safrano, Tea Devoniensis, T. Pombrienne,
Tea Narcisse, Tea Originale, C. Madame Bosanquet, H.P. Comte de Nanteuil,
B. Amosa, H. P. Triomphe de Paris, H.P. Duchess d'Orleans, B. Vorace,
B. Marquis d'Ossory, H.P. IVIadame Duchere, B. Pierre de St. Cyr, HP. Joan
of Arc, H.P. Count Bobinsky, N. Ami Vibert, B. Edouard Desfosses, Tea
Niphetos ; 3rd, Messrs. H. Lane & Son, Berkharapstead ; 4th, Mr. E. P.
Francis, Nurseryman, Hertford. Messrs. J. and J. Cranston, King's Acre,
Hereford ; and Mr. E. R. Greenus, Nurseryman, "Watford, also exhibited in
this class.

For Twenty-five Roses. — 1st, Mr. Geo. Brush, gardener to J. Tritton, Esq.,
Norwood, Surrey, with B. Queen, B. Palais du Crystal, H.P, Josephine
Gordon; H.P. Auguste Mie, B. Prince Albert, H.P. Caroline de Sansalles,
Tea Mrs. Bosanquet, Tea Gloire ie Dijon, H.P. Dupetit Thouars, H.P.
Madame Desprez, H.P. Paul Desprez, Tea Ophir, B. Madame de Longchamps,
Tea Goubault, H.P. Vorace, H.P. Marquis Boccella, H.P. Dr. Jouillard,
H.P. Madame Andre, H.P. Gen. Jacqueminot, N. La Bicbe, and five others;
2nd, Mr. S. Evans, Adbury, Nuneaton ; 3rd, A. Rowland, Esq., Lewisham.

Twenty-four Roses. — 1st, Mr. Mitchell, Maresdeld; dissimilar to his first
stand were, Tea Adam, Tea Josephine Malton, H.P. Reine des Fleurs, H.P.
Capt. John Franklin, H.P. Col. Rougemont, Tea Elise Sauvage, H.P." Eugene
Sue, H.P. Madame Oger, B. Souvenir de Malmaison ; 2nd, Mr. S. Evans,
Adbury, Nuneaton ; 3rd, Mr. E. P. Francis, Hertford ; 4th, Mr. G. Wortley,
gardener to Mrs. Maubert, Norwood ; Mr. G. Brush, Norwood, Surrey, dis-
qualified ; Mr. Graham, gardener to J. G. Cope, Esq., West Hill Lodge,
Epsom, also exhibited in this class.

It will therefore be seen from the number of entries that the judges
had no easy task to perform in adjudicating the prizes, considering the
brief space of time allowed them for that purpose.

Before concluding our report, we must again repeat our conviction,
that the Palace is not the place for holding horticultural exhibitions ;
nothing is seen to advantage, owing to the strong glare of light and the
many detracting objects around. We are not alone in our views on
this point, for it was the general opinion of all the exhibitors, and
however advantageous the Palace may be to the public — as a safeguard
against a rainy day — it is by no means calculated to show plants off to
the same advantage as a canvas tent.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Auriculas. — These having been repotted, and attended to as directed
last month, continue the directions there given.

Azaleas. — No time should be lost in getting these into their winter
quarters ; the pots should be well washed, and the plants neatly tied.
Look carefully over them for thrips, and any filants found infested with
them should be placed in a pit and be well fumigated with tobacco
three or four times. Those plants that are well set with bloom buds

318 THE FLORIST.

should be arranged in the most Hghtsome places ; the others may be
placed in the more shaded part of the house.

Camellias. — Clean, tie, and get these into their winter quarters ;
thin the buds when they are set rather thickly.

Carnations and Ficotees. — Complete taking off the layers as soon
as it can be accomplished, getting them established in small pots.
Those which have already drawn root should have plenty of air both
night and day, and but little water, keeping the plants clear of dead
foliage and green-fly.

Cinerarias. — These will be growing fast at this season and are liable
to be attacked with mildew, the greatest of enemies to this plant. If
taken in time, however, it is easily kept under by dusting the leaves
infested with sulphur. Give a good shift to such plants as are required
for early blooming, with plenty of growing room.

Cold Frames. — Mignonette, Stocks, Neapolitan Violets, &c., in frames,
will require all the exposure possible in dry weather. In many places
these are turned to a variety of uses. • Whatever plants are placed in
them, every endeavour should be made to get the growths well
matured ; when this is accomplished, by keeping them tolerably dry
and giving abundance of air when possible, a very great variety of
plants can be safely wintered in these structures.

Conservatory and Show-house. — All large plants which have stood
out during summer should now be got in without loss of time ; the pots
should be well cleaned, and the plants tied if they require it. Creepers
done flowering should be thinned and cut back, so as to give all the
light possible. Do not by any means crowd the plants, and do not
admit either a sickly or bad specimen into the house. Tastefully
arrange the flowering plants about the house ; ventilate freely both
night and day, and keep everything in the neatest order.

ilucumbers. — Plants for winter hearing should have abundance of air
during the whole of the month if the weather permit — they should
have a steady bottom heat and a night temperature of about 65°.
Plants in bearing will require a moist warm atmosphere, and should
occasionally receive a soaking of liquid manure.

Dahlias. — No opportunity should be lost of gathering seed on a dry
day, as well as marking promising seedlings — such as are thought
worthy of a trial the second season. These should be of a new colour,
dissimilar in character from existing varieties, or of greatly improved
form. Pot roots may be stored towards the end of the month, if in a
dry state. Next month wiU be time enough for taking up roots from
the ground.

Flower Garden. — The late cold, wet, and windy weather has had
its effect on these ; those rich masses of colours, which but a short time
ago reflected such briUiancy, are now beginning to fade — a few degrees
of frost, and then all their glory for this season is gone. Collect seeds
of any desirable sorts. Take up and pot all plants intended to be kept
over the winter. If a stock of cuttings be not already got in, not an
hour should he lost in doing so. ' Clear away every plant as soon as it
becomes unsightly ; by clearing away all dead leaves and decaying
stems, and by keeping everything neat and trim, a tolerable appearance

OCTOBER. 319

may be maintained to the end of the month, unless very severe or wet
v^'eather sets in. Plant bulbs as soon as the beds are at Hbcrty.
Where alterations are intended proceed with them at once, whilst the
days are a tolerable length.

Forcing Ground. — Sow French Beans. Prepare sHght hotbeds for
salads, and get a good heap of fermenting materials together, to be in
readiness for covering Seakale and other [lurposes.

Fruit (Jmrdi/). — Gather Apples and Pears on fine days; they should
be all stored before the end of the month ; the greatest care should be
taken in gathering it, as they soon show the slightest bruise. Look
over the fruit previously got in. The house should be kept cool and
dry. We always fasten a card on the shelf in front of each sort — on
it we write the name of each sort, the date when gathered, and after-
wards the time when fit for table : annual records of this description
are of considerable interest. If the weather should be wet, late Plums
— such as Golden Drop, Imperatrice, &c. — should be gathered, and
placed in an airy situation in the fruit room. All fruit should be quite
dry when gathered. Look over Peach and Nectarine trees, and remove
the superfluous shoots if there be any. Make all necessary preparations
for the planting of fruit trees, which may now be proceeded with.
The first and most material point to be attended to is the thorough
drainage of the borders ; if this be not sufficient it is of no use planting
fruit trees, as there will be nothing but disappointment eventually, even
if they should make a little progress for a year or two. If the drainage
is perfect, and the border a good loamy soil, then, with proper atten-
tion, there will be few disappointments. In planting, be careful to
spread the roots well out, put fine soil over them, but do not tread on it,
the autumn rain will soon settle the soil. Cut out the old Raspberry
canes, if not previously done — new plantations may now be made.
Remove all runners from Strawberry plants, if not already done, and
manure and dig about those in rows.

Greenhouse {Imrd- wooded?) — Now the plants are housed, air should
be admitted abundantly. In arranging the plants, set the more delicate
and tender kinds in the more sheltered situations. Make everything
as neat and tidy as possible. Sofi-vrooded plants. — These should all
be housed without delay, and after they are all got in a slight fumiga-
tion is necessary, to cleanse them thoroughly before winter. Scarlet
Salvias, Ageratums, &c., if housed before they suffer from the weather,
will continue gay for a long time.

Hollyhocks. — Like the Dahlia, gather seed as often as it can be pro-
cured ripe. Cuttings may still be put in. Choice kinds should be
preserved by potting up the roots. These produce cuttings during the
winter, which strike readily in gentle heat.

Kitchen Garden. — Continue to earth up Celery when dry, and to
tie up Endive to blanch. Towards the end of the month take up Carrots,
Parsnips, Beet, Salsafy, Scorzonera, &c., and store away when dry ;
also late crops of Potatoes. Plant out a good breadth of Cabbage.
Plant Lettuces on sheltered borders. Plant Cauliflowers under glasses
— also prick out a lot, either into frames or a sheltered situation, and a
few potted and kept in frames over winter, when planted out in spring,

320 THE FLORIST.

will oftentimes come in early and be very useful. Clear the garden of
all weeds, all dead and decaying vegetables, and throw up into steep
ridges all vacant ground. Commence intended alterations. Bear in
mind that on heavy soils thorough drainage is the basis of good
cultivation.

Orchard House. — When all the fruit is gathered, every attention
should be given to the perfect maturing of the buds ; a dry atmosphere
and thorough ventilation will go a great way towards effecting this ; the
plants will require but little or no water at roots.

Pansies. — Such as are required for wintering in pots should now be
potted up. Strong plants should be planted in beds for early flowering,
and the small late-struck plants wintered in stores, which may be
planted out late in March for the second bloom. Towards the end of
the month plant out seedlings.

Pelargoniums. — Now is the time to make a strong healthy plant,
such as cannot fail to produce a crop of fine healthy bloom next season.
The principal cause of failure in the growth of the Pelargonium is a
want of attention to this one point — the plant should be grown princi-
pally in autumn, and not have all to do in the spring. During winter
it should be comparatively quiet : at no time let the houses become
cold and damp.

Pinks. — If not already planted out, as directed last month, no time
should be lost in doing so, that the plants may become established
before winter sets in.

Pleasure Ground. — Boiling, mowing, and sweeping must be regu-
larly attended to ; the leaves will now begin to be troublesome. This
is the season to proceed with alterations. No time should be lost in
transplanting of large evergreens ; when properly managed, trees of
almost any size may with the greatest safety be removed.

Roses. — A more than ordinarily severe attack of mildew has sadly
marred the autumnal bloom in most localities, but the dry weather will
so ensure the perfect ripening of the wood, that they may be safely
removed earlier than usual. Where additions to or new plantations are
in contemplation, no time should be lost in removing some of the old
soil, breaking up the under spit, and replacing it with fresh loam and
rotten manure in equal proportions. Give orders for plants early, to
prevent disappointment. Roses in pots. — Those intended for earliest
forcing should now be cut back and repotted in some good soil, and kept
close and well watered, that their new roots may be made before
introducing them into the greenhouse.

Stove. — The most important operations in this department, at this
season, consist in keeping the plants clean and neat and properly
watered. The temperature at night should not much exceed 65°.

Strawberries for forcing. — These should now have very little water
given to them ; the principal point to he aimed at is to get the crowns
as well formed and matured as possible before the short dark days.
Pinch off all runners, and stir up the sm-face of the soil when dry, if it
be cakey.

Tulips. — Keep the beds dry, in readiness for planting early in
November. The soil should be frequently turned.

v^

V,

j-'MJ^.sMi2i^ . N"! Ccmninccta Splmdms~¥''2Parsorusi-
Hate 113

Trznud hy C Outiat

J'"AruiretvsJ)dt & Ztnco

OlDeliscaiua Talcterrima

Tlale 120,

IrmUi h C Outiot

NOVEMBER. 321

OBELISCARIA PULCHERRIMA.

(Plate 119.)

Although this plant appears to have been long known to
botanists, a brief description of it being given in De Candolle's
"Prodromus," vol. v., page 559, pnblished in 1836, yet it is
only within the last year or two that it has found its way into
British gardens, a circumstance somewhat remarkable, considering
the great variety of plants that have been from time to time
introduced by means of seed from Texas, of which country it is
believed to be a native. For an opportunity of placing the
annexed representation before our readers we are indebted to
Messrs. Carter & Co., Seedsmen, 238, High Holborn, by whom
it was introduced and raised, and flowered in the latter part of
June in the present summer.

It is of erect growth, with slender stems, smooth, and slightly
channelled. The leaves are winged, with the lobes deeply
divided. The latter are long and narrow, and rather distant
from one another. The flowers are solitary and have a striking
appearance, not unlike those of the French Marigold, the radiant
florets being reflexed and of a brownish copper colour, with the
points and margin deep yellow. The centre is elevated, ovate-
oblong, very much resembling an acorn ; and in this respect it
approaches Rudbeckia columnaris, a species of a genus to which
Obeliscaria appears to be very closely related.

We are unable to say whether it is a perennial or not, but we
would recommend it to be treated as a half-hardy annual until it
is better known.

OPEN BRICK WALLS versus PROTECTION.

In resuming this case for the prosecution, which it will be remembered
was adjourned (see p. 294 of our last number) in consequence of the
non-attendance of witnesses, some slight murmurings were heard, when
it was announced that several of them were still uncourteously absent,
although subpoenaed, and their travelling expenses paid ; however, it
was ultimately agreed to proceed without them, although reluctantly on
the part of prosecutor, as he wished to give defendant every available
advantage. The next witness was Mr. Wm. Taylor, gardener to J.
Costar, Esq., Streatham, Surrey, who stated that the crops were good
in his neiglibourhood ; that in some cases defendant was used as nets
and canvas, but in most places he was not admitted, and the crops are
as good or better than those covered, and he has generally seen equally
good crops upon unprotected as upon protected trees, and in most cases
he finds the uncovered trees the most healthy. This witness further

NEW SERIES, VOL. TI., NO. LXXI. Y

322 THE FLORIST.

stated that he considered the dramage of borders is not so well
attended to as it ought to be.

Mr. Thomas Hunter, Walsingham, Norfolk, was here brought
forward, and his statement was that the crops were very thin indeed
for miles around him ; that protection was used in several instances in
the form of Haythorn's netting, but he had as much fruit where no
covering was used, and more Apricots upon the uncovered than upon
the covered trees, and crops upon an open east wall were far better than
upon a covered south one ; and this is generally the case with him,
although the trees are in equal health and vigour ; his subsoil consists
of chalk, consequently artificial drainage is quite unnecessary.

Mr. Poole, Pockington Hall, Coventry, next deposed to the crops
being very short in his neighbourhood : he never remembered such a
failure ; that a part of his Peaches and Apricots were covered with
Haythorn's hexagon and old herring nets ; that his subsoil being gravel
needed no artificial drainage ; the best crops he has this season were
upon unprotected trees ; still witness considers a broad portable coping
necessary.

Mr. Wm. McPherson, gardener to Lord Calthorpe, Perry Hall,
Birmingham, here stated that the wall-fruit crops in his neighbourhood
were almost a complete failure, and that he had used Haythorn's
hexagon net ; also that his borders are naturally drained ; he also
stated that wherever he had been during the past season he had not
seen anything like a crop, whether protected or not, they all having
shared the same fate, even upon walls covered with glass to protect them.
One place he was at there was a quantity of Pear trees under the
glazed walls, but there were not twelve Pears on all the trees.

Mr. Peter Grieve, Culford, Bury St. Edmonds, was next called. He
stated that the crops of Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and Morello
Cherries were very good with him : that Plums, Pears, and Apples
were very deficient ; he has a large portion of wall twelve feet high, a
portion of which he always covers with straw ropes and a part he
leaves exposed, and this season the crops upon the unprotected are quite
equal to the protected portion ; the subsoil consisting of gravel, artificial
drainage is unnecessary. Upon cross examination this witness stated
that he had not always seen as good crops upon unprotected as upon
protected trees, and his conviction was that a slight protection of some
kind was indispensable, especially for Apricots. (This witness's mode of
protecting being rather novel, we will give it at length some future day.)

Mr. Wm. Tolson, Copped Hall, Tolteridge, Herts, next deposed to
the crops being very moderate in his neighbourhood ; that Haythorn's
netting was used for Peaches, but Apricots were fully exposed, and
good crops were the result, although the blossoms were actually covered
with black frost this spring ; his subsoil being very porous, no drainage
is needed, and from his general experience he would very warily protect.

This being the conclusion of the witnesses for the prosecution,
permission was asked to make one or two extracts to show the light
defendant was looked upon by old horticultural writers of the last
century. Walter Nicol, a very celebrated practical gardener and
author, says in his works on gardening, a.d. 1798, " It is a common

NOVEMBER. 323

practice to screen the blossoms of wall trees by sticking twigs of Larch
or of evergreens, as Firs or Laurels, betwixt the branches and the walls
in such a manner as to overhang the blossoms where they are thickest,
and some instead of these use tlie leaves of strong Fern ; but all these
things are an objection, on account of their shading the blossom too
much, by which it is rendered weak, and the fruit produced often drop
away before arriving at any considerable size, so that all this trouble
goes for nothing, as there would probably have been as good a crop had
the trees been left to their chance."

The next extract was from old Philip Miller, who, it would be
remembered, was a very celebrated gardener at the commencement of
the last century ; in his " Gardeners' Dictionary " of 1741, he says that
" There is not anything in the business of gardening which has more
exercised the thoughts of the curious than liow to preserve their
tender sorts of fruit from being blighted in the spring." After
stating the contrivances in use in his day, he goes on to say " that
the blights which are so often complained of do not proceed from any
inclemencies of the season ; where they are most subject to what is called
'a blight,' we shall find the branches very small, weak, and not half
ripened, as also trained in very close to each other. These branches
are, for the most part, full of blossom buds (which is chiefly obtained by
their want of strength) ; these buds do indeed open, and to persons not
skilled in fruit trees show a great prospect of a plentiful crop, whereas
the whole strength of the branch is spent in nourishing the flowers,
and, being unable to do any more, the blossoms fall off, and the small
efforts of the fruit buds are checked, so that many times the greatest
part of the branch dies away, and this is called a great bligJit, whereas at
the same time it may be often observed that trees which were stronger,
though placed in the same soil, exposed to the same aspect, and subject
to the same inclemencies, have escaped very well when the weak trees
have appeared to be almost dead, which is a plain indication that it
proceeds from some cause within the tree." He then goes on to state
that all this may be remedied by not over-crowding and by judicious
pruning and management, so as not to exhaust the whole nourishment
firom the roots, and by not planting too deep.

For the defence it was contended that the defendant had just cause
for the course he had pursued, for where was there a philosophical law
that would bear out the opening case for the prosecution ? for in the first
place it was well understood that our seasons had very much changed,
that our springs were too late, that our summers were too short, and our
autumns too cold ; in fact, that our climiite had of late years very much
deteriorated, so much so that defendant had become a very necessary
appendage to gardening operations, and it was hoped to prove by the
witnesses for the defence that wherever well directed practical tests have
been scientifically applied, the decisions have always been in favour of
defendant ; for it was well understood that a rapid radiation of heat takes
place from the earth and all porous bodies connected therewith,
commencing at sunset and continuing until all the heat accumulated
during the previous day is radiated or expended, and as has been proved
by all keen observers of the thermometer, that the temperature of the

Y 2

324 THE FLORIST.

atmosphere is always lowest and the frosts most keen about the period
of sunrise, these tests will therefore prove that the accumulated heat is
exhausted by this period, and the clearer the atmosphere the more
rapid the radiation ; hence, one great point in defendant's utility in
preventing the exhaustion of this radiation. Again, as to the staten^ent
of those witnesses of prosecutor's, who deposed to having had equally
good crops upon unprotected as upon protected trees, it was hoped to
show the fallacy of ihis ; for it was very much doubted that if two trees
in equal health and vigour, and similarly situated and treated through
summer, the one efficiently protected and the other fully exposed,
whether the exposed one on an average of seasons does equally well as
the protected one. Prosecutor had also laid very great stress upon
thinning his trees and draining his borders, — operations which were
certainly very desirable to the well-being of the tree ; but what had that
to do with protecting the blossoms through those inclement nights our
springs are subject to ? We all know that where moisture is, frosts will
sooner destroy ; therefore, as the pistil of every flower contains a
certain degree of moisture, a covering of some kind is indispensable to
protect that flower. And as to the charge of being an unnecessary addition
to garden expenditure, it was not to be denied but that he caused a small
additional outlay as regards both material and labour ; but, as a recom-
pense, he invariably ensured the luxury of a crop, and no gentleman
who wished to enjoy his luxuries would object paying for them. It was
here stated that those witnesses for the prosecution who had stated that
they had equally good crops upon the unprotected as upon the protected
portion of the trees would be recalled and re-examined touching those
points.

