THE

GARDENEE

A MAGAZINE

OF

HORTICULTURE AND FLORICULTURE

EDITED BY

WILLIAM THOMSON

DALKEITH GARDENS
AND

RICHARD DEAN

LIS*A*f

4B7Q

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS

EDINBURGH AND LONDON

MDCCCLXX

PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH.

THE

GARDENER.

JANUARY 1870.

TO OUR READERS.

HE nature of the new arrangements which have been made in
regard to the editorial management of the ' Gardener ' was
shadowed forth in the November issue. With the present
number commences that joint occupation in the work of con-
ducting the magazine which has been intrusted to us by the Proprietors.
Working in perfect harmony, and with the utmost desire to discharge
our duties to the best of our ability, we take this opportunity of ex-
pressing our mutual desire that the l Gardener ' may continue to be
received as a familiar friend ; and also the hope that in the future, as
in the past, it will be found so replete with useful and unassuming
information as to render its monthly visit an event to be anticipated
with eagerness and realised with sincere pleasure. The nature of the
matter we shall lay before our readers from time to time will be ample,
varied, and capable of being readily comprehended * and being sup-
plied by successful growers, or selected from the best authorities on all
subjects — whether of fruits, flowers, plants, or vegetables — will, it is
hoped, tend to make the ' Gardener ' of value as a book of reference;

p^ whilst, by truthful descriptions of the novelties each season produces,

CM the amateur will be much assisted in selecting any additions he may

"• — require.

Cv* As a medium of communication, it is earnestly desired that our pages
may be largely used by cultivators in every department of horticulture,

h-^ as well as of every rank and station therein. To this end a liberal
correspondence is invited ; and under the head of ' Notes and Queries '
we hope to open up a feature that shall prove one of the most inter-

A

2 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

esting to our general readers ; and every facility will be afforded for
useful and temperate discussion.

Earnestly believing that " the study and culture of flowers and fruit,
plants and vegetables, exercises an important influence on the education
and wellbeing of the people — that it teaches, refines, and elevates in pro-
portion as the results of skilful practice and the power given to man
to ameliorate and develop new things in nature are successively
demonstrated — and that it largely promotes the material comforts of
mankind," — the Editors will endeavour, with sincere earnestness of
purpose, to make their conduct of the 'Gardener' an illustration of
this belief, and the work itself a worthy advocate of the cause it was
originated to serve.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

The last month of the year — when leaden skies and dull short days
prevail — is invariably that particular season when things horticultural
are at their lowest ebb, in so far as they attain publicity. With the
exception of the one meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on the
21st ult., that was probably the only meeting of the character held
throughout the kingdom. But there must be a state of repose as a
necessary adjunct to a time of activity, and there must also be a period
of preparation for the yet undeveloped work of the coming spring and
summer.

It is not too much to say that considerable interest was felt as to
the decision of the Royal Horticultural Society in regard to its great
Summer Exhibition. Would it continue to follow the Royal Agricul-
tural Society, as it has done for the past three years, or would it boldly
stand alone, and on its own merits challenge provincial support 1 It
has decided, — and in July next it will pitch its tents by the side of those
of the Royal Agricultural Society at Oxford. It has done this despite
the appeals of many of the Society's best advisers, and with nearly
the whole of the horticultural press condemning such a course of proceed-
ing. Rumour has it that some members of the council are in favour
of the Society going alone to the country, probably in 1871. So
there is hope in the future; and some sanguine ones predict that in
1871 the two societies will part company, and, taking opposite direc-
tions, each discharge its own peculiar functions in different localities.
Report also states that the balance of gain derived from the Man-
chester Show will fall short of the somewhat modest sum originally
stated.

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 3

In regard to its home work, there will be considerable modifications
of the operations of the Society. All great shows, as such, are partially,
if not wholly, abolished — there will no longer be exhibitions in the
form in which they have hitherto been held ; but while the same amount
of prize-money will still be given, it will be in the form of prizes spread
over all the ordinary meetings of the Society on the occasion of the
assembling of the Floral and Fruit Committees ; so that each of these
meetings, which are always of an extremely interesting character, and
have proved most successful, will now be doubly interesting, and it is
hoped, successful even in a larger degree. It is these meetings that so
much tend to reconcile to the Society — to some extent at least — that
large and influential body of practical horticulturists who in times past
had looked with much mistrust on some of the actions of the council,
and not unfrequently given expression to this mistrust. The special
exhibitions of Hyacinths and Roses will still be held, but superadded
to one of the ordinary meetings of the Society. Naturally enough,
exhibitors and others are anxiously looking for the issue of the
Society's programme of arrangements and schedule of prizes for 1870,
which has only come to hand at the last moment. The delay is at
least unaccountable, perhaps unavoidable.

The exhibition season may be fairly said to open in March next,
when the Hyacinth shows will be held. That of the Royal Horticul-
tural Society will take place on March 16, and the Dutch growers
will again offer some of the special prizes they so liberally gave
last year. Considering how close was the competition between
Messrs Cutbush & Paul in March last, when the former won the
two principal special prizes, their meeting in 1870 will be regarded
with redoubled interest. The spring show of the Horticultural Society
of Liverpool, which yearly brings together a magnificent display of
Hyacinths from the local growers, takes place on the same date as that
of the South Kensington Exhibition, and the Royal Horticultural
Society of Ireland announces a similar show on March 24th. In ad-
dition to the prizes given by the Irish Society, there are three silver
cups of the value of five guineas : one of these is for the gardener who
takes the greatest number of prizes, and is subscribed for by the gar-
deners themselves. The Hyacinth, therefore, will be well looked after;
and certainly no show can be prettier and more attractive than one of
Hyacinths and other spring flowers.

From the 'Athenaeum' we derive the following curious passage
relative to the change of colour in leaves. It is stated that " experi-
ment has confirmed the conclusion that leaves turn red at the end of
the season through the action of an acid, since one of the elements
producing the green colour must be a vegetable blue. Autumnal

4 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

leaves placed under a receiver, with the vapour of ammonia, in nearly
every instance lost the red colour and renewed their green. In some,
such as the Blackberry and Maple, the change was rapid, and could
be watched by the eye ; while others, particularly certain oaks, turned
gradually brown, without showing any appearance of green. "

An announcement has recently been made that Colonel Scott, the
Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society, had offered a prize of
five guineas for the best essay on the Principles of Floral Criticism,
to be awarded on the occasion of the lirst meeting of the Royal Horti-
cultural Society on Wednesday, January 19, next. We now learn
that the prize will not be awarded till Wednesday, May 4 ; and the
1 Gardeners' Chronicle,' referring to the many complaints of the vague-
ness of the proposal made by correspondents, states that they are
asked " whether an essay on the ' correct standard ' for florists' flowers
be intended, or one on the proper method of judging plants in general
at exhibitions. Perhaps," adds the ' Chronicle,' " some light might
be thrown on the matter if the names of the judges were announced.
The subject is one of so much importance, that we trust fuller informa-
tion may be forthcoming, and for our own parts we should like to see
the matter treated in a broad and catholic spirit." And we say, Ditto,
and cannot help expressing our conviction that very much will
depend upon who are to be the judges of the essays. An essay of this
character should be so conceived and constructed as that it should
become an authority, and a work of reference to some extent, though
the limits of an essay will probably help to mar its usefulness in this
direction.

A " seed case," in the form of an appeal from the decision of a lower
court, came before one of the Irish courts of law at Dublin a few
weeks ago, presenting some features well worthy of a passing notice.
The appeal was from a decision of the Recorder of the city of Dublin,
who dismissed the claim of a small market -gardener, living in the
neighbourhood of Donny brook, for the sum of <£13, being the amount
of eighty-seven flaskets of Cauliflowers, which he alleged were not
marketable, and that were a portion of the crop, consisting of an
English acre, produced from 8 oz. of seed, which cost him 12s. The
seed grew well, and the plants produced wTere enough to plant out an
English acre. The evidence of the plaintiff and his witnesses wrent to
show that the crop was deficient to the extent of the sum named, inas-
much as a portion of the crop was not marketable Cauliflowers, by
reason of the discoloration of the flowers, and their starting to seed,
thereby reducing the value of the crop. The defendant — Mr James W.
Mackey, an alderman of the city of Dublin — attested that he had
distributed 28 lb. of this seed between two and three hundred people,

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 5

and only three complaints were made regarding it. It was contended
that the deterioration of the crop was simply the result of the effects
and influences of season, and an abnormal growth, which continually
characterises every description of vegetable and green-crop produce —
points well known to intelligent gardeners and scientific men. The
effects and influences of season were singularly illustrated in the case
of one witness, who deposed, in August 1869 he purchased of Mr
Alderman Mackey 8 oz. of Cauliflower seed, 4 oz. of which were
sown, and produced an inferior crop of Cauliflowers, of which he
complained • while the remaining 4 oz. sown the spring following
gave a splendid crop, which paid the grower at the rate of £30
per acre. The variableness of crops was illustrated in the case
of other evidence adduced ; but as there happened to be something like
a dozen plants of Brussels Sprouts in the acre of Cauliflower (respect-
ing which no one was hazardous enough to swear they came from the
Cauliflower-seed), yet the appeal was allowed by a common jury, on the
ground " that the seed was not all Cauliflower-seed," and the costs and
expenses had to be borne by the defendant. In a letter published in the
1 Irish Farmers' Gazette,' from the pen of Mr Mackey — the outcome of
a straightforward honest tradesman, who felt that he had been wronged,
and who nobly disdained any suggestions of compromise, preferring to
stand by the broad principle involved in the decision — the defendant
states, with much truth, that "in reversing the decision of the Recorder,
the jury proclaimed to the public that a seedsman is to be held re-
sponsible for the result of crops that the grower is not satisfied with —
a judgment that will not be endorsed by any practical man who knows
that every year's experience proves, that while the crops of Mangold-
Wurzel, Carrots, &c, are to be seen starting and running to seed in
every well-tilled field, while the finest crops of Potatoes and Turnips
are produced, yet, when the grower comes to lift his produce of the
latter, he too often finds one-third, and sometimes one-half, rotten,
and, as complained of in this case, " not marketable ; " and the un-
happy vendor of the seed, by the same parity of reasoning, would be
mulcted in damages by the decision of a petty jury of the city of
Dublin." As an illustration of the variableness of crops, and as
affording an apt comment in the case just noticed, we may state that
one of the London wholesale seed -houses, famous for the quality
and purity of its stocks of round seeds, and the care with which it
selects them, some time since sent to one of their growers a quantity
of impregnated Walcheren Cauliflower, saved specially from some very
fine selected heads for their unmistakable quality. The produce of
this seed planted a large piece of ground, and, singular to say, there
was scarcely a plant but which wTas abnormal in growth, and went

6 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

prematurely to bloom, and was utterly worthless for seed purpose.
In all probability — if it is not reduced to a certainty — this self -same
seed in another season would have produced Cauliflowers as fine in
quality as those from which the seed was originally taken. Of late
the seedsmen have had many detractors, and of these not the best in-
formed or the least prejudiced. Those who know them best see less
of their assumed culpability, and discover how rashly made were many
of the utterances that have of late had publicity given to them.

AMATEUR CULTIVATION OF THE HOLLYHOCK.

It must by no means be assumed, that because comparatively little
is now written about the Hollyhock, its area of cultivation has in
consequence become considerably reduced. It is still a flower much
grown, and long may it continue to be grown, for its rich beauty and
its great usefulness as a decorative agent. As one who has cultivated
the Hollyhock for many years past, I may be permitted to put forward
a plea in its favour in the pages of the ' Gardener/

My custom is to pot up the ground roots of the Hollyhocks — i.e.,
those from which I have taken my exhibition flowers during the
summer — in November, using pots according to the size of the roots,
and generally employing the sizes thirty-twos and twenty-fours : these
I find quite large enough for the greater part of the roots. They are
first duly trimmed, and then potted firmly in a light sandy soil, and if
not naturally sandy, I mingle with it a good portion of road-grit, with
the addition of some leaf-soil. When potted, they have the protection
of a greenhouse pit, and are kept rather dry during the winter months,
as they are impatient of much moisture round the collar of the plant,
and many a good variety has been lost from this cause.

Death from excessive moisture is often the lot of the plants allowed
to remain in the open ground all the winter. Their existence is ma-
terially aided by placing either sand or cinder-ashes round the neck of
the plants to protect them from wet, as well as insects and slugs, the
last-named being a dreaded enemy of the Hollyhock — so much so, that
it is often necessary to give the plants a dusting of slacked lime in
damp weather. I commence the process of propagation by the middle
of February or the beginning of March, as at this season of the year
cuttings made from the young growth from the plants root readily.
I take them off about 4 inches long, and place several in 32-sized
pots, using a soil similar to that I should employ for striking cuttings
of bedding Pelargoniums. I press them firmly into the soil, and then

1870.] CULTIVATION OF THE HOLLYHOCK. 7

well water them, so as to thoroughly saturate the soil ; they will then
require but little water afterwards, until they are rooted. I place the
cutting pots in a temperature of from 65° to 75°, and if some bottom-
heat can be employed, so much the better. Should some of the larger
leaves suffer from damp, a pair of scissors will soon remove them.

I often avail myself of the propagating season to raise some seed-
lings, when I have at command such a temperature as that stated
above. Using a light sandy compost, I sow the seed very thickly in
pots or seed-pans, and as soon as large enough to handle, I pot them
singly into small 60-pots about the time I do the cuttings, for I use
the same-sized pots for each. As soon as the pots are filled with roots,
both cuttings and seedlings, I shift into 32-pots, and if the plants are
kept growing till the middle of April, they can be gradually hardened
off preparatory to being planted in the open air, and both seedlings
and cuttings will bloom the same season.

The work of preparing the ground for the reception of the plants is
an important matter. The situation I select as an exhibitor is a spot
quite remote from the shade of trees, or the reach of their roots, and
where the plants can have the full benefit of the sun. The ground
should be well trenched previously, at least 2 feet deep, and plenty
of rotten dung worked in as the work proceeds : dung from an old
cucumber-bed will be found very suitable for the purpose.

I select a fine day for planting out, when the soil is in good work-
ing order. The plants are placed in rows fully 5 feet apart, the
plants 4 feet apart in the row. As soon as the plants are 1 foot in
height, they are staked, the stake being driven firmly into the ground,
and the plant secured to it by pieces of matting, not too tightly, so
that there is perfect freedom of expansion. As the plants increase in
size I employ strong twine for tying out, as a security against winds.
At this stage it is highly important that the plants be kept growing
freely, and plenty of water is given in hot and dry weather, and copious
sprinklings overhead from a rose watering-pot. If I cannot get rain-
water, I always expose it to the influence of the sun before using it.

Red-spider often causes the cultivator some trouble. I cut off all
leaves infested by it and bury them, and mulch the plants well with
fresh rotten dung, and give a copious soaking of manure-water once
a-week. The exhibitor should allow but one spike of flowers to each
plant, and in the case of cut flowers being required, they should be
thinned out so as not to interfere with each other. This is best done
with a pair of strong scissors.

Well and truly has the Hollyhock been termed "a noble flower."
For garden decoration it is in some respects unapproachable, yielding
such fine masses of gay-coloured flowers. It can be planted in various

8 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

ways — one especially, that as a back row to a broad ribbon-border.
I have used it in several ways in the flower-garden, and always with
the best effect, and am of opinion that such a garden is not compara-
tively perfect even without it. I hope to give some hints shortly on
the use of the Hollyhock as a decorative agent in the flower-garden.

William Plester.
Elsenham Hall Gardens.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

THE PLUM.

{Continued from page 541 of 1869.)

The Plum being one of the hardiest of fruits, many of its varieties
are admirably suited for cultivation in the open ground. If a tall-
standard form of growth be intended, the stronger-growing varieties
must be fixed upon — the young shoot made the first season must be
trained up to a stake, so as to keep it erect. If at the end of the sea-
son's growth it has attained the desired height and perfected its wood,
so much the better ; but if not, it ought to be cut back to the first
plump bud upon the ripened wood, and the following year trained up
to the desired height. If it takes two years to accomplish this, there
will be a number of young shoots made upon the former year's wood ;
these, during the summer, ought to be regularly pinched back to three
or four eyes, so as to throw strength into the leader. At the winter
pruning these ought to be cut back entirely, so as to leave a clean
bare stem. Standard Plums are grown at heights ranging from 3 to
5 or 6 feet. 4 feet is considered to be a very good height. To
get this, prune the leader 2 or 3 inches higher; the following season
three or four shoots can be had springing from the stem to form the
young tree at the desired height. All other shoots made lower than
this wTe would pinch as already hinted, and cut clean off at the winter
pruning. The shoots left for forming the tree should be cut back to
about 1 foot in length, so as to get the tree well furnished, and avoid
a long and straggling habit. In the case of a variety wThich has a
tendency to grow very erect, the pruning should be done directly be-
yond a bud, in such a position as would tend to spread out the branches
as much as possible. Where the habit is drooping, as is generally the
case with plums, the point-bud left at the pruning season ought to be
directly on the top of the shoots, in order to encourage a more erect
habit of growth. The cultivation in all after-management of young
standard-plums must be guided by circumstances, as well as taste in the

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 9

formation of the trees, as it is impossible to give a pen-and-ink sketch
which would be alike satisfactory to instructor and instructed.

Where dwarf-standards are desired, the weaker-growing sorts are
best. After the first year's growth, the leader may be cut back to 15
or 18 inches, leaving three or four nice plump buds to form the young
tree. These the following season must be cut back to about 1 foot,
using the knife with discretion, and bearing in mind the rules already
laid down.

I have never tried the Plum as a pyramid, nor have I ever seen it
as such. From its general appearance and habit, and the mode of
pruning and training necessary, it is my opinion that, grown as
pyramids, it would not succeed. I may be wrong, but my idea is, that
as such it would be far more likely to make such growth as would
result in the production of wood in place of flower-buds. If any one
has grown the Plum in that way, and succeeded, it would give me1
much pleasure to receive their experience through the pages of the
* Gardener.'

No matter whether as a tall or dwarf standard, the Plum is much
benefited by a regular course of root-pruning. As I have said so
much upon this point when speaking of the Apple and Pear, it is only
needful to say that it is necessary, and may be commenced when
the young tree is two or three years of age, and continued regularly,
at intervals of two or three years, for a considerable length of time.
Great care must, however, be taken to dress neatly with a sharp knife
every root that is cut, so as to avoid, if possible, anything that would
tend to encourage canker, or the effusion of gum — the two great
enemies of the Plum cultivator. When this operation is performed, a
little fresh material, such as I shall presently recommend to Plum
cultivators, ought to be introduced round the trees ; and should the
winter be severe, or the following summer very dry, it will be found of
great advantage to give each tree a liberal mulching with good stable
manure. This, in fact, is a very safe practice, and may with advantage
be adopted under any circumstances. The best time to perform this
operation is in September or October, although, if care and caution
are exercised, it may with even greater advantage be performed in
August upon such trees as may not be bearing a crop of fruit.

The soil which appears best to suit the Plum is a good strong loam,
although in its natural state it is generally found in light and dry
soils. When cultivated in soils of this description it flowers freely,
but sets its fruit badly, and the fruit is generally small and poor in
flavour. The best-flavoured and most handsome fruit is generally to
be obtained from trees planted in good, strong, and moderately rich
loam, which has been well drained, yet is not too dry. In soils of this

10 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

nature it lias been found, both in this country and in America (by
Downing), that the trees are more secure from the attacks of insects
than iu soils of a light and sandy nature. Although the roots of the
Plum do not penetrate to such a depth as those of the Pear or Apple,
it is nevertheless of great advantage to have a good deep soil for it :
in such a position it will not be likely to Buffer so much from the
effects of a dry season as it would in a shallow soil. Where the soil
of the garden is found to be of too light a nature, it would be wise to
introduce a quantity of clay or very heavy loam to mix with it, or,
what would be better still, to procure a quantity of good strong loam,
removing the old, and replacing it with the new at planting time.
With this may be incorporated a moderate quantity of decayed stable
or other manure. A little wood-ashes or charcoal, and a few crushed
bones, may with advantage be added to the whole. As already hinted,
excess of dryness or moisture is often injurious to the Plum, being
frequently the cause of gum exuding, as stated by Thompson in his
' Gardener's Assistant.' To obviate this, it is necessary to have the
ground drained, but not over-drained ; and, if the soil be shallow, to
have recourse to mulching in dry seasons.

The distance apart at which Plums ought to be planted will require
to be regulated by circumstances, similarly with what has been stated
in regard to the Apple and Pear. When planted against walls, the
distances may vary from 12 to 24 feet, or even in some cases 30 feet,
according to the height of the wall, and the sorts that are grown. In
wall cultivation, the size and flavour of the Plum are often increased,
and in proportion to the position given are these qualities still further
developed. The Plum, being very hardy, is often placed in a north or
eastern aspect ; and although wre have seen good crops and good quali-
ties of fruit obtained from trees in these positions, nevertheless a more
favoured aspect will be more satisfactory. It is impossible to provide
a southern aspect for everything ; yet, if it be at all possible, I would
recommend that some of the finer varieties — such as Coe's Golden
Drop, Green Gage, and such like — be placed in this position, as they
will not only be earlier, but also of finer quality, of larger size, and more
beautiful in appearance. In planting Plums in the open garden or
orchard, the distances for dwarf-trained trees may range from 12 to 18
feet, and for standards on high stems that are intended to form large
trees, the distances may range from 18 to 30 feet, according to the
size intended. In all cases of fruit-tree planting, I would earnestly
impress upon every one to stake each tree neatly and securely, as
nothing is more injurious to newly-planted trees than to be tossed to
and fro by every wind that blows, or " every breeze that moves the
midnight air."

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 11

The diseases to which the Plum is subject are only two, so far as
we have been able to ascertain — viz., canker and gum. The former
of these is generally the result of a wet and uncongenial climate ; the
latter is generally caused by wounds made by the rubbing of wall
nails, or injury to the bark by the breaking and bruising of it by the
hammer, or by being cut by string, shreds, or suchlike, and then
neglected. If these things be regularly attended to, and the soil and
climate prove to be at all congenial, there is little danger to be dreaded
from either of these diseases until the trees advance into old age.

The insect enemies of the Plum are not nearly so numerous in this
country as on the Continent, and more especially in America, where it
is said " their attacks are so formidable as almost to discourage its
cultivation in some parts of the United States." The most common
enemies of the Plum in this country are black and green aphides,
thrip, and red -spider. As I have already given recipes for the
destruction of these, in the articles on the Apple and Pear, it is not
necessary to reproduce them here. The curculio tenebricosus, or
apricot weevil, as it is sometimes called, is frequently injurious to the
Plum in old gardens. In winter it is generally to be found in the old
nail-holes or crevices of the wall, where they lodge in numbers. The
best way to get rid of them is to get the walls freshly pointed, so as to
bury them over with the mortar, from whence they cannot escape.
They are also to be found under the loose bark of the tree, when bark
and all should be removed and burnt. After this the tree may be
washed down with hot water, and a portion of the soil removed and
burnt, so that those which may have fallen to the ground may be
destroyed.

Tortrix Woeberiana is a small brown moth which often proves
very injurious to the Plum, and is not unfrequently the cause of
gum exuding. It penetrates to the inner bark when in its caterpillar
form, and feeds thereon. From the wound made the sap escapes, and
the result is often the formation of gum. Their presence is easily
ascertained by the appearance on the larger branches and trunk of a
reddish dust. Where this is deposited, the enemy is sure to be at
work. By thrusting a needle into the holes made on the branches
the grub will be destroyed, and painting the branches with a solu-
tion of lime in May and September has been recommended for de-
stroying the eggs.

Tenthredo morio, or Plum saw-fly, is destructive to both fruit and
flowers, depositing its eggs upon the calyx of the latter ; while the
larva, as soon as hatched, penetrates into the interior of the fruit, and,
feeding thereon, causes it to fall off, after which it buries itself in the

12 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

ground till spring, when it reappears as a moth. Gathering the fruit
as soon as it falls and destroying it will be found the best means of
getting rid of this pest. James M'Millan.

(To be continued.)

"MY GARDEN" IN WINTER.

As I write, my garden lies locked up in the icy bands of the hard
frost, and all the pretty smiling flowers are laid low. A few days
since and it was different, for then my eyes were gladdened with the
sight, here and there, of a few of the blossoms of the early single
crimson Primrose, or a Polyanthus, or sweet-scented Violet. Till
then, the latest of my summer stocks yielded me flowers, so did the
Tom Thumb Antirrhinums ; whilst the Pansies, prematurely gay, gave
a promise of the many beauties they will assuredly unfold in the
coming spring. So fair and serene had been the prevailing weather,
that it did seem we were about to glide gently into the pleasant
months of spring without a check or taste of winter ; but we have
since been taught a sharp and salutary lesson, and when I write of
" my garden in winter," it is winter indeed. My garden is not large
or extensive ; it admits of but little variety, but it forms for me no
inconsiderable portion of my floral world, and whatever I do therein
is matter for deep consideration and forethought. I love my garden,
and want to extract from it the greatest possible amount of pleasure
and enjoyment. It is not enough that it should yield me Crocuses
and Tulips in the spring ; Pelargoniums and Verbenas in summer ;
with Asters and Dahlias in autumn : I want to have ever in it some-
thing that shall by its beauty, however simple, yield me that satisfac-
tion the cultivation of flowers invariably affords. I have a little green-
house as well, now and always full of plants that never fail me. There
are the remains of the bloom of this year's produce upon my Pelargoni-
ums, and they will continue to give me flowers for a few weeks yet to
come. There are also some dwarf Tropceolums for next year's propaga-
tion that will, throughout the entire winter, send up their bright golden,
orange, or scarlet blossoms, as if in defiance of the external cold ; and
here and there are a few other plants, some in flower, and some
with pretty ornamental foliage, memories of the summer that has
departed. And then I have my batch of Primulas, many of which
are just now beginning to expand their flowers, — the commencement
of another year's delights, that shall not fail me as long as the winter
and spring lasts.

But I write mainly of my external garden, a depository of hardy

1870.] "MY GARDEN" IN WINTER. 13

plants, making up my winter bedding-out. I am naturally anxious
to look more gay than my neighbours, though they are fast catching
my winter-gardening mania ; and I want especially to show the passers-
by that I have sufficient versatility of invention to have something
fresh in design year by year. Even now, in these dull leaden months
of autumn, I take a pleasure in noting the many pleased and wonder-
ing faces who gaze into my garden, and who, whilst admiring its
appearance, strive vainly to guess what this row of plants, or that lot
in a bed, may be. And I can observe the same faces coming from
week to week to take a peep how things are progressing as the spring
months advance, when my garden shall be full of flowers, and gay
and pleasing to the eye. I like hardy foliage-plants, for winter work
especially ; they look nice at all times, but how much more so when
all else seems so sterile ! Just inside my entrance-gate I have a border
edged with Sempervivums, Montanum and Californicum alternately,
and very pretty they look ; next this a line of Echeveria secunda
glauca,its greyish-white foliage looking prominent in the darkest weather
— a capital thing for winter work, as it is quite hardy. Then for contrast
the dark-leaved Ajuga reptans, a very useful plant for foliage work, and
one that is almost essential, from the peculiar hue of its foliage. Be-
hind this is a row of the Golden Feather Pyrethrum, a fine acquisition
to the flower-garden, and for winter and spring work especially ; then
I have a background of crimson-stalked Beet, a fine hardy foliage-
plant, that will show off the bright golden hue of the Pyrethrum to the
best advantage. A little farther in, just under the front of my cottage,
runs a narrow border which I have edged with a broad margin of that
prettiest of all the Sedums — acre aureum, or the golden-tipped form
of the common Stonecrop, S. acre. What a gem this is for
the hardy winter garden ! every one of its little points seems to
glisten in the light as though it were tinted with gold ; whilst for
vases, pans, or rockwork, it is invaluable. Then, next to this, I have
a row of the red-foliagecl Oxalis corniculata rubra. This serves as an
excellent set-off to the gold of the Stonecrop. I use late seedling plants
for the purpose, as they retain their foliage much more perfectly
during the winter months. Next this, at the back of it, is a line of
Myosotis Azorica, a very dwarf light-blue variety of that pretty family
of Alpine plants. I rather fear, from present appearances, that it is
scarcely hardy enough to stand the rigour of winter ; but as all its
young growth remains fresh and green, there is still hope. On the
opposite side of the walk a broad border required filling with more
material than my foliage-plants would cover, so I judiciously intro-
duced flowering plants at the back, beginning from behind with Young's
blood Wallflower, and then a line of strong plants of Viola cornuta alba,

14 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

then Viola cornuta fronting that, with Viola lutea next this, and using
Ajuga reptans again to throw it up by contrast, and in front of it another
pleasing gem, the golden-blotched double-crimson Daisy Bellis aucubse-
folia. This is just one of those pretty things that must always have a pro-
minent place in my winter garden. Writing of this Daisy, let me here
mention that a neighbour of mine has developed its capacity to propa-
gate itself to a wonderful degree. Just two years since he possessed
three small plants only, but by dint of constant attention, and especially
a liberal use of house and yard sewage, he holds now a stock, derived
from the original three only, of over one thousand, all strong plants.
This fact will show that the talk about this Daisy being "miffy," as it
is termed, is wide of the truth.* I also use largely for edging purposes
for my walks the Stachys lanata ; it does admirably in my dry soil.
I should like to commend this plant as an edging to all amateur culti-
vators and cottagers who may wish to have their gardens look neat and
tidy. Pansies are with me a strong feature for spring blooming, and
good rooted plants put out early will often give me a few stray flowers
right through the winter. One border filled with them has a line of a
seedling crimson, and another of a seedling light of my own : with these
are also a fine new variety that promises to be the best white bedding
pansy out, and also the Cliveden yellow and Cliveden blue varieties.

One of the prettiest of all my winter blooming plants is the single
crimson Primrose. Strong plants of this will commence blooming in
November, and will continue throwing up their lively bright crimson
flowers at every gleam of winter sunshine. Then there are several
varieties of the early blooming double Primrose, that will soon be
challenging my admiration ; and not a few of the gold-laced Polyan-
thus, that are always pretty, early, and acceptable. I cannot find space
to closely enumerate all the winter plants that my garden possesses,
but mention must be made of charming Myosotis dissitiflora, so early,
fine, and free-blooming; Silene pendula ruberrima and S. pseudo-atocion,
the last one a capital acquisition, the colour almost magenta, and of
better shape than the rest.

Perhaps the best time to say more about my other blooming plants
will be a few months later on, when all are in bloom. About April
I expect my garden will be very gay. When the sweetest notes of the
early song-birds are being first heard, when all nature is putting on her
choicest garb, and the earth is lovely with her works, — then will I
again revert to this pleasant theme, and picture how my garden looks
when the full flush of floral beauty is on it. A. D.

* Despite A. D.'s statement to the contrary, everywhere about Edinburgh this
Daisy has proved utterly unmanageable, and nearly every one has given up its
culture in despair. It evidently requires a warm light soil, and a cool moist
situation, but not a wet cold one. — [Eds.]

1870.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 15

THE KITCHEN-GARDEN.

NO. VIII.
POTATO CULTURE.

Had any one foretold that a small tuber occupying an insignificant
sjDace — and scarcely, if at all, used for human food — in the newly-dis-
covered regions of South America, should become in the comparatively
short time of two centuries one of the most important items in the
daily food of millions of the human race for succeeding generations, it
would have sounded very incredible. Such, however, has been the
career of the Potato, which, as a tuber, is one of the most essential
importance ; so much so, that it ranks next to the cereals in its
influence as a vegetable product on the populations of temperate
climates. Yet, strange to say, its introduction to Europe was met
with the most obstinate prejudice and opposition, particularly from
the French, and it was not till a time of great scarcity and neces-
sity during the great Revolution that the culture of the Potato
was anything like general in France. It has been affirmed that the
Potato has added millions to the populations of Europe, and that,
owing to its extensive cultivation, famines have been rendered far less
frequent. It is, however, well known that too great a dependence on
it as a substitute for corn — as, for instance, in Ireland and the western
isles of Scotland — during the time the murrain so much prevailed, has
led to famine and hardships of the severest kind. Still it continues
to be a crop of the greatest importance as far as remunerative farming
is concerned, and in not a few districts the farmer's balance-sheet is
very much affected by the Potato crop and market. To meet the
wants of our large cities, the cultivation of the Potato has increased
thirty-fold in some localities within as many years. At one time, four
or five acres on one of the far-famed East Lothian farms was con-
sidered a sufficient proportion, while now eighty to a hundred acres
is quite common.

The remarks which I shall make on the culture of the Potato are
more referable to it as a garden crop, while some general remarks will
apply to its cultivation on a more extensive scale ; for the most intelli-
gent agriculturists admit that it is to the cultivation of the garden,
more than to any other source, that they must look for improved
methods of cultivating their farms.

Most gardeners are expected to furnish new or early Potatoes
throughout the early part of the year, onwards to the time when they
can be dug from the open borders without any protection. There are
two or three methods which may all be adopted with advantage in

16 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

keeping up the supply when Potatoes are required very early. The
stemless or pitting system, by which young tubers are produced very
early, is sometimes practised, although the produce obtained in this
way has little to recommend it beyond its earliness, and, perhaps,
novelty. By selecting a quantity of the largest of last season's pro-
duce, keeping them in a cool place, rubbing off every signs of sprout-
ing at frequent intervals, and thus preventing their ever making a
growth, the stored-up elements of the tubers are not expended, and all
that is then necessary is to place them in circumstances which will
cause the energies of the parent tuber to be expended in producing
new ones, without making any tops at all. This is effected by taking
them in September, and mixing them up among finely-sifted and rather
dry soil, in the corner of some dark shed or cellar. A layer of the soil,
about 4 inches deep, is first placed on the floor, then a layer of the
tubers about 2 inches apart, then another layer of soil and Potatoes
alternately, till the desired quantity is so pitted. Under these con-
ditions, young tubers are formed from the eyes of the old ones, and
may be sent to table at the New Year. This is, however, a method
which is seldom practised, which does certainly produce young
Potatoes, and that is about all that can be said in its favour.

The practice generally pursued is, to select a quantity of the finest
of the earliest-ripened sets at the end of the year, which, even in a cool
place, will then be starting into growth. These are potted singly into
small pots, rubbing off all the buds except the earliest and strongest
terminal one, and are then placed in a pit or any other structure where
they can have a temperature of 55° and a slight bottom-heat. Here
they soon start into growth, and when 3 or 4 inches high, they are
shifted into 8-inch pots, in which they mature their crop. The soil
used should be free, and water should be supplied moderately, or the
tendency will be towards a drawn and sickly growth. As the tubers
become fit for table they should be kept dry, otherwise they will be
watery and insipid. In this way an early crop or two come in early
before those in pits and frames are ready.

For moderately early crops, the best way is to grow them in pits
which have hot-water pipes which can supply top-heat, and 2 or 3 feet
of leaves for bottom-heat. When grown in this way, a portion of the
space at command is prepared in the end of December, or early in
January, to receive a planting previously started in small pots in some
of the forcing-houses or pits. They should be planted out when 2 or
3 inches high. To succeed these another lot should be planted at the
same time, which have commenced to spring on the shelves of a store-
room. In all these cases none of the buds should be allowed to grow,
except the earliest and strongest terminal bud. And Potatoes, especially

1870.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 17

when intended for early forcing, should not be stored in heaps, but be
kept in a light place in single layers. In this way there is no danger of
the buds becoming elongated and weak when they commence to grow.
After being planted, air on all favourable opportunities should be ad-
mitted to them ; for if allowed to become drawn and sickly in a close
damp atmosphere, no after-treatment will cause them to produce a
satisfactory crop. When coming to maturity, the soil should be allowed
to become dry, and the lights drawn off for a portion of the day when
the weather is fine, which will help to give quality to the tubers. It
may be remarked that if the Potatoes are planted 7 inches deep,
they will require little or no moulding up, for that is an operation
attended with more or less injury to the stems and leaves ; and if
the tubers are covered with sufficient soil to prevent greening, it is
sufficient.

To succeed the crops in pots and frames, a quantity should be started
either singly in small pots or in boxes, and planted out in some warm
sheltered spot about the middle of April. They may be 3 to 4 inches
high when planted out, and till danger from frost be over, they will re-
quire protection by some means at night. These will keep up the sup-
ply till those planted in the usual way for general early crops are ready
to use. I am not an advocate for springing main crops of early Potatoes
to be planted in March more than half an inch, and even that without
putting them into heat. It is easy to have them sufficiently sprung
by selecting seed from the early crops of the previous year and keeping
them in a dry airy store-room, where they start into growth far stronger.

Touching upon the general routine of Potato cultivation, it may be
laid down as a rule necessary to first-class results that the soil should
be an open deep loam, well drained, rather inclined to be sandy than
otherwise, and that it should be trenched 2 feet deep, and well pul-
verised. The crop should be planted in ground that has been well
manured for a previous crop, and no more manure added for the Potatoes.
One half of the manuring in the field culture of the Potato is worse
than useless. It is generally done in dry weather in April, when the
manure gets dried before it is ridged in with the plough. In light dry
soils I look upon the ridge system as very objectionable. The manure
and sets are enclosed in a dry state in an elevated ridge, where the
manure, once dry, is not easily wetted, and where in a dry season it can
be of little use to the crop. Indeed, I have seen it turned out again
in autumn almost as dry and entire as when it was covered up in
spring, and under such circumstances it only served as a means of
starving the Potatoes. If the crop were planted in the flat — as in
garden culture — on light dry soils, instead of in ridges, it would give
heavier crops. The manure would then be far more likely to serve its

B

18 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

end, but more likely still if it were well incorporated with the soil the
previous autumn.

In gardens, particularly where the soil is usually richer than is good
for the Potato, wide planting is desirable. Earlies should be allowed
2 feet 10 inches, and later sorts 3 feet, between the rows, and 15 inches
between the sets for late strong-growing sorts. By planting them wide
the tops get plenty of room, and the crop is much heavier and sounder,
and there are fewer small and unsaleable tubers. In working and clean-
ing the ground while the crop is growing, the loosening, by forking or
grubbing, should be done soon after they are above the ground, and
not deferred till immediately before moulding up. The system of
grubbing up close to the stems of the Potatoes after they are 1 foot
high tears up the stringy roots on which the young tubers are formed,
and does a vast amount of harm. In gardens where there is not so
much of a breezy circulation of air, the absence of which, with a rich
soil, produces a rank and more watery growth, the crop should be
carefully looked over w7hen 2 or 3 inches above ground; and whenever
more than two stems have come up from one set, they should be pulled
away.

Seed should be always saved for the earliest crops from the corres-
ponding crop of the previous season; and were the seed Potatoes
selected at the time the crops are taken up, and carefully stored by
themselves in dry airy places in thin layers, instead of being pitted in
great bulk along with the Potatoes, either for use or sale, wre should
hear less of weak blanky brakes and fields of Potatoes. For early
crops of the kidney varieties, the very largest sets should be chosen for
seed. There is no greater mistake in Potato culture than that of
selecting small sets or cutting large ones. I have proved this over and
over again, and any one can put the matter to the test by planting a
quarter of a field of Potatoes, beginning at one side of the quarter, and
planting a row or rows of very small sets, and then a row a size
larger, and so increasing in size till the largest is planted. It will
be found at harvest that the small sets give the poorest crop, and the
largest proportion of small unsaleable tubers ; and the yield of the
whole will just be, in this respect, in proportion to the size of the sets.
The cutting of sets is not at all necessary for garden culture at all events,
nor attended with much, if any, profit under any circumstances, and
it is attended with great evils. The tuber that is cut loses much of
the sap, which it is of great importance to retain ; and, in dry seasons
especially, cut sets are more likely to perish from what is termed dry-
rot. The bleeding set is frequently encased among dry manure, and
in a dry ridge of soil ; and unless a soaking of rain wards off the evil,
blanky fields are the certain result. The sap is sucked from the

i8yo.] GESNERA ZEBRINA. 19

Potato by the dry surroundings, and it never comes away. To cut
Potatoes for seed after they have been allowed to grow 4 to 6 inches
in pits, as is often the case, cannot but be regarded as the most irra-
tional practice possible.

The varieties of Potatoes now grown and offered for sale, some under
two or three local names, are very numerous ; yet the sorts which may
be regarded as sufficient to supply a family till the field-crops are ready
need not be numerous. The True Ash-leaved is probably yet the best
for early crops. Though some sorts are a little earlier, I have never
tried any combining so many good qualities so early. As a second
early Kidney, Mayatt's Early is very good, and so is Mona's Pride.
To succeed the two latter, the Lapstone Kidney stands unrivalled for
fine quality, and is a good cropper. Among early round varieties the
Bloomer, alias Curl Top, alias Coldstream Early, is a very good and
early round Potato ; but round Potatoes are not admissible in first-class
dining-rooms while Kidneys can be had. Daintree's Early, American
Early, and Dalmahoy, form good successions in the order named, and
are all excellent croppers, and good in quality. A variety known in
some localities as Rosse's Early, but which scarcely deserves being
called early, for it is not ready till August, is a great favourite- of
mine. It is an enormous cropper, and splendid in quality. At Archer-
field I grew this variety from the largest sets I could select, planted
whole, 3 feet by 1 foot 6 in., a few rows annually to produce large tubers,
to bake with their jackets on, and serving up whole. One season I
produced one tuber weighing 3| lb., and out of a few barrowfuls off
the same small piece of ground I picked out forty-eight tubers which
weighed 44 lb.— some considerably over 2 lb. and some less; and
every Potato was solid to the core, and there was scarcely a Potato
amongst them that could be termed small — a result brought about by
a succession of years, wide planting, and large sets. D. T.

GESNERA ZEBRINA.

I hIve at the present time two or three dozen pots of this most beauti-
ful and useful plant in full flower, and never have I before succeeded
so well with them. I attribute this success to some alteration in my
mode of treatment which I have adopted this season, and I shall be glad if
you will kindly spare space in the ' Gardener ' for the little I have to
say on the matter, hoping it will prove of use to all who are interested
in winter-blooming plants. During the last week in March 1869 I
put the tubers into a common cutting-box, and placed it in a warm pit,

20 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

and there it was kept till the tubers had made growth fully an inch in
height, the surface of the box being completely covered with foliage ;
and it might have been mistaken for a small bed of some new variety
of Ana?ctochilus, the box looked so pretty. I then transplanted the
tubers into their flowering-pots, placing the plants singly in pots 5
inches in diameter, and three and four in a pot 8 inches in diameter ;
they were then placed in a Melon-pit, watered, kept close, and shaded
for some days, and when the Melon plants required all the room, the
Gesneras were removed to another division of the pit; and it is in this
part of the treatment I consider the germ of success lay ; for instead
of being treated like stove-plants, they got only such treatment as is
usually given to soft-wooded greenhouse plants in a pit ; in fact, the
remaining space of the pit in which they were placed was filled with
such plants, and there was always plenty of air given by day, and some
continued all the night. Under such treatment the plants made fine
growth, and were put into the stove in September, but only because
the plants were touching the glass of the pit. I would have liked to
have kept them there longer — at least a fortnight — and was compelled
to remove them for the cause stated.

The point I want to advance is this : That hitherto I have treated
the Gesneras as stove-plants, but after my experience of this season,
the summer treatment will be, as I have indicated, as long as I shall
grow them, subject to any fresh discovery I may make. The soil I
use is peat-loam and leaf-mould — of each an equal part — with some
rotten cow-dung and a good sprinkling of silver-sand.

There are a few other winter and early-blooming plants I may have
a few words to say about at some future time. We want in the ' Gar-
dener ' short suggestive papers, not only about winter-flowering plants,
but about many other things quite as useful and interesting, in which
the writers can give their own special treatment of things new and old,
in the management of which they have proved successful : for example,
such as the short articles on " Neglected Plants." Useful and instruc-
tive as the ' Gardener ' is already, it would become much more so if
my suggestion could be acted on. J. H. C. P.

[Many thanks ; and we sincerely hope to hear from our correspondent again.
At the Exhibition of the Liverpool Horticultural Society on November 23, prizes
were offered for three paus of Gesneras. They were, however, but poorly repre-
sented. Our correspondent has taught us something that we hope may produce
better results at Liverpool in November next. — Eds.]

1870.] SURFACE CROPPING OF VINE-BORDERS. 21

THE SURFACE CROPPING OP VINE-BORDERS.

Having read with much interest the remarks of Mr Simpson on the cropping of
fruit-tree borders, and wishing all sensational matter to be put on one side, I
venture to ask this question, Can we, as practical men, recommend the whole-
sale, or rather universal, cropping of fruit-tree borders ? For myself, I say, No !
though having, like Mr Simpson, to cultivate in an uncongenial climate, where,
as he truly observes, early borders are valuable. In my own experience, as
well as in that of other gardeners, good crops of vegetables have been taken from
borders on which good trees and fruit were likewise produced. Now it is a
well-known maxim, held by nearly all cultivators of fruit-trees such as the Apple,
Pear, Plum, Cherry, and Peach, that the trees are made more fruitful by root-
pruning, judiciously performed; and with such, moderate cropping of the burders
is not condemned, bat rather to be commended on the ground of economy.
Still, I think he must be a bold man who would propose to root-prune Vines.
Yet I consider the digging of the generality of well-made Vine-borders a good
spit deep to be only root-pruning under another name. Living as I do in the
north of England, in a county well described by the Squire's Gardener as slop-
ing to the east, and the subsoil cold clay, where there is any depth of it, and
where in the shallow parts we find the magnesian limestone, and have coal-
mines and manufactories increasing on every hand, and not by any means improv-
ing the climate — I assure you I am very glad, like many others, I have no doubt,
to give my Vine-borders the full benefit of the sun's rays during the summer.
Here the Vine-borders are always covered with non-conducting material, and a
tarpaulin early in October, and I don't feel justified in uncovering them till April
or May, so that the period for vegetable culture on the borders would (if I
attempted it, but I don't) be but a very short one. There is no doubt but that
it has been done, and can be done again, in favoured localities. I have seen
good black Hamburg Grapes ripen out of doors in the south of England,
where the roots of the Vine had penetrated into a gravel walk, but of course
such a result depends mainly on a good season. And so in the case of Grapes
grown in a well-cropped border, there must be a good season to aid their de-
velopment ; and in the case of a wet summer, like that of 1860, if the Vine-
border were cropped with Potatoes and Peas, as recommended by W. S.,
they would keep every ray of sunshine from the borders, to the great detriment of
the Vines. Before I conclude, I should like to ask Mr Simpson a simple ques-
tion— this : Suppose he had to make Vine-borders and plant young Vines in a
place in which he had just entered on the duties of gardener, and had a reputa-
tion to make, would he commend cropping these borders, though we all
know new soil is hue for Potatoes ? I ask this question as a practical
gardener, because nowadays employers want to know the reason why; and
if such an authority as the 'Gardener' can be instanced by them as recom-
mending the cropping of Vine-borders, they would naturally enough be led to
ask, Why cannot my gardener do the same ] I consider that in the case of many
places, were this system of border-cropping carried out, it would be like putting
a load on the shoulders of many a weak brother, and increase his difficulties. It
is one thing to crop one border of late Hamburgs whore there are plenty of
Vineries to fall back on if this fails in consequence : it is quite a different affair
where one, two, or even three Vineries represent the whole of a gardener's re-
sources, and these generally of mixed varieties, and where even a partial failure
of the crop would be a serious affair. In conclusion, I consider it false economy
to recommend the universal cropping of fruit-tree borders. R. M. S.

THE GARDENER. [Jan.

NOTES ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

Ilottonia. — So far as is at present known, this pretty and interesting
genus of aquatic plants comprises only two species — the one a native
of North America, and unknown to cultivators in this country ; the
other inhabits ponds and sluggish streams in England and Ireland
and other parts of central and northern Europe. H. palustris (Water
Violet) is the European species. It is valuable for introducing into
ponds and streams where aquatic vegetation is desirable, being inter-
esting and ornamental for a long period during summer. The leaves
and barren branches are all submerged ; the former are deeply cut into
fine thread-like segments, giving a feathery appearance to the sub-
merged growth, and suggesting strikingly the other common name
(Featherfoil) by which it is known in some parts of the country. The
flower-stems are leafless, and rise erect above the water, bearing several
whorls of rather large flowers, deeply divided into five broad lobes.
The flowers are variously coloured in different individuals — pale purple
is the most common colour, but blue and white and pink are also to
be met with, and they appear in June, July, and August, and often
also in September. It is easily propagated by division, and also by
seeds. If the latter method is adopted — and it is the simplest, if they
have to be transported a distance — they should be sown immediately
they are ripe in the quarters they are to occupy permanently, the only
care requisite being the prevention of the washing of the bottom by
floods if the pond or stream in which they are sown be liable to such
disturbance, and the destruction that would be caused by waterfowls,
till such time as the plants are strong enough to take care of them-
selves, which they will be the year after sowing.

GlobuJaria. — These are charming little Alpine plants, distinguished,
as the name implies, by the inflorescence being gathered together into
compact globular heads. Some of the species are not hardy in all parts
of the country, and the following should be avoided in making selec-
tions for cultivation in the open air north of London, unless the climate
of the locality is mild in winter and the soil light and warm : — G.
Alypum, integrifolia, longifolia, and spinosa. These are likely to
succeed well in the southern parts of England and in many parts of
Ireland, but, except in the more favoured parts of the west of Scotland,
they are likely to succumb to the bad effects of our winter climate in
the north. The majority of the hardy species are best adapted for the
rockwork in most parts of the country, and most of them succeed well
in the open border in light rich naturally well-drained soil, where a
little shade can be given them. They are pretty things in pots, and
in wet cold localities they will not live for any length of time, unless

1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 23

kept in pots for handiness for winter protection. Rich peat and loam
forms the best compost for them in pots, and it should be well sharpened
up with rough gritty sand. They are easily increased by division,
which is best done in spring as growth commences, and attention to
watering will be necessary for some time afterwards till the plants are
fairly established.

G. corch : folia is of somewhat creeping habit, rooting at the joints as
it extends. The root-leaves are wedge-shaped on longish stalks, blunt
and toothed at the points. The flower-stems are about 6 or 8 inches
high, clothed at the base with leaves, similar in form to, but smaller
than, those of the roots. The flowers are blue, and appear in June
and July ; suitable for the mixed border as well as for the rockwork,
but a somewhat shady situation should be chosen for it. Native of
Germany.

G. nudicaulis. — This is rather a stronger-growing species than the
last named. The root-leaves are lanceolate, on short footstalks, and
the flower-stems are nearly naked, having only a small lanceolate
bract or two under the flower-heads. The flower-heads are large,
dark blue, and appear in June and July. Native of Germany, and
adapted alike well to the rockwork or mixed border, in partial
shade.

G. nana is a very diminutive species, forming dwarf carpet-like
patches of small, bright-green leaves. The flowTer-heads rise only an
inch or two above the foliage, are not large, but profuse, are pale-blue
or lilac, and appear in June and July. Native of the mountains of
France, and suitable only for cultivation on rockwork, or in pots in
gritty peat and loam.

G. vulgaris grows about 6 or 8 inches high. The lower leaves are
stalked and lanceolate, the upper ones stalkless and smaller, but of
the same form. The flower-heads are dense and bright-blue, appear-
ing in May, June, and July. Common on the mountains of Europe
generally. Adapted for cultivation on rockwork or in the open
border where a little shade can be secured.

Vinca. — This is the only British representative of one of the most
beautiful natural orders in the vegetable kingdom, Apocynacea?,
which comprises many splendid and justly -favoured shrubs and
climbers, well known in our stoves and greenhouses. Like most of
the other genera of the family, Vinca is more ligneous than herbaceous ;
indeed, only one species of the group may be properly classed with
herbaceous plants, according to scientific rule, but their dwarf habit
and natural adaptability to similar purposes bring them nearer to that
class of plants than to shrubs of any kind. They are most accommodat-
ing in their nature, growing freely in nearly all kinds of soils and

24 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

situations, preferring moist, shady places, but not refusing to grow
freely in those more dry and exposed. They grow freely in the shade
and drip of large trees, and may be used for clothing naked banks
with great facility and success. Several fine variegated forms also of
the hardy sub-shrubby species may be used with great effect for those
and for more select purposes, such as the edging of beds and borders
of shrubs, draping rockwork and rustic work, and even for the edging
of beds and borders of flowers. All are easily propagated by cuttings,
in the autumn or in spring, in a cold frame or under a hand-glass
kept moderately close and shaded till the process of rooting has com-
menced, and by division either in autumn or spring.

V. major is the strongest and largest of the hardy Vincas : it grows
from 1 foot to 2 or 3 feet high, according to soil and situation.
The leaves are broad, ovate, bright shining green. There are two
sorts of branches, those growing erect from the roots and bearing
flowers, and those trailing and fiowerless, and rooting as they extend.
The flowers are large, somewhat bell-shaped, and blue in darker or
brighter shades. It flowers throughout the spring and early summer.
It is a native of England, in many parts, and of the south of Europe
and the Caucasus. There are several interesting and valuable var-
ieties of this species. A white-flowered sort, not very common, has a
fine effect, mixed with the blue, on banks, or wherever masses may be
grown. The V. major, var. elegantissima, has the leaves blotched and
margined with creamy white, and is an elegant plant for many pur-
poses. Y. major, var. aurea, is even more beautiful and effective than
the preceding. The leaves are richly marked wTith golden yellow,
which in the spring, when young growth is being made, is very
beautiful indeed. V. major, var. reticulata, is an elegant but not
very striking sort, having the veins of the leaves delicately marked
with golden yellow. In rich soils and moist shady situations this
is not a constant variety, being apt to run green where oversell
fed ; but in poorer soil, and more exposed places, the effect of
the rich colouring of the veins on the dark shining leaf-ground is
very elegant.

V. minor, the common Periwinkle, is much, more prostrate and
slender than the foregoing species, and is, if possible, more useful for
covering banks and for planting under trees. The leaves are smaller
than those of V. major, and they are ovate-lanceolate. The flowers
also are smaller, but more profuse : they are also more variously coloured,
there being blue, purple, violet, pink, and white coloured varieties.
There are also two varieties with prettily variegated leaves, the one
creamy and the other golden yellow. It flowers in April and May,
and onwards throughout the early summer months. JSTative of the

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 25

same countries as the last, but enjoys rather a wider distribution in
northern and central Europe.

V.- herbacea. — This is a very different and distinct plant from either
of the preceding. The branches are herbaceous, and have a very
limited extension : they are prostrate, and rarely exceed 9 inches in
length. The leaves are narrow, oblong, lanceolate; the flowers are blue
or purplish blue, and appear in June, July, and August. This hand-
some and distinct plant is best adapted to the rockwork or mixed
border, and prefers a light rich dryish loam in moderate shade. Divi-
sion and seeds are the most practicable means of propagation. Native
of Hungary.

Amsonla. — This is a genus of hardy herbaceous plants from North
America. Without having any very strong claim to be considered
beautiful, they have a certain distinction and elegance in their appear-
ance that renders them valuable for certain ornamental purposes.
They may be introduced among shrubs with very good effect, and they
may be planted in open woods where their robust hardy nature will
enable them to establish themselves when less vigorous plants would
succumb before the encroachments of the native vegetation. Any ordin-
ary good soil suits them well, and they are easily propagated by divi-
sion or seeds in spring.

A. angustifolia grows about 2 or 3 feet high, with hairy stems and
lanceolate leaves clothing them throughout. The flowers are produced
in small panicles in the axils of the upper leaves, are light blue, and
appear in July and August.

A. latifolia is about the same in stature as the last, but the stems
are usually destitute of hairs, and the leaves more broadly lanceolate.
Flowers blue in the same manner, but the panicles rather fewer
flowered, and about the same time.

A. salicifolia has hairless stems, and very narrow lanceolate leaves
attenuated at each end. The flowers are numerous in small panicles
in the axils of the upper leaves. They are blue, and appear about the
same time as the others. W. S.

HINTS FOR AMATEURS.-JAITUARY.

We have repeatedly urged the necessity of thoroughly turning up
ground in which seeds are to be sown early; and those who have
allowed vacant ground to remain untouched should after this season
lose no opportunity in turning up the soil as deep as possible to the
pulverising influence of frost. Where we turned up empty space early

26 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

in November, bringing up a little of the stiff subsoil, it is now breaking
down like powder, and on these quarters were wheeled large quantities
of old Vine-border soil, rich and free — which, mixed with the heavier
fresh soil, will make an excellent preparation for almost any crop —
Parsnips, Carrots, and Beet especially ; and, if the surface is turned
when frozen with a steel fork, and finely broken over when dry for
seed sowing, we need fear no difficulty in getting the seeds to ger-
minate freely. We never found that extra trenching and working the
soil was labour thrown away ; but, when advising deep tilth, we would
object to bringing up the bottom if it was poor, and the main body of
the land kept on short supplies of manure. After heavy rains and
snow-storms, defective drainage will show itself. A wet badly-drained
garden gives poor supplies of vegetables in winter. Celery rots quickly,
and Brocolis are destroyed by an ordinary frost. Much of the ordi-
nary operations will be influenced by the prevailing weather. Snow
and rain will put a stop to ground work, but in most gardens there is
much which can be done under cover at this season — such as preparing
stakes, pegs, and shreds, where they are used ; looking over roots in
store — such as Dahlias, Gladioli, and Ranunculuses, the latter picked
over and prepared for planting, keeping the best roots for show-beds,
and the smaller ones to be planted for keeping up stock. Old soil
from under potting benches or other places might be cleaned by sifting
out the rubbish and placing it in a heap for ordinary purposes — such
as covering over seeds in heavy wet soil, covering Peas and Beans to
protect them if they are coming through the ground when weather is
severe. We have seen in nurseries, where good soil was not easily
secured, large quantities of common plants grown in the waste soil,
which, when all prepared and mixed, was very good for many things,
the mixture being generally composed of loam, peat, and sand : a little
charcoal added was of great service. We have known many amateurs
about towns have no other potting-soil than they took from their gar-
dens, and the greatest difficulty in dealing with such material is its
being liable to become waterlogged and full of worms. When such
make-shifts have to be depended on, the best and cleanest of the soil
should be taken and spread out thinly on a hard surface, there exposed
to frost, taking it under cover in frozen cakes, to be afterwards kept
dry. The parings of walk-edgings, when partially rotten, or any old
turf from road- sides, should be added to, and well mixed with, the
heap. Charred prunings are also very useful in such cases. Early
Peas should be sown on an early spot towards the end of the month.
This sowing often comes in as early as, and produces finer crops than,
the seed sown in November. Mazagan or Dwarf -fan Beans should
be sown in rows from 2 to 3 feet apart. If Potatoes are wanted early,

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 27

a bed may be made for them with leaves and a little manure, making
it thoroughly firm. Very little heat is necessary, but the sides of the
frame or pit may be well packed round with straw or litter to keep out
frost ; and while the bed is settling down, the Potatoes may be placed
in a little warmth to sprout, covering them over with a little light soil
of any kind, but not leaving them till the roots get matted together.
8 inches to 1 foot of soil in the frame is abundance, and over the sur-
face Radish seed may be sprinkled, and lightly covered. Early Frame
and Short-top Radish answer well for this early sowing. Few Potatoes
are better for early work than the true old Ash-leaf Kidney. Potatoes
for seed should be kept as cool as possible, of course excluding frost.
Being allowed to shoot far, and then suddenly planted out in the cold
ground, is one of the principal causes why they come up patching, and
many of the tubers perish in the soil. Early Carrots, if required, may
be sown in light soil where they can be protected. Fennel, Mint, and
Tarragon roots may be lifted, potted, and placed in a hot-bed or any
other heat, and brought on for use. All beds of herbs should be
trimmed and surface-dressed, or divided and replanted any time before
growth commences. Chicory and Endive may be taken under cover,
and kept from light and air to blanch. Rhubarb and Sea-Kale, to keep
up supplies, require timely attention, as formerly advised. The latter is
easily managed when placed in large pots, and covered with others of same
size, and taken into warmth to spring ; and it can be retarded by taking
it to a cooler place till used up, always keeping it from light and air.
Our earliest was taken in this way to the flue of a Mushroom-house, and
several good dishes cut off before the main supplies were ready at the
end of November. Mitchell's Early Rhubarb has done good service
since the beginning of December, and is now succeeded by Prince
Albert and Linnaeus. Roots of Victoria are dug up and under protec-
tion, to be taken into heat as required to keep up the supply during
the remainder of the season. Cauliflower in frames or under hand-
lights should never be without air, except in frosty wTeather. A little
dry litter placed among their stems would be of advantage. Some
sprinkle coal-ashes among the plants, which makes unkindly quarters
for slugs. All Brocolis, Kale, Savoys, and similar plants, may be bene-
fited by having earth drawn round their stems, which will help to save
them from frost. Brocolis which may be hearting should be looked
over frequently to secure them before frost destroys the heads. Hot-
beds for Early Cucumbers, &c, may be made at once, but where
material is scarce, it would be better to leave hot-bed making alone for
the present. Where tree-leaves, manure, &c, are plentiful, a quantity
may be thrown up and mixed together: and when the heat is moderate,
the whole may be thrown into a bed, building it square, and a little

28 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

larger than the frame, shaking and building firmly as the work pro-
gresses. A good bed from 4 to 5 feet high will last a long time, but to
last for 10 or 12 months in good order, we prefer making our beds 6
feet deep. Regular attention to placing linings of hot dung all round
the bed is of great importance in keeping the heat steady. After the
frame is placed, a few inches of soil may be placed over the surface of
the bed (we use turf, and beat firm with the back of a fork). Mounds
of good earth, turfy loam, and a little leaf-soil are very suitable for Cu-
cumbers, placed in the centre of each light ; and when the heat is right
(which can be ascertained by placing a thermometer in the soil, and
when it stands 80° or 85°) it may be considered safe to plant. A quantity
of soil may be kept in the frame to add to the mound as the roots find
their way through. Pinching out the tops of the plants will induce
them to throw out fresh shoots which will show fruit. Young plants
are raised by sowing two or three seeds in small pots, and when up, and
fit to handle, they are potted singly, always using the soil and water
in a warm state. Seeds placed singly in small pots of warm soil are
easily managed, without checking the plants when shifting them. Air
is necessary at all times, especially if the steam rises strongly from the
bed. Covering up from frost is necessary, but light should never
willingly be excluded when it can be admitted. Moisture should be
carefully applied to the roots : little will be required till the plants are
growing freely and the weather fine. A top heat of 65° to 70° is safe,
rising 10° or 15° with sun heat. Melons may be treated in the same
way, but they require heavier and firmer soil than Cucumbers. Neither
of these plants should crowd together, as when the stems become mat-
ted they are difficult to manage.

Fruit-trees infested with moss should have as much as possible of
it scraped off with a blunt knife or piece of iron hoop, and the parts
well dusted with fresh lime, or lime-wash may be laid on with a
brush. If the appearance is objected to, a mixture of soot may be
given. The old earth from the collars of Gooseberry bushes is taken
aw7ay by some, and replaced with fresh soil, as a preventive from
caterpillars. Fresh planted trees requiring stakes should not be
neglected, as the roots would be seriously injured. Mulch carefully to
keep out frost. All pruning and nailing should be brought to a close
as soon as the weather will permit. Pears which are thin of fruit-
buds may remain till later in the season, when inexperienced hands
can prune wTith more safety : the buds then will be swelling, and show
themselves. Peaches and Apricots which have been taken from the
walls to retard them till they are pruned should not be left to the
force of the wind, but be tied in bunches to the stronger wood till they
are to be tied up permanently. Walls should be freed from moss, or

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 29

anything that will harbour insects. Repairs, where practicable, should
be made on walls, filling up all holes, leaving no quarters for insects
of any description. A good syringing with soap-suds will help to de-
stroy eggs of insects. Some syringe finely infrosty weather, allowing it
to freeze into solid ice.

411 kinds of bulbs, however hardy they may be, should be protected
from severe frost. Ranunculuses to be grown for summer decoration
should be planted soon. When weather will permit, the beds should
be well prepared with manure, and the soil well turned up to sweeten.
Some use entirely fresh soil for these plants, renewing the beds yearly;
and, to do them well for exhibition, extra cultivation is necessary.
We at one time grew these plants extensively ; and to have them late,
we planted the roots in March, in soil well-worked and enriched with
cow-dung. Carnations and Pinks which are' in pots under protection
require little or no water at this season, and all the air that can pos-
sibly be given. Surfaces should be kept clean, stirring the soil occa-
sionally, and nothing allowed near the plants that would harbour
damp. Auriculas under protection must be also kindly dealt with :
they are so impatient of stagnant moisture, and enjoy abundance of
fresh dry air. No decaying leaves or moss-covered surfaces should be
tolerated ; and, like all hardy plants when growing in pots, they
should be kept free from frost. Chrysanthemums, when done flower-
ing, should be plunged in coal-ashes, and the tops kept from frost.
Though they are hardy, good cuttings and suckers are easily secured
when protection is afforded. All " bedding " and other plants should
have air when it can be safely given. Water should be given in a tepid
state, choosing, if possible, sunny mornings to apply it, so that the
structures may dry up quickly; but where fire-heat is not at command,
it is better to err on the dry side at this season. Lily of the Valley,
Roses, Lilacs, Bulbs, and all kinds of plants which are forced at this
season, should be brought on gently; and when to be placed in cooler
quarters to flower, currents of frosty air should be avoided, as they are
very tender when coming from heat. Shrubs and ornamental trees
should have timely attention after snow has fallen, as serious injury
might be done if the snow is not shaken off. Dead wood may be
cleared out, and everything done to enliven the pleasure-garden at this
dull season. Stunted shrubs may be helped with surface-dressings of
rich material. We apply manure liberally to all kinds of ConiferaB,
especially to Araucarias and Wellingtonias. A number of Araucarias
here, growing on a sandy bank, have had quantities of manure of late
years, which has told wonderfully on their growth. We have lately
given each tree three loads of dung and three loads of earth.

M. T,

30 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

THE GLADIOLUS.

As a warm lover of this beautiful autumnal flower, and as one of those
who have written something about it, I should like to say a few words
on the paper by Mr Morris in your last number, inasmuch as while he has
been evidently successful in his own cultivation, he is rather sweeping
in his condemnation of those whose experiences are of a less happy
character.

With regard to the statement, that wherever there is loss, it is
occasioned by some carelessness in the management of the bulbs — I
must really demur to this, not so much as a vindication of myself
as of others. Without doubt, the best Gladiolus-grower we have in
the south of England, perhaps in England at all, is Mr Kelway of
Layport, in Somersetshire. Last year he grew 50,000 bulbs, and told
me he had not a single diseased bulb amongst them, while this year,
under precisely the same treatment, he had a large quantity of bulbs
so affected ; and my excellent friend, M. Souchet, tells me that this
year he has an appreciable loss from disease, and I suppose Mr
Morris would hardly say he is careless in the growth or manage-
ment of his bulbs. My own opinion is that it is a disease, somewhat
analogous to the Potato disease ; that it may be increased by bad
management, but that no amount of care can ward it off.

With regard to manuring, I quite agree with Mr Morris that no
fresh dung ought to come in contact with the bulbs ; but I could
secure this more effectually than he has done by placing a good layer
of cow-dung beneath the soil, and not incorporate it in any way with it ;
in fact, treating it similarly with the mode adopted in the case of the
Persian Ranunculus, and so allowing the rootlets to penetrate into the
layer of cow-dung, and to draw their sustenance from it when most
they require such a stimulus. I have tried it this year, and am so
pleased with the result that I shall adopt it for the future.

Mr Morris is assuredly mistaken as to the injury occasioned by cut-
ting off the haulm when it is green. He may, of course, easily find
reasons why such a practice is bad, as I have known doctors ready to
find out reasons for the most diametrically opposite practice in cases*of
medical treatment ; but I can tell him this, that those imported bulbs
which he holds up as models are all treated in this way. I have seen
acres of them taken up, without any discrimination as to one being
riper than another, and I may add that, when left too long in the
ground, they are liable to throw out fresh roots, which detracts from the
strength of the bulb. My own bulbs are treated in this way, and
although I do not pretend to be a better grower than my neighbours, I
can speak confidently of the health of my bulbs, both last season and

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 31

this ; and I have not noticed that those taken up with the haulms
green have shrank more afterwards than those where the haulm was
withering.

As to the merits of the various flowers we are not likely to differ.
I have only to add that, large as some of the new flowers are, they are
far surpassed by some which are in process of multiplication, and I
do not believe that we have yet reached the Ultima Thide of this beau-
tiful flower. D. Deal.

GARDEN RECORDS.

NO. I.

BATTERSEA PARK, LONDON, S.W.

In a paper read not long since before the Central Horticultural Society by Mr
Joseph Newton, the well known landscape gardener, who has just returned from
a visit to America, occurs this passage on subtropical gardening : "This has been
introduced into the London Parks wherever the gardenesque has been employed,
but not in the American Parks which I have just visited. Having studied this
subject both at home and on the Continent, I am able to speak with some degree
of confidence, and I can safely attest that Battersea Park carries off the palm for
subtropical gardening." That is certainly a flattering testimony to the genius
and ability of Mr John Gibson, the superintendent of Battersea Park; and the
general impression will prevail that it is a truthful one. Having for ourselves
inspected Mr Gibson's handiwork, the first of our " Records " shall be some account
of what has been done at Battersea Park in the past summer, and how it looked
on the occasion of our visit at the end of September.

Entering the Park in company with Mr Gibson from the Chelsea Suspension
Bridge, we were conducted along the east end of it, by the Brighton Railway,
through what has hitherto been something akin to a neglected waste, but which
was then being changed in its features, for the excavators were at work, and bent
on giving a new character to the aspect of the scene. What had been a rough un-
even bank was being converted into a broad walk, between banks of shrubbery and
ornamental trees ; and about half way along the distance was the spot wrhere it is
intended to construct a rockery, with cool shady walks about it, and other acces-
sories. "When these improvements are worked out, Battersea Park will have
additional features of interest of no common order.

Then issuing into the broad drive on the south side of the Park, which i'uns
from the east in a westward direction, we caught a glimpse of the pile of artificial
rock-work Mr Gibson had constructed in a prominent point of that piece of land
surrounded by the lake, and which is known as the continent. It is intended to
bring a water-fall over the rock-work, and when it is accomplished, it will
considerably enhance the appearance of this part of the park. On the opposite
shore, and near to where we were standing, a huge shrubbery bank was being
formed, with a garden in a lower level between it and the lake ; and this will be
reached by pleasant winding paths, which were already being constructed.

On either side of the drive many of the hardy annuals used for floral effect
during the summer were still gay, especially the varicoloured double Helichry-

32 THE GARDENER. [Jai;.

sums, and that old favourite of our gardens, the sweet Allysum, blooming from
self-sown plants that had come from the seed shed by the first crop of flowers early
in the summer.

Some way along this drive, access is gained to the subtropical department by a
path on the right. Roughly, it may be described as a vast amphitheatre, sheltered
on every hand by raised banks planted with shrubs, and surmounted by tall and
ornamental trees. Advantage was taken of the original features of this spot to
form a site for the subtropical work, and where the surroundings were not of the
character required they were furnished by artificial means. Year by year some
new feature is added, and so year by year there is a progressive development,
reaching on to higher stages as each becomes perfected. The beds are on turf,
and in many instances are raised considerably above the level of the greensward,
while some are on warm sloping banks. A large irregular circle of greensward
in the centre, with a broad baud on the right hand of the main walk, sometimes
narrow, sometimes much deeper in width, gives a general outline of the depart-
ment. To this has been added in the past two or three years a portion of what is
known as the continent, and more recently a piece of Alpine planting, well
worthy a visit in the season for the capital representation secured. But of this
more anon.

Starting from the point of entry, some vigorous specimens of the bold-foliaged
Aralia Sieboldi met the eye, which stands the winter without auy protection, and
has done so for the past five years. From one plant Mr Gibson had obtained the
many specimens he now has in cultivation. In a kind of grassy bay, sheltered
by protecting banks of shrubbery, were some grand banks of Cannas, edged with
lines of the Cardoon, and variegated Chrysanthemum Sensation ; and at each end
were banks of Cardoons as well. This old kitchen-garden plant formed a capital
contrast to the dark-leaved Cannas. Just by were raised circular beds in a
kind of glen. The farthest had as an occupant a huge Musa Ensete, the other a
huge plant of Chamserops Fortunei ; between these was a good circular mass cf
Coleus Verschaffelti — round this Golden-Chain Pelargonium, edged with Echeveria
secunda glauca. In front of this lot of beds was a clump of fine plants of Nerium
Oleander plunged in pots ; and there were three specimen Palms, as well as speci-
mens of Yucca gloriosa, and Y. recurva, to complete the picture. This was in re-
ality a garden in itself, and bore much such a relationship to the great garden
around it that one of the small chapels in Westminster Abbey does to the lofty
and magnificent building that encompasses it. Near this Wigandia caracassana,
which Mr Gibson terms " one of the kings among foliaged plants," was very fine.
There were two rows of it, each plant about 34 feet in height, almost filling a
long bed, aud these were edged with Plumbago capensis, and an outer edging of
the Golden-Feather Pyrethrum. When it is stated that these fine plants were
raised from cuttings struck in March last, some idea can be gained of its adapt-
ability for this kind of work. Here was Aralia Sieboldi again on some
raised slopes — a position which assists it to ripen its wood. It was showing
signs of blooming, but it was very doubtful if the flowers would develop them-
selves before the frost set in. Then came another fine thing— namely, Solanum
marginatum, so named from having a kind of silvery edging to the leaves, which
are spined above and beneath. This is raised from seed one year, and the plants
are held over till the next for planting out. Near this was a bed of the pink and
buff coloured Lantana Fabiola, edged with Robert Fish golden-leaved Pelargo-
nium— a good thing, with a dwarf and compact habit. A noble plant, too, is Fer-
dinanda eminens, with large spreading leaves. Here was a group of it in the
centre of a shield-shaped bed, the plants from 6 to 7 feet in height : round this

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 33

was a red-stalked form of the Castor-oil plant, somewhat dwarf in growth ; then
the golden-leaved Japanese Honeysuckle ; the whole edged with Echeveria
Becunda glauca. This was indeed a foliaged bed, a masterpiece of skilful arrange-
ment and fiDe effect. Then came a large circular bed, having in the centre five
large plants of Musa Ensete, raised from seed last March twelvemonths. At the
feet of this, " the noblest of all sub-tropical plants," was a carpet of Coleus Ver-
scbaffeltii aureus marginatus, a magnificent mass of bright claret and gold : round
this was Coleus Marshalli, a somewhat tender variety, yet forming a good mass;
the whole edged with Fuchsia Tom Thumb of nice compact growth, and bloom-
ing freely. This also was a grand bed. Mr Gibson stated that the Musa lasts
four or five years ; then they fruit, and are done with. Next was a long narrow
bed of Canna nigricans, one of the best dark-leaved kinds, if not the best for
foliage, though not the best for blooming. This was broadly edged with Mrs
Pollock, and an outer edging of the variegated Veronica argentea, looking like
Alyssum saxatile variegatura, and which produces pale-blue flowers in the spring.
Here, too, were growing on a low damp spot, and flourishing admirably, two
varieties of the Pampas Grass — one the old silvery form of the original species,
and one with quite a red tint, which is very handsome in the autumn. Mr
Gibson states that Gunnera scabra appears to be, with him, much more robust
and stronger than the Bulrush of the Nile, though both require some covering
up during winter ; the former was certainly doing well here. A huge raised bed
of Cannas here came in view — a grand object ; at the back of the bed was C.
Premices du Nice, having bright pale glaucous green leaves — one of the new
yellow-flowering varieties, and one that throws up suckers from the roots
with remarkable freedom. In front of this was C. nigricans, making a capital
contrast, and edged with Fuchsia Golden Fleece, to bring out the dark
metallic hue of the leaves of the Canna. Near this was a bed of Erythrina
cristi-galli, in variety, and in fine bloom. These Coral trees were a grand object,
and it is found that E. Hendersoni is one of the earliest to bloom, and E.
laurifolia one of the latest. A circular raised bed close by had a centre of Coleus
Saundersi, perhaps about the only one of the first batch of the Ptoyal Horticul-
tural Society's new varieties worth keeping ; round this was a belt of Centaurea
ragu>ina compacta, and an edging of Echeveria secunda glauca. This was a
splendid bed, of perfect arrangement, and remarkably effective. Then about here
were dotted some plants of the single scarlet Pomegranate, plunged in pots, and
nicely covered with brilliant coloured flowers, something like those of a Correa in
shape. Some plunged specimens of Yucca aloifolia variegata were about and
around them. The two, being so diverse in character, formed a nice contrast.
Here, too, was a large bed of Fuukia Sieboldi, that Mr Gibson said had been very
fine when in full bloom, and by no means to be despised as a foliage bed. Then
came quite a unique bed, of a raised kidney-shape. In the centre was a line of
Sorchus laciniatus, with very handsome leaf foliage, dense, yet transparent, and
can be clearly seen through. This also makes a capital plant for table decoration.
On either side of the Sorchus was a line of Geranium anemonsefolia, with large
anemone-like leaves, and pinkish-lilac flowers; the centre of the bed carpeted
with a mixture of Koniga variegata, and Velvet-Cushion Verbena ; next, a line of
Amaranthus melancholicus ruber, then Golden-Chain Pelargonium, and an outer
margin of Sempervivum montanum. This was also an excellent bed, and
especially when looked at from a distance, the arrangement came out very nice
indeed. A smaller bed of the same shape had a broad central band of Lantana
ne plus ultra, the flowers of which open of a maroon-crimson hue, and change to
orange, of upright rigid growth, very free blooming, and dwarf habit. Round this

C

34 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

was Black Dwarf Nosegay Pelargonium, then a line of blue Lobelias, and an outer
edge of Mesembryauthemum tigrinum, so named because each pair of thick
fleshy leaves represents the open jaws of a tiger, while the young leaves have the
appearance of a tongue between the jaws. Farther on was a circular bed carpeted
with Alternanthera spathulata : rising above this was a dwarf orange-crimson
flowering Canna, obtained from Messrs T. Jackson & Son of Kingston, the
species not known ; and an edging of Fuukia undula variegata. Next came a
circular bed showing much novelty of arrangement. The centre was carpeted with
Coleus Marshalli, from the midst of which rose some tall-growing foliaged plant :
round this was a ring of Coleus aureus marginatus, edged with blue Lobelia ; next
the Lobelia, Crystal Palace Gem golden leaved Pelargonium. From the ring of the
crimson-and-gold Coleus rose a circular line of standard plants of Acer negundo var-
iegata, about 34 feet in height, enclosing four nice plants of Dracccna Cooperi ; thus
the bright-coloured leaf-foliage of the Dracaena was looked at through the silvery
veil of the foliage of the Acer. It was a very fine bed indeed. Next came a raised
long oval bed arranged geometrically ; running through the centre of the bed
lengthwise was a chain, the links formed alternately of circles and diamonds, the
outline of the chain formed of Veronica incurva, the three diamond beds filled each
with Eclat and Grand Duke Nosegay Pelargoniums — both new of 1868, but scarcely
effective as bedders — and Triumphans, a grand bedding Zonal Pelargonium, with
flowers of a soft yet brilliant orange-scarlet hue, and very free blooming, and dark
zonate foliage; and the four circular beds filled with double-flowering Pelargoniums
— viz., two with Gloire de Nancy, and two with Rose Queen, in the way of Gloire
de Nancy, but rather darker. Round each group of double kinds was a ring of a
Nosegay Pelargonium ; two of these rings were formed of Pride of Osberton, hav-
ing large trusses of brilliant deep orange-scarlet flowers with broad petals ; the
other, Morning Star, much in the way of Lady Constance Grosvenor, but broader
in the petals, both new kinds, and so promising that Mr Gibson intends giving
them another season's trial. The groundwork inside and outside the line of Ver-
onica incurva was filled with Alternanthera paronychioides, so as to form a band.
This series of diamond and circular-shaped beds affords a good opportunity for
testing new varieties of bedding Pelargoniums. At the back of this bed was a
raised bed of Cannas. The buff-flowering variety of C. picturata formed a back-
ground : in front of this was 0. expansa — both dark-foliaged and dwarf-growing,
and edged with a dwarf-growing plant. By this was another raised circular bed
in the turf, in the centre of which was a cross formed of Cordyline indivisa, with
a plant of Dracaeoa terminalis at each of the points. The Cordyline had some-
what narrow leaves, but Mr Gibson states they always come broader when the
plant is more grown. The angles of the cross were filled with the silvery Cen-
taurea gymnocarpa, all encircled by a single line of Alternanthera paronychioides ;
next this a circle of Sempervivum montanum, with an outer edging of Saxifraga
cristata ; this bed also was very fine and effective. Another bed had a broad band
of Lantana fabiola in the centre, next this was Plumbago capensis, next this a
double line of Sempervivum Californicum as an edging. Mr Gibson thinks that
if Plumbago capensis and Lantana ne plus ultra could be grown mingled together,
the effect would be very fine indeed. Next came a splendid bed of Canna
rubro-caulis, edged with Centaurea ragusina. This combination was very fine
indeed, the dark leaves of the Canna contrasting so well with the silvery foliage
of the Centaurea. Equally effective was a large and long oval-shaped bed of
Canna Bihorelli, with deep dark foliage, and blooming profusely, throwing spikes
of orange-maroon flowers as showy as a Gladiolus — a fine species for conservatory
decoration in the Bummer. This bed was carpeted with Sweet Alyssum, then a

1870.] NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH. 35

line of Pelargonium Golden Fleece, with an outer edging formed of a double
row of Sempervivum Californicum. Then came a circular bed, the centre filled
with the old form of Erythrina crista-galli, edged with E. rubella, with rich dark-
crimson flowers, very fine ; round this a good dark Heliotrope, and edged with
Molinia ccerulea variegata, a silvery variegated grass. Near this were some plants
of the double-blossomed Pomegranate, but not so effective as the siDgle variety ;
and a bed, the centre formed of Hibiscus sinensis rosea splendida, also pluuged in
pots, flowers very large and showy, but requiring a hot dry summer to drive it
into bloom; and a carpet of a dwarf double-white Balsam, edged with Bull's
Serena, a very pretty pink-flowering Zonal Pelargonium, with large and showy
trusses, very fine ; and an outer edging of Golden-Chain Pelargonium. Then
came a splendid foliaged bed ; the centre had some huge Indian-rubber plants ;
round this Aralia papyrifera, and a carpet of Aralia Sieboldi, and Canna expansa,
a very dwarf-growing dark-foliaged species — these to hide the nakedness of the
stems of the Ficus ; round these was an edging of Hedera multi-maculata, a good
variegated Ivy, the leaves blotched and striped with silver. This bed will be
clothed in foliage during winter, as the Aralia will gradually fill out and occupy
the space of the bed. Near this were two magnificent beds of Cannas ; one was
a huge long oval-shaped bed of C. Peruviana, edged with C. expansa, and a line
of a dwarf silver-striped Ivy beneath. C. Peruviana bad soft orange-red flowers,
and had occupied this place for four years past without removal. It was a
grand lofty mass, and will stand for five years, when the bed becomes exhausted.
The Canna throws such a mass of roots that the bed requires well mulching with
strong manure every two years, and each year some 3 inches of good manure is
placed on the bed; and yet, with this liberal treatment, five years is as long as a
bed will last in good condition. The other bed had a centre of C. annsei, the
tallest-growing of all. From the ground to the apex of the flower-stalks some
of the plants were fully 10 feet in height, and one reached 11 feet; this produces
deep buff flowers, and was edged with C. nigricans, a capital dark-foliaged kind,
and thought to be an improvement on C. expansa ; round this, Golden-Chain
Pelargonium in front, Alternanthera paronychioides, and an edging of Veronica
incana.

But further details — and there are yet some very interesting features to be
described — must be reserved for our next number.

NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH.

This is the season for new Chrysanthemums, and Messrs Salter & Son
of Hammersmith have a fine lot of new flowers, which will be noticed
very shortly. It may be recorded here that one of their new Jap-
anese varieties, named Saltan, received a first-class certificate. The
flowers are formed of clusters of broad ribbon-like bright lilac-rose
florets, and it is one of those fine flowers that are so well adapted for
conservatory decoration at this season of the year.

In a most interesting group of Orchids and other flowering-plants,
exhibited by Messrs Veitch & Sons at the meeting of the Eoyal Horti-
cultural Society on November 16, was an example of Oncidium Eux-

36 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

anthinum, a new Brazilian species imported by the exhibitors. It
has the habit of O. bifolium, and was thought by some to be inferior
to it. It was ultimately awarded a first-class certificate. In this
group were such fine things as the brilliant yellow-flowering Oncidium
Rogersi, really more striking in hue than the larger and nobler form
of Oncidium macranthum hastiferum; Dendrobium bigibbum, a rare
and very beautiful species ; and some small plants of Aphelandra aur-
antiaca Roezlii, with flowers of a showy deep scarlet hue. Mr Bull
also sent a group of plants, among which was a capital example of
Litobrochia undulata, an elegant and robust-habited Fern, that obtained
a second-class certificate some time since, but on this occasion was so
much improved in appearance as to warrant a first-class certificate.
Mr Linden also sent a group of plants from Brussels. Among them was
Maxillaria splendens, a white species, said by Mr Bateman to have
flowered in this instance for the first time in Europe. It was in the
way of M. venusta, but with stouter top petals, which, together
with the sepals, were white, the lip bright orange, with the edges tipped
with rose. In this group was a flowering-plant of Oncidium macran-
thum hastiferum, but not so finely developed as the form of it in the
possession of Lord Londesborough. A first-class certificate was awarded
to Mr Green, gardener to W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., for Siphocam-
pylus Humboldtiana, a stove-plant allied to the Lobelia that is said
to be always in bloom, but must be kept in a damp atmosphere or it
will lose its leaves. The flowers were of a deep blood-crimson hue.
Mr B. S. Williams also contributed a good group of plants. Among
them was Masdevallia tovarensis, a pure white form, thought to be
identical with M. Candida, recently exhibited by Messrs Veitch &
Sons. A first-class certificate was awarded to it conditionally with its
proving to be distinct from M. Candida. In Mr Williams's group was
also a good specimen of the fine Cymbidium Mastersi superbum. An
example of Sarcanthus bigibbum was also exhibited by Mr Marshall,
gardener to W. Marshall, Esq., and awarded a first-class certificate. It
has lemon-coloured petals, and a white and orange lip.

Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing contributed a group of seedling
bedding Pelargoniums of unusually fine promise : two especially stood
out with marked distinctness from the rest — namely, George Peabody,
with large and striking vivid orange-crimson flowers of the finest form
and substance, a novel hue of colour, notwithstanding the number of
flowers classed as partaking of crimson hues ; and Pink Queen, deep
rosy pink, very fine and distinct. Possibly the lateness of the season
might have had something to do with intensifying the colours of these
fine flowers ; it was therefore requested that they be sent again next
season.

1870.] PROTECTION FOR WALL FRUIT-TREES. 37

flowering

From the Society's Gardens at Chiswick came large
branches of Dahlia Imperialis, bloomed in one of the houses at Chis
wick by Mr Barron. It was awarded a first-class certificate as a decora
tive plant for the conservatory. R. D.

PROTECTION FOR WALL FRUIT-TREES.

Fig. 1 represents a 12-foot wall, the canvas drawn a little way up.
a a a a we f-inch wrought-iron rods, which are hooked into an eye in
an iron bar projecting from the wall at the top, and fixed at the bottom
by means of a screw-nail through its flattened end in a 3-inch-square

Fig. 1.

post, b b is a narrow piece of 1-inch deal attached by iron staples to
the rods, so that it easily moves up or down. To this rail, at c c inside
the canvas, are attached the ends of the ropes, which pass over four
pulleys, by which means the rail is quite easily drawn to the top, and
with it the canvas — both drawn up together like a curtain, being strung
upon the rods by rings about 18 inches apart. When drawn up, the cords
are twisted round hooks on the side of one of the posts (d) to keep it
in its place at the top, and prevent the ropes getting soiled. When
let down, a loop thrown over each end of the bottom rail secures the
canvas from flapping with the wind. The sheet of canvas represented
in the fig. is 20 feet long by 9 feet wide. It was found that 20 feet
was as long as could be conveniently worked. After binding the

38

THE GARDENER.

[Jan.

'ii:i:r;,

Fig. 2.

whole piece round with cotton tape, four pieces of the same, with rings
attached, are laid across, and stitched to the canvas, so as to run exactly

with the rods a a a a in fig.

1. Fig. 2 is intended to

— show how the tape is run
through the rings, the rings
being arranged at equal dis-
tances one from the other. The two outside pulleys are simply
screwed upon the tops of the boards in front of the coping,
with holes for the ropes to pass down inside ; but the two
centre ones are on a separate piece of plank, and project
slightly beyond the other board, it being necessary to have
the ropes outside. At the point where two pieces of canvas
meet, instead of the usual post for each rod, one post 6
inches broad is put in, and the rods are placed so that there
may be room for the ends of the rails to pass each other when
working them (fig. 3).
Here I have given you, in as few words as possible, the mode of
protection tried here for the first time last spring. I cannot, however,
place it before your readers without acknowledging that it is not
faultless. It will be readily perceived by some that the canvas, thus
drawn up in a bundle of loose folds at the top, will shade at least 18
inches of the top of the wall, and that its folds will be apt to be

Fig. 3.

dashed against the branches by the wind, and be in danger of knocking
off the buds. I think it would be an improvement, when some shade

i87o.]

TRAVELLING NOTES.

39

from bright sunshine is necessary, if the board at the top were re-
moved, to cause a circulation of air between the canvas and the wall.
I haVe sketched fig. 4 to show how these evils may be remedied.
Instead of the canvas falling from the top, according to the plan, its
proper resting-place should be at the bottom. Instead of nailing
the canvas to the front of the coping-board, it may be nailed to a
similar rail as b b, fig. 1, and the ropes attached to it instead of
to the lower one. By having the canvas at bottom, it is removed
farther from the wall ; and owing to the direction of the sun's rays,
very little of the bottom of the wall will be shaded, and, besides,
the folds of the canvas will still be at liberty to play with the
breeze, to dry it when let down wet (one of its great advantages).
To set the board at liberty, I think it would not be a very difficult
matter to have the pulleys
supported on projecting iron
plates (fig. 5), with good
strong supports under them.
The boards might be set on
hinges at the front of the
coping, and worked up and
down by a small pulley fixed
into the stone coping, with a

hole for the rope to pass down close by the wall. I have tried to show
at fig. 5 that the pulleys now in use are closed in over the top, so that
the ropes cannot get out of their place if left hanging loose. I have no
hesitation in saying that frigi domo is the best material for this purpose.

E, 1., G. P.

Fig. 5.

TRAVELLING NOTES ON GARDENS IN THE
MIDLAND COUNTIES.

(Continued from page 513 of 1869.)

Viewed as a whole, the scenery around Eastnor Castle possesses a greater
variety of aspect than is usually to be met with in places of a similar character.
Nature has done much here, and art has stepped in to give the finishing stroke.
The want of space does not permit me to individualise. I can only notice
cursorily a few of the leading features, and these of the simplest kind. We have
here a constant succession of hills of varying altitudes, in different directions, and
several miles in extent; some in the distance appearing to overlap each other —
while, again, some are standing out as distinct objects, as if thrown off during a
subterranean convulsion.

So great an irregularity of surface produces a rapid succession of parts, and
although the transition is quick, often violent, the contour is graceful, so that

40 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

one may look and look again without fatiguing the eye or oppressing the mind.
But after what has been said, we cannot evade tlie fact, that all that is graud in
the composition is not due solely to the physical features of the ground; much has
been done by judiciously arranging the plantations, whose boundaries follow the
lines designed by nature, and, never formal, is always easy.

Unfortunately the kitchen-garden, although situated 300 feet above the sea-
level, is comparatively low, a circumstance which Mr Coleman exceedingly regrets,
as he says, and with truth, that the spring frosts settle in such a position with
more force, and are of longer duration, than on higher ground. Hence early
vegetables and fruit-tree blossoms are destroyed, while in gardens of a greater
altitude the effect is hardly felt. I observed that in most cases the garden walls
are not high enough to give the trees sufficient extension. To economise in this
direction is certainly a mistake, and should be studiously avoided, as under a
cramping system the knife must be freely used to confine the branches within
their allotted space, which rather increases than weakens vitality, and so year by
year produces an endless and unnecessary supply of wood.

The collection of hardy fruit is extensive, containing a large number of the best
varieties, and Mr Coleman takes a deep interest in pomological pursuits. How-
ever enthusiastic he may be in this direction, the situation possesses unconquer-
able drawbacks, over which the most active and intelligent mind has little or no
control. Added to the objections I have slightly noticed, the garden soil is by
no means well adapted either for fruit or vegetable culture. The surface, although
friable and kindly looking, is by no means congenial, owing to a continued excess
of water. The substratum is a stiff marl, or rather it may be called a clay
bottom, which could be greatly improved by draining, but there is not a sufficient
height to produce an active discharge. The glass erections are numerous, and
for the most part well adapted to the purpose for which they are intended ; and
especial meution should be made of two peach-houses, each 82 feet long and
about the usual width. Mr Coleman forms his tree-borders of calcareous loam,
which, he says, is the real cultural secret, and to his opinion I give an unqualified
assent. Next I would notice a span-roofed vinery 72 feet long by 20 feet wide,
exclusively occupied with a Black Hamburg Vine. This is not the place to dis-
cuss the merits or demerits of what are now known as the extended or restricted
systems of Vine-culture. "Were I to state my own convictions, I would decidedly
advocate moderate restriction — that is, I would only permit two leading shoots —
not that I believe such a method is of itself calculated to produce first-class Grapes,
but, other things being equal, I feel satisfied that a greater weight of fruit, larger
bunches and berries, can be produced, than by allowing a Vine to ramble unre-
stricted.

The Vine under consideration has been planted at least fifty years, and at this
age does not show the least sign of decrepitude — is as vigorous, as many, and
much more so than some a few years old. " There can be no doubt," observes
Mr Coleman, "that the roots have passed beyond the limits of the garden,
and are luxuriatiug in some agreeable place," as the surrounding soil is by no
means qualified to support such vigorous growth.

The Vine was introduced at the end of the house, and conducted along the
apex of the roof. From this principal and secondary shoots are trained down-
wards on each side. The bunches were of a medium size, the berries large, and
the colour perfect. There are, as among other Grapes, such as the White Muscat,
several varieties, and the Hamburg offers no exception. This is said to be a
superior kind of the latter ; but from what I could see of its character, I strongly
suspect it to be the Frankenthal, by its rounded oblate berries.

1S70.] TRAVELLING NOTES. 41

I now pass on to notice as succinctly as possible what may be called a house of
general accommodation, of large dimensions, which is used during summer as a
vinery, where heavy crops of Grapes are annually produced of excellent quality,
and as a repository during winter for plants for out-of-door decoration. Space does
not admit of an individual notice, so I shall only mention a few of the most pro-
minent objects. We have first to deal with a pair of magnificent Dicksonia
Antarctica, straight stems over 12 feet high and 26 inches in circumference at the
base, carrying a magnificent head of healthy fronds. Beautiful as this Fern is in
all its stages of growth, it must be seen as a large plant to be thoroughly appreci-
ated. It was purchased, Mr Coleman told me, from Messrs James Veitch &
Sons ; said to be the largest specimens that these gentlemen have ever intro-
duced. There are also two splendid plants of Seaforthia elegans in the best
possible condition, and both were grand objects.

The other inmates consisted chiefly of Araucaria excelsa and A. Brasiliana, Ceph-
alotaxus drupacea, Thuja Doniana, Dammara Brownii, Dacrydium cupressi-
num, Santolina chamse-cyparissus, Callitris quadrivalvis, Chamserops excelsa,
Clethra arborea, Alalia Sieboldi, very large specimens of variegated Aloe?,
pyramidal Ivies and standard Fuchsias. I had almost forgotten to mention that
this house is planted exclusively with the Black Hamburg Vine, and produces
yearly 3 cwt. of superior Grapes.

Passing over very many houses possessing but little interest, as the fruit had
been consumed, I reached the Pine-stoves, which contain a selected collection of
the best varieties suitable for summer and winter use, such as the Smooth-leaved
Cayenne, Black Jamaica, Charlotte Rothschild, different varieties of the Queen,
and a few plants of Black Prince. Mr Coleman says the latter kind makes a fine
appearance on the dinner or exhibition tables, owing to its large size, but he does
not approve much of the quality.

No great stretch of memory is required to remember the time when Pine-
cultivators set it down as an incontrovertible fact, that very large pots (often 18
inches), and a corresponding size of plants, were the only requisites necessary to
produce large fruit. The maturation of the vegetable juices was but little thought
of, or perhaps little understood. But happily such a system has now few advo-
cates; a greater knowledge of essential requirements is now abroad. Our best
cultivators have discovered that better fruit can be produced from pots not
exceeding 12 inches in diameter. Whether Mr Coleman has followed the teach-
ing of others, or has intuitively taught himself, I know not, but this much I can
say conscientiously, that his plauts were excellent specimens of cultivation.

Omitting much of interest, I now moved on to the Pinetum and pleasure-
grounds, which are, after all, the grand features of the place, especially to those
who are admirers of Couiferse and hardy trees and shrubs.

I had intended to compress within the limits of this paper the substance of
my notes, but find that enough matter remains to form the subject of another
communication.
Tortworth Court. Alexander Cramb.

42 THE GARDENER. UAN-

LIVERPOOL CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW.

Chrysanthemum Exhibitions are by no means uncommon nowadays, for, in addi-
tion to the one now being noticed, a large oue is held at Bristol, and then in the
London district there is the old Stoke-Newington Society — an association to
which the present position of the Chrysanthemum owes much — besides several
others of less reputation, though all doing good service in the cause of floriculture ;
and there are in addition the admirable exhibitions made by Messrs Salter & Son,
at Hammersmith, and Mr A. Forsyth, at Stoke-Newington (one at the west of
London, aud the other at the north-east side), growers whose names are household
words with the exhibitors of Chrysauthemums all over the United Kingdom.
For the rich quality aud high development of the flowers, Stoke-Newington stands
pre-eminent ; and it is generally admitted that on the occasion of the annual exhi-
bition in November last, the Chrysanthemum blooms were never seen finer. For
extent, in all probability, Liverpool leads the way; and in regard to that great and
essential result which does not always crown the efforts of the best and most zeal-
ous committees — success — Liverpool wears the conqueror's crown. An autumn
exhibition at Liverpool means the magnificent hall of St George's, in Lime Street,
filled with plants and fruit, and the hall thronged with company the whole day
through, and resulting in a large profit to the Committee. St George's Hall at
eight o'clock in the evening, when the full glare of the gaslight brings out distinct
and clear the smallest object, and a crowd so dense that sometimes any move-
ment in the huge mass of humanity gathered between the tables and in the
galleries is scarcely perceptible — and delicious music adds its pure enjoyment to
the scene, — that is a sight well worth looking on. Ah ! it is a poor spirit that
can look upon a scene like that unmoved, whatever may be the ruliug motives
operating to bring such a company together.

Touching the Liverpool Show, let us hope that the day is not far distant when
we shall see the last of such hideously-formal and unnaturally-trained plants of
Chrysanthemums as those staged at the last show. There is a layer of green
leaves almost as smooth as a lawn, so closely are the branches tied down to flat
wire trellises, overlaid by a layer of flowers, giving a regular and unbroken surface,
and looking like floral card-tables. What twisting and torturing processes must
be adopted to accomplish this ! what manoeuvring must be required, and all to
secure something as unlike nature as can possibly be ! All that natural elegance
of the plant is suppressed, as if it were a thing foreign to it, and not one to be
developed with all the skill of the grower. In our next number we will endea-
vour to show, by a reference to what has been most worthily done during the
season by a most successful grower, that Chrysanthemums can be cultivated in
the form of specimen plants with only the aid of a few upright sticks to support
the plant in a natural and easy manner. The specimen plants were staged all
round the sides of St George's Hall on two broad shelves, one above the other,
nicely covered with green baize, and in size they averaged from a diameter of 2
feet to huge examples fully 6 and 7 feet in diameter. There were to be seen
none of the magnificent incurved flowers similar to those at Mr Salter's, at Ham-
mersmith ; the sorts used are invariably the reflexed flowers, that do not fold their
petals over towards the centre in the form of a half-ball. Cut blooms were not
so fine as they are always seen at the Stoke-Newington Show, but we would be
led to suppose that more attention is paid to the cultivation of plants. The best
eighteen, shown by Mr R. Foster, gardener to S. H. Thompson, Esq., consisted of
Lady Slade, Jardin des Plantes, Fingal, Empress of India, Bronze Jardindes Plantes,

1870.] LIVERPOOL CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW. 43

Prince Alfred, Guernsey STuggett, Isabella Bott, a charming hue of delicate pink,
Eev. J. Dix, Princess of "Wales, Princess Beatrice, Dr Brock, Mrs Halliburton,
Alarm, General Bainbrigge, Queen of Whites, Lady Talfourd, and Virgin Queen.
The best twelve also came from Mr Foster ; and the best six from Mr M' Hardy,
gardener to G. "W. Bateson, Esq., who had Nil Desperandum, Jardin des Plantes,
Eve, Lady Harding, Sir Stafford Carey, and Cherub.

Now what was particularly wanted at this Exhibition was fine big ornamental
and variegated foliaged plants — Tree-Ferns, &c. — to relieve the sameness that
prevailed, and the dwarfed appearance of the small plants. Along the body of
the Hall were placed three long tables. If the centre table had had a bank of
large plants nicely arranged, instead of the fruit, it would have been a great
improvement in the appearance of the Show. Surely, if prizes were offered for
them, there are plenty of big plants that could be produced in competition for
such prizes. Some good specimens of Salvia splendens, Plumbago rosea, and
suchlike, would have done admirable service on this occasion, especially the
former by night. What is really required is, that some of the Chrysanthemum
classes be struck out, and prizes offered for groups of plants, as just suggested.
The Committee has no lack of funds, and cannot proffer the consideration of
poverty. Poinsettias were nicely done, and by night the blood-crimson florets
(in every case grandly coloured) were particularly vivid. The best specimens
were dwarf, the stems being twisted round some short stakes, and each had
three bunches of coloured leaf-flowers. There were plenty of standard and
pyramidal-trained plants of Mignonette, somewhat weakly-looking, as might be
expected at this season of the year, but promising to be very good by the spring
show. Ornamental-fruited plants — a capital idea — were represented by the excel-
lent and useful forms of Weatherill's Hybrid Solanums, Skitumia Japonica, and
Rivinia humilis, very good as a beginning, but surely capable of being extended.
Primulas were pretty, though mainly confined to the pyramid style of growth,
but the best plants were of the ordinary type ; and pans of the early single Roman
Hyacinth, twelve bulbs in each, were nicely done, and largely shown.

The show of fruit was very good, particularly Apples and Pears ; and good and
well-known cultivators like Mr Hill, of Keele Hall Gardens, thought the show of
the latter the finest they had ever seen. A group of some eighteen Pine-apples,
shown in two classes, contained a splendid Charlotte Rothschild from Mr Ward
of Bishop-Stortford, weighing 9\ lb. Of Grapes, Black Alicante, Trebbiano, and
Lady Downes were very well shown ; and Mr Tyerman, of the Botanic Gardens,
exhibited a basket of Mrs Pince, sent from Cornwall, which had been grown
in a vinery without heat, to show that it will colour as readily as the Black
Hamburg under the same circumstances.

It was estimated that some 600 dishes of fruit were staged on this occasion,
Pears and Apples largely preponderating. The tug of war (and it was a sharp
tug, and gave the judges something to do) was in the class for eight dishes of
dessert Pears, and fifteen competitors entered the lists. The 1st prize went to
Mr Brown, gardener to Colonel Biddulph, Chirk Castle, who had splendid ex-
amples of Crassane, Urbaniste, Baronne de Mello, Marie Louise, Beurre Diel,
Napoleon, Beurre d'Anjou, and Beurre d'Aremberg. Mr Brown staged another
collection in this class which was awarded an extra prize. The sorts were Nou-
veau Porteau, Napoleon, Beurre Diel, Marie Louise, Glout Morceau, Beurre
Ranee, Urbaniste, and Beurre d'Anjou. Mr Auchterlonie, gardener to Mrs
Harvey, was 2d with fine fruits of Baronne de Mello, Napoleon, Glout Morceau,
Hacon's Incomparable, Beurre Clairgeau, Beurre Diel, Brown Beurre, and Marie
Louise. Comte de Flandres, Easter Beurre, and Pi'ince Albert were the only vari-

44 THE GARDENER. [Jan.

eties in the 3d prize collection differing from the foregoing. Three extra prizes
were awarded in this class. This will give some idea of the closeness of the com-
petition. The best four dishes of Pears comprised Beurre Diel, Marie Louise,
Easter Beurrd, and Doyenne du Cornice. They came from Mr Lowndes, gardener to
S. S. Parker, Esq., and were a fine lot ; in this class there were fourteen competitors.
In the class for a single dish of the best-flavoured Pear, there were twenty-seven
dishes staged. The best and second best were Doyenne du Cornice, the third Marie
Louise. Thompson's Pear was also of fine flavour. The best six dishes of dessert
Apples, and there were thirteen collections, consisted of Bess Pool, Ribston Pip-
pin, Cockle Pippin, King of Pippins, Winter Strawberry, and Blenheim Orange.
These were also shown by Mr Brown. The second best group had Ribston Pip-
pin, Court Peuduplat, Orange Pearmain, Newtown Pippin, Blenheim Orange, and
Melon Apple. Mr Orr, gardener to H. Peirce, Esq., who was second with the
6ix dishes, was placed first with three dishes, having Ribston, Newtown, and King
of Pippins. Ribston Pippin was placed first and third in the class for the best dish
of dessert Apples, and Blenheim Orange second. Culinary Apples were really
grand. There were ten collections of eight dishes. The best lot, as well as the
best four dishes, came from Mr Manderson, gardener to H. R. H. Jones, Esq.,
who had in the first instance St Saveur, Alfriston, King Apple, London Pippin,
Small's Admirable, Mere de Menage, Winter Hawthornden, and Bedfordshire
Foundling. The four dishes consisted of Mere de Menage, Alfriston, Winter
Hawthornden, and King. The best single dish came from Mr Miles, gardener to
Lord Carrington, Wycombe Abbey — splendid examples of Mere de Menage. Mr
Brown was 2d with Alfriston, and Mr Manderson 3d with King.

The November meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society was the means of
bringing together a small but interesting exhibition of Chrysanthemums. It
was also the occasion of the debut of a new exhibitor, Mr J. James, gardener to
W. F.Watson, Esq., Isleworth, near London, who had some plants most superbly
flowered, and grown on the old-fashioned upright method, which, though rather
tall, were furnished with fine healthy foliage. The class was for four large-flower-
ing Chrysanthemums, Mr James being placed first with Empress of India, Jardin
des Plantes, Mrs G. Rundle, and Lady Talfourd, the flowers of great size, and beauti-
fully incurved. The second lot were nicely-grown plants, trained in a somewhat
globular fashion, and had plenty of small flowers. The sorts were Prince of
Wales, Lady Hardinge, Alma, and Golden Christine. The third lot were of a
like character, but not quite so good. Mr Forsyth of Stoke-Newington — the
Salter of the northern district of London — was first with four good plants of Pom-
pone Chrysanthemums, the sorts being Andromeda, Golden Aurore, Bob, and
Sainte Thais. The next lot, from Mr Rowe, were all anemone-flowered varieties,
the plants large and well done, but of a great sameness of character — viz., Miss
NightiDgale, Antonius, Marguerite de Wildemar, and Mon. Astie. There were also
classes for twelve and six cut blooms. The best twelve came from Mr Forsyth, who
had nicely-fiuished examples of Oliver Cromwell, Golden Beverley, Princess Beat-
rice, Princess Teck, General Slade, Mrs Heale, Prince of Wales, Lady Hardinge,
Rev. Joshua Dix, Princess of Wales, John Salter, Isabella Bott. Mr Rowe had
the best lot of six cut blooms, consisting of Empress of India, a very large white
variety, Prince Alfred, Lady Hardinge, Queen of England, John Salter, and
Jardin des Plantes. There was a capital competition, and, generally speaking, the
flowers were pretty good. In addition, Mr Salter contributed a group of new
varieties that will be more particularly referred to in a future number.

1870.] REVIEWS. 45

THE ROYAL CALEDONIAN HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of this Society was held in the Music Hall, George Street,
Edinburgh, on the 2d of last month, when there was a large attendance of mem-
bers. Mr Thomson, Dalkeith Park, in the chair. Mr Methven, the Treasurer,
read over the financial report for the year, which showed that, notwithstanding
the heavy expenditure caused by the Great International Exhibition, the Society
had added to its reserve fund something like £200. The accounts having been
previously audited by Mr Alexander, of the firm of Dickson & Co., were passed
unanimously; and the Treasurer then resigned his position in connection with
the Society. The name of another gentleman was mentioned as a suitable suc-
cessor to Mr Methven, but as he was unknown to the majority of the members,
it was agreed to adjourn the meeting for a week, to meet in the same place. At
this meeting, Daniel Smith, Esq., W.S., in the chair, Patrick Neil Fraser, Esq.,
Canonmills Lodge, was proposed and elected to the office of treasurer by accla-
mation, as a gentleman well known for his love of horticulture, and held in high
esteem by all who know him.

A vote of thanks to the chairman and the other office-bearers of the Society
terminated the business of the meeting.

TEMPLE GARDENS.

In accordance with established custom, the gates of these gardens are once
more thrown open to the public, and are daily thronged with thousands of visitors.
The display provided by Mr Broome in the Inner Temple far exceeds that of
former years, both in the open borders and under cover. The long border, now
temporarily sheltered with mats and glass-light*3, is a complete mass of flowers of
extra fine quality ; and the splendid beds of pompone varieties by the side of the
terrace-walk were, when we saw them, bristling with buds, and by this time are
sheeted with bloom. The three Leicester vases by the side of the walk are also
filled with pompone varieties, and have a charming appearance.

The display in the gardens of the Middle Temple is a^o above the average with
respect to the health of the plants and the quality of the flowers, but scarcely so
extensive as in former years. The long border of large-flowering kinds, and the
two grand beds of pompones at the bottom of the garden, are especially deserving
attention ; but we are bound to refrain from giving a list of the best varieties for
want of space. — Gardeners' Magazine.

REVIEWS.

The Parks, Open Spaces, and Thoroughfares of London. By Alexander
M'Kenzie, landscape-gardener. London : Waterlow & Sons, London Wall.

In a very readable pamphlet of twenty-two pages Mr M'Kenzie discusses this
question. In common with Mr William Robinson and others, he deems the
subject to be of great importance at the present moment, and he brings to the

4G THE GARDENER. [Jan.

discussion of the question undoubted originality, keen intelligence, and a practical
observation. He is very severe on some of the attempts at ornamental gardening
in the London parks, and says, on p. G : "Of the attempts at landscape and orna-
mental gardening lately made in Hyde Park it is impossible to speak in language
too severe. The extravagant system of attempting to convert our parks into
sub-tropical gardens, with luxuriant parterres of flowers, cannot be too strongly
condemned. Neither the climate nor the soil are such as to do justice to the
former, and a display of choice spring bulbs, succeeded by tender plants and
expensive gardening, is a system which even a wealthy nobleman would not for
a moment tolerate in his own park. In all public parks there should be some
spots dedicated to flora ; but, whilst these should be excellently kept, it is only
necessary that they should be of moderate extent. At present upwards of
100,000 plants are annually bedded out in Hyde Park. The most extraordinary
attempt at improvement, so called, in Hyde Park, is that which was carried out
last year on either side of Rotten Row, where money enough has been spent to
have insured infinitely better results. To the man of taste few things can be more
annoying, but for the amusement they excite, than the elaborate efforts of the
suburban labourer or mechanic, who, naturally 'fond of gardening,' but utterly
untaught and inexperienced, seeks to convert the few yards of ground adjoining
his cottage into an innate and fantastic jumble of brick rock-work, pebbles,
oyster-shells, and bits of glass, with miniature gravel-walks, and all kinds of
tender and hardy plants and flowers mixed together without the slightest per-
ception of their natural habits and requirements."

In this part of his pamphlet Mr M'Kenzie is emphatically destructive, and
scarcely one of the features of " modern gardening " lately introduced into Hyde
Park and elsewhere, finds favour in his eyes. He then goes on to make some
capital suggestions as to the ornamentation and beautifying of the common spaces
round London, which he would zealously preserve for public use ; and there
he would also provide opportunities for public recreations, such as gymnasiums,
water, cricket-grounds, &c. He would also abolish the monopoly that now affects
the gardens in the public squares in London, and throw them open to the poorer
classes ; and utilise the disused burial-grounds of the metropolis as places of
public resort and recreation. He also suggests new thoroughfares that might be
opened up, and advocates the embellishment of some of the great lines of com-
munication with the suburbs by planting lines of trees on either side, with seats
beneath them. The office of Chief Commissioner of Public Works should be no
longer a political office, subject to changes of Government, but a permanent ap-
pointment— an opinion with which we think few horticulturists, at least, would
be disposed to disagree.

Mr M'Kenzie advances his several positions clearly, boldly, and with much
force, and his pamphlet will amply repa}7 perusal.

The Gardener's Year-Book, Almanac, and Directory for 1870. By Robert
Hogg, LL.D. Journal of Horticulture Office, 171 Fleet Street, London.

This very useful gardening manual has reached the eleventh year of publication,
and still holds on its way as popular as ever. A closely-printed almanac of
some 160 pages is surely cheap at a shilling for the fund of information it
supplies to horticulturists alone, inclusive of carefully-prepared lists of new Fruits,
Plants, and Flowers of the year ; but, in addition, there is so much matter of gen-
eral importance that its value is considerably enhanced. We don't compare it
with other almanacs of a similar character ; we simply speak of it on its own merits,
and commend it as it deserves to be commended.

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 47

The Proprietors of the 'Journal of Horticulture' offer the following prize for
competition at the Show of the Royal Horticultural Society at Oxford in July
next — viz., Dessert of Fruits, unlimited as to quantity and kind, fit for the table,
and combining excellence of quality with taste in arrangement, £10. Open to
amateurs and gentlemen's gardeners only.

At the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, to be held on Tuesday the
21st December, the following prizes are offered — viz., By the Rev. George Kemp,
F.R.H.S., and Member of Fruit Committee, for the best winter dessert of Apples
and Pears, 3 dishes of each, £3 and £2.

We are informed that the prize of £5, 5s., offered by Lieut. -Colonel Scott,
R.E., Secretary, Royal Horticultural Society, for an Essay on the "Principles of
Floral Criticism," will be awarded on Wednesday, May 4. 1870, and not January
19, as previously announced.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Muscat of Alexandria Grapes. — At the meeting of the Fruit Committee of
the Royal Horticultural Society, held in November, Messrs H. Lane & Son,
Berkhampstead, exhibited some splendid examples of Muscat of Alexandria Grapes,
which were ripe in June last, and were still plump in appearance, of fine size,
and fresh-looking. The flavour was exquisite, and the Committee awarded Messrs
Lane & Son a Special Certificate for their production.

Viola Cornuta, var. Perfection. — An attempt has been made to identify
this fine new Viola, recently awarded a First-Class Certificate at one of the
meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society, with what was known as "Beaton's
Good Gracious Pansy," or the old but worthless Double Purple variety. This
was lost sight of for some time, but in 1862 was sent out by Messrs Carter & Co.
under the name of Princess Alexandra, and was tried for bedding purposes, and
universally condemned. It had a weedy habit and uncouth unattractive double
flowers, altogether destitute of beauty. It will be found figured in the 'Florist and
Pomologist ' for 1862.

Beaconsfield Kidney Potato. — This is a fine new variety, and was recently
exhibited by Mr Turner, Slough, and received from the Royal Horticultural
Society a First-Class Certificate. It has a smooth-skinned tuber of handsome
shape, is said to be a medium early kind, and very prolific ; and when cooked and
tasted, the quality was found to be first-rate.

Pitmaston Duchesse d'Angouleme Pear. — Some very fine examples of this
Pear have been exhibited by Mr Fowle, gardener to Sir Henry Mildmay, Bart.,
Dogmersfield Park, Hants, which were gathered from a tree planted against a
west wall in February last. The fruit has a somewhat lengthened tapering
appearance, the skin of a deep yellow colour, and somewhat smouth. It was
favourably mentioned.

48 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 1870.

HTAdNTHS in Glasses (A Subscriber).— Take the bulbs from the glasses,
thoroughly cleanse both the roots and the interior of the glasses with pure water,
and then place a few small pieces of charcoal in each glass, and fill them with
fresh soft water, and replace the bulbs. Examine them every other day to ascer-
tain if the water has become tainted, and if so, cleanse and change again — if not
so, let well alone.

Arcades Ambo (Ignoramus). — A thoroughly friendly and good-natured saying,
well meant and as heartily appreciated. Freely translated, it signifies "both
Arcadians," and is quoted from Virgil. The Arcadians were all peculiarly clever
in Binging, hence the saying applies primarily to singers, but it is often transferred
to rival performers in any art or business, and though thought generally to
carry with it a touch of sarcasm, yet is not so intended in the paragraph from
which you quote.

Bee-Keeping (Inquirer). — Your suggestions shall receive careful consideration.
"We have just received an interesting paper entitled " A Half-Hour on Bees," pre-
pared for, and read by invitation at one of the meetings of, the Hanwell (Middlesex)
"Penny Readings," by " A Hanwell Bee-Master. " We hope to give it in our next
issue.

' Diseased Pelargonium - Leaf. — Your Pelargonium - leaf was forwarded to
that well-known authority "M. J. B.," who has expressed the opinion that it has
the appearance of being a case of common spotting, and one likely to have arisen
from the soil having been allowed to become too dry at some time or other,
by which many of the fine rootlets decayed, and in all probability were after-
wards gorged with water ; and this, added to an imperfect drainage, has no doubt
produced the decayed appearance of the leaf sent. Unfortunately the initials of
our correspondent were lost, but there is no doubt the reply will be recognised.

In answer to correspondent A. M. A., whether the gas-tar he had plastered over
his frame will kill the plants, I once had something similar : I got a pit built for
the protection of bedding-plants in winter and for growing Cucumbers in summer.
The walls and flues were built with gas-lime, which had a very strong smell of
gas. I was afraid of getting my plants destroyed, but, being forced by hard
weather, and having no other place for them, they were put in that day it was
finished. I was very careful in giving all the air that the weather would allow,
and I am happy to say that I did not lose a single plant ; indeed they grew strong
and healthy after they were taken out. I planted Cucumbers, and had an abun-
dant crop. It has been used as above for three year.*, and I never saw any ill
effect it had upon the plants ; but if A. M. A. still fears, let the tar be washed
over with hot lime, and that will remove the smell to a great extent.

Adam Renton.

THE

GARDENER.

FEBRUARY 1870.

THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND THE
HORTICULTURAL PRESS.

N" the 28th of December last, a communication bearing that
date, and signed by the Assistant-Secretary of the Royal
Horticultural Society of London, was addressed to Mr
Richard Dean, one of the Editors of the 'Gardener,'
wherein was contained the following suggestive passage : "I regret to
inform you that, in making the annual changes in the constitution
of the Floral Committee, your name was chosen as one of those
whom the Council were compelled to withdraw from that body." It
would be interesting to know the nature of the compulsion brought to
bear on the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society, so as to create a
necessity for the removal of the name of Mr Dean from the roll of the
Floral Committee ; and further, the readers of the ' Gardener' will not
fail to be struck by the singularity of the coincidence, that this act of
the Council takes place simultaneously with Mr Dean's appointment
as one of the Editors of the 'Gardener.'

Hitherto, and up to the last meeting of the Floral Committee in
1869, the changes in that body have been made as follows : the Secre-
tary read a list of attendances of each member during the year, then
the names of a few of the members whose attendance had been lowest
during that period were struck out, and other names substituted, it
being understood that the list of names so modified was to be sub-
mitted to the Council for their concurrence. Such a practice might be
open to objection, but it had the merit of being both above-board and
intelligible. On the 2d of October last, the Editors of the ' Gardeners'
Chronicle ' — and seeing that one of the Editors holds the position of

D

50 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

Floral Director of the Royal Horticultural Society, the passage
might fairly be considered as constituting a kind of semi-official declara-
tion— thus stated the principle which has usually governed removals
from, and appointments to, the Floral Committee : " It has been
customary — and we think it a proper custom, to make a slight
change annually, so as to admit some three or four new members ;
and in order that this may be done without injustice or invidious-
ness, we believe the plan of selection has been to strike off those
whose attendances have been fewest during the year." On Tues-
day, December 21st last, the Floral Committee met for the last time in
18G9, and, singular to state, no list of attendances of members during
the year was read as had been usual ; no mention was made of striking
off a single name in consequence of infrequent attendance ; a few
nominations were made ; and the Committee broke up, wondering why
the customary procedure was not followed, the majority of the mem-
bers of that body severely censuring such a state of things as involving
much personal uncertainty, not called for, and certainly not assuring.
The letter of the Assistant-Secretary, conveying to Mr Dean the noti-
fication of his expulsion from the Floral Committee, made no mention
of the reasons for the departure from the usual custom observed at the
last meeting of the Floral Committee in the year; and yet, with two
exceptions, Mr Dean had attended the whole of the meetings of the
Floral Committee at South Kensington during the year, and he
therefore could not have been dismissed for non-attendance ; hence the
necessity for departing from the customary rule, which regulated dis-
missals from the Floral Committee. An appeal was made by Mr Dean
to the Chairman of the Floral Committee, in order to learn the nature
of the reasons assigned for his removal from that body, and by that
functionary he was referred to the Council. The next step was to wait
on Colonel Scott, the Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society, in
the hope of gaining the information sought; but Colonel Scott stated that
he knew nothing of the matter, not having attended the meeting of the
Council on the 21st of December. On the 30th of December, Colonel
Scott wrote as follows : — " I find that the report of the Sub- Committee
appointed to consider the revision of the Floral Committee list was con-
sidered and approved by the Council at their last meeting, at which,
as I told you, I was not present. Had I been present, however, I could
not but have concurred at once in the propriety of receiving the recom-
mendations of a Sub-Committee of five gentlemen, of whom three were
members of the Council, and one of these three the President of the
Floral Committee." A postscript to this communication stated that
" the gentlemen who go off with you are Messrs Jackman, Ivery, and
Veitch." Now, in regard to these three gentlemen, it may be stated

1870.] ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 51

that during 1869 Mr Ivery was present at a few meetings of the
Committee, Messrs Jackman and J. G. Veitch at scarcely a single
meeting, if at one. There was therefore a fitness in the removal of
the names of these gentlemen from the roll of the body, but not in
the case of Mr Dean ; and yet the Council of the Royal Horticultural
Society withholds an answer to the reasonable inquiry — on what
principle has the name of Mr Dean been selected for special and un-
usual treatment in this matter 1

The members of the Sub-Committee present at the meeting of that
body when the annual changes in the constitution of the Floral Com-
mittee were agreed upon, were the Chairman and Secretary of the Floral
Committee and the Floral Director of the Society, and this meeting
was held previous to the meeting of the Floral Committee on the
21st of December last. Why to these functionaries should have been
intrusted at this particular juncture the duties properly belonging to,
and hitherto discharged by, the Floral Committee, certainly seems to
need explanation. There is every reason to believe that the Chair-
man of the Floral Committee had in his pocket, on the occasion of its
last meeting in 1869, a list of the members of that body, as revised
by the Sub-Committee, and it would be interesting to know why the
proposed changes were not laid before the Floral Committee, as had
hitherto been done ; but now that the object of the Sub-Committee
appears to have been the getting rid of one member of the Floral
Committee apparently personally obnoxious to them, the omission
is not to be wondered at. There is an ugly aspect to the business,
neither creditable to the Sub-Committee nor calculated to shed lustre
on the Council of the Society.

And this view of the subject, as contained in the last two sentences,
is strongly impressed on the minds of a large majority of the members
of the Floral Committee at the present moment. They feel they have
not been treated with much courtesy by those who, it would appear,
take upon themselves to advise the Council as to the removal or nomi-
nation of the members of that body ; and that such a mode of proceed-
ing as that exposed in the present instance can only end in doing great
injury, not only to the efficiency of the Committee, but to the Society
itself. Being men of spirit and honour, they have already taken a
decided and firm step in the way of manifesting their great dislike
of such questionable proceedings; and there is reason to believe prompt
measures will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such a scandal in
the future.

But let us be just to the Council. That body must not be held
morally responsible for all the actions of its officials. There are in that
body men of culture, position, and attainments ; men who love fair-

52 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

play — who are honourable, just, and upright. With deep regret be
it stated, these fair names can be sullied over with seeming wrong-
doing through the action of a Sub-Committee of the officials of the
Society, done in their name, and stamped with their approval. From
the occurrence which unfortunately casts a passing reflection on them,
they will learn something of the existence of an evil which has given
much cause for regret to many of the Society's best friends. Once
made aware of this by seeing in how unlovely a character it manifests
itself through its secret workings, the moment which shall witness its
effectual and permanent repression cannot be far distant.

Lastly, the public instinct will readily seize on the circumstance of
the expulsion from the Floral Committee at this particular time of one
of the Editors of the ' Gardener' as lending a confirmation to the charge
frequently brought against the Council of the Royal Horticultural
Society, that it favours certain horticultural journals to the hurt of
others. Such a consideration as this should have had due weight with
the Sub-Committee, but in their ill-judged haste they seemed to care
but little for the reputation of the Council, as they make that body
responsible for their act. If they are all we believe them to be,
men of honour and integrity, they will not hesitate to demand, at the
hands of the Sub-Committee, the nature of the reasons that induced
them so to comjjroniise the high character of the Council.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

The New Year has opened strangely, characterised by singular varia-
tions of weather — heavy rains, then hard stern frost, immediately
succeeded by a close foggy atmosphere and warm dull days; and then
violent raging storms of wind and rain, so wild and strong in their
terrible rage that destruction of life and property, alike on land and
at sea, has followed in their wake : and these, again, alternated by
balmy sunny days, as if spring had prematurely awakened to active
being ere the soft winds had whispered to her that her appointed
time was come.

