SSXi WA»?ffMJW^'iW*'iW)««W)«M>»i|yi»rtj,H>l ■rt»>i>**«; if 6- ^ ^ a- / LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE No.__W_?_-?-5-— DATE. 4 - 183.S. ia73 SOURCE. ^^^p ^^^ SUPPLEMENT TO TH£ GARDEN, JAN. 24, IS74. ILLUSTRATED WEEKLY JOURNAL GARDENING IN ALL ITS BRANCHES. THIS IS AN ART WHICH DOES MEND NATURE: CHANGE IT RATHER: BUT THE ART ITSELF IS NATURE.— Shakespeare. to • VOL. IV. ♦ LONDON: OFFICE: 37, SOUTHAMPTON STREET, COVENT GAEDEN, \v. c. • CHRISTMIjVS, 1S73. 'A StTPPLEXTEWT, JAN. 24, 1874.] THE GAEDBN INDEX. Ill ILLUSTRATIONS. Acer saccharmnm, leaves of Sikkimeuse, leaf of ,, trifidum. leaves of Adam's needle Adiantum rubelluni jEchma?a fulgens Aerides crispum Allapice, the Carolina Alpinia viLtata ... PAGE .. 45 ... 211 .. 45 .. 3 .. 425 .. 397 .. 85 .. 32S 25 Alps, sceue in a FinG-forest on tlio . 153 Anastatica Hierochuntina Ill Ancient Greece, the g'ardcns of, ... 301 Apple barrel-press (2 figures) ... 461 Areca Palms 177 Asparagus-gatherer, a new 95 Aster grandiflorus 305 Avalanche, the 469 Avenue of tapering trees, an ... 507 Barrel-press, (3 figures) ... ..4(31 Basket of Flowers and Grasses, a... 265 Bedding in Kensington Gardens 232, 233 Bedeguar of the Rose 29 Begonia Chelaoni ... 109 Bird-scarer, an Indian 235 Birds' nests 505 Boboli Gardens, Florence, view in the 443 Boiler, the Gold Medal (2 figures) ... 533 ,, Zig-zag gas-heated 97 Bombyx (Liparis) chrysorrhea, ... 241 Bos for drying flo«-ers, a 345 Brown-tailed moth, the 2 it ,, ,, caterpillar of the 241 Buckingham Palace, view in the gardens at 531 Buddhist garden and Tahpot Palm 133 Burghley, how table Vines are grovmat 333 Caladium esculentum 23 Calycauthus occidentalis 323 Carohua Allspice, the 323 Caterpillar of the brown-tailed moth 244 „ of the yellow-tailed moth 4i7 Cattleya fausta 435 „ Trianice 317 Celery, mode of preserving (4 figures) 472 Cerasus Lannesiana, 376 Chateau d'Eisgrub, the 4)35 Chermcs Caricre 119 ,, RosK 27 Cherry-fly, the 297 Cherry, Lannes's 275 Chimney-piece vases, with fl,owers and Grasses 265 Chinese garden, scene in a 259 Cob-web Apple moth, the 357 Colonnade in the gardens of Sans Souci 71 Coloree de Juillet Pear 135 Combe Abbey, Ferns along passages at 147 Combe Abbey, plan of the kitchen and fruit gardens at 149 Combe Abbey, portion of the Peach- wall at 147 Conservatory at Brompton, Mr. Wills's new 193 Conservatory at Furzedown, the ... 279 Contrasted effect of round-headed and spiral trees 31 Convertible dinner-table vase (3 figures) 145 Corridor in the Nursery of the City of Paris 175 Cotoneaster, cottage covered with... 165 ,, trained into letters ... 166 Cottage covered with Cotoneaster... 165 Croton Youngii 129 Culford, orchard-houses at, 163, 169, 183, 189 Curiosities of tree-clipping 341 Cyathea Burkei 271 Cypripedium purpuratum 293 ,, Sedeni 207 Davallia hemiptera 47 Dicksonia autarctica 527 BieOenbachia nobilia 199 Dinner-table decorations, group of 321 ,, ,, at the Crj^'stal Palace, first prize 229 Dipladenia iusignis 7 Double-leaved Sandew 77 Doyenne d'Ete Pear 135 DracEBiia indivisa 457 Drive in the Pare Monceaux, the ... 213 Drosera dichotoma 77 Equisetum in a pot, specimen of ... 393 ,, sylvaticum 393 Fairy-ring Champignon 37 Fern, the unequally-lobed Maiden- hair 63 Fernery at the Pine-apple Nursery , 487 Ferns along passages at Combe Abbey 147 Fig scale-insect, the 119 Filmy Ferns, group of 337 First prize dinner-table decorations at the Crystal Palace 239 Fir-tree in the Isle of Arran, singu- lar 208 Flower-bed in the Jardin d' Accli- matation 277 Flower-beds in Victoria Park 156, 157 Flower-market at the Madeleine ... 139 Flower-pots, ornamental 479 Flowcr-spiko of Fraucoa ramosa ... 283 Flowers, a bos for drying 345 ,, and Grasses, basket of ...265 Fosglove, singular 415 Fraucoa ramosa, flower-spike of ... 236 Fruit-drier, an improved 219 Fruit-gatherer, a 359 „ „ a Belgian 219 Fruit-room, ground-plan of a (3 figm-es) 218 Fruit trays and packing-boxes ... 35 Pi'uit-trellis, a simple 55 Fumigator, a good and simple ... 335 Funkia japonica 439 Furzedown, the Conservatory at ... 279 ,, Platycerium biforme, at 295 ,, Rose and Clematis trellis at 231 Galvanised pyramidal tree-cover... 13 ,, umbrella- shaped ,, ... 13 Garden-marker, a 179 Garden of stonework; the Villa Albaui-Castlebarco 237 Garden view in Isola Bella 11 Gardens of ancient Greece, the ... 301 Garrya eUiptica, male and female catkins of 105 Glaucous-leaved Himalayan Maple, leaf of 499 Glazing, Tack's patent method of 308 Godfrey's pot-plunger 325 "Golden-eyes" insect, the 30 Gold Medal Boiler, the (3 figures) ... 533 Golynos Oak, the 91 Grape Vine in pot 73 Grapes, Lambton Castle bunch of Black Hamburgh 514 Grapes protected from birds ... 485 Green lane at HoUand House, the 491 Grotto of Thetis 117 Ground-plan and elevation of the Conservatory at Syon House ... 15 Group of dinner-table decorations 321 „ of Filmy Ferns 337 Gymnothrix latifoUa 83 Hanging-basket at South Kensing- ton, a 263 Heatherside Nursery 113 Hemerobius (Chrysopa) perla ... 30 HoUand House, south front ... 483 ,, green lane at 491 ,, Italian garden at 491 House for Clematises in Messrs. Jackmaus' Nursery, new 405 How table Vines are grown at Burghley 338 Inarching, singular example of ... 135 Indian bird-scarer, an 235 Isle of Arran, singular Fk--tree in the 203 Isle of Arran, Ivy found on damp Moss in the 209 Isle of Poplars at Ermenonville ... 523 Isola Bella, garden view In 11 Italian Garden at Holland House ... 494 Ivy found on damp Moss in the Isle of Arran 209 Jardin d'AccUmatation, flower-bed in the 277 Jericho, the Rose of Ill KiBmpfer's Larch 69 Kensington Gardens, bedding in 232, 233 Koslreuteria paniculata 125 Label used at Bitton 14S Labels for Conifers 423 Lady's-Shpper, the purple 293 Seden's 207 Lagerstrcemia indica 373 Lake view at the Grange, Hamp- shire 361 Lambton Castle bunch of Black Hamburgh Grapes 514 Lannes's Cherry 275 Laris Keempferi 69 Leaf of the glaucous-leaved Hima- layan Maple 499 Leaf of the Pin or Swamp Oak ... 313 Leaves of the Sugar Maple 45 ,, of the trifid-leaved Maple 127 Lily, the Scarborough 233 Lime-kiln, ground-plan of improved perpetual 367 Lime-kilns, sections of 362, 363, 364, 365 Linden's Uropedium 151 Liun^a borealis 43 Low plant-frames 195 McNab's transi^lanting machine ... 155 Macrozamia corallipes 101 Madeleine, flower-market at the ... 139 Magnoha flower 93 fruit 92 Maiden-hau- Fern, the roseate ... 425 ,, the unequally lobed 63 Maple, leaf of the Sikkim 211 ,, leaves of the trifid-leaved ... 137 ,, leaves of the Sugar 45 Maranta Makoyana 87 Marasmius oreades 37 Mexico, vegetation around a country- house in 51 Mirabelle Hivtive Plum 195 Montreuil, a Peach-garden at ... 163 Moth, the brown-tailed 241 ,, the cobweb Apple 357 „ the Plum 255 „ thePsi 23 ,, the Vapom-er 29 ,, the yellow-tailed 417 Mushroom, singular 450 Nest of the Reed-bird 534 New double Poinsettia 143 Nursery, an ornamental 113 ,, Heatherside 113 ,, of the city of Paris, con'i- dorinthe 175 Nymphfea odorata 363 Oak, the Golynos 91 ,, leaf of the Pin or Swamp ... 313 Odontoglossum Alexandrce 341 ,, Roezlii 251 Old Oriental Plane-tree 283 Orchard-houses at Culford 163, 169, 183, 189 Orchid-leaf attacked by thrips ... 221 Ornamental flower-pots 479 ,, rock-bed 453 Ortalis cerasi 297 Oven and au--chamber, sections of 343 Packing-needle 613 Palm Grove, a 215 Palm (TaUpot) andBuddhist garden 133 Palms (Areca) 177 Pampas Grass 83 Paper plant-shade 49 Pare Monceaus, the drive in the ... 213 Peach garden at Montreuil, a ... 163 Peach-tree, pyramidal 72 ,, dwarf standard 72 Peach- wall at Combo Abbey, portion of the 147 Pear, Colort^e de Juillet 135 „ Doyenne d'Eto 135 Pear-tree in blossom. Sir PhiUp Crampton's 417 Pear-tree in pot 73 Persian garden, a 421 Pine-forest on the Alps, scene in a 153 Plan of the kitchen and fruit- gardens at Combe Abbey 149 Plane-tree, old Oriental 233 Plant-frames, low 195 Plant-house, section of span-roofed 257 Plant-shade, paper 49 Plants in chinks of natural rock ... 5 ,, in room at Bridge water House 377 Platycerium biforme at Furzedown 295 Plum, Mirabelle Hative 195 ,, moth, the 255 Poinsettia, new double 143 Polygonum sachalinense ... 413 Poplars at Ermenonville, Isle of ... 533 Pot-plunger, Godfrey's 335 Psimoth, the 23 Piu'ple Lady's-slipper, the 293 Quercus palustris, leaf of 313 Raidisseur, a new (3 figures) ... 130 Retinospora obtusa in Mr. Bohn's garden at Twickenham 67 Re-tubbing Palms (3 figures) 534, 525 Riverside vegetation on the Gold Coast 401 Rock-bed, ornamental 453 Roezl's new Odontoglofc 251 Rose and Clematis trellis at Furze- down 281 ,, Bedeguarof the 29 PAGB Rose of Jericho, the Ill ,, Sawfly, the common 26 ,, scale 27 ,, singular dimorphism in the ... 201 Roseate Maiden-hair Fern, the ... 425 Rose-leaf miner, the 27 „ roller, the 23 St. James's Park, view in 381 Salt Hill, the great Wistaria at ... 173 Sans Souci, colonnade in the gar- dens of 71 Sawfly, the common Rose 26 ,, the double-horned 27 ,, the yellow-banded 27 ,, the white -banded 26 Saxif raga grown in a basket ... 53 Scale-insect, the Pig 119 Scarborough Lily, the 323 Scene in a Chinese garden 259 ,, In a Pino forest on the Alps ... 153 Sections of oven and air-chamber ... 348 Seden's Lady's-shpper 207 Sikkim Maple, leaf of the 211 Singular dimorphism in the Rose ... 201 ,, Foxglove 415 ,, Mushroom 450 Sir Philip Crampton's Pear-tree in blossom 417 Small vase of flowers 535 Sorghum (Holcus) bicolor 83 South Kensington, a hanging-basket at 263 Spir^a japonica 319 Stapeha europjea 65 ,, ,, single bloom of ... 65 ,, hirsuta minor 353 Street planted with youug trees ... 75 Sugar Maple, leaves of the 45 Sundew, the double-leaved 77 Sweet-scented Water-lily, the ... 363 Swollen-stemmed Irish Yew ... 33 Syon House, ground-plan and eleva- tion of the conservatory at ... 15 Talipot Palm and Buddhist garden 133 Tenthredo cincta 26 „ diflformis 27 ,, rosarum 26 ,, zona 27 The Avalanche, 469 The Golynos Oak 91 Thetis, Grotto of 117 Thorn with a Birch growing through its base 399 Thrips, Orchid-leaf attacked by ... 221 Tortrix Bergmanniana ... ... 23 ,, Pruniana 255 Transplanting machine, McNab's 155 Tree in the Isle of Arran, singular Fir 20S Tree-clipping, curiosities of ... 