Those witnesses upon being recalled and being subjected to a sharp
cross-examination, testified that the trees they had mentioned were
in many cases side by side ; and to make assurance doubly sure they
had in most instances protected their best trees.

The following witnesses were called upon to support the defence : —
First, Mr. H. Constantine, Hillingdon Court, Uxbridge, who deposed
to having abundance of fruit on south and west aspects, but on east
aspects he had scarcely any ; that he protects with Hall's garden netting ;
that he thoroughly drains his borders ; in several places in his neighbour-
hood this point is neglected, but their crops are very inferior ; he had
frequently seen crops cut off when not protected, although he must
say that he did not agree with heavy protection excepting it is well
attended to.

Mr. Jno. Powell, Royal Gardens, Frogmore, next deposed to the crops
in general being below the average in his locaUty, and that Pears, Plums,
and Cherries were very scarce ; that there was no standard fruit to speak
of ; that protection was used in those gardens, and also in the gardens
around him ; the covering tliey use in his locality is what they call
Dorsetshire cheese cloth, on rollers, that can be drawn up and down at
pleasure. Netting is also used for south-west aspects, which this
witness considers do not require so much protection, on account of the
sun not striking upon the trees so soon in the morning. Artificial
drainage is not necessary, they being upon a bed of loose gravel, the

NOVEMBER. 325

water quickly finds its way through to the Thames. This witness also
further stated that throughout his experience and general observations
he had seen the advantage of protecting in spring, more especially Peach
and Nectarine trees ; he considers it not only ensures a crop but frees
the trees from the injurious effects of blister ; he also considers the best
way is to have the coverings upon rollers, so that by a little attention
the trees can be secured from hot sun, hail, drenching rains, and spring
frosts.
Ribston Park. Thomas W. Abbott.

{To he continued.)

DWARF BEDDING DAHLIAS.

As almost every one is enquiring for what are termed bedding plants,
i.e., for continuous summer blooming plants, it is not at all surprising
that Dwarf Dahlias should have been resorted to, to add to the variety
and beauty of our flower gardens and shrubberies. These are now
grown to a considerable extent ; but the question is often asked, which
are the most suitable kinds, as hitherto only two or three varieties have
been grown for this purpose, but there are others that we think equally
adapted for the purpose that have not hitherto been tried. The best of
those already grown is, we think. Prince Arthur, a bright crimson, very
erect habit, with flowers on short stiff footstalks, yet well above the
foliage. Its height is about two feet, and it is in every respect a good
kind for beds, for the purpose of ribboning or to be grown as single
plants for the borders.

Zelinda is a dwarfer kind, of a dark purple colour, and is tolerably
well known and cultivated ; height about 18 inches. We have also the
Crystal Palace Scarlet, a variety with starry ragged scarlet flowers,
which, if planted early, are produced in profusion. It requires pegging
down for beds, as it is a taller grower than the preceding sorts. It
should be grown in poor soil, or it will not flower freely enough to be
showy. It has been grown in some localities for a considerable time,
and has only recently received the name it bears. Captain Ingram has
never yet been tried for bedding purposes, being quite new. It grows
no higher than Zelinda, dark crimson in colour, and produces fine
shaped flowers in great abundance. It is well worthy to be grown
where a dark kind is required. Queen of Whites is also a good shaped
kind, and very free blooming as well, maintaining its purity of colour in
the hottest weather ; height three feet. Titian is a bright clear yellow,
and shows its flowers well above the foliage, but, like Zelinda and
Prince Arthur, has no pretension to form ; height three feet. It will
thus be seen that we are possessed of white, yellow, scarlet, bright
crimson, dark crimson, and purple Dahlias suitable for the purposes of
bedding, the tallest of which is the Crystal Palace Scarlet. All these
enumerated, however, if used as bedding plants, are best pegged down
to the ground.

326 THE FLORIST.

ROSES, OLD AND NEW.

Roses, what a theme ! What beautiful things to look at, to talk about,
to write about, to smell, to cultivate. Would that Dickens were a
lover of Roses, so that we could have a monthly article on their num-
berless attractions. Alas ! Rose growers have not poetry enough in
their composition to write poetically about such flowers ; and so I will
be prosy, and talk first about old Roses, and yet not the oldest. I
wonder if any of your readers remember the " two thousand varieties "
cultivated some thirty or forty years ago by the Messrs. Loddiges at the
Hackney Nursery. I do, and also perfectly recollect my surprise on
hearing so many euphonious French names applied to Roses appearing
nearly all alike ; for most of them were varieties of Rosa gallica, with
very slight shades of difference. Soon after this time some lions made
their appearance, and the Celestial Rose, with its delicate blush tint,
and the Tuscany, with its dark velvety crimson, each sold at one
guinea, made a great noise in the Rose world. Soon after this the
George the Fourth attained great popularity, and it is still a fine dark
Rose ; this. Brown's Superb Blush, and the Wellington, were the first
of the race of Hybrid China Roses, which for some years were so
popular. It was somewhere about this time that the pretty Noisette
Rose was introduced from France, and I perfectly well remember how
delighted I was on budding it on standards of the Rosa villosa, called
here at that time the " Double Apple Bearing Rose," to find it form
fine heads, and bloom most abundantly. By the way, this Apple-
bearing Rose, and the Double Sweet Briar, were at, or a little before,
the time I am writing about, the only standard Roses in our gardens.
I recollect one very old standard of the former which grew in the
" front court " here, that measured some sixteen or eighteen inches in
circumference of stem, with a large umbrageous head like an orchard
Apple tree of twenty years' growth ; a heavy fall of snow towards the
end of one October, before it had shed its leaves, crushed and ruined it.
To return to my standard Noisette Roses : I was never tired of admiring
them. To see standard Roses blooming in autumn was something wonder-
ful. It was, I think, this same autumn that I visited the nursery of
Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, and there I saw, to my intense admiration,
standards of Rosa multiflora. Tea Roses, Moss Roses, and a host of
others, mostly summer Roses. These I was told were imported from
France ; their price was one guinea each. I thought them very cheap,
for they appeared to my young eyes rich and rare beyond everything
I had ever seen. Soon alter this the Rose du Roi, or Crimson Per-
petual, or Lee's Perpetual, made its appearance, and also the Palmyra
or Blush Perpetual. How they were sought afl:er ! for a sweet-smelling
Rose blooming in autumn was a prize. Many other Perpetual Roses,
so called, were then brought into notice, and then in due course came
Madame LafFay, raised by M. Laffay, one of the first and still one of
the best of the Hybrid Perpetuals. Soon after this M. Laffay " gained,"
as they say in France, Prince Albert ; this he thought a masterpiece,
and accordingly, relying upon its name and quality to give it great

NOVEMBER. 327

popularity in England, he sent over 400 plants for sale ; it bloomed
badly and could not be recommended, when it was discovered that it
seldom or never opened well, and only 200 plants were sold, much to
the disappointment of the raiser. M. Laftay about the same time gave
us Dr. Marx, La Reine, Lady Alice Peel, Louis Bonaparte, Comte de
Paris, and others, but not one equal to Madame Laftay, taking it all in
all. Some four or five years ago he styled himself " Innovator of
Roses," meaning, I suppose, that by hybridising he intended to give us
some new races of Roses ; but I presume he has failed, for of the scores
of varieties he has " sent out," as we say in England, or " placed in
commerce," as they say in France, of late years, scarcely one in twenty
has been found worthy of extensive culture.

Another prolific raiser of new Roses was M. Vibert, now retired
from business ;* he and his successor, M. Robert, have given to the
Rose world new Roses without end — or at least Roses with new names.
M. Vibert was one of the first to give us Roses in divisions ; we thus, in
his catalogue, had three divisions of Perpetual Roses, three of Moss Roses,
and three of Provins or Rosa gallica, two of Provence Roses, one of un-
certain hybrids — " Hybrides Incertaines " — and so on. These minute
differences are, I daresay, very interesting, but not very understandable.
It is of more interest, I think, to see an estimate of the Roses gained
by MM. Vibert and Robert within the last fifteen or twenty years, and
placed in commerce ; their price the first year has generally been from
fifteen to twenty-five francs each. The following list is as nearly as
le correct.

Family. Number of Roses.

Rosa alba 4 varieties.

Perpetual and Hybrid Perpetuals . . lO."? do.

Perpetual Moss Roses . . . . 24 do.

Summer Moss Roses . , . . 84 do.

Damask Roses . . . . . 20 do.

Cabbage Roses and hybrids . . . 17 do.

Tea-scenttd Roses 8 do.

Noisette do. 8 do.

Bourbon do 28 do.

Hybrid China do 8 do.

Hybrid Noisette do 10 do.

Hybrid Bourbon do 9 do.

Provins Roses (Rosa gallica) . . . 78 do.

Provence Roses ..... 39 do.

Uncertain Hybrids 10 do.

* I always feel inclined to excuse M. Vibert for his enthusiasm leading him
to send out so many inferior Roses, for the following reason. One fine morning
in July, 1842, I was at Angers, when he paid me a visit at my hotel, bringing
•with him a fine bunch of pale yellow Roses, with which he delighted my eyes ;
these were blooms of Noisette Solfaterre. Shortly after he took me to his garden,
and showed me a yellow Rose still more beautiful ; this was Cloth of Gold,
glowing in beauty under the brilliant sun of Angers. Let a Hose lover imagine
my surprise, my delight. To my great disappointment, this Rose, of which I
bought all the plants that could be spared, bloomed in England in 1843 in a
very inferior manner, giving blossoms merely of a creamy white ; it has since
then redeemed its character. It should always be trained to a south or south-
west wall, its weak spray cut out, strong shoots encouraged, and those never
shortened but trained in a serpentine way to the wall.

328 THE FLORIST.

Presuming that twenty plants of each were sold the first season,
making 9720, at 20 francs each, the profit has not been amiss. Now
let us see how many of these 486 varieties are still in estimation,
and we shall then see something approaching to the real value of
new Roses. Of Rosa alba one ; of Perpetuals and Hybrid ditto,
four ; of Perpetual Moss three, or perhaps four ; of Summer Moss
Roses, six ; of Damask, one ; of Cabbage Roses and hybrids, not one ;
of Tea-scented, two ; of Noisette, two, viz., Aimee Vibert and Phaloe ;
of Bourbon, not one ; of Hybrid China, Noisettes, and Bourbons, not
one ; of Provins four or perhaps five ; of uncertain hybrids, one ; of
Provence two. This latter group was formed by M. Vibert, and
answers to our Hybrid Provence Roses, in which this and the hybrid
Cabbage Roses of Vibert may safely be included. We have thus about
twenty-seven good Roses out of a list of 486, most of which have been
sent out within these last few years.

In the autumn of 1853 seventy-three new Roses were sent out,
costing 1066 francs ;* most of these were Hybrid Perpetuals; out of
this batch there are now from seven to ten only that can be honestly
recommended. In the autumn of 1854 about sixty new varieties,
mostly Hybrid Perpetuals, were also " placed in commerce " ; of these
about eleven are first-rate varieties, although many of them gave us no
new characters as regards colour. In the autumn of 1855 only about
fifty new Roses were sent out ; of these there are about ten likely to
prove worthy of cultivation, but not one offering any new character in
colour, as they range for the most part under rose, pale rose, and bright
rose ; it appears strange that such a waste of names should occur, and
that Roses merely pretty, but not different to those we have, should be
ushered into the floral world annually. It is, I think, owing to the
enthusiasm of the provincial French cultivators ; they sow abundance of
Rose seed, and when they obtain a pretty Rose they love their own
child so dearly, and think of the few hundred francs that may be
obtained of their dear friends the English, with so much warmth of
feeling, that they cannot resist the temptation of giving it a pretty new
name and sending it out ; besides this, there is something so seducing
in a Rose of one's own raising, and something so lovable in Roses, that
I, now a veteran Rose grower, although sorely inconvenienced by having
to buy and to prove all the Roses with new names, am quite ready
to excuse our floral friends over the water.

It is curious to find how few new Roses have been and are raised
from seed in England. The Tea Rose Devoniensis is a splendid
exception ; but not one good variety of the now justly popular Hybrid
Perpetuals has been raised in this country. Messrs. Paul bought the
stock of, and imported Victoria, which, although sometimes good, has
not turned out well, and two or three others. An unnamed seedling
was also presented to the Messrs. Wood by a French florist, and named
by them Duchess of Norfolk ; it is much to be regretted that this Rose
was flattered in the figure taken of it, and still more so in its description
as a " climbing Hybrid Perpetual Rose." Rose enthusiasts at once

* Horticulture Francaise.

NOVEMBER. 329

pictured to themselves the fronts of their houses covered by a climbing
Rose like a Rosa sempervirens in habit, giving large double crimson
flowers. It is really a nice Rose, with a very moderate degree of
vigour in its growth. Williams' Evergreen Climbing Rose has also
had a false character. About ten or twelve years since I was walking
through the grounds at Pitmaston with the late Mr. Williams, a most
ingenious fertiliser, when he pointed out to me a climbing Rose, the
result of a cross with the white Ayrshire and the yellow China or Tea
Rose ; it was growing most luxuriantly, and gave large flimsy flowers
of a dirty white. I remember that we both thought it unworthy of culti-
vation ; but soon after his death it came out, and was puffed off" as a
new and very desirable climbing Rose. All such exaggerations should
be discountenanced by English Rose growers.*

Among the new creations, the Perpetual Moss Roses are, I think,
most interesting. Only a week or two since I gathered some fine
bunches of buds and half open flowers of Salet, a most vigorous
growing Rose, and also of Madame Ory ; they had the true fragrance
of the old Moss Rose, and carried one back to June, thus giving us four
Moss- Rose-months instead of barely one. This summer fragrance is
so exhilarating, it reminds us so vividly of charming June days in the
fickle and often gloomy month of October, that every Rose lover should
cultivate a few Perpetual Moss Roses.

The new Roses sent out in 1855 have not cut a brilliant figure this
summer. Triomphe de I'Exposition, Arthur de Sansal, Ornement
des Jardins, and Triomphe d'Avranches, have bloomed well, and
are good Roses. Mathurin Regnier is also likely to prove a fine
Rose, without any novelty in colour ; but not a new Rose ap-
proaches Prince Leon or Jules Margottin in colour, form, or habit.
Lord Raglan has this season been remarkably beautiful, not scorching
under a burning sun, and being even more brilliant than the Geant.
Victor Trouillard, a new Rose, presented to Messrs. Standish by a
florist at Angers, which has been exhibited the past season, is said
to be a fine dark Rose ; and Bacchus, introduced by Messrs. Paul, has
thick shell-like petals, and is likely to prove an acquisition.

There are, I observe, nearly forty new Roses to be sent out this
autumn by the French florists ; most of these are Hybrid Perpetuals,
twenty of which are described as having shades of rose colour, six
shades of crimson — three or four of these are seedlings of the Geant.
There are also two new Summer Moss Roses by Laffay, both of which
are rose coloured, and a new Perpetual Moss by him, described as
" rouge vif centre rouge violace, superbe." Three new Noisette Roses
are also offered, one white, another a seedhng from Lamarque, " d'un
beau jaune canari," another crimson partaking in its habit of the
Bourbon family. Three new Tea-scented Roses are to be sent out —
their characters as described are an "oft-told tale."

We still lack a fine crimson Tea Rose, a pure white Hybrid Per-
petual, a yellow ditto, a good crimson Rosa sempervirens, a yellow

* The figure of the Tea Kose Souvenir d'Elise Vardon, in the Florist for last
month, is by far too perfect ; it rarely gives such a flower.

330 THE FLORIST.

Moss Rose, and some others, so that there is still a wide field open to
Rose growers.

There is one remarkable peculiarity attending the cultivation of
Roses ; they never seem to fatigue the mind of the amateur ; in youth,
in the vigour of manhood, and in old age, their cheerful brilliant tints
are always grateful, their perfume always exhilarating. I have only
remarked a slight drawback ; one, after thirty years of admu-ation, is
apt to become fastidious, and to require great perfection in shape, in
colour, and in habit. I now scan a new Rose with a most critical eye ;
at one time a trifling difference in a Rose, if it were a new feature, was
hailed with ecstasy ; times are now changed,''^ but then, Roses never
were, as far as we know, so beautiful as they are at the present day.

Thos. Rivers.

The Nurseries, Sawbridgeworth, Oct. 20, 1856.

WILTON PARK, NEAR SALISBURY,
THE SEAT OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIDNEY HERBERT.

This noble mansion is situated by the town of Wihon — so notorious in
the history of Wiltshire. It is supposed to have been the Caer-Guilon,
or chief seat of the British prince Caroilius, and subsequently the
capital of the West Saxon dominions. It was a place of considerable
importance for some centuries prior to the Norman conquest, and
contained several religious establishments, and a mint. From the ninth
to the fifteenth century Wilton suffered severely from the wars which
raged throughout the country at different times during that period.
Notwithstanding many reveises, however, Wilton continued for many
centuries after the Conquest famous for its monastic institutions, —
particularly its abbey, which was commenced as early as the year 800,
and continued to flourish to the dissolution, when it was granted to Sir
William Herbert, afterwards Earl of Pembroke. Its buildings, we are
told, were of considerable extent and grandeur.

On the site of the celebrated nunnery Sir William Herbert
commenced the erection of the present mansion. It was designed by
Hans Holbein and Irligo Jones. At the beginning of the present
century Mr. James Wyatt was employed to enlarge the building, and
adapt it for the better display of its rich stores of ancient sculpture and
paintings, the collection of which is very extensive and magnificent.
The exterior of the mansion gives an impression of vast dimensions.
Three sides of the building are surrounded by pleasure grounds ; at
the west front is situated a neat Italian garden, from a design, we
understand, of the late Countess of Pembroke, who for many years took
great interest in gardening. This garden is nearly a square piece of
ground, and is intersected in the middle by broad gravel walks ;

* Some years ago I received — what I observe is now regarded as new — the
green Rose, from France : its petals, or flower leaves, are changed into sepals
perfectly scentless. 1 did not propagate it, not thinking it worthy of cultivation.

NOVEMBER. 331

parallel with the walks are rows of the Cupressus macrocarpa, which
for this style of gardening is exceedingly well adapted. There are
also numerous vases and baskets ; tliese are kept filled with a variety
of gay flowering plants, which contribute greatly to the good effect of
the whole. On the north side of this garden runs a broad gravel walk,
considerably elevated above the garden, from which it is divided by a
terrace-wall surmounted by vases and statuary. From this part the
whole of the garden is under the eye, and presents a very pleasing
effect. On the south and east sides of the mansion are also geometrical
flower beds, vases, &c., which are kept gay with a variety of choice
trees and shrubs. Of Coniferous trees we noticed some fine Deodars,
Taxodiums, Araucaria imbricata, Cupressus Lambertiana, &c. There
are also some remarkable Cedars of Lebanon, — one, the bole of which
measures 231 feet in circumference, with a fine head in proportion ;
there are also several others nearly equally large. The pleasure ground
is divided from the park by the river N adder, and from the kitchen
garden by the Wily, their confluence being only at a short distance.
The Nadder is spanned near the mansion by the Palladium bridge —
which Js of pure classic design, — and at a short distance another, termed
the Image Bridge, leads to the park.

The kitchen garden consists of about four acres of land, surrounded
by excellent walls for fruit trees. Apricots and Peaches, although
protected when in bloom, are only a thin crop. Plums and Pears are
also scarce. Bush Pear trees are grown here extensively ; these
generally produce large quantities of good fruit : this year, however, as
is everywhere the case, the crop is all but a failure. Our visit was in the
early part of August: at that time all the trees had been pruned of
superfluous wood ; by this practice the fruit buds are fully exposed to
the sun's light, and the whole energies of the plant are directed to that
only which will be of service for another season ; this is a practice which
cannot be too strongly recommended. In the kitchen garden are
numerous houses for Vines, Peaches, and flowering plants. Also some
excellent pits, heated by hot water, for Pines, Cucumbers, and Melons.
A portion of the Pines was planted out ; these, and a quantity of
strong plants in pots, were in excellent health.