With the close of the year two men of some standing among prac-
tical horticulturists passed away from our midst. One was Mr William
Perry,for many years with Messrs Thomas Rivers & Son at the Sawbridge-
worth Nurseries, and who was well known at the exhibitions of the
Royal Horticultural and Royal Botanic Societies as an excellent judge
of Roses. Painstaking, straightforward, and always kindly and cour-
teous in his demeanour, he was much respected in his particular walk

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 53

of life, and his death may be said to be the snapping asunder of one
of the links in the chain that binds the present of horticulture to what
belonged to it in the days that have passed away. A more notable
man was Mr William Barnes, of the Camden Nursery, Camberwell,
London, who died at the close of the year, well known, and as widely
respected and deplored, leaving behind him a reputation as a plant-
grower never perhaps surpassed and rarely equalled. Born in 1809>
in the county of Surrey, he might be said to have always belonged to
the London district — the scene of his greatest triumphs and his most
splendid successes. Like his father before him, he adopted the pro-
fession of a gardener when about nine or ten years of age — even then
he had made British plants his special study. From the ' Gardeners'
Chronicle ' we learn that " about three years later he left home and
came to London, where he was employed by Mr Moore, the then great
early fruit, plant, and vegetable grower, of the King's Road, Chelsea.
At this time Mr Moore's foreman and manager was William Barnes's
brother James, late of Bicton. In the year 1824, William Barnes
was under-gardener at the Earl of Onslow's, in Surrey, from which
place he went to the Messrs Young's nurseries at Epsom ; and from
there to Plastow Lodge, Bromley, where horticulture was then at its
zenith. Some three years later he was engaged as gardener to George
Ward Norman, Esq., where he soon began to carry out his ideas in
plant-growing. Although the place was small, with very little glass or
other convenience, he grew stove and greenhouse plants, Heaths, Azaleas,
and New Holland plants in general, to such perfection as had never been
seen, surpassing all the great plant-growers of the day, as may be seen
recorded in the ' Proceedings ' of the Horticultural Society of London.
The story of his triumphs in this department is thus recorded by his
old friend, Mr W. P. Ayres, in the ' Nottinghamshire Guardian : ' —

"The first time Mr Barnes ever exhibited was at Chiswick, when he came out
with a collection of fifty stove and greenhouse plant*, and took the first prize — the
first gold Knightian Medal, value £10, ever awarded by the Society. As a con-
trast to the enormous plants exhibited at the present time, we may say that Mr
Barnes conveyed his fifty plants in one van with one horse ! but, as an example
of the progress he made in plant-growing, we may state we have seen his collec-
tion when he required eight vans and sixteen horses to convey the same quantity
of plants. Cramped for means, having only five small houses (two of them filled
with Vines — one, which filled the larger house, the finest Muscat of Alexandria
Vine perhaps in Europe, being nearly two hundred years old, and still in vigorous
health)— the wonder was how Mr Barnes could produce such gorgeous collections,
especially as his excellent employer did not care about exhibiting, but would
rather have kept the plants at home. Thus the expenses of conveyance to shows,
and also of replenishing the collection of novelties, fell mainly upon Mr Barnes.
To go to Bromley Common in the exhibition season, say a few days before
one of the great shows, and from what you could see in the glass-houses you

54 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

would return with the conviction that • Barnes could not show at all.' Such has
been the avowal of scores ; but they did not go into the back aheda and Mushroom-
houses, neither did they explore the barns nor look under the Cedar trees upon
the lawn, where plants of rare excellence would be set out in the full light to
colour. These things, unless they were intimate friends, they did not see, and
hence concluded that Barnes had nothing to show. On one occasion, and the
last time Mr Barues showed a large collection at < hiswick, he had staged a superb
group of fifty stove or greenhouse plants in flower, not having a duplicate plant
of any kind. The first prize was given to his rival, because she had two plants
of this, two of that, and two of the other thing — facts which, with discriminating
judges, would have placed the collection incontestably second. Mr Barnes
returned home disgusted. On the following morning (Sunday), Mr Norman went
to him in the garden, and condoling with him for the wrong to which he had
been subjected, gave him, as a solatium, a cheque for £50. We see the tears in
our honest friend's eyes as he told us a few days afterwards of this act of consider-
ate kindness, and we mention it now, perhaps for the first time, as a public fact.
Never afterwards did Mr Barnes show the large collection at Chiswick, remarking
to us, ' I can take my own van, and clear £10 and my expenses ; while by showing
the large collection, if I gain the first prize, I am frequently a loser by the expenses.'
Shortly after this, when the want of the Bromley collections made a sad gap in
the shows at Chiswick, it was tauntingly asserted that those only abstained from
showing there who were sure of beiug beaten, pronouncing at the same time a grand
eulogium upon the Ealing Park plants. On the following Wednesday was the great
6how at the Royal Botanic Gardens, and Mr Barnes, to resent the taunt, took up the
gems of his collection — and they were gems — and beat the Chiswick prize collec-
tion with ease, — caustically retorting upon Dr Lindley, ' they are not good enough
for Chiswick, but they are good enough to beat the best you can get there.'"

As a nurseryman, Mr W. Barnes had proved successful, and his
nursery at Camberwell, though somewhat small and unpretending, was
well worthy a visit at all seasons of the year. As a judge, both at
the metropolitan and some of the leading provincial shows, his services
were much in request, and in the ' Journal of Horticulture' of January
G, the Rev. Mr Dombrain of Deal bears kindly testimony to his great
and special qualifications for his work. In private life he was much
respected; he was a good and just man, leading a simple unpretentious
life; sorely afflicted at times by a trying bronchial affection, and at
length, overcome by it, he was seen softly sinking down towards the
death that has removed him from us. " Cradled in its quiet deep,"
we leave him to that hallowed sleep, holding him to our hearts in
pleasant memories not soon to be effaced. He too was a strong link
binding our times to those which twenty years ago he made so famous,
and his death also weakens the hold of the past upon the active and pro-
gressive present. In the removal of a third, Mr John Sladden of Ash,
next Sandwich, floriculture loses one of its most devoted sons. He
has passed away just as the prime of life glides almost imperceptibly
into age. In the strength of his floricultural manhood, he identified
himself more closely with the florists of the midland districts rather

i87o.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 55

than with those of the south. He came prominently on the public scene
at the time of the establishment of 'Gossip of the Garden,' in 1856,
by <Iohn Edwards and E. S. Dodwell, and the first article of the first
number bore that signature which remained with • Gossip ' till it
ceased to exist in 1863 — A. S. H. ; and in the ' Florists' Guide/ which
succeeded ' Gossip ' for a brief season, his signature also appeared.
Though known to us by sight, we had no personal intercourse with
him, but he wrote like a man with genial kindly sympathies, and with
a heart full of regard for those attracted to the culture of flowers, like
himself. During the past two or three years he made the culture of
the Gladiolus his special study, and exhibited at the meetings of the
Royal Horticultural Society when opportunity served, and had suc-
ceeded in raising some very promising seedlings. May his memory,
like the flowers he loved, dispense a pleasant fragrance !

The schedule of prizes of the Grand National Horticultural Exhibi-
tion to be held at the Manchester Botanic Gardens, on the 3d of
June next, has just been issued. In addition to fourteen classes, in
which all the prizes are special gifts, there are seventy-three other classes
giving in the aggregate a sum of .£900 as prizes, independent of the
special classes. This is one of the most popular, as one of the best, meet-
ings of the year, though there seems to be a probability that the Manches-
ter gathering will not have in the future the magnificent plants belong-
ing to H. L. Micholls, Esq., by means of which Mr Baines has gained such
a high reputation as a successful grower, seeing that Mr Micholls has
recently removed from Manchester to the neighbourhood of London.

Mr W. Egerton Hubbard, jun. of Leonardslee, Horsham, has placed
at the disposal of the Royal Horticultural Society the sum of £8, of
which the sum of <£5 is to be given for the best ' Essay on the Manage-
ment of Cottage Gardens/ and a further sum of £3 for the best ' Essay
on Window Gardening.' These essays are to be sent in to the Secretary
of the Royal Horticultural Society on or before Wednesday the 16th
of February next. The object of these essays is thus stated by Mr
Hubbard: — "By putting together some plain directions in a form that
uneducated people can understand, to enable cottagers to make the
most of their gardens ; and it seems to me that hints as to the
best kinds of seeds, or the best paying vegetables and fruit-trees,
will be the most valuable part of the essay, but the main object will
be simplicity of language and clearness of expression." This informa-
tion is intended to be printed on cards, and placed in the hands of the
secretaries of cottage garden societies, &c., for distribution. We hope
that competent men — men with the special knowledge required for the
purpose — will be selected to examine the essays and make the awards.

56 THE GARDENER. |FEB-

HINTS FOR AMATEURS.— FEBRUARY.

It may not be out of place at this season to mention a few of the
most useful sorts of vegetables for the benefit of the inexperienced,
and others who have to make their choice from catalogues for the first
time. I would first remark that the descriptions generally given
are, I believe, done honestly, but as soil, culture, and situation make
such a difference in the quality and general appearance of some veget-
ables, seed sown from sample, and treated under various circum-
stances, can be made to assume entirely different habits. As an ex-
ample, Peas sown on poor, shallow, and light soil, may only attain
the height of 3 feet, with the straw weakly and pods small; but if
sown on deep, strong land, and allowed plenty of room, they might
grow to 5 or 6 feet. Out of many kinds (old and new) which we have
grown here, and seen elsewhere, the following sorts are favourites : —
Among broad Beans, Johnston's Wonder and Broad Windsor are good;
and Dwarf Fan, for filling up small borders, is useful. Beet, Sang's own
selected, if well thinned and not sown too early, is extra fine. Dewar's
is very handsome and free from fibre. Dell's or Osborn's is also good,
and has extra-fine foliage. Broccolis, I find, are very numerous under
different names, and difficult to get true. Among the best we have seen
are Walcheren, coming in from September to mid-winter. Snow's Su-
perb, Backhouse's Protecting, Knight's Protecting, Carter's Champion,
and Gordon's Protecting, ought to give a supply till the middle of June.
A kind we are growing this year named Lauder's Superb, late Goshen,
offers well : it seems very hardy, dwarf, and compact. Among Cauli-
flowers, early London, Stadtholder, and Walcheren are very good.
We fail to see any difference between the latter and Walcheren
Broccoli. Cabbage are very difficult to secure true ; Early York,
M'Ewan's, and Vanack are good. Carrots for early work ; French
Horn is the best ; James Scarlet and Red Surrey are good for general
use. In Celery, for fine flavour, dwarf habit, and hardy constitution,
Sandringham with us has outdistanced all others ; however, it is identi-
cal with the first sample we received of Turner's Incomparable. Years
have passed since then, and we have only seen that variety once during
that time. Ivery's Nonsuch Pink and Cole's Dwarf Red are always good
with us. Out of some eight or ten kinds of Cucumbers, Lord Kenyon's
and Highland Mary (Cuthil's) have borne the heaviest crops of fine
crisp fruits ; Telegraph, Pearson's Long Gun, and Cox's Volunteer are also
first-rate where good quality is valued. Leeks are now grown under
many names ; we found three kinds last year the same as Aytoun
Castle, which is a very good one. Good kinds of Lettuce are numer-
ous : among Cabbage kinds, Drumhead and All the Year Round are

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 57

very good. Bath Brown Cos and Paris White Cos are very useful
kinds. Onions : we tried fifteen or sixteen kinds last season on various
soils- and situations, and the two best for general use and keeping are
Danver's Yellow and James's Keeping. Reading is very good ; we have
grown Nuneham Park three seasons and find it good, but not equal to
some others. Giant Madeira is useful where size is the only object ;
it does not keep well : White Lisbon and Strasburg are suitable for
autumn sowing. Among the best Radishes are French Breakfast,
Olive Shape, and for summer use Red and White Turnip Radish still
hold their own. The best Savoys we have grown are, for first, Pan-
calier Joulin, Dwarf Green Curled for general crop, and Drumhead for
size. Turnip for first crop, old White Dutch ; for summer use, Snow-
ball : Red and White American Stone are very useful as late sorts. It
is very difficult to decide on varieties of Potatoes, and perhaps there
is no vegetable changes its character (when grown in various soils)
more than the Potato. Veitch's Ashleaf and Mona's Pride are
good among early Kidneys ; the latter is liable to come up blanky.
Smith's early Milky White and Dalmahoy are very good as first,
second, and third early round kinds. Fortyfold, when grown widely
apart on good dry soil, is still one of the best, and crowded on damp
ground it is one of the worst. The Pea crop is always an interesting
one. Among many which we gave a trial last season, Dillistone's Early,
Sangster's No. 1., and Little Gem (for borders, &c), are first-rate for early
work; Dickson's Favourite, Laxton's Prolific, Prince, and Supreme were
good seconds; M'Lean's Wonderful, Champion of England, and Veitch's
Perfection, are excellent on rich ground, sown thinly, and plenty of room
between the rows. Jaye's Conqueror we observed in the leading collec-
tion of vegetables at the late International Show held in Edinburgh,
and to all appearance it was the best Pea in the room. Some Peas we
have seen this season bearing excellent crops, but of very poor flavour.
In most gardens attention will soon be given to sowing a few seeds,
such as early Carrots, Radishes, Brown Cos Lettuce, Cauliflower, and
early Cabbage, — the last three under protection, such as handglasses,
hoops and mats, or in boxes of earth placed under glass. The two
first, to have a chance at all, must be kept from frost, covering and
uncovering when necessary. Where frames are at command, much
labour will be saved. A pinch of Kale, Brussels Sprouts, and Red Dutch
Cabbage may be sown : though spring sown, and smaller than that sown
in autumn, they are finer in quality. Beans and Peas may be sown
every three weeks in succession as required. In very small gardens
limited quantities only should be sown early, so that a regular succes-
sion may be kept up, to prevent a glut at one season and short-
coming at another. The sowing of Peas very wide apart (allowing the

58 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

rows to divide off, systematically, other crops) is now becoming very
general, as it is by far the most productive system, and the pods are
more easily picked. Beans may be sown from 2 J to 3 feet apart.
For small seeds, such as the Brassica tribe, the soil should be made
very fine and the drills shallow ; dry weather should be chosen for
sowing. A row of Parsley may be sown on an early spot, leaving a
good border for sowings to supply autumn and winter. If weather
is dry, and the soil in proper condition towards the end of the month,
Onions and Parsnips may be sown. Though they both will do well
later in the season, we do not like to lose any favourable opportunity.
For the Onions, drills drawn 9 inches to 1 foot apart, slightly covering
in the dry soil and thoroughly treading, will answer well. Parsnips
may be sown in drills 2 inches deep, and the rows may be from 15 to
1 8 inches apart. Make the surfaces over newly-sown seed smooth and
level with a rake, but at all times avoid treading on newly-sown ground
in wet weather. A sloping bank may be thrown up on which to sow
early seeds. Leeks may soon be sown in a box, but unless they are
wanted very early, a sowing on an early border will answer well enough.
Potatoes should be kept cool, but if they are sprouting it would be
well to plant them, and keep the tubers free from frost.

To keep a garden orderly and to make the best of it, all crops should
be arranged systematically, keeping each kind as much by themselves
as possible, avoiding small patches scattered through the garden, so as
to get the ground worked advantageously. Winter crops should be
kept together, and for croj>s which require sowing or planting in quick
succession, a breadth should be set aside. Salads and Spinach (where
ground is scarce) can always be sown between other growing crops, and
cleared off in time to do the latter justice. To clear ground at this
season, crops of Kale, Brussels Sprouts, &c, may be lifted, and have
their roots placed in soil behind a wall or hedge closely together. Celery
may also be lifted and placed in sand. Walks may be turned and
rolled down firmly, bringing forward all arrears as quickly as possible.

All tree planting, lifting, &c., left unfinished, should have attention
when weather will allow the work to be done. If protection (by canvas,
frigi-domo, or otherwise) is to be used for trees on walls, it should be
examined and got ready. There is much which might be done by retard-
ing fruit-blossoms ; and commencing early with protecting will do much
towards that end. Boards lapping over the top of the walls are of
great service in keeping the trees dry. If strong sun can be partially
kept off by thin material, the buds will expand slowly and be subjected
to less extremes of temperature. Apricots may be pruned soon, leav-
ing enough of wood to clothe the tree regularly, avoiding crowding.
All stunted and useless wood should be cut clean out, and shoots com-

1870.] GOLD AND BRONZE PELARGONIUMS. 59

ing out of the tree should not be left. Much cutting of Apricots is
liable to produce canker. Peaches, if very forward, may be pruned
towards the end of the month, cutting out all shoots which carried
fruit last year, leaving young ones to take their place, always choosing,
if possible, those from nearest the main branches. There need be no
hurry in nailing them up, as when they are close to the wall the buds
open rapidly.

Cuttings of bedding plants may be got in rapidly, using sandy soil,
carefully watering, allowing no damp to remain about the surfaces.
Shade from sun sufficiently to keep them from nagging. Cuttings
root more freely when they have been taken from plants growing
freely in heat. Keep up a high temperature ; but when the cuttings
are rooted they may be taken to more airy quarters, making room for
fresh batches. Dahlia roots may be started in warmth, to increase the
numbers. When short stout cuttings are formed, they can be taken
off with a heel and placed in the centres of small pots, using sandy
soil, and, plenty of heat allowed — say 70°, and 10° higher with sun
heat — they will root very quickly. Carnations and Auriculas in pots
require plenty of fresh air to keep them healthy. The latter may be well
surfaced with good loam, cow-dung, and a little sand. Soil should be
prepared and examined, to be ready soon for potting Pinks, Picotees,
and Carnations which are to be flowered in pots. Plants in pots which
are not growing freely should be kept moderately dry, but occasionally
looked over, and have a full supply of water when they require it. All
the usual forcing shrubs, bulbs, &c, will require care when bringing
them from heat to cold, taking others in for succession. M. T.

GOLD AND BRONZE PELARGONIUMS FOR EXHIBITION.

Since the introduction of the valuable section of variegated zonal
Pelargoniums, there has been no addition to the resources of the
flower-gardener of such general interest as that group of Pelargoniums
known as the Gold and Bronze section. Considering they have been
in cultivation only a few years, they have become very popular, even
with such formidable rivals as the tricolored class. This is due in a
great measure to their superior growth and hardihood, which render
them far better subjects for use in the flower-garden, while by some
they are thought to be even more attractive than the painted varie-
gated zonals.

The chief object of this paper is to treat on the propagation and
culture of the golden and bronze section for exhibition purposes, and

60 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

in doing so, the writer is fully sensible that so much has been written
on the cultivation of the Pelargonium, many will be induced to think
that but little that is new or fresh can be written on the matter. Yet
having regard to the many miserably-coloured examples frequently
seen at our large exhibitions, it is only too evident that some mis-
conception exists as to the real requirements of the plants. Should
the reader have failed in his past attempts to colour the leaves success-
fully, he may, perhaps, by following the few simple directions about
to be given, be enabled to achieve better results.

To secure a good specimen plant, there must be a proper foundation
laid, so to speak ; and I am led to attach much importance to the
selection of a proper cutting, out of which to manufacture the future
specimen. Select, therefore, short-jointed points of shoots from 2 to
3 inches in length, which should be taken off during the month of
June, and inserted singly in the smallest-sized pots, using a soil made
up of good yellow loam, sand, and leaf-mould. Place them in a situa-
tion where they can be screened from the full glare of the sun's rays till
rooted, and then shift them into 3-inch pots, using a mixture of good
yellow loam, with leaf-mould, and plenty of silver or river sand, and
don't make the soil too fine ; place them in a cold frame where, if
found necessary, they can be shaded for a time during the middle of
the day, and, if the weather should be showery, sheltered from the
heavy rain ; but slight showers will benefit them, and the lights can
be kept off as much as possible ; but when it is necessary to keep them
on, give all the air possible. The plants will soon require another
shift, and on this occasion a richer compost is necessary. I advocate
the use of loam as before, but in place of leaf-mould pure horse-
droppings, which should be prepared by being thoroughly dried and
then broken up small : use plenty of sand, and break the loam up by
hand that it may not be too finely powdered. Mix thoroughly, and
in potting avoid pressing the soil very firmly, for to grow the plants
well they require during the summer months a plentiful supply of
water, and must on no account be allowed to suffer from the want of it.
On the occasion of this shift they should be potted into 6-inch pots,
and replaced in a cold frame in the open air. Should they be
wanted for exhibition during the following May or June, it will be
best at the end of August, if they have not branched out into two or
three shoots, to cut them back to within 3 or 4 inches of the pot, so as
to secure by the end of autumn four shoots at the least to each plant.
By the end of September they should be reduced a little at the root
and put into a smaller pot, using the same compost, and placing them
on a good light airy shelf in a greenhouse. If the weather should be
sunny and dry, an occasional syringing will benefit the plants.

1870.] GOLD AND BRONZE PELARGONIUMS. 61

During the winter months the plants should be sparingly supplied -with
water at the roots, and be allowed a temperature of from 40° to 45° at
night, and not higher than 50° to 55° during the day in cloudy weather
through the months of November, December, and January. About
the end of the latter month they should be shifted into 6-inch pots,
using the same compost, only rather rougher. Keep the plants in a dry
airy situation, and wTater carefully till the roots are through to the
sides of the pots, when they will take plenty of it ; and care should be
taken that at each watering the ball of the plant is thoroughly
moistened, as failure is often attributable to careless and insufficient
watering. If not already attended to, the branches will now require
pegging or tying down to the sides of the pot ; and if not sufficiently
branched they should be pinched back to induce it, a process about which
the grower is required to exercise some forethought, for some varieties
will form a nice plant with fewer branches than others, owing to the
much larger leaves they produce : for instance, Crown Prince, or Beauty
of Calderdale, will form a good plant with half the number of shoots
required to make a nice specimen of Sybil. By the end of March the
plants will be ready for their final shift into 8-inch pots; use the same
kind of compost, but let it be very rough, and be particular that the
pots are well drained : broken oyster-shells are very suitable. Pack the
soil rather firmly in the pot, but not so firm as to prevent the water
from passing through pretty freely. A pit where a little heat
can be given, should the state of the weather render it necessary,
will now be the place for them, and if fine and mild, the lights
could be taken off entirely on all favourable occasions, as the
plants do best with the fullest exposure to sun and air. Thus
the plants will be gradually inured to entire exposure to the
weather, for after the beginning of May the lights should seldom be
on during the day (unless, indeed, the weather proves exceptionally
wet and cold) ; and should the nights be mild, the plants will be bene-
fited by being without them even then. Beyond watering, training,
and removing superfluous leaves, they will require no other attention
than what has already been indicated. To have them in fine colour
during the whole of the year, of course something depends upon the
varieties cultivated, and it unfortunately happens that some of the
varieties which gained the strongest hold of the public mind are not
the best for exhibition. For the guidance of those who may be un-
acquainted with the names of the varieties in cultivation, I may be per-
mitted to mention a few suitable for exhibition — viz., W. R. Morris, Cri-
terion, Sybil,' Prima Donna, Imperatrice Eugenie (D., L., & L.), Crown
Prince, Mrs Allan Lowndes, Countess of Kellie, Red Ring, Black
Knight, Cleopatra, Harrison Weir, and Princess of Wales. These are

62 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

not all, perhaps, well adapted for bedding-out, but I cannot speak
positively about this ; the best bedders I know among this class are
Kentish Hero, Sybil, Mrs Lewis Lloyd, Beauty of Calderdale, and
Imperatrice Eugenie (D., L., k L.) — the last the brightest of all.
Two-year-old plants should be cut back in autumn, and when broken
sufficiently into growth, shaken out and repotted, and treated as re-
commended for younger plants. Something may probably be expected
from me in reference to the production of new varieties from seed.
All I can say to those who may be desirous of making an attempt in
this direction is, Procure the best varieties you possibly can to breed
from, and seed them early in the season, in order to get your young
plants well established before winter, giving them a similar soil and
treatment to that recommended for cuttings.

W. B. Glasscock.

THE KITCHEN-GARDEN.

NO. IX.
PARSLEY.

Parsley is of such ancient culture in this country that, so far as I am
aware, the period of its introduction cannot be correctly assigned. It
is said to be a native of Sardinia, and to have been introduced into
England about the beginning of the sixteenth century. According to
botanical authorities it is not a native of this country, but it has
nevertheless naturalised itself in several parts of the kingdom, though
the great favour in which it is held by hares and rabbits will prevent
its ever spreading itself in a wild state.

Generally speaking, Parsley is of easy culture, but in some soils it
is peculiarly subject to the attacks of a small white worm at the root,
which interferes much with its growth till late in summer, and in
some cases it is destroyed altogether. Some say that if transplanted
while in a young state it escapes this pest. I have known it so sub-
ject to die out on some soils, that the only way to produce it in
quantity is to take out a trench the depth and width of a spade, and
fill it up with fresh loam and then sow the seed. The middle of
March is a good time to sow for the summer supply. When sown in
drills, they should not be less than a foot apart, and to get fine foliage
the plants should be thinned out to 6 inches apart.

In many cases Parsley is sown as edgings to paths' or walks in
gardens, and to this there is no particular objection. For late autumn
and winter supply, a good plan is to transplant the necessary quantity

1870.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 63

into a border where the protection of frames can be given in winter,
and it can be planted close to the base of garden-walls, where in
case of frost or snow it can be protected with mats or any other
coverings, but it is best under glass both for fine produce and con-
venience.

A second sowing should be made in April for a winter supply, when
it is intended to stand without being transplanted.

The more curled the leaf, the better it looks for garnishing purposes ;
it is also finer in flavour than the plain leaves. Wherever seed is
saved, the best curled plants should be selected for the purpose.

RHUBARB.

To the northern parts of Asia we are indebted for this very useful
vegetable. It was introduced into Britain in 1778 by Dr Eothergill,
and a good many years elapsed before it was generally cultivated as a
culinary vegetable. The first to cultivate it on a large scale was the
late Mr Myatt of Deptford, the well-known market-gardener. Not
much more than sixty years ago he tied up five bundles of Ehubarb
and sent his son to the London market with them, and so little were
the Londoners inclined to purchase it that only three of the bundles
could be sold. Not discouraged by his first effort to get Rhubarb into
favour among such a vegetable-loving people, and believing that it
would one day be highly prized, he persevered ; and the next time he
offered it for sale he had ten bundles, and sold them all. Since then
Rhubarb has come to be so generally used that it is sent into the London
markets in enormous quantities. The metropolitan market-gardeners
now force thousands of roots every year, to say nothing of the supply
drawn from the open ground ; and this applies to almost every town
in the kingdom in proportion to its population.

Almost any soil will grow Rhubarb, provided it be well manured
and deeply worked. Heavy loamy soil will of course yield the longest
and thickest stalks ; but it is generally admitted that a drier and
lighter soil gives finer-flavoured produce ; so that a soil of medium
character may be pronounced the best. The cultivation of this free-
growing vegetable is so exceedingly simple that little detail is necessary
in explaining it. In making a new plantation the ground should be
heavily manured and deeply trenched in the autumn ; and when
planted, another dressing of manure should be dug deeply into the
fresh-turned soil. It can be planted at almost any time. I have
planted it when quite dormant, when commencing to grow in early
spring, and when it had grown a foot high. On soils that are heavy
and damp I prefer planting just as it is beginning to grow; and on
dry soils it is perhaps best to plant when quite at rest.

64 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

The best mode of planting is to dig up a few well-established stools,
and carefully divide them without lifting them entirely, only digging
deeply on one side of each stool, and removing a few crowns with
strong pieces of healthy roots attached. Planting is more tidily done
as the last dressing of manure is dug into the ground, as it prevents
the trampling of the ground afterwards. In ordinary cases, 4 feet
each way is wide enough to plant. The crowns should not be placed
deeper than the surface of the soil if it be heavy, in light soils they
may be covered an inch or so with advantage, if quite dormant when
planted. Where the ground is clayey, a few spadefuls of light rich
soil may be put round each stool when planted.

None of the stalks should be taken from the plantation during the
first year, except the flower-stalks, which should be removed as they
show themselves. If the season be dry, a few liberal waterings with
dung-water should be given, and the ground about mulched. The
second year some of the stalks may be taken for use, but it is best to
be easy with them, and if intended for forcing none should be taken
from them. Indeed, the best stools for forcing are those that have
made two or three years' growth without being touched. When not
required for forcing, a plantation lasts for many years in a good pro-
ductive state. But there are very few gardens nowadays where
Rhubarb is not required for forcing, and the best way is to plant every
year in proportion to the demand. Roots that have been forced are
sometimes used for planting again, but it is a practice not to be recom-
mended except in an emergency.

This is a vegetable which can be forced easily in almost any struc-
ture where a little heat can be applied. The old-fashioned way of
placing pots over the crowns and filling up between and over them
with fermenting materials, such as leaves or stable-manure, or both
mixed, is not so much practised now as in days gone by, when good
Rhubarb was so produced, though with more labour and inconvenience
than by lifting the crowns and putting them in places constructed for
the purpose, or in Mushroom-houses, &c, which are heated by hot
water. The easiest, and in the long-run the cheapest, mode of pro-
ducing early Rhubarb is to have it, as well as Seakale, in a back place
near to any of the garden boilers, from whence some heat can be con-
veyed. A slight bed of leaves sufficient to produce a little bottom-
heat is perhaps the best means of conjunction with an atmospheric
warmth of 55° to 60°. The stools should be carefully dug up, the
soil shaken from them, and placed close together on a thin layer of
leaf-mould, spread over the surface of the leaves, and then filling in
all round the roots with leaf-mould or any light rich soil.

Large quantities of Rhubarb are forced in the market-gardens round

1870.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 65

London by digging long trenches to the depth of 2 to 3 feet, and
putting 2 feet of hot dung into the bottom of them, on which
the Toots are packed closely together in any light soil. The trenches
are then hooped over and covered with about a foot depth of long
stable-litter or straw, and in this rude and simple way excellent pro-
duce is the result. Others again have long ranges of wooden pits
about 5 feet wide, with a hot -water pipe to supply both top and
bottom heat. These are, however, giving way to larger structures,
in which standing and walking room can be had.

The amateur or cottage gardener who desires forced Rhubarb, can
easily produce it in a cellar or any outhouse where a few roots can be
placed in a temperature of 50° to 55°. When it is required for table
before the end of the year, the roots should be placed in the forcing-
house as soon as the leaves commence to decay. The best sorts for
early forcing are Prince Albert and Linnaeus. The Victoria yields a
greater bulk late in the season, and for general crops in the open air
is the most profitable. Whether Rhubarb is best when blanched by
forcing or when grown in the open air, is a disputed point, and depends
on taste. For my own part, I prefer it blanched, and cooked without
being skinned.

Salsafy and Scorzonera.

Both Salsafy and Scorzonera require precisely the same treatment, con-
sequently I have classed them together. There are few vegetables so
much affected by cultivation, " for better or for worse," as these, and
at the same time so carelessly regarded. True, the entire failure of a
crop is not of frequent occurrence, for they will grow after a sort under
the most careless treatment ; but the difference between really well
cultivated samples of these roots, and those produced by indifferent
culture, is exceedingly marked.

A superior crop depends chiefly on the nature of the soil, and par-
ticularly on the manner in which it is prepared. To produce fine roots,
a deep sandy loam is the best ; it should be trenched, and thoroughly
broken to at least a depth of 2 feet ; and the subsoil, if retentive,
should be broken up with a fork. Soil into which manure has been
put for successive years, and by which the top spit has been enriched,
should not have any manure added to it, but be trenched, turning the
rich surface-soil to the bottom of the trench. Where manure is ne-
cessary, it should be mixed in the bottom of the trench, not adding
any to the surface-soil. The manure thus placed deep in the ground
entices the roots in search of it, and in this way considerably influences
the growth of the roots, causing them to grow straight and strong, in-
stead of producing a mere bunch of fibres, scarcely fit for culinary

E

66 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

purposes, as is the case in shallow soil, with the manure near the
surface.

Sowing the seed too early must be avoided, or the crop will run to
bloom and the roots become hard and useless. The end of April, or,
in places where there is generally a good autumn growth, May is early
enough to sow. The Salsafy should be in drills 3 inches deep and 16
inches apart. Scorzonera should be allowed a few inches more, as its
tops are more bulky. When thinned, 6 to 7 inches between each plant
is close enough to leave them. It is not a rare occurrence to meet with
these vegetables sown thickly and never thinned out at all, but they
are as much improved as Carrots, or any similar crop, by being allowed
room ; and the reverse of this can only result in very inferior roots.
Really well-grown roots are much esteemed in winter, and, manipulated
by good cooks, both these vegetables form palatable dishes.

The after-treatment is very simple, and consists of keeping the
ground between the rows well stirred and clean. Being winter veget-
ables, they are seldom asked for till November ; and as they are very
hardy, the roots may be left in dry soils, covered over with litter, and
dug up as required, or they may be lifted and laid away in damp
sand under cover. D. T.

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES.

The substance of the following and succeeding communications was
delivered in the form of a paper entitled 'Half an Hour on Bees,'
and was read at one of the Hanwell (Middlesex) penny-readings by a
"Hanwell bee-master."

In saying a few words on behalf of my especial favourites, I trust
they will tend to a better understanding of their nature and habits,
and of some of the causes of failure and disappointment that often
mar the best attempts and aims of the bee-keeper. I have no more
to say on the natural history of the bee than may be necessary to ex-
plain phenomena alluded to as I take my way in pursuit of my sub-
ject ; nor shall I advance any statements, theories, or so-called facts,
culled from any published works, on the subject of bee-management,
but shall state only what I know to be true from actual experience.
Published works are in many cases little better than advertisements;
and their theories, statements, and facts contradict each other pro-
portionately as each particular writer is interested in the system he
endeavours to uphold.

Bees may be profitably managed under any system but that of
systematic neglect, and the wilful disregard of the dictates of common-

1870.] ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 67

sense, which is so prevalent among the prejudiced; but no system can
be perfect which does not give the bee-master entire control over
every comb in his hive, and every part of the hive itself. My ob-
servations will be confined to bees in straw skips, such as were used
by our grandmothers and great-grandmothers, whose principal know-
ledge of bee-management consisted in their ability to hive a swarm in
spring, and to take the honey in autumn, which latter operation
necessitated the previous destruction of all the bees in the respective
hives by a violent and cruel death.

Bees are property of great value, and in ordinary seasons, with pro-
per management, require no feeding at all ; and by the exercise of care,
and the possession of a right understanding of their nature and habits,
will yield a profit of at least a hundred per cent per annum after they
become well established. As a rule, bees are very badly treated. If a
stock or a swarm be obtained, it is generally placed on a stand with
perhaps just sufficient shelter to keep off the rain if it would always fall
perpendicularly, and quite unprotected in any other way; and no
servant or visitor is allowed to interfere with it in any way, while the
owner is generally afraid to do so.

Any idea of improving the breed of bees by crossing them with any
superior kind, or even of causing a change in that respect by obtain-
ing a stock from a long distance at swarming-time, does not seem to
have been thought of or recommended. They are left to themselves,
and to their own instincts, until they all become blood-relations ; and
their vitality and ability to propagate their own species thereby become
so materially interfered with and lowered, as to render them in many
instances physically unable to fulfil the natural conditions of existence ;
and such stocks are always weak, dwindling, and unprofitable. Such
treatment, at best, shows a great want of wisdom. All those who keep
bees on the old principle know that in early spring their best stocks
cluster by thousands on the outside of their hives ; and as the earth
puts on its summer verdure, and adorns itself with multitudes of
flowers, and the land literally " flows with milk and honey," the bees
are comparatively idle, while the honey is wasting its sweetness at a
time for which, according to the teachings of instinct and reason, they
were designed to put forth their working powers to the utmost. Why
is this 1 Honey and pollen are abundant, and it is perfectly natural
for bees — I had almost said the end for which they were created — to
collect and store them ; and yet for many days, and even weeks, they
remain idle, until the golden opportunity has passed. Why 1 Be-
cause the bees have no room in their hives to store honey or pollen if
they gathered it. The queen having occupied nearly all the cells with
living brood, the heat within the hive causes the mature bees to be

S8 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

crowded out, and they cluster in heaps about the mouth of the hive,
idle and listless, while the bee-keeper stands by in blissful (?) ignorance,
waiting for his bees to swarm. Waiting for bees to swarm is weary
work. We do not wait for ripened fruit to fall from the trees before
we garner it. We exercise our judgment, and gather it at a time when
experience tells us it is likely to be most useful to us ; and the exer-
cise of the same judgment with regard to bees would teach us, that if
ever a swarm is worth having, it must be at a time when flowers are
plentiful and honey abundant ; and if at that time working bees are
not plentiful too, it must be to a great extent the fault of the bee-
keeper. It is in his power to insure that his stocks shall be strong
at the times when honey is likely to be abundant. But to insure this
he must first be sure that each stock is healthy, and has a fairly prolific
queen ; and then he must treat them as he would his chickens — feed
them when they cannot get food for themselves, regularly and suffi-
ciently, until the recurrence of the honey season renders such aid
unnecessary.

Wealth in bees does not consist in the number of stocks so much as
in their individual strength, and the consequent abundance of working
bees, and their power to collect and store honey, a surplus of which is
the legitimate profit in bee-keeping. Swarms may be profitable to a
bee-dealer, but they are of no profit to a bee-keeper, it being rather his
province to prevent them, so that the supernumerary bees may collect
honey in the parent hives, instead of consuming it in the manufacture
of comb for their new habitation ; for it must be remembered that
in the manufacture of 1 lb. weight of comb 25 lb. of honey are con-
sumed, and all the bees so converting it are clustering and compara-
tively idle. The mere keeping of a number of stocks from which
nothing is obtained but swarms is simply absurd. Yet the same
quantity of bees gathered into one-third the number of hives would
yield a large surplus of honey under ordinary conditions. The reason
for this is, that in three weak stocks there would of course be three
queens, each instinctively anxious for the welfare of her colony ; but
being short of provisions, in early spring she cannot commence laying
her eggs, except to a very small extent, until honey and pollen are
plentiful, when her propensity is stimulated to such a degree that the
honey and pollen are consumed nearly as fast as it is in the power of
the working bees to collect them. The reason of this is, that as the
eggs and young brood increase, more nursing bees are necessary, and
fewer working bees comparatively can be spared from the hive.

The propensity of the queen to lay eggs is governed by the quantity
of honey collected daily ; that, in its turn, is regulated by the yield of
honey, as well as by the number of working bees that are available to

1870.] LUPINUS CALIFORNICUS. 69

collect it. By the time the population of such a bee-colony is sufficiently
numerous to collect a surplus of honey daily, the spring honey-harvest
is over, and the queen discontinues depositing her eggs accordingly,
and at the end of the season it will be a weak stock again, alternating
thus : in spring, weak in numbers ; in autumn, weak in provisions.
They may possibly throw off a swarm once in a year or two ; but it is
sure to be weak and late, and unless under very favourable conditions,
it will be only one more weak stock. Whereas, if three weak stocks
had been united in autumn, and placed in one hive, they would
have had ample provision and plenty of bees ; the queen would have
commenced laying eggs at the beginning of February, and by the time
the fruit-trees were in blossom they would be a strong stock, in a con-
dition for gathering honey, or swarming, as might be most desired by
the bee-master. Besides which, there would be two spare sets of combs
in the hives from which the weak stocks had been driven, available
for early swarms, which might be placed in them if desired.

It is not, however, always in the power of the bee-master to prevent
swarming, especially in straw hives, although he may reduce the pro-
bability of it to the lowest minimum by giving increased space for
oviposition and stowage. All weak stocks may be made strong by
gentle continuous feeding in early autumn and early spring, because,
while food is abundant and the weather mild, the queen will continue
to deposit eggs, and all the bees are enabled to remain at home as
nurses. C. N. Abbott.

(To be continued.)

LUPINUS CALIFORNICUS.

This I believe to be one of the best Lupinus cultivated in the United
Kingdom, and one that seems to be little known to practical gardeners
and the lovers of flowers generally. Some three years ago I received
four seeds of it from Mr Draper of Seaham Hall, Sunderland, who
then designated it his favourite Lupine. I was so situated at the
time that I could not grow the seeds in the season that I received
them, but sowed them in small pots in the spring of 1868, and, to
make sure of germination, placed them on a slight hotbed. The seeds
were good, and germinated freely, and when the plants were large
enough, and hardened off, they were planted out in the borders. They
grew vigorously all through the summer, and by the autumn the plants
were 3 feet high, and about 3 feet in diameter. L. Californicus naturally
produces a single stem the first year, which branches freely on all sides?

70 THE GARDENER, [Feb.

giving the plant a pyramidal form. The leaves are not so large as in
many of the perennial varieties ; they are, however, of a dark velvet-
like green, and the plant, being decidedly evergreen, has a fine effect
during the dull months of winter. It has more the appearance of an
evergreen shrub than anything else. As none of the plants flowered
during the summer, and not knowing whether they were hardy or not,
I took the precaution to have one carefully lifted, potted, and put
under glass for the winter. To my delight, however, I found that the
plants left outside continued to live and grow, and actually seemed
greener and healthier for the exposure. They did not suffer in the
slightest degree from the effects of frost. By the middle of the
following June they were a complete mass of bloom, literally covered
with long spikes of buff flowers, which continued in fine condition for
more than a month, and were the admiration of all who saw them.
Mr Draper (to whom I lately wrote concerning the Lupine) informs
me that he finds the plants to increase in size yearly, and that he has
had them as much as seven years old, and several yards across. He
likes them best when about four years old ; after that he says they get
loose, straggly, and untidy. Mr Draper further informs me that the
seeds of the plant were sent to his then employer (the late E. Mangles,
Esq. of Sunning Hill, Berks), from California, and afterwards for-
warded to him (Mr D.) at Seaham Hall, where he finds it to do remark-
ably well, being the most conspicuous plant in the garden during the
time it is in flower.

For growing in front of large shrubberies I know of no better flower-
ing-plant. I am only surprised that it has been so long in the country,
and yet is so little known. Several nurserymen, and many practical
gardeners who have been calling on me this summer, were much pleased
with its shrub-like appearance, and said they had never seen it before.
The plants here at date of writing (19th Oct.) are 6 feet high, and
from 4 to 5 feet through, with a thick stem like a young tree.

A. Pettigrew, Gardener.

Dumfries House, Cumnock, N.B.

So many species of the Lupinus have been introduced from California at
various times, that in order to identify the form of which Mr Pettigrew writes
as L. Californicus, his paper has been held over to allow of inquiries being made.
A sprig of the plant, together with a seed-pod, was sent to Kew, and duly ex-
amined, and we have been informed that no trace of any such name as L. Cali-
fornicus can be discovered, but the specimen sent was believed to be quite
identical with Lupinus arboreus of Sims, as figured in the ' Botanical Magazine/
t. 682. Mr Kingston, who supplies this information, also states, " I have just
now observed that Mr Pettigrew describes the flowers as buff in colour, which I
did not notice at first, and which agrees with L. arboreus." There is, therefore,
every reason to believe that what Mr Pettigrew has as L. Californicus, is L.
arboreus. Some years since, the Royal Horticultural Society distributed a

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 71

species under the name of L. Californicus — a hardy annual with blue flowers,
growing some 18 inches in height, flowering in June and July, and said to be a
good plant for beds. This appears to be lost to our gardeners under this name,
as it cannot be found in any lists. — Eds.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

{Continued from page 12.)
THE CHERRY.

Next in point of importance to those fruits already considered is the
Cherry. Different authors have given different classifications, divi-
sions, and subdivisions. To my mind the two best are those of Mr
Thompson — which were first published in the 'Horticultural Trans-
actions,' second series, vol. i. p. 251, and afterwards by him repro-
duced in his ' Gardeners' Assistant,' page 256 — and that of Dr Hogg,
at page 68 of the third edition of his 'Fruit Manual.' The former,
by Mr Thompson, is the more elaborate of the two, and the best suited
for defining minutely small points of difference existing between kinds
which, although closely resembling each other, yet present appreciable
differences. Cherries he has divided into two classes, the first having
leaves waved on the margins ; the second having leaves with the
margins plain. Each of these classes he has divided into two divi-
sions, the first representing "fruit heart-shaped, oval, or roundish;" the
second, " fruit round or oblate." These divisions are each subdivided,
the first into three orders, each according to the colour of the fruit.
The second also into two orders, the first including Cherries with
"flesh sweet;" the second, Cherries with "flesh acid." This is fur-
ther divided into sub-orders, the first being Cherries with "juice pale;"
the second those with "juice purple." This, to my mind, is the best
and most simple, yet the most elaborate and comprehensive arrange-
ment we possess. Any man of ordinary intelligence can easily arrange
the class, division, or order to which any Cherry may belong by the
aid of Thompson's classification.

Dr Hogg classifies all the varieties of Cherries under eight races.
His arrangements, although admirable, are not so well defined as those
already noticed. His eight races are — 1st, The sweet heart-shaped
Cherries with tender and dark-coloured flesh, which he has termed
Black Geans ; 2d, The pale-coloured sweet Cherries, with tender and
translucent flesh and skin, which he terms "Bed Geans." The 3d
he terms "Black Hearts," which are those "dark-coloured sweet
Cherries" somewhat resembling the Bigarreau, but whose "flesh is
not so firm and crackling." The 4th includes the White Hearts or

72 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

Bigarreaus, with red or light-coloured mottled skin and hard crackling
flesh. The 5th he terms Black Dukes, and have dark skin and flesh
and deeply-coloured juice. The Gth embraces all those nearly allied
to the Black Dukes, but with j3ale red skin, translucent skin and flesh,
and uncoloured juice ; these he calls lied Dukes. The 7th includes
all those the trees of which have long, slender, and pendant shoots,
and dark-coloured fruit with acid-coloured juice, and are termed Black
Morellos. The 8th he designates Red Morellos ; they include all those
pale red acid varieties of which the Kentish Cherry is the type.

As in all other kinds of fruits, new varieties can only be obtained
from seed. The same care in the selection of parents ought to
be exercised with the Cherry as in the case of other fruits. Only
by using such means can success be hoped for. No doubt we have
many varieties, which, so far as flavour is concerned, are sufficient
to meet the requirements of most palates. The principal object to
be aimed at in the production of new varieties is to prolong the
season of the sweet Cherries. The beginning or middle of Septem-
ber is the latest possible time we can have them now ; but with
care in selecting parents, I hope this period may eventually be
extended at least another month. Next in importance is an in-
creased size of the fruit. This may not be of such easy accom-
plishment, yet I consider it to be an aim worthy the attempt. He
who accomplishes one or both of these objects, will have a claim
to the gratitude of all horticulturists. Whether the raising of stocks
or of new varieties be the aim, the stones of the Cherry may be
sown when the fruit is used; or, to quote Mr Thompson, "They
may be stratified till early in spring, when those that are begin-
ning to germinate should be planted in drills and covered over to
the depth of 1J inches." They are generally sown in the summer
in drills an inch deep, on light sandy soil, into which the stones
may be deposited 2 or 3 inches apart. In the following spring
they will germinate and make a small shoot ; while the second sea-
son they will make shoots varying from 1 to 2 or 3 feet in length,
according to the varieties, and the health and vigour of the plants.
The small black or red wild Cherry is recommended by some as
being the best to use for stocks, while the Duke and Morello Cher-
ries are also favourably spoken of by others. At the end of the
second year's growth the seedlings should be taken from the seed-
beds, and planted in nursery-lines 2 feet apart, and 1 foot between
the plants in the line. After making another year's growth the
best of them will be ready for budding or grafting, as the case may
be. If they are to be worked as standards at the height of 4 to
6 feet from the ground, it will be necessary to grow them on for

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 73

two or three years longer, tied carefully to a stake to the desired
height. Those grown for this purpose will require to be planted
widerdn the rows than those intended for working as dwarfs. Nur-
serymen sometimes use layers, suckers, or cuttings, to work the Cherry
on. This is a bad practice, as the trees are never so healthy nor
so long-lived as when the stock is raised from seed. As already
indicated, known varieties are propagated by budding and grafting
on stocks raised for the purpose. Budding is recommended by some
as being the surest method of securing success; the bark of the
Cherry being so thin that it is a difficult task to insert a graft
neatly and securely without injuring the epidermis. Others affirm
that trees which have been grafted are far more liable to gum secre-
tions than those which have been budded. I can affirm regarding
the former point, that, in my experience, budding is most easily per-
formed of the two, and the one found most successful. I would,
therefore, recommend budding the Cherry. The best time to bud
is the end of July, or beginning or middle of August. As a rule,
this must be performed when stock and scion or bud are in the
best condition. The wood from which the bud is taken must be
hard, firm, and comparatively ripe. The bud itself must be plump,
firm, and brown, with a nice fresh leaf at its base. If these things
be the case, then the budding may be proceeded with, as the bud
with a portion of the bark attached will readily part from the wood
of the branch. The bud may be inserted in the stock in any of
the modes in general use, but the simplest and best, to my idea,
is that known as the shield or T budding, already referred tb in
connection with the Pear and Apple. Great care should, however,
be taken at all times never to bind too tightly, as in the case of
the Cherry nothing is more likely to cause gum to exude than band-
ages tight enough to mark or cut the bark. Those who may wish
to graft Cherries may do so at the usual grafting season in March
or the beginning of April. The scion should in every case be taken
off in winter — not later than the end of December or beginning of
January — and inserted in the ground till required. Mr Thompson,
giving his experience on this point, states, "We have seen vigorous
shoots with large pith cut off for scions, and stuck in the ground
in January ; and though in March, when grafted, the pith was dis-
coloured, being of a dark instead of a light colour, yet they all suc-
ceeded ; whilst scions cut off and grafted fresh failed to a consider-
able extent, although treated with the same care in every other
respect." The grafting of the Cherry is performed in a similar way
to that already recommended for other fruits. James M'Millan.

( To he continued.)

74 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH.

But a scanty record completes the list up to the close of 18G0. Cold
inclement weather, with nipping winds and attendant frost and im-
pending snow, is scarcely favourable to the production of new plants,
even were it not a season of the year when they are invariably scarce.
Messrs Veitch & Sons have exhibited, and obtained a first-class certi-
ficate for, a fine new Hippeastrum named Leopoldi, a grand companion
to the novel H. pardinum they exhibited some time ago. The one
now exhibited was so named in honour of the King of the Belgians,
who was struck with its beauty, and gave his permission for it to be
named after him. It is a bold showy flower, with a claret- crimson
centre and a broad edging of greenish white, which Mr H. J. Veitch
stated would come quite white as the flower aged. Messrs Veitch &
Sons also had a new Cypripedium, named pardinum, but in the way
of C. venustum, and as shown not exhibiting any marked excellence ;
also Lcelia anceps Dawsoni, with white flowers, having a rich purple
lip, and a pale rose-coloured form of their new hybrid Phaius irroratus,
named roseus, raised from Phaius Wallichiana crossed with Calanthe
vestita. Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son contributed a very interest-
ing group of variegated Ivies, to one of which — Hedera rhomboidea
obovata — a first-class certificate was awarded. Though the plant and
leaves were both very small, it appeared to have much distinctness
of character, the leaves being of a bronzy-purple tint. A good fine-
leaved form was H. Algeriensis, the leaves large and bold, and it had a
robust look about it, but was said to be somewhat tender. The attention
bestowed on these Ivies by Mr Shirley Hibberd, Dr Seemann, and others,
appears to be bringing them to the fore, and they certainly deserve
the attention aroused. The following was also good : H. Algeriensis
arborescens, with fine bold dark-green leaves. In some of the varie-
gated kinds the differences appeared to be very slight indeed.

In the way of hardy ornamental plants, a notice of the gold and
silver Spruce Firs exhibited by Messrs J. & C. Lee must not be omitted,
especially the golden variety, which has an elegant and attractive ap-
pearance at this season of the year. R. D.

AMATEUR CULTIVATION OP THE HOLLYHOCK.

And now, by way of supplementing the remarks I have previously
made on the cultivation of the Hollyhock, I have to speak of it as a
valuable floral agent in the decoration of shrubbery-borders. Let me
describe how I myself use it as a decorative plant. I have a shrub-

i87o.] CULTIVATION OF THE HOLLYHOCK. 75

bery-border planted principally with Laurels, and in front some nice
bushes of Berberis aquifolium, which face the flower-beds in the
large grass-plot here. It is 126 feet in length and 5 feet in width,
and I plant it as a ribbon-border in the following manner : At the
back Hollyhocks planted 4 feet apart, the colour arranged so as to
secure the best effect when seen from any part of the garden. In
front of the Hollyhocks a line of the yellow blooming Calceolaria
viscosissima ; then a line of Tom Thumb Scarlet Pelargonium ; then
a row of Purple King Verbena, and an edging of Cerastium tomen-
tosum. As this border is of semicircular shape, it is not too much to say
that I secure a kind of enduring floral rainbow ; and the effect is ex-
tremely good, and the arrangement praised by all who have seen it.

1 have also here two very large circular beds, and the centre of each
of these I fill with Hollyhocks, selecting and arranging the colours.
These I plant the first week in March, using old plants that were
potted up in the autumn. By putting the strongest plants in the
centre of the bed, I get the tallest spikes there ; and I allow each plant
to carry three of the strongest shoots, which reach a height of from
6 to 7 feet. Pound these I place a band of weaker plants, which
grow about 5 feet. Each of these also carries three shoots. As soon
as the shoots are 1 foot in height, they are secured to a stake about

2 feet out of the ground when firmly driven into it ; and this I find
quite tall enough to keep the plants from being injured by the wind,
and the stakes do not show themselves amid the flower-spikes. In
one of the beds I place round the Hollyhocks Crystal Palace Scarlet
Bedding Dahlia, and for an edging the Purple Zelinda Bedding
Dahlia, which being of rather dwarfer growth, makes a good edging,
as well as affords a good contrast to the former. In the other bed I
plant bedding Dahlia Alba multiflora instead of the Crystal Palace
Scarlet, and edge as before with the Purple Zelinda. I cannot dis-
pense with the last named, as, while it is singularly free of bloom, it
gives a fine crimson-purple hue, much needed in the flower-garden.
I have an impression that in small gardens even single plants of the
Hollyhock placed here and there can be introduced with good effect.
They serve to relieve the frequent flat appearance of these gardens,
and they remain in bloom a considerable time.

Last summer I received an invitation from a brother amateur
Hollyhock cultivator to call on him and see his Hollyhocks. These
he had planted in a single row, and they were from G to 7 feet in
height, with noble spikes of bloom, each plant having a single stem ;
and being of various hues of colour, they had been planted so as to
secure as much harmony of colours as possible. In front of the
Hollyhocks were two rows of the finest hybrids of Gladiolus Ganda-

7G THE GARDENER. [Feb.

vensis, with a line of dwarf bedding plants in front ; then a line of
Calceolaria aurea floribimda, and an outer edging of Alyssum
saxatile variegatum planted close to the box. I was very much
pleased with the fine effect of this arrangement, and made a note of
the composition of the border at the time as well worthy of being
recorded. William Plester.

Elsenham Hall Gardens.

SOMETHING ABOUT THE PANSY.

The cultivation of the Pansy has occupied the attention of florists for
a considerable number of years ; and, comparing the varieties now
cultivated with those found in our gardens twenty years ago, the giant
stride made in its improvement will be at once admitted. Some years
ago this favourite flower was grown more extensively than at the pre-
sent time. There are various reasons for the falling off in this respect,
the principal one being a desire for bright and decided colours in
plants used in the decoration of the flower-garden, consequent upon
the style of bedding or massing so much in repute at the present time.
It is gratifying to know that the Pansy is again being sought after,
and used as a decorative plant in some of the best gardens in the
kingdom ; and I am confident that, if as much attention were
paid to its particular acquirements as there is to bedding-plants in
general, it would outstrip the majority of them in the duration and
profusion of its blooms. The Pansy is par excellence the plant for
small gardens, and especially with amateurs with limited means at
their disposal for wintering half-hardy plants. Few plants j^roduce a
greater number of flowers on the same area of foliage ; it is very hardy ;
a large number can be wintered in a small compass ; it is easily propa-
gated, and it is amongst the first flowers to cheer us in the early spring
months, and the last to leave us in the late autumn.

For the benefit of those readers of the ' Gardener ' who might wish
to give the Pansy a trial in the flower-garden, I beg to subjoin a few
cultural notes, and if I induce them to become cultivators of my
favourite, I shall consider myself more than repaid for my trouble.
In reference to its propagation, this may be done at any time from
March till December ; but the cuttings to form the principal stock
should be put in the last week of September or the first week of
October. At this time of the year, if the plants have been grown in
suitable soil, and been duly attended to the previous summer, there
will be found springing from around the root of each plant a number
of little shoots from 1 to 3 inches long — these make the best cuttings ;

.1870.] SOMETHING ABOUT THE PANSY. 77

many of them •will be found to have little roots springing from their
base, and should be planted apart from the others, as they will get on
faster in consequence, and bloom earlier than those destitute of such
roots. With a sharp knife trim a few of the under leaves off each
cutting, and insert them in lines 6 inches apart, and 3 inches from
cutting to cutting in the lines. As the work proceeds, press the soil
closely about each line ; and should bright sun occur, give a slight
shading for six or eight days — but shade is seldom necessary at this
season of the year. For the cutting-bed choose a sheltered spot with
a western aspect ; its size must depend on the number of cuttings to be
put in, and should be made as follows : upon the surface of the soil
place on their edges parallel to each other two boards, about 7 inches
in width and 4 feet apart ; fasten them by nailing them to two wooden
pins previously driven into the ground, and place a board across at
the ends, and fill up the enclosed space, first with 3 inches of coal
cinders to act as drainage, the remaining 4 inches with a compost of
two parts good garden-soil, one part wood charcoal, burned earth, or
charred rubbish of some kind pounded moderately fine, and one part
sharp sand, thoroughly mixed ; press this mixture firmly, and make
smooth the surface of the bed ; it is then in readiness to receive the
cuttings. When hard weather sets in, as a protection against cutting
winds nail Spruce or other evergreen branches to the boards sur-
rounding the bed ; let their tops meet over the plants, but be careful
not to place them so close as to materially exclude the light.

The beds in which Pansies are to bloom should be trenched and
turned over at least twice during the winter. At the second turning
spread from 4 to 6 inches of well-rotted manure over the surface, and
as the turning proceeds let it be properly mixed with the soil.

The end of April or beginning of May is the best time to remove
the plants to their blooming quarters ; many of them will be in bloom,
and at once give some return for the care bestowed upon them. Plant
rather deep, and if the soil is in good working order, press it firmly
round each plant. The state of the weather will regulate the amount
of water necessary, and this must be left to the judgment of the
cultivator.

The first week in June mulch the beds with old manure passed
through a coarse sieve ; give a good watering, which must be repeated
as often as necessary : remembering that a mere surface sprinkling is
worse than useless, therefore give a liberal supply on each occasion.
Look over the beds occasionally, and pick off the seed-pods ; stop any
shoot that is unduly taking the lead ; and should a plant appear un-
healthy, remove it at once, and fill its place with one from the reserve
bed. So far as propagation, soil, &c, are concerned, the above remarks

78 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

will apply to Tansies grown for exhibition ; but when the latter is the
aim of the grower, he must keep up a succession of young plants, as
they invariably produce liner blooms, both in point of colour, size, and
shape, than older plants. Thin the flowers on weak-growing kinds,
and during a fortnight previous to the show, shade from bright sun-
shine and protect from heavy rains, as the least spot of dirt, blotch,
or blemish on any of the flowers will tell against a stand when placed
on the exhibition table. For effect in the flower-garden, the self-
coloured Pansies are best ; the yellows, whites, dark-purples, and
blues are as effective when used in masses as most of our half-hardy
bedding plants, and when treated as directed above seldom fail to give
satisfaction. J- H.

[Those of our readers who dwell in the south of England, and who cultivate
Pansies in the open ground for exhibition, should plant their beds much
earlier than the time named by our correspondent. It should be done in
October and November, or else in February or March. Generally, in the drier
districts of the south, they are cultivated in pots, a practice rendered almost if
not absolutely necessary by the frequent prevalence of dry hot weather at
the end of the spring or early part of the summer. Very shortly we hope to
give an outline of the cultural process of one of the most successful amateur
cultivators and exhibitors in the south of England. — Eds.]

A CHAPTER ON AMATEURS FOR AMATEURS.

Your true amateur, in things horticultural, is the representative of a
class of persons to whom the pages of the ' Gardener ' ought to become
subjects of deep interest, and full of matter of the most useful charac-
ter. Perhaps too much of the matter in its columns has hitherto been
devoted to the teaching of that portion of its readers w7ho least require
it — I mean, the professional gardeners, many of whom are, perhaps, as
well able to treat of things horticultural as are their teachers. I have
sometimes noticed a tendency, on the part of many writers in garden-
ing papers, to forget that the gardeners of the nation whom they are
addressing are in many cases as well informed as themselves, and gen-
erally disposed to somewhat resent the almost dictatorial style in which
professional articles are frequently indited. Men who have grown grey
in the service of horticulture do not relish information, however valu-
able, if so conveyed ; and are far more likely to appreciate that spirit
in the teacher which seems to say, "Come now, and let us reason
together," rather than that which jumps too quickly at conclusions,
and sets up in spirit infallible dogmas of horticultural faith in regard
to matters about which their readers may widely differ.

But our amateur is a totally different person. He places emphatic

1870.] A CHAPTER ON AMATEURS. 79

reliance on all that falls from the pen of a professional man. He gazes
with wonder and admiration when shown what the professional capa-
city has accomplished, and treasures up every word uttered by men
qualified to speak; and, if possessing moderate capacity, will soon
show how he appreciates the advice given. Our amateur has no
bounds to his horticultural ambition other than his pocket. He is,
however, generally wise enough not to have too many irons in the
fire at one time, so he devotes himself sometimes to one special
thing and sometimes to several, with varying success. The amateur
cultivator of the Pelargonium is largely represented. They soon get
posted up in the special knowledge requisite to grow a Pelargonium
well; and if cuttings cannot sometimes be begged, plants must be
and are bought, and frequently successfully grown. If there is a
flower-show held in his locality, he will be there in great force, and
will display in his love of plants how beneficent are the influences
that horticultural societies can exert, if rightly conducted. I can also
particularise the amateur grower of the Auricula and Polyanthus. He is
sure to be a very enthusiast in his pursuit, and will freely spend his
money to gain coveted varieties. Strangely enough, the cultivator of
these fine old flowers rarely troubles himself about any other plants,
unless it be a few Pansies or Tulips ; but his devotion to the flowers
of his choice leads him to do them well — so well, indeed, as often to
out-pace the professional grower.

Working in a somewhat more extensive sphere is found the amateur
fruit-cultivator, for he either rejoices in a goodly-sized garden, or has
his bit of glass, under which he grows a few Vines, and possibly a Peach-
tree or two, and as many Plums or Pears, &c. His experiences are not
always pleasurable, for he finds that mildew will appear and thrip
will thrive, and he is driven to his wit's end to find a means of ridding
himself of them. He will call on you, and ask you to look in and see
his house, and not only tell him but show him what to do, for you
told him before, and he did it, but it was of no avail. Perhaps he did
it wrongly, so you must show him how to do it rightly, that he do not
fail in the future. If you walk into his parlour, you will see lying
prominent upon his table, and well-thumbed, Thomson on the Vine,
and Eivers's 'Orchard-House' and ' Miniature Fruit- Garden.' The con-
tents of these he has well digested, but he will tell you, with apparent
sincerity, that after all he requires practical knowledge to apply his
information. Fortunately, our fruit-amateur is not a despairing being.
He is not daunted by a failure or two. He comforts himself with the
assurance that experience, to be worth anything, must be bought, and
so he goes to work again with renewed energies, and is ultimately
successful. I dare not forget the amateur Rose-cultivator, but I touch

80 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

upon him with diffidence, for visions rise up before me of great men
— not only mentally but physically great — who, clothed in broadcloth
and linen of spotless purity, have made themselves kings and princes
amongst amateur cultivators in the great modern Wars of the Roses.
Our Queen of Flowers must have no common men for her chief minis-
ters, although all may bask in the sunshine of her sweet smiles ; and
thus it is that, at the present time especially, our Rose-amateur stands
far above the range of other amateur growers in the position he
holds in horticultural society. The amateur vegetable-grower may be
said to dwell in a lower world. The labour he has to undergo in the
pursuit of his special pleasure would scare a man made of tenderer
stuff, for vegetables must have exercised over them much physical toil —
indeed, the success the amateur meets with will usually prove the best
test of the toil he has bestowed on the production of his crops. At
one time he will astonish you with the size and shape of his Onions ;
at another, with the fine quality of his Potatoes (for this noble esculent
he exhibits, and rightly too, a special pride) ; and then, later on, he
will show you such Celery, so white and crisp, and withal so delicately
flavoured, that you can hear him chuckle as he puts it to you whether
you can beat it 1

These are, however, but a small selection of types from out our
great army of amateur cultivators — thanks to the spread of horti-
cultural information through the medium of the press. A love of
that beautiful science is fast permeating all classes of the community,
and not least in importance are the results to be found amidst the
suburban denizens of our great towns, whose occupations, whether
professional or otherwise, are usually of a sedentary character, and
who, therefore, find in their gardens the purest and healthiest recre-
ation, combined with a profitable bestowal of labour. This class
furnishes what might be termed the general amateur, for he dabbles
a little in most things that appertain to a garden. It is to this
body I intend, as occasion serves, to offer some information suited
to their special circumstances. Living, as I do, in the suburbs of
a large town, and being myself to a great extent one of this class,
I hope not only to instruct others, but, in the act of doing so, to
be myself taught, and so each and all be benefited by the action.

Southron.

1870.] PELARGONIUMS FROM SEED. 81

HOW I RAISE MY PELARGONIUMS FROM SEED.

I think the details of my plan likely to be interesting to any one,
who, like myself, is fond of raising Pelargoniums from seed ; and those
who have not yet attempted to do so may be led to try the experiment
from a perusal of the rules of the simple but sure way by which I get
a nice lot of young plants from good seed. I find that if the raiser
selects his seed from some good varieties, he may reasonably expect
some good things, and possibly a few real novelties ; but be sure that it
does come from good varieties, and that the seed is fully ripened. If
you have no plants from which to get seed good enough for your pur-
pose, you can hardly fail to obtain some from your nurseryman.

Now for the mode in which I sow my seed. I take some 48-sized
pots, and put in them a few crocks, and a few rough lumps of turfy
loam for drainage, then a few smaller pieces by which to fill up the
pots to within 3 inches of the rim : then for a suitable soil in
which to place the seeds, I mix together a little loam, leaf-mould, and
silver-sand, and either finally pulverise it with the hands, or sift it
through a fine riddle. I then fill up the pots with this mixture to with-
in half an inch of the rim, and give them a rap or two on the potting
bench to settle the soil ; then I add a thin layer of silver-sand, and
slightly water the pots through a very fine rose watering - pot ;
then sprinkle a little more sand on wrhilst the soil is moist, and allow
them to stand two or three hours ere I sow. Meanwhile I select the
seeds to be sown, and these I pick out separately and lay them on a
piece of paper ready to hand, so that they can be picked up singly.
Now I take a small stick about the size of a penholder, pointed at one
end, and in the soil I make small holes about half an inch in depth,
beginning with a circle about half an inch from the rim of the pot,
and so add circles till the space is covered with them. Those who
grow Pelargoniums know well that the seeds have each a kind of
minute silvery feather at one end of them. I take each seed by this
feature and place it in an upright position in the hole, holding the
feathery part in the hand as in the act of planting cuttings, and allow-
ing it to project from the soil. Each pot of the size named takes about
forty seeds, and when all are planted the soil is settled about the seeds
by a slight sprinkle from the watering-pot. Now each pot looks as if
I had stuck a lot of very small feathers in the sand instead of seeds.
I place the pots on a shelf in the greenhouse, and in about a fortnight's
time I can perceive rising up from the base of the little silvery feather
the tiniest green leaves. The leafage is very pretty indeed at this
stage, and it is extremely interesting to watch their development, as
some have pale golden leaves, some light-green, and some dark-green

F

S2 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

leaves, with a distinct dark zone traced on them. I have, at the time
I write, several pots of seedlings presenting a singular variation of
leaf-marking.

I find it very necessary to guard against the attacks of mice. They
have decided' floral tastes, as I have discovered to my cost ; they are
extremely fond of devouring the seeds, and with them the chances of
obtaining either plants or novelties.

Now for my experiences with seeds taken from certain varieties. I
planted one pot with seeds obtained from Amy Hogg, one of Mr W.
Paul's Nosegays ; and, as far as I can judge of the appearance of the
leaves at present, they show at least four distinct types. From Forget-
me-not, a pretty and useful pink-blooming zonal, I have some plants
having dark-green leaves with a dark zone like the parent, and some
leaves with a pure golden surface. From Mons. Reudatler some fine
zonal leaves may be expected, even if the flowers are worthless. In
the early part of the summer of 18G9 I planted out in the margin
of a vine-border two rows of seedlings of my own raising, and in
several instances the decided character of the leaf-marking was of a
very interesting character ; and some of the plants produced really
good flowers. From these I selected several kinds that promise to
make good bedders, and I shall propagate them for the purpose, and
so thoroughly test their properties and bedding qualities.

Supposing I get no decided novelties, I would on no account miss
the enjoyment that the raising of seedlings always affords. It is
deeply interesting to watch the opening flowers, and to note how they
vary in character from the parent type, alike in the shape and colour
of the blossoms, and in the shape and marking of the leaves.

I have now to add that I sow the seed in August or the first week
in September. George Venner.

The Grove Gardens, Hamvell, W.

THE PLUM GROWN AS A PYRAMID.

I have read on page 8 of the last number of the ' Gardener ' an article on
"The Cultivation of Hardy Fruits," by Mr M'Millan, in which he particularly
treats of the Plum. In that article the following passage occurs — "I have
never tried the Plum as a pyramid, nor have I ever seen it as such. From its
general appearance and habit, and the mode of pruning and training necessary,
it is my opinion that, grown as pyramids, it would not succeed. I may be wrong,
but my idea is, that as such it would be far more likely to make such growth as
would result in the production of wood in the place of flower-buds."

I write for the purpose of narrating, not what I have myself done with the Plum
as a pyramid, but what I have seen others doing; and I can draw a notable illus-

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 83

tration of the cultivation of the Plum in this manner from what has been and
is still being done with the Plum as a pyramid at the Gardens of the Pioyal
Horticultural Society at Chiswick.

When there a few days ago, Mr A. F. Barron, the able superintendent at Chis-
wick, showed me a long border of pyramid Plum-trees, about two hundred in
numbei', and comprising a full collection of the various sorts in cultivation. These
trees have been planted about ten years, and average some 7 feet in height. In
forming these trees into pyramids, such a number of sorts would be sure to betray
marked diversities of growth ; and while some could be trained to the pyramid
form more readily than others, there was not a single one of the many varieties
under cultivation incapable of being so trained. Some make but a spare bushy
growth, others throw out clusters of fruiting-spurs that were now densely covered
with blooming buds. Mr Barron is of opinion that the Plum can be cultivated
in the form of a pyramid as well as any other fruit. What is mainly required is
great perseverance on the part of the cultivator in the summer-pinching of the
shoots, so as to insure the production of fruit as opposed to a rampant growth
of mere wood.

It has been stated that Mr Rivers of Sawbridgeworth plants out pyramid Plums
by the thousand, the plants being about 3 feet apart; and some good fruit-cul-
tivators are of opinion that if pyramid Plums about 4 to 5 feet in height were
planted out in rows, some 3 feet apart, and 2 feet from each other in the row,
it would be an excellent method of growing Plums, and well repay the outlay
incurred. Observer.

3^S»~^SNL« — ■

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

The meetings of the Eoyal Horticultural Society are practically exhibitions, as
they always produce something worth looking at. The December meeting, though
held only four days before Christmas, and with the shadows of the coming hard
wintry weather thrown over it, yet had its quota of interesting objects. A large
group of garden Ivies, exhibited by Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son, in groups of
three plants in pots of each kind, was thoroughly well examined, though many of
the plants were in bad condition. There is such a perennial never-failing value about
these plants that they scarcely ever look dull or cease to do effective service. For
covering low dead walls, the exteriors of glass structures, and in many other ways,
they can be turned to such excellent account that we cannot wonder at their grow-
ing popularity. Messrs Henderson's collection included some supposed newly-im-
ported species, the value of which will have to be determined when they become
more developed. A very nice group of winter-blooming Orchids, exhibited by
Messrs Veitch & Sons, went far to show their value for house-decoration at this
season of the year. They included Masdevallia Veitchii, with one very fine
flower ; Yanda insignis, very handsome ; Oncidium Phalamopsis, prettily flow-
ered and very charming ; and a few others quite as beautiful. At the nurseries
of Mr William Bull, at Chelsea, can now be seen in bloom, in an intermediate
house, a very interesting collection of winter-blooming Orchids, of which we shall
give some account very shortly. Of winter-blooming flowers what can compare
with the Cyclamen Persicum ? At this meeting two groups of plants were fur-
nished, one by Mr Edmunds of Hayes, the other by Mr Welch, Parkfield House,
Hillingdon ; and those best acquainted with the Cyclamen, and the high state of

84 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

development to which it has been brought, were struck with the marked beauty
of some of the flowers in these collections. Thanks to Mr Wiggins and others,
not only is the treatment of the Cyclamen better understood, but it has also
become much more widely grown, and better done in consequence. Mr George,
gardener to C. H. Maxwell, Esq., Caversham, was awarded a special certificate for
an example of Calanthe vestita, with a marvellously fine spike of flowers ; and
those veteran nurserymen, Messrs J. & C. Lee of Hammersmith, had a very inter-
esting collection of handsome hardy shrubs grown in tubs.

In the way of new fruits, Mr Crament, gardener to E. Backhouse, Esq. , Sunder-
land, exhibited a seedling Grape, in appearance not unlike the white Tokay, a
long well-shapen bunch, but not ripe, as all flavour had departed, supposing it
had ever possessed any. From Mr Thomson of Dalkeith came a bunch of his
new white Lady Downes Grape, in appearance all that could be desired in a Grape,
but with its flavour so undeveloped that it was requested to be shown again in
March next. Mr Tillery of Welbeck sent, among a nice collection of Apples and
Tears, a seedling Pear said to have been raised from the Chaumontel crossed with
Gansels' Bergamot, but it did appear to differ from the Chaumontel. Perhaps
some of the finest Chaumontel Pears ever seen grown in the London district were
produced on this occasion. They were shown by Mr Hepper, gardener to J. H.
"Walmisley, Esq., the Elms, Acton, Middlesex, and a special certificate was
awarded to them. A good kitchen Apple, under the name of Farmer's Seedling,
came from Mrs B. Ord, Whitfield Hall, Cumberland. It has the appearance of
being a sort well worthy cultivation. At this meeting two prizes were given by the
Pev. George Kemp, one of the members of the Fruit Committee — one, value £3,
for the best, and one, value £2, for the second best, winter dessert of Apples and
Pears, three dishes of each. There were several competitors, and, the season
considered, the fruit was generally good. The best came from Mr Garland,
gardener to Sir T. D. Acland, Bt., Killerton, Devon, who had Golden
Pippin, Nonpareil, and Boss Nonpareil Apples; and the following Pears, Winter
Nelis, Glout Morceau, and Bergamotte Esperen. The second best came from
Mr S. Ford, gardener to W. E. Hubbard, Esq., St Leonards, who had Ribston
Pippin, Blenheim Pippin, and Red Pearmain Apples and Knight's Monarch
very fine ; Duchesse d'Angouleme and Josephine de Maiines Pears. Messrs
Tillery; W. Early, Digswell ; and Gilbert, Burghley Park, also exhibited, so there
was no lack of interest in the competition. After all, the best-flavoured Apple
among all those exhibited on this occasion was Cox's Orange Pippin, from Mr F.
N. Dancer, Turnham Green.

GARDEN RECORDS.

NO. II.

BATTERSEA PARK, LONDON, S.W.

(Continued from p. 35.)

Resuming our " Records " at this point, we note that a tall weeping Ash, with
a golden-leaved JapaneseHoneysuckle trained round the stem, afforded an oppor-
tunity for the planting of a circle of the double-flowering Pelargonium, Triomphe
de Gergovat, but one apparently worthless for bedding purposes. Round this was
a line of Mann's brilliant scarlet zonal Lord Derby, with small trusses of bloom

1870.J GARDEN RECORDS. 85

as usual, but the flowers of a fine hue, and, as when cultivated in pots, of the finest
form ; and round this a capital gold and bronze Pelargonium Mr Gibson intends
to try again, so much was he pleased with it, it being dwarf in habit and very
effective. Near this was an oval-shaped bed, having in the centre Vitis hetero-
phylla variegata, the leaves nicely edged and blotched with silver. Round this was
a line of Lonicera aureo-reticulata, nicely coloured, and therefore a good contrast,
edged with Teleianthera (Alternanthera) versicolor, here an exquisite edging plant,
the dark bronze and bright red leaves blotched with white ; but it must be borne
in mind that the enclosed subtropical garden at Battersea Park is highly favour-
able to the wellbeing of tender bedding plants, that altogether fail in exposed and
wet situations. The next bed was of a long oval shape, facing towards the walk,
having at the back three lines of variegated zonal Pelargonium Mrs Pollock, Louisa
Smith in the centre, and Lady Cullum in front. Between each of these sections
of variegated zonal Pelargoniums was a line of a so-called dwarf Ageratum named
Prince Arthur, but much too tall-growing for such an arrangement, as it buried
the Pelargoniums. Mr Gibson remarked that a dwarf-growing blue Ageratum
was much needed in the flower-garden, and this has no doubt been found in
Ageratum Imperial dwarf, to the admirable qualities of which Mr Plester calls
attention on another page. Lady Cullum was very fine and effective in this rela-
tion, and bids fair to take the lead as a bedder among the variegated zonal Pel-
argoniums. Close by this bed was another of circular shape, almost wholly filled
with Crystal Palace Gem, one of the golden-leaved section of bedding Pelargoniums,
in praise of which too much can scarcely be written. Then came one of those
beds so peculiar to Battersea Park, and so unusual elsewhere — namely, one of
circular shape, filled with various forms of the Erythrina. In the centre was a
disc of the old E. crista-galli ; round this, E. Madame Belanger ; encircling this, in
its turn, was E. ornata, very fine indeed; then, on the outside, Madame Bel-
anger appeared again, a very fine dark form that deserves to be more frequently
seen in gardens ; then a circle of Heliotrope Miss Nightingale, and a margin of
Sempervivum barbatum bearing yellow flowers. The Continental horticulturists
have certainly done much of late years in the way of improving the Erythrina,
for there are now several fine and varied kinds well worthy attention. Still
another circular bed, having in the centre Gaiety, bedding Pelargonium ; round
this was Beauty of Calderdale, one of Wills's gold and bronze Pelargoniums, quite
dull-looking, and had been so all the summer. To quote Mr Gibson's expression,
" It had not behaved well with him." Round this was blue Lobelia, next Wills's
new golden Christine bedding Pelargonium, a nice edging plant, but of a rather
"rniffy" habit; round this Alternanthera paronychioides, and an outside edging
of Echeveria secunda glauca. These two outer circles composed what may be
truly denominated " a perfect edging." Now came in view a raised side-border
edged with Viola lutea grandiflora, a grand yellow summer bedding plant, which
as far transcends the ordinary form of V. lutea, both in the size of the flowers
and effectiveness, as the new V. Perfection does the old V. cornuta. Bedders-
out, who find the yellow Calceolaria unmanageable, and who are sighing for yel-
low bedding plants, should keep their eye on this ; and some large-flowering forms
of V. lutea, report states, will shortly be offered. Here came into view a central
mass of the old Honeyflower, Melianthus major, a tender evergreen plant, requir-
ing shelter during winter, and having a kind of silvery sheen spread over its
leaves.

Some of the new golden-leaved Coleuses were bedded out here and there, and
though we could not become highly enamoured of what we saw of their adapta-
bility for bedding purposes, yet Mr Gibson said he was not disposed to give up

8G THE GARDENER. [Feb.

their use without another trial. He states that they want growing in the shade
to bring out their peculiar leaf-hues. Next came some bold and striking groups
of Yuccas, indispensable to the subtropical department, like the shading that, by
an almost perfect contrast, brings out clear and distinct the exquisite colouring of
some great master painter. Yucca aloifolia plays an important part in Mr Gibson's
groups. Canna discolor floribunda deserves to be recorded as one of the very
best of the dark-leaved kinds ; there was a group of it with leaves so beautiful,
bronzy, and glossy, as to strike the eye at once ; it was edged with the double
white Balsam. Then came an irregular triangular-shaped bed, having a centre of
several plants of the grand Musa Ensete; round this was Coleus Bateraanni, good
as a dark-leaved kind, and stands well ; then Coleus Verschaffelti marmoratus,
which had been very fine and effective indeed, though with the cool damp nights
the "glory was departing ;" the edging, Sempervivum Californicum. Solanum
"Warscwiczioides should be noted as a fine-foliaged plant for such work as we are
now describing. Now came a fine bed of triangular shape, having three Musas
in the centre ; under and around them was a kind of carpet of Coleus Blumei
and C. Lamonti, the last named of the Blumei type, but a little greener in the
leaf, and edged with Sempervivum Californicum. These Coleuses are of good service
in the summer, but are scarcely adapted for late work, as they come too green in
the leaf then. Zonal Pelargonium Leonidas was very fine in the centre of a circu-
lar bed, the flowers of a rich deep glowing scarlet hue, the trusses of bloom small,
but the individual pips of great size. On the other hand, hybrid Nosegay Pelar-
gonium Christine Nillson, with deep-pink flowers, may be justly condemned as
of no use. It is well, in treating of bedding plants, to intimate what to avoid, as
well as what to specially select. Gold and bronze Pelargonium Artemus Ward
had been good early in the season, but failed as the advancing shadows of autumn
threw their dark lines over the scene ; the leaves came blotched with green and
gold when in good condition, and had a lively chocolate zone. A perfect bed
was one of oval shape, having in the centre a large mass of Coleus Verschaffelti ;
round this Centaurea candidissima, and an edging of Sempervivum Californicum,
No more need be said in praise of the arrangement. In a serpentine bed, the
groundwork formed of winding circles of Ivy, was seen zonal Pelargonium
Lucius, one of Bull's fine varieties, and having fine showy crimson flowers and
large erect and bold trusses ; this was edged with Pelargonium Golden Fleece
and a margin of Euonymus radicans variegata. At the back of this bed, in place
of Lucius, was Nosegay Lady Constance Grosvenor ; but Mr Gibson intends to
abandon the growth of it, on the ground that it blooms too late. Next came a
circular bed arranged with much novelty of design. In the centre of the bed
was a disc of Ageratum Prince Arthur ; from the centre of the bed to the circum-
ference ran out four ray-like bands, each of which was planted with one of the
following variegated Zonal Pelargoniums ; viz., Sophia Dumaresque, good ; Star
of India, very like it in character ; Sunray, a variety that does not do well out of
doors ; and Louisa Smith, also in bad condition. Between each of these bands
was an angular-shaped space, and these were filled with the following gold and
bronze Pelargoniums, one variety in each ; viz., Mrs C. Barry, Bronze Belt, Kent-
ish Hero, and Beauty of Calderdale ; of these, the two last named were decid-
edly the best.

The 'Gardeners' Chronicle' shall supply the remainder of our notes : —

"Foremost in novelty and attractiveness are certain low beds carpeted with

distinctly-coloured foliage. In one most strikingly beautiful bed, 30 feet long by

6 feet wide, we have three rectangular masses of the golden-leaved Pyrethrum,

which are bordered and connected by a broadish band of the rosy-tinted Alter-

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 87

nanthera amoena, the outer mass being made up of the orange-tinted Alternanthera
paronychioides major. The effect is excellent, and equally pleasing whether seen
from a distance or examined closely. Another contiguous bed is filled with the
same kinds of plants, but differently arranged. Here there are two diamond-shaped
masses of Alternanthera paronychioides major, bordered and connected by a broad
band of Alternanthera amoena, which in addition is made to form a cross band at
the centre and a Trefoil figure at each end, the whole outer mass being the
golden-leaved Pyrethrum, edged with a line of Echeveria secunda. In another
part of the grounds occur a pair of elongated carpeted beds, consisting of a series
of circles of the silvery Antennaria tomentosa, Alternanthera amoena and Teleian-
thera versicolor being disposed in a scroll-like band around them, while the outer
part is filled with Alternanthera paronychioides, with a most effective border formed
of a single line of Echeveria secunda, which latter, with Sempervivum Californicum,
and one or two other succulents of similar character, appear frequently in similar
positions. These carpet beds are all gems in their way.

'• Another remarkably effective spot, and one to which Mr Gibson has this year
made considerable additions, is what he designates most appositely as Alpine
Point. The ground is thrown up in imitation of mountain scenery, and two
'snowy' peaks covered with the white-leaved Antennaria are seen peeping up
above the surrounding scenery from many distant points. The lower surface is
clothed with hardy succulents and herbaceous plants of dwarf habit, the intention
being to get the ground covered with a carpeting of close-growing perennials —
such, for example, as the dwarf Sedums— and then to throw out here and there
individuals or masses presenting characteristic features.

" In another style of grouping was a cone-shaped bed planted on the crown with
about a quarter of a hundred fine plants of Echeveria metallica. The miniature
mount was broken up into half-a-dozen spurs, on each of which was placed a plant
of the green-leaved Sempervivum Donkelaari, and at the point a group of five
plants of the white-leaved Pachyphyton bracteosum. In each of the hollows
between these prominences was placed a small plant of the variegated-leaved
Pine- Apple. The whole surface was clothed with Sedum glaucum. This bed
was a very telling one.

"A quiet sheltered nook, which for the past year or two has been given up to
the Ferns, has been considerably amplified and improved. Here are to be seen a
few specimens, with considerable trunks, of Dicksonia, Cyathea, &c, with an
undergrowth of Thamnopteris Australasica, the palm-habited Dracaena nutans, on
tall stems, being very effectively introduced. It is a most charming, retired, and
quiet spot; and near at hand Mr Gibson has opened up a vista in the belt of
shrubbery which, with its furniture of Anthuriums, Aralias, and other handsome-
leaved plants, forms a feature of much interest, and capable of further develop-
ment."

Mr Gibson is a true artist, and his genius is as inventive as it is strikingly
apparent. The general effects could not fail to call forth the warmest commen-
dations. The great charm of these effects consists in this, "that they are not
suffered to appear in the same stereotyped form each recurring year, but being
modified by a delicate touch here or a bold stroke there — both the work of a
master hand, and thus are ever presenting signs of progressive refinement. "

THE GARDENER. [Feb.

THE EDUCATION OF GARDENERS.

Let us see what " One in despair " puts forth to show that education is of little
benefit to a gardener.

1. lie served his apprenticeship at a nobleman's place, where there were
twenty men employed.

2. Went to another large place, where he paid 3s. per week to the head-gar-
dener, but learned nothiug from him.

3. Was five years head-gardener, with three men under him, and left owing to
a quarrel with one of the other servants.

4. Took a single-handed place for his own convenience, was discharged with
other servants without warning or character, but from no fault of his own.

5. Having been some time out of work, went into the nurseries.

6. Got a recommendation to a good place, where he was five years, and where,
but for his own fault, he might have been now.

7. Dropped down to a working gardener at 20s. per week.

Verdict on the above : This man sank in spite of his education, with more
opportunities to rise than fall to the lot of one gardener out of a hundred.

Let the young gardener, who with much trouble has educated himself, gather
from this statement that if ready to adapt himself to the natural incidences of
his position, whether pleasant or otherwise, he will not want opportunities to
rise. Down South.

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF FRAMES.

Kindly allow me a few lines in reply to your correspondents, A.M.A. and Adam
Kenton, with respect to the building of their frames, the former with gas- tar,
the latter with gas-lime. For my own part, I do not see any analogy between
the two cases, owing to the very great difference in the composition of the
materials used. Gas-tar contains a large quantity of naphtha, and it is doubt-
less this ingredient which makes it dangerous to the life of plants, especially when
the frame is warmed by artificial heat, and kept closed. We have all experienced
the disagreable smell rising from walks made of ashes and gas-tar when the
heat of the summer affects them, while in cold weather no such smell is emitted.
Gas-lime is composed principally of lime, in which is absorbed sulphuretted
hydrogen and carbonic acid gases ; and this compound being in a moist state, a
certain quantity of ammonia is mechanically held by it. This latter compound is a
great fertiliser, and the agreeable softness of rain-water is due to the presence of this
alkali. The " pungency " of gas-lime is doubtless owing to the presence of this
gas ; for when newly prepared and carefully applied it is found very destruc-
tive to wire-worms, slugs, earth-worms, &c, its caustic properties dissolving, so
to speak, their tender skin.

On the application of a gentle heat, the ammonia is drawn away from the gas-
lime, so that there is left the sulphuret and carbonate of lime, neither of which,
when used in the composition of mortar, could do any harm. Gas-lime, when
laid up with loam for a few months, makes a first-rate dressing for lawns, &c,
imparting to them a rich green appearance. A few years ago this mixture was
applied to a cricket-ground in my neighbourhood, and throughout the season
there was a grand herbage on it, the sheep being particularly fond of the feed so
produced. An Amateur Chemist and Gardener.

.870.] WINDOW PLANTS. 89

ON WINDOW PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE.

So extended has now become the cultivation of window plants, either as grown
within the glass in pots, or without the window in boxes, that attempts in this
direction can be seen on every hand by any one who may take a casual walk
through any district of London ; and numerous illustrations are furnished, from
the window jardinet of the aristocratic mansion in Grosvenor Square, down to
the creeping jenny or some such humble floral ministrant that occupies the sill
of the second and third floor windows of a dingy-looking house in a narrow street
of the Seven Dials. In this way, " one touch of nature" does indeed "make
the whole world akin," for the same love for flowers creates the effect in both
cases. I always link with the appearance of flowers in the windows of a densely
populated neighbourhood the presence within the house of some aspect of the
better nature in human kind, that finds its expression in the loving, tender care
bestowed on some poor stunted plant or plants, which goes far to redeem human-
ity from that wholesale demoralisation it is the fashion of some to be continually
charging against it.

It is interesting to know that in many of the districts of London there is a
growing desire to encourage exhibitions of window plants among the labouring
classes as well as among the elder children of the parochial schools. A very
small subscription list serves to create a number of prizes, for which there is
often very keen competition ; and a schoolroom can always be made available for
the purposes of the show. The value of these exhibitions, in a civilising and
elevating point of view, cannot be too highly estimated, for it has been abundantly
manifested that the simple tending of a few homely plants, and the feelings in-
spired by such an act, are invaluable in counteracting influences of a debasing
character; and have been made instrumental in elevating the home life of a
family beyond the ordinary low levels of many a London dwelling.

Some of the best and most easy of culture among window plants are the
common Hydrangea, Fuchsia, the Zonale or horseshoe-leaved, as well as the
plain-leaved, the variegated, large-flowering, and scented-foliaged Geraniums
(though it is now considered to be scientifically inaccurate to term these Geran-
iums, as they are properly Pelargoniums) ; the Mesembryanthemum, or Fig
Marigold ; the well-known Calla ^Ethiopica ; the Balsam, the Indiarubber plant
(Ficus elasticus) ; the Myrtle, Petunia, Heliotrope ; the old crimson China Rose ;
some easily-grown varieties of the Cactus; the yellow-flowering Cytisus race-
mosus ; some of the hardy Ferns, &c.,— while even simple flowers, such as the
Musk, Auricula, Polyanthus, Cowslip, Double-Daisies, Heartsease, and others,
can be added. The foregoing list comprises nothing but what can be obtained
of any dealer in plants at a very moderate, if not even a cheap, rate.

Now, no one can expect to grow plants to perfection, or, failing this, to attain
anything like moderate success, unless some care and attention are bestowed upon
them. Where there is a love for plants, this necessary service is cheerfully and
willingly rendered.

A few simple rules may prove very acceptable to many who are cultivating
window plants in pots. 1st, It is highly necessary that, at the outset, the plants
be young and healthy. Diseased and debilitated plants will bring disappoint-
ment, and the labour expended on their culture will be, to a great extent, labour
lost. 2d, Plants should be properly potted— that is to say, good soil should be
used— something that will supply the plant with the necessary food for its sus-
tenance : there should also be ample drainage— pieces of broken flower-pots are

90 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

used for this purpose — and the plants should, as a rule, be firmly potted — that is,
the soil should be firmly pressed about the roots. 3d, The plants should -never
be allowed to got dry ; and, on the other hand, the soil should not be drenched
too heavily. It is always best that the water given to the plants be allowed to
pass freely from the bottom of the pots, and thus, to keep water standing in the
Baucera occupied by the plants is generally a bad practice, as it will often so sod-
den the roots that they will rot, and the plant become unhealthy, if it doe8 not
die outright : and 1th, Air must circulate freely among the plants if they are to
be made healthy and to thrive well; therefore sash-windows are always best for
flowers, as a supply of air invariably finds its way in from without, even when
the Bashes are closed. Plenty of light is as indispensable as plenty of air, and
the undue crowding of the plants should be altogether avoided. Window-gar-
deners are often what may be termed "greedy" in this respect; they so crowd
their windows that the inevitable result is, the plants are all badly done, whereas
a few could be managed with the best possible results. The cultivation of win-
dow plants is always open to one annoyance, that of the presence on the plants of
a small green insect, generally denominated the "green-fly." When these ap-
pear, some soap-and- water should be applied, either by the use of a soft brush
or by the hand, carefully washing off the fly in the act.

As window plants are generally very much exposed to the sunshine, the
action of the sun will produce flagging, loss of leaves, and a decay of health if the
plants are not well supplied with water. The moisture supplied to the plants
must be regulated by the weather ; but I have met with some window-gardeners
who evidently thought, judging from their practice, that no more water was
needed during a hot day in July, than in a dull close misty day in November'.
The old antipathy to watering plants when the sun is on them should be got
rid of. If the plants can be sprinkled overhead in hot weather, so much the
better ; it helps to impart vigour to the plants, as well as to keep them clean. In
dull wet weather it need not be done, but the leaves can be kept occasionally
cleansed by using a piece of damp sponge.

These are very simple rules that can be carried out at odds and ends of time ;
their performance involves no labour, scarcely any expense, and but little time
in the aggregate. The pleasure enjoyed as per contra who can estimate it ]
Depend upon it, plant-growing is the operation of a no mean home-influence for
good, and it is one of the aims of the 'Gardener' to extend this influence as far as
it can lend a helping hand to do so.

— a^S^^r^s-

HOW TO GROW POT -ROSES.

Many elaborate directions for the preparation of Roses for pot-culture are given
by various authorities, but they all resolve themselves into two principles — to
get strong plants, and to place them properly in the strongest mass of soil in a
given bulk. It has been already intimated that the Rose upon its own roots is
the only legitimate form for growing in pots. Let such, then, be obtained,
healthy and well developed, with three or four leading shoots and abundance of
fibrous roots ; we have next only to procure the pots and compost. Proper Rose-
pots are differently shaped to the ordinary kinds ; they are widish at the bot-
tom, so as to hold the greatest possible quantity of earth. Choose them large

i87o.] CAMELLIA -BUDS DROPPING. 91

and clean, and then make ready your favourites' food. The best method of
draining the pots is to place an oyster-shell over the hole in the bottom, and to
fill up for 2 or 3 inches with knobs of charcoal and broken bones. These are
much better than potsherds, inasmuch as they afford a certain amount of nutri-
ment, as well as serving for filtering purposes. Over these should be arranged
some lumps of half-rotted turf from a fat loamy pasture, well saturated with
liquid manure, the remaining compost being a mixture of hearty loam, some-
what rough, and well-decomposed manure. Pot firmly, but not adhesively.
It is surprising how the roots will multiply and spread in such a mixture, sup-
plying abundant foliage above, and in due season a copious produce of well-
developed blooms. The operation being completed, the plants may be con-
signed to a pit or the greenhouse ; or, if such accessories be not at command,
they may be set on a bottom of coal-ashes, and plunged in cocoa-nut refuse,
with hoops placed over, so as to allow of mats being used as a protection, when
necessary, from the frost ; this latter operation, however, is only necessary in
case of tender kinds. — The Gardeners' Magazine.

CAMELLIA - BUDS DROPPING.

I have had under my charge for twelve months a number of sickly Camellias
about 3 feet high, which drop their buds as they are about to expand. They
have never been too dry since I have had them. Water was applied at a tempera-
ture of 60° during last winter, with a little weak manure-water in the spring, but
there was no appearance of any improvement. I am now getting some fresh com-
post into the yard, not having had any before which was suitable for repotting;
indeed, they did not appear to be in want of it. Can you or any of your corre-
spondents recommend any system of culture that would render such plants again
worth growing] They are kept in a vinery from March 1st to the end of June,
when they are placechoutside until the end of September. — A. B., Strath Tat.
[We sent your letter to Mr Pearson, of Chilwell, an able cultivator of Camellias
who kindly replies as follows : — ] " If I had a lot of Camellias in the state de-
scribed by your correspondent, I would get some nice turf from a good pasture,
cut as thin as if it wez'e intended to be laid down for a grass plat. I would cut
such turf up by chopping it in pieces as small as nuts with a spade, and use it
without any admixture, and quite fresh — unless it were from a clay or strong
loam. In this case the chopped turf should be shook in a riddle to get rid of
some of the soil, and the grass and grass roots mixed with as much fine white
sand as will make it a sandy turf. I would then at once shake each plant free
from soil, and wash its roots, removing with a knife any that were dead, and
repot them in the fresh turf, in clean pots no larger in size than would comfortably
contain the roots. As these unhealthy plants will require stimulating to make fresh
roots, they should be kept in a warm greenhouse, not a stove, and be moistened
every day with a syringe till they have made fresh roots and shoots ; after which
they ought to be kept in a cool house always, and never receive more heat than
is necessary to prevent their roots being frozen. Of all the plants grown in our
houses, none are so miserably managed as Camellias. Where, in the neighbour-
hood of London, can a collection of well -grown plants be seen ? A plant as hardy
as a Laurel, or nearly so, is forced to death at one time of the year, and exposed
to every change of temperature at another. It is generally potted in a mixture

92 THE GARDENEE. |_Feb-

of loam and peat — one an acid soil, the other an alkaline one, which must in
time produce a sour mixture. Forced in spring, dry or deluged by rain, as it
may happen, in summer, exposed to the heavy dews and rains of autumn, and
then treated to the dry and perhaps hot atmosphere of a vinery, is it any wonder
the poor plants look miserable? Pot in sandy fresh turf; never give heat more
than is required to keep out frost ; keep them, if possible, in the house all the
year, and if not possible, have a roof of some kind over them, to preserve them
from heavy rains. "When they require potting, let it be done immediately they
are out of bloom. When they require watering, be sure that every particle of
soil is soaked. Keep the foliage as clean as a well-washed face, and you will have
no trouble to keep Camellias from dropping their buds.—/. B. Pearson, Gardeners'
Chronicle.1

REVIEWS.

The Amateur Gardener's Calendar, being a Monthly Guide as to what should
be avoided, as well as what should be done, in a Garden in each Month. By
Mr Loudon. Revised and edited by William Robinson, F. L. S. With num-
erous illustrations. London : F. Warne & Co.

About this iiseful work there is, as the title indicates, both a positive and a
negative value. It is highly important to know what to do in a garden, but it is
equally valuable to know what should not be done. This book gives very full and
comprehensive rules for all amateur gardeners ; and by means of Mr Robinson's
valuable labours in revising the work, all that modern acquisitions have brought
home to us is here presented in great part, either in the form of copious de-
tails or of suggestive hints. The preface states that "the directions given
are chiefly adapted to the climate of the neighbourhood of London, but they are
almost equally applicable in all other parts of the country, except, of course, at
elevations where gardening is rarely and with difficulty practiced." Amateur
gardeners will find in this work one of the best books of reference they could
have near them at all seasons of the year ; and in addition to the mass of practi-
cal information relating directly to gardening, there is so much of incidental
matter thrown in that the natural -history student especially could draw im-
portant aids from it. There are 370 pages of matter, interspersed with numerous
illustrations. It is nicely bound, and altogether well got up.

The Garden Oracle for 1870. Edited by Shirley Hibberd, F.R.H.S.
London : Groombridge & Sons.

That this useful yearly issue should have reached the twelfth year of publica-
tion is about the best evidence of the way in which it is appreciated. It contains
very much of that particular information at all times so useful ; and in addition
to carefully-prepared lists of new fruits, plants, and flowei-s of the year, the
editor has added valuable lists of selections of plants for 1870, a feature of much
value to the amateur cultivator. In a characteristic postscript at the end of the
volume, but which is really an amusing preface, the editor sketches the leading
features of the book, and we need scarcely say it will be read by every purchaser.

1870.] REVIEWS. 93

Scottish Arboricultural Society Proceedings.
This gives the proceedings of the sixteenth annual general meeting of the Society,
held at Edinburgh on the 3d of November 1869, the office-bearers and members, the
successful competitors, with the titles of the essays, in the late competition, and a
list of subjects selected to be offered for competition during 1869-70. So closely
allied to horticulture are the aims and objects of this flourishing Society, that
what can we do else but wish it increased success ?

"New Turfing Plant. —The dwarf -growing Pyrethrum Tchihatchewii is likely
to become invaluable for covering dry banks, spaces under trees, and other bare
places where grass refuses to grow. It is also valuable for small forecourts, where
the owner thereof has neither the inclination nor time for mowing the gi*ass so
often as is necessary to keep it neat and tidy. It is of very rapid gr-owth, so
that there is no danger of its being overgrown with weeds, although it will be
necessary to diligently weed it until it has quite carpeted the earth, to preserve a
neat appearance. It can be planted at any season of the year, but spring and
summer are the most suitable periods. The large tufts should be divided, and
the pieces dibbled in firmly at a distance of about 4 inches apart. Small plants
can be planted intact at a distance of about 6 inches apart each way. I bought
in two dozen plants last spring, and although they were small they were put out
at a distance of about a foot apart. They now cover the entire space with a dense
carpet of the richest green. If they were to be lifted and carefully divided, there
would be sufficient to plant half an acre at least. It is not necessary that the
soil should undergo any special preparation before planting, beyond its being dug
up and the surface reduced to a proper condition for the reception of the plants.
I do not recommend lawns to be planted with it in preference to grass turf, but
where grass refuses to grow, or where it is desired to do away with the bother of
mowing small grass-plots, there is nothing to equal it. I believe it is not yet in
the hands of the trade generally in this country, but any of the leading houses
would undoubtedly readily procure it through their French correspondents. —
The Gardeners' Magazine.

Candytufts for Winter Decoration. — The value of large numbers of our
common flowers is entirely lost sight of. It is not so generally known as it should
be that annual Candytufts are invaluable for furnishing a supply of cut flowers
during the winter, and that their cultivation is attended with very little trouble.
The seed must be sown early in the autumn in small pots, and when the plants
are about 2 inches high, thin them out to three plants to each pot ; and after
those remaining are nicely rooted, shift into 5-inch pots without dividing them.
Stand the pots upon a bed of ashes until the end of September, and then remove
to a cold frame, and give plenty of air in favourable weather. In a mild winter
they will flower very freely in a cold frame, but in ordinary winters a heated pit
is necessary to prevent the plants being brought to a stand-still for lack of warmth,
and also to enable the frames to be ventilated sufficiently to keep the growth
dwarf and stocky ; but there must, however, be no " forcing " in the ordinary
acceptance of the term. — The Gardeners' Magazine.

94 THE GARDENER. [Feb.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Barren Strawberries (J. H. C.) — A friend of mine has a few scores of Straw-
berry plants which for two seasons have neither borne flowers nor fruit. They
had a strong healthy foliage, and produced the ordinary quantity of runners ;
and were not isolated, but grew amongst others that were productive and are
three seasons old. The sorts are Black Prince, usually very productive, and a
seedling from British Queen. Could any of your readers give a probable reason
for this barrenness 1

[No particular cause can be assigned for the barrenness of Strawberry plants ;
they have a tendency to come barren— a fact patent to every gardener. Some-
times the barren plants are self-sown seedlings which come up about the beds.
The barren plants should be pulled up as soon as they show they will not pro-
duce bloom, and replaced by other plants ; on no account take runners from
the barren plants. At the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens at Chiswick,
from some cause not explained, two types of Strawberry plants, that have been
well denominated " rogues," frequently put in appearance ; — one is a most robust
growing form that produces plenty of large leaves but no blossoms ; the other
gives small fruits full of seeds, and quite worthless. — Eds.]

Yellow Blooming Plants for the Flower-Garden. — There are two of these
that I use somewhat largely, and which I can highly recommend; the one is
Tagetes signata pumila, the other the pigmy dwarf orange French Marigold.
Both produce yellow flowers, and attain a height of some 12 inches. If sown
broadcast over the beds about the first week in April, they become during the
summer perfect carpets of showy useful yellow blossoms, and neither sun nor
rain mars their beauty. I merely dig over the beds in the spring, and on no
account do I use any manure, and I tread the soil firmly over the bed previously
to sowing the seed. William Plester.

Ageratum, Imperial Dwarf. — "When at Mr William Chater's Nursery, at
Saffron Walden, in the early part of January, inspecting his collection of Holly-
hocks, I saw the stock of the fine new dwarf blue Ageratum Mr Chater is to
distribute in the spring, and I was reminded that I saw it bedded out in August
last, and I was so struck with its beauty that I have come to regard it as a " per-
fect gem " for the flower-garden ; and it should be in the hands of every one re-
quiring that great want — a thoroughly good blue bedding-plant. In point of
colour it differs but little from the old form of A. mexicanum or coelestinum,
but its great recommendation consists in its dwarf habit, only 6 inches in height,
and the plants literally covered with lavender blue flowers, thrown 3 inches above
the foliage. It is also of value as a winter blooming plant, for the old plants that
were taken up from the beds at the end of the summer were in flower on the occa-
sion of my visit. William Plester.

Artisans' and Cottagers' Rose Shows. — I have found those excellent and
instructive papers on the Rose from the able pen of S. R. H., which recently
appeared in the ' Gardener,' to be sources of great delight and gratification
as I perused them. The means by which Roses can be grown have been so
well expressed that I believe hundreds of recruits will be added to the armies of
our Queen ; and I do not hesitate to say that very many rosarians join with me
in tendering hearty thanks to S. R. H. for his admirable advice and suggestions.
What I wish to ask is this : Is it possible that classes specially for the artisan
and cottager Rose-growers could be included in the schedules of our great shows

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 95

as well as those for the amateur growers and nurserymen ? There are thousands of
artisans and cottagers who devote a great deal of time to the cultivation of their
favourite flowers, and especially to the Rose ; and I do not see why they should
be debarred from exhibiting at the Crystal Palace and other great shows. I
trust there is to be found some kind gentleman who will take the matter up and
secure this privilege for us. An Artisan, Leicester.

[We imagine our correspondent to mean that he and others desire there should
be incorporated with our large shows an exhibition specially for the class of growers
he represents. It is worthy a trial, say at the Rose show of the Royal Horticultural
Society in June next ; but money for special prizes would have to be obtained,
and then it is extremely doubtful if the amount would be large enough to induce
artisans to come all the way from Leicester, for instance, to exhibit. Surely there
are classes in the schedules of the horticultural exhibitions held at Leicester in
which our artisan friends could exhibit ; or, if they are numerous enough, they
should organise a Rose exhibition among themselves, similar to the one held at
Nottingham at Easter, and so capitally described by S. R. H. Let them try,
and inform us how they succeed. — Eds.]

Sandringham Sprouting Caebage. — We have just had the opportunity of
testing, by cooking, the qualities of this new vegetable. It is a true hybrid,
and was obtained from a cross between the Brussels Sprout and M'Ewen's dwarf
Cabbage. In habit of growth it resembles the Brussels Sprout; but the sprouts
are larger, longer, and densely produced. The leaves are like those of the
Brussels Sprout in appearance, and in the head they assume a somewhat elon-
gated form not unlike the Sugarloaf Cabbage. It is a delicious tender vegetable
when cooked, and, if it proves to be hardy, is fit to rank high among our best
esteemed winter vegetables. With such a parentage it cannot fail to be hardy.

Wintering Brompton Stocks. — There is always considerable uncertainty
hanging over the fate of these stocks. Sometimes they will pass through a
winter unscathed, and at another time will be destroyed wholesale. My experi-
ence of them has hitherto been of a very unsatisfactory kind, having on several
occasions lost the whole of what otherwise appeared to be a most promising lot of
plants. I hope, however, that I have just gained a wrinkle that will, in the future,
prove useful. I planted out in the open ground early in the summer two separ-
ate beds of the hybrid striped Brompton Stock, which had, by the commencement
of the winter, grown into very strong plants. Finding it then necessary to
transplant one of the beds, I did so, and placed them close to the others, so that
they formed one entire bed of about 200 plants. What is now their relative
appearance ? Why, this : that the severe frost we had at the end of the year
killed 80 per cent of the original bed, whilst those transplanted are compara-
tively unhurt. After this experience I shall always transplant my winter Stocks.

A. D.

The Goat Moth Caterpillar. — Just six months since I obtained a cater-
pillar form of this fine moth (Cossus liquiperda). It was of great size, being 4
inches in length, and as large round as the small finger of a moderate-sized hand.
Not knowing what else to do with it, I placed it in a flower-pot, and stood it upon
a piece of glass in my greenhouse. Some leaves were put in with it, but these
it would not eat ; and from that time to the present it has still remained alive
without a particle of food, thus displaying a most remarkable tenacity of exis-
tence. This species is well known for its destructive raids on timber. A. D.

96 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 1870.

Lancastrian. — The change you have made in the selection of the Vines is a
great improvement on what they were previously. Regarding your list for the early
house we think it right to observe, that our experience of the Muscat Hamburg
does not warrant its general recommendation ; it evidently is a shy Grape, and
requires peculiar soil. Black Prince is an easily grown, showy, but only third-rate
Grape. The others are all good. On the list for late vinery we remark that Fos-
ter's White Seedling is not a very good keeper. Don't strike out West's St Peter's ;
it is a good old Grape, and comes in before Lady Downes and after the Black
Hamburg. Our experience of Trebbiano does not induce us to recommend it.
Muscat of Alexandria is far before it in quality, and keeps as well.

Propagation of Aralia Sieboldi (William Hood). — Mr John Gibson, of
Battersea Park, kindly writes in reply to your inquiry : " In reference to the
propagation of Aralia Sieboldi, I am sorry I have no definite experience as to the
best mode of increasing that species except from seed ; but I should not hesitate
to recommend a trial of increasing it from cuttings of the roots, in the absence of
seed, in the same way as Aralia papyrifera is increased, cuttings of the roots of
which make plants freely on a gentle bottom heat. The thick roots are cut into
pieces of from 1 to 2 inches long, laid flat in pans or pots of light soil, well
drained, and covered half an inch or so with the same, and then a slight covering
of silver sand. Young shoots are thrown up irregularly, and as they become
sufficiently strong, should be removed and potted singly in pots, and kept in a
close warm frame until the roots appear round the inner side of the pot, and
then gradually hardened off until they will bear a cool frame, and be shifted on
as required."

The Holy Thorn of Glastonbury. — When at Yeovil in the second week
in January, we saw this famed Thorn in leaf and bloom, in the garden of Hound-
stone House, the residence of Mr Thomas Sampson. There were several plants
of it, and all in alike advanced condition. Its singular property of budding and
blossoming in midwinter is said to have been miraculously derived, and a curious
and very interesting account of its legendary history is given in a pamphlet
recently published by Mr Sampson, and is well worth a perusal.

Thermo - plastic Putty. — In a paper read before the Civil and Mechanical
Engineers' Society by Mr R. M. Bancroft on the renewal of King's-Cross station
roof, it was stated the glazing putty used in this roof was that known by the above
name, and manufactured by Sir W. A. Rose & Co., Upper Thames Street. It is
peculiarly adapted for fixing the glass in roofs of railway stations, greenhouses,
and other buildings where plate-glass and iron sash-bars are used. This putty
hardens in a few hours after being used, but will, when exposed to solar heat
sufficient to cause expansion of the glass and metal, become plastic, and on cool-
ing again returns to its original firmness, thus preventing the loss by fractures
and leakage which occurs so frequently in places where the ordinary glazier's
putty is employed.

f^

THE

GARDENER

MARCH 1870.

THE EDUCATION" OF GABDENERS.

HIS is a subject that has come prominently before the
readers of the ' Gardener ' since its first publication in
1867. The course of examinations instituted by the
Royal Horticultural Society and the Society of Arts na-
turally enough operated to call special attention to the subject ; and a
large number of readers of the ' Gardener ' being of that class for whose
especial behoof these examinations had been provided, it is not to be
wondered at that a brisk discussion on the question should have been,
and still is, carried on in its pages. All true educational agencies are
matters of deep interest, and their beneficial operation must, and does,
exert a beneficent influence on the community. In like manner, gar-
deners' examinations, wisely conducted, cannot fail to operate to raise
the professional status of the gardener, and at the same time offer to
him the means of social advancement.

But these examinations are not the end, they are only the means to
the end; and herein we fancy some are apt to mistake their object and
aim. To be able to take high honours at an examination is an object
worthy of an earnest ambition; but it may be said to only represent
the attainment of so much practical and theoretical information, the
which, in order that it may work out its legitimate results, must be
put out to use, and not be suffered to rust by a course of inaction.
First-class certificates, and the highest number of marks, do not neces-
sarily represent an educated gardener ; they do represent a foundation
on which may be built up a solid educational structure when the stores
of accumulated lore have been wisely applied. What kind of use will

98 THE GARDENER. [March

be made of these attainments % that is the question by which their real
value is to be ultimately appraised. By all means let these examina-
tions be carried on, and, if possible, more widely diffused ; but the
race is not won when they are triumphantly passed ; rather it is the
start in the race, but under highly favourable circumstances.

What is greatly needed in the present day is, some means by which
a large number of gardeners, in the more lowly and needful circum-
stances of life, can be brought into contact with the varied streams of
information on gardening matters now running out in almost every
direction by means of the wide diffusion of the various gardening
papers, <fcc. There is much need for this ; and we are glad to find that
in some parts of the country the gardeners in different localites are
banding themselves together, and, by the aid of the principle of co-ope-
ration, creating a valuable means of mutual instruction relative to the
various occupations connected with their craft. An old poet has
written : —

" Kindred objects kindred thoughts inspire,
As summer clouds flash forth electric fire : "

and the more modern recognition of this thought sees in the principle
of co-operation a material, if not a necessary, aid to social progress.
What can be attempted by means of such a principle is to be seen in
the annual report of the Bitterne and West End Gardeners' Mutual
Improvement Society, which has just come to hand. The district
covered by the operations of the Society is one situated a few miles
south of Southampton, and combines the range of two prosperous vil-
lages lying almost side by side. By means of this Society, three
copies of the 'Gardeners' Chronicle,' three copies of the 'Gardeners'
Magazine,' and three copies of the ' Journal of Horticulture,' are circu-
lated weekly ; one copy of the ' Gardeners' Record ' is circulated fort-
nightly ; and one copy of the ' Gardener,' and one of the ' Florist and
Pomologist,' are circulated monthly among the members ; and so the
members of the Society have the command of a very full range of mat-
ters engaging the attention of horticulturists. The practical import of
this arrangement is thus stated in the report : " Each member has the
advantage of perusing papers of the annual value of £3, 16s. 6d. for the
sum of 4s. 4d.," paid annually in the form of a weekly subscription of
one penny. Then there are occasional lectures on horticultural matters
about to be added, as a means of extending the usefulness of the
Society ; and no doubt there are many pleasant meetings for mutual
converse and discussion, the value of which who shall estimate 1 With
such a useful organisation in operation, it is perhaps not to be won-
dered at that this district has also a local Horticultural Society which

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 99

holds both a summer and an autumn exhibition, and produces at these
exhibitions subjects that might put to shame what is often seen staged
at the meetings of much more pretentious societies.

Here, then, is a movement worthy of wide imitation. What one or
two men cannot accomplish for themselves, can be managed by a few
combining together, and in a spirit of mutual regard and aid they can
thus seize on advantages not otherwise to be made available for prac-
tical uses. No individual is so insignificant as to be perfectly useless ;
— a combination of these can be made to represent a power of no
mean order, capable of working out ends the utility and value of which
can only be measured by the results produced.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

At the Anniversary Meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society held
on the 8th ult., an announcement was made in the Annual Report of
the Council that filled many of the friends of the Society present with
dismay. It formed section 3 of the Report, and ran as follows : —

"The second subject of importance relates to the working garden of the
Society. For some years past the Council have seen the necessity of changing
their experimental garden from Chiswick to some locality better suited for their
operations ; for the results of the cultivation there, owing to its low, cold, damp
position, combined with the gradual increase of smoke and houses around it, are
yearly becoming less satisfactory, whilst the expenditure entailed by the estab-
lishment is constantly increased. Moreover, the termination of the lease will of
itself necessitate a change in a few years. A garden conveniently situated in
pure air and with good soil would enable the Council to carry out their horti-
cultural operations with increased efficiency and at reduced cost. An obstacle
which would have hampered tbem in carrying out this change — viz., the expense
of establishing a new garden— has been (as they believe) opportunely removed by
a valuable bequest to the Society by their late Fellow, Mr Alfred Davis, which
will enable the Council to effect this improvement, and at the same time preserve
the memory of the bequest, and of Mr Davis's interest in the Society, in a per-
manent shape."

There is no doubt, therefore, but that Chiswick is doomed. All the
glories of the past that clustered about it, and remain to this day,
when it could furnish the Horticultural Exhibition of the Metropolis,
and attract to the Gardens the elite of London Society, are now of no
avail : it too must pass away, as other institutions that have served
their purposes have passed away, leaving only the memories of what
they once were behind. The Chairman, Mr James Bateman, F.R.S.,
stated the grounds that had induced the Council to recommend the
disestablishment of Chiswick : they were — the near approach of Lon-

100 THE GARDENER. [March

don westward, gradually enclosing the Chiswick Gardens by a belt of
houses ; inability to maintain it, from insufficiency of funds ; and the
fact that the lease is approaching termination, having only another
eleven years to run. The Council had not the power to renew the
lease, nor the wish to do so if they had the power.

It would appear that the paragraph of the Report referring to Chis-
wick is not to be taken as declaratory of the fact that the Council have
determined Chiswick shall be given up absolutely, but rather that they
intimate thereby their intention to refer the matter to the considera-
tion of the Fellows. The Council adopted a somewhat clumsy method
in making this intimation known, and were censured in consequence.
One or two of the Fellows present made a gallant and apparently des-
perate attempt to stay the hand of the destroyer, and complained that
some intimation had not been given by the Council of their intention
so to allude to the abandonment of Chiswick in the Report. The
Council were asked pointedly if the question of giving up Chiswick
was to be placed before the Fellows, so as to give them an opportunity
of fully considering the matter, but the questioner was met by a
marked reticence by no means assuring : perhaps reticence is a virtue
common to councils.

Another item of intelligence gleaned from the Report was to the
effect that the great provincial show held at Manchester in July last
has caused a disappointment in that it had been ascertained the returns
would do no more than meet the expenses. But the Council will go to
Oxford in July next notwithstanding, though the chances of favourable
pecuniary results are, one can imagine, likely to be less favourable at
Oxford than at Manchester.

Some few years ago, Mr Thomas Laxton, of Stamford, was success-
ful in crossing Peas with a view to obtain new varieties of high-class
character, and from the seedlings so obtained, selected a few kinds
which are now being distributed. The first, Supreme, described as an
early variety of unusual prolificacy and high quality, was sent out in
the spring of 1869 ; and this year it is followed by Alpha, another
early variety highly commended. For the last named the modest sum
of seven and sixpence per half-pint is asked. It has recently transpired
that the stock of these new Peas was purchased conjointly by Messrs
Hurst & Son, and James Carter Dunnett & Beale, of London, for the
sum of one thousand pounds, though the quantities were very small .
When to this enormous price is added the cost of growing them for
stock, advertising, and other necessary expenses, it must be admitted
that the retail price is quite moderate, high as it appears. Mr Laxton
has followed up his first success by obtaining a second batch, compris-
ing six varieties, representing an aggregate quantity of not less than

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 101

forty quarts, and for these the sum of five hundred and fifty pounds is
asked ! One need not be surprised if raising of new Peas should be-
come pretty general — that is, supposing such prices can be realised.

It has just been publicly stated that, by a simple arrangement of
fireclay plates, so managed as not to contract the capacity of the flue
at any single point, the gases, after being thoroughly intermixed, are,
at four successive stages in their progress through the flue, thrown in
thin streams against the surface of the boiler. No part of the gases
can escape this repeated forcible contact with the boiler ; and in the
process the heat they contain is so thoroughly extracted and absorbed,
that the result obtained, as proved by careful tests, is the evaporation
of nearly 12 lb. of water for every single pound of fuel, common boiler-
slack being used. This gives a large saving of fuel as compared with
the best modes of setting previously in use. The patentees guarantee
a saving of twenty-five per cent. The apparatus has the additional
advantage of being an effective smoke-consumer. The plan is appli-
cable to any class of boiler, can be applied without unseating boilers
already fixed, and the plates being of fireclay, the cost is so moderate
as to be very soon recouped by the saving of fuel.

One of the most successful horticultural exhibitions held in the
north is that of the Grand Yorkshire Gala, which takes place at York
on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of June next. It is said to be one of
the very best provincial horticultural exhibitions, not even second to
the Manchester Whitsun Show. Some good money-prizes are offered
— among them, the Lord Mayor, the Sheriff, and other citizens of
York give the sum of £37, in four prizes of ,£15, .£10, £7, and £5,
for 15 distinct varieties of Roses, in pots not larger than 8 inches in
diameter. There is also a prize of £5 for the best seedling white Rose
in pot, unnamed, with the reservation that it is to be named by the
donor of the prize, Mr Thomas Lucy, Huntingdon, York. Messrs
Backhouse & Son, the well-known nurserymen of York, offer a
sum of £5, in two prizes, for 6 Palms distinct, suitable for table deco-
ration, in pots not exceeding 8 inches in diameter. There are many
other good prizes, and altogether the schedule is a very attractive one.

In Mr Samuel Broome, the well-known gardener at the Inner Temple,
who died very suddenly from an attack of apoplexy on the morning of
Saturday the 22d of January last, horticulture loses one who had made
for himself a wide reputation as a cultivator of the Chrysanthemum.
The details of his life are somewhat scant, but, as far as they can be
gathered, it would appear that Mr Broome was a native of Staffordshire,
and was born in the year 1806, and commenced his professional career
by serving his apprenticeship in the gardens of the Earl of Bradford, in
that county. He came to London somewhere about the year 1832,

102 THE GARDENER. [March

and entered on the duties of gardener in the Temple, which he dis-
charged for a space of thirty-eight years, up to the time of his death.
Probably he did more than any other man to introduce the Chrysan-
themum to the notice of the London public, and he boasted that the
show he made in 1869 was the best he ever had. Visitors to his
show in the Inner Temple Gardens will remember his long narrow
tent, with its bank of Chrysanthemums standing on the ground at the
back of it, leaving space for a narrow walk in front. Hundreds daily
inspected this show, and at mid-day it was very difficult indeed to get
through the tent, so completely was it thronged. He had been the
means of promoting nearly all the Chrysanthemum societies round
London, and some in various parts of the country ; and, by encourag-
ing a taste for flowers, he effected much good amongst the working
classes in the metropolis, and especially in the ragged schools. He
was the author of a work on the culture of the Chrysanthemum, first
published in 1857, and he was also a contributor to various gardening
journals. He was a frequent attendant at the meetings of the Central
Horticultural Society, which holds bi-monthly meetings in one of the
streets near Temple Bar, and of which Messrs George Glenny, George
Gordon, and others found acting with them, were the principal mem-
bers. He was well known at Liverpool, having acted for years as
one of the judges at the Chrysanthemum exhibition annually held in
November ; and those who were associated with him on the last occa-
sion of his acting in that capacity, and saw his genial flow of spirits
and physical activity, little thought they saw him for the last time.
He was a kindly companion and a generous friend, and he leaves
behind him many pleasant memories of his genial disposition.

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES.

{Continued from page 69.)

When the bees crowd the mouth of the hive in comparative idleness,
it is for the bee-keeper to determine whether he will secure honey or
swarms. If honey is desired, supers or caps should be placed on the
hives as soon as the bees show the least tendency to cluster. If a piece
of new comb be placed on the super in its natural position, the bees
will occupy it the more readily ; and if the stock-hives be sufficiently
commodious, there will not be much fear of the queen bees depositing
eggs in the supers, and a large surplus of honey may be expected. If
a swarm is desired, it may be obtained in a few minutes, and all the
idle bees will be set to work. Of course, it is not natural to force the

i87o.] THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 103

bees to swarm, but it is also not natural for the bees to be idle ; and
by forcing the swarm, the bee-master will perhaps save himself two or
three weeks of weary watching and waiting. To obtain a forced swarm,
puff a little tobacco-smoke into the hive as the first preliminary • this
will cause a terrible commotion, and the bees will appear as if deter-
mined not to endure it, and will make preparations to quit the hive when
they begin to inhale so noisome an effluvium. They will rush in masses
to the honey-cells as a preliminary to their exodus, and commence
gorging themselves with honey, which makes them so good-tempered
that the hive may be gently turned upside down, and scarcely a bee
will attempt to fly or use its sting. An empty skep should then be
placed upon the inverted hive, and a bandage placed round the point of
contact of the two ; then with two light sticks beat the sides of the
lower hive so as to cause a slight jarring of the combs : this continued
for about ten minutes causes the queen and a great majority of the
bees to ascend to the upper hive — in fact, the swarm gathers there, and
may safely be placed on the stand.

The original stock-hive should be removed to a distance for a few
days, during which time many hundreds of young bees will be hatched,
and the hive will be apparently as full of bees as ever. If on driving
out a swarm a queen-cell could be obtained from another stock and
inserted in the old stock, a young queen would be hatched in about
nine days earlier than otherwise ; and nine days in summer is some-
thing, especially at a time when honey is plentiful. By the insertion
of an Italian queen-cell at this time the bees may be Ligurianised,
and all the future bees in that hive would be either pure Italians or
hybrids; indeed, it is in the province of the bee-master to cause
queen-cells to be created for these occasions from the best breeds of
bees in his apiary. If a natural swarm be desired, the bee-master
must wait the pleasure of his bees, thousands of whom remain idle
until some fortuitous combination of circumstances suggests the idea,
as it were, to the bees, and they prepare to swarm. This is accom-
plished in the following manner : The working bees select certain
cells containing a fertile egg or young larva, which cells they
enlarge and lengthen to such an extent that they appear something
like a series of excrescences on the sides of the combs, somewhat in the
shape of an acorn, tapering and pendulous, and sealed at the end with
a porous covering. This causes the reigning queen to become greatly
excited, and she instinctively endeavours to destroy the growing
power which threatens to interfere with her prerogative. She is,
however, held in restraint by the bees, who seize her by the legs and
wings, and hold her back; and they otherwise prevent her doing
mischief by clustering round the objects of her hatred. This goes on

104 THE GARDENER. [March

for three or four days ; but eventually the society in the hive becomes
so disagreeable to her majesty that it is unbearable, and she deter-
mines on leaving possessions so dissatisfied with her government or
person to their own devices j so the signal is given, and the swarm
prepares for departure. They crowd to the open honey-cells, and take
possession of the honey as the first means of providing fixtures and
furniture for the new home they are about to seek. When they issue
forth and have alighted, the swarm should be placed in a hive and
carried to the stand on which it is to remain. There they cluster
closely, and in that condition they generate sufficient heat to convert,
by a process of digestion, the honey in their honey-sacs into the
material of which their combs are composed, and which is termed
wax. This wax cannot be secreted by the bees unless they so cluster.
Under such circumstances is the wax formed, and it issues from small
openings, termed wax-pockets, in the sides of the working bees, in
the shape of small scales, which are very plastic, and which the bees
mould at their will into cells, the shape and size of which are so well
known, and about which so much has been written.

In the mean time the royal cells are progressing, and the larva has
become a caterpillar, which spins round itself a covering or cocoon of
the very finest silk-like material. It then changes to a chrysalis, which
in due course becomes a young queen bee. In the case of the hatching
and nursing of working bees and drones the process is very similar,
though differing in minutise from the hatching of queen bees ; and
whether the marked difference in the result in the case of the produc-
tion of queen bees is due to the quantity or quality of the food, or the
shape of the cell, is not at present clear ; but it is quite certain that
the egg or larva which would have become, under ordinary condi-
tions, a working bee of no sex at all, becomes, under other conditions,
a fully-developed female bee.

When the time has nearly arrived for the young queen to come
forth, the bees carefully pare away the waxy covering at the end of
the cell, leaving only the silken tissue to cover it. This in due time
the queen bee gnaws sufficiently to allow of its being pushed open by
herself from the inside, when she steps forth to search the comb for
honey. Having obtained a supply, her first impulse is to make war
on all other young queens or queen-cells ; but if it is intended that a
cast or second swarm shall issue, the queen bee is held back as before
described, and the other queen-cells are carefully guarded until she
leads forth the second swarm, which generally happens on the same or
the next day. Sometimes two or three young queens issue forth at
the same time in different parts of the hive ; and if the rage for swarm-
ing prevails, and they have not discovered each other, there may be

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 105

that number of small swarms issue from the hive at the same time and
alight in different places. If each of these small swarms was placed
in a separate hive, they would require very great assistance under the
most favourable conditions ; and it would only be in cases where the
young queens were the offspring of others of great beauty and fertility
that any attempt should be made to save them. Should they all be
placed in one hive, a triangular royal battle might ensue, in which two
of them must perish ; and it is just possible all might be killed, in
which case the bees would return to the parent hive, and remain
under the new young queen just hatched or hatching there.

If the weather or other circumstances should cause the bees to deter-
mine not to swarm a second time, the first young queen is proclaimed,
and she speedily destroys the remaining queens or queen-cells. This
she does in a clever way, having regard to her own safety. She does
not go to the end of the cell and open it, as in that case the young
queen inside could get out, and would fight for it ; but she rips open
the side of the cell with her mandibles, and stings her enemy in the
soft part of her body, after which the bees cast the dead carcass forth,
and the queen-cells are pared away by them until there is only left of
each so much as is about the size and shape of the cup of an acorn.
When two young queens issue at the same time, if they discover each
other a royal battle is inevitable, and each strives to gain the mastery
and inflict a mortal stab ; and it might happen they should so grasp
each other as that both would be killed simultaneously.