311 Tree-cover, galvanised umbrella- shaped 13 Tree-cover, pyramidal 13 Tree-guard made of wire and Furze, or Whins 209 Tree-Fern, a new weeping 271 Tree-measurer 17 Trees, a street planted with young 75 ,, anavenueof tapering 507 ,, contrasted efi'ect of round- headed and spu'al 31 TrelUs, a simple fruit 55 Trichopilia suavis 511 Twin-flower, the 43 Uropedium Lindenii 151 Vallota purpurea 3 23 Vase, convertible dinner-table (3 figures) ' 145 Vase filled with Yucca and Irish Ivy 249 Vase of flowers, small 635 Vases, with flowers and Grasses, chimney-piece 265 Vegetation around a country-house in Mexico 51 Victoria Park, flower-beds in 156, 157 ViewintheBoboUgardeus, Florence 413 View in che gardens at Buckingham Palace 531 View in St. James's Park 331 Villa Albani Castlebarco 237 Vine in pot 73 Water-lily, the sweet-scented ... 363 Water-soldier, the 383 Weeping Tree-Fern, anew 271 Wigandia caracasana 503 Wistaria at Salt Hill, the great ... 173 Yellow-tailed moth, the 417 Yew, swollen-stemmed Irish ... 33 Yponomeuta cognatella 357 Yucca gloriosa 3 Zig-zag gas-heated boiler 97 SUPPIKMEHT, JilT, 24, 1874.] THE GARDEN INDEX. i^DEX TO volxjm:e: iv. at Tor- , rare. 47; 333 Abelia rupestris, 250 Abergele, remarkable trees at, 165 Aljutilon Thompsonii, as a beddino- plant, 440 Abutilons, variegated, 4 Acanthuses, 167 ; hybrid forms of, 434 Acer glaucum, 499 ; saccharinum, 45 ; Sikkimense, 211; trifldum, 127 Adlantum cuneatum, var. elegantulum, 338; Hendersoni, 112; rubelium, 425 wSchmea, the coral, 397 ; fulgens, 397 Acrides crispum, 85 Agapetes buxifolia, 110 Agave americana, 206; Hookeri, 130- YuccffifoUa, flowering of, 440 ' Ageratum, Imperial Dwarf, 234 Ailautus-trees, odour of, 184 Algeria, forests of, 231 Allspice, Carolina, 328 Aloe americana variegata 3 quay, 270 Alpine Forests of Europe, 153 Alpine plants from Labrador new, 498; at Benthall Hall, chinks, 5 Alpinia vittata, 26 Altemanthera amoena spectabilis, 395 Alternantheras in the north,'504 Amarantus salicifolius, 210, 268 Amber, 481 America, fruit prospects in, 254 American CowsUp, 276 American National Fruit Congress 290 Among the Roses, 1 Ampelopsis Veitchii, 356 Anastatica Hierochuutia, 111 Anderson's Speedwell, 210, 376, 603 Andromeda arborea, 228 Anemia rotuudifolia, 49 Anemone japonica Honorine Jobert, 334 Anemones, summer-llovvering, 167 AngeUca, purplo-leaved, 378 Annuals, fragrant, 70 Ants, 76 ; to exterminate, 50, 471 Apple, the Eve, 378 ; Lady Derby, 378 418; the Ribston Pippm, 219; the Tetofski,274 ' Apple-tree, the planting of the (Poetry), Apples, barrelling, 461 ; Canadian, 398 ; coddled, 266; lor food, 613; keeping 182, 318; large, 372; a select list of 333 ; an improved mode of packing, 307; are dwarf trees desiiable? 320, Apricot, the Kaisha, 134 ; tree, a pro- lific, 213 Apricots in Utah, 443 Aquarium, the stove, 87 AquUegia, new, 460 ; chrysantha, 223 Araha japonica (Sieboldii) 77 ■^■'i'sT'''''""' '"^^"'i'^'^'i) as a hedge plant, Ai-eca Palm, the, 178 Ai-istolochia floribvmda, 2 ; Sipho pro- pagation of, 128 ; tomentosa, 5 Arran, a ramble in, 208 Artichoke and Cardoon as ornamental plants, 132 ; the Jerusalem, 65 ; green Jno ',"'^'*' "^'^ white sauce, 138 ; iced! 138 ; large, 43 Arundel, fruit at, 125, 171 ; trees at, 125 Arundo conspicua at Hereford, 62 Asclepias curassavica 23 ^tS^'sl"^ gatherer, a new, 95 ; plant- Aster undulatus, 376 Asters, 175 ; a trial of, Attalea speciosa, 130 Attar of Roses, 176 Aucubas, how to have fruit on male and female, 46 Autumn (Poetry), 278 Auturon, foliage effects in, 311 Autumn leaves, 308 Autumnal tints, 399 Azalea in Ghent, the CMnese, 415 339 400 : [ Balcony decorations, 30 Ball Rooms, floral decorations in, 8) Bamboos, hardy, Gi, 323 Banana crops, 39S Barkeria Lindleyana, 498 Barometer, a gardener's, 385 Baskets, plants lor, 62 Bat guano, 178 Batatas paniculata, 110 Bath, new plants shown at, 20; exhibi- tion of glass structures and implements at, 79 Bathing in the Loudon Parks, 124 Battersea Park in 1873. 100 Bay-tree leaves as a medicine, 71 Beans, 609 ; French, 509 ; a few words about, 221 Bedding carpet, 277 Bedding-out vefniin mixed borders, 414 Beds on a lawn, two good, 113 Beech in Italy, the, 212 ; the weeping, 427 ; timber, 380 Bees, destroying, 447 Beginning, a, 180 Begonia Chelsoni,' 109; Brilliant, 241 ; Sedeni, 191 Begonias, double-flowered, 130; herba- ceous, 86, 110 Belgium, Horticulture in, 123 Bell-flowers, 41 Berberidopsis corallina, 166 Beet, white or Sicihan, 138 ; red, 472 Beetles which injui'e Coniferte, 395 Biarritz in Spring, the flowers of, 339 Bignonias, hardy, 166 " Big Trees," a new grove of, 332, 380 Bindweed, a golden, 216 Bird scarer, an Indian, 235 Birds and berry-bearing plants, 531 ; and insects, 302, 315 ; and birds' nests in gardens, 604 ; verstt.i insects, 447 ; versus Grapes, 485 ; (Wild) Protection Act, 346 Blackberries, 334 ; American, 90 Blackberry Wine, 266 ; Cordial, 266 Blaudfordia Flammula, 10 Bhght, American, 297 Boboli Gardens at Florence, the, 443 Bocconia (Macleaya) cordata, 191 Boiler, Barge's gas-heated, 97 ; the "Gold lledal," 538; incrustations, 241, 309, 370, 390, 433 Bombyx (Liparis) auriflua, 447; chry- sorrhea, 244 ; Orgyia, 29 Borage, 57 Border plants, rare, 190 ; in bloom in October, 323 Borders, aerating fruit-tree, 530 ; dig- ging, 191 ; mixed, 166 Borecole, 509 Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 430 Bougainvillea glabra, 374 Bougainvilleas as pot plants, 43 Bouquets, winter, 365 Branch propagation of Apple-trees, 297, 319, 334, 398, 442 Bridal wreaths, 441 Broccoli and Potatoes, 96 Brugmansia sanguinea, 376 Buildings, Tuck's Patent Horticultural, 308 Budding veram planting Yines, 486 Budding Roses, 127 Bulbs, spring-flowering hardy, 413 Buliflnches and Caterpillars, 119 Burghley, Fruit and Vegetable Culture at, 114 c. Cabbage-leaves, healing properties of, 266 Caladium esculentum, 23; in Algeria, Calandriuia nitida, 167 California, the Oaks of, 17 Calla, the spotted, 112; fethiopica, hardi- ness of, 234 Calycanthus, 32S Camellia in Japan, the, 167 Camellia flowers, packing, 397 Campanula pyramidalis, 41 Camphor tree, line specimen of the, 223 Canistrum aurantiacum, 373 Canna, a double, 413 Canterbury Bells, 4 ; self-sown, 134 Cantua dependens, 3 Capsicums, yellow-fruited, 110 Caraguata Zahnii, 270 Carnation, La Belle, 411 Carnations, climbing, 395 ; propagation of CUmbing, 138 ; Tree and Climbing, 273 ; winter-blooming, 441 Carbonic acid, do plants exhale it ? 534 Carolinea insignis, 164 Carpet-bedding, 277 Carpeting plants for beds of Yuccas, 415 Carrot, French Short-horn, 333 Cassia flonbunda, 312, Caterpillars, venomous, 392 Cattleya exoniensis, 332 ; fausta, 435 ; Piuellii, 17ci ; Trianiaj, 317 Catdiflower, 96, 172 Cedar of Lebanon, golden, 296 Celery, 186, 450, 510 ; hollow, 472 ; in cold countries, preservmg, 473 Celosia Huttonii, 310 Centaureas, propagating, 180; raised from seed, 376 Ceratopteris thalictroides, 49 Cerasus Lannesiana, 228, 275 Ceropegia Saundersoni, 130 Chama?peuce diacantha, 234 Charcoal as a fertihser, 307 Chateau d'Eisgrub, the, 465 Cheimatobia brumata, 447 Cherries, two good, 486 Cherry, a new, 275 ; the Early Rich- mond, 254 ; the winter, 460 ; tree, uses of the, 633 Chervil, common, 179 Chestnuts, best way of roasting, 95 Chicory or Succory, 178 Children and flowers, 24 Chiua Asters, 257; Grass, 103 Chinese Azalea in Ghent, the, 415 ; gar- dens, 358 ; vegetables, 36 Chives, 158 Chow-chow, 307 Christmas decorations, 464 Chiysanthemums, a trial of early, 439 Churchyards, trees for, 467 Cider-making, 333 Cinerarias as Window-plants, 64 ; double-flowored, 374 Clematis, Lady BoviU, 84 Clematises (hardy) as bedding-plants, 366 ; history of the hybrid, 68 Clerodendi-on speciosum, 533 Clethras, 396 Cliauthus Dampieri, 210 Climate, influence of the sea on our, 280 Climbers for the Balcony, hardy, 220 ; lor broken Fir-trees, 166 ; on Cottage' walls, 168 Cloches, 263 Cloud-beiTy, the, 134 Coal districts, from the, 350 ; plants, 266 Cobweb Houseleek as a window-plant, 10 Cockchafers, destruction of, 119 Cocoa-fibre 167 Cocoa-nut refuse, 339 Cocos WeddeUana, 498 Coeliopsis hyacinthina, 312 Coelogyue cristata, remarkable variety of, 206 CoH'ee-tree, the Kentucky, 400 ; plants from Siberia, 250 Colchicum Byzantinum, 306 ; speciosum 312 . r , Collinsias for spring flowering. 111 Colletia horrida, 313 Colonnade la the gardens of Sans Souci, 71 Columbine, the golden-spurred, 233 Combe Abbey, 147 Combination", a pretty, 33 Combinations, graceful, 375 Composite plants, late-blooming, 238 two new, _06 Compost for Palms, 463 Conifera;, beetles which injure, 395; propagation of the newer, 379 ; besu time for transplanting, 45; fine speci- mens at Penny Hill, 354 ; labels for 423 ; thinning and moving, 191 ; trees, top-dressing, 533 Cookery, vegetable, 3S5 Cordyline Banksii, 49 Cork tree (old) at Linton Park, 636 Corn salad, 36 Corydalis lutea, 415 Cotoneaster microphylla, 94, 165, 314 ; Simmondsii, 3.52, 330 Cowan's Lime-kiin Heating, 249, 290,391 , 330, 613 Covent Garden Flower-market, 249; market, tropical fruits in, 455, 532 ; nuisances, 133 Cowshp, American, 276 Crassula lactea, 523 Crataegus McNabiana, 213 Creeper, a monster, 33 Cricket-gi-ouuLi, forming a, 390 Crocuses, autumn-blooming, 431 Cross-fertdisation, curious fact in, 10 Croton Youngii, 139 Cryptomeria Lobbii, fine, 231 Crystal Palace Fruit Show, 225 ; great Rose show, 20 Cuckoo and the Gooseberry caterpillar, 37 Cucumber, a large, 179 ; catsup, 53 ; disease, 179 ; growing for market, 186 ; \inegar, 95 Capressus Goweniana glaucescens, 137 Curcumas in Mr. Parker's Nursery, 323 Curiosities of tree-planting, 211 Currants, dried, 363 Cuttings, roots, and bulbs, the proper time to procm'c, 483 Cyathea Burkei, 371 ; pecuUar growth of, 125 Cycad, with branched truuk, 431 Cycas revoluta, large, 201 Cyclamens, hardy, 466 Cypress, the Chinese, 400; at Pain's Hill, large deciduous, 45 Cyi^ripedium purpuratum, 293 ; Roezlii, 294 ; Sedeni, 134, 307 ; Veitchii super- biens, 3 Cyrtodeu'a chontalensis, 86 Cystopteris montana, culture of, 333 Dahha, the first, 338, 391, 413; roots, wintering, 603. Daisy, " Flower of Spring," 493 Daisies, Michaelmas, 305, 323 Dampier's Glory Pea, 210, 319 Daphne, White Indian, 355 Davallias, 46 Day-Lily, the, 133 Decorations, Christmas, 