Of flowering plants large quantities are grown for the decoration of
sitting rooms. There are some good stove plants and Heaths, and of
Orchids there are many good things ; the old Phaius grandiflorus is
grown extensively, and as an autumn and winter flowering plant there
are few to equal it. We also noticed some fine plants of Dendrobium
nobile, D. moniliforme, and D. chrysanthum ; Zygopetalum Mackaii, a
most beautiful and sweet scented autumnal flower; Cattleya Mossife,
C. labiata, and C. crispa were also fine plants. Of Lfelia superbiens
there is a large plant which has flowered annually for several years ;
we also noticed a few East Indian species, such as Aerides odoratum,
Saccolabium guttatum, &c. Those who have been accustomed to see
the South American Orchids grown in a high temperature would, we
think, be surprised to see the luxuriance of the plants in question ;
they were standing in Vineries in which was a quantity of ripe Grapes :
consequently they were exposed to currents of air both day and night.

332 THE FLORIST.

The whole is under the management of Mr. Brown, whose name is
frequently mentioned as a successful competitor at the Salisbury and
other flower shows, and who for very many years has superintended
this beautiful place.

0. P.

THE DAHLIAS OP 1855.

In our number for January we gave a tabular list of the new Dahlias
then about to be sent out. The list was supplied by eight gentlemen,
amateur growers of the Dahlia, and certainly comprised the best flowers,
but by no means placed in the order of merit we should assign to
them, after the experience of another season. Twenty varieties were
enumerated, at the head of which stood Bessie. This variety has been
rather uncertain, yet when in good condition is still the best, being a
beautiful model.

If we were to collect the opinions of the leading growers Lollipop
would most certainly head the list, its freeness and constancy having
pleased every one.

TWELVE OF

THE BEST

AS THEY STAND IN OUR ESTIMATION

AS GIVEN IN JANDART.

NOW.

1.

Bessie

1.

Lollipop

2.

Perfection

2.

Lord Palmerston

3.

Mrs. Wheeler

s!

Eclipse

4.

Miss B. Coutts

4.

Colonel Windham

5.

Lollipop

5.

Bessie

6.

Lord Palmerston

6.

Perfection

7.

Duchess of Wellington

7.

Grand Sultan

8.

Yellow Beauty

8.

Duchess of Wellington

9.

Grand Sultan

9.

Miss B. Coutts

0.

Shaded Model

10.

\ellow Model

1.

Eclipse

11.

Mrs. Wheeler

2.

Colonel Windham

12.

Shaded Model

Constancy has so much to do with making a Dahlia a favourite, that
it will in a great measure account for the changes that have taken
place in the position some of the new varieties now hold compared with
last year. Perfection, hke Bessie, has retrograded ; fiine as it is when
caught, it has been late, and a little undersized, with a want of depth ;
it should be planted early, and grown strong. Eclipse has been very
fine ; so also has Grand Sultan. The latter we have placed seventh on
the hst, yet it was by far the best and most perfect Dahlia in the entire
exhibition at the Crystal Palace. Lord Palmerston is a noble flower,
a premier amongst the Dahlias, coming fine from first to last ; there is
no Dahlia equal to it in habit, flower large, with strong upright foot-
stalks, and it will become as great a favourite for decorative purposes
as it is for exhibition. The Duchess of Wellington has not generally
been well managed ; we do not, however, know any flower that has a
greater number of petals, and it is exquisite when in fine character.
Colonel Windham is one of those constant varieties from which blooms
may always be depended upon, and is of a very pleasing colour, and

NO.VEMBER, 333

good form. Mrs. Wheeler has been very uncertain, and like its
parent the Duke of Wellington it should be grown in poor soil and
disbudded sparingly, but it has been much finer in the midland counties
than in the south. Among the twenty varieties given last January
are Corsair, Chameleon, Magnet, Reginald, and Lady Raglan that we
shall not grow again.

The fancy varieties sent out last spring were nearly a failure. Magician,
a continental production, is one of the best. Florence Nightingale is
good also, but uncertain. Inimitable and Enchantress have been
exhibited in the winning stands, and are very useful varieties. Mrs.
Spary has also been exhibited, but is not a first-class flower.

THE WAR OP THE ROSES.
I HAD returned, after a long day among the partridges, to that which
every Englishman considers the natural sequence of his sport — a good
dinner ; my dessert was on the table ; my legs, I am ashamed to say,
were on that vacant chair, which some day, I trust, being a bachelor,
may be more worthily occupied ; and in my hand I held, dearer to me
than wine or walnuts, " A Catalogue of Roses, by Thomas Rivers, for
185()-7." The Turnips that day had strikingly resembled the Rose
immortalised by Cowper, and which I have always regarded as the
most uncomfortable present, being in a dripping state, which " Mary "
could possibly have offered. The clay, too, had been particularly
adhesive, and I remember that when I came to the " select Noisette"
I took a bumper of sherry, and felt that nothing but love among the
Roses could have kept me so long awake. Suddenly, but without
surprise (who ever was surprised in that land of dreams, wherein I
myself have met, without perturbation, Hercules, Fieschi, and Dick
Turpin ?) I found myself in my Rose-garden. It was broad daylight,
and every Rose in bloom. Kean was as glorious in October as his
namesake in the " Winter's Tale." General Jacqueminot, H.C., with
the fair, ladylike Triomphe de Bayeux by his side (why do not Rose-
growers cultivate more generally this distinct and elegant variety ?),
was glancing gloomily at his rival synonyme, who shone gloriously
among the Hybrid Perpetuals. Paul Ricaut bent tenderly over Coupe
d'Hebe, and swore that Auguste Mie was coarse and colourless in com-
parison. But while these summer Roses seemed only interested in
their own private affairs, among the autumnal bloomers there w^as
evidently some great topic of public import. I soon discovered that
the subject of discussion was the Catalogue I had just been perusing,
for it was strewed over the Rose-garden, so that the dwarfest might
read, and suspended to the tallest pillars, so that the highest standard
might see. The Duchess of Sutherland having been requested to
preside, the business of the meeting commenced. Her Grace began by
remarking that she never remembered, since she had been a Rose, to
have been agitated by more painful feelings, or to have realised more
sorrowfully the old adage — " No Rose without a thorn." (" Oh, oh,"

S34 THE FLORIST.

from Inermis). They had always regarded Mr. Rivers 's Catalogue
with as much reverence as a Roman Catholic could feel on receiving a
letter from the Pope — (" Hear, hear," from Pius tlie Ninth) — for he
was indeed the Papa or Father of Roses ; and they had looked for its
appearance as anxiously as young ladies awaiting les modes from Paris,
for Mr. R. was their arbiter elegantiarum, and set the fashion in Roses.
Now, for the first time, the publication had been received by certain
malcontents with evident disrespect, and not satisfied with expressing
their complaints sub rosa, they had summoned a general meeting.
She called upon them to come forward and state their grievances, that
the case miglit be fully discussed.

Madame Guinoisseau, H.P., then gracefully rose, and a general
murnmr of admiration followed among the Field Marshals, Generals,
Colonels, and other gentlemen present, as also from the Emperor
Napoleon himself She felt, in common with every Rose that bloomed,
nothing but love and respect for dear Mr. Rivers : still she thought he
had not done her justice. Let them recall her history, and judge. She
arrived in that garden in November last, and, though a perfect stranger,
had experienced a most gratifying reception, being placed in a most
agreeable locality and fed upon a most liberal diet. She had done her
best, in consequence, to give satisfaction, and had good reason to be
proud of her success. One morning, towards the end of June, the
master came his usual round. She well remembered watching him as
he passed from one tree to another, and the feeling of envy which shot
through every petal as he lingered with Madame Rivers. He was
hurrying past, as though expecting to find no beauty there, when her
first full bloom, on which she had bestowed immense pains, and which
really was (to quote the complimentary language of Mr. Lane and
Mr. Paul,) " beautifully cupped," " large and double," suddenly caught
his eye, and she saw him actually start. Then he drew near admiringly,
gently moved the flower into the light most favourable to its best
display, and gazed, with the happy smile of a true florist, long and
fondly,

" As though within the petals of a Rose
A sleeping Love he spied."

Suddenly, and to her great surprise, he rushed away, and darted from
the Rose-garden ; but soon returned, to put an end to her suspense,
and bringing with him their respected guardian, Mr. Hirst. Never,
never should she forget her happiness, when, pointing to her, he had
said, in a joyous and exulting tone — " There, gardener, there is a
Rose!" Well, the very next morning, just as they were waking,
" with their rosy faces washed with dew," she was severed from the
parent tree, and found herself reposing on some fresh green moss, and
in the society of twenty-three other Roses, the most beautiful she had
ever seen. For a time they were kept in darkness, and so travelled
many miles, being at last brought to light in a spacious hall, and placed
among some hundreds of other Roses, collected and arranged like
themselves. By-and-by, three shrewd and thoughtful-looking men
approached them, and she was informed, in a whisper, by Mr. Paul
Ricaut, who had been in -the habit of attending similar exhibitions ever

NOVEMBER. 335

since he could remember, that these were the judges. They stayed
long with some of the groups, making notes, and examining every
flower, but at some they gave but a momentary glance, just sliook the
head and passed. Arriving where she was tliey smiled most graciously,
and she was feeling particularly proud and delighted, when suddenly
one of the triumvirate abruptly seized her by the neck, and, lifting her
from her zinc tube, exclaimed — "Hollo! what have we here?" —
" New to me," said No. 2, " but evidently good ; shape perfect ;
colour novel, most delicate, and beautiful." — " Why she has petals
enough for two Roses," quoth No. 3 ; " she's a gem, and no mistake."
Back she went to her place, and on went the judicial trio. Again they
took a general survey, again paid us a visit, and finally placed beibre
us, to our unbounded joy, a large ornamental card, whereon was
printed, " First Prize." (Loud cheers from all parts of the Rosarium,
the successful competitors colouring and blushing, and some turning
quite pale with emotion.) She would not indulge in further eulogy of
self, but would content herself with stating that, on two subsequent
occasions, she had been equally " victorious, happy, and glorious " as
on her first debut. Had she not, then, just cause for dissatisfaction,
when she found herself classified by Mr. Rivers among Roses " not
quite first-rate," merely described as " bright rose," and valued at one-
and-sixpence ? (Cheers and tears.)

Alphonse de Lamartine might not possess those charms and graces
which beautified the last speaker, but she had been thrice successfully
exhibited in her society ; more than one judge had pointed to her and
said that she was " the shape they wanted ;" Mr. Lane had kindly said
that she was " globular, and very pretty ;" Mr. Paul considered her to
possess a " fine tbrm, large and full ; " she had been called " a duck,"
" a pet," " a love," and " a darling," by hundreds of young ladies,
while scores of gentlemen had pronounced her to be "a stunner," " a
tidyish flower, &c. ;" she was a great favourite with her master, who
had budded her in a most ample and complimentary manner ; and she
therefore did not see why she was to be degraded by Mr. Rivers ; sl^e
would not endure it— no, that she would not ; and if he came within
reach of her thorns, she had a great mind to scratch his eyes out.

Miss Naomi would say that a more industrious, steady, little rose
than herself did not grow in that garden. Now was she not most^
regular in her habits, punctual in blooming, abundant in flowers of
never-varying fulness and beauty ? Was she not nearly related to, and
considered very closely to resemble, the distinguished Duchess in the
chair ? What had she done to offend Mr, Rivers ?

Madame Lamoriciere would like to be informed what Mr. Rivers
wanted. She knew that she was a little uncertain, but it was the
privilege of her sex to be so, and Mr. Rivers ought to be the last to
complain on that subject, for she had no hesitation in saying that he
himself was a regular flirt. He had said once upon a time that her
"shape" was "exquisite," and now he had deserted her for newer
charms, and had nothing to say for her except that she was " bright
pink." (" Shame ! shame ! " from all the ladies.) _

William Jesse would be blowed—(" Order ! order !")— that is, he

660 THE FLORIST.

would be blowed in a floral sense, if he stood that sort of thing any
longer. • Mr. Rivers had said that he was " certainly one of the most
beautiful large Roses in existence," and now he had put him in the
awkward squad. He knew that he was getting old and could not stand
moving about to shows, but he was not afraid of comparison with many
modern upstarts ; and as for that brute Beranger, who had usurped his
place in Class 1, he would fight him any day in the week for a gallon of
liquid manure. (Loud cries of " Order.") He would back the four
Roses who had just sat down against many who had been promoted to
the first division. He did not wish to speak disrespectfully of the fair
sex, but he would put it to the meeting whether Miss Alexandrine
BachmetefF had a ^reen eye or not? The Duchess of Norfolk must
excuse him for saying that he did not think much of her shape.
General Jacqueminot wore a gorgeous uniform, but he wanted padding
— there was nothing of him. He had lived for two years next door to
Gloire de France, and had not seen a good bloom yet. As for La Reine
and ]\Iadame Campbell d'Islay, he would only say that in the Midland
Counties they were coarse, vulgar Roses. Madame Fremion was
pretty, but too slight and slim for his taste. He had seen good blooms
of Paul Dupuy, but the generality showed " an eye." As for Prince
ChipetouzikofF, in his opinion he was as hollow as a drum. He should
move that their mutual friend, the gardener, be requested to light his
pipe with " A Descriptive Catalogue of selected Pioses," by Mr.
Thomas Rivers. ("No, no," and general disapprobation.)

Devoniensis then rose in all her beauty, and so delicious a perfume
filled the incensed air, that it did seem almost possible to

" Die of a Rose in aromatic pain."

She was received and heard with the most profound respect and
admiration. She said that as an English Rose, born on English
ground — (" Hear, hear," from George the Fourth, H. C.) — she felt
bound to notice the aspersions which had been cast upon the great
English Rose-grower. And first of all she would ask them one simple
question — " Who reinstated the Rose, as the queen of flowers, in this
country?" (Loud cries of " Mr. Rivers," and " We love him," from
the ladies, during which Madame Laffay and some other elderly Roses
were removed in a fainting state.) Let them not forget their debt of
gratitude. Nor should they forget how he, their founder and bene-
factor, had, with unvarying consistency, rejected from his catalogue
those countless impostors who had come of late years fi-om France to
deceive the English public. There were not more Hybrid Perpetuals
in this year's list than in the last ; five had retired, and five had been
promoted to succeed them. Was it not an error in the right direction,
if Mr. Rivers had pruned with a somewhat too trenchant blade? She
thought, with all deference, that he had done so. She thought that the
first four Roses who had spoken (and she would add the name of
Mr. Joseph Decaisne, whose silence did him credit), certainly ought to
be in the first class. But she would remind them that they were
distant many a long mile from Sawbridgeworth, and that in different
soils and situations the same Rose presented very different aspects.

NOVEMBER. 337

She believed that if Mr. Rivers had seen the complainants as they
bloomed there in the summer, he would have declared them to be
" quite first-rate ;" and she was equally confident that if Mr. Jesse
had seen at Sawbridgeworth those Roses which he had attempted to
blight, he would have refrained from uttering his calumnies. Further-
more, Mr. Rivers had told them, "every Rose has its season;" and
some of them might find themselves in 1857 unable to maintain the
position they had obtained in 1856. At all events, let them rest
assured that to merit, true and lasting, justice must be done ; and that
Mr. Rivers would be the first to acknowledge their excellence, when
fairly and fully proven. No really good Rose need fear the aphis of
jealousy, or the mildew of ignorance !

This speech was received with general applause, during which the
previous dissentients rose en masse, and expressed their perfect readi-
ness to abide the test of time (with the exception of Mr. William
Jesse, who seemed to have taken a dew-drop or two too much, and to
be particularly "cupped"). ,

All was now couleur de Rose, and while three cheers were given for
Mr. Rivers, I awoke to finish my sherry.

S. R. H.

NOTES ON THE MONTH.
Rain and fog, with tremendous storms, and a few intervening fine
days, characterise October. On some days, as the 18th, 20th, and
21st, there was a delicious softness in the atmosphere, seldom ex-
perienced in the North i\Iidland Counties ; these quiet days, witii not
a breath of air to move even a ripple on the water, and cheered with a
brilliant sun (whose rays, however, were softened down by the large
quantity of moisture in the air) are a real luxury to enjoy. To- lovers
of country fife, there are, in our opinion, no such enjoyable days as are
met with now and then in October. English landscape, too green and
monotonous during summer, now comes out in grand rehef. The gray
stubbles mix well in the distance with pastures, themselves become of
a more sober colour ; and both are heightened by the many-coloured
tints of our woods and hedgerow trees. Horse Chestnuts, Beech,
Mountain Ash, ]\Iaples, Liquidamber, Sumachs, and some kinds of
Oaks, present to our view, at this season, grand masses of colour,
varying from a deep orange to browTi and crimson, which change as
the season advances, and contrast strikingly with the common Oak and
Elm, which retain the verdure of their foliage longer. Would that our
plantation makers had a painter's eye for warm colours ; we might then
hope they would throw more of it into their woods, and make our
autumn landscapes more generally beautiful even than they are now.
That a certain amount of moisture in the air is favourable for con-
veying odours, we are agreeably reminded on such days as I have
been describing, by the balmy fragrance Hoating in the air whenever we
neared a garden containing Mignonette, Stocks, &c. Oh ! thought we,
if ever a subscription is started to sow every bald patch of ground by

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXXI, Z

338 THE FLORIST.

the wayside, and every spare nook in each garden which borders our
public roads, with Mignonette and WallHower, our guinea will be forth-
coming for. the purpose. We might go even further, and ask our great
railway contractors whether they could not accommodate us with a strip
on their railway embankments, to allow us a li^grant sniff of our
favourites when travelling by rail.

But we must be practical, or our readers will say — Gui bono ?
Well, then, to resume. The heavy rains and gloomy sky of the last
two months make the gardener feel a little uncomfortable about his fruit
trees, particularly those on his walls. With little or no crop on them this
season to moderate their growth, the late weather has pushed them into a
rank luxuriance, and Peaches and Apricots look as green and vigorous as
they did in July. The immature ripening of the wood will induce gum
next spring, imperfectly formed fruit- buds, and consequently the
prospects next season become a piece of speculation, with the odds
ruling against anything like a crop ; the case is a desperate one, but, at
all risks, where it oan be done, let the trees have the earth taken from
their roots and be partially lifted ; it will check further growth, and
should the weather become dry in November, the trees will give off a
good deal of the moisture in them by evaporation, which will help to
ripen the wood.

An excellent time this for planting all kinds of trees ; do not puddle
them in, nor yet allow their roots to be exposed to the air a minute
longer than is needed. If you have them from a nursery, give a trifle
more than the regular price to have them carefully lifted, with their
roots nearly entire and not docked off to within an inch or two of the
stem, as is the usual practice. Never buy a tree in a pot, if more than
two years old — an old-fashioned lazy habit that, of keeping plants for
years in pots ; let nurserymen plant them out in a poor soil if they find
them getting too large, and transplant them yearly, when they will do
buyer and seller alike credit ; but a tree in a pot, older than two or
three years, is useless ; when nurserymen find their customers get wise,
they will learn wisdom themselves. The discussion about flower-
garden arrangements, now so much the vogue, gets monotonous ; nothing
new is enunciated ; the subject, in fact, is used up. We should like to
see a garden — a geometrical one, if you like — planted entirely with
shrubs all evergreen, or partly mixed — coloured beds might be worked
up with variegated-leaved plants, and others with various tints of green.
Hollies, Pernettyas, Arbutus, Hederas, Sydonias, Garryas, Viburnums,
Phiflyreas, Rhododendrons, Andromedas, and other American plants,
hardy Heaths, &c., &c , kept within certain limits as to height, might
form the masses ; while, for points of relief, or axes to balance the groups.
Junipers, Arbor Vitae, and Cypresses, should be introduced ; Savin,
Heaths, Cotoneasters, Periwinkles, Polygala Chamsebuxus, &c., might
form edgings ; if colour were wanted in the autumn plant the dwarf
beds with late-blooming Gladioluses, Tritonias, &c., when the flowers
would show well above the foliage of the shrubs : this, however, would
be rather foreign to our scheme, and we name it, as we saw lately in
Paris how extensively they use the common Asparagus in filling up the
bottom of their beds of Lilies and Gladiolus, with the best effect. We

NOVEMBER. 339

should be disposed to back a garden of this sort, if well carried out,
against the best parterre-work out. At any rate, it would be a distinct
feature in gardening, and we hope some of our great patrons — as Lord
Stamford or Sir William Middleton— will take the matter up. Should
they do^ so — so fickle is fashion, and so imitative — we should soon hear
of nothing else,

G. r.

NEW GRAPE.