{To be continued.)

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

THE CHERRY.

[Continued from page 73.)

The pruning and training of the Cherry are works of comparative
ease — in fact, after a proper start has been made, there is less trouble
with the Cherry than any other of the large-growing hardy fruits.
The shoot made the first year after budding or grafting should be
encouraged as much as possible, not only to form a nice strong branch,
but also to perfect its wood thoroughly by the end of the season.
The mode of training must regulate the style of pruning to be adopted.
As a rule, in the British Isles the Cherry is grown as a wall-tree ;
nevertheless in some districts, but more especially in England, it is

10G THE GARDENER. [March

to be found as a standard, and as such it sometimes succeeds remark-
ably well. The fruit is perhaps not so large in size or so fine 'in
flavour as when grown against a wall \ yet those who may not be able
to cultivate on walls need not fear to plant standards. When trained
trees are desired, the maiden shoot can be cut back to three or four
eyes at the first pruning. The bud below the cut ought to be on the
front of the branch, while the next two ought to be, one on the right, the
other on the left side of the shoot, so as to be in the most favourable
position for forming the side branches. Next year these three buds
should produce three shoots, the top and centre ones forming the
leader, the side ones forming branches. Should the leader go away
too strong for the other two, it would be as well to stop it at the
height of 12 or 15 inches, so as to throw the strength of the roots par-
tially back into the other branches, or cut the leaves upon it in the
manner recommended by Mr Thompson for the Plum, and quoted by
me when writing of that fruit. At the pruning season the leader
may be cut back to about 6 or 8 inches, leaving the top bud as already
directed. The two side -shoots, if ripe to the point, may be left at
nearly their full length. When cutting these, the point-bud should
be left on the upper surface of the branch, and the branch itself ought
to be trained in an upright direction — say an angle of 45° — to encour-
age a free growth the following season. It will be noticed that the
mode of training here recommended is neither the fan nor the hori-
zontal style, but a sort of modification of both. An approach to the
fan I consider the best ; for should a branch at any time die away, it
is far more easily replaced by this mode of training than any other.
By leaving the leader the length recommended, the horizontal style of
pruning is to some extent adopted ; but 6 inches being too close for
horizontal branches, the fan style of training must be adopted in com-
bination with it. The reason for recommending the adoption of this
plan is, to avoid the production of too many branches closely set
together upon the stem, which, when the tree ages, is often the
cause of gum exuding. Each year the pruning and training of the
tree must be conducted upon the same principle as that already
explained, until the whole tree is formed, when the point-shoots may
be allowed to stand without being cut back, except in cases where the
wood is not perfectly ripe to the points. The branches which at first
have been elevated should be gradually brought down to their permanent
positions. From 10 inches to 1 foot I consider a good distance between
the branches of a Cherry belonging to the spur-fruiting varieties, which
is the division under notice. The spurs are produced and managed
in much the same manner as in the case of an Apple or Pear, only
in the case of the Cherry the spur is generally formed by cutting

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 107

the shoot a little further from the branch — at a distance of about 2
inches.

The Morello is an exception to the rules above given, so it must be
treated of separately. The others I have termed spur- fruiting varie-
ties ; this I may term non-spur fruiting. The fruit is borne on the wood
of the previous summer in the case of the Morello, so the aim of the
cultivator should be to keep his tree always well supplied with young
fruit-bearing wood. Rules cannot well be laid down on this point,
but I will endeavour to be both plain and concise. The first year the
tree may be pruned as directed above ; the second year, if the growth
be very strong, the same course may be pursued, but where moderately
strong wood is produced, it will suffice to lay against the wall as much
wood as is considered necessary, removing the rest entirely by a
good clean cut. In the case of trees growing remarkably strong, root-
pruning may be necessary for the encouragement of fruit-bearing and
moderately-sized wood ; but in no case do I consider this desirable if it
can be avoided, as it is often the forerunner of gum, unless done with
skill and care. To keep up a regular supply of good fruit-bearing
wood from the trunk of the tree to the extremities of the branches, it
is necessary to encourage young wood, and cut away the old much in
the same manner as recommended for the Peach. The trees ought
never to become crowded with young wood, as the result of that is
inferior fruit. By judicious management a tree may be kept in fruit-
bearing condition for many years, without recourse to the laborious
task of taking it entirely down and rearranging the branches. Seve-
ral Morello trees here are over fifty years of age, yet bearing by far
the largest crops and finest fruit I ever saw. They are healthy and
vigorous, covering from 700 to 800 superficial feet of surface-wall, and
furnished right to the base with fruit-bearing wood. The Morello
is not so subject to gum exuding as most of the other varieties.
In training the Morello I have found from 3 to 4 inches a good
distance between the shoots. The point of the shoot laid in should
never be cut out, as it often happens, especially in the case of old
trees, that the point is the only wood bearing buds on the whole shoot.
The removal of it would therefore not only cause the loss of a shoot
for the next year, but also the loss of the fruit for the current season.

Where the Cherry is intended for an espalier, for which it is well
adapted, the mode of pruning and training recommended for the wall
will be found to suit very well. The espalier has the advantage over
the standard in this respect, that it is more easily secured from the
ravages of birds ; in some parts of the country they would attack the
fruit long before it was ripe, unless nets were applied.

Where the Cherry is grown as a rider, the management is the same

108 THE GARDENER. [March

as in the case of dwarfs, with this exception, that if grafted or budded
low down upon the stem, the leading shoot must be trained up to the
desired height against a stake, after which the pruning and training
are the same in every particular.

The management of the Cherry as a standard is exceedingly simple.
The tree should have a clear stem of from 3 to 4 feet, and for
this purpose it will be necessary to cut the leader down to within 6
inches of the desired height. If a clean stem is desired, it will be as
well to remove all the buds up to the height desired, leaving only those
intended to form branches. The following year, if the tree is in
vigorous health, it will produce from four to eight nice strong shoots.
One of these may be selected as a leader, and five or six of the
others left to form the tree. The leader may be cut back to a foot
length, and the side shoots to 15 inches in the case of moderate-
growing varieties ; whereas in the case of vigorous-growing sorts,
these lengths may be increased by G inches or thereabouts. The
year following, all the shoots necessary to constitute the head of the
tree will be formed, so that it will only be necessary to thin out super-
fluous branches where not needed, and encourage fruit-bearing wood
and the production of spurs. By simply following this method year
after year, the results will prove far more satisfactory than where an
elaborate system of pruning has been adopted. In the management of
the Cherry as a standard, the cultivator should aim to have the branches
distant at least one foot from each other, so as to allow a free cir-
culation of air, not only for the ripening of the wood, but also for the
better colouring and flavouring of the fruit.

The summer management of the Cherry consists in shortening back
to about 3 inches all shoots made during the growing season which
are not required to form branches. Those intended for this purpose
ought to be laid loosely against the wall to protect them from being
broken. I prefer performing this operation about the middle of July,
and only once for all, as I find better and riper spurs are formed in
this way than in the case of trees pinched three or four times during
the season. In the case of the Morello, however, I never summer
prune at all, unless I find there is a superfluity of wood which would
not get thoroughly ripened, in which case I thin out a few of the worst
shoots to facilitate the ripening process. The less cutting in summer
there is, the better choice of wood in winter for furnishing the tree.

James M'Millan.
(To be continued.)

1870.] CULTURE OF THE ROSE IN POTS. 109

THE CULTURE OF THE ROSE IN POTS.

The Rose is always beautiful, at whatever season of the year it can be
had in bloom, but especially so in the early spring months, when in
the open air can only be found such things as the modest Aconite,
or the Snowdrop in all its fair purity. Valuable at all times, it is
especially so as a plant for the ornamentation of the greenhouse thus
early in the season. With this short preface, I have now to narrate
the method of the cultivation of the Rose in pots I have adopted for
some time with much success. I have now a house of Roses — a house
specially allotted to their growth, the plants in which began to break
into vigorous growth at the commencement of the year, and now give
the promise of a splendid bloom.

But first, as to the soil I use : Of loam, moderately weighty and
rich in fibre, I take one-half; cow-manure, well decomposed, one-
fourth ; the remaining fourth being composed equally of leaf- mould,
sand, and bone-meal. This is well mixed together, but not riddled ;
the fibrous loam will be quite small enough if the pieces are of the size
of pigeons' eggs.

Second, as to pruning. In this case, as affecting the results pro-
duced by moderate or severe pruning, experience, combined with judi-
cious watchfulness, is alone the best preceptor ; for it is required that
the cultivator be perfectly conversant with the habit and vigour of
the plant to be operated on. Should it make weak growths, it will be
requisite to cut away a good portion of them, and leave only those
that show the possession of strength, which should be pruned back
to about half their length, less or more, according to the vigour of the
shoots. In the case of those varieties making robust growth, and
having a vigorous constitution, the strongest shoots, especially in the
case of Hybrid Perpetuals, should be well thinned out, and the remain-
ing shoots pruned back to eight or ten buds.

Thirdly, as to potting. The practical gardener knows that this pro-
cess is a most important one, and that it is sometimes very imperfectly
performed. Many who are most scrupulous in regard to the nice dis-
tribution of the roots of a vine or tree when planting it, will yet rarn
the roots of another plant into a pot without any concern as to whether
the plant will have a fair chance of growth allowed it or not. The culti-
vator should provide pots of different sizes to meet the requirements of
the different-sized plants he will have, allowing an abundance of root-
room, more especially for those that have large fibrous roots. Plenty
of drainage should be provided — as much as 2 inches of broken pots
for a pot of 7 inches in diameter, and rather more for pots of a
larger size. Over this drainage a layer of moss should be laid, and

110 THE GARDENER. [March

over this a few of the largest lumps from the heap of soil prepared for
potting. The plant to be potted being turned out of the pot it has
hitherto occupied, the ball should be partially reduced, the roots ex-
amined, the dead roots cut away, as well as any long straggling points.
I have always found that where these are headed back, a quantity of
small fibrous roots or feeders is put out round the cut made by the
knife, which proves of great help to the plants. The ball being thus
nicely trimmed, a handful of the compost should be spread over the
rough surface of the turfy lumps placed above the drainage, and the
roots at the bottom of the ball spread carefully over the soil, and so
adding soil and arranging the roots till the ball is covered. The pot
should then be filled to the rim, and the operation finished by press-
ing the soil together with the fingers till it forms a compact body.

Before removing the plants to a light and airy part of the green-
house, or any other place in which they are to remain, they should be
well watered so that the soil be quite saturated with moisture ; and
this will be found sufficient for their requirements till shoots begin
to be formed, after which water, with which a little guano has been
mixed, may be given them somewhat copiously, according to the re-
quirements of the plants. On every available occasion the plants
should be given sun and air without measure in fresh dry weather ;
in case of frosty weather, air must not be so plentifully given.

I have found the "Queen of Flowers," as the Rose is most appro-
priately named, to possess somewhat gluttonous capacities, and able to
absorb strong stimulants, not only with impunity, but to her decided
improvement ; but it must be remembered that such should only be
administered when good healthy growth is being made, on to the time
when she shall complete the rich fulness of her marvellous beauty,
which has distinguished the " Queen of Flowers " almost above every
other flower. A. Kerr.

HINTS FOR AMATETJRS.-MARCH.

There are perhaps more seeds sown during this month and next than
all the remainder of the season, and it may be of use for beginners to
have a few brief remarks on seed-sowing. When we read the instruc-
tions given by some as to the quantity of seeds required to supply a
given piece of ground, we conclude that there must be very extravagant
notions abroad as to the cropping of gardens ; and when we still
further learn what one man pays for seeds, while another does not pay
half the sum, and has his ground in proportion much better cropped,

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. Ill

it is a proof of sad mismanagement on the part of the former. One
of the greatest evils in seed-sowing is, to sow too thickly — this is more
applicable to small seeds. When the seedlings come up in matted
tufts, their strength is impaired at the beginning, and a train of evils
often follows, such as weakly growth, premature seeding, &c. Deep-
sowing of small seeds, especially at a time when the soil is cold and
wet, is often the cause of failure. Sowing on wet heavy ground, and
treading while the soil sticks to the feet, is attended by the worst
results ; and when the ground is dust-dry, it should be moistened a
little (in hot weather it should be thoroughly soaked the day before
sowing); for if no rain fall for some time, the seeds may perish by
drought; or if the plants come up, they are so drawn and weakly that
they are attacked by mildew, or they are unable to stand the slightest
attack of vermin of any kind. Take Peas as an example. In dry hot
weather how soon the crop will give way to mildew, if the soil is dry
at sowing-time, and has only been turned over one spade deep, leav-
ing a hard bottom, into which the roots cannot penetrate. Pods come
half their size, and the Peas are so hard and tasteless that they are
often denounced as a very inferior kind; and the vendor who may
have recommended them will get, undeservedly, a character not at all
desirable. Hence the verdict pronounced on good articles, which
prevents their coming into general use when they really are valuable
acquisitions. Watering of seeds is often done injudiciously. When
the ground is dry and the surface baked hard, it is useless to water
before it is broken up either by hoe, prong, or trowel; then the water-
ing should go on gently at first, and a good soaking be given, and done
with it for the time. Cold surface-dribblings are the ruin of many
valuable seeds and plants of every description. Vermin at all seasons
of the year destroy great quantities of seeds and young plants as soon
as the latter come through the soil. We often find wood-ashes, soot,
red-lead, and tobacco-powder do much to save crops. The two latter
are generally the best, and they all can be applied over the seed at
sowing-time, or sprinkled over the young leaves as they are forming
above ground, either using when dew is on the surface, or moistening
first with water from a rose. When sowing seeds, we always can
manage them more easily when sown in drills than sown in beds
broadcast. The first system allows hoeing, and also air to pass along
between the rows, giving strength and sturdy habit to the plants.
They should not be left too long in the seed- rows to become matted,
but be planted out a few inches apart on any spare ground till ground
can be prepared to plant them in to stand for crops. Each kind
should be carefully labelled when sown or planted, so that a correct
note of them may be made. Asparagus- seed may be sown on a bed

112 THE GARDENER. [March

or border, for transplanting next season. Sandy, rich, and deep soil
suits it well. Beds may be forked over, breaking into the surface a
quantity of good rotten manure ; or soil may be thrown from the
sides over the manure, as the crowns, being near the surface, might
be injured by inexperienced hands. Where plantations are to be
made, let the soil be prepared, if not already done, by trenching deeply
and giving liberal supplies of manure, and sand if the soil is heavy.
Beans may be sown for a full crop, and those coming through the
ground should have the hoe freely worked among them. Beet may
be sown in small quantity, if supplies are required early, but reserv-
ing ground for the main supply, to be sown about the end of April in
Scotland, and two or three weeks later in the south of England.
Pinches of early Broccoli may be sown soon, and the main crops from
the third week in the month to middle of April. Walcheren, White
Cape, Granger's, and Snow's may not be sown for some time to come,
unless they are preferred very early in autumn. Cauliflower may be
sown every few weeks as required, first judging what space can be
afforded for its growth, and to have successions to keep up a regular
supply all the summer and autumn. Cauliflower under hand-lights
and other protection may have the surface of the soil stirred among the
plants, and any bad leaves picked out ; a little short litter placed over
the roots will help to keep out cold or drought. Brussels Sprouts for
first main crop may be sown soon : our latest sowing of these last
season were by far the best Sprouts. Cabbage of sorts may be sown
to succeed those which have or are about to be planted from the
winter-protected stock. They require plenty of decayed manure ;
and later, when in full growth, they will be improved with several
soakings of manure- water. Dryness or poverty at their roots gives
tough inferior produce. Savoy and Kale may be sown for a full
crop. In Scotland these are often sown in autumn, and kept over
winter, but the crops (though often rank in growth) seldom are so
useful for culinary purposes as those sown in spring. Red Cabbage
which have been planted in autumn should have the decaying leaves
picked off, and the hoe used freely among them the first dry opportunity.
Seed may be sown, as the small heads, which will come in late, are
much better for pickling than when very large and blanched. Carrot
may be sown in small quantities if required. In the south they quickly
run to seed when sown for main crop before the end of April. A little
lime and soot spread over the surface will help to keep the crop safe
from vermin ; it can be pointed over before the seed is sown. Turnip
may be sown on a sheltered piece of ground to give an early supply.
When the spring is severe, and no proper protection can be afforded,
Turnips run to seed before they are of a useful size. Celery may be

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 113

sown towards the end of the month : it requires protection and a little
warmth ; dryness, or a check from cold winds, is liable to cause it to
run to seed. A hand-light, or small box with a square of glass to slide
in it, will raise hundreds ; then they will require pricking out on a
surface of manure a few inches thick, made firm, and an inch or two
of soil placed over the surface, and the plants allowed 4 inches apart,
fastening the roots in the soil with a dibble. Allowing the roots to re-
main loose in the soil will result in premature seeding. Shade from
strong sun and sharp winds. Leeks for main crop may be sown at
once, either on a bed to transplant them from, or where they are to grow.
In the latter position the crop has to be thinned out from 8 inches to a
foot, the rows being 10 or 12 inches apart. A greater width may be
required on extra-rich soil ; earthing-up to blanch the leeks is necessary
when they are not transplanted. The thinnings, however, from the
main sowing, may be planted in deep holes on highly-manured ground.
Lettuce may now be sown in a sheltered position ; also Radishes to be
protected. Litter, hoops, and mats often do much in absence of glass,
but covering and uncovering daily gives much labour. Onions and
Parsnips, if not already sown, should receive attention as early as pos-
sible. It is not surprising that the practice so often followed with
these crops ends in complete failure. The turning over of ground,
and cramming in a quantity of manure just before the seed is sown, is
too often labour thrown away. Parsley may now be sown for a full
supply. Edgings of it are all very well ; but when the season is very
dry, a deep, well-manured border, well cropped with Parsley, is neces-
sary where much of it is wanted all the year round. A crop of Peas
may be sown, either a first or second early sort ; and if dividing, with-
out shading, any of the crops already named, good Peas will be had,
and little waste of ground. Where they have been sown in boxes,
and are ready to plant out, a favourable day should be chosen, and
some kindly soil placed at the roots of the Peas in process of plant-
ing, and stake them at once to give shelter. Potatoes may be planted
for full crops whenever ground is dry enough. Changing suddenly
from warm dry winter-quarters and planting them in cold wet ground,
gives a check which often kills the seed. Wide planting for heavy
crops of fine tubers is strongly recommended by the most successful
growers. Rhubarb should be planted before the crowns are too far
grown ; and rare or scarce kinds may be potted in free soil, and planted
out when weather is warmer. The latter system we practise more or
less every season. WTe force hundreds of roots, and they are weakened,
and some of them killed. Dividing the crowns separately, and starting
in pots, often secures fine roots, when by ordinary treatment they
would perish in the soil. Pieces of Seakale, 4 inches or less long,

H

114 THE GARDENER. [March

should now be planted in rows 2 feet apart. One foot between the
roots in the rows will be enough when they are grown for lifting.
Seed for fresh stock may be sown on soil where no stagnant moisture
is to be found, otherwise the seed often rots in the ground. Tomatoes
may now be sown in heat ; pot them in light rich soil at first, and
then turfy loam and manure may be used where it can be had. They
require heat till they are of a good size, when gradual hardening is
necessary before they are planted out, or planted in large-sized pots.
Plant Garlic and Shallots if not already done ; also small Onions, to
keep up a supply, if there is any likelihood of scarcity, till the main
crops are fit for use. Kidney-Beans need not be sown this month
except under protection of a frame. The seed perishes quickly by
damp or cold. Garden herbs may be cleared of weeds, &c, fresh
surfaced, replanted, or divided if necessary. Mint may be lifted and
placed in a little heat to give a supply till wanted.

Fruit-trees in bloom should be kept dry if possible. Thin canvas
or other material, to be drawn down in heavy storms of rain or hail,
does good service : the abuse of covering is one of the reasons why so
little good is often had from it. Peaches, or any other trees not nailed,
should be seen to soon ; and care is necessary, when tying, not to rub
off the bloom- buds : thinning the latter, when done judiciously, is of
great advantage. On rank-growing trees extra blooming may be of
service, but they should at least be allowed room to prevent their
smothering one another. Wood-buds may be rubbed off to lighten
the trees and give light to the fruit — this, when done early, gives
no check to the tree : the top shoots (which may be stopped at
fourth leaf), and one or two near the base of old shoots, are generally
enough. The best guide is the space which remains uncovered, but
there should be no crowding of wood or foliage ; and before trees are
in full leaf, it is a practice of ours to mark on the wall any space on
which it is necessary to take a leading shoot, as when the wall is
covered one cannot always do as they should like, and we always
have some old shoots which are to have their places taken by young
ones. All well-placed natural spurs should be left on fruit-trees,
thinning out wood-buds where they are too thick or wrongly placed.
Grafting may be done about the end of the month ; the stock and graft
cut to fit each other, (allowing the barks to fairly meet) is one of the
principal secrets of a grafter's success. Tie them secure, and place
clay or grafting-wax over them to keep out air. There are many ways
of grafting. The most simple method is often attended with the great-
est success. Cuttings of Currants and Gooseberries may now be made
about a foot long, picking off all the buds except three at top : cut
close over at a joint ; plant the cuttings in any spare ground to root.

1870.] THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 115

Every border and plot in garden should now be squared off to size,
keeping an orderly appearance, and the hoe should be used on every
favourable opportunity, keeping every surface clean, as well as letting
air into the soil among crops.

Auriculas, Pansies, Carnations, Pinks, and Picotees require clean
surfaces, and those growing in pots may require a shift into soil, well
examined for wireworm. Abundance of air and careful watering are
necessary. They require to be oftener looked over when the season
advances. Tender Annuals — such as Balsams and Cockscombs — may
be sown in heat, carefully potted in small pots, and allowed plenty of
light. Air must be given carefully on cold days. Bedding-plants
may be propagated as quickly as possible, hardening off gradually
those that are rooted. Be careful not to prune back such plants as
Aloysias, Fuchsias, &c, till they show what parts are dead and what
alive. Water gradually as growth advances, giving enough to reach all
the roots when watering is done. Roses may be pruned, cutting back
weakly growers to two or three " eyes ; " strong-growing kinds may be
thinned and cut back only moderately. Surface-dressing will help
free growth. M. T.

SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHRYSAISTTHEMUM.

At the end of last November I received a note from Mr J. James, gar-
dener to W. F. Watson, Esq., Isleworth, near London, asking me to
inspect a conservatory full of Chrysanthemums, the which, though
rather past their best, were yet in fine bloom, notwithstanding that
some of the largest flowers had begun to fade. I am bound to say
they were the very finest lot I ever looked upon, cultivated in
pots. A foretaste of what I might expect to see at Isleworth had
been presented at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, on
the 17th of November, on which occasion prizes were offered for
Chrysanthemums grown in pots, as well as cut blooms, and in both
instances Mr James entered the lists to do battle against the champion
growers of these flowers. In the class for six plants in pots, three
collections competed ; two of them were trained to wire skeletons in
the usual mode adopted, and were well grown, and pretty well covered
with flowers. Of the type, they were very creditable specimens of
pot-culture, but, as is usually the case, the flowers were small and thin,
though somewhat numerous. The six plants staged by Mr James
were of quite another style; they were grown in the natural form
taken by the Chrysanthemum — an upright stem, branching out from
1 to 2 feet from the ground, each having from eight to twelve branches,

116 THE GARDENER. [March

at the point of which was a magnificent bloom, of great size, finely
coloured, of full substance, and splendidly incurved. Taking the
quantity of floral matter (if such an expression is admissible) entering
into the composition of one of these flowers, they were equal to six or
eio-ht of the flowers of the plants trained on the wire-skeletons, with
the added value of the finest development. The Floral Committee,
who sat in judgment on the claims of these rival styles of growth,
gave their decision in favour of Mr James — a thoroughly just and
right judgment. It may be stated that the mode of growth — i.e., the
habit and appearance of the plants — was exactly similar to that adopted
by Messrs Salter & Son of Hammersmith, whose doings with the
Chrysanthemum are chronicled in another page.

I saw readily enough the advantage of the style of growth adopted
by Mr James in relation to the use of the Chrysanthemum as a decora-
tive plant for the conservatory. A huge, formally-trained plant, from
3 to 5 feet in diameter, is of but little value as a decorative agent in
a conservatory, destitute alike of natural grace or elegance. As both
are sacrificed by the mode of training adopted, they require to be
put out of sight, when brought home from the exhibition stage, as
offensive to a correct taste. On the other hand, when I went to Isle-
worth, and saw, in the handsome conservatory attached to Mr Watson's
residence, the magnificent floral display made by Mr James, why, the
conclusion was inevitable, that there, on the stage of that conserva-
tory, could be seen something very much better than the display made
by the huge plants at the Chrysanthemum Exhibition at Liverpool in
November last. On this lean-to stage were some 260 plants of large-
flowering Chrysanthemums, with a few of the best of the older
Japanese varieties dotted about among them for the sake of novelty,
and having a front edging of the dwarfer-growing Pompone varieties.
In addition, there was a row of plants standing along on the opposite
side of the conservatory, so a perfect floral avenue was obtained. A
large portion of the plants were in pots, 10 inches in diameter; some
of the smaller plants, and all the Pompone varieties, were in 24-
sized pots, the plants averaging from 3| to 5 feet in height. Be-
lieving as I do that a successful cultivator can always say some-
thing, when detailing his method of culture, that must prove of use to
other cultivators who can only reach a lower level of success, I got
Mr James to give me an outline of his cultivable process, that others
may perchance be enabled to go and do likewise.

The cuttings from which were gradually developed these fine plants
were struck in January of last year. For the future Mr James will
strike his cuttings in February, so as to have his plants of rather
dwarfer growth. Every one, almost, knows how readily cuttings of

i37o.] THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 117

the Chrysanthemum will strike in a little warmth at this season of the
year; and as soon as they are sufficiently rooted, Mr James pots them
off into 60 -sized pots, and for a second shift into 32 -sized pots,
always being very careful that the plants have plenty of root-room.
The large-flowering varieties are never stopped ; and Mr James was
particularly emphatic on this point. I know that some cultivators
demur to this, but there is no mistake as to Mr James's view on
the subject. When established in the 32 -sized pots, they are
shifted into the blooming-pots, and put out of doors in the full sun,
for they are said to do best when so exposed. An abundance of water
is given them, no check is received, and a fine and vigorous develop-
ment of foliage is the result. As soon as they begin to throw up their
flower-buds, the disbudding process is commenced, and one shoot is
allowed to carry but from one to two flowers. Now also manure-water
is applied ; it is a time for generous feeding, and Mr James feeds them
with liberal diet, as if they were city aldermen. The manure-water is
manufactured by placing cow-dung and some pigeons'-dung in a tank,
and then diluting it, when administered, according to its strength.
Mr James uses it in that state, that if a pan 2 inches deep were filled,
the bottom could be seen. Just as the buds are beginning to expand,
the plants are arranged in the conservatory, the varieties being alternated
according to the colour of the flowers and the respective height of the
plants. For the space of three months there is a grand supply of
flowers ; and when the plants have done blooming, they are cut down
and put away in a cold frame, to make stock for the succeeding
season.

Now for the sorts Mr James cultivated. Looking over his col-
lection, I noted down the following as very fine, which I have en-
deavoured to group according to their colours. Shades of crimson,
Albion, finely incurved; Julia Lagravere, Progne, Captivation, Sam
Slick, finely incurved ; Sanguinea and Dr Sharpe — this last, like Julia
Lagravere, is a reflexed flower, and both are thoroughly good for pot-
culture. Of bronze and cinnamon-coloured flowers, Josiah Wedg-
wood, John Salter, extra fine ; Abbe Passaglia, General Slade, Anton-
elli, Golden Eagle, Lord Ranelagh, Garibaldi, General Bainbrigge, Sir
Stafford Carey, Prometheus, Robert James, and Cherub. Of lilac and
rose-coloured flowers, which shades include a large number of the
best varieties in cultivation, there were Alma, which, though a little
rough, comes very fine ; Fingal, extra fine ; Lady Talfourd, Venus,
Ossian, Prince of Wales, Lady Slade, Lady Hardinge, Leon Lequay,
Princess of Wales, very fine indeed; Princess Teck, very delicately
tinted, one of the best ; and Little Pet, also delicate, small in size,
but remarkably good. Of yellow flowers, Gloria Mundi, extra fine ;

US THE GARDENER. [March

Yellow Perfection, Golden Nugget, Jardin des Plantes, the best yellow ;
Cloth-of-Gold, very fine indeed; and Golden Queen of England, of
great size, and one of the earliest to bloom. Of white flowers, Empress
of India, extra fine ; Beverley, very early to bloom, and lasts a long
time; Mrs George Rundle, a most exquisite flower; Mrs Heale, a
very fine flower, but does not close well in the centre ; Mrs Haliburton,
Queen of England, and Virgin Queen. Of the anemone-flowered
varieties, the two following were very fine — Fleur de Marie, pure
white ; and Prince of Anemones, lilac-blush, the first one of the very
best in this section.

The Japanese varieties were Dragon, bronzy salmon ; Red Dragon,
reddish chesnut tipped with yellow, very showy ; The Daimio, lilac,
becoming tinted with rose as the flowers age ; and Nagasaki Violet, rosy
violet, with golden disc. Of Pompone varieties the following were
good : Mrs Dix, blush, bordered with rose ; Helene, rosy violet ; Rose
Trevenna, rosy blush; Alexander Pele, salmon bronze; Aigle d'Or,
canary yellow; and Madame Montels, a pretty anemone - flowered
variety, white, with yellow centre.

Scarcely does any flower so well repay the cultivator as the Chry-
santhemum. Just when the summer has passed away, and the trees
and hedgerows are shedding their pleasant leafy garb, and the flowers
of the garden are laid low, then the Chrysanthemum opens its flowers,
and through the autumn months does a cheerful service, the more
valuable because it renders it almost alone, having so few floral con-
temporaries. That it should be a popular flower is only natural, for
in many cottage gardens it can be seen — the last remaining scene of
the floral panorama it is the function of spring and summer to present
to the admiring eyes of the children of men. Observer.

ANOTHER CHAPTER FOR AMATEUR HORTI-
CULTURISTS.

What constitutes an amateur horticulturist ? is a question that seems
just now to require a definite answer. Many persons are apt to assume
that the possession of a garden and the pretence of having performed
the labour required in it, however slovenly it may have been done, au-
thorises them to assume the designation of an amateur horticulturist,
whilst another claim has been made, by a set of people who know
nothing whatever of the theory or practice of gardening, to be distin-
guished as amateurs, on the ground that they have become members
of a horticultural society. This latter claim is certainly very ridicu-

1870.] CHAPTER FOR AMATEURS. 119

lous, but I have heard it put forth in sober earnest recently by some
who were jealous of the number of professional horticulturists then
sitting upon the committee of a local horticultural society. I take an
"amateur," in a horticultural sense, to be a person who loves the
practice of it and all that relates to it, and who, not being a profes-
sional gardener in the ordinary acceptation of the term, does yet dis-
play such a knowledge of gardening and a capacity to acquire more of
the knowledge, as shall place him, in respect of many of the subjects
he cultivates, almost or entirely on an equality with his professional
brethren : nay more, there are some true amateur horticulturists who
are in reality among the very lights and leaders in certain sections of
horticultural practice. These, of course, constitute an exceptional
class, but the great mass of amateurs are to be found in the humbler
walks of life — such as clerks, small tradesmen, artisans, and labourers,
who, after their ordinary daily occupations are over, find pleasure, re-
creation, and even profit, in devoting their hours of leisure to the cul-
tivation of their gardens and the few specialties to the growth of
which they particularly incline. I stated in my previous paper that I
purposed saying something, later on, having special reference to that
numerous class that are designated general amateur cultivators, who,
being without any particular taste, yet take special delight in all the
various features of their gardens. Perhaps they have a small green-
house filled with plants of a varying character, that are just now look-
ing very rough through the want of a little attention \ their Pelargo-
niums are covered with dead or half-rotten leaves, that should be at
once gathered off, and the plants neatly cleaned ; the Fuchsias want
to be shortened back and exposed to the light to induce a strong
healthy growth ; Cinerarias will want shifting into larger pots, and
kept moist, as nothing promotes green-fly amongst these so much as
the flagging of the foliage ; Calceolarias should also be shifted into their
blooming-pots, and kept as near the glass as possible ; nothing spoils
them so much as becoming drawn for want of being nearer the light ;
and they require watching closely for green-fly, and the plants should
be fumigated the moment this pest becomes visible. The great secret
of keeping plants healthy in a greenhouse is to keep not only the
plants, but the house also, very clean — to water all but growing plants
sparingly, and even then to be careful that no stagnant water lies
about, either on the shelves or floor of the house ; fire-heat should not
be given too freely, as its chief use in a greenhouse is to keep out
frost and damp, when these descriptions of weather prevail. To-
wards the end of the month, some pots of tender annuals maybe sown,
such as Ten- week Stocks, Asters, Balsams, Cockscombs, &c, and placed
on a shelf near the glass — the earlier they are pushed forward the bet-

120 THE GARDENER. [March

ter. Especially be careful to give air on all possible days, as its influ-
ence during the spring months is of vital importance upon plants that
are expanding into growth ; the healthier and more robust this growth
can be obtained, the better for the plants all the rest of the season.

Every villa resident should possess a small mowing-machine, and
thoroughly acquire the use of it : no more exhilarating occupation can
be found for the amateur gardener before breakfast than an hour's
employment of it. Apart from the physical results involved, the
pleasure derived from the appearance of the work done is very great ;
indeed, few things add so much to the decoration or the enjoyment
of a garden, as a smooth, cleanly-mown lawn. Just now the appear-
ance of it may be marred by worm-casts, but a good birch broom,
wielded by a strong arm, will soon disperse them, and with them also
any other refuse that might have congregated. Until the grass
requires mowing, and that will soon be, the broom should be often
used, and the roller also, if one is at hand. Then when the mowing-
machine is brought into requisition, the ease with which it will work,
and the greater neatness of that work, will more than repay for the
expenditure of the previous labour. Perhaps in nothing is our amateur
horticulturist so much lacking as a knowledge of the most efficient
way in which to apply his labour. Many men will work, and work
continuously, and yet be always in a muddle (a characteristic, by the
way, of the doings of many of our professional men), a defect excus-
able in amateurs, because they have not gone through that routine of
garden labour that begins with a boy washing pots and ends only with
the retirement from work altogether. To aid him in surmounting
this defect, let me advise him always so to apportion the work of his
garden as to be able to go over the whole of it at regular intervals,
and make a thorough job of it as he goes. Thus, when the lawn has
been mown, the beds and borders should be cleaned and rendered
tidy, and, if not already done, let them be neatly forked over with
care, so that any hardy flower-roots growing therein may take no
harm ; the edges of the grass, both to the borders and the walks,
should be neatly trimmed, and then, when the soil has been dressed,
the paths weeded, swept, and rolled, it is to be hoped your pleasure-
garden will vie for tidiness with the internal arrangements of
your habitation. Then the kitchen-garden must have its necessary
attention • and here, possibly, matters are somewhat chaotic, owing to
the unfavourable weather that has prevailed. The pruning of all trees
and bushes should be done first ; that accomplished, and the refuse-
cuttings burnt, then some manure must be got on the unoccupied
portions of ground, and be at once dug in. This is glorious exercise,
especially before breakfast ; there is nothing that will give our amateur

1870.] TREE-FERNS. 121

gardener so fine an appetite for his rolls and coffee as the turning-up
of the surface of mother earth. This work done, as fast as time will
admit of its accomplishment, the soil will then be ready for the recep-
tion of the various spring crops, respecting which so much was so ably
said by "M. T." last month, the pleasure of sowing and planting
of which is only eclipsed by the pleasure of watching and tending their
growth and maturation. An amateur's flower-garden should be to
him emphatically a source of high pleasure ; but his kitchen-garden
should not only be this also, but even a source of profit ; and this
latter gain will mainly depend upon the labour he expends upon it,
and the judgment he displays in directing it. I cannot advise him
to do better than to constantly study the pages of the * Gardener.'

Southron.

TREE-FERNS.

No one doubts that fine-foliaged plants have wonderfully progressed in public
estimation during the past few years, and it may be fairly interpreted as a certain
sign of the increase of good taste in this country. Of these plants, the Tree-
ferns form a grand tribe, and with noble proportions of growth there is always
found in happy combination — elegance and grace. Their fine graceful habit and
singular distinct appearance render them peculiarly adapted for conservatory
decoration or other purposes. As many as twenty-four, at least, fine forms of
these Tree-ferns are in cultivation, from the magnificent Tree-fern of New Zealand
(Dicksonia Antarctica), with its immense spreading fronds and gigantic stem of
from 4 to 10 feet in height, down to smaller forms, on stems from 1 to 2 feet in
height. Of the genus Alsophila there are some ten fine species. Of these the
most ornamental are A. aculeata, or ferox ; A. australis, A. Capensis (remarkable
for having abnormal growth, and clothing the upper part of the stem in a curious
manner), A. excelsa, and A. Latebrosa. Another grand and noble Tree-fern is
Cibotium princeps, with its noble spreading arched fronds. Perhaps nobler still
are the grand species of Cyatheas, such as C. arborea, C. medullaris, C. serra, and
C. Smithii.

Keference has already been made to Dicksonia Antarctica ; and equally remark-
able, and of similar noble proportions, are D. arborescens, D squarrosa, and D.
Youngii. Another most distinct and curiously grand Tree-fern is Hemitelia
Horrida, possessing a truly graceful appearance, from the slender head supporting
spreading heads of immense light-green fronds of smaller growth. But not the
less elegant are the Lomarias, particularly L. discolor, L. Gibba (a most beautiful
and graceful Tree-fern, of small but handsome growth), and L. zamsefolia, a very
interesting form. Lastly may be enumerated the beautiful Todeas ; Frazerii, and
Pellucida, requiring a moist, close atmosphere, but very beautiful when well
managed.

For conservatory decoration the Tree-ferns are peculiarly adapted ; and as
they can be had of such varying proportions as to suit alike the most spacious as
well as the most unpretentious of buildings, their value is greatly enhanced. For
small conservatories the beautiful forms of the Lomaria are specially adapted.

122

THE GARDENER.

[March

The soil best adapted for Tree-ferns is a compost formed of peat, loam, leaf-
mould, and sand. Such a mixture is used at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The ingredient should not be sifted ; but the peat and loam, which should be
fibrous, chopped into small pieces. The leaves should be used when only half
decayed, chopped fine ; for by using them before they reach the last stage of decay

they are not so liable to render the compost too close in texture, and they are just
as capable of nourishing plants at that stage as afterwards. Free drainage is indis-
pensable ; no class of plants suffer sooner from stagnation than Ferns, and none
require more steadiness in the supply of water. If they are allowed to get dry,
so that the fronds "flag," in nine cases out of ten they never rise again. — Thomas
Sampson's Seed Catalogue.

WINTER-BLOOMING ORCHIDS.

In the early part of January last we had an opportunity of inspecting a new
Orchid-house that Mr William Bull, of the King's Road, Chelsea, S.W., has just
erected for the growth of Orchids. " This house has been constructed so as to

1870.] WINTER-BLOOMING ORCHIDS. 123

embody many of the special features that have from time to time been suggested
and described as to the manner in which an Orchid-house should be erected. In its
present form it seems to be a model Orchid-house for amateur growers, and seems
likely to prove an admirable house of its kind for nurserymen also. It is a span-
roofed structure, 45 feet long, 15 feet 6 inches wide, and 9 feet high in the centre.
The outer walls are 2 feet 6 inches high, and on this wall there is a 2-feet glazed
frame on which the roof rests. Along the apex of the roof there is a good sub-
stantial wooden coping, under which a roller is fixed, which, when suitable ma-
terials for shading are fastened to it, will be used either for keeping out the bright
rays of the sun in summer, or for keeping out frost in severe weather in winter.
The house is divided into four compartments. The first is a lobby (5 feet by 4),
which must be entered before reaching the other divisions ; so that, let the con-
dition of the external atmosphere be what it may, no cold draughts are admitted
into the Orchid-house proper. The first division, after passing through the
lobby, is 11 feet in length, and is intended for cool Orchids and flowering speci-
mens. This is no doubt a great point in connection with Orchid culture, as not
only do the flowers last much longer in such a structure, but their beauty is seen
to greater advantage and much more pleasure by ladies than when the plants
are regularly kept in the hot and damp atmosphere of the growing -house.
The second division, which is called the East Indian House, is 19 feet 6 inches
in length, and the third, or Cattleya House, is 20 feet long. Down the centre
of the two latter compartments is an open tank, containing three hot- water pipes
for giving off moisture. The tanks are kept filled by a pipe and taps from the
reservoir outside. These pipes are also perfectly under control, as, by using
valves placed in the cool-house, the temperature can be raised or lowered as
required. At the end of the Cattleya House a compact and useful potting-shed,
heated by hot water, is attached. This being entered from the house, greatly
facilitates the operation of potting, &c. And here, again, is a precaution against
draught. Under the floor of this shed is a spacious tank, which receives all the
rain-water from the roof. Pipes are laid from the hot-water tank in the house
to this cistern, so that warm or chilled water can be easily had when required,
either for watering the plants or for any other purpose. The hot- water pipes for
heating the houses are arranged along the outer walls, and provision is made for
regulating the temperature in each house, by having separate stop-valves fitted to
each set of piping. Ventilation has also been provided with the same care to prevent
the introduction of cold currents of air. This is effected by having small apertures
made in the outer wall, just below the heating medium, so that cold air, be-
fore passing into the interior, must first come in contact with the hot pipes,
and so become somewhat warmed. The ventilation is effected simply by a suffi-
cient number of small sliding glass-frames for the requirements of each house.
Another important feature is the staging, which is open, both in the breadth that
runs down the centre over the tanks and around the sides ; the latter also, in-
stead of being fixed close up to the wall, have a space of about 6 inches between
them, for the heat to pass into that portion of the house which in most other
erections is the coldest part — i.e., that portion of the stage nearest the glass. The
stages being made open, the genial humidity which rises from the tanks is allowed
to pass freely amongst the plants throughout the house, and the paths can be
kept comparatively dry, which is a pleasure scarcely dreamt of where no tanks
of this kind are provided."

For this capital description of the details of Mr Bull's Orchid-house we are in-
debted to the ' Gardeners' Chronicle ; ' but since this report was taken, Mr Bull
has added one other improvement of considerable merit. Finding that the moist

12* THE GARDENER. [March

atmosphere became condensed on the glass and rafters forming the roof, and then
fell off in heavy drops, to the manifest injury of some of the plants, especially of
those in flower, zinc gutters have been attached to each rafter throughout the
house. The moisture on the glass invariably runs to one side or the other,
and, falling from the rafter into the gutter, is by means of pipes carried down
behind the side-stages into the tanks beneath the houses. Mr Bull deserves
much credit for the admirable manner in which all the details of this excellently-
constructed house have been arranged.

At the time of our visit the first division of the house was very gay with bloom-
ing Orchids. It was a bitter cold day when we went to Chelsea, a biting north-
east wind prevailing ; and yet, owing to the precaution of this lobby, but little of
this found its way into the house as we entered it. Some lovely forms of Lycaste
Skinneri first claimed attention. These admit of great variation, and some
are very beautiful indeed : one named Marginata had a very rich lip, margined
with white. There could also be observed a tendency to flower in pairs ; in several
instances twin-blooms were produced on one stem. L. Barringtonia, var. grandi-
flora, was also very fine, and was figured by Dr Hooker in his ' Botanical Magazine '
in 1867. A plant of Sophronitis grandiflora had six charming flowers finely col-
oured and fully expanded, with three buds yet to open. Some plants of Lselia
anceps were very showy, the flowers borne on long stems, having terminal groups
of two or three blossoms. One form had a fine dark lip, and darker sides to the
throat than is usually seen, and a good blotch of yellow in the lip. This is to be
called L. anceps flavida. Many plants of L. anceps were just coming into
bloom. A little later in blooming is L. furfuracea, the buds of which were just
on the point of opening. A somewhat rare and certainly beautiful species is L.
albida, one specimen in particular being of fine development. The flowers are
French white, marked with gold. One had larger flowers, which were tinted with
buff. A variety of L. albida, named grandiflora, had the lip tinted with rosy
lilac, which also stands out somewhat erect ; it had more white than is usually
seen on the sepals, which were also broader and stiffer in all their parts, and of
better shape. Blooming Odontoglots were in strong force: such as O.triumphans,
having a spike of six flowers of fine quality, and, it was said, not often seen with so
many flowers at one time. 0. pulchellum, var. grandiflorum, represented a fine large
form, very handsome. The true form of 0. hystrix was here — one having five
expanded flowers blotched with chocolate on a pale lemon ground, the upper part
broadly margined, and a pale sulphur lip much fringed. There were also several
handsome varieties of 0. bictonense — some pure white, others pale pink. One
named roseum was quite distinct, and of a pale soft rose hue, the sepals
broader, and the spots of brown on them denser than usual. Another named
grandiflorum had a pale pink lip of unusual size, quite an inch in width, sepals
chocolate, and bore a spike of sixteen flowers. Another variety, somewhat paler,
had a spike of twenty-six flowers. As an illustration of branching orchids, one
of the forms of 0. bictonense had a much-branched spike. 0. luteo-purpureum,
one of the handsomest of the family, had two fine spikes, each containing eight
attractive yellow flowers, barred and blotched with bronzy crimson. 0. Insleayi
presented several charming types differing in character ; in some the chocolate
marking was deeper than in others, aud there was more yellow on the lip. One
was named splendens : in this instance the sepals were very broad, and had pale-
brown spots ; the lip was of rich gold, with orange maroon spots. Another named
ampliatum had a great breadth of sepals, the lip pale primrose. 0. cordatum
was also very handsome j 0. cristatum was very pretty and distinct ; and 0.
maculatum wa3 just coming into bloom. 0. grande was in nice bloom, though

1870.] WINTER-BLOOMING ORCHIDS. 125

it usually flowers in August and September from the young growth. One variety
named hyemalis is said to bloom, as a rule, in December and January ; and the
great difference between this and the old form is this, that it flowers from old
ripened wood. Of this there were several plants. The flowers of some were
not yet opened, and this tendency to bloom late makes it the more valuable. A
very scarce Orchid is Oncidium nebulosum, which, though not much of itself, is
yet useful in a collection ; one had a spike of flowers from 2 to 3 yards in length,
and a shorter spike besides — the buds not yet expanded. Very pretty and curious
was the somewhat minute Oncidium ornithorynchum, with five spikes of lilac-
purple flowers, and a golden and somewhat jagged lip. The small flowers were
not unlike a mass of minute birds, and were palpably scented like Violets. Of
Cattleyas, C. trianse was in nice bloom ; so was the beautiful C. "Wagneri, pure
white, with a faint tinge of lemon on the interior of the throat. C. Dawsoni was
another handsome form, having delicate blush-white petals, the lip prettily fringed
with soft purplish rose ; and there was a fine piece of Cattleya Loddigesii,
which, though old, has a very attractive appearance in a collection, the flowers
white, tinted with pale violet, and generally seen deeper in colour than in this
example. C. Warscewiczii had delicate blush-white flowers, the throat deep
orange, the delicate lip handsomely fringed. Thex-e was also a good exam-
ple of Mesospinidium sanguineum, having a long, thin, drooping spike, with
small, deep, pinkish rose flowers, the white column affording a good con-
trast. The fine bold spikes of some of the Calanthes also made a charming
display. All the varieties are exceedingly useful, and very beautiful as winter-
blooming kinds, and are easily grown, and the flowers durable. C. luteo-oculata
— the one generally found in collections — was very pretty, and had French-white
flowers and yellow centres. C. luteo-oculata nivalis had snow-white flowers
and deep orange centres, and was very fine and distinct. C. Veitchii was also very
handsome, and had charming pale-rose flowers on a spike from 2 to 3 feet in
length. The somewhat dull-looking yet handsome Zygopetalum Mackayi was
in full bloom, and a variety named major represented a form which had the
purple markings in the lip deeper and more distinct than is usually seen. Lima-
todes rosea and L. rosea superba were also effective ; and so was Baikeria Skin-
neri, with its large spikes of violet-rose flowers. B. Lindleyana had the sepals
and petals tinted with rosy violet, the lip fringed with purplish crimson, and
white throat ; the spike was from 2 to 3 feet in length, and had a terminal
cluster of flowers. Near it was Maxillaria luteo striata, spotted and striped with
buff and maroon. The curious Coelogyne brunnea, with greenish yellow flowers,
must also be noticed, and it is sure to be appreciated by the lovers of the curious
iu Orchids.

In the East India division were fine and healthy specimens of Vandas, Saccola-
biums, iErides, Phalaenopsis, &c. Some of the former were very large, and of
vigorous development. There was a splendid specimen of Angreecum sesquipe-
dale, throwing up a fine spike of flowers, and an equally fine example of iErides
Fieldinghi. In the way of imported Orchids, Mr Bull pointed out some six or
seven plants of Phalsenopsis Schilleriana which alone had been saved from a con-
signment of from 500 to 600 plants, showing that the importer runs a great risk,
and also furnishing a valid reason for the high price this magnificent species
commands.

In the end house was a fine specimen of Arpophyllum giganteum, nearly 2
feet through, and throwing up numerous flower-spikes ; Laelia purpurata, very fine
also ; Leptotes serrulata, coming into bloom, and promising to flower freely ;
some very fine plants of Cypripedium villosum ; C. Lowi, with a grand spike of

12G THE GARDENER. [March

five flowers ; C. longifolium, a very rare species, now named C. Reichenbachii ; the
pure white C. niveum, a very beautiful form, discovered by the Rev. W. Ellis,
and not yet distributed ; C. Dayanum, C. caudatum &c. Cattleya bulbosa, a very
rare and beautiful species, had some handsome flowers of a peculiar mauve-violet
hue ; and there was a grand specimen of Oncidium sarcodes, said to be one of
the finest specimens in Europe, formed of eleven bulbs, the strongest 3 inches in
circumference and 6 inches in length. It had two spikes of partially developed
flowers, each 2 feet in length. 0. Krameri, with three flower - stems, began
to bloom in August last, and still continued to produce flowers at the termination
of the stem, the young bloom issuing from amid the decaying elements of the old
one. La?lia acuminata violacea was also very handsome, and had a stem with a
cluster of three violet-coloured flowers at the end of it.

At the warm end of this house was a nice collection of Ansechtochili, among
which one of the most striking was A. ordianus, a new form, having bright deep
green leaves handsomely reticulated with bright gold.

In one of the plant-houses Mr Bull had a very fine lot of Cyclamen Persicum,
some of them finely coloured. They were in 32-pots, large healthy plants and
fine masses of bloom. They were raised from seed sown in July 1868, and came
into bloom in October last. A fine compost for the Cyclamen is one formed of
three-fourths part of yellow loam and the other fourth leaf-mould and sand :
dung should not be used, as it encourages the worms to work so much in the
soil.

NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH.

Of these, Orchids naturally enough form the largest proportion at this
season of the year. Foremost must be placed the magnificent example
of Oncidium splendidum, exhibited by Lord Londesborough. The
sepals and petals are somewhat small, and are brown, with thin bars of
yellow running across them, and a very large and conspicuous bright
yellow lip of great beauty. It is not too much to state that it is one of
the finest species in the genus. It deservedly obtained a first-class cer-
tificate, and it was stated that it was the first time it had ever been
exhibited. 0 leopardinum, from the same exhibitor, received the
same award. It is a pretty Peruvian species, with yellow and deep
chestnut-brown flowers. Messrs Veitch & Sons have produced Vanda
cceulescens, the flowers of which, though small — and there were only
two on the flower-stem — were very pretty; colour, pale-blue, with a white
lip. A very beautiful form of Lycaste Skinneri alba has been pro-
duced by the same exhibitors, and has been termed the most beautiful
Lycaste ever seen. In the way of varieties of Cattleya Trianae, Mr
Wilson, gardener to William Marshall, Esq., Enfield, received first-class
certificates for cut specimens of the following : Io, large deep-blush
flower, with purplish rose lip, paler at the edges ; Penelope, warm lilac,
with a broad lemon-coloured bar on the lip : Atlanta, pale rose, with
deep rich purple lip ; and Venus, resembling the latter in colour, but

1870.] NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH. 127

larger, and tinted with orange in the upper part of the lip. The same
award was made to Cattleya Trianse Lawrenciana, a very beautiful and
deep rich-coloured variety, from Mr Lawrence, gardener to Bishop
Sumner (ex-Bishop of Winchester).

A first-class certificate was awarded to a fine-coloured variety of Cy-
clamen Persicum, named Kermesinum, of a rich carmine-rose hue, the
flowers of fine substance, sent by Mr J. Welch, Parkfield House, Hil-
lingdon. Mr Stevens, of Ealing, also produced a very fine batch of
seedlings, some of them remarkably high-coloured, and at the same
time quite varied in hue. Generally speaking, this strain had
small, rounded, and peculiarly shining leaves, some very handsomely
marked.

A second-class certificate has been awarded to Cerasus Laurocerasus
rotundifolia, a handsome variety of the Laurel, shown by Mr William
Paul, Waltham Cross. The plant was rather small, but if it retains its
close compact-growing habit, it will be acceptable as an improvement
on existing kinds. Also to Libonia Penrhosiana, a hybrid raised between
Libonia floribunda, also known as Abutilon vexillarium ; and Serico-
graphis Ghiesbreghtiana, the last named being the seed-parent. From
this cross three varieties were obtained, of different shades. The flowers
of the one selected for an award have the yellow mouth of the Libonia
and the scarlet tube of the Sericographis, though not so bright, while
the leaves are larger than those of the Libonia, and rather smaller and
of a darker green than those of the other parent. This makes a capital
winter-blooming plant for this season of the year. It was shown by
Mr Ism ay, gardener to the Hon. W. O. Stanley, Penrhos, Holyhead.

In the way of hardy ornamental shrubs, Mr A. Waterer, Knaphill
Nursery, Woking, had Cupressus Lawsoniana erecta viridis, a very
striking and handsome variety, almost as upright in its growth as an
Irish Yew or Eastern Arborvitae, which promises to be valuable in
gardens ; also C. Lawsoniana gracilis, of a most graceful drooping
habit, and well named in consequence. Both these received first-class
certificates.

Last year, Mr William Paul produced a snow-white single Primula,
the trusses of bloom borne on red foot-stalks, the leaf-stalks of the
same colour. This has just been produced in a double form by
Messrs F. & A. Smith, Dulwich, and named by them Purity. The
flowers are of large size and very handsome. The same exhibitors
had a great curiosity, in the form of a small plant of a seedling single
Primula Sinensis. One half of the plant had red leaf-stalks, and
produced a truss of rosy-purple flowers ; the other half had white leaf-
stalks, and bore a truss of white flowers. R D.

128 THE GARDENER. [March

GARDEN RECORDS.

NO. III.

MESSRS SALTER & SON, VERSAILLES NURSERY, HAMMERSMITH,
LONDON, W.

The annual display of Chrysanthemums made by Messrs Salter & Son has now
become an established floral institution of the metropolis, for it is a show of no
mean order. Year by year it becomes more extensive, and at the same time more
varied in its details. No description we can give will do due justice to this ad-
mirable winter -garden, when seen about the second week in November, just
as autumn is merging into winter ; and when

" The flush of the landscape is o'er,
The brown leaves are shed on the way."

It is an annual custom of the proprietors of the Versailles Nurseries to arrange this
show in two long narrow houses, connected together, and forming a continuous walk.
In the first of these two houses there was to be seen, ranged along the back of it, a
wondrous bank of Chrysanthemums of unusual fulness of beauty, and of varied
hues. This bank was so arranged as to present an undulating margin, and along
the front of this was carried a neatly-gravelled narrow path, slightly winding, the
which at intervals opened out and embraced a small circular bed ; while along the
front of the house was another bank of Chrysanthemums and other plants. The
second house had at the back of it a further bank of Chrysanthemums, mainly of
the new Japanese varieties. So much for a general description of the outline of
the arrangement.

It is always interesting to note how nicely many things are used so as to secure
pretty bits of work within the houses. For instance, Messrs Salter & Son are
particularly strong in that class of useful ornamental plants that comprises Eche-
verias, Sedums, Sempervivums, and many others allied, or nearly allied, to them.
Especially are these used to construct charming pieces by which to give points of
contrast to the numberless blooms of the Chrysanthemums, at the same time
showing their special adaptability to serve such purposes. Immediately on enter-
ing the first house, the view of the Chrysanthemums was seen to be to some ex-
tent obstructed by a raised bank carpeted with patches of various of the dwarf-
growing Sedums and Saxifrages, surmounted by a fringe of silvery-foliaged and
other plants, while about on this bank were grouped examples of Echeveria metal -
lica, E. secunda, E. secunda glauca, E. sanguinea, the curious alabaster-like Pacby-
phiton bracteosum, one of the most curious and effective of the ornamental
succulents, and others of equal value. On the left hand was a very pretty piece
of mosaic work, formed of similar agents, and giving a raised bank in the form
of a triangle. In the bed of this triangle, which was raised about 9 inches from
the ground, were three small circular designs, a larger one, and two of smaller
size, one on either side. The diameter of the largest design was from 3 to
4 feet. In the centre of this one was a good plant of Echeveria metallica,
round this a ring of six plants of E. rubra or sanguinea ; and then a ring of Pachy-
phiton bracteosum. The surface beneath these succulents was carpeted with
Saxifraga hypnoides minor. Round this central design was a circle of Semper-
vivum tectorum ; then a band of the silvery grey Sedum glaucum ; then another
circle formed of Sempervivum hirtum ; then a band of the curious dwarf Mentha
Corsica ; and lastly, an outer circle of Echeveria secunda glauca. The two smaller

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 129

side circles were similarly planted — viz., a plant of Echeveria sanguinea in the
centre, with some medium-sized plants of Echeveria secunda glauca round it,
and encircled with Sempervivum tectorum as before ; the whole carpeted with
Saxifraga hypnoides minor, and outwardly edged with Echeveria secunda glauca,
as in the case of the centre grouping. Above this excellent piece of mosaic was
a fringe of plants forming a raised background : first came Adiantum cuneatum ;
then a line of handsome forms of Beta chiliensis ; next this a line of the silvery
Centaurea candidissima ; and behind, in the remote background, a mixture of
large-growing Ferns, standard plants of Centaurea gymnocarpa, and Tanacetum
elegantissimum. Another interesting feature in this house was a plant of Dahlia
imperialis growing in a pot, and about 7 feet in height. This Mr Alfred Salter
had grafted on a stock of one of the Lilliputian varieties in the previous spring,
and had quite succeeded in his design — that of reducing the height of this grand
autumnal-flowering species, while a more branching habit had also been im-
parted. There were a great many buds on the plant on the occasion of our visit,
but whether there would be sufficient warmth in the house (there not being
the aid of artificial heat) to produce flowers at that time of the year was a
matter for doubt.

The lovers of the Chrysanthemum look mainly to Messrs Salter & Son for the
production of new varieties, or, at least, for keeping up the supplies of new flowers
annually distributed. We saw these new flowers, and the following are the de-
scriptive notes we made of them. We commence with the new large-flowering
varieties as follows : Beauty of Stoke, amber-yellow suffused with red, which
deepens in hue as the flowers age — large, full, and finely incurved ; Duke of
Edinburgh, rosy lilac, with paler centre — very large and finely incurved ; Globosa,
dark Indian red, with very broad evenly incurved petals — compact habit and of
unusual dwarf growth ; Marginata, an anemone -flowered variety, colour rosy
lilac, the guard petals edged with a deeper colour — very novel ; Meyerbeer, pale
rosy chocolate, lighter towards the centre, remarkable for its very broad incurved
petals ; Miss Hope, delicate lilac, paling off to white in the centre — a fine in-
curved flower ; Mrs Wreford Major, pale ground, with lines and dashes of dark
rose, of compact growth and dwarf habit — an excellent variety for the decoration
of the conservatory ; Norma, waxy white, with short stiff petals, flowers very
double — habit exceedingly dwarf ; Ondine, cream, tipped with rosy lilac, and
buff centre — finely incurved ; and Princess Louise and Virginalis, both anemone-
flowered varieties, the former with pale-blush outer or guard petals, with a high
centre of a pale lilac hue ; the latter white, and somewhat late in blooming.

It is very difficult indeed to describe that curious, but deeply-interesting group
of Chrysanthemums, the Japanese varieties. There are so many different types
of flowers, that though attempts have been made to classify them, the tendency to
variation on the part of many of the new flowers seems to upset what had been so
well done. Although of a distinct type from the Chrysanthemums in general culti-
vation, no difference of soil or treatment is necessary ; a warm situation and good
management is all that is required to secure a succession of flowers from Novem-
ber until January or February. As a general rule they bloom later and remain
longer in bloom than the ordinary kinds, and they serve the important end of
keeping our conservatories gay at a season of the year when flowers are very
scarce. But to our descriptive notes of the new varieties : — Aurora, bright
orange yellow, the flowers composed of a mass of straight, sword-like petals ;
Chang, purplish red, the outer surface pale amber, petals very long and curiously
twisted, flowers of great size ; Colonel Henery, deep golden yellow, the flowers
composed of long, stiff, and somewhat narrow petals : this is regarded as one of

I

130 THE GARDENER. [March

the finest varieties ever raised ; Chinoise, chestuut red, with yellow tips, flowers
very large and with a fringed appearance ; Emperor of China, blush, the centre
rose-coloured, and tinged with yellow, the exterior florets are quilled, the rest ex-
pand, and curl inwards, flowers very large ; Gloriosa, the flowers composed of long
twisted florets, forming a flat head, colour rich golden yellow mixed with red, but
becoming nearly altogether yellow as the flowers age; Helen M'Gregor, rich deep
chestnut red, the flowers composed of long, loose, threadlike petals ; Mandarin,
canary yellow, petals very broad and much curled ; Meg Merrilees, pure white
with sulphur centre, the base of the petals take a tubular shape, but become
flattened at the ends and much jagged, and so form large and somewhat gro-
tesque flowers ; Negro, very dark maroon, a fine hue of colour, the petals much
curled ; Rob Roy, purplish red on the upper surface, the under surface amber,
and as the flowers have a curiously twisted and confused appearance, both colours
are presented to the eye in a mingled form ; Sultan, clear rosy lilac, the under sur-
face of the petals silvery lilac, the flowers very large ; Sol, clear wax-like yellow,
with long, straight, ribbon-like petals, very showy ; and Viceroy of Egypt, bright
rosy lilac, the backs of the petals white, also very long and broad, and with an
arched appearance. Not a single new Pompone variety appears to have been raised
for distribution this spring.

Of the Japanese varieties sent out in the spring of 1869 we can heartily com-
mend the following : — Hero of Magdala, blood red, the reverse of the petals
orange buff; James Salter, clear lilac or mauve; Meteor, bright golden yellow
changing to orange ; Regalia, orange, striped with bright red ; and The Mikado,
golden yellow. The foregoing are not only of very fine quality, but varied, and
novel. Of the large-flowering varieties sent out at the same time, we must com-
mend Beethoven, bronzy red, when fully incurved presenting a golden surface ;
Golden John Salter, golden yellow, changing to amber, a sport from the reddish
cinnamon -coloured John Salter ; Orange Annie Salter, bright orange, a sport from
the yellow variety under that name ; Pink Perfection, soft pink, very fine indeed ;
Plenipo, rosy purple ; Princess Charlotte, a rosy blush - coloured, anemone-
flowered variety ; Rotundiflora, pearl white, changing with age to pale lilac ;
and Stellaris, amber, with a distinct yellow tip.

For the guidance of those of our readers who may be contemplating making
up a collection of Chrysanthemums of the older kinds, the following selection
from the large-flowering varieties may be relied on : — Alarm, violet crimson ;
Aurea Multiflora, pure bright yellow ; Bella Donna, delicate lilac ; Beverley, ivory
white ; Bronze Jardin des Plantes, bronze orange, with yellow centre ; Enamel,
delicate enamel white ; Fingal, rosy violet, a fine colour ; General Slade, Indian
red, tipped with bright orange ; Golden Beverley, golden canary ; Jardin des
Plantes, deep gold ; John Salter, reddish cinnamon ; Julia Lagravere, dark
shining crimson ; Lady Talfourd, delicate rosy lilac ; Mrs G. Rundle, white, a
beautiful flower ; Ossian, rose, very fine ; Prince Albert, bright crimson ; Prince
Alfred, rosy crimson, very fine ; Prince of Wales, dark purplish violet ; Princess
Beatrice, rosy lilac, with silvery shade ; Purpurea Elegans, rich purplish violet,
very fine ; Sanguinea, light reddish crimson, a fine hue of colour ; and Virgin
Queen, snow white. This collection should also include Fleur de Marie, a very
fine white anemone-flowered variety.

Of the Pompone varieties, the following will be found a selection of eighteen of
the best kinds : — Adonis, rose and white ; Andromeda, cream, with brown
points ; Capella, dark reddish chestnut ; Diana, pure white, a late-blooming
variety ; Fairest of the Fair, delicate lilac, with silvery tips, one of the best ;
Florence, dark cherry, very fine ; Jessie, orange amber; Lizzie Holmes, canary

1870.] THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN. 131

yellow, very fine ; Madame Eugene Domage, pure white ; Madame Fould,
cream colour, very fine ; Miss Julia, dark chestnut ; Mrs Dix, blush, bor-
dered with rose ; Prince Victor, bright reddish maroon, very showy ; Rose Tre-
venna, rosy blush, very fine ; Saint Michael, very bright gold, extra fine ; and
the following anemone-flowered varieties : — Ceda Nulli, white, with brown points ;
Golden Cedo Nulli, golden canary ; and Mon. Astie, golden yellow.

In addition to Chrysanthemums, and the ornamental succulents before alluded
to, Messrs Salter & Son have a large collection of hardy ornamental plants with
variegated foliage, and herbaceous and Alpine plants, many of which can be seen
growing in the borders about the nursery ; also a fine and varied collection of
varieties of Phlox decussata, an unusual collection of showy varieties of Iris Ger-
manica, a most handsome and valuable tribe of hardy herbaceous plants, and of
which they catalogue something like one hundred sorts ; a very large collection
of double Pyrethrums, a flower that has been much improved by Mr Salter dur-
ing the past few years ; the collection at the Versailles Nursery is well worth an
inspection when they are in bloom during July and August : also Paeonies,
Pentstemons, &c.

In several parts of the grounds there are to be seen all the year round patches
of carpet-work formed of the dwarf-growing Sedums and Saxifrages, &c, from
which a capital idea can be gleaned of their great usefulness when employed in
such a way.

For many years Mr John Salter, the senior member of the firm, was established
in business at Versailles in France. At the outbreak of the revolutionary move-
ment of 1848 he had to relinquish hisbusiness, and came to England, settling
down on the spot where by his subsequent doings he has achieved such a wide
reputation. He has also published a work embracing a complete history of the
Chrysanthemum, from its first introduction into England in 1764 until the
present time.

THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN.

[It has been suggested to us by more than one correspondent, that we should
devote a portion of each number to the more immediate requirements of our non-
professional readers who do not employ a gardener, and therefore come under the
denomination of amateurs. With this class, gardening is a labour of love
generally, and no small expense is often incurred in trying to make a small garden
a source of great enjoyment. Wlicn and how to do things is often a question
occurring to the amateur, and with the view of assisting them, we have placed
this subject in the hands of one who has had many years' experience of their wants,
and who will be glad to answer any inquirers through us, and give any informa-
tion that may be thought worth asking for. — Eds.]

One of the most important points to be considered, is the formation
of beds and borders about villa residences, when the amateur cultivator
wishes to grow a few things well. This is especially the case in large
towns, where soil is often scarce and dear, and labour also. I have
noticed in large midland towns, and about London also, that the
formation of a villa garden is often left to the builder or a garden
contractor, and the smallest cost is the greatest consideration. In

132 THE GARDENER. [March

many of these instances, it would positively be cheaper for the tenant
to make the garden at his own expense, than to have it done in this
rough-and-ready way for him. I shall not go further into this matter
here than to say, that if gardening is to be carried on with any degree
of pleasure, drainage, if in a damp or low-lying locality, must be secured,
and a friable and suitable soil procured. Should this be of a cold
retentive nature, as it is in some cases, add plenty of coarse river sand,
fresh turfy soil, bunit earth, leaf-soil, and similar ingredients. I have
found decayed Hops a valuable material for this purpose, and have
recently restored a worn-out town garden by adding plenty of these,
coarse river sand, and a little fresh earth. Fresh Hops from the
brewery can be procured at a very small cost, and, when Chrysanthemums
and other things are grown in pots, form a good plunging material for
them, or they can be used for mulching beds during the summer, and
digging or forking them in winter.

Another point which often puzzles amateurs in stocking a villa gar-
den with trees and shrubs, is, "what are the most suitable to plant 1 "
I have repeatedly seen the most unsuitable plants, such as Hybrid
Rhododendrons, choice Coniferae, Sweet Bays, Laurustinus, Arbutus,
&c, planted in the gardens of large manufacturing towns, where smoke
rendered gardening an unsatisfactory pursuit. These were often ob-
tained from warmer districts and more genial soils, and the failure
consequently rendered more probable. It will be as well to say here,
that it is wise to get your trees and shrubs from a locality where the
situation and soil are similar to those in which they are to be planted.
Trees and shrubs removed from the south and midland districts of
England do not generally do so well when planted in many districts
of the north, especially near smoky towns, as those procured from the
neighbourhood. I purpose, as I go along, giving lists of a few suitable
things for smaller gardens ; and as this is the season for planting trees
and shrubs, I will give a list of a few which may be safely selected
from.

CONIFERS.

Abies Canadensis (the Hemlock Spruce), a very graceful-growing plant, but re-
quires a dry sheltered situation.

Abies Donglasii.

Biota (or Thuja) orientalis (the Chinese Arborvitse), a close-growing pyramidal
shrub, but trains best in a sheltered situation.

Cedrus Atlantica (the Cedar of Lebanon of Mount Atlas), a handsome tree for a
lawn when there is plenty of room.

Cedrus Deodara. *

Cupressus Lawsoniana. Several pretty forms of this most valuable plant can be
selected in any nursery ; and it thrives in almost any situation, even in the
smoke of large towns.

Cupressus Nutkaensis — or, to use its more generally known name, Thujopsis bore-

1870.] THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN. 133

alis — is another very ornamental and useful plant which should be in every
pleasure-ground.

Cupressus Goviniana is a fast-growing, ornamental, spreading Cypress, which re-
quires a sheltered situation and milder climate than many other Conifers.

Juniperus Chinensis (the Chinese Juniper) is very hardy, and in spring the in-
florescence gives it a very ornamental and distinct appearance.

Picea amabilis, a very fine ornamental plant.

Picea bracteata, do. do.

Picea Cephalonica, compact-growing and very ornamental ; not a rapid grower.

Picea lasiocarpa, very fine and distinct.

Picea nobilis, handsome and very hardy; the underneath part of the foliage
silvery.

Picea Nordmanniana, very hardy, and a fine ornamental tree, the foliage of a rich
deep-green colour.

Pinus Austriaca. "We mention this particularly where shelter or a blind is
wanted, and for exposed situations. It is best described as a very robust-
growing Scotch Fir.

Pinus Cembra, silvery green foliage, the tree of a conical form ; not suited to very
cold damp localities.

Pinus insignis. This handsome dark-green-leaved Pine thrives best in sheltered
and tolerably dry situations.

Retinospora pisifera, a beautiful plant. ■

Taxodium distichum (the deciduous Cypress) ; the beautiful, fine, graceful foli-
age of this plant makes it one of the most ornamental for summer decoration.

Taxus (or Yew) Canadensis, the handsomest form of the common Yew, and the
Irish, variegated, are useful ; the latter indispensable.

Thuja gigantea, a noble Arborvitse.

Thuja Menziesii, generally known as Lobbi, with rich green spreading branches,
which assume a metallic lustre as autumn comes on.

Thujopsis dolabrata, a distinct and unique Conifer for sheltered places, but large
plants not generally obtainable. Those who have seen good-sized plants know
its rare beauty.

Wellingtonia gigantea. Wants room and shelter.

The list of Conifers could easily be extended, but as we write for
small gardens chiefly, we have enumerated the most desirable. These
can easily be added to by visiting any nursery of note.

ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS.

Acer (Maple) Colchicum rubrum. The foliage of this ornamental plant assumes a

deep reddish tinge in the autumn.
Acer negundo variegata (the variegated Norway Maple), a most beautiful plant,

the foliage green, with a broad margin of white. Wants shelter and liberal

growth.
^Esculus Hippocastanum coccinea (the scarlet-flowered Horse-Chestnut).
Almonds, single-fiowered.
Peach, double-blossomed in variety.

* Andromeda Catesbsei, an evergreen shrub, with handsome foliage, and white

spikes of flowers produced at the end of each leaf.

* Andromeda floribunda, evergreen, with white flowers ; beautiful.
*Andromeda pulverulenta and other kinds, deciduous, all more or less beautiful.

134 THE GARDENER. [March

*Andromeda Mariana, foliage rich red in the autumn.
Arbutus, the red-flowered, scarlet-berried, and other kinds.

Aucuba. All the varieties do well in smoky districts ; in fact, it is particularly
a town plaut. Some of the new kinds are very ornamental.

*Azalea pontica (yellow), glauca (white and fragrant), and many others. Espe-
cially what are called the Belgian varieties are very beautiful, but all are de-
ciduous.

Berberis aristata, prominent spines, handsome.

Berberis Darwinii should be in every garden, rich dark -green foliage, and
golden racemes of flowers, very beautiful. There are several other handsome
kinds which are little known.

Birch, weeping, silver-barked and cut-leaved, with other varieties, all very orna-
mental.

Buddlea globosa, a fine free-growing plant for warm districts, producing rich
orange-coloured globe-shaped flowers.

*Hardy Heaths, almost all of which are beautiful.

Chestnut (Spanish), asplenifolia is a very fine ornamental plant ; so also are Aurea
variegata and laciniata.

Ceanothus azureus, pale blue, and other kinds, all valuable against walls in warni
sheltered places.

Cerasus padus (the Bird Cherry), very ornamental tree in spring, with white
blossoms.

Cherry, double-blossomed, very showy.

Cistus glutinosus (the Gum Cistus), an evergreen shrub, requiring a sheltered
situation or against a wall ; produces an abundance of large showy white
flowers.

Cornus mascula variegata, handsome foliage.

Cotoneaster Simonsii, a handsome evergreen shrub, with large red berries in
winter ; a very effective plant for covering a wall.

Crataegus (Thorns). Some of these, such as the scarlet and double pink flowered,
are well known, but there are other kinds equally beautiful for the fruit, whilst
some have fine bold spines.

Cytisus sessilifolius, a very pretty shrub, with yellow flowers.

Daphne Mezereum, pink and white.

Daphne pontica, evergreen, pale yellow and fragrant.

Deutzia gracilis, white, compact growing.

Deutzia crenata fl. pleno, white and pink, strong grower.

Escallonia macrantha, an evergreen, with a profusion of rose-coloured blossoms ;
forms a good bush or an excellent plant against a wall.

Eurybia Gunniana, a charming shrub, with an abundance of white flowers in
spring, very handsome.

Fagus (Beech). Several ornamental kinds, particularly the varieties of purple-
leaved, Fern-leaved, and Cristata.

Fraxinus (Ash). Several very ornamental kinds, especially the golden variegated,
gold barked, and many others with fine and distinct foliage.

Genista triquetra, a low-growing shrub, with yellow Pea-shaped flowers, blooming
profusely, and excellent also for rockwork.

Gleditschia tricanthos, a very ornamental tree, with handsome foliage and large
spines.

Halesia tetraptera (the Snowdrop tree), a very beautiful spring-blooming shrubby
tree, seldom seen, but should be in every garden.

1870.] THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN. 135

Hedera (Ivy). Several ornamental kinds, some of which have variegated leaves,
all good for rockeries, and many of them can be trained as compact bushes.

Hibiscus Syriacus (the Althaea frutex). Some of these are very beautiful, and
they are seldom seen in gardens, but should be universally cultivated ; all de-
ciduous shrubs.

Ilex (Hollies). Amongst variegated, the Golden Queen is the best gold variegated,
and Silver Queen and Handworthensis are the best white -margined kinds-
" Moonlight " is a distinct kind, dull yellow and green foliage, and worth grow-
ing. There are several green-leaved kinds which should be grown.

*Kalmia latifolia, an evergreen shrub, with pink and white wax-like flowers.

Leycesteria formosa, a grand ornamental shrub, producing purple berries in the
winter; requires a little shelter.

Ligustrum japonicum (the Chinese Privet), evergreen.

Ligustrum japonicum, variegated.

Liquidambar styraciflua, a deciduous tree, the foliage of which changes to a bright
red colour in the autumn.

Liriodendron tulipifera (the Tulip tree), so called from its Tulip-like flower. The
foliage is very distinct in form to that of any other tree, and is very orna-
mental.

Magnolia conspicua, a deciduous shrubby tree, with pure white flowers.

Magnolia Soulangiana, also deciduous, the flowers white and rosy purple.

Magnolia grandiflora, evergreen, with large handsome foliage and large white
flowers ; does best against a south wall in a good sheltered warm situation.

Mahonia aquifolia, does well almost anywhere.

Mahonia Bealii, and other varieties with fine foliage, thrives in sheltered situations
and good soil.

Paliurus aculeatus (Christ's Thorn), a very ornamental deciduous shrub with a
profusion of thorns.

Pernettya mucronata, and other kinds, all low-growing evergreen shrubs, with
bright-coloured berries in the winter; most desirable plants, and suitable for
rock work.

Populus (Poplar). The white-leaved and aspen, also other ornamental kinds.

Pyrus. Several kinds of these ornamental trees, which could be selected in nur
series.

Quercus (Oak), scarlet-leaved, evergreen, Pannonica, with very fine foliage, and
several other fine ornamental kinds.

Rhododendrons in variety.

Ribes speciosum (flowering Gooseberry), rich scarlet flowers.

Salix (Willows), several very ornamental-leaved as well as weeping kinds.

Spirsea arirefolia, callosa, Lindleyana, Douglasii, and others, all deciduous, and
more or less beautiful.

Tilia (Limes), several ornamental-leaved kinds. The common Lime is one of our
finest garden trees.

Ulmus (Elms). Several fine varieties for foliage. These all do well in small town
gardens.

Weigelias. Several pretty varieties.

Yuccas (Adam's Needle), especially filamentosa, gloriosa, and recurva.

Those marked thus* require peat in the soil in which they are planted.

Quis?
(To be continued.)

136 THE GARDENER.. [March

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

As yet, the Royal Horticultural Society is alone in the field ; but with the
month of March the Royal Botanic Society will commence a series of five exhi-
bitions announced. The meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, on the 19th
of Jauuary, brought together a most attractive display of Orchids, and foremost
were some fine examples from the gardens of Lord Londesborough, at Grimston
Park, comprising a noble specimen of the handsome Lselia Anceps Barkeri, with
upwards of twenty fine spikes ; L. furfuracea, a fine Mexican variety, somewhat
difficult to cultivate, with one good flower ; Odontoglossum Alexandra?, a noble
spike, with ten large and finely developed flowers ; the curious though pretty
Oncidium Kramerianum, and 0. leucochilum. From Mr Parsons, The Gardens,
Danesbury, came a fine specimen of the dwarf Odontoglossum Rossii, with six
fine white and purple flowers. Mr B. S. Williams finished a large specimen of
Ansellia Africana, with five fine spikes ; Angrsecum sesquipedale, with four superb
flowers ; A. eburneum virens, a very healthy robust specimen, with four nice
spikes, and some fine cut flowers of various Laelias, &c. Messrs Veitch & Sons
also had some grand things, such as Barkeri Skinneri, with thirteen fine spikes of
warm rose-coloured flowers ; the new Cypripedium Harrisianum, Saccolabium
giganteum, with two handsome spikes ; Lcelia anceps, with ten fine spikes, &c.
&c. Cyclamens and Primulas were furnished by Mr Wiggins, of Isleworth, both
very fine, the last containing some fiue striped flowers of great beauty ; and a few
other things bright and pleasant as these were also present.

Prizes were offered for nine Ivies in pots and nine hardy Conifers. Of the
latter, the Messrs Veitch were the only exhibitors. Their collection comprised
well-furnished specimens of Thujopsis dolabrata, Picea bracteata, and P. magni-
fica; Retinospora plumosa, R. obtusa nana aurea, a small plant of stunted growth,
but pleasing in colour, and the graceful drooping R. filifera; with a fine specimen
of the handsome Cryptomeria elegans. In the class for Ivies the competition was
very good, considering that this group of plants is a comparatively new one for
show purposes ; now, however, that the growers have taken them in hand, judg-
ing from the neatness of the specimens shown, there is no reason why the boldest
foliaged variegated forms should not be improved, and grown for the decoration
of cool greenhouses, and indoors in winter, and for terraces in summer, for which
purposes they are eminently adapted. The first prize was taken by Mr Turner
with compact pyramidal specimens of H. Algeriensis, H. grandifolia (canariensis)
latifolia maculata, a large-leaved showy kind ; H. grandifolia (canai-iensis) arbore-
scens ; and of small-leaved varieties, H. Helix major and H. Helix minor ; H.
elegantissima, silvery variegated ; H. lobata major ; H. marmorata minor, and
H. lucida; all very healthy and well furnished specimens. Mr W. Paul was
second with H. Roegneriana, a dark leathery-leaved variety ; H. Rcegneriana
arborescens, a shrubby-growing kind, with bright dark-green foliage ; H. arbore-
scens baccata lutea, in fruit ; H. canariensis follis aureis, &c. Messrs E. G.
Henderson & Son also staged a nice group of smaller plants than the above, to
which an extra prize was given ; also a large and beautiful collection of green-
leaved and variegated forms, which received a special certificate.

Several prizes were offered for culinary Apples and Pears. The competition in
the class for the former was very spirited, good collections being shown by Mr
Gardiner, gardener, Eatington Park ; Mr Parsons, gardener, Fairlawn Acton
Green ; Mr Parsons, gardener, Danesbury Park ; and Mr Earley, gardener, Digs-
well Park, &c. Mr Parsons, Danesbury, took the first prize with fine dishes of

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 137

Blenheim Orange, Burr Knot, and Wellington ; and Mr Earley the second, with
excellent examples of Golden Noble, Yorkshire Greening, and the Gooseberry
Apple. Mr C. Ross, gardener to C. Eyre, Esq., Welford Park, Newbury, was
first in the class for Pears, with very handsome specimens of Uvedale's St Germain
and Catillac ; Mr Hobbs, Thames Bank, Great Marlow, coming in second, also
with large and fine examples of Catillac. Mr Gardiner, gardener, to Sir T. Dyke
Ackland, Bart, Killerton, Devon, contributed good specimens of Verulam, Vicar
of Winkfield, and Bellissime d'Hiver, an excellent stewing Pear, not generally
cultivated. From Mr Meredith, The Vineyard, Garston, came a splendid basket
of Grapes, consisting of Black Alicante, Muscat of Alexandria, and Lady Downes
Seedling, all large and in fine order ; a special certificate was awarded. The same
award was also made to some finely-flavoured and well-kept Muscat of Alexandria
Grapes, sent by Mr Fowler, gardener to the Earl of Harewood, Hai*ewood House.
They were cut from the old Vine at that establishment, which last season pro-
duced over four hundred bunches, and were fully ripened in September. To Mr
Paul, Waltham Cross, a special certificate was also awarded for a beautiful collec-
tion of Apples. From Mr Gilbert, gardener to the Marquis of Exeter, came a
good specimen of the smooth-leaved Cayenne Pine-apple, which had been pro-
duced by a plant grown on the "cutting-over" principle. Mr Sharpe, Tangley-
mere, Guildford, sent a fruit of a Pine received from Bahia, which was sound
and juicy, and much better in flavour than imported Pines usually are. Mr
Miles, gardener to Lord Carington, sent a dish of the fruit of Solanum betaceum,
known in gardens as S. Guisados, which was said by Mr Berkeley to be good when
cooked ; also some very good home-grown Lemons. Messrs Carter & Co. exhibited
a collection of English and new American Potatoes, and several varieties of Beet.

The meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, held on the 16th of February,
was again enlivened by some valuable contributions of Orchids. Foremost was a
fine group from Lord Londesborough, which Mr Denning, the gardener at Grim-
ston Park, sends through to London in a van heated with hot water. There
were cut specimens of Phalsenopsis grandiflora, P. Schilleriana, and a very fine
variety of the latter ; ako a very fine plant of Dendrobium speciosum, with fif-
teen spikes of flowers ; several plants of Odontoglossum Alexandra, Ccelogyne
cristata, some beautiful Cattleyas, Oncidium nebulosum, Brassavola glauca, &c.
Mr Thomas Burnett, gardener to "W. Terry, Esq., Fulham, had a magnificent
plant of Ccelogyne cristata, densely covered with beautiful white blossoms, and
finely grown. Messrs Veitch & Son had a fine group also, comprising Odonto-
glossum Rossii, 0. cervantesii, 0. cordatum, O. cucullalum macultatum, a small
but very handsome Orchid ; the charming Oncidium Phalsenopsis, Nasonia punc-
tata, with two small orange-red flowers, not unlike those of a minute unex-
panded Sophronitis ; a fine spike of Dendrobium cucullatum giganteum ; Lrelia
purpuracea, Dendrobium heterocarpum, D. crassniode, D. moniliforme, and D.
nobile.

Prizes were offered for six Chinese Primulas, distinct. The best were shown
by Messrs F. and A. Smith, who had one single and five double kinds, the last
including two fine carmine-coloured varieties. The class for three Dielytras in
bloom did not fill ; and in the class for six Lycastes, Messrs Veitch & Sons
were the only exhibitors, having among them the beautiful Lycaste alba, the
flowers creamy white, with a yellow throat, each plant having from eight to twelve
flowers.

Two prizes respectively of £3 and £2 were offered by the Rev. George Kemp,
a member of the Fruit Committee, for the best winter dessert of Apples and
Pears, 3 dishes of each. Mr Parsons, Danesbury Gardens, Welwyn, was first

138 THE GARDENER. [March

with Flat Nonpareil, Wyken Pippin, and Cockle Pippin Apples ; and Neplus
Meuris, Josephine de Maliues, and March Bergamot Pears, the flavour of the
Pears being very fine. Mr Garland, The Gardens, Killerton, Devon, was second
with Sturmer Pippin, Royal Russet, and Hubbard's Pearmain Apples; and Winter
Nelis, Glou Morceau, and Bergamotte Esperen Pears. The Society also offered
prizes for the best three dishes of dessert Apples, and also of dessert Pears. Mr
C. Ross, The Gardens, Welford Park, Newbury, was first with Apples, having
Scarlet Nonpareil, White Nonpareil, and Carraway Russet ; 2d, Mr M. Saul,
The Gardens, Stourton Park, with Margil, Ribston Pippin, and Aromatic Russet.
The best three dishes of Pears came from Mr Wells, Holme Lacy Gardens, who
had Beurre Ranee, Bergamotte Esperen, and Bergamot Hendrick. Mr Garland was
second with winter Nelis, Bergamotte Esperen, and Beurre Ranee. Mr Meredith,
Garston, sent some capital Black Alicante, Muscat of Alexandria, and Lady
Downes Grapes ; and an immense bunch of Child of Hale, raised by crossing the
Syrian with the Muscat of Alexandria, but closely resembling the Syrian in
appearance.

GOOSEBERRY AND CURRANT BUSH PRUNING.

My experience of cottage -gardens in this neighbourhood leads me to believe that
their owners generally understand the cultivation of these fruit-bushes very well,
with the exception that they are too negligent in keeping up a proper supply of
young ones. In ordinary fruiting seasons the price of ripe Gooseberries or Black
Currants usually averages one shilling per gallon — a much lower price than that
quoted by one correspondent — a fact that will show plainly how largely these
fruits are grown. I think the tendency amongst Gooseberry -bushes to die off in
large branches at a time when the trees should be at the height of their growth
and productiveness, is due more to hard pruning than to any other cause. It
should be borne in mind that both the Gooseberry and Currant propagate or re-
new themselves naturally by suckers, and consequently manifest a great tendency
to develop that form of growth after a certain number of years. The mainten-
ance of a clean stem can thus rarely be obtained, except at the expense of life
itself. I expect the fifty-year-old bushes mentioned by one correspondent must
have gone through many of these renewals, and have about as much of the origi-
nal tree in them as the celebrated gun that was still the same, but had had a
new "lock, stock, and barrel." An old Gooseberry plantation is generally one
of the most un>ightly objects in a garden, and miserable attempts at renovation
are often madp. by planting young bushes as the old ones die out, failure almost
always resulting. No safer plan can be adopted to maintain an efficient supply
of clean bushes and fine fruit than the plantation of young trees, in number equal
to one-third of the entire number grown. This should be done about every third
or fourth year, and in quarters of fresh soil devoted exclusively to these, and
not in the old-fashioned and objectionable manner of putting them all round the
quarters next the walks. The best manure for bush fruits is to be found in a
well-rotted rubbish-heap — stuff that is sufficiently nutritive without developing
that coarse growth usually engendered by strong manure. Forking should be
done sparingly among the roots, except where, when in a young state, the rows
are sufficiently far apart to admit of vegetables being grown for a year or two
between them; and this is much the wisest plan, as it allows of that after-
expansion of growth so essential to the health and productiveness of the trees.
I have often been surprised to see the extraordinary quantity of fruit that

1870.] A BLESSING ON AN OLD BROOME. 139

bushes so cared for will produce, the failure of the crop being a rarity. Per-
haps in cottage-gardens the better plan is to have these descriptions of fruits
planted in rows at wide intervals across the garden, the intervening spaces being
cropped with vegetables. This arrangement, however, must depend somewhat
upon the shape of the ground ; for small gardens it is usually the most eco-
nomical. When the bushes are carefully tended, no portion of the garden will
yield so lucrative a return. For consumption by the cottager's family, next
to the Apple, the fruits of the Gooseberry and Black Currant are the most
wholesome and useful. It would indeed be well if every cottage possessed in
winter its carefully-preserved store of jam from these fruits ; and when we
compare the very high price towards which butter is now tending, with the
low figure at which sugar can be obtained, it is somewhat a matter for surprise
that in our rural cottage homes nice, wholesome, home-made jam is not more
generally consumed. However, the consideration of these things might lead us
into questions of domestic economy that this is not the proper place to dis-
cuss ; and I will leave it by expressing the hope that in these, as well as in other
matters, the people may become yet more "educated." — A. D., in 'Gardeners'
Chronicle.'

A BLESSING ON AN OLD BROOME.

" Samuel Broome, for forty years gardener to the Honourable Society of the Inner Tem-
ple, whose annual Chrysanthemum Show was one of the sights of London, and who, in their
culture, gave such valuable testimony to the effects of Lord Palmerston's Smoke Act, is dead,
at a ripe old age. He lived respected, and he died happy."— Obituary of the day.

Poor old Broome, art thou gone ! and shall we hear
Thy annual Jubilate never more,

O'er the Chrysanthemums that were so dear

Unto thy honest heart, as, year by year,
They decked the Temple Garden's swarded floor !

Like Henry Brougham, thy greater homonym,

Thy pride and joy was to see cleared awyay

The stagnant, stifling, smoke-clouds, that made dim
The Temple of the law, and on Thames' brim

Alike for flowers and lawyers darkened day.

And when the Smoke Act passed — and on Thames stream
Steamers forbore to smoke, and on Thames' shore

Chimney-shafts ceased from sooty mouths to teem
The blacks, that turned to griminess the gleam
Of the Chrysanthemums thou didst adore —

Never was simple man more glad than thou,

Never were gentler pride and joy than thine —

Pleased to see pleased crowds round thy Pompons bow,
Children, maids, barristers of parchment brow,

Who rarely noticed sun's or blossom's shine.

Along Thames' bank thy blooms stood brave and bold,

The brighter for the brick and mortar round :
And if thy flowers were flowers of gold,
So innocent none grew from Temple mould,

None so enriched, yet cumbered not, the ground.

140 THE GARDENER. [March

How oft, when autumn daylight in the west

Was blended with the City's lurid flare,

Pale cheeks and aching brows thy flowers have blest,
That breathed a breath of Nature and her rest,

On brains o'erwearied with law's cark and care.

Farewell to thee, kind, honest, old Sam Broome,

In boutons d'or above thee bloom the mould —
No London smoke distress thee in the tomb,
And whosoe'er i' the Temple fills thy room,

May the new Broom sweep clean as did the old.

— Punch.

NOTES ANT> QUERIES.

[We regret that an unusual press of matter compels us to postpone many
valuable communications. — Eds.]

Ladybirds: A New Insecticide. — During last summer the public attention
was drawn to the large flights of these little insects that appeared in many parts
of England, and especially the attention of horticulturists, many of whom, from
a close observation of their habits, came to the conclusion, that as destroyers of
the green aphis their services would be invaluable. The writer of this paragraph
himself put their uses in this respect to the test, and found that in every case
when placed upon plants infested with green-fly, the Ladybirds made a complete
clearance of the pest. Bearing this experience in mind, he has this season already
commenced to be a ladybird-catcher ; and as they are even now to be found in
considerable abundance on warm sunny days, the task of gathering these useful
insects is not one of great difficulty. As fast as they are collected they are placed
in the greenhouse amongst the plants, especially around the Calceolarias and
Cinerarias, and the writer hopes thereby to keep the pest of green-fly entirely
under. Will any one else attempt the same experiment, and, as I intend to do
myself, duly report progress in the ' Gardener ' ? A. D.

Creepers for a Conservatory (G. V.) — Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son,
Wellington Road Nursery, St John's Wood, N.W., have been kind enough to
send us the following list of "spare-growing, free-blossoming creepers" as suit-
able for your purpose — viz. : 1. Abutilon striatum, orange and brown; 2. Acacia
dealbata, golden yellow; 3. Bignonia jasminoides splendens, blush pink, and dark
centre; 4. Bignonia speciosa, pink, with violet lines; 5. Dolichus lignosus, rose;
6. Hoya carnosa, white, tinted blush; 7. Jasminum azoricum, white ; 8. Jasminum
grandiflorum, white; 9. Keunedya monophylla, violet purple; 10. Lapageria
rosea, carmine rose; 11. Passiflora Marryattse, reddish rose; 12. Plumbago Cap-
ensis, light porcelain blue; 13. Rhyncospermum jasminoides, white; 14. Sollya
heterophylla, blue; and, 15. Passiflora hybrida floribunda, purplish lilac. They
recommend the foregoing as a list of sparingly - branched climbers, free from
exuberant growth, and including several old species ; all of which are free bloom-
ing in mature growth. No. 2 is elegant in habit of foliage, and requires age and
lateral growth to produce flowers. Nos. 3, 6/9, 10, and 13 are strictly evergreen;
and numbers 4, 8, and 14, sub-evergreen. Nos. 7, 8, and 13 produce fragrant
blossoms. Nos. 6 and 8 should be placed in the warmest positions ; Nos. 7, 8,

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 141

10, and 12 are adapted for blooming in winter. If more extensive-growing kinds
were required, then there should be included Bignonia grandifiora, scarlet; Sola-
num jasminiflorum, white; Tacsonia Van Volxemi, crimson; Tacsonia molli3-
sima, rose ; and Cobaea scandens variegata. We think this selection will afford
you ample material for your purpose.

Violets. — The culture of the Violet is exceedingly simple. In April the side
runners should be allowed to grow, and to encourage them to root freely they
should have light rich soil sifted among them. In May a piece of ground in a
north or west border, or in a partially-shaded situation, should be chosen, and
well dressed with any light rich manure. A good dressing of charred material —
such as burnt vegetable-refuse, charcoal-dust, or wood-ashes — should also be added
if it could be obtained, as it materially encourages the growth of a healthy, dark-
green foliage, and a profusion of fine large flowers. The runners should be care-
fully lifted as soon as they are well rooted, and be planted in prepared beds a
foot apart. They should not be allowed to suffer from want of water, and all
runners or side-shoots should be pinched off as soon as they appear. By the end
of September they will be found strong plants, and will lift with good balls, if
required to bloom elsewhere. I think they bloom earlier and more freely if
allowed to remain undisturbed. D. M.

Freaks of Variegation. — We appear to be fast approaching a state of things
in relation to Horticulture, when we shall not have any description of green -
foliaged plant of which there will not also be its variegated counterpart. The
extent to which this characteristic has developed itself in hardy plants especially
is something remarkable, whether in the case of cultivated or wild species and
varieties. The variegated Plantain is a well-known instance ; and recently I
gathered from the roadside a plant of the Cineraria palustris showing partial
variegation, that has since developed into an entirely creamy-white-coloured
foliage. For the first time, to my knowledge, I have this winter met with a
variegated Sweet William, having well-defined streaks of white running the whole
length of the leaves ; and again, although not quite so novel in appearance, several
plants of variegated Primula have come amongst my batch of this popular winter
and spring flower. The mention of a variegated Cabbage will cause many to smile,
but I can assure them that as a white-f oliaged plant for greenhouse decoration in
the winter it is almost unrivalled, as the variegation is of the whitest character,
and might justly be described as snow white, the leaves being broadly edged--
in fact, quite eclipsing the variegated Hydrangea. A. D.

Bee-keeping. — I am glad to find you have begun a series of hints to bee-
keepers. I am sure it will be well received. After Mr Abbott's papers are finished,
a higher series might be introduced for those who are not quite novices ; and,
further, if you could give a chapter on the habits and character of, and the advan-
tages derived from, the culture of the Alp bee (or Ligurian), I am sure bee-
keepers will be much gratified. I obtained a hive of this newly-imported bee
last summer, and the circumstance having been noted in our local newspaper, it
was most interesting to notice how many bee-keepers came long distances to see the
Ligurian bees, and what expressions of delight they made use of on seeing them,
and also on handling the "bonnie beasts," as one of my visitors termed them.
I find some of my stocks are suffering from dysentery, owing probably to the
season. I have tried various methods of housing my stocks, but the old plan —
pins in the ground, and a good straw hood — is as good as any, as one can get
about the hive3 so much better ; and in handling the bees, the other stocks are

142 THE GARDENER. [March

not disturbed. Independent of any profitable result from bee-keeping, a few
skeps in a garden produces many interesting features, and to watch the bees on a
pleasant summer's day is a most instructive occupation. I can only wish the
bee-hive was oftener seen in the gardens both of the rich and the poor.

R. S. Shearer, Stirling.

Propagation of Centaurea Ragusina (Candidissima) (C. L. S.) — The best
way to obtain a supply of this plant is to take plants from the flower-garden in
the autumn, and pinch or cut their heads in at the same time. They should be
potted in some light sandy soil, and placed in a rather warm and dry greenhouse
or pit. By the month of February these will have pushed out a lot of stubby
shoots, and at that time the strongest of these should be taken off and inserted as
cuttings. When the best cuttings have been taken off these stumps, they may be
allowed to grow away undisturbed, and in a short time another batch will be
strong enough to be taken from them, and so on till enough plants are obtained.
Then the old plants may be thrown away, or, better still, allowed to grow into
bushy plants, and used in May along with others. Instead of putting the cuttings
into pots or pans, as is the custom, a sounder plan is to put one in the centre of
each little pot ; and then, when it strikes root, which it will quickly do, there is
no necessity for mutilating the roots, as is the case when things are put into
cutting pots or pans. If convenient, the pots should be plunged in tan, or in a
hotbed, as treated thus they will root more readily. The foliage should not be
wetted more than is necessary. After this it is simply necessary to harden the
plants off in the usual way, and so fit them for being used in the flower-garden.

The Education of Gardeners. — Allow me to correct what seems to be a
glaring error into which " Down South " appears to have fallen in his statement
of the case of " One in Despair." The latter did not give any intelligent reader
reason to infer that education was of comparatively little benefit to a gardener ;
on the contrary, he pronounced it to be invaluable, as " Down South " could
readily perceive, if with an unprejudiced mind he were to carefully read over again
the paper by " One in Despair." Opportunities were certainly given to him to
rise though he failed to use them ; but it was simply an individual case, and not
one of general application. In the case of " One in Despair " education appeared
to be of little value ; but there are many others having the power to rise, but
wanting the opportunity, and such a position affords but a defective view of their
real abilities. Up North.

Sedum acre aureum. — This form of the common stone crop has been well
described as the " most valuable of all the humbler plants we possess for what
is termed the ' Spring Flower-Garden.' " It forms a " glittering mass of yellow
points," dense and compact, and for carpet-work in the early spring months it is
unequalled. A moist situation suits it best ; there it will thrive, and gladden the
heart of the cultivator, as about one-third of the point of each shoot is of the
brightest golden yellow. E. W.

Patent Compounds. — A neighbouring gardener recently called my attention
to the state of the plants in his greenhouse, which, on looking at them, I
found to be in a most deplorable condition, presenting a sight that might reason-
ably produce heartache in any man who possessed auy horticultural tastes; and
yet, in the early part of the winter, this same house (a new one too) was filled
with a capital lot of greenhouse plants of various kinds, including a quantity of
bedding plants, the whole of which looked at that time as nice and healthy as

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 143

could possibly be desired. What, then, was the cause of the change ] Certainly
not negligence, for there had been no lack of attention. It was indeed at the first
a puzzle to the gardener, as well as to his employer ; but the reason of it was
shortly discovered. Previous to the winter the hot-water pipes in the house had
been coated over with a patent solution, nearly black in colour, that appears to be
a good preservative of wood, and into the composition of which creosote enters
largely. This compound, however, proved most destructive to plant-life ; for as
soon as the water in the pipes was heated, the noxious ingredients contained in
the compound were given forth with the most deplorable results. Perhaps the
mention of this incident may prove a not unnecessary caution. A. D.

Thornhill. — "We are unable to say why your double white Camellia drops its
buds as you describe. You say you water the border regularly, that the drain-
age seems good, and the plant healthy. These conditions, and the temperature
you keep the conservatory at, should induce a fine display of bloom. The only
suspicion we have is, that as your border is only 1 foot wide, and the hot- water
pipes pass near it, the roots, that are no doubt matted against the brick-work,
may get very dry at times, even though the general mass of the soil may be all
rhiht ; and in this way a check is given to the plant, resulting in the dropping of
the flower-buds. You should examine this part of the case, and give more water
if required, and syringe overhead till the blooms open.

Camellia Buds dropping. — In the February number of the ' Gardener' there
is, at page 91, advice on Camellia culture. Mine, unfortunately, were potted in
a mixture of loam and peat, with the usual results. Hardly has one tree kept
its buds. The advice given by Mr Pearson is, " When they require potting (which
of course mine do), to get rid of the peat, let it be done immediately they are out
of bloom." Would you have the goodness to let me know what I am to do, as
my trees will not have any bloom ? H. W., Norwood.

[We submitted our correspondent's letter to a cultivator on whose opinion we
could rely, and he has written as follows : " The plants may now be turned out
of the pots, the Boil shaken from the roots, and be repotted in a rich loam, and
then plunged in a gentle bottom-heat in a close and moist house where there is
not very much top -heat, until they have made their growth; then gradually
harden the plants off, and keep them well supplied with water during the sum-
mer. I think the buds drop as much from an insufficient supply of moisture as
from any other cause." A few days ago we looked into the greenhouse of an
amateur cultivator of plants residing in the neighbourhood of London, and saw
there some small plants of Camellias having a fine bud at the termination of each
shoot. In the house there were Cinerarias, Cyclamens, Primulas, &c, in flower,
besides Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, &c. Everything in the house had a peculiarly
fresh and healthy appearance ; and this was attributed by our host to the fact,
that he gives the house a gentle syringing some three or four times daily, not
sparing any of the plants, and a slight heat is kept on at the pipes in dull weather.
As a matter of course, in severe weather the syringing is withheld. The theory
in regard to Camellia buds dropping held by this gentleman was, that the foliage
should be kept frequently moistened, and that a moist atmosphere is essential
to the wellbeing of the Camellia. With such constant syringing but little root-
watering is required, and then only just enough to moisten the balls — they are not
thoroughly saturated with water. — Eds.]

U4 THE GARDENER. [March 1870.

A. B. C. — "We would expect paraffin -oil applied to Peach-trees to do them
very serious injury, if it did not kill them. AVe have known carbolic acid, at
the rate of 1 ounce to the gallon of water, clear Peach-trees of scale, and do
them no harm.

Inquirer. — You may inarch Vines by placing old wood to old wood, young
wood to old wood, or young wood to young wood. In the latter case, the
wood should be pretty firm. Place the plants to be united close together,
then with a sharp knife take a slice off each, not quite into the pith; place the
wounds together— two of the edges of which should be exactly together — then
bind them firmly together with matting, and let them remain so for two months,
at the end of which time the union should be formed. The matting may then
be removed and retied slacker, to allow the wood to expand. No clay is neces-
sary, and ninety-nine out of every hundred should form a perfect union. The
Duchess of Buccleuch makes a good stock.

Viola "Blue Perfection." — I have been greatly pleased to notice that the
young plants of this very beautiful Viola which I have here growing in my garden,
display a creeping habit, a quality that cannot fail to greatly enhance its value as
a bedding-plant ; for, instead of growing straight upward, as is usual in this class
of plants, it strikes right away horizontally, thus manifesting a decided variation,
even in its growth, as well as that which also exists in its flower, to such a marked
degree. It may interest those to whom it is yet unknown if I state that I had
the good fortune to see this Viola used as an edging-plant in one of the finest flower-
gardens in the south of England during the hot and dry month of August last ;
and it was not only to me a great surprise, in consequence of its novelty, but
also a matter for congratulation that there existed a dwarf blue bedding-plant so
constant in its character, and at the same time so effective in its decorative use-
fulness. It is no exaggeration to say that there was nothing else in the garden
equal to it. "Whatever may have been its origin, I am certain it will obtain a large
share of popularity, and I trust will also prove the progenitor of a decidedly im-
proved race of Violas. — A. D.

Books (A Subscriber).— Kemp's ' How to Lay out a Garden,' and ' How Crops
Grow,' are likely to suit you, though, like most works of the character, they
are rather high in price. The former is published by Bradbury & Evans,
London, and would cost about 15s. ; the latter by Macmillan & Co., Lon-
don, price from 5s. to 7s. " Subscriber " asks if there are any good books on
landscape-gardening and horticultural chemistry published at a cheap rate, as
works like M'Intosh's and Loudon's are quite out of his reach, owing to their
high price. Can any of our readers suggest works likely to be of use to " Sub-
scriber," and within his means for obtaining them !

Salsafy and Scorzonera. — I am very much pleased to see "D. T." telling us how
to grow these two excellent vegetables, the culture and use of which are so little un-
derstood in England. On the Continent they are very much used, and, with a mutton-
cutlet, either of these vegetables makes up a most enjoyable supper. My object
in writing to you is, to ask "D. T." or some other correspondent to tell us how
these vegetables are dressed on the Continent ; and this information can easily be
gleaned from some chef de cuisine in a large establishment. A boon will be con-
ferred on myself and mauy others if this information can be given to us.

Vegetarian.

THE

GARDENER

APRIL 1870.

THE PROPOSED ABANDONMENT OF
CHISWICK GARDENS.

HAT many of our readers are interested in this matter,
is clear from the number of communications we have
received relating thereto ; and the tone of these com-
munications is to deprecate the giving up of Chiswick, as
proposed by the Royal Horticultural Society. There appears to be
something about such a proposal that savours of desecration — the
forcible giving up of what has become endeared to many by pleasant
memories, and the power of associations — a spot sacred in times past
to the promotion of the best interests of practical horticulture, and the
preparation of young men to go forth and assume foremost positions
among the leading gardeners of the day. To many, the proposal to
abandon Chiswick is the snapping asunder of the only link binding
them in a bond of sympathy to the doings of the Royal Horticultural
Society.

It is now believed that a portion of the gardens will be retained for
the use of the Society till the termination of their lease, some years
hence. Steps have been taken to effect such an arrangement, and, in
all probability, it will be perfected ere these lines appear in print. But
that, with such retention, there will also be continued those illustra-
tions of practical horticulture that have won such renown for Chiswick
in times past, we very much doubt ; and we by no means stand alone
in our scepticism. Our impression is, that the Society finds a garden
like Chiswick somewhat irksome, and, naturally enough, desires to be
quit of the responsibility and cost of maintaining it. Those who are
in the habit of visiting Chiswick, and seeing what can be done there,
were much surprised to read in the recent report of the Society that

146 THE GARDENER. [April

"the results of the cultivation there, owing to its low, cold, damp
position, combined with the gradual increase of smoke and houses
around it, are yearly becoming less satisfactory." We had come to
think differently of Chiswick, and to believe that, had Mr Barron at
his command means to make it a valuable school of instruction in
matters horticultural, neither its position, nor the increase of houses
and smoke about it, would prove very serious obstacles in working
out his plans in a satisfactory manner. Rather, the wonder is that,
with such poor means at his command, he has done so much.

To our mind, the Society cares very little indeed for practical hor-
ticulture as it could be exhibited at Chiswick, were ample means
employed thereat. All that the Society appears to require is a feeding-
place for South Kensington — a nursery, in fact, from which can be
drawn materials to decorate the gardens there. Horticulture at South
Kensington has become fashionable — the gardens are a fashionable
lounging-place, the exhibitions a means for drawing a company together,
to see each other, and be seen in return ; and the gardens must, there-
fore, be made as attractive as possible. The practical horticulturist is
a being regarded as capable of affording an attractive show for the
fashionables to gaze at when not absorbed in the contemplation of each
other ; he is encouraged, and petted, and in a certain way rewarded ;
but the Society has no practical sympathy with what he is so worthily
doing, and the extent of the obligation can be assessed at a pecuniary
value. It is the price paid by horticulture for having been raised into
the elevated atmosphere of fashion ; and when any science attains to
such a distinction, the chances are that it will cease to operate for the
production of much practical good.

All that the Society means to do — all that it perhaps can do — is to
maintain a series of exhibitions at South Kensington for the amuse-
ment of its fashionable fellows. Those practical horticulturists who
are connected with the Society will have to rest satisfied with what
encouragement horticulture can get there. It is refreshing to know
that horticulture will progress and achieve new triumphs, even though
a Royal Society may relegate its practical workings to those who de-
velop them for the sake of the love they have for their work or for
their own profit. From the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society
they can henceforth expect but little ; while the anticipations of those
that have been but small in times past, will be completely destroyed.
Whatever is in store for horticulture in the future — wThat of bright
hopes and cheering doings shall brighten its progress in the time to
come — will and must emanate from some centre other than that now to
be found at South Kensington ; and the sooner a new power rises into
action the better will it be for the best interests of practical horticulture.

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 14:

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

The long-impending snowfall visited London on the morning of Feb-
ruary 13th — a fitting close to the somewhat long and severe winter,
which has left its mark on vegetation, having destroyed much — pro-
bably more than is surmised at the present time — during the period
of the blustering severity of its reign. While the snow fell, it was so
still and calm that it lodged on the trees and shrubs, giving them the
appearance of being covered with a dense foliage of the finest silver ;
and when the sun broke out and lighted on them, they had the further
appearance of being mantled with blossoms of the purest white. By
noon, the sun, now gathering force as the days lengthen, soon dis-
pelled, to a great extent, the garb of silver thrown over the earth, and
by the intensity of its beams speedily dismissed hoary winter from
further participation in the scene. There is now much reason to
anticipate a genial spring and a fruitful beneficent summer.

At last a bond fide exhibition of Gladioli is to be held, and the 1 7th of
August in the present year is the date fixed for the display. A very good
list of subscriptions has been furnished by the leading growers, and
nearly .£70 will be distributed in prizes. Of this sum £20 is allotted
to Continental growers. The following classes have been agreed upon,
and we think a thoroughly good exhibition may reasonably be expected,
should the season prove at all favourable, though it is scarcely pos-
sible the northern growers can compete thus early in the summer : —

For Foreign Growers.

Class 1.— 36 Gladioli, cut spikes, distinct, £10, £6, £4.
For Nurserymen.

Class 2. — 36 Gladioli, cut spikes, distinct (Prizes offered by His Grace the
Duke of Buccleuch, and G. F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S.), £7, £5, £3.

Class 3. — Gladioli, 18 cut spikes, distinct (for exhibitors not showing in
Class 2), £5, £3, £2.

For Amateurs.

Clas3 4.— 12 Gladioli, cut spikes, distinct, £5, £3, £2.

Class 4 a.— 9 Gladioli, cut spikes, distinct, £3, £2, £1.

Class 4 b. — 6 Gladioli, cut spikes, distinct (for exhibitors not showing in
classes 4 and 4 a), £2, £1, 10s., £1.

Class 4 c. — 4 Gladioli, cut spikes, distinct, being new varieties sent out in the
autumns of 1868, 1869, £2, £1.

The classes numbered 5 to 11 in the original schedule for the meeting of this
day have not been altered.

This exhibition will be held at South Kensington, in connection
with the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society fixed for the
above-mentioned date.

148 THE GARDENER. [April

From the Continent comes an announcement that will be specially-
interesting to botanists, and we should think the offer is one likely to
induce a spirited competition, particularly so among the Continental
botanists. It is as follows : A prize is offered by the Royal Belgian
Academy for an essay " to fix, by new researches, the place to be
occupied in the natural system by Lycopodlum, Selaginella, Psilotum,
Tmesiptcris, and Phyloulossumr The prize is to be a gold medal
with £24. The essay must be written in Latin, French, or Flemish,
and addressed, prepaid, to M. Ad. Quetelet, the Perpetual Secretary,
before 1st June 1871. The Academy requires the greatest exactness
in quotations, and the pages as well as editions of works cited must
be given.

There appears to be reason to hope that the whole of the Chiswick
Gardens will not be abandoned by the Royal Horticultural Society.
We learn that it is proposed to retain all that part of it on which the
glass structures are placed, and it is hoped a good piece of ground
southward of that ; but the walled-in kitchen-garden, as well as that
part occupied by the collection of ornamental trees, will be given up.
So it is stated ; as a matter of course, there is much uncertainty as to
what is really to be done, but there is certainly too much reason to
fear that in as far as illustrations of practical horticulture are con-
cerned, we have seen pretty well the last of any attempts in that
direction at Chiswick.

A bulletin just issued by the Society of Acclimatisation of Paris is
extremely interesting for the pregnant information it gives in regard
to the Truffle. It has been compiled by M. Chatin, and at the outside
he intimates that the Truffle is spoken of in the Book of Genesis
under the Hebrew denomination of dudain. How the Truffles are
generated, is a question M. Chatin cannot quite settle. Always found
at the roots of certain trees, it was supposed by some that the raw
material was furnished by the juice of the leaves penetrating into the
ground ; but one day a Truffle was found under a tub which had caught
the juices, and that theory was destroyed. Others pretend that Truffles
are simply tubercles of the roots near which they are found ; but they
seldom adhere to these roots, and there is no continuity — so that theory
cannot stand. Many persons maintain that the Truffle is a subterran-
eous fruit, or a gall due to the sting of an insect, like the Gall-Nut.
But the insect has not yet been discovered, nor the gallery by which
it would have to withdraw, after having deposited the necessary mat-
ter. It is true, however, that certain flies are found to hover over
Truffle-beds, and the poachers prefer to watch them to taking out a
dog or a pig to hunt. As regards the cultivation of the Truffle, M.
Chatin considers that we are still in the infancy of the art as regards

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 149

this root, mentioned in Genesis. It has long been the practice to
plant Acorns with the view of eventually finding Truffles ; but the
Acorns, says the writer, should be selected from Oaks under which
Truffles have been found : the season, the soil, the site, should all be
carefully chosen, and the Truffle-ground should not be disturbed after
May. Oak and Chestnut leaves may be used as manure, and a little
irrigation is not bad. Should a tree be cut down, the Truffles will
sulk and leave the roots for years, if not for ever ; and in fact will often
vanish if any of the larger branches be meddled with. Another curious
detail is, that as the trees grow, the Truffle circle formed round them
widens, and moves further away. The mysterious connection between
the tree and its satellites remains to be solved. As regards Truffle-
hunting, the sow is preferred to the hog, as being more docile and hav-
ing a finer nose. A good pig will scent Truffles at 50 or 60 yards, and
will very quickly lay them bare ; this done, some Acorns must be given
to the animal, who will otherwise refuse to hunt any more. A pig
may be hunted from the age of two till he attains five-and-twenty, but
it is at four years old that he possesses all his most brilliant qualities.
In a good many departments dogs are used, and they are easily taught
to hunt ; some are trained to scratch up the Truffles, others merely to
mark the spot. A dog takes as much interest in the pursuit of Truffles
as of game, manifesting the greatest pleasure in coming across a good
bed. For the most of the foregoing information we are indebted to
the Paris correspondent of ' Land and Water.'

A somewhat interesting discussion is just being raised as to the
origin of Viola cornuta, var. Perfection, which was exhibited at a
meeting of the Koyal Horticultural Society in September last by Mr
Jobson, of Kotherfield Park, Alton, and awarded a first-class certificate
of merit. Mr B. S. Williams, who purchased the stock of it for dis-
tribution, claims it as a seedling raised by Mr Jobson, Y. cornuta
being one of its parents ; and he publicly intimates that " no plants
but those which come from this stock are true in character." All that
Mr Williams states in praise of this superb Viola is well deserved by
it, and there is no doubt but that it will prove an invaluable blue-
flowered summer bedding-plant, supplying a brilliant mauve-tinted
blue, much needed in gardens. Whether it will bloom early enough
in the spring to be of service for spring-bedding, remains to be seen ;
we think the chances are against its proving of much service so early
in the season. About its value there can be no difference of opinion ;
about its origin, much difference of opinion. Singular to state, a Viola
has been found in the Alton district, and especially about Salisbury, so
similar to the Rotherfield Viola, that an identity is claimed ; and cer-
tainly we could see no difference between them when placed before us

150 THE GARDENER. [April

for comparison. This Viola has been grown in the neighbourhood of
Salisbury for several years, and a Mr George Smith not only states
that it has been in his possession for some years, but that he can trace
its history for several years prior to having it in his possession j and
claims the merit of being the first person who introduced this plant
to the public. This appears fatal to the claim set up by Mr Jobson
that it is a seedling of his own. The Floral Committee at South
Kensington saw flowers of the two Violas, and the general impression
appeared to be that the two were identical, and the chairman of the
Floral Committee put on record that they were the same. The two
will no doubt be fully tested during the coming summer. Meanwhile
we cannot but express our sympathy with Mr Williams in having pur-
chased the Rotherfield stock, under a full conviction that it was only
to be found there and nowhere else, and his now finding it stated that
it is by no means so new, or so restricted in cultivation, as he had been
led to believe. The Salisbury Viola was most favourably noticed by
a correspondent in page 144 of our last number.

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT GRAPE-GROWING.

The present " age," especially the period of it we have reached, is
strikingly characterised by a sifting of theories, principles, and prac-
tices. What have long been held as settled truths, are passing through
the crucial ordeal of bold and startling investigation. In regard to
the cultivation of the Grape-vine, a similar ordeal is being applied. I
am one of those who believe that truth has nothing to fear from the
sifting process ; the chaff will be scattered, and the truth made more
evident, and be more firmly settled on an intelligent basis.

Looking, however, at present into the many theories (bearing on the
treatment of the Vine) that are being advanced, they are plentiful
enough, one would imagine, to lead even the experienced cultivator into
a maze of bewilderment, while the position of the beginner must be
one difficult to realise. Doubtless, amid all the din of the discussion
there is secure and positive advancement, though some practical experi-
ence is certainly needed in order to separate the golden ore of ascer-
tained facts from the dust with which it is mingled.

One Vine-grower literally kills the whole of the Vines he has at-
tempted to cultivate on the single-rod, or, as it is now termed, restric-
tive, system ; and forthwith he rushes into print, condemns the single-
rod system, and writes a pamphlet to convert growers to the big Vine,
or extension system, as the panacea for all the ills the Vine is heir to.
On the other hand, our preceptor is informed by another authority

1S70.] THOUGHTS ABOUT GRAPE - GROWING. 151

that bad management had caused the premature death of his Vines,
grown as single rods. Another authority reads a paper at a horticul-
tural congress on the evil effects of soil taken from the magnesian
limestone, and demonstrates unmistakably that he has failed to satisfy
himself with Grape crops from such a soil ; and lo ! clear as appears
to be his own proposition to himself, yet another authority labours to
show that Vines and other fruit-trees thrive to the greatest perfection
in the very soil the other so forcibly condemns. This second writer
treats us northern bodies to a piece of news (in order to prove the fal-
lacy of the one-rod or restrictive system, and to uphold the extension
theory), by telling us that a set of celebrated Vines in Galloway had
fallen into a sad plight, notwithstanding the very wonderful influence
of aeration. This arouses another combatant, suffering from some symp-
toms of the Vine-decline epidemic ; and he shouts a cross the borders,
Goliath-like, to the cultivator of the supposed-to-be-deceased Vines, to
let him know that his Vines are " nae deed," but "all a-growing, all
a-blowing ; " and that by means of a current of wind carried through
below their roots, the Vines would be made to absorb so much gas as
would enable them to produce splendid bunches of Grapes.

Turning to the question of pruning, another advocates the cut-to-
the-best bud, or cow-horn system. This the next combatant repudiates,
and maintains that the neatest Vines and most useful bunches are pro-
duced by the close-spurring system. I knew of a smart English prac-
tical gardener coming down to the banks of the Clyde to take charge
of a garden, and his neighbour found him in his vinery one morning
cutting off all the long spurs from the Vines that had for years been
cow-horned, and, of course, leaving not a bud to be depended on.
" This," the operator said to his neighbour — " this is what we call
spurring in the south ;" and got for reply, "By George ! and it's spur-
ring in the north too." And so the two systems are still adhered to,
and upheld as correct by their respective advocates.

About the growth and action of roots the manifestoes are quite as
uncertain ; one insists that growth first commences in the branches,
another maintains that the roots start into growth first — he is certain
of it, for he has seen it, and seeing is believing. A third asserts that
under his good management the Vines (which in some hands are so
obstinately stupid) start into activity simultaneously at both ends ;
while a writer from the banks of Nith tries to make it clear that you
can almost say to either wood or roots, " Grow first !" and it groweth •
and maintains that roots are very much the creatures of circumstances,
and that writers should not be too dogmatic, seeing that our knowledge
of vegetable physiology is of a somewhat imperfect character.

I might go on to show how almost every point connected with Grape-

152 THE GARDENER. [April

growing is a matter for dispute by different cultivators who are reputed
and recognised authorities ; but enough has been said to show how very
widely authorities differ on this as on other important matters, and
that a sifting process is going on which is much to be preferred either
to a stagnation of thought or the promulgation of merely stereotyped
ideas. One of the chief objects of cultivators should be to assist begin-
ners to pick up some crumbs of true and correct practice, as circum-
stances will admit of its being done.

With regard to the one -Vine, or modifications of the one-Vine,
system, it must be patent to all that its advocates can only point to a
very few instances of cultivation in that character as successful ex-
amples, and these under rather exceptional circumstances. One might
count them all on the fingers of the hands. There are a few of these
monster Vines well used to illustrate the idea that by letting Vines
have plenty of scope at root and branch, long-lived Vines are obtained
that bear ordinary — very ordinary — crops for a long term of years in
succession. We are never told of any such Vines being subject to the
debilitating ordeal of ripening, for twenty years in succession, their
Grapes in April or May, nor of their percentage of mortality, simply
because they are not, that I am aware of, subject to the hard uphill
work of thousands of Vines grown on the single-rod system, and
because there are very few such Vines from which to form a table of
mortality. But if a house of Vines grown on the single-rod system
happens to break down, forthwith the advocates of the extension theory
trumpet it from Land's End to John o' Groats. There are plenty of
single rods, and very hard-worked ones too ; and is it a matter for
wonder to be able to construct tables of mortality from their ranks 1
Be it borne in mind, I am not desirous of disparaging the monster
Vine plan under certain conditions. What I want to show is, that the
balance struck between the two systems is unwarrantable, unfair, and
calculated to mislead.

In every one of the instances where monster Vines are held up as
patterns of cultivation, they have an unlimited run in congenial soil,
and that in the natural directions of outwards and onwards. Now,
apart from all other considerations, it appears to me very questionable
whether — in a position where the natural soil is adverse, and the bor-
der has to be artificially formed, and, as a consequence of position and
dearth of soil, restricted, say, to a parallelogram 30 feet by 60 feet —
any one of these large Vines pointed to would, at this date, have
been in the same vigour and fruitful condition in a circumscribed
artificial border, especially when denied progress in a direct contrary
line to the top growth. Their doing well for so long a time, in my
opinion, depends on their roots having unlimited room in a soil and

1870.] THOUGHTS ABOUT GRAPE -GROWING. 153

subsoil naturally suited to the Vine. And such being the case, it is
simply ridiculous to preach this extension system for universal prac-
tice. Besides, has it been proved that single-rods, 20 feet long, planted
4 feet apart, managed on the spur system, and not allowed to bear
fruit out of proportion to the space occupied by the foliage, would not
survive and do well, all other circumstances in soil and root-scope
being equal, for a similarly lengthened period 1 What of the longevity
of the old restricted Vine-stools on the Continent ?

It has not been advanced — for a wonder — that Vines of such size,
with their roots occupying, it may be, a paddock, are suitable for any
other purpose than ripening their crops, almost without any fire-heat,
in August and September • while it is a well-known fact that a vast
proportion of single-rod Vines are started into growth under the most
artificial conditions in the dead of winter. More than this, it is a
well-known fact that such is the character of the natural soil of a vast
number of gardens, that it would be a misuse of hothouse room to
plant Vines without preparing both artificial sites and soils for their
growth. This fact renders unlimited root-extension impossible, so
that the borders under such circumstances are soon traversed,
outwardly especially, by the roots ; and I cannot suppose that such
limited scope is any more calculated for the long maintenance of a
monster Vine than for smaller ones, both of which may, however, by
good surface-management, live a long time, and bear fine Grapes, if
not forced very early.

But apart from the scope afforded to roots, if the single-rod Vines,
planted 4 feet apart, were allowed to bear fruit in proportion to the
foliage, what quantity will they make every year in that space ? I do
not see that much is gained by allowing the Vines to make three rods
instead of one, and training them 2 feet and even 18 inches apart, as is
so often met with • while, if you let the single 20-feet long rod have
4 feet of space and unlimited run in good soil, why should it not live
as long as the monster Vine 1 We are told that Mr Meredith trains
his rods at 2 feet apart. I have never seen his Vines ; but this I
will predict, that if he persists in training them so close, whether
otherwise restricted or extended, his crops will go back. He may,
over his vast extent of glass, be able to cut here and there, near the
top, show bunches; but with such thick crowded training, his general
crop will not continue equal to what he has produced. Vines at 3,
and especially 4, feet apart will make far more permanent Vines, and
continue to yield finer crops, than when in closer quarters. In this I
am not referring to sensational Grape-growing, now made so much of,
but to good substantial family cropping, which is incompatible with
sensational Grape-growing.

151 THE GARDENER. [April

My advice is, to avoid the one- or two-Vine system in a vinery where
the border is strictly artificial, the soil and subsoil unfavourable, and
where circumstances do not admit of a border extension to the front,
so as to keep pace with the onward route of the roots consequent on a
large top-development. Under such circumstances a greater number
of smaller Vines will take more equable possession of the nutriment
afforded by a limited area, and are not so likely to go beyond it into
the deleterious surroundings, as one large Vine or two would be likely
to do. Under different circumstances, nothing can be said against the
extension system.