464; dinner- table, 229, 331, 411 Dendrobium bigibbum, 430 Deptford, new park at, 347 Deer in the Royal Parks, 531 Desfontainea spinosa, 467; in Ireland, 165 Desfontaineas, two, 231 Deutzia hedges, 254 Deutzias, 295 ; in Belgium, culture of, 336 Dictamnus taui'icus, 5 Diefl'enbachia nobihs, 199 Dinner-table decorations, 229, 331, 411 Dipladenia Brearleyana, 273 Dipladenias, 6 Dodecatheon Meadia, 276 Douglas Fir, Lord Stair's, 18 DracEeua, the hardy, 457 ; and Cordy- Une, 151 Draca;nas, French culture of, 294 Drosera dichotoma, notes on the propa- gation of, 77 Dundee Horticultural Society, 243 VI THE GARDEN INDEX. [sUPPLEiTENT, JAN. 24, 1874, E. Eccremocarpus scaber, 81 Edging's, Heather, 339 Efflaces in which they were known to the ancients are often refound in distant regions ; for instance, the African Pajjyrus, which was formerly very common in Egypt, is now no longer to be found there, but occurs again in the distant swampy regions of the White Nile. THE INDOOR GARDEN. Roses and Liadles. — A well-known Gorman florist related, in a high state of irritation, his troubles in this way. He said — " I have so much drouble mit de ladies ven dey come to buy mine Rose ; dey vants him hardy, dey vants him doubles, dey vants him moontly, dey vants him fragrand, dey vants him nice gooler, dey vants him ebery dings in one Rose. I hopes I am not vat yon calls von uncallant man, but I have somedimes to say to dat ladies, ' Madame, I never often sees dat ladies dat vas rich, dat vas good temper, dat vas youngs, dat vas clever, dat vas perfection in one ladies. I see her much not !' " Homeless Herbs. — For me, there is manie a plant I entcrtayn in my garden and paddock wiche the fasticioas would cast forthe. I like to teache my children the uses of common things — to know, for instance, the uses of the flowei-s and weeds that grow in our fields and hedges. Manie a poor knave's pottage would be improved, if he were skilled in the properties of the burdock and purple Orchis. The roots of the wild Succory and water Arrow-head mighte ngreeablie change his Lenten diet, and Glass-wort afford him a iiickle for his mouthful of salt meat. Then, there are Cresses and Woxl-Sorrel to his breakfast, and Salep for his hot even- ing mess. — Sir Tliomas More. DIPLADENIAS. Several of the members of this genus may be classed among the best of tho climbiug plants suitable for stove treatment, and recommend themselves to the notice of the plant grower as being of comparatively easy culture, and at the same time bearing a profusion of gracefully-formed richly-coloured blossoms of good substance. Two or three varieties make very effective exhibition plants when well grown and neatly trained on a balloon-shaped trellis. ])ipladenias are very easily propagated from cuttings, plunging the cutting pots in a mild bottom heat, and keeping them moderately moist until rooted; after which they should be potted off into small pots, using a fresh compost of fibrous loam, leaf-mould, and sand. To this, some noted growers add one-fourth or more of fibrous peat ; Ijut the former ingredients are sufficient, if the pots are thoroughly well drained. In order to bloom these plants to per- fection,they must be grown on vigorously, without a check, until the pots, into which they are shifted to flower, become filled with roots, and kept free from insect pests, to which they are especially liable if subjected to irregular treatment. As the plants make their growth, thin out the weakest shoots, and re-pot them as required. When the pots become filled with roots, a little clear manure-water will be found beneficial in strengthening the remaining shoots and in improving the colour of the foliage. The finest specimens I ever saw were grown in a moderate bottom heat, the shoots being traiued separately up lengths of thick twine, and close to the glass. When the flower-buds made their appearance, the strings were cut, and the shoots trained on a globe trellis. The foliage is of a fresh deep green colour when well grown, and forms an appropriate background for the clusters of wax-like, rosy-crimson, pink, yellow, or white flowers. During the growing season they must be syringed two or three times dailj', not only as a means of promoting vigour, but as a preventive of the ravages of red spider. Thrips may be treated to a dose or two of Fowler's Insecticide should they put in an appearance. A short descriptive account of some of the best species may be interesting to cultivators who have not yet added these plants to their collections. D. ACUMINATA.— This spccies, at first sight, might easily be mistaken for D. crassiuoda, which it somewhat resembles in habit, and is also furnished with a similar rmg of fleshy teeth at the thickened nodes. The flowers are of a similar deep rose colour, but each segment is remarkably acuminate. The indi- vidual flowers are also much larger, being from 4 to 4j inches in diameter. The calyx lobes are linear, and longer than those of D. crassiuoda. It is a native of Brazil, and first flowered about 1851. D. A5IABILIS. — This noble variety is the result of a cross between D. splendens and D. crassiuoda, the latter being the female parent. It owes its origin to Mr. H. Tuke, of Bramley, near Leeds, and was first sent out by Messrs. Jas. Backhouse and Son, of York, in 1865. It most nearly resembles its female parent, but is far superior to that variety. In habit it is far superior to its parents, being more robust, and bearing flowers of richer colouring, the prevailing tint being deep bright rose, almost verging on crimson in the darker tints. Its foliage preserves its deep glossy green colour until late in the season, and the plant is a noble subject for autumn exhibi- tions, at which it is not unfrequently seen. D. AiKENA. — Another of Mr. Tuke's hybrids, obtained by crossing D. splendens with the last-named species, the result being the production of a variety of good habit, bearing flowers nearly perfect in form. The blooms are aboirt Ij inches across, and of a delicate rosy tint, streaked and tinted with darker shades of the same colour. The individual lobes of the flower are rounder and of greater substance than those of its parents. Like the last, it has a good constitution and foliage of a deep fresh green colour. The plant was, I believe, sent out in 1869 by Mr. W. Dean when at Shipley Nurseries, near Bradford, and is now occasionally met with at exhibitions. D. BoLiviENSis. — We have here a species sent by Mr. Pearce to Messrs. Veitch and Sons, from Bolivia, and very closely allied to the old and almost-forgotten D. urophylla (a species July 5, 1873.] THE GARDEN. bearing clusters of small yellow flowers, the lobes tipped with brij^ht red, aud having oblong leaves, very much acuminate at their apices). The present species differs in having leaves much loss acuminate, and in the flowers being pure white, with a lemon-yellow throat. The flower tube is very slender, much more so than in its last-named congener, D. urophylla. The plant has a good constitution, though of slender habit, and flowers profusely when liberally treated. It was first flowered aud exhibited in 1868, gaining the Royal Horticultural Society's medal as the finest new flowering plant then exhi- bited. It is scarcely showy enough for exhibition purposes, though useful and distinct as a decorative plant. D. CRASSINOUA. — Au old and ell'ective species when well nearly half that width, oblong, acuminate, and glaljrous. It bears great clusters of golden-yellow flowers, nearly three inches in diameter, each lobe having a broad blotch of ver- milion near the mouth of the tube, while the tube itself is streaked with the same colour. It is an effective plant, but seldom met with in collections. D. iNsrcN'is. — A charming variety, bearing large crimson or rosy-carmine flowers about -!• inches in diameter, and of good substance. It is a free grower and a most profuse bloomer — qualities inherited from its parent, D. amabilis. Our illustra- tion gives an excellent idea of this grand acquisition, which was raised by Mr. S. Fcnwick, gardener to John Waterhousc, Esq., Well Head, near Ilalifax. It is undoubtedly the fiuest Dipladema insignis. grown. Stems having a whorl of fleshy lobes at the nodes, aud bearing axilary clusters of deep rose-coloured flowers. The individual flowers are about 2 to 25 inches across, and are produced in. tolerable abundance. Introduced from Corco- vado mountain, near Rio Janeiro, where it forms a scandent, twining shrub, at a considerable elevation. D. FLAVA. — This is another old species, introduced from Santa Martha (New Granada) in 184.5, and bearing golden yellow flowers, about two inches in diameter. The leaves are obloug, and together with the young growths, are covered with sparse silky hairs. D. Harrisii. — A robust-growing species, introduced from Trinidad about 18.54'. Its leaves ai-e about a foot long, and variety in this beautiful genus, and is now being distributed by Messrs. Veitch & Sous, Chelsea. D. NOBiLis. — Introduced from Brazil about 1847. The shoots rise from a rounded crown, aud, together with the foliage, ai-e quite smooth. Leaves deep green, obloug ; apices retuse, the mid-rib slightly prolonged ; flowers about 2 inches in diameter, varying in colour from white suffused with flesh- colour to deep rose. It is a very graceful and effective plant, though not often seen in cultivation. D. SPLENDENS. — A fine species, a native of Brazil, introduced to our collections in 1842. Its leaves are deep green, oblong, cordate at the base. Tlowers of a deep rosy colour, each bloom being nearly 3 inches across. It is a profuse-flowering 8 THE GARDEN. [July 5,1873, effective species, but, like all its congeners, flowers best when grown on in a mild bottom heat, and not overpottcd. In selecting from the enumeration given above, D. iiisignis, D. amabilis, and D. amceua will be found the most effective varieties, either for exhibition purposes or for stove decora- tion, although the others are very beautiful when well grown, more especially D. crassinoda, D. splendens, D. nobilis, and the unique D. Bolivieusis, with its delicate white salver-shaped ilowcrs. F. W. PEBPARING FOR WINTER FLOWERS. Just at the present time