Mr. Fleming, of Trentham, has forwarded for our examination his
new Black Grape, in reference to which he informs us " that it ranks
with any Black Grape we possess, and in many respects is better — it
ripens as early as the Black Hamburgh, and keeps longer ; has a higher
flavour than the Hamburgh, and a very thin skin." Mr. F. further
informs us, " that with good cultivation the berries attain the size
of the White Muscat ; tliat it sets very freely, and is a most pro-
lific bearer : the leaves are of a dark green, below medium size,
bluntly lobed, and of a thick texture, which enables it to withstand the
hottest sun without scorching."

The berries of Mr. Fleming's Grape are oval, of a deep purple black,
covered with bloom ; each berry has one and sometimes two stones ;
flavour very rich, sweet, and vinous, with a thin skin and abundant
juice. Taking all its good qualities into consideration, this will prove a
very valuable late Grape.

NEW INVENTIONS, &c.

Mr. Thomson, of Dalkeith Park, has sent us a prospectus of a new
form of boiler he has designed for heating hothouses, &c. This he calls
his retort boiler, and they are made of two sizes — the single and triple
retort ; the latter, Mr. Thomson states, is capable of heating 3,000 feet
of four-inch pipe. The single retort is of the usual cylinder form, the
fire being beneath the boiler, and acts round its outer surface first.
The flame is then returned through the centre of the boiler (which we
consider important) ; consequently, as the draught is at a point leithin
the radius of the flame acting round the boiler, it is kept in- close con-
tact with its outer surface, and has not so great a tendency to rise and
waste its power on the upper surface of brick-work. This is, in our
opinion, an improvement ; as is also the facility with which the central
tube can be cleaned. We have not, however, ourselves, yet seen the
boiler at work, but report speaks highly of it. The triple retort works
in the same manner, and is, in fact, merely three cylinders connected
together.

340

THE FLORIST.

A NEW GARDEN IMPLEMENT.

Recently, at Edinburgh, we saw in operation an implement which
combines the advantages of the hoe on an extensive scale, a harrow, a
grubber or fork, and a plough, or, rather, a machine for earthing up
Potatoes, &c. — all this in one, and easily worked by one person. Of
its great utility we cannot possibly speak too highly, and to market
gardeners especially, and in those establishments where kitchen-
gardening is carried on extensively, it will be most valuable. The
inventor of this multum in parvo instrument is C. K. Sivewright,
Esq., of Cargilfield, Edinburgh, who had it tested in the presence of a
few who are interested in horticultural pursuits. A sketch of this
implement was given in the Gardeners' Chronicle for 1849, page 500,
and by permission of the proprietors of that journal we are enabled to
reproduce it. Its cost, we believe, is about £4. The implement is so

constructed that it can be used with five hoes or cutters, and by means
of a simple contrivance it can be extended or reduced to a width of
from twelve inches to two feet. By removing the cutters and inserting
iron teeth about eight inches in length, it can be made to answer the
purpose of a fork ; and by moving these and placing side knives in the
form of a plough, ridges can be thrown up with great ease. We were
told that the saving of labour with one of these implements was very
great, one man doing easily and most effectively the work of four ;
indeed, we are quite convinced that it is of great practical utility in the
culture of Turnips, Cabbage, and other green crops. The drawing
given above represents the machine as at first constructed ; some
alterations and improvements have been made since that time. Should
any correspondent wish for further information respecting it, we shall be
happy to apply to Mr. Sivewright for it.

NOVEMBER. 341

NORTHERN ESTIMATE OF SEEDLING DAHLIAS.

At Ihe conclusion of the meeting of the National Floricultural
Society of the 18th September, a box of 24 Dahlia blooms was sent
off to Edinburgh for the inspection of such of our northern friends as
were within reach of that City. The blooms could not, of course, be
seen in the freshness that surrounded them at Regent-street, and many
were nmch injured by the long journey. The following remarks are
furnished by the gentlemen whose names are attached, and as they are
known to be among the best cultivators of this popular flower in the
North, their opinion will, we are sure, be of value to the growers in
the Northern and ]\Iidland districts.

Midnight (Fellowes). — A beautiful dark shaded flower, of first-rate
outline and immense depth of petal. We venture to predict that
this variety will be found in all good winning stands for many years
to come.

Lady Popkam (Turner). — A white flower slightly tipped with
delicate rose. A fine and well built flower ; very deep and sym-
metrical, with well rounded shoulder and high centre. A great
acquisition ; first-rate in every resp^t.

Marion (Fellowes). — Another gem in the Fanny Keynes class and
style, but much whiter, and more clear in the ground colour ; also
brighter in the tipping ; to all appearance not difficult to get up in
the centre ; good size ; form first-rate. A fine companion to Lady
Popham.

Charley Self (Keynes). — A dark maroon, shaded with crimson
purple. In the way of Grand Sultan, but finer in form than that
flower usually is, being high built, with very fine centre. [This
variety is a sport from Charles Perry (Keynes), a fancy flower
elsewhere noted. — Ed.]

Cherub (Holmes). — Light orange. A full sized high built flower ;
good in form, colour very attractive.

Mrs. Critchett (Rawlings). — Buff. Seemingly a very promising
flower, but did not arrive in a state which would enable us to judge
decidedly of its merits ; the flower sent was rather young and unde-
veloped, also it was damaged in carriage.

Harbinger (Holmes). — Very bright scarlet, in the way of Sir G.
Napier, with a better petal. Size medium, form good, centre very
prominent.

Mont Blanc (Fellowes). — A very promising white flower, with good
petal and close centre, bloom too young, however, and damaged in
carriage.

Mrs. Edwards (Keynes). — Clear lilac petal, but so much damaged
we could not judge of the form.

Touchstone.— U^hi purple. Fine petal and outline, but this also
was very much damaged. . .

Francis (Grant).— Fiery red, with clear white tip ; very distmct ;
form good, size medium. «> j

Charles Perry (Keynes).— Rosy purple, striped and suffused with
maroon ; novel and attractive.

342 THE FLORIST.

Conqueror (Keynes). — Rosy lilac striped with black ; distinct and
good.

Ladi^ Paxlon (Keynes). — Red, tipped with white ; same class as
Miss Frampton.

Cleopatra (Salter). — Yellowish orange, striped and spotted with
red ; good flower, and attractive.

In addition to the above there were some fine blooms of older
varieties. The finest were Colonel Windham, Captain Ingram, and
a noble bloom of Yellow Beauty — on the whole decidedly the best
yellow to grow (Bessie being so hard to get). Pre-eminent also and
Grand Sultan were finer than we had before seen them. The Fancies
suffered more in carriage on the whole than the selfs ; this is the cause
of the report on the former not being so full as it would otherwise
have been.

(Signed) John Downie,

John Lamont,

Sept. 20tk. C. K. SlVEWRIGHT.

HINTS ON LANDSCAPE GARDENING.
As I fear the principles which should be the groundwork of all attempts
to adjust the grounds and scenery in connexion with country residences,
however humble, are either imperfectly understood or rarely acted
upon, I send you a few observations as they occur to me, in reference
to this subject, considering your very useful Magazine a suitable
channel for allowing my own views on this important department of
rural affairs to drift under the notice of your readers ; and with some
hopes that the question may be taken up by others of your correspondents
for mutual discussion. Unprofessionally connected with the subject
myself, excepting as having had to deal with the remodelling of three
places in the country where I have been located, I have nevertheless
been a pretty close observer of the glaring faults in taste and composition
which are committed even by gentlemen of admitted authority on
matters connected with other branches of the fine arts, and therefore
presume either inattention to a few general principles, or ignorance of
what constitutes good taste, prevails to a great extent. As a proof of
this rather sweeping assertion, we have only to notice, when on a tour
through country places, the want of congruity and true taste in com-
position, in the grounds adjoining the residences of many of our clergy,
the villas of retired merchants, and the more ambitious seats of country
gentlemen, and they will, I feel assured, be satisfied there is a wide
field for improvement in all.

Previous to noticing what is doing in our own day, it may not be
out of place briefly to comment on the labours of those who have gone
before, but whose works nevertheless remain, as the touchstone of their
capacity for composing garden scenery, or for embellishing on a wider
scale the parks and domains of landed proprietors. A long array of
names is now before us of those who have contributed to build up our
fame, or afford a theme for censure. Statesmen and philosophers,
poets and novelists, painters and sculptors, landscape gardeners proper.

NOVEMBER. 343

and garden architects, with practical gardeners and nurserymen, have
all lent a helping hand for nearly two centuries in producing the
different kinds of scenery which prevail in English gardens at the
present time. But alas ! when we come to analyse with the eye of
taste much that has been thus done, by way of improving the beauties
of natural scenery, or of haYmonising the various details of planting
and architectural accessories, with the mansion belonging to them, the
conviction forced upon the mind has a fault-finding tendency, and the
exclamation made by the wise king of Israel, when in later life he
reviewed his own painstaking and multifarious labours — conceived, as
he thought, in much wisdom, and carried on with much discernment —
that they were only "vexation of spirit," applies with equal force to
much of what we have under review at the present time.

But I fear this unsatisfactory state of things is likely to linger yet
longer with us ; we have not yet attained a position, or even come near
it, when perfection will be the rule and fault the exception, both in
architecture and in landscape gardening, as many modern buildings
inform us rather painfully. It behoves us, then, to criticise our position,
and by public discussion try to ascertain how far the true principles of
taste pervade society, and whether or not it cannot be brought up to
a point sufficiently advanced to enable us to entertain correct impres-
sions of what landscape composition should be, as well as architecture,
so as to judge of their respective merits.

From the bowling green of the olden time, garnished with quaint
devices in vegetable sculpture, with its border of herbs and antique
arbour, down to the latest attempt at high art in gardening as ex-
emplified in the Crystal Palace, a wide scope of ideas has emanated
fi'om the mind of man, and have been put in practice for beautifying
and adorning his residence. Fashion has rung her ever- varying round
of change with this as with other subjects, and although almost foreign
to the object I started with, to discuss things as they are rather than
criticise what has been, it will not take long to notice the different
peculiarities belonging to the period named above, beyond which all is
conjecture and doubt, from more modern improvements having oblite-
rated nearly all traces of the past.

M. A. S.
{To be continued.)

DIOSCOREA BATATAS.
We do not know how far this plant, about which so much was said
18 months back, as a substitute for the Potato, may answer the high
character given it for an esculent ; but one thing is certain, it is a very
ornamental climbing plant, and as such may prove useful in more
ways than one — for covering arbours, trellis, and walls, there is
scarcely a plant grown for the purpose which has such beautiful foliage
as the "Chinese Potato"; while its habit of growth is botli graceful and
elegant. In addition, therefore, to its producing a root of more or less
value for culinary uses, it will prove very ornamental as a chmber,
where beautiful foliage is an object. ^*

344 THE FLORIST.

AMERICAN NURSERIES.

As many gardeners annually emigrate to America, and as our inter-
course with that great country is daily on the increase, the following
notice of one of its nurseries, taken from the " Hiykland (Nevvburgh)
Courier,''' may not be uninteresting to some of our readers. " The High-
land Nurseries are at Nevvburgh, a town on the Hudson river, about
60 miles from New York. Passing from the Western Avenue along
Liberty Street, the distance of one good, round, plump mile, the seeker
for the attractive and interesting features of our hill side town arrives
at the beautiful nursery grounds of A. Saul & Co. When he reaches
these nurseries, if he in the least admires the triumphs of floral, horti-
cultural, and arboricultural science, he will enter the grounds and feast
his ideality upon the productions of elaborated and nursed nature. The
profusion of the rare and useful in the fanciful and useful departments of
the flower, plant, and tree kingdoms will aftbrd him ample opportunities
for absorbing study and elevating contemplation. Here he will feast
his eyes upon the choicest gems of flowers, there he will gaze delighted
upon exotic and indigenous ornamental trees and delicate shrubs, while
on every hand the food-bearing plant and the sustenance-giving tree
multiplied by thousands, covering fruitful and highly cultivated acres
will lead him to reflect upon the bounteous provision which Nature has
made for the unceasing wants of her carefully protected children.

" The nurseries of A. Saul & Co. are well worthy of a visit. They are
the best arranged and most extensive of anything of the kind we ever
saw. They are fastidiously and neatly worked ; science and art have
been the designers, and architects, and the workers on these premises.
One hour's examination of the specimens is worth more to the student
of botany than weeks of plodding and painful research into the text books
of our schools. One inspection of these nurseries is worth more to the
progressive farmer than the reading of agricultural periodicals for years.
"For the present we wiU give only a few remarks descriptive ot these
nurseries. In extent they are 43 acres. In variety they present every
specimen that can be required by a community ; and much more, for
scarcely a beautiful flower, a fancy shrub, or an adorning or a fruit
tree, or a valuable vegetable can be mentioned which these enterprising
men have not now growing on their domains.

" As you approach the residence of Mr. Saul you see a fine carriage-
way running from the street to the western extremity of the nursery
grounds. Coming to the dwelling of the proprietor, on each side of
the road are borders containing an almost infinite number of specimen
shrubs. The way proceeding to the west, after leaving the house, is
bordered by specimen Pear trees, the specimens numbering 1000.
Last year this gentleman exhibited at the State Fair, and at the Fair
at the Crystal Palace, 125 varieties of Pears, and took the premium at
each exhibition. Around the house are specimens of shade and orna-
mental trees. Among these, pre-eminent for their fine growth and
splendid appearance, are the Norway Fir and the Austrian Pine. Mr.
Saul informed us that these trees are better adapted to our climate than
any others, either native or imported. These trees being so well

NOVEMBER. 345

calculated to endure the frigidness of our winters, and at the same time
so surpassing lovely, must ere long be much sought for.

" From Mr. Saul we learned a most singular fact in arborary history.
Many trees taken from a high southern latitude can endure the extremes
of our climate, and tlirive better than those taken from a latitude as
far north as our own. He has in his nursery several kinds which are
indigenous to the Andes of South America and the Himalayas of Asia,
and which thrive exceedingly well; while other kinds taken from
California and other places farther north can scarcely be acclimated.
This he accounts for, in the elevation of the soil in which they grew,
the peculiar condition of the atmosphere and the universal hardness
and firm texture of the trees and plants which are natives of the region
in which they are found.

"An India Rubber tree, which he has reared in a greenhouse, we
regarded here as a great curiosity. These trees require much warmth,
yet are quite easily kept alive. It, when cut into, sends out a juice
much like our common milk weed, which soon dries and assumes a
sticky and elastic nature.

" During each of the past two years there have been imported into the
nursery 100,000 Norway Firs ; 50,000 Quince stocks are annually put
out in the grounds for the purpose of improving the quality of Pears
by engrafting, and every other kind of fruit trees proportionally. We
have not the exact statistics, but we are within bounds in giving the
number of varieties of Apple trees at 500, the Plums at 100, and
Apricots at 50, and the number of fruit trees now ready for setting out
at 500,000. Last year there were fruited here 200 kinds of Pears.

" It does the olfactory nerves of one good to enter his Rose grounds —
they cover nearly an acre — half an acre of them lie in a body. The
fragrance arismg from such a mass of Roses is enough to breathe
sweetness over the entire village.

"The varieties of ornamental trees, shrubs, Vines, and plants amount
to 1000 at least ; but as a mere bare description of ^this nursery would
fill columns, we will let this suffice for the present."

A FEW WORDS ABOUT ORCHARD HOUSES.
I READ with much interest your notice of Mr. Rivers's Nursery,
Sawbridgevvorth, in the last number of the Florist, but I was not
interested with your account of the Orchard-house.

Nearly at the commencement of your article you say_ that " The
cultivation of fruit trees in pots dates back but a short period, and has
grown up, as it were, from our unfavourable springs of late having
rendered out-door crops of wall-fruit very precarious. But, un-
questionably, the impulse given to the erection of glass buildings of tliis
description must be attributed to the removal of the duty on glass,
which enables this useful article now to be purchased at a cheap rate.'
And a little further, you say that " We have at all times strenuously
urged that orchard-houses are a valuable auxiliary even to good
gardens, and in our opinion indispensable in exposed and cold

346 THE TLORIST.

situations." That orchard-houses are a valuable auxiliary to good
gardens, I am fully persuaded ; but then they must be very different
structures from Mr. Rivers's glass roofs, resting on posts, and the spaces
between filled in with Arbor-vitee, &c. ; or even from his more recently
erected ones with wood shutters, &c.

Mr. Rivers claims to be considered the poor amateur's friend. He
wishes to furnish the man of small income with all the dainty kinds of
fruit, and to supply which very large and costly establishments are
supported by many of our aristocracy. This is a very praiseworthy
motive ; but, with all due deference to Mr. Rivers, I cannot see how
his orchard-houses will ever realise it.

I should very much like to hear your opinion on fruit-trees in pots ;
as to whether there is any real economy, or any decided advantage, in
growing them in pots to planting them in borders of soil. This is a
point which should be settled at once ; and it is to such practical men
as yourself that the public look for the solution of such questions.

From my own experience, I know that the cultivation of fruit-trees
in pots is attended with an immense deal of labour ; and so will any
amateur, however enthusiastic he may be, find it, it he has all the work
to do himself. Even Mr. Rivers finds it necessary to place the pots his
trees are growing in on a bed of soil for the roots to penetrate into it,
and this notwithstanding his liberal doses of liquid manure.

Then why not, I ask, plant them in the soil, and be done with all
the trouble of cutting off the roots, and placing fresh soil for them to
strike into every year ? I know what Mr. Rivers has said in favour of
growing the trees in pots, but I cannot see there is any advantage in
the system to the fruit-grower ; whilst I can see a very serious objection
to it, namely — that for pot-culture a much greater number of trees will
be required for an orchard-house than when the trees are planted out
in borders, and consequently the nurseryman's bill will be so much
larger. This is a matter of vast importance to the poor amateur, whom
Mr. Rivers, with his cheap houses, wishes to befriend. I merely make
this remark in support of the view I take of the subject, without
intending any offence to Mr. Rivers or any other person. It has
been said that by having fruit-trees in pots we can have a greater
variety of fruit, and for a greater length of time. I admit that we can
have a greater variety of fruit, but I am not quite so certain that we can
have them for any greater length of time. One good tree in a border
will bear as many fruit as six trees in pots, and consequently will furnish
fruit for the dessert for as long a time as the six trees in pots, and with
a proper selection of sorts the time might be equally long. From my own
experience, I know that twenty trees planted in a border will bear more
fine fruit than sixty trees in pots in an orchard-house of the same size.

But some may urge it as an objection that trees planted out will soon
get too large for any ordinary orchard-house. To this I say no, with
root-pruning and proper management.

There is, however, one very great advantage to be gained in growing
fruit-trees in pots in orchard-houses, namely — for proving new kinds
of fruit. This is their legitimate purpose, and to this they should be
confined. This is a nurseryman's business, and to this they should con-

NOVEMBER. 347

fine themselves, and not attempt to teach practical gardeners what they
themselves do not understand. Mr. Rivers erred in going beyond this.
The horticultural world is much indebted to him for having originated
so easy a means of proving foreign varieties of fruits, &c.

Glass is now cheap enough, consequently good houses can be
put up at a very moderate price. I am as great an advocate for
orchard-houses as Mr. Rivers, but I would have them well built. I
would have them span-roofed, with glass at the sides. I would have
them well ventilated, and heated by hot water. To attempt to grow
Grapes in span-roofed houses not heated will end in disappointment.
When orchard-houses are heated with hot water. Vines can be grown
up the rafters, and every other kind of fruit can be grown from trees
planted in the inside borders. A house of this description, in the
hands of a practical man, will jiay, which is more than one of
Mr. Rivers's houses will do in the hands of an amateur.

Pomona.

ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE PELARGONIUM.
The following brief remarks, which are seasonable, we extract from
a paper on the cultivation of the Pelargonium, issued with Mr. Turner's
Catalogue, from the Royal Nursery, Slough.