The magnesian-limestone question is one regarding which I cannot
say I have any settled conviction. This much I can say, from experi-
ence in Vine-border making in different parts of the country, that some
soils which, to appearance, are much alike, have very different effects
on the growth of the Vine. On the chalk of Buckinghamshire I found
Vines make splendid growths, and yield equally fine Grapes. In Wales
I have seen wronderf ul crops of Grapes where the water was so impreg-
nated with lime that the Grapes, if syringed with it, became as if white-
washed. In that soil the Vines and bunches were altogether splendid,
grown in Pine-pits, a rod to each rafter. I have had Vines thrive
remarkably well, and yield Grapes of unsurpassed quality (by this I do
not mean mere size), in soil where the Rhododendron and the Heath
died out because of the presence of lime in the soil. Moreover, the
water with which the Vines were constantly watered was so full of lime
that it ate through lead cisterns in a very short time, and literally
killed Azaleas, Camellias, &c. ; but I never could detect that it in-
jured the Vines, except whitening the foliage and fruit if syringed with
it. The strongest pot- Vines I ever grew were in this lime-impregnated
soil and water, and Muscats especially seemed to colour to a very high
degree. The crops produced were not of the sensational but family
character — moderate, compact bunches in large quantities.

Since coming here, I have observed that on the red soil, or the red
sandstone (much the same as the soil about Dunbar in East Lothian),
the Vine grows with wronderful vigour. The Muscat Hambro', on its
own roots, grows with great vigour in a small vinery at Eccles ; and so
do Muscats and other Vines, all bearing wonderful bunches in this red
soil. I planted some Golden Champion and Tynningham Muscats last
year in a low house (very unsuitable for Grapes), which made growths
that astonished me for vigour and solidity. One Vine, struck from an
eye and planted in April, was left to grow unrestricted, and it made
36 feet of main stem, strong wood; and the others would have done
the same, had they not been handled with an object. The loam is
rather of a reddish colour, and somewhat strong. The influence of

t3;o.] THOUGHTS ABOUT GRAPE -GROWING. 155

soils is doubtless great, but my experience and observation would lead
me to decide for the red sandstone to produce vigorous Vines.

As to the pruning by the cut-to-the-best-bud system — that is, leaving
two, three, or four eyes, as the case may be, in preference to spurring
back to one bud — I think there is a phase of this question which has
not been brought prominently forward. The two- or three-bud system
produces, perhaps, a bigger, at least a longer, bunch ; but that is not
proving that it produces a better or more serviceable bunch, which is
the real question. No good Grape-grower is ever afraid to spur back
good Vines to a single eye close home to the main stem. It is a well-
known fact that the ripening process of the wood begins at the base of
the young shoot, and finishes upwards to the extremity ; and that, in
pruning the shoot within an inch or so of the main stem, the wood is
found harder and with much less pith than three or four buds farther
up along the growth. My experience has been — for I have tested it
over and over again — that the long spur yields a bigger and less com-
pact bunch, more likely to shank than does the hard wood closer
home, which yields a more compact, neat, and serviceable bunch, and
generally with bigger berries and stiffer foot-stalks than the bigger
buds farther up the shoot. Now I hold it to be wrong to judge of the
produce of a Vine by the size of bunch. The aim of the family Grape-
grower is fine berries, and compact, moderate-sized bunches in great
numbers. Tested by family usefulness, and, commercially, by the
demand of the market, the smaller and compact bunch takes precedence
of the biggest bunch j besides, employers soon tire of sensational
Grape-growing to the tune of 6 or 8 bunches to a 16 or 20 feet rafter.
If serviceable bunches are wanted, I advise to prune back to one eye ;
if larger, looser, and less serviceable bunches are wanted, take them
from the fourth or fifth bud.

The question as to whether the root or top growth of Vines com-
mences first (looked at as coming merely within the range of physi-
ology) may not be of vast moment to the practitioner, although all that
is connected with plant life bears directly on practical horticulture.
Most experienced Vine-growers will agree that the growth of root or
branch takes precedence the one of the other, according to circum-
stances. The local application of heat — the great moving power in
the growth of plants — in most cases settles that. It is a point I have
narrowly watched in the case of pot- Vines, and have always found that
a Vine not plunged in bottom-heat, but placed on a shelf in a hothouse,
will make top-growth before new growth takes place at the root ; but,
plunged in bottom-heat, and the top kept cool, young roots are pro-
duced first. Vines shaken out and planted in the ordinary way, I
have invariably found to make top-growth to a certain extent rapidly,

156 THE GARDENER. [April

then halt till young feeders were formed, when the top starts at an
accelerated pace j and I believe this is, in the majority of cases, the
order of nature.

The question that most concerns practical gardeners appears to me
to be, whether an effort should be made to get root-growth prior to
top-growth ] In forcing, the great advantage of bottom-heat consists
in its setting the fluids stored up in the Vine speedily in motion, and
in producing root-growth sooner than it takes place in an unheated
border. The best way of applying this bottom-heat to Vines seems to
be a disputed point. Yet it seems strange it should be so, as, in its
application to other plants, there seems little difference of opinion as
to the propriety of applying it from below by hot-water pipes. To
apply it from above, seems to me very much like putting a boiler below
the fire to get most heat from the fire. D. T.

HINTS FOR AMATEURS.

The long-continued frosty weather may have kept some behind with
many of the more important garden operations, which will in a great
measure be a barrier to success. When land is tenacious and heavy,
it will be more difficult to deal with than soil of a light warm nature.
However, by a little perseverance, much can be done with clay soil ;
and, when well managed, it often carries the best of crops. As an
example : we saw at Frogmore, last season, large breadths of ground
which had been well trenched for sowing and planting, but was so
much like iron that it appeared impossible to work it by any means.
The day before it was required for cropping, copious waterings were
given all over the surfaces, and the following day the soil broke down
freely like powder, and was in excellent order for any purpose. When
weather is wet, this kind of ground can hardly be touched. Every
opportunity should be taken to break the surface as well as possible,
and the seeds should be sown in lines, covering them with any waste
soil finely sifted, which we have often recommended to be kept in
store in dry quarters till wanted. We have often seen drills made for
Peas, Beans, &c, with the spade ; the seeds sown and covered with
charcoal dust or leaf-mould, and the crops turn out amazingly fine.
Planting of Cabbage, Cauliflower, or similar plants, may be done in
heavy land by making holes with a trowel, placing a handful or two
of good soil to each plant as the work goes on : a little soot in this
soil makes uncomfortable quarters for grubs, which often destroy Cab-
bage and Cauliflower. The ground for main crop of Carrots should

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 157

now be in good order ; a good coating of lime and soot may be useful
in keeping grubs in check — the surface well broken and drills drawn a
foot or 14 inches apart; on poor sandy soil less will do. A good crop of
Carrots in gardens is seldom met with, and the free use of lime used
in preparing the ground through the winter, and other means which
are sometimes used with success, often amount to more than good
Carrots can be bought for in the districts where they grow without
any attention whatever. Asparagus may now be sown for keeping up
a stock of roots ; light rich soil of a sandy mixture is the best. Arti-
chokes, globe, should now be looked over, forking among the plants
and breaking over the ground without injuring the roots : suckers,
when they can be had, may be planted for late supplies. Jeru-
salem Artichokes, if not already planted, may be got in at once,
if treated like Potatoes ; keeping them in single rows, and staking up
the stems if they get top-heavy, is all they require. When the rows
are thickly planted, the produce is much smaller for want of light and
air. Broad Beans may again be planted for a succession, if the soil
for them is light. Mulching may be of great service as the season
advances. Beet will require attention soon ; though it often does well
on any soil, the produce is very stringy and tough when grown on
shallow indifferent soil. We again repeat that rank manure, newly
given to roots of all kinds, is their ruin. Silver Beet makes a useful
substitute in winter for Spinach, but it need not be sown for some
time. Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Lettuces
may be sown as formerly advised. Birds and slugs will be great
enemies to the young plants as they begin to vegetate. Where Onions
are liable to be eaten by grubs, a quantity of last season's bulbs may
be planted, dusting them with soot in showery weather. Herbs of all
kinds may be sown on a dry sheltered border. Basil will require
heat and careful hardening off before being planted on a warm border.
Tomatoes, sown in a little warmth and liberally treated, will give a
good late supply. If grown in pots of large size, and plunged at the
base of a wall or any sunny spot well sheltered from wind, they will
produce freely. Large established plants to begin with is of great
importance. Radishes and Salads of all kinds require to be sown often
at this season ; if watering the seeds is necessary, it should be done
in the morning, till the nights are warmer. Quick growth, and no
check given, prevents toughness and rank flavour. Rhubarb seed
may be sown in a warm position, where the soil is free and dry. If
blanched stalks are preferred, pets or boxes may be placed over the
crowns, keeping out the most of the air ; it is thus made more tender
and juicy. Spinach, round, may be sown between other crops, or
bushes if ground is scarce. To have fine large leaves, plenty of rotten

158 THE GARDENER. [April

manure must be allowed ; sow thinly. The plants should be at least
4 inches apart in the rows.

Turnips may be sown in small quantities still, dusting wood-ashes
or soot over the leaves as they come through the ground, to prevent
the ravages of "fly." If not already done, the main crop of Celery
should be sown, either in a frame or under a handlight. Do not let
the young plants become matted or dry at the root ; shelter them from
cutting winds, but increase light and air as they grow ; and for prick-
ing them out on, let the bed be, if possible, solid rotten manure, with
2 inches of light soil over the surface ; and when the roots are well
established, there will be no difficulty in lifting large balls with the
plants, when placed in the trenches, in June or July. Ground on
which is grown the latest Broccoli does well for the Celery trenches.
One or two sowings of Peas may be got in during the month. Stake
those growing before they fall over, and keep the hoe going freely
among all growing crops ; order and neatness should prevail every-
where. Fine raking of surfaces is not to be recommended in the
vegetable garden. Melons and Cucumbers will now require attention,
keeping them trained out regular over the beds, keeping the principal
shoots a good distance apart, so that the bearing-shoots are not
crowded. In one light, two leading shoots of Melons trained each
way, and the tops taken off just before they reach the sides of frame,
will do ; and two or three side-shoots will be pushed from each leading
one, which will require stopping as soon as the fruit appears : all
other shoots not required should be rubbed off before they rob the
plants. Cucumbers will require more pinching than Melons, as more
fruit is taken, and none (except one or two for seed, which rob the
plants very much) allowed to ripen. Two Cucumbers 10 inches long
are more valuable than one of 20 inches. When the fruits are allowed
to become yellow at the ends, they are almost worthless. Heat kept
up by linings or otherwise should be not less than 65° at night; 75°
with a little air on all night is not too much. Shutting up the frame
early on sunny afternoons, after sprinkling all the beds with tepid
water, will promote free growth in newly-turned-out plants. Air,
avoiding cutting winds, is indispensable to success when the plants
become established.

Fruit-trees may require disbudding in southern localities before the
month is out. If done early and at different times, the tree will receive
no check : great quantities of foliage cut off at one time gives a severe
check to the trees. All shoots growing out from the walls should be
taken clean off.

Asters, Stocks, Larkspurs, Convolvulus, Tropseolum Canariensis (the
two latter for climbing on old tree-stumps, or vacant spaces on walls),

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 159

Marigold (French and African), Saponaria Calabrica, Rhodanthe Man-
glesii, Humea elegans (for large plants), may be sown in a frame at
once, using fine light soil, and covering the small seeds very slightly.
These are all useful for decorating borders, &c, and can be procured
and grown where ordinary bedding-plants cannot be kept easily through
the winter ; timely attention, when the plants are fit to handle, should
be given to get them pricked out before they become matted ; a small
panful of each will fill a large space when well managed. Cockscombs,
Balsams, Globe Amaranthus, and similar plants, to be grown in pots
for decorating glass structures, may be sown now in a little heat ; a
close temperature will ruin the young plants. To have them sturdy
and vigorous, they require plenty of light and air, as well as a little
bottom heat. Use tepid water for every plant when in heat, even
although they are of a very hardy nature.

Every border and lawn should now have a clean fresh appearance.
Grass seeds sown now will start into growth freely, but birds must be
kept off, or weeds may only appear, and the vendor of the grass seeds be
blamed for supplying a spurious article. Be it remembered that where
grass does not occupy the ground, weeds of the worst kind will speedily
show themselves. Dustings of guano and soot in showery weather
will strengthen the growth of weakly grass. All grass edgings may
now be neatly pared, taking care not to unnecessarily reduce the turf
edgings, as when narrow they are mean in appearance, and more diffi-
cult to keep tidy.

Pot Carnation and Picotees, if they are to be flowered in pots, and
plant out those to be flowered in the borders ; fresh sandy loam, with
a little decayed cow-dung in it, suits them well. Take care of bedding
plants, which may be hardening off to be turned out next month ;
doing it gradually will be the safest way, as sudden changes are very
injurious. Dahlias, being tender, will stand very little cold wind.
Chrysanthemums growing in small pots should be shifted into larger
sizes, as the pots become filled with roots. It is now a good time to
take off cuttings for small specimens, or to divide large plants, which
is an easy method of growing them for decorating either greenhouse
or sheltered borders. In the north they seldom come in early enough
for outside work. Ranunculus, and all other tuberous or bulbous
plants coming through the ground, should have the surface soil well
broken, and a little earth slightly pressed to each stem. Protection
from frost (even for those which are hardy) will be of great service in
securing a good bloom. Pansies for bedding may be planted out in
rich cool soil. Violas Cornuta, Alba, Lutea, and Amcena, are excel-
lent on deep rich soil ; and being so hardy, they are easily managed.
All the hardier bedding plants may be planted out soon. All plants

160 THE GARDENER. [April

for summer flowering in pots should be examined and potted if they
have plenty of roots ; some in unhealthy soil may have the ball re-
duced, and fresh drainage and healthy soil given. Fuchsias, Calceo-
larias (shrubby), Zonale Pelargoniums, Aloysias, and Heliotropes, are
among the leading kinds grown by amateurs. Surfacing healthy roots
with rotten manure and fresh sandy loam may be done with advan-
tage, but care must be exercised not to close up the roots from air, as
is so often done by unsuccessful cultivators of orchard-house trees.
Vines, Figs, and many other fruits are ruined by this kind of surface-
clogging. Air into the soil is as necessary as air to the foliage. Manure-
water does much for vigorous healthy growth, but it should always be
used in a clear state. Soot and sheep's dung make a simple but power-
ful stimulant ; stir it well for a day or two, and let it settle to the bot-
tom, using enough to colour the water. Any plants grown in peat, such
as Azaleas or Heaths, do not require manure-water, though a little clear
soot-water can be used with advantage by experienced men. More
water will now be required at the roots of plants as the season advances ;
give it in the morning, except where structures are subject to drying
heat. When nights are warm, the afternoon is the time to water.
Keep all surfaces of pots clean and well stirred, and tolerate no dirty
pots. Look after insects and other vermin among all plants.

M. T.

JOTTINGS ON THE TULIP.

NO. III.

Unlike the Auricula, the Carnation, and the Pansy, and several other
suchlike gems of beauty which the zealous and enterprising florist has
taken into his hands and heart, the Tulip gives a long season of repose
to its admirers, thus affording them opportunities of bestowing atten-
tions to those more tender objects of their affections necessary to
bring them successfully through the long and tedious winter to which
they are exposed, with its boisterous gales and nipping frosts. But
though "buried beneath the clod" for a season, it does not lose its
place in the affections of its possessor, who is constantly calculating in
what way it will make its appearance when in bloom, and how close
it will run its competitors in the race for a silver cup, or how high
it will stand in the classes. And even when hidden from view, it is
found not to have been inactive, but all through the long winter,
on the contrary, it has been occupied in forming its rootlets and
advancing the future bloom — thus silently, and without observation,
carrying on its own individual work.

1870.] JOTTINGS ON THE TULIP. 161

In my last paper of " Jottings" I promised to forward a few descriptive
notes upon the seedlings raised by Mr Storer of Derby, but the season
of bloom proved so very unpropitious that those friends who had pro-
mised me their aid were not willing to adventure a description, as
the blooms proved entirely out of their ordinary character as com-
pared with previous years, as most growers can doubtless bear me
out to their great disappointment, finding a dusky flame replacing the
expected fine feather, and an expected flame suffused into an ugly
self. This was no doubt owing to the extraordinary amount of rain-
fall during the previous winter; and should such an excessive amount
of colouring matter result from such a cause, fears may again be
entertained of a similar misfortune, owing to the present wet winter.
"We shall see in due time, but trust our fears will not be verified.

And now, while our favourites are actively preparing underground
for their next campaign, I should like to say a few words from memory
about the merits of a few which I have had the pleasure of seeing of
those beautiful Derby seedlings, so truly deserving the highest encomiums
that can be passed upon them. I should unhesitatingly have said that
Dr Hardy could, without challenge, carry the palm, and stand, as
the raiser at one time thought it would stand, No. 1 over all the rest.
However, a grower, who is no mean authority, informs me that another
variety, during last year, has put in a claim for pre-eminence, and
doubtless will succeed in establishing its rightful position. That the
"Doctor" is full small in size cannot be denied, but large flowers are
apt to get coarse : still a large refined flower must ever stand before a
smaller compeer. But a small bloom, when faultless and proportionate,
must command, a little longer yet, a position on the bed ; and I have
seen some faultless blooms of Dr Hardy for some years past, and it
will be found a most admirable specimen of what is desirable in a
Tulip, with the exception, perhaps, of size, as its colours are of the
richest, and its style of marking sharp, clear, and decided in both
feather and flame — so that Joseph Godfrey, the " new pretender," must
look about him, and put on his best smiles to greet the anxious expec-
tants at the approaching struggle for victory, and will not gain its
honours without a sharp contest on the part of the Doctor.

John D. Hextall, another variety, named after a stanch veteran of
more than fourscore years who has made his mark high up in the
annals of floriculture, is a superb flame of rich scarlet and gold, with
the colour laid on in the flame less carefully and attractively than in
some of the others — in a word, a little too heavily done, rendering it
less sharp and defined than we like to see in a fine Tulip. The season
may have had something to do with the excess of colouring. In any
stage, however, it may be taken as a most attractive variety.

L

162 THE GARDENER. [April

The third is a break from No. GO, which was considered identical
with Dr Hardy by the Derby growers, and which the raiser himself
only last season pronounced identical when he saw it in the breeder
state ; and to those who do not dislike scarlet flames, it will possess
many attractions in its fine short cup and sharp defined markings. I
would scarcely venture to assert the fact of its identity, although the
breeder is considered the same, for to my eye there is a sufficient
difference in the broke flower to establish a distinct variety ; and I
have found, in my experience in seedlings, that two distinct varieties
may be originated from one breeder — so closely similar may two differ-
ent seeds be found in their produce as to deceive the most careful
observer until broken. However, there is no doubt of its being a good
and useful flower, and, like the rest of these seedlings, very constant in
its markings, being a very fine flame.

No. 15 is a very fine feathered variety, having a short cup, rather
small, with the colours less brilliant than in some of the others.

Lord Palmerston is another flame, sometimes only lightly flamed
according to the season, with a fine large cup, and of a peculiar brown
on a lemon ground in its markings.

Mr Mills is a superb variety, with a fine rich flame upon a good
yellow ground. This I should pronounce to be amongst the finest of
the batch.

General Lee is a beautiful flame ; fine short cup and clear markings,
and a fine stage-flower, usually coming in good character.

There are at least a score others about which my memory will not
allow me to speak a word, and of whose names and numbers I have quite
lost recollection ; but after next bloom, if spared to see it, I hope to
have something to record. Omicron.

THE PHLOX.

4

There was a time, and that not very long ago, when the Phlox was
scarcely recognised as a florists' flower, but now it holds a deservedly
high place in the list. Besides great beauty, it has other desirable
qualities. It is hardy and easily propagated ; it continues long in
bloom, and may be made very effective in a border. By using both
the early and late flowering varieties, bloom may be had from, the end
of June till far on in September. In the present paper my object
will be to show how to grow the Phlox for competition, which, of
course, is to bring out its best qualities. It must be understood that
I write as an amateur cultivator for amateurs, and that the plan of

1S70.] THE PHLOX. 163

cultivation which I give is not put forward as the only one by which
success may be reached, but simply as one which I have proved to be
good, or seen others successfully practise. The experience of an
amateur may be of use to many a brother amateur with boundless love
for his floral beauties, but wanting skill to make them display all their
charms to him. I sometimes wonder that amateurs do not give their
experiences oftener than they do. I recollect my own difficulties when
I began to grow flowers, and more especially when I began to mea-
sure my strength with others on the exhibition table ; and if any
information which I can give will help a brother, I shall indeed be
glad to impart it.

Like most florists' flowers, the Phlox is best grown in beds, so that
all the plants may have the same treatment and attention in the most
handy way. Any light garden-soil of fair quality will suit them. It
is said that they grow best when there is peat in the soil. On this
point I can give no opinion, but I know that they will grow very well
without it. To make a good beginning, prepare the beds about the
middle of March, or it may be later, by digging in a very liberal
quantity of well-rotted manure, and breaking up the soil thoroughly.
To do the Phlox justice, the plants must have room. Plant them,
therefore, 15 inches apart each way. As the young plants destined
for the beds will likely have commenced their growth in a frame, or
wTill have been newly bought from the nurseryman, they will require
the protection of pots for a short time after planting out, or they will
suffer from the keen winds of spring. Give them early in their
growth the support of neat stakes, so that their great enemy the wind
may not injure them. Yet it sometimes happens, notwithstanding
the greatest care, the wind will whip the top off a shoot as clean as if
it were cut with a knife. Snails are very fond of the young shoots,
and will do much damage if a close watch is not kept upon them for
a time.

That the Phlox is a greedy and exhaustive feeder, is shown by its
hundreds of rootlets matted closely together. It has also a trick of
pushing its roots above ground, and to supply these, each plant may
be mulched with a quantity of good manure sprinkled with earth.
The Phlox likes water, and in a dry time will take a good soaking
every two or three days. If the young plants are strong, good spikes
may be got the first year, but it is during the second season that the
strength and glory of the Phlox will appear. The bed may either be
again manured and dug in the spring, letting the plants remain in
their places ; or, if the circumstances of the garden will permit, the
plants may be carefully lifted and planted in another bed prepared
as at first ; or, if room is not available, the plants may be lifted and

164 THE GARDENER [April

put aside till the same bed is thoroughly dug and manured, and then
replaced. If done early, lifting does them no injury, nor, as far as I
have seen, does it retard their growth. When the stems are about 4
or 5 inches long, and number more than five or six, thin them out to
these numbers, or fewer according to circumstances, and, with the
treatment recommended, the result will be satisfactory. I have seen
on a very strong plant as many as eight magnificent heads, but this is
an exceptional number with the competitor. By growing two or three
beds of Phloxes, and renewing one every year, the competitor ought
to be able to hold his own honourr.bly at any exhibition. As the day
of show draws near, the competitor must prepare to shade his beauties
from the sunshine in order to keep their colours pure. If the flowers
are rather forward they will require a fortnight's shading, otherwise a
week will do. The whole bed, or only the spikes selected for compe-
tition, may be shaded. The best substance for this purpose is scrim,
which subdues the glare of the sun without causing a very dark
shadow. The amateur, who generally is a man fertile in resources,
must apply his own ingenuity in the erection of the shade. When
placed side by side on the table, the difference between a shaded and
unshaded Phlox is seen at once in the purity of the colours and the
greater gloss on the surface of the flowers. The spikes should be cut
the night before the show, and put in bottles amongst water ; and not-
withstanding the objections of some persons, I maintain that Phloxes
cannot be better shown than in bottles. They may be ornamented or
disguised in any way, but there is nothing equal to them for keeping
Phloxes fresh and bright till the end of the show. Before staging,
pick off any decayed pips that would make the spike look ragged ;
and to show their beauty fairly, let them have room on the table.

Phloxes crowded in a small stand or stuck round the edge of a pot
full of sand look very miserable, and the chance is they will flag in an
hour. In judging Phloxes, shape and size of spike, and the fineness of
the individual flowers, are looked to. The more conical and compact
the head is, the better, but this condition cannot be got equally good
in all. The individual flowers must be circular and flat, clear and clean
in colour, and with a distinct eye, if the variety has one. The larger
the pip, if it is firm and does not fall back, the greater the value ; but
if the flower is thin and falls back in any degree, the spike should not
make one in a stand. In late-flowering Phloxes, the criterion is some-
what different as regards shape, the head being less conical and flatter
than in the early-flowering kinds. In other respects the points are
the same. There are hosts of very beautiful Phloxes in cultivation,
but all are not equally fitted for exhibition. From personal acquaint-
ance, I can recommend the following as a few most excellent show-

i87o.] TRAVELLING NOTES. 165

flowers, and though they are not the newest varieties, they have quali-
ties which will enable them to hold their own against any comers at
an exhibition : Early -flowering — Clio, Miss Stirling, Miss Charlotte
Duncan, Lady Ross, Lady Sinclair, Purple Prince, Captain Speke,
Miss E. Spedding, Mrs K. Howat, Her Majesty, Miss Lindsay, and
Mrs M'Gregor. Late-flowering : R. B. Laird, Edith, Souvenir de
Soultzmatt, Liervalli, Madame de Wendel, Countess of Breadalbane,
Madame A. Verschaffelt, and Mons. Delamare. With good cultiva-
tion all these varieties can be grown very large. Clio, for instance,
may be grown with a compact head 15 inches long and 11 inches
across at the base. Miss Stirling also may be grown very large,
though the head wants the closeness of that of Clio. Lady Ross has
also a splendid head and brilliant colour. Phlox -growers will be
pleased to know that several of the Edinburgh nurserymen have of
late been devoting much attention to crossing this flower, and by-and-
by we may expect valuable additions to our present beauties.

Phloxes are easily propagated by cuttings, which do not require to
be cut over by a joint, as the stem sends out roots at all points. Cut-
tings will strike at almost any time throughout the season. Those
who do not wish to be troubled with early striking may wait till Sep-
tember, and then take off stems rooted and ready, keeping them in
pots all winter. John Morris.

Mains, near Dundee.

[Many thanks for this communication. It is such experiences as these that we
mostly require. We sincerely hope our correspondent will not forget to render
us his valuable aid in the time to come. — Eds.]

TRAVELLING NOTES ON" GARDENS IN THE
MIDLAND COUNTIES.

{Continued from page 41.)

The Pinetum is reached by a gradual ascent from the kitchen-garden, and pos-
sibly a better situation could not have been selected. It is of considerable altitude,
which varies the temperature, not, however, to any great extent, but sufficient in
most cases to meet individual requirements.

Observers are aware that several of our most ornamental Coniferse refuse to
grow on a flat surface, or in protected corners : they rather prefer the bleak hill-
side, or it may be the pinnacle of a mountain-top. Among these I would notice
the king of Silver Firs, Picea bracteata. Magnificent as that Pine is, and easy
of cultivation, it is rarely to be found in good health and of a full habit.

So far as I could observe, no geographical distribution of genera and species
has been attempted, and I think wisely, as, from inequality of growth and other
causes, the general effect would be greatly reduced. "While the formation of a

106 THE GARDENER. [April

Pinetum is either under Consideration or has reached a reality, geographical
arrangement is almost certain to take possession of the mind ; and it may appear
to be the correct line to follow, but in practice will be found to terminate in a
grievous mistake.

The enclosure contains 62 acres, the walks and planting so skilfully arranged
that a stranger is impressed with an idea of greater extent. The number of
species and varieties of Coniferso are too numerous to allow the insertion of a des-
criptive list : such would no doubt be both useful and interesting to many. Not
being admissible, I shall only introduce the genera, the number of species and
varieties, with an occasional comment.

Abies, six species and one variety. There is a magnificent tree of A. Douglasii
taxifolia, 50 feet high, and 25 feet in diameter. Araucaria, three species ; Arthro-
taxus, two species. A. selaginoides, from its habit of growth, is anomalous ; its forked
branchlets give a curious and interesting appearance. Biota, three species and
three varieties. There is a beautiful plant of B. orientalis compacta over 9 feet in
height. Callitris, one species. Cedrus, three species and two varieties : a very
handsome tree of C. deodara robusta above 23 feet high. Cephalotaxus, three
species. C. adpressa very vigorous, over 16 feet high. Chamsecyparis, one species
Cryptomeria, two species and two varieties. Cunninghamea, one species. Cup-
ressus, seven species and three varieties. The Lambert Cypress is considered by
Mr Coleman to be a distinct species; the validity of his opinion I doubt very
much. After many years' acquaintance I have not been able to place it higher
than a mere variety of C. macrocarpa. But on this point we shall not dispute : one
thing is certain, that either takes the lead among their congeners. There is here
the finest specimen I have ever seen of a full habit, 36 feet high and above 6 feet
in circumference round the stem. Dacrydium, one species. Dammara, one species.
Juniperus, fourteen species and nine varieties. None in this large collection,
Mr Coleman tells me, surpasses J. Phcenicea, whether in habit or colour : it grows
freely in almost any situation, and appears to be a great favourite with Earl
Somers, as it has been planted in large quantities ; J. recurva is also a very graceful
Juniper, but unless planted on a cool and somewhat moist bottom, has generally
a rusty appearance. J. fragrans is not generally met with, although the price
places it within the reach of any one. It must have been in the Eastnor col-
lection for several years, as the height is nearly 15 feet. J. tamariscifolia, trained
to a single stem to the height of 4 feet, and then allowed to form a head,
deserves imitation owing to its very graceful habit.

Larix-Ksempferi, although reported to reach to the height of a hundred feet
in China, I very much fear, from what I have seen of its progress, will never
become in this country a conspicuous object. This is the more to be regretted,
as its golden hue gives an additional variety to our indigenous trees. Libo-
cedrus, two species; Picea,nine species ; P. bracteata, 8 feet high, among the fin-
est in Britain; P. nobilis, 18 feet high; P. nordmarmiana, 24 feet high; P. pinsapo,
23 feet high, the branches 17 feet in diameter; P. magnifica, 3 feet high; Pinus,
twenty-five species; Don Pedri, 9 feet high, very handsome and quite hardy ;
P. insignis, 45 feet high ; P. Lambertiana, 28 feet high ; P. Montezuma?, 19 feet high,
branches 23 feet in diameter ; P. nigricans, 21 feet high; Podocarpus, two species ;
Retinospora, five species ; P. pisifera aurea is really beautiful, of a golden colour,
slightly intermixed with green ; Sequoia Sempervirens, 37 feet high ; Taxus, five
species and two varieties ; Thujopsis, three species; Thuja, eight species. The
general character of this genus is rapidity of growth, with the exception of rt. An-
tarctica, which, as a lawn plant, has few equals, owing to its dwarf habit. Torreya,
one species; Wellingtonia gigantea, 22 feet high, the circumference of stem 49

1870.] TRAVELLING NOTES. 167

inches ; Waderingtonia, one species. In concluding my coniferous list, I would
just notice a very fine plant of Quercus glabra, and presume so fine a plant is
rarely to be met with ; the diameter of the branches could certainly not be less
than from 9 to 10 feet, so unlike an Oak that at first sight it might be taken for
a large-leaved Magnolia. Here, as in many more places, Pinus insignis suffered
severely during the winter of 1860 and 1861 ; no less than 150 were destroyed.
The same years proved equally fatal to Cupressus macrocarpa ; no less than 130
perished, varying'in height from 8 to 40 feet. These happened to be planted in
a low locality, while the same kinds growing on a higher elevation escaped un-
injured.

The residence of Earl Somers is a castellated building, designed by Sir Thomas
Smirke, built about 1809, at a cost of £500, 000. It is certainly a majestic edifice ;
more, indeed, like a palatial residence than the seat of an English nobleman. The
site is very commanding, on the brink of a hill, backed on the upper side by the
pleasure-ground and Pinetum, supported underneath by a massive terrace wall,
overlooking a lake of 22 acres. No matter from whatever point, the view is en-
chanting, more particularly as seen from the castle window, varied to a greater
degree, and more extensive. The composition embraces knolls planted with
Thorn and undergrowths of different kinds, hills covered with full-grown wood,
intervening openings, which give free admission to the bold, swelling mountains
many miles off ; altogether a combination of beauty which not only delights the
eye, but awakens in the mind a train of interesting reflections. It has been said
by some one that the character of the scenery should influence the character of
the mansion, an idea which I think has been fully carried out in selecting a
castellated building. The middle, distance to some extent is occupied as
a deer-park, which gives the finishing-stroke to the landscape. The bound-
ary-line on the opposite side of the lake has been very much improved
within the last few years. Mr Coleman has, by judicious planting in the
form of ornamental clumps, and the introduction of single trees, rounded
off the angles, and blended in a very pleasing way the margin of the water
and the accompaniments of the park. The composition of the clumps is
principally Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), Furze, Rhododendrons, and a miscel-
laneous collection of flowering shrubs. I have long known that Abies Menziesii
preferred a clamp situation, but was taken by surprise to find it growing so freely
close to the water's edge, where the soil must frequently approach a state of
saturation. In this locality, upwards of two hundred Wellingtonias have been
planted, and in many cases the central shoots in one year have exceeded 4 feet.
This fact is somewhat surprising when we examine the character of the soil, so
adhesive that it was necessary to drain and char it to give vent for the water, and
to admit the air. There is no Conifer half so accommodating as the Wellingtonia; it
is not particular either as to soil or situation. We have a plant over 30 feet high,
planted on the limestone, with an average depth of earth of not more than 18
inches, of a full vigorous habit ; again, in a deep very sandy loam, where the pro-
gress is equally satisfactory, and on a marshy situation contiguous to a full-grown
wood. In neither case have I been able to detect any difference ; perhaps by
straining a little we might be able to give a slight advance to the latter. The
principal approach to the Castle, after breaking off from the Malvern road,
betrays no limitation; it is fully two miles long, passing over for some considerable
distance a rather sharp ridge of rock. The embellishments on either side com-
prise deciduous and evergreen Oaks, different kinds of Yew, a fine collection
of Crataegus and Arbutus, besides many others whose name I cannot now remem-
ber. In dealing with these materials, Mr Coleman has studiously avoided unifor-

1G8 THE GARDENER. [April

mity of outline, and has wisely brought out the rugged features of the surrounding
country, in a way that only quick sense can imitate.

There was rather a sharp dispute some years ago as to whether the Mistletoe
would grow on the Oak : that it will do so is a settled point, as Mr Coleman showed
me an instance, which establishes the fact. With a kindness that bespeaks a
great amount of liberality, Earl Somers freely admits the public to these beautiful
grounds several days in the week, a privilege that cannot be too highly valued by
those who can appreciate a rare combination of nature and art.

In conclusion I may be permitted to say — and I never assert what I do not
thoroughly believe — that Mr Coleman tolerates no hobbies, as every department
receives the same attention, which is easily seen from the order that prevails in
the most remote corner. To manage so extensive an establishment, and keep
everything in such excellent order, requires both tact and ability. With feelings
of gratitude for numerous acts of attention, I passed on to Ledbury, got comfort-
ably seated on the top of what is now rarely to be seen, a four-horse coach, and
arrived safely in Gloucester. Alexander Cramb.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

THE CHERRY.
{Continued from page 1 08. )

We have seen that the soil best suited to the Cherry is a good friable
loam, moderately rich, neither too heavy nor too light. The Morello
and Bigarreau will, however, do well in, and in fact prefer, a good heavy
loam. Mr M'Intosh, in his ' Book of the Garden,' page 538, says
that "we have seen the best crops and the healthiest trees we ever
saw lately growing in a deep strong clay, while we remember well that the
oldest Cherry-orchards in England are planted on deep sandy loams,
often resting on a rocky bottom. Generally speaking, however, this
tree thrives best on a good deep loam, and worst of all on thin gravelly
soils." From this it will be observed that although his experience
agrees with my own, yet the best trees ever he had seen were growing
upon soil of a very different nature. Those having a soil more clayey
than I have recommended, need not fear the result with such a high
authority on the side of the soil ; yet where such a soil as I have
recommended is easily procured, it should be preferred. My prefer-
ence for a good friable loam is because the Cherry requires a consider-
able amount of moisture, especially the strong-growing varieties. It
is a well-known fact that stiff clay is not retentive of moisture, for
water passes rapidly from it, leaving it in a hard and baked condition ;
also light gravelly soils pass the water too rapidly through them, so
that in a few days they become dry and light like dust. Medium
soils retain moisture best, for they are open enough to receive it, and
retain it for some considerable time; and not this only, but they

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 1G9

are also more open to the action of the atmosphere, which, at night
especially, contains a considerable amount of moisture, whereas stiff
clayey loams are almost impenetrable to the atmosphere.

The best time for planting the Cherry is in autumn, say the months
of September or October. They may also be planted any time during
winter from October till the end of March; but the advantage of
an early-planted tree over one planted in spring is equivalent to about
one year's growth. If the trees get established before winter sets in,
they will grow and make splendid wood ; whereas if they are not
planted till far on in spring, in all probability they will make small
useless wood, which may not thoroughly ripen, and consequently will
be useless. Before planting, it will be necessary to have plenty of
soil ready for the operation, if the natural soil is not to do duty for the
young trees. As Cherries delight in deep soil, I would recommend
that it be from 1J to 2 feet in depth. The manure should be good
and well decomposed, and mixed regularly from top to bottom of the
soil for at least 3 feet further than the roots reach at the planting
season. In the case of making new borders, it would be as well only
to add the new soil year after year as it seems necessary, so as to pro-
vide a fresh supply of food for the young rootlets just as they require
it. In the case of planting trees where the old soil is to be used
again, I would recommend the whole border to be thoroughly trenched
right to the bottom, mixing in a good supply of rich manure through-
out. If possible, the cultivator should get a little fresh material to
plant the trees with, as it will give them a start from which they will
derive much benefit. One good cart-load to every young tree will be
found of great value. Whether this be done or not, a large hole should
be dug, so that all the roots may be nicely spread out into position.
After this the soil may be spread and the hole filled in as already
directed, pressing it gently with the foot to give it a firmness about the
roots. Mulching for protection from dry weather in summer is very
necessary for the first year or two, and in very dry localities it will
be found of considerable utility to continue the practice regularly.

The distances which should divide Cherry-trees when planted must
be regulated according to circumstances. In some localities they grow
into huge proportions, while in others they remain comparatively small
trees. In a locality where the Cherry succeeds remarkably well I
would recommend that they be planted at distances varying from 20
to 25 feet — a rider and a dwarf fan alternately, so that in the
course of a few years the rider would be removed, and the fan left for
the permanent tree. Thus each tree would have a space of from
40 to 50 feet of wall to fill. Such a space is filled by almost every
Cherry of age in the garden here, upon walls varying from 15 to 17

170 THE GARDENER. [April

feet in height. In localities where the Cherry does not thrive so well,
the half, or even less than the half, of these distances will be sufficient.
In planting, the height of the wall must also be taken into considera-
tion, to regulate the distances. Where the Cherry is planted as a
standard, the large -growing varieties, such as the Bigarreau, should
be placed from 25 to 30 feet apart, while the smaller-growing
kinds may not be more than 15 to 20 feet apart. If the trees
are to be allowed to grow to full size, 5 to 10 feet more may be
allowed ; but handsome, well-formed, and medium-sized trees, planted
at something like these distances, will be more useful and look better
than trees of greater proportions.

The situation for the Cherry as a wall-tree must be regulated accord-
ing to the kinds to be grown. For very early fruit the south wall is
unquestionably the best, but for fine fruit I consider the east aspect the
best, no matter the varieties. Here we have them planted on every
aspect — north, south, east, and west ; and I am bound to say the finest
fruit and largest crops have invariably been produced upon the trees
having the eastern exposure, and these include May Duke, Bigarreau,
and Morello. It may be as well to notice here, however, that the
Morello will not succeed well on a south wall. The next best to an
east aspect is the north. Where a long continution of fruit is required,
it is well to have a tree or two on the south, and one or two on the
north, but we would recommand that the principal stock be planted
on the east aspect.

Birds are remarkably fond of the Cherry, and it is necessary to have
them protected with nets. Those in common use are old herring-nets,
which, if not broken, answer the end in view very well. They are
about Id. per square yard, and at this price will last for four or five
years, if not allowed to rot and go to waste by lying upon the ground.
The best plan to adopt for the protection of Cherries is to plant the
border in front of them with either late-keeping varieties of Goose-
berries or Red Currants, and cover the wall and bushes under one net.
For this purpose it is as well to put in posts about 4 feet high along
near the front of the border, and along the top of these nail a rail for
the net to pass over; while another rail should be nailed along the bot-
tom, having hooks or nails to fasten the net to. Along the coping of
the wall there ought to be hooks, to which the net should be attached,
and when drawn over the top rail and fastened to the bottom one, both
Cherries and Gooseberries or Currants are thoroughly protected from
the birds.

As has been already hinted, the exudation of gum on the stem
and branches is the only disease to which the Cherry is liable. The
causes I have already given for this are undue cutting of root or stem,

1870.] NOTES BY A COTTAGER. 171

or injury from the knife, hammer, or nails at the pruning and training
seasons. There is no thorough cure for it, so far as I have been able
to ascertain, but I would recommend that all affected branches be at
once removed. As prevention is better than cure, the best method is
to avoid everything which would in the least tend to its production.

The insects that are the greatest enemies to the Cherry cultivator
are the red-spider (Acarus telarius), from the want of moisture at the
roots ; the Aphis cerasi, or Morello Cherry-louse, which is said to be
the result of too much moisture, but which is easily destroyed, either
by fumigation, or by syringing the tree with tobacco- water. The
Tenthredo cerasi is sometimes injurious to the leaves of the tree, into
which they fold themselves in order to undergo transition from one
stage of existence to another. The Cossus ligniperda, or goat moth,
in its caterpillar state, is very destructive to the trees at times. The
only cure for the two foregoing is to gather them from the leaves
with the hand, and have them at once destroyed.

James M'Millan.
{To be continued.)

NOTES BY A COTTAGER ADDRESSED TO
COTTAGERS.

Being a great enthusiast in the cultivation of flowers in my own small
way, I hope you will allow me to occupy a portion of the columns of
the ' Gardener,' as I feel it to be a duty due to my brother horticul-
turists, belonging to the same class as myself, that I should say a few
words to them on matters relating to the garden.

In the first place, I wish at the commencement of my remarks to
state the pleasure that is to be derived from the cultivation of flowers.
I am a mechanic by profession, and I have no chance of seeing my
plants from six o'clock in the morning till six in the evening, except
on Saturday, when I get a half-holiday — a blessed institution for the
working-man ; and that is the day in which all great alterations are
done in my garden. As a matter of course, at this time of the year
little can be done ; but when daylight serves, I make all the use of it
I can. In the evening, on my return from my labour, I take a look
round to see what accidents have happened during my absence ; then
I take a hurried meal, and get out among my plants again, and then
it is that the pleasure of cultivating plants is experienced. I wish I
could command the language by which to describe the pleasure I feel
in watching and nursing the various things I cultivate in all their

172 THE GARDENER. [April

various stages of health and disease. To a man of moderate capacity
there is by this means opened up a grand lesson, by which he can be
brought to reflect on the wonders of creation, and the manifestations
of goodness made by the great Omnipotence towards man. By means of
the naked eye we get some idea of the exquisite structure of plants
and flowers ; and how much do these exemplify the wondrous skill
shown in the creation of all things ! When more closely viewed
through the medium of a powerful microscope, I think there are very
few occupations that have such a tendency to refine the feelings and
elevate the mind as a taste for horticultural pursuits.

I have written these lines as an experiment, by way of testing my
ability to interest and instruct my own class in matters relating to the
garden. If agreeable, I shall be happy to furnish matter which will
be the results of my own experience among plants, if so be they should
prove of interest to the readers of the ' Gardener.' T. E.

[The author of this paper, which we have had to cast in a rather different
form than that in which it came into our hands, is what he represents himself to
be — a hard-working mechanic, and a most devoted disciple of Flora. He has, to
our knowledge, gathered around his cottage a very unique collection of rare her-
baceous plants in something like 150 species, all properly named, besides Roses,
Gladioli, Dahlias, Pansies, &c. &c. In addition to which he has built himself a
greenhouse and numerous frames, wherein he cultivates greenhouse and half-hardy
plants, &c. He is a leading member of several village floral societies ; and he expresses
great anxiety to diffuse a taste for flowers amongst the class to which he belongs,
believing, as he states he does, that it would make them better workmen, better
husbands, and better fathers, and keep them from the beer-shop and public-house.
He has volunteered to give us a series of papers on this subject, addressed to
his fellow-mechanics, a great many of whom we are proud to have as readers. —
Eds.]

.NOTES ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

PAPAVEKACE.E.

This order does not include many plants of much ornamental value.
It is much more famous for its medicinal qualities than for floricul-
tural importance, yet it includes not a few plants remarkable for pro-
ducing large strikingly-showy flowers, some indeed imposingly brilliant,
and handsomely formed or interesting leaves. The flowers, however,
in most cases, are of a somewhat fleeting character, but it should be
stated that many of the best produce a very prolonged succession of
bloom, which handsomely compensates for the brief duration of indi-
vidual flowers. The larger number of the species are either annual or
biennial plants, and do not therefore invite our attention at present ;
but some of the perennials are so distinctive and handsome in charac-

i8yo.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 173

ter, that notwithstanding the short duration of the flowers, no really-
good collection of hardy perennial plants can be considered complete
without a few of them in its ranks, and only a few of the best are here
selected. As a rule, all the Papaveraceae luxuriate best in light rich
gritty loam ; but the soil should be well drained whatever its texture
or components may be. Propagation is effected by division in spring
or by seeds. The latter method, in the majority of cases, is the best,
because, owing to the thick fleshy rootstock which most of the larger
growing Poppy- worts form, division is not always a safe or successful pro-
cess. Sow the seeds in March, in small pots, in a cold frame or in slight
heat. Only two or three seeds may be sown in each pot. It is char-
acteristic of the order generally that the plants at first make only a tap-
root, which, when broken — and it is not easily avoided in the process
of pricking off, should it be necessary to resort to it — does not readily
emit fibres or repair itself ; it is better, therefore, to sow very thinly in
small pots, and afterwards to thin away the weaker plants, leaving only
one or two of the strongest to occupy the pot, and be potted on if
necessary, before finally turning it out into the place it is to occupy in
the open ground.

Argemone, Prickly Poppy. — This is a genus of few species, the
greater number of which are either annual or biennial plants, and fur-
nishing, so far as I know, only one perennial worthy of cultivation.

A. grandiflora, Great-flowered Prickly Poppy. — This species grows
from 2 feet to 3 feet high in bold, somewhat coarse, but rounded habit,
producing large, smooth, wavy leaves, toothed, and in form like some
of the familiar Thistles, the teeth being furnished with bristling spine-
like hairs. The flowers are large, pure white, in numerous flowered
panicles ; flowers in July and August ; native of Mexico. It is best
adapted for culture in the back lines of warm, sheltered borders, or
among shrubs in beds or borders.

Chelidonium, Celandine. — This is one of the most free and con-
tinuous-flowering genera in the order. It is not of the most showy
description, but is always interesting and pretty. It succeeds best in
partial shade, and is useful for introducing into open woods and natu-
ralising on shady banks where the Vegetation is not of too encroaching
a nature. Propagate by seeds in the open ground, in March, the
double form by division in spring, or both by the latter means.

C. majus, Larger Celandine. — It is not so much for the species in
its normal form that this plant is selected, as for two varieties of it of
more value than itself, floriculturally speaking. The one is C. M.
flore pleno, a double-flowered variety, differing only from the simple
form of the species in that particular. It grows about 18 inches high,
in soft rounded outline, producing pale-green pinnately divided leaves.

174 THE GARDENER. [April

The flowers are numerous, consisting in the simple form of only two
sepals and two petals, but in the double variety the petals are in-
definitely increased. The other variety is C. M. variegata, and is dis-
tinguished from the species by having the foliage marked with creamy
yellow. There is also a white-flowered variety, which may not be
considered much of an acquisition where the others are cultivated, and
there is a number of botanically interesting varieties, the species being
of a variable nature ; flowers from April and May till October ; native
of Britain.

Meeonqpsis. — This is a very interesting and beautiful genus. The
species are few in number, and, with the exception of the first of the
two selected, are very rare plants in cultivation. They delight in a
rich light sandy loam, and succeed best on rockwork in partial shade.
Propagate by division or by seeds in spring : the latter method is the
best and most certain of keeping up stock, especially of the last of the
selected species.

M. cambrica. — This species grows erect about a foot high, with pin-
nate, pale green, slightly hairy leaves on long stalks, the segments
deeply cut. Flowers on long stalks, large, pale yellow. Flowers
from June throughout the summer. It must have a good depth of
soil on rockwork, but well drained, and be well supplied with mois-
ture in the growing season. Native of western Europe, also Ireland,
Wales, and western counties of England.

M. WallicTiii, a species of grand interest and beauty. It grows
erect, 3 or 4 feet high, the stems and leaves somewhat glaucous, and
densely clothed with long rusty hairs. The lower leaves are 9 inches
or a foot long, and stalked, but diminish in size, and ultimately become
stalkless as they ascend the stem. Flowers large, pale blue, nodding
on short stalks, and arranged in long terminal leafy racemes. Flowers
in July, and throughout the remainder of summer and early autumn.
Native of Sikkim Himalaya. It is with some diffidence I recommend
this grandest of Meconopsis as a hardy herbaceous perennial. Some
eighteen or twenty years ago it was first introduced into this country,
and flowered at Kew, but died immediately after. Once again, eight
years subsequently, it was grown at Kew ; and the stock raised from
the imported seed was considerable, and was distributed among
several botanic gardens in this country, a few being reserved for
culture in the herbaceous department at Kew. Three or four of those
reserved were cultivated under various treatment — in pots in a cold
pit, in the open ground along with other Papaveraceae, and in a small
reserve ground attached to the herbaceous department, intersected
with hedges ; and here it was grown in pots plunged in the soil, and
also planted out, shaded also and exposed to the mid-day sun. The

1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 175

measure of success was greatest in the last-mentioned circumstances,
and least in the pit. The plants in pots plunged in shade were by far
the most vigorous, and flowered beautifully; but in every case the
plants began to show symptoms of decay as flowering ceased, and they
ultimately died much in the way of biennial plants when their mis-
sion is fulfilled, and without leaving seed by which to make a fresh
start the following season. I was not so fortunate as to hear the
nature of the result at the few places to which the surplus plants were
sent ; but having heard nothing since of so interesting a plant, I am
obliged to conclude that no greater success attended its culture else-
where than that just described. Whether biennial or perennial, there-
fore, is a problem yet to be solved ; but in either case it is a splendid
and interesting plant.

Papaver, Poppy. — This group is a large one, consisting mainly of
annual and biennial and a few perennial species. A small selection of
species only is needed to embrace the best and most distinct. The
taller-growing species are best adapted for ornamenting the back lines
of mixed borders and for planting among shrubs to give colour, in
which latter position they produce a very fine effect. The dwarfer
species are suitable and elegant ornaments for rockwork or for the
front lines of mixed borders in moderate shade — that is, their beauties
are longer enjoyable in a somewhat shady position than in one fully
exposed to the sun. They are propagated by division, and by seeds in
spring.

P. alpinum, Alpine Poppy. — This is a beautiful dwarf-growing
species, producing handsome pinnately - divided leaves somewhat
glaucous, and a profusion of leafless, roughly hairy stems, each sup-
porting a solitary large bright yellow flower. Flowers in June, July,
and August. Height about 1 foot. Native of the mountains of
Austria. A variety named P. a. miniatum is very beautiful ; the
flowers are pale yellow in the centre, shading into deep orange-red on
the margin.

P. bracteatum, Great Scarlet Poppy, syn. P. pulcherrimum. —
This is a splendid tall-growing species, producing dense rounded
masses of long pinnately divided leaves, roughish to the touch above
and below. The flower-stems are almost leafless, very rough to the
touch, and rise to the height of 3 or 4 feet, supporting each an enor-
mously large bright reddish-scarlet flower, the petals and sepals marked
at the base with a large intense dark-crimson spot. Flowers in June
and July. Native of Siberia.

P. pilosum, Hairy Poppy, syn. P. olympicum. — A very handsome
species, producing large orange or brick-red flowers, the sepals and
petals being marked at the base with a dull white spot. Flowers in

176 THE GARDENER. [April

May, June, and July. Height about 18 inches. Native of Greece.
Best adapted for culture on rockwork.

P. pyrenaicum, Pyrenean Poppy. — A most interesting and beautiful
diminutive species. It forms dense prostrate masses of foliage, above
which it throws its beautiful, large, orange-yellow flowers an inch or
two. It is a choice ornament for rockwork, and should have a moist
but well -drained position. Flowers in June, July, and August.
Height 6 to 9 inches. Native of the Pyrenees.

Sawjuinaria, Puceoon. — This is a pretty genus comprising only one
species. It is not uncommon in many gardens in the country, and
should be more generally cultivated than even it is. It grows freely
in almost any good garden soil, but prefers light, rich, sandy soil.
Propagates readily and successfully by division in autumn or spring.

S. canadensis, Canadian Bloodwort or Puceoon. — This is an inter-
esting and pretty spring flowering plant. The leaves grow rather erect,
are dark -green and sub -glaucous above and almost hoary beneath.
The flowers on short stalks are white with a tint of pink, and are very
profusely produced in March and April, or later, according to season
and locality. Height from 6 to 9 inches. Native of N. America.
The variety named S. C. major or grandiflora is the best, being a more
robust plant, with larger flowers. Succeeds in any position, open
border, bed, or rockwork, but lasts longer in a somewhat shady place
than in one more exposed.

— ^^^i^s^-s- —

GARDEN RECORDS.

NO. IV.

MESSRS WINDEBANK & KINGSBURY, BEVOIS VALLEY AND
MOUNT NURSERIES, SOUTHAMPTON.

For years past this firm has been famous for the beauty of their strain of Pi'imula
Sinensis fimbriata. It is a fact that from Southampton have come forth types of
this beautif ul spring flowering-plant, showing an extent of variation quite incon-
ceivable by those who are unaware of the marked progress being made in its im-
provement. During the last week in February we had the opportunity of looking
over Messrs Windebank & Kingsbury's collection of flowers, and we are compelled
to admit that nothing we have looked upon in the way of Primulas this season
can compare with what may now be seen at their nurseries. Both at their Bevois
Valley, as well as at their Bevois Mount Nurseries, they had large groups of
Primulas arranged for inspection, and of these we will now endeavour to record
our impressions.

We may here state the Bevois Mount Nursery is an outgrowth of the one
established at Bevois Valley some years ago. At the latter place there is but room
for glass ; at the former there is space for a general nursery stock, besides a good
quantity of glass. In a long, low, span-roofed house were the Primulas, and a

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 177

single glance was sufficient to show the extent of variation now to be seen among
them. Some years ago, and a red leaf-stalked Primula would be certain to pro-
duce rosy purple-coloured flowers, and plants with a white leaf-stalk, white
flowers. The work of improvement has changed this, and now a plant with red
leaf-stalks will be found to produce flowers of the purest white, though high-
coloured flowers have not as yet appeared on plants beai'ing white leaf-stalks.
Also, all striped flowers — and of these there are now some very beautiful things
— are borne by plants having leaf-stalks of the darkest colour. Let us note a few
distinct types of variation : one plant with white leaf-stalks bore flowers tinted
with rose, the edges slightly deeper ; there were also two very pleasant carmine
rose-coloured flowers, one deeper than the other, and these appear to invert the
usual rule of high-coloured Primulas— for, instead of opening of a bright tint,
which becomes pale as the flowers age, these open pale-coloured, which intensi-
fies as the flowers become older. One of these also had very handsome fern-
leaved foliage. Then there were flowers of very deep crimson-purple hues, and
some white as the driven snow. There was a grand strain of white flowers, the
habit of the plant unusually dwarf and compact, with noble trusses of flowers
shown well above the foliage. Then there were white flowers, having the usual
lemon-coloured eye, but unusually large ; and round this was a dark-brown ring,
not unlike the cup of a pheasant-eyed Narciss ; flowers of varying tints also had
the dark ring. Blush flowers- — really blush flowers, not merely become so from
age — were very fine indeed, of large size, fine substance, stout, and splendidly
fringed; and there were also varying shades of these — some only delicately
tinted, others much more deeply.

In addition to Primulas, there were in this house a lot of standard plants of
Unique Pelargoniums, on stems from 18 to 30 inches in length, some as much as
three years old, and in bloom all the year round. They are found invaluable for
table-decoration. There was to be noticed much variation of colour among them,
from rich blood-crimsoned hues to tints of bright lilac. Mr Windebank informed
us that many of these were sports, and that the Unique Pelargoniums were
found to be singularly sportive in character; and what is more singular, they also
sport into different types of foliage. One plant had on one side of the large head
deep crimson flowers, on the other pale violet. This class of Pelargoniums are
always of great use for furnishing cut flowers.

In a lean-to Peach-house were a capital lot of Aucubas, covered with berries,
and a fine lot of Lilium auratum starting into growth. We were informed that
they are kept all the year round in pots, and only shaken out when re-
potted. As raisers of variegated Pelargoniums, Messrs Windebank and Kings-
bury are well known, they having originated since very fine kinds, which have
been distributed by others. One of their gold-and-bronze varieties — The Rev.
W. F. Radclyffe — bears an excellent character as an effective bedder; but this
they have recently improved upon in a variety named Russell Gurney, which
we saw, and very promising indeed it looked. This was in a long, low span-
roofed house used for propagating purposes, and in which there were great
quantities of young bedding plants of various kind.

Leaving the Bevois Mount Nurseries — the locality being noted in the ' Chroni-
cles of Southampton ' as the scene of the doings of the once-famed Sir Bevis, and
the giant Ascupart, and whose full-length portraits can be seen in the old Bargate
of Southampton — we proceeded to the Bevois Valley Nursery, immediately con-
tiguous to the river Itchen, and liable, from its low situation, to be occasionally
inundated by the overflow of the sea. Here we found a span-roofed house en-
tirely filled on the one side with Primulas, on the other with variegated Pelar-

M

178 THE GARDENER. [April

goniums. Here, too, the Primulas were very fine and distinct. Some, with fern-
leaved foliage, had very rich shades of dark carmine. There was also a very
pretty and pleasing shade of dove-colour to he seen, quite charming in its way.
Among these very pretty striped flowers could be seen a marked improvement in
the points of size and quality, and some had broad flakes of bright carmine.
Newer types were represented by dark carmine flowers, dashed with violet ;
pink, flaked with rose, and having a large lemon eye, with a pale ring round
it ; pale fleshy carmine, very handsome ; a purple-ground flower, prettily striped
and splashed with white, borne on a fern-leaved plant with red leaf-stalks, per-
haps one of the greatest novelties yet raised ; a good puce-coloured flower on a
plant having green leaf-stalks tinged with red ; and two others having the flower
suffused with lavender, and margined with white, and a white ring round the eye.
To any one interested in the Primula, a visit to these nurseries just now would in-
deed be a treat. The Bevois Valley Nursery is about half an acre in extent ; that
at Bevois Mount from 3 to 4 acres.

MY POTATO TRIALS.

With the opening of the month of March I commence my planting
operations, and thus lay the foundation for the season's trials of this
noble esculent. Where the Potato-fancier essays to gather together
for his pleasure, and possibly his profit, a large collection of Potatoes,
he will find one of the most difficult things he has to do consists in the
gathering together from all parts of the country, cpuantities, more or less,
of all the best-known kinds, without the possession of which his trials
would be imperfect and his experiences uncertain. The Potato con-
noisseur has now become almost a horticultural necessity. His duty
(if his work and labours be recognised as such) consists in sitting in
judgment on the productions of others, and in testing them by known
and approved kinds. He should have no trade bias, and should strive
only to put prominent the good things in his collection, come from
whence they may, remitting the indifferent ones to the fate they deserve
— that of well-merited oblivion. To such an one a really good Potato
is an art-treasure, over the possession of which he gloats, and he is
proud of it; but from whence it came, what matters it 1 There it is,
and the world shall know that it exists, and so be made available for
its use in due time. I do not, however, assume to myself the posses-
sion of all that disinterestedness that may be said to characterise the
true connoisseur. Nevertheless, I hope and purpose, as far as in me
lies, to give in time to come the most fair and honourable testimony I
can bear to the relative merits or demerits of all the kind of Potatoes
that have been from various sources committed to my care for trial
during the present season. I shall start this year with over a hundred

1870.] MY POTATO TEIALS. 179

assumed varieties, nearly the whole of which I believe to be distinct,
although the points of difference in some are not very easy to deter-
mine. Through the kindness of valued friends, I have been enabled
to exchange largely with them, and thus my collection has increased
this season by some twenty-five new varieties, amongst which are seve-
ral of the new American kinds, some of which bid fair, by their cropping
qualities, to become ultimately famous market Potatoes for the use of
the million. The gathering together of this large number of kinds has
not been the work of a year or two, neither is the experience that will
be called upon to superintend their growth and rate their qualities
limited in its extent. For several years I have gathered about me a
large number of varieties of the Potato. Many of the best of my
earlier subjects I still continue to hold stock of, but the additions of
both last year and the present are so great that I feel I am called upon
to enter on my next trial with much heavier responsibilities, knowing
that I hold one of the best as well as most extensive collections of
Potatoes to be found in the kingdom. To enter into a minute account
of the various kinds I have, would be just now as useless as it would
be tedious to the readers of the ' Gardener.' The time for that will
come by-and-by, when, with the names of each kind, I trust to be able
to furnish also a true and correct account of the good or bad qualities
of the several varieties, as developed here in the south of England.

My trial-ground is an open field, situated upon the brow of a hill,
and fully exposed to all the various climatic influences that arise from
a near approach to the sea. The soil is a moderately good yellow
loam of about 24 inches in depth, beneath which is a deep substratum
of gravel that drains the soil so effectually as to make it very dry in
the case of a hot summer. My trial -borders range to a length of
over 200 feet, and are about 14 feet in width. I select for my pur-
pose from each kind twelve medium-sized tubers, all of which have
been so cared for previously that they have just started into growth,
and as a consequence I am in no fear of blank rows. The soil, which
I previously mentioned as being but moderately good, has had spread
over it a light dressing of manure, consisting chiefly of road-droppings.
This is by no means a potent manure, but it answers my purpose, as
by it I am enabled to get the character of each distinct variety cor-
rectly developed ; and as I wish to secure clean samples rather than
large ones, which are too frequently accompanied by a luxuriant
growth of haulm that is by no means desirable, I am content to ad-
here to moderate culture and road-droppings. The width at which
the rows are placed apart is regulated somewhat by the habit of
growth of the variety, but I find, under my mode of culture, that 24
inches is enough for moderate -growing kinds, and 28 inches for

180 THE GARDENER. [April

those of a more robust habit. The ground having been previously
broken up, a steel fork accomplishes the digging with ease at this sea-
son of the year. I use a spade to strike out the drills into which the
Potatoes are laid. These are of such a depth as to allow about 4
inches of soil to lie upon the tubers when planted — quite enough under
any circumstances, as it does not produce that weakening of the shoots
that so commonly results from deep planting. Each kind when
planted is carefully marked with a numbered label, and as soon as the
work is over, each row is similarly numbered in a book, and the name
of the sort it contains placed against it. Here are made all the notes
necessary at the various stages of growth, and the final results entered
as well ; thus the displacement of a label is guarded against, and actu-
ally becomes a matter of little moment. When the haulm has reached
the height of about 6 inches, I go carefully through each row and
pick out all the weak shoots, leaving only about three of the strongest.
By this process the number of tubers is reduced, but the size of the
remainder is increased. Then comes the hoe, and gives the soil a
good surface-stirring; and about a week afterwards, a moderate earth-
ing-up is given, after which, beyond noting the growing appearances
and instituting comparisons, there is little else to be done until the
arrival of that important time when the fork is once more brought
into requisition, and the generous earth is made to yield up its trea-
sures to reward the labours of the patient, industrious, and careful
planter.

The storing of Seed-Potatoes during the winter is a matter of no
small moment ; indeed, much of the success of a trial depends upon
the manner in which the tubers have been prepared for it. A well-
aired shed, or a building specially devoted to this purpose, fitted with
shelves in sufficient quantity to take the whole of the stock of seed, is
the best place to keep them in. Internal dryness, and plenty of air
when frost does not prevail, are essential ; but even a few degrees of
the latter will be productive of no injury where all damp is excluded.
In such a Potato-house the work of thoroughly examining its contents
at any time is a matter of ease ; and in no case will the tubers become
so much sprouted as to be productive of injury. Their removal to
the garden should be accomplished in flat boxes, into which they can
be laid without damaging the young growth, and from these they can
be taken for planting with great ease. To those who are limited in
accommodation for storage space, a number of herring-boxes will prove
of great service, as these are always sufficiently open at the bottom to
allow the air to pass up through the Potatoes placed in them. These
boxes can be stacked one upon the other in any dry shed or outhouse,
and may be frequently removed, so as to have the bottom ones occa-

1870.] IRESINE HERBSTII. 181

sionally put at the top, and vice versa. They also give an easy mode
of transit to the planting-ground. And now, fellow-readers, I close
my Potato gossip in the hope that in a few months I shall be able to
resume it to our mutual advantage.

A. D.

IRESINE HERBSTII.

I find this charming plant, when used for bedding purposes, subject
to many complaints, which, from my own experience, I think are quite
undeserved. The Iresine, in some situations, is said to be deficient in
colouring, and especially to be wanting in freedom of growth. A
narrow border here last season put its merits fully to the test ; and
after two seasons' trial, I think it is justly entitled to a prominent
place as a bedding-plant. This border was quite a treat of itself, and I
believe a description of it may not be out of place. Beginning with the
front line, which was of Arabis lucida variegata, we next had a line of
Blue Lobelia, then Golden Feather Pyrethrum ; the next was Iresine and
variegated Veronica Andersonii, the back line of Mrs Pollock and
Silver Chain Pelargoniums alternated. But the Veronica might very
well have been dispensed with, as it was scarcely ever seen amongst
the Iresine, which was a perfect mass of splendid colour, and every
plant nearly 2 feet through. Situated as the flower-garden is here,
lying close to the base of the Cheviots, and exposed to every wind
that blows, the north excepted, the result was beyond all expectation,
and gave sufficient proof of its adaptability for bedding. The season
of 1868, however, was not so satisfactory ; but that was an exceptional
season, and the unusual drought easily accounts for its not doing so
well. The Iresine, however, I consider one of the most useful and
ornamental plants we have for the flower-garden, as it gives us a colour we
should otherwise be without ; and now when foliage plants have almost
superseded flowering kinds, I should not like to be without it, and more
especially when it is so easy of propagation that it can be got up by
the thousand in a short time. The system we have in propagating is
to place the cuttings in pans of sand and water, striking by sun-heat,
with the aid of a slight bottom-heat. The best plan is to have a few
old stock plants, as I have found it almost useless to make cuttings of
it in autumn, as it is but a slight chance that they will strike, and
even then will not make so good plants as those got up from spring
cuttings. After striking, which will only take a few days, pot them
off into boxes, with plenty of half-decayed leaves in the bottom ; if

182 THE GARDENER. [April

then they can be placed in heat for a short time, so much the better.
The leaves I consider to be essential to success, for the Iresine has
a natural liking to leaf-soil, and will thrive better in pure half-rotten
leaves than in any other soil whatever. If time can be spared at the
season of planting, it will amply repay to dig up the ground the Iresine
is intended to occupy, for the purpose of incorporating a liberal allow-
ance of leaf-soil, for by giving it the food it seems to enjoy, the in-
fluence of the atmosphere in regard to its colouring may be partly
overcome. At least, let no one despair, because it is too good a plant
to be rashly cast aside as useless for outdoor decoration ; and I trust
that, in making these few remarks, they may prove to be of service to
those who may not have been quite so successful with it. R. S.

TABLE DECORATIONS.

In treating of the above subject, my object is not so much to treat on
the arrangement of what are known as the Marchian stands, as used
for the dinner and exhibition tables, but simply to state what I have
done in this way for myself, guided solely by my own notions of taste,
and the materials I had at hand for use.

Last season, the stands we used for the decoration of the dinner-
table here were in constant use for something like eight months, and
to keep these trim and nice is not only a heavy tax on one's time, but
also on one's resources ; however, having given entire satisfaction, I
consider I was amply repaid for my trouble. As the provision for
table decorations is becoming more and more a task allotted to the
gardener in an establishment, I venture to detail what I have done,
and the agents I have used, for the sake of those who may have a simi-
lar work set them, and would be glad to receive some suggestions in
regard to the matter.

I will first observe that Ferns and Mosses are among the most use-
ful things for the decoration of the table, and even such a common
thing as the Male Fern (Lastrea Filix-mas), which may be found in the
hedgerows in almost every parish, is of great value for forming a
fringe to the dish of a stand or centre piece. Equally valuable is the
native Welsh Polypody (Polypodium vulgare Cambricum), which
makes a nice change with the Male Fern, the handsome fimbriated
edging to the fronds adding to its worth. It is by no means so com-
mon as the Male Fern. That charming greenhouse Moss, Selaginella
denticulata, is another useful thing for the purpose. I use plants
taken out of small pots to fill the base of a stand, and fill up between

1870.] TABLE DECORATIONS. 183

the balls with silver-sand, using about four plants for the purpose ;
and with the sand I mingle some powdered charcoal to neutralise
the effect of any offensive smell that will sometimes arise after the
plants have been placed in the sand several days. After a sprink-
ling has been given to settle the sand about the roots of the Moss, the
branches should be pegged down neatly with small hair-pins. If
watered about once a- week, the Selaginella will grow very nicely, and
keep beautifully green for two or three months together. Scarlet Pelar-
goniums and other flowers can be stuck in the sand by their stalks to
give a finish to it. That popular form of the Maidenhair Fern, Adian-
tum cuneatum — perhaps one of the most lovely of the Ferns, notwith-
standing that it is common, and always a great favourite with the
ladies — is also of great value, and makes a beautiful fringe for the top
dish of a design, it being so light and graceful. Some five or six
years ago, Mr Charles Turner of Slough was a competitor at one of
the Crystal Palace exhibitions with a vase of Roses, and by way of
giving a finish to his vase, he used fronds of the Maidenhair Fern
among his Roses, which was a great improvement on the formality of
a bunch of this favourite flower, but the vase was disqualified by the
judges in consequence. ISTow, it is the custom for the schedule of
prizes to state Ferns can be used, and no disqualification follows as
a consequence ; and the same thing also holds good at South Ken-
sington, as well as at Brighton.

There are certain plants that are very useful for twisting round the
upright stem of a stand used for the decoration of the dinner-table ;
and branches of these should be stuck in the sand, and then be neatly
and elegantly twisted round the stem ; and a few ties should be placed
up the stem at intervals, to keep it in its place — fine thread or wire
can be used. The Japanese Honeysuckle, Lonicera aureo-reticulata, is
one of the best things for the purpose ; so is Dioscorea battatas. The
common Ivies I find to be too heavy. Tradescantia zebrina is a nice
thing to hang over the top dish, especially if some cuttings are placed
in a 32-sized pot in some light sandy soil, and allowed to hang over the
sides of the pots till rooted, and then shaken from the soil and laid
round the dish, with a little silver-sand about the roots. The heads of
the plants should hang over the sides, and they will grow freely, and
last for six months if required. Of pendulous growth, and variegated
foliage, the effect is charming and effective. The silvery-leaved Cen-
taureas candidissima and argentea vera make a nice change, and
the leaves can be used to make a layer inside the Ferns in the bottom
dish. Besides the scarlet-flowering Pelargoniums, the white-flowering
ones, like Madame Vaucher, as well as the sweet-scented kinds for the
perfume the leaves yield, are also very desirable. The flowers of the

184 THE GARDENER. [April

scarlet and yellow Nasturtiums last a long time in the wet sand. Ver-
benas make a nice change in their season, and especially Roses ; the
flowers of these should be cut young in the morning, when the dew is
on them.

Such stands as these are never complete without light-green foliage
of some sort or other, such as the different kinds of ornamental
grasses in their season, and the tops of some of the meadow-grasses in
the autumn. Jn the same way sprigs of Asparagus from the kitchen-
garden are very useful ; so is the foliage of Tamarix Gallica, a hardy
deciduous shrub ; also Humea elegans, and suchlike. Variegated
plants work in well ; the Iresine with its handsome mottled red leaves
keeps well in the sand, so do Coleuses and variegated Pelargoniums ;
of the latter, such as Mrs Pollock, and the white Ivy-leaved kind
l'Elegante. Then there are blooms of Gladioli, Asters, Chrysanthe-
mums, and many others, with stiff stalks to support them. In a general
way, many of the flowers will last only one day ; and I change the
whole of them three or four times a-week, but make a rule of looking
the stands over every other morning. The sand should not be so
saturated as that the flower-stems will not stand erect in it, or they
are apt to fall out when the stands are removed from the table.

William Plester.
Elsenham Hall Gardens.

THE MUSCAT HAMBURGH GRAPE.

A REMONSTRANCE.

If the natural sweetness of my disposition did not restrain my vindictive feelings,
I should certainly enter an action against you for defamation of character, for in
page 96 of the ' Gardener ' you have said, " Our experience of the Muscat Ham-
burgh does not warrant its general recommendation ; it evidently is a shy Grape,
and requires peculiar soil. " This I consider a very serious charge — so serious that
a vindication of the truth demands that I should reply to it. Last spring, just
at the time when I had made a growth of 4 to 7 inches, and nothing but the
duplicate breaks had been taken off, a writer in ' Hibberd's Magazine ' passed the
same slight upon my character as you have done. My kind protector, magazine
in hand, marched into the vinery, and calling the young man in charge to his
assistance, requested that the number of bunches upon each Vine should be
counted. Well, upon many of the breaks there were four bunches, others had
three, and very few less than two, while such a thing as a barren break was not to
be found at all. Now, when totalled up and divided by the lineal yards of the
Vines, what do you think was the result ? Why, an average of more than 20
bunches to the yard ; and if that is not sufficient to satisfy any reasonable being,
I can only say that he must have a most elastic and capacious conscience. Call
you this shy bearing ? Oh, I think I see the blush mantling your cheeks ! and
well it may, to thus malign the best and Bweetest of Grapes.

1870.] NEW POTATOES. 185

Now, as I will not give you the slightest room for cavilling, I will just tell you
that, whether growing upon my own roots or grafted upon the Black Hamburgh, my
prolificacy was just the same, though I must confess that, wedded to the stronger
constitution of the Black Hamburgh, my bunches are much improved in every
respect, and that, in fact, to grow me in my best form, the assistance of a stronger
stock is indispensable, and the Black Hamburgh I like the best. Do not, however,
run away with the idea that I may be united to any strong-growing mate. If you
do, you will run into an error as great as that which prompted you to speak despair-
ingly of me, and I will tell you why.

Several years back a friend who had a coarse-growing white Grape from Spain
determined to graft me upon it. He did so, and the fine rod which I produced
the following year bore fruit ; the few bunches left were large in size, superb in
colour, and, to all appearance, perfect; but — tell it to your readers, make it known
throughout the land — the flavour was so much like the condemned Spanish Grape
that a committee of connoisseurs, who knew me well, could not tell who or what
I was, so much was my flavour deteriorated. At the same time, Grosse Guil-
laume or Barbarossa was grafted upon the Black Hamburgh, and was so much im-
proved in flavour that not one of the same committee knew it. For that reason I
at once plighted my troth to the Black Hamburgh ; and if in any case I am not as
large and free-bearing, and much superior in flavour to that esteemed variety, it
will be because I had not the aid of its vigorous constitution. From this you
will perceive my proclivities are social. I do not like to live alone ; but if you
unite me to the Black Hamburgh, as I have before suggested, you will find me
in every respect a matchless grape. I grant that my constitution is delicate, and
that upon my own roots I am frequently ashamed of myself ; but there is no
such cause for disappointment when I am united to the Black Hamburgh. If
you have any doubt upon this subject, I can only say that if you or any of your
friends come into Nottinghamshire at the right season, and will call upon either of
my esteemed patrons, J. R. Pearson at the Chilwell Nurseries, or W. P. Ayres
of Nottingham — if the sight of me, as grown by those gentlemen, do not con-
vince you of the injustice you have done me, why, my name is not The Black
Muscat op Alexandria, alias Muscat Hamburgh.

Nottingham, Feb. 18, 1870.

NEW POTATOES.

"We are indebted to Messrs Hooper and Co., Covent Garden, London, for the
opportunity of giving illustrations of two new Potatoes of American origin, recently
imported to this country, the advent of which has been heralded by glowing
accounts of their high-class quality. It will be in the recollection of many of our
readers that the Early Rose Potato was distributed last season at what appeared
to be an unusually high price, but which sold freely nevertheless. It was tried
in many parts of the United Kingdom, with varying success, and, as is common to
new things generally, whilst some cultivators severely condemned it, others as
enthusiastically praised its fine qualities. If the demand made for it just now
can be taken as evidencing its worth, it must be held in high esteem, notwith-
standing so much hostile criticism, as the sale is said to be astonishingly large.
Respecting the Early Rose and the new varieties figured by us, Messrs Hooper &
Co. state: "The Early Rose was introduced with considerable eclat last season.
It was an American novelty — hundreds tried it — and though many were disposed

186

THE GARDENER.

[April

to expect its merits bad been so Americanised tbat it would not hold out in this
country, it proved conversely to exceed its promises, and has taken the Potato-
growing public by surprise. It is impossible to repeat one-fourth of the reports
in praise of it which we have received ; we, however, make a few selections. Our
own experience was a produce of 4 cwt. of marketable Potatoes (and not a peck
of chats) from 7 lb. planted — the separated eyes, of course. One seedsman in
the provinces writes, " My customers speak in high favour of it : one to-day has
just raised his crop from one tuber, 16 lb. good weight, very handsome ; he left
one, a very fine clear handsome specimen, 12 oz. in weight, a great beauty."
Our correspondent, N. J. Easterbrooke, Esq., of Hayle, also says: " You cannot
speak too highly of the Early Rose Potato — it is indeed a wonder ; as an early
Potato, they are undoubtedly the best I ever saw. All who wish for great and
good things ought to plant the Early Rose." From various letters in the horti-
cultural papers, single pounds produced 48, 105, 123 pounds, &c. With regard
to qualities, "A Subscriber, Nottingham," in 'Journal of Horticulture,' says, " I
cooked some more yesterday (Aug. 17), and found them splendid ; I never tasted
anything to equal them." All these testimonials were quite spontaneous and
unsolicited, and should, we think, invite a very great demand for this and the
other American varieties. We may further say that, from various facts and
experiences with this Potato, we believe it will be quite possible to raise two crops
in one season by beginning early.

Another from the same quarter and by the same raiser is

Bresee's King of the Earlies.

It is thus described : — " Vines a medium height or a little less, and bearing no
balls ; leaves large ; tubers large and handsome, roundish and slightly flattened,

1870.]

NEW POTATOES.

187

eyes small and somewhat pinkish ; skin flesh-coloured or dull pinkish white ;
flesh white; cooks well, and is of the best quality for the table. It has proven
thus far very hardy, and is said by Mr Bresee to be fully a loeek ' earlier than his
famous Early Rose. A very limited quantity of this most recommendable kind
was sold in New York last season ; it having been held back for a better stock
until this season, but so great was the desire to possess it, that what was sold
fetched 50 dollars (10 guineas) per single tuber ! Incredible as this may seem, it
is a well-authenticated fact, and will, we believe, quite reconcile our English friends
to paying the otherwise great but now comparatively modest sum of 6s. per
pound, 7 lb. for 40s. We believe we are the only holders of this Potato in Great
Britain."

This certainly does appear a "great" sum for a pound of Potatoes, but in the
days when new Peas are being retailed at 7s. 6d. per half-pint, it must be accepted
as a "comparatively modest sum." The purchase of these new Potatoes in the
first instance, and the cost, added to the risk of importing them, in the second, no
doubt fully justifies such a high price.

Bresee's Prolific.

"This variety originated with Albert Bresee, Esq., in 1861. Mr Bresee was
the originator of the Early Rose, the seed producing both that and Bresee's
Prolific being from the same seed-ball, and both are seedlings of the Garnet Chili.

"The Vines of Bresee's Prolific are of medium height, quite bushy, and some-
what spreading, and with very large leaves ; as yet they have produced no seed-
balls. Tubers large, regular in shape, and very smooth, slightly oblong, and
very much flattened ; skin dull white, inclined to be russeted ; eyes but little
depressed and slightly pinkish ; flesh white, rarely if ever hollow; cooks quickly,

188 THE GARDENER. [April

is very mealy, and of excellent quality. Yield very large, maturing three weeks
later than the Early Rose. This variety appears to excel in prolificacy, and
should be well tried in this country."

In addition, Messrs Hooper & Co. offer "Climax, a seedling of the Early
Goodrich ; it has a stout erect stalk, of full medium height, internodes of medium
length, and very large leaves ; the tuber is above medium in size, quite smooth,
in form of a short cylinder swelled out at the centre, occasionally slightly flattened,
and terminating rather abruptly ; eyes shallow, sharp, sometimes swelled out or
projecting, and always strongly defined ; skin medium thickness, considerably
netted or russet, tough, white ; flesh entirely white, solid, heavy, brittle, and
never hollow, and it boils through quickly, with no hard core at centre or stem,
is mealy, of floury whiteness, and of superior table quality. In productiveness
it is fully equal, if not superior, to either the Early Rose or the Early Goodrich ;
bears few small tubers, and matures nearly with the Early Rose. During the
heated term of July and August last, the foliage of the Early Goodrich, which was
planted by the side of the Climax, burned badly, while the leaves of this seedling
were unaffected. It is a good keeper and gives great promise. Also

The 'Queen's' Potato,
a selection from Paterson's Victoria, which can be greatly recommended. It
possesses, in an increased degree, all the qualities that have made that Potato
so famous. A splendid cropper, producing tubers of the most handsome and
uniform appearance, and of the finest qualities for table. This Potato is less
liable to disease than many others, and, we are informed, is the principal variety
grown at Balmoral by her Majesty's special command. In growing this kind,
which produces bloom and fruit plentifully, we should recommend the flowers
being cut off, as we believe it will be found to increase its already wonderfully
productive powers."

To give an instance of how the varieties of Potatoes appear to multiply, a cor-
respondent has just written us a letter, in which he states : I have been busy getting
in Potato samples, and have a few more to plant to finish them. Just one hundred
and six under different names. By-and-by we hope to lay before our readers the
results of the trial made by this correspondent.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

The ordinary meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society of the 2d of March can
only be briefly noticed, though there were mauy points of interest. One of the
prime features was the Camellias in pots, the best six being shown by Mr C.
Turner, who had nice pyramidal grown plants from 4 to 5 feet in height, well
flowered, and the foliage as healthy and clean as could well be wished. The sorts
were Mexicana nova, Madame Lebois, and De Notaris, shades of red; Sacco nova
and La Constituzione, salmon rose; and II cygno, white. There was another group
from Mr Wilkie, Kensington, but not nearly so fine. There were prizes for cut
blooms of Camellias, but they were not so good as might have been expected.
Forced or unforced shrubs in flower, which one would have thought could have
been made an interesting feature, were quite poor, only one group of very ordinary
plants being produced. Mr Howard of Balham, well known as an admirable cul-
tivator of the Lily of the Valley in pots, had some capital plants that were well
done. Groups of Orchids were exhibited by Messrs Veitch & Sons, B. S. Wil-

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 189

liams, Lord Londesborough, and others ; and they made a charming display.
The demand on our space forbids any mention of these in detail.

Prizes were also offered for new and also for late-kept Grapes, but the former
were not represented. In the way of late Grapes, Mr Bannerman, gardener to
Lord Bagot, Blithfield, Rugeley, sent some excellent bunches of Lady Downes
that were of fine flavour. Mr Johnstone, Glamis Castle Gardens, had some Mus-
cat of Alexandria, which, though somewhat shrunken, were very finely flavoured,
and some thought the preference should have been given to these over Lady
Downes. The Muscats were ripe in the beginning of August, and were cut from
the Vine on the 2d of November last. Mr Meredith had some Black Alicante and
Lady Downes cut from a north-house much shaded by Elm-trees, but they were
of very good quality. In addition to other vegetables, such as forced Asparagus,
Seakale, &c, there were some specimens of variegated Brussels Sprouts sent by
Mr G. Beech, the Gardens, Castle Ashby, Northampton : the variegation was not
very distinct, while the probability of the plant being of any use for decorative
purposes seemed very small indeed.

On March 16 th, the annual show of Hyacinths and other spring flowers, in con-
nection with the Royal Horticultural Society, was held at South Kensington. It
was not so extensive as last year's, owing to Mr William Paul not appearing as
an exhibitor, though had he done so, there is reason to believe he would have
carried off some of the leading honours. Mr Paul, instead of exhibiting, concen-
trated his strength on his spring show in the northern arcade, and made a most
excellent display, groups of flowering and foliaged plants being nicely alternated.
The Hyacinths were not so fine as last year — there was lacking that massiveness
of spike and superb finish that characterised last year's growth in so remarkable
a manner ; but so fine a development appears to happen only at intervals of a few
years. With eighteen Hyacinths distinct, as well as with eighteen blue Hya-
cinths distinct, Messrs W. Cutbush & Son were first in each instance, having in
the former case General Havelock, Baron Van Tuyll, Nitnrod, De Candolle,
Charles Dickens, Lord Palmerston, and Grand Lilas, shades of blue ; Von Schiller,
Macaulay, Mrs Beecher Stowe, Florence Nightingale, Charles Dickens, a very
handsome pale - pink variety, and Princess Charlotte, shades of red ; Emme-
line, Grandeur a Merveille, Snowball, and Mirandoline, white ; and Haydn, mauve.
There was no competition in this class. The eighteen blue kinds comprised
General Havelock, Lord Melville, Baron Van Tuyll, Mimosa, Prince Albert,
Hamilton, Raphael, Nimrod, Pieneman, very large bells and spike ; Charles
Dickens, Grand Lilas, Van Speyk, Lord Palmerston, Blue Mourant, Garrick,
Marie, Argus, and De Candolle. Mr C. Turner was second, the best spikes being
Marie, Charles Dickens, General Havelock, De Candolle, and Czar Peter, a large-
belled pale-blue variety.

The most interesting class was that for 36 Hyacinths in 12 varieties, 3 of each,
the sum of fifteen guineas being offered in 4 prizes by some of the Haarlem bulb-
growers. Messrs W. Cutbush & Son were the only exhibitors here, having
Argus, very fine ; Baron Van Tuyll, Charles Dickens, and Grand Lilas, blue ;
Von Schiller, Macaulay, and Florence Nightingale, very pretty indeed, and Due
de Malakoff, red ; Haydn, mauve ; Mont Blanc, Queen of the Netherlands, and
Gigantea, white. Mr T. A. Steel had the best six Hyacinths in the Amateur
Class. They were, Baron van Tuyll, Charles Dickens, Von Schiller, Gigantea,
Grand Lilas, and Alba Superbissima. The second and third collections were very
nearly equal. Messrs W. Cutbush & Son offered a prize of three guineas for the
best 12 Hyacinths, distinct, grown by amateurs or gentlemen's gardeners. This
was won b)T Mr Weir, gardener to Mrs Hodgson, Hampstead, who had Charles

190 THE GARDENER. [April

Dickens, Marie, Grand Lilas, and General Havelock, blue ; Haydn, mauve ; Von
Schiller, Macaulay, Florence Nightingale, Due de Malakoff, and Emmeline,
red ; Ida, yellow ; and Mont Blanc, white. By the same firm the sum of two
guineas was offered on the same conditions for 12 pots of Tulips, distinct ; and
Mr T. A. Steel was first with a capital set, comprising Van der Neer, Keizer
Kroon, Tournesol, White Pottebakker, Due d'Aremberg, Proserpine, Bruid van
Haarlem, Cottage Maid, Jaght van Rotterdam, Vermillion Brilliant, Chryslora,
and Couleur Cardinal, all single ; and Tournesol, double. Mr Weir had some
good flowers also, especially Queen of Violets, Proserpine, Joost van Vondel,
Couleur Cardinal, and Chryslora. Collections of Narcissi and Crocuses, both of
indifferent character, were staged also.

Splendid groups of Orchids were furnished by Messrs Veitch & Sons, Lord Lon-
desborough, and B. S. Williams, comprising some very fine examples of many of the
rarer kinds. Attractive as the Hyacinths were, yet the visitors lingered about the
Orchids, and no one wondered they did so. Among them was a splendid example
of Phalrenopsis Schilleriana, and some beautiful forms of the chaste Odontoglos-
sum Alexandra. Particularly noticeable was a fine group of Palms, &c, for table
decoration, contributed by Mr J. W. Wimsett of Chelsea. The tallest of the
Palms were on nice stems, and underneath their elegant drooping fronds were
placed flowering-plants of Hoteia japonica, with here and there a dark-foliaged
Dracpena by way of contrast, the group edged with the drooping grass-like Isolepis
tenella. A charming group of spi'ing-flowering plants was contributed by Mr T.
S. Ware, Hall Farm Nurseries, Tottenham, containing pans of Scilla bifolia, S.
bifolia alba, S. Siberica, Saxifraga oppositifolia major, a very pretty dwarf free-
blooming species ; Hepaticas, &c. Two large groups of Tulips in pots were also
furnished by Messrs Barnaart & Eldering of Haarlem, Holland, that had travelled
the distance remarkably well, and made a very effective display.

In the way of fruit there were some excellent dessert and kitchen Apples — the
latter being especially fine and well preserved ; and Mr W. Thomson, Dalkeith,
sent bunches of his new white Grape Lady Downes, taken from a Vine on its own
roots, also from one grafted on the black Lady Downes. In the last-named
case the berries were rather smaller, but were considered to have the best
flavour.

In addition to Mr William Paul's spring display at the Royal Horticultural Gar-
dens— a most attractive show in itself — Messrs W. Cutbush & Son make a similar
display at the Crystal Palace, and all the resources of this firm are brought into
requisition to enrich their exhibition. Each of these remains open to public view
for some ten or twelve days, and must do much in the way of making flowers of
this character extremely popular. It may be also stated in this connection that
the show of the Royal Horticultural Society on the 16th inst. made the fifteenth
time that Messrs W. Cutbush & Son had exhibited Hyacinths, and the thirteenth
time they had been awarded the premier prize for Hyacinths.

BOOKS, &c, Received.

The Food Journal for March. The Gardener's Magazine for March.

Report on the Planting and Laying Out op the Thames Embankment.
By Alexander M'Kenzie. Presented to the Parks, &c. Committee of the Metro-
politan Board of Works.

Horticultural Calendar and Gardeners' Diary for 1870. Letts, Son,

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 191

& Co., Printers, New-Cross, London. This appears quite anew design, and consists
of a series of sheets in the form of slips attached to a stiff card, and is issued
for the purpose of hanging in the greenhouse or toolhouse, and noting tempera-
ture, direction of wind, date of planting or sowing, &c.,a space being left after
each day of the month for the purpose ; and there is also a column of brief re-
minders of monthly duties connected with every department of the garden. The
backs of the slips can be utilised for advertisements by the firm who may order a
quantity of them. For registering a list of shows, and suchlike, it is extremely
useful.

NOTES A1STD QUERIES.

[We regret that an unusual press of matter compels us to postpone many
valuable communications. — Eds.]

Royal Horticultural Society. — His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, K.G.,
President of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, has nominated the following gentle-
men for Vice-Presidents of the Society for the present year — viz., H.S.H. the
Prince of Teck ; the Lord Bishop of Winchester; Lieut. -General Hon. C. Grey,
F.R.S.; W. Wilson Saunders, F.R.S.

We are informed that the Council of the Eoyal Horticultural Society have
awarded a silver flora medal to Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod, Sedbury Park, Chep-
stow, in recognition of the assistance she has given to the Society's collection
of economic entomology.

Abandonment of Chi s wick. — The writer of the lines under this heading is
informed that they are not admissible to our columns.

Variegated Wellingtonias (Mrs Browning). — We have seen two different
types of variegation ; the one being variegated with gold, the other with silver.
The former was sent out by Mr R. Hartland of Cork, who has in his nursery a
large plant, though somewhat cut to pieces by the propagator's knife. The other
ha3 a silvery or creamy variegation, and, to the best of our knowledge, was ob-
tained in Somersetshire. We have seen it, and it has the appearance of being a
capital companion to the golden variety, apparently quite as robust in growth,
and if anything of a livelier appearance. The silvery variegated variety is to be
distributed in the autumn by Mr Thomas Sampson, Preston Road Nurseries,
Yeovil.

Mushroom Culture (Job Surman, Sutton - in -Ashfield). — 'How to Grow
Mushrooms/ by William Earley, price one shilling ; or a very useful pamphlet
just issued by Messrs Sutton & Sons, Reading, will, we think, give you all the
information you want. You cannot do better than get both.

Lucy Grieve Pelargonium (Edward Coveny).— Our correspondent writes:
" The above-named well-known Tricolor Pelargonium has been in my possession
ever since it first came out, but it does not do well with me. Perhaps I may use
an unsuitable soil, it seems so shy of making wood. Will you, or any of your
correspondents, give me their mode of treatment of the above-named plant ? I
am afraid it will never make abedder, as it grows so indifferently, at least in thi3
part of the country." Our correspondent, however, does not name the locality
in which he resides. We forwarded his letter to Mr W. R. Morris, the well-

192 THE GARDENER. [April 1870.

known raiser and cultivator of variegated Zonal Tricolor Pelargoniums, and he
writes as follows in reply thereto : " Lucy Grieve is one of the strongest and
rankest growers we have among the Tricolors. A strong cutting, rooted any time
between March and July, should in the following May be a plant 2 feet in
height, with foliage-leaves 3 to 4 inches across. It should be planted from the
cutting-pot at once into an 8-inch pot, well drained, and filled with rough pieces
of light sandy turf, giving full allowance of light, air, and moisture ; the same
treatment suits the whole tribe. Stimulating with manure I find wholly unne-
cessary. To grow a healthy plant well is easy, but to cure a sick plant is another
matter, and is seldom worth the trouble. For the information of your corres-
pondent, I give the following as my practice, and I never fail : — Wait till tJicre
is an appearance of growth, and consequent root-action, remove the plant from
its pit, and place it in a pail of water. Keeping the roots under water, manipu-
late them till wholly free from soil ; rinse the whole plant in clear watei', and dip
the roots while wet in dry silver-sand. The roots will, on being shaken well,
disentangle themselves, and each fibre will have a coating of sand adhering to it.
Re-pot in as small a pot as possible, using light sandy loam ; sprinkle the
foliage, but do not water till after a few days, and with a very gentle
bottom heat the plant will, in a very short space of time; fill the pot with new
roots : then re-pot. If your correspondent will disbulb a young growing plant,
keeping it to one leading shoot till well established, he will soon alter his opinion
as to the ' shy growing ' of Lucy Grieve."

An Aberdonian. — Your greenhouse that you have converted into a vinery
being circular, it will be expensive to heat it with hot-water pipes, and we don't
think an Arnott's stove, as you propose, will answer your purpose. In your cir-
cumstances, we recommend a well-built brick flue on arches, so that the roots of
the vines may pass freely under it.

L. A., a Constant Reader. — Your Marechal Niel Rose seems to be growing
too strong to bloom well. Remove some of the rich soil, and replace it by
poorer, in which there is mixed some old lime-rubbish, and we think it will bloom
with you. Do not prune it too close.

W. A., Chester. — You may burn the soil of your garden by getting any brush-
wood you can conveniently, and putting it together like a cone, with a vent at
the top ; then set fire to it, and pile your soil all round it. In this way you may
burn a good deal of it, and especially the stiffest of the clay. With regard to your
right to exhibit as an amateux-, while at the same time you sell a portion of the
plants and fruit you grow, we think you stand in the same position in that respect
as gardeners do whose employers sell a portion of the produce of their gardens.
They are not thereby disqualified from exhibiting as gardeners, and classed with
market-gardeners or nurserymen ; neither should you be, if you do not advertise
or issue printed circulars.

Propagating Clematis bicolor (Amateur). — This is easily propagated by
grafting one-year-old wood on to the roots of Clematis flammula (the sweet-scented
kind). The plants should be potted as soon as grafted, and the pots plunged in a
gentle bottom-heat, in a glass case, in a stove or propagating-house. Clematises
can be sometimes struck from cuttings, taking the young wood with a heel to it,
and striking the cuttings in the mode adopted in propagating the Verbena from
cuttings. They can also be grown from layers in pots, but it generally takes a
year to root them. We suppose our correspondent has Clematis florida bicolor.
Has he the glorious C. Jackmannii ? If not, he should obtain it.

THE

GARDENER.

MAY 1870.

PLANTS AS SANITARY AGENTS.

HIS important point has just been put prominently for-
ward in a thoughtful paper read by Mr William Ingram,
gardener to the Duke of Rutland, Belvoir Castle, before the
Leicester Museum, in which, with much felicity of illus-
tration, he made manifest the action of certain laws affecting the decay
of animal life, the consequent existence of impurities, and the necessity
for their removal ; and the further necessity for the corrective activity
of vegetation as an important part assigned to plants in the great
system of nature as sanitary agents. In the course of this address Mr
Ingram pointed out the "great array of polluting forces" operating
on the earth, and touched chiefly on animal life as a great polluting
power. This it accomplishes in the continued residence of man and
beast on the earth, in that matters corrupt and offensive are deposited,
which, having " once formed part and parcel of the animal economy,
cannot be applied again without infecting with their inherent corruption
any living animal that may again absorb them ; and also from the fact,
that on the heels of decaying and dead animal life " treads decomposi-
tion ; the dead matter that has once lived is distributed anew, and the
fragments pollute the air, the water, or the earth." But in the opera-
tion of that wise economy that clothes all nature as with a garment
of beneficent compensating services, vegetation interposes, and

" Earth, that nourished thee, shall claim
Thy growth, to be resolved to earth again ;
And, lost each human trace, surrendering up
Thine individual being, shalt thou go
To mix for ever with the elements,
N

194 THE GARDENER. [May

To be a brother to the insensible rock
And to the sluggish clod, which the rude swain
Turns with his share, and treads upon. The oak
Shall send his roots abroad, and pierce thy mould."

In life, the animal subdues the plant ; when the former perishes, the
plant reasserts its power; and so there is afforded the example of
"two great dependent forces, mutually destructive, yet mutually
regenerative ; the one fixed to the soil would exhaust its resources of
fertility, but the destruction of animal life restores its exhausted powers,
and vegetable action goes on with renewed vigour."

Thus plants may be said to fulfil a true and great vocation ; and
this high service has two aspects, the one as regards dead nature, the
other as regards living things. In its relations to dead nature, the
plant serves, while living, to purify the air we breathe. It continually
absorbs carbonic acid and gives off oxygen gas, and thus is a chief
instrument in maintaining the natural condition of the atmosphere. It
renders the air more fit for the support of animal life, both by remov-
ing that which is noxious, and by pouring into it that which is salutary
to animal health and life. And when it dies, it either covers the earth
with a vegetable mould, which favours the growth of new generations
of plants, or it accumulates into beds of peat or mineral coal, by which
man is long after to be warmed and the arts of life promoted. In
either case, it only lingers for a while in these less sightly mineral
forms. It gradually assumes again the gaseous state, and whether it
is allowed naturally to decay, or is burned in the fire, ultimately arises
again into the air in the form of carbonic acid. By this means, in
part, vegetation is perpetuated upon the globe, and the natural com-
position of the atmosphere, as regards the proportion of the carbonic-
acid gas, is permanently maintained. As regards living animals, we
all know and feel that plants are necessary to our daily life. Utterly
dry up and banish vegetation from a region, and nearly every sensible
form of animal life forthwith disappears.

There are also subsidiary purposes the plant serves, and one of these
is that of covering and adorning dead nature. But this purpose is
only secondary, and, as it were, ornamental, and yet has issues closely
allied to sanitary purposes. One of these subsidiary purposes Mr
Ingram has alluded to in a suggestive passage of his address relating
to planting trees in our graveyards and cemeteries. Both the sanitary
reformer and the teacher of sesthetics are asking that our graveyards
be planted with trees ; the one for the sake of the great purpose plants
labour to fulfil as sanitary agents, the other as a means of ornament-
ation merely.

i37o.] PLANTS AS SANITARY AGENTS. 195

" Now they are scarcely known,
And rarely in our borders may you meet
The tall larch sighing in the burying-place,
Or willow trailing low its boughs to hide
The gleaming marble. Naked rows of graves
And melancholy ranks of monuments
Are seen instead."

On this point Mr Ingram remarks as follows : — "There is something
more than sentiment in the custom, observed from remote ages, of
planting trees in our graveyards and cemeteries. Trees are quickeners
of decay — are the scavengers provided by nature for absorbing that
which is corrupt in the ground, and quickening it into the life that
gladdens our eyes in summer-time in green leaves and bright flowers :
who would not rather that this ' mortal coil,' bereft of the life that
gave it power, should reappear in verdure of the stately tree, the
Cedar, the Pine, or the Oak 1 How much better than to contaminate
the earth, or to poison the water-spring 1 The ancient Egyptians sought
to perpetuate the names and famous deeds of their great men by em-
balming their bodies, and placing them in almost impenetrable tombs.
What have they gained but that destruction which nature has ordained,
and which, though protracted, is nevertheless inevitable 1 Who knows
or cares for the voiceless mummy 1 The men of ancient Pome destroyed
their mighty dead by fire, and reverently placed their ashes in urns and
tombs of sculptured marble, putting with the relics of their friends a
small tear-bottle or lachrymatory. If we continue to follow the cus-
tom of our forefathers, and return dust to dust, let us not omit to
plant a tributary tree. Why should not our disused churchyards be
planted 1 I am sure many persons would esteem it a privilege to be
permitted to plant a tree on the grave of a dear friend. If this were
done, our churchyards in time would be one shady grove, and would
be so purified as no longer to be sources of disease to the living
congregated around them."

What is here indicated is only a small part of the functions dis-
charged by plants as sanitary agents. We have simply endeavoured
to indicate Mr Ingram's line of argument, and to a small extent his
conclusions. A large range of study is opened up to the intelligent
observer, involving the whole area of vegetable physiology. In yield-
ing food for the animal kingdom the plant is scarcely less a sanitary
agent. One of the main objects of the plant is to feed the animal.
This it does with various forms of vegetable matter in different climes
and countries ; and it provides for each herbivorous and carnivorous
race those peculiar forms on which it best loves, because best fitted,
to feed.

196 THE (1ARDENER. [May

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

At the nurseries of Messrs Downie, Laird, and Laing, Stanstead
Park, Forest I Till, can be seen some remarkable illustrations of the
influence of the graft on the stock in certain cases of grafted plants.
Mr Laing has been experimenting on some Abutilons, and in the first
instance grafted the green A. megapotanicum on the variegated A.
Thompsoni ; the scion came handsomely variegated, and presents even
a handsomer and more attractive variegated form than the well-known
A. Thompsoni. The next experiment was made with A. Thompsoni
grafted on the green A. megapotanicum, and in this case the graft
was allowed to make sufficient growth to get the blood infused, and
then pinched back ; this induced growth from the green stock, and,
strange to state, all the shoots made down to the very surface of the
soil came variegated. A further experiement was made with the
strong-growing green A. Due de Malakoff, budded on A. Thompsoni
in the manner in which a bud of a Rose is inserted in the Briar stock ;
a green leaf was left on the bud, which grew, and kept green, but all
other growth came variegated, and so gave a variegated form of Due
de Malakoff, to all appearance as robust in growth as the green Due
de Malakoff. In making these experiments, Mr Laing made use of
matured and young wood as grafts, and his experience has taught him
that hard wood with dormant buds is preferable to young points of
growth : the former is certain to come variegated ; in the case of the
latter, the young points inserted as scions go on to make green leaves,
and it is only when the points are removed that the fresh shoots
forced into growth thereby came variegated. Mr Laing also recom-
mends budding in preference to grafting, and that the stock and bud
should both be of a similarly matured character. In a course of lectures
" On Plant Life as contrasted with that of Animals," delivered before
the Royal Institution by Dr Masters, Editor of the ' Gardeners' Chron-
icle,' considerable reference was made to the variations secured by bud-
ding and grafting, and these Abutilons were brought forward as illus-
trations in point. In describing the influence exerted by the stock on
the scion, Dr Masters stated that it is a general belief amongst garden-
ers that in most cases but little actual change is produced by grafting
either in the stock or in the scion ; but the exceptions to this rule are
so numerous, and even from a gardening point of view so important,
that it seems better to consider that we have not succeeded in tracing
the effects in all cases than to deny the existence of such modifications.
1 n illustration of these points the lecturer alluded to the effect of the
stock in producing hardiness of constitution in the scion, and instanced
a case where grafts of Cupressus macrocarpa on the Red Cedar as a

1S70.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 197

stock had survived the winter, while seedlings from the same species,
grown on the same spot, had perished. It certainly does seem remark-
able that in the case of the experiments with Abutilons made by Messrs
Downie, Laird, & Laing, variegation, which has been proclaimed by
botanists to be a disease in vegetation, should be found overpowering
the green form of growth, and changing its character, and this whether
used as a scion or stock in the process of grafting. It was stated by
Dr Masters that it has been found by M. Van Houtte, in the case of
the Abutilons just referred to, that if the variegated scion be removed
the variegation gradually disappears from the stock, and green leaves
only are subsequently produced.

The subscription to the Veitch memorial is said to have reached the
sum of <£900, but the manner in which this sum is to be expended has
not yet been announced : probably the Executive Committee have not
yet matured their plans. There has been a kind of eruption of horti-
cultural testimonials during the past few months, of varying degrees of
consequence ; and it is not impossible that a few years hence, so rapid
has been the growth in this direction of late, that a testimonial epi-
demic will set in, and great and small, known and unknown, will have
a chance of reaping a reward of this character, whether deserved or
undeserved. The Veitch memorial was a strongly exceptional case,
and we are glad to know so much money has been realised ; but when
nearly half-a-dozen others spring up around it, it must be admitted they
are somewhat unwelcome corollaries.

The recent death of Mr Richard Stains was the means of removing
from our midst another of those Agricultural worthies that so largely
helped to make the past of floriculture famous ; while to some of them,
and notably to Mr Stains, it was given that they should be valuable
helpers in aiding its present development. For many years he was a
cultivator and exhibitor of florists' flowers ; but during the latter
years of his life, owing to the claims of business, &c, he had almost
entirely, if not quite, abandoned their culture. He was a firm friend
and constant supporter of the once National Floricultural Society, he
was an active member of the Committee of Management on its forma-
tion in 1851, and was the treasurer of the Society in 1859, on the occa-
sion of its dissolution. For many years also he was one of the judges
at the exhibitions of the Royal Botanic Society in the Regent's Park,
and at the time of his being stricken down with paralysis in 18G5 a
member of the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society.
His genial character and open-handed hospitality were known to all who
came in contact with him ; and it was painful indeed to many of his
old friends and associates to know that, though living, he was both
mentally and physically incapacitated from acting with them, or taking

198 THE GARDENER. [May

any cognisance of those pursuits that formerly afforded him so much
pleasure. Mr Stains died in the King's Road, Chelsea, in the early
days of the month of April.

The Central Horticultural Society, of which the late Mr Samuel
Broome was an active member, is taking steps towards the erection, in
Nunhead Cemetery, of a memorial over his grave, in remembrance of
the high esteem in which he was held, and by way of perpetuating his
memory.

Our readers, says the ' Canada Farmer,' have heard of the atrocity
of girdling some 1500 fruit trees near St Joseph, Michigan, last
spring, and how the neighbourhood turned out in a body and ban-
daged them up so as to save them. Every one of these trees is living,
and the owner has realised an immense crop of fruit from them the
past season. This fact is considered quite marvellous by the residents
round about. Those wise in such matters explain it by saying that
the interception of sap by girdling has caused the production of fruit
instead of wood this season, and that the real trial for the life of the
trees will come next year. It used to be thought that there was no
help for a girdled tree ; but the theory is now exploded. In the
above case the damage was remedied by bandaging the trees with
strips of cloth dipped in wax. If the girdling was very broad, we
apprehend that a portion of these trees have borne fruit for the last
time. What is thought a better way of saving girdled trees, has been
very successfully practised for some twenty years at Nashua, New
Hampshire. The method is to graft five or six scions as large round
as a goose-quill, and long enough to reach over the girdled place into
the tree. The live bark is first notched above and below the girdle,
the sprouts sprung into place, and the ends fastened with wax. These
scions grow rapidly, and in time spread over the whole girdled surface.
Apple-trees completely girdled, and having the bark taken off over a
foot in width on one side, have been saved in the above manner by
Mr Town.

The Council of the Royal Horticultural Society have succeeded in
making what appears to be a very favourable arrangement for securing
a portion of the Chiswick Gardens. We learn from the ' Gardeners'
Chronicle ' that the present arrangements are these : — The arboretum
is to go ; the Wilderness is to be a wilderness no longer ; the orchard
is to be abandoned; of the 30 acres 10 only are to be retained as an
experimental garden ; the council-room, large conservatory, and fruit-
room, and all the other houses, will be retained. Though the old
orchard is to be abandoned, young trees have been secured on dwarf
stocks, so that space will thus be gained without much loss. A lease
of the 10 acres will be granted for fifty years, at a rental of about

i87o.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 199

<£100 a-year, through the liberality of the Duke of Devonshire, who
has not proved the stern landlord the Council made him out to be. It
is estimated that by these new arrangements the Society will be
able to reduce its expenditure by £1000 a-year. That Chiswick is
not to be wholly abandoned will be a cause for congratulation among
horticulturists; and it is to be hoped that examples of practical
horticulture will not be altogether discarded.

Considerable interest was manifested at the meeting of the Royal
Horticultural Society on the 6th ult., about some forced Asters in
pots, exhibited by Messrs Standish and Co., Royal Nurseries, Ascot.
They were of the dwarf bouquet strain, and were nice, compactly-grown
plants, of a branching habit. The seed was sown about the end of
August, but by sowing two months earlier Messrs Standish & Co.
hope to have forced Asters at Christmas. The Standard Roses in
pots, brought to the same meeting, were a somewhat novel and inter-
esting feature. Messrs H. Lane & Son had a group of about twenty
plants, all with nice heads of bloom averaging from five to ten flowers ;
and Messrs Standish & Co. had a standard specimen of H. P. Duke
of Edinburgh, in a pot bearing between thirty and forty flowers.
Messrs Veitch & Sons made their debut at this exhibition as Rose ex-
hibitors, staging a charming group of quarter specimen pyramidal
trained Roses that were much admired and highly commended.

THE CULTIVATION" OF HARDY FRUITS.

{Continued from page 171.)
THE APRICOT.

The cultivation of this much-prized fruit does not receive the general
attention that its value demands. This may in most cases be accounted
for by the amount of trouble that is necessary, not only at the time
of blossoming, to protect the blooms from frost, and at the ripening
season to protect the fruit from the ravages of birds, &c, but also from
the fact, that in late, low, and damp localities the fruit seldom attains
maturity, or, if it does, it is often small and of inferior flavour. This,
in my opinion, ought not to be a barrier to its more general cultiva-
tion, but should incite us to endeavour to assist nature by some simple
artificial means, whereby the difficulties may in a measure be over-
come. That the Apricot will not stand any great amount of forcing,
more especially during the early part of its growth, is well known ;
yet it has been found that artificial means, judiciously applied, havein

200 THE GARDENER. [May

many cases proved "father to a crop" where failure before "had
held supreme sway." I hope to be able to show that outdoor culti-
vation in even bad localities is not incompatible with a good and well-
ripened crop of Apricots.

Apricots have been classified by various writers, but to Mr Thomp-
son must again be awarded the palm for having given us in his
' Gardeners' Assistant/ at once the best, most complete, and easiest
understood of all which have come within the range of my observation.
He has divided them into two classes — the first, those with kernels
bitter * the second, those with kernels sweet.

Class I. — Division 1. Fruit small, round, early; flower small.
Division 2. Fruit large. This division is further subdivided into —
1. Channel of the stone closed up, flesh parting from the stone. 2.
Channel of the stone closed up, flesh adhering to the stone. 3. Chan-
nel of the stone pervious.

Class II. — Division 1. Flesh parting from the stone. Division 2.
Flesh adhering to the stone.

I would first treat of the propagation of the Apricot, which may be
done in one of three different ways — viz., by seed, budding, and graft-
ing. Mr Thompson, in the ' Gardeners' Assistant,' states : " There are
some sorts which reproduce themselves with considerable exactitude
from the stone, and are accordingly propagated in that way. The
Moor Park is one of these, . . . and it and several others are
frequently raised from seed by the French." We have no experience
of this ourselves, but from the above work, and books on French fruit-
growing, it would appear to be a favourite practice, followed with
considerable success, on the Continent. It is to be noticed, however,
that none of these authors are prepared to state that trees so produced
are in all respects the same as the parents ; so that, if particular varie-
ties are wanted, the best and surest plan is to have recourse to bud-
ding, which is preferable to grafting. If new varieties are wanted, then
seed is the only way to obtain them. As formerly directed, care must
be exercised in protecting the blooms when the pollen is ripe, so that
there may be no chance of impregnation taking place save with the
varieties intended by the cultivator. For particulars regarding this, I
refer the reader to the articles upon "The Pear" in the volume for last
year, where he will find the matter fully discussed. Seed should in
all cases be saved from young, healthy trees, the stones being selected
from the finest and ripest of the fruit. They may be sown in a well-
prepared border, moderately rich, with old Mushroom-dung, or, what
is perhaps better, rotten leaf- mould. If the latter is used, one-third
of the whole may be composed of it. The bottom of a wall having a
south or east exposure will answer the purpose very well. The stones

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 201

may be placed in lines 1 foot apart, and 2 or 3 inches between each :
1 \ or 2 inches is a good depth to place them, and if severe or pro-
tracted frost should set in during winter, they must be protected in
some way. If all goes on well, the following autumn the seedlings
will be ready for transplanting into more permanent quarters. This
operation may take place in the month of September, and it has been
recommended that the taproot should be shortened back, for the ob-
vious reason of causing the roots to spread out nearer the surface, thus
preventing a coarse habit of growth, and the penetration of the roots
down into the bad subsoil. Two feet between the rows, and one foot from
plant to plant, will be good distances. As the young trees grow they
will require to be regularly shifted, giving them more room at each
removal if they are intended to be proved upon their own roots. As
this would incur considerable labour, as well as several years' delay, by
far the better plan is to take one or two of the best buds off each
seedling, and have them budded upon a good, old, healthy tree ; and
the probability is, that the seedlings may all be proved before they
are three years of age. Those not considered worthy may then be
tossed away, those worthy of further trial may be retained and care-
fully looked after. When this is being done, care should be taken to
have every seedling numbered, and a duplicate should accompany the
buds, so that no mistakes may arise.

The stocks in general use for dwarf-trained Apricots are the Mussel
and common Plum, and for those intended for tall standards, or
riders, the St Julien is said to be the best, on account of the fine
straight stem it produces. In France, the latter stock, as well as
Damas Noir and Cerisette, are in very general use. The stocks for this
purpose should in all cases be raised from seed, as experience has
proved that where suckers had been used the tree was never so
healthy as from seed. Trees from suckers are far more liable to exude
gum, and are not so long-lived as seedlings. The time for budding the
Apricot depends entirely upon circumstances and situation. In the
south of England it may be done as early as the middle of June,
while in the more remote districts of Scotland it may be the middle of
August before all things are in proper condition for the operation.
The best rule to be laid down is, that the operation will be performed
with the best chance of success when the wood is approaching maturity,
the bud and wood parting freely the one from the other. As the
wrood and flower-buds resemble each other somewhat at this period,
they should be selected with care, for the labour will be in vain should
flower-buds be inserted. Wood-buds are always long and tapering,
while flower-buds are more plump and of a roundish form. Various
modes of budding may be employed with success, but the simplest,

202 THE GARDENER. [May

and perhaps the best, is the shield-budding, which has already been
explained in these papers. It is of the greatest importance to look
regularly over the buds once a fortnight or so, to see that none of the
ligatures are too tight; and if so, have them loosened. There is nothing
more likely to sow the seeds of disease in the young tree than to
allow the ligatures to remain upon the buds until the stock has become
marked or cut thereby.

Grafting is a mode of propagating the Apricot that is seldom had
recourse to under ordinary circumstances. Where necessity may
compel its adoption, the best and surest mode is whip-grafting. In
the case of old trees this will be considered almost an impossibility,
when it is known that success cannot be depended upon unless recourse
is had to the earthing-up process — that is to say, earth must be drawn
up over the stock and graft much in the way that it is done to vege-
tables. The stock ought to be cut over in winter, when the trees are
dormant; and the scions should also be procured about this time — at all
events, not later than the first week in February. The best and firmest
shoots should be selected for this purpose, and if one inch of the scion
is of two-year-old wood, the greater will be the chance of success.
About the middle of March is a good time to perform this operation,
but circumstances alone can be the guide. The Apricot, however,
breaks into active growth at a much earlier period of the spring than
any other fruit which I have already alluded to, and as a rule we may
say that the operation should be performed two or three weeks earlier
upon it than upon either the Pear or Apple. As soon as the operation
is finished, the soil may be drawn up as already hinted, so as to cover
over the clay that surrounds the graft. This is of much advantage to
the scion, and facilitates the union. The soil, being drawn up in this
fashion, serves the double purpose of excluding the air and keeping
both stock and graft in a more favourable condition than if fully ex-
posed to the drying and withering influences of sun and atmosphere.
Unions are thus often formed by grafting where it would be impos-
sible without the aid of earthing-up. Stocks that are intended to pro-
duce dwarf fan-trees ought to be worked at a height of about 10 to 12
inches from the ground, whereas those intended for riders should be
worked at heights varying from 4 to 6 feet. Some cultivators have
adopted a system of rebudding for the avowed purpose of obtaining
dwarf trees ; that is to say, they bud upon a dwarf stock, and again
bud upon the last inserted bud the following year. This, no doubt
has the desired effect, but unless the walls are under the average
height it will not be necessary. Where the wall is below 8 feet in
height, I might recommend a trial of the system for curiosity and in-
formation's sake, as it is a well-known fact to all practical men that

iSyo.] BEDDING LOBELIAS. 203

it is not an easy matter to keep young vigorous trees -within such
bounds, without using the knife more freely than is really good for
them. James M'Millan.

{To be continued.)

BEDDING LOBELIAS.

It will be some time hence when the bedding Lobelias will be dis-
carded from the flower-garden. Their dwarf growth, and their ability
to stand severe drought and a hot burning sun, combined with their
free and continuous blooming properties, make them so useful that,
were they abandoned, but little could be found so well adapted to
take their place. I am so much an admirer of the Lobelia as a bed-
ding plant, that I have made a trial of several of the leading varieties
with a view of ascertaining which of them are best adapted for bedding
purposes, and I now proceed to notice the several kinds subjected to
such trial.

Of pure white Lobelias, I have met with but two really of this
colour. I may state that I have seen two or three termed L. speciosa
alba, but neither pure white, as the flowers have invariably come
slightly edged or tinted with blue. Of the two white varieties re-
ferred to, one, named Miss Murphy, belonging to the pumila or dwarf-
tufted section, I have entirely discarded, as being altogether worthless
for outdoor purposes. Used as an edging in a cool conservatory, it
may prove useful ; but I have always failed to make it of any service
in the flower-garden, except to denote its claim to be on the list of
" plants to avoid." My second white — viz., Queen of "Whites — is much
superior, though by no means perfect as a white-flowering bedding
Lobelia. It has the L. speciosa habit of growth, hardihood, and gen-
eral good qualities, but the flowers, though plentifully enough pro-
duced, are small in size, which detracts from its effectiveness. It is,
however, the best pure white bedding Lobelia we have, and I mean
to use it till a better one takes its place.

Lobelias with lilac or pink flowers are now becoming somewhat
plentiful, and give us new and attractive colours in this useful class
of bedding plants. One of the very best is Rosy Moon, which pro-
duces rosy-pink flowers having a small white centre, as large as those
of the ordinary type of L. speciosa, and a capital habit. Rosy
Gem is similar in character, but has the addition of some purplish
crimson spots on the upper part of the flower, and, though attractive,
is to my mind scarcely so good a bedder as the first named. The pumila

204 THE GARDENER. [May

section gives us many more varieties, and, as a general rule, they
have better constitutions, and can stand exposure better, than the
white Miss Murphy. Of these the best are Beauty of llavensbourne,
pinkish lilac, bright and effective — a capital edging-plant ; Distinction,
rosy red, with large white centre, very pretty and good ; and Fairy,
having pretty pale pinkish-white flowers, spotted with lilac. For cul-
ture in pots for house decoration, this is well worthy attention.

Then there are dark and light blue Lobelias, and also some that
may be termed edged flowers, of which L. erinus Paxtoniana is a very
good type. Of the dark -blue flowers the best are L. speciosa var.
Drummondii, rich deep blue, a fine and effective hue of colour, compact
in growth, very free, and stands well ; Trentham Blue, with large deep
blue flowers, a fine and showy bedding kind ; Blue Bonnet, dark blue ;
Painter, rich deep blue, mottled with white, a thoroughly good and
effective variety, novel and distinct ; and Blue King, a deep shade of
bright blue, dwarf in growth, very free and good. Of light -blue
flowers, the best belong to some dwarf -growing compact kinds — such as
Blue Tom Thumb, lively pale blue, with white centre, habit very dwarf
and compact, a free and continuous bloomer ; Lee's dwarf Blue, azure
blue, with small white centre, habit very dwarf and dense, and a
thoroughly free-blooming variety ; and Pumila elegans, deep azure blue,
with very small white centre, very free and good — a capital edging plant.

The best of the edged flowers I have found to be Little Gem, the
flowers white, broadly edged with blue, habit dwarf and compact — an
excellent bedder ; and Serena, white, with very slight edging of blue.

There are many others ; but of these I can speak with confidence,
having tried them. I have not seen Tyninghame Blue, but from its
published description I should take it to be a good thing.

I saw not long since what I thought a capital mode of propagating
Lobelias. I was visiting a gentleman in my neighbourhood, and saw
on a shelf in his greenhouse a number of Lobelias in 60-pots,
that had made growth which hung down round the pots, and young
rootlets were starting from the -base of each shoot, owing, no doubt, to
the prevailing moisture. I was informed that pieces of young growth
are plucked from the Lobelias in August and September, placed singly
in 60-pots, and put on the shelf of the greenhouse ; here they remain
all the winter, and become dense masses, which throw out roots as de-
scribed. In the spring the plants are pulled to pieces ; and as each
shoot has rootlets attaching to it, a large number of plants is
obtained from the division of one of them. This process certainly
saves the trouble of striking cuttings ; also the somewhat uncertain
task of successfully wintering old plants for stock purposes.

Observer.

1870.] ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 205

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES.

(Continued from page 105.)

When the first swarm issues forth, the original mother-queen goes with
it, and during the next day the combs commenced by the bees in the
new hive would be sufficiently advanced to enable her to gratify her
natural propensity, and she would deposit her eggs as the work
advances ; so that, although for the first three weeks after swarming
the numbers in the hive were to decrease, yet after that period the
young bees would be hatched, and under favourable conditions the
increase would be so very rapid that unless room was given a swarm
would probably issue ; or if a super was placed in the hive, a surplus
deposit of honey might reasonably be expected. This is what generally
happens with the so-called improved cottage-hive. It is so small that
a good swarm will fill it with comb and brood in a fortnight, and the
bees must work in the glasses above. The owner is of course delighted
at the prospect of getting honey from a swarm the first year, and he
is quite satisfied that the cottage-hive is the right sort of thing. But
after the first season there is seldom any further success, as the hive
is too small to hold sufficient bees and their provender to stand the
winter well ; and unless they are carefully and continuously fed, they
are sure to be late and weak when they should be strong and vigor-
ous. The first swarm should be placed in a hive large enough to con-
tain all that can effect in one season, which would be about the size
of hive required to render the evil of clustering outside the hive un-
necessary in the early spring.

It might now be reasonably supposed that the old stock and the
young colony are each furnished with a young queen, who for a few
days is occupied in cultivating the acquaintance of her subjects, and
apparently receiving assurances of their loyalty. It is then her duty
to fly abroad with her personal attendants, to see the world from which
are drawn those nectarious supplies known as honey.

This flight is prompted by natural instincts, for it is during this
flight the conditions are fulfilled which fits the queen bee to deposit
the eggs from which a new progeny is formed. This flight, by associa-
tion of ideas, is called the queen's wedding- trip ; and if she passes
safely through the dangers of her journey, she returns to her hive and
is received with great rejoicing by her subjects, who welcome her as
a queen in every way qualified to preside over and to promote the
happiness of a loyal and industrious people.

The queen, having returned home in safety, is treated with the gravest
reverence by her subjects, a group of about a dozen of whom attend
constantly upon her, their heads all turned towards her as if paying

206 THE GARDENER. [May

her the greatest homage; and they continually- touch her with their
antennae, as if caressing her, as she moves over the comb depositing
eggs, which, unless the hive is by some means rendered queenless,
must become either working bees or drones. The cells in which the
eggs are deposited are of two sizes, the smaller ones called worker-
cells, and the larger drone-cells ; and eggs deposited in these cells
become working bees or drones, as the case may be. Why is this 1 The
eggs of a fertile laying queen, in passing from the ovarium to the vulva,
pass a little sac or bag called the spermatheca, containing a fluid
acquired from a drone bee during the queen's flight abroad, the most
infinitesimal portion of which, coming into contact with the egg in its
passage, changes the nature of it so marvellously, that that which,
under all other conditions of life, must have become a drone or male
bee, becomes a working bee destitute of sex. And thus it occurs, when
depositing eggs in the cells respectively, that in a small or worker cell
the body of the queen, by the effort made, is slightly pressed by
the sides of the cell in which she deposits her egg, and sufficient of
the spermatheca is forced into contact with the egg to cause the
great change just described. If, on the other hand, the egg is
deposited in a large or drone cell, there will be no pressure on the
queen's body from the sides of the cell and the egg will thus escape
the influence of the fluid in the spermatheca, and this deposit issues
in a drone or male bee. If, however, by any chance, an egg from a
fertile queen is deposited in a worker-cell, without having been brought
into contact with the fluid in the spermatheca, the working bees, know-
ing a drone will result, will elongate that particular cell to give more
room to its inhabitant; and although it will become a drone, it will
only be a very little larger than a worker-bee.

There are many ways by which the return of a young queen to her
hive may be prevented. She may be tempted by the glorious prospect
before her to extend her flight beyond the limits of prudence, and may
fall from exhaustion ; a bird may devour her ; she may return to a
wrong hive and perish there ; a cold wind may chill her, or a shower
of rain beat her to the earth ; or she may perish by other means ; and
it is because this so often happens that old stocks from which good
swarms have issued in spring often die away in the ensuing summer ;
and this is another reason why second swarms are often not worth
keeping.

In the case of bees in the straw skep, the loss of a queen is not so
easily determined by actual observation, as the combs are not movable ;
and only when it is too late to provide a remedy does the calamity
become apparent. The presence or absence of a queen in a hive may
always be tested by the insertion of a queen- cell from another hive,

1870.] ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 207

if one can be obtained ; in which case, if the queen be present, the
inserted cell will be torn open at the side as before described, and the
contents withdrawn ■ but if the queen be lost, the inserted queen-cell
will remain intact until the young queen is hatched, and she, of course,
will be liable to the same series of accidents as her predecessor.

The foregoing are some of the causes of failure and consequent
disappointment under the prevailing system of bee-keeping, which
the bee-master should recognise and remedy by adopting the best
means in his power. In the case of hives with movable combs, the
absence of a queen may be discovered immediately, as there will be
no eggs or larvae in the hive, and there will almost certainly be queen-
cells raised or being raised. Of course it is not in the power of man
to control the seasons, but he may control the bees, and regulate their
propensity to increase their numbers, so as to insure healthy stocks
and a sufficiency of working bees to collect the honey it is desired
should be obtained — knowing, as he should know, the time or times
when honey is abundant. The loss of young queens and the death of
old ones cannot be controlled ; but, as I have shown, it may be remedied,
either by uniting the stocks, or inserting another queen or queen-cell,
the manner of doing which is more easily described than effected in
the case of straw skeps, especially as regards the introduction of
queens. For the present (the month of December), if stocks of bees
are sufficiently numerous to keep up the temperature inside the hives,
and are in dry winter-quarters, sheltered from rain, wind, and snow,
with sufficient food, that is all they require. If comparatively few in
numbers, and light in weight, it would be quite safe to give a stock
2 or 3 pounds of syrup. The syrup should be made of 5 pounds of
loaf-sugar, boiled in 2 quarts of water, which will produce about
7 pounds of syrup, costing about 4d. per pound. The bees should
only be fed on mild nights. The syrup should be put into bottles,
each of which should have tied over the mouth a piece of canvas, and
inserted over a piece of perforated zinc or tin, fixed horizontally on
the openings in the top of each hive. The bottles containing the syrup
should be removed during the daytime, otherwise the bees might be
tempted to think summer had come, and in their excitement they
would fly abroad and perish. Bee-keepers had much better believe
this as a theory, and not attempt to reduce it to practice, especially in
the case of weak stocks.