forethought is necessary to know what plants we shall have in bloom during the winter months, and therefore a few remarks upon some of the most suitable for that purpose may not bo out of place. Let us repeat the fact that the flowering of all forced shrubs in the winter de- pends upon the thorough maturation of the summer growth ; therefore, let your object be to grow your plants as robustly as possible, but at the same time spare no pains to get the growth well ripened as it proceeds. If vigorous winter-floweriug plants are desired, we must grow them on freely during the summer, and not set them carelessly under the nearest fence that comes to hand, as is too often the case. Irrespective of shruljs and forced flowers, we have abundance of plants that naturally flower during the winter, and of these we need scarcely mention the many fine varieties of the Chrysanthe- mum, all of which are easily grown. CHRYSANTHEMUMS. To have fine specimens of these for conservatory decoration, take nicely rooted cuttings in February, pot them on, and grow them in the most vigorous manner, in a cool pit or house, until the middle or end of May, observing that the plants receive no check, but, on the contrary, get plenty of liquid manure. By that time the plants will be in -f or 6-inch pots, possibly a foot to 18 inches high, with a stem as thick as your little finger. Then they are removed into 8-inch pots, using a rich compost of turfy loam, rotten dung, and bone- dust, and taking care to drain the pots thoroughly. At this time the plants are properly staked ; that is, a stake, four to five feet high, is placed in each pot, and the plant is trained as a single stem until it is nearly S feet high. In doing this, the side branches may be stopped back to two leaves, and should they break again, the shoots [must be pulled out, the object being to clothe the stem with foliage down to the pot, but not to encourage the lower shoots to produce flowers. Thus treated, the plants become uncommonly robust, and the branches which they throw from the top produce very splendid flowers. Of flowers, let us note one fact, and that is, as soon as formed, take out the centre bud of each truss ; that but too frequently comes hard-eyed, and therefore it is better to remove it at once. The pots must be placed upon ashes, in a situation fully exposed to the sun. The plants must never, under any circumstances, know the want of water, which in dry weather will frequently require to be used twice, and sometimes three times, a day. If the plants make good progress, the strongest of them about the middle of August may be removed into 11-inch or 15-inch pots, still using rich compost and keeping them fully exposed. In shifting the plants, never remove the drainage at the bottom unless it is quite clear of the roots. You cannot do so without injuring the roots, and therefore it is better not to disturb it. It will 1)0 noted that the plants under this system of management receive no check at all, but grow to their utmost limit, accumulating strength all the time, and it is astonishing what splendid blooms they produce. To see a plant, say of Queen of England, producing from thirty to sixty flowers, all fine, but many of them 4 to (J inches in diameter, is not an unusual thing; indeed, where fine flowers are wanted, this is cei'tainly the best way of producing them. The quantity of rich liquid manure the Chrysanthemum will take is quite astonishing. If intended for large-sized cut blooms for indoor decoration, the plants must be divested of most of their side-shoots in their early stages, and trained up with single stems, which should be allowed to bear only one or two flowers on each. All superflous buds should also be removed in like manner, as they make their appearance. SALVIA SPLENDENS. As a companion plant for the ChrysanthemuTn, the old Salvia splendens deserves every encouragement, its brilliant scarlet flower-spikes contrasting and lighting up admirably the cooler colours of the Chrysanthemums. This plant may be grown much in the same manner as the Chrysanthemum, but it will not take quite so much lirjuid manure. It is readily propagated by cuttings, grows rapidly under proper encourage- ment, and between spring and autumn forms a fine handsome bush. One fact must be borne in mind : it is impatient of cold, and, therefore, must be taken under cover before a frost touches it. The Salvia is liable to be attacked by red spider, which must be checked by frequent syringing with clean water, and an occasional dressing of sulphur. rOINSETTIAS. These are invaluable for winter work when well grown and kept at a moderate height. To have them dwarf, strike the eyes early in April, and be careful to select them from well-ripened wood. Placed in a moist bottom heat, they soon root and throw up shoots, after which pot them in fibrous loam and thoroughly rotten dung from the frame ground. As soon as they get well established in the new soil, and all danger of spring frosts is over, place them out in ]iits where bedding plants have been wintered, and here grow them on during the summer months C[uite in the open air, and fully exposed to the sun. This is one of the simplest plans by which this showy plant may be had in perfection ; yet even under this rcri'imr some will persist in running up too high, but our treatment of such offenders is as effective as it is simple : we merely take off the tops and strike them in bottom-heat just before the plants are ready to flower. If particularly large heads of bracts are required for cutting, a plant or two may be planted out at the back of either a plant- stove or warm conservatory, and allowed to grow on, which they will do vigorously if liberally tieated, and all the attention requisite is to cut them back to two or three good eyes every spring. In this manner we have had splei'xlid heads that measured 20 inches across. These are vei'y effective for large vases wherever a blaze of decided colour is wanted. ZONAL AND VAllIEGATED rELARGONIUMS. These are not nearly so much used for winter decoration as they ought to be. Plants potted now, and grown on in a cold house or pit, with a free circulation of air at all times, and full exposure on mild nights, make very useful plants to mix with the Chrysanthemirms. Each plant must stand quite free of its neighbour, must be freely grown, and have every flower- bud removed until the middle of September, then allow them to grow on, and you will have a capital bloom through the winter. The secret of this kind of success is the thorough ripening of the growth up to the end of August, and to that end the plants cannot be too much exposed to atmospheric influences. Without maturation you cannot in the waning season have flowers. As an accompanying plant to those referred to above, an old Oak-leaved variety, called Rollisson's Unicjue, is well worthy of extensive cultivation. The flowers are bright crimson, and are produced in large trusses. AVe have several dozens of large plants of this variety, handsome bushes four feet high, and two to three feet in diameter. They are cut in at this season, potted as soon as they have made shoots half an inch long, using a rich compost, grown in the shade for a fortnight until they have good fresh roothold, and arc then placed in the full sun until they are removed into the greenhouse in September. Thus managed they rarely fail to produce blooms every day throughout the year. There is a lilac variety of the Unique, which it is very well to have for contrast, but by itself it is not so effective as Rollisson's variety. LUCULIA GRATISSniA. This is a grand winter-flowering plant. With large simple leaves somewhat like those of a Hydrangea, and bunches of rosy flowers, 6 or 7 inches across when well grown, and delioiously fragrant, it requires no deep perception to recognise its claims when once seen ; but the opportunity to see it docs not occur every day. This arises from the fact of its being one of those plants that in pots are only seen in perfection with a really good " plantsman." Being a vigorous subject, JTTLY 5, 1873.] THE GAEDBN. 9 it requires to be planted out in tlao bed of a warm conservatory, or some house, the winter temperature of which is somewhat higher than tliat of the greenhouse, and there, with a mere tithe of the trouble it rcquu'es in pots, it will give perennial satisfaction. There is a plant of it treated tlnis in one of the glass houses in the Royal Gardens at Frogmore, and from it every year are cut about one hundred trusses for Christmas decoration, for which purpose they arc certainly the best, and at present among the rarest of flowers. At Little Dalliy Hall, near Melton Mowbray, there is also a fine specimen of this superb winter-flowering plant. It has been planted out in the conservatoiy for years, and all the trouble it requii'es is to cut it back everj' spring and give its roots an occasional top-dressing. CYCLAMENS. Those are invaluable for winter and spring flowering. The seed should be saved eveiy year, carefully selecting the brightest coloured and best habited plants for that purpose. Bow it in November in pans of light earth, placing them on a shelf in the propagating house until the seedlings are fit to plant out. Only a dozen or a dozen and a half of seeds should be placed ill each pan, dibbling them into the rich earth at regular distances apart ; this is much better than sowing thickly, as the plants can remain until they attain a considerable size before they are planted out. Early in March get a dung-bed made up, on which place a couple of two-light frames, and cover the dung with 6 or 8 inches of rich compost. They like a compost of fibrous loam, leaf-mould, and sand, with the addition of a little peat and rotten dung. After the first flush of heat is over, prick out the plants ti inches apart, and here they are grown on during the summer, giving air and occasionally a little clear manure-water as required. The secret in Cyclamen growing is to grow them on rapidly from the seed- pan to the flowering stage without a check. At the end of the summer the bulbs should be large and well ripened. These should be carefully removed fi-om the beds and potted into 48- sized pots, after