" The successful cultivation of the Pelargonium very much depends
upon its treatment in the autumn : it is not possible to have fine plants
in bloom in May or June unless due attention has been paid to them
in the previous autumn. This is especially the case with young plants ;
they should have prompt and constant attention and every assistance
that they can have from the moment they are struck. Any delay in
potting when needed, allowing them to be a prey to aphides, or neglect
in any particular, will surely tell injuriously upon the bloom. The
following hints are therefore offered in reference more especially to new
plants from the nurseries. First, as soon as the plants are received
(and the earlier they are received the better) let them be made as
clean as possible ; stir the surface of the soil a little, and place them in
a light airy situation to recover the effects of the journey: two or
three days will generally be sufficient for this. Then examine the
roots, and, if needed (which will usually be the case), repot them into
the next sized pots ; good mellow loam, enriched with an equal bulk of
stable litter laid together a twelvemonth previous, and occasionally
turned, will, with the addition of a little silver sand, be a suitable
compost. Put a stake to each plant, and let them have regular attention
to watering, air, and light ; in three or four weeks they will be ready
for another shift into the next sized pot, in which they may remain
until the end of January or beginning of February, when they should
be put into their blooming pots, using pots suited to the strength of
each plant, and bearing in mind that as it is necessary that the
pots be well filled with roots by the time the plants come into bloom,
care should be taken not to overpot. As soon as the lower leaves turn
yellow in the spring a little clear weak manure water may be used
with advantage, and be continued until the bloom is nearly ready to

348 THE FLORIST.

expand. Anything like forcing should be avoided, but a Httle fire heat
will be beneficial in damp, dull, and foggy weather, and also whenever
the temperature sinks to near 40°.

" Cleanliness is also a very important thing to attend to in the
culture of the Pelargonium. No dead foliage should be allowed to
remain on the plants, and if the green leaves become dirty or dusty
they should be carefully washed, and the glass of the house, both
inside and outside, should be kept quite clean. Fancy varieties
require similar treatment to the large kinds ; they will, however, bear
a little more heat with advantage through the winter and early part of
spring, taking especial care to avoid ' drawing ' of the shoots."

NOTES ON BEDDING GERANIUMS.
VARIEGATED-LEAVED GERANIUMS.

Mrs. Lennox. — This variety has leaves with a clear white margin of
good breadth, centre of leaf a pleasing green, truss moderate, flowers
a deep scarlet, form of petal bad, but better than Mountain of Light ;
it grows freely, and is valuable from the pure white edging of its leaves,
and good habit. This makes the most beautiful bed of all the variegated
Geraniums.

Alma. — Apparently a seedhng frcm Flower of the Day. It is,
however, much superior to that well-known variety ; the leaves are not
so much crumpled, and the margin is a clear white, in which respect,
however, it is inferior to the above. Alma produces a good truss of
bloom with well-formed petals, grows very freely, both in pots and
when planted out, and is an acquisition to the flower-garden.

Mountain of Snow. — Very similar to Mrs. Lennox. In our speci-
mens margins scarcely so white ; in others we have seen, quite so ;
may be used as Mrs. Lennox, A fine variety, and carrying a good
truss of bloom.

Silver King. — Leaves with a broad margin of yellowish white,
habit dwarf and compact, truss of bloom good, flower a rich scarlet,
makes a rich-looking bed from its yellowish tinted foliage, and likewise
an excellent edging to the horse-shoe or plain-leaved scarlets.

Attraction (Lee's). — The leaves of this variety have a greenish white
margin, with a band of reddish purple surrounding the centre part.
Although this and others in the same way are interesting, from having
the horse-shoe mark combined with silver margined leaves, they have
not the distinct look of those with only two-coloured leaves, and in our
estimation are not so valuable for effect. This variety grows very
freely ; truss good, flowers a pale scarlet.

Countess of Warwick. — In the way of Attraction, but much supe-
rior. Margin clearer, purple band well defined, fine truss of bloom of
a deep scarlet, petals well shaped, a good variety in its class.

Annie. — Leaves large and flat, with a yellowish margin ; has the
horse -shoe marking well defined, truss of bloom large, flowers a good
scarlet.

NOVEMBER. 349

HORSE-SHOE GERANIUMS.

General PeUssier. — A fine variety : margin of leaf pale green, with
a well-marked purple band ; centre of leaf a yellowish green, trusses
on long footstalks, of a bright scarlet. This is good either for bedding
or vases ; it grows and blooms freely.

General Simpson. — Horse-shoe marking indistinct, dwarf habit, a
good truss with flowers of a bright scarlet.

Boule de Feu (Ward). — Purple marking well defined, compact
grower, blooms of a very bright scarlet with a white eye. We consider
this the brightest scarlet of all the horse-shoe class.

King of Scarlets. — Plain leaf, dwarf grower, large truss, and fine
petal ; colour, rich scarlet.

REVIEW.

A Descriptive Catalogue of Trees, Conifers, &c. By Messrs. A.

Paul & Son. Cheshunt, Herts.
We do not often notice Trade Catalogues, unless characterised by some
special feature. Until within the last few years, it had been the prac-
tice with nurserymen to issue catalogues giving only the names of
plants with prices, so that intending purchasers, unless well acquainted
with the various plants, could Ibrm but an inadequate idea of the
peculiarities of the various articles offered. A great improvement,
however, has been effected recently by various nurserymen, and many
classes of plants have been well described ; still, trees, shrubs, and
other plants have not met with the attention they deserved. The taste
for ornamental planting has increased very much, and many of our
finest ornamental trees and shrubs are now sought after and much
used ; still, unless seen, those who wished to purchase were not assisted
in making a selection from the nursery catalogues hitherto issued.
Messrs. Paul's catalogue is not only a detailed list of what they have to
offer, but it is in reality an elaborate guide to purchasers, giving the
botanical name, height, English name of each shrub or tree, with
suitable remarks appended to them, which will be found of
advantage to those who are unable to select from nurseries.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Auriculas. — These plants having been placed in their vsrinter
quarters will require but little to be done to them for some time. Keep
them clean and tolerably dry.

Azaleas.— kiiQn^ carefully to watering these, for though apparently
resting, if allowed to get too dry at this season, the flowers next year
will be poor. Give air plentifully on mild days.

Camellias.— l{?iX\j dust has collected on the leaves of these, it should
be washed off with a sponge or syringe some fine morning ; this will

350 THE FLORIST.

show the flowers to the best advantage. Many of the early sorts will
be coming into flower ; give them liberal supplies of water. They will
not need any fire-heat unless very severe weather sets in.

Carnations and Picotees. — It is now full late for potting into small
pots the layers from the old stocks. If there are still such to be done,
no time should be lost in performing it. The stock, generally, should
be kept dry. Avoid wetting the foliage when watering. Giving
plenty of air, and keeping the plants clean, is the principal labour these
plants will require for some time to come.

Cinerarias. — These will now be growing very fast and should have
corresponding room, more parficularly those intended for early blooming.
Keep the lights off" on all favourable occasions, to prevent the leal-
stalks from drawing. Repot young stock that have not had their
final shift.

Cold Frames. — Plants of all descriptions in frames and pits should
never be left exposed in rainy weather at this season ; still every oppor-
tunity should be taken to give a plentiful supply of air, when the
weather is fine and mild. Water not with a rose, but individually,
with a small-spouted pot that does not carry a deal of water or make
any unnecessary wet ; as the nights at this time of the year are very
long and cold, it is necessary and indeed preferable to water all kinds of
plants in the morning, so that all superfluous moisture may have a
chance to pass off" before evening ; it is also well to avoid watering the
foliage as much as possible. Keep everything as dry as the health and
well-being of the plants will allow ; fi"0st will by this means be more
easily kept from injuring the plants. Cover well up in frosty weather.

Conservatory and Show-house. — It is of the first importance in
managing plants that they have particular and steady attention during
the winter months as regards heat, air, and watering, and this is more
particularly the case the first few weeks after they are housed. Chry-
santhemums will now help to make a display in these houses ; water
them freely. Chinese Primroses are valuable decorative plants for
vdnter ; they should be watered with caution. Unless the weather be
very severe, much fire-heat will not be required as yet ; in fact, the
less the better until after Christmas.

Cucumbers. — Those planted out in August and attended to as directed
in previous Calendars will now be in good condition for winter bearing.
Keep the plants thin of shoots ; maintain a steady, regular bottom-
heat, and a moist growing atmosphere, with a temperature by day of
from 70° to 76°, and at night from 65° to 70°. Give air freely on
mild days in the forenoon, and shut up early in the afternoon. By
these means you will have plenty of Cucumbers during the winter, and
by not leaving too many on the plants, they will continue in bearing,
with good management, until July next.

Dahlias. — Store the roots for wintering, after carefully drying them.
The seed will require attending, or it wiU get mouldy and perish.

Flower Garden. — Continue to pot any plants that it may be
desirable to keep for next season. In the absence of frost, should dry
weather set in, many of the beds will continue tolerable for a short time
longer ; they should be frequently gone over and cleared of all decaying

NOVEMBER. 351

blooms and leaves ; such beds as are really gone by are better planted
at once with bulbs for spring flowering. Those beds that are latest
cleared may be filled up from the preserve garden with Wallflowers in
varieties, Primroses, Hellebores, Alyssums, Hepaticas, Saxifragas, and
a long list of other things. Dwarf evergreens in pots are also useful
for such purposes. Keep every place neat and tidy. Proceed with any
intended alterations.

Forcing Hardy Shrubs. — Put in the first batch of Lilacs, Roses,
Azaleas, Kalmias, Rhododendrons, &c. ; plunge them in a nice steady
bottom-heat. Keep up a moist atmosphere ; they will not require as
yet much fire-heat, unless in severe frosts.

Forcing Groumd. — Make good beds for Seakale and Asparagus.
Towards the end of the month take up the roots ; place a few inches of
soil on the beds, on this place the roots and fill in between the roots with
soil. Give them a good watering in a few days, after that little is
required until it is ready for use. Cover the frames at night ; give air
in fine weather. Sow Mustard and Cress weekly. Put some Rhubarb
roots into heat.

Fruit (Iiardy). — Proceed with the planting of fruit trees in open,
mild weather. Where the subsoil is of a gravelly, porous nature, little
if any drainage will be required ; but where the subsoil is of a reten-
tive, clayey nature, the most thorough drainage should be adopted, in
order to give the trees a good chance. If the pruning has been properly
attended to during summer, there will be but very little that will
require doing now ; if there be any, it should be done as soon as the
leaves are oft". Keep the standard Apple and Pear trees open in the
centre ; take out strong upright leaders and branches that cross each
other. Figs should be covered to protect the young wood from frosts.
Continue to nail whilst the weather is mild ; endeavour to get as much
of this work done as is possible before Christmas. When the Goose-
berry and Currant bushes are pruned, lime the ground and dig lightly
over.

Greenhouse (Jiard-wooded). — Water at this season should be given
sparingly, but at the same time the plants must not be allowed to suffer
from want of it. Admit air freely, but not in currents ; keep a dry and
healthy atmosphere. Soft-wooded. — Give air carefully in cold weather.
Do not crowd them, so that they may have all the light possible ;
water when absolutely necessary. Make fires to dry up damp in wet
weather, and in frosty weather just sufficient to keep them in a healthy
condition.

Hollyhocks. — Keep these dry, yet growing, by giving them pot-
room. . .

Kitchen Garden. — Now is the season for making alterations. Dram
wherever necessary. Manure all vacant ground, and dig or trench, or
throw up into ridges. Earth up Celery when dry. Carrots, Parsnips,
Beet-root, &c., should be immediately taken up and stored away, if not
already done. Protect Lettuce and Endive from frosts, also Cauliflowers
that are heading. Sow the first lot of Peas on a warm, sheltered
border. Sow also a few Beans. Dress Asparagus beds ; and when the
weather is sufficiently dry hoe among Cabbages and Spinach.

352 THE FLORIST.

Orchard House. — A cool, dry atmosphere, with thorough ventilation,
is all that is at present necessary here.

Pansies. — Give plenty of air to the stock that is to be wintered in
pots. If not already done, plant out those for blooming in beds, as Well
as seedlings.

Pelargoniums. — (See paper in the present number, page 347.)
Pinery. — Plants now showing fruit will require a rather higher
temperature to assist the blooming. Fruit now swelling will require
occasional waterings and a moist atmosphere. Fruit now ripening will
not require watering, and they should have all the light possible, with a
hot, dry atmosphere. Plants to show fruit in January should be kept
dry, and in a rather lower temperature ; but it should not be kept too
low. Pines in all stages require bottom -heat. The young stock should
have air whenever the weather is favourable ; they should have a
tolerably dry atmosphere, all the light possible, and a steady bottom-
heat, and they will pass safely through the winter.

Pinks. — Pot up a few pairs of each kind to winter in frames with
the Carnations. These, if not required to fill up vacancies in the beds,
produce fine blooms if planted out in 'March.

Pleasure Grounds. — The present is the season for alterations here.
All wet and retentive soils sliould be well drained. Trees of every
description may now be planted. Rolling and sweeping are operations
which will require to be daily performed to keep anything like a tidy
appearance.

Stove. — The most important operations in this department, at this
season, consist in keeping the plants clean and neat, and well watered.
All plants done flowering should be placed as much out of sight as
possible, and all plants in flower should be brought as much as possible
into view.

Strawberry Plants. — If our previous directions have been attended
to these will now be good plants, with well-formed, strong crowns, and
able to do good work next season. As they will have done growing,
they should be put into winter quarters, placing a sufficient number for
the first batch of forcing plants into a cold frame, pit, Vinery, or Peach
house. Ridging the plants is as good a mode as any for wintering them.
Tulips. — Choose every opportunity of getting them planted without
delay, before bad weather sets in. The offsets should have been
planted as recommended last month.

Vinery. — When Grapes are wanted in April the first house should
be started immediately. The outside borders should have a good
covering of leaves, and these should be covered over with long straw ;
if this be properly done, they will not require anything more during the
winter. Some people experience considerable difficulty in getting their
Vines to break properly. Now this oftentimes arises from the wood
not being properly ripened the previous season. With a moist atmo-
sphere and a genial temperature, there is no difficulty in getting the
fine, plump, well-formed buds, on properly matured wood, to break
strong and freely. The night temperature should not exceed 50° till
each bud is fully swelled, when it may be raised to 55°; an increase on
sunny days may be allowed of 20° to 25°.

' ■!m^TKsJ?e& *■ ^iva>-

Hybnd- Perpetu.al

Iffrd- Jia^lan/

Plate 121

7ypi/f^ fy r /^<?/«'

DECEMBER. 353

THE ROSE LORD RAGLAN.

(Plate 121,)

'_'Si nous^r.vions a couronner— non pas une rosiere— inais simplcmf>ijt mi
rosier, assurement notrc couroiuie serait pour le Rosier Lord Haglaii 11 a Lieu
certamement la plus belle et la phis eclaUntedetoutcsles Rosas."— Ilortkulteur
Francais for Sept , 185G.

This most beautiful and brilliant Rose v/as raised from seed of
the Geant des Batailles by M. Guillot, pOre, of Lyons, and sent
out in the autumn of 1854. M. G. had also the honour of
sending out its parent, the Geant, although he did not raise it.
There is no Rose that can at present compete with Lord Raglan
\\\ brilliancy of colour ; its scarlet is quite dazzling. In vigour of
habit it far surpasses its parent, for it makes shoots three to four
feet in length, and with good cultivation will form a fine pillar
Rose. It does not appear to be so inclined to mildew as the
Geant, and will probably long be a favourite, as it is in all
respects a first-class Rose.

ACHIMENES.

The new varieties, Carmipata splendens and Parsons!, which formed
the subject of one of our plates in the last number, were raised at
Danesbury Park, near Welwyn, Herts, by Mr. Parsons, the gardener,
who kindly allowed us to figure them, and which Mr. Andrews has done
very successfully. These varieties are new in colour and very beau-
tiful. Mr. Parsons has others also very dissimilar to existing kinds,
among which the best are Rosea elegans and Gem. No plant wives a
greater return in the amount of bloom for the little trouble necessary to
its successful culture than the Achimenes, and it may be had in flower
eight months out of the twelve ; in fact, at almost any time, if a succession
of plants is provided and started into growth at various times. The
principal bloom will be, however, in July and August, plants for which
can be grown in any moist, warm place, whether house or pit, to take
the place of Pelargoniums and other greenhouse plants. A greenhouse
or conservatory can be kept gay after the spring flowering plants are
over, if a few each of Achimenes, Fuchsias, and Balsams are grown on
for the purpose. These, with Lilies, make a very interesting display.
The following are the best old varieties of Achimenes : — Ambrose
Verschaffelt, Baumanni hirsuta, Carl Wolfarth, Coccinea grandiflora,
Gigantea, Gloxiniseflora, Longiflora major, Louis Van Houtte, Margue-
ritce, M. de Parpart, Reticulata, and Treherne Thomas.

NEW SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXXII.

354 THE FLORIST.

OPEN BRICK WALLS VERSUS PROTECTION.

{Concluded from page 325.)

The next witness called for the defence in this case was ]\Ir. William
Ingram, Belvoir Castle, Grantham, who deposed to the crops not being
generally good in his neighbourhood, although his own crops of Peaches,
Nectarines, Apricots, and Golden-drop Plums were good. That he
uses straw mats suspended upon poles, and that for three years suc-
cessively he has saved good crops of Apricots upon south walls by using
those mats, whereas for the three previous years before he used those
coverings no fruit was obtained ; beneath those coverings a self-
registering thermometer indicated 32°, and one at the same time fully
exposed indicated 24° Fahrenheit. His natural soil is Has clay,
which he has well drained. This witness further stated, upon cross-
examination, that he had seen good crops of Apricots upon trees trained
to cottages, but he did not consider those unprotected.

Mr. W. Elliott, Lilleshall, Newport, Salop, next adverted to the crops
being very scarce with him and in his neighbourhood, whether pro-
tected or not, all having shared the same fate. That he used light
canvas on rollers, and that he thinks it advisable to have the greater
part of the trees protected, this being his first failure since he has used
protection : his borders do not want draining.

Mr. John Spink, Castle Gardens, Warwick, was next brought
forward. He stated that he had not known such a scarcity of wall
fruit these thirty years ; upon east aspects a complete failure — west
aspects, rather better crops. He protects with netting ; his neighbours
generally use Yew and Laurel branches. He considers that without
protection a complete failure may be anticipated.

Mr. John Haythorne, Woolaton, Nottingham, here deposed to the
crops being mostly a failure in his neighbourhood, with the exception of
Apricots. He uses a thick close net, evergreen boughs, and frigi-domo,
which he considers a good covering, and has always found it, when
made to take up and let down, necessary to ensure good crops ; he
considers glass cases a sufficient proof of this. But, upon cross-
examination, it was elicited from this witness that although he had
paid great attention to his coverings this season, and had covered every
tree, he had met with a total failure, with the exception of one from
which he had to thin the fruit : the cause of the failure of his other
trees he could not discover, as all were covered with the same material,
and all were in good health.

Mr. Charles Keetly, Osmaston Hall, Derby, next stated that the crops
of wall fruit were very bad with him, with the exception of Apricots ;
that he protects with haybands, Yew branches, and old fish nets. He
has well drained his borders. He has never, throughout his observation,
seen equally good crops upon the unprotected as upon the protected
trees.

Mr. Henry Hardinge, Pewsey, Wilts, said that the crops were
pretty good with him ; that fine netting and canvas were generally

DECEHBER. 355

used to protect with. He considers that the borders are not so gene-
rally drained as they ought to be ; also, throughout his general
observations, he does not remember seeing such good crops as upon
protected trees.

Mr. W. J. Ward, Prospect Hill, Reading, next stated that he had plenty
of Peaches, but Apricots were very thin and all other fruits a total failure.
He has been eleven years in this place, and during this time he has
generally had good crops, but has always used slight protection. He
has often noticed a failure amongst his neighbours where not protected.
Pie is no advocate for heavy protection, and thinks nets quite adequate.

Mr. Wm. Cox, Moseley Hall, next deposed to the crops being very
scarce indeed with him, and that as far as his practice extends, which
is over twenty years, he considers the coverings should be glass, and
nothing else. This he has proved by using old garden lights placed
lengthways along the top of the .wall, giving them a fall of six inches
merely to shoot off the water ; by this plan, last season he had a good
crop, but this season none. He also considers it an excellent plan to
place breaks with either boards or straw hurdles placed edgeways
against the wall at about 30 or 40 feet distance from each other, but
he is very careful not to place anything dark in front of the trees.
This witness also speaks very decidedly as to not having seen as good
crops where the trees were not covered as upon those that were.

Mr. Piowell, Bolton House, Gateshead, next bore evidence to the crops
being very scarce with him ; that he protects with calico and Spruce
Fir branches. His borders are w'ell drained, and the protected portion
of his trees are the only ones that have any fruit upon them.