An excellent protection to bees in a straw skep is a hayband bound
round it, or a bottomless sack that will go over it loosely, and make
a tidy covering when stuffed all round with hay or sawdust, and will
effectually keep out the cold, besides affording access to the top of
the hive when it is requisite to feed the bees.

208 THE GARDENER. [May

I have only dealt with black bees in straw skeps, because they are
in a majority in this neighbourhood at present, and are better known,
if not better understood, than Italian, Alpine, or Ligurian bees ; but
in a few years it is to be hoped a better state of things will be brought
about. The Ligurian bees are hardier, fiercer, more "robust, and more
fertile than the English honey-bees, and they both work earlier and
later in the season, and live longer ; and what is of more importance,
they are furnished with a longer tongue or proboscis, by which they
can reach farther into the nectaries of flowers and blossoms, and so
can get honey from sources which the English bees cannot reach ;
this would be particularly exemplified in a bad season, when the
Ligurians would absorb the honey before any came within reach of
ordinary English bees, and often before they left their hives in the
morning, and the latter must slowly starve and dwindle away. My
own opinion on the question of breed in bees is, that neither race in
its purity is so good as the offspring from an Italian queen which has
been fertilised by a black or English drone bee. Pure Italian bees
are very beautiful creatures, and perhaps are, on that account, thought
more of than they otherwise would be. But it appears to my judg-
ment, from long experience, that the half-breeds, being a mixed race,
are more to be desired for their working powers and fecundity. I
recommend the introduction of the Italian element in the queen by
means of a queen -cell, because, when hatched, her drones in the
swarming season are certain to be pure Italians ; and if her working
offspring should be pure, it would enable her owner to Ligurianise
all his stock with pure queen-cells of his own raising from her brood.
The purity of the offspring will, of course, depend on the source of
fertilisation ; if by means of a black drone, the workers will be of a
hybrid character, but the drones will be pure, as the drone-eggs are
not influenced by the fluid in the spermatheca.

The manipulation of bees on movable framed hives should be
made a subject of itself, but could be much better understood from
actual observation ; and in that respect I can assure those who take
an interest in bees and their management, that during the ensuing
spring and summer I shall be most happy to show them the whole
matter, with perfect safety to themselves, and, I trust, to their entire
satisfaction.

The past year (18G9) was a very bad one for bees, particularly
during the month of June. At that period swarms were very busy
filling their hives with combs, and feeding the young larvae as they
were developed ; and this, as is natural with them, to such an extent
as to leave no more stores in the hives than would be required for
immediate consumption. They were instinctively trusting to the

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 209

morrow to provide for itself ; and surely in the middle of June it was
not unreasonable to suppose that they would be able to gather food at
some times during the days ; but the weather was so cold, and it
rained so incessantly for nearly three weeks, that the poor things
could not work at all, and were literally starved to death. In the
case of old stocks, instances occurred where the queens did not hatch,
or were lost on their wedding-journeys, and they of course dwindled
away. Hundreds of stocks have perished already from the above
causes, and many more will perish during the present winter if left to
themselves. I have seen many stocks and swarms, but I have not
seen one natural swarm of 1869 which has filled its hive with combs,
or with sufficient bees to staud the winter without aid, so great was
the shock received in the month referred to.

HINTS FOR AMATEURS.-MAY.

Where ground is extensive in proportion to the hands employed to
carry on the operations, much energy and tact will be required to keep
the work forward, which will (for a time) increase daily. Weeds will
grow rapidly if the weather is showery and warm, and to keep them
under they should be hoed as early as they appear above ground.
They are then easily destroyed, and raking is not required among the
crops, which does harm by closing the surface of the soil. The more
frequently the hoe is used surface-stirring, the less will the crop suffer
from drought. However, if the use of the watering-pot is really
necessary, it should be applied thoroughly and done with, stirring up
the battered ground again as soon as practicable. Timely attention
to the sowing and planting of succession crops must not be neglected.
Thinning will also be among the more important operations. If
crops, such as Carrots and Turnips, come through the ground very
thickly, it will be beneficial to pull out patches, to prevent the young
seedlings drawing up weakly before a proper thinning can be given.
Asparagus will soon be ready for cutting. Some prefer taking off
everything as it appears through the ground, and when cutting is
over the whole is allowed to grow untouched. Others always leave a
number of the more weakly shoots to grow on, with the view of
strengthening the roots, and cutting the strong shoots for use. The
latter system we believe the safest on cold late soil, where ripening of
the "grass" is late in autumn. Asparagus is in good condition when
the green tops are 4 or 5 inches long. Tough blanched stalks, so
often met with, and small green tops, are a poor apology for this delicious

o

210 THE GARDENER. [May

vegetable. Dustings of salt increase vigour and help to keep the
beds free from weeds. More Peas might be sown for late crops ; and
if the ground is shallow, dry, and sandy, trenches should be dug out
and a quantity of rotten manure turned into them, and the Peas sown
and well watered, turning the dry soil over the moistened seed to pre-
vent evaporation. Mulching may be had recourse to, with great
advantage, where necessary. If the crops are turning in too quickly,
the straw may be well topped back, and the Peas thoroughly watered
at the root, and they will start into fresh growth and bear abun-
dantly. We fall back upon this system more or less every season,
with excellent results. Let the sowings be at regular intervals, accord-
ing to the requirements of the family. Broad Beans, if wanted, may be
sown for a late crop ; mulching and watering will help them. Top
those which are high enough to carry a good crop. Broad Windsor is
a useful sort for present sowing. Beet may be sown for a main crop,
and the earliest plants coming through the ground will require timely
thinning. If the seed has not come up well, plants can be care-
fully lifted and transplanted to fill up vacancies. When thinning,
leave the plants in the rows from 10 to 15 inches apart, according to
the strength of the leaves ; on poor soil they will be small, and the
roots rather tough when fit for use. However, rank manure gives
coarseness to the produce. Silver Beet is a very useful vegetable ;
it may be sown on any spare ground, the leaves to be used as Spinach
and Seakale in winter. Carrots may be thinned 8 to 14 inches
apart. The early Horn may be left thickly for drawing young as
required. Hoe, and dust with lime. If the crop is blanky, more
early Horn may be sowed to keep up a supply. Parsnips require
thinning well out to let in air. When very thick, the tops of the
roots become diseased ; 14 to 16 inches is not too much on rich deep
soil. Cauliflower may now be planted out for a main crop. To pre-
vent clubbing, a mixture of soot, cowdung, and red lead, made into a
puddle, and the roots dipped into it, answers well. A little wood-
ash put in with each plant is a good practice ; 2 feet or more each
way is not too much apart for the plants on good soil. The finest
Cauliflowers perhaps we ever saw were planted on a piece of ground
last season where Spinach was cleared off. There was no time for
digging or manuring it, but a surface cleaning was given. Holes were
made with a trowel in the hard soil, the plants were lifted with balls
attached to the roots, a preparation of fresh cowdung and earth was
ready, and a handful or two placed over the roots in process of plant-
ing ; a good soaking of water was given, and regular hoeing was all
the attention they had. Scarcely any rain fell from the time of plant-
ing till they were ready for cutting. We had three successions treated

t87o.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 211

in this way, and we will long remember the good service they afforded
when good Cauliflower was scarcely to be found.

Cabbage, Kale of sorts, and Savoys, may be planted on well-manured
ground ; dry poor soil makes them tough and rank-tasted. Cabbage
may be planted (puddling them the same as Cauliflower) 1 foot each
way, so that every other plant may be cut out when fit for use, and a
full crop left. Kale generally requires 2 feet each way, and Savoys
1J foot between each plant. Drills drawn moderately deep are prefer-
able to all other systems of planting ; and when the hoe is used, the
filling in of the drills will be ample earthing-up. Brussels Sprouts
should be planted extensively ; they are a most serviceable vegetable •
and such Sprouts as we saw exhibited at the late Horticultural Show
in Edinburgh (we think named Dickson's Selected) were an argument
in favour of their value. They were oval in shape, many of them
as large as small hens' eggs, and very firm and sound. 1J to 2 feet is
the usual distance allowed between each plant. Broccolis of sorts may
be planted 2 feet each way. All the Brassica tribe of plants are the
better of being pricked out of the seed-bed when fit to handle, to keep
them sturdy for planting out to stand. More Broccoli, such as Osborn's
White, Walcheren, Snow's, and Grange's Autumn, may be sown for
succession. Kale may also be sown for planting thickly in any ground
as it becomes vacant. jSTo useful space should remain unoccupied. Let
Celery be pricked out, as formerly advised, before the young plants be-
come matted ; regular and careful watering is necessary ; and though
Celery is very hardy when growing naturally, the usual care bestowed
on it, as on other plants when grown under cover, should be observed.
Sudden changes from heat to cold, shade to sunshine, and tepid water
succeeded by frosty water, are some of the evils which cause premature
seeding. When pricking out the seedlings, let the roots fall full length
into the holes when they are dibbled in ; press the soil to the roots of
all plants when they are turned out, instead of their necks, as is often
done. Chervil and Parsley sow as before advised ; the latter may be
thinned out, and the thinnings planted 1 foot apart, thoroughly watered
and' afterwards well hoed ; they will stand the winter well and give fine
large leaves. A sloping ridge, in damp localities, is very suitable for
winter Parsley, but there is no great hurry yet for arranging for late
supplies. Salsafy, Scorzonera, and Chicory may now be sown and
treated like Beet ; to have fine clean roots of the two former, free, deep,
well-broken ground is necessary. Less trouble with Chicory is neces-
sary, as the young tops blanched in winter is all that is wanted ; we
find this one of our most valuable salads in winter, especially if Lettuces
and Endive are scarce. Leeks may be planted as soon as they will
handle nicely ; a wide trench dug out and well manured as for Celery,

212 THE GARDENER. [May

say 4 feet wide, and the manure turned in as thickly as possible. Let
the Leeks have wide deep holes, leaving them clear in their hearts,
and as they grow a little earth can be placed round them. It is
the blanched part which is most valued, and the longer the white is
the better the produce. Ridges for Leeks and Celery may be together,
as they are both winter crops ; single rows of Celery may be preferred,
which is just throwing the soil (a spade deep and 1 foot wide) right
and left, and giving plenty of decayed manure. Kidney Beans may
now be sown, and any raised under protection may be planted out ;
covering at night with large flower-pots may be necessary to protect
them from frost. Lettuce may be sown thinly where it is to stand, and
the thinnings planted in a cool shady position will give a succession ;
plenty of manure and deep soil are required if fine crisp Lettuces are
wanted. Onions may be thinned out from 4 to 8 inches in the rows,
but where bulbs 15 to 18 inches in circumference are wanted, 1 foot
apart is not too much ; dustings of guano and soot in showery weather
will help their growth. Radishes of sorts, to keep up a supply, should
be sown at short intervals ; the Turnip kinds stand the heat best ; in
hot weather, heavy soakings of water are necessary to grow them crisp
and palatable. Small Salads, such as Mustard and Cress, may be sown
anywhere, but dryness and scorching sun give toughness and a strong
taste to them. Golden and American Land Cress are good substitutes
for Water Cress. Spinach will do well sown between bushes, or any
vegetable crops which will not cover the space for some time ; on dry
poor ground Spinach runs very quickly to seed. Turnips may for
some time be sown in moderate quantities. Swedes and American
Red Stone sown on cool soil at the end of the month will keep up an
autumn and winter supply; the Swedes are hardy, and do well for
latest. Scarlet Runners, like French Beans, require good rich soil,
plenty of water when fruiting, and the pods picked off before they get
old, otherwise the plants soon become exhausted ; rows topped down,
to keep them dwarf, give large supplies all the season through ; rows
planted and well staked like Peas hide any unsightly portion of the
garden, and are very ornamental.

Attention now, and for some weeks to come, will do much to secure
well-grown wall fruit-trees, as well as to keep them fruitful, and save the
knife in winter, which often proves disastrous to stone-fruit trees. Con-
tinue to take off all shoots coming straight out from the main branches,
and if any strong watery growths have to be left to fill up space, stop
them, and throw one shoot into three or four. The bearing-shoots left
for next year on Morello Cherries, Peaches, Plums, and Apricots should
be close to the base of present bearing-shoots — one or two are enough,
and a top-shoot left to lead up the sap for the fruit this season ; a

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 213

number of natural spurs may be formed, which, when well placed to the
walls, are very valuable. A number of the top-shoots may be taken
off Apples and Pears ; doing a portion every few weeks gives no check,
and at winter-pruning the work is made so simple that any one with
the least instruction can do it. However, summer-pruning has always
to be done according to strength of growth. In ordinary orchards,
where trees can grow large and free, the case is quite different to gar-
dens where space and order are objects, as well as plenty of fine fruit.
We like to see trees, when established, form large firm leaves, little
wood, and the bark be free from moss and canker : plenty of fibre
growing in good healthy soil near the surface always secures this. If
insects of any kind show themselves, a handful or two of Pooley's
tobacco-powder, placed in a large potful of wTater and syringed on
finely, will do much to keep off vermin. We have used this powder
to some extent dry this season : in the late Peach-house here, about
100 feet long, a man went all over it in a few hours, throwing pinches
of the dust over the young shoots, many of which were attacked with
aphis, and threatened to be thoroughly infested with the vermin ; but
no further harm has been done, and the trees are now in full flower.
Tobacco-smoke might have done harm, as many plants are in flower
and Strawberries in fruit. Gooseberries and Currants may be kept
free from caterpillar and "fly" by timely use of tobacco-powder and
Clarke's insect-destroyer, if carefully syringed from under side of the
bushes. Many of the fruit-trees planted lately will require a soaking
of water and careful mulching — syringing overhead is beneficial in dry
weather.

Ptoses will be making rapid progress. Grubs will be found among
some of them, and will eat out the hearts of the flowers if not attended
to in time. Syringe when fly appears, as recommended for fruit-bushes.
Suckers should be taken clean off as soon as they appear. Plant out
Violets in all spare corners — such as the base of walls, by margins of
shrubberies, &c. When we place them where soil is bad, a hole is dug
out and filled with good loam, then the plants have plenty to support
tbem, and bloom abundantly. Suckers which are rooted answer best ;
but often when suckers are scarce we divide and replant the old plants,
which always bloom abundantly. For forcing, Violets can be placed on
a bed of earth above faggots of wood, and a lining of dung placed
round in winter, after fitting a shallow glazed frame over the plants.
Lifting good plants from borders answers well, but these are not always
comeatable by amateurs with small means. Asters, Stocks, and other
plants may be kept in reserve to fill up vacancies in borders, ifcc. ; good
breadths of them planted out about the middle of the month come in
useful for show and cutting. All bedding-out plants — such as Pelar-

214 THE GARDENER. [May

goniums, Verbenas, &c. — should now have as much air and light as pos-
sible, using no protection except to exclude frost ; but if newly out of
heat or shade of other plants, exposure must be given gradually. After
the 20th, planting out may begin with the hardier sorts — such as Cal-
ceolarias, Gazanias, Centaurias, and others. Keep plants such as
Perilla, Heliotropes, and Dahlias to the last. Slight frosts would ruin
them. We are not favourable to planting when ground is very wet,
as the earth cannot be placed kindly next the roots. Let the balls of
soil be moist when planting is done, and little water may be required ;
but if it is given, give enough to wet the whole bed, and apply the hoe
freely as soon as it can be done properly. Chrysanthemums should
be potted on into good turfy loam, and a little sand as soon as the
pots get filled with roots. If they become pot-bound, much injury
will be done : plunge the pots so that the sun will not burn up the
roots. Tulips may now be shaded from sun. If nights are frosty, pro-
tection will be necessary. Bedding plants may be turned out of their
pots in loose soil, keeping the balls together, and kept growing where
protection can be given till beds can be cleared of bulbs, &c. Balsams
and Cockscombs to flower under glass will require potting as the roots
reach the sides of the pots ; this, however, with Cockscombs, is when
the flowers have shown themselves. Air, light, and gentle bottom-heat
are necessary till they are ready for flowering, then cooler treatment
suits them. Give plenty of liquid manure when they are blooming.
It answers well to sow Balsams now for late blooming. All flowering-
plants will now be making active growth. They require more water,
but allow none to become sodden, and avoid wetting surfaces of pots
and allowing the principal roots at bottom to perish from drought.
This often happens with Heaths, Azaleas, and other hard -wooded
plants. Use tepid water for the more tender things. Window-plants
require sprinkling overhead frequently, after dry dusty days. Keep
surfaces stirred and free from moss and weeds. M. T.

NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

With the accumulating spring shows, these are now appearing some-
what numerously. As is usual at this season of the year, Orchids form
a large proportion of the new introductions, which will be seen from the
following list, all of which have received first-class certificates : Odonto-
glossum triumphans nigrescens, a heavily-marked form of this species ;
0. Hallii superbum, a very fine spike of which was exhibited ; and

1870.] NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST TWO MONTHS. 215

a splendid form of 0. Alexandra? — all from Mr Wilson, gardener to
William Marshall, Esq., Enfield. Mr Wilson staged three forms of 0.
Alexandra?, in ascending scales of quality, and quite distinct, though
of the same species. The one to which the certificate was awarded had
flowers nearly as large again as is usually seen ; the spots also were
much larger and more dense. Dendrobium cucullatum giganteum,
very fine ; D. thrysifloruni, a handsome new species with white petals
and a rich lemon lip; the small but pretty purple -tinted Yanda
coerulescens ; and a white form of Leelia Pilcheri, named Alba,
from Messrs Veitch & Sons ; Angrascum Ellisii, a recent introduction
from Madagascar, producing small waxy -like flowers, from Mr B.
S. Williams; and Ophyrs insectifera, belonging to the half-hardy
division of these elegant ground Orchids, and introduced from the
Pyrenees — this came from Mr Neale, gardener to H.R.H. the Comte
de Paris, Twickenham. So far new Orchids may be said to have been
well represented.

In the way of ornamental-foliaged plants, the same award was made
to two very handsome and graceful Palms — viz., Thrinax elegans and
Dseinonoops plumosus, the first from Mr William Bull, the second from
Mr Green, gardener to W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., who also had a
good-looking succulent named Agave cuspidata, quite distinct in form,
to which a similar award was made ; as also to Encephalartos mira-
bilis, an African species, also from Mr W. Bull ; to Draca3na Guilfoylei,
having a habit similar to D. indivisa, the leaves having a stripe or
band of green along the centre, and an edging of blush and rose ; to a
capital hybrid Solanum, of compact growth, and in consequence named
compactum, and bearing a good quantity of bright-coloured berries —
both from Mr B. S. Williams ; and to Echeveria agavoides, having the
appearance of a small and compact-growing Agave, from Mr Perkins,
nurseryman, Leamington.

In the way of hardy ornamental plants, Messrs J. Waterer & Sons,
Bagshot, received first-class certificates for Betinospora obtusa erecta,
a handsome, close-growing, neat-habited form, and for Cupressus Law-
soniana aurea, a deep golden variegated form of considerable merit ;
Mr B. S. Williams for Peristrophe angustifolia aurea variegata, a
dwarf -growing, wiry-habited plant, that promises well as- a bedder
if sufficiently hardy — a native of the mountains of Java; and to
Mr William Paul, for a handsome golden-leaved Euonymus, named
navescens.

Of new florists' flowers, Mr C. Turner, Slough, received first-class
certificates for a beautiful blush-coloured hybrid perpetual Pose named
Marquise de Mortemart, for Azalea Mrs Turner, with large pinkish
salmon-coloured flowers, margined with white, and spotted with crimson-

216 THE GARDENER. [May

purple on the upper segments, and to a striped semi-double Primula
Sinensis, having rose-stripes on a white ground ; Messrs W. Cutbush
& Sons, Highgate, for Azalea Francois de Vos, a bright crimson-coloured
free-blooming variety that forces remarkably well ; Messrs A. Paul
ife Sons, Cheshunt, for a new hybrid perpetual Rose named Madlle.
Eugenie Verdier, with full, pale-blush pink flowers ; Messrs Rollisson
& Sons, for Epacris hyacinthiflora carminata, well coloured, compact in
growth, and free-blooming ; Mr Edmonds, Hayes, for a splendid large-
flowering Cyclamen Persicum, named giganteura, with large, rich, rosy-
purple flowers of uncommon size ; and to Messrs Veitch & Sons for a
dwarf -growing, free- blooming hybrid Rhododendron, named multi-
florum, with flesh-coloured flowers, that appears to force well. The
new Abyssinian Primrose, Primula Contii, recently exhibited by
Messrs Veitch & Sons, is a plant both curious and interesting. It has
a singular appearance, the foliage having that powdered look common
to some of the show Auriculas, and it produces pale-yellow flowers in
two tiers of corymbs, the growth being about 18 inches in height.
Its great use will be for the purpose of hybridising, and a remarkable
progeny may be looked for when crossed with other species of the
same genus. R. D.

THE EDUCATION OF GARDENERS.

During 1869, much was said in the pages of the ' Gardener' about the education
of youDg gardeners. Those specially interested are much indebted to Mr David
Thomson, "The Squire's Gardener," and other correspondents, for the sound
advice given in their excellent papers ; also to the Editor, for the notes he occa-
sionally added to these communications. As one of the " youngsters," I may be
permitted to detail my experiences and difficulties in climbing the " tree of know-
ledge." I have never been in the condition of your unfortunate correspondent,
"One in Despair," who, as musicians would say, struck the key-note of his
" psalm of life " a full crescendo, but now seems inclined to end it with a woeful
diminuendo, in touching despairing accents. Perhaps he will be disposed to say
I escaped his fate because I was not educated ! My school education was some-
thing as follows : — I went to school during winter, and herded cows in summer.
This I began to do when I was only eleven years of age. At the age of sixteen
I was bound to serve an apprenticeship in a gentleman's establishment in a far-
north county of the " Land o' Cakes." My " education " was of such a character
that, in the true sense of the words, I could neither read, write, spell, nor do any
arithmetic. It has been said, That is how gardeners get such miserable low wages ;
and how can it be otherwise while these " clarty Scotchmen " persist in making
so-called gardeners of their " herd laddies," and send them " south " to take their
places by the side of better-educated men 1 Be this as it may, I can only state
that the men who opened the garden-gates to me made the best they could of

1870.] THE EDUCATION OF GARDENERS. 217

the raw material confided to them. I found many difficulties in my way. The
first of these was the want of that which " One in Despair " appears to think " is
rather a drawback than otherwise to many gardeners " — namely, education. With
the assistance of my master and mates in the bothy, I tried for a time to go through
a course of lessons on elementary Structural Botany and Vegetable Physiology ;
but my early education had been such that I found myself unable to cope with the
technical terms that came in my way. I therefore got disheartened, and ultimately
gave up the lessons. Should the author of the paper headed " On Theoretical
Instruction," in the ' Gardener' for March of last year, chance to see this con-
fession, he will doubtless take it as a proof that "speculative knowledge is use-
less in learning the trade of a gardener." It may be so, if he intends all young
gardeners to begin as I did, without the means, as I may say, of attaining such
knowledge. Does this correspondent mean to say that it would be profitable for
young gardeners to "exercise their hands," to the exclusion of exercising their
brains at the same time 1 The man who could do this for one year of his appren-
ticeship, much less for three years, may " despair" of ever becoming a gardener.
Some time after I had served my apprenticeship, I had to go back and attempt
again the studies I had given up — namely, Structural Botany and Vegetable Phy-
siology— simply because I could not get on without them. Now I maintain, had
I mastered these partly, and been made to understand a little more fully the
theory, along with the practice, of Horticulture, whilst I was serving my appren-
ticeship, I should have been a little, if not a long way, further up the " tree of
knowledge " than I am at the present time. As to the prospect of finding myself
in a better worldly position, I cannot say much — but

" A man's a man for a' that."

My experience clearly says to all my younger brother gardeners, Never be found

" Misspending all your precious hours, —
Thy glox-ious youthful prime. "

There is one branch of education which, to some men, has no more claim on
the gardener's attention than has Greek or Hebrew — namely, Drawing. Yet I
consider it of great importance to a gardener, when he comes to take the man-
agement of a gentleman's establishment, and has other men to set to work. In
the first place, he can have things much more to his own mind when he can pro-
duce his own plans on paper. Secondly, a glance at a well-wrought-out plan will
at once give his employer an idea of what is wanted, and at the same time inspire
him with confidence in its successful accomplishment. And, thirdly, to be able
to work out a geometrical flower-garden plan on paper is to be able to lay it down
correctly on a grass lawn, if need be. An employer must find it very inconven-
ient indeed to have to get some one, other than his gardener, to furnish him with
a plan, if one be required. And still more provoking is it, if he finds his gardener
cannot put them into execution, when obtained, without blundering over them.
I was rather surprised to find the head man of a considerable establishment
working out alterations on a large scale without any plans at all. The work
might have been done in half the time had the ground been previously looked
over, calculations made, and plans furnished. In one case, about 50 cart-loads
of soil had to be moved a second time ; in another, the verges of a walk
were laid three times before the curve could be got to suit the eye of the director.
These were big blunders ; little ones are met with much more frequently. A
gardener's life comprises much planning, and he ought to be able to execute as
well as plan.

218 THE GARDENER [May

And now, in conclusion, a few words about gardeners' examinations. I heartily
agree with all F. W. Burbidge Las said on this subject in the 'Gardener' for
December. What is gained in the working one's self ' ' up to the scratch " is in
reality the cream of the knowledge ; and, after all, the necessary " cramming "
may not be altogether without good effects on the young aspirant, although I by
no means approve of it to the extent I have seen it practised. The gaining of
certificates is more of a lottery than some people will admit. For example, I
could only reach second-class in Floriculture after having gained a first class at a
previous examination ; and to further prove this, a candidate who was awarded
a first-class by the R. H. S. received a short time after a second from the Society
of Arts ; and a year after that again, a third in the same subject. Much depends
on the questions : a candidate may be able to answer every question, while in
another paper he may not be able to answer more than one half of them. A
candidate, to attain first-class merit in successive examinations, must have a wide
knowledge of the subject, as well as a smooth, quick-running pen. The practical
examinations suggested by F. W. Burbidge, I am afraid, could not be very well
carried out — at least, so long as the K. H. S. confines them to Kensington Gar-
dens. But why not let these examinations be extended, so that gardeners in
general throughout the country may take part in them ? Let the K H. S. extend
them to each society in union with it, and conduct them on the same principle
as the Society of Arts. If practical examinations were contemplated, they could
be conveniently carried out on such occasions as the principal flower-shows, when
it would be an easy matter to appoint a committee of gardeners to see that in-
tending candidates could perform in a workmanlike manner the common work
of the garden. There are right and wrong ways of handling tools, and gardeners
who cannot wield their tools with ease, and even grace, 1 would exclude from
examinations. The number of marks obtained by each candidate in these exa-
minations could be added to each candidate's papers before being sent in to the
examiner, and the certificates could be signed by each member of the committee
before presenting them to the successful candidates. Were something of this
nature to be tried, I feel certain that many of the societies would offer local
prizes, to be competed for by candidates in their own localities. This would give
some encouragement to candidates, and reward talent, and I have no doubt but
it would do much to improve the general education of gardeners ; and in course
of time the certificates would become a passport to a good position, and be as
necessary as a good character is in the present day.

" Then let us pray that come it may,
As come it will for a' that,
That sense and worth, o'er all the earth,
Shall bear the gree, and a' that."

E. I., G. P.

REPORT ON DOUBLE-FLOWERED PELARGONIUMS.

A collection, consisting of forty varieties of these novel and useful plants, was
grown at Chiswick during the past year. They were also, with one or two excep-
tions indicated below, presented to the garden by Mr William Bull, of Chelsea,
and formed one of the features of interest in the garden during the late summer

1870.] DOUBLE -FLOWERED PELARGONIUMS. 219

months. Having been received in the spring in the shape of small plants, it was
decided to cultivate them in pots under glass, for which purpose these Pelar-
goniums seem especially useful. They were accordingly grown with much success
in moderate-sized pots, and bloomed remarkably well in one of the span -roofed
greenhouses, their healthy character reflecting much credit on Mr Barron and his
assistants. The accompanying notes indicate the condition as to habit and
inflorescence which these plants assumed, and may be regarded as recording as
fair a verdict on their respective merits as could be arrived at from the growth of
a single individual of each kind. The certified sorts, indicated by asterisks in
the subjoined description-list, were the following : —
First-class Certificates.
Marie Lemoine, Madame Lemoine, Victor Lemoine, Gloire de Nancy.

Second-class Certificates.

Sparkhill Beauty, Imperatrice Eugenie, Andrew Henderson, Victor, Wilhelm
Pfitzer, Memnon, Le Vesuve, Trioinphe de Thumesnil, Triomphe de Lorraine,
Signet.

The following is a transcript of notes made at intervals during the following
season : —

Albina. — Vigorous, with faintly-zoned leaves, the trusses small; the flowers
of a deep rose-pink, rather darker in colour than those of Madame Lemoine.

Andrew Henderson**. — This variety. is of moderately-vigorous growth, with
faintly-zoned leaves, and compact trusses of orange-scarlet flowers very freely
produced. It is an ornamental variety well worth growing.

Ascendancy. — Moderately vigorous in growth, with faintly-zoned leaves; but
too near Gloire de Nancy in the flowers.

Capitaine V Her mite. — A vigorous-growing sort now superseded, with faintly-
zoned leaves and loose cerise-scarlet flowers.

Conqueror. — A vigorous-growing variety, with green leaves and poor scarlet
flowers.

Consul. — A vigorous-growing sort, with faintly zonate leaves ; the flowers light
scarlet, in a loose truss.

Cottington. — A dwarf -growing small-leaved bedding variety, with quite the
habit and general character of the old Tom Thumb ; the flowers scarlet, semi-
double, loose, larger than those of Madame Rose Charmeux, and forming large
and more showy trusses.

Delight. — Dwarf and moderately- vigorous in habit, with indistinctly zonate
leaves, and fair trusses of large thin flowers ; but too closely resembling those of
Gloire de Nancy.

Emile Lemoine. — A variety of moderately- vigorous habit, having the leaves
marked by an indistinct zone, and the flowers of a cream-colour, ragged, but
forming dense trusses An inferior variety.

Emulation. — A vigorous-habited green-leaved sort, with indifferent scarlet
flowers.

Firebrand. — A coarse-habited green-leaved sort, with carmine-scarlet flowers
of inferior quality.

Gloire dx Nancy***. — A handsome and moderately vigorous-growing variety,
still retaining a high position in the double class. It has green leaves, and good
bold trusses of well-formed, full, double, rosy-carmine flowers. This proves to
be also a good bedding plant.

Imperatrice Eugenie **. — A variety of remarkably vigorous growth, which, in
the case of the Chiswick specimen, scarcely proved itself to be a free bloomer.

220 THE GARDENER. [May

The leaves are indistinctly zonate, and the rosy-pink flowers are full, and suffi-
ciently good to render the variety deserving of further trial. It is reported to
have been good in other collections.

LaUma. — A vigorous-growing sort, with green leaves; the flowers of a light
scarlet, in small compact trusses.

Le Visuve**. — A vigorous-growing variety, of erect habit, with faintly-zoned
leaves and fine trusses of large, well-formed, full, double flowers, of alight orange-
scarlet colour. A very promising sort.

Madame Lemoine ***. — One of the very best of the varieties in the whole collec-
tion. It is dwarfish in habit, with faintly-zoned leaves, and large, full, double,
bright, rose-pink flowers, freely produced in good showy trusses.

Madame Rose-Charmeitx. — A dwarf-growing slender variety, of the habit of the
old Tom Thumb, producing numerous small trusses of loose bright scarlet flowers.
A bedding variety in the way of Cottington.

Marie Lemoine ***. — A variety of first-class excellence. It is of dwarf stocky
habit, with flat faintly-zoned leaves and large-sized flowers, forming abundant,
bold, and effective trusses. This variety is much like Madame Lemoine in the
colour and general aspect of its flowers; but it is of dwarfish habit, distinct in
its foliage, and producing better flowers.

Martial de Charnfleitr. — A variety of moderately vigorous habit with green
leaves and thin double scarlet flowers ; now quite superseded.

Mary Elizabeth. — A dwarf -growing variety, with faintly zonate leaves and rose-
pink flowers, paler than, but not equal in merit to, those of Madame Lemoine.

Memnon **. — This is a meritorious variety of moderately vigorous growth, with
faintly zoned leaves ; the trusses are of fair size and compact, consisting of close
well-formed light scarlet flowers. Distinct and promising.

Monsieur E. G. Henderson. — A dwarf-habited variety ; the leaves with an in-
distinct zone ; the truss good, bearing large flowers, but too near in colour to
Gloire de Nancy.

National. — Vigorous in growth, with faintly zonate leaves and good double
flowers in close trusses, but in colour too much resembling those of Gloire de
Nancy.

Navarino. — Of [dwarf habit, with indistinctly zonate foliage ; the trusses
apparently small, and the flowers rosy carmine, rough. A very inferior form
of Gloire de Nancy.

Review. — A rather vigorous and straggling growing sort, with the leaves green,
and the flowers of a light scarlet colour, growing in small trusses.

Rosetta. — Of vigorous growth, with green leaves and small trusses of scarlet
flowers, which are rather deeper tinted than in other scarlet-flowered varieties ;
but they are too narrow-petaled and ragged.

Signet'1'*. — A rather desirable variety, of moderately vigorous growth, with
the leaves densely zonate, the trusses well filled, and the colour a rosy carmine,
in the way of Emile Lemoine ; but the individual flowers are of better form.

Sparkhill Beauty**. — This variety is of moderately vigorous growth, with
faintly-zoned leaves and close trusses of bright rose-pink flowers, very much re-
sembling those of Madame Lemoine ; superior to that sort as regards smoothness
of petal ; but, taking other points into consideration, the preference must be
given to Madame Lemoine.

Splendour. — A coarse-habited tall-growing sort, with green leaves, and scarlet
flowers in loose trusses.

Sunshine. — Of vigorous growth, with the leaves green, the flowers deep rose-
coloured.

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 221

Surpasse Gloire de Nancy. — A variety of moderately vigorous habit, with green
leaves; the flowers too nearly resembling those of Gloire de Nancy, but not
equal to that variety either in truss or in the quality of the individual blossoms.

Tom Pouce Cerise. — A dwarfish-growing variety, with faintly zonate leaves and
compact trusses of pale cerise-scarlet flowers.

Tom Pouce Pose. — A dwarf-growing variety, with faintly zoned leaves and
dense habit ; the flowers are of a rosy pink, loose and rough, and by no means
equal in quality to those of Marie Lemoine.

Triumph. — Coarse-growing, with faintly zonate leaves, and large loose flowers
of an orange-scarlet colour, similar in tint to those of Le Vesuve, but of inferior
quality.

Triomphe clc Lorraine**. — A variety of some merit, being of moderate growth,
with faintly zonate leaves and close trusses of carmine-scarlet flowers, of the
same colour as those of Emile Lemoine.

Triomphe de Thumesnil**. — A vigorous-habited sort of some merit : the leaves
are green, not zoned ; while the flowers, which are scarlet with a faint tinge of
cerise, are large and full.

Troubadour. — A tall coarse-growing variety, with indistinct zones and poor
trusses of light-scarlet flowers.

Victor. — A coarse-growing sort, with faintly zonate leaves and orange-scarlet
flowers in good-sized trusses, but not equal to Le Vesuve.

Victor (G. Smith)**. — Dwarf and free-blooming in habit, with the leaves faintly
zoned and the scarlet flowers in compact trusses. The flowers are of the same
colour as those of Wilhelm Pfitzer, and closely resemble those of that variety,
but the foliage is smaller. A variety well worth growing. Received from Mr G.
Smith.

Victor Lemoine*** . — One of the finest of the varieties in the whole collection.
The plant is of a rather vigorous habit of growth ; the leaves are marked with an
indistinct zone and the flower-trusses are larger. The flowers themselves are
somewhat rough, having serrated petals ; but they form a fine head, and are of a
rich orange-scarlet, brighter than Le Veauve.

Vivian. — A variety closely resembling Gloire de Nancy in every respect, but
scarcely equal to it in merit ; the leaves are very indistinctly zonate.

Wilhelm Pfitzer**. — One of the useful second-class sorts, of moderately vigorous
growth, with indistinctly zonate leaves, and fair-sized trusses of good full flowers
of a light-scarlet colour. Received from Messrs Carter & Co.

Zelinda. — Dwarf in habit, with indistinctly zonate leaves. The flowers are
small and poor, scarlet, resembling those of Triomphe de Thumesnil, but not so
freely produced. — 'Proceedings of the Royal Horticultural Society.'

GAEDEN RECORDS.
NO. V.

WORTON COTTAGE, ISLESWORTH, LONDON, THE RESIDENCE OF
W. BECK, ESQ.

{Continued from page 178.)
Our illustration is drawn from this place — so long associated with the successful
cultivation of florists' flowers — for the sake of indicating what Mr Wiggins, the
gardener at Worton Cottage, is doing with the Cyclamen. Not that we wish it

222 THE GARDENER. [May

to be supposed Mr Wiggins is the sole successful cultivator of the Cyclamen in
the London district, but because he may be said to have been the father of the
improved system of culture that has made the Cyclamen, during the past few
years, such a striking feature at the early metropolitan exhibitions. Such illus-
trations of Cyclamen culture as Mr Wiggins and others present are almost en-
tirely confined to the neighbourhood of London ; elsewhere we have seen but
poorly developed examples, that could only serve to impress others with the con-
viction that the Cyclamen is a flower difficult of cultivation, instead of being one
of the easiest in the whole catalogue of florists' flowers.

On page 1S3 of the ' Gardener' for 1869, H. E. I. C. S. treated the readers of
the ' Gardener ' to an excellent paper on the culture of the Cyclamen, himself a
very successful cultivator. The practice advised by this correspondent and that
followed by Mr Wiggins differs but very slightly, and then only in matters of
minor detail.

At Worton Cottage could have been seen, a short time ago, a small lean-to
house, wholly filled with Cyclamens, every available part of the house accommo-
dating altogether some 300 finely-bloomed plants. A large number, of these were
in large 48-sized pots, some in 32-pots, and a few extra-sized specimens in 24-pots.
It was a delightful little show in itself, and there was so much of variation in
the flowers that there were representatives of a great many shades of colour,
from the purest white to rich self-coloured rosy-crimson flowers. In point
of quality there could be perceived an occasional example of the narrow-petalled
flower, somewhat curiously twisted, and large bold flowers, with broad stout florets,
and of the finest quality. By far the largest number of these plants had from
20 to 60 expanded flowers ; some of the larger plants had fully 100 flowers.
The first feeling of surprise was that of something akin to wonder at such a splen-
did development, not only of flower, but also of foliage ; the second, that such
results are brought about by a very simple course of cultivation, it shall be the
object of this paper to sketch.

A leading feature in the mode of treatment adopted by Mr Wiggins and others
is, that the resting process — the period of rest, that stage of the Cyclamen's ca-
reer when it became so debilitated by semi-starvation as to be almost incapable
of again reaching a healthy development — is altogether abolished, and that with
the happiest results. A more generous course of treatment is rewarded by con-
sequences so startling as to effectually demonstrate the rationale of the cultivable
process. What can be so well done about London is surely possible elsewhere, and
with the same pleasing results.

Each year Mr Wiggins raises a batch of plants from seed, and we would advise
all cultivators to follow his example. The seed is sown as soon as ripe, or at any
rate by September and October, and a soil used is made up of good loam, sand, and
rotten manure pulverised when in a thoroughly dry state. The seed-pans are
placed in a propagating-house or hotbed, and in four or five weeks the seed-
leaves put in appearance. The tempei'ature maintained by Mr Wiggins for the
purpose of raising seed is from 60° to 80°. As soon as the plants can be handled,
they are pricked off in small groups in large 60 or 48 pots, and placed on
shelves close to the glass in a warm house, and encouraged to make growth during
the winter. As soon as the month of March is reached, the largest of the plants
are shifted into 60-pots and placed in a warm frame having a slight bottom
heat, and kept close till established ; and when the weather is fine and genial, air
is admitted. A later shift is made into 48-pots about May or June, and the
plants are still retained in the frame. During hot weather they are frequently
sprinkled overhead, besides being freely watered at the roots. Generally, the

1S70.] TOMATO CULTURE. 223

sprinklings are given early enough in the day to admit of the leaves drying before
the frame is closed for the night, if necessary to close it. Here growth is made,
flower-buds formed, and the plants are taken into the house about September,
and from this time on to April a plentiful supply of bloom is secured.

When the plants have done blooming, they are stood out of doors in a shady
place, and not allowed to become by any means roasted, as is too commonly the
case, but kept moist, though allowed to ripen their foliage. The soil is then
shaken in good part from the roots, and they are repotted somewhat lightly in
good soil, placed in a cold frame, and kept close for some time, and then treated
as in the case of the seedling plants.

Such is a mere outline of Mr Wiggins's treatment of the Cyclamen, and our
readers who have an opportunity afforded them of visiting Isleworth can see for
themselves what can be done under such a process. Our correspondent H. E. I.
C. S., who has this season been as successful as usual with the Cyclamen, wrote
to us recently, and stated, " If you intend saying anything about the Cyclamen,
I hope you will most strongly advocate my opinion, that it is not a flower for
April, but for November, December, January, and February, being at all other
times almost out of season." Our correspondent's aim was to impress upon culti-
vators that this flower can be had in bloom at the dead season of the year, when
there is little else to make the greenhouse and conservatory look gay.

In addition to the Cyclamen, splendid strains of the Chinese Primrose, and of
the Polyanthus, are grown at Worton Cottage : probably the quality of the last
named can scarcely be excelled in the present day. As of old, the Pelargonium
still plays an important part, and a commodious square show-house full of these
will soon be a fine floral spectacle. At no period of the year can the sacred pre-
cincts of Worton Cottage — sacred in a floricultural sense — be trodden by the
visitor without seeing something of interest, and learning some lesson worthy of
being treasured up in the memory. At all times the houses and grounds are
models of cleanliness and order, and Mr Wiggins is never slow in freely impart-
ing any information asked at his hands by the inquiring visitor.

TOMATO CULTURE.

Tomatoes — or, as they are sometimes termed, Love Apples — should receive every
encouragement in the way of aiding them to make strong plants during the early
part of the month of May, so as to have them ready for planting out about the
20th of the month. If there is not enough of wall available to plant them
against, I find they ripen and colour their fruit well if planted in a single row in
the front of the fruit-trees on the wall, but about 4 or 5 feet from the wall. The
borders should have a south aspect, and the plants be trained to stakes 3 feet high,
and as soon as they reach the top of the stakes they should be stopped, and kept
pinched in as soon as they have bloomed ; the young fruit should be well thinned
out, and the foliage kept spare so as to admit the sun. At this stage of their
growth the plants should never want for water; and should the weather be very
dry, a good watering at least twice a- week with liquid manure should be given :
this I find to be much better than planting the Tomatoes in manure. The best
kind I have ever grown is known as Powell's Dwarf Prolific Red ; this I have
used at least twelve years, and in most seasons am enabled to keep up a supply
for six months — from July till after Christmas. The first crop I take from pot
plants grown under glass ; these are succeeded by those ripened in the open air ;

224 THE GARDENER. [May

and for the latter part of the season — that is, November and December — those
not ripe about the first week in November are thus ripened; — cut the plants off
just above the ground ; take oil' ail the leaves, tie the stems together in bunches,
with the fruit on them, and hang them over the flue in the forcing-house, or in
any place where there is heat, and they will there ripen their fruits.

William Plesteu.
Elsenham Hall Gardens.

CROPPING VINE-BORDERS.

TO TOE EDITOR OF THE ' GARDENER.'

Sir, — In reply to the practical questions of your correspondent R. M. S. in the
last month's number of the ' Gardener,' as to whether I would, under certain cir-
cumstances named by him, "commend cropping" vine-borders with vegetables,
I beg to say that it would depend upon circumstances. In my former article I
advocated the practice of cropping our fruit-tree borders as a necessity, the dis-
continuance of which would not be justified by the result — i.e., the extra crops of
fruit obtained — and I would be guided by the same considerations with regard
to vine-borders. " Suppose," as your corespondent puts it, "I had to make vine-
borders, and plant young Vines in a place in which I had just entered on the
duties of gardener, and had a reputation to make, would I commend cropping the
borders 1 " In answer to this I would say, that if / was so situated, and was short
of cropping space, I would crop the vine-borders without hesitation, and not fear
the result ; that is, the late vineries, for of course the necessity of protecting the
borders of the earlier houses would prevent their being cropped. I did not mean
it to be inferred from my former statements, that we cropped all our Vine-bor-
ders here, but only the one spoken of. When I came here five years ago, I found
as usual that the vine-borders had been protected and mulched regularly, and the
roots consequently near the surface. To have dug them, of course, would have
been madness, and as the vineries which have been planted since have inside
borders, we have not had an opportunity of cropping them : but the border of
the vinery in question (a late Hambro' house) had evidently been dug regularly,
and we continued the practice. The Vines have improved every year, and I
think I may say the crops hitherto have been remarkable both for weight and
finish, and the prospects for another year are all that could be desired. This
winter we have widened the border, as we found the roots had encroached under
the asphalt walk in front, the crust and drainage of which we have removed, and
filled up with common garden-soil. As it will, however, be necessary to divide
the house, and force one half earlier in future, the border will be protected, and
for that reason not cropped till later, but the other half will be cropped as usual ;
and if R. M. S. will honour us with a call about the end of July, and again
about the end of September, he will be able to judge for himself. Digging vine-
borders may be root-pruning under another name, as R. M. S. says, or it may
be whatever anybody likes to term it. I state facts ; but, as I stated before,
the damage sustained by the roots, when the borders are dug regularly, is ima-
ginary— if the trees are planted deep enough at the first. This I have proved
to my own satisfaction at least ; and I can assert, that if digging the borders of
fruit-trees be only another way of root-pruning, I never in any case knew it to
prevent the necessity of root-pruning in the usual way.

J, Simpson, Wortley.

1870.] CULTURE OF POINSETTIA PULCHERRIMA. 225

THE CULTURE OF POINSETTIA PULCHERRIMA.

As in page 43 of the present volume of the ' Gardener' you were led
to speak in terms of high approval of the Poinsettias exhibited at the
Liverpool Chrysanthemum Show in November last, it may perhaps
interest some of your readers to know my mode of treating this most
indispensable winter-flowering plant. Probably no plant in cultivation
is more ornamental during the winter months, when it is well grown :
mingled with flowering and foliaged plants, it gives a rich bright hue
of colour, not otherwise attainable in such a perfect degree at that par-
ticular season of the year.

In order to have large plants, I take those that have flowered the
previous season, which up to the end of March or beginning of April
have been kept rather dry, in a temperature of from 45° to 50°. Previ-
ous to starting them into growth, the plants are cut back to within 10
inches of the " collar ; " and when brought into a higher and moister
temperature they will soon break into three or four nice shoots. When
the young growth has developed a few leaves, the plants are repotted,
and in the act of doing this some of the old roots and soil are removed.
The shift is made into a larger-sized pot, and the compost used made up
of two-thirds light turfy loam, one-third peat and decayed cow-dung,
together with a liberal sprinkling of silver sand and some small pieces
of charcoal : such a soil as this I have always found to grow the Poin-
settia well. Good drainage is of great importance to the wellbeing of
the plants. A further shift is made into a 1 0 or 1 2 inch pot, and in
these pots the plants are allowed to bloom. In making this shift, I
do not nearly fill the pots to the rim, but allow plenty of space for top-
dressing : this I have found a most material aid in the full develop-
ment of the gorgeous-coloured bracts. For top-dressing I use a soil
richer than that employed in potting the plants. After each potting
a slight increase of temperature is given. After the last potting, when
the roots have taken hold of the soil, I take off the tops of some of the
stronger shoots, so as to give more blooming wood, and at the same
time throw increased strength (by the act of stopping) into the younger
shoots. This gives from six to eight shoots to a plant. From the middle
of August until the end of September, plenty of air is given to the
plants to make them sturdy in growth ; after that they are placed in
a higher temperature, and treated occasionally to a dose of liquid
manure, made of cow-dung, sheep's dung, and a little soot ; and some
guano is given occasionally, as a change. I always make a point (and
I wish to impress its necessity on the cultivators of the Poinsettia) of
administering the liquid manure of the same temperature as that pre-
vailing in the house.

p

226 THE GARDENER. [May

As soon as the plants show signs of colouring, I give more liquid
manure and increase the temperature, and at the same time use the
syringe freely. Under such a course of treatment as this I have ob-
tained bracts measuring from 18 to 21 inches across, and v/ith from
five to seven heads on a plant. Who can withhold admiration from such
grand objects, especially when there is found in combination fine
and healthy foliage] I have been most successful in growing
the plants dwarf for table decoration, having them in pots about
6 inches in diameter, with two or three bracts to a plant, measuring
from 12 to 15 inches across, and with a fine leaf foliage to boot.
These I have found to require more attention than large plants, to
do them well. The height of both pot and plant averages some 12
inches only.

In commencing their culture, I make cuttings of the old stems in
the month of April, cutting them up into pieces with three or four
eyes, and allow them to lie a few days before inserting them in the
cutting-pots ; and when placed therein, I leave about two eyes above
the surface of the soil. When rooted sufficiently, they are potted off
into 4-inch pots, and when well established, and a rapid growth has
set in, the leading shoot is taken out, and by this means about three
shoots of equal development are obtained from which to form the plant.
When they have made a few inches of growth, the shoots are tied down
to stakes, and kept as near the glass as possible, so that both light and
air can aid the production of robust, healthy foliage. When repotted
into the blooming-pots, a compost similar in character to that used for
the larger plants is allowed them ; and as in the case of the specimens,
space is left for top-dressing. These plants are greatly benefited by
being placed in feeders, and by attention being paid to watering — both
with water and liquid manure, which should be given in abundance.
At the same time the syringe is freely used overhead.

In cases where the cultivator has plenty of heat at his command, a
supply of plants of various lengths may be had, by putting in cuttings
from May till the end of July ; the side-shoots of some plants, and the
tops taken from the leading shoots of others, can be made use of to give
cuttings, and these will be found to give at least a single head of
bloom ; and where there is no convenience for growing large plants, the
following method will be found very useful : — Place the cuttings each
in a thumb-pot, allowing them to become dry at the base, but not to be
suffered to flag overhead, or the best leaves are lost, which is a matter
of considerable importance. When rooted, put them off into 4-inch
pots, and they will be found to make very useful plants for decorative
purposes. By so obtaining a supply of plants of various growths you
can supply the conservatory throughout the dull winter months. The

1870.] HINTS ON GARDEN LAWNS, &c. 227

conservatory, however, should be kept moderately warm, by way of
giving the plants every encouragement.

As a garnishing for dessert, I have found the coloured bracts of the
Poinsettia very useful indeed, especially when laid on a few Fern fronds
round a dish of fruit. William Biggs.

Sandfield Park.

HINTS on the Formation and Improvement of Garden Lawns,
Croquet-Grounds, Cricket- Grounds, &c.

A good close velvety turf i8 one of the most ornamental objects dressed
ground can boast of, and oftentimes the most difficult to obtain. The following
suggestions, based on many years' practical experience, are therefore offered.

In the first place, careful preparation of the ground proposed to be laid down
to turf is necessary. This should be commenced in the winter by draining, if
found requisite, and digging to the depth of 6 to 12 inches, according to the
nature of the soil. When this has been done, the land should be levelled and
made firm with a spade, and subsequently raked, to remove stones, &c. Should
the natural soil be too stony, it will be advisable to procure a supply of good mould,
and spread this over the land to the depth of 2 or 3 inches. If the soil is poor,
some well-rotted stable-dung will be very beneficial. Where this cannot be
obtained, we would advise, as the best dressing of artificial manure, 2 cwt. of super-
phosphate of lime and 1 cwt. of Peruvian guano per acre. In March, after the
ground has been made thoroughly fine and clean, a heavy iron roller should be
used to make it perfectly level ; and as the subsequent appearance of the lawn
depends in a great measure on this part of the preparation, we cannot too strongly
urge the importance of its being well done. The ground should then be evenly
raked and the seed sown. April and September are the best months for sowing.
As to the sorts of seeds suitable for garden lawns, &c. , we can, after a long course
of personal observation of the numerous kinds which have come under our notice,
confidently recommend the following varieties as most certain to produce a close
velvety turf : —

Cynosurus cristatus, Crested Dogstail.

Festuca ovina, Sheep's Fescue.

Festucatenuifolia, Fine-leaved Fescue.

Lolium perenne Suttoni, Suttons'
Dwarf Perennial Rye-Grass.

Poa pratensis, Smooth-stalked Mea-
dow-Grass.

Poa sempervirens, Evergreen ditto.

Poa nemoralis, Woodside Meadow-
Grass.

Medicago lupulina, Yellow Trefoil.

Lotus corniculatus, Birdsfoot Tre-
foil.

Trifolium repens perenne, Perennial
White Clover.

Trifolium minus, Yellow Suckling.

These should be mixed in their proper proportions, and sown at the rate of 3
bushels or 60 lb. per acre (English), or 1 gallon to 6 rods or perches.

After the sowing has been accomplished, the ground should be again rolled,
and as soon as the young plants have attained the height of 2 or 3 inches, the
whole plot should be carefully gone over with a sharp scythe. Frequent mowing
and rolling are indispensable to maintain the turf in good order. By adopting
these means, a close greensward will be obtained in nearly as short a time as a

228 THE GARDENER. [May

lawn produced by turfs, while it will be far more permanent, and at much less
expense.

It will sometimes happen that annual weeds indigenous to the soil come up ;
these can easily be checked, if not destroyed, by mowing them off as soon as they
make their appearance. Plantain, Dandelions, and Daisies too, will often appear,
and these must be cut up each one singly about an inch below the surface (not
deeper), and about a teaspoonful of cut salt dropped over the part. Birds are
very fond of grass seeds, and care should be taken to keep them off until the Beeds
are well up.

For lawns requiring improvement, it is only necessary to sow fresh seed either
in the spring or autumn, using a small -tooth rake, and rolling afterwards. Moss
in lawns is generally a sign of poorness in the soil, or a want of drainage ; to effect
its removal, we advise, after raking off as much moss as possible, a top-dressing
of quicklime mixed with rich compost, applied in the winter, and a sowing of
more seed in the spring ; or a top-dressing of soot will, by encouraging the growth
of grass, destroy the moss. This should be applied in the spring, at the rate of
about 16 bushels per acre.

On croquet or cricket grounds, where the turf has become bare through con-
stant use, we advise a thick sowing of seed on the bare spots in September or
early in March, rolling subsequently, and mowing as soon afterwards as practicable.
A slight dressing of manure over the whole playing square will often be found
beneficial in encouraging the growth of finer kinds of grasses, and help to produce
a close-growing turf. We should not omit to mention that here, as in fine gar-
den lawns, mowing alone will not insure a good bottom without that compres-
sion which a roller alone can give. — Sutton & Sons' Amateurs' Guide.

THE ARCHIMEDEAN LAWN - MOWER.

By way of indicating what from a trial we have found to be highly serviceable,
and therefore worthy of commendation, we here present an illustration of this
very useful garden requisite. For small villa gardens it appears to be peculiarly
adapted, both because it can be used by the proprietor without the intervention
of a labourer, and also because of its fitness for places where there is only a small
piece of grass lawn.

It is of American origin, and quite original in character, differing from all
other lawn-mowers. "It is a very simple machine to look at, and a very little
affair altogether, yet it is so constructed that it will cut grass in almost any con-
dition, and of any height." It is pushed along by the operator, not drawn, as in
the case of other machines. "When the details of the machine are examined, its
difference from all others is at once perceived, for there are no guiding rollers ;
instead thereof there is a fiat iron sole on either side, which slides along on the
grass. The cut of the mower, which is about 14 inches in width, consists of a
knife made in the form of an Archimedean screw, which revolves with great
rapidity, and does its work well. Unlike other mowing-machines, it does not
collect the cut grass, but simply scatters the blades evenly about the sward. Sup-
posing the grass be cut at short intervals, this is of small moment, as the cut
grass would soon wither ; at any rate, the process of sweeping the grass would
occasion but little labour.

The cutter- bar can be altered as desired by means of a small screw-nut, which

:87o/j

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

229

raises or lowers the sole as required. " In this way it can be set to cut the grass
close to the ground, or an inch or more above it, as may be wished, which is an
important feature, as by going over the ground three or four times a very heavy
sward of gras3 may be inch by inch reduced. The height of the cutter may also
be regulated somewhat at will by the operator's raising or lowering the handle

of the machine ; and thus it is enabled to cut readily up-hill and down-hill,
and over uneven ground." Another advantage is, that it will cut the grass as
readily in a wet as in a dry state, so that whenever it is convenient the machine
can be brought into operation.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

The Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland held a show of Hyacinths and early
spring flowers at the Rotunda, Dublin, on the 24th of March, when the amateur
cultivators round Dublin came out in strong force, and in all probability could

230 THE GARDENER. [May

have this season held their own against the best that any other Hyacinth-growing
district could do in the United Kingdom. Some amount of external pressure
had to be employed to induce the Council to take it up, and a charming show re-
sulted ; but as of old the "stars in their courses fought against Sisera," so now
did the elements fight against the promoters of the show, and in consequence of
the rain but few visitors comparatively could inspect an effective floral display.
The chief amateur cultivator of Hyacinths was Mr Brannigan, gardener to S. M.
Tand}7, Esq., Appian Way, who carried off nearly all the leading prizes in the sev-
eral classes in which he competed; while in the Nurserymen's classes, Messrs A.
Campbell & Sons, of Glasnevin, who, like Mr Tandy, staged some very finely de-
veloped flowers, had it all their own way. Besides Hyacinths, there were Cycla-
mens and Tulips, both indifferently grown ; Violets, Primulas, very fine ; forced
shrubs, Lily of the Valley, &c. One feature of the schedule was a gardener's cup,
subscribed for by the practical gardeners of Ireland, and awarded to the gardener
who took the greatest number of prizes. This handsome trophy fell to the lot of
Mr Brannigan, gardener to S. M. Tandy, Esq. The Council of the Royal Horti-
cultural Society ought to be much encouraged by the floral success attending the
attempt made to establish in Dublin a show of Hyacinths and early spring flowers,
and we hope it will again appear in the programme of their doings for 1871.

The first spring show of the Royal Botanic Society was held at the Regent's
Park, on the 30th of March, and presented a few very interesting features. Forced
flowering plants and shrubs made an effective display ; so did the Cinerarias and
Cyclamens ; of the last named a great number were staged, all of that fine quality
incidental to London. In the class for 6 Cinerarias, Mr James, gardener toW. F.
Watson, Esq., Isleworth, had nice specimens of Mrs Reeves, white, margined
with rosy crimson, and dark disc; Uncle Toby, deep blue, a good self; Agrippa,
white, with narrow edge of rosy purple ; Lord Elgin, a free-blooming rosy-
crimson self; Snowflake, white; and Master F. Watson, broadly margined with
crimson-rose : the style of growth of these plants quite recalled the days when
Mr Turner used to exhibit these charming spring-flowering plants. Cyclamens
were grand in the extreme — the splendour of development of such young plants
taught the utter fallacy of the resting process ; and yet one of our weekly
contemporaries, noted for sticking so closely by the old traditions of horti-
culture, in its latest issue, in replying to correspondents, actually recommends
in each instance the period of rest ! Mr James was first with 6 fine plants,
each averaging from 60 to 100 flowers; Mr Edmonds was only just inferior;
and Mr Stevens only just beaten for second honours. Primulas were fine,
but contained nothing calling for special remark. Mr Ware, Hall Farm
Nurseries, Tottenham, who has made a great name for spring-blooming, hardy
herbaceous, and Alpine plants, had a very interesting group of the former, com-
prising the fine white-flowered Trillium grandiflorum (what a pity it is this
fine plant is not oftener seen !) ; Hoteia japonica, Richardia (Ethiopica, the
variegated Crown Imperial, &c. In addition, Mr Ware had a group of twelve
Liliaceous plants, grown in shallow pans, and exceedingly interesting, comprising
Scilla Siberica, S. bifolia, S. prsecox, the charming Triteleia uniflora, Muscari
botryoides, M. botryoides pallida, two very pretty varieties of the Grape Hya-
cinth ; and the purple Erythronium dens-canis ; and an equally charming group
of Alpine plants, including some very pretty Primulas — viz., P. nivalis, P. den-
ticulata, P. marginata, P. pubescens, P. erosa Fortunei, Narcissus juncifolius, a
very pretty dwarf species, &c. Camellia blooms were plentifully produced, of
good average quality. In the Nurserymen's class, Messrs A. Henderson & Co.,
Pine-Apple Place Nursery, were first; and in the Amateurs, Mr A. Wilkie, Addi-

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 231

son Road, Kensington. The stand furnished by Messrs A. Henderson & Co. con-
tained Americana, blush ; Carswelliana, red ; De la Reine, pure white, a fine large
flower ; Sarah Frost, carmine red, large and full ; Valtevaredo, deep rose, large
and full, very fine ; Henri Favre, rose crimson ; Double white, fine ; Napoleon
III, pink, striped with red ; and Mathottiana, deep blood crimson.

Of miscellaneous subjects of more than ordinary interest must be mentioned
a fine group of pot Roses from Messrs A. Paul & Son ; a group of the new Rose
Princess Christian from Mr William Paul, a beautiful pale-blush flower, finely
cupped, and invaluable for forcing ; a first-class certificate was awarded to this,
and we mention it here, fearing that the circumstance was omitted in our notes
on " New Plants of the Past Month ; " also a collection of small but well-bloomed
plants of the new double-scarlet Thorn ; Reseda odorata eximea, a giant Mignon-
ette, with very large flowers and delightfully fragrant, from Mr F. Parsons, nur-
seryman, Brighton, awarded a first-class certificate ; and blooms of the new per-
petual-flowering Picotee, Prince of Orange, from Mr Perkins, Leamington, also
awarded a first-class certificate, and a really perpetual bloomer, as Mr Perkins
loses no opportunity of exhibiting it. Such are a few of the prominent points of
this pretty show.

Royal Horticultural Society, April 6 This was a charming spring show,

perhaps one of the prettiest and most interesting seen for years, those thiDgs
commanding the greatest amount of interest being found, as is often the case, in
the miscellaneous class. A charming bank of Cyclamens, of considerable extent,
showed off to the best advantage this beautiful flower. Mr C. Turner was first
with six splendid specimens, combining size and freedom of bloom with good
variation and the best quality. The best collection was staged by Mr Edmonds
of Hayes ; the next best by Mr Stevens, Ealing. Mr James was again first with
six Cinerarias, with larger and better-developed plants than those shown at the
Regent's Park. On this occasion his group comprised Mrs Hardman (James),
broadly edged with violet purple ; William Reeves (James), margined with rosy
crimson on a white ground ; and others identical with those previously noticed.
Prizes were offered for six Coleus, but, singular to state, none put in appearance ;
also for six Amaryllis. Mr Baxter, gardener to C. Keiser, Esq. of Broxbourne,
staged one group of the latter that had been much injured by the frosts during
their journey to the show.

Space will not permit of our doing justice to the magnificent collection of
flowering Orchids staged on this occasion, made up of groups supplied by Mr
Denning, gardener to Lord Londesborough, Messrs Veitch & Sons, and B. S.
Williams. They were in themselves an exhibition, and that of no mean order.
Messrs Veitch & Sons and H. Lane & Sons had groups of forced Roses in pots, the
former having plants of superb quality, from the delicate flowers of Tea-scented
Devoniensis to the rich deep colouring of H. P. Horace Vernet. A group of
standard Roses in pots was also staged by Messrs H. Lane & Son.

Glasgow and West of Scotland Horticultural Society. — This, the first
show of the season, took place in the City Hall. As a floricultural display it
was not equal to many of its predecessors. As regards Hyacinths, there
was not that decided quality nor the quantity of plants sometimes seen. Mr
G. Irvine, gardener to T. Blackwood, Esq., Port-Glasgow, and Mr N. Glass,
gardener to J. C. Bolton, Esq., Carbrook, took the leading positions. The
nurserymen's class was not so well contested as it should have been. Miss Cook
deserves special notice for bringing out a lot of well-managed bulbs, grown in
water, and the foliage of which was neither blanched nor drawn up from want of
light and air, as is the case with indoor Hyacinths improperly tended. This is a

232 THE GARDENER. [May

fact that never ought to be lost sight of by window gardeners for at least a month
before the blooming period. It has occurred over and over again that Von Schiller
has been singled out as the best spike at exhibitions, and we have again the
same fact to note. Among Tulips the chaste white Pottebakker, the effective
and well-named Vermilion Brilliant, and the orange and red Tournesol, maintained
a front-rank position. Of the Narcissus, Grand Monarque, a fine white, and
Soleil d'Or, a good yellow, were incomparably the best. As to Crocuses, none
can vie with the whiteness and size of Queen Victoria, or be more captivating
than the suffused lavender-and-white Albion. Another bulb that is gaining in
importance is the Hippeastrum section of Amaryllids. They afford such great
variety, they are not difficult to cultivate, and the whole of them are so
ornamental, that we are surprised they are not exhibited in greater numbers at
early shows. The Cyclamens from Messrs Boyd and Walker were well cultivated.
Cinerarias were well grown and shown by Mr M'Dougall and others. A seedling
of decided value in the Messrs Austin's collection, named Countess of Eglinton,
had a blue disc, with a prominent ring of white, and then a deep violet ray.
Chinese Primroses are seen everywhere just now enlivening the greenhouse or
the entrance-hall or boudoir. Lily of the Valley is so much sought after, that
we do not wonder the fine pots of it shown by Mr Graham, Garscube, were so
great a source of attraction. Camellia plants and Camellia flowers were much
beyond the average, Messrs Walker and Boyd having Mathotiana and Countess
of Orkney respectively, in praiseworthy condition. Tree Mignonette was very
good, although scant in quantity. Azaleas, as usual, were quite a feature of the
show. The Tree Ferns from Oak Park House, Mount Vernon, decorated the
orchestra, and it is a pity there were not more of them distributed throughout
the hall to tone down bright colours, and to assist in breaking uniformity. Mr
Methven, gardener to Colonel Campbell, Blythswood, sent a very meritorious
box of Cherries.

The directors, judges, and a few friends, dined, after the Show, in the Crown
Hotel. Mr James Graham, Garscube, presided, and Mr Thomas Granger,
Partick, officiated as croupier. After the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, Mr
Anderson, Meadow Bank, proposed the " Glasgow and West of Scotland Horti-
cultural Society ; " and remarked that he was glad to see a continual infusion of
new blood among exhibitors, and especially of new plants upon the exhibition
tables.

Spring Exhibition of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. —
This Exhibition took place as usual in the Music Hall, George Street, Edinburgh.
On the recent occasion the experiment was made of keeping the show open two
days — the 29th and 30th of March— but we do not believe its success will war-
rant its repetition. For a few years after these spring exhibitions were begun,
the public came in crowds to see them, and put up with the crushing and jostling
for the sake of seeing fine masses and groups of spring bulbs and brilliant displays
of Azaleas and suchlike ; but the novelty has now worn off, and so has the attend-
ance, and it must continue to do so, unless a more spacious and accessible build-
ing can be procured, wherein to hold flower-shows and kindred exhibitions ; a
place that, for area, surroundings, and easy access, could be made an agreeable
promenade, where there should be ample space to admit of the music of a mili-
tary band being played without danger to the ears of the lieges, as is the case
where they are held at present ; and we think it is hardly creditable to the enter-
prise of Edinburgh that such a building does not exist either in east or west
Princes Street Gardens. It might combine in one a winter garden, musical
promenade, and a place where not only flower-shows, but exhibitions of poultry,

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 233

dairy produce, and, within certain restrictions, exhibitions of all industrial pro-
ductions, might be held.

But to return to the recent flower-show. We remarked that while the spring
bulbs were less numerous aud not so fine as we have previously seen them, every
other department of it was above the average of other years. The Azaleas were
especially well represented, so were stove and greenhouse plants, Rododendrons,
and specially forced Roses ; they have made a sudden leap forward. Among
subjects which we noticed were a fine collection of Cyclamens, exhibited by
Downie, Laird, & Laing ; amongst them Rosium grandiflora and Purity were spe-
cially beautiful. We predict quite a run on these pretty spring flowers, which
have been far too long neglected. The same firm exhibited a collection of flowering
plants, as did Messrs Drummond of George Street, Gordon & Sons of Murrayfield,
Messrs Dickson & Sons, who in addition had a great many fine small Roses in
beautiful bloom most creditably managed. Mr Methven had in addition to a
collection of flowering plants a very fine collection of foliage and decorative
plants ; Messrs Dickson & Co. a fine collection of flowering and other plants.

A feature that attracted much attention was Mr M'Intosh's Rhododendron
Argentii, a handsome plant about 8 feet high, with a great many fine trusses
of white bloom on it, and valued by its owner at £100. Mr Patterson,
gardener to Professor Syme, exhibited a fine variety of Catleya, one of the
numerous Triania varieties, but a very handsome one. The eighteen Hyacinths
that got the first prize in their class came from Luffhess, aud did much credit to
Mr Cow, Mr Hope's gardener ; the following are the varieties, Baron Von Tuyll,
Howard, Lord Macaulay, Von Schiller, Marie, Gigantea, Grand Lillias, Koh-i-
noor, Blondin, Mont Blanc, Mimosa, Prima Donna, and Charles Dickens. Mr D.
Kerr, gardener to A. B. Shand, Esq. of Glencarse, was first with 12's, exhibiting
nearly the same varieties as Mr Cow. Mr Lees of Tynninghame exhibited a
plant of Phalsenopsis Schilleriana, with 200 blooms open on it. On no previous
occasion have we seen so good a display of Pears and Apples at so late a period of
the spring— Mr Lees, Tynninghame ; Mr Knight, Floors Castle; Mr Baxter, Riccar-
ton, and others, showed fine collections. Pines were well represented from The
Glen by Mr M'Kay, and by Mr Greg, gardener to Mr Christie, Craigend. The
only Grapes which were in fine condition were black and white Lady Downes.
Vegetables were above the average both in quantity and quality : the forced ones
were especially fine. Cucumbers were well shown by Mr Greg, and by Mr Hannah,
gardener to Mr Duncan, Burnhead.

Our space compels us to omit a formal list of the prizes, and we feel that in
noticing some productions we do injustice in leaving many equally meritorious
unnoticed; but we cannot help it, — there is a limit to the space at our disposal.

REVIEWS.

Alpine Flowers for English Gardens. By William Robinson, F.L.S., author
of ' The Parks, Promenades, and Gardens of Paris,' &c. London : John
Murray.

In a handsome book of some 360 pages, abounding with many illustrations and
much pleasant reading, Mr Robinson gives us a valuable work on Alpine flowers.
Such a book was greatly needed, and it appears at an opportune time, just when
so many of the lovely flowers, of which the book treats, are surely rising into a

234 THE GARDENER. [May

most deserved popularity. One thing is quite certain, that in the future of popu-
lar gardening, Alpine flowers will play an important part, to the great advantage
of practical horticulture.

This is the best book Mr Robinson has yet written, and we welcome it as a
standard work on Alpine flowers. It is divided into two parts, the first of which
treats, in the first place, of the culture of Alpine flowers in the rock-garden, in
beds, and in pots ; and, in the second place, of a " Little Tour in the Alps," made
by Mr Robinson in search of information respecting the flowers of which he
writes. The practical cultivator will derive many valuable hints from the first,
while the general reader, as well as the practical horticulturist, will thoroughly
enjoy the second. The second part is occupied with descriptions of a large
number of species and varieties of Alpine flowers, many of them written in a very
pleasant manner, and rarely descending to the ordinary level of any details in
which such descriptive notes are usually written. Such is a bare outline of the
work, which is supplemented by descriptive lists of Alpine and Rock plants, &c,
and a copious index.

In a well-written introduction of ten pages, Mr Robinson puts in an eloquent
plea for a better appreciation, and a more extended culture, of Alpine flowers.
The author asks, " What are Alpine plants ? The word Alpine is here used in
an arbitrary sense to define the vegetation that grows naturally on the most ele-
vated regions of the earth — on all very high mountain-chains, whether they spring
from hot tropical plains or green northern pastures. Above the cultivated land
these flowers begin to occur on the fringes of the stately woods ; they are seen in
multitudes in the vast and delightful pastures with which many great mountain-
chains are robed, enamelling their soft verdure with innumerable dyes, and where
neither grass nor loose herbage can exist — where feeble world-heat and world-
force are quenched and discomfited on their own ground by mightier powers —
where mountains are crumbled into ghastly slopes of shattered rock by contend-
ing throbbings of heat and cold, and where the very water becomes hard and re-
lentless as stone, yet bears and moves thousands of tons of rock as easily as the
Gulf Stream carries a seed — even there they modestly, but brilliantly and bravely,
spring from Nature's ruined battle-ground, as if the mother of earth-life had
sent up her sweetest and loveliest children to plead with the fell spirits of
destruction."

" Alpine plants fringe the vast fields of snow and ice of the high hills, and at
great elevations have often scarcely time to flower and ripen a few seeds before
they are again imbedded ; while sometimes, if the previous year's snow has been
very heavy, and the present year's sun is weak, numbers of these may remain
beneath the surface for more than a year. Enormous areas of ground, inhabited
by Alpine plants, are every year covered by a deep bed of snow. Where the tall
tree or shrub cannot exist from the intense cold, a deep soft mass of downy snow
settles upon these minute plants, like a great cloud-borne quilt, under which they
rest untortured by the alternation of frost and biting wind, with moist, balmy,
and spring-like days."

And it is about these flowers, flourishing amid such apparently inhospitable in-
fluences, that the author discourses, with a genial regard for them ; and this self-
same regard he infuses into his readers, as they follow him along the pleasant
pages of his book. We hope, ere long, to return to the book, and give some
passages from it, together with some of the illustrations bo profusely dotted
about it.

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 235

BOOKS RECEIVED.

The Gardener's Magazine for April, in which we notice that the editor is
giving some capital papers on "Garden Ivies; or, A study of Hedera," which,
in addition to being ably written, are also well illustrated.

Also the Food Journal for April, a valuable magazine, treating of social and
sanitary economy, and which is also a monthly record of food and public health.
In the pages of this magazine, all adulterations are mercilessly exposed with much
vigour and courage ; and the several papers are of a very interesting character.

Also parts 7 and 8 of vol. xi. of the Journal of the Royal Horticultural
Society, with extracts from the proceedings of the same, and miscellaneous
matter.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

[We have again to regret the postponement of several communications. — Eds.]

Seedling Trop^eolums (M. Porter). — Your seedling Tropseolums, of the Lob-
bianum section, are very pretty indeed, and show a marked advance, both in
the depth of colour and size and form of the flowers, usually seen in this class.
By all means bed them out, and let us see them when they are in full bloom.
You cannot do better than get T. Lobbianum, Crystal Palace, Perfection, and
Eclipse, to test your seedlings by, or any other good bedding kind. What we
want is a real advance, not a mere supposititious one. Flower - gardeners are
hardly aware of the value of the Tropseolum as a bedding plant, or they would
be seen much more frequently.

Diseased Pelargonium Leaves. — Will you kindly inform me what is the
cause of, and how to remedy, a misfortune that happens to my Pelargoniums —
Fancies and others? The lower leaves of the plants wither around the edges and
become spotted like the enclosed. The greenhouse has a sheltered position, fac-
ing the south-west, 22 feet by 12, and is heated by a flue. If any of your corres-
pondents would kindly communicate with me by post upon the matter, I should
be glad to pay expenses, and should feel much indebted. This is going on rapidly
now — my show plants are suffering most severely. — Yours faithfully,

Rev. G. Sydenham.

The Hall Court Grammar-School,
Cannock.

[We submitted the diseased leaf sent to an eminent authority in such matters,
and he has thus reported on it : — " The affection on your Pelargonium leaves is very
common on a variety of plants. I believe it arises, under certain conditions, from
drops of water resting on plants when weak. The effect of drops of water on the
petals of Pelargoniums, in destroying the delicate tissues, may be seen in our con-
servatories almost every day." Possibly our correspondent will be ready to in-
quire, " But if so, would all the plants in a house be so affected ? " Certainly a
pertinent question. An affection similar to that complained of appears to be very,
we might almost say unusually, prevalent this season. A day or two ago, we
pointed out to a successful and honoured cultivator of the Pelargonium the
evidences of this affection, and asked if he could recommend a cure. He stated
in reply that the best and most effectual cure was to throw the plants under the
potting-bench. We do not grudge our correspondent what crumbs of comfort he

236 THE GARDENER. [May

may be able to glean from these two opinions, and hope some of our correspon-
dents will be induced to express their views on the matter. — Eds.]

Spirea Palmata. — This fine red - flowering hardy herbaceous species can
scarcely be too highly commended. It forms one of the many valuable intro-
ductions from Japan made by Mr Robert Fortune ; and though it had been
described by Thunberg in his work entited 'Flora Japonica' many years ago, it
had never been seen in flower in this country till exhibited by Mr Noble some
months ago. It grows from 3 to 4 feet in height, and produces its fine-coloured
heads of flower quite freely. For the herbaceous border it will be invaluable,
and should be in every such collection.

Names op Flowers (a Lady Reader). — 1. Bulbocodium vernum; 2. Ane-
mone Appenina ; 3. Saxifraga oppositifolia alba ; 4. Scilla Siberica.

Double White Hepatica (C. E. S. Baildon). — We never saw or heard of a
double white Hepatica. The single white variety is by no means plentiful.
Hepaticas can be produced from seed, as we saw some seedling plants of the
single white variety at Mr P. J. Perry's nursery at Banbury not loug since. It
is said the Hepatica seeds very sparingly indeed.

A Plea for the Mulberry.— This venerable plant found its way to this
country at a very early date; and somehow, I fear, it is more or less neglected,
as we do not see it take that prominent position which I consider it justly entitled
to. Nowadays our plants are too eagerly sought after, before much is known
of their merits. I frankly own that our gardens are much ornamented by the
introduction of new plants, such as the Pinus, Cupressus, Cedars, Araucarias, the
Cryptomeria, &c, and other hardy trees; but I see no reason why a Mulberry
tree should not be planted on our lawns. Among all deciduous trees, none of
them excel it in point of beauty. I speak particularly of it as more suitable for
villa residences than large mansions. When soil and climate are favourable, the
dessert-table is enriched with its wholesome fruit ; and the lady or gentleman
who takes an interest in silkworms, derives a source of pleasure from having an
ample supply of leaves to feed their favourite insects upon. I hope my advocacy
of growing the Mulberry tree, as an ornamental feature in villa gardens, will
meet with a favourable consideration. The red kind is the most free in producing
fruit, though the white variety is as handsome in appearance. — S.

A Subscriber, L. — We do not think the Trentham Black a suitable Vine for
an early vinery, nor the Bowood Muscat. We prefer the Common Muscat of
Alexandria to the latter, and Madersfield Court Black to the former. You can
inarch them with ease. The others you have will do very well. The list for
your late house will do very well, except that we would advise you to plant one
Old Acre's West St Peter's, a very nice Grape, which comes into use when the
Hamburghs fail, and before Lady Downes has got up its full flavour. We notice
what you say about the failure of the White Lady Downes before the Fruit Com-
mittee ; it was roughly used on the railway evidently, for it seems it was brown
in colour ; you must use your own discretion whether you plant it or not. On
Easter Sunday we shall place a dish of it, and one of Black Lady Downes, on our
employer's table ; and if you can procure another white variety that will enable
you to do this, plant it instead. We have two Vines of Mrs Pince's Muscat, and
do not intend to increase our stock. We cannot advise you to plant it where you
have Black Lady Downes.

R. P. Brotherston. — The probability is, that the seed you have procured of

i87o.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 237

the Lassianthus Kusselliana is too old. It, however, may yet vegetate. Cover
the top of the pot with a sheet of glass, and keep it in a moist stove or dung-
frame. The compost you have used is perfectly suitable. When the plants come
up, inure them to light and,' air gradually. Let them grow in the seed-pot till
they have four leaves, then prick them off into a pan, in compost of equal parts
light-yellow loam, peat, leaf-mould, and silver-sand, and shade for a time, paying
attention to watering. When they are, say, such plants as a shilling will just
cover, pot them singly in 60's, keep them still in a warm frame, then into 48's,
and harden them off by degrees, till in September they can be placed on a dry
shelf in the greenhouse, where they may stand till March. See that their foliage
never gets wet, else they will drop off at the neck. In March, place them in a
dung-frame with mild genial heat. When they start into growth, both above and
below ground, shift them, still in the same compost ; and when fit shift again,
till they are in 8 or 9 inch pots, where they should flower well in a stove. By
such treatment we have, thirty years ago, grown plants with 300 blooms on them,
and as freely as Balsams. There is no plant more deserving of cultivation; yet
it is nearly out of cultivation.

A New Subscriber. — Calendars of forcing operations have been so hackneyed
that we gave them up ; but, to meet your views and some others, we will enter-
tain the idea of beginning another year with one of a very complete and compre-
hensive character.

Camellia Buds Dropping. — In giving a reply to a correspondent under this
heading, in page 143 of our March number, we alluded to the condition of some
Camellias We had seen " in the greenhouse of an amateur cultivator of plants in
the neighbourhood of London." This gentleman, who does not desire that his
name should be given, has written to us relative to his mode of managing his
Camellias, and we think what he has stated worthy of being published. He
writes : — " I see in the ' Gardener ' you have spoken of my success in the culture
of the Camellia, but as what you there state is only half the secret, I will tell you
also the remainder. It must be obvious to all who ever potted a Camellia, that it
is not a plant requiring a large amount of nutritious matter at the root, as in
nine cases out of ten it is apt to get quite soddened at the lower portion of the
ball of earth ; or, in other words, the plant has had given to it more than it is
able to digest, for this is really what it amounts to. If a Fuchsia were potted in
a similar way, the whole of the under portion of the soil would become a mass of
roots, and evidently thoroughly digest the soil, if such a term may be used.
The Camellia has, comparatively, very few roots, and they never attain any great
length, though they delight in getting into the drainage below, thus showing that
it prefers a loose open soil to grow in, otherwise the roots would remain in the
soil above. The fact is, the roots are of such a nature that they were not formed
to penetrate a soddened mass of earth, and, indeed, are not capable of doino- so.
The soil best suited to the Camellia is a peaty loam, or a loamy peat, whichever
you please — the former such as is obtained from Epping Forest ; the latter
from some place near Twickenham. The turf, or peat, should be cut 3
inches in thickness, and when cut should, as soon as possible, be subjected to a
partial charring, as recommended for the vine-border. The turf should not be
broken small, but be used in as large pieces as possible. If old peat or loam is
used, it should be kept open by means of small pieces of charcoal, and the same
should be used as drainage, which will tend to give the beautiful dark foliage so
much and deservedly admired. My house is not suitable for the Camellia. A
house most advantageous to the growth of this plant is one facing north, as the

238 THE GARDENER. [May

glowing sun is, of all things, most injurious, especially when the new wood is
forming, causing blistering, &c. The system adopted by the Italians is the most
sensible. They grow in pits facing north ; put the pots in a broad bottom, and
fill up around the pots nearly to the top with some light material, such as cocoa-
nut fibre, &c, and only water overhead occasionally. I could write much^more,
but have said enough to show the principle of growing Camellias."

Lupinus Californicus. — In your February number I see that Lupinus Cali-
fornicus was introduced to your notice. I am inclined to think that it is in
reality L. arboreus. It is quite hardy — not half-hardy, as some botanical works
describe it to be. If it is L. Arboreus, I cannot understand how a gentleman
like the late Mr Mangles, with such extensive knowledge of plants, should have
described it to be L. Californicus. He sent it to me as a new variety. I am,
like Mr A. Pettigrew, surprised that it has been so long in the country, and yet so
little known. I think the colour is moi'e of a primrose than a buff, and I think
part of the corolla is of an orange yellow. It merits the description Mr Petti-
grew has given it, and it is worthy of a place in every garden. I see at this
time hundreds of seedlings are coming up under my old plants, which shows how
hardy it is even in their young state of growth. — R. Draper, Seaham, Sun-
derland.

Hints on Potting Plants. — Nothing can be more opportune, or more useful
to amateur cultivators of plants, than some suggestions in relation to this very
important topic. In potting plants that require any cutting or pruning, the
two operations should not be performed at the same time, generally ; it is best to
prune first, and allow the plant to make fresh growth before the potting is per-
formed. Deciduous plants should never be repotted till they have burst into
leaf; Fuchsias, for instance, which have been dried off in winter, should in no
case be shaken out of their old soil till they have expanded a few leaves, and all
pruning required in their case should be done before the roots are disturbed.
Evergreen greenhouse plants — such as Camellias, Oranges, and Myrtles — have a
particular season at which the roots elongate or increase with more rapidity than
is usual at other stages of their growth ; and, under ordinary circumstances, that
season is immediately when they have made their growth in branches and leaves,
and it is the most desirable time to shift such as require it into larger pots and
more nourishing soil, just as the roots are extending, and ready to take hold of
f re3h soil.

Shifting a plant into a larger pot often becomes necessary when pruning is
not called for. When it is desired to increase the size of a plant, it should be
shifted into a larger pot as soon as the roots have circled themselves among and
around the soil in their present pot to an extent that renders it safe to perform
the operation without danger of the ball falling to pieces. Generally speaking, a
sure criterion as to when a plant requires more pot room and nourishment, is
when the roots make their appearance through the bottom of the pot. It is, how-
ever, much preferable at the near approach of winter to leave plants a little
cramped at the roots, than to shift them on at such a season : under such circum-
stances the operation should be deferred till early spring. Azaleas and Camellias
should not be shifted till after their blooming season is past and they have made
fresh growth ; and the exact season for potting such plants must, of course, be
determined by the time at which they are forced to or retarded from making
their growth.

Pots should always be scrupulously clean and quite dry when used. If they
have been previously used, they should always be washed before putting another

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 239

plant into them ; every particle of mould or slimy matter which adheres to them
and clogs up the pores should be removed, both outside and inside. When a
plant is potted into a pot the inside of which is covered with particles of earth,
the mischievous consequence, to say nothing of others, is that, in turning a plant
out of it, the ball is sure to be broken, and, of course, the roots also injured.

The Phcenix Park. — By the demise of the late lamented Mr Wilkie, the responsible
post of head bailiff of the Park recently fell to the disposal of the authorities. It
affords us no small pleasure to-day to be able to inform our readers, more especially
those of them who take a practical interest in the Park and its future, that the autho-
rities have exercised the trust placed in their hands in a way that does credit alike
to their impartiality and their practical discrimination. As is always the case
when there is a thing of the kind to give away, the number who suddenly be-
come conscious of their practical knowledge and fitness for the post was quite
marvellous. We understand the number of applicants was exceedingly numerous,
the claims and fitness of the vast majority to fill the post being doubtless of the
most imaginative or shadowy character. Military men suddenly found they could
as fitly direct the operations of the pruning-hook as of the sword, and civilians,
to whom gardening and woodcraft were hitherto myths, and a tree a tree, but
certainly "nothing more," quickly became gifted with much knowledge of the
two first, and quite a rare appreciation of the beauty and value of the latter.

" Than a tree,
A grander child earth bears not."

"W ell, however, notwithstanding the personal convictions of so many of the fit-
ness of the post for them, and no doubt high character and much influence, a
practical man eminently qualified for the post, Mr Charles M 'Donald, so long
and favourably known in connection with Colonel Tighe's magnificent residence,
Co. Kilkenny, has been selected to fill it.

Than Mr M 'Donald we do not think a better selection could be made. Thor-
oughly practical and experienced as a horticulturist, absolutely enthusiastic in his
love of trees, and as regards the advancement of arboriculture, and at the same
time possessing a refined and cultivated taste, he is the right man in the right
place. We congratulate Mr M 'Donald most sincerely on his well-deserved pro-
motion, and those who, waiving other considerations, gave to those of practical
fitness the weight they should always have in appointments of the kind. We
have no doubt that all who may be brought into contact with Mr M 'Donald will
find him, as we have ever found him, most kind, courteous, and obliging. We
do not know at all whether they come within his sphere of action, but somehow
or other we have hopes from his appointment that, as well as in the Park,
"arboriculture in the garrison" will look up, and the "poor trees" in the
Military Esplanade be no longer its opprobrium.

We are also gratified to learn that Mr M 'Donald is to be succeeded at Wood-
stock by Mr M. Matheson, who has been for many years gardener to the Marquess
of Exeter, and who, we believe, is one of the ablest gardeners at present in Eng-
land.— Irish Farmers' Gazette.

[We cordially endorse every word of the above in regard to our old friend and
correspondent Mr M 'Donald. All who have visited Woodstock Park have had
ample proof of Mr M 'Donald's genius, for what he has done there entitles him to
credit for this quality in no small degree ; he stepped boldly beyond his profession

240 THE GARDENER. [May 1870.

as a gardener, and added that of architect, and the results prove that he had not
overestimated his ability. The winter terrace-garden at Woodstock is the most
unique thing of the sort in the three kingdoms, and is entirely the work of our
friend, both in design and execution. Its massive architectural walls, sculptured
granite vases and urns, would do credit to our best architects. The rockworks,
Conifers, especially the Araucarias, and many other striking features of the fine
place he leaves, will bear lasting testimony to his enthusiasm as a landscape-
gardener, as well as to the munificence of his employers.]

Testimonial to Mr Methven, Nurseryman, Edinburgh. — A number
of Mr Methven's friends connected with horticulture and arboriculture in
various parts of the country, took the opportunity of their being in Edinburgh,
at the spring exhibition of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, of pre-
senting him with a very handsome wrought silver epergne and massive salver,
bearing the following inscription — "Presented to Mr Thomas Methven, Nursery-
man, Edinburgh, March 29, 1870, by a few of his Horticultural and Arboricul-
tural friends, as a token of their esteem for him personally, and of the sense they
entertain of the many services he has rendered to cultural science." The presen-
tation took place in the Cafe Royal, in the presence of about forty of the sub-
scribers. The meeting was characterised by a cordiality which must have been
very gratifying to Mr Methven.

Essays on Window and Cottage Gardening. — The prizes offered by Mr
W. Egerton Hubbard, jun., through the medium of the Royal Horticultural
Society, have b,en awarded as follows — viz., For an Essay on Cottage Gar-
dening, the prize of £5 to Mr E. W. Badger, Midland Counties Herald, Bir-
mingham. For an Essay on Window-Gardening, the prize of £3 to Mr H. But-
tery, Clapham. For the former prize thirty-four Essays were sent in, of which
number those from Mr W. Payres, Nottingham, and Mr E. Luckhurst, Eger-
ton House Gardens, Kent, were highly commended : and those from Mr D. F.
Fish, Hardwicke House, Bury St Edmunds ; Mr A. Meikle, Read Hall, Whalley ;
Mr P. Grieve, Culford ; and Mr W. Early, Dingswell, were severally commended.
For the Window-Gardening prize, eighteen Essays were contributed, that frdm
Mr D. F. Fish being highly commended ; and those from Mr E. Luckhurst, Eger-
ton House Gardens; Mr A. Meikle, Read Hall; and Mr W. Moss, Shelfield,
Wickham, Hants, were commended. In several of the other cases under both
heads, good practical papers were sent in.

THE

GARDENER

JUNE 1870.

-<*-^>^?<*-?-s--

A BEQUEST OP SPRING.

HERE is lying before us as we sit down to write a bunch
of flowers plucked from trees growing in the Chiswick
Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society. Each one
of them has its pleasant tale of high floral service to

" Nature, rejoicing, shows an aspect fair,"

rehearse, as

and spring

" Heaps up her gifts in happy plenteousness."

Let us take them singly, and note their qualities and appearance.
Here is a species of Pyrus malus, known as floribundus, the very gem
of our group, and a most noteworthy hardy- flowering shrub. Along
each branch is seen a row of glittering red buds, hanging like lines of
tempting cherries, which, as they expand, take the form of large deep-
blush-coloured flowers. This Pyrus is^ a thing of beauty that should
adorn every shrubbery, and be in every group where flowering trees
are seen to alternate with the quiet beauty of green leaves. Our sprig
was gathered from a spreading plant some 4 feet in height, and at
this stage of growth it was profusely covered with flowers. P. malus
spectabilis, or the double-blossoming Apple, is another, plucked from
a huge tree, every branch of which was lit up with a charming sheen
of radiant pink flowers of large size — a grand tree for woodland ways,
where it can be looked on with a dark background of budding
trees. Here, too, is the large double-blossomed Cherry of the Big-
arreau type, taken from a fine tree, each branch of the spreading
head having the under part thickly hung with large snow-white blos-
soms, each facing downwards, as if desirous of turning the full face of

Q

242 THE GARDENER. [June

its pure and chaste flowers to greet the eye of the beholder beneath.
Is this a double-flowering form of Cerasus Japonica 1 and who wonders
that it is such a great favourite with the ladies 1 for they eagerly beg
for a cluster of its snowy blossoms. There appear to be two types of
double flowering Cherries, the one after the model of the Bigarreau,
the other after that of the Morello, the former yielding the largest
and showiest flowers.

Xext comes a group of four forms of the Prunus, comprising the
white and rose-coloured double forms of P. Sinensis, both early bloom-
ing, very free, and very attractive indeed in shrubberies. Here is the
curious Prunus triloba also, with its large and showy pink blossoms
and singular fruits, each one a cluster of several, all grown into one —
a curious botanical phenomenon. This, too, is an extremely effective
flowering plant ; besides, all three are well adapted for early forcing,
and should be laid hold of for conservatory decoration in early spring.
By the side of these lies a sprig of P. Serotina, taken from a large
tree, with spreading branches overhead, sheeted in white ; a tree for
parks and pleasure-grounds, as well as for small villa -gardens, that
produces in a most luxuriant manner racemes of white flowers : even the
young branches growing from the trunk amid the Laurels that sur-
round its base furnish their quota of flowers, though half -hidden from
view. Whitest of all, perhaps most profusely floriferous, is that gem
among white-flowering hardy shrubs, Spirea prunifolia florepleno, the
double-white plum-leaved Spirea. Flowers of spotless white fringe
half-pendent branches, and bring out by force of marked contrast the
wreath of orange-coloured blossoms of the bright-looking Berberis
Darwinii lying by its side. Here, too, is Viburnum plicatum, just
coming into flower, but as yet only in the first degree of its floral
service.

And, lastly, here lie side by side the remains of three varieties of
double-flowering Peaches, that lingered on the trees as if waiting the
advent of the warm late spring showers, and to catch the far footsteps
of the coming rain. They are the white, the crimson, and the carna-
tion-striped, the flowers white with lines of pink. Exquisite even in
decay, what must they have been in the full flush of their highest
beauty 1 What glorious subjects for forcing !

The rehearsal is done — the last of our floral actors are laid aside.
If we have but quickened into an active regard for some of these spring-
blooming shrubs the hearts of a few of our readers, our bunch of flowers
will not have been passed in review altogether in vain.

:37o.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 243

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

Amoxg the last acts of service done to floriculture by the late Mr
Samuel Broome, of Chrysanthemum renown — perhaps the last act —
was that of entering a protest against the severely formal manner in
which the specimen plants of Chrysanthemums were trained at the
autumn show of the Liverpool Horticultural Society. The schedule
of prizes to be given at a corresponding exhibition in the present year
— as usual a liberal one — has just been issued, and with it a letter
written last December by Mr Broome, containing the following pas-
sage : " Will you be so good as to call the attention of the Chrysanthe-
mum-growers to an excess of training that I observed in some of their
plants ? they were too large, and too flatly trained. The centre of the
plant ought to be from 9 inches to 1 foot higher than the outside, and
the blooms should not be tied down after the bud is of the size of a
small Pea. By tying them so late, the stem of the flower is not
strong enough to support the bloom erect, and the beauty of the
flower is lost, as it is buried in the foliage. I have one more remark
to make; viz., there are too many white and yellow varieties ; try next
year a few more dark colours." A piece of well-timed counsel : let
us hope it will be acted upon at the next exhibition.

It is time also that a firm and decided stand were taken against that
system of flat training on wire frames, followed in the case of the
Zonal Pelargonium. Of the two, it is perhaps more offensive to good
taste than in the case of the Chrysanthemum, as the habit of the
latter plant is but ill adapted for exhibition on the raised stages usually
seen at such shows, unless the growth be somewhat reduced by train-
ing. This system of flat training in the case of the Zonal Pelargon-
ium assumed one of the worst forms in which it was ever seen, at the
meeting of the Eoyal Horticultural Society at South Kensington, on
the 18th of May. Six plants, forming a collection, were shown trained
on flat wire trellises about 4J feet across ; and the plants — by no means
well furnished either with branches or flowers — were the most inelegant
things in that way ever looked upon. They were so flat in shape,
that, had the plants been severed from the roots just at the surface of
the soil, each one could have been trundled along the walks of the
garden at South Kensington with nearly as much ease as a child's
hoop. It is lamentable that judges can be found at a London exhibi-
tion willing to award first prizes to such floral monstrosities — something
as unlike plants, in the natural freedom and elegance of their growth,
as could well be imagined ; plants too, that were both indifferently
grown and flowered. When there shall arise judges who will have the
courage to mark with strong disapproval, by withholding all prizes from

244 THE GARDENER. [June

them, such merely artificial modes of exhibiting plants, then, and not
till then, will wire trellises become a thing of the past : the sooner it
does, the better for legitimate exhibiting.

Apropos of floral exhibitions, it may be stated that a society is in
course of formation having for its object the encouragement of florists'
flowers. Those who are engaged in forming the society intimate that
their first object would be to revive the once popular autumn exhibi-
tion of Dahlias, Verbenas, Gladiolus, Hollyhocks, &c, at the Crystal
Palace ; and also to endeavour to bring forward, from their compara-
tive obscurity, many of those flowers that were once grown for exhibi-
tion to a great extent, but which are now sadly neglected ; such things
as the Auricula, Polyanthus, Pansy, Cineraria, &c, would no doubt
receive special encouragement. The contributors to the fund now
being raised to hold an autumn show at the Crystal Palace comprise
many of the leading nurserymen and amateur cultivators of the day ;
and it is stated that the directors of the Crystal Palace are prepared
to meet the new society in the most liberal manner. The Rev. H.
H. Dombrain, Westwell Vicarage, Ashford, is in the mean time acting
as secretary to the embryo society, and to him all communications
should be addressed.

While this praiseworthy effort is being made to restore to popular
favour some of the gems in the lists of florists' flowers, there is also
being carried on in the pages of a contemporary a lively discussion
under the general head of Flowers and Flower-shows. Mr William
Paul, of Waltham Cross, who has retired from active participation in
the work of exhibiting, has boldly avowed his conviction that the
asserted decline of flower-shows is, to a great extent, attributable to
the fact that many of the leading flowers, such as the Dahlia,
Hyacinth, Pelargonium, Rose, &c. are subjected to such an amount of
dressing and handling as to altogether mislead the public ; and the
public, who are the popular patrons of horticulture, are becoming
aware of this, and, disliking the partly artificial aspect many of these
things present, are withdrawing their patronage from the shows in
consequence. This is a pretty fair representation of Mr Paul's argu-
ment, and it indicates the line of attack he has followed. " Dressing,"
states Mr Paul, "is now carried further than ever, and the Dahlia is
made up of two or more flowers, and dressed with all the skill of an
accomplished milliner ; " instancing the case of Pelargonium flowers
made up of several petals gummed together, and so on. Such state-
ments as these practically assert that the dishonest exhibitor is not the
thing of the past we had fervently hoped he was, but that he is more
active than ever in our midst, duping the judges and public alike, and
chuckling over his ill-gotten gains. But, in all soberness, is such a

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 245

horticultural monster as this aught else but the outcome of the
imagination of an exhibition monomaniac 1 Mr Paul writes like a man
soured by disappointment of some character, which has tinctured the
sober judgment of his mature years ; and so he flings forth utterances
of floral misanthropy very painful to many of his old friends and asso-
ciates in the work of exhibiting, who still hold him in high esteem
both as a florist and a man.

In the charges thus brought against exhibitors in general, and in-
directly against the judges at exhibitions as conniving at such acts,
Mr Paul should not forget that invariably, when any resort has been
made to these practices, it has resulted in detection. During the last
year of the existence of the National Floricultural Society, of which
Mr W. Paul was a member to its dissolution, an instance occurred of
a seedling Dahlia being submitted to the judgment of the censors at
one of the meetings of the Society, which had had its centre taken out
and that of another flower substituted for it. The culprit was instantly
expelled the Society, as a means by which the members could best ex-
press their abhorrence of such a deliberate intention to deceive. When
the dishonest exhibitor and the venal judge come into power at our
exhibitions, there will be reason to fear such practices may prevail ; at
present we have a higher opinion both of exhibitors and judges, not-
withstanding what is stated by Mr Paul to the contrary.

From New York comes the intelligence of a new process for preserv-
ing timber, which has been tried with much success. We extract the
following passage from ' Chambers's Journal' : "There is, in all green
wood, an amount of putrescible matter combined with the sap. If
this can be got rid of, the timber will keep sound ; and it is got rid of
by soaking the timber in a solution of borax, and washing afterwards
in plain water. Borax has an advantage over some other chemical
substances used in the seasoning of timber ; it does not attack or
weaken the woody fibre, or the structural tissues, or cellular mem-
branes, however delicate. This being the case, may we not sup-
pose that by treating different kinds of wood with borax, a delicate
appearance would be imparted, which would render them valuable for
ornamental purposes ] "

The exigencies of railway communication in the metropolitan dis-
trict has necessitated the closing of the Versailles Nursery, Hammer-
smith, occupied by Messrs Salter & Son, and the stock has been
sold off preparatory to the property passing into the hands of the
railway company. We hear Messrs Salter k Son do not intend to
resume business, and their new Chrysanthemums will be distributed
by Mr Wrilliam Bull. We are very sorry indeed to lose the pleasant
winter-garden in this nursery during the months of November and

246 THE GARDENER. [June

December, and hope some one else will make an effort to afford a
similar treat to the admirers of the Chrysanthemum at the dull
season of the year.

COVENT GARDEN MARKET IN" THE MIDDLE OF APRIL.

Dr Hogg deserves our gratitude for his admirable Directory ; it makes eveu the
stay-at-home gardener better acquainted with his brethren and the whereabouts
of gardens. We never take a long journey without a Directory in our pocket, if
sight-seeing is our object. We lately slipped our moorings and cleared for Lon-
don with a Directory and 'Bradshaw,' which were our only studies by the way ;
drier reading, perhaps, than 'Johnson's Dictionary,' but suggestive of plenty of
matter for thought nevertheless. For instance, coming to Newark, the Directory
says this is the post-town for Caunton Manor; we stretch our neck and look out of
the carriage window to see if we can guess where it can possibly lie — where the
Queen of Flowers holds her courts ; we think of her great field-marshal, and his
many battles won. There is one garden which Dr Hogg has forgotten to mention
in the Directory, which is always deserving of a visit, however often it may have
been seen before ; we mean Covent Garden, London's garden-market, though once
on a time a real garden. There will be seen whatever of garden produce it is pos-
sible for skill to send or money bring into the market ; and there the practical
man can take notes of what he ought to have or might have at home.

The one thing most striking in Covent Garden market on the second week of
April was the Oranges. The eye rested on them everywhere, the whole place
smelt of them, and everybody must have been tasting them ; we did, at three for
twopence. It is the same all over London— West End and Mile End, north and
south, heaps of Oranges in carts, barrows, baskets, and windows. In the Garden
also were Blood Oranges, with their dark-red cheeks and blood-streaked flesh —
small Tangerine Oranges, Seville Oranges for marmalade, Lemons, Citrons, Shad-
docks as big as bladders of lard, and other fruit of the genus Citrus, dubbed For-
bidden Fruit ; but en might be spelt ing without being a misnomer.

Do my readers know whence come those huge quantities of Oranges ? — from
Spain, of course, or from St Michaels, or Malta. Well, we shan't go there to see ;
but come down to the wharves, a little below London Bridge, and we shall see five
or six large steamers, clean and bright and freshly painted, each with three large
hatches open, through which one can see the holds closely packed with shallow
fragile boxes, each box tied round with a plaited, green, rushy-looking rope. The
boxes are swung on deck, the rope cut away by a man with a large knife, who
then proceeds to break open the box with a tool-axe and hammer combined. He
plunges his hand down among the Oranges at each end of the box to see if he can
find something which he should not find, nails up the box again, which is then
transferred to the back of a man who has a bevelled pad on his shoulders with a
hole in it for his head, and off he marches over planks, decks, and up a ladder 20
feet to the wharf, where he receives a piece of round tin with a hole in it from a
man who is standing for the purpose. The men, each with his load of one box,
follow each other in line like wild geese along the wharves, up dark alleys, and into
fusty -smelling warehouses, from whence dealers are supplied in town and country.
Pears were very scarce in Covent Garden, yet some very fine Easter Beurres are

1870.] COVENT GARDEN MARKET IN APRIL. 247

to be seen, thus doing credit to their name, which is too seldom the case with
that variety grown in the north of England. Wretched foreign Pines, plentiful
enough ; English Queens, small and badly swelled ; Smooth Cayennes put in a
good appearance ; Lady Downes Grapes, which seemed, however, the last wreck
of bunches gathered together in baskets to keep each other in countenance. Alas
for the foreign Grapes ! No wonder the West-Euders cannot eat them ; to witness
the resurrection of those bunches out of barrels of sawdust, and the clipping and
blowing and sputtering necessary to make them presentable, is enough to cure
any appetite for foreign Grapes. Fortunately, our foreign bonne louche, the Or-
ange, has to be divested of its skin before being eaten ; not so the Grape. For
this very reason alone, the foreign Grape, unlike any other imported fruit, cannot
become a favourite with the wealthy. Home-grown Grapes must always hold
their own place. Apples consist of nice little Russets at six for Is. ; Keen's seed-
ling Strawberries, not large, at Is. per oz.

What do our northern friends think is the staple vegetable at present in the
London market ? why, Turnip-tops, said to be very nice ; but the craving for
Greens at this spring-time must be strong to induce so large a consumption : they
are heaped up at the stalls in cart-loads, wizened and smoky, especially at the east
end. Fine white heads of Broccoli come more prominently forward westward :
nice firm heads, the size of a man's fist, can be bought for 3d. in Whitechapel ;
further west, the quality and price increase, and yet are plentiful. The leaves
are cut off round by the margin of the flower, which, although objectionable from
exposing it to dirt, yet makes the flower show itself better. Fine Kidney
Beans are to be had by those who like to pay for them. Mushrooms, French,
plentiful and cheap. Peas, to judge from their bruises, have come from far ;
ditto Globe Artichokes at 6d. each. Long Surrey Carrots, as usual, are fine, clean,
and tempting, tied in bunches, with a few Birch or Hazel twigs among the tops
to keep them together. On asking a dealer where these fine Carrots were grown,
he could not tell, but thought they came across London Bridge : many more good
things come out of that quarter as well Oranges and Carrots, we soliloquised.
Punnets of Seakale of six or eight heads, laid side by side on moss in round chip
baskets. Salads are on the whole abundant ; long young Cucumbers, Turnip
Radishes, Mustard and Cress, green and brown Water Creases, forced Chicory,
Endives beautifully green on the outside, inside fine creamy white, crisp
and firm, the perfection of an Endive— Cos Lettuces, shall we call them French ?
we did not inquire. Here let us throw in our evidence in favour of the cloche
or bell-glass ; we have satisfied ourselves that with its use French Salads can be
grown in England, and we shall pay no attention to any assertion to the contrary
in future; but we must have these "blisters" of glass at a payable rate. Woe
betide the teeth which chew those sticks of Asparagus, white to the tips, stringy
as whalebone, a foot long and thick as a man's thumb ! They are just the thing
to feed the first live gorilla which comes to the Zoological Gardens. M. Du
Chaillu tells us that Mr Gorilla feeds on the ribs of the leaves of the Pine-Apple,
which are tough enough, although a specimen in the British Museum is absorbed
in contemplation of a ripe fruit made of gilt plaster, as if he preferred it to the
leaves.

The trade in cut-flowers and flowering-plants does not seem pushed to the same
extent as it is in Paris. There is no flower-market in London to compare with
that at the Madeleine, or what we have seen at the bridge near Notre Dame.
Covent Garden, in its way, is the only place we know approaching either. The
high prices asked would indicate that there was room for further supplies, or a
more eligible and comeatable market is desirable, say near Hyde Park Corner or

248 THE GARDENER. [June

St James's, if we be not ignorant of such a thing being already in existence.
[Aristocratic noses turn up contemptuously at such a thought ; besides, the pro-
vision of a site would be the great difficulty : after all, is a market in this locality
really required ? — Eds.] Returning to Covent Garden, nowhere have we seen
bouquets better made than here. A favourite style at present is a white Camellia
for a centre (premising that all flowers are first fixed if necessary on artificial stalks
with fine wire, sheaves of which, cut in lengths, lie beside the operator), then a
ring of Roses, alternated with bunches of blue Nemophila, or Gentian for blue,
fragile though the flowers be ; Cinerarias are also used for blue ; then come Pel-
argoniums, either scarlet or show varieties, such as the old forcing kinds —
Gauntlet and Boule de Len, alternated with Stephanotis or Deutzia ; here and
there moss Rosebuds, Heaths, Lily of the Valley, or Epacris, are sticking above
the surface of the bouquet, Adiantum cuneatum being a favourite for green. Den-
drobium nobile is also at present in use for bouquets, and will remain so for a
month. Quantities of the common Northern Hard-Fern, Blechnum boreale, are
largely used to fringe the commoner bouquets ; from whence it comes we do not
know, perhaps from a heath or moor not far away, or it may be grown on pur-
pose. The chief feature remarkable about most bouquets is a system of order in
their arrangement suggesting how much beauty depends on form and symmetry,
and how much natural grace is compatible with strict formality. Practically,
when the operator knows exactly beforehand how he is to arrange his materials,
he can turn those materials to the best account without waste.

Cyclamens are in splendid force ; Hyemalis, Gracilis, and Ventricosa Heaths, the
latter exquisite for furnishing. Spirea (Hoteia) Japonica, of all plants for forcing,
this is one of the best ; its profuse white spikes of flower, rising above its fine Fern-
like foliage, make it an elegant plant for furnishing either drawing-room or con-
servatory. Standard Roses, 2 to 3 feet high, two years from the bud, with fine
healthy foliage and half-a-dozen open flowers, in 6-inch pots ; dwarf Roses ditto,
John Hopper being a favourite, and Gloire de Dijon also. Hydrangeas, with mon-
strous single heads, in 5-inch pots, are very early. Mignonette short and stubby,
in 5-inch pots, six to eight plants in a pot ; Double Tournesol Tulips ; white
Queen-of-EDgland-looking Fuchsias, masses of bloom, in 6-inch pots ; Hyacinths
of every hue ; Lily of the Valley, Pinks, Carnations, Cactuses, Calla iEthiopica,
Dielytra, &c. ; Neapolitan Violets in flower in 4-inch pots, at Is. 6d. per pot,
ought to bring more of that saleable plant into the market. Much more could
be said of what may be seen and learned in Covent Garden. I fear lest what is
already said be trite to many. Hosts of hardy herbaceous plants may be seen,
some with droll nondescript names attached ; Ivy in pots, for training about win-
dows, down dark alleys, where nothing else will grow ; the commonest Ferns and
weeds by the wayside may be bought; Groundsel in barrow -loads for bird
food.

While we were making some purchases at a leading stall, a person came forward
asking for Nettles to buy, but could not be supplied with green, but could get
dried. Another purchaser wanted the deadly Nightshade, and wished to know
from which part of the plant the tincture was extracted : was informed, from any
part. He looked like a paterfamilias, in high-polished boots. Did the villain
want to experiment on his own family ? The Squire's Gardener.

1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 249

NOTES ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

Berberidace^:.
This natural order of plants comprises only a very limited number
of herbaceous genera, and none of these may be considered
plants of showy character ; for, unlike the majority of the shrubby
species, they are more remarkable for their curious structure than
for striking beauty. The most important herbaceous genus is
Epimedium, for the purposes of ornamentation : in it there is a very
happy union of grace in habit and foliage and beauty, as well as high
interest in the flowers. Jeffersonia is perhaps the only other genus
that may be admitted into collections other than botanical, and it
should be in every collection of choice beautiful plants, being at once
both curious and handsome. The culture of these two genera must
be the same. They succeed best in sandy loam and peat of consider-
able depth, and all the better if moist, though perfect freedom from
stagnation must be secured, and they prefer a little shade ; but that is
of less consequence than a properly- constituted soil. In the mixed
border they form elegant objects for the front lines, and they are very
fit also for rockwork, especially where the natural soil is unfit for them
— that is, heavy loam or clay. Some of the Epimediums, being ever-
green, are well adapted for furnishing the margins of beds of shrubs,
their dwarf elegant mode of growth bringing about a very pleasing
gradation from the shrubs to the ground edge, be it grass or box and
gravel. Once established in stock, and while doing well, these plants
should not be disturbed by annual deep diggings and transplantings ;
they dislike being much moved once they are established in a place; and
only when they begin to decline, or when it may be necessary to in-
crease stock, should they be moved. Division is the best mode of in-
creasing these, and it is best done, especially in counties north of the
Tweed, in early spring, just as activity begins to show itself returning.
Of other herbaceous genera of this curious and interesting order — Caulo-
phyllum thalictroides, with yellow and very f ugaceous flowers, from N.
America, andDiphylleja cymosa, with white flowers, also N. American,
and in both which the leaves are produced twin-fashion — there is little
seen even in botanical gardens in this country, and they are decidedly
more curious than beautiful ; fit subjects for botanical collections, in
fact. They require the same conditions in culture as Jeffersonia, to
which they are closely allied.

Epimedium. — This family contains three or four distinct and
pretty species, some or all of which should be cultivated in every col-
lection of hardy border plants. They are hardy elegant plants adapted
to any purpose to which herbaceous plants may be turned.

250 THE GARDENER. [June

E. al pi n a in, Alpine E. — This is one of the most elegant and interest-
ing, though not the showiest, of the group. It grows in graceful
rounded masses, a foot or more high, with elegant compound leaves on
slender hard smooth stalks, with lively green heart-shaped leaflets,
bronzed and rigidly ciliated on the margin. The flowers in long loose
racemes spring from the leafstalks an inch or two below the primary
divisions of the leaves, are small, reddish brown, with curious spurred
yellow and rather conspicuous corollas.

E. macranthum, large-flowered E. — This is the finest of Epimedi-
ums, and a very handsome and interesting plant. It is less vigorous
in growth than the last species, growing from 6 inches to 1 foot high,
with leaves of the same structure and general form> but smaller, and
usually bronzed and shining in the early stages of growth ; the margins
ciliated and the stalks slightly hairy. The flowers are white, tinted
with purple, and the petals, about an inch long and four in number,
are pure white, transparent, and are the most conspicuous feature in
the flower. The flower- stalks carry the flowers slightly above the
bronzy foliage, and the effect produced is charming. Flowers April
and May. Native of Japan, but quite hardy.

E. pinned iri, I, Pinnate E. — This species grows about the same
height as the large-flowered E., with smaller leaflets supported on
more slender stalks. The flowers, borne in rather dense racemes, are
yellowish, and appear in April and May. The variety named elegans
is the best, and is a very desirable plant for partialty-shaded borders.
Native of Persia.

E. violaceum, Purplish E. — The leaflets in this species are narrower
in proportion to the breadth than in the last two species. The flowers
are white, tinted with pale purple, and appear in April and May. By
some this is regarded, and not without reason, as a variety of the
large-flowered E. ; the stature and habit in both forms are nearly the
same, and in other respects they are not markedly distinct for the
purposes of decoration. Native of Japan.

Jcffersonia diphylla, Twin-leaved Jefferson i a. — This, so far as I am
aware, is the only species, and it is perhaps more remarkable as a
curiosity than as an ornamental plant. It is not, however, deficient in
beauty, the flowers being large, abundantly produced when well
cultivated, though individually somewhat fugaceous. The flowers, as
has been said, are large, about an inch across, white, with conspicuous
yellow stamens, and the leaves are curiously produced in single pairs
at the extremity of the stalks. It is a native of moist shady woods in
N. America, and in cultivation is best adapted for culture in semi-
shady places in deep rich peat and loam freely mixed with sand ;
under such circumstances it attains its greatest perfection, but I have

1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 251

seen it very beautiful and interesting, but shortlived, in its display in
the light sandy soil of the gardens at Kew, and in a southern aspect.
It is a plant rarely seen in private gardens, and not always to be met
with in botanical gardens in this country, but it is worthy a place in
every garden, if the conditions necessary to its wellbeing can only be
secured.

NYMPHyEACEiE.

The members of this order are all aquatic or marsh plants. It is an
order of the grandest interest and beauty. All the world has rung
with the praise and fame of the regal Victoria, the noblest of Water-
Lilies, and the sparklingly beautiful species and varieties of the tender
Nymphseas are plants of the loveliest type. Although an attempt or
two has been made, and attended with some success, to cultivate the
Victoria in the open air in tanks of water artificially heated, we must
not claim the wonderful plant as a hardy subject in this country; and
it is scarcely possible, even though, for the purposes of sensation, it
may appear desirable, to cram the representatives of the genera of every
clime into the cramped limits of our little but glorious isle. Our
efforts in making such a universal omnium, gatherum of plants would
be only less ridiculous and dangerous than the like on the part of the
zoologists with animals. It would undoubtedly be sensational to have
the lion or the tiger pricking up one's senses by a growl or a spring
from the hedge by the wayside, but the beauty or the comfort of the
thing would be questionable, at least to mortals of ordinary nerve. We
have no need, however, to attempt naturalising the lions of the vege-
tation of the tropics, even though by artifice we could assure ourselves
of success ; there are plenty of the tamer, but not less beautiful, plants
of temperate and northern climes, which, without either much trouble
or expense, may be had for the various purposes that may be enter-
tained in out-of-doors gardening in this country. JSuphar, scarcely
less beautiful than Nymphasa, furnishes four or five hardy species of
aquatics, and Nymphaea gives us about the same number, which may
fairly vie with the most admired of the tropical species and varieties
as seen in our stoves. These hardy Water-Lilies are very ornamental
objects in lakes, ponds, and gently-running streams, and their culture
is the most simple. They are easily propagated by division in spring
as growth commences, the only care necessary being to secure the
plants to the position they are to occupy by some kind of anchor till
they take root and fix themselves, which they quickly do. Seeds also
may be used as soon as they are ripe ; or, if the seeds have to be
transported a distance, they should be put in small bottles of water,
and kept cool. They are usually sown by being cast into the water

252 THE GARDENER. [June

where they are to grow, but a more certain way is to sow them in
shallow pans or pots, and gently drop them into the water after they
have been well wetted to prevent displacement of the seeds. The only
care afterwards necessary is the prevention of injury by waterfowls or
floods till the plants have made some growth, when they will care for
themselves. No pricking off nor transplanting from the seed-pan is
necessary in the method described ; they quickly spread away from
it, and root and extend freely in all directions.

Nuphar, Yellow Water-Idly. — In foliage, and mode of growth this
group does not differ essentially from the Nymphseas, but in the struc-
ture of the flowers there is an easily-recognised distinction. In
Nuphar, the parts of the flower — sepals, petals, stamens — are closely
crowded on a raised fleshy disc surrounding the base of the seed-vessel,
while in Nymphaea they are more loosely arranged, and spring direct
from the base and sides of the seed-vessel itself. There is, moreover,
so far as I know, no hardy yellow-flowered Nymphaea, whereas all the
hardy cultivated Nuphars are yellow-flowered.

N. advena, Stranger Yellow Water-Lily. — The leaves are deeply
heart-shaped, with widely-spreading lobes ; the calyx is usually
composed of six sepals. Flowers in July and August. Native of N.
America.

N. Kalmiana, Canadian Yellow Water-Lily. — The leaves are
deeply heart-shaped, with spreading lobes, and the calyx has usually
only five sepals. Flowers in July and August. Native of Canada.

N. lutea, British Yellow Water-Lily. — Leaves larger than in either
of the foregoing, deeply heart-shaped, with overlapping lobes. The
calyx composed usually of five sepals. This is the best known of the
Yellow Water-Lilies, being a native of our own country, but found
also in Europe generally, and in Northern and Central Asia sparingly.
N. minima, syn. N. pumila, Smaller Yelloio Water-Lily.— -This is
regarded as a diminutive variety of the last species. It is found in
some of the mountain-lochs in the N. of Scotland, and differs from the
species only in respect of size, and would be found more suitable for
shallow waters, and the margins of deeper lakes.

Nympluea, White Water-Lily. — The petals, being numerous, and
inserted on the side of the seed-vessel in a freer manner, give the
flowers a more graceful appearance than those of Nuphar have. Few
objects are more graceful and interesting than well - cultivated
Nymphaeas, and our own British Water-Lily is scarcely inferior to
those of the tropics. It should be cultivated in every piece of water
in the country, where ornament is an object.

N. alba, Common White Water-Lily. — This is our native species,
and it enjoys rather a wide geographical range over Europe, and

1870.] MY EXPEEIENCES WITH THE AURICULA. 253

central and northern Asia. The leaves are deeply heart-shaped, the
lobes overlapping. Flowers in June, July, and August.

A", nitida, Shining -leaved White Water- Lily. — The leaves are
roundish oval, heart-shaped ; the lobes open, deep, and spreading.
Flowers in July and August. Native of Siberia. Not often seen in
gardens in this country, but worthy of extensive favour.

N. odorata, Sweet White Water-IAly. — A North American species,
of which I have no experience in the north, but which succeeds well
along with other hardy Water-Lilies in southern counties. The leaves
are round, deeply heart-shaped, with open spreading lobes. Flowers in
July and August.

MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE AURICULA.

Strange to state, though I find myself a cultivator of the Auricula,
I am wellnigh at a loss how to explain the reasons that induced me
to take this flower in hand in the first instance. I had always pos-
sessed a love for flowers — and where " breathes the man with soul
so dead " that does not love them in some form or other 1 — but my
wishes in the early part of my career as an amateur florist had not
gone out towards the Auricula. Now, I confess, I am a cultivator of this
once popular but now sadly neglected flower, and I find it to be a plea-
sant pastime. It unfolds to me, in the flowers I at present grow,
forms of beauty as curious as they are captivating ; and they, by the
seed they yield me, and the young plants I am enabled to rear from
it, give me an earnest of new joys in the years to come.

As a cultivator of the Auricula I occupy a somewhat isolated posi-
tion, residing as I do in a populous district, where, besides myself,
there is, to my knowledge, only one other lover of this flower. I hope
this will not always be so, as I lose no opportunity of exhibiting my
Auriculas ; and I already find the production of my flowers has begun
to excite some interest in their behalf, and to bring out inquiries as to
my method of growing the same ; and with these there will also come,
I trust, some anxiety to emulate my doings, and perchance reach a
higher level of cultural skill.

When I have been asked for " my experiences," I have rather chosen
to refer my questioners to some old standard works on Auricula cul-
tivation, but this answer has not afforded general satisfaction. So
now I attempt to write them down for perusal ; and when next I am
asked the same questions, I shall be able to refer all further inquirers
to the pages of the ' Gardener.'

254 THE GARDENER. [June

I commenced my experiences with the Auricula about seven years
since, by the purchase of a few plants of some common Alpines, for the
decoration of my window. The attendance and care these required, and
the beauty of their flowers, first formed in me a taste for them not hitherto
felt ; and the succeeding year a few other plants were obtained, and my
stock increased. Next, I began to raise seedlings, and for this purpose
got from a London house some packets of seed; but this grew so badly
that I resolved to save seed for myself from the plants I possessed ; and
having done so, it was sown, and the produce amounted to about three
dozen plants. This was something to call forth my capabilities to the
utmost, as to save this batch of plants, grow them on, and flower them,
was indeed an object worthy of my ambition, whilst the enjoyment to
be derived from the constant watching of my slowly-opening seedling
flowers was indeed great in the anticipation of it. But I speedily found
that the gradual increase of my stock rendered necessary some more
useful means of housing them than I had hitherto possessed. For
this purpose I procured a neat two-light frame, and had fitted to it a
trellis bottom of wood ; this was placed upon bricks under an east
wall, and the frame dropped carefully over it upon other bricks, so that
there was a constant circulation of air beneath and around the pots.
This frame I nearly filled with my stock that winter, as, in addition
to my seedlings and old plants, I had propagated from the latter a
certain number. I now began also to perceive that it was necessary
to exercise considerable caution in the use of the water-pot, and pre-
ferred to let my plants remain comparatively dry during the winter,
rather than endanger them by excessive moisture. Of course, as the
spring advanced, I became more emboldened, and now and then, wThen
quiet rains prevailed, pulled the lights off altogether, as I believe that
a good soaking so administered is beneficial to the plants. As the
blooming period approached, and with it much warm sunshine, I became
conscious that a somewhat cooler situation than the frame afforded
was requisite, and also that a stage upon which to arrange my plants
to better advantage, and in a less crowded manner, was a desirable
object to possess.

Fortunately a narrow border under my east wall suggested itself as
the very spot ; and having plenty of loose bricks about, I so arranged
these as to make them support a rising series of six lengths of open
shelves, made of strips of wood H inch square, and about 15 feet in
length, using two strips for each shelf. Over this was constructed a
framework of wood, consisting of stout uprights, those behind being
4 feet in height from the ground, and those in front 2 J feet. The
distance of these supports apart lengthwise to the border was about
3 feet 9 inches, and across the border 5 feet. Upon each pair of these,

i87o.] MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE AURICULA. 255

crosswise, was fixed a grooved rail, on which to place what I intended
to provide for shading purposes ; and these rails, when fixed, gave a
fall of about 1 foot G inches. Both back and front another rail was
fixed lengthwise to secure each upright in its place, and thus my
framework was constructed. The "shades," as I term them, were
made of light wooden frames G feet in length and 3 feet 8 inches in
breadth, and having a narrow rail across the centre ; these were
covered with calico sheeting, and coated with boiled oil. And having
given all the woodwork a couple of coats of paint, my al fresco stage
for the housing and exhibition of my Auriculas during the blooming
period was perfect.