which plunge them in a gentle bottom heat, and, when they have become established, remove them to theii* flowering quarters. Grown in this way one-year-old seedlings often produce from thirty to fifty flowers on a plant. EPIPHYLLUMS. These are simply invaluable fur winter flowering, and are easily cultivated, either on their own roots, or grafted on stocks of the common Pereskia aculeata. Mr. Speed grows these plants at Chatsworth by the hundred, and uses them largely in the great conservatory, where, in hanging baskets (for which they are admirably adapted), mingled with Ferns and drooping trailers, they light up the place all through the winter with their orange-scarlet or bright "lilac -purple flowers. They strike readily from, leaves taken ofi: during the summer and inserted in a cutting pan surfaced with sand ; after which they may be potted in sandy loam, sand, and leaf -mould, and grown on a shelf close to the glass. VAKIOUS -WrNTEB DECOEATIVE PLANTS. Among these may be mentioned Primulas, double and single Cinerarias, Hyacinths, Acacias of various sorts, forced Roses, Helleborus niger in variety,Dentzias,Spirtea, Azaleas, Lily of the Valley, white and pink Hawthorn, Narcissus, and Tuberoses. We have obtained our stock of forcing plants from Belgium for several years, and generally get good quality for our money. Lilacs, Dielytra spectabilis, Spirtea, and Lily of the Valley we have in flower for four or five mouths without intermission. These are always useful, either as decorative plants in pots, or for furnishing a good supply for bouquets and " button-holes." A few good plants of winter-flowering Carnations, placed in a warm sunny corner of the greenhouse or Vinery, produce enormous quantities of choice deliciously-soented flowers for cutting for indoor decoration. Thyi-sacanthus rutilans, IpomEea Horsfallias, bright-leaved Dracaenas, sundry Orchids — among others, Laelia albida, Oncidium pulchellum, Calanthes in variety, Odontoglossum Cervantesii, Lycaste Skinneri (one of the finest of Orchids, which flowers for a long time in the drawing-room without protection) ; and the Cypripediums, of which the old insigne also blooms a long time, are perfectly at home in a di'awing-room. Doubtless the same may be said of many other Oi'chids, when they are sufficiently plentiful to be extensively tried in this way ; but the very best for this pur- pose is the old Dendrobiimr nobile, which, it grown well, bears hundreds of its white and purple flowers during winter and spring, as also docs Phajus grandifolius. Of Heaths, Hiemalis, Elegans,Melanthera, Scabriuscula, and Colorans are about the best for Christmas ; and of the Epacrises, Vesta, The Bride, Alba odorata, aud Varicgata. One bulb is so peculiarly suited for the most exquisite groups of Christmas flowers, that we hesitate not to make a special pleading for it. It grows about a foot high, and boars flowers of a peculiarly rich yellow, tipped with green. The coloration is so distinct that the plant would be attractive, no matter how the flowers were attached ; but when we say that they droop more gracefully from their slender foot-stalk than the Snowdi-op, those who do not know the plant will have some idea of the singular attractiveness of IJrceolina aurea. Sparmannia africana is an effective winter-plant when grown on from cuttings, and kept in small pots. A few good plants of Camellias, planted out in the conservatory, keep up a|good supply of cut blooms after Christ- mas, but a few plants of the Double White and Candidissima should be forced for early bloom by placing them in an early Vinery directly the List flowers are cut from them in November aud December. Eucharis amazonica should be grown by the dozen, as it blooms at any season, when required. We have, moreover, many pretty free - flowering hardy plants that bloom during the winter and spring, such as Snowdrops, Crocuses, Iberis gibraltarica, I. sempervirens, common Wall- flower, in dry sunny positions, Christmas Roses, purple, blue, and rosy Hepaticas, sweet-scented Violets, and Primulas in variety. Chimonanthus fragrans, Jasminum nndiflomm, and Berberis Darwinii bloom freely during winter, trained on a sunny wall, or planted in a warm sheltered border, while Pompone Chrysanthemums, grown in quantity, come in very handy for plunging among the dark shrubs in the flower-beds nearest the mansion, about November and the beginning of December, if the season is mild. CHMSTMAS EVERGREENS. For Christmas decorations we have the deep perpetual ver- dure and the cheerful berries of Cotoneasters, Skimmias, Hollies in variety, Aucubas in fruit, Cratasgus Pyracantha, and other bright berry-bearing shrubs. These are so particu- larly useful that it is an excellent plan to grow them in pots, so that they may be removed aud grouped anywhere without injury, and be also kept dwarf and neat. Of course the coral- garnished spray of such plants maybe tastefully used in wreaths, aud amongst cut flowers ; but a far higher use might be made of groups in pots, not only occasionally in the house, but plunged in beds in the open air near it, aud even used in boxes on the outer sides of the windows. We have seen most chaste and attractive boxes of this kind filled thus. These of course may be kept growing, plunged in some by-nook in summer; and even at that season they will be found occasionally use- ful. In addition to those used for their berries alone, we need scarcely add that there are many which deserve attention on account of their lustrous health and verdure in winter, and which are peculiarly fitted for associating with those just named — such as the Minorca and other Boxes, the Laurustinus, Berberis Darwinii, Rhododendi-ons, and hardy Azaleas, many Japanese shrubs, and dwarf Conifers intro- duced of late years, including a group of nicely selected silver Hollies, which are, moreover, very effective by gas light. One shrub we should never fail to be without in pots or tubs, and that is the Laurustinus. The warmth and protection of a conservatory or cool glass house in winter induces it to bloom as vigorously and sweetly as a May flower. Wherever standard evergreens are grown in tubs for placing out of doors on terraces in summer, this should be grown as a standard, as it may be enjoyed in winter for its flowers, and in summer for its foliage alone, like Bays and other plants grown as standards ; but it is well worth growing for its winter uses alone. In cutting from shriibberies or gi-oups for indoor embellishment in winter, to the above the Arbutus, and the Buonymus europajus may be added. It may be worth noticing that some evergreens, like Laurels, &c., may prove highly efiective in church decoration or the like, and yet be rather coarse and out of place in rooms, and especially in small rooms. To the plants used in pots for the sake of their 16 THE GARDEN. [July 5, 1873. berries, might be added the Solanums Capicastrum and Pseudo-capsicum, the Ardisias, Rivina humilis, and dwarf Oranges where they are grown well in small pots. We need hardly say that groups of the most charming character may be formed of the hardy plants above mentioned, with the symmetrical and elegant little dwarf Pines and neat ever- greens ; and, as the greater number may be grown almost without any protection, they are doubly valuable. As this is the time for arranging plans for winter, the above hints may be useful, the dull winter months most requiring the Gardener's art to make them as cheerful and as enjoyable as possible. A. THE VICTORIA REGIA. In the year 1812 it was my good fortunp to behold this wonderful production of nature in the river Rupununi, one cif the great tribu. tarios of the Essequibo. After a toilsomo struggle of six weeks in ascending the Essequibo we passed the last cataract, and we were truly thankful to the Almighty that it had pleased Him to allow ns to reach their termination without accident ; and many an anxious moment we had during our ascent of this noble river, which, in the number and height of its cataracts, snrjiasses any river in British Guiana. We entered the Rupununi, and three days after (as if we should bo rewarded for our previous sufferings on the Essequibo) the Rupununi, on its right bank, expanded into an extensive bay. It was an enchanting scene. So enchanting was the view that unfolded to our eyes that wo were at a loss where to commence, in order not to overlook any object in this lovely picture, the most prominent of which was the Victoria Kegia, which I had longed so much to behold. The margin of this bay was bordered with this magnificent plant. The grandeur of tropical scenery was here the most striking and the most sublime I ever had as yet seen. The numerous Palms, Uranias, with their wide-sprcading leaves, gigantic trees around raised their lofty crowns to an enormous height, dis])laying the greatest contrast in form and appearance of their foliage. Lianas clung to their trunks, interlacing their wide-spreading branches, and having reached their summit, aerial roots descended again to the ground, and appeared like the cordage of a ship. Nature, not satisfied with the soil allotted to her, had decorated the trunks and limbs of trees, even the surface of the water, with a carpet of plants, interspersed with these magnificent flowers. Twenty-eight years have now elapsed since this lovely picture unfolded itself before my eyes, but it is still as fresh in my memory as if I had seen it but yesterday. Long before we reached the bay the eastern breeze wafted the delightful odours towards us. The whole margin of this bay was bordered with the gigantic leaves of the Victoria, interspersed with the magnificent flowers, of all shades from white to pink, scent- ing the air with their fragrance. On the leaves many aquatic birds were running to and fro, chasing the numerous insects which were humming around the brilliant flowers. I may observe that we stopped many hom's to enjoy this sublime picture, and that our pencils were soon engaged in transferring to paper this striking feature of this remarkable spot. We rowed from one plant to another, finding everywhere something to admire, and measuring the gigantic leaves and tlowers. The largest of the former was 7| feet, the largest of the latter 14 inches in diameter. I never was any. where more forcibly impressed vpith the thought that the productive powers of Nature, on receding from the pole, had collected themselves in their greatest strength near the equator, spreading their gifts with open hand and manifesting the abundant fertility of the soil. — ■ Dr. R. Schomhurg];. NOTES AND QUESTIONS ON THE INDOOR GARDEN. The Cobweb Honseleek as a Window Plant.