Mr. Wm. Laudon, Downton Castle, here stated that the crops in his
locality were very poor, with the exception of his own, and that he has
abundance, and never once failed a crop. He covers some of his trees
with Haythorn's hexagon net and Fir branches ; those covered with
the branches were by far the best. This being the place of that cele-
brated horticulturist, the late Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq., the most
scientific principle had been adopted in making the borders and planting
the trees : hence one principal cause of this witness's success ; but he
must state that throughout his general observation he had never seen
crops equal to the protected ones.

This being the conclusion as regards witnesses for the defence, it was
considered that as prosecutor liad introduced some quotations in support
of his case, that there could be no objection if the same course was
adopted for the defence. The extract that would be made was merely
to show, that those who judiciously employed defendant were looked
upon as deserving approbation rather than censure by the author, who
was a very highly influential man in all scientific affairs. P. Neill,
Esq., F.L.S., and Secretary to the Caledonian Horticultural Society,
says, in "Sir John Sinclair's Report," 1814, chap, ix., "That a
variable and unsettled climate tends to call into action all the powers of
the mind and to produce habits of unceasing attention ; and when a
gardener is able to raise a tolerable crop, both of the more tender fruits
and vegetables, he has doubtless more real merit in accomplishing this
object, even though the articles should be somewhat inferior in quality,

A A 2

356 THE FLORIST.

than he who in a more propitious soil and climate raises them to the
utmost perfection." As this case had ah-eady occupied such a very
considerable time no more extracts would be brought forward, as it was
not wished to unnecessarily intrude upon valuable time, it being con-
sidered that quite sufficient had been said to vindicate defendant in the
course he had pursued.

In summing up it was hoped that very great care and attention had
been paid to the evidence as it was brought forward in this case, it
being a case that materially affected a very great portion of the public
of this country, at least the fruit-growing portion of it, upon the
question of economy — economy now being an almost universal motto ;
this had been, it appears, one of the principal inducements of the
prosecution in bringing forward this case. It had appeared by the
evidence that in some places a very considerable outlay had been sub-
mitted to, in providing glass walls and coverings of all kinds to ensure
crops, while in other places nothing of the kind had been used ; there-
fore, to arrive at a conclusion as to which was the most economical
system, or the system which gave the best results in accordance with
its outlay, the evidence would be examined and analysed. The
evidence here having been minutely gone through, it appeared by the
analysis that twenty-three of the witnesses had employed the defendant,
and out of those twenty-three who had covered there were only five
who had deposed to their having good crops, and two spoke to having
but middling ones, and the remaining sixteen were all bad. Seven of
the witnesses had not protected at all : four of these seven speak to
having good crops, the remaining three deposing to their generally
having had the best crops upon their trees when unprotected. Eleven
of the witnesses speak to their having covered a part of their trees and
leaving a part uncovered, and the whole of these eleven speak to having
the best crops upon the uncovered trees, thus making in all eighteen of
the witnesses who depose to the best crops upon their trees when un-
protected. These, it must be remembered, were not isolated cases ;
therefore, as they occur throughout a wide extent of country, they could
not be influenced by local causes. The next point of the evidence
referred to was in regard to the temporary coping so strongly urged by
even plaintiff's witnesses, several of whom, who had spoken to their not
employing defendant, having used this form of protection, and consider
this simple and easy process quite adequate to all their requirements ;
but this point would he referred to again in elucidation of some theo-
retical points which defendant, in the course of his address, had brought
forward, and which it was considered incumbent to touch upon in — to
use defendant's own words — a " philosophical point of view." First, in
regard to the deterioration of our climate ; if such were the case, from
what cause did it proceed ? Was it from increased humidity? — the
thorough drainage our lands of late years has undergone at the hands
of our agriculturists would lead us to look to a different issue than
this. This same rule will also hold good in regard to tlie temperature
of our climate, for where water is in the soil no heat can penetrate ;
therefore, as the water recedes from the soil through drainage, as surely
will heat follow and penetrate that soil ; and as there are at the present

DECEMBER. 357

day but few tracts of land that have not undergone the operation of
drainage within these last few years, consequently rendering it fit for
the absorption of the summer's heat, and holding it in store till the
temperature of the atmosphere is lower than that of the earth, when
this accumulated heat is radiated ; therefore, this increased surface of
radiation must tend to increase rather than diminish our temperature ;
and as there is no philosophical evidence of our being further removed
from the equator and placed in a colder latitude, this idea of decreased
temperature must be banished. It was also again asked if this dete-
rioration spoken of proceeded from more sudden or violent changes ; if
so, from whence do they proceed ? for we have still the same expansive
Atlantic on one side, and the same narrow channel on the other, as when
Sir W. Temple, in 1683, wrote so enthusiastically in reference to the
beautiful Peaches his garden then produced, which he stated had been
tasted by a gentleman from Gascony, who had pronounced them quite
equal to any that climate could furnish. Again, in our own day, that
indefatigable horticulturist, the late Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. —
who is no mean authority in these matters — was strongly impressed
with the idea that with judicious cGltivation the Peach might be
sufficiently hardened as to be naturalised to the climate of England, so
as to succeed in ripening its fruit, even as a standard, in the open air.
(Some expressions of regret were here made that our horticulturists had
not followed up these ideas by applying the same energies to hybridising,
with a view of accomplishing this end, as they had devoted to the
opposite cause.) The next point in defendant's charge referred to was
where he asked the question — "What had the ripening of the wood
and draining the borders to do with spring protection ? " This was a
point it was considered required some elucidation, for both those things
tended ulteriorly to this very point to which defendant refers, namely,
the moisture contained in the flower, in the first place by divesting a
tree of the means of obtaining a superabundant supply of moisture
on the one hand, and by thinning the shoots and nailing them so as to
expose them to the full influence of the light on the other, there will
be a greater amount of organic matter stored up, and, in consequence,
the blossom will have more strength and less moisture, to enable it to
withstand any inclemency it may be subjected to. Again, defendant
was certainly quite right in the view he had taken in regard to
radiation taking place most in a clear atmosphere, but he had cer-
tainly, to a certain degree, criminated himself in making use of these
words ; for, if radiation takes place most in a clear atmosphere, then
defendant, by shading too much the objects he overhangs, must be the
means of checking this radiation ; we, however, here find the principal
advantage of broad copings, which do not check radiation, but allow the
walls to give out their accumulated heat, which when given out always
ascends perpendicularly, it therefore thus rises until it strikes against
the coping, which causes it again to return, thus keeping the walls at a
considerably higher temperature than the surrounding atmosphere. To
prove this it was advised that two registering thermometers be placed
— one to hang within six inches of the wall beneath the coping, and
the other at about three or four feet from the wall ; both to be at equal
heights from the ground.

358 THE FLORIST.

Therefore, in taking nil these things into consideration, it was
considered that the justice of the case would be met by returning a
verdict to the effect, that our horticulturists be requested to discharge
defendant from their service as soon as possible — except in extreme
cases, and that a more general use be made of the temporary copings;
and also, that this verdict be accompanied with a request that the same
gentlemen will use their utmost intiuence and energies in endeavouring
to bring forward a more hardy class of those fruits that now require
the assistance of the plaintiff in this case. It was hoped and believed
that the time was not far distant when this very desirable object would
be attained, so that we should soon be enabled to gather our Peaches
from trees in the open air in favourable situations. Verdict accordingly.

There now only remained the returning public thanks to the
several witnesses who had so willingly come forward with their evidence
to assist in carrying through this case, which was here done m the rpost
eloquent terms ; but at the same time regret was expressed that so many
persons should yet be found so reluctant to come forward to assist in the
advancement of science, as had been found to be the case in issuing
the summons for the information required in this matter.

Thomas W. Abbott.

Ribston Park, Wetherhy.

THE DAHLIAS OP 1855.
The experience of the past season proves that slight dependance can be
placed on any opinion which may be formed of the capabilities of a
Dahlia, on its first appearance as a seedling. The gentlemen who
furnished the "tabular fist" in January last were all more or less
wrong. Nor do I see how such errors are to be avoided. Seedlings
exhibited for proof are only seen by the public at their best ; and there
is no possibility of formifig any reliable estimate of their constancy.
Nay, the very raisers may be deceived with respect to this property ;
for it sometimes happens that a flower is constant one year and quite
the reverse another. There is, consequently, no reason for affirming
that the opinions recorded in January were not correct, so far as the
means of arriving at sound conclusions had been afforded.

" Constancy has so much to do with making a Dahlia a favourite,"
that no new variety can hope to become established in public esteem,
which does not reckon this as one nf its primary qualities. I have long
felt that this property is not sufficiently insisted on. I can call to
mind several occasions when, if I had not taken the precaution to form
a corps de reserve, by planting out a few of the constant second-rate
varieties, somewhat contemptuously styled " useful," I should have
found it impossible to make up the lull tale of presentable flowers when
the day of exhibition came round. I have now arrived at the stern
determination of discarding (after a fair and impartial trial), all those
sorts — however beautiful they may occasionally be — which do not offer
a reasonable chance of one good bloom, from two or three plants, when

DECEMBER. 359

wanted. With these ideas in my mind, it follows that I differ con-
siderably from the writer in last month's Florist in my estimation of
the order in which the Dahlias of 1855 deserve to be placed. If 1 were
called upon now to place them, 1 should certainly as-sign them very
different positions from those in which I located them in the Florist
for November last, two months before the compilation of the " tabular
list." I should be disposed almost to reverse the places of some of
them, and should have no hesitation in enumerating the best six Dahlias
of the season in the following order : —

1. Lord Palmerston.

2. Colouel Windham.

3. Eclipse.

4. Grand Sultan.

5. Lollipop.

6. Miss Burdett Coutts.

Lord Palmerston I consider one of the noblest flowers ever intro-
duced. I fully concur in the opinion that " there is no Dahlia to equal
it in habit," &c. In forming our estimate of a Dahlia, we should not, I
think, dwell too much upon the possession of isolated "points." It should
be considered as a whole. I admit that there is no one property, taken
singly, in which Lord Palmerston is not beaten by some individual flower
or other; but I contend that for the possession of a// the desirable qualities
in a marked degree, it surpasses any Dahlia sent out last spring. The
same remarks apply, with some modification, to Colonel Windham and
Eclipse, which I place second and third, respectively. Grand Sultan
is not so constant as the first three, but sufficiently so to afford a fair
chance of a good bloom, on any given day, to the grower who manages
his plant judiciously, more particularly with reference to disbudding.
Lollipop and Miss Burdett Coutts exhibit glaring faults, each in its own
way. Perhaps it is not too much to assert that the latter is indebted
to its constancy alone for being able to hold its place. I do not deny
that Lollipop is the most popular flower of the batch. Let the fact be
granted. Still popularity is no proof of excellence : and I am desirous
to draw attention to what it is, rather than what people believe it to be.
In every respect save one, I am ready to allow supremacy to this
variety ; but its defect of petal is too conspicuous to permit me to place
it in the first rank. I fancy I recognise in it the type of a progeny
which may exhibit all the virtues, without the one vice of their parent.
In Miss Burdett Coutts a fault of an opposite character prevails. The
petals are faultless taken per se, but produced in scanty numbers :
hence the interstices between them, which give a jagged or milled
appearance to the circumference of the flower. Yet, with all this, its con-
stancy and telliijg appearance in a stand will, in all probability, suffice
to keep it in cultivation until a better formed flower of the same colour
shall have usurped its place. I am not sure that I should be doing
justice in omitting to enumerate Captain Ingram as a flower worthy of
commendation. .

But what of the rest? Are such varieties as Bessie, Perfection,
Mrs. Wheeler, and Duchess of Wellington to be utterly and unpardon-
ably condemned ? By no means. Give them a further term of pro-
bation. There is no doubt that, at their best, they are more beautiful
than those I have selected. The rarity with which they don their best

360 THE FLORIST.

attire is my reason for assigning them a less exalted position. I shall
grow them all again, and it is quite probable that, by this time next
year, some of them will have retrieved their characters. There are
many who prefer one grand bloom in a season to twenty moderate
ones, and who find pleasurable excitement in the very uncertainty of
the attainment. Individuals of this temperament will, and those who
grow for exhibition exclusively must, cultivate these uncertain varieties;
but he who loves to see plenty of blooms at home, as well as to show
them abroad occasionally, will do wisely — especially if he is limited as
to space — to confine his attention to those on which he feels he can
depend. I am by no means insensible to the charms of Bessie, bu
she has proved so coy a lass during the past autumn, and " so hard to
get," as the northern censors have it, that I must confess to some
abatement of my ardour. Uncertainty would seem the besetting sin
of the yellow Dahlia. Yellow Standard, IMrs. Seldon, Louisa Glenny,
and Duchess of Kent, all tell the same tale ; and the marked declension
of Yellow Beauty, as the season advanced, only confirms the notion
that the problem of a good constant yellow variety is yet to be solved.
I incline to think the want will ere long be supplied. In the collection
of Mr. Holmes — the second best 24 at the Crystal Palace — I remarke<;l
a noble yellow sort (a yearling, I presume), named John Dory, Now
I will hazard an opinion that this variety will prove in the yellow class
what Lord Palmerston is in the dark scarlet. I look forward with
much interest to its distribution and general cultivation. Perfection, if
not an absolute failure, has not yet vindicated the pretensions implied
in its name : still, I am much deceived if we do not yet find this kind
capable of better things than it has hitherto accomplished. IMrs.
Wheeler has been occasionally produced in a manner that would justify
its claim to the very highest position ; while, on the other hand,
numerous instances may be found in which plants failed to produce a
showable specimen throughout the entire season. I agree with the
observation that " Duchess of Wellington has not generally been well
managed;" neither am I in a position to deny that " it is exquisite
when in fine character." I can only regret that it has not been my
good fortune to see it in that condition.

The promise for the coming year is great, and I trust the perform-
ance will not lag far behind. Notwithstanding the worthlessness of my
predictions with regard to the Dahlias of 1855, I will venture an
opinion with regard to those of 1856, if a small space in next month's
number is allowed me for the purpose.

A. S. H.

NEW ROSES.
Now that the Rose season is on the wane, and admirers of this flower
are preparing to re-adjust and improve their collections, it may be both
interesting and useful to take a brief retrospect of the past year.

The summer Roses, and, indeed, the first blooms of the autumnals,
were, in Hertfordshire, all that could be wished. So much, however,

DECEMBER. 3(31

cannot be said in favour of the late blooms of the perpetuals ; the closing
days of September and the openingdays of October were successively wet,
and many buds of promise expanded but indifferently. Now we have a
change, and what a remarkable eflfect a sunny day in October produces on
a bed of autumnal Roses, especially if several preceding days have been
wet and cloudy. The rain ceases, the clouds break away, tlie sun
again shines, and suddenly the Tea-scented, Chinese, and Bourbon
Roses are flushed with blossoms, lighting up the dark masses of foliaoe
with their white, rose, orange, purple, and crimson tints. At the present

date (October 20) the following kinds are blooming beautifully :

Hybrid Perpetuals : Souvenir de Reine d'Angleterre, Gloire de Vitry,
Bacchus, Duchess of Sutherland, Prince Leon, Geant des Batailles,
General Jacqueminot, Comte Brobinsky, Comte Odart, General Castel-
lane, Jules ]\Iargottin, Souvenir d'Henri Clay. Noisette: Fellenberg.
Bourbon: Souvenir de la Malmaison, Gloire de Rosomene, Queen, Leon
Oursel, Armosa, Celimene, Angelina Bucelle, Dupetit Thenars, Aurora
du Guide, Prince Albert, Duchesse de Thuringe, Justine, Madame
Cousin, and Sir J. Paxton. Chinese: Fabvier and Mrs. Bosanquet.
Tea -scented: Narcisse, Devoniensis, Gloire de Dijon, Nisida, Comte
de Paris, Safrano, and Canary. The above kinds we can with confidence
recommend to those who may wish for a supply of hardy and realli/ late
blooming Roses.

My object at present, however, is rather to say something about the
novelties of the season than to discourse on Roses in general. Presuming
your readers to be already acquainted with the merits and demerits of
the older kinds, I shall take leave of this part of the subject, with the
remark that the present year has been more fruitful than many in the
introduction of really valuable novelties. The Hybrid Perpetuals are,
as usual, in the ascendant, and first among them we name Triomphe
de I'Exposition, which is undoubtedly one of the best; the flowers are
of a beautiful reddish crimson, large, full, and well shaped : the growth
is vigorous, and the plant appears equally suitable either for a standard,
pillar, or pot rose. Arthur de Sansal is also an excellent variety ; it is
one of the numerous seedlings recently sprung from the Geant des
Batailles, but possesses more of the bright purple shade of many of the
Bourbon Roses ; is distinct and really good. Bacchus (Paul) is another
of the same race ; the flowers are far brighter than the Geant, large,
full, and produced in great abundance, both in summer and autumn ;
this Rose, on account of the brilliancy of its colour and profuseness of its
flowering, should he in every collection. General Simpson is also an
excellent Rose, of a bright carmine colour, large, full, and finely shaped,
and, in addition to its other capabilities, will probably make a good pot
Rose. General Pelissier is also very promising ; the flowers are of a
delicate rose colour, large, full, and very sweet ; it flowers freely in
autumn, and appears likely to make a good standard or pillar Rose.
Helen (Paul) is one of the sweetest Roses in existence ; the colour is
blush, with rosy centre ; uncertain out of doors, but of great beauty when
grown under glass. Imperatrice des Fran9ais is also good and distinct ;
the flowers are flesh colour, with whitish centre, of fine form, and
produced freely in autumn ; the growth is vigorous, ]\Iathurin Regnier

362 THE FLORIST.

can scarcely be too highly spoken of; it is in the way of William
Griffiths, but larger, and brighter in colour ; the growth is compact, and
it will doubtless form an excellent standard Rose. Madame Knorr is
entirely new in style, being a perpetual Gallica Rose, possessing in a high
degree the form and fragrance for which the Gallica Roses are so
esteemed ; the Howers are Rose colour, with blush edges. Madame
Desiree Giraud is the best of the striped Perpetual Roses ; it may be
described as a striped Baronne Prevost, and is recommended with
confidence as a large, full, and good flower. Ornement des Jardins is
quite worthy of the name it bears, for it is one of the most attractive
flowers in the garden ; the colour is brilliant crimson, the flowers are
well shaped, full, very velvety, and produced freely in autumn ; growth
moderate. Pseonia is a large showy crimson Rose, good also for effect,
but what the critical eye might pronounce rather coarse. Prince Noir
is a novelty, and an advance upon all previous dark velvety Roses ; it
might very appropriately be called a perpetual Tuscany, and like that
old favourite is but semi-double. Pauhne Lanzezeur is a good Rose ;
colour bright crimson changing to violet. Souvenir de Reine d'Angle-
terre is unquestionably a first-rate variety ; it is blooming now
(October 20) equal to any Rose in the garden ; the flowers are bright
rose, large, full, finely shaped, and very sweet ; a vigorous habit renders
it equally suitable either for a standard, pillar, or pot Rose. Triomphe
d'Avranches is one of those large, full, bright red Roses which is sure
to please ; the growth is compact rather than vigorous. The above are
all Hybrid Perpetuals.

Among the Perpetual Moss Roses, Alfi-ed de Dalmas and Emilie de
Girardin are perhaps the best of the new ones ; both are rose colour :
the flowers of the former are whitish at their circumference, and
produced in clusters.

Of Bourbon Roses, Comte de Montijo, rich reddish purple ; Empress
Eugenie, rose, edges purple ; and Marquis Balbiano, rose, tinged with
silver, are decided acquisitions ; the two latter are sufficiently vigorous
to be grown as perpetual blooming, pillar, or climbing Roses. There is
one Noisette Rose to which attention should be directed, — Miss Gray.
It has been received here from a correspondent in Philadelphia, in whom
we have implicit confidence, as a variety of great merit ; the flowers are
of a bright yellow, egg shaped, and said to be better than either Augusta,
Cloth of Gold, or Solfaterre. It is evidently a free growing hardy-
constitutioned sort, but our propagator has left it no chance to flower
this summer ; it is, therefore, still one that requires to be taken on trust.
Another American variety. Souvenir d' Henri Clay, we turn to with more
complete satisfaction, as we are enabled to recommend it from our own
sighting ; the flowers are blush pink, in the way of Stanwell Perpetual,
which it surpasses, while resembling that Rose in the good qualities of
fragrance and late blooming.