When my seedling plants began to develop their flowers, all were
(to me) very interesting and pretty, and they contained some really
nice things ; yet, when my critical friends dropped in to see them,
they would persist in taking exception to the colour of this flower or
the form of that, to such an extent as almost to make me despondent ;
but, fortunately for my equanimity, I got no stint of praise for the
good cultivation the plants displayed ; and one friendly critic having
explained that to secure better kinds in the future I must select my
seed from the best-formed flowers only, I plucked up further courage,
and resolved to try yet another batch of seedling plants. I also got,
just then, great encouragement by taking a few dozen of my best
plants to a neighbouring spring show, and getting for them the highest
honours the judges could award. This made me ambitious to secure
some of the fine show kinds of which I had heard so much, but seen so
little ; and a few small plants of edged kinds were purchased, so that
I might have the pleasure, in future years, of seeing them grow and
bloom under my own care and cultivation. Compared with the Alpines,
I find that these same show kinds are rather " miffy " things, as it is
termed, and are slow of growth ; moreover, they cost a lot of money,
and when they do flower (which duty they are not in a hurry to per-
form), I certainly got that fine form and those decided markings that
florists value so much, but as to affording much to look at — well, that
may be another question. My fellow-cultivator in the neighbourhood
goes in for the show Auriculas largely, and spends upon them consider-
able sums. He will tell you this one cost so much, and another still more,
and that he deals with all the big growers. But, after all, beyond satis-
fying his peculiar fancy, he has not much to show his friends : perhaps
he does not do them well ; he thinks he does ; but in any case, whether
it is so or not, I shall still cling to my favourite Alpines. Last year
I grew a large batch of 200 seedlings, and in consequence of this great
increase of my stock I found it necessary to obtain another two-light
frame in which to house them. As the whole of these were in large

256 THE GARDENER. [June

GO-pots, I had not too much room, but the entire stock passed safely
through the trying ordeal of the recent severe winter. Of course, from
such a number of plants I have had a considerable variety of flowers,
all of which are pretty, though many are deficient in colour and form ;
these I shall get rid of or turn out in my flower-beds, and so make
room for the next batch of seedlings that are now coming in. I feel
that I should forego one of my greatest delights were I to leave off
raising from seed. To watch the opening flowers of the little strangers,
affords one so much interest that I trust I shall continue to enjoy
that pleasure for years to come. The best time to sow seed is almost
as soon as possible after it is ripe, in some shallow pans filled with
finely-sifted sweet loam, leaf-soil, and sand ; cover over with sheets of
glass, and place in a frame, watering with care. By the end of the
autumn these seedlings will be ready to prick out into other pans, in
which they may stand the winter, and in the next spring will be large
enough to shift into sixty-pots ; then they should have a cool situation,
slightly sheltered during the summer, and in the autumn another shift
into 48-sized pots, using a good rich compost of loam, rotten dung, and
sand. After passing through another winter, the plants will bloom
freely and abundantly; and if the strair be good, a lot of very hand-
some flowers will result. Lest what I said previously about purchased
seed should deter any from buying, I may add that I got some from
another source last year, and it has come up admirably. I have no
present intention of extending the space or material at my disposal for
the cultivation of Auriculas. I can now house and grow with compara-
tive ease some 300 to 400 strong plants, and as I shall continue to
weed out bad ones, it will be some time hence ere I shall be quite full.
Having now quantity, I shall aim at the possession of quality, and
trust to kindly hints from brother growers, and growing experience, to
enable me to secure this desideratum ; and if in the course of my
labours I can infuse into my friends and neighbours a love for the
Auricula and its culture, I shall be amply repaid. Let no one imagine
that I am not in truth an "Auricula Amateur:" I leave my suburban
home every week-day morning at half-past eight, and walk three miles
to the performance of my daily duties, where, absorbed in books,
figures, quantities, and calculations, I have little time to think of my
pet plants at home. But when the day's labours are over, and I once
again return to my domicile, depend upon it I seldom take rest or
refreshment till I have cast a glance of anxious care over my humble,
but to me very precious, collection of "Alpine Auriculas."

R. M. S. P. C. S.

[We are thankful for this record of " Experiences " as an amateur cultivator of
the Auricula from our correspondent, and wish him good-luck in the time to

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 257

come. Possibly he will incur the criticisms, perhaps the rebuke, of cultivators
of the show kinds, but he need not be discouraged if such happens. He is now
mastering the rudiaaents of his education as a cultivator of the Auricula ; and.
we shall always be glad to see what he has to state in regard to his pet flower. —
Eds.]

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

{Continued from page 203.)
THE APRICOT.

The young Apricot tree, after it lias attained the age of three, four,
or five years, should be in a good condition for planting in a perman-
ent position. No young tree should be so planted unless it is in per-
fect health, making abundance of strong wood, and having vigorous
roo';s. Trees not in a flourishing condition before planting can never
be expected to make satisfactory trees. If the Apricot does not pro-
duce a healthy tree, possessing six or seven branches at three years'
growth from the bud, the chances are it will not do so at four or
five. With regard to the best season for planting the Apricot, I think
most cultivators are agreed that autumn is the period for planting of
all our large-growing hardy fruits — say the end of September or begin-
ning of October. If planted then, the roots will start and make young
spongioles ready to begin their work with the earliest dawn of vegetation
in spring. The value of early planting will therefore be apparent to
every gardener. If not planted before the middle of November, delay
the operation till the middle or end of January, but not later than the
middle of February. As the Apricot is early excited into growth, late
planting should be avoided. The tree planted in autumn will not
require so much watering and mulching as the one planted during winter
or early spring, although it would be to its advantage, planted at any
season, to have the benefit of a little attention in this way for the
first year or two, especially if the season should prove very dry. Where
mulching is done, I would recommend its removal about the middle of
August, so that any superfluous moisture might dry up before the rains
of autumn and winter set in. This will materially assist the ripening
of the wood and the perfecting of the buds.

The next thing to be considered is the situation best suited for the
Apricot. It is seldom the Apricot is planted as a standard, and this
mode of cultivation is never attended with any amount of success ex-
cept in one or two of the best districts in England. The Breda, the
Brussels, and the Roman, being the hardiest, are generally selected for

R

258 THE GARDENER. [June

this purpose. Wall cultivation is pretty generally adopted throughout
the United Kingdom : to this I will confine myself. In the south of
England both the east and west aspects have been selected for the
Apricot, but in my estimation the west is the better of the two. In
spring, when the trees are in bloom, sharp frosts are apt to set in from
the east and north-east, so that the trees having an eastern aspect are
more likely to suffer than those on a west wall, especially if with the
frost comes a slight breeze. It may be argued that nets will protect
the blossoms, but of this I am somewhat sceptical ; for though the frost
falls perpendicularly, yet in proportion to the motion of the atmos-
phere will be the angle at which it will fall, so that the greater the
angle, the greater the chances will be for the frost to find its way to
the flowers. In the western aspect the reverse takes place, for the
greater the motion in the atmosphere the greater will be the chances
of its being carried clear of the trees. All things considered, I prefer
a west to an east wall for the Apricot in the best districts of the coun-
try. In the northern parts of England and the whole of Scotland there
can be no doubt that the south is the best aspect for it.

The soil which best suits the Apricot is a good friable loam, free
and open, and having a fair admixture of sand, should this not be
possessed by it in its natural state. Great attention should be given
to the making of the borders, as much of the after-success depends
upon this. Drainage is of prime importance ; for though the Apricot
delights in moisture during the growing season, yet it is very impatient
of it at other times, more especially if stagnant about the roots. To
obviate this, let the border be well drained, having an arterial drain pass-
ing along the front of the border at the depth of 3J feet or more, with
branch ones running up every 10 or 12 feet from it to the wall.
These having been carefully placed into position, let 6 or 8 inches of
rubble be placed over the whole bottom of the border much in the
same way as for Vines. This will assist the drains to perform their
work, and prevent, to some extent, the falling in of the soil upon the
tiles, which might find its way into them, and probably fill them up.
As I have before stated, the opener and freer the soil the better for the
Apricot. A light loam from an old pasture is the best — the more fibre
in it the better. It should be cut several months before it is required,
and put into a heap so as to destroy vegetable growth. The soil before
being used should, if in the least approaching " heavy," have a quantity
of some such material as lime-rubbish, charcoal, or wood-ashes added to
it, in proportion to the quantity, to make it porous and free. Should
none of these be easily procured, I should never hesitate to use manure
such as can be procured about all towns, with a good mixture of coal-
ashes in it. This having been got ready, let a layer of turf be laid over

iSyo.] THE ART OF SKELETONISING LEAVES. 259

the rubble in the bottom, and fill in the soil to the desired depth. This
operation should be done a few weeks before the planting takes place,
so that the whole may have somewhat subsided. The young trees
may then be carefully lifted, using steel forks for the operation, so as
to injure the roots as little as possible. All rank root-growths should
be cut away by a clean cut, and should any of the roots have a down-
ward tendency, they should be removed if not capable of being placed
in a horizontal position. In the act of planting, put 2 inches of finer
soil where the roots are to lie. Place the tree upon this, spreading
out the roots regularly in every direction, cover them over to the depth
of 2 inches with the finer soil, and fill up the hole with the soil of the
border. Should it be dry, a good watering will be necessary to settle
the soil about the roots. When planting, the roots of the tree should
be kept at least 6 inches from the bottom of the wall, or the result
wil1 be that as they increase in size they will press so much against
the wall as to draw the upper branches away from it altogether.
About the beginning of November a good mulching ought to be placed
over the roots, to prevent their suffering from frost on account of their
being placed so near the surface. This mulching may remain till the
beginning of March, when danger from severe frost is over. About
the beginning or middle of May, in very dry localities, it may again be
replaced to protect the roots from the effects of drought, and removed
in autumn as already directed. The trees when planted should not be
nailed against the wall for some considerable time, as the result of this
would be what is termed " hanging." They should, however, be tied
up to a few stakes placed in the soil to prevent injury from wind.

James M'Millan.
{To be continued.)

THE ART OF SKELETONISING LEAVES.

This subject having excited a little interest amongst some horticultur-
ists recently, I took the liberty of appealing to a lady friend who has
been very successful as a skeletoniser of foliage, requesting her to
favour me with the modus operandi by which she produces her speci-
mens ; which, I may say, are of an admirable character, some groups of
hers having received, a few years since, the highest honours that could
be awarded in the particular class in which they were exhibited at a
large and important county exhibition. I am pleased to say that my
request has been cheerfully complied with, and I am enabled to lay the
result before the readers of the 'Gardener.' We are first told that

2G0 THE GARDENER. [June

" the art of skeletonising leaves and flowers would be found much less
difficult of accomplishment were the nature and character of the vari-
ous plants thoroughly studied at first. For instance, it would be but
a poor guide to the learner to say, ' Gather the leaves on a certain day,'
unless proper attention be also paid to the leaves chosen. They must
have reached a certain degree of maturity, neither too old nor too young ;
and as all leaves do not reach this point at the same time, care must be
taken that each kind is gathered when fit for use. The leaves of the
Magnolia may be gathered when the plant is in bloom, varying in time
from June to August; they will require from a month to six weeks for
immersion, and are easy to dissect, as the fibre is so strong. Ivy ranks
among the most difficult, but from the beauty of the formation of its
fibre will well repay the trouble expended. These may be put in from the
beginning of May until October, but should be leaves of the previous
year's growth. All leaves will not answer for dissecting, but those that
have been most successfully operated upon are the leaves of the Magnolia,
Ivy, Pear, Rose, Holly, Orange, Poplar, Willow, Elm, Lime, Service-tree,
Spanish and Horse Chestnut, and Oak. The last, however, should not
be put into the same vessel as the others, as it affects them in an undesir-
able manner. Certain seed-vessels will also dissect admirably, such as the
Stramonium, Winter Cherry, Poppy, &c. To produce good specimens,
put the leaves into a deep jar and cover over with soft water, which
must not be changed; the jar to be put into a cool place. When, upon
examination, the leaves are found to be quite soft, they must be care-
fully brushed in a plate of water with a camel's hair brush. Then
they should be placed in a weak solution of chloride of lime for a short
time, to whiten the fibres, and afterwards washed well in two or three
waters, and dried carefully between sheets of blotting-paper or linen ;
after which they are ready for mounting. To make stems for this pur-
pose, thread stiffened with gum is most useful, and has a natural
appearance. The leaves may be formed into bouquets or wreaths, accord-
ing to the taste of the operator, and should be placed under glass
shades to preserve them from harm." This is the simple outline of the
process, and if executed by the hands of the gentler sex, for whom it
would prove a very fitting employment, a fair amount of success might
well be looked for. It is evident that much nice discrimination in the
selection of the right leaves is required, and a very light and careful
manipulation is also essential ; and in the case of failures no small
amount of patience is needed to carry the operator through to ultimate
success. I have seen the productions of the lady who has favoured
me with these instructions, and can bear witness that they are beauti-
fully executed and mounted. One handsome group, especially, would
make a fitting ornament for any drawing-room ; the branches of Ivy laid

1870.] EARLY-FLOWERING BEDDING TULIPS. 261

upon the dark velvet covering of the stand were exquisite. Would it
not be well if horticultural societies could be induced to offer good
prizes to ladies for productions of this character 1 Certainly they require
rather more labour than is necessary for the dressing of epergnes, or
the putting together of a bouquet. Alex. Dean.

EARLY -FLOWERING BEDDING TULIPS.

I would fain hope many of the readers of the ' Gardener ' have a
kindly regard for these beautiful and attractive flowers. All the most
gorgeous hues of the floral kingdom concentrate here, and aid to make
a display worthy to be a constituent part in the poetic fancies of Eastern
climes. So multiplied are the varieties annually offered for sale, that
they may be said to afford almost every shade of colour and diversity
of appearance ; and, in addition, many of the most useful kinds for
bedding purposes are sold somewhat cheaply, and therefore can be pro-
cured at a comparatively small outlay.

It has been advanced, as an objection to their cultivation, that the
blooming season is too short in duration, and therefore does not suffi-
ciently repay any extra outlay of trouble and patience about them.
To this it can be replied, that the blooming season is by no means an
evanescent one when the bulbs are planted in good holding soil.
When they occupy poor impoverished ground, or when they have been
allowed to remain on the border without being lifted and replanted at
the proper season, they often induce disappointment ; but when they
become elevated into the position of " favourites," and receive treat-
ment corresponding to the esteem in which they are held, they doubly
repay the investment. I have now in my garden a border of them in
fine bloom, notwithstanding the retarding influences of a rigorous and
trying season ; they are planted in light rich soil, and many a passer-
by is moved to admiration, perhaps to envy.

Let me pass in review some of these flowers (would that I could
present them with their rich, handsome, and varicoloured cups,
" flaunting in the eye of day," robed in gorgeously-tinted apparel as
veritable peers among spring flowers !) and to do that I will group
them in colours, choosing the best in each.

Of self-white flowers, I must stand by the fine old white Pottebak-
ker ; of large size, stout, and finely formed, it can scarcely be equalled,
much less excelled, either for pots or beds. I pass by such varieties
as Pax alba, Alba regalis, Grande Blanche Royale, and others, as not to
be compared with this.

262 THE GARDENER. [June

Of yellow self-flowers, the best are Golden Prince and Yellow Potte-
bakker j large, full, and handsomely coloured, they do an excellent
service used in any way. Canary Bird, Chrysolora, Prince de Ligne,
and others, certainly give a variety, but they cannot usurp the place
of the two I have named.

Of crimson shades, the darkest and most distinct is Purple Crown,
one that cannot be too highly recommended for bedding purposes.
Next come Couleur Cardinal, Vermilion Brilliant, and Garibaldi, the
last a most useful dwarf variety ; these three are distinct and good,
and all paler in colour than Purple Crown ; Vermilion Brilliant is a
grand variety for pot culture. Couleur Ponceau can also be classed
with the foregoing; it is of a dark-crimson colour, but has a pale
flame up each petal. Two purple self-flowers stand out distinctly for
their obvious good qualities — viz., Van der Neer, deep violet purple,
and Paul Potter, rather paler in colour. With these should be classed
three fine flowers I can best designate as belonging to the rosy- violet
class of selfs — viz., Proserpine, silken rosy violet, extra fine; Rose
Luisante ; and Queen of Violets — all fine and distinct.

Of edged flowers there are two of marvellous beauty, Keizer's Kroon
and Duchesse de Parma, both crimson grounds edged with gold, the
first named more broadly so than the other ; of large size, and ex-
tremely effective as bedders. Of striped flowers, Marquis de Wes-
senrode, golden ground flaked with red ; Bride of Plaarlem, white and
crimson stripes ; Globe de Rigaud, white flaked with purple ; Monu-
ment, bright deep red striped with white; and Cour de France, crim-
son flaked with pale yellow — all fine and good ; and, lastly, a magni-
ficent flower, known as Joost van Vondel, probably in its true charac-
ter a self deep -blood crimson variety, but apt to come flaked and
flamed with white ; and a true companion to this, Princesse d'Au-
triche, a broken form of Duchesse de Parma, dark bronzy crimson
ground, heavily flaked and edged with gold.

Of the double-flowering kinds the following are most useful for
bedding purposes ; Imperator Rubrorum, Rex Rubrorum, and Rose
Eclatante, crimson self-flowers ; Blue Celeste, dark violet ; La Candeur,
white ; Yellow Tournesol and Yellow Rose, yellow, the former of the
two by far the best ; Tournesol and Gloria Solis, crimson edged with
gold, both extremely useful ; Duke of York, crimson edged with
white ; and Couronne Imperiale, La Belle Alliance, and Mariage de
ma Fille, striped flowers, rather tall in growth, and somewhat late in
blooming.

Beds or borders planted with Tulips should always have a carpet of
some dwarf-growing plant or plants beneath them. Of these there are
many that can be most advantageously used for the purpose, such as

t87o.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 263

Saxifraga hypnioides, Sedum acre aureum, a perfect gem for spring
work ; Sedum glaucum, Arabis albida, white ; Alyssum saxatile,
yellow ; Myosotis dissitiflora, blue ; Double Daisies, Pansies of sorts,
Cowslips, Polyanthuses, Phlox frondosa, P. Verna, and the chaste
P. Nelsoni, and many other things ; these can be used singly, or
mingled together, so as to secure a succession of bloom. There are
many ways in which they can be advantageously arranged, and a most
effective display secured.

It must not be supposed that it is indispensably necessary a new
supply of bulbs be obtained each year. With a little care the bulbs
may be made to do several seasons' work, if, when they are lifted from
the ground, they are removed with balls of earth about the roots, and
planted away in a cool shady place, in some light sandy soil. Even
the offsets made by the Tulips should be preserved, and in two or
three years they will give a supply of blooming bulbs, A border
should be prepared for them, in which they should be planted, and
covered with 6 inches of a fine sandy soil. Here they should remain
undisturbed for two years, when it will be found many of them will
bloom. Perhaps a three years' rest would be best ; and if the border
were well trenched, manured, and a good supply of sand placed about
the bulbs, the result would, in all probability, surprise the most
experienced cultivator. Surely it will be admitted something can be
said for the early-flowering bedding Tulips by an Observer.

HINTS FOR AMATEURS.-JUNE.

If the weather should be very dry this month, there will be diffi-
culty in dealing with very sandy or strong clay soils, so much will be
ready for planting ; and if the plants should stand long in the seed-
rows or beds, they will become stunted and weakly. The advantage
of pricking out, preparatory for final planting, is felt when weather is
nob suitable for planting out. When soil is too dry, a liberal soaking
of water may be given the day before it is wanted ; it will then work
well, and the plants will receive no check. Hoeing frequently will be
nearly all the attention necessary. On poor shallow soil, much may be
done by mulching thickly ; where nothing better may be had, mowings
of lawns may be turned to good account. A good breadth of French
Beans may now be sown, and to do them well, a liberal dressing of
rotten manure must be allowed, and all pods should be picked off
before the seed forms. Broccolis, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Cauli-
flower, and Kale may be planted without delay. A puddle of soil,

264 THE GARDENEE. [June

cow-dung, and soot may be used to keep the roots moist, and be a
check to grubs, tfcc. Let the stems, as high as the leaves, be dipped in
the mixture : a handful of soot and wood-ashes round the necks of each
plant will keep vermin off them. Lettuces may be sown and
planted in larger quantity : thin out the rows when fit, and plant the
strongest in a shady position, which will make a succession. We get
the finest Lettuces from Celery-ridges ; they have a good depth of soil
to root in, and being near the Celery, they get a good supply of water.
Turnips : sow in larger breadths for autumn, and thin those which are
fit to handle. Laing's Swede and similar kinds are useful for winter ;
Red and White Stone and Snowball are among the best to sow from
this time forthwith. Keep the hoe in use among Onions as long as it
can be done, and dust frequently with soot or guano when weather is
showery. A good breadth of Parsley may now be sown for winter
work ; a sheltered position, free from damp, is most suitable. Thin-
nings of Parsley make the best leaves : plant them on good soil, 1 foot
apart. Pease may be sown two or three times during the month : the
two last sowings should be earlier kinds, such as "First crop," or
Sangster's No. 1. Stake those requiring support before they fall over.
In the south of England we have sown Pease about the middle of July,
and had fine crops from them up to November. Watering and
mulching in time will do much to secure fine crops ; if they are
allowed to become stunted before the water is given, it will almost be
labour thrown away. Carrots and Onions may be sown for drawing
young : mulching with litter or grass is often given to Carrots with
good results. Radishes and all other salads may be sown as required.
Good soakings of water are necessary; and at this season, when weather
is dry, the soil in which small seeds are sown may be covered with
mats or evergreen branches till the seed vegetates, and then the covering
may be taken off by degrees. Vegetable Marrows and ridge Cucumbers,
where they can be cultivated in the open air, may be planted, first
throwing out ridges and placing in warm dung. Leaves and a small
portion of grass mixed answer well. Let the soil be returned, cover-
ing the warm material, placing a little fresh kindly soil where the
plants are to be turned out to give them a start. Handlights over them
for a time will help to establish the plants quickly. Gherkins and
ridge Cucumbers may be placed 3 feet apart on the ridges or mounds ;
vegetable marrows require more than double that distance. Cucumbers
and Melons will now require less attention with linings, but more
liberal watering and airing will be necessary. Melons setting their
fruit should be kept dry, and air be given early in the morning ; indeed,
wre find it beneficial to leave on a little all night. Allow neither
Melons nor Cucumbers to become crowded ; cut off all weakly growth,

i87o.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 265

and let the heaviest watering be giving near the sides of frames,
where the principal roots will be in abundance. Cucumbers in bearing
may require a surfacing of good loam and rotten manure, and plenty of
clear manure-water. Heavy cropping soon exhausts the plants ; three
fruits are enough to one Melon plant if two have been planted in one light.
Dryness is necessary at ripening of Melons, when well-flavoured fruit
is wanted. Tomatoes may be planted out on ridges sloping to the
south : open spaces on walls suit well. Slates placed over the surface of
steep borders help to bring Tomatoes on quickly. In southern mar-
ket-gardens large quantities are grown with little more attention given
than to Potatoes — laterals are taken off, fruit is thinned, and the
plants are supported with stakes. Latest supplies may be grown in
pots ; and they can be taken under protection in autumn to stand
where frost cannot reach them. Ours, which fruited in autumn last
season, were in pots, and they kept up a supply till late in February ;
and some of the same plants kept in warmth are giving supplies now,
beginning their second crop about the second week of May. Basil,
Sweet Marjoram, and Ice plant, may with safety be planted on a
south border. Chilies well established in pots may be turned out in
a warm position. Let Celery be thoroughly watered, and after the
plants are established in the ridges, a little soil spread over the roots
as a surfacing will help to keep in moisture. Let later plantations be
turned out in the ridges 1 foot apart, as soon as the plants will lift out
of the nursery-beds with good balls. Shading will be beneficial in
very hot dry weather. Manure-water can hardly be given too liberally,
but not too strong : that from cow-houses is excellent for Celery.

Fruit-trees will now require looking over frequently. It is a bad
practice to let the wood grow to great length and get matted, and then
to take off large breadths of foliage at once. We prefer beginning at the
top of trees, then in a week or two the middle is gone over. The base
is gone over in due time. Where little growth is made, as in the case
of well-established trees and those which have been carefully root-
pruned, there is no necessity for much attention in summer. There is
a great variety of opinion on summer-pruning or disbudding, but we
prefer (after trying every system we have seen in print) doing as much
in summer as we can, and avoiding winter-pruning as much as possible.
This applies chiefly to Pears, Apples, Plums, Cherries, and Apricots.
Trees growing too strong, and no fruit on them of any value, may have
a little done to their roots now, cutting below the trunk, leaving the
roots outwards untouched — overdoing is injurious. Wherever we have
practised summer root-pruning, the best results have attended the oper-
ation, especially with stone fruits. Where walls are low, leading
branches of trees may be taken over where suitable, and may be

266 THE GARDENER. [June

established on both sides. Many trees perish from not having enough
space to grow upon. Continual cutting brings on canker, then death
follows. Old Jargonelle Pears, Apricots, and Morello Cherries, often
met with in houses growing how they may, with little labour bestowed
on them, show what is most suitable for their welfare. Plenty of
space saves the knife, both at top and roots. Pigs growing vigorously
may have their tops taken off at fourth or fifth leaf, which will throw
them into fruit. We do all our pruning to Figs in the growing season,
and root-prune whenever there are signs of useless growth. We never
have a failure with this fruit, but can supply strong manure-water
throughout the whole growing season, and few shoots are made on
established trees longer than 4 or 6 inches. Abundance of fibre and
plenty of stimulant give plenty of large fruit. When gross shoots
are made on young trees — such as Carrington and Castle Kennedy
Figs — we make notches in them about every 8 inches apart, and young
shoots are thrown out. The tops are taken off when the fifth bud is
formed, and fruit generally shows itself at once. The system of lay-
ing-in and cutting-out young wood annually, if not done by experi-
enced hands, too often ends in failure. Whether we train in fan-shape,
upright, or horizontal (and all these we try), leading shoots are taken
equidistant, and kept in their place, similar to trained Pears and
Apples. Cultivating Figs in pots is an easy method of managing them :
watering, surfacing, and pinching are all that is then required. Cor-
dons are easily managed : some we have grown in this way, and
spurred in more for the sake of getting leaves, are now loaded with
fruit, and, though shaded by Peach-trees trained over them, they swell
to a good size. White Marseilles is an excellent kind for growing to
cover walls which are shaded by Vines or otherwise. On some of these
we had fine fruit, yellow as gold, in April; now they are crimson, and
different in shape all on same tree. The second crop, which is a heavy
one, will probably be of a brownish tinge. Position and cultivation
change the character of Figs entirely; our favourites are Black Ischia,
Brunswick, Brown Turkey, and White Marseilles. Sometimes with us
Castle-Kennedy and Brunswick are exactly alike.

The lifting of bulbs when they are done flowering will now require
attention. To make way for flowering-plants, the bulbs may be care-
fully lifted with all their roots and some earth attached, and planted
in sand till they ripen. Summer flowering-plants may be planted out
now ; and if watering is necessary, give all the soil plenty, and hoe the
surface soon afterwards. Mignonette, Stocks, and other sweet-scented
plants, should be plentiful. They are favourites with every one. Sweet
Peas : stake and keep the pods off them ; top if they get too high.
Bud Roses as soon as the bark peels off readily : when done early, the

1870.] NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH. 267

plants are well established before winter. Far north this can scarcely
be done yet. Stake all plants, such as Carnations, Pinks, &c, requiring
it before they fall over. Sow seed of Pansies, and increase the stock
by cuttings. Allow nothing to seed except to be saved for sowing.

Chrysanthemums place in their flowering quarters j give plenty of
water, and keep drainage clear where they are in pots. Geraniums,
where in flower, shade from bright sun, and water with manure-water.
" Stage " sorts done flowering should be placed in the sun to ripen their
wood. Growing plants of all kinds will be benefited by syringing
after warm days. They may be watered now in the after-part of the
day, allowing enough to moisten all the soil. Dahlias fasten to their
stakes, and when in active growth give plenty of manure-water. Roses
which have flowered in pots may be examined ; fresh turfy loam, if at
command, may be used for potting them. Plunge the pots in a half-
shady position for a time ; water freely as roots increase, and keep off
all insects by syringing ; allow no flowers to come on them or any
other plants which are to flower in winter. Scale on such plants as
Camelias, Oranges, and Myrtles must be cleanly washed off if healthy
foliage is wanted, and all plants without it are not worth their room.

M. T.

NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH.

Singular to state, no Orchid has received the distinction of a certifi-
cate since the last record of new plants. In the way of Palms, Messrs
Veitch & Sons received first-class certificates for the following, all of
graceful and elegant growth : — Euterpe Sylvestris, Areca monostachya,
Deckenia nobilis, and Geonoma pumila. A similar award was made
to Macrozamia magnifica, a species from North Australia, the roots
of which are used as food by the natives, from Mr Kennedy, Covent
Garden : it has very handsome fronds, with long lance-shaped leaflets.
In the way of Ferns, Messrs Eollisson & Sons have received a first-class
certificate for Pteris straminea attenuata, an elegant greenhouse Fern ;
the same award was made to Messrs Veitch & Sons for a charming
species of Adiantum, named Veitchii, received from Muna. Of
handsome foliaged and flowering plants of rare merit the following
have received first-class certificates: — Carludovica rotundifolia, a
handsome -looking plant, allied to Pandanus, from Messrs Veitch &
Sons; to Tillandsia Lindeniana, a beautiful stove herb, having a
naked flowering -stem like the Hyacinth, and a double row of large,
rich, blue flowers with a pale throat, situate about 6 inches above the
leaves. This plant was obtained by Mr Linden from Brazil, and this

268 THE GARDENER. [June

was the first occasion of its being shown in flower in England. Also
to Cochliostema Jacobianum, which has been termed the "best new
plant of its season," and was now shown for the first time in bloom
in England. It has large, spreading, and somewhat recurved leaves,
and from the axils of these leaves issue a succession of flower-stalks
bearing bunches of purple and white flowers of great beauty, and
emitting an agreeable perfume. The plant, which is described by the
botanists as an Epiphytical Commelynad from Ecuador, is of vigor-
ous growth, requires stove treatment, and has to be well supplied with
water during its growth. Both these came from Mr B. S. Williams,
who also received the same award for Agave VerschafFeltii, a good
addition to this popular class of succulents ; and a similar award was
made to Mr Green, gardener to W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., for Pothos
ventricosa, in flower — one of those singular-looking plants of botanical
value so much esteemed by Mr Saunders.

In the way of flowering plants, Mr T. S. Ware, Tottenham, received
the same award for a very handsome but remarkably curious species
of Iris, very dwarf in growth, having one flower of singular marking
and beauty ; to Messrs Rollisson & Sons for Erica tubreformis, also for
Rhododendron fragrantissimum, having white sweet-scented flowers; to
Mr B. S. Williams, for Gloxinia Scarlet Gem, with glowing scarlet
flowers of great depth of colour — an upright blooming variety ; and
to Mr Charles Noble, Bagshot, for Clematis Lord Londesborough, a
bronze-coloured flower shaded with blue and red, one of the valuable
hardy early-blooming strain Mr Noble has obtained from seed.

In the way of florists' flowers, first-class certificates have been
awarded to the following : — Grey-edged Auricula, Colonel Champneys,
from Mr C. Turner, shown in fine condition ; variegated Zonal Pelar-
gonium Ealing Rival, very finely coloured, from Mr Stevens, Ealing ;
a white - edged variety of the same division, named Mrs Colonel
Wilkinson, from Mr Janes, Highgate ; to Waltham Bride and Aval-
anche, two pretty silver-edged varieties bearing white flowers, both
from Mr William Paul ; to a fine new Tea Rose, named Celine
Noirey, with pale-blush flowers, the outer petals of a bright crimson
shade, from Messrs Paul & Son ; to Fancy Pansies, Sunshine, Mrs
Shirley Hibberd, and Mrs Felton, neither of them wTorthy the award
made, from Mr Henry Hooper, Bath ; to Waltham, dwarf yellow Wall-
flower, a dwarf yellow-blooming variety, largely used at Belvoir Castle,
by Mr ~W. Ingram, from Mr William Paul ; to a yellow self Pansy,
named Golden Bedder, from Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son, but as
shown scarcely adapted for bedding; and to Viola lutea major, a large
deep-coloured variety, having the appearance of making a very valu-
able bedder; from Mr Robert Parker, Tooting. . R. D.

1S70.] A CHAPTER ON OVER- ATTENTION. 269

A CHAPTER ON OVER-ATTENTION.

Under this head may be enumerated a variety of bad practices, as
numerous, perhaps, as those which are classed under the general term
Neglect. Among these, the system of watering usually adopted takes
a prominent position. In hot weather, when the ground is dry, and
plants are beginning to droop from the heat of the sun, the uninformed
amateur usually sets to work and waters the whole of his flower-gar-
den, the water being carried in many cases direct from the pump. It
is consequently several degrees colder than the atmosphere or soil —
having much the same effect on the constitution of the plants as would
be likely to be produced on a human being by drinking a quantity of
cold water when in a state of violent perspiration. I said, li waters the
garden," but I mean the surface of it. So that the surface of the soil
and the foliage of the plants are wet, presenting a nice cool appearance,
the owner is satisfied ; he considers he has done a few hours' hard
work, and consequently a considerable amount of good. Now, in my
humble opinion, he had far better have amused himself in some other
way, and have let nature alone, unless he had considered how he could
have better imitated her. Watering should never be attempted unless
it can be properly carried out. Few things are more injurious to the
well-rooted plants than occasional sprinklings of the soil. Syringing
the foliage of plants with tepid water in the evening, in dusty weather,
is very beneficial, as it cleans the foliage, and acts in some measure
like heavy dews. When water is intended to be given, it should be
taken from a pool or brook. If neither is at hand, a sufficient quantity
should be pumped in the morning and allowed to stand exposed to the
sun for a day at least. Instead of just wetting the surface, the soil
should have a complete soaking, so as to reach below the lowest of
the fibres ; if such is not the case, the small white roots will be turned
upwards in search of moisture, and in a couple of days probably will
sutler from the burning sun. The roots of plants will always follow
after their food, and if left to cater for themselves will generally make
the best use of what is within their reach. As a test of this, let the
cultivator lay a slight covering of rotten manure on the surface of the
soil, in the vicinity of healthy plants, and in the course of a week, on
taking the manure away, he will perceive hundreds of small white
fibres attached to it, which have found their way there for the purpose
of feeding upon the food which is placed near them. The reader will
understand by this that it is better never to attempt watering estab-
lished plants in the open ground unless the plants are kept well sup-
plied with moisture, which, in such cases, can only be done by con-
stantly soaking the soil whenever it may become dry on the surface. No

270 THE GARDENER. [June

plan is so beneficial as what is termed "mulching," that is, laying a
covering of grass, manure, cocoa-nut fibre, spent hops, or any like
material, on the surface of the ground, which should always be done
after soaking rains. This practice prevents the evaporation of mois-
ture to a great extent, and keeps the temperature of the ground much
more regular than any system of watering could do. The great objec-
tion to " mulching " is the slovenly appearance it gives to a garden, so
that it cannot be done in flower-gardens generally ; still I would rather
make use of something of this kind than be compelled to adopt the
laborious and uncomfortable practice of watering. Many persons
think that much more benefit is derived by the plants from even judi-
cious waterings than I am inclined to suppose is the case. To satisfy
myself on this point, a few years ago, on an occasion of dry weather
setting in, in the early part of the summer, I made a practice of water-
ing an onion-bed three times a- week with water from a pond. Another
bed by the side of it, growing under similar circumstances and sown
at the same time, was left entirely to nature. The bed which received
the attention spoken of in about ten days looked much superior to the
other, the Onions being greener and growing much quicker ; but when
the rain came, I was pleased to see the neglected bed was inclined to
make up for lost time, which it most certainly did, the crop eventually
being quite equal to that of the favoured bed — plainly showing me
that I had been working to no purpose. C. J. P.

GARDEN RECORDS.

NO. VI.

SWYNCOMBE PAEK, HENLEY-ON-THAMES, THE EESIDENCE
OF THE REV. C. E. EUCK-KEENE.

{Continued from x>aUe 223.)
"Whatever else of interest may belong to this charming place, situate in one of
the most pleasant parts of the fine agricultural county of Oxfordshire, it has
come to be regarded as the home of the glorious Bougainvillea speciosa. It is
now cultivated in many parts of the country ; but here the visitor can see a
specimen of it so grand in development and ravishing in appearance, that he can
only stand by it wrapt in mute wonder, and be filled with gratitude that he has
been permitted to look upon such a wondrous floral vision. The plant at Swyn-
combe was bi'ought here from South America, in 1857, by the Comte de Rouelle,
and was then so small as only to have two or three leaves on it. It was pushed
on into growth by Mr Daniels, the gardener at Swyncombe, and in 1860 it had
attained a considerable size, and bloomed profusely, throwing out from each
terminal spray a number of lovely mauve-coloured bracts in the form of an

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 271

inflorescence. Cut specimens of it were taken to the great London shows, and the
whole country rang with the praises of this horticultural wonder. Years ago it
had been brought to England, having been introduced from Rio Janeiro by Mr
Bougainville, from whom it derived its generic name, but all attempts to culti-
vate it failed. Mr Daniels planted out his specimen at the end of a low span-
roofed house, close to the boiler : he gave it an abundance of dry heat, and very
little water ; and in adopting this plan he hit upon the mode of cultivating it
best adapted to bring out its superb beauty. Since then, each succeeding season
has brought a recurrence of the marvellous display made by the plant ; and year
by year the plant increased in size, and at the present moment, were each
terminal spray hanging down from the roof clothed in glittering mauve, spread
out over the interior of the house, it would be found to cover a space of some
800 superficial feet. Happily for its grand effect, it is almost incapable of strictly
formal training ; the shoots hang like pendent wreaths in the most admired
negligence. The natural freedom thus assured is far more elegant than the
restraints of art ; you look above on to an inner roofing of the brightest, and yet
softest, hue of colour ; its luxuriant wealth of flowers can then be rightly appreci-
ated ; and the heart in fine admiration feels more than "lip can e'er express."
"Would that the house in which it is growing were better adapted to show off its
manifold charms ! What was said of it in 1860 can be stated now with accumu-
lated truth : " One wants to look down upon it, as it is looked upon by the sun,
to which its blossoms are displayed. At a distance from it, and standing on a
somewhat higher floor, you see imperfectly the upper surface of the mass of bloom
lying nearly close to the glass ; and in the slanting light of the evening sun, the
whole of the leafy canopy reflects on one side an almost glowing sheet of colour ;
while on the other, partly in the shade, and the semi-transparency of the coloured
bracts thus coming into play, it has more of an amethystine hue."

Some idea of the size of the plant may be gained, when it is stated that the
stem, near the surface of the pit in which it is planted, measures 16 inches in
circumference. The lateral shoots forming the blooming wood are simply thinned
out, not headed back ; the plant is thus allowed to extend itself, but all gross
shoots springing from the old wood are cut back close, and on no account allowed
to grow. This strong growth can readily be distinguished from the wiry growth
that furnishes the blooming wood. The roots of the plant have got away out of
the house, quite beyond the control of Mr Daniels. He supposes they have
penetrated into a neighbouring vine-border, also into a pit used for forcing
Potatoes, as well as into the chalk rubble underlying the paths about the house.
Notwithstanding this freedom, it blooms as profusely as ever, without stint of
quantity or beauty.

The house it occupies was originally a long low span-roof in two divisions ; the
Bougainvillea being planted at the farthest extremity of the house. It gradually
filled the division it occupied ; the glass of the top of the partition was then
removed to admit of a passage through for the leading shoots ; and last year,
additional liberty was afforded it by the removal of the partition altogether. A
fine specimen of the later-blooming B. glabra shares the roof with it, and occupies
that portion of the house nearest the door. Just as the glorious beauty of B.
speciosa begins to fade (it begins to bloom early in March and continues till the
end of May), then B. glabra takes up the floral service, and from April till Christ-
mas hangs on its branches blossoms numberless, in such clustering masses as to
hide the glass. The bracts of B. glabra have a glowing light pink hue, and form
a fine contrast to B. speciosa. This species is cut back hard to the old wood in
the same manner as a Vine, and flowers from the young wood of the first growth.

272 THE GARDENER. [June

B. speciosa flowers from the wood made the preceding year. Mr Dauiels culti-
vates several other species, but with the exception of these two, and B. splendens,
having larger bracts than either of the preceding kinds, which are of a very bright
pink colour, shaded with crimson, the others are scarcely worthy cultivation.
Many gardeners about the country have B. spectabilis, but fail to bloom it. Try
what they will, their best effort* are abortive. Mr Daniels states it is a winter-
blooming species ; the bracts show in November somewhat freely, but drop oft'
for want of sun heat aud solar light. All attempts to change its season of
blooming have failed. In his own words, recently contributed to the 'Gardeners'
Chronicle,' Mr Daniels shall describe his mode of treating the Bougainvilleas : —

" I will now proceed to give a few plain directions for their treatment, which,
if followed out, will not fail to produce blooms. If they are to be seen in their full
beauty, they must be planted out, and allowed to fully develop themselves. Then
we can get beautiful brauches of bloom from 3 to 6 feet long. I would recom-
mend any one receiving a young plant to proceed as follows : — If small, give it a
shift, and plunge it in a Cucumber or Melon house, or a Pine-pit, with plenty
of bottom-heat. Shift on as often as the pot becomes filled with roots. It will
fill a 13 -inch pot with roots in the course of one summer. Train out the
branches to their full length, and withhold water about August for the purpose
of thoroughly ripening the wood. Stand the plant away in a warm corner of the
stove for the winter, only giving sufficient water to prevent its leaves from drop-
ping off. Early in the spring prepare a pit for it, 3 feet wide and 6 feet long,
and larger in proportion if more than one are to be planted in it. This may be pre-
pared just in the same way as a pit for Cucumbers or Melons, with a hollow
chamber under it, and two or more pipes running underneath for bottom-heat.
Plant out in this bed in good friable soil, consisting of leaf-mould, rotten dung, and
sandy loam, with a little sand and peat, and charcoal if obtainable. Water suffi-
cient to settle the soil, which keep a little moist through the growing season. Be
careful to dry off and ripen the wood thoroughly before autumn, then keep the
plants dry till January, when they will begin to show bloom, and when they may
be gradually moistened by giving water in a sufficient quantity to wet all the
soil. I have never seen them bloom better than in several cases where they
have been planted out at one end of a Cucumber or Melon house, and where they
have been subjected to about the same treatment as these plants, with their roots
growing in the same bed with them."

In a nice span-roofed house, filled with flowering and foliaged plants, were some
capital pots of Lachenalias done much better than is usually seen. As soon as
the plants have done blooming, Mr Daniels lays them to rest under the green-
house stage till the end of the summer, when they commence to grow. They are
then shaken from the pots, and eight or nine of the largest bulbs are placed in a
6-inch pot, just covering the surface of the bulbs. The soil used is one com-
pounded of fibry loam, leaf-soil, and silver sand. The plants are then placed in
a cold pit till Christmas, and then taken to the house to bloom in February.
A generous treatment brings not only an abundant bloom but fine spikes of
flower.

A rapid look through the Vineries and Peach-house showed everything in prime
condition. The Peaches were the forwardest we have yet seen ; Keen's Seedling
Strawberries were being largely forced. Mr Daniels sticks by this old kind as
the best for his purpose.

The kitchen-garden, though small, had much interest about it. Mr Daniels
has a chalk subsoil, and during dry seasons he suffers much from the drought.
Apples and Pears are generally grown as bushes — the shoots brought down from

i87o.] GARDEN RECORDS. 273

the top so as to give a bush form to the trees. The young wood of the previous
year gives an abundance of fruit of fine quality. The manner in which these
shoots bear fruit has induced Mr Daniels to attempt the cultivation of Apples
as cordons, and he has now a row along most of the borders of the kitchen-gar-
den, planted about 18 inches from the path, and trained to a stout galvanised-
iron wire about 18 inches in height. Those that had been planted, two years
were covered with blossom, and had the appearance of a floral bottle-brush.
Some of the best kinds of Apples are being cultivated, and Mr Daniels is san-
guine as to the success of his experiment.

A wall of Figs, having a south-western aspect, was also noticeable. The wall
was 30 yards in length and 8 feet in height ; in front of it was a border 6 feet in
width, the wall coming out to the pathway at right angles at each end. Over it,
resting on the wall at the back, and supported on stout poles at the front of
a nearly similar height to the wall, was a glass roof, the border being entirely
open on the path side. Six brown Turkey Fig-trees were planted against the
wall ; the uppermost shoots nearest the roof were brought forward and tied out
to two strong wires running lengthwise, 5 and 6 feet in height. At the time
root-action begins, a good soaking of water is given, and that suffices to carry
the plants through the season, save and except such rain as finds its way to
them. From the end of July to the end of October there is a plentiful supply
of fruit. The border is also utilised for the production of early Potatoes, Let-
tuces, and Radishes ; and also for cultivating two lines of Cordon Apples, one
trained abont 15 inches from the ground, the other a foot higher.

In the front of the mansion we found a pleasant terrace-garden planted with
spring blooming and foliaged plants : of the former, Daisies, Pansies, Myosotis, &c,
some very pretty effective arrangements being worked out. There was also a
border in front of the house, and it struck us that a back row of Dielytra specta-
bilis mingled with the old purple Honesty (Lunaria biennis) was a capital and
striking arrangement.

From the terrace-garden the pleasure-grounds swept away in a gentle declivity
towards the confines of the park, admitting of space for some fine specimen Coni-
ferae worthy of notice. The spot occupied by these had a deep substratum of chalk,
and was very exposed (about 750 feet above the sea-level), and being open to the
rude shocks of the west winds coming sweeping over from the Bristol Channel, and
along the valleys of Wiltshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire. There was a specimen
"VVellingtonia gigantea, planted in 1861, about 21 feet 9 inches in height, the cir-
cumference of the stem next the ground being 3 feet 9 inches, the girth of the
tree, 2 feet from the ground, 30 feet, and pretty well covered with cones. This
plant bore the rigour of the previous hard winters without sustaining the slightest
harm, but the keen cutting east winds of the past winter had very much browned
it. Also, a specimen Pinus insiguis, planted ten years ago, now a well-furnished
tree 23 feet in height ; a Cedar of Lebanon, planted in 1813 or 4, a very healthy
vigorous specimen, 40 feet in height, but lost its leader in 1860; Cedrus Deodara,
planted in 1843, now 38 feet in height, a very fine well-furnished tree, with a stem
6 feet 2 inches in circumference ; also a fine Pinus Austriaca and others ; all
more or less possessing a close wiry habit of growth, probably owing to the position.
About the fringes of carriage-drives, shrubbery borders, woodland walks, &c,
could be seen many pretty spring flowers, half naturalised, and lighting up with
a cheerful beauty many an otherwise dreary-looking spot. The double and single
forms of Anemone nemorosa, as well as tne rose-coloured single variety, the
charming Anemone appenina, glowing Oxlips, Scillas, Narcissi, &c, were being
used with the best effect.

274 THE GARDENER. [June

The house occupies the sunny side of a pleasant valley, and securely nestles in
a grand piece of woodland, which serves as a screen from northern and eastern
blasts ; before it rises up a wood-crowned hill ; on the right, at the end of the
valley, were the well-known Chiltern Hills, covered with manifold tufts of Juniper-
bushes, and presenting an unusual but very picturesque appearance. On the
south side, away over the rising-ground, lies at a distance of some 7 miles
the charming Oxfordshire town of Henley-on-Thames, a famous summer resort
for pent-up and half-stifled Londoners.

It is worthy of record in this relation, that 2 miles below Henley-on-Thames,
charmingly situated on the banks of the noble river, stands Greenlands, the
residence of Miss Marjoribanks. Mr W. H. Good, the gardener at Greenlands,
also cultivates the Bougainvillea speciosa with amazing success, and at the time
of our visit a magnificent plant, loaded with its rich garniture of mauve-coloured
wreaths, covered a great portion of the interior of the roof of a lean-to plant-
house. Mr Good obtained his plant from Swyncombe about 1860, and his success
as a cultivator has been coequal with that of Mr Daniels. We are proud of them
for their work's sake, and heartily wish them continued success with these splen-
did plants in the time to come.

fj^KT^g

RICHARDIA .2ETHIOPICA.

Although this plant is not new, still it is one that can never be alto-
gether uncared for. To those who have to provide a great many
plants for winter and spring decoration, it is especially valuable. It
continues flowering for three or four months without interruption, bear-
ing several singularly beautiful white flowers on each plant. A charming
floral spectacle is presented in early spring when a number of bloom-
ing plants are nicely arranged among a variety of others in a conser-
vatory. Even when not in bloom the pleasing foliage has a happy
effect, mixed with other plants ; also, it is of easy growth. It can be
grown in a 12-inch pot, placing three or four plants in a pot, or, indi-
vidually, in smaller ones. The greatest care required during its grow-
ing season is to have it plentifully supplied with moisture ; and as it
is a gross feeder, it should occasionally have some liquid manure. As
soon as the pots get filled with roots, they should be set in saucers of
water, with a little manure in them as well, and be kept in them
while flowering, so that the spadix and foliage may attain a full and
fine development. By the commencement of summer, the flowering
season should have ended. Then the plants should be allowed to dry off
gradually, under the influence of the sun, for the space of two or three
months, so that the roots may get well ripened. Early in autumn they
should be shaken out of the pots, removing all the small stems, and
saving only the larger ones for potting as occasion may require. When

1870.] THOUGHTS ABOUT GRAPE-GROWING. 275

they have been thus prepared, they may be potted singly or otherwise,
as before mentioned. A compost of decomposed turfy loam, with a good
proportion of cow-dung and a little sand, will be found to answer well.
Before they have been potted, they may be removed to a frame or pit
to be gradually kept moving in growth till the season of flowering
comes again in the early spring. The Richardia should not be potted
too firmly, and care should be taken to have the plants secured from
injury by frost. If it is required to bloom earlier than usual, it may
be subjected to a gentle heat.

Although the Richardia is a plant that does admirably well as I
have described, yet, treated as a conservatory plant, it is a subject
that will stand a variety of usage. I have seen it growing beautifully
in the great conservatory of Chatsworth, which is kept as a tropical
house, in a piece of water imitating part of a quiet natural rivulet.
All the year round it seemed to be without its season of rest, throw-
ing up its grand snow-white flowers in midwinter. In addition, it is
a very worthy subject for window cultivation — a department of gar-
dening now* receiving some merited attention at the hands of the ablest
horticultural writers. R. M.

THOUGHTS ABOUT GRAPE- GROWING.

We are so accustomed at this period to hear it stated that preconceived ideas
of every kind are being sifted for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of truth
and fallacy contained in them, that it seems a mere truism to apply the same
remarks to the discussions which have lately taken place in the gardening periodi-
cals upon Vine Culture. In what is confessedly an age of transition, it is incum-
bent upon those who really desire improvement to see that what was good in
former systems is not rashly cast aside, though some deficiencies may have become
apparent.

Amateur cultivators, who look mainly to these publications for cultural
directions, must be greatly distracted by the extreme diversity of opinion which
exists among those whose names deservedly rank high in the gardening world.
So also must many young practitioners like myself, who are anxiously striving
to keep their qualifications apace with the progress both of science and practice,
be puzzled to account for the apparently endless variety of opinions and methods
of cultivation prevalent among practical men. Experienced Grape-growers have
the results of their practice by which to test the new theories advanced. Young
practitioners, seeking a knowledge of the best and surest method, are bewildered
as they see accredited systems of culture openly censured or covertly under-
mined.

Amid this chaos of opinion, the article on Grape-Growing in your April Num-
ber must have been hailed with intense satisfaction by a large number of your
readers, especially as it is so difficult, from the one-sided intimations and incom-
plete details which are too frequently given in articles on special cultivation, to

276 THE GARDENER. [June

discriminate accurately between the merits of particular systems and the prin-
ciples involved in their application.

I am not sure I can furnish anything that has not already been presented in
one shape or another, but my own experience has furnished a few facts which
tend to corroborate the statements of " D. T." and others.

The question as to whether the presence of lime in the soil is injurious or
beneficial to the roots of the Vine seems to be one of prime importance. Lime
is so efficient an agent in disintegrating the turf, which is the main constituent
of so many Vine-borders (and more especially when this is of an adhesive nature),
and so effective in destroying the numerous larva3 which it frequently contains,
that it would seriously affect the cultivation of the Vine in many districts where
it is much used, if it were proved to be injurious to the roots. An instance bear-
ing upon this point recently came under my own observation. In the gardens at
present under my charge, a Vine-border was laid down some five or six years ago,
composed of the parings of roadside ditches — a generous and friable material.
This was still further enriched by being saturated with blood at the shambles,
and to insure porosity, a quantity of lime hot or newly slaked (which I presume
to be the caustic state alluded to by Mr Cramb) was applied, but, as the result
showed, very partially.

For three years the Vines throve and bore well, but during the two succeeding
years the fruit shanked considerably, although in all other respects the Vines
appeared to be in excellent health. Last year it was resolved to remove the
vinery and erect one larger on the same site. On lifting the Vines with the in-
tention of replanting them in the new house, it was found that the compost had
become so solidified as to be almost impervious to the roots ; but here and there
throughout the border were patches where the unslaked lime was found in lumps,
and these were thoroughly matted with fine healthy rootlets. One or two roots
had made their way through the border into a walk composed of furnace ashes
and beach gravel, and were found spreading in every direction. The conclusion
drawn from the appearance of the border was, that the lime had preserved the
lives of the Vines by preserving a few spots of penetrable soil in the border through
which the roots coiild operate. In a less retentive soil, I do not suppose that its
action would have been so helpful, unless with copious and frequent applications
of water. The ultimate shanking of the fruit I attribute to the exhaustion of the
extremely limited space in the border to which the roots found access.

With reference to the dispute upon the relative merits of the restrictive and
extension systems of Vine-growing, I would submit one question for consideration
which I have not yet seen mooted. Under which of the two methods can the
Vines be most speedily brought into their maximum bearing condition ? I pre-
sume that there can be but one answer, and that in favour of the single-rod
system, either for early forcing or ordinary culture. Under no other method
can the Vine be said to be so completely under the control of the cultivator,
as to the proportion of foliage and light, both matters of the first importance in
successful cultivation.

The advocates of extension boast of the facility which their system affords for
promoting a luxuriant development of roots, but I have failed to observe in all
their speculations any gain which cannot also be obtained by the single rods
spurred. With these, the greatest amount of foliage upon which light and heat
can advantageously act may easily be produced. Whatever may be said in favour
of allowing shoots of fruiting Vines to ramble unrestricted with the view of en-
couraging root-growth, I confess I have but little faith in the fruit-producing
powers of either roots or canes of such crude growths. The system which most

1870.] WINTER- GARDEN AT WOODSTOCK. 277

equally maintains the balance between root and branch, must in the end prove
of the highest advantage in cultivation.

It must also be allowed that system is worthy of general acceptation which
yields the most satisfying results from the confined space necessarily contained
in borders of artificial construction, for under such a condition an immense
majority of Vines must exist. There can be little doubt that Vines under the
restrictive system may attain a very respectable longevity, provided that a suffi-
cient quantity of nutritious food be furnished them. " Quodcunque gratum est
palato nutrit,'1 is an old maxim which may be applied with advantage in rearing
specimens of the genus Vitis as well as the genus Homo.

I wished to have made a few remarks upon the " cowhorn" system of pruning,
as " D. T." not inaptly terms it. I consider it a hybrid between extension and
restriction, with some of the disadvantages of both, and with the merits of
neither; but I have trespassed already too long on your patience, and must beg
leave to recur to it at another time.

A Young Practical Gardener.

THE WINTER TERRACE - GARDEN AT WOODSTOCK.

On page 240 of the May No. of ' The Gardener' you state, " The winter terrace-
garden at Woodstock is the most unique thing of the sort in the three kingdoms."
I (and doubtless many other amateur gardeners) would be gratified by a descrip-
tion of this garden. Indeed, the terrace-garden is not sufficiently appreciated by
gai'deners ; for it should, wherever practicable, form a leading feature in all pro-
perly-laid-out gardens, inasmuch as it becomes, where judiciously placed, a part
both of the architecture of the house and a part of the garden, — connecting them
in a suitable manner, and forming a harmonious arrangement, which can only be
effected satisfactorily where masonry and formal planting can be employed. Few
subjects are worse understood than the principles which should guide us in lay-
ing out flower-gardens near country residences ; and if the terrace-garden you
name is (and doubtless it is) so admirably placed and well arranged, you cannot
probably further good gardening more than by a description which will alike
benefit myself and other amateurs, and call deserved admiration to the skill and
taste of the late Woodstock gardener, Mr M 'Donald.

Hoyle. W. J. Rawlings.

[From the columns of our excellent Irish contemporary, ' The Gardener's
Record,' we obtain the following description of the winter terrace-garden at
Woodstock, and trust it will meet the wishes of our correspondent. — Eds.]

" In designing the winter-garden, Mr M 'Donald had a distinct eye to the fitness
of things ; nothing so fit, certainly, on that particular spot as a winter-garden :
and the design and execution of this one at Woodstock deserve the highest credit.
The idea was to put something beside the house that would be artistic, and yet
harmonious with the surrounding landscape. This has been done, and successfully
done. ,

" The winter-garden is perfectly square, and perfectly level. To make the
ground level was no small undertaking. The whole of Woodstock, be it remem-
bered, is a sloping hill ; many thousands of cartloads of earth had, therefore, to

278 THE GARDENER. [June

be carted to bring the site of the winter garden flat. It is supported on two sides
— the side next the river and that farthest from the house — by a retaining wall of
granite. The wall accomplishes another thing besides supporting the garden, it
joins it on to the house. The garden thus, as it were, forms part and parcel of
the house. The wall is surmounted at intervals by balls and vases of granite, the
whole work executed by native workmen ; and very creditably executed it is.
The vases and coping of the wall are beautifully cut.

" The garden is intersected by two gravel- walks, 15 feet wide, thus cutting
it into four quarters. From the house the garden is entered by a broad flight of
highly ornamental metal steps. But to the eye these steps have the appearance
of granite, being coated over with granite sand. One of the 15-feet walks
runs straight down the centre of the garden from the steps to the retaining wall.
The side of the garden farthest from the river joins on to the arboretum already
mentioned by a sloping grass terrace. The other intersecting walk, from the re-
taining wall next the river, ascends the terrace by means of a flight of granite
steps, and is carried straight up the sloping bank for about 100 yards, when
it is stopped by a huge tree and a seat. Thus, while the winter-garden is
kept a very distinct design, it is joined easily and naturally on to the other
grounds.

"The four quarters of the garden are each a sunk panel 20 inches below the
general surface of the ground. The space between the panels and intersecting
walks is a carpet of smooth grass ; in fact, the panels are set in a framework of
grass. These 15-feet walks are the perfection of walk-making. They feel
under the feet almost like a carpet; they are just sufficiently raised in the centre
to throw off the water ; their surface is covered with a thin coating of washed
sand ; and they are as smooth as if a carpenter's plane had been over them. The
comfort afforded by walks like these, especially in winter, can be best appreciated
by those who have not enjoyed the luxury of a well-made walk.

" To come now to a description of the panels. All the minutiae and details
cannot here be given without a plan. Perhaps a general idea may be given in
words. The area of each panel is a scroll-work of shrubs resting on gravel. We
see in these panels what fine results can be obtained from shrubs and shrublike
plants without the help of flowers. The panels are worked out in two distinct
designs or patterns; the two next the house are one pattern; the two farthest
from the house are another; but there is a unity of design in all four. Unity,
not uniformity. Bat how is this effected ? By the disposition, size, and colour
of the plants. Much skill and practical acquaintance with the habits of the
different plants employed are necessary to bring out a pleasing result in work of
this kind. Of the thousands of plants employed, any one of them misplaced, as
regards shape, colours, or size, would be incongruous, and mar the beauty of the
whole. There is almost every shade of colour from the darkest deepest green to
the lightest silvery grey. Then, as regards the size of the plants, the lowest are
6 inches, the highest 6 feet, with every intermediate size.

"The outlines of the scroll-work are formed of low hedges, about 18
inches high and as much broad, of various kinds of shrubs. One of these is
the common Portugal Laurel, than which, for this kind of work, nothing
can be better. Lauristinus, Common Yew, and so forth, are also used. But
these low hedges are edged with Box 6 inches high and 6 inches broad, thus
relieving and lightening the higher hedge. The filling up of the scrolls is
managed with much artistic skill, the object being to have a variety of colour as
well as height. For silver grey the Lavender-Cotton is much used. Nothing
can look prettier than low masses of this small-leaved plant. Aucuba Japonica

1870.] MODE OF CULTIVATING MIGNONETTE. 279

also answers well ; so does the Alexandrian Laurel and common Butcher's Broom.
It is needless to name all the plants that are worked into these scrolls ; suffice it
to say that they are full and well done. In the panels next the house, Shamrocks
are worked in Box, very appropriate and very pretty.

"But the scroll-work, however cleverly designed and filled with dwarf plants,
would be tame without the tall ones. There is in the scrolls a carpeting of many
colours, but if there were no tall plants the winter-garden would be something
like an elegant room carpeted to perfection, but destitute of furniture. The tall
plants are indispensable to the winter-garden. They consist chiefly of Yews and
some of the finer Cupressus. Particularly beautiful are some specimens of C.
elegans and Thuja Nepalensis, with various Red Cedars. In the centre of each
of the panels next the house is a statuette on a pedestal, representing some
out-of-the-way human beings of a negro-looking type. We agree with Mr
M'Donald that statues of Goldsmith and Moore would be better. Near the river
end of the intersecting walk is a handsome sun-dial, on a pedestal of Cork marble.
The small walks in the scroll are filled with various-coloured gravel.

" We see in this garden how much can be done with shrubs and plants of a
shrubby character. As a winter-garden this is a gem. The general impression
that it leaves on the mind is that of richness. The walls, the terraces, the walks,
the panels, the plants combined, form a picture of rare beauty. It reflects credit
alike on the proprietor and the gardener."

A COTTAGER'S MODE OF CULTIVATING MIGNONETTE.

I hope you will permit me to make a few remarks for the benefit of
those of my own class that have no garden. To these I say, Make
the best use you can of your windows. This is already being done
quite extensively in the case of the more tasteful dwellings of many
of the working classes; and to those who object to attempt anything
of the kind on the ground of want of skill as cultivators, I say, A care-
ful and regular attendance is much more requisite than a scientific
knowledge, though both are very essential to the successful florist.

A few hints on the culture of Mignonette as a window-plant may
be of service to those of my own class who are among the readers of
this work. The end of April is the best time to sow the seed.
As it is intended that the plant to be raised should last for a consider-
able time, it is essential to lay a good foundation in the preparation of
the soil. It should be a rich compost ; one-third cow-dung that is dry
enough to crumble to small pieces, more than one-third of good mellow
loam, and the remainder silver sand, with a handful of old lime-mortar
dust, to keep the compost open. Having prepared the soil and pro-
vided the seed (that known as the large flowering Mignonette is the
best), then take as many pots, from 3 to 4 inches in diameter, as will be
required, place at the bottom of each for drainage a few small pieces of

280 THE GARDENER. [June

broken pots, and over that a little of the roughest of the soil; then fill
up nearly to the top of the pot; place three seeds in the centre "of each
pot, cover them slightly with earth, press it down rather firmly, and
place the pots in the window. In ten days the young plants should
be pushing through the soil, and as soon as they appear above ground
plenty of air should be given them. When the weather is fine, the
pots should be placed outside the window during the sunniest part of
the day, and a gentle shower occasionally given them from a rose water-
ing-pot if the weather be hot and dry ; if dull, a slight watering the
first thing in the morning will be found sufficient. When the plants
are large enough, pull out the two weakest ones, and leave the strong-
est, as this is to form the future tree. As it makes growth, place a
neat stick by the side of the plant, about a foot in length, tie it loosely
to this stick with a piece of fine matting, and do so as it increases in
height, and reaches the top of the stick, then replace it with a longer
one, if a long stem be desired ; that, however, is a matter of taste
merely.

As soon as side-branches break forth from the stem of the plant,
slip them back to the second eye ; but avoid what some persons are apt
to do who do not appear to value the leaves, cutting the side-branches
back to the main stem. A naked, leafless trunk is scarcely in taste,
therefore leave as many leaves about it as possible the first year, so that
the stem may have a feathered appearance.

And now comes the winter, during which the plants may be kept
pretty dry till they make young growth, when more than one-half of
the side-spurs should be cut away, beginning at the bottom, and only
taking off a pair at a time, and doing the same at intervals of a fort-
night. During the first year no bloom should be permitted to appear
on the trees ; the second year they should be allowed to bear flowers
after the middle of October, and all through the winter ; but up to
that time all flowering -buds should be plucked off as fast as they
appear.

About midsummer shift the plants into a 5-inch pot, and give
them another and rather larger shift about the end of July, but never
shift the plants after August, as it would check them, and perhaps
destroy all one's hopes of what they might do in the future.

J. C.

1870.] THE HYACINTH AS A BEDDING PLANT. 281

SOMETHING ABOUT THE HYACINTH AS A
BEDDING PLANT.

Spring flower-gardening is not attempted here to any great extent,
but still some of the most prominent flower-beds are filled with bulbs
ill the autumn, when their summer beauty has passed away.

Foremost among these bulbs receiving attention is the Hyacinth ;
one bed — a circular one — is filled with the largest bulbs, planted in
rings 9 inches apart, the bulbs being planted about 6 inches deep. The
soil undergoes no preparation for the Hyacinths, as it is made quite
rich enough with leaf-mould when the summer planting takes place ;
and as the subsoil in the flower-garden here is sand, they have a soil
suitable to their wellbeing, otherwise I should mix . some sand with
the soil when I plant, as I believe bulbs of all kinds for winter plant-
ing require it. I never protect the Hyacinth at all from the time they
are planted till they are taken up, and the same bulbs have been
planted for several years, and a most charming bed they make. As
the offsets increase rapidly, I have this year used the smaller ones for
an edging for two large beds filled with early Tulips, and Narcissi both
single and double.

Were it more generally known that the Hyacinth is so valuable a
plant for outdoor decoration, the bulbs would not be thrown to
the rubbish heap, as is often the case, after blooming in pots ; instead
of which they should be planted in a bed of light soil to perfect their
growth, and when their foliage is quite ripe, the bulbs should be taken
up and put into drawers or boxes till planting-time comes round in
the autumn.

I trust what I have stated above may interest many of your amateur
readers, and I will now give you an experience of fifteen years' gain by
a real amateur (Mr Kidd), an officer of the Inland Revenue Depart-
ment of the Government. Mr Kidd cultivates the Hyacinth in a villa
garden at the front of his residence at Stanstead, Montfitchet, two
miles from here, where I have seen them in bloom for the last three
years. On the occasion of my last visit to Mr Kidd, on the 18th of
April, there could be seen from eight to ten dozen Hyacinths in full
bloom ; and Mr Kidd informed me that he first began to grow his
Hyacinths with three bulbs, one each of red, white, and blue colours ;
and now they consisted principally of these three colours, and he has
scarcely bought a Hyacinth during this time, except a dozen of red
ones this last autumn, having more white and blue flowers than red
ones ; and such a display as was then made was worth walking ten
miles to see.

The bulbs were growing in a gravelly soil, and apparently a very

232 THE GARDENER. [June

poor one ; still the Hyacinths, Crocuses, and Tulips, both early and
late kinds, -were in most luxuriant growth both as regards foliage and
bloom. William Plester.

Elseniiam Hall Gardens.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

The monthly record of shows commences with that held at South Kensington,
by the Royal Horticultural Society on the 20th of April. This one of the series
of small but interesting bi-monthly exhibitions had Azaleas and Rhododendrons
as the leading features. Generally the former were shown as nice, small, but
well-flowered pyramid bushes, generally characterised by that formal stiffness of
training so common with this class of plants. Mr Turner of Slough took the
Nurseryman's prize for six plants, with some standard Azaleas, trained in the
Belgian style, on stems about 2 feet in height. The varieties were Hei-cules,
Alba striata, Madame Jean Vervaene, Hovibronkii, Antoinette, and Marie Vervaene.
The best specimen Azalea — Sir Charles Napier — came from Mr Wilkie, Addison
Road, Kensington ; the next best was Flower of the Day, from Mr Turner.
Messrs Lane & Sons had the best collection of Rhododendrons in pots ; Messrs
Staudish & Co. came next with some seedlings.

Mr Turner had, as might have been expected, the best twelve Auriculas ; they
comprised the following self-flowers, Master Hole, Bishop of Lichfield, Eliza,
Crown Prince, and Prince Alfred ; and of green, grey, and white edged flowers,
the following, Galatea, Earl of Shaftesbury, Exhibitor, Stapleford Hero, Buck-
stone, Admiral Napier, and Colonel Champneys. Mr James of Isleworth had
the best six in the amateurs' class, including Meteor Flag and Mrs Smith, self-
flowers ; and of the other divisions, Conqueror of Europe, Lovely Ann, Bright
Phoebus, and Ne plus ultra. Mr Turner's group of twelve Alpine Auriculas were
admired much more than what are termed the show flowers, and made a very
effective display. The advance made in the improvement in the Alpine Auricula
by Mr Turner and others, during the last few years, was manifested in this
fine group, all seedlings of Mr Turner's. Mr James of Isleworth had the first
prize for nine Pansies in pots, which were excellently grown and bloomed ; and
consisted of Novgorod, Rev. H. Dombrain, Sunset, and Queen of Eugland, self-
flowers ; J. B. Downie, Chancellor, and Dr Smith, yellow grounds ; and Isa Craig
and Princess Helena, white grounds.

As is usually the case, the miscellaneous groups of plants made up by far the
largest portion of the exhibition. The collections of Orchids exhibited by Mr
Demning, gardener to Lord Londesborough, contained a noble specimen of the
purple variety of Cattleya Skinneri, with ten fine spikes of flowers ; Dendrobium
Jenkinsii, with pale buff flowers, edged with yellow ; and Odontoglossum hystrix,
very handsome — to each of which special certificates were awarded. In a group
from Messrs Veitch & Sons was a specimen of Oncidium sarcodes, with a spike
of flowers 6 feet in length— awarded a special certificate; Odontoglossum Phalsc-
nopsis, a fine specimen of Anthurium Scherzerianum, &c. Equally attractive
was a fine group of plants from Mr B. S. Williams, and similar groups came from
Messrs Rollisson & Sons, Tooting, and Mr J. W. Wimsett, King's Road, Chelsea,
inclusive of six large and well-bloomed plants of the new hybrid Ivy -leaved Pelar-

1S70.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 283

gonium Wilsii. Mr May, gardener to Lady Ashburton, Melchet Court, Romsey,
sent two splendid spikes of Phalaenopsis Schilleriana, to which a special certificate
was awarded.

Royal Horticultural Society, May 4.— This show had as its leading feature
Roses and Auriculas. Of the former, the best nine in pots were furnished by
Messrs Paul & Son, having Anna Alexieff, Vicomte Vigier, Camille Bernardin, and
Marechal Vaillant, Hybrid Perpetuals ; and of Bourbon, Noisette, and Tea Roses,
Madame Villermoz, Charles Lawson, President, Celine Forestier, and Madame
Margottin. The best collection of twelve Roses of 1867-68-69 came from Mr
Turner, who had Duke of Edinburgh, very fine ; Henri Lidechaux, bright rose,
very fine ; Madame la Baronne de Rothschild, pale rose, very fine ; Marie
Ducher, Madame Creyton, Madame Alice Dureaux, Clotilde Rolland, light pink,
very good ; Reine du Midi, Adrienne Christophle, a copper-coloured Tea Rose of
good quality ; Madame Clert, Dupuy Jamin, and Miss Ingram. A collection of
Roses in pots from Messrs Veitch & Sons was the feature of the show ; they were
remarkably well grown and flowered, and made a charming display. The speci-
mens shown by amateur cultivators were of somewhat poor quality.

As on the last occasion, the exhibition of Auriculas was confined to Messrs Tur-
ner and James. Mr Turner was first with twelve varieties, and Mr James with
six varieties ; the former had Exhibitor, Colonel Champneys, Omega, a good, new,
white-edged flower; Miss Giddings, Sophia (Chapman), Stapleford Hero, General
Neill, Richard Headley, a very fine grey-edged flower ; Galatea, Earl of Shaftes-
bury, and Lancashire Hero: Mr James's flowers consisted of Superb, Conqueror
of Europe, Duke of Cambridge, True Briton, Lovely Ann, and Alma. Mr James
again staged a very fine lot of Alpine Auriculas, some of superb quality, and
highly coloured.

Groups of plants were again plentifully produced. One of the most interesting
was a collection of hardy plants in flower, as well as hardy plants with ornamental
and variegated foliage, comprising some capital things of considerable merit.

At both the foregoing exhibitions the contributions of fruit and vegetables con-
tained nothing calling for special remark.

Royal Horticultural Society, May 18. — Ericas were a leading feature of
the show, and they made a very nice display, being also somewhat plentifully
produced. The leading varieties were Lindleyana, Ventricosa coccinea minor,
Eximea superba, Mutabilis, Ventricosa grandiflora, Ventricosa magnifica, Victoria,
Candolleana, and Aristata superba. Of the zonal Pelargoniums staged in this
occasion but little can be said in their praise, trained as they were to flat wire-
trellisses. In the nurseryman's class, Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing were first
with six nice plants, consisting of Sultan, Comet, Countess of Strathmore, Ladies'
Pet, Rose Stella, and Duchess of Sutherland, all good and showy nosegay varie-
ties. Show Pelargoniums were pretty numerous, and fairly done ; the six Fancy
Pelargoniums exhibited by Mr Winsor, gardener to J. R. Ravenhill, Esq., were
remarkably fine— perhaps as fine as were ever before exhibited ; they were Mrs
Ford, Lady Craven, Madame Sainton Dolby, Godfrey Turner, Roi des Fantaisies,
and Ellen Beck. The best three double Pelargoniums came from Messrs Bell &
Thorpe, Stratford-on-Avon, and consisted of Gloire de Nancy, Hector, and
Madame Lemoine. The next best were Wilhelm Pfitzer, Marie Lemoine, and
Merveille de Lorraine, and came from Messrs Standish & Co. Decidedly the
best were Gloire de Nancy, Wilhelm Pfitzer, Madame Lemoine, and Marie
Lemoine.

A group of beautiful new early-blooming hardy Clematises was staged by Mr

284 THE GARDENER. ' [June

Charles Noble, Bagshot. Such varieties as Lord and Lady Londesborough, Miss
Bateman, &C., are lino acquisitions. Mr Turner sent a collection of cut Tulips,
very bright and gaudy-looking ; Messrs G. G. Henderson & Sons, a pan of the
pretty Hoop Petticoat Narciss (Narcissus Bulbocodium) ; and among the Orchids
staged by Lord Londesborough and others were very fine examples of Cattleya
Wagneri, Trichopilia crispa, of which there was shown both a beautiful dark as
well as a very pale variety ; Dendrobium Dalhousianum, Oncidium crispum,
Vanda Denisoniana, Laelia purpurata, &c

A good collection of fruit was staged by Mr Miles, gardener to Lord Carington,
Wycombe Abbey, which included Enville and Queen Pines, Black Hamburg
and Chaouch Grapes, two dishes of Cherries, two Melons, and Brown Ischia Figs,
a most commendable lot. Messrs Standish & Co. exhibited three bunches of
Royal Ascot Grapes, of fine quality, and covered with a delightful bloom ; three
of Muscat of Alexandria, quite as good, every way highly commendable. From
Mr W. Gardiner, Eatington Park, came the following Apples, all in a high state
of preservation : French Crab, Sturmer Pippin, Reinette du Canada, Mere de
Menage, Royal Russet, Dumelon's Seedling, Rymer, and Han well Souring.

REVIEWS.

A Book about Roses: how to Grow and Show them. By S. Reynolds

Hole. Second Edition. William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and

London.

No one will be surprised that this rich, racy, invigorating, pleasure-giving book
has passed into a Second Edition. The Author has retouched and amended
some portions of it, and added a postscript to Appendix No. 2, wherein he de-
scribes and comments on the new Roses to be sent out during the present season.
This is an addition of importance, as ic brings down the record of new flowers
to the present time.

The matter and manner of the book who shall arraign? Any set criticism on
such a work would only result in the critic becoming convulsed with laughter,
and then aghast at his own temerity. But we stumble on two typographical errors,
and manage to find courage enough to exhibit them. We have no set pugilistical
tastes — we cannot claim to be well up in the pages of ' Fistiana,' and would much
rather read Mill than witness a "mill." But when even a pugilist achieves
immortality (sic), the least we can desire is that his name be spelt correctly ;
and so we hope when our author revises a third edition he will substitute
Langham for Langan on page 13 ; on page 201, The Rev. R. Fellowes, Shottesham,
should read The Rev. C. Fellowes. That worthy amateur florist has raised so
many fine Dahlias, besides growing lovely Roses, that it were a pity he were not
in a niche of the temple of fame inscribed on that page of Mr Hole's book.

It is a book not for Florists merely, but for everybody— the work of a true
cosmopolitan — a man with a genial loving heart, and broad, generous sympathies ;
such men are at once the glory and the boast of Floriculture.

Prize Essays on Cottage Gardening and Window Gardening. Printed for
the Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington.
This is a neat little pamphlet of 36 pages, containing the two prize Essays which
gained the prizes, offered by Mr W. Egerton Hubbard, and has been printed by
the Royal Horticultural Society, for circulation among those for whose especial
benefit they have been written. Both are indited in a popular manner, can be

1870.I NOTES AND QUERIES. 285

easily apprehended, and what is advanced is generally within the means of the
cottager class. In this respect they present a marked contrast to one at least
of the Essays on Window Gardening that was highly commended by the
judges. It was so technically and painfully elaborate, that to apply the arrange-
ments and suggestions recommended in it would not only require the whole of the
windows in Grosvenor Square to give effect to them, but also a considerable deal
of the resources belonging to the denizens of that aristocratic quarter. Clergy-
men and others, as well as country Horticultural Societies, would do well to
obtain copies for gratuitous distribution.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

The Gardener's Magazine for May; also The Food Journal for May — both
as full of interesting details as heretofore.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Erratum. — In May number, page 237, line 1, for " Lassianthu3 Russelliana,"
read " Lisianthus Russellianus."

Nicotiana Wigandioides. — I have just seen some flowering specimens of this
fine Tobacco, and can recommend it as a good conservatory plant. The plants
had been taken from the open ground in the autumn, and placed in large pots,
and they are now bearing huge branching panicles of pale cream-coloured
flowers of considerable value as decorative agents. Apart, therefore, from the
value of this fine Tobacco as a foliaged plant in subtropical gardens, it can also
be estimated for its flowers, which it will produce in a cool conservatory during
the months of March, April, and May. B. C.

Saunders' Dark Wallflower. — I am much disappointed with this reputed
fine strain of Wallflowers. The flowers are not dark, but of a brownish orange
hue, and not near so dense in colour as common strains of the Wallflower grow-
ing in the same garden. A small packet of it cost me one shilling — a price large
enough to have insured something good. Y. S., Leicester.

[Has the cold dry weather affected the colour of the flowers ? — Eds.]

The Council of the Royal Horticultural Society have elected Lord H. Gordon
Lennox, M.P., to serve on the Council in place of the late Gen. Hon. C. Grey,
and His Grace the President has nominated his lordship one of the Yice-presi-
dents of the Society for the current year.

Tobacco - cloth (R. B.) — By Tobacco - cloth we understand rags steeped in
Tobacco-juice : this will do as well as anything else for fumigating, but as it is
generally stronger (and dearer) than the ordinary Tobacco -paper, some care must
be exercised in using it.

Spirea Palmata (Inquirer). — Mr Charles Noble, Nurseryman, Bagshot,
Surrey, is distributing it, but you may obtain it through any nurseryman.

Name of Plants (A Forester).— The double-white grove Anemone (Anemone
nemorosa flore pleno).

Phlox Verna. — I have a large batch of this in full bloom at the present mo-
ment, and am much pleased with it. Though said to be old, yet I have only

286 THE GARDENER. [June

this season met with it for the first time. I suppose it can best be propagated
by root division ? (Yes). And is it quite hardy? (Yes). In Mr W. Robinson's
book on Alpine Flowers it is classed as P. reptans, or the Creeping Piuk. It is
also known as P. stolonifera. — Subscriber.

Seedling Auriculas (A. Veal). — No 1. An alpine variety, with golden paste
and smooth dark-blue edge ; No. 2. A self variety, with white paste and smooth
dark margin ; both promising.

Ravages op Vermin.— Under the initials of " K. Y." a correspondent writes :
" I am suffering in a great degree — i.e., my Peas — from a vigorous attack of Curculio
linearis and C. macularius ; and I shall be glad if you will tell me in your next
number how to exterminate the 'varmints.' I have already given a liberal
dressing of soot and lime, but with no effect ; and, as a last resource, I buried
about 50 yards of Peas when the little nuisances were hard at work near mid-
night." One person to whom this inquiry was submitted states, " I have always
found a good dressing of hot lime and soot will have the desired effect ; it
makes the leaves so bitter that they will not attack them." Another advocates
diverting their attention to something even more palatable as a means of drawing
them away from devouring the Peas. He states, " Peas are not the natural food
of the weevil ; it is an acquired taste. Put slices of beetroot or carrot in their
way ; succulent roots are sure to prove too tempting to be passed by. The weevils
hide by day, and work by night ; therefore place pieces of boards near the lines
of Peas, as hiding-places by day, and on these place the food provided for them.
When I find ants attacking my fruits, I often put sugar in their way ; it spoils
their taste for acids, and they leave the fruits alone." We are sorry a delay we
could not avoid prevented this from appearing in our last number.

Hot Water may be employed for the destruction of the insects that most com-
monly infest plants. The few experiments made have been attended with such
promising results that we shall hope to find opportunity soon for repeating
them in a more extended and systematic manner. For the present we shall
speak of aphis only, and as that is the most prevalent of plant-pests, we trust
these remarks will be useful to many readers. It appears, then, that aphides
quickly perish if immersed in water heated to 120° Fahr. We obtained from
various sources plants infested with green-fly, and cleansed them all by the simple
process of dipping. As the experiments were made in the month of February,
we thought it probable that aphis might endure in June a temperature many
degrees higher than that which proved fatal to them in the earlier and colder
season. Hence it became desirable to ascertain the degree of heat the plants
could endure in the dipping process. A number of herbaceous and soft-wooded
plants were therefore subjected to the process of immersion in water heated to
various degrees above 120°. We found that Fuchsias were unharmed at 140°,
but at 150° the young leaves were slightly injured. Calceolarias suffered at 140°,
but the plants were not killed, though their soft tops perished. Pelargoniums
were unhurt up to 150°, but the slightest rise beyond that figure killed the soft
wood and the young leaves completely. Chinese Primulas were injured by any
rise beyond 140°, and this at last proved to be the most general maximum, and
may be cited as a rule for observance. Centaureas, Sedums, Saxifragas, Thyrsa-
canthus, Justicias, Ferns, Heliotropes, Petunias, Begonias, Mignonette, and many
other plants of soft texture, were unhurt by being dipped in water at 140°, but
the slightest rise beyond that point was followed by blackening of the leaves, and
consequent disfigurement of the plant, and at 150° the process of killing com-
menced.— The Gardener's Magazine.

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 287

Early Green Peas. — On Tuesday the 10th, Mr George Green, gardener to
the Venerable Archdeacon Fitzgerald, of Charton Mackrell, near Somerton,
Somerset, gathered from the rectory garden his first dish of green Peas for this
season, grown in the open border, their only shelter having been the garden
wall. This season being generally pronounced late, the 10th of May will be con-
sidered extremely early for green Peas. They were sown on the 22d of last
November. Cobbett gives (in his ' Gardener's Guide ') the 4th of June as very good
work for Peas in the open border. " In the old garden at Brympton d'Everecy,
when I lived there as a boy, we used to get them about the end of May, which was
considered very early for outdoor Peas." The beautiful rain which we have had
has caused great progress in the crops here. Under Kendall's ground vineries I
have Strawberries nearly ripe ; they were turned out of the pots and planted in the
ground on the 1st of March. Every villa garden ought to have them, the vineries
being so cheap, and easily put up. — T. S., Hermeston House, Yeovil.

Treatment of Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, and Calceolarias for Exhi-
bition.— I have plants of Calceolarias, Pelargoniums, Geraniums, and Fuchsias,
which I want to exhibit at a horticultural show the last week in August. The
Pelargoniums and Fuchsias are in 8 -inch pots, the Calceolarias in 5-inch pots.
I wish to know if I am to go on repotting the plants, and stopping the shoots,
so as to have a good show of bloom at the right time ? And will you state how
many weeks before the show I must allow the plants to bloom 1 whether you
think the blooming of each plant can be deferred till the time at which they are
to be exhibited ? and also, if a cold frame is the proper place in which to keep
the plants till they are wanted for show 1 Annie Marris.

[Pelargoniums, both show and fancy kinds, if they have not been stopped re-
cently, may have the points of the shoots pinched out at once, tying out the shoots
into shape, and keeping the plants well supplied with water, so as to have them in
bloom by the end of August. Let them remain in 8-inch pots, for it is a great
mistake to over-pot them, as too much pot-room results in a superabundance of

foliage and too little flower. If, however, the plants are now " pot-bound"

that is, very full of roots — the plants may be shifted into the next-sized pots,
taking care that the pots are not much larger ; but do not do this unless you fear
the foliage may turn yellow for want of pot-room before the end of August.
Rather place your plants in pans, with a little moss and manure in them, so that
the plants may root through into the pans, and moisture be retained at the roots.
Pick off the blooms at present, and keep the plants both growing and shaded from
the sun ; and about a month or five weeks before the day of exhibition, according
to the appearance of the buds, place the plants close to the glass, exposed to air
and light, but keeping up a supply of water. A little thoughtful attention then
will soon lead you to form an opinion whether you will hit the right time. You
cannot do better than adopt a similar plan for zonal Pelargoniums (what you term
Geraniums). If you are growing Tricolor and Bronze variegated Pelargoniums,
do not over-pot them, but keep them close to the glass, well watered, and well
ventilated, in order to get growth and colour in the leaves. If you want large
specimen Fuchsias, re-pot into 10 or 12 inch pots at once. Grow these on in a
shaded moist house or deep pit, syringing often, and stopping them until the
middle of June ; then push them on into growth, and, as soon as the buds form,
gradually harden them off for the exhibition, and, say, for three weeks before,
expose them to plenty of light, with adequate ventilation, to get size and colour of
bloom. Use weak manure-water or Standen's manure for them, and see that the
plants get plenty of water.

288 THE GARDENER. [June 1870.

Your Calceolarias (we presume they are shrubby kinds) may be re-potted at
once into 8-inch pots, and treat them like Pelargoniums, taking especial care to
keep them growing freely and free from green-fly.

You can grow the Pelargoniums and Calceolarias in a cold frame; the Fuchsias
as directed.]

Cultivation of the Musk Plant. — The Musk (Mimulus moschatus) is such a
universal favourite, that one is often surprised pains are not taken to make it
much more attractive in form than is usually seen, instead of its being allowed to
grow weakly and straggling, and of a kind of consumptive appearance. It is really
capable, with some assistance, of doing much more than people appear to imagine.
The root3 of Musk, like those of the common herb Mint, run under the surface
of the soil, which, by continued watering, loses the nourishment so essential to the
plant. Cuttings, as a general rule, make much better plants than those obtained
by a division of the roots ; and cuttings strike easily enough if taken early and
placed in pots. To grow the Musk finely, a vigorous young cutting, well rooted,
should be taken and planted in some soil, about 4 inches deep, in a flower-pot
that would hold half a peck, and then placed in the warmest part of the green-
house, where it will grow rapidly. As the plant makes growth, the leading shoot
should be pinched out, to induce the plant to make side growth ; and as this
growth develops, more soil should be added, until the pot is filled to within an
inch of the top : by this time the pot is well filled with roots that have struck
out from all parts of the plant thus buried, hence it grows more vigorously than
when it has only a few roots running under the surface. A number of neatly-cut
sticks should now be placed some 10 inches apart all round the edge of the pot,
and be drawn and tied together at the top, thus forming a cone about 18 inches
high above the rim. Some fine matting or bast should then be passed round each
stick, commencing at the bottom ; and as the plant continues to grow, place these
bands round it to keep the foliage inside. As the flowers make their appearance
they should be pinched off, until the plant has quite filled the space enclosed by
the sticks, which will not occupy long, for the plant at this stage may almost be
seen to grow, and then it should be allowed to bloom at will. A frequent turning
of the pot will prevent the foliage from being drawn on one side by the sun or
light. The shoots that find their way forth through the sticks can be allowed to
fall down round the pot, which will soon be almost invisible. The whole then
presents the appearance of a floral pillar, about 2 feet in height, covered with
flowers of a larger size than those generally seen in the Musk plant, and not a
stick of its support visible. By this time it i-equires a little assistance with clear
manure-water, not too strong. Frequent syringings of the plant with chilled
water is of great and essential service.

Fekn Culture (J. S.) — Mr B. S. Williams's 'Select Ferns andLycopods' is
the best book we have on the culture of Ferns in general, and contains descrip-
tions of all the best sorts, from which you can readily make a selection. The
price of the book is 5s., and it can be obtained from any bookseller.

For the purpose you name — i.e., greenhouse culture in 48 (5-inch) pots, for the
dinner-table — you will find the following sorts good: — Lomaria Gibba, Lomaiia
ciliata, Pteris cretica albo-lineata, Lastrea filix-mas cristata, Gleichenia dicarpa,
Asplenium bulbiferum, Asplenium Fabianum, Adiantum hispidulum, and Adiau-
tum formosum.

THE

GARDENER

JULY 1870.

A PLEA FOR HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

F there is one aspect of gardening more than another that
stands ont prominently in the present day, it is this — that
many of the fine old hardy perennials and biennials, with
others not quite hardy, yet not difficult of management,
are slowly but surely rising in popular favour, and that they will ere
long be eagerly sought for the decoration of the flower-garden. It is
equally certain that the rage for "bedding out," in so far as it is pictured
in glowing masses of scarlet and crimson, rose and blue, yellow and
white, or in long ribbon-lines composed of these and other shades of
colour, differently arranged, with little to relieve the glare or tone
down the most pronounced hues, is gradually expending itself, for the
very monotony of its annual recurrence presages its decay. The par-
tial employment of these gaudy-coloured flowers can become, by means
of judicious grouping, a great aid in the decoration of the flower-
garden ; it is when they hold absolute sway, when nothing else but
these glaring masses of colour is employed, that they become offensive
and cease to be satisfying.

The large classes of hardy perennials and biennials supply numerous
plants yielding beautiful, and in many instances highly fragrant,
flowers of divers types ; combined with many forms of leaf foliage that,
when "uncrowned by flowers" even, are by no means unattractive of
themselves. But in the past few years, during the arbitrary reign of
a somewhat diseased perception of beauty in the garden that failed to
see much that is attractive in our fine old and many new herbaceous
plants, they were ruthlessly thrust aside, as bereft of charms, and as
fitted only for some out-of-the-way place remote from the flower-garden.

T

290 THE GARDENER. [July

We have lost much, very much, by this ; but we have gained an experi-
ence that will do much to exalt in the time to come the plants for
which we now plead.

The mixed border, by bringing into its arrangement a little know-
ledge, and by the exercise of a little judicious care, can be made a kind
of floral panorama the year through. There are so many flowers easily
accessible, and as easily managed, that bloom at all seasons of the year,
and at almost any one particular season, such a border can be so tinted
with flowers as to be continuously bearing a cheerful appearance. The
eye, satiated with staring masses of colour, turns with quick joy to
such a border as this, when the full flower-harvest of the month of
July crowns the summer with fruitfulness, and sees here a quiet and
changeful beauty, so modest and unpretentious, and yet much more
capable of satisfying the requirements of a true taste than yonder
gaudy robe of many colours covering the breast of "Earth, our mother,"
and which we term "a flower-garden."

A glance at a list of perennials and biennials gives the following as
among the most useful as decorative agents : those who know them
intimately can fully appreciate the high floral service they are capable
of rendering. An alphabetical arrangement gives us the fine dark
blue Aconitum Napellus, the charming varieties of Alstroemeria, an
exceedingly beautiful and profuse genus of tuberous-rooted plants of
easy growth ; Anemone japonica, its pale variety of hybrida, and that
beautiful pure white variety Honorine Jobert, all so useful for cutting
from ; Anthericum Liliastrum, or St Bruno's Lily ; Aquilegias, or Co-
lumbines, especially the beautiful A. glandulosa, and the scarcely less
attractive A. Skinneri and A. caerulea ; the blue Baptisia Australis,
with its pretty pea-shaped flowers; Borago officialis, the common
blue Borage ; Campanula persicifolia, both white and blue, and its
fine varieties, coronata cserulea and coronata alba ; together with the
varieties of Campanula media, better known as Canterbury Bells,
among which the new and charming rose-coloured variety should have
a place ; the old red-flowered Centranthus ruber, very hardy and of
free habit ; the class of Delphiniums, one of the handsomest and most
useful of all perennials, especially D. Hendersoni and D. formosum,
the latter with an almost unapproachable rich hue of blue ; the fine
and showy varieties of Dianthus hybridus, almost perpetual summer-
bloomers ; Dictamnus fraxinella, both red and white, that so richly
deserve a place in every garden, because both effective and fragrant ;
the fine new spotted Foxgloves, showing a march of improvement almost
unimaginable by those not conversant with it ; the fine and showy
Gaillardia Richardsoni, one of the gayest ornaments for a summer
flower-bed ; some of the early-blooming Gladioli, such as G. Byzan-

1870.] PLEA FOR HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 291

tinus and G. Colvilli ; the double forms of Hesperis matronalis, better
known as the double purple and double white Rockets, now
masses of bloom ; Iris Germanica, I. Xiphioides, or the English
Iris ; and I. Xiphium, or the Spanish Iris, of each of which there are
many beautiful varieties, and all easily managed ; the showy Tangier
Pea, Lathyrus Tingitanus, and the equally useful L. Lindleyanus ;
Liliums of many kinds, all superb border-flowers ; the double scarlet
Lychnis Chalcedonica, the flesh-coloured Bastard Balm, Melittis
melissophyllum, Merembergia frutescens, growing in a hardy shrublike
form ; the yellow GEnothera macrocarpa, and the equally useful white
(Enothera taraxicifolia ; the beautiful blue Forget-me-not-like Omphal-
odes verna ; Pentstemons in variety, most useful border plants, espe-
cially the pretty blue P. Jeffreyanum, and P. (Chelone) barbatum splen-
dens ; Potentillas, of which there are many showy kinds ; Prunella
grandiflora or Pennsylvania, a very fine species; double Pyrethrums, of
which we now have quite a wealth of fine showy varieties that are
most valuable border-plants ; Scilla Peruviana and its white variety ;
Spireas, japonica, ulmaria florepleno, and umbrosa ; Stachys coccinea,
the autumn-flowering Stenactis speciosa ; Tritonia aurea, T. crocata,
and T. rosea, beautiful plants that richly deserve more general culture ;
Veronica spicata, and its white variety ; the alpine Violas, calcarata
and cornuta; V. lutea and its large -flowering varieties; and the fine
V. cornuta, var. Perfection, of great size, and of a lustrous bluish mauve
colour. The foregoing by no means exhaust the list ; there are hun-
dreds of others equally valuable and equally attractive, and as unfail-
ing as they are numerous.

Perennials and biennials afford a greater and more pleasing variety
of tints of colour than the lists of ordinary bedding plants; and in the
fine hues of blue, so much needed under our present systems of bedding,
perennials are singularly rich. As a general rule, they are easily
attainable, either by raising plants from seed, or by obtaining plants
from a nursery, and when so obtained capable of almost indefinite
extension ; they by their beauty, by their pleasant service, and by
their unbroken succession of bloom, assert their claim to a higher re-
gard than they now receive, though we feel assured such a regard
cannot be much longer withheld from them.

Already nurserymen and others are finding it to be their advantage
to work up collections of these hardy plants. They are in demand,
one of the best indications of their rising popularity ; and when this
popularity shall come — as come it will, — their use will revolutionise our
system of bedding out with much positive gain. Moreover, these
plants will be found to fit into, and both aid and supplement, what is
known as spring gardening, now so much and deservedly followed :

292 THE GARDENER. [July

labour will be lessened while the most desired results are at the same
time augmented ; there need be no more naked beds during the winter
and spring months where spring gardening is not followed ; and where
it is, they will assist rather than prevent or retard it.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

Manchester has once more held its great Whitsun Show, and in
doing so has demonstrated that in Cottonopolis there is no such thing
as a decline in horticultural exhibitions to mourn over; and so no
doleful miserere comes from any one connected with its management.
The ' Gardeners' Chronicle ' spoke of it as " an exhibition of a first-rate
character, equal, perhaps, on the whole, to any of the great exhibitions
of ordinary years, metropolitan or provincial, and probably never sur-
passed, certainly very rarely equalled, except, indeed, at the Interna-
tional of 1866, in the elements of Orchids, which made a thoroughly
magnificent display — so numerous were they, and of such generally
excellent quality." The June Exhibition at Leeds, which opened on
the same day, suffered somewhat, as Manchester did slightly, from
the simple fact that it was impossible the same plants could be in two
places at once ; but any little drawback of this character was amply
compensated for in the fact that the amateur element about Leeds has
this season asserted itself, and wrested from outsiders the prizes they
have aforetimes borne away out of the district. This speaks well for
horticultural enterprise about Leeds, and is scarcely reconcilable with
symptoms of decline. The great exhibitions held at the Crystal Pal-
ace in May and June, and the great Exhibitions of the Royal Botanic
Society in the same months, have been warmly praised, as they deserved
to be ; while the large Show of the Royal Horticultural Society, held
on the 8th of June, was pronounced to be, by the highest authority,
without question "the best show of the season." There were some
grand specimen stove and greenhouse plants, some magnificent fine-
foliaged plants and superb Orchids shown on that occasion, but the
former were crowded together in the hateful arcades, and half their
beauty was lost in consequence. This does not look like a decline,
and the throngs of visitors at each of these great shows indicated that
the popular interest is as well sustained as ever.

So far, the parallel between the metropolitan and large provincial exhi-
bitions holds good. Both have this season been of large extent and fine
quality ; but here the parallel ceases. The promoters of the former
complain that they cannot be made to pay ; or if they do pay, the

i87o.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 293

return falls short of what might reasonably have been expected to accrue
to their exchequer. In the provinces, as an almost invariable rule,
excepting when the weather is very unpropitious, the receipts are in
excess of the outlay, and a handsome surplus is the result. These
shows, probably because more localised, attach to themselves a very
great amount of popular support among those who go to flower-shows
to see the flowers and plants more than to see each other — an element
the great London exhibitions do not attract. The masses of the people
in London — those who represent and correspond to the operative and
artizan classes in Manchester and Leeds, for instance, and who contribute
so much to the financial prosperity of their horticultural exhibitions —
never come to a large metropolitan show ; no attempt is made to attract
them ; perhaps they are not wanted. A great London show means a
fashionable lounging-place and promenade, with the popular element
kept outside. At Manchester, the total receipts were £1650; of this
sum, £1 100 was received in shillings. So much for enlisting the popu-
lar element on the side of flower-shows.

The excessive drought, now so seriously affecting the southern,
western, eastern, and a portion of the northern, midland districts
of England, is one of an almost unexampled character, commencing,
as it did, so early in the year. In the London district, hot, bright,
sunny days, having the appearance of set-fair weather, alternate with
days quite cloudy, and even cold, the clouds appearing to be charged
with vapour, but none falls ; and notwithstanding a steady fall in the
barometer, the long-looked-for rain appears as remote as ever. There
is a prevalence of cold north-westerly winds, occasionally varied with
short periods of warm southerly breezes, and again by north-easterly
winds ; and notwithstanding the frequent bright appearance of the
weather, the evenings are often chilly, and the nights cold. Observa-
tion points to the presence of cold currents of air that seem to cross
each other in contrary directions ; and when the wind has been in the
south-west, masses of clouds, driven somewhat rapidly across the hori-
zon, had come from the north-west. Garden crops, though showing
signs of distress, are yet looking better than might be expected. Peas,
Beans, Potatoes, and suchlike, want rain badly; and if it does not soon
come, the crops of the former must be very small. The grass crops
are very thin, especially on gravel and strong clay soils ; in many cases
they will not be worth cutting, and they are so dried up as to be of
little avail for cattle-food. Spring-sown cereals are giving out rapidly ;
autumn-sown look much better, but must soon show signs of suffering.
Where there is a scarcity of water, the deterioration of the crops is
much more apparent. Since the above was written, a heavy thunder-
storm has visited the London district, and the country generally, but

294 THE GARDENER. [July

the fall of rain round the metropolis was somewhat scant, though
highly refreshing.

Such a season as this shows the value of all artificial appliances
for the purposes of irrigation. It points to the necessity for the con-
struction of tanks for securing all the fall of rain-water on buildings,
&c, during the rainy season; for the husbanding of all waste water
used for domestic purposes, the which can also be secured in tanks,
and pumped up for use as required. All cleansing processes can be
gone through, but there should be no waste; and the experience of the
last three years goes to indicate the possibility of dry summers being
the heritage of a good portion of England. Such a season brings to
our notice the almost inestimable value of mulching, and the necessity
for husbanding and employing all materials available for the purpose.
True it is that nature serves man, and that all things are in decay that
he may be strengthened and supported thereby ; but in this very ser-
vice, nature, that is never wasteful of power, and always beneficent in
action, sometimes appears to fight against man, to the peril of his wel-
fare. It is then that man must parry these seeming attacks, and turn
nature against herself, so that his work be not retarded. When so
confronting him, he must subjugate her ; and in his brain — that maga-
zine of divine forces — he must seek for his weapons. A man of obser-
vation and intelligence is rarely wanting in resources ; and if ever the
gardener had to fall back on this armoury, it is now, when suffering
under the influences of a long- continued drought.

An invention, likely to be very useful to exhibitors of cut flowers, is
found in " Chapman's Multum in Parvo Packing-Case." We have had
an opportunity of inspecting it, and think highly of its merits. The
case, when opened in the front, discloses two stands, one above the
other, on which can be exhibited Roses, Dahlias, Verbenas, Holly-
hocks, &c. ; and when the exhibition-tent is reached, these can be
drawn out and placed in position. These stands are securely fixed
in grooves, and yet slide backwards and forwards easily when the
lid is opened : when it is closed, it is practically imposible for them
to shift or move about. There are receptacles in the stands for
receiving the flowers, with a tube for them to rest upon ; but one
peculiarity is, that when the stems of the flowers are placed in the
water, they are firmly gripped by a circular piece of some flexible
material like galvanised india-rubber ; and so closely does this hold
the flowers, without at the same time injuring the stems in any way
by the force of the pressure, that were the box turned topsy-turvy,
not only would the tubes not be loosened, but not a drop of water
could escape, so securely is it confined. Those who have had actual
experience of the insecurity of, and the danger of injury attending,

1870.] A VISIT TO FROGMORE GARDENS. 295

the old stand, will appreciate this new invention of Mr Chapman's.
Mr C. J. Perry, of Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, has now in use a set
of boxes for Dahlias, Roses, and Verbenas, and speaks highly of their
excellent preserving qualities.

Those also who state that the old regard for florists' flowers is on the
wane, and that the florist of twenty years ago is fast becoming an extinct
species, would have found their assertions in much danger had they
witnessed the meeting of the Royal National Tulip Show held at Cam-
bridge last month. There was no lack of flowers or exhibitors, fire or
enthusiasm. The northern growers came in strong force, and brought
with them some beautiful flowers. The date was a little late for the
southern growers, as their flowers had become flushed owing to the
prevalence of hot bright sunny weather, thereby losing that refinement
so dear to, and valuable in the eyes of, a Tulip-fancier. As a general
rule, the flowers appeared somewhat smaller than usual, but there was
no doubt as to their purity and beauty of marking : delicate purity,
richness of marking, and perfection in form, met in these Tulips, and
who wondered at the regard in which the lovers of the Tulip held their
flowers 1 The judges were men sincerely to be pitied, and on no account
to be envied : theirs was a difficult and wearisome task, and for some
three and a half hours they held bravely to their work ; and their deci-
sions appear to be as correct as they were honestly given. To judge
Tulips requires not only a perfect acquaintance with them, but much
honest independence and firmness. The examples of Tulip lore we
heard would construct a unique vocabulary, could it be compiled ; it
was a part of the Tulip Show, and many of the visitors stood by listen-
ing with much interest to the discussions which took place among the
exhibitors as to the relative merits of certain flowers, and enjoying
the scene with a relish altogether new to those who had never before
witnessed a Tulip Show.

The Society for the Encouragement of Florists' Flowers have made
arrangements to hold an exhibition at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham,
on the 6th of September and following days, when prizes to the amount
of £150 (towards which the directors of the Crystal Palace Company
give £100) will be offered for Dahlias, Hollyhocks, Gladioli, Verbenas,
and Asters. Schedules of prizes will shortly be issued.

A VISIT TO FROGMORE GARDENS, 'WINDSOR.

It yet appears doubtful whether the wars of the adherents of the
" extension " and "restriction " systems are ended. Probably neither
of the combatants are to be " convinced against their will," and will

296 THE GARDENER. [July

consequently hold to the determination of being " of the same opinion
still." Before settling which is "to be or not to be," it would be
well to define what extension or restriction means.

I presume every Vine is being extended under cultivation until it
fills the number of feet of glass allotted to it, be that space great or
small. Then restriction begins. The half of the natural life of a Vine
embraces a great number of years — it may be assumed to be 500 ; that
is, we know the Vine to be a very long-lived plant as compared to an
Elm, or as the life of an elephant compared to a Newfoundland dog.
Now it appears to me, that if either extension or restriction has very
much to do with the life of a Vine, it matters little whether the exten-
sion system goes on for five or fifty years ; both terms are but a fraction
of the life of a Vine, and this consideration is practically of very little
value as bearing on the health of Vines, every other circumstance being
favourable. I find Vines, in the hands of some gardeners, restricted to
one rafter for a given term of years, producing much finer Grapes and
more of them than one Vine filling a whole house in the hands of
others. The Cumberland Lodge Vine is by far the largest in this
country. It has been extended as no other Vine has ever before been,
and yet for very many years it has been subjected to a course of restric-
tion such as no other Vine has ever been submitted to. The whole
aspect of the Vine shows it is neither more nor less healthy than scores
of Vines I know which are twenty years old, and restricted to one
rafter. The whole thing seems to me to be merely a matter of culture.
Even the old veteran of Cumberland Lodge quickly responded last
year to the stimulus of forty loads of fresh loam, and the same of rot-
ten cow-dung, as a top-dressing to the roots, by the production of 400
lb. of extra Grapes, and this year promises to be even more boun-
tiful. All culture is artificial. Extension is a good thing for all fruit-
trees whatever, until they fill their prescribed space, after which restric-
tion is found to be an equally good thing, and productive of the most
beneficial results under the hands of the skilful cultivator. We are
accustomed to lift, replant, manure, and top-dress our hardy fruit-trees,
and find the fruit increased in quantity and improved in quality to an
immense degree. The very same treatment is applicable to Vines, and
the same effects are observable.

I have been led into these remarks by a recent visit to Frogmore,
where everything in relation to gardening is done on a grand scale,
and necessarily on sure and safe principles. Never before has root-
pruning and branch-pruning been carried out to the same extent on
full-grown trees, and with such uniform success, as has been done at
Frogmore during the last two years, simply because the same could not
be possible at any other place in the kingdom ; and no ordinary amount

1870.] A VISIT TO FROGMORE GARDENS. 297

of decision and energy was necessary to undertake and discharge such
a task. Where a few years ago could have been seen only sheets of
leafy twigs shutting in every brick in the walls, there are, as I saw them
on the occasion of this visit, sheets of blossom or blossom-buds. All
sorts of fruit-trees have been served alike, and almost every tree in
the gardens, including old standards and the fancy trained espaliers.
The low-lying position of these gardens — but little above the bed of
the Thames — on a consequently moist subsoil, inducing an overgrowth
of timber, compelled this wholesale root-pruning and thinning of the
wood. While this process was in progress, the different varieties of
fruits have been ranged together on sections of walls and borders, as
the case might be, so far as cultural considerations would permit
of its being done. Whole acres of Gooseberry and Currant tree3 have
been lifted and replanted after the green fruit of the former and ripe
of the latter were gathered in July, to admit of the trenching of the
ground, the only precautions necessary being a little shading and
syringing at certain times.

What do your readers think of 300 bushels of Onions being re-
quired for the royal tables yearly, 40,000 heads of Celery, an acre and
a half of Horse-radish, and everything in the Brassica way counting
by scores of thousands ! Mr Rose, the head-gardener at Frogmore,
adheres to but few varieties of vegetables, knowing, as most really
practical men do, that three or four varieties of Cabbages or Onions
are amply sufficient. Whilst among figures, let me mention a few
things grown by the hundred or thousand for cut flowers, or for the
decoration of Windsor Castle. By the thousand, such things as Pinks,
bushy plants in 6-inch pots, Mignonette, Chinese Primulas ; Iberis, of
kinds ; Cinerarias, very fine ; Cyclamens, one year from the seed, fine,
in 6-inch pots ; show and fancy Pelargoniums, &c. By the hundred
are seen Hydrangeas, Euphorbia Jacquiniflora, Fuchsias, Coleus in
variety, Achimenes in 4 and 6 inch pots, already in full bloom in the
middle of April; Poinsettias, Azaleas, Roses, Spirea japonica, &c.
But in truth I should mention the whole list of popular flowers for
all times and seasons. Marechal Niel and Gloire de Dijon Roses are
trained to the rafters of a span-roofed house, and nothing can excel
them for cut flowers in spring.

About 8000 pots of Strawberries are forced, Prince of Wales and
Prince Alfred being favourite sorts. For earliest supply, a variety is
grown, raised by Mr Rose at Floors, named Perfection, something after
Black Prince, but which might be called " Scarlet Prince," being
greener in the foliage, and bears brighter-coloured fruit, and is exces-
sively prolific. Strawberries were of course abundant, daily supplies
being sent to Osborne. Not a plant seemed to have missed.

298 THE GARDENER. [July

2000 pots of French Beans were in course of forcing in various
stages, 600 beans a-day being the demand, all being forced in vineries
at work, and mostly on the floors of the houses, the thin copper sash-
bars and iron rafters admitting abundance of light. Every pot is ex-
pected to yield on an average from 80 to 100 Beans.

Ripe Grapes have been in use since the middle of March from pot
Vines. The crops on all these Vines, which can be counted by the hun-
dred, are extraordinary. Mr Rose was celebrated for his success with
pot Vines at Floors Castle ; at Frogmore he is equally successful. Six
to eight bunches is the crop allowed on Vines in 7 and 8 inch pots.
Small pots and abundant feeding is the system pursued, the weight
of fruit obtained from each plant exceeding the weight of the soil the
pot contains after being dried.

Nearly all the vineries are renewed, or are in course of renewal.
Whole houses of Black Hamburgh and of Muscats are planted, besides
which Alicante, Napoleon, and Lady Downes are relied on as stock
varieties. Golden Champion is doing well and showing abundantly, and
Mr Rose speaks of it with perfect confidence : notwithstanding the severe
critical handling this Grape has suffered, it will ultimately triumph when
it gets established. Mr Rose has, with an eye to maintaining the
supplies while renewing the vineries, accomplished the filling of two
vineries with a full crop of fruit the second year, the roof being equally
covered with bunches from end to end. Between each permanent Vine
in front is trained a pot Vine, fruited nearly its whole length, reaching
half-way up the rafter, the Vines allowed to root into the border. Three
bunches only are taken off the permanent Vines. Others are planted
against the back wall, which meet the pot Vines half-way down ; these
are allowed to fruit their entire length. The Vines have broken at
every bud : the bunches are not of large size, but are good table, if
not sensational, fruit. The pot Vines are thrown away when fruited,
those on the back wall retained for a time. A large batch of pot Vines
are still in the open air behind a wall, which are brought indoors to
take the place of those fruited in March and April, thus taking two
crops from the same house in one season. The Grape crops, to my
thinking, are much too heavy altogether; but Mr Rose has special care
to the foliage, the true key by which success is opened up. The
command of water is unlimited.

I did not purpose writing a paper in detail of what is to be seen at
Frogmore — it would be impossible to do so within a reasonable compass,
the subjects worthy of notice present such an embarras des richesses to
the mind's eye. Before it is a panorama of hundreds of feet of Mush-
room beds, in all stages, some of them studded with buttons and knobs
of Mushrooms, like stone Turnips, for gathering in succession on future

1870.] A VISIT TO FROGMORE GARDENS. 299

mornings ; pits after pits of the old Ash-leaf kidney Potato, some
just above ground, some fit to dry, some where the crop had just been
dug ; pits of Maclean's Little Gem Peas in the same stages as the
Potatoes — a most excellent dwarf Pea for forcing, when there is space to
devote to it ; pits of Melons and Cucumbers, the latter in wonderful
health and productiveness, without a particle of bottom-heat, the
warmth derived only from the atmosphere of the house. Frogmore
has long been celebrated for its Pines on the planted- out system ; nor
does its prestige fail, as I counted 40 smooth Cayennes, ripe and ripen-
ing, from 5 to 7 lb. each, beautifully swelled on plants with compara-
tively few leaves — that is, young plants ; indeed, not 12 months planted.
Queens in pots were equally fine — a whole pit of about 100 in 13-inch
pots, in and out of bloom, were extra bold, the foliage short and mas-
sive. Pines in succession were in good strength.

There is a story of a man who, having some houses for sale, carried
about with him a brick from each as samples of what his property was
like. We feel that the foregoing remarks are just like the man's
bricks. The measure of my success in presenting your readers with a
conception of what is done in those gardens must be gauged by what
I have set down concerning them : to describe the gardens themselves
would require a volume and a facile pen. They are worthy of the
Royal Park, Castle, and establishment of which they form an adjunct.
Every man is said to be the architect of his own fortune. Mr Rose's
practical ability, energy, and single-minded pertinacity of purpose, no
doubt pointed him out as the fit man to undertake the resuscitation of
this, the leading private garden in the nation : and yet, after all, the
garden proper is but a part of the huge charge. Many miles of
pleasure-ground walks have been remodelled, involving the carting and
appropriation of several thousands of loads of gravel; shrubberies
replanted, giving occasion to the transplanting, thinning, and pruning
of hundreds of large trees and shrubs ; old drives have been cleared and
improved, and new drives constructed, involving labour properly be-
longing to the wood-forester's department, such as lopping the over-
hanging limbs of whole avenues of infirm elm-trees — a tree ever to be
avoided near drives and frequented places.

Much that is interesting might be written of the beauties and magni-
tude of Windsor Park and Frogmore, and their historical reminiscences;
of the rich beauty of the grounds about Frogmore House ; of lake and
fawn, and wooded knolls enshrouding the marvellous mausoleums of
the late Prince Consort and Royal Duchess ; and the almost unpar-
alleled vista of the long drive in Windsor Park, excelling in quiet
Doric grandeur anything else of the kind in Europe ; — Virginia Water,
the perfection of an English park lake, its varied outline, set in forest

300 THE GARDENER. [July

masses, dipping to the water's edge, reminding one, by its quiet seclusion,
its natural aspect, and its few architectural accessories, of some High-
land lake one loves to remember. Many reminiscences of Windsor are
included in the records of the martial, social, and intellectual progress
of our country's history, of which I am here unable to speak. I can
say, however, that the name of Mr Thomas Ingram will ever live in
association with these gardens while they exist, as that of Heme the
Hunter with the oak in Windsor Forest, part of which still exists, if
I rightly remember, and under which was the scene of the lewd Sir
John FalstafFs final humiliation by the merry wives of Windsor.

The Squire's Gardener.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

THE apricot.

{Continued from page 259.)

About the middle or towards the end of January, the young Apricot-
tree, which has been fixed to stakes since the period of planting in
autumn, may now have them removed, and, after having received the
necessary pruning, be placed permanently against the wall. As the
reader will already infer, the fan mode of training is, in my estima-
tion, the best for the Apricot. Like the Cherry and Plum, it is liable
to lose some of its branches without any very apparent cause, and I
therefore prefer the fan style of training to all others — for this one very
evident reason, viz. that if a vacancy should occur at any time it is
more easily filled up than if horizontally trained. And further, the
very nature and habit of the tree, and the fact that it is necessary to
be preparing and laying in some fresh shoots every year in order to
have a constant supply of fruit-bearing wood, as the Apricot produces
its largest and finest fruit upon one and two year old shoots, make it
almost necessary that the fan method of training should be adopted.
If the young tree possesses seven shoots, the centre one may be cut
back to about 1-4 or 15 inches, and the three left at either side should
be shortened considerably, the under ones being left the longest. In
fixing them to the wall, train the centre one perpendicularly, and then
the under ones may be elevated at an angle of, say, 25° or 30°, while
the other four branches may be arranged equidistant between the centre
and under ones so as to form the trained tree. If vigorous and healthy
wood is made the following year, the branches may at the next train-
ing season be brought down to their permanent position. After the
foundation of the young tree is thus laid, the principal work of the

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 301

cultivator is to attend to the judicious selection of wood at the period
of the winter-pruning. Upon this a considerable amount of the suc-
cess of fruit-production depends. All rank watery wood not thor-
oughly ripened ought at once to be cut away, not even leaving a spur
where they have been, as such spurs, in place of producing fruit-buds,
in all probability would for years produce coarse rank shoots similar
to the ones rejected. The permanent branches should be formed of
nice, firm, short-jointed wood, the production of shoots which have not
grown to a greater length than 2 to 2J feet. Such branches will have
perfected their wood to the very point, and will be far more likely to
produce a healthy tree than longer shoots. These may be cut back 6
or 9 inches, to induce the formation of side-branches the following sea-
son, which branches, when spurred back, may afterwards form fruit-
bearing spurs. AVhere the main branches are over 1 foot distant from
each other, side-shoots ought to be introduced permanently, so as to
keep the tree thoroughly furnished, and have all available space upon
the wall covered. Between the permanent branches young shoots also
may be laid in for the production of fruit, and by a judicious handling
of the knife these may be removed after bearing their first crop, wThile
others may be in readiness to take their place, thus keeping up a con-
stant supply of good young wood all over the tree, which, as has
already been stated, is much superior to what is produced upon spurs
of several years' growth. A tree thus managed will never become
overcrowded. Nothing can be worse than, year after year, to lay in
almost all the wood that can be got, until such time as the tree has
become so crowded that it is absolutely necessary to take it all down
from the wall and give it a thorough "thinning out." Not only is
the fruit upon such trees inferior in size and quality, but the check
such an operation produces upon it often proves very injurious, and
sometimes fatal ; as I have often noticed that where this had to be
done year after year, branch after branch died away, until nothing but
a skeleton was left, which eventually had to be tossed aside. In cut-
ting away the points from the shoots of the Apricot, it is necessary to
be very careful that the front bud is a leaf and not a flower producer.
No one need fear to make a cut before treble buds, as the centre one
is sure to be a leaf -bud ; but when cutting before one bud only, the
operator ought to be convinced that it is a leaf-bud ere he applies the
knife. The practical eye can easily detect which is which, but the
beginner must be careful until experience enables him to distinguish
the one from the other.

Like all other trees, the Apricot at times has a tendency to grow
rank in some parts, while in others the reverse may be the case. I
have more than once referred to this in treating of other fruits, so now

302 THE GARDENKI?. [July

it may suffice to state that the best means of producing a well-bal-
anced tree is by regulating the amount of foliage produced on its several
parts. Whatever portion of the tree has a tendency to grow too strong
should have its breadth of foliage at once curtailed, by pinching out
all the side and lateral shoots ; and if this has not the desired effect,
portions of the leaves may be cut away, and the branch bent down to
retard the flow of sap. On the other hand, the weak portion of the
tree should be encouraged as much as possible by being elevated into
a position likely to encourage the flow of sap, while the foliage should
be exposed as much as possible to the light and air, and the result in
a year or two will be a well-balanced, healthy, and vigorous tree.

In summer the Apricot requires to be well attended to with regard
to pinching, pruning, and disbudding. As soon as the young shoots
are an inch long or thereabouts, the tree ought to be regularly gone
over, and all badly-placed shoots at once removed by gently rubbing
them off with the ringer and thumb. I would not recommend, how-
ever, that all the shoots, save those for permanent use, should be re-
moved at this time. I would leave three times the quantity necessary,
so that a good selection could be made therefrom. It is an easy mat-
ter to go over the trees again in June and July and remove the super-
fluous shoots, taking care, however, not to rub them off this time with
the finger and thumb, as the wound caused thereby might cause gum
to exude, to the ultimate injury of the health of the tree. All bran-
ches removed after the wood has obtained any degree of solidity ought
to be nicely cut off with a good sharp knife, as the wound caused
thereby will speedily heal over, and will not be so likely to produce
gum. In winter the shoots required may be laid in their places, and
others cut back so as to form spurs. To induce the formation of spurs,
the shoot ought to be cut back from 1 to 1J inch from whence it
started. Nothing looks so bad as spurs 3 and 4 inches in length,
while there is no practical benefit to be obtained thereby.

Root-pruning is not so absolutely necessary for the Apricot as for
many other kinds of fruits ; yet in many cases it may prove of much
practical utility. Where the borders have not been prepared with
great care, more particularly if there is a known substratum of tena-
cious cold clay, it will be necessary every two or three years to have
recourse to a regular system of root-pruning. The trees themselves
will in most cases give a true index of their wants in this way, by the
production of long watery growths, which never ripen, and rarely pro-
duce few, if any, flower-buds. Wherever a tendency in this direction
is shown, let root-pruning be had recourse to at once. In the case of
young trees not more than three or four years planted, they may with
much immediate benefit be operated upon in September ; but where

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 303

the trees are of some considerable age, and never have been root-pruned,
the month of January or the early part of February will be found the
best for performing this operation. In either case much care must be
exercised in order to injure as little as possible any of the roots. A
trench ought to be cut round at some distance from the tree with a
spade, after which steel forks ought to be used to work forward in the
direction of the tree, shaking every root free from the soil as the opera-
tion proceeds until the whole are laid bare. All the roots which have
a downward tendency, and all which are gross and devoid of fibre,
ought to be taken away with a sharp knife, leaving as clean a wound
as possible. After the whole has been gone over carefully, the tree
may be replanted, using as much fresh good soil of the nature already
recommended as can be procured. Give the wThole a good watering if
the soil is dry ; afterwards mulch the surface, and the operation is
finished. James M'Millax.

( To he rontinurrl .)

HINTS FOR AMATEUES.-JULY.

Many of the Brassica tribe of plants for winter supply will now be out
and growing rapidly, if all has gone well. With us, growth never was
more rapid. The hoe and fork will now be required more than at
any other time, both for keeping an open healthy surface and for
destroying weeds. There will soon be Turnips, Potatoes, and other
crops cleared off ground, which will require preparing and planting.
A good stock of Kale, Cabbage, and Cauliflower, ready to plant, will
be useful for "filling up." Vacant spaces in autumn have a wasteful
appearance, besides giving trouble in keeping them clean. All main
crops of Broccolis and Brussels Sprouts not planted should have atten-
tion at once ; and as July is a hot month, extra attention with watering
will be necessary : puddling the roots, and placing the earth properly
to them, must be kept in mind, as formerly advised. Coleworts should
be planted thickly for cutting young, and leaving every alternate plant
to grow larger. Successions of Cabbages are more preferable for
general use than old ones left to sprout and heart, but the latter plan
is often adopted ; and when the old crops are cut, the stumps should
be cleared of the oldest of the leaves, and a good mulching given ; or
rotten dung forked in over the roots answers better. If a chance crop of
Peas is to be sown, an early kind — such as Sangster's No. 1 or First Crop
— may be tried. Success with late Peas depends much on a mild autumn
— not too damp. Asparagus and Seakale may be improved with a

304 THE GARDENER. [July

sprinkling of salt over the surface of the soil among the plants, which is
an easy way of destroying weeds. Sow Carrots and Onions for draw-
ing young, also all kinds of Salads, in cool well-moistened ground.
Endive and Lettuce may be sown extensively this month, as they will
keep on long into the autumn if watering is not neglected ; sow them
thinly where they are to stand, Celery should be got out as early as
possible now, keeping good balls with the roots, and giving abundance
of water after they are planted. Slight mulching will be serviceable
for keeping the roots cool and moist ; and if the Celery-grubs appear,
pick them off, and dust the parts with lime. Lime well dusted in the
ridges is good for dislodging slugs and other vermin. Twist the necks
of autumn-sown Onions to help them to ripen : when they are allowed
to stand long in the ground, they (if showery weather sets in) are apt to
make a second growth, which destroys their keeping qualities. Kidney
Beans and Scarlet Runners may require heavy watering and mulching,
if on sandy soil, to keep them in bearing. Pick all pods off them as
soon as they get past use. Pinch in Runners where they are to be
kept dwarf : we get a longer continuance of bearing from those kept
down than from staked ones ; besides, no time is spent in staking.
Leeks, if not already planted, may have attention at once ; they
require abundance of good manure : those left where they were sown
should be thinned out to 8 inches apart (or less if the ground is
poor), and earth drawn about the stalks to blanch them. If more
Spinach is to be sown, let the soil be well watered the day previously.
If weather is wet, this precaution will not be necessary, but cover-
ing in and treading on the soil, when wet, is an evil to be avoided.
When it is compulsory to sow in wet weather, let the earth be drawn
over the seed with a rake, and treading or smoothing it when dry
on the surface. Ground may soon be prepared for prickly Spinach.
Heavy coatings of manure, turned in near the surface, is an evil
by which the crop is often destroyed wholesale. We prefer trench-
ing deeply ; and if manure is required, it is turned into the bot-
tom. A week or two later for sowing it in the south will suit very
well. Cabbage, for autumn planting, may be sown in the north
about the third week in the month. The first week of August to
the middle of the month is suitable for the south of England. This
being a very important crop, it should suffer no check from drought
or grubs, otherwise premature seeding in spring will be the result.
Mats or evergreen branches placed over the seed, and well watered
till it comes up, will do much to secure success. Vegetable Mar-
rows will require thinning and stopping ; if they are allowed to
become matted, the crop will be a poor one. Stop the shoots of
Cucumbers and Melons above the fruit, and do not allow too many

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 305

to swell at one time. Cucumbers, if they have fruited freely and
are beginning to look "rusty," may be cut back, clearing off old
leaves, then well surfaced with good loam and dung, thoroughly
watered with tepid manure - water, warmth afforded from dung or
otherwise, well sprinkled, and shaded from strong sun. They will
soon start into active growth again, and bear for a long time.
The same treatment may be given to Melons which have finished
their crop, and have their foliage in healthy condition ; but they re-
quire more care than Cucumbers. Decay at the necks of the plants,
and the attacks of red-spider, are their worst enemies.

Young fruit-trees will require frequent looking over, for if strong
shoots are allowed to take the lead, the tree will be much injured ; by
timely stopping strong growths, a number of side-shoots will be emitted,
and a year's training gained. An unequally-grown tree has a bad ap-
pearance in a well-kept garden. Continue to stop shoots and take off
what are not required, doing it by degrees, as formerly advised. Pears
growing above the tops of walls are very unsightly : while we write
this, however, we have a fine wall of trees sending single shoots above
the coping ; they are to remain till autumn, and be trained over to the
other side to take the place (piecemeal) of Cherries which are doing
little good. Their roots are growing into a hollowT hedge, where they
cannot be helped in any way. Thin, trim, and regulate Annuals ;
Mignonette, and some of the freer-growing plants, may be cut back,
to keep them clear of box and grass edgings: plants growing over
edgings have a slovenly appearance ; besides, they kill whatever they
grow over. Top Sweet Peas, and keep the pods off them ; plenty of
manure-water will keep them long in flower. Propagate Pansies and
Hollyhocks by cuttings ; young shoots of the latter, taken off with
" heels" attached, and well attended with water and shade, will make
fine established plants by autumn.

Dahlias require tying up carefully to their stakes ; any misplaced
shoots or useless ones may be cut out ; plenty of manure-water may be
given ; on heavy rich soil it is less required. Pelargoniums which are
well ripened in their growth may be cut down, removed to a frame
if at command, kept dry a few days, then well sprinkled with water,
and shut up with sun-heat: when growth makes its appearance, plenty
of air and light should be given, and when they are half an inch or so
long, the old plants may be shifted out of their flowering-pots, reduced
at the roots, potted into smaller pots, using sandy loam. When the
pots are well filled with roots, a liberal shift of rich loam and a little
sand should be given, be carefully watered, and no damp and unhealthy
atmosphere harboured among them — these are the principal requirements
of this plant. Green-fly delights in feasting among the young shoots.

17

306 THE GARDENER. [July

It is well to remark that great injury from bad potting and injudicious
watering is done to Pelargoniums. The roots should be wholly encased
by the new soil, and no space left between them and the sides of the
pots ; extra drainage will help those inexperienced in watering j rain-
water, or from a pond, is most suitable, and enough given when required
to wet the whole ball of soil. Cinerarias, Primulas, Balsams, and other
quick-growing plants, must not be allowed to become pot-bound, other-
wise premature flowering will be the result. Sprinkle over head plants
in windows, giving them plenty at their roots. If boxes are well filled
with roots, a little of Standen's manure may be sprinkled over their
surface, according to the directions on the package. This manure is
less offensive than some others employed. When manure of an
offensive kind is given, it should be covered with clean soil, but not
battered down, which keeps out air. Carnations and Picotees should
now be layered ; all budding of Ptoses should be finished as early as
possible. Propagate Pinks from side-shoots, taking them off at the
joints, stripping off the lower leaves, and placing them neatly in sandy
soil in a shady position, covering them over w7ith hand - lights,
watering, and giving air freely as soon as growth commences. Chry-
santhemums will now require liberal treatment writh manure-water, and
if the specimens are large, staking to keep them open at the heart
may be done as soon as convenient. The tops of some of them may
be layered into small pots, and plants can be had of a small size for
many purposes. Lawns should now be kept clear of seeding weeds; if
they cannot be got clean out by the roots, a little salt placed over the
broken part will in most cases kill them. Roll walks often, to keep
them smooth and hard. M. T.