— I have just seen a fine example of this plant growing on the outside of a cottage window, near Bromley. It had grown so well that the rosettes crowded over and fell to tlie edge of the saucer in which the pot stood. This interesting Alpine plant then may be gi'owu as easily as any common window plant. — \V. R. Oncidium tigrinum- — This has been recently imported by Messrs. Back- house & Son, ot York, who showed a fine specimen of it in flower at Bath the other day. It has large shining pseudo-bulbs, bearing two or three oblong leaves, and its Uower-spikes are branched, Ijearing from five to thirty or forty flowers. The sepals and petals are pale greenish-yellow, heavily blotched triinsverscly with brown, the broad lips being of a very soft lemon-yellow. This plant is sure to become a favourite with Orchid growers. Its synonymes are O, Barker! and O. funereum. Blandfordia Flammnla.— A fine plant of this was exhibited by Mr. E. T. V eitch, at the Bath Show, and was much admired. It hears tall spikes of pale buff or orange-yellow flowers. The foliage is terete, glaucous, and gi-assy in appearance, and well grown plants of it, bearing six, or eight strong spikes each, are very ornamental. B. Cimninghamii is another fine species, bearing larger flowers of a deeper orange, or orange-scarlet, than those of Flamniula. All the spec;es grow well in fresh turfy Io.am, leaf -mould, and sand ; they require a good supply of water, and a cool bottom. THE PROPAGATOR. GRAFTING FUCHSIAS. I HAVE not hitherto seen the operation of grafting performed on the Fuchsia elsewhere than at the Royal Horticultural Gardens at Chiswick, where Mr. Spinks has performed some success, ful experiments in this way with that shrub. He has worked red varieties on white ones, thus producing the novelty of making the same plant carry two distinct colours, but I am not sure that oper.ating in that manner is, in connection with the Fuchsia, really the most useful purpose to which grafting can be put. I should rather conclude tliat if standards, composed of heads ot some of the best and most effective of the golden or variegated-leaved kinds, such as Pillar of Gold or Sunray, worked upon stout, quick, growing stems of some common kinds, could be had in abundance, they would join at the same time both excellent decorative and exhi. bition plants, and it is most probable that, as the variegated sorts aro usually of somewhat moderate growth on their own roots, they would develope stronger and more rapid growth when worked on robust growers. In no other way could they display their beautifully tinted foliage more charmingly than as standards, the shoots being allowed to grow in a drooping form, and with that peculiar gracefulness that should always characterise a good Fuchsia. Mr. Spinks employs the wedge form ot grafting the part of the stock worked, the scion being as equal in size as possible to the stock. The stock should be cut short off about an inch above a leaf joint, and then split with a sharp knife down the middle to the joint, beyond which the split will not pass unless additional force be applied. The graft should consist of nice young green wood, and when inserted should be carefully bound with a fine piece of bast matting, and also kept moist by means of a piece of moss tied over the junction. The plants worked should then be placed in a gentle heat, and should bo shaded, and under these conditions a perfect union between graft aud stock is secured. Where a dark-coloured kind is worked on the top of a light one, or rice vers'i, to form a pyramid, a moderate grow, ing kind should be selected for the graft, as the top of a plant is sure to receive the largest portion of sap. There is also no reason whj-, with care in the selection of kinds, some six or eight sorts might not be worked on to the side shoots of one big plant. — A.D. Curious Tact in Cross rertilisation.— At a meeting of the Academy ot Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Mr. Thomas Meeban made a curious and important observation. Mr. Arnold, of Paris, Canada, lately determined to observe the effect of cross-fertilisation on Indian Corn. He procured a very peculiar variety, ot which Mr. Meehan exhibited an ear, not known in the vicinity — a brown variety, with a circular dent on the apex, and raised one plant from it. The first set of flowers were permitted to be fertilised by their own pollen, in order to test whether there was any reversionary tendency in the plant, or the pollen of any other variety in the vicinity. The ear now produced was the result, every grain being like its parents. The Corn plant produces two ears on each stalk. As soon as the "silk" (the pistils) of this second year appeared, the pollen, in a " tassel," of the common j'ellow Flint Com was procured, set in a bottle of water tied near the developing ear, the plant's own tassel having been cut away some time previous. After a short time this set ot male flowers was removed, and a panicle of male flowers from a white variety was introduced to the same bottle, in order to afford it the opportunity ot operating on the same female flowers. The result was the ear now presented. The base ot each grain was of the yellow Flint Corn, but the upper half of the white variety. The result was, he thought, no escape from the conclusion, not only that there was an immediate influence on the seed and the whole fruit-structure by the application ot strange pollen, but the still more important fact, hardly before more than suspected, that one ovule could receive and be affected by the pollen of two distinct parents, and this, too, after some time had elapsed between the first aud second impregnation. — T. NOTES AND QUESTIONS ON PROPAGATING. Grafting" Wax.— Hcferring to a recipe, which apiiearcd some time since in a horticultural jouruul, for making grafting wax "similar to the celebrated Mastic Lhonimc-Lefort," and which, among other ingredients contained turpen- tine, M. CarriL^re warns his readers against the use of this ingredient in such compositions. It is, he says, most pernicious in its effect on the graft. The proper solvent to employ is alcohol. Grafting Mice-Girdled Trees.— At page 337 of Tub Garden we gave a description and ilhislration of an effective mode of jirescrving mice-girdled trees, which is much emploj-cd in America. AVe find in an American paper the following improvement on that i)lan suggested. The connecting piece, after being shaved on its inner face, and cut the exact length, is nailed in instead of being tied. It is therefore firmer, and we think this an advantage. July 5, 1873.] THE GARDEN. 11 ISOLA BELLA. Among tho beautiful lakes in tlio north of Italy, the Lago Maggioi'C is perhaps the most lo\cIy. That region of lakes and mountains, interspersed with fertile plains sheltered by the great wall of tho high Alps, was a favourite resort of tho wealthy Eomans of the Imperial period. In that attractive region Pliny had bis charming villa, of which he has left so many interesting particulars in his well-known letters to a number of Roman dignitaries of his day, including the Emperor Hadrian himself. There are two beautiful islands in the Lago Maggioro which artists, for the last century at least, have delighted to study and depict ; one is the Island of the Fishermen, the other is known as the Isola Bella. No stronger contrast could exist than that between these twin islands of the blue Italian lake. That of the Fishermen is crowded to the very highest part luxuriantly as might have been expected. There arc portions of the gardens in which a certain kind of wildness is affected, with imitations of Roman ruins, and other features of the kiml so frecpicutly found in modern Italian villas. All this sounds well, and the features alluded to accord with Italian scenery characteristically enough ; while the Cypresses form, as they do in all garden landscape in lUi]y, a feature of Tievcr-failing charm, shooting up their dark green pointed shafts into the unbroken azure of the sky; but altogether, on my first visit to the " Isle of Beauty" I must confess to having experienced a feeling of groat disappointment. I had seen Stanficld's pic- tures of the Isola Bella, in which she had sat to him under her most fascinating aspects of atmospheric effect, and well-selected points of view, and I must say that tlic reality fell far, very far, short of the spell which the magic of the artist's pencil had east about it ; here veiling the outline of a sharp promontory, and Garden view in Isola Bella, of its steep rocky sides with plcturcsrpie little dwellings, gleaming white against the purple sky, while trailing Vines, half wild, knit the picture together, which is crowned, exactly in the right place to balance it, by the ancient church tower. The Isola Bella, on the contrary, is all culture, being crowded with vase-bearing pedestals, long lines of ornamental balus- trading, and architectm-al flights of steps from one level to another of the exceedingly uneven surface of the island ; the small surface of even ground being occupied by the pretty palace-villa which is the summer retreat of Count Borromeo, of the ancient Milanese family of the famous canonised Bishop, St. Carlo Borromeo, whose tomb is one of the chief sights of Milan Cathedral, and is so eagerly visited by tourists of all nations. The remainder of the more level portions of the island are occupied principally by small geometric gardens, interspersed with Orange trees and several kinds of Palms, which, however, do not flourish so there bringing into high relief some favourite piece of combined art and nature, with the consummate taste that we know so well. These works of our great painter had filled my mind with im- patient longing to tread the shores of the Isola Bella, and when at last