Thus far I have endeavoured to lay before your readers a brief sketch
of the most valuable novelties Allowances must be made for difficulties
in the way of arriving at definite conclusions. Many of the new Roses
travel some hundreds of miles, and often in a weakly state, on their
way to the English Rose grounds ; many require a year's rest before they

DECEMBER. 363

thoroughly re-establish themselves, and some never regain the freshness
and vigour of plants transplanted from nearer home. Hence the number •
above given is small in comparison with the number of new kinds actually
introduced. Let it, however, be understood that the unnoticed are not
condemned but merely reserved for further trial. Of kinds one or two
years older more positive information may be given. Among these the
following may be safely chosen as of superior merit : — Moss : Baronne
de Wassenaer, bright red ; Captain Ingram, dark purple ; Gloire de
Mousseux, blush. H//brid Perpetual: Alphonse de Lamartine, rosy
blush ; Gloire de Vitry, light rose ; Lord Raglan, scarlet crimson ;
Madame de Cambaceres, rosy carmine ; Madame Masson, reddish
crimson ; IMadame Martel, rosy white ; Madame Vidot, flesh. Bourbon :
Dr. Leprestre, purplish red ; Ferdinand Deppe, reddish violet ; Omar
Pacha, brilliant red ; Prince Albert, scarlet crimson ; Reveil, cherry
shaded. This list might be considerably extended, but I fear 1 have
already trespassed too far on your valuable space.

William Paul.

Nurseries, Cheshunt, Herts.

[This excellent paper should have appeared in our last number, but
unfortunately it arrived too late. Mr. Paul's critique on the new Roses
will, however, be read with interest, showing, as it does, how some
varieties vary in different localities, as we find that not only Mr. Paul
but many of our correspondents differ from Mr. Rivers in his estima-
tion of certain kinds. This, however, will always be the case — Ed.]

BRITISH POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
jVbw. 6. — Mr. Hogg in the chair. Four new members were elected.
Mr. Spencer, of Bowood, Calne, Wilts, read a communication on the
orchards in his neighbourhood, together with some account of the fruits
best adapted for that locality. Some remarks were also made by Mr.
Varden, of Seaford Grange, near Pershore, on the effects of tlie frost last
spring upon fruit trees growing at different altitudes and subject to
various degrees of exposure. Both these papers will appear in the
Transactions of the Society. Beautifcd bunches of the Bowood Muscat
Grape were exhibited by Mr. Spencer. A full account of this new and
excellent variety, together with a coloured plate of it, will be given by
us in an early number next year. Mr. Melville, gardener at Dalmeney
Park, near Edmburgh, showed examples of a seedling Grape, a cross
between the Black Damascus and Black Prince. It was considered to
be no improvement on existing varieties. ]\Ir. Turner, gardener to
J. Hill, Esq., Streatham, produced a handsome bunch of Barbarossa
Grapes, weighing 5 lbs. 7 oz. Specimens of Black Hamburgh, ripened
in a greenhouse without fireheat, came from Mr. Spencer. They were
large, well coloured, and excellent in flavour. Mr. Tillyard also sent a
boxful of this Grape large and well coloured. A bunch of tlie curious
Lady's Finger Grape, or Cornichon Blanc, was exhibited by IMr. Hogan,

364 THE FLORIST.

Lockwood Gardens, near Huddersfield. Champion Grapes were also
furnished by Messrs. Lee, of Hammersmith. Mr. Tillyard sent two
Black Jamaica and one Ripley Queen Pine Apple weighing about 4 lbs.
each. Some seedling Pears and Apples were exhibited, none of which
were, however, considered worthy oi cultivation. Specimens of Portugal^
and other Quinces were shown by H. B. Ker, Esq., and a collection of
Oranges grown against an open wall in Glamorganshire were sent by
Mr. Challis, gardener at Margam Paik, in that county. They were
good-looking fruit, and quite ripe. Morello Cherries were shown by
Mr. Tillyard, and specimens of a late American variety of yellow-
fleshed Peach were exhibited by Mr. Rivers. It is a freestone sort,
and was considered valuable for its lateness.

POT CULTIVATION OP THE PHLOX.
Having grown the Phlox in pots successfully for a number of years, I
trust the following hints will prove acceptable to those readers who
take an interest in this lovely tribe of plants, for although all the
varieties are easy of cultivation, they are seldom seen so well managed
as they might be with a little extra care and attention. About the
1st of March a selection should be made from plants struck the
previous season, choosing those that are throwing up vigorous shoots.
Put one plant in each pot, allowing not more than two stems on each
plant, and using pots from eight to twelve inches in diameter, according
to the strength of the plants. Avoiding excessive drainage, pot with
rich fibrous loam, adding a little sand and well decomposed manure.
The dwarf growing sorts may be placed under glass at once either in a
cold frame or greenhouse and should be kept as near the glass as
convenient. The dwarfer they can be grown the better. Give air on
all possible opportunities, and a little weak liquid manure may be given
with advantage occasionally. For making this nothing answers better
than sheep droppings ; it both adds to the size of the spike and imparts
to the foliage a dark shining green. The tall growing varieties may be
plunged out of doors in any sheltered situation and be brought into the
conservatory or greenhouse when they begin to show flower, when from
their having long naked stems the pots may be appropriately placed in
the background out of sight, and the fine head of bloom shown above
the other plants. By a careful selection of the kinds, and bringing
them in as they show flower, a succession of blooms may be kept up
from June till October. When grown to any extent in the above
manner they make a beautiful display, and in addition to their lovely
colour many of the sorts are highly perfumed. In re-potting the
Phlox, care must be taken not to break or reduce the ball, even though
shifting from a twelve to an eighteen inch pot, as on this particular
inucA of the future success of the plant depends. Should large
specimens be wanted, those that have flowered once may be kept
through the winter in a cold frame, or if this is not convenient they
may be plunged out of doors and covered with three inches of coal

DECEMBER. 365

ashes or tanners' bark, then taken up early in spring, re-potted, thinned
to three or four stems, and treated as above directed. They will thus
amply repay any little care and attention that may have been bestowed
on them. In conclusion, I may remark that to grow the Phlox in
perfection, the plants should be renewed from cuttings at least every
three years, either for pot or out-door culture.

John Downie.
West Coates Kurscri/, Edinburgh.

TRITONIA AUREA.
The Tritonia and the allied genera — the Ixias, Sparaxis, Watsonias,
&c. — belong to a family of Cape bulbous plants which deserve more
general cultivation. In bygone times this family of plants was
more frequently met with than at the present day. We do occasionally
meet with a few plants occupying a sunny spot in the flower garden,
or in pots in the greenhouse, where their gay and various coloured
flowers never fail to excite our admiration.

The species which forms the subject of the present notice is of recent
introduction, and so far promises to become a great favourite. As a
pot plant it forms a desirable acquisition for the decoration of the
greenhouse during the latter part of summer and early autumn months,
the colour of the flowers making a beautiful contrast with the greater
portion of plants in bloom at that season. It may here be remarked
that the bright orange yellow of this Tritonia is exceedingly rare
amongst our stove and greenhouse plants : of Orchids, some of the
Epidendrums have a resemblance to it, and amongst stove plants the old
Cestrum aurantiacum is one of the best that approaches somewhat the
colour of the Tritonia, and is, by-the-by, a bush that ought to be in
every collection of plants. Sandy loam and leaf soil or peat form a
desirable compost for the Tritonia, and the bulbs should be re-potted as
soon as they are thoroughly matured.

If this is done, and the pots placed in a pit where protection from
severe frost can be given them, it will be all they require till they
commence growing ; when this is the case, and the pots are partly
filled with roots, they will then — and not till then — require a moderate
supply of water, increasing the quantity as the plants advance in
growth. During the summer months the plants may be removed to
the open air, or the glass removed from the pit or frame in which they
are standing, merely placing them over the pots to protect them from
heavy rain.

By the end of July the flower-stems will be making their appear-
ance, and they may then be removed to the greenhouse, where they
will soon commence to bloom, and with the assistance of an occasional
watering with liquid manure they will continue in perfection for a great
length of time.

The colour of this plant is one that is much desired for the flower-

36G THE FLORIST.

garden. Hitherto we have few plants that will equal its rich orange
colour, that are adapted for bedding purposes. With a little manage-
ment it may be grown in great perfection in the open air. 1 have this
season seen a mass ofit wliich, in the middle of September, presented a
beautiful appearance. It was planted on a raised bed in a mixture of
peat, loam, and decayed leaves — in light soils, of course, this preparation
would be unnecessary.

There is a great variety of plants, such as the Liliums, Gladiolus,
and several species belonging to the genera above enumerated, which
are in themselves exceedingly beautiful, though not adapted for bedding
purposes, in consequence of their meagre appearance as regards foliage.
In the neighbourhood of Paris and other parts of France, this defect is
remedied by mixing with them such plants as will supply the necessary
amount of foliage. The common Asparagus is used extensively for
this purpose, and I have heard those who have been accustomed to
visit those gardens speak in high terms of the effect produced. This
Tritonia, though' less in need of such assistance, would doubtless be
greatly improved in appearance by the admixture of a suitable " under-
growth."

The Asparagus, of course, would only be suitable for such plants as
would throw tlieir flowers partly above its foliage, but for dwarfer
flowering plants there are numerous low-growing evergreens that would
answer the purpose admirably, and probably many of the hardy Ferns,
for certain situations, might be turned to good account.

0. P.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF SOILS.
It is an established law that the constituents or substances which enter
into the formation of a fertile soil and the atmosphere of plants and of
animals are the same, that is to say, the bodies of animals, the substances
of plants, and the ordinary soil and atmosphere are formed of the same
materials. The practical inference from such a proposition is this, that,
in order to obtain as large an amount of produce as possible, it is
necessary that all the constituents of plants and animals should be
present either in the soil or atmosphere, or both. We are unable to
alter the composition of the atmosphere, because certain of the laws which
govern it cause a very equal mixture of its constituents throughout its
whole extent. We must, therefore, turn our attention to the soil,
ascertain its composition, and so change it if necessary, as to present to
the roots of plants all the substances which are requisite for their growth
and perfection. As there is generally more vacant ground in gardens
at this season of the year than at any other, a few remarks on the
improvement of soils may not be out of place ; matters of this kind can
have most attention at this time of the year. The subject is one of
vast importance, and demands volumes. I can, therefore, only touch
upon a very few points. I may premise that I profess no great under-
standing of the subject, though I have given it much thought.

A very fertile soil must contain a considerable supply of all the

DECEMBER. 367

inorganic ingredients necessary for the support of plants. In general soils
are wanting in some or other of these ingredients, and are, tlierefure,
not fitted to grow perhaps any one crop witli luxuriance.

The first step in the improvement of soils is thorough drainage where
it is required, and, after that, deep cultivation and the addition of those
ingredients of which it is most wanting. 'J he advantages of drainage
have so often been insisted on, that it is not necessary to state them here.
By deep digging we not only make a free passage for the roots, and let
the air and rains penetrate more easily ; but, in addition to these, we
bring new earth to the surface. This forms a deeper soil, and more or
less alters both its physical qualities and its chemical composition. A
subsoil may gradually become rich in those substances, of which the
surface soil has been robbed by the rains ; by bringing up a portion of
this subsoil by deep digging we restore to the surface soil a part of what
it has been gradually losing. We bring up what may probably render
it more fertile than before. By deep and frequent working of the land
its parts are more minutely divided, the air gets access to every particle,
it is rendered lighter, more durable, and more permeable to the roots.
The vegetable matter it contains decomposes more rapidly by a constant
turning of tha soil, so that wherever the fibres of the roots penetrate they
find organic food provided for them, and an abundant supply of the
oxygen of the atmosphere to aid in preparing it. The production of
ammonia and of nitric acid also, and the absorption of one or both from
the air, take place to a greater extent the finer the soil is pulverised, and
the more it has been exposed to the action of the atmosphere. All soils
likewise contain an admixture of fragments of those minerals of which
tne granatic and trap rock are composed, which, by their decay, yield
new sup[ilies of inorganic food to the growing plants. The more
frequently they are exposed to the air, the more rapidly do these frag-
ments crumble away and decompose. There are few soils so stubborn
as not to show themselves grateful in proportion to the amount of this
kind of labour that may be bestowed upon them.

The physical properties of soil have a very great influence on its
average fertility. The admixture of pure sand with clay soils produces
an alteration which is often beneficial, and which is almost wholly
physical ; the sand ^opens the pores ot' the clay, and makes it more
permeable to the air. I have seen clayey soils which refused to grow
Carrots, but which, after a good portion of river sand had been mixed
with it, and it had been got fine by frequent working, grew as fine a
crop of Carrots and of as good quality as any person could desire. The
admixture of clay with sandy or peaty soil produces both a physical and
chemical change. The clay not only consolidates but gives body to the
sand or peat, but it also mixes with them certain earthy and saline
substances necessary to plants which neither the sand nor peat might
originally contain in sufficient abundance. It thus alters its chemical
composition, and fits it for nourishing new races of plants. Such is the
case also with admixture of marl, of shell sand, and of lime ; they
slightly consolidate the sand, and open the clays, and thus improve the
mechanical texture of both kinds of soil ; but their main operation is
chemical, and the almost universal benefit they produce depends mamly

368 THE FLORIST.

upon the new elements they introduce into the soil. It is a subject of

general remark that in cur climate soils are fertile — clayey or loamy

soils, that is — only when they contain an appreciable quantity of lime.

In whatever way it acts, therefore, the mixing of lime witb a soil in

which httle or none exists, is one of the surest practical methods of

bringing it nearer in composition to those soils from which the largest

return of vegetable produce is usually obtained. Clayey soils are also

much improved by burning. Charred matters of any kind, such as

charred peat, tan, &c., are valuable improvers of the soil when mixed

with it. Decayed vegetable matters are amongst the best improvers of

the soil. They are generally supposed to serve two purposes when added

to the soil : they loosen the land, opens its pores, and make it lighter ;

and they also supply organic food to the roots of the growing plant.

They also serve a third purpose ; they yield to the roots those saline

substances and earthy matter which it is their duty to find in the soil, and

which exist in decaying plants in a state more peculiarly fitted to enter

readily into the circulating system of new races. The decay of vegetable

substances beneath the surface of the earth fertilises the soil, which

nourishes the growth of other plants and other vegetables ; and these,

in their turn, form the nutriment of animals ; and these, iigain, in their

turn, become the food of other vegetables. Thus there is a perpetual

change from death to life, and as constant a succession in the tbrms and

places which the particles of matter assume. iS'othing is lost, and not

a particle of matter is struck out of existence, although it may disappear

from our immediate observation. Under certain circumstances the

particles of matter may be collected into a body without a change of

form. ' When bodies suffer decomposition their elementary particles are

never destroyed or lost, but only enter into new arrangements or

combinations with other bodies. When a piece of wood is heated in a

closed vessel, such as a retort, we obtain water, an acid, several kinds

of gas, and there remains a black porous substance called charcoal. The

wood is thus decomposed or destroyed, and its particles take a new

arrangement, and assume new forms, but that nothing is lost is proved

from the fact that if the water, acid, gases, and charcoal be collected

and weighed, they will be found exactly as heavy as the wood was

before distillation. In the same manner the substance of the coal burnt

in our fires is not annihilated : it is only dispersed in the form of smoke,

or particles of culm, gas, and ashes, or dust. Bones, flesh, or any animal

substance, may in the same manner be made to assume new forms

without losing a particle of matter they originally contained. These are

all matters that demand the attention and consideration of every

gardener. There should be no waste of anything that comes out of

gardens ; the pruning of trees should be charred and restored to the

soil. It is vain to expect vegetables of first-rate quality unless the land

is in the highest state of fertility, and this is maintained by continually

restoring to it not only those matters of which it is most wanting, but

every substance which will in any way improve its physical and chemical

condition.

M. S.

DECEMBER. 369

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Nov. 25. — J. J. Blandy, Esq., in the chair. The exhibition at Regent-
street on this occasion was a most interesting one, not only on account
of the excellence and variety of the productions brought ibrward, but
as showing a revival of the Society in its best form — that of teaching
practical horticulture through the medium of exhibitions, which we
have all along maintained is one great means of testing the merits of
cultivation and of cultivators. Nor was the competition conhned entirely
to the productions of British gardeners, foreign fruit being admitted to
competition. Of the various subjects produced, we may notice the
Muscat and Hamburgh Grapes of Mr. Hill, gardener to R. Sneyde,
Esq., Keele Hall, Staffordshire, beyond which cultivation could not be
carried much further. The Hamburgh and Muscat and Cannon Hall
Grapes of Mr. Jones Nash, of Bishop's Stortford, which considering the
immense crops his Vines carry, were also admirable productions, 'i here
was also a splendid smooth Cayenne Pine from Mr. Thomas Frost, of
Preston Hall, and three finely swelled Jamaica Pines, from Dowlais ; there
were likewise other fine specimens of good Pine growing in the rooms.
Of the exhibition of hardy fruit, there was a splendid collection of Pears
from Mr. Snow, of Wrest Park, consisting of Ne Plus Meuris, Beurre
Ranee, Passe Colmar, Vicar of Winkfield, Old Colmar, Beurre Diel,
large and fine ; Marie Louise, Chaumontel, Glou Morceau, Winter
Nelis, Easter Beurre, and the Forelle or Trout Pear. These were
awarded a first prize. Mr. Ingram also had very good fruit. Next
came collections from Mr. Tillyard, gardener to the Right Honourable
the Speaker, and others. Of Apples, Mr. Snow had the best grown
specimens we have seen this season ; they were large, handsome, and
evenly matched, and were universally admired. In Mr. Ingram's
collection we noticed a rather new variety, Cox's Seedling, very hand-
some, and apparently a good keeper. Of collections of fruit by far the
best came from i\Ir. Tillyard, who furnished four very nice Pine-apples,
American Cranberries, Black and Dutch Hamburgh Grapes, Red
Currants, Oranges, Rivers's Donble-bearing Raspberry, Winter Nelis,
and various other Pears. Mr. Ingram also sent a collection in which
there was a handsome Cayenne Pine-apple. Mr. Robinson, gardener
to Lord Boston, sent some nicely fruited Otaheite Oranges in pots.

Of plants, though not specially invited, there were some interesting
exhibitions, especially of Chrysanthemums. Mr. Glendinning also had
a very pretty hardy Tussilago with large deep green leaves, prettily
covered with yellow and cream-coloured spots; forrockwork and places
of that kind this new Japan plant will be a real acquisition. A shoot
loaded with flowers of that most lovely of all greenhouse climbers, the
Lapageria rosea, was shown by Mr. Veitch. This was stated to require
a well drained loose porous soil and plenty of water wliile growing, and
to keep well in rooms in a cut state. Messrs. E. G. Henderson had
some handsome hybrid Bouvardias and other plants, among which was
the graceful Liparis longipes. Calanthe vestita was shown fine by ]\Ir.
Woolly. Messrs. Maule, of Bristol, sent a magnificent cut brandi
loaded with flowers, of the blue Vanda, than which nothing at this

NEAV SERIES, VOL. VI., NO. LXXII. » B

370 TUE TLORIST.

season could possibly be handsomer. Spikes of Pampas Grass were
furnished by the Society, together with other things, among which was
the new fruit-bearing shrub, Eugenia Ugni, of which a woodcut illus-
tration will be found in our present volume.

Mr. Rivers produced examples of pyramidal Pear-trees, to show
that when budded low on the Quince, under certain circumstances,
the Pear will push roots of its own into the ground, and sometimes
eventually kill the stock. This, however, is a very rare occurrence ; in
the instance in question the tree had become cankered, while others, to
the amount of some 2000, of the same kind and in the same soil, but
which had not behaved in the same way, were perfectly sound. It was
thus inferred that the tendency of the Quince to root near the surface
had the effect of keeping them sound, and in order to increase their
surface fibres biennial transplanting when young was recommended.
A young tree full of fibrous roots was shown in illustration of this.

In vegetable produce the Dioscorea or Chinese Yam was largely
exhibited, and commented on by the Vice-Secretary. The merits of
this new esculent were some time since brought under the notice of our
readers, and w^e are glad to see our predictions so far verified. That it
will make a useful addition to our list of vegetables we doubt not ; but
that it will ever compete with the Potato, or with our more common
roots, we cannot admit.

No fewer than thirty-seven new members were elected at this
meeting. •

LANDSCAPE GARDENING.— No. VI.
The annexed plan is introduced as an example of what all arrangements
should be — expressly designed for and fitted to the positions in which
they are placed. It is always an important point that the principles
of a new arrangement should, as far as possible, be reconciled with,
and in many cases derived from, existing facts ; and many of the
happiest effects result from carefully seizing such as are convenient and
consistent with good taste.