THE POT -CULTURE OF INTERMEDIATE STOCKS.

Too much cannot be said in praise of this most useful section of the
Stock family. Grown ever so carelessly, they yield a good supply of
flowers ; but when grown in pots and carefully tended, they produce in
the spring and early summer masses of blossoms, almost unequalled by
any other plant at the same time. No gardener who has a house to
be kept gay should be without them, nor should the amateur cultivator
who has a frame and a spot of ground at command.

Seed should be sown in June, using boxes filled with a light rich
soil, distributing the seeds equally but thinly over the surface, and cov-
ering to the depth of eighth of an inch, and watered through a fine rose.
The boxes should be placed on a somewhat shady border, and be cov-

1870.] POT -CULTURE OF STOCKS. 307

ered with a hand-glass or some such protecting agent ; or they can be
placed in a pit or frame, admitting air, and keeping the surface of the
soil nicely moist. This will secure a perfect germination of the seeds,
and robust growth. Shading must be employed should the sun shine
directly on the hand-glasses or pit in which the boxes are placed ; but
the less shading the better, if it can be dispensed with, as one result
sometimes is, to cause the plants to grow weakly, and render them
liable to damp off.

When the first leaves are fully developed, the plants may be pricked
off into boxes, in rows 3 inches apart each way, retaining as much
soil as possible about the young roots when transplanting them. A
rich light compost should be used • and when the process of planting
is done, and a gentle watering has been given, the boxes can be placed
in the frame, and some shading applied for a few days till the roots
lay hold on the soil. "When growth sets in the lights can be removed,
and the plants wholly exposed to the action of the elements.

All that is now required will be frequent waterings of the plants as
necessary, and keeping them free from weeds, until the flowers begin
to form in the leading shoots sufficiently to distinguish the double-
flowering from the single-flowering plants. Then comes the process
of potting the double-flowering plants ; and here a little care will be
requisite. By this time the roots of the plants will have so penetrated
the soil as to make it possible for the soil and plants to be lifted from
the box bodily and placed on the ground ; then carefully divide it so
that each plant shall have a good portion of soil adhering to the roots.
Meanwhile a compost for potting should have been prepared — say,
of old turfy loam, chopped fine, one half ; of leaf -mould, river-sand, and
well-decomposed cow-dung, equal parts, mixed well together, using
pots large enough to take the ball, and employing good drainage. A
good watering should be given, and the plants placed in a cold frame,
shading from the sun till they are thoroughly established.

To secure a good growth, keep the soil moist, and shift into a larger-
sized pot if, and when, necessary. Keep the plants symmetrical by
pinching out irregular growths, and apply moderately-strong liquid
manure as soon as the plants are well established in their blooming
pots. An airy cool position near the glass should be given them
during the winter, and frost should not be allowed to reach them.
A liberal feeding will develop fine flowers, and they will be found
of great service in the decoration of the conservatory when fully in
bloom. A. K.

308 THE GARDENER. [July

NOTES ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

CRUCIFER/E.

This is a very interesting and extensive order of plants, more remark-
able, perhaps, for the great importance and value of the food products
it yields to man and beast than for high ornamental qualities, though
it comprises a large number of plants by no means deficient in that
respect. The greater number of the ornamental species are comprised
in comparatively few genera, and are mostly Alpine or sub-Alpine
plants. Some very interesting and beautiful species, from peculiar
habitats, are difficult to grow and keep under ordinary, or even extra-
ordinary, conditions ; but such have been avoided in making selections,
and only such as will succeed with ordinary facilities adopted. Many
of those selected are adapted to a variety of purposes ; they will be
found beautiful objects on rockwork, and for edgings and masses in
the spring flower-garden ; and the majority are available in a variety
of soils for culture in the mixed border, while there are a few that will
be found very useful for naturalising in woods and semi- wild places.
The uses to which they may be applied and the culture will be noticed
more particularly under the genera and species as they are severally
considered.

Alyssum, Madwort. — This is rather a numerous group, composed of
a few annual and biennial, and a majority of perennial species. The
perennials are half-shrubby plants of humble growth, and evergreen to
a greater or less degree ; the flowers are small individually, but pro-
duced in dense masses and in long succession. They are plants of
the easiest culture, succeeding best in light gritty loam of a rich
quality, but doing very well in a great variety of soils and situations.
The rockwork, mixed border, and borders of shrubberies are all fit
places for these plants, and some are qualified for naturalising, and
will be noticed in their place. They are propagated by division in
autumn and throughout winter and spring, but if done in early autumn
there is no sacrifice of bloom, which is inevitable to some extent in
the later periods ; by cuttings also in spring and throughout the
summer, inserted in sandy loam and leaf-mould under a hand or
bell glass in a shady place, as behind a low wall or hedge. Cut-
tings, if early struck, make the most vigorous plants, and flower the
strongest the following year, and a few should be struck annually in
order to keep up a healthy and ample stock. This is especially
necessary where they are to be largely used in filling up the beds of
the summer flower-garden in the spring months; and stock of neat
uniform plants can only be maintained by this means. In this case

1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 309

cuttings may be taken to the extent required immediately before the
summer occupants claim their quarters, and the old plants be turned
on the rubbish-heap, or utilised in any other way.

A. argenteum, Silvery-leaved Mad wort. — This is a compact-growing
species, with small oblong leaves, broader at the point than base, silvery
on the under-side, and dotted above with minute starry grey hairs.
Flowers in dense panicles, yellow, appearing in April and May ; native
of Piedmont and Corsica, in exposed rocky places. Best fitted for
culture in rockwork, and succeeds but indifferently in the open ground,
where the soil is naturally moist : height 9 inches to 1 foot.

A. gemonense, Austrian Madwort. — This is a splendid sort, of
shrubby diffuse habit, with large lanceolate leaves, hoary on both sur-
faces, the margin marked with a few obscure teeth. The flowers are
produced in great profusion in April, May, and June, and are very con-
spicuous in masses at a distance, being bright golden yellow. This is
the most valuable of all the spring yellow bedding plants, being supe-
rior to the ordinary form of A. saxatile in vigour, colour, and profusion
of bloom. It grows well everywhere, and in a variety of soils, and is
quite hardy, but prefers light dry loam. Where the ground is wet,
little hillocks should be raised to plant upon, in order to secure immu-
nity from the effects of stagnation. It may be naturalised on dry
banks in semi-wild places with ease, if rabbits do not abound in the
place ; but need not be attempted if they do, as they are partial to the
plant in a strong degree.

A. saxatile, Mock- Madwort. — Botanists are not at one with each
other regarding the distinctness of this plant from A. gemonense, and
the strongest opinion appears to be favourable to regarding the latter
as a variety of the Rock- Mad wort. The two forms are, however, quite
distinct for horticultural purposes in large collections, but in smaller
only one may be recommended ; and in that case A. gemonense should
be preferred, as being the most beautiful, and adaptable to a greater
variety of uses. A. saxatile is, however, equally well fitted for natu-
ralising on dry banks and about the walls of ruins, where a little soil
may be introduced for it to grow in. Height about 9 inches. Native
of many countries of S. Europe and W. Asia. Flowers about the same
time as A. gemonense. A variegated form of this species may or may
not be considered valuable, according as taste in these things sways
one. My own opinion is that it is worthless; the contrast between the
hoary ground-colour and the creamy-white margins is not sufficiently
distinct ; and the variegation has the effect also of depreciating the
beauty of the flowers, which is very obvious when the two sorts are
grown side by side.

Arabis, Rock-Cress. — This is a rather numerous family, and presents

310 THE GARDENER. [July

a greater variety of colour in its species than Alyssum ; but I do not
think a more extensive selection would be proper, for though easily-
managed hardy plants, only two or three species are far enough removed
from weediness to be admitted among ornamental plants. Those in-
cluded in the following selection are most easily cultivated, thriving
in most soils and in almost any situation. They are, however, most
characteristic of rockwork, and even when grown in borders and
other flat surfaces have the best effect when raised in hillocks. They
are of more straggling growth, if A. lucida is excepted, than the
Alyssums, and require a little more attention where trimness and
smoothness of surface are required ; but the pegging necessary to
secure this object may be turned to account for the purpose of in-
crease, as by this means alone, owing to the tendency of all species
to strike root from their trailing stems into the ground, if they are
kept firmly attached to it, a larger increase may be obtained in one
season from a plant than by means of cuttings or division. Cut-
tings, if they should be resorted to for increase, require the same
treatment as has been already noticed for Alyssum, only the bell-
glass is not so indispensable. They must be taken as soon as growth
is active, and as they are of an unhandy style — always top-heavy
— in the case of the species of the Albida type, as much of the flex-
ible cord-like stem should be taken along with the rosette of leaves
as is convenient, in order to provide means of fastening the cutting
securely in the soil. Seeds also may be used sown out of doors in
any spare spot, but only the specific forms may be raised in this
way with certainty ; the variegated varieties do not come true.

A. albida, Sicilian Bock-Cress, syns. A. Caucasica and A. crispata.
— This is the best known, and one of the best, of the family. The
plant forms diffuse patches of running stems, clothed at the ex-
tremities with rosettes of pale-green leaves, wavy and toothed on the
margins, and clothed with greyish hairs. Flowers white, in profuse
loose panicles about a foot high, appearing in greatest profusion
from March till June, but flowering more or less earlier and later
than those months. A most valuable plant for spring flower -gar-
dening, for rockwork, for the mixed border, and for naturalising on
dry banks, about ruins, and in open woods. The variety named
A. albida variegata is a beautiful and useful plant for purposes of
edging and massing in the flower-garden. There are two distinct
forms of this — one with the variegation white, and the plant more
weakly and small in all its parts ; in the other, the variegation is
yellowish or sulphur, and the plant more robust : both are useful,
but the smaller-growing plant is the more elegant of the two. Native
of Sicily, Greece, the Caucasus, and other parts of Russia.

1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 311

A. alpina, Alpine Rock-Cress.- — This form does not differ much from
A. albida, except in respect of freeness of growth, in which it is inferior
to that species, and in the smaller size and closer toothing of the
leaves. The flowers are equally profuse and white, and appear from
March till June, but are less disposed to flower either before or after
those periods. Enjoys a very wide distribution on the Alps, and
affects a variety of habitats, but chiefly stony places.

A. blepharojphylla, Califomian Rock-Cress. — This species is of recent
introduction. It is nearly allied to A. albida, having the same mode
of growth and similar character of foliage, but the flowers, also of the
Albida type, are of a rosy-purple colour. The flowers appear in May
and June. Best adapted for culture on rockwork, but in dry warm
soils will likely prove hardy in most parts of the country in the open
border. Height about 9 inches. Native of California.

A. lucida, Shining Rock-Cress. — The species in this case is of much
less ornamental value than the variety named A. lucida variegata,
which is undoubtedly one of the handsomest of hardy yellow variegated
plants at present in cultivation. The plant grows in close tufted
habit, producing close rosettes of shining dark-green leaves beautifully
margined with bright yellow. About 4 to 6 inches high, not plentiful
in the country ; the flowers are white, but should not be allowed to
appear in the variety, as the foliage becomes injured thereby. The
normal form is a pretty plant on rockwork, being very neat and com-
pact in growth. Native of Hungary.

A. procurrens, Procurrent Rock-Cress. — This is a pretty smooth-
growing prostrate plant, with entire, shining, almost linear leaves, entire
on the margins. Flowers largeish, pure white, rather profuse, appear-
ing in April, May, and June ; height 6 to 9 inches. I have grown this
plant for greenhouse decoration in shallow well -drained pots, and
found it most useful in the end of February and throughout March for
ornamenting front stages. A very pretty variety with variegated
leaves is not very plentiful in gardens, but it is a beautiful plant, and
should be more popular once it is more widely known than it is at
present. Native of Carniola and Hungary. Easily propagated by
cuttings in early summer, and by division in autumn or winter.

Aubrietia. — A very interesting and attractive genus, of few species
so called, but which are not strikingly distinct in character one from
the other. They are all, however, worthy of cultivation, though not
together in one collection, except perhaps in the largest; but no collec-
tion of spring flowers may be considered complete without one or
other of their best forms in its ranks. The same spreading trailing
manner of growth, and the same rosette style or crowding of the
leaves at the extremities of the stems and branches, as characterise the

312 THE GARDENER. [July

Rock-Cresses of the Albida type, are characteristic of these little plants,
but in miniature only, the plants being less vigorous and bold, and
when managed well in a congenial situation and soil they become
most beautiful objects. They are best adapted for culture on rock-
work, their low carpet-like growth being invaluable for that kind of
ornamentation. They succeed in all light loams freely in any situation,
but very indifferently, and often fail entirely, in heavy wet soils. In
beds and borders, in soils of the unfavourable kinds, it should be
raised above the surface-level by some means, so as to secure that com-
parative dryness and freedom from stagnation it likes so well. A
very good plan, in heavy loam and clay, is to make a pit to the extent
the plant is designed to occupy, and about half the depth of a spade,
filling in with stones, brick-rubbish, or rough charcoal to the surface
level, finishing up with a mound of good loam and leaf-mould on the
top of the drainage, about 6 inches deep, on which to plant. The
better forms of these plants are worth any amount of trouble that may
be necessary to secure their wellbeing, and those who succeed will
not regret any tax that may have been temporarily laid upon them,
when they come to enjoy the rich beauty they so freely and contin-
uously yield at a period of the year when flowers in profusion are
comparatively rare. Their brilliant dense masses of flowers are being
turned to excellent account in spring bedding, or massing of flower-
gardens. Propagation may be effected by cuttings in early summer
in a shady place, by division in autumn or early winter, and by seeds
sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame or under a hand-glass, the plants
to be pricked carefully off into rich light soil as soon as they can be
handled.

A. Campbellice, Campbell's A. — This is comparatively a new form,
and is probably of garden origin. It ^is the most brilliant of the
group, forming dense carpet-like patches of pale-green foliage, which
is profusely covered with comparatively large light violet-purple flowers
from March till June.

A. delta idea, syn. Farsetia dettoidea. — This is an old inhabitant of
gardens, and though decidedly inferior in showy qualities to the pre-
ceding and other varieties, is no mean plant in its season. It is less
luxuriant than Campbell's A., and the flowers are smaller and pale
purplish blue, but very abundant, appearing about the same time.
The varieties A. d. grandiflora and A. d. graeca are distinguished only
by greater size and brilliancy of colouring, and are simply more valu-
able where these qualities are essential in the highest degree. They
are all valuable plants for town gardens, for, except that their natural
brightness does not appear to the greatest advantage in a smoky
atmosphere and amid smutty surroundings, there are few Alpine plants

1870.] CULTURE OF THE ROSE IN POTS. 313

that can accommodate themselves with more facility to conditions so
opposite to those of their native homes. A. deltoidea is a native of
the Levant.

THE CULTURE OF THE ROSE IN POTS.

{Continued from page 110.)

At the close of my last communication I had reached that stage of my
process of culture where the Roses gave a promise of a fine bloom.
Since then, the fulness of the promise has been more than realised, and
beautiful and massive blooms have rewarded my labours, crowning a
healthy and vigorous foliage.

There are two things with which the cultivator has to grapple in the
course of his treatment — viz., mildew and insects. The Rose, when
grown under glass, is much more liable to the attacks of these, and
much more likely to be injuriously affected by them, than when grown
in the open air. In the course of one night I have observed mildew
spread out into mealy patches on leaves that the day before were a
polished green. Sulphur dusted over the parts affected will arrest its
farther progress when applied in time ; but should an application of
this kind be neglected, if only for a day or two, one need not be sur-
prised should every plant in the house become affected by it. Soot
has been recommended as an effectual cure, but I cannot attest to its
curative properties, never having tried it ; and I object to its use on
account of its being a rather unwelcome introduction to a house painted
white, which I have a pride in keeping clean.

The Rose-maggot has also sorely affected my Roses this season, in
some instances causing some of my most promising plants to be nearly
bereft of flowers, as this pest drills its way into the heart of the buds,
causing them to fall off. It is first discovered lodged in the folds of
the half-expanded leaves, and, on close examination, these will be found
to be apparently bound together in pairs, by means of the maggot eat-
ing its way through them, and so sewing them together, as it were, by
means of a fine capillary thread, which passes from the maggot in a
way something similar to that observed in the case of the spider. The
maggot is an incessant worker, and pursues its avocation until the
leaves it inhabits are riddled with holes.

Various are the antidotes recommended for the purpose of staying
the ravages of this pest. The following I consider most effectual : —
Take of powdered sulphur \ lb. ; of unslaked lime, finely pounded, 2
lb. 1 and tobacco liquor, formed by steeping some tobacco in hot water,

314 THE GARDENER. [July

\ lb. First, thoroughly mix the lime and sulphur together, then add
sufficient water to render the mixture rather thinner than paint ; boil
for an hour, then add the tobacco liquor when nearly cold, and paint
the Roses over with it after being pruned, and before they start into
growth. Should any maggots survive this, they must be picked off
as soon as discovered, and on no account be allowed to gain a footing
on the plants.

Green-fly is another pest, but soon overcome by an occasional fumi-
gation. They are easily kept under, but if allowed to spread, will
seriously affect the plants.

General Attention. — I have already stated that Roses love a rich diet
when in a healthy growing state. A little weak guano-water will
stimulate a healthy development of foliage, and as the wood makes
growth, it can be exchanged for some dry cow-dung placed on the sur-
face of the pots, and the water poured over it. Water, into which has
been placed a small portion of soot, is a good thing to give the plants,
and with this administered copiously, and air admitted plentifully,
even in damp days, rather than being content with a close atmosphere,
which creates mildew, and predisposes the plants to be affected by
green-fly, the Roses can scarcely help flourishing well.

Hard forcing should be avoided, as being detrimental to the produc-
tion of well-finished blooms. Should occasion arise for some flowers
being urgently required, select those plants whose buds are well
swollen, plunge them into a bottom-heat of some 70° or 80°, with a
temperature of about 60°, and with air freely admitted during the day.
Allow the plants to continue there until the most forward buds begin
to expand, when they can be removed to a genial and sunny position
in a warm conservatory : here the process of expanding can be com-
pleted, and the plants will retain their flowers much longer than if per-
mitted to unfold them in the forcing-house.

Summer Treatment. — As soon as the plants have done flowering,
plunge them in some suitable material in a sheltered position, where
they have the advantage of the sun at least half the day, and secure
perfect drainage by standing the pots on pieces of slate. Cinder ashes
will be found to be a good plunging material. Stake all straggling
growths, so as to secure them from injury, and supply water moder-
ately, but constantly, as required ; pinch out flower-buds as they
appear, and be watchful for mildew and green-fly, preventing the spread
of the former by first syringing the plants with water overhead, and
then dusting them with sulphur; and getting rid of the latter by
syringing, and then applying Pooley's tobacco-powder.

Should the plants be allowed to remain here until the winter sets
in, additional covering at the roots will be required to protect them

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 315

from frost. Some dry litter, or sawdust, or coal-ashes can be placed
over the pots to the depth of about 3 inches ; but it is much to be pre-
ferred that the plants have the shelter of glass before hard weather sets
in. At this period water will scarcely be required; and when it is
applied, it should only be in sufficient quantities to keep the wood
from shrinking.

Plants destined for winter-blooming should be pruned, then potted,
and the wood dressed with the mixture prescribed above. If the roots
be dry, a soaking of water should be given, and the plants placed in a
cold frame, or some other cool structure, where the buds will begin to
swell ; and by the end of the year they can be put into a warm house
to be pushed on into growth, or treated as prescribed in my former
paper. A. Kerr.

GARDEN RECORDS.

NO. VII.

MOTTISFONT ABBEY, ROMSEY, HAMPSHIRE, THE SEAT OF LADY
BARKER MILL.

{Continued from page 27L)

The traveller who journeys by rail from Southampton to Andover, or the
pleasure-seeker who makes his annual trip by road to Stockbridge Races, must
be equally familiar with the locale of Mottisfont Abbey, and have both admired
its charming seclusion, and, especially at this period of the year, have longed to
partake somewhat largely of the delicious cooluess so characteristic of its watery
surroundings and noble umbrageous trees. Certainly the place partakes of a
pleasant greenness, even in the hottest weather, that is most refreshing, and
which is produced by the abundance of water that flows through it.

A pleasant walk of a quarter of a mile from the little railway station brings us
to the Romsey Lodge, where we are gratified to find her ladyship's able gardener,
Mr Jones, waiting to be our escort. Proceeding up the carriage-road, the ear is
struck by a rumbling sound as well as that of a rush of water; and turning
shortly to the left, we come upon a large pumphouse, in which a huge hydraulic
wheel is revolving, driven round by the force of the very element that it is thus
forcing in large quantities to the top of the Abbey for the supply of all its inter-
nal requirements, and also to the stables, farm, kitchen-garden, and the whole
of the glass-houses. A little further on to the lawn, still to the left, flows a clear
stream of cool spring water that rises from a large hole or well a little higher up.
This well is about 10 feet in depth and the same in diameter, and as the water
passes out from it, it falls down a slight declivity, and thus forms a pretty cas-
cade. The flow is incessant, the stream being about 5 feet in width and 12
inches in depth, thus furnishing a supply of delicious water that would in popu-
lous localities prove a valuable boon.

Immediately in front of the east side of the Abbey runs an artificial river of
about 35 feet in width and 2£ feet deep, believed to have been made in the days

316 THE GARDENER. [July

of old by the monks, who were at one time the owners of the property, and
which enjoys its own quiet course independent of the main river — the Test — for
several miles. This river is crossed by a neat foot-bridge, by which means access
is obtained to the large extent of lawn aud woodland on the other side. Especi-
ally noticeable, growing on its banks, are some enormous Box-trees, which are very
luxuriant here. The lawn surrounding the Abbey is studded with some noble
trees of great vigour and beauty, prominent among which are two enormous
specimens of the Oriental Plane, the largest of which has around its trunk a cir-
cumference of 32 feet, and breaks off into two huge stems, and measures, the oue
17 feet and the other 13 feet round. The entire circumference of the branches
is about 300 feet. Of the Abbey itself little information could be gathered, but
it is believed to have been built in the year 1100, and that the present building
constituted but one of the wings of the original edifice. To the archaeologist it
would, no doubt, prove a pleasing field of research, as it is scarcely possible to
dig on any part of the lawn without meeting with some portion of the ancient
foundations ; and but a few months since a fine human skeleton, much of which
was in a good state of preservation, was found in what seemed to have been an
old well. The present building has its principal fronts looking north and south,
and bears upon its external surface the marks of many years' exposure to our
uncertain climate.

At the eastern extremity of the lawn is situate the flower-garden, which is
sheltered from the wind by a capital Box hedge. The beds are filled for the
summer decoration, and promise in their arrangement to produce a display at
once unique and effective. Two large round beds especially we noted, that will
make a sensation, each containing from 250 to 300 plants. The first had an
outer ring of the new Viola, Blue Perfection, inside of which was the dwarf
orange scarlet Pelargonium, Harry Hieover, and then a ring of a dark Coleus, a
band of which was also carried in the form of a cross through the centre of the
bed, thus leaving four spaces, that were filled with Mrs Pollock variegated Zonal
Pelargonium. The other bed had an outer circle of Mrs Pollock, next that
Purple King Verbena, then a ring and cross of the white-foliaged Ceataurea can-
dissima, the quarters being filled with the deep scarlet-flowering nosegay Pelar-
gonium Stella. Close by here is an ancient stone summer-house, a window in
which has each alternate pane filled with blue or buff coloured glass. The visi-
tor looking through the first sees all the ground covered with snow, and through
the latter bright summer sunshine. There is also an ancient stone coffin stand-
ing behind the arbour.

We are now conducted across the park in a westerly direction to the kitchen-
garden and forcing-houses ; and as the special feature of this notice is to illustrate
early fruit-forcing, we will at once proceed to describe what is done in this
branch of horticulture by one of the most successful fruit-growers in the county
of Hants.

Of course, in this department the Vine stands pre-eminent, and our introduc-
tion to it in its most advanced form of bearing is some pot Vines, growing in a
Pine-pit, each of which carries six or seven bunches of ripe fruit. To show how
speedily the Grape Vine can be made to yield produce, it will be sufficient to state
that these pot Vines were started from eyes in February of last year, and were
grown into a stout cane about 6 feet in length. These were again placed in heat
on the 1st of November, and were cut from in the middle of April last, a period
of fourteen months only. The kinds grown are Black Hamburg, Muscadine,
and Buckland Sweetwater. We now turn to the earliest house of Grapes, started
on the 1st of December last with heat. Here the Vines are loaded with bunches

•i87o.] GARDEN RECORDS. 317

of Black Hamburgs, many of which were ready for cutting by the middle of
May. At one end, grafted on the Black Hamburg, is a rod of the Golden
Champion, a fine new Grape, that has in this instance large berries, but small
bunches. It is, however, not yet ripe.

Following this is a second house of Vines that were started with heat at the
end of January. Here the fruit is still quite green, but will probably be ripe
about the end of June. The produce is heavy, and all that could be desired.
The sorts in this house are the Muscat Hamburg, Black Hamburg, and Buck-
land Sweetwater. This is again succeeded by another house of later Vines, that
is left to start in the spring without the aid of artificial heat, and which will
carry fruit for the table until the end of November. Here pot Vines are again
brought into requisition. As the lower portion of the house is filled with young
ones only, that do not cover the roof, a shelf has been erected through the
centre of the house, and upon this was placed a row of fine young canes in pots,
that, being full of fruit, effectually utilise the whole of the glass. These will
not be required next year, as the permanent Vines will then cover the whole
surface. In this house is that highly -flavoured Grape, the Duchess of Buc-
cleuch ; also two late Grapes, Mrs Pince's Black Muscat and Lady Downes ;
and inarched upon the Black Prince, that new and superb Grape, the Mad-
resfield Court ; this will fruit next year. Still another and last vinery, used
expressly for later work. This house, like the preceding one, has received as
yet the aid of no artificial heat, but will have that assistance when the fruit is
beginning to colour. The sorts are Lady Downes and Muscat of Alexandria —
the best of all our white Grapes — and the bunches are very fine and promising.
They are allowed to hang here, for the winter supply, until the 1st of February,
when the bunches are cut, with a good portion of the branch attached, the cue
end of the latter being immediately sealed with wax, to prevent the exhaustion
of the sap. These bunches are carefully hung in the fruit-room, and keep well
and furnish a supply of Grapes till the next forced crop is ready for use.

The Pine-Apple is always in season at Mottisfont. Two large pits are devoted
to its early culture, and also a large stove for fruiting it in. As soon as a fruit is cut,
another plant is put into its place, and thus the supply is incessant. The kinds
chiefly grown are the Queen, Black Jamaica, Providence, and the Cayennes.
The fruit now ripening are fine samples, and Mr Jones's successes as a Pine-grower
have often been attested at fruit exhibitions far and near. Another early fruit is
the Fig, that has a house devoted to its culture. Here the back wall is quite cov-
ered with a fine tree of Lee's Perpetual, that yields three crops during the year,
the first of which was ready for gathering on the 6th of May. This early crop is
borne on the old wood of last year, the second from the first young growth, and
this growth being stopped, another growth and crop follow. At the end of the
house, and in the bed of it, are others planted, and amongst them are standing
some very forward Peach-trees in pots, full of fruit, that will speedily yield the
first gathering of this delicious fruit.

Melons are planted out in pits at Christmas, and first cut from during May.
Other pits or frames are also filled for succession, and the supply of this fine fruit
is continued until the end of the year. The sorts in cultivation this year for the
earliest are Golden Queen and Bousie's Incomparable, both green-fleshed varie-
ties ; and for succession, Broadland's scarlet-fleshed and Malvern Hall.

Strawberries in pots are grown extensively, reaching in number from 800 to
1000. The earliest are Black Prince and Keen's seedling, followed by Trollope's
Victoria and Sir Charles Napier. These are grown upon shelves in nearly all
the fruit-houses, every available space being utilised. The first gathering was

318 THE GARDENER. [July

on the 3d of March, 40 lb. having been produced by the end of May, and the
pickings are continued until the crops out of doors are ready. As soon as these
pot plants have doue fruiting, they are planted out in rows in the kitchen-garden,
where they fruit the succeeding year, after which they are removed for a vege-
table crop. The annual produce under this system is enormous, the life of a
Strawberi'y plant here being what might be termed a short and prolific one.

A Peach-house has a fine tree of Royal George covering the back wall, and two
Elruge Nectarines and a Violet Hative Peach upon a semicircular trellis in the
front. This house is started during December, and ripens its fruit in June. The
trees are the picture of health, and full of promise. Cucumbers are grown in
pots in the Pine-stove all the winter through, and with the aid of those in frames
in the summer an inexhaustible supply is furnished. The Horton Prolific and
Telegraph are mostly grown. In front of the Pine-stove some pot Vines from
eyes are coming on ; these are for fruiting next winter. After the required
height is reached, the points are stopped, and the rod swells to the full dimen-
sions : they are then placed in the open air to fully ripen the wood.

The kitchen-garden is very extensive, and is entirely surrounded by walls that
are covered with all the best kinds of fruit-trees literally loaded with fruit. So
also are the trees in the open ground, and especially so a fine row of Pears,
twenty-one in number, all of which are trained in a weeping form, and are about
9 feet in height and 7 feet in diameter. Vegetables of all descriptions are won-
drous fine and abundant, and under some hand-lights were a lot of dwarf French
Beans, to induce early fruiting ; and on a warm border, fine well-filled pods of
Sangster's No. 1 and Taber's Perfection Peas were ready for gathering. It is
impossible to praise too highly the fine appearance of all the various departments,
in or out of doors, at Mottisfont Gardens.

We cannot conclude this notice without alluding to the famous pollard Oak at
Oakley, a small hamlet just at the extremity of the park. This tree has remark-
able proportions, for at 5 feet from the ground the circumference of its trunk
measures 32 feet, and a little higher there are the trunks of three huge
limbs, bearing the marks of many a stout wrestle with the storms of bygone
times. From these old trunks spring young and vigorous branches, in the
full flow of youth and freshness, and resemble childhood linked to decrepid
age. At the base of the tree, and all round it, is seen a curious development of
growth, as it is circled with bark-like protuberances reaching in some instances
4 and 5 feet outwards from the base of the trunk, just as if there had been at
some time or other a vegetative eruption, the excrescence partaking of the char-
acter of a woody lava that had welled up from the roots of the tree in past times.
"Within the trunk, which is so hollowed out by decay that but little else than the
mere lining of the bark remains, a dozen men could congregate with the greatest
ease. The present vigorous growth of the branches (giving it the appearance in the
distance of being a young tree) can perhaps be accounted for from the fact that
a branch of the river Test (which is supposed to have been diverted from the
parent stream by the " monks of old," in order to secure a supply of water im-
mediately contiguous to the abbey, the Test being nearly a quarter of a mile
distant) runs very near this old tree, and no doubt its roots have found their way
to the bed of the stream. The district of Mottisfont is a very moist one, as it
lies low in the valley of the Test, which at Romsey pours itself into the South-
ampton Water. 0. S.

1870.] CONSTRUCTION OF ROCK-GARDENS. 319

THE CONSTRUCTION" OF ROCK -GARDENS.

In our last number we called the attention of our readers to Mr
Robinson's interesting book on Alpine Flowers. We are now enabled
to present an illustration taken from that work, bearing on the con-
struction of rock-gardens — a feature of gardening by no means intelli-
gently understood generally, judging from the sorry exhibitions of this
kind of workmanship we sometimes meet with.

"Rockwork is," says Mr Robinson on page 30, "as a rule, made for
the display of mountain plants, or those which by their dwarfness fall
into the class commonly known as Alpines. Some cover rockwork
with climbing shrubs and dwarf bushes, but in every case, unless
where a rock is introduced for its own effect in the landscape, the
object is to grow plants. Now, as very few of the subjects alluded to
like shade, or even tolerate it, it follows this is an ignorant and bad
practice. Many persons who arrange such things doubtless fear the
sun burning up their plants ; yet the sun that beats down on the Alps
and Pyrenees is fiercer than that which shines on the British garden.
But while the Alpine sun cheers the plants into beauty, it also melts
the snows above, and water and frost grind down the rocks into earth ;
and thus, enjoying both, the roots form perfectly healthy plants.
Fully- exposed plants do not perish from too much sun, but simply
from want of water. Therefore it cannot be too widely known that
full exposure to the sun is the first condition of perfect rock-plant cul-
ture— abundance of free soil under the root, and such a disposition of
the soil and rocks that the rain may permeate through and fall off the
rocks, being also indispensable.

" The preceding plan can be carried out in the very smallest places.
The next is quite as easily formed on the fringe of any shrubbery. An
open, slightly elevated, and, if possible, quiet, isolated spot, should be
chosen, and a small rock-garden so arranged as to appear as if natur-
ally cropping out of the shrubbery. With a few cart-loads of stones
and earth, excellent effects may be produced in this way. The follow-
ing illustration well explains my meaning ; an irregularly sloping bor-
der, with a few mossy bits of rock peeping from a swarming carpet of
Sandworts, Mountain-pinks, Rock-cresses, Sedums and Saxifrages,
Arabises and Aubrietias, with a little company of Fern fronds sheltered
in the low fringe of shrub behind the mossy stones.

" Having determined on the position of the bed, the next thing to
do is to excavate the ground to the depth of 2 feet or thereabout,
and to run a drain from it if very wet. If not, it is better let alone,
as a good deal of the success depends upon the beds being continually
moist ; and in dry soils, instead of draining, it would be better to put

320 THE GARDENER. [July

in a subtratum of spongy peat, so as to retain moisture for the stony
matter that the cavity is to be filled with. As to soil, rock-plants are
found in all sorts ; but a good turfy loam, with plenty of silver sand
added, will be found to suit a greater number of kinds than any other.
The compost should be of a somewhat spongy character ; and if not
naturally so, it should be so made by the addition of well-decomposed
leaf-mould, cocoa-nut fibre, or, failing these, peat. If the trees of the
shrubbery are of a nature likely to send hungry roots into the mass of
good compost prepared for the rock-plants, it will be desirable to dig
a narrow drain to below the level of their roots, and fill it with con-
crete to the surface ; this will prevent the Alpine plants from being

_ v^^&~3

Rock-Garden on margin of Shrubbery.

starved by their more vigorous neighbours. The kind of stone is not
an important point, and many people have to take their chance in this
respect, and use that which can be got. Millstone-grit and most kinds
of sandstone are good, where a selection can be made, but almost
any kind will do. Vitrified material should be avoided.

" With the soil should be incorporated the smallest and least useful
stones and debris among those collected for the work, so that the
plants to be seated on the top may send down their roots through the
mixture of earth and stone, and revel in it. When this is well and
firmly done, the large stones may be placed — half in the earth as a
rule, and on their broadest side, so that the mass, when completed,

1870.] CONSTRUCTION OF ROCK-GARDENS. 321

may be perfectly firm. Have nothing to do with tree roots or stumps
in work of this kind ; they crumble away, and are at best a nuisance
and disfigurement to a garden. The intervening spaces may then be
filled up, half with the compost and half with the stony matter, and
the smaller blocks placed in position, the whole being made as taste-
fully diversified as may seem desirable, taking the size of the structure
into consideration. When finished, it should look like a bit of rocky
ground, stones of different shapes protruding — here a straight-sided one,
under the lee of which a shade-loving plant may flourish; there two in
juxtaposition, between which a cliff alpine may find a place. Two or
three feet high will, as a rule, be high enough for the highest points of
rocky fringes of this sort, though the plan admits of considerable
variation, and it may be tastefully made twice or thrice as high. In
some of our public and private gardens, want of means is given as
an excuse for the presence of the hideous pock-marked potato-pit-like
masses of rockwork that disfigure them. The plan now recommended
is as much less expensive than these as it is less offensive ! "

" While many have old ruins and walls on which to grow Alpine
plants, others will have no means of enjoying them this way, but all
may succeed perfectly with the plan suggested in the accompanying
figure. By building a rough stone wall, and packing the intervals as

Jll,;,,,,

firmly as possible with loam and sandy peat, and putting, perhaps, a
little mortar on the outside of the largest interstices, a host of brilliant
gems may be grown with almost as little attention as we bestow on
the common Ivy. Thoroughly consolidated, the materials of the wall
would afford precisely the kind of nutriment required by the plants.
The wall would prove a more congenial home to many species than
any but the best-constructed rock-garden. In many parts of the coun-
try the rains would keep the walls in a sufficiently moist condition, the
top being always left somewhat concave ; in dry districts, a perforated
copper pipe laid along the top will diffuse the requisite moisture. In
very moist places, natives of wet rocks and trailing plants, like the
Linnaea, might be interspersed here and there among the other Alpines ;
in dry ones it would be desirable to plant chiefly the Saxifrages, Sedums,

x

322 THE GARDENER. [July

small Campanulas, Linarias, and subjects that, even in hotter coun-
tries than ours, find a home on the sunniest and barest crags. The
chief care in the management of this wall of Alpine flowers would be
in preventing weeds or coarse plants from taking root and overrunning
the choice gems. When these are once observed, they can be easily
prevented from making any further progress by continually cutting off
their shoots as they appear ; it would never be necessary to disturb the
wall even in the case of a thriving Convolvulus. The wall of Alpine
plants may be placed in any convenient position in or near the garden ;
there is no reason why a portion of the walls usually devoted to
climbers should not be prepared as I describe. The boundary-walls
of multitudes of small gardens would look better graced by Alpine
flowers than bare, as they usually are. However, once it is generally
known that the very walls may be jewelled with this exquisite plant-
life, it need not be pointed out where opportunities may be found for
developing it."

NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH.

Among Palms — and we are constantly receiving some beautiful things
in this way — the following have received first-class certificates : Oncos-
permum Van Houtteii, Pritchardia pacifica, and Raphis humilis, from
Messrs Veitch & Sons; Korthalsia robusta and Bactris marissa, from
Messrs Rollisson & Sons ; Geonoma elegans, Geonoma speciosa, Wel-
fia regia, and Cycas Armstrongii, from Mr William Bull, — all valuable
additions to these beautiful decorative plants.

Then of foliaged plants the following new species have received the
same award : Pandanus decorus and Ansechtochilus pardina, both
from Mr William Bull, the former novel in character, the latter
prettily marked ; Pandanus Veitchii, Dieffenbachia Bowmannii, Aralia
Veitchii, Ficus dealbata, a large, broad, deep-green-leaved species, the
under side of the leaves being of a beautiful silvery white ; and Cyan-
ophyllum spectandrum, from Messrs Veitch & Sons.

New Orchids do not now appear so frequently as they did two and
three months ago. Foremost stands Mr Dominy's new Hybrid Cyp-
ripedium Dominianum, raised at Messrs Veitch & Sons' nurseries from
a cross between C. caudatum and C. Pearcei ; and a very prettily-spotted
iErides maculatum, from the same exhibitors, to each of which first-
class certificates were awarded ; also to Trichopilia crispa marginata, a
very handsome Orchid, with a large deep claret-coloured lip, and with
bronze white-edged undulated petals and sepals, from Mr B. S.

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 323

Williams ; and to Gongora portentosa, a new pink-and-yellow flowered
species, from W. Wilson Saunders, Esq.

In the way of hardy ornamental plants, Messrs Veitch & Sons
received a first-class certificate for a fine deep copper-coloured-leaved
variety of the sticky Alder, named Alnus glutinosa rubronorva, very
handsome, and likely to become highly useful.

Of flowering plants, first-class certificates were awarded to Hydrangea
stellata flore-pleno, a small-growing and double-flowered species, with
pale-green and rose-coloured leaves, from Messrs Paul & Son ; to
Clematis Sylph, white, very slightly tinted on the outside of the petals
with mauve, a fine early -blooming variety from Messrs T. Cripps
& Son ; to Gloxinia Alice, with plum-purple lobes and pale sulphur
throat, a very fine deep-coloured variety, from Messrs Rollisson k Son ;
to Azalea Roi d'Hollande, from Mr C. Turner, with large deep crimson-
scarlet flowers, very showy, and of fine colour; to Mr E. Shenton,
Biggleswade, for a white early-forcing Pink, named Flower of Eden ;
to Mr H. Cannell, Woolwich, for a bright deep-pink-coloured Pelar-
gonium named Master Christine, with the habit of the old Christine,
and very free of bloom ; and to the following charming plants,
from Mr William Thompson of Ipswich — viz., Brodiaea coccinea (?),
with magenta crimson flowers and a green tip, not unlike those of a
Correa; Cyclobothra pulchella, a half-hardy Liliaceous plant from
California, with curious yellow flowers, but by no means new, having
been introduced in 1832 ; Delphinium nudicaule, a hardy perennial,
nearly allied to D. cardinale, but said to be more certain, and bearing
spikes of bright orange-red flowers, — this was raised from seeds sent to
Mr William Thompson from California ; and to Leptosiphon roseus, a
hardy Californian annual, exceedingly dwarf, and bearing numbers of
charming rose-coloured flowers. This is a great acquisition, and will
no doubt become very popular.

The following fine show Pelargoniums of Mr Foster's raising have
received first-class certificates : May Day, Syren, Iron Duke, Charle-
magne, and Admiration; also Duke of Edinburgh (Hoyle), a fine
painted flower ; — all exhibited by Mr Turner. These will be noticed
more fully by-and-by.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

Crystal Palace, Sydenham, May 21.— "A grand Show" was the general
comment made on this fine Exhibition, and it was well deserved. The collections
of stove and greenhouse plants were very fine, and, as a matter of course, much
admired. Mr Baines, gardener to H. L. Micholls, Esq., formerly of Manchester,

324 THE GARDENER. [July

but now of Southgate, won the leading prize with 15 superbly-grown plants con-
sisting of Hedaroina — or, as it is now termed, Darwinia tulipifera— Erica ventricosa
coccinea, Aphelexis macrautha purpurea and A. humilis rosea ; Boronia pinnata, a
grand Ixora coccinea, I. aurantiaca, equally fine; Epacris Eclipse, Clerodendron
Balfourii, Erica Cavendisbiana, Eriostemon nerifolius, Azalea Iveryana, a magnifi-
cent example; A. coccinea, Bougainvillea glabra, and Anthurium Scherzerianum,
having 13 fine flowers. Mr Chapman, gardener to J. Spode, Esq., Rugeley, was
second, who now finds in Mr Baiues a foe worthy of his steel. Mr B. S. Williams
was first in the nurserymen's class. Cape Heaths and Azaleas made a nice dis-
play, but both have been seen in finer condition. Messrs Jackson & Sons, who
have long had a good reputation as cultivators of Ericas, had the following eight
in the nurserymen's class, and took the first prize : — Tricolor Wilsoni, Tricolor
dumosa, Ventricosa coccinea minor, Victoria, Perspicua nana, Depressa multiflora,
Picturata, and Marnockiana.

Orchids were neither numerous nor of extra quality. Some of the gems were
Cypripedium barbatum superbum, Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum, Cattleya
Mossise superba, Vanda suavis, Dendrobium densiflorum, Phalpenopsis grandiflora,
Oncidium serratum, 0. bictonense, and 0. bifolium. In the nurserymen's class,
Mr B. S. Williams had the best ten, and in the amateurs' classes, Mr J. Burnett,
gardener to W. Terry, Esq., Fulham, had the best twenty; and Mr Ward, gar-
dener to F. G. Wilkins, Esq., Ley ton, the best ten.

Pelargoniums, both show and fancy kinds, were fine, the last being superbly
flowered. The best Hoses in pots came from Mr C. Turner, and Messrs Paul &
Son had the second best. In the way of miscellaneous plants, Mr T. S. Ware,
Tottenham, contributed an excellent lot of hardy variegated and flowering plants,
many of which were of a highly interesting character ; and Mr Turner sent a
collection of Tulips, which were much admired for the richness of their colouring.
Altogether, it was a most successful Exhibition.

Royal Botanic Society, Regent's Park, May 25.— This, the first of the great
shows held at the Regent's Park, followed only four days later, and some of the
plants seen at the Crystal Palace also put in appearance here. A new arrange-
ment of the schedule had curtailed it of some of the classes for stove and green-
house plants, &c, and instead thereof, prizes were offered for groups of plants
arranged for effect, certain recesses of the large tent being appropriated for the
purpose. They were to be arranged as for the decoration of a small conservatory,
with climbers, hanging baskets, vases, and other accessories. As far as any
practical value attached to these groups, the result was somewhat disappointing,
as might perhaps have been expected. Such things as Palms, Ferns, Orchids,
and flowering plants generally, were used, but little came of it. Messrs J. C.
Lee had the best group, Messrs A. Henderson & Co. came next, and Messrs
Rollisson & Sons third. Prizes were also offered for effective groups of bedding-
plants; and Coleuses, Echeverias, the yellow Pyrethrurn, Pelargoniums, &c, were
differently arranged by each exhibitor. Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son had
the best group; Mr Ware came next, depending mainly on hardy and variegated-
leaved plants ; and Mr Aldred was third.

Stove and greenhouse plants were of a similar character to those seen at Syden-
ham. They were very good, and made an excellent display. Cape Heaths were
similar also, so were the Azaleas to a great extent, and so were the Pelargoniums.
The Orchids, of average quality, appeared to the best advantage shown on one of the
grassy slopes, as is usually the case at the Park. Particularly good were Dendro-
bium nobile, Calanthe veratrifolia, with eight fine spikes of flowers; Saccolabium

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 325

retusum, with spikes over 2 feet in length ; Phalrenopsis grandiflora, shown as the
best specimen Orchid by Mr Fairbairn of Syon House, one spike having twenty
expanded flowers ; Oncidium sarcodes, Vanda suavis, and Catth^a Mossise.

New and rare plants always form a considerable feature at the Regent's Park,
and on this occasion a large number were staged. Among Palms, the most strik-
ing were Verschaffeltia melanochsetes, a fine and rare species ; Areca nobilis,
Dicksonia nobilis, Thrinax havanensis, very elegant ; Geonoma elegans, Chamse-
dorea spectabilis, remarkable for its few broad pinnse, and Dsemonorops plumosus,
remarkably elegant and free-growing. Other new plants of a striking character
consisted of Cupressus Lawsoniana erecta viridis, a fine Evergreen ; Dractena
excelsa, a handsome South Sea Island plant, with broad recurved leaves of a deep
bronzy tint variegated with rosy red ; Oncidium cryptocopis, with deep claret red
flowers, having a narrow border of yellow; Phormium Colensoi variegatuin,
Adiantum Veitchii, a beautiful Maidenhair Fern ; the handsomely-marked Dieffen-
bachia Bowmanni, Tillandsia Lindeniana, Cochliostema Jacobianum, and a very
handsome curled and dwarf-growing form of Lomaria Gibba, named Crispa.

Royal Horticultural Society, June 8. — This was a very fine exhibition,
perhaps the finest London show yet held, as the quality of many of the things
staged was very good indeed : stove and greenhouse and fine-foliaged plants,
together with Orchids, made a grand display. There was one class for twenty
stove and greenhouse plants grown in 12-inch pots, which brought some superb
young specimens. Messrs Jackson & Sons, Kingston, had the best group, the
most conspicuous examples being Erica Cavendishiana, E. ventricosa grandiflora,
a perfect picture of health and beauty ; E. ventricosa coccinea minor, Cleroden-
dron Balfouri, the bright-flowered C. Krempferi, together with Aphelexes, Azaleas,
&c. Other good examples of stove and greenhouse plants included Kalosanthes
Frederick Desbois and K. Phcenise, both very attractive ; Bougainvillea glabra,
a fine white-flowered Vincaocellata ; Franciscea Eximea ; Adenandra fragrans, a
well-flowered plant of Begonia parviflora; Allamanda nobilis, very fine; Dipladenia
amabilis, Dracophyllum gracile, and Leschenaultia biloba major. Perhaps better-
grown specimens of fine-foliaged plants were never before seen than some of these
staged on this occasion. In the open class for nine distinct plants, Mr Baines,
gardener to H. L. Micholls, Esq., was first with a splendid example of Nepenthes
Rafflesiana, with over two dozen handsome pitchers of great size ; Alocassia metal-
lica, extremely fine ; Gleichenia speluncse, Croton angustifolium, C. variegatum,
Verschaffeltia splendida, said to be the finest example ever shown ; Stevensonia
grandiflora, Theophrasta imperialis, and Dasylirion acrotrichum. Other fine
examples were Phoenix farinifera, Latania borbonica, Alocasia zebrina, Anthu-
rium acaule, and a grand specimen of Thamnopteris nidus.

Orchids, though very fine, were not quite up to the mark at which they were
shown at Manchester. Mr Denning, gardener to Lord Londesborough, sent the
best 9 in the open class, comprising JErides odoratum var., a fine specimen, with 16
beautiful spikes ; iErides affine, very good ; Epidendrum vitellinum ma jus, with
11 richly-coloured spikes ; Cattleya Warneri, very fine ; Lalia purpurata, beauti-
fully coloured ; Dendrobium crystallinum; D. M'Carthige ; a four-spiked specimen
of the pretty spotted Odontoglossum niveum ; and the curious Pescatorea cerina.
The second best lot came from Mr Burnett, gardener to W. Terry, Esq., Ful-
ham ; and the third from Mr W. Bull, Chelsea. From the former came a very fine
specimen of Cypripedium barbatum superbum; a good example of the pretty
rosy crimson Saccolabium ampullaceum, and an excellent Cattleya Mossiae, &c.
Mr Bull sent Odontoglossum citrosmum and 0. citrosmum roseum, Laalia Brysiaua,

32G THE GARDENER. [July

and L. purpurata splendens, &o., in very nice condition. The best 6 in the nursery-
men's class were contributed by Mr B. S. Williams, and consisted of a splendid speci-
men of Cypripedium barbatum superbum, nearly 3 feet over ; grand examples of
Cattleya Mossise and C. Warneri ; Lselia purpurata, two fine spikes of richly-
coloured flowers ; yErides odoratum, a very healthy specimen ; and Anguloa
Clowesii. Mr W. Bull, who had amongst others a fine specimen of Trichopilia
tortilis, was 2d. In the amateurs' class for the same number, Mr Denning was
again to the fore with Dendrobium Parishii, very beautiful ; La3lia purpurata, with
four admirable spikes, two very nice yErides, &c. : Mr J. Ward, gardener to P. G.
Wilkins, Esq., Ley ton, who had two good Cattleyas, Oncidium bifolium, Anguloa
Clowesii, with eight grand flowers, and a very fine Phalsenopis grandiflora, being
2d. The best single specimen was Dendrobium Devonianum, with four mag-
nificent spikes, about 30 inches long, from Mr T. Baines ; the second being a
remarkably handsome Lrclia purpurata from Mr R. Laing, gardener to P. W. Flower,
Esq., Furze Down, Tooting Common.

The best 6 variegated Zonal Pelargoniums shown on this occasion came from
Messra Carter & Co. They consisted of Fairyland, Aurora, Sophia Cusack, Lady
Cullum, Prince of Wales, and Mrs Dunnett.

There was a very nice show of fruit, but so crowded were the tables, it was
very difficult to get near it. The best Pine-Apple was a Queen, weighing 6 lb.,
from Mr Ward, Bishop-Stortford, a good smooth-leaved Cayenne coming in
second best. Mr Douglas, of Loxford Hall Gardens, sent the best dish of Black
Grapes, superb Black Hamburgh, fine in berry, bunch, and colour. The best
White Grapes were Buckland Sweet Water, also from Mr Douglas ; the next best,
Muscat of Alexandria, from Messrs Standish & Co. The finest Peaches were
Royal George, Stirling Castle, and Bellegarde. The best Nectarines, Violette
Hative, Elruge, and Brugnon. Strawberries and Cherries were also good ; among
the former, British Queen and La Constante were particularly noticeable.

Manchester Botanical and Horticultural Society, June 3. — Even the
great things Manchester has done in time past were eclipsed on this occasion,
when Manchester held what was considered to be the finest show that has ever
tiken place in that city. There were some weak points, such as Roses, Fuchsias,
Ericas, Pelargoniums, &c. ; but these were more than counterbalanced by the
splendour of the Orchids, stove and greenhouse and fine-foliaged plants,
Ferns, &c, all of these being very fine. Oar limited space will not admit of
our doing justice to this fine Show. We may note, however, that prizes were
offered for collections of 50 Alpine plants, though on this occasion the term
Alpine was somewhat largely interpreted, as it included many things generally
excluded from lists of Alpine plants. Messrs Backhouse & Sons were first
with a most interesting group, containing Aquilegia Alpiua, Dianthus sylvestris,
Viola pedata, Lychnis or Pretrocoptis Lagascse, with pretty glowing pink flowers
and a very dwarf habit ; Armeria montaua, Linaria origanifolia, Lithospermum
prostratum, Iberis coriacea, Arenaria montana, Aquilegia glandulosa, Primula
cortusoides amcena, Saponaria ocymoides, Rosa pyrenacia, Aubrietia Campbellii,
Saxifraga longifolia, and Erinus hirsutus. Messrs G. and W. Yates, who were
second, had the new Spirea palmata, Silene montana, Polygonum Viviparum,
Silene alpestris, Papaver croceum, Aster Alpiua, and Dodecatheon media alba.
Messrs Stansfeld & Sons came third with Pinguicula grandiflora, Gentiana
verna, Primula farinosa, Cheiranthus Marshallii, Viola amcena, Iberis Gibraltarica,
and Veronica saponaria ; a very excellent lot, as the species and varieties named
give the very cream of the three collections.

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 327

Mr Ward, gardener to T. N. Miller, Esq., Bishop-Stortford, staged five mag-
nificent Pine Apples — viz., Queen's, Black Prince, and Envilles; and was first for
3 and 2 fruits respectively. Mr Potts, gardener to J. Knowles, Esq., had
some of the most finely-finished Black Hamburg Grapes we have yet seen,
grown on the spur system.

Crystal Palace, Sydenham, June 11. — The ordinary leading plants of a great
show, somewhat the worse for wear in consequence of being knocked about at
several exhibitions, came out indifferently here in consequence. The leading
features were the table decorations and the variegated Pelargoniums. As a
general rule, the former were much too elaborate and heavy. There was too
much material in them — a very common fault. There were plenty of them,
and they were arranged on tables running along the centre of the nave.

The best 12 variegated zonal Pelargoniums came from Mr Stevens, and con-
sisted of Imperatrice Eugenie, Charming Bride, Glen Eyre Beauty, Italia Unita,
Mabel Morris, and Gamos, silver-edged ; and Lady Cullum, Mrs Turner, Lucy
Grieve, Sophia Dumaresque, Sophia Cusack, and Countess of Tyrconnell, golden-
edged. The best 6 Gold and Bronze Zonals came from Messrs Downie, Laird,
& Laing, and were Prima Donna, Imperatrice Eugenie, Mrs Allan Lowndes,
Red Gauntlet, Crown Prince, and Black Douglas — all of their own raising. The
next best were Countess of Kellie, Black Knight, Cleopatra, Sybil, Red Ring,
and Stanstead Beauty. The best golden-edged variegated Zonal was Prince of
Wales, shown by Messrs Carter & Co. ; the next best, Ealing Rival ; the third
best, Achievement. Mr Turner had the best and second-best silver-edged
variety, in the former case staging Miss Pond, very fine ; and Mrs Rousby, very
good also. The best variegated Pelargonium — viz., with green leaves edged with
white — was Bright Star, from Mr Turner ; the second-best, May Queen. The best
gold and bronze Pelargonium was Reine Victoria — a beautiful variety, furnished
by Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing. The best double-flowered Pelargoniums
were : Wilhelm Pfitzer, E. G. Henderson, Triomphe, Madame Lemoine, Marie
Lemoine, and Merveille de Lorraine.

Most charming and deeply intei-esting was a group of Ixias, Sparaxis, Iris,
Tritonias, and many other beautiful plants of a similar character, staged by
Messrs Hooper & Co. , Covent Garden. Similar groups were also staged by this
firm at the great show of the Royal Horticultural Society. There was so much
of freshness and novelty about them that no wonder crowds of admirers were
continually in front of them : it was a fitting homage paid to some very beautiful
but sadly neglected plants.

Royal National Tulip-Show. — The special character of this exhibition requires
we should give its details rather more space than we usually allot to horticultu-
ral shows. It was held at Cambridge, on the pleasant grounds of King's College,
on the 25th of May last, in connection with the first great show of the Cam-
bridge Horticultural Society. The itinerant character of this Society is well
known to many of our readers, holding its meetings in one locality one year,
and in another the following year, the arrangements being conducted by a local
committee appointed for the purpose.

The premier prize was a silver cup, value 5 guineas, for the possession of which
there were five competitors, offered for 12 Tulips, 4 each of Bizarres, Bybloe-
mens, and Roses, two feathered and two flamed flowers of each. This was won
by Mr S. Barlow of Manchester with a fine stand of flowers, containing the fol-
lowing varieties : —

328 THE GARDENER. [July

Bizarres— Garibaldi and Royal Sovereign, feathered ; Sir J. Paxton and Poly-
phemus, flamed : Bybloemens— Martin's 101 and Talisman, feathered ; Duchess
of Sutherland and Bacchus, flamed, the last a superb flower. Roses — Mrs Lea
and Charmer, feathered; Aglaia and Rose Celestial, flamed. 2. Mr Richaid
Headly, Stapleford, with Bizarres— Demosthenes and Richard Headley, feathered ;
Prince of Wales and Dr Hardy, flamed : Bybloemens— Mrs Pickerell and W. E.
Gladstone, feathered ; John Kemble and John Thorniley, flamed. Roses— Sarah
Headly and Queen of Beauty, feathered ; Semiramis and Circe, flamed. 3. Mr
D. Barber, Derby, with Bizarres— Sir Charles Napier and Jacomb's Perfection,
feathered ; Sir J. Paxton and Dr Hardy, flamed : Bybloemens— Exile and Mrs
Pickerell, feathered; Constancy and Duchess of Sutherland, flamed. Roses-
Heroine and Mr Lomax, feathered ; Mary Barber and Triomphe Royale, flamed.
4. Mr W. Lea, Leigh, with Bizarres— Lord Byron and Sir J. Paxton, feathered ;
Everard and Dr Hardy, flamed. Bybloemens— Queens of the North and Adonis,
feathered ; Talisman and Adonis, flamed. Roses— Aglaia and Sarah Headly,
flamed ; Industry and Heroine, feathered. The remaining exhibitor was Mr John
Serjeant, Haslingfield.

The next class, for twelve Tulips, consisting of four blooms each of the three
classes, brought seven competitors, one or two of whom were disqualified from hav-
ing too many blooms of one class. Here the Rev. S. Cresswell, of Nottingham, was
placed first, with Bizarres— George Hay ward and Storer's Seedling, feathered; Sir
J. Paxton and Dr Hardy, flamed. Bybloemens — Nepaulese Prince, and Lord
Denman, feathered; Duchess of Sutherland and Adela, flamed. Roses— Vicar of
Radford and Heroine, feathered ; Aglaia and Heroine, flamed. 2. Mr William
Willison, Whitby, with Bizarres — John Sanderson and Royal Sovereign, feathered ;
Seedling 1283 and Sir J. Paxton, flamed. Bybloemens— Sarah (Leach) and Mrs
Sharp, feathered; Eliza (Willison) and Nepaulese Prince, flamed. Roses— Queen
and Juliet, feathered ; Seedling 380 and Juliet flamed. 3. Mr Thomas Haynes,
Derby, having of Bizarres — Sir J. Paxton and Orion, feathered ; and Lord Palmer-
ston and Sir J. Paxton, flamed. Bybloemens — Beatrice and Van Amburgh,
feathered; Mrs Cobden and Sarah Ann, flamed. Roses — Heroine and Orion,
feathered ; Rose Celestial and Lady C. Gordon, flamed. 4. Mr G. Pickerell,
Nottingham. It may be stated that exhibitors contending for the cup could not
appear also in this class.

The next class was for six dissimilar Tulips, one feathered and one flamed of
each class. 1. Mr D. Barber, Derby, with Bizarres — Royal Sovereign, feathered,
and General Lee, flamed. Bybloemens — Mrs Pickerell, feathered, and First-Rate,
flamed. Roses — Heroine, feathered, and Rose Celestial, flamed. 2. Mr G.
Pickerell, Nottingham, with Bizarres — Storey's Model, feathered, and Sir J. Pax-
ton, flamed. Bybloemens — Mrs Pickerell, feathered, and Duchess of Sutherland,
flamed. Roses — Heroine, feathered, and Aglaia, flamed. 3. Mr William Willi-
son, Whitby, with Bizarres — Henry Steward, feathered, and Sir J. Paxton, flamed.
Bybloemens — Leach's Sarah, feathered, and Queen, flamed. Roses — Inimitable,
feathered, and Captivation, flamed. 4. Mr J. P. Sharp, Birmingham. 5. Mr R.
Headly, Stapleford. 6. Mr T. Haynes, Derby. Nine collections competed
here.

Class 4 was for three feathered Tulips, one of each class ; and here twelve com-
petitors tried their strength. Mr Lea, of Leigh, was first, with Bizarre — Sir J.
Paxton : Bybloemen — Adonis : Rose — Heroine. 2. Mr J. P. Sharp, Birmingham,
with Bizarre — Sir J. Paxton : Bybloemen — Adonis : Rose — Industry. 3. Mr T.
Haynes, Derby, with Bizarre — Masterpiece : Bybloemen — Mr Pickerell : Rose —
Heroine. 4. Mr S. Barlow, Manchester, with Bizarre — Seedling : Bybloemen —

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 329

Violet Amiable : Hose — Heroine. 5. Mr W. Lea, jun. 6. Mr D. Barber,
Derby.

Class 5 was for three flamed Tulips, one of each class, which brought ten stands
of flowers. 1. Mr T. Haynes, with Bizarre — Dr Hardy: Bybloemen — Lord
Denman : Rose — Triomphe Royale. 2. Mr William Willison, Whitby, with
Bizarre— Sir J. Pax ton : Bybloemen — Willison's Queen : and Rose— Inimitable.
3. Mr J. D. Hextall, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, with Bizarre— Prince of Wales : Bybloe-
men— Duchess of Sutherland : Rose — Aglaia. 4. Mr Pickerell, Nottingham, with
Bizarre — Storer's Orion : Bybloemen — Duchess of Sutherland : Rose — Aglaia.
5. Mr Shorthouse. 6. Mr J. P. Sharp.

Class 6 was for one feathered and one flamed flower of any class, and brought
seven competitors. 1. Mr S. Barlow, with Talisman, flamed Bybloemen, and
Heroine, feathei'ed Rose, the last a beautiful flower. 2. Mr J. D. Hextall, with
Duke of Devonshire, feathered Bizarre, and Aglaia, flamed Rose. 3. Mr J. P.
Sharp, with Heroine, feathered Rose, and Triomphe Royale, flamed Rose. 4.
Mr G. Pickerell, with Aglaia, flamed Rose, and Chellaston Beauty, feathered
Bybloemen. 5. Mr T. Haynes, with Masterpiece, feathered Bizarre, and Prince
of Wales, flamed Bizarre. 6. Mr W. Willison, with Sir J. Paxton, flamed Bizarre,
and Henry Steward, feathered Bizarre.

Class 7 was enough to drive the judges to despair. It required the best single
blooms of each of the six classes ; and eight prizes, in all 48 prizes, were given
in each class. Altogether 186 flowers were staged : of flamed Bizarres, 39, the
best being Seedling 1224, from Mr Willison, a flower of very fine quality and
superbly marked. 2. Mr Willison, with Henry Steward. 3. Mr Wardle, with
Lord Sydney. 4. Mr J. Hague, with Lord Sydney. 5. Mr Hextall, with Charles
X. 6. Mr S. Barlow, with Royal Sovereign. 7. Mr S. Barlow, with Pactolus.
8. Mr Wardle, with Sir J. Paxton.

Here our record of the exhibitors' names ceases in relation to these classes, as
the cards had not been placed on the flowers at the time of leaving the grounds.
We, however, give the names of the winning flowers : Flamed Bizarres. — 1. Ajax ;
2. Pilot; 3. Dr Hardy; 4. Ajax; 5, 6, and 7. Sir J. Paxton; 8. Shakespeare.
Feathered JRoses. — 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Heroine; 6 and 7. Mrs Lea; 8. Charmer.
Flamed Hoses. — 1. Aglaia; 2. Mrs Lomax ; 3 and 4. Aglaia; 5. Incomparable
Romano; 6, 7, and 8. Lady C. Gordon. Feathered Byblazmens. — 1. Adonis; 2.
Violet Amiable ; 3. Bugart; 4 and 5. Beatrice; 6 and 7. Adonis ; 8. John Thor-
niley. Flamed Byblcemens. — 1. John Linton; 2. Violet Sovereign; 3 and 4.
Duchess of Sutherland ; 5. Adonis; 6. Duchess of Sutherland; 7. Excelsior; 8.
Lord Denman.

The Breeders' classes were a somewhat interesting feature, seeing that it was
practically a show of self-Tulips. Some of the violet and purple flowers were very
striking. In class 9, with six breeder plants, two of each class, Mr R. Headly
was first with a fine lot of blooms, all of perfect form ; in fact, Mr Headly is very
strong in breeders this season, one bed at Stapleford being very fine on the occa-
sion of our visit ; 2. Mr T. Haynes, Derby, with some good flowers, among which
Parker's Rose of England stood out very distinct as an extremely beautiful flower
as a breeder; 3. Mr S. Barlow; 4. Mr W. Lea. Ten other stands also competed.
Though six prizes were offered for stands of three breeder Tulips, but four com-
petitors entered the list. The best three were from Mr W. Willison ; 2. Mr S.
Barlow ; 3. Mr Shorthouse, in whose stand there was a splendid bloom of Indus-
try, the colour being very fine ; 4. Mr T. Haynes. The best single bloom of a
breeder Tulip in the show came from Mr Headly; the premier feathered Tulip
was Bybloemen Mrs Pickerell, from Mr S. Barlow ; the premier flamed Tulip,

330 THE GARDENER. [July

Bizarre Sir J. Paxton, from Mr D. Barber. A stand of species of Tulips, fur-
nished by Mr J. J. Chatter, was extremely interesting for the curious and uncouth
appearance presented by some of them ; they comprised the rich rosy crimson-
coloured Tulipa Gesueriana, T. viridifolia, T. carinata rubra, T. cariuata violacea,
T. Clusiana, T. Persica, T. cornuta, and one of those singular monstrosities known
as the Parrot Tulips. The judges of Tulips were Messrs Storer, John Ball, Royal
Nursery, Slough ; and Mr Picard — a judge being taken from the north, midland,
and southern districts. Their task was an exceedingly onerous one, but they dis-
charged it well and patiently.

The 'Gardener's Magazine' thus describes the appearance of the tent during
the process of staging the flowers :— "Meanwhile the tent in which the Tulip-
growers were arranging their flowers had been for some time the scene of great
activity. There were veteran growers, with grey hairs, failing sight, and stooping
gait, and yet as full of fire and enthusiasm as ever they were in the whole his-
tory of their cultivation of these gorgeous flowers ; and there were young men,
on whose shoulders the cares of manhood were just beginning to press, bending
over their flowers, giving a touch here or a finishing-stroke there, watching with
keen and anxious glance the while the flowers of his neighbour, and calculating
the chances of success. Who shall say there is a lack of floral enthusiasm among
us ? and if he should see a Tulip show, he will soon learn his inference had been
too hastily drawn. To stand at the entrance to this tent and watch what was
going on within was a study of human nature, and well worthy the attention of
a philosopher. For several hours the one absorbing passion was the best arrange-
ment of a stand of flowers so as to win a prize : the value of the prize was of small
moment — it was the winning the prize for which all strove. At length, and not
till the sun had reached its meridian, was the tent cleai'ed, and then only by the
exhibition of some authority, as each exhibitor seemed extremely loath to leave
the flowers he had tended with so much care and regard ; and at last the judges
were enabled to commence their work, and no one envied them the task set before
them."

Mr Thomas Haynes of Derby has very kindly forwarded critical remarks on
some of the leading flowers staged on this occasion, which we are obliged to
postpone to next number.

Scottish Pansy Society. — The twenty-sixth annual show and competition of
this flourishing Society took place in one of the side-rooms of the Music Hall,
Edinburgh, on Friday the 17th ult. As compared with former years, the show
was in every respect a most successful one, the entries being more numerous,
and the quality of the flowers higher, than on any previous occasion. This was
especially noticeable among Fancies, many of the new flowers being quite round,
and beautifully marked.

The following is the prize-list : —

NURSERYMEN.

Best twenty-four dissimilar Blooms —

I. Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing,
West Coates, Edinburgh, with Beauty,
Eclat, J. B. Downie, Finale, J. Cui-rie,
Jessie Dick, Adonis, Lady L. Dundas,
Cherub, Lavinia, Miss Muir, J. C.
Champion, George Keith, Snowdrop,

II. Burns, Locomotive, Bonny Jean,
Jane Wilson, Miss Addison, John

Princess of Walea, George Wilson ; 2.
Messrs Dickson & Co., Edinburgh ; 3.
Mr William Paul, Paisley.

PRACTICAL GARDENERS AND AMATEURS.

Best eighteen Blooms — 1. Mr John
Fraser, Belmont, with Dux, Comus,
Lavinia, Mary Lamb, Miss Muir, Cupid,
Elvina, Queen, Lady L. Dundas, George
Wilson, Waverley, Chancellor, Princess
of Wales, Robert Burns, John Inglis,
Downie, Mr Forbes, George Muirhead, ' Emily Lyle, George Keith, Andrew

:87o.]

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

331

Smith ; 2. Mr Wm. Old, Roslin ; 3. Mr
D. Kerr, Glencorse ; 4. Mr J. Bever-
idge, Stewartfield.

Best twelve Blooms— 1. Mr R. Cuth-
bertson, Corstorphine, with John Cur-
rie, Lavinia, Novgorod, Mary Lamb,
Maggie Grieve, Band of Hope, Cherub,
J. B. Downie, Robert Burns, Isa Craig,
Chancellor, John Beveridge ; 2. Mr J.
Beveridge ; 3. D. Kerr ; 4. J. Fraser.

Best six blooms — 1. D. Kerr, with
Lady L. Dundas, George Wilson, Mas-
terpiece, Victor, Princess of Wales,
Locomotive, Miss Addison ; 2. F. Light-
body, Esq., 2 Hampton Terrace ; 3. J.
Fraser ; 4. W. Old.

AMATEURS ONLY.

Best twelve Blooms — 1. Mr Adam
Dun, Corstorphine, with Arab, Allan
Ramsay, Mrs Hopkins, Miss M. Car-
negie, Locomotive, Snowdrop, Clipper,
Eclat, Francis Lightbody, Prince of
"Wales, Princess of Wales, Joseph James;
2. F. Lightbody, Esq.; 3. George Muir-
head, Esq., The Vale, Gifford.

Best six Blooms — 1. R. Cuthbertson,
with John Currie, Lavinia, Snowdrop,
Miss Muir, Princess of Wales, J. B.
Downie ; 2. Hugh Adair, Esq., 4

I Hampton Terrace ; 3. R. Ritchie, Peni-
cuik.

Best four Blooms — 1. Hugh Adair,
Esq., with Masterpiece, Geo. Muirhead.
John Currie, Lady L. Dundas ; 2. R.
Ritchie.

Silver Medal offered by F. Lightbody,
Esq., for the best eighteen Blooms,
gained by Hugh Adair, Esq. ; in this lot
there were fine Blooms of Miss Addison,
L. T. Fleming, Snowdrop, John Currie,
Lavinia, &c.

Best four Yellow grounds, four "White
grounds, four Selfs— 1. Wrm. Moffat,
Esq., Kinleith, with A. M'Nab, Cherub,
Snowdrop, Finale, Comus, G. Muirhead,
Czar, Robert Burns, Alice Downie,
Pladda, Lavinia, Mr Moffat.

Best two Yellow Selfs, two White do.,
two Dark do. — 1. J. Fraser, with
Snowdrop, Miss Earnsay, Alex. M'Nab,
Dux, Cherub, Ophir.

Silver Teapot, offered by Mr John
Downie for the best twelve Blooms.
This brought out three crack competi-
tors : after a careful examination, the
prize was awarded to H. Adair, Esq.,
with John Currie, Miss Addison, Dux,
Lavinia, Eclat, Princess of Wales, Mrs
Moffat, John Beveridge, J. B. Downie,
Comus, Masterpiece, Adam Scott.

FANCY PANSIES.

NURSERYMEN.

Best twenty-four dissimilar Blooms —
1. Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing, with
Mrs Dudgeon, Mrs Binden, Mrs Light-
body, George Vair, Princess, Miss Baillie,
Mr J. Rivington, Sunrise, Fritz Benary,
Miss C. Arbuthnot, Mrs R. Dean,
Avoca, Gliff, David Thomson, William
Baird, Pandora, Amy, La Tulipe, Mrs
Laing, Louisa, Win. Dean, Miss Melville,
Prince Leon, Figaro ; 2. Messrs Dickson
&Co.

GARDENERS AND AMATEURS.

Best twelve dissimilar Blooms, fancy —
1. Mr J. Hampton, Newport : in this lot
there were fine blooms of John Downie
and Mr Hampton ; 2. Wm. Old; 3. Mr
J. Beveridge.

AMATEURS ONLY.

Twelve best Fancy Blooms— Gold
Medal offered by P. W. Syme, Esq.,
gained by J. Hampton.

LADIES PRIZE.

Twelve Blooms, Show Pansies — 1. Mrs Mill, Kirkettle Cottage.

Six Fancy Pansy Blooms — 1 . Mr Dunlop, Dairy.

The quantity and quality of the seedlings exhibited was far above the number
usually shown in former years, showing the deep interest both gardeners and
amateurs are still taking in this pretty little flower. The following were selected
by the judges for awards, as being distinct from varieties in the various classes.

First-class certificate to Mr Wm. Paul, Paisley, for a self-coloured variety
named Mauve Queen.

First-class certificate to Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing, for a white-ground
flower named Beauty.

Certificate of merit to Mr White, Paisley, for a white-ground flower, of good

332 THE GARDENER. [July

size, named Ladyburn Rival, apparently very constant from the number of Blooms
shown.

First-class certificate to Messrs Dickson & Co., Leith Walk, for a pretty yellow-
ground flower named Thomas Carlyle.

First-class certificate to Mr John Fraser, Belmont, for a yellow-ground flower
named Mrs Fraser.

First-class certificate to Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing, for a pretty fancy Pansy
named William Baird.

First-class certificate to Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing, for fancy Pansy named
David Thomson, a deep golden yellow of large size, blotched and striped with
intense black.

First-class certificate to Mr John Hampton for a curious ultramarine-coloured
flower named John Downie ; to the same exhibitor was also awarded a first-class
certificate for a fancy named Mrs Hampton, of very fine form.

Mr David Thomson, gardener to the Duke of Buccleuch, Drumlanrig Castle,
exhibited a large collection of bedding Pansies of intense blue with large dark
blotches in the centre ; those attracted considerable attention, and the whole was
considered so meritorious that the judges awarded Nos. 1 and 2 first-class
certificates, and No. 3 a certificate of merit.

A certificate of merit was also awarded to Mr Thomas Nicol, Florist, Morning-
side, for a light blue bedding Pansy named Blue King, apparently a very free
bloomer.

Messrs Peter Lawson & Son sent a fine collection of new and rare ornamental
foliaged plants to decorate the room.

The judges on gardeners' flowers were John Baillie, Esq., Coatbridge; Mr
Downie, West Coates Nursery; Mr Tait, Leith Walk Nursery. On nurserymen's
and amateurs' flowers — Mr Currie, Parkside ; Mr Henderson, Cowden Park ; Mr
Fraser, Belmont ; Mr J. Thomson, Summer Place.

After the Exhibition, about thirty of the members dined together in the Albert
Hotel. Mr Mitchell, of Mitchell & Arnott, occupied the chair, Mr D. Syme,
of Messrs P. Lawson & Son, acting as croupier.

REVIEWS.

Mushroom Culture, its Extension and Improvement. By William Robinson,
F.L.S. Frederick Warne & Co., Covent Garden, London.
At last we have a work on the Mushroom that will come to be regarded as a
standard book of reference in relation to its cultivation. Other pamphlets, all
very useful in their way, have skimmed the surface of the subject, but in this
interesting book the author, who is an intense believer in the value of the Mush-
room, covers the whole of the ground, and presents its culture in many aspects,
and under varying circumstances. The contents of the book are divided into
twelve chapters ; those of the greatest practical value are chapters 7, 8, and 9,
treating on the culture of the Mushroom in the open ground. We once saw in
the south of England very fine Mushrooms being grown in the open air between
rows of Cabbages and Potatoes in some newly-broken sandy loam. The ground
had been manured with dung from an old bed highly impregnated with spawn,
and the warm early summer showers, combined with hot sunny days, brought
forth great quantities of Mushrooms of fine quality. To this part of the subject

1870.] REVIEWS. 333

Mr Robinson gives due prominence, and one certain tendency of the book will be
to extend the culture of the Mushroom to localities suited to its outdoor growth.
It is written in that sprightly, readable style common to the author's writings; it
is profusely and pleasantly illustrated and handsomely got up. The chapters on
the modes of cooking the Mushroom, and on some of the edible fungi, are well
timed, and not the least valuable. We can best express our opinion of the merits
of this book by heartily recommending it to our readers.

Rustic Adornments for Homes of Taste. By Shirley Hibberd. A new edition,
revised, corrected, and enlarged, with nine coloured plates and two hun-
dred and thirty wood engravings. Groombridge & Sons, Paternoster Row,
London.
Some idea of the scope of this charmingly-got-up book may be gathered from
its table of contents. In relation to the adornments of the house, it treats of the
marine aquarium, fresh-water aquarium, fern case, balcony and window garden,
floral ornaments, miniature hot - house, chamber birds, and the aviary. The
adornments of the garden embrace the conservatory, fern-house, apiary, pleasure-
garden, flower-garden, outdoor fernery, rockery and wilderness, water-scenes,
summer-house, and a chapter on miscellaneous garden ornaments. It is, there-
fore, a record of the incidents of gardening ; and the breadth of treatment of the
different subjects, combined with its lively style and abundant illustrations, makes
it an altogether unique book. As a gift-book it is, perhaps, unsurpassed by any
other of a similar character ; it is so handsomely bound that it makes an admir-
able ornament for the drawing-room table; but its great distinguishing charm
lies in the fact that it is peculiarly a home book, breathing beneficent influences,
and shedding abroad the light of numberless domestic enjoyments — most gentle
and refreshing recreations, all or any one of which must greatly aid the dis-
semination of a healthy home influence. What higher praise can be written
concerning it ?

The Student's Flora of the British Islands. By J. D. Hooker, M.D.,
Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew. Macmillan & Co., London.

The object of this book, as stated in the preface, is "to supply students and
field-botanists with a fuller account of the plants of the British Islands than the
manuals hitherto in use aim at giving." The work is purely technical, but still
one of great value to botanical students, while the practical horticulturist will
find in it much information of a valuable character. Dr Hooker's high position
as a botanist and an accurate man of science is a sufficient guarantee for the
character and completeness of such a work as this.

The closing paragraph of the preface contains the promise of another work from
the pen of the gifted author, which will be to a great extent a fitting sequel to
the volume under notice. " When I commenced this flora," writes DrHooker, " it
was my intention to have made it a record of those physiological and morphological
observations on British plants which have of late given so great an impulse and
zest to botanical pursuits, and toward which I was offered much assistance from
my friends Mr Darwin, Professor Oliver, and Professor Dickson of Glasgow, and
this intention was my chief inducement to undertake the work. I had, however,
made but little progress before I discovered that the number of such observations
was so great, and that the value, accuracy, and interpretation of many were so
disputed, that to make even a small selection from them would be a very difficult
task, and would have filled a volume far exceeding the dimensions required for
students. I do not abandon the hope of being able at some future time to under-
take such a task, in the form of a companion to the 'Student's Flora.' "

334 THE GARDENER. [July

The Horticultural Directory for 1870. Journal of Horticulture
Office, London.
This useful trade guide is still as valuable as ever, and must be of great assist-
ance to nurserymen and others. Additions and corrections are brought down to
the latest moment, showing that the work is carefully edited.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

Tiie Gardeners' Magazine for June : also, Tiie Food Journal for June.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

[Want of space compels us to postpone several valuable communications. — Eds.]

Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society and the forthcoming Show
of Roses. — Every lover of the queen of flowers must hail with satisfaction the
result arrived at by the Committee of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society
to give that prominence to the Rose which its merits deserve. The recent
papers on the cultivation of the Rose which appeared in the ' Gardener,' from
the pen of so skilful a cultivator as S. Reynolds Hole, will no doubt have given,
and will give, an impetus to Rose-growing in Scotland, which, I trust, will be
exemplified by the quantity and superiority of the Roses exhibited at the forth-
coming show in Edinburgh. It is not with the view, however, of writing a
treatise on the cultivation of the "Queen," or to descant on the probable ap-
pearance "she" may make at "her levee" at Edinburgh on the 13th July, but
to refer to a custom prevalent in Scotland with Rose exhibitors, and which, I
think, is of sufficient importance to merit a moment's attention.

" The competition in Roses to be open to all, whether they be members of the
Society or not." So states the Society's schedule, which circumstance is likely to
bring out a sprinkling of English exhibitors. Now the custom to which I referred
is, surrounding the Rose with Rose-leaves. This is, as I before stated, invariably
the practice in Scotland ; the same thing practised in England renders the stand
subject to disqualification. If one or two judges from England were to judge
the Roses at Edinburgh, it would certainly be galling to Scotch exhibitors, who
are unaware of the fact I allude to, to find "Disqualified" wrritten on their
exhibition card. It is an open question whether or not leaves ought to be
added. Some say that a Rose always looks best when surrounded by its own
leaves ; this I admit, when they are iis own leaves — that is, leaves attached to its
stem, but not counterfeits. We do not exhibit Dahlias, Hollyhocks, Asters,
Marigolds, &c, with a bunch of leaves surrounding them, and why the Rose1?
I think something definite should be arrived at by the Committee of the Royal
Caledonian Horticultural Society on this point, and so put all on equal footing.
I would suggest that the Secretary of the Society intimate to those parties who
have given notice of their intention to compete whether such a practice will or
will not be admissible. — J. A.

Variegated Zonal Pelargonium Leaves (I. J.) — The leaves of your seedling
Pelargoniums are much inferior to what are now in cultivation, and we doubt if
they are likely to improve, as, judging from the freshness of the colouring and
the texture of the leaves, they appear to be in their best character. The

1870,] NOTES AND QUERIES. 335

1 Gardeners' Chronicle ' once laid down the properties which ought to guide judges
in estimating the qualities of these Pelargoniums in the following rules : — 1. The
plant must be of vigorous constitution, free-growing, but not long-jointed. 2.
The habit must be stout, close, and branching, and the branches thickly furnished
with horizontally-set well-displayed leaves. 3. The surface of the leaves must
be flat — that is, neither concave nor convex from contraction of the margin. 4.
The leaf-colouring must be bright, distinct, and well defined. 5. The ground
colour (green) must occupy a space in the centre equal in diameter to the com-
bined zone and marginal belt — that is, half the diameter of the leaf; it must be
of uniform hue, and must not extend into or appear bejond the zone. 6. The
zone must be either evenly arcuate or regularly scolloped or vandvked, dark on
the inner and brightly coloured on the outer edge. 7. The inner portion of the
zone to an extent not exceeding one-half its whole breadth must be dark-coloured
throughout (blackish or deep brownish red), breaking outwardly in a symmetri-
cally radiated manner into the bright colour (red or pink) of the outer half, which
latter must at no point break through the dark belt so as to touch the ground-
colour. 8. The marginal belt must be of uniform breadth, and of the same tint
throughout (yellow, straw-colour, cream-colour, or white), entirely separated
from the ground-colour, or from contact with the darker belt of the zone.

At many country shows, the gold and bronze, or what you term the " bi-
color " section, are shown as variegated Pelargoniums ; but at the shows of the
Royal Horticultural Society they would not be admissible as such. Consult the
secretary of your show; he may be able to inform you what was done last year. It
would be very wrong to give the prizes to the biggest plants, irrespective of growth
and coloration. Medium-sized, well-grown, and nicely-coloured plants stand a
much better chance of taking honours. The name of the variety, a leaf of which
you enclosed, we take to be Lady Cullum.

Violets. — The little bouquets of Violets which in the spring months are generally
sold by the flower-girls in the central streets of London are the produce of many acres
of land at Mitcham and its neighbourhood. A short visit to Mr Steedman's Violet
farm gives an insight to its workings. There are 16 acres of land under Violet
culture. The two varieties of this flower principally grown here are the Russian
and the Giant. The first named is darker in colour, the latter is the most frag-
rant. The picking is done by boys and girls, who have a tin can suspended by a
strap over the shoulder on one side, and a bunch of short strips of bass on the
other. When twenty-five Violets are plucked, they are tied together with a strip
of bass, and placed in the can. Another "hand" is employed to pick leaves
only. In about the centre of the little farm there is a shed or barn. Here the
picked Violets are brought and placed in heaps, as are also the leaves ; but the
latter are all thrown into a water-vat and swilled, for the purpose of removing
earthy rain-splashes. In the barn from ten to twenty pair of nimble fingers are
ready to make up the bouquets as soon as the flowers are supplied ; this is done
by tying two of the quarter hundred bunches of Violets together with two or
three leaves outside them. This done, they are then packed in symmetrical rings
in a small basket or skip. About three o'clock p.m. the work is done, and from
twenty to eighty skips are put into the van for market. The quantity varies con-
siderably, according to the weather and season.

Mr Steedman is a true philanthropist and trader, and is as well known in
Covent Garden at six o'clock in the morning in March and the beginning of
April, as Rothschild is on the Exchange at three o'clock in the afternoon. Many
a poor flower-girl, without a penny, gets from him fifty bunches of Violets on

336 THE GARDENER. [July 1870.

credit, and at a price something less than half that the public pay for them retail.
The girls frequently increase their profits by dividing every bunch of fifty they
receive into two of twenty-five ; but this is done only very early in the year, or
when the flowers are scarce.

There are large Violet farms in the South of France (that of M. l'Hermine in
particular), of more than 100 acres, near Nice. Last year the season there was
so unfavourable that the Paris market could not be supplied from its customary
source. In England, on the contrary, the weather was remarkably mild ; and
Violets were so abundant at Mitcharn that they were forwarded by the night
French mail, and sold freely in the Paris morning market.

The Violets are cultivated at Mitcham in single roots, and are not allowed to
run together. Nothing deteriorates these flowers more than when they become
bedded together. They then grow leaves instead of blossoms. The roots require
dividing every other year at least.

The Importance op Mulching. — Never before so much as during last sum-
mer was I convinced of the beneficial results of mulching. A number of strong
plants of Cauliflowers were turned out in April, and, as many will remember, a
time of severe drought set in, and plants of this description received a great check —
in fact, made no growth. Anxious to have my Cauliflowers ready for table as
early as possible, mulching was resorted to, and the muck-heap was had in
requisition ; accordingly, 4 or 5 inches of rotten manure was laid about the plants,
and liberal supplies of guano-water given at regular intervals. Suffice it to state,
the plants soon made vigorous growth, and ultimately produced fine heads of
great size and superb quality, even surpassing some that nature had treated more
liberally with a supply of moisture at the right moment. — Up North.

Polyanthuses (R. T.) — Polyanthuses may be parted at the end of this
month : it would perhaps have been better had they been parted in May. When
divided, be sure to plant them deep enough, so that the new fibres, which will
come out just beneath the leaves, may at once enter the soil, instead of being
exposed to the ravages of slugs, &c. In dry weather these troublesome insects
take shelter beneath the foliage of the Polyanthus, and, if not looked after, will
not only devour the young roots, but also eat holes in to the stems of the plants.
Earthing up and frequent stirrings of the surface in hot weather will destroy
numbers and prevent much mischief.

Clematis John Gould Veitch (Mrs Watson). — It is a true double-flowering
Clematis, and you should obtain it. It is an early-flowering variety, as it has
been exhibited in bloom in March and April. It is also hardy, and recommended
for planting out of doors. It is a profuse-flowering kind, and the flowers are of a
pale bluish mauve colour, and certainly very charming. It is an imported plant,
and came direct from Japan.

Ageratum Imperial Dwarf. — This cannot be too highly recommended as a
dwarf blue bedding plant. It is a really dwarf Ageratum, growing from 6 to 9
inches; of a capital branching habit and very fine blooming. A gentleman who
has put out an edging of over twenty plants, mentioned it to me the other day in
flattering terms. Since then I have seen it bedded out, and can bear testimony
to the value of his recommendation. — P. R.

Name of Plant. — "A Tourist" writes: "What is the name of the pretty
dwarf yellow-flowering plant now blooming so profusely on the banks of the Lon-
don and North- Western, and other railways?" We should think, Lotus cornicu-
latus. Can you send us a specimen ?

THE

GARDENER

AUGUST 1870.

HORTICULTURE FOR COTTAGERS.

jlAVE we recently passed a Horticultural Reform Bill, or, if
not, what mean this sudden awakening, on the part of cer-
tain great ones, to the knowledge that our cottagers are
" horticulturally " ignorant? and this anxious desire to
spread amongst them the principles of correct gardening by means of
a flood of essays that are assumed to contain, for the information of
the cottage-gardener, all the knowledge and research that many years
of study have enabled the writers to treasure up 1 It was very kind
of those who held out the alluring baits to these earnest scribes thus
to try to inculcate into the minds of the poor labourer a little more
knowledge relative to gardening, and there was no doubt an equally
kind intention on the part of the writers themselves ; but, after all
their labours and all their good intentions, not one-hundredth part of
our cottagers will read one-tenth part of what has been written ; and
not more than one-tenth of those who read will comprehend, much
less practise, what has been so learnedly and so laboriously composed
for their special behoof. There are two things about cottagers that
seem to have escaped the attention of their would-be patrons — 1st,
They take but little interest in garden literature (the horticultural
column of a penny weekly paper being their chief reading) ; 2d, They
are, as a rule, much better versed in practical cottage-gardening than
they have hitherto been supposed to be. That these two assertions
will have the support of nearly all who are thoroughly conversant with
cottage-gardeners I feel assured ; and they will also admit that the
poorer classes are really good vegetable cultivators, their success in
this respect being usually more often limited by the means at their

Y

338 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

disposal than by any lack of cultural knowledge. It is very rarely that
the vegetables cultivated by the cottager exceed in number some
seven or eight kinds — his stock-crops being Potatos, Runner and Broad
Beans, Cabbages, Turnips, Onions, Parsnips, and Vegetable Marrows,
with probably just a few Lettuces and Radishes for salad in the hot
weather. Peas are rather too expensive, and cover too much ground ;
indeed, in most cases they are looked upon rather as a luxury than as
a necessary vegetable. Granting, as I do most readily, that in the
matter of sorts grown there may be some improvement, yet in regard
to his actual wants he is the best judge ; and he invariably grows the
crops upon which his mind is set, with so much of care and judgment
as to frequently put professional gardeners to shame. The cottager
knows as well as any one the use of a good spade or fork, and the value
of deep digging ; he also knows the value of manure and its appli-
cation. Herein he is quite practical in two of the most important ele-
ments of vegetable culture, although, at the same time, the most simple
ones. Not a little, however, in the cottage-garden, depends upon the
worker's tastes. Of course, some men are more thoroughly imbued with
gardening fancies than others, but it may be taken as a rule that a love
of gardening is inherent in the breasts of all of us ; and especially is
this sentiment strong amongst the poor, who will earnestly strive to
obtain a piece of allotment ground if they have no garden attached
to their dwelling, and think it no hardship to walk long distances,
after a day's hard labour has been performed, to gratify their natural
taste for gardening operations, and secure some profit for their labour.
I have stated that the cottager takes but little interest in garden liter-
ature, and the cause of this indifference is to be found less in his com-
parative literary ignorance than in the fact that the horticultural
serial literature of the present day has for him no features of interest,
or adaptability to his capacities and requirements. It is not to be
expected that matter purely professional in character can offer to the
cottager much that is enticing. For him a special literature is neces-
sary— a literature that shall awaken his interest, fall in with his notions,
adapt itself to his capacities, and finally become the horticultural organ
of the poorer classes. Then in regard to their practical knowledge,
which, though possibly in some respects crude, is yet far from being small
in amount, as is generally imagined, — it is obvious, to all familiar with
them, that more improvement is to be made in this respect by the
force of example than by mere precept or reading. Clergymen or
gentlemen who have a special desire to extend a knowledge of horti-
culture amongst those by whom they are surrounded, will find their
most useful assistant-teacher to be their own well-cultivated garden,
into which they should invite their poorer neighbours to inspect it ;

1S70.] HORTICULTURE FOR COTTAGERS. 339

and if to this lesson they can add that of a thorough practical know-
ledge themselves, they will find that progress and improvement in the
cottage-gardens about them will be made just in proportion as they put
these powerful instructive influences into operation. In the ' Gar-
dener's Annual' for 1863, an unique little volume, edited by the Rev.
S. Reynolds Hole, is to be found a most admirably-written chapter on
cottage-gardening, that is ten times more worthy of circulation amongst
rich and poor alike than are the heavy, cumbrous, and dry details of
even the prize essay spoken of in your last number. Here a little
story is told of how, by example and precept, a persevering clergyman
succeeded in reforming the morals and quickening the horticultural life
of the poor of his parish, not by the prescribed formulas of church and
school, but through the power of that love of beauty and order dwelling
so strongly within himself. I give one short extract : — " I am sure
that ours would be a happier world if we had more such assemblies of
rich and poor [the cottagers' show], if we would allow ourselves to be
convinced that our neighbours (our neighbours are those who live near-
est to us) bring, like all other duties, the surest and purest recom-
pense, if the members of a parish would try to act, as the members of
a family, more in unison ; and if, making our friendships where we see
more of our friends, and weighing men's merits rather than their
spoons, we would enjoy the Primroses and Violets under our feet,
instead of breaking our hearts about a blue Dahlia." How many of
our provincial clergy or gentry are willing to emulate the example this
little story sets forth, and thus, by the power of horticultural teach-
ing, strive to aid the material welfare of their neighbours ? Especially
can they prove useful in getting for distribution amongst them vege-
table and flower seeds of an improved character, newer and more pro-
lific varieties of Potatoes, cheap and useful fruit-trees, and furnishing
them with advice and help in a hundred ways, without trespassing over
those bounds of charity that are at all times so dangerous to cross when
dealing with the working-classes.

The gratuitous advice, freely given to cottagers of late, about the
best sorts of fruit-trees for their gardens, should rather be addressed
to landowners and others who are constituted the cottage landlords.
How many of this class of persons are there who make the pro-
visioning of their cottage - gardens with a proper supply of fruit-
trees a matter of grave interest or even of inquiry? Yet that it
is a part of their duty as owners there can be no doubt, as fruit-
trees are not the creatures of a day, but for many succeeding years.
Is it wise or just to expect that cottagers, whose tenancy of their
gardens is limited by uncertainty, and whose means are equally so,
will expend money upon the purchase of trees that can only yield

340 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

a moderate crop at least in some five or six years afterwards? Ad-
vice as to the best sorts to grow may be all very well, but that
the advice thus tendered will be practised by those to whom it is
addressed is beyond the range of probabilities ; it may be within
the reach of one or two to accomplish it, but to the great mass of
poor men it will prove superlluous. Perhaps some day the few who
hold the millions of broad acres of which Great Britain consists
may awake to the conviction that their vast possessions may be
improved, and the lives of their poorer tenants made more toler-
able, by the addition of a nursery to their estates, from which every
garden, great and small, may have a full and constant supply of
all useful kinds of productive fruit-trees free of charge, and shall
place all these gardens under such a degree of horticultural control
that none shall be lacking in any important respect. Such a pro-
posal as this carried out would be the means of almost working a
revolution in cottage homes, and be made useful in adding largely
to the means of subsistence of the rural poor. We have never too
much fruit. Very abundant seasons are in this unpropitious clime
"few and far between;" and, owing to the comparatively small
quantity of the better sorts of fruit that are grown, such kinds
are rarely within the reach of the poor.

Many a writer, and oft, has painted the delightful spectacle of
seeing all our cottages covered with the fruit of the Peach, Necta-
rine, Pear, Apricot, and the Grape. What has been done practically
to realise this conception'? Comparatively nothing. Let the trees
be supplied by landowners free, and be subjected to a certain amount
of professional supervision, and then we may be found in a fair
way to realise the ideal picture.

In good sooth, writers may write and printers may print whole
heaps of book-lore for the special edification of these same cottagers,
but the real work must be done by those whose position in life is
such as to give force to their precept and power to their example.
There are few greater aids to the promotion of improved cottage-
gardening than in the establishment of cottagers' shows, either once
or twice in the year ; but the promoters must not fall into the mis-
take of supposing that to establish the show is all they have to do.
The gathering together of produce of the year's labours may be, and
is, a sight of great interest; but that interest, and the advantage
of the spectacle, can only be measured by the patient working and
teaching that has been afforded by those who wish to see real im-
provement and success. The kindly word, the right advice, the apt
cultural hints, the showing how to do where mere precept fails, — this
is the seed to sow, of which the show is the fruit and realisation.

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 341

To this part of the subject, however, I will revert anon. That our
cottagers already know much, I believe; that they are willing to
be taught more, I feel assured ; their teaching must not be pedantic,
but rather a labour of pleasure and of love.

A Cottajge Gardener.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

The reputed trial of Lawn-Mowers which took place at Leeds, on the
occasion of the Horticultural and Floral Show on the 3d of June last,
appears to have been of a character to call for a protest from the
friends of fair-play. The trial, so called, was between the American
machine known as the Archimedean, and certain machines constructed
by Messrs Thomas Green & Sons, the well-known manufacturers, of
Leeds. The result of this trial has been put before the public in a
somewhat pretentious manner, just as if it had been one of the duly
advertised incidents of the flower-show. There does not appear, how-
ever, to have been any public intimation previously made that such a
trial would take place ; the English agents of the American machine
were not only not requested to send a machine to Leeds to compete
with the others, but absolutely knew nothing of the trial till they saw
the result advertised. Who supplied the Archimedean Mower tested
on this occasion does not appear ; whether it was in a fit condition to
be justly tested, does not transpire. The verdict of the judges — " the
judges were the gentlemen who made the awards at the flower-show" —
was as conclusive as it was significant. This document is so curious,
and withal so instructive, as to be well worth reproducing : —

" We, the judges of the Leeds Horticultural and Floral Society, having tested
lawn-mowing machines manufactured by Messrs Thomas Green & Son against
the one called the ' Archimedean ' in an open field where the bents were from
5 to 8 inches long, have come to the unanimous conclusion that the ' Archime-
dean' is perfectly useless either for long or short grass, the superiority of Green's
machines having proved on this, as on many other occasions, pre-eminent. We
find the 'Archimedean' is only suitable for banks and steep rising-grounds."

The names of the judges who passed this verdict are those of men,
some of them at least, in whose judgment reliance might reasonably
be placed, did not the terms of the verdict itself interfere, and make
one pause with grave doubts as it was read. There is something about
it suggestive of a desire to reach a foregone conclusion — a not very
difficult matter under the circumstances — as each judge seems to have
been aware that " on many other occasions " Green's machines had

342 THE GARDENER. [AUG.

proved pre-eminent. The transition from the belief of tins pre-emin-
ence in the past to a ready belief of it in the present, was a natural,
easy, and graceful process. But the emphatic thoroughness of the
verdict makes one even more suspicious of its veracity and sceptical
as to its value. The Archimedean Mower was designated as " perfectly
useless, either for long or short grass." To quarrel even with such a
verdict as this, much less to attempt to refute that which carries its
own refutation with it, were a mere waste of time. As sympathisers
with the old British love for fair-play, we have referred to this trial ;
and we join our protest with those of some who were present, against
such a burlesque on justice as this appears to have been.

The Sexual Conditions of Plants is a theme which has been engag-
ing the attention of botanists for some time past. In the ' Journal of
Botany' Mr Worthington Smith recently contributed some interesting
observations of a curious character. Across the Atlantic the American
botanists appear to be pursuing the same line of study, with equally
interesting and valuable results. In a recent number of the 'Pro-
ceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia,' Mr
Meehan continues to detail some suggestive researches, and gives the
following observations on the cross fertilisation and the law of sex in
Euphorbia. Mr. Meehan states : —

"The list of plants which seem to avoid self-fertilisation is already very lai^ge.
I think Euphorbia may be added to the number. Certainly this is the case with
Euphorbia fulgens, Karw. (E. jacquinireflora, Hook.), which I have watched very
closely in my greenhouse this winter. Several days before the stamens burst
through the involucre which closely invests them, the pistil with its ovarium on
the long pedicle has protruded itself beyond, exposed its stigmatic surface, and
received the pollen from the neighbouring flowers. The way in which the pollen
scatters itself is curious. In most flowers a slight jar or a breath of wind will
waft the pollen to the stigmas, but I have not been able to notice any to leave
the flowers in this way ; for as soon as the anther cells burst, the whole stamen
falls from its filament-like pedicle, and either drops at once on the pistils of
other flowers, or scatters its pollen grains by the force of the fall.

"This Euphorbia also furnishes another contribution to the theory of sex
which I have advanced. The plan on which the male and female organs are
formed is evidently a common one ; and the only reason why some flower-heads
have a pistil in the centre, and others are wholly staminate, is, that there is
greater axial vigour when the female flower is formed. "Whenever the common
peduncle (below the scarlet involucre) is weak, a pistil never appears in that
head of flowers. A few which seem strong never have them, but the great
majority of the strong pecundles are those which bear the female blossoms.
Another interesting fact is, that the number of male flowers is less in those heads
which also bear a female than in those which are wholly staminate. This seems
to add to the point I made in my paper on Ambrosia, that after the flowers have
been partially formed in embryo, and before the sex has been finally determined,
the female flower, being primordially the stronger, has the power of absorbing the
males of their partially-formed elements into its system. It is certainly remark-

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 343

able that in both these instances the Dumber of male flowers should decrease in
proportion to the existence or vigour of the central female one.

'•'The male and female flowers of Euphorbia fulgens are formed much alike.
The female occupies the centre, and seems really but a prolongation of the main
stem, on the top of which is an articulation from which the ovarium springs.
The capsule readily falls from this articulation when mature. From the base of
the female central peduncle spring weaker peduncles, colourless, appearing
indeed almost like filaments, articulated at about the same height as the female,
only above the point bearing a short filament and anther — the caducous part
before referred to. No one can fail to see the correspondence of plan in these
different parts, and I think that nothing but the favourable position in the direct
line of axial vigour made the central flower a female one.

"Cases occasionally occur in which a tolerably strong head of wholly male
flowers will develop the central axis into a peduncle almost as long and vigorous as
those which bear female flowers. But the flow of vital force — if I am correct in
using this term — not being quite sufficient, the final goal of natural perfection
in the female form was not reached. These cases do not occur often, but are well
worth looking for, as they show so clearly the dividing line between the forces
which govern the male and the female sex."

The practice of stealing plants and cuttings at flower-shows appears
just now to be getting most inconveniently and alarmingly common.
Only recently several cases have occurred of slips being torn from new
plants when on the exhibition-table. Bad as is the practice we have
seen in operation in Ireland, of the public sweeping from the tables
whatever they could lay their hands on of cut flowers (not being alto-
gether disregardful of fruit) as the hour for closing the exhibition came
round, this practice of stealing cuttings and branches is much worse,
as it will operate to deter many from showing new plants of value.
London and the provinces form no exception to this. How it is to be
remedied is well worth consideration. Happily the act is of rare occur-
rence, at least in so far as such acts are made public.

The annual festival of the Gardeners' Koyal Benevolent Institution,
being also the twenty-seventh anniversary of its celebration, was held
at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, on the 29th of June, the Earl
of Derby, one of the vice-presidents, presiding, and among the company
was the Nawab Nizam of Bengal, in gorgeous apparel, resplendent
with diamonds and precious stones. From statements made by the
chairman on proposing the toast of the evening, it appeared that since
its formation the Society has expended upwards of £15,000 in giving
relief in accordance with the conditions laid down in its rules ; that at
the present time there were fifty-four pensioners enjoying the bounty
of the Institution, which number, by a recent election, has been aug-
mented to sixty ; and that it has invested in the public funds the sum
of nearly £8000. While the position of the Society had been one of
steady and unvaried prosperity, the comparative smallness of the list
of subscribers was much to be deplored, and the chairman hinted that,

344 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

with a better organisation, the operations of the Society might be ex.
tended over a much wider range. The principle on which the Insti-
tution was organised was stated to be one partly of charity and partly
of insurance. With great tact the noble chairman defended the ride
that preference should be given, in distributing pensions, to those who
had during fifteen years contributed to the funds of the Institution.
This he justified on the ground that, in point of fact, those whom they
were assisting were merely receiving back that which they had sub-
scribed in the days of their prosperity. The eloquent and earnest
appeal made by the noble lord resulted in a subscription -list larger
than had ever before been realised on a like occasion. As usual, the
room was handsomely decorated with plants and flowers kindly fur-
nished by the leading nurserymen, and handsome contributions of fruit
were sent towards the dessert.

THE THEORY OP THE LEAF.

All plants are produced from seeds or buds — the one free, the other
attached ; the one spreading the plant geographically, the other in-
creasing its individual size. Carefully examined, the seed, or starting-
point in the life of a plant, is composed of a leaf rolled tight, and
altered in tissue and contents so as to suit its new requirements. Look
at the germination of a Bean : the two leaves of which it is composed
appear in the fleshy lobes or cotyledons which first rise above the
ground, and afford nourishment to the embryo. The bud, which is
physiologically co-ordinate with the seed, is found to consist of leaves
folded in a peculiar manner, and covered with tough leathery scales to
protect them from the winter's cold ; and in spring it evolves the stem,
leaves, and fruit. By some the stem is regarded as an essentially
distinct and typical part, but the study of plants in which it de-
parts from the normal form will clearly indicate its foliaceous origin.
The leaf is here made to assume a columnar shape, strengthened at
the joints and nodes for the support of the superstructure, and
elevated above the ground in order to expose all the organs which
it bears to the quickening influence of sun and air. In plants
which are destitute of ordinary leaves, or which shed them at an
early period, and remain ever after naked, the stems serve all the
purposes of leaves. In the Cactus tribe, the whole plant consists
of pointed leaves, and in the common Butcher's Broom of our own
country, the stem becomes foliaceous — that is, flattened and leaf-like.
Stems produce buds and flowers, so do leaves — as, for instance, those

1870.] THEORY OF THE LEAF. 345

of the Bryophyllum. Indeed, every leaf is a modified branch, and
its toothed or serrated edges correspond with the nodes of the
stem.

Further, all the appendages borne on the stem — such as scales,
leaves, bracts, flowers, and fruit — are modifications of this one com-
mon type. Flowers, the glory of the vegetable world, are merely
leaves, arranged so as to protect the vital organs within them, and
coloured so as to attract insects to scatter the fertilising pollen, and
to reflect and absorb the light and heat of the sun for ripening the
seed. Stamens and pistils may be converted, by the skill of the
gardener, into petals, and the blossoms so produced are called double
— necessarily barren. The Wild Rose has only a single corolla. Cul-
tivated in rich soil, its yellow stamens are changed into the blush
leaves of the full-blown Cabbage-Rose. There is a monstrosity to
which the Garden Rose is liable — the stamens and pistils are converted
into green leaves, and the plant begins to develop stem and foliage
from the bosom of the petals, just as though the blossom were not
the culminating point, but merely a stage in its growth. We see
the whole gradual process in the metamorphosis of the common leaf
into all the floral organs most beautifully displayed in the normal
flower of the common Water-Lily — the outermost circle of petals is
greenish, approaching the herbaceous texture and colour of the calyx ;
the next circles are purer and more succulent ; and the innermost ones
are snowy white, entirely cellular, and, strange to say, begin to show
rudiments of an anther at their points. Gradually the petals be-
come smaller and narrower, while the anthers on their summits
become more distinct, until at length the usual thread-like filaments
and golden dusty anthers of perfect stamens appear in the heart
of the flower.

We come next to the fruit, which, in all its astonishing varieties of
texture, colour, and shape, is also a modified leaf ; and it is one of the
most interesting studies in natural history to trace the correspondence
between the different parts of structures so greatly altered and the
original type. In the Peach, for instance, the stone is the upper skin
of a leaf hardened so as to protect the kernel or seed ; the pulp is
the cellular tissue of a leaf expanded and endowed with nutritive
properties for the sustenance of the embryo plant ; and the beauti-
ful downy skin on the outside is the lower cuticle of the leaf, with
the sun -bloom upon it, the hollow l^ne on one side of the fruit
marking the union between the two edges of the leaf. So also in
the Apple — the parchment -like cover is the upper surface of the
leaf, and the flesh is the cellular tissue greatly swollen. In the
Orange, the juicy lips enclosing the seeds are the different sections

346 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

of the leaf developed in an extraordinary manner ; while through
the transparent skin of the ripe Gooseberry we see the ramifications
of the /-"'//'-veins, conclusively proving its origin. In all the parts
and organs of the plant, then, from the seed to the fruit, we have
found that the leaf is the type and pattern after which they have
been constructed, and those modifications of structure, colour, and
composition which they exhibit are for special purposes in the
economy of the plant in the first place, also for services to the
animal creation, and even to man himself, to whom the sweetness
of the fruit and the beauty of the flowers must have had reference
in the gracious intention of Him who created them both.

D. Hugh Macmillax.

THE LARGE FLOWERING OR SHOW PELARGONIUMS.

A look through the collections of Show Pelargoniums when in bloom
in the month of June gave the following as a selection of twenty-four
fine varieties of great usefulness, whether for the decoration of the con-
servatory, or for the exhibition-table. A few of them are new flowers,
most of them are varieties of the past three or four years, and all have
been selected for their obvious good qualities. Alphabetically, our
selection runs in the following order : Attraction (Foster), soft rosy
lilac, novel and good ; Bonnie Charlie (Hoyle), rosy crimson, with black
top petals ; Charles Turner (Hoyle), orange scarlet, rich dark upper
petals, a grand flower of extra -fine quality; Claribel (Hoyle), a
charming light variety, pure white, with a bright carmine spot on the
top petals; Corsair (Foster), bright purple, with black top petals, a
novel and fine flower ; Conflagration (Foster), rich crimson, with black
blotch on top petals; Diadem (Hoyle), rosy purple, with deep shading,
rich dark top petals; Emily (Hoyle), delicate rose, large and fine;
Empress (Foster), rose, with maroon spot on the top petals ; Envoy
(Hoyle), warm rose, with shaded dark top petals ; Example (Hoyle),
a grand flower, rich deep crimson rose, black top petals ; Heirloom
(Hoyle), rich orange rose, with large black blotch on top petals ;
Hermit (Beck), white, with large reddish maroon spot on top petals ;
Lady of the Lake (Foster), orange rose, very dark maroon top petals,
a fine but rather late-blooming variety; Lilacina (Beck), a pleasing
pale lilac-coloured flower, not of the best form, but charming for its
hue of colour ; Maid of Honour (Foster), light rosy pink, with small
dark blotch on top petals ; Marion (Foster), a noble flower, rose, with

1870.] SHOW PELARGONIUMS. 347

dark maroon top petals; Mary Hoyle (Hoyle), a beautiful flower,
warm orange rose, small dark blotch on top petals lit up with bright
orange ; Queen of Roses (Beck), lively purple, shaded with rose, new
in colour, very attractive and free ; Regina Formosa (Beck), rose, dark
top petals ; Royal Albert (Hoyle), warm rose lower petals, large dark
blotch on top petals, a large and very fine flower ; Sceur de Charite
(Foster), rich painted orange lower petals, black top petals, a fine and
striking flower ; Sunbeam (Hoyle), rose lower petals, dark top petals,
remarkably free blooming ; Troubadour (Foster), lively orange pink,
dark spot on upper petals, a fine and striking flower ; and William
Hoyle (Hoyle), a very dark variety, warm rose lower petals, tinted
with orange and red, very fine, and novel in character.

Let us suppose that an order is given to a nurseryman for a dozen
of these Pelargoniums for exhibition purposes. The best time to
receive the plants would be in October. They should then be in
48-pots. As soon as received the plants should be gently syringed
to clean them, the surface soil slightly stirred, and then placed in a
light and airy position to recover the effects of the journey from the
nursery. The plants should be well established, and if in vigorous
growth will soon require a shift into the next-sized pot, using good
yellow loam, enriched with some well-decomposed stable manure and
the addition of some silver sand. Each plant should have the aid of
a neat stake and air and light, and attention should be paid to Avater-
ing ; and in a month's time the plants will be ready for a farther shift
into a larger pot, in which they may remain until the end of January
or beginning of February, when they should be placed in their bloom-
ing-pots, using them of a size suited to the strength of each plant. It
is highly important for the cultivator to bear in mind that, as it is
necessary the pots be well filled with roots by the time the plants
come into bloom, they should not be overpotted, or they will make
rank growth at the expense of flower. As soon as the lower leaves
show symptoms of turning yellow during the spring, a little stimulus
will be requisite, and some clear weak manure water may be given
with benefit, and be continued until the buds are nearly ready to ex-
pand. Anything like forcing should be avoided, but a little fire-heat
will be beneficial in damp, dull, and foggy weather, and also whenever
the temperature sinks to near 40°.

Cleanliness is a very important element in the culture of the Pelar-
gonium. 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. Lay it down as a general rule that health and cleanliness
must be sedulously attended to, airing well even in winter, but avoid-
ing cold draughts of air, and keeping the plants free from damp. No

343 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

flower is more easily cultivated than the Pelargonium, probably none is
more generally mismanaged.

At the blooming time some shade should be given to the flowers
during bright, hot, sunny weather, to prolong the bloom, and prevent
it from being scorched. Immediately after blooming, the plants
should be placed out of doors on a spot not exposed to heavy rains,
and water be sparingly given, so that the wood can become well rip-
ened ; for hard well-ripened wood is of the utmost value. After cut-
ting down the plants, leaving a "bottom" corresponding to the size
of the plant, they should be placed in a greenhouse or frame by them-
selves, and kept dry, and exposed to the sun and air, and protected
from rain only. In about a month the buds will have pushed suffi-
ciently to intimate that the plants should be repotted ; they should
then be shaken out of the pots, the whole of the soil removed, and
the roots pruned, and be potted in small pots, kept in a close shaded
frame for a few days, and gradually inured to the light, when more air
may be given. In October, a shift should be made into the blooming-
pots, an operation requiring some care, that the growing shoots be not
rubbed off. Water but sparingly, and avoid wetting the foliage dur-
ing the winter months. When the growing season sets in, water
thoroughly as the plants require it.

As specimens for exhibition require some management differing
from that required for those plants intended for the decoration of the
conservatory, some hints on this matter may not be unacceptable.
In growing Pelargoniums for exhibition, experience is of the utmost
value, wmile forethought is scarcely less important. Supposing a
good head of blooms is required in May, there must be a judicious
selection of plants for early work, and these should have their last
shifts not later than the beginning of October, and by January the
pots should be tolerably full of roots, and the plants have made
strong growth. At this stage they require some encouragement, by
putting on a little fire early in the afternoon, just sufficient to raise
the temperature of the house ; when warm, the flues or pipes can be
syringed if the weather be open and fine. The steam rising from the
pipes excites the plants to make growth, and as the season advances
the plants should be encouraged to increase this. The shoots should
be tied out singly, so as to admit light and air to every part of the
plant. As the season advances, water should be more freely given,
but care must be taken not to make the soil too wet, so as to induce a
weak sappy growth ; air should be given on all favourable occasions,
but cold draughts of air should not be allowed to play directly on the
plants. Plants intended for exhibition in June, July, and August,
should not be excited into growth so early as those intended for early

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 349

showing; they should, however, receive their final shifts by the end of
the year, and be gently grown, and heat should be given only on
special occasions — as for instance, to exclude frost and dry the house,
giving air at the same time. Early in January there should be the
commencement of tying the plants into shape, as the old wood as well
as the young can at this stage be twisted with less danger than later
in the season, when it is full of sap. As before stated, care must be
taken not to water the plants too freely, as it is not quick growth that
is required so much as short strong shoots, which will insure fine
flowers as well as a good head of bloom.

The later in the year the plants are required for exhibition purposes,
the more valuable does experience become, and the greater necessity
is there for the due exercise of forethought. There is no more valu-
able teacher than experience ; perhaps there is scarcely a preceptor
whose lessons are more disregarded by some — certainly not by success-
ful exhibitors of the Show Pelargonium.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

THE APRICOT.

(Continued from page 303.)

The Apricot, as has already been hinted, starts into activity at the
earliest approach of spring, and, as a consequence of this, produces its
bloom at a time when we often suffer much from sharp frosts in the
morning. It is therefore of the greatest importance to use some arti-
ficial means whereby to guard against the evil consequences which
would result from exposure to even two or three degrees of frost.
Various plans have been adopted at different times by cultivators, but
the best, to my mind, is that practised at Floors Castle by Mr Rose,
now of Frogmore. The Apricot-wall there has a western aspect, so
that tho reader will observe it is not placed in what, for Scotland, is
generally considered the best position — viz., the southern ; yet, from
several years' observation, I can state that wall never failed to pro-
duce a crop of first-rate fruit. The plan adopted was as follows : —
"When the buds began to swell, poles were obtained reaching to the
top of the wall under the cope, while their bottoms rested upon the
border 3 feet or thereby from the base of the wall — the tops so secured
as that there was no chance of being blown over by wind : this having
been accomplished, woollen netting — one net of which is as good as
ten of the ordinary kind used for this purpose — was fastened to the
cope and allowed to hang loosely down over the poles. Small blocks

350 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

were placed at equal distances along the wall, and tackle adjusted
thereto, by which means the netting could be drawn up and down at
pleasure. Whenever a frosty night threatened or cold winds prevailed,
these nets were run down ; but during the day, when the weather was
fine, they were invariably drawn up. A broad temporary wooden cop-
ing has been recommended and extensively used by some of our lead-
ing horticulturists. The breadth used is from 9 inches to 1 foot, and
it has often proved very serviceable for the purpose intended. Yet we
cannot shut our eyes to the fact that if a sharp wind were blowing
with the frost, the chances are that not more than 2 or 3 feet of the
upper surface of the wall would be saved even with 1 foot of coping.
Others, again, use Spruce branches or Fern branches, which are hung
regularly all over the surface of the trees ; and from the labour neces-
sary to place them there, it will be obvious that they must be perman-
ent until their work is accomplished. This I consider the worst of all
protections, and would scarcely recommend it unless no other could
be obtained. Among the many arguments which might be brought
against this mode is the very obvious one, that while the trees are pro-
tected from the severity of wind and frost, they are also denied the bene-
fits to be derived from the genial influences of the sun and light. The
young fruit, as it begins to form, assumes a pale sickly appearance, very
different from the bright healthy green look natural to the Apricot ;
while the shoots and leaves become weakly and " drawn." Such whole-
sale covering cannot, therefore, be good ; for although, under this system,
young vigorous trees may produce good crops of fair fruit, yet I doubt
not, if other and more natural means were adopted, a good crop of better
fruit would be the result. Trees protected by the methods just alluded
to cannot be expected to be so hardy as to allow the total removal of
their covering at one time, yet from the nature of such coverings it is
impossible to do otherwise ; and the consequence is, they will often
suffer as much, after its removal, from the effects of 4 or 5 degrees of
frost, as they might have suffered had they been entirely left to the
mercy of the weather without any protection whatever, or even more.
The method of protection which I have recommended as the best for this
period, will also be found to be the best for protecting the fruit from
the ravages of wasps and suchlike when the fruit is ripening, unless
where hexagon netting is used. While wool-netting, which is generally
about 1 inch in the mesh, will keep out birds, it will at the same time
prevent wasps, which are great devourers of the Apricot, from entering,
as they dislike wool so much that they will not alight upon it, and
without alighting upon it they will not attempt to pass through.

As soon as the Apricots have set, and are about the size of a large
Pea, the fruit should be thinned out to about half the distance that it

1S70.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 351

is intended to bear the crop. In the smaller-growing varieties, 4 to 6
inches, and in the larger kinds 9 or 10 inches, will be found to be a
good distance for the crop. To the half of these distances let them at
this stage be thinned, and when thoroughly stoned the superfluous
fruit may be removed.

The principal diseases with which the Apricot is attacked in this
country are gum, canker, mildew, and that mysterious dying-off of the
branches, and sometimes whole limbs, during the growing season. The
exudation of gum is generally, though not perhaps always, the result
of some external injury. Undue twisting or bending of branches, to
the breaking of the bark or injury of the cellular tissue, is in every
case followed at an earlier or later date, according to the extent of the
damage, by an exudation of gum. Sometimes, at the nailing season,
by a slip of the hand of the operator, the hammer may fall upon a
branch and injure the bark ; this also is the precursor of this disease.
There is no known remedy for it, so that every care and precaution
ought to be exercised to avoid the slightest injury to the tree
which might lead to this result. Canker in the case of the
Apricot, as in everything else, is the result of the tree being
planted in an uncongenial soil, or when the roots penetrate down
into a bad subsoil. Whenever the first symptoms of it appear,
means ought to be adopted to prevent its further progress, and to re-
establish the constitution of the tree. To accomplish this, the tree
ought to be well root -pruned, having all rank and watery roots
removed ; after which a good supply of fresh soil ought, if possible,
to be procured, into which the tree may be planted : this will for
a time, at all events, stop the further progress of the disease. " Mil-
dew appears," Mr Knight has stated (see ' Horticultural Transactions,'
vol. i. p. 86) " to be the want of a sufficient supply of moisture
from the soil, with the excess of humidity in the air, particularly
if the plants be exposed to a temperature below that to which they
have been accustomed." This appears to be a fair statement of the
case ; and so far as my own experience has gone, it was only under
such circumstances that I have seen mildew attack the iVpricot. The
best remedy is an application of sulphur upon the first appearance
of an attack. The cause of the dying-off of portions of a tree at
the growing period is involved in considerable mystery. Various
are the reasons given by many of our best horticulturists regarding
the matter ; but most of these opinions are mere speculations, and
by them only given as such. Some have said that it is the result
of sunstroke, others that it is through injury sustained by the sap-
vessels through the agency of frost. I am rather sceptical regard-
ing either of these being the cause, as I have noticed that branches

332 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

which die in this manner often show a weakness for a year or two
previous to their death ; while if sunstroke were the cause, death
would follow in a very much shorter time. On the other hand, I have
noticed that branches die in this fashion as often after a very mild
winter as after a very severe one ; therefore I hardly think frost
can be the cause of it. If I may be allowed to speculate regard-
ing the matter, my theory is that it is the result of the branch
becoming bark -bound. This will account for the branch showing
signs of failing health for a year or so previous to its death. By
slow degrees the bark gets tighter, and the wood, in attempting to
swell, failing to find space to grow externally, presses upon the fluid-
tubes in such a manner as in the course of time to almost close
them up. Having arrived at this stage, the branch pushes its buds
into leaf, and all goes well for a time ; but whenever a day of strong
sun or of parching wind comes, the fluid -tubes become unable to
supply the necessary amount of food for the growing appetite of
the quickly- developing leaves, and the result is that all at once the
branch flags and dies off. I may be wrong in this speculation re-
garding the matter, but it may be cleared up in the course of time.
Let a few gardeners in various parts of the kingdom, whenever they
see the least appearance of the disease, run their knives longitudi-
nally up the branch so affected from the main stem for some con-
siderable distance, and in three or four places round the branch,
and if the cause is to be attributed to baric-binding, the above will
prove to some extent a cure. I have not adopted this theory long
enough to be able to prove the matter, but hope in time to do so.
If those who may try the experiment would have the goodness to
report their results of it in the pages of the ' Gardener,' I have no
doubt the Editors would give it a place for the benefit of their many
readers.

There are various insect enemies to the Apricot cultivator ; the first
of these is the Curculio tenebricosus, which is a small and very de-
structive beetle. It secretes itself under the loose bark, and in crevices
and old nail-holes in the wall. The best cure is to have the walls
freshly painted with lime, and the loose bark removed from the trunk
and branches of the trees. In winter let the trees so affected be
thoroughly syringed with a strong decoction of tobacco, and in most
cases it will prove effectual.

The Tortrix Woeberiana, although not a very common enemy, is, how-
ever, a very injurious one, as its depredations upon the branches in
many cases result in the exudation of gum. The larva is of a greenish
colour, with a red head. Its presence is indicated by accumulations of
reddish-brown heaps upon the branches. Under these heaps will be

iSyo.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 353

found a small tunnel, in which the larva is lying and feeding upon the
inner bark of the tree. Two generations are yearly produced, the one
in May, the other in August. The best means to destroy them is to
thrust a needle down through their abodes, whereby they will instantly
be destroyed. Mr M'Intosh recommends painting the branches so
affected by a solution of lime on the first appearance of the enemy.

The Ditula angustiorana is a greenish caterpillar, which, feeding
upon the leaves, does considerable damage. It makes its appearance
in May, and forms itself a home by binding together the extremities
of the leaves, which, as they continue to grow, become curled. In the
course of a short time it changes into a chrysalis, from which emerges
the perfect moth in the month of July. The best means to destroy
these is by hand-picking, which ought to be repeatedly and carefully
done during the early part of the summer. James M'Millan.

{To be continued.)

NOTES ON NEW, RARE, AND CHOICE HARDY
HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

The attention now being given to those plants, a pledge of their rising
popularity, induces me to forward you the following notes of a few
thoroughly good things, which, though not new save in a few instances,
are yet comparatively little known and seldom met with.

Aquilegia ccerulea is a beautiful plant from the Rocky Mountains,
which is not sufficiently known. It is remarkably showy, and distinct in
character from any other species, and produces in a somewhat free
manner large erect flowers of a beautiful violet-blue hue, delicately
suffused with white towards the mouth. A little protection during
winter, though not absolutely necessary, should be given to this fine
species, for the sake of safety.

Arabis purpurea or rosea. — This is a new and distinct species, of
recent introduction, from the mountainous districts of Asia Minor,
closely resembling the well-known Arabis albida, and blooming about
the same time. Its flowers are produced in great abundance, and are
of a pale rose colour ; it is very attractive, and is certainly a valuable
acquisition for the spring garden. Mr William Ingram, of Belvoir,
whose spring gardening can compare with anything like it in Great
Britain, has used this Arabis this season, and speaks of it in the
highest terms of praise.

Armeria Alpina grandiflora. — This is a beautiful large-flowering
variety of A. Alpina, which, from its immense distribution, will soon
become a familiar plant. It is of very free growth, resembling the

354 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

common Thrift, but much larger both in foliage and flowers, and con-
tinues in bloom for seven or eight months out of the twelve. Some
two years ago it was highly spoken of by several writers in the ' Gar-
dener's Chronicle,' certainly in no higher terms than it deserves. This
variety will be found very useful in furnishing a stand of cut flowers
of hardy perennials and herbaceous plants.

Delphinium Bella Donna. — This, though not a new plant, is one
deserving the highest recommendation. It is of very free growth, and
an abundant bloomer ; and whether planted singly or in a mass, is one
of the most effective plants in cultivation. The colour is sky-blue,
and it forms an excellent contrast to the deeper-coloured kinds.

Furikia grandiflora. — This is a beautiful plant, possessing every pro-
perty that can well be desired, and by many competent judges it has
been pronounced one of the finest plants that can be grown for the
decoration of the garden ; and it is also very useful for conserva-
tory work. It has been represented that it will not flower out of
doors ; but this is erroneous, as many can testify. Mr T. S. Ware, of
Tottenham, states that he has grown it for several years, and it has
hitherto bloomed very freely in his specimen border, although its large
delicate foliage is apt to get injured by change of weather. If grown
in pots, this evil can be avoided, and the result will amply repay any
one for the trouble involved by so cultivating it. Its pure white
flowers, handsome foliage, and powerful fragrance, entitle it to a place
in every collection.