I accomplished the wish, it was with depressing regret that I found the reality so far below the celebrity that has so long clung to the place, and the pictures that have been painted of it. It wanted the sweeps of soft green turf which are such a delightful, and to an English eye, essential feature in the home landscapes of a pleasure garden. It wanted the high keeping which is almost invariably found in places of that degree of pretension ; and lastly, the ambitious attempt to introduce tropical plants and trees, even in Italy, and with the Alps close at hand to screen the island from the cold blasts of the north, is certainly a failure, as few of them appeared to me to be enjoying themselves, and many looked decidedly wretched in their unavailing attempts to accommodate them- 12 THE GARDEN. [July 5, 1873. selves to an unpropitious climate. In short, given the climate o£ the La^o Maggiore, such as it is, the beauty of the surrounding scenery, -with the jirctty town of Baveno seen in the distance, with all the other favourable adjuncts, I believe I coukl name, in a lircath, half a dozen English landscape gardeners, who would find it no difficult task to transform the so-called Isola Bella really into a thing of beauty, as superior as possible, in every respect, to its present somewhat un- satisfactory aspect, which has far too much of what we call the " Oockney school " about it, in the vast profusion of its trivialities. As one of the " cclebi'ated " gardens of Europe, we have given a representation of it in TuE Gakden, but not so much as a model of a good style in horticultural art as, in the main, a sort of thing to be carefully avoided. H. N. H. THE FRUIT GARDEN. THE MISTLETOE AS A TREE PEST. Ml!. Lkes says, in tho Botanical Lool;er.oiif, that the most remark- able circumstance iu tho history of tho Mistletoe is its mode of growth. It is invariably found flourishing upon, aud imbibing its support from, the juices of some tree ; it has never been met with attached to earth, nor can any treatment induce it to grow there. It is thorefere termed by analogy a parasite. In this view, then, the Mistletoe is to be distinguished from the Ivy. The latter, it is true, will embrace forest trees in too tight a grasp to be healthful ; but the creeper is not nourished by the tree on which it climbs, for, although in the case of the Ivy there is reason to suppose that it may derive some nutrition through its aerial roots from the decaying bark of the supporting tree, yet it is in reality a plant with its own independent terrestrial roots, and will climb up banks and walls as readily as upon the trunks of trees. It, therefore, can only do harm by compression, being mechanically supported by the tree as a kind of prop, but not in return venturing to Suck the verdure out on't. ' For our present purpose, then, we shall view the Mistletoe as one of the true parasites — namely, as feedinrj on tUe juices of living plaAiis, hotli tlicy and their for^ter-i'iarenf-A heingfowcringjilants. Such arc the dodders and broom-rapes, but the Mistletoe diiiers from these in that it has its own true leaves. The Mistletoe (Viscum album) belongs to the Linnajan class Diceoia, order Tetrandria, and the natural order Lorantheaa, so that iu fact it is a high-born flowering plant, aud, it is needless to say, is reproduced from seed, the quantity of fruits on a female plant iu its silvery berries fully testifying to its fecundity iu this respect. Much discussion has taken place as to how the seeds of Mistletoe get attached to the foster parent. Dr. Bull, in his elaborate paper on this plant, says : " It has been supposed that the glutinous berries stick to the beaks of the birds that eat them, and as they clean their beaks on the neighbouring trees the seeds are sown : a view," he adds, " it is sufficient to say, which supposes that the birds don't know how to eat the berries they like so much." There can be no doubt that the mistle-thrnsh and other birds are fond of the berries ; but that they do not for the most part digest the cotyledons is certain, as these pass off in the ingesta, and if procured afford a ready method of propagating the plant, by fastening them to tho bark of a tree on which you wish Mistletoe to grow — a fact quite in accordance with tho old doggrel, which also refers to the former use of tho berries in making bird-lime : The thrash when he pollutes the bough, (Sows for himself the seeds of woe. But, however the parasite may be propagated, it seems to favour certain trees to a great extent, while there are some trees upon which it does not seem capable of making a home at all. Again, it is influenced much by climate. It is rarely met with north of Worcestershire ; it is most abundant in the western counties, as Hereford, Worcester, and Gloucester, though in the latter very rare upon the Cotswold Hills ; it often occurs in the southern counties, but by no means so frequently as iu the west. Hence for the northern and eastern counties Mistletoe is an article of commerce at Christmas time. Dr. Bull estimates the quantity invoiced from Herefordshire in December of 1863 at 8'J tons ! and he adds, "But guards and engine drivers had tho privilege of exporting Mistletoe on their own account, and did so by almost every train that left the county during the early part of December." The north is mostly supplied from Hereford and Worcester, while Gloucester seems to be the grand emporium whence this plant is forwarded to tho London mai'kets; and, judgiiig from what we have witnessed in the mai'kets of Worcester and Gloucester, the deportation of Mistletoe from these cities would even exceed that from Herefordshire. As regards tho frequency of tho Mistletoe on various trees, we would refer to the following table by Professor Bnckman : Comparative Trees. Counties. frecinency. Apple . . . Worcester, Hereford, Gloucester 50 I'ear .... Hereford (E. Lees) 1 Whitethorn . Worcester and Gloucester !■') Black Poplar . Worcester and Gloucester 2U Aspen . . . Longdou Marsh, Worcester (E. Lees) ... 1 Robinia . . Gloucester 2 Willow , . . Gloucester .5 Maple . . . Gloucester and Worcester 10 Sycamore . . Cheltenham 1 Ash .... Worcester and Gloucester 2 Hazel . . . Worcester aud Gloucester (E. Lees) ... 1 Medlar . . . Near Tewkesbury (E. Lees) 1 Oak .... Frampton on Severn, Gloucester ; Malvcru, Worcester 2 Birch . . . Forest of Dean 1 Lime . . . Gloucester and Worcester 3 MounfciinAsh. Near Ledbury (E. Lees) 1 Whitebcam . Chepstow (E. Lees) 1 Elm .... Near Tewkesbury (E. Lees) 1 Hickory . . . Gloucester (— Miles, Esq., M.P.) .... 1 It has besides been noted on several other trees ; bnt the mention of the above will suffice for our present purpose. Seeing, then, that the Mistletoe is parasitic upon so many trees, it will be well to inquire the effect it may have upon its foster parents. Dr. Harley, speaking of its effects upon trees in general, gives onr parasite the following character : — The infested branch assumes various contortions, being twisted some- times in one direction and sometimes iu another. It is frequently found bent at rij^ht angles to itself ; but it wrestles in vain with a veritable Hydra, which, having killed its centre, spoiled and occupied its bark, and invaded anew the little living wood that remains, now gradually completes the work of destruction. AVhile the Mistletoe is thusaffecting the branch in its immediate neighbourhood, it is xiroduciug, by intercepting of its juices," atrophy of that portion beyond it. With the increase of the parasite, this interception becomes complete, and the atrophied portion of the branch dies. On this same subject Dr. Bull comes to a like conclusion. He says : — It is a remarkable fact that when the Mistletoe has once established itself on .any kind of tree (the rule holds equally good for those it but seldom inhabits), it frequently grows on several branches at the same time, as if the tree no longer possessed its original power of resisting the intruders. The tree shows it too, and soon puts on a desolate woe- Iiegone look, with fading leaves and dying branches. It is thought that the Limes in Datchet Mead — a place often mentioned in the " Merry Wives of Windsor " — gave Shakespeare the illustration embodied in these lines : — Have I not reason to look pale ? These two have 'ticed me to this place, A barren, detested vale you see it is ; Tlie trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, O'ercome with Moss and baneful Mistletoe. But with all this there has ever been a difference of opinion respecting the effects of this parasite upon fruit trees. Some farmers tell ns Mistletoe does no harm, as they frequently find that trees on which it is found uniformly produce something like a crop, and that the Apple wine — cider — made from them is of the best. Iu such cases, then, we may probably conclude that the parasite has acted much in the same way as the prmiing knife ; but, unfor- tunately, it lacks the intelligence which should guide the orchard cultivator. Professor Bnckman, iu an article in Morton's Cyclopa3dia, takes the same view ; he says : — The Mistletoe, from its effects, must he ranked amongst weeds. Much difference of opinion exists as to the character of this plant, which seems to arise from the fact that in orchards where the trees are laden with the parasite one often finds tho best crop of fruit ; so that a superficial view of the case would almost lead to the conclusion that an old Druidical blessing resided in the Mistletoe. But if we examine the branch immediately above where the parasite has been flourishing, we shall iisually find it but a withered limb ; and there can be but Uttle doubt that the reason trees affected with the plant often fruit so early and so well, is on account of their being brought to premature old age ; and most careful examination of orchard and other trees on which Mistletoe has flourished leads to the conclusion that, if we would have our trees healthy and well developed, the parasite should not be suf- fered to grow on them. A tenant farmer may be careless about Mistletoe taking a position in a young orchard, as it may hasten the fruiting season; but the owner of property should see to its removal, as it will materially injure the vigour of the constitu- tion, aud consequently hasten the extinction of the life, of his trees. July 5, 1873.] THE GARDEN. 