When the garden of which the accompanying plan now forms a part
came first under my notice, the terrace wall with its piers, on the
right-hand side, was already built in masonry ; but it was cut off
from the house at one end by the gravel-walk sloping gradually down
from the centre line, instead of descending by steps as shown ; and the
walk at the other end was similarly arranged. The high level walk at
the left hand existed, with a rolling bank between it and the level
terrace. A serious mal-arrangement also existed, in the terrace wall
and the old wall on left hand being both out of parallel with a right
line from the house ; the former of the two very much so.

The first suggestion was to make the rolling bank into a regular
inclined plane, forming a bold grass slope, with its base line so
arranged as to make the level plane at foot so nearly symmetrical as
would make it appear precisely so from the house. Vases were of course
placed upon the piers in wall, and to correspond therewith pedestals

DECEMBER. 371

surmounted by vases were placed upon the turf, at foot of slope, on the
other side. A line from the centre of doorway at right angles with the
house formed the working centre of the design, and gave the position in
this direction, for the points marked on the plan by the numbers 4,
and 13 ; similar lines from the centres of windows gave the positions
in the same direction for the point marked 3. By subdividing the
distances between the vases, the transverse position was obtained
for these points, as also for those marked 1 and 2 ; the longitudinal
position of which governed, and was governed by, the boundary lines
of the beds on either side. The rest of the arrangement worked
out naturally from these points, and is so obvious on the plan, as to
require no further explanation. I would draw attention however to
one important matter which should be regarded in all similar cases ;
namely, the avoidance of sharp narrow points to the beds. Tliis is
often disregarded in designs which look very well on paper, but sorely
perplex gardeners in the subsequent planting and keeping ; in that it
is practically impossible to make the plants fill the beds, in such
intricate recesses, so as to produce that fulness and compactness which
constitutes, next to good arrangement of colour and habit, the most
important feature in this kind of gardening.

The shrubs recommended for the leading points were as follow : —

1. Irish Juniper. I 3. Golden Yew.

2. Irish Yew. | 4. Golden Arbor-vitas.

Nos. 1, 3, and 4 are amongst the kinds of plants best adapted,
but little known, and seldom used for such purposes ; they are
however very ornamental in appearance, and symmetrical in habit.

The seat in the centre of distant boundary, with its accompanying
vases standing against the shrubs, formed a natural and appropriate
finish to that end of the parterre.

For the rest of the plan, the old wall on the lefl hand was pronounced
a good place for ornamental plants requiring such support ; and over the
walk was suggested a light Rose arcade, to give somewhat of shade to
it, relieve the unbroken surface of wall, and create a position near the
house for these deservedly favourite plants.

The border between the wall and arcade was to be devoted to that
class of plants usually denominated herbaceous. In too many cases
these have been banished from the parterre, where their irregular
habits of growth and seasons of flowering render them unsuitable ; but
they include many very beautiful, though old fashioned flowers, and a
convenient place should be allotted to them in every garden. The
introduction of piers at intervals, as shown, is an improvement often
advised in old walls, and one which may be made at a trifling expense.

Irish Ivy was proposed as an edging to this border ; this is easily
kept in order by occasional pruning, and is much more ornamental for
a bold margin than Box, which in such cases looks rather kitchen-
garden like.

The manner in which the sloping gravel connections are managed
between the arcade walk and the terrace on lower level, is often useful
when stone steps are inadvisable, as was the case in this instance,
where it was important that a Bath chair should be able to traverse

872

THE FLORIST.

■without interruption from the door in the front to other parts of the
grounds.

^1

Special attention was also given to a suitable arrangement for filling
the beds ; in summer, with annuals and half hardy plants ; in winter,
with dwarf shrubs ; and in spring with bulbs : these are given, as
they may afford some useful hints to thers. The winter and spring

■■{■■

DECEMBER. 373

furnishing of such gardens is a subject which has not generally the
attention it deserves ; as they are usually allowed to remain in dreary
barrenness from October to I\Iay ; although with a little labour and expense
they might be made to wear a cheerful, interesting, and even gay ap-
pearance, when it would be more contributive to the beauty and enjoy-
ableness of the garden, than even in summer when life and luxuriance
are everywhere. The bulbs in such cases are planted about four inches
from the edges of the beds, and four inches deep ; the summer occu-
pants are planted or sown without disturbing the former.

The shrubs should be dwarf bushes from six to fifteen inches in
height ; these are arranged in the beds as soon as the summer flowers
are over, and removed to a reserve garden in May.

The plan is drawn to a scale of 32 feet to an inch.

Summer. Winter and Spring.

4 Round Shrub. Fuchsia globosa .... Erica carnea herbacea.

{Margin. White variegated Alyssum (orAlyssum
sown in April) .... Snowdrop, double.
Centre. Blue Lobelia . . " . . . . Ledum buxifolium.
Margin. Venus' Looking-glass (sown in April) Yellow Winter Aconite.
Centre. Dwarf yellow Calceolaria . . . Pernettya mucronata.
M ( Margin. CoUinsia grandillora (sown in April) . Yellow Crocus.

(.Centre. Heliotrope Rhododendron ponticum.

of Margin. Lilac Virginian Stock (sown in April) Striped Crocus.

\ Centre. Scarlet Verbena ..... Variegated Box.
gf Margin. Brown Calceolaria, dwarf . . . Blue Hyacinths.
\ Centre. Yellow Calceolaria .... Ilex scottica.
■jq/ Margin Eschscholtzia (sown in April) . . Purple Crocus.

\ Centre. Purple Senecio ..... Aucuba japonica.

(Margin. Pink Sapouaria Pale Red Hyacinth.
Centre. Pink Verbena (planted amongst F.ucha-
ridiuin sown in April) . . . Laurustiuus.
j2 / Margin. White Virginian Stock (sown in April) White Crocus.
\ Centre. Salvia patens, blue . . . . Berberis aquifolium.

(Margin. Mignonette (sown in April) . . Van Thol & other Tulips.
Centre. Scarlet Geraniums (in three varieties. Rhododendron ferrugi-
the outer row on each tier beingplanted neum.

on their sides to keep them dwarfer)
(Margin. White Virginian Stock . . . . White Crocus.
Centre. Blue Larkspur (raised from seed, trans-
planted and pegged down) . . Berberis aquifolium.
( Margin. Silcne peudula ..... Red Hyacinths.
13 } Centre. Pink Verbena (planted amongst Eucha-

( ridium) Laurustinus.

,/.f Margin. Eschscholtzia Purple Crocus.

Centre. Purple Verbena . .... Aucuba iaponica.
Margin. Lilac Virginian Stock . . • Striped Crocus.

Centre. Scarlet Verbena Variegated Box.

Margin. Brown Marigold (raised from seed and White Hyacinths.
I transplanted) ....

18 Centre. Tagetes signata, or Coreopsis Drum- Saw-leaved green Holly,
mondii (raised from seed and trans-
l planted) •

,q ("Margin. Collinsia quadricolor .... Y'ellow Crocus.

\ Centre. Ageratum Rhododendron ponticum.

„„ 5 Margin. Venus's Looking-glass . . . Winter Aconite.

I Centre. CEnothera macrocarpa .... Cotoneaster microphylla.
2j f Margin. White variegated Alyssum . . . Double Snowdrop.
t Centre. Blue Lobelia Berberis Darwinii.

William Davidson.
36, Great Russell-street, Bedford-square, London.

17{;

3/4 THE FLORIST.

CALENDAR FOR THE MONTH.

Azaleas. — A few of the earlier sorts should be put into heat ; when
in bloom, they are beautiful objects for the conservatory at any season,
but more particularly during the winter months. Those intended to
liower late should be carefully attended to with regard to watering,
ventilating, and heat. They should be kept safe from frost, without too
much fire heat.

CamelUas. — These will now be rapidly advancing into bloom ; they
should have a little air on fine days, but guard against cold currents of
wind. They should be well watered when they require it. Keep the
house moderately warm, but do not overdo it with artificial heat.

Carnatio7is and Picotees. — The foliage of these plants should be
kept dry ; neither from rain nor watering should the plants receive it
overhead, and but sparingly at root. At this season a general cleaning
is required, trimming oft' all dead foliage. Expose the plants on every
occasion that the weather is fine, by pulling the lights off.

Cinerarias. — If not already done, give those for early bloom a final
re-potting. If large dwarf specimens are required, the plants must
have plenty of room, elevated near the glass. The foliage should be
opened by pegging down the large outer leaves close to the rim of the
pot. This admits light and air to all parts of the plant, giving strength
to the shoots, and ultimately size and brilliancy to the flowers.

Cold Frames. — Guard against everything likely to encourage damp.
Give air whenever the state of the weather permits. Water only
when absolutely necessary, and then in the forenoon. Cover up well
at night, to guard against frost.

Conservatory and Show-house. — Every care should be taken to
make these as attractive as possible at this season ; taste in the
arrangement will do much to accomplish this. Chrysanthemums will
be at their best the early part of the month ; remove any that are
going out of flower. Epacrises, Heaths, Camellias, Begonias, Cine-
rarias, Primulas, &c., will do much to make a good display ; add to
these a few plants remarkable for fine foliage, and there will be no
difficulty in making them gay. The early-started Tulips, Roman
Narcissus, and Hyacinths will also assist to make them lively. Keep
everything clean and orderly. Give air freely on all favourable
occasions, but guard against cold draughts. A little fire in the day
occasionally will be necessary to dry the house ; a little will also be
required at night in frosty weather, but as little as possible should be
used at this season. Water any plants that require it ; it should be
done in the morning, so that everything may get dry towards night.

Cucumbers. — There will be no scarcity of Cucumbers now, if our
previous directions have been attended to. If you wish your plants to
continue bearing until Midsummer, do not let them carry too many
fruit at one time, especially at this season ; nothing would be more fatal
to their well-being than over-bearing in the absence of bright solar
light. Keep a night temperature of about 65°, and from 70° to 80°
during the day. Be careful they have a regular bottom heat.

DECEMBER. 375

Flower Garden.— Aiieni to the protection of bulbs, sheltering them
from heavy drenching rains as well as frost. Protect tender Roses.
Continue alterations in favourable weather. Prune and dig every-
thing requiring it. Sweep and roll lawns and walks when necessary.

Forcing Hard// S//rids. — Introduce a second batch of Lilacs, Roses,
Azaleas, Kalmias, Rhodoras, Rhododendrons, Deutzia, &c., to succeed
the first lot. Plunge them in a nice bottom heat and keep the atmo-
sphere moist. A night temperature of from 50° to 55°, and a day
temperature of from 60° to 65°, will be sufficient at tliis season.

Forc'mg Ground. — Seakale, Rhubarb, and Asparagus are easily
forced when they have a nice regular bottom heat. Asparagus requires
abundance of light when the heads get above the soil ; Seakale and
Rhubarb are best forced in darkness. Whatever plan of forcing is
adopted, take care to keep a regular succession of them. Sow IMustard
and Cress weekly.

Fruit (hardij). — Continue the planting of trees in favourable
weather. Be careful in planting not to plant the roots too deep.
Make new plantations of Currants, Gooseberries, and Raspberries, if
required. In favourable weather proceed with the pruning and nailing
of wall trees. Look over orchard trees, and cut out any branches that
cross each other ; scrape the moss off the stem. When large branches
are removed, the wound should be dressed with a little white-lead to
keep out wet. Push forward as much as possible all operations in this
department. It is a great advantage in having it all done before long
severe frosts set in.

Greenhouse (Jiard-wooded'). — Give air on all occasions when the
weather will admit, always avoiding cold currents. Water very care-
fully. Apply fires just sufficiently to allay damp and to keep out the
frost. Look over the plants occasionally and turn them. Soft-wooded.
— Attend to previous directions.

Hollyhocks. — These should be kept growing if the plants are late
struck and weakly. Strong plants should have plenty of pot room,
and be grown quite hardy.

Kitchen Garden. — Push forward alterations aud heavy work of all
descriptions. Dig, or trench and ridge, all vacant ground. In frosty
weather wheel manure on all places where it is required, and put up
some in heaps where it is likely to be wanted when the adjoining
grounds become vacant. All old hotbed linings should be cleared out
in frosty, dry weather. Protect Parsley, Lettuce, Endive, and Cauli-
flowers. Earth up Celery when dry. Sow a few Early Horn Carrot
and short-topped Radish on a warm south border. Sow some early
Peas and Beans, if not already done, and look out for mice. Finish
dressing Asparagus beds, if not already done.

Pansies. — Little will have to be done but keeping those in pots
clean.

Peach-forcing. — The first house should be got ready immediately.
Before the trees are tied they should be carefully washed with tlie fol-
lowing mixture : — A little soft soap, sulphur, clay, and tobacco-water,
reduced with water to about the consistency of paint : this is to lie
applied with a brush, merely to open the surface ; they should then

376 THE FLORIST.

have a good soaking of liquid manure. The outside borders should
have a good covering. If the weather be mild, fires w^ill not be
required for a few days. The night temperature for the first three or
four weeks should not exceed 40'^ ; the trees should be syringed two or
three times a day, and a moist atmosphere should be maintained.

Pelargoniums. — (See paper in last number, page 347.) Tie out
the shoots of such plants as are intended to form specimens.

Pinery. — The principal stock should now be kept rather dry at root.
A steady bottom heat and a moderate temperature are indispensable at
this season. Plants now showing fruit, and plants intended to be
started soon, should have a higher temperature, and wlien dry they
should have water — tepid, of course. In very frosty weather cover pits
at night ; this will obviate the necessity of using too much fire heat.

Pleasure Grounds. — Continue alterations in favourable weather.
Plant trees of every description ; we removed several very large
Hollies the third week in December, 1855, during most severe frosts.
We removed them with immense balls of earth, which was completely
frozen ; and the trees having to be carried a distance of nearly a mile
we found it a great advantage, as two horses easily drew, when every-
thing was hard frozen, what four horses could not draw when the frost
was out of the ground. Every one of these trees look as well, and have
made as good growth, as if they had not been moved. Protect tender
trees and shrubs. Roll and sweep lawns when necessary.

Stove. — Give air freely on all favourable occasions, and keep the
tempv,'-ature from 50° to 65° fire heat. Water when required. Look
out for insects.

Strawherry-f arcing. — If these have been ridged as directed last
month, the roots will be perfectly safe ; but, in order to keep the frost
from the crowns, we recommend some hurdles or pea-rods to be placed
in front of them, but at a little distance ofF, and in very severe weather
some straw or litter should be thrown over them. The first batch of
plants should now be got in ; they should have a gentle bottom heat,
and but very little top heat ; they should have plenty of light and air
when the weather permits. The Black Prince for a very early sort ;
but, take it all in all, we have no better Strawberry yet than Keens'
Seedling.

Vinery. — As the young shoots in the early house advance in growth
gradually raise the temperature, so that by the time the bunches are
beginning to open their bloom the night temperature should be about
65°. Look well to the coverings on the outside border. Keep a nice
growing atmosphere.

GENERAL INDEX.

Achimenes, 353

Airedale Horticultural Society, 278

Air, giviug, 68

Almanac, Edwards*, 24

Alps, nature ou the, 252

American plant exhibitions, 205, 209, 312

„ nurseries, 344
Annuals, Book of, 24
Apple crop, 235
Aquilegias, 162

Aquarium and 'Wardian Case, 212
Balsam, the, 119
Bath Hanoverian fete, 311
Bedding plants, remarks on, 78
Boiler, Thomson's, 339
Catalogues, trade, reviewed, 58, 253,

312, 349
Carnations and Picotees, 112
Carnation and Picotee Society, 273
Calceolarias, shrubby, 237
Calendar for January, 28

„ „ February, 59

„ „ March, 92
„ April, 126
„ May, 157

„ „ June, 190
„ July, 222

„ „ August, 254

„ „ September, 286

„ „ October, 317

„ „ November, 349

„ „ December, 374
Cauliflowers and Broccoli all the year,

247
Cauliflowers, good, 284
Cinerarias, list of, 161
Cultivation, deep, 27, 140
Correa cardinalis, 225
Conifers, descriptive list of hardy, 76,

121, 298

Conifers suitable for parks, 304
Clerodendrons, treatment of, 47
Clianthus puniceus, 89
Currants, espalier, 124
Crystal Palace schedule, 150

„ exhibitions, 182, 218,313
Chrysanthemums, select, 51
Dahlia, Bessy, 1

,, Perfection, 1

,, ground, preparation of, 82
Dahlias of 1855, 332, 358

„ Northern Estimate of Seedling,
341

„ dwarf bedding, 325

,, new, 25, 43

„ list of best, 131
Delphinium cardinale, 164
Dioscorea Batatas, 343
Drymonia villosa, 25
Earwig, the, 47
Earwig trap, 87
Edgings, 170
Erica Spenceriana, 289
Eugenia Ugui, 42
Ferns, nature printed, 23, 90
Ferns and Mosses, 270
Ferns and Lycopods, 3
Fruits, hybridising, 2G5, 285
Fruit trees, summer pruning, 229
Fruit tree protection, 103, 136, 167,

204, 294, 321,354
Fuchsia serratifolia, 272
Fuchsias, culture of, 65
Field newspaper, 312
Foliage versus flowers, 169
Garden implement, Mr. Sivewright's

new, 340
Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institu-
tion, 48, 208
Gardens of England, reviewed, 253

INDEX.

Geraniums, variegated and bedding, 348

Gooseberries, espalier, 124

Gooseberry caterpillar, 231

Grapes from the bud or eye the first
year, 145, 179

Grape, Golden Hamburgh, S3
,, Mr. Fleming's new, 339

Heaths, Cape, 97, 289

High Grove, Reading, 248

Highclerc, 276

Hilliugdon Court, 243

Horticultural Society, 2, 34, 69, 98,
116, 149,210,244, 238, 311, 369

Hollyhock and Dahlia exhibition, metro-
politan, 281

Hovea, culture of, 173

Journey, notes on a, 34, 84, 100

Labels, Looker's Garden, 277

Landscape Gardening, 16, 179, 342, 370

Lane's (Messrs.) nursery, 231

Lawns, Grass or Moss on, 216

Lapageria rosea var. albiflora, 70

Light, its influence on vegetation, 38,
110, 163, 203, 226

Longleat, Wilts, 259

Lycopods and Ferns, 3

Month, notes on the, 280, 337

Mosses and Ferns, 270

National Floricultural Society, 142,
206, 249, 266, 307

Natural history, study of, 125, 165

Nurseries, Exeter, 6

„ American, 344

Obeliscaria pulcherrima, 321

Orange tree, the, 250

Orchard houses, 343

Ouvirandra fenestralis, 50

Pansies, new, 271

Pansy Society, Scottish, 214, 292

Peach, the, 13, 53, 71, 108, 130, 174

Peas, new, 225, 284, 309

Pelargonium, culture of, 347

,, improvement in, 135

Phloxes in pots, 364

Picotees and Carnations, 112

Pink, the, 233

„ select, 235, 240
Planting out v. pot culture, 310
Plants, list of new, 18
„ bedding, 73, 122
„ winter flowering, 11, 107
Pleroma elegans, 239
Pomological Society, British, 242, 363
Pteris aspericaulis, 83
Eendle's Price Current, 25, 90
Eibston, Yorkshire, 267
Rivers* (Mr.), nursery, 289
Roses, notes on new, 300

,, bedding, 155

„ old and new, 326, 360

„ war of the, 333
Rose growers, advice to young, 73
Rose, Souvenir d'Elise, 257

„ Lord Raglan, 353
Royal Botanic Society, 197, 228
Royal Gardens, Frogmore, 145
Rhododendrons, select, 209
Rhododendron Hookeri, 193
Scenery, how to improve English, 176
Shrubland Park, 151
Snowdrop, Crimean, 150
Soils, considerations on, 9, 366.
Sobralia, notes on, 45
Sonerila margaritacea, 165
Strawberry, M'Ewen on the, 233

„ culture of, 265

Strawberries, to plant, 297
Tedworth House, Wilts, 170, 194
Tecoma fulva, 89
Thermometers, cheap, 91
Thyrsacanthus rutilans, 155
Tritonia aurea, 365
Tulips, Mr. Groom's, 15
Tulip Society, National, 177
Vandas, culture of, 129
Vines and Vine borders, 301
Wardian case and aquarium, 212
Walls, open v. protected, 294, 321, 354
Wellingtonia, 150

END OF VOL. VI.

LONDON :
BY S. WHITWELL, 10, NORTHUMBERLAND TERRACE,
Bagnigge Wells Road.

liillililiiiiilfliiiiiii

3 5185 00292 4601

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