13 GALVANIZED FRUIT TREE COVERS. Under the above name, Messrs. Barnard, Bishop, & Barnards, of Norvrich, have introduced contrivances, of which the annexed arc illustrations, for protecting fruit-trees vrhen in llower, from spring frosts, by throwing a tiffany cover over tliem ; or they may be used to protect small trees from birds during the fruiting season. They arc made of various sizes, Galvanised umbrella-shaped tres cover. and arc light and elegant in appearance. Covered Tvith tiffany or with oiled paper, these covers may also be used to protect Rose blooms for exhibition, and other florist's flowers, as they can be used with stakes of any length ; or even without stakes in the case of dwarf plants requiring temporary protection. "When not iu use as fruit-tree protectors, they might be utilised as trellises on which to train half-hardy or Galvanised pyramidal tree cover. hardy climbiug annuals, such as Tropajolums, Convolvulus, Canary flower, or for climbing greenhouse or hardy shrubs. A glance at the accompanying illustrations will show how these contrivances are applied; they are moderate in price, and admirably adapted to fulfil the purpose for which they are intended. B. FIG CULTURE. Figs may be propagated by means of layers or cuttings, a foot or so in length, made of the most fruitful and well-ripened shoots, struck in bottom heat, from which fruit may be oljtained the second or third year. The most suitable soil for Figs is fresh loam of medium texture ; and when they arc planted against a good wall, the border should be 2 feet deep and 15 feet wide, resting on a pcrfectlj' dry bottom ; for, although the Fig is fond of moisture, it does not thrive in a wet soil any more than m a very dry one. The warmest position on the wall should be given it, and, when the border requires enriching, it should be done by means of manure water. In pruning, the knife is only required (if proper attention has been paid to the stopping and thinning of the shoots with the finger and thumb, in May and June) for cutting out worn- out branches. Towards the ripening season, a leaf or two near the fruit may be taken off, and, ]5revious to covering up in winter, the trees should be divested of all green fruit, as it is only those which are just observable then that ripen at all. The covering which I use is mats or canvas, and, from the ease with which thej- are made to suit the weather, I prefer them to any other material. I have found the trees to do well trained fan-fashion, and when the fruit is ripe it should be gathered in the morning and used the same day. When forced Pigs may be made to ripen two crops in a season, I would commence with a temperature of 4-5°, allowing it to range progressively from that up to 80^. A moist atmosphere during the forcing season is indispensable ; and I would occasionally sprinkle the leaves until the ripening season, when water must be withheld. I have taken two crops in the year from trees planted out in pits 6 feet wide and 2 feet deep, in the kind of soil already recommended, keeping the roots in all cases from jienetrating too deeply. When the borders are stirred, it should be done with forks rather than the spade. The varieties which I grow are the White Marseilles, a hardy and good bearer, suitable for foi'cing ; Black Ischia, a finely- flavoured kind and a good bearer, suitable for forcing ; Brown Ischia, also first-rate ; Brown Naples, a valuable kind, owing to the length of time it yields its fruit ; Large Blue and Long Purple, both excellent ; and Lee"s Perpetual, a fine sort, well adapted for forcing. The Brunswick is also worthy of culti- vation, being large and of excellent flavour. M. Green Gooseberries. — " The good die young " — " especially in the season of green fruit," adds a Transatlantic observer. This is, indeed, true of the small human subject who invests his scanty pocket-money in the green Gooseberries which now load tho too handy barrow of the costermonger. The reverse is tho case with the Gooseberry itself, which can hardly be too ripe to be good. This fruit is upon the whole rather hardly used, tho necessity for pies and tarts at this time of tho year having induced the practice of growing the Gooseberry chiefly to be gathered in an uni'ipe state. It may, however, be considered a peculiary English fruit, since though positively not a native of Britain, our climate and soil suit it to perfection and its cultivation has been more attended to in Lancashire than in any other part of the world. The largest Gooseberries produced iu that county in the middle of the eighteenth century scarcely weighed iuore than 10 pennyweights, whereas the prize Gooseberries reared there now sometimes exceed SOpenny weights. A good deal remains to bo done for the cultivation of the Gooseberry, some foreign varieties of which, American and Siberian, would be well worth importing; but there is little hope for it as long as we only care to make a fool of it. NOTES AND QUESTIONS ON THE FRUIT GARDEN. Roof-trained Peaches.— I vrish you could now see our ordinary leau-to Peach house, the roof of which is nearly covered with Royal George, which ia literally studded with fine fruit, just getting ripe, each averaging- 7 or 8 ounces in weight, and beautifully coloured. This plan (the old cue) of growing Peaches and Nectarines I tliink you will admit to be still the best. — P. G., Culford, Vines in Rock-Borders.— (See p. 432.) Where docs your correspondent, Mr. Joynes, who writes on this subject reside, and what is the character of the rock to which he refers ? — M. [Mr. Jojiies writes, "j'our correspoudeut will probably obtain sufficient information concerning the rock in question, if you tell him that I live at Bourton, six miles on the London side of Swindon, on a little heap of rock, washed up near to the foot of the White Horse. It consists very much of petrified oysters, cockles, mussels and various other kinds of shcU-flsh. I am now cutting Grapes, from Vines grown in this rock-border, as wanted. We do not boast of large bunches, but we are well satisfied with what we have, and which are so clieaiily obtained. My ideas about Grape growing are very different now from what they were when I came here some years ago.] 14 THE GARDEN. [July o, 1873. THE GARDENS OF ENGLAND. SYON HOUSE. Among giuxlcncrs, ■vvho has not heard of Sj'on House, the j>riuccly i-osidencc of the Duke of Northumberland, situated on the banks of the Thames, and remarkable for its many noble trees ? Even as far back as the beginning of the sixteenth century Syon was a celebrated plant place, a character which it has well sustained; for here it was that the first Cocoa-nut fruited in England in 186^, and here, too, the Royal Water Lily (Victoria regia) amazed the world with the beauty of its flowers, and the size and luxuriance of its leaves. The Mangosteen and other tropical fruits of many kinds used to be grown at Sj-on ; but their cultivation has, to a great extent, been discontinued. THE CONSERVATORIES. These form a noble range of glass, set off by a lofty dome in the centre, and, as will be seen by our illustration, have an elegant outward appearance ; nevertheless, within, with the exception of the central and two end divisions, they are incon- venient, the staging being so narrow and high that only small plants can be accomodated on it. The cupola, or dome, is 60 feet in height, and the length of the whole rauge 380 feet. The solid parts consist of Bath-stone, the roof, columns, and arches being iron, and the whole of the front is glazed with plate glass, as well as some jiarts of the roof where strength is required. At one time this conservatory range was heated by means of steam, when two miles of piping were nsod ; but steam has long since been superseded by hot-water. The extreme end divisions are devoted to large Acacias, Azaleas, Camellias, Oranges, and similar plants. There is also amongst them a very large plant of the Loquat, a fine speci- men of Clethra arborea, with a stem 21 inches round, Jambosa australis, a specimen of Pimelea elegans, 8 feet through, a fine example of Cunonia capeusis, and others. The central com- partment under the dome is devoted to the growth of tropical plants, conspicuous among.st which is an extremely handsome specimen of the Date Palm, so tall that it nearly touches the glass. Of Bambusa arundinacea, or common Bamboo, there is alsoa fine clump, perhaps the finest of the kind in Britain, so lofty that the house can scarcely accommodate it, and its stems are much stouter than those of the plant of the same kind in the Palm stove at Kew. Of the Allspice tree there is a specimen 18 feet high, and of Fan Palms and Screw Pines there are also some very large and fine examples. Of Ster- culia nobilis there is a tree with a trunk 30 inches round, which jxarly produces a profusion of large and showy clusters of white flowers. The Bombax Ceiba, or silk Cotton, tree of South America has here attained a height of 20 feet, and the Cercus hexagonus, growing against a pillar, is about 30 feet in height. The Astrapasa Wallichii, or Lightning tree, of the Mauritius, with large showy Coooloba-like leaves, has here attained considerable proportions, as has also the equally large and curiously-leaved Picus Porteana. The Sugar Cane also flourishes here, as does also the Papyrus Antiquorum, or Paper Reed, of the ancient Egyptians. Of the Sidcroxylon inerme, or the Iron Wood, of the Cape of Good Hope, there is here a fine tree, some 25 feet in height ; and of the Citharoxylon quadraugulare, or Fiddle Wood, there is also a large stump, 0 inches in diameter, showmg the remains of what has been a fine tree ; it is not dead, however, for two fine shoots have issued from it, and are growing robustly. Of the Crinum Americanum there is also an immense plant that blooms very freely, and of the Morinda odo- rata, or Indian Mulljcrry, there is likewise a fine plant, forming a very ornamental evergreen climber. Of the Clerodendron odoratum, Strelitzia regiua, Medinilla magnifica, and other plants, too, there are many fine old specimens. The two