Gentiana gelida. — This is a charming hardy perennial from the plains
of Siberia, and will grow freely in any ordinary soil, and form large
spreading tufts of rich blue flowers about 12 inches in height, with
from four to eight flowers on each tuft. A fine example of this could
have been seen a few weeks ago on Mr Barron's herbaceous border at
the Chiswick Gardens. When I saw it, it was in full bloom, and, for
aught I know to the contrary, it may be equally attractive now. It
also, for the rich hue of its flowers, should be in every collection.

Gentiana Verna. — Few persons are aware of the beauty of this
charming plant, although it is a native of this country. It is scarcely
ever seen excepting in its mountain home. In its habits of growth it
forms dense tufts of deep-green foliage, which are smothered in early
spring with brilliant blue flowers, generally with a yellow or white
throat. It grows very freely on rockwork if kept moist, or on borders
with plenty of drainage.

For these descriptions I am greatly indebted to Mr T. S. Ware's
excellent list of Perennials, a most useful work of reference. By-and-
by I hope to give a few more notes on some of the rarer of these fine
and useful plants. Nemo.

870.] NEGLECTED PLANTS. 355

NEGLECTED PLANTS.

Canarina camjpanulata. — This fine old greenhouse herbaceous peren-
nial, which was introduced as far back as 1696, is now very rarely met
with indeed. Last spring I saw a large specimen of it, covered with
its numerous orange-coloured bell-shaped flowers, and growing in a
small conservatory, apparently receiving no extra care, and yet doing
as well as the most ardent cultivator could desire to see it. As it
blooms early in the winter and spring, it dies down in May, and the
plant is then put out of doors in some shady place to rest. In August
young growth appears breaking up from the root, like that which comes
from a Dahlia, and the young shoots, if taken off, can be struck in a
similar manner to the cuttings of the Dahlia. As it will not stand the
slightest frost, it must be removed to a greenhouse ere frost sets in ;
and here the plant will make its growth, and flower before Christmas.
Like the Dahlia, it will do with generous treatment : a good fibry
loam, enriched with some manure, and helped with some sand, would
suit it well. It is one of those neglected plants that richly deserve a
much more extended cultivation, and the example referred to above I
saw at Redbridge, near Southampton, the residence of Mr William
Stride. The fine condition of the plant was highly creditable to the
gardener, Mr Davis.

Zephyranfhes rosea. — It seems scarcely possible to believe that this
beautiful half-hardy bulb should have to be classed with the neglected
plants, but so rarely is it now seen that the conclusion is inevitable.
It cannot be because it is difficult to cultivate, for Mr Baines, gar-
dener to H. L. Micholls, Esq., formerly of Manchester, at whose new
residence — Southgate Park, near London — I recently saw it in bloom,
says it is difficult to kill it ; and, as it was here developed, I can con-
ceive nothing more suitable for conservatory decoration at this season
of the year. It remains in bloom quite two months ; and when in
bloom, it should be kept shaded to prolong the duration of the flowers :
previously to that, it should have plenty of light and air. The ordi-
nary treatment of the hardy kinds of Amaryllidaceous plants would
appear to suit it well.

Anomatkeca cruenta. — This is another somewhat neglected plant,
though more frequently met with than either of the preceding. I also
saw this at Southgate Park, growing in the same pot with the Zephyr-
anthes, as well as in the pots of other Amaryllids. Mr Baines stated
he encouraged it to grow in this fashion as much as possible, by saving
the seed, and sprinkling it over the surface of the pots. The seed
grows readily, and in this somewhat irregular way a good many pretty

356 . THE GARDENER. [Aug.

dull crimson flowers are thus secured to cut from. It is also capable
of being cultivated out of doors, and will bloom in borders, or planted
in some soil made up of sandy peat. It is a bulbous-rooted plant, with
an Ixia-like appearance of growth, and it can be increased by off-sets
as well as by seed. R. D.

METROSIDEROS FLORIBUNDA.

This plant is a native of New South Wales, and is consequently well
suited to the temperature and treatment required for most plants that
thrive in and beautify our modern British conservatories. It attains
to large dimensions, throwing out regular and well-formed shoots and
branches, which give it an elegant and graceful appearance. It also
flowers freely. Before me is a specimen trained as a standard, about
7 feet high, and 6 feet across, bearing forty spikes of its pretty tassel-
like red flowers, and about as many more formed, but not yet devel-
oped. Each spike measures about 3 \ inches in length, and 3 in
diameter ; and the individual flowers, which are numerous, impart a
brilliancy of colour that quickly attracts the eye, and commands the
admiration of the beholder. Besides those I have mentioned, the plant
has other qualities, which, for the sake of brevity, I shall reduce to
three principal features. First, then, it is easily cultivated, requiring
no more than ordinary care ; 2d, It remains almost free from the
attacks of those enemies of vegetable life — insects \ 3d, In proportion
to its size, it requires a comparatively limited area of matter from
which to derive its sustenance ; that means, in plain words, that the
pot room need not be extensive.

I have known the Metrosideros grow luxuriantly in a compost
formed of peat and turfy loam of equal parts, with some white sand
added, the usual precautions as to drainage being, of course, attended
to. The specimen I have referred to was always — after being placed
out of doors for a few weeks in summer — kept in the conservatory,
where it now remains in all its summer grandeur the admired of all
observers. I shall only add that the subject of these lines merits the
attention of all cultivators of this interesting and showy order of
plants. R. M.

T87o.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 357

HINTS FOR AMATEURS-AUGUST.
Where attention has been given to close cropping, every part of the
vegetable garden will be well filled up, and the produce in great
abundance. While we advocate "profusion," we have no sympathy
with "confusion." It is necessary that space for winter Spinach,
Onions, and Cabbage should be left, or provided by lifting Potatoes
or trenching down Strawberries which are done with. Open, deep
ground, free from rank manure, suits Spinach well : it often dies off
at the necks when manure is fresh and near the surface. When sow-
ing is to be done, the ground should be well watered beforehand if
necessary, and the seeds not allowed to lie exposed long in the sun
before they are covered up. Lettuce should be sown to stand the
winter from the beginning to the third week of the month. The
further north the position the earlier should be the sowing. Brown
Coss, Hardy Hammersmith, and Brown Dutch are suitable for winter
work. Lettuce (fit for use) should be in abundance now ; and to do
justice to that delicious vegetable, plenty of manure-water should be
given. Shading is practised by some to get them crisp and sweet ;
but when wanted for culinary purposes, less attention is necessary.
Sow and plant Endive ; it requires blanching by tying up or placing
flower-pots over the plants. Turnips for late work may still be sown
in quantities in the south. They will not grow to much in the
north after this time, but they should be tried. Cauliflower for pro-
tecting may be sown from the beginning to the third week of the
month. Any seedlings which are to stand the winter should be
made sturdy by being pricked out of the seed-rows before they become
drawn up weakly. Globe Artichokes should have flowering stalks
taken off as soon as they are unfit for use, and weakly plants may be
helped by manure-water. Beans and Peas may be saved for seed if
they cannot be used up ; but if not wanted, they should be cleared off
at once. Scarlet Runners and French Beans should have the pods taken
off before they show fruit, otherwise they will soon be brought to an end.
Leeks and Celery will be greatly benefited by plenty of manure-water.
They both may be earthed up to blanch them, keeping their hearts clear.
Onions well forward may have their necks twisted to ripen them.
Strip outer leaves of Parsley and pull out coarse plants, and endea-
vour to secure a large supply to stand the winter. A quantity placed
where protection can be given may be valuable when ground is frozen
or covered with snow. Radish and other salads may be sown for
some time to come, but still in small quantities and well watered ; to
keep these plentiful and good, much attention is required. Cucum-
bers and Melons require attention as formerly advised, keeping decay-

358 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

ing leaves off and preventing the shoots from becoming matted.
Dungbeds (if getting cold and weather unfavourable) may have a good
lining placed round them. Melons ripening their fruit should have
plenty of air and be kept dry.

Let all necessary nailing and tying of fruit-trees be attended to at
once. Air and sun kept out at this season is much against the ripening
of the wood ; healthy clean foliage is of great importance. Fruits not
netted are in great danger from the attacks of birds. Pick the fruit
before it is over-ripe ; go over it frequently so that none be lost.
Bottles, in which is placed a little beer and sugar, will trap wasps and
flies : hang them about the trees by their necks. Hexagon netting is
very good for protection, as it lets in air and keeps out insects. Plant
fresh plots of Strawberries ; strong growing kinds on good deep ground
require plenty of space apart. When the foliage becomes matted there
is little chance of good supplies of fruit. Some kinds we find are not
too close when planted 2| feet apart. Two or three years is long
enough for the plants to bear fruit. We plant a piece and destroy a
brake annually, which keeps the stock young and prepares the ground
well for other crops. Runners not wanted should now be cleared off
and the surface well cleaned. If young plants cannot be had for
planting, the best of the crowns of old plants reduced and planted on
well-prepared soil will fruit well next season; ground and labour will
be saved by this practice ; but young plants are preferable for plant-
ing.

In the ornamental garden all will be gay and orderly, and to
keep all neat and clean frequent attention is necessary. To leave the
garden till it becomes rough and untidy requires more work to bring
it right, besides never having the same appearance as when attended
to often. Walks kept smooth and hard, grass well mown, and plants
kept within bounds, is of much more importance to keeping than con-
tinued raking. The hoe should be kept going as long as it can be done,
and drought will do little harm. Roses should be gone over frequently,
and all decaying flowers taken off. Suckers require to be looked after
sharply, on weakly growers especially. Cuttings of all sorts of bedding
plants will require attention shortly. The young tops of healthy plants
make the finest stock for keeping through the winter. A frame with
sound lights answers well for most things, but free-growing Pelar-
goniums do well when planted in an open border full in the sun.
When rooted they may be lifted and potted, or placed in their pots at
once, and well attended to with water. Boxes or pans well drained,
and some soil (sandy loam) placed firmly in them, is as easy a method
as any of securing stock to be kept through the winter : Heliotropes
and other tender things may be put in first. Pelargoniums of the

1870.] OUVIRANDRA FENESTRALIS. 359

scarce kinds may also be seen to early. Pansies and Violets may be
propagated behind a wall ; handlights placed over theni for a time will
help them much. Chrysanthemums will now require attention with
manure-water, especially those with their roots confined in pots. Car-
nations and Picotees to be layered should be finished at once. Pinks
which are rooted may be planted out. Dahlias and Hollyhocks on
poor ground require plenty of manure-water. All soft-wood plants in
frames require frequent attention to keep them free from insects ; keep
the drainage clear, the surfaces clean, and if nights become cold give
water in the morning. M. T.

OUVIRANDRA FENESTRALIS,

THE LATTICE PLANT OF MADAGASCAPw

Amongst the many stove-plants cultivated for the beauty, elegance, or
curious appearance of their foliage, there are many much more stately,
but scarcely one more interesting, than the singular little aquatic plant
that heads this paper. Years ago, some gentleman travelling in Mada-
gascar discovered the Ouvirandra; but not being able to send home
living specimens of it, he forwarded some dried ones, and these, for
the curious and novel formation of their leaves, were highly prized at
the time, and carefully preserved. About sixteen years ago, the Rev.
William Ellis, so long associated with missionary enterprises in Mada-
gascar, introduced some plants, and forwarded them to Kew, the first
living examples of it ever introduced to England.

Since its introduction to this country it has never attained the
popularity it unquestionably deserves : why, is not easily determined.
One writer has described it as difficult to grow ; another asserts the
opposite, and says it is as easily grown as any other stove-plant. One
cultivator has asserted that it has fallen into bad repute through being
grown in too deep water ; while, singularly enough, another contends
that the cause of failure is through growing it in too shallow vessels.
I think all these are wrong to some extent, and I hold the opinion that
neglect has done more than anything else to narrow the scope of its
cultivation. There are some cultivators who make a pet of a new plant
for a time, but when something else turns up, or work presses on their
hands, their enthusiasm cools, and plants are left to take care of them-
selves, and frequently to perish. It has been so with the Ouvirandra ;
and as it was growing in its natural element, water, they thought it
would take no harm if left to itself for a week or two. The same
neglect would have killed other stove-plants than this under notice.
This is how it has been treated ; and not having had even the ordinary

3G0 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

attention required by other plants, it has got the reputation of being
difficult to cultivate. A cultivator who goes about his work systema-
tically, can grow the Ouvirandra as well as any other plant under
similar conditions ; but inattention to changing the water has wrought
much mischief, and seriously affected the health of the plants.

As some of your readers may not have seen this plant, I send a
sketch of a single leaf of it. The leaves of the plant are entire, oblong
in shape, and the veins, except about five or
six, which run longitudinally, are in parallel
lines across the leaves, between which are little
square holes or cavities, which give to it pre-
cisely the form of lattice-work, or a rope lad-
der; hence its common name, the Lattice plant.
The leaves grow from 9 to 15 inches in length,
and are of a beautiful dark -green hue. 0.
Berneriana is of much larger growth, produc-
ing leaves from 15 to 20 inches in length, and
of a bright green colour, but they are not so
open as those of O. fenestralis. They are both
well worth cultivation where space will permit. A good plant of O.
Berneriana will fill a tub 3 feet in diameter, while an ordinary-sized
plant of 0. fenestralis will grow in an inverted bell-glass 18 inches in
diameter — in fact, a very good thing in which to grow it, as it shows
off the beauties of its leaves to the best advantage ; while a large tub
or slate cistern about 18 inches deep will be required for 0. Ber-
neriana.

But now to the cultivation of this interesting plant. Having de-
cided on the material of which the vessel shall be composed in which
the plant is to grow, whether of slate, wood, or glass, it should be
plunged to one-third of its depth in bottom-heat in the warmest corner
of the stove. This done, place 2 or 3 inches of clean washed gravel
from the river-side over the bottom, and fill it up to the brim with rain-
water previously heated to between 70° and 80°. The soil I have
proved best suited to this plant is rough turfy loam, broken into small
pieces with the .hand, the very fine soil sifted from it, and one-third of
coarse river-sand added. Prepare the pots, or pans, which are better,
if to be had of a convenient size, in the same way as for other plants,
by placing crocks at the bottom, and some of the largest pieces of turf
on the top of these, to prevent the soil from mixing with them. If the
plants are young seedlings with no ball to them, dip the roots in dry
river-sand till they are quite covered with it before placing the plants
in the pots. In the case of older plants, loosen as many of the roots
as possible round the sides of the ball, spread them out on the top of

1870.] OUVIRANDRA FENESTRALIS. 361

the fresh soil, and sprinkle sand over them before filling up with
soil. This prevents it from adhering to the roots. Keep the
collar of the plants up to the level of the rim of the pot, and
press the whole of the soil pretty firmly about it. Next place
the pot on the floor, and water through a fine rose till the whole of
the soil is thoroughly soaked, and every particle of soil washed off the
leaves. Allow the plants to stand a few minutes till the water gets
drained from them, when they may be gently placed in the aquarium.
If the plants are small, place them within 5 or 6 inches of the surface
by standing them on inverted pots, and as the leaves increase in
length put them a couple of inches deeper. The best rule I can lay
down for this is, have your plants so placed that the longest leaves
just touch the surface of the water. I have no doubt some will dis-
pute this, for I have seen them recommended to be planted so that
they may have eighteen inches of water above the soil in which they grow.
I have seen plants under this treatment, but never in such a healthy
state as when grown nearer the surface. To try it, I once placed a
young plant 15 inches below the surface, and the first leaf that was
produced was \\ inch longer ; but I found that it was the stalk that
had gained so much, while the blade of the leaf was not in the least
longer, but a quarter of an inch narrower. Now, the aim of cultivators
should be to produce long broad leaves on short stout stalks. I have
never yet seen those desirable qualities in plants grown in deep water.
In the ' Treasure of Botany ' it is stated that " the leaves grow in
radiating clusters round the rhjzome, and float just beneath the sur-
face of the water, presenting a flat side to the light," and " it grows
on the margins of running streams in shallow water."

"Fusileer" (who, I presume, has been at Madagascar to see) stated
in the 'Field': "We never observed it in deep water, but in the
shallows and scours of clear gravelly or pebbly streams. The leaves
floated on the surface of the water, and the flowers, which were of a
bluish lilac colour, grow on stems rising about a foot or 18 inches
above the surface." From these statements I learn that the Ouvir-
andra grows in shallow water, in clear running streams. Now, it is
easy to grow it near the surface of the water, but how are we to have
a running stream at a temperature of 75° in our stoves 1 The greatest
difficulty lies in keeping the water as warm, as sweet, and as clear as
possible, and so nearly approaching the character of that in its native
streams, where

" Soaring high, the mighty sun

Makes Britons seek the shades,
And wish for Britain's shores again,

Her mountains, streams, and glades."

302 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

I think this difficulty is got over as far as it can be got over without
a real running stream, by keeping the plants in pots near the surface,
where they can be washed daily when changing the water. A pot of
water should be placed on the hot-water pipes, or elsewhere, to get
heated every night ; and at the usual time of watering other plants,
empty the contents of this pot into the aquarium with some force on
the leaves through a coarse rose. The aquarium should be set quite
level, so that it may overflow all round. This mode of introducing
the water keeps the leaves as clean as could be desired, and it never dis-
turbs any sediment that may rest at the bottom so as to spoil the purity
of the water. Further than this daily change of water, little attention
is needed. Should any conferva make its appearance, the plants
should be lifted out, and the aquarium emptied, thoroughly cleaned,
and refilled with fresh water at once. The plants will be benefited
by being occasionally lifted out and watered overhead, the same as
directed to be done after potting, as the soil sometimes gets rather
loose round the collar of the plants ; but this is not necessary so long
as the leaves are kept clean.

In conclusion, although I have recommended the plants to be kept
near the surface of the water, I at the same time caution beginners
not to attempt to grow them in shallow water. We are told that they
grow in shallow water in their native habitat ; but we must bear in
mind that we have not got a continued circulation of fresh water pass-
ing amongst their leaves and roots from which they can derive a con-
tinual supply of food. The greater the body of water, the better are
the chances of success with the plant. R. J. G. P.

NEW SPOTTED FOXGLOVES.

One of the best additions made to our hardy herbaceous border-flowers
during the past few years is the fine spotted varieties of Digitalis pur-
purea, sent out three years ago by Messrs Ivery & Son, Dorking. I saw
a collection of spikes, exhibited by this well-known nursery firm, at one
of the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensing-
ton; and so fine were they, that they attracted crowds of admirers
about them. From a packet of seed I succeeded in raising a good
number of plants, varied in character and finely marked, and for the
last six weeks they have been much admired in these gardens; and the
freedom with which they throw out lateral blooming shoots, promises
that they will continue in bloom for some time to come.

Their undoubted value as decorative border-plants has induced me to

1870.] NATIONAL TULIP SHOW. 3G3

send you these few lines, in the hope that others will be induced to grow
them. For shrubbery margins, or for woodland walks, scarcely any-
thing can be more acceptable ; and being very hardy, as well as care-
less as to the nature of the soil, provided it be soil, there is no difficulty
about their management. Like other flowers, however, they amply
repay a generous treatment: in proportion to the stimulus they gather
from the soil, will be the beauty of their development.

The seed may be sown where the plants are to bloom, but it is far
better to sow it in a pan; and when the plants are large enough, prick
them out on a shady border, and transplant them to their blooming
quarters in the autumn. The Foxglove is a biennial, therefore the plants
raised one summer will not bloom till the following season. If the
soil in which they are planted be good, they will grow to a height of
3 or 4 feet, with a spike of flowers at least 2 feet in length ; when so
grown, they are really beautiful objects. I have some white flowers
with crimson, others with purple, and some with brown spots; some
of these spots are small in size, others so large as to be actually blotches
of colour. The old type of Digitalis purpurea has been wonderfully
improved, and in its old form it should now be discarded from our gar-
dens. There are now several shades of purple — some so bright in hue
as to partake of a red colour ; others so soft as to be of a pale lilac
hue. William Plester.

Elsexham Hall Gardens.

NATIONAL TULIP SHOW.

The following notes on some of the flowers exhibited at this exhibition have
been furnished to us by Mr Thomas Haynes of Derby, a successful cultivator
and exhibitor. After the awards were made, some of the leading growers went
round the show and noted down the flowers that were shown particularly well on
this occasion. It is gratifying to know that many cultivators of the Tulip are
readers of the ■ Gardener,' and the publication of these notes will be appreciated
by them.

Class I. — 1. Mr Barlow Martin's No. 101 feathered Byblcemen, very pretty,
much in the style of Denman, but an improvement on that old variety. Sir J.
Paxton was grand, and deservedly obtained the premium prize as the best flamed
flower in the exhibition. Mrs Lea, good; Aglaia, good ; Charmer (Martin), a bright
rose, very beautiful, but the petals are rather narrow ; Duchess of Sutherland
(Walker), good ; Celestial, large and good ; Talisman (Hardy), feathered Byblce-
men, most beautiful ; Polyphemus, grand ; Sovereign, good ; Bacchus, good.
This stand was very closely run by Mr Headly's, whose flowers, however, were
a little past their best, and were being severely tried by the heat of the day.
2. Mr Headly — Wm. E. Gladstone, feathered byblcemen, is first-class, certainly
one of the best ; Circe, flamed Bose — the same may be said of this, quite
in the style of, and very like, a good Sarah Headly ; Prince of Wales, flamed

361 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

bizarre : this was very fine, large, and beautifully marked, but hardly strong
enough in colour. The above are seedlings of Mr Headly, and they do him
credit. Sarah Headly was grandly feathered. John Kemble, flamed bybloemen,
John Thornley, flamed bybloemen, and Dr Hardy (Storer), were all exceedingly
fine. 3. David Barber — Mrs Pickerell, grand; this was the premier feathered
ilower of the exhibition. Heroine was good. Jacomb's Perfection, feathered
bizarre, is a sort little known, but it is rightly named ; it is one of the best of its
class, and is certainly the richest of colour of any bizarre in cultivation. Paxton
was good, Alexander Magnus good, but too long. This stand of flowers con-
tained the best-grown specimens in the exhibition ; and had the show been two
days earlier, it must have been first instead of third. 4. William Lea. — In-
dustry, feathered, grand; Talisman (Hardy), grand. This is a sort that will
be looked after, but we think it will have to be shown young, as the outside petals
seem inclined to reflex. This was observable in each case where it was exhibited.
Paxton, feathered, was in fine style, so was Adonis, flamed ; and Dr Hardy, Queen
of the North, Lord Byron, and Heroine, were all pretty.

Class II. — 1. Rev. S. Cresswell. — George Hayward, feathered, was good; a
feathered bizarre of Storer (no name) was also good. Nepaulese Prince, flamed
byblcemen, good, and a feathered Vicar of Radford the best we remember to have
seen. 2. Mr Willison; John Sanderson, ex. ex. ex. — Eliza, flamed byblcemen
(Willison), is a good thing, and worth looking after. Mrs Sharp, feathered
bybloemen, heavy but good. Juliet, feathered, the first we have seen, was good,
and much like Heroine. Juliet, flamed, was also very pretty. 3. Mr Haynes.
— Paxton flamed and Paxton feathered were both good. Beatrice, feathered
bybloemen (Haynes), beautiful. Sarah Ann (Gibbon), an old flower, but when
caught in character, is equal to anything in its class. Orion, feathered bizarre
(Storer), and Mrs Lea, that had been good. 4. Mr Pickerell. — Paxton, good ;
Aglaia, good, and Victoria, feathered, the best we have ever seen grown in the
midland counties.

Class III. — 6 Dissimilars. — 1 . Mr Barber. In this stand Mrs Pickerell and Spen-
cer's First-rate were good, the others nothing to speak of. 2. Mr Pickerell. —
Paxton, Pickerell, and Aglaia, were all good flowers. 3. Mr Willison. — Henry
Steward, feathered bizarre, is a first-class flower; so is Sarah Leach, flamed by-
blcemen; Invincible, feathered byblcemen, was good ; and so was Captivator, flamed
rose ; and Paxton, flamed. We think this stand was better than the first. 4.
Mr Sharp. — Paxton, Heroine, Adonis, and Demosthenes were all good. 5. Mr
Headly. — Mrs Pickerell was the best of the lot ; Dr Hardy was good, and so was
Arethusa, feathered Rose, much in the style of Sarah Headly. 6. Mr Haynes.
— Masterpiece, grand ; Dr Hardy, grand ; Adonis had been fine, but now quar-
tered; Talisman, flamed, ex. ex. ex., but outside petals reflexed with old age and
hot weather. The flowers in this had been very fine, but were two and three
days past their best.

In the first stand of 3 Feathers (Lea) all were good; 2. (Sharp), do. do. ; 3.
(Haynes), do. do. ; 4. (Barlow) contained a very beautiful but small Violet
Amiable, and a good Heroine ; 5. (William Lea, jun.) contained some nice flowers,
but all small.

Among the beaten stands in this class were Headly's Pactolus, very grand, and
Lord Byron, Industry, and Fairy Queen, all very beautiful.

In first three flames (Haynes) was a very fine Denman. In 2d do. (Willison)
was British Queen and Sir J. Paxton in fine character. In 3d do. (Hextall) was
Smith's Prince of Wales, flamed bizarre, good, and Walker's Duchess of Suther-
land— the best bloom of the sort in the exhibition. In 4th do. (Pickerell) was a

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. n 365

nice bloom of Orion (Storer) after the style of Dr Hardy, but not equal to it.
5th do. (Mr Shorthouse. )

In stands of 6 Breeders Mr Headly was first with six good seedlings, especially
one of the Roses, which took the premier prize for Breeders, and which was, we
think, the finest Rose Breeder we ever saw. Mr Hayues came second with six
really good Breeders, the most noticeable of which was a fine large seedling
bybloemen and two good Roses — Oliver and Parker's Rose of England. Mr
Barlow was 3d, and the best blooms were Lucretia, rose, Talisman bybloemen,
and William Lee, bizarre. Mr Lea was 4th, and in his stand was a very good
bizarre Ariosto (Slater), and one or two good seedlings.

Thomas Haynes.
Derby.

GARDEN RECORDS.

NO. VIII.

MESSRS PAUL & SON, THE OLD NURSERIES, CHESHUNT, HERTS.

{Continued from page 274.)

These well-known Nurseries have played a most important part in the progress
of horticulture daring the present century. The Rose, the Hollyhock, and many
other popular flowers have here found and still do find a congenial home.
Wherever the progress of floriculture during the last fifty years is sketched it
will be found that the Cheshunt Nurseries are related to many of its most valued
triumphs, and have played an important part in helping to secure some of its
most noted successes.

Cheshunt is about 13 miles from London, on one of the north high roads, that
leading to Hertford and Cambridge. The dwelling-house, together with the shop
and office adjoining, are well known to frequenters of that road ; hundreds who
do not know the locality, or have never seen the nurseries, have heard of them,
and have come to regard them as one of those high places of floriculture that take
the form of shrines to which florists instinctively turn their footsteps, as a place
full of pleasant revelations and undescribed delights. The grandfather of Mr
George Paul, the present proprietor, established the Cheshunt nurseries about
sixty years ago. The site of the original nursery stood back some distance from
the dwelling-house, and it is said it was once the site of the trial grounds of
Messrs Minier, Nash, and Nash, the wholesale seedsmen of the Strand. This spot
is now the Peach and Strawberry nursery. At the period of our visit we found
here an excellent treat of Strawberries, as Messrs Paul and Son grow these
largely as a staple article of trade. That superb variety Dr Hogg was in prime
condition ; so were many more of the leading kinds, for notwithstanding the
drought a liberal mulching and plentiful supplies of water had brought the fruits
to a high state of perfection. Next, there was added the Church Fields nursery
a piece of land of about 12 acres, situated near to the parish church of Cheshunt.
Here, on the occasion of our visit, was spread out a glorious feast of Roses, there
being about 40,000 standard Roses worked on the briar, and dwarf Roses worked
on the Manetti stock, in the full flush of their superb floral beauty. The require-
ments of the growing trade made it necessary that new land should be added, and
the home nursery of about 15 acres, with some outlying pieces of land, 4 acres in

366 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

all, were joined to the ground already under cultivation. Here there were planted
out in the open ground some 40,000 standard and dwarf Roses, besides seedlings ;
there were also a large number of pot-Roses, Conifera, Ornamental Trees, Ever-
greens, &c, in common with many other plants found in a nursery of such great
extent. In 1S60 was added what is known as the Roselands Nursery, a fine piece
of land about 24 acres in extent, having a fine fresh Rose soil; and here, in
addition to standard Roses almost without number, can also be seen a wonderful
collection of all kinds of pyramidal, standard, and dwarf trained fruit-trees in superb
condition, having all that fine and free development a deep, generous loamy
soil can impart to them. Mr George Paul informed us that the Roses here would
amount to something like 40,000 in number. Away at High Beech, a few miles
north-west of the home nursei'y, is a further nursery of 15 acres, devoted to the
culture of American plants, Hollies, &c, all in thriving condition, and doing as well
as could be wished. Such is a general sketch of the disposition of the several
pieces of land making up the Cheshunt Nurseries.

No one can have walked through these nurseries— every part of them during
the present summer — without being struck with the order and cleanliness every-
where observed. Mr George Paul appears to regard his nurseries with the eye of
an artist ; a mass of weeds here, or an untidy spot there, would mar the effect of
the pleasant picture he has in his nurseries. Their condition reflects the highest
credit on his management : it is also seen in the quality of the stuff he grows.
Deep and constant hoeing is another characteristic of the order in which the
nurseries are kept. Never before, perhaps, has a dry summer better illustrated
the advantages of deep hoeing, and a constant stirring of the surface, than the
prevailing drought has at Cheshunt during the past few months. A man who not
only hoes deeply, but takes a pride in the quality of his work, is a man Mr Paul
rates at a high value, and he encourages him in a liberal manner.

We have already alluded to the high-class character of the fruit-trees, and the
same praise is deserved in the condition of all kinds of nursery stock. The land
shows the prevalence of drought, but the stock scarcely ; all was healthy,
vigorous, and doing well. To particularise would be to go through all the vari-
ous items forming an extensive and varied stock ; but such things as a grand lot
of standard Limes, dwarf-trained Nectarines, Peaches, Plums, Cherries, and Apri-
cots, trees of many kinds, shrubs, &c, were all in prime condition. That more
useful class of trees and shrubs, those with variegated and ornamental foliage,
are largely looked after, and almost complete collections have been gathered to-
gether. Variegated Sycamores, Ash, Acers, and many other things can be seen';
and in the spring time, when the young growth is fresh and at its best, the lover
of pictorial trees will find a great field for study opened up in these grounds. In
one part of the nursery grounds were to be seen collections of the several species
and varieties of Lilacs, Weigelias, Spireas, &c, as interesting to the botanist as
they are to the practical horticulturist. Immense quantities of Aucuba Japonica
were to be seen in one of the nurseries, grown mainly to supply the London cos-
termongers with plants, which they pot and sell as window plants during the
winter. As a general rule, a very large number of these get starved for want of
water — a failing common to window gardeners in large cities, and especially in
London, where such an extensive migratory population exists — but the demand
is always a large one, and the supply must keep pace with it.

Remembering how much the cultivators of the Hollyhock owe to the Cheshunt
Nurseries, how much of its glorious past was fostered by the care bestowed on
its cultivation and intelligence brought to bear upon its improvement there, it
was pleasant to note that it is again being grown ; that a large piece of ground

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. , 367

had been planted with all the leading kinds, and that many seedlings had been
planted out for trial. Mulching and due attention to watering was developing a
fine growth, full of promise of rich heads of flower.

But who can do justice to the priceless treasures of the rich collections of
Roses grown here 1 We saw them in the fulness of their splendid blossoms ;
and how these flowers have been developed at the Cheshunt Nurseries during the
present summer let the exhibition-tables at the leading Rose-shows testify.
There was acre after acre of Roses, of almost every imaginable hue of colour,
spi-ead out before the beholder.

" The imperishable glow
Of summer sunshine never more confessed
The harmony of nature, the divine
Diffusive spirit of the beautiful."

Whether or no Mr George Paul be one of those cultivators of the Rose who
grow it for exhibition, and as was sought to be not very good-naturedly implied
not long since, to the deterioration of the plant in regard to its fitness for
sale, certain it is that, judging from the quality of the many thousand standard
and dwarf Roses to be found here, no purchaser need fear as to the nature of
the article to be supplied by-and-by. We should have every confidence in the
Roses supplied from Cheshunt, even though Mr Paul is an exhibitor, and a very
successful one too.

Descriptive notes of some of the new Roses of last year, as taken on the occa-
sion of our visit, cannot fail to have an interest for our readers. We had not an
opportunity of seeing all the new varieties of 1869, but the following were some
of the best of them : — Hybrid Perpetuals — Abbe Giraudier, a darker and finer
form of the old Lcelia, and a seedling from it, flowers large, full, and of fine
form ; Candide, a white Victor Verdier, very pretty indeed, and promising to be
a fine forcing Rose ; Charles Turner, bright glossy red, a fine hue of colour, but
the flowers somewhat shallow in the build ; Comtesse de Oxford, a cherry-crimson
coloured Victor Verdier, but of better shape ; Jules Seurre, a Victor- Verdier
type of flower with the colour of Anna Alexieff, of fine shape and capital habit ;
Louis Van Houtte, a high-coloured shaded rose, very fine indeed as a bud, a
flower in the way of Louis XIV., but with better growth : Madame Laurent, an
improved Madame Therese Levet, but with more colour in it, a fine hue of deep
cherry-rose ; Madlle. Eugenie Verdier, a very good Rose, and very fine as a bud,
colour deep-flesh : Marquis de Castellane, a rose-coloured Baroness A. de Roth-
schild, having the fine build, globular form, and fulness of this fine Rose, but with
the addition of a fine depth of colour — one of the best of the new Roses ; Paul
Neron, a fine Rose in the way of Gloire de Vitry, of excellent habits and very
free ; and Reine des Beautes, like Candide, a white Victor Verdier, moi*e globu-
lar in shape, and rather paler in colour also. Noisette, Reve d'Or, a climbing
Madame Falcot, but fuller, and with more freedom of bloom ; Tea-scented
Madame Ducher, one of the fine seedlings raised from Gloire de Dijon ; this is in
the way of Devoniensis, but with the build of Triomphe de Rennes ; and Tour
Bertrand, another seedling from Gloire de Dijon, of fine shape, and finely col-
oured in the centre.

Many of the new Roses of 1868 were in bloom, and gave us an opportunity of
further testing their qualities. The following Hybrid Perpetuals were of fine
quality : Bertha Baron, beautiful light rose, a free blooming variety, and good
flower; Devienne Larny, deep reddish carmine, very fine and full, in the way of
Madame Victor Verdier, but more globular in shape ; Dupuy Jamain, bright

3GS THE GARDENER. [Aug.

cherry-red and violet, very fine petal, and great depth of substance ; Edward
Morren, a very fine and full flower, promising to become a good standard rose ;
Emilie Hausburg, pale glossy rose colour, in the way of Madame D. Duville,
charming shape; Heuri Ledeckaux, a very fine rose of a beautiful hue of bright
cherry carmine; Julie Touvais, light rose, flushed with a deeper colour, a little
rough, but of fine substance ; Leopold II., salmon rose, a showy garden variety,
that comes fine early in the season ; Madame Creyton, deep carmine rose, a very
fine autumnal flowering variety; Madame Decour, fine bright rose, very good;
Madame Farfouillon, mauve, with salmon centre, dwarf habit, and very pretty ;
Madame Lierval, clear rose, a capital garden variety, very free, and fine for beds ;
Marquis de Mortemart, a spleudid flower, colour, very bright light rose, form and
substance fine ; Nardy Freres, violet rose, very fine, free, and a good grower ;
Perfection de Lyon, deep rose, flowers full, very free, and a fine grower ; Reine
Blanche, white, very slightly tinted with rose, very fine in the bud, and a free
bloomer; Rene Dacciol, deep cherry red, flushed with purple, in the way of
Dupuy Jamain, but with more colour in the centre, a fine grower ; Souvenir de
Poiteau, bright salmon rose, quite a new colour, very fine and full ; Thyra
Hammerich, very light flesh colour, very free and dwarf growth ; and Victor
de Bihan, bright rosy carmine, very fine and full, promising to be a fine autumnal
rose. Some descriptive notes of the older kinds must stand over till our next
number.

Standard Tea-Roses were not only very numerous, but finely developed at
Cheshunt. All kinds of Tea-Roses appear to be at home here, but the Standards
particularly so. We noticed a piece of Standards, one year from the bud, of such
kinds as Marechal Niel, Triomphe de Rennes, La Marque, and others, of very
vigorous development. In one part of the ground some Standard trees of the
pretty Macartney Rose, Berberifolia, with yellow flowers spotted with maroon,
which makes a charming head of bloom when grown in this way; also the
Perpetual Scotch Rose, Stanwell Hybrid, Blush Rose flowers, large and double,
blooming very freely and continuously. The Seedling Roses at Cheshunt will
have to be reported on at a later date. We saw there in the bud, one from
Alfred Colomb, one from Charles Lefebvre, and one from Duke of Edinburgh, all
very promising, and of rich shades of colour ; we also saw a sport from \ ictor
Verdier, with a climbing habit and half pendulous leaves, promising to make a
good pillar Rose.

It must not be supposed we have touched on all the subjects found at the Ches-
hunt Nurseries, for there can be seen a general collection of all those plants to
be found in so extensive a place. If any visitor to London should find his way
to Cheshunt at any time, and especially at the Rose season, he will not only have
discovered how to spend a happy day, but he will also be instructed by such a
visit, and find there many lessons of profit waiting to be stored up in his treasury
of knowledge.

WEEKS' UPRIGHT TUBULAR BOILER, with Patent
Duplex Compensating Improvements.

We are enabled to give an illustration of this boiler, and from an
inspection of its mechanism, have reached the conclusion that it
appears likely to answer well the end for which it has been designed.
The inventors consider it to be the most unique and perfect thing of

1870.] WEEKS' UPRIGHT TUBULAR BOILER.

369

its kind that has ever been brought to the notice of the horticultural
world, and in all the attempts to bring it into action, it has answered
far beyond their most sanguine expectations. Its durability is one
special feature, and the patentees are prepared to guarantee and insure
by policy its usefulness and safety for a space of 15 years.

Absolute exemption from failure is also claimed for it on the ground
that it is constructed in two halves ; the construction and expansion are
entirely neutralised ; and should any unforeseen accident occur to one
half, that portion may be detached and removed, without in any way

interfering with the working of the other half. Thus it is termed
" indestructible." The shutting-off of either half from active work
is accomplished by means of an improved gun-metal screw, valves
and chambers.

The arrangements for removing sediment are so perfect and simple,
that any ordinary labourer may clean out the boiler at any time by
drawing the water from the apparatus, or removing a single brick in
the furnace. This is stated to be an advantage no other boiler used
for horticultural purposes can lay claim to. The boiler being con-

2 a

370 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

structed of cast iron, is considered more durable in every respect than
if formed of wrought iron ; and being in sections, it may be passed
through any doorway that is 18 inches in width.

NOTES ON SOME FLOWERS AND GRASSES SUITABLE
FOR DRYING.

Possibly some of the readers of the ' Gardener ' who do not possess a
stove or other heated structure in which to grow flowers all the year
round, find it at times very difficult to obtain them for the decoration
of the dinner-table and other purposes of house ornamentation. To
those so situated I would recommend the following flowers and grasses,
all of which come under the general head of Everlastings, as suitable
for drying, and so capable of being turned to account when fresh
flowers may not be obtainable.

Of these the Helichrysums are a most interesting class of plants.
They are easily cultivated, and, if the flowers be cut before the disc
becomes fully expanded, will retain their colour for upwards of two
years. Rhodanthe manglesii and some of its varieties are also well
worth growing for the same purpose, but they require a warm situa-
tion. Ammobium alatum is another, and, as its generic name indi-
cates, will thrive in a poor sandy soil. Waitzia, or Morna, grandinora,
I may mention, requires the protection of glass, unless in the more
southern counties of England, where it may be planted out of doors
after the middle of June. The Apholexis is allied to the Helichrysum ;
all of them are greenhouse evergreen shrubs, but they are not one and
all hardy. The Statices are a numerous class, and so useful that they
must be included in this list. Several kinds of Gnaphalium, together
with the varieties of Gomphrena globosa, or the Globe amaranth,
are more or less pretty, especially the latter, and well deserving
more extended cultivation. Humea elegans is not by any means
to be despised. When dried, its bronzy-red spikes show to great
advantage, when other things of the same character are not so plenti-
ful. The Xeranthemum is a true Everlasting ; the flowers, after being
dried, may be, and are, dyed of any colour, and it can be grown from
seeds sown in the open border. Accroclinium roseum must also be
in this list. Many others might be named, but these are sufficient for
the purpose at present.

In the way of grasses, as suitable for use with the above-mentioned,
the following will be found to afford much satisfaction to those who
have not hitherto grown them, and are not well acquainted with this

1870.] HURSLEY PARK AND GARDENS. 371

elegant tribe of plants : Agrostis argentea, A. pulchella, and A. nebu-
losa : Briza maxima, and the lesser species, B. gracilis ; the graceful and
useful Eragrostis elegans ; Lajurus ovatus, Stipa pinnata, or the com-
mon Feather Grass of the seed-shops, a British plant capable of pro-
pagation either by root division or by seeds, and will grow in any
common soil. The Pampas Grass is also found useful : the elegant and
stately inflorescences of this fine grass can be easily preserved, and re-
tained in use for a considerable time.

Such are a few of the more useful of flowers and grasses capable of
preservation. Those unaccustomed to their use are scarcely aware of
the excellent effect they have when grouped in epergnes and suchlike
for the decoration of the dinner-table. William Chisholm.

Boughton Place, Maidstone.

HURSLEY PARK AND GARDENS, WINCHESTER,

THE SEAT OF SIR WILLIAM HEATHCOTE, BART.

The visitor from the direction of Southampton will find, at this season of the
year, a pleasant walk from the station at Chandler's Ford to the lower lodge
entrance to this fine domain ; and having gained this point, he will find also that
to reach the gardens he must traverse a well-worn footway, about one-third
of a mile in length, right across the park ; and which, if he is of an inquiring
mind, will prove to him, as it did to ourselves, not the least interesting portion
of the journey.

First, however, let me state of the park itself, that it comprises an area of
some 500 acres in extent, is pleasantly undulating and finely timbered, some of
the individual trees possessing enormous proportions ; whilst beautiful groups of
Chestnuts, Elms, Limes, &c, lend a leafy effect that is quite charming. Some
300 head of deer browse within the park, besides considerable herds of cattle ;
and these have eaten the whole of the branches from the base of all the trees to
within 7 feet from the ground, so that there is an evenness throughout the
park in this respect which adds greatly to its beauty ; whilst the range of vision
is neither marred nor broken, and the fine sturdy stems of the trees form a most
pleasing feature in the landscape.

Starting from the lodge in our walk to the gardens, we come almost imme-
diately upon the schoolboys' cricket-ground, on which the boys of the Hursley
School are permitted to play whensoever they list. Still a little farther, and we
reach that portion of the park on which the members of the Hursley Cricket
Club practise, and where, on summer Sunday evenings, with the full concurrence
of the worthy baronet, the labouring men of the parish play the noble game, and
disport themselves in the innocent pastime, whilst their families and friends can
enjoy without stint the full delights of the fine park and its sylvan scenery.
Just away to the right hand we catch sight of the church, so long the scene of
the labours of the late John Keble, the author of the 'Christian Year,' and from
whence a private footway, running under a fine avenue of walnut-trees, leads to
the mansion, where also I will carry at once the attention of your readers.

The principal front of the building faces in a southerly direction, and enjoys a

372 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

rich and commanding view over a wide extent of wooded scenery. The centre
portion consists of red brick with stone facings, flanked on either side by large
wings of entire red brick. The mansion is a huge square building in form,
and presents all those features of strength, massiveness, and durability, so
characteristic of our best English country residences.

Immediately in front of the house runs parallel to it a broad terrace-walk,
on the right hand of which is a narrow Italian flower-garden, whilst on the
left sweeps away to the south a smooth expanse of turf, about 2 acres in ex-
tent, and which is bordered on either side by belts of fine Elms and other trees.
This forms a delightful grassy glade, on which archery and croquet can be in-
dulged in ad libitum. Passing on in a westerly direction, we pass a pretty sunken
Rose-garden, aud then, diverging to the right, the path leads through large
masses of Rhododendrons, seedling forms of R. ponticum, as well as fine hybrid
varieties, Kalmias, Laurels, and other fine shrubs that stand here and there upon
the grass, down to a trio of extremely fine specimens of the Lime-tree, Tilia
Europoca parvifolia, of the most noble dimensions, one of which is nearly 100
yards in circumference. From this point we turn to the left, and shortly enter
an enclosed Rhododendron garden, which lies lower than the surrounding ground,
and at the western extremity of which stands a pretty elevated summer-house,
built in the form of a Swiss chalet, access to which is obtained from the outside
by means of steps and a balcony, from which the spectator looks down upon an
entirely unique rockery of the most unfortnal kind, aud upon which are growing
in great profusion a large variety of our hardy British Ferns, chief amongst which
were fine specimens of the Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis. The rock-work re-
sembles mountainous and rugged scenery in its formation, and in one corner is a
miniatux^e lake, in which fish disport themselves in great serenity. This secluded
spot forms a most delightful retreat, and might almost tempt the busy man of
the world to turn hermit, so quiet are its surroundings. We now wend our way
along the southern side of the pleasure-grounds, passing some fine specimen
Magnolia acuminata, of great size, and covered with most luxuriant foliage.
These trees blossom freely in the early months of summer. Then past a secluded
poultry-yard and orchard, where the feathered occupants are confined to their
proper limits by means of a tall wire-fence, and we come upon an interesting
object, in the shape of a grove of the Ailanthus tree, Ailanthus glandulosa, of a
circular form, and which is protected all over the top and sides by a close wire-
netting, so that the birds may be excluded, lest they should prey upon the cater-
pillars, or Ailathus silkworm, that during the summer months feed and thrive
upon the enclosed leafage.

This species of the silkworm was introduced from China about the year 1856,
and differs materially from the Bombyx or Mulberry silkworm, both in its habits
and the nature of the material it produces. Both insect and tree are rapidly
becoming acclimatised, and the silk produced by each caterpillar is larger in
quantity, but not so fine in quality, as that produced by its Mulberry namesake.
The eggs are deposited by the moth in about three days after it has emerged
from the cocoon, and these are hatched in fourteen days, when the young insects
are placed upon the Ailanthus trees by some convenient mode, and they eat and
thrive until they attain a length of from 3 to 4 inches. The caterpillars are
green in colour, and apparently resemble the well-known Potato variety. At
the age of from seven to eight weeks the cocoon is spun into a leaf of the Ailan-
thus, when they are carefully gathered and run on to a string and suspended for
the winter in a dry room, in which state the chrysalis remains until the spring,
when it emerges in the form of a moth, and once more the quickened insect life

1870.] HURSLEY PARK AND GARDENS. 373

commences. The growth and preservation of the Ailanthus silkworm, as carried
out at Hursley Park, uuder the immediate superintendence of Lady Heathcote,
is simply experimental in its character, but its value for commercial purposes
has to be tested.

From this interesting feature we pass on to the kitchen-gardens, which are situ-
ated on the east side of the pleasure-grounds, and indeed formed our starting-
point, but the consideration and notice of which we deferred until the other
portions of this fine place had been scanned, the department of vegetable garden-
ing constituting the special reason why the gardens here were made the subject
of the present illustration.

The whole of the grounds covered by the mansion and offices, lawn, shrubberies,
and kitchen -gardens, consists of about 18 acres, and is enclosed from the path
by a ring-fence, sufficiently high to exclude the deer. The kitchen-gardens com-
prise about 6 acres of this enclosure, 4 acres of which are surrounded on the
north, east, and south sides with a high brick wall, the outer sides of which are
devoted to the growth of trained pear-trees of all the best kinds, which are
this season in fine health, and producing a heavy crop of fruit. A wide border
in front of these trees is devoted to the culture of vegetables, and on its outer
edge is a long line of circular-trained Apple-trees running from the north-eastern
to the south-western corners, a broad grass walk again bordering the whole.

Inside the wTalled garden we find that in the centre, and running its entire
length, is a very broad smoothly-mown grass walk, the same being carried cross-
wise. On either side of this walk is an herbaceous border, in which many
of our old favourite plants are cultivated, the back of each border being fenced
off by continuous lengths of trained espalier fruit-trees, the quarters devoted to
vegetable culture being within. The inside portions of the walls are devoted to
the growth of stone fruits ; but the trees here, as in too many other gardens, bear
evidence that our English climate has gradually become unsuitable to the culture
in the open air of the more tender and choice fruits. Singularly enough, how-
ever, there is growing, in a sheltered corner in the garden, a large Violet Hative
Nectarine tree, trained upon a trellis in umbrella fashion, that has not received
any other protection than its situation affords, and is literally loaded with fruit
that will ripen in September. This is a decided novelty, and is also an entire
exception to the general rule.

The glass-houses are limited in extent, and are devoted almost exclusively
to the growth of Grapes and the housing of plants in winter. These are en-
closed by a remarkable Yew hedge, some 8 or 9 feet through, and which looks
like a massive green rampart, so smooth and neat is it kept.

In furnishing from year to year the vegetable supplies requisite for a large
private establishment, such as generally constitutes the household of a wealthy
English gentleman, the gardener is called upon to exercise considerable fore-
thought and good judgment ; but that such essentials are not lacking here, a walk
through the vegetable department will speedily show ; and we now will glance at the
crops as at present under cultivation to illustrate this. Of course, Peas are largely
grown. The earliest sowings are put in in a warm border in February, and consist
of First Crop and Sangster's No. 1, succeeded by Taber's Perfection and Dick-
son's First Early. Then large sowings of Champion of England, Laxton's
Supreme, British Queen, Veitch's Perfection, and a fine late selected variety
having the local appellation of " Merdon Castle." The gatherings commence at
the end of May, and continue to the end of October. As will be seen by the
above list, tall kinds are mostly grown for the main crops ; but sticks are plentiful
here, the expense of which is generally a grave question. Of Potatoes, early and

374 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

second early kinds are grown in the garden, the best and earliest of which seems
to be Veitch's Improved Ashley's, a uevv variety, which is strongly recommended
for its excellent table and cropping qualities. Some are raised in frames for the
earliest supply, and are succeeded by those raised in the open air. The old Ash-
leaf is also largely grown, and is followed by the Early Lapstone and the Milky
White, both capital table varieties. Early Kidney Beans are forced in frames for
Easter Day, and a large quantity grown in the open garden ; added to which, that
valuable Bean, the Scarlet Runner, gets considerable space. Broad Beans are not
neglected, the earliest being Long Pods, followed by Johnston's Wonderful, and
that very useful dwarf kind, Beck's Green Gem. Large beds of both Asparagus
and Seakale are grown, and some raised for forcing every winter, for cutting on
Christmas Day. Rhubarb is put into the Mushroom-house, and gathered from
November until May. Cauliflowers grow here to great size ; that capital variety,
the Early Dwarf Mammoth, being the favourite. These are wintered as
young plants in frames, and put out under handlights in early spring, being cut
from at the end of May. Supplies are maintained all through the summer and
autumn, the Broccoli tribe continuing the supply all through the winter. Of these
the earliest is Snow's Winter White, and the Penzance, succeeded by Backhouse's
Protecting, Dilcock's Bride, and Cattel's Eclipse, which furnish cuttings up to
May. Added to these, needing special mention, is Veitch's Wilcove Improved,
which promises to be the best late kind out. Cabbages are always in season ; the
sorts chiefly grown are Atkin's Matchless and Wheeler's Imperial. An early
planting of Brussels Sprouts takes place at the end of May, and another later on
is put amongst the Potatoes : this useful vegetable is largely grown, and is sup-
plemented by the Albert Sprouts, Early Ulm, and dwarf Green Curled Savoys,
Scotch Kale, Buda Kale, and Couve Tronchuda, all capital winter greens. Very
large beds of Onions, Carrots, and Parsnips are sown in drills 1 foot apart in
March, and first-rate they looked. Lettuces for the summer are Paris White and
Green Cos, and for winter, Bath Cos, aud all the year round maintaining a con-
stant supply, which is largely assisted by Endive. Of Celery, the Sandringham
White and Matchless Red, both fine solid kinds, are extensively cultivated.
There are also many other useful vegetables grown that we must forbear to
mention. Suffice it to say that nothing needful is lacking in its proper season.

And now, in conclusion, we have to acknowledge to Mr John Heath, the hon.
baronet's respected gardener, our sincere thanks for his great kindness and hos-
pitality, and depart with wishes for his welfare and that of his highly-esteemed
employer. 0. S.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

Royal Botanic Society, June 22. — This was another very poor show, altogether
unlike the displays that used to be made here a few years ago. So much has the
schedule been cut down, that exhibitors scarcely care to bring their plants ; and
the groups of stove and greenhouse plants arranged for effect were of a very
ordinary kind. Such a class as this admits of a great deal of stuff that is little
better than rubbish being mixed in with what is of a respectable appearance.

On this occasion only two groups were shown in competition, Messrs J. & C.
Lee, of Hammersmith, securing the first prize, and Messrs Arthur Henderson &
Co. the second. In neither case was the exhibition at all striking, yet the large
sum of £25 was taken between the two. Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son sent

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 375

a collection of bedding - plants, similar to that shown at the last exhibition,
and secured a first prize ; a second award being made to Mr John Aldred, Kil-
burn, for a modest but pleasing display, including a faithful representation of
an anchor— presumably of Hope — worked out with Pyrethrum Golden Feather
and blue Lobelias. Mr R. Parker, Tooting, had the best collection of 24 hardy
herbaceous plants, including excellent specimens of Betonica grandiflora, Oeno-
thera venusta, fine yellow ; Paeonia albiflora Lucrece, large, white, and rose ;
Potentilla hybrida William Rollisson, with large semi - double orange - scarlet
flowers; Tradescantia virginica alba, and Pyrethrum, &c. A neat collection
of 20 moderate - sized greenhouse plants, in 8 - inch pots, came from Messrs
Jackson & Son, and a first prize was awarded. Some very good Heaths were
contributed by Mr J. Carr, Mr J. Wheeler, Mr J. Ward, Messrs Jackson &
Son, and Mr Eansley Tanton, and lent much towards enlivening the exhibi-
tion tent. Mr B. S. Williams sent the best 6 Orchids, including a magnifi-
cent Cypripedium ; and Mr Ward the best 8 in the amateurs' class ; Mr Bull
being second in the former, Mr I. Hill taking a similar position in the latter

Fuchsias in pots were pretty well done, both in the amateurs' and nursery-
men's classes. The best in the latter case were staged by Mr Cannell, of Wool-
wich, who had Alba coccinea, Lizzie Hexham, Puritani, Lustre, Starlight, and
Try-me-Oh. Show Pelargoniums were past their best, though nicely shown :
of Zonal Pelargoniums, Mr J. Catlin, gardener to Mrs Lermitte, Finchley, had
well-grown and finely-flowered plants of Clipper. Tintoret, Leader, Commander,
Oliver, and Mons. Rendatler.

The exhibition of fruit was excellent, and quite up to the average. The
best collection of fruit, arranged as a dessert for the dinner-table, came from
Mr T. Bannerman, gardener to Lord Bagot, and consisted of good dishes of
Black Hamburgh and Foster's White Seedling Grapes (?), two nice Pines, two
good dishes of Peaches, and one of Nectarines, the latter being fine in size
but pale in colour; a handsome -looking Melon, and dishes of Cherries and
Strawberries. Mr Clark, gardener to Earl Cowper, Brocket Hall, was second
with a similar collection. The first prize for one Pine-Apple, any variety, was
adjudged to a handsome Queen, weighing 5 lb. 11 oz., from Mr Ward, gar-
dener to T. N. Miller, Esq., Bishop-Stortford; equal second prizes being taken
by Mr Bertram, gardener to R. S. Crawshay, Esq., Cyfartha Castle, with a
Providence, weighing 10 lb., and Mr Penford, gardener to Earl Radnor, Long-
ford Castle; while Mr Grant, gardener to G. Plucknett, Esq., Finchely, came
in third with a Queen, weighing 4 lb. 7 oz. Twenty Melons were shown in
competition in the class for green-fleshed varieties, and, as a rule, were much
better flavoured than the scarlet -fleshed kinds. The best of the former was
a finely-flavoured fruit, named Colston Basset Seedling, shown by Mr Lamb,
Colston Basset, Bingham ; the next best being a large unnamed variety from
Mr Cross, gardener to Sir F. Goldsmith, Rendcombe Park, Gloucestershire;
Mr J. Douglas, gardener to F. Whitbourn, Esq., Loxford Hall, taking third
honours with a good specimen of Meredith's Hybrid Cashmere. Weir's Eclipse,
a medium-sized, moderately thick-fleshed, and good-flavoured Melon, from Mr
J. Weir, gardener to Mrs Hodgson, The Elms, Hampstead, was first in the
scarlet-fleshed class. The best basket of Grapes, of not less than 12 lb., came
from Mr G. Ward, being Black Hamburghs, with good berries, well coloured,
and having plenty of bloom ; Mr M. Henderson came in second with a smaller-
berried lot, but with plenty of colour. Mr M. Henderson was first for the
best dish of Black Grapes, with medium- sized bunches, very large berries, and

376 ' THE GARDENER. [Aug.

well finished ; Mr Miller, Combe Abbey, taking second honour?, with fine
bunches, smaller in berry than the former, but fine in colour and bloom. A
very good dish of Buckland Sweetwater, contributed by Mr A. Keid, gardener
to L. Huth, Esq., Passingworth, Essex, was placed first in the clasB for White
Grapes; Mr G. Douglas being second with large, well-grown bunches of the same
variety. Of Peaches, 2 dishes, 13 lots were staged, the best being very fine
examples of Bellegarde and Royal George, from Mr Jack, gardener to the Duke
of Cleveland, Battle Abbey : Mr W. Davies was second with the same varieties ;
and Mr C. Ross, gardener to 0. Eyre, Esq., third, with Yiolette Hative and Royal
George, large, but pale in colour. In addition to the above varieties, shown in
other collections, were some fine Grosse Mignonne. Mr Miles, gardener to Lord
Carrington, showed the best Nectarines, very fine Elruge, of a beautiful colour ;
Mr Carmichael, gardener to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, being second with good
examples of Elruge and Violette Hative. Mr Miles was also first for Black and
White Cherries, with admirable fruit of Black Circassian and Bigarreau Napo-
leon. Mr J. Douglas took first honours for 4 and 2 dishes of Strawberries, with
well-grown specimens of Frogmore Late Pine, La Constante, Mr Radclyffe, Sir
Harry, and British Queen.

Crystal Palace Rose-Show, June 25. — This was a very fine and extensive
show, and notwithstanding the drought, the Roses were superb in quality. Of
Roses, 72 varieties, distinct, eight most excellent collections were shown, the first
prize, after a very close competition, being carried off by Mr B. R. Cant, of Col-
chester, whose blooms were superbly rich in colour. Amongst his collection the
best were Madame Noman, remarkably fine white; Dupuy-Jamin, very rich;
Madame Charles Wood, very fine ; Alfred Colomb, first-rate ; Marie Baumann,
very fine ; Baronne de Rothschild, large and good ; Marechal Niel, first-rate ; and
the following, all good blooms : — John Hopper, Madame Caillat, Mrs Rivers,
Souvenir d'Elise,. Madame Crapelet, and La Rhone. Messrs Paul & Son came in
second ; Mr J. Cranston, King's Acre, Hereford, third ; and Mr J. Keynes,
Salisbury, fourth ; some really splendid examples being contributed in their col-
lections. Messrs Paul & Son sent the best 48, 3 trusses of each, including,
besides several of the above-named, remarkably fine specimens of Beauty of Wal-
tham, Mrs George Paul, Charles Rouillard, Comtesse de Chabrilland, Marie Rady,
Abel Grand, and Victor Verdier, &c. The other prizes were taken by the follow-
ing exhibitors, in the order named : Mr Turner, Mr J. Fraser, Lea Bridge, and
Mr J. Cranston. In the nurserymen's classes for 24, 3 trusses and 1 truss
of each respectively, Mr B. R. Cant again supplied the first prize groups from his
Colchester nursery ; and it was noticeable that most of his varieties were exceed-
ingly rich in colour, and were as fine in size. His blooms of Edward Morren,
Marguerite de St Amand, Marechal Niel, Alfred Colomb, Xavier Olibo, Prince
Humbert, and Antoine Ducher, were deserving of the highest commendation.
Amongst amateurs, the Rev. E. N. Pochin was credited with the greatest number
of first prizes, which he took for 36, 24, and 12 respectively, with, amongst others,
capitally finished blooms of Marshal Niel, Madame Cldmence Joigneaux, Com-
tesse de Paris, Alfred Colomb, Louise Peyronny, Madame C. Wood, and Xavier
Olibo, &c. The best 48 were a capitally-put-up collection, from Mr Ingle, gar-
dener to Mrs Round, Colchester, comprising Thyra Hammerich, Fisher Holmes,
Due de Rohan, Beauty of Waltham, Duchesse de Caylus, Madame Annie Wood,
and Madame Fillion, in the best possible condition. The competition in these
classes was very spirited, first-class blooms being the order of the day. The best
new Rose of 1868 was Miss Ingram, white, blush centre, shown in excellent con-

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 377

dition by Mr Turner ; the next best was Dupuy-Jamin, a very bright cerise,
a fine variety, shown by Mr B. R. Cant ; Messrs Paul & Son came in third with
Nardy Freres ; and Mr J. Keynes fourth, with Edward Morren. These represent
the more salient points of the show, though there were many others equally
attractive.

Royal Horticultural Society's Rose- Show, June 29. — Here, the Roses were
neither so numerous nor so fine as at the Crystal Palace : some hot days interven-
ing, told their tale in a marked manner. Of Roses, the best 72 came from Messrs
Paul & Son, comprising grand blooms of Baronne de Rothschild, Madame Furtado,
Alfred Colomb, very fine ; Senateur Vaisse, Marquise de Mortemart, Madame
Therese Levet, Dr Andry, Marie Baumann, Black Prince, Pierre Notting, Prince
Camille de Rohan, Leopold Hausburg, and Xavier Olibo, &c. In the second prize
collection, staged by Mr J. Cranston — Annie Wood, Alice Dureau, Lord Herbert,
Peine du Midi, Frani^oise Fontaine, Alfred Colomb, Charles Lefevre, Due de
Rohan, Centifolia rosea, and Madame Charles Crapelet, were shown in prime con-
dition. The best 48, 3 trusses of each, also came from Messrs Paul & Son, —
magnificently coloured blooms of Prince Camille de Rohan, Madame Rivers,
Alfred Colomb, Prince de Portia, Antoine Ducher, Marguerite Dombrain, Camille
Bernardin, Marquise de Mortemart, Madame Clemence Joigneaux, &c. The next
best lot came from Mr Turner, amongst which Duke of Edinburgh, Alfred Colomb,
Jean Lambert, Madame Charles Crapelet, Marechal Niel, Camille Bernardin,
Xavier Olibo, and La Duchesse de Morny, were in very fine order. For 24
Hybrid Perpetual varieties only, 3 trusses of each, Mr J. Cranston was first, with
a capital lot, comprising, amongst others, large well-finished blooms of Alfred
Colomb, Madame Vidot, Annie Wood, Antoine Ducher, Alfred de Rougemont,
Josephine de Beauharnais, and Marie Baumann, &c. Class six was for 24, 1 truss
of each, open to nurserymen only ; and the first prize was secured by Mr Turner.
His best blooms were Marechal Niel, Alfred Colomb, Miss Ingram, Exposition de
Brie, Black Prince, Baronne de Rothschild, Prince Camille de Rohan, and Ten
Acres. Mr Keynes came in second, showing large and good blooms of Josephine
de Beauharnais, Xavier Olibo, Antoine Ducher, and Madame Charles Wood.

In the amateurs' class for 48, the Rev. E. N. Pochin stood pre-eminently first :
his blooms of Charles Lefevre, John Hopper, Marechal Niel, Dr Andry, Alfred
Colomb, Comtesse de Chabrilland, Monsieur Boncenne, Comte Cavour, Fisher
Holmes, Duchesse de Caylus, Pierre Notting, Leopold Premier, Comte de Nan-
teuil, and Triomphe de Caen were really magnificent. Mr W. Ingle, gai'dener to
Mrs Round, Colchester, took the second prize. In class 8, for 36, the Rev. E. N.
Pochin again occupied the first position. In this collection were grand blooms
of Prince Camille de Rohan, Due de Wellington, Dr Andry, Victor Verdier,
Louise Peyronny, La Duchesse de Morny, Marechal Niel, Madame MacMahon,
Fisher Holmes, Senateur Vaisse, Comtesse Chabrilland, and the best finished and
most refined bloom of Felix Genero in the exhibition. The best 12 new Roses of
1868 or 1869 were sent by Messrs Paul & Son, consisting of Reine Blanche,
Edward Morren, Julie Touvais, Duke of Edinburgh, Marquise de Mortemai't,
Devienne Laing, Mdlle. Eugenie Verdier, Perfection de Lyon, Souvenir de Mon-
sieur Poiteau, Nardy Freres, Thyra Hammerich, &c. Mr Turner supplied the
next best, his finest blooms being Clemence Raoux and Miss Poole. The best
new Rose of 1868 was Duke of Edinburgh, from Messrs Paul & Son ; Miss Ingram,
from Mr Turner, coming in secoud. Edward Morren, shown by Messrs Paul &
Son, was the best of the new varieties for 1869 ; Emilie Hausburg, a beautifully-
formed Hybrid Perpetual, from Mr J. Fraser, Lea Bridge, was placed second ; Mr

378 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

Turner was third with Comtesse de Hainault, and Mr Keynes fourth with Edward
M orren. Amongst! yellow Roses, Marechal Niel occupied the first position, Messrs
Paul & Sun ami Mr Keynes both exhibiting this variety in fine order.

Royal Botanic Society, July 6. — If anything, this show was of a lower degree
of quality than its predecessor. The plants were of a somewhat mediocre cha-
racter ; the table decorations helped to redeem the character of the show to some
extent.

The show of fruit was a very good one. Four collections, arranged as a dessert,
were exhibited ; Mr Johnson, gardener to the Marquis of Aylesbury, Savernake,
coming in first with excellent examples of Black Hamburg and Tottenham Park
Muscat (Muscat of Alexandria) Grapes, the former good in bunch and berry ; two
very good Queen Pines ; fine Bellegarde and Teton de Venus Peaches, the latter
being larger and more beautifully coloured than we had before seen it exhibited ;
Elruge and Yiolette Hative Nectarines, very fine ; Golden Perfection and Tri-
omphe de Nice Melons; fine Black Tartarian Cherries, Strawberries, &c. The
second-best collection came from Mr Bannerman, gardener to Lord Bagot, Blith-
field Hall, Eugeley, who set up first-rate examples of Black Hamburgh and Grizzly
Frontignan Grapes, with a very fair sample of the new Golden Champion ; two
Queen Pines, smaller than in the former collection ; two specimens of the Trent-
ham white-fleshed Melon, large, and in shape like a Vegetable Marrow ; very
good Noblesse and Royal George Peaches, with Strawberries, Cherries, Currants,
&c. The best 6 dishes of outdoor fruits were furnished by Mr Gardiner, gardener
to E. P. Shirley, Esq., Eatington Park, and consisted of Cherries, Currants, Goose-
berries, Strawberries, &c, in excellent condition. In the class for one fruit of
the Queen Pine -Apple, Mr J. Acres, gardener to J. C. Copestake, Esq.,
Highgate, came in first with a beautiful specimen, weighing 6 lb. ; the next
best weighed 4 lb. 10 oz., and showed very fine and regularly -formed pips:
this came from Mr R. H. Smith, gardener to H. "Walker, Esq., Calder-
stone, Liverpool. Mr C. Penford, gardener to Earl Radnor, Longford Castle,
"Wilts, was placed first in the class for any other variety, with a good-shaped Pro-
vidence weighing about 8 lb. ; a longer fruit of the same variety, and the same
weight, from Mr Bertram, gardener, Cyfartha Castle, was placed second.
Peaches and Nectarines were not shown in nearly such abundance as at the cor-
responding shows in former years, though, be it said in extenuation, they were all
good. Two exceedingly fine dishes of Grosse Mignonne came from Mr Lynn,
gardener to Lord Boston, Hedsor, and secured the first prize ; the same variety
and Royal George, shown in fine condition by Mr Miller, Combe Abbey, being
placed second. For the best two dishes of Nectarines Mr Miller stood first
and Mr Lynn second, the former with large and well-coloured examples of Olden-
burg and Violette Hative. Pitmaston Orange, Eh*uge, and the above, also figured
conspicuously in other collections. In the class for two Pine-apples in pots, any
kind, the best came from Mr Miles, the second best from Mr R. Laing, gardener
to P. W. Flower, Esq., Tooting Common, Queens being the principal variety
exhibited. Of Cherries, Mr Miles sent two splendid dishes of Bigarreau Napo-
leon, and took the first prize in the class for white varieties ; whilst Mr J. Pottle,
gardener to D. B. Colvin, Esq., Bealings Grove, came in first for black kinds with
Black Circassian ; Mr Miles being second in the latter class with good specimens
of the same variety and May Duke. Only one dish of Plums was shown, and
this, a very good one of Orleans from Mr Miles, was considered worthy of the
first prize. The same exhibitor also staged the best four dishes of Strawberries,
first-rate specimens of Dr Hogg, Admiral Dundas, Mr Radclyffe, and Sir C.

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 379

Napier. In the class for scarlet-fleshed Melons, a small fruit of Scarlet Gem, very
fine in flavour, contributed by Mr J. Cross, gardener to Sir F. H. Goldsmid,
Bart., was placed first ; the next best being Meredith's Hybrid Cashmere, exhi-
bited by Mr Burnett ; while the third prize was taken by Mr Banting, gardener
to Lady Pringle, Bonchurch, Isle of "Wight, with Queen Victoria. A small
round Melon, named Marquis of Ailsa, shown by Mr T. Crane, was the best in
the class for green-fleshed varieties ; a medium-sized fruit of Dr Hogg, shown by
Mr W. Gardiner, taking second honours. Neither class was at all well repre-
sented. For the best 12 lb. of Black Grapes, Mr G. Ward came first, Mr W.
Davis second, and Messrs Standish & Co. third ; the former with excellent exam-
ples of Black Hamburgh, and the latter with Royal Ascot, good on all points.
Iu the corresponding class for White Grapes, fair specimens of Muscat of Alex-
andria were contributed by Mr G. Osborn, Kay's Nursery, Finchley, and Mr W.
Davis, New Lodge, Whetstone, the prizes being awarded in the order named.
Mr C. Penford, gardener to Earl Radnor, sent the best dish of Black Hamburgh,
the bunches being large, well-shouldered, and good in berry and colour. Messrs
Standish & Co. sent Golden Champion, produced by a last year's graft on the
Royal Ascot, which partakes very much of the flavour of that variety.

The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. — The above society held
its summer exhibition on the 13th of last month, in the Music Hall, George
Street. This year the exhibition was held later than usual, in order to give it
the character of a Rose show, and we cannot help thinking that it was rather a
pity to have it and a similar show in Glasgow on the same day.

The general character of the exhibition, as regards plants, fruit, and flowers,
was much the same as on previous occasions. The Roses, being in great force,
gave it an added interest over other years, and this the public seemed thoroughly
to appreciate, for on no previous occasion have we seen so large a gathering of
visitors at a midsummer exhibition in Edinburgh. The Roses seemed to have
many admirers. This was especially evident in the neighbourhood of the splendid
stand of 36 blooms, from Hugh Dickson, Belmont Nursery, Belfast. These were
magnificent examples of Rose culture, quite equal to the high standard attained to
by the great English growers, and we trust they are a mark at which the Scotch
growers will aim against another such exhibition. Amongst his handsome collec-
tion, we noted, as extraordinary examples of fine growth, Baroness Rothschild,
Horace Vernet, Mdlle. Marguerite Dombrain, Abel Grand, Madam Chas. Wood,
Senateur Vaisse, Chas. Lefebvre, Mdlle. Marie Rady, Anna de Diesbach, and
Prince De Porcia. Many of the other stands by both nurserymen and garden-
ers were fine, though a long way in the rear of that we have specially referred
to.

The various Edinburgh nurserymen had their usual stands filled with pretty
saleable plants. Amongst those sent by Messrs Lawson & Sons we noted some
very pretty variegated shrubs and trees, such as Acer Japonica variegata, Abies
Albertina variegata, Cupressus Lawsoniana variegata elegantissima, Hedera
helix variegata. This very pretty variegated variety of the common wood
Ivy is calculated to be very useful as a decorative plant in the flower-garden.
They had also the same Ivy in its tree form, that would make beautiful edgings
in a flower-garden. The same firm filled the orchestra with palms and other
showy plants. Amongst the numerous plants contributed by Mr Methven, we
noticed a large collection of cut Roses ; and perhaps the most remarkable plant in
the room, quite unique in character and appearance — we refer to Sedum spectabile
irregulare variegatum. This plant stood 29° of frost in the open border last year,

380 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

and we predict for it a more extensive cultivation than any plant we know of the
same character.

Amongst Dickson & Co.'s collection we noted a number of crosses from the
common wild Violas, but none of them as yet at such a stage as to require special
notice, though they are probably on the road to it. The same firm showed a
very pretty bedding Pansy called Celestial, a great improvement on Cliveden
Blue, and others like it.

Amongst Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing's collection we noted a very large
bold bedding Pansy of deeper blue than Celestial, and much larger, named
Blue Nymph : these are great acquisitions, and their colours are sufficiently dis-
similar to make both desirable additions to every collection of bedding-plants.

Mr Paul, nurseryman, Paisley, showed a very promising dark shrubby bedding
Calceolaria. Messrs Drummond Brothers, George Street, Mitchell & Arnot, and
Dickson & Sons, sent large assortments of pretty plants ; and Mr P. Neil Fraser,
the Treasurer of the Society, sent as usual a great many pretty Ferns from his
extensive collection of these plants.

The sensation in the way of fruit was a seedling Strawberry raised by Messrs
Moffat of Fordeldeen, near Dalkeith, named Duke of Edinburgh. It forms
enormous coxcomb berries, one of which weighed 2\ oz., many over 2 oz. It also
in many instances produces enormous conical berries. It got a first-class certifi-
cate on the ground of its great size. In flavour it is slightly superior to the
Elton Pine.

We feel that in this brief notice we are omitting much that was well worthy
of remark, but we have no alternative, as our space for such purposes is limited.

The members of the Society, to the number of forty, sat down to an excellent
dinner in the Albert Hotel, Hanover Street — Mr Thomson of Dalkeith in the
chair, and Provost Deans, nurseryman, Jedburgh, croupier; when the usual
loyal and patriotic toasts were proposed and responded to.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ' GARDENER.

Sir, — In going through the gardens of John Blackwood, Esq., Strathtyrum,
near St Andrews, I was very much struck with a figure in the flower-garden filled
up with very simple materials — namely, Mangles's Variegated Geraniums pegged
down, and Pansy Imperial Blue pegged down amongst it also. I said to Mr Angus,
the intelligent gardener there, that I had not seen anything so striking in any
flower-garden I had visited this season. Mr Angus replied, it was the bed that
caught the eye of every visitor first as they came in ; and, as I have said, the ma-
terial was so simple, I thought it was well worth noticing in the ' Gardener.'

John Downie.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

A Beautiful Japanese Tree. — The spring we have scarcely yet escaped from
is the most difficult that has been encountered by garden vegetation during the
memory of man. We have not had very severe frost, it is true, but the long-
continued easterly breezes affected the trees worse than any frosts we have ever

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 381

witnessed ; and, visible as are its effects about London, the season seems even
more harmful in places usually more favoured. In the neighbourhood of Dublin
and along the east coast of Ireland generally, the Conifers and Evergreens seemed,
when we saw them a few weeks since, as if they had been thoroughly boiled —
scorched would scarcely describe their state, as the leaves, though dead, held their
places on the trees. Such things as Barberis Darwinii have succumbed before
the shrivelling breeze, and few Evergreens have escaped in any places we have
examined ; but the deciduous trees hold their own everywhere. The severe
season has had no effect on them, except, indeed, that the blossoms of some of
the tenderest kinds were slightly injured in the frost of the 4th inst. Among
the many beautiful deciduous trees we have had the pleasure of seeing in bloom
in this country, we were never more struck with any than with the Pinus Malus
floribunda, which has been brilliantly beautiful for some weeks past, and yet con-
tinues in that state. It is difficult to do justice to it in words, but we would
advise those who have an opportunity to do so to see it in bloom. The neatest
specimen we have seen is in Mr Parker's exotic nursery, Tooting. The tree pre-
sents two distinct aspects .during the period of its blooming, and which is the
most attractive it is not easy to say. The bloom is produced along the branchlets
in clusters, the blossoms being as thick as they can stand, each supported on a
tender footstalk, about an inch and a half long. The flower-buds are of a vivid
crimson lake, and as the footstalks are slender, each of the thousands of flowers
hangs down very gracefully, justifying the remark of an enthusiastic gardener,
that the buds were " like scarlet Snowdrops." It remains in this stage a consid-
erable time, when the handsome blossoms begin to expand and show their inner
sides of pale rose with yellowish stamens, both of these contrasting very pleasingly
with the yet unopened buds, the tree seeming ablaze with rose and crimson. If
these attractions are presented by young trees 3 to 6 feet high, it is fair to
assume that they will be much greater when the trees are matured. We know
of no object more worthy of a place on lawn or pleasure-ground, isolated or
grouped with other choice shrubs, or in a favoured spot on the margin of a choice
shrubbery. The fruits, which we have not seen, are said to be small, and of a
fine golden yellow, and the plant grows well grafted on the crab or the Paradise
stock.— W. E.

Old-Fashioned Gardening. — Time was when kings and conquerors did not
disdain the homely occupation of farming and gardening ; when philosophy, in
the persons of Plato and Epicurus, took up the gentle craft, and made their para-
dises— for so were gardens called in the olden days— real academies; when the
rulers of Rome, with their proverbial magnificence, caused their gardens to rank
among the wonders of the world ; when, in our own land, princes and prelates
loved gardens and gardening; and when Adam's craft — "There are no ancient
gentlemen," says the Clown in "Hamlet," "but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-
makers; they hold up Adam's profession" — was pursued with enthusiasm and
delight by philosophers, statesmen, and courtiers. Gardening is a direct sign and
warrant of civilisation. Without going back to the days of antiquity — when the
Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans, borrowing the art from still more primi-
tive people, filled their gardens with aromatic herbs, shady trees, and odorous
flowers — we find abundant evidence of a knowledge of gardening among the
highest and lowest in our land. — The Bookseller.

The Common Bind- Weed.— I have been much struck with the wonderful
wealth of flower this weed has manifested in several parts of the country during
the prevalence of the drought. Very pretty, indeed, it has looked, and still does

382 THE GARDENER. [Aug.

look— a perfect carpet of gay flowers. Yet it is a tenant of one's garden the
owner would like to get quit of as speedily as possible. Where plenty of time
cannot be afforded to dig out its roots, the Dutch hoe is the grand remedy ; as,
if the shoots are kept constantly cut, by the time they grow 3 or 4 inches above
the soil, the great milky-white roots will be forced to yield up their life in de-
spair, though if left alone, half an inch of their roots would ere long make the
progress of a garden.

Of all weeds this is perhaps one of the worst : in some places it flourishes so
well as to overcome all efforts to get rid of it, especially when it is allowed to
grow fast and strong ere an attempt be made to dislodge it. The most economi-
cal mode of extirpating it is not to trouble greatly with the large white roots
when digging, but to have a man on purpose, and tell him whatever else he does
a shoot of the Bind-weed is never to be seen more than 3 inches in length.
Sometimes, after to all appearance it has been quite got rid off in a certain spot,
it will after a few years come back again as vigorous as ever. I remember two
cases which came under my own knowledge some years ago. There were two
small pieces of ground quite overrun by it. One piece was kept well hoed, and
was planted only with some Lettuces, &c, and a shoot of the Bind-weed was
never allowed to grow more than a few inches in length. When the ground was
dug, there was an abundance of roots iu the soil. The other piece was, if any-
thing, worse, and the weed was allowed to have its way until it had carpeted
the ground with its twisted wreaths. It was then cut with an old scythe, and
the crop burned, and a layer of short grass from the lawn a foot deep was placed
in it, and allowed to be there till the autumn. In both of these pieces, when
dug up in the autumn, not a root was to be seen. The hoeing, and the cutting
and grass-covering, had destroyed the fleshy roots, and for years not a shoot made
its appearance. Subsequently some shoots appeared, but they may have found
their way there in the dressings applied to the ground. When the Bind-weed
infests the garden, the Dutch hoe, used quickly and repeatedly, is the best remedy.
Hot short grass laid over the ground long enough will also destroy the roots.
Some years ago a lady sent a very fine variety of this climber. The flowers were
of the purest white, and very large. It was much admired, but the roots got
possession of the soil, and the position in which it was planted makes it very diffi-
cult indeed to get rid of it.

The lesser Bind-weed has also bloomed most profusely, especially on the slopes
of railway cuttings, and similarly dry and exposed positions. R. S. A.

The Drought. — The following extract from 'Land and Water' will give our
northern readers, who appear to have been blessed with an abundance of rain,
some idea of the effect of the drought " down south." Up to this time (July 18)
but little rain has fallen in London ; the clouds are now to all appearance " big
with the blessing of rain," but none falls : —

"Midsummer, 1870. — 'The drought,' which nobody recollects the like of
but those who remember 1826, still continues at Hereford, and but for two
hours' rain last week, here we are in the second week of July still grumbling we
have had none, and envying those beyond the Black Mountain, who must have
had a soaking to send down the river Wye with a yard of fresh water in it, and
even with so short a rise to move up so many salmon that the market price falls
to 9d. Our fine grazing meadows still continue as bare as goose commons; our
milch-cows look as if they were only just turned out of the winter straw-yard.
Bullocks sold at Candlemas fair at £14 each to those who hoped to keep them
till October or Christmas, and then ' tumble them over ' in value, are again sold

i8yo.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 383

at our July fair at £10 each. Horses are quite a drug, and many a useful beast
will find he has to take a premature journey to the dog-kennel ; and in localities
where the small and poor farmer lives, it is pitiable to hear the cattle lowing for
food and water. It is but little less sad, too, to see the stalwart labourer going
from farm to farm to seek for work, to find no haymaking, no turnip-hoeing, no
job to be done. Yet ' drought ne'er brought dearth to Old England ' is per-
fectly true even now. The wheat is splendid, the barley and oats are good, and
the hops and fruit were never better ; evergreens and forest-trees make the
scenery and gardens as beauteous as ever ; whilst Roses, flowers, and almost every
delicate plant, not exoepting the tender stinging nettle, never were more free
from blight. Here we may remark upon the absence of insect life this year,
and particularly of slugs and worms, to the great complaint of poultry-rearers.
The swallows and martins are as scarce this summer as last, the vigorous swift
being almost the only representative of this tribe. Not less remarkable is it to
see the blackbirds and thrushes resorting to the berries left upon the hollies, just
as in mid-winter ; and who can begrudge them a little garden fruit ? All kinds
are plentiful, and if genial rain had only come in spring, or in June, perhaps, a
more fruitful and abundant year of everything never would have been known.
Let us be thankful we are not worse off than we are, and if this drought has
indeed extended to all four quarters of the globe, consider how many there are
suffering by famine whilst we are blessed with plenty. — I. F. S. (Hereford, July
11, 1870.)"

Ants' Nests in Garden Paths and Borders. — I have found a very effectual
remedy for the annoyance of ants nesting in the garden paths and borders. A
strong solution of carbolic acid and water poured into the holes kills all the ants
it touches, and the survivors immediately take themselves off. Care must be
taken in its use, as it destroys animal and vegetable, as well as insect life. —
F. M. G.

Strawberry, Dr Hogg (A. E.) — Thanks for the fine examples of this splendid
Strawberry. We have frequently met with it growing in gardens, and every one
speaks of it in the highest terms. We should certainly advise you to make it one
of your main crop varieties.

Vida Blue Perfection (A. B. C, Luton). — The difference between what you
term the " two supposed varieties " is an assumed one ; there is no difference.
Its origin is at present involved in mystery. Though claimed to be a seedling of
recent date, it has been found in somewhat obscure districts, where it has been
for several years past. Later in the season it will come very fine indeed.

Mushroom- Culture Out-of-Doors. — 1. Preparation of the manure : It is
of vital importance to let the rank steam out. When you get the manure from
the stables, throw it into a round heap, and give a good watering with manure-
water. Let it lie till the third day, then turn over, and give another shake up.
When well sweated, which will be in three days, another turn will be necessary :
it will then be ready for use. 2. Making the bed is of secondary importance.
Mark out the bed 3 feet wide at bottom, and of course of whatever length you
have manure for. Put the dung on in layers of 6 inches the whole length of the
bed, and spread out at the rate of four shovelfuls of dry soil to every barrowful
of dung ; tread down by stamping on it as the work proceeds, until you get the
required height ; then clap the bed all over with the back of a light spade, draw-
ing the spade downwards at every stroke, to, as it were, seal the bed. Cover up

384 THE GARDENER. [Aug. 1870.

with a mat immediately, and on no account allow rain to enter. Place one stick
in the middle, and one at each end. Feel the heat at least once a day ; when found
milk-warm, under rather than over, the bed is fit for spawning. 3. Break the
spawn into pieces about the size of eggs, taking each piece in the right hand, and
with the left lift the material upwards, inserting the spawn at 10 inches apart all
over the bed ; afterwards give it another beating, making the surface look smooth
and smart, 4. This being done, set the line 9 inches from the edge of the bed,
and cut the soil down inclining outwards, making a good foundation. To cover
the surface of the bed, any kind of soil will do. Mine is light and rich, but just
the common garden-stuff. Put 2\ inches on before beating, then sprinkle over
with sand to make it work clean ; begin at one end, and again beat it well, always
drawing the spade downwards as the stroke is delivered, till you get the whole
finished. Cover up if in winter— say October— with 5 inches of straw or very
dry dung, placed so that the wet cannot get in. It will now have the appear-
ance of the roof of a hay-rick. Put a mat lengthwise over all, and reinsert the
sticks, looking at them sometimes to determine whether the bed is getting too
hot or over milk-warm ; if so, uncover, but put the mat on this time crosswise,
to keep out the wet. In this way abundance of mushrooms are grown in the
open air. — Field.

Twelve Best Achimenes (Exhibitor).— Ambrose Verschaffelt, Carl Wolfarth,
Dazzle, Doctor Hopf, Edmund Boissar, Longiflora major, Mauve Queen, Meteor,
Parsonsi, Purpurea elegans, and Sir Treherne Thomas. If the bulbs be placed
in heat about March or April, they will start into growth, and can then be
potted in 43 or 32-pots, placing six or eight bulbs in a pot. In this way they
can be grown on, and will come into bloom so as to succeed the Pelargoniums.

Cinerarias (Florist). — As soon as rooted, pot off the first-struck cuttings of the
named sorts into single pots. These should flower about Christmas. Continue
to put in cuttings if a succession of bloom be required, and pot them off as soon
as rooted, using a light rich soil. The Cineraria should be grown in boxes or
low pits, keeping the plants near the glass till such time as there is danger to be
apprehended from frost, when they should be removed into the greenhouse, or
into pits, heated with hot water. Seed may still be sown for late blooming. If
well saved, it will generally produce fair varieties and showy plants, though not
so compact in habit as propagated plants of named kinds, which can also be
depended on as regards colour, &c, as seedlings often produce flowers of great
sameness.

Adulteration of Pickles. — Sulphuric acid, in the quantity in which it exists
in pickles, is probably not very injurious, though it can scarcely be taken habit-
ually without having some prejudicial effect. Even if it is equally wholesome
with acetic acid, it is much less expensive ; and, even putting health out of the
question, we ought not, when we believe that we are buying pickles preserved in
pure malt vinegar, to have a portion of this vinegar replaced by a substance of
less value, and which we could buy at a less price ; neither ought we to have a
substance of this kind thrust upon us as a substitute for the more wholesome and
more agreeable malt vinegar. — Food Journal.

-~&-**&«i&G^& —

THE

GARDENER.

SEPTEMBER 1870.

THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AND
PROVINCIAL EXHIBITIONS.

HE Eoyal Horticultural Society has held another provincial
show — in many respects a good one j but there has re-
sulted what some predicted, and many more feared — a
pecuniary loss to the Society of something like £300.
This year the show was held at Oxford, and, in keeping with cus-
tom, at the same time as that of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of
England, but at a considerable distance from it. At Bury St
Edmunds, Leicester, and Manchester, the two shows were held almost
immediately contiguous to each other ; at Oxford they were some
mile apart. Everybody seemed to know the whereabouts of the Agri-
cultural meeting, scarcely any one that of the Horticultural. Those who
could point out its locality knew a flower-show was being held ; of the
Eoyal Horticultural Society they appeared to know about as much
as they did of the state of the weather at Timbuctoo. Those who
went to Oxford exulting in the prominent position given to Horticul-
ture on that day in that classic region, had a kind of woe-begone
aspect when its place of location was reached : there was little, if any,
of outward symbol to indicate what wras within, and placards announc-
ing the locality of the show were as absent as the much-needed
showers of rain. True, the two great societies wTere at Oxford together,
but they appeared to have nothing in common, except that each had
provided a public entertainment, to which they prayed visitors would
come.

It is stated that the Agricultural Society sustained a loss, but that
is a matter of small moment to that powerful organisation ; it is a

2b

386 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

result occasionally anticipated, and not dreaded when realised : the
large resources of that great Society can bear an occasional strain like
that without fear of bankruptcy j and even a financial loss brings with
it no diminution of prestige, for next year it will take the field as
imposingly, and as confident as ever. On the other hand, a financial
loss to the Royal Horticultural Society will be certain to result in
some loss of prestige also.

We have heretofore advised the Horticultural Society to divorce
itself from the Agricultural Society when it visits the provinces, and go
in a contrary direction if need be, so that it stands alone in its appeal.
The poetic cobwebs hung round the utterances of those who speak of
the societies as " twin sisters," and require that they should "go hand
in hand " in consequence of such supposed relationship, are very
pretty ; but the yoking process appears to have its disagreeable aspects,
inasmuch as it has been stated the Royal Agricultural Society cares
not for the companionship of its "twin sister." It is like sending two
rival maidens hand in hand to seek the good graces of some country
swain, and jealousy rather than concord is far more likely to ensue.
The fact that at a public reception given by the Corporation of the City
of Oxford to the authorities of the Royal Agricultural Society, the
Council and leading representatives of the " twin sister " were alto-
gether overlooked, or, if not wholly, at least largely so, has a certain
sense of grim humour about it, and may perhaps, even more than the
financial loss, tend to bring about that change in the policy of the
Council so many of the friends of the Society are desirous of seeing
made. To be seriously regarded by the civic authorities on such an
occasion as a kind of itinerant prodigy, to be held in temporary vener-
ation, is to our mind what each member of the Council of the Royal
Horticultural Society is not only bound to expect, but ought to receive;
but when these gentlemen come into competition in this respect with
others not more deserving, or more talented, but because of their asso-
ciation with an organisation of apparently much greater importance,
and having higher claims to public notice, and which is always the first
in the field, why, they may reasonably expect to be elbowed into door-
ways and such places by their bucolic brethren;

There is every reason to believe that, were the Horticultural Society
to go to the provinces alone, there would be no lack of cities and towns
willing to receive them ; to co-operate with them in many ways by
means of a guarantee fund, a local committee, special prizes, &c. ;
nay more, we further believe that applications would be made to the
Society on the part of those places desiring the honour of a visit.
The Social Science Congress, the British Association, various religious
conferences, &c, all these are eagerly sought for, and why should it not

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 387

be the case with the Royal Horticultural Society 1 The local authori-
ties could give their undivided attention and energies to furthering
the interests of their horticultural visitors ; the inhabitants would
have one instead of two great exhibitions to look through, to the posi-
tive injury of one of them ; the courtesies of the local government
would be sure to be forthcoming ; there would be a manifest and most
important gain in the way of prestige to the Society ; and Horticulture,
instead of being overshadowed by the colossal stature and extensive
ramifications of a great Agricultural Show held contemporaneously
with it, would shine with undimmed lustre, and without a rival near
it to cause it any disquiet, or rob it of that dearly-coveted and indis-
pensable appanage, a financial success. R. D.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

The Horticultural Congress held at Oxford in connection with the
provincial show of the Royal Horticultural Society appears to have
been very successful. Some good and interesting papers were read,
and a little discussion was indulged in at the termination of one or
two of them. The quality of the papers was generally high, the men
deputed to read them unexceptionable; they were also varied in
character, and full of interest. The one most likely to create discus-
sion is that by Dr Hogg on "Judging Fruits." In order that our
readers may have an opportunity of learning Dr Hogg's opinions on
this matter, we print his paper in another page. The idea of a horti-
cultural congress is a thoroughly good one, and when judiciously
managed, as this appears to have been, may be made productive of
certain practical good. Scarcely enough prominence is given to it,
and so a somewhat scanty attendance results. On general grounds it
would be best that a large tent be erected close by those containing
the plants, as a place in which the Congress is to assemble. Placards
should be posted about the show-ground announcing the time at which
it is intended to hold the meeting, the papers to be read, and the
readers thereof : by such means a greater degree of popular interest
would be enlisted. At Manchester, and again at Oxford, the Congress
appeared — though never intended to assume such an aspect — to be an
affair of the few, and not one of the many, no doubt through lack of
publicity. On these occasions horticulturists come from distant parts,
and there are old friends to meet and new acquaintances to be made,
and general fraternal greetings to be exchanged, and the somewhat
sparingly-announced Congress gets overlooked. If, another season, the

388 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

arrangements of the Congress could be so made beforehand as to admit
of their being announced in the schedule of prizes as a part and parcel
of the engagements of the Society, a knowledge of them would be
much more widely diffused.

The unusual productiveness of the Walnut-trees this season is a
matter of frequent remark. Is this fructiferous quality in any way
traceable to the drought of the previous two years ? A correspondent
writes from Northamptonshire : " Never in the memory of man has
there been such a crop of Walnuts as there is this year in this neigh-
bourhood ; the trees are weighed down with them, and the fact
deserves record in your pages. I heard a loud crack the other day,
and found a branch of one of my Walnut-trees had broken down with
the weight ; and I know another instance of a large arm coming down
from the same cause. Bunches of six and eight are common on my
trees, and I have gathered one of nine, and believe that I could find
others still larger. Can any correspondent cap this from their trees 1
I presume this remarkable crop is owing to the wood being well
ripened last year, and to the backward spring of the present year,
which retarded the trees till the frosts were over. All fruit is here
very abundant."

A French nobleman has just discovered an original manner for
forcing Mushrooms — so we learn from the Continent — and by so doing
procuring a constant harvest. He places a number of little boxes in
his stable, about 3 feet long and 10 inches wide, and arranges them
like the shelves of a bookcase, before which a thick curtain slides in
order to keep light out. He sows the spawn in a bed composed of
horse-dung, or dead leaves and vegetable earth well manured, and the
Baron has Mushrooms all the year round. As for the horses, they are
none the worse for the forcing, and no unhealthy emanations have
been remarked in the stables.

An announcement has just appeared in the columns of the ' Gar-
dener's Magazine ' to the effect that the proprietors and editor of that
journal offer a prize of twenty guineas for the best " Essay on Irriga-
tion, with especial reference to the Utilisation of Sewage." The fol-
lowing are the conditions of the competition : —

" The essays may be of any length, and may be written on one or both sides
of any sized paper ; but the adjudicators will give preference to the one which
deals with the subject most comprehensively, practically, and briefly; the object
being to obtain useful information on the sources of water-supply for farm and
garden purposes, and the best means of storiug, lifting, and distributing, with a
view to economical cultural results. The essays are not in any case to have the
names of the writers attached to them, but each essay must be marked with
monogram or motto, and be accompanied with a sealed envelope bearing a corre-
sponding monogram or motto, and enclosing the real name and address of the

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 389

writer. When the adjudicators have selected what they consider the best essay,
the eDvelopes will be opened, and the unsuccessful manuscripts returned to their
owners. The essay to which the prize is awarded is to be the property of the
editor of the 'Gardener's Magazine.' The 1st of October will be the latest date
on which competing essays can be received. The adjudicators are Mr William
Haywood, engineer to the Commissioners of Sewers of the city of London ; Mr
Alexander M'Kenzie, landscape-gardener, and director of gardening to the Metro-
politan Board of Works ; and Mr Shirley Hibberd, editor of the ' Gardener's
Magazine.' "

The sum was originally stated at ten guineas, but considering the
great importance of the subject, and its varied bearings in relation to
the drainage of towns, the donors have determined to double the
amount.

What constitutes a Nosegay Pelargonium appears to be just now a
pertinent question. At the Pelargonium Show at South. Kensington
on the 3d of August several Nosegay Pelargoniums were staged, but
so much like the zonal kinds, both in habit and size and shape of the
flowers, that the judges were puzzled, and in one instance submitted
a variety to the Floral Committee for their opinion. The large truss,
with its profuse succession of pips, is still retained ; but the windmill
petals, and the somewhat lank habit of growth, have, in what is n o w termed
hybrid nosegays, given place to rounded well-formed flowers of fine sub-
stance, allied to close-growing compact habits in the plants. The florist
has directed his attention to the production of form in the nosegay
varieties, and succeeded to such an extent, by crossing them with finely-
formed zonal varieties, as to impress the character of the latter on both
flowers and habit ; hence the reason for asking, " What constitutes a
Nosegay Pelargonium 1 " Would it not be better to abandon such a
purely artificial and arbitrary distinction, and class them all in the
general category of green-leaved bedding Pelargoniums'?

Messrs Veitch & Son, Exotic Nurseries, Chelsea, have just bloomed
a magnificent specimen of Dendrobium MacCarthise, which had at one
time more than 100 expanded flowers ! A truly noble sight.

A remarkable hybrid Lily has just been exhibited by Mr George
Thomson, The Gardens, Stan stead Park, Ems worth, the result of a
cross between L. auratum and L. lancifolium speciosum. A bloom of
it was produced at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on
the 3d of August, white in colour, and handsomely spotted with crim-
son ; in build it resembled L. lancifolium, but with rather broader
petals and a flatter surface, and while richly perfumed, yet not so
powerfully as L. auratum ; the foliage partook more of the character
of L. auratum. No particulars were furnished as to how and when
the cross was effected, and how long a time expired before the seed-
ling plant bloomed.

390 THE GARDENER. [Sept,

From the ' Gardeners' Chronicle ' we learn that

" AFrench gardener has adopted a newmethod of grafting and buddingPear-trees.
The wild stocks, he says, succeed best when budded, as their branches then con-
tinue to grow as if no operation bad been performed ; while in the case of grafting,
the stock, being cut down to the ground wastes vitality, which the graft is not able
to supply for a long time, so that during the first year progress is very slow. In
order to remedy this he leaves two shoots on each side of the stock, which he
splits half-way down, and then shaving away the sides of the lower end of the
scion, he inserts the latter in the cleft and binds up in the usual way. If the
operation is performed in the opening spring, you pinch off" the shoots in order
to prevent the stem from growing too fast, and cut back at the end of the year ;
if the grafting is performed in the autumn, the cutting is executed at the end of
the winter. The graft having then taken well, it has force enough to excite the
action of the spongioles, so that much trouble and loss of time are saved. He
has a like plan for budding. It is well known that this operation cannot be
adopted after the rise of the sap has ceased ; he therefore cuts his bud with a
small portion of wood attached to it, so that the lower part of the eye is, of
course, not only uninjured but supported by the ligneous matter; the budding
piece is then inserted, either in a slit in the top of the stock, or into an opening
made in the middle of the stock with a knife, and into which the bud, or rather
the small piece of wood attached to it, is inserted. The operation may be re-
garded, in fact, as grafting with a single eye. The grand advantage is that the
operation succeeds as well in October or November as in August or September."

Another gap in the horticultural world is created by the death of
Mr John Gould Yeitch, F.L.S., eldest son of the late Mr James Yeitch,
of the Royal Exotic Nurseries, Chelsea, who died at his residence,
Coombe Wood, Kingston Hill, on the 13th of August, at the early age
of thirty-one years and a few months. Keenly devoted to his profes-
sion, favoured with an education of no common order, gifted with
much energy of character, genial and intelligent, he had before him a
future that might have raised to even a higher level of estimation the
honoured name of Yeitch. Fate willed otherwise, and in the fulness of
a promising life he fell a victim to a serious affection of the lungs, that
for a few years past had necessitated his retirement during the winter
to a warm southerly clime. In the year 1860 he started on a journey
of exploration to China, Japan, and the Philippine Isles, and from
these he obtained some very valuable new plants and trees, " among
which the lovely Primula cortusoides amcena would of itself form no
mean monument to his memory." In 1864 he visited Australia and
the South Sea Islands, returning home in February 1866, bringing
with him valuable horticultural treasures. "During this journey,
Cape York in Northern Australia was visited, and here was obtained
a new Palm, which has since been dedicated to his honour under the
name of Yeitchia Johannis. The 'Gardeners' Chronicle' of August
20th contains a touching tribute to his worth and memory from the pen

1870.] ORCHARD-HOUSE AT CHISWICK. 391

of his attached friend Mr Thomas Moore, to which we are indebted
for a few of the circumstances herein narrated. Ingenio stat sine morte
decus — The honours of genius are eternal.

THE ORCHARD-HOUSE AT CHISWICK.

This house is just now an object of considerable interest to fruit-culti-
vators, and its condition demands that a notice of it should be given
in this form. It stands like an oasis amid the dismantled and wrecked
appearances around it, caused by the recent abandonment of a portion
of the ground ; and Mr A. F. Barron, the superintendent of the Chis-
wick Gardens, deserves much praise for preserving some of the glories
of the past of these famed gardens in such a cheering aspect as this
house presents.

The house is a light, commodious, and somewhat new erection,
about 100 feet in length from north to south by 30 feet in width, the
height corresponding to the latter. It is of a broad span form, with a
walk 5 feet in width down the centre, and two side-walks running
parallel with it, which are continued round the house. On either side
of the main walk are broad borders in which the trees are planted out,
and round the house is another border 5 feet in width. A series of
wooden uprights, placed at intervals along the outside verge of the
two central borders, serve to support the roof, without in any way giving
the interior of the house a heavy appearance, or obstructing the view.
The usually monotonous appearance of the interior of many of our
large fruit-houses is in this instance admirably neutralised by means
of narrow bands of pale-blue paint running in an upward direction on
the main supports and rafters of the building : just enough to give the
house a light and elegant appearance. Ventilation is provided for in
the ridge of the roof, by means of a wooden fiat on either side which
opens outwards in a raised form not unlike the outspread wings of a
bird. This is worked by a simple and easily-managed contrivance,
which, without being elaborate and expensive, answers admirably, and
is both cheap and good. The outside walls are composed of one-half
boarding and one-half glazed lights, and when an abundance of air is
required, all or any of these can be opened outwards at the bottom,
being fixed by hinges at the top. So much, then, for the structural
arrangements of this house.

On the main borders all the trees are planted out. There is a line
of standard Peaches and Plums on 6-foot stems, planted along the middle
10 feet apart, the Peaches predominating; and on either side of these

392 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

a line of pyramid Peaches and Nectarines, from 4 to 5 feet in height,
planted opposite to each other, and so coming in the angles of the
central row of standards. This arrangement is similar on both bor-
ders. Next the central walk, and on either side of it, stands a line of
Peaches and Nectarines in pots, which rests partly on the border and
partly on the walk — nice small pyramid and bush trees in excellent
condition. These are placed here temporarily, and when the planted-
out trees make more head growth they will have to be furnished with
new quarters. The outside border on the west has Peaches, Nectar-
ines, and Plums in pots — nice bush pyramids ; on the east side Apricots
and Plums of a similar character. At the south end of the house
stands two splendid standard Plums in pots on 6-foot stems ; at the
north end a very fine standard Mulberry with a large head having
quite a mass of rich luscious fruit finer in quality than that grown in
the open air, and a standard Apricot also, both on 6-foot stems and
growing in pots.

There is considerable variety in the sorts of fruits grown, as in the
main they are for the purpose of proof and comparison. Good crops
of excellent quality are the invariable rule. Of Peaches there are of
the earlier kinds Early York, Grosse Mignonne, Bellegarde, and Royal
George, as representing the standard early varieties. Of Nectarines,
Pitmaston Orange and Hunt's Tawny in fruit now. Of Plums now
fit for table, Jefferson's (one of the standards at the north end of the
house is this variety, and a peck of fine fruit might be gathered from
it, though the tree has been cultivated in pots for the past ten years)
Greengage, Standard of England, a beautiful dark-purple Plum —
the two standard Plums in pots at the south end of the house repre1
sent this variety. One of the earliest is M'Laughlin's Gage, a beauti-
ful fruit of the character of a large golden Gage of very fine quality ;
while Coe's Golden Drop, which neither bears as a standard nor ripens
well in the open air when so grown, is to be seen here in fine condi-
tion. The principal variety of Apricot is Moor Park.

Against each rafter on either side of the house a Vine has been
planted on the border inside ; and as there are ten rafters on either
side, there are thus twenty Vines. These are planted as much to give
the interior of the roof of the house a furnished and elegant inner
roofing, and so supply a green garniture overhead, and take off from
the otherwise prominent obliqueness of appearance the unfurnished
roof would possess. On no account will these Vines be so suffered to
make growth as that they should shade the trees; a single rod will be
allowed to each rafter, bearing tempting fruit. Black Hamburg,
Black Prince, and other hardy sorts are so planted — varieties that will
ripen in a cool house. Against the two rows of uprights, also, pot- Vines

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 393

are planted, but for temporary rather than for permanent effect.
Nevertheless they aid in imparting a furnished appearance to the
house. The pot-plants round the sides of the house simply stand on
the border, and are not planted out as in the case of the central
beds.

The soil of these central beds is as hard as it is possible to make it,
and is kept thoroughly saturated with water as the trees make growth.
The border is something like 30 inches in depth, and one-half of this
is formed of lime-rubbish and chalk for a free drainage — the remainder
with a good suitable soil. The trees round the side borders have
their pots plunged in leaves during the winter, which is an excellent
check on evaporation, and this remains till the fruit ripens. If it be
objected that it has a "littery" appearance, Mr Barron has well
demonstrated how snug and orderly it can be kept with a very little
attention.

The trees in pots are repeatedly top-dressed with rotten manure,
loam, and burnt ashes, which, raised up about an inch round the rim
of the pot, gives a kind of shallow basin. There is no stint of water
when it is requisite to be applied, and once or twice a-week some
manure-water is given. The trees are syringed twice a-day — at morn-
ing and at evening — and are kept clean by the occasional use of
Pooley's tobacco-powder, applied with a small dredger, and dusted
over the shoots when wet. The shoots are kept pinched in very
closely.

Some of the trees have been in pots for a space of ten years. Dur-
ing the winter the roots are examined, and those requiring more root-
room are transferred to bigger pots ; those not requiring a shift have
some of the soil shaken from the roots if it be sour, and are repotted.
The biggest trees were only in pots 16 inches in diameter. There is
no doubt about it, judging from what can be seen here, that fruit as
tender in the flesh, and as nicely flavoured as possible, can be obtained
from plants grown in pots in this fashion, if the trees are not allowed
to carry a heavy but simply a reasonable crop. R. D.

~^-xs>^p^~i^ — ■

HINTS FOR AMATEURS.- SEPTEMBER.

When so many crops at this season are likely to be past use, the vege-
table garden is liable to become untidy. Peas, Beans, Scarlet Runners,
Potatoes, &c., will be turning in for use quickly; and if the ground is
not to be cropped again, it should at least be cleaned. Where manure is

394 THE GARDENER. [SEPT-

scarce, all refuse of vegetables should be carefully harvested for turn-
ing into the ground. Earth or other material should be thrown over
the heap to prevent an unpleasant smell. liather than lose vegetable
refuse, it might be wheeled on to vacant ground, made into a compact
ridge, and covered with the soil till trenching has begun. All winter
vegetables, such as Spinach, Turnips, late-sown Lettuce, and Onions,
should have timely attention by thinning them to keep the plants clear
of each other, or pricking out those requiring it. Cauliflower plants
should be in a sheltered position, free from damp. A ridge made to
slope to the sun often answers well when no other means are at com-
mand. A quantity of late-sown Lettuce we had last season on a ridge
stood the winter without losing any, though so small that they could
hardly be seen till growth commenced in spring. They were then
lifted and planted in well-prepared ground. They grew to a great
size and did good service, while others which had better quarters and
more attention went prematurely to seed. Cauliflower for an early
lot may be placed under handlights on a sheltered border — say nine
plants under each light, to be reduced to four or five in spring, when
the plants lifted may be planted for a succession. Plants to be placed
in a frame may be planted on ground formed to size, and the frame can
be placed over when protection is necessary. All such plants should
have the lights used only to keep off heavy rains, but kept close during
frost and snow. An open healthy surface (by hoeing or otherwise)
should be kept as long as possible. Plenty of Cabbage may now be
planted. To make the best of the ground they should be placed one
foot apart, so that every alternate plant (when fit for use) may be
drawn, and the crop left to grow to full size : reducing the number of
plants should be done in proportion to the size of kinds and strength
of ground. A portion of Celery may now be earthed up for use, first
slightly tying the plants together to keep them compact (matting will
soon decay, but it is a safe material to prevent cutting the plants as
growth proceeds). Place the earth so that the hearts are not buried.
A good watering beforehand is of great importance in securing
tender crisp Celery. Water can hardly be too freely given to
later crops ; and if they are to remain " unearthed up " for a time,
a little surfacing after watering will keep in the moisture. Potatoes
for seed, after being placed a short time in the sun to " green " them
a little, may be keep cool and dry. Onions may be pulled and har-
vested in cool dry quarters, first drying them well in the sun for a few
days : if they are left late out exposed to wet they are liable to take
second growth, and will not keep any length of time. All seeds which
are to be saved will form strong temptation to birds, unless they are
protected with nets, or otherwise looked after. Gather them dry and

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 395

harvest in cool dry quarters; if placed in close drawers, &c, when
damp, they will soon become mouldy. There is no profit in saving
ordinary seeds where garden ground is limited ; good rare kinds are
always worth the trouble. When weather is unfavourable for outdoor
work, all the seeds which have been left over may be examined, dis-
carding those (such as French Beans, &c.) which are useless for next
year : a note of them may be taken, which will keep the seed-bill less
next season. Brassica seed will keep good for a number of years : use-
less kinds, however, should be discarded. If Carrots are being attacked
with grubs, &c, they may be lifted at once, and covered with sand in
a cool place : better to lose some by early lifting than have the crop
destroyed in the ground. On damp heavy ground, earthing up winter
crops may be done with advantage, as there is no fear of them being
too dry. However, in our deeply-trenched rather light ground we
seldom ever earth anything up. Blanch Endive by tying it up, or
placing flower-pots over the plants. Tie up Lettuce if they don't heart
well ; and all small salads will require attention, now the season is
getting late. Golden and American Cress should be plentiful : sow it
in sheltered positions, and it may give a supply all the winter. Radishes
may still be tried out of doors, especially in warm southern locali-
ties. Where there are good supplies of French Beans, they may be
kept on bearing by having hoops bent over them, to be covered with
mats or other material when there is danger from frost. Plantations
of Strawberries may now be made, well watering them if weather is
dry : all that are intended to bear fruit next season should be kept free
from runners and weeds, saving the healthy leaves. The roots should
not be disturbed, especially on weakly growers — though we may mention
that we have seen old gardeners who practise heavy draining and deep
digging between their Strawberries in winter very successful in produc-
ing fine fruit, probably the extra manuring making up in a measure for
the destruction of roots. We never have advocated this system, but
rather kept the roots entire. One season we had a number of Keen's
Seedling which grew to a great size, and smothered many of the
flowers when they opened. In the following autumn every plant was
cut round their collars with a spade, cutting the roots unmercifully:
the result was a finer crop on that sort than we ever had before.
However, we never recommend root-cutting for any fruits unless the
whole energies of the plant are making growth of foliage or wood, and
no fruit. Root-pruning may be practised on gross fruit-trees which
have no fruit on them : by doing it early, new roots get hold of the
fresh soil before winter, but partial root-pruning is the safest method
of doing it. Cutting one side this season and the other the next will
gradually bring the tree into a healthy bearing state, without giving a

396 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

severe check. Where fruit is of any value on rank trees, and not
ripe, root-pruning may be left undone till the crops are gathered.
Next month is generally considered the proper time for planting
young trees, and if time can be spared to get ground ready, and soil
suitable, it will be of great advantage. If trees are to be selected in
the nursery, the sooner the choice is made the better.

Wasps are unusually plentiful this year : every means will be re-
quired to save the fruit. Bottles with a little beer and sugar attract
them. Tiffany or hexagon netting may be used. In absence of pro-
tection, the fruit may be gathered when it begins to ripen — it is sel-
dom attacked before that time. If placed in a dry airy position it will
ripen in fair condition. This is applicable chiefly to stone fruit, such
as Plums, Peaches, Apricots, &c. Blackbirds and thrushes soon de-
vour Pears, such as Jargonelle, Crawford, Bon Chretien, and other
early sorts.

Fruits too thickly left on the trees to ripen may be helped by
beginning early to thin them for culinary purposes. Heavy crops of
badly-matured fruit are by no means creditable to any one, besides
being false economy. Apples and Pears are generally fit to gather
when the seeds turn dark. They should be placed in cool quarters for
a time, with plenty of air passing among them : then they may be kept
close and dark. Fruit-rooms and other places for storing fruit should
be made thoroughly clean, and all parts where mice or other vermin
can get in should be stopped up. Fumigating thoroughly with sul-
phur is a good practice to keep insects, &c, from taking up their
quarters in fruit-rooms during winter.

Auriculas in pots may now be placed in their winter -quarters.
They will not require to be often watered, and the lights of structures
kept off except in times of wet, and abundance of fresh air, free from
damp, is life to them. Any valuable plants in borders will now
require protection if they will not stand frost. Cuttings of all bedding
plants should have attention now. If a good stock is not already in,
they should be taken off at once. Calceolarias, however, need not be
put in yet — when they are early, they do not stand drought so well
the following season. It is well to have them young and growing in
spring, instead of coming into flower ; as when they bloom early, they
are seldom of much service in autumn. This is also applicable to
Pansies — some we had very late are now blooming in fine condition,
and no water can be afforded for them. Dahlias may have soil drawn
over their roots if there is any danger of severe frost : this is often
necessary where soil is heavy and wet. Keep all dead flowers off the
plants, which will add much to their beauty. Chrysanthemums may
now be potted where they have been growing in the open ground :

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 397

keep them in the shade, and well water them for a few days : stake
them out neatly, if necessary, and place them under protection, giving
plenty of light and air : after they have taken hold of the fresh soil,
weak liquid-manure may be given frequently. Pelargoniums and
other plants should not be exposed to cold rains, but kept airy, with
plenty of light. Bulbs for potting may be bought as soon as they can
be had. Hyacinths, Narcissus, Tulips, and Jonquils are general
favourites, and by potting them early, and forcing some of them, plenty
of flowers can be had from Christmas till April. The Early Roman
Hyacinth can be had in flower as early as November, and by potting
five or seven in each pot, they make a fine display. Good loam mixed
with a little rotten manure and sand answers well for most kinds of
bulbs : a little of the richest stuff may be placed over the drainage, and
when the roots have reached it, they will make vigorous growth. A
good system is to leave plenty of room for top-dressing on the surfaces
of pots. When potting, the bulbs may have a little clean sand at the
base of each, leaving a third or more of the bulb out of the soil : after
they are potted, place them together, and cover all over with 6 inches
or so of old tan, leaf-mould, or coal-ashes, and in five or six weeks
growth will be commenced, when they should be removed to where
they can have light and air, and be protected. Make cuttings of Roses :
when taken short jointed, with a heel to each, they strike root
readily. Tulips may be planted in borders, allowing fresh healthy soil :
by choosing suitable colours a find display can be made. Housing of
plants to be protected in winter will now require attention, and water
them in the morning. M. T.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

{Continued from page 353.)
THE PEACH AND NECTARINE.

For various reasons I intend to treat of these together. Although
we are apt to speak of them as if they were two distincts fruits, it is
nevertheless a fact that they are both the product of one parent, and
as a consequence of this, they require the same management, are
subject to the same diseases, and are identical in constitution, habit
of growth, &c. It has long ago been proved that Peaches may be
produced from the stones of Nectarines, and Nectarines from the stones
of Peaches, thereby showing the intimate relationship existing between
the two. I therefore feel justified in linking them together, and the
following remarks are to be understood as having reference to both.

398 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

New varieties of the Peach and Nectarine are raised from seed.
The first matter of importance is the parents from which the seedlings
are to be procured. These should be selected with care, and impreg-
nated by the hand, so that the cultivator may have a good idea of
what should be the results of his labours. Care should be exercised
to prevent impregnation from any other quarter than that desired,
and for this purpose the means should be adopted to prevent this
which I have before recommended. I would suggest that the fruits
selected for seed get full justice during the growing season, being
thoroughly exposed to light and air, so that they may be well matured
and sound. If these things are attended to, the results are likely to
prove more satisfactory than if stones are selected at random. When
the fruit is thoroughly ripened the stones should be removed and
washed clean, after which they may be buried in layers either in the
soil of the garden at the depth of a few inches or in boxes of sand, and
kept in a cool dry place until spring. In March the stones may be
broken, taking care not to hurt the seed, which is in the form of a
kernel. The kernels may be sown in rows about 1 inch deep in good
yellow loamy soil, at or near the bottom of a wall having a southern
exposure. In this position they will probably make good strong
growths of 2 to 3 feet during the summer. The best way
to save time and prove the qualities of the seedlings is to
bud from this maiden shoot, if proper buds can be obtained, on to
an old and established tree. By this means the bud upon the tree
will make a fruit-bearing shoot the following summer, and produce
fruit the succeeding autumn to that, so that by the time the
young seedling is two and a-half years of age the cultivator is in
a position to know whether it is worth while retaining as a new
variety or not.

When the propagation of existing varieties is only aimed at, the
best and surest method is by budding. Grafting is sometimes per-
formed with wonderful success, but, everything considered, I prefer
budding. For this purpose stocks have to be raised. The Pear-
Plum stock is the one most in demand, and is always used for the
finest varieties of the Peach and Nectarine. The Mussel Plum is also
a good stock, and pretty extensively used ; and where dwarf trees are
in request, the Mirabelle Plum is used. Besides these, some cultivators
use such as the following as stocks for Peaches and Nectarines — viz.,
the Brompton, the Apricot, and the Almond. In France the Almond
is believed to induce a shorter-jointed and less luxuriant habit of
growth, and for this reason many growers work upon it. When the
Plum is used as a stock in France, the varieties selected are generally
St Julien, the Damas Noir, and Myrobolan. The Almond suits best,

1870.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 399

it is said, on sandy, shallow, or chalky soil, while the Plum is said to
be the best suited for heavy clayey soils.

As already stated, I prefer budding as the best and easiest means
of propagating existing varieties. Any of the many methods in gene-
ral practice among horticulturists will be found to suit very well, as
in all cases I prefer the easiest and simplest modes, so long as the re-
sults are satisfactory. In the propagation of the Peach and Nectarine
I prefer that style of budding which is known as shield or T bud-
ding. In former papers I have fully explained how this operation is
performed, so the reader can easily refer to them for details.

The time for budding the Peach varies according to circumstances.
The best rule to observe is, that the stock and bud are both ready as
soon as the bark parts freely from the wood. From the middle of
July to the middle of August this will, generally speaking, be the
case — in England during the former month, and in Scotland the end
of the former or early part of the latter month. In the selection of
buds, care must be exercised so as to use nothing but wood-buds, for
should flower-buds be taken, certain failure will be the result. Prac-
tical experience alone will teach the cultivator the difference between
the two, so that he will be able to go about his work with confidence.
I may say, however, that the wood-bud is sharp, slender, and pointed,
while the flower-bud is plump, full, and round. By attending to the
above rule, the novice may attempt the operation of budding the Peach
and Nectarine, and find his labours crowned with a considerable amount
of success. The great secret of either budding or grafting is in having
at least one edge of the bark of the scion or bud fitting exactly into the
bark of the stock, so that the sap in passing upwards may pass directly
into the bud, there to become elaborated, after which it will fully cement
the union between itself and the stock. Budding may be performed
after the periods I have specified under certain conditions. It is a well-
known fact, that while the bark of a tree will not rise from the wood
until a certain period of the year, so it is also as well known that after a
certain time it again refuses to rise. After the periods specified above
such will be the case, but should it have occurred from unforeseen circum-
stances— from want of time or any other cause that might present itself
— the operation may be performed with success in the following man-
ner: in taking off the bud, a thin slice of wood should be allowed to ad-
here, which should be cut as thin as possible, and quite flat and smooth.
After this the bud is inserted into its position, care being taken that
the inner bark shall be in close contact with the cambium of the stock,
without which no union can take place. The height at which the bud
should be inserted will be determined according to the sort of tree that
is required. Dwarf trees should have the bud inserted at not a greater

400 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

height than 12 inches from the ground, while riders may have their buds
as high as from 3 to 5 feet from the root. The following spring these
buds will start into active growth, and if not pinched will make shoots
3 or 4 feet in length. Some cultivators make a practice of pinching
the young shoot when 6 or 7 inches in height, in order to induce it to
form a young fan-tree the first year. This they no doubt accomplish,
but it is very doubtful whether much is gained by the practice or not.
My own opinion is that a better and healthier tree is to be obtained
by allowing the bud to grow at freedom during the first season, and
at the pruning time in winter cut it back to 6 or 7 inches to form the
young tree. Where the shoot is cut back in spring to the height I
indicated, the lateral growths which are formed are invariably long-
jointed and watery, and seldom ripen so thoroughly as is absolutely
necessary for the Peach and Nectarine. Such being the case, there can
be little doubt but that the year gained at first is not a year gained in
the end, but rather the reverse ; and for this reason I would not recom-
mend the practice, but would rather induce a good and well-ripened
growth to be made during the first season, believing as I do that the
future health and wellbeing of any sort of tree depend almost entirely
upon the constitution that is induced during the first year or two of
its life.

Some cultivators have adopted grafting with considerable success.
For this purpose firm short-jointed wood is selected, with a small
portion of two-year-old wood attached. These should be taken off
when the tree is thoroughly at rest, and put in by the heels in some
sheltered corner until the grafting season comes round. Any of the
many modes of grafting may be adopted, but whip-grafting I prefer.
In the third volume of the ' Gardener's Magazine,' p. 149, Mr Cameron
of Highbeach, Essex, gives an account of how he performs this opera-
tion, and from its simplicity and novelty I reproduce it here. He says:
" Sow in autumn kernels of Peaches, Nectarines, or Apricots, under the
walls where they are to remain. They will make a vigorous shoot the
following spring, and may either be budded in August of the same
year, or grafted the March of the year following. Grafting is the
mode I prefer, and the scion should have \ inch of two-year-old wood
at its lower extremity ; at least, I have found scions so taken off suc-
ceed better than those taken indifferently from any part of the young
wood. Cut the stock with a dovetail notch for the scion to rest on,
and tie it on in the usual manner." James M'Millan.

{To be continued.)

1870.] SOMETHING ABOUT JAPAN LILIES. 401

SOMETHING ABOUT JAPAN LILIES.
Having in February last received a large collection of Lilies from
Japan — sent home by Lieut. Woodroffe of the Royal Navy, where he
had been stationed three years — I desire to give some account of my
treatment of them. The collection consisted, among others, of 220 bulbs
of L. auratum. These were potted as soon as they arrived, the largest
bulbs in 32-sized pots ; the smaller ones, four or five into 24-sized pots.
The following mixture of soils was used : about equal quantities of peat
and strong loam, and about a sixth part of leaf-mould, with a good
portion of silver-sand to keep the soil open : these were well chopped
to pieces with the spade and thoroughly mixed together : the pots were
well drained with crocks about an inch deep, and then about the same
quantity of the roughest of the compost put over them, the bulbs
placed about an inch below the rim of the pot, and the soil pressed
firmly about them. I then placed them in a cold vinery till they began
to grow, and very little water was given till they began to grow freely.
They will not be allowed to get dry till they have done flowering, when
water will be gradually withheld, and the pots laid on their side to
mature the bulbs till potting-time comes round again, which should
not be later than November.

The auratums began to bloom the first week in June, and will con-
tinue to do so for at least another month; that will make a successive
bloom of three months. They vary in size and markings ; some are of a
much brighter yellow in the centre of each petal than others : the larg-
est flower was about 24 inches in circumference. Four bulbs not larger
than a hen's egg gave two and three blooms each. The best bloom I have
at present is a deep yellow at the bottom of the petals, shading off to a
brown at the margin of the centre of each, with large spots of red.

My experience with this grand Lily had been somewhat limited till
this season, as the first auratum I bought a few years ago, after it had
flowered the second year, was laid in the pit under the stage in the green-
house with several of L. lancifolium, to rest previous to potting; and to
my great annoyance the auratum bulb was eaten by mice, and not one
of the other varieties touched by them. It appears to me that species
was preferred by the mice on account of the bulb being sweeter to
the taste than the others.

Should any of your readers have had any experience of the auratum
bedded out, I shall feel very grateful if they will give the result in the
pages of the ' Gardener. '

I intend to bed them out myself this autumn, and have selected
some twelve varieties for the purpose ; and I hope, all being well next
summer, to send you some account of how far I succeed with them.

2c

402 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

There can be no question about the hardihood of the Lily, as Lieut.
Woodroffe informed me the winters in Japan are nearly as cold as in
England, and that they have plenty of skating there. The Lanci-
foliums received with the auratums are not yet in flower. They are
potted one bulb in a 24-sized pot, and are now 4 or 5 feet high,
and have from five to ten blooms on each ; but none are yet expanded,
probably because of being potted late. There are in the collection some
orange-yellow varieties, in the way of L. aurantiacum, and L. Thun-
bergianum. Should anything good flower amongst them, a description
of them must be given on a future occasion, as from what I have seen
of those that have flowered, I consider them more curious than pretty.

I fear the culture of the Japan Lily is not properly understood, as
a gentleman in this neighbourhood received a collection from his
brother in Japan, but did not succeed in flowering them, in conse-
quence of not growing them in their proper soil ; and others I have
known that have bought bulbs of L. auratum, and not succeeded well
with them. One in particular was astonished when I told him they
would not grow in common garden soil. When I examined the soil
his bulbs were potted in, I found it did not contain a particle of peat
or silver sand.

There is something so beautiful in the Lily tribe — whether it is the
modest Lily of the Valley or the common L. candidum of the gardens,
with their pure white flowers, or the numerous varieties received from
Japan — as to deserve a more extended culture.

Who can survey a beautiful Lily without the mind at once reverting
to that passage in Scripture — " Consider the Lilies of the field, how
they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin ; and yet I say unto you,
That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
And their beautiful flowers, exquisite colouring, and rich markings,
and in some instances their delicious perfume, deserve that some such
immortal saying as this should be the fitting record of their splendid
qualities.

William Plestee.

Elsenham Hall Gardens.

NOTES ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

violace^e.

If this natural order presented nothing except the Sweet Violet for
our admiration, it would have a very strong claim on the consideration
of all lovers of sweet and beautiful flowers. But there are many

iS/o.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 403

other species of Violets which add, by their beauty or fragrance, or
both combined, to the noricultural value of the order ; and those with
a turn for deeper sifting than colour and odour will find in the
structural peculiarities that characterise the group and determine its
affinities much to interest and admire. Viola itself forms the greater
bulk of the order, and I am not aware that any of the other genera
furnish worthier hardy herbaceous subjects. Erpetion is sometimes
included in lists of hardy plants, but it is not hardy in the broader
sense, although in a few favoured localities in the south and west of
England it has survived mild winters; and Solea, another offset of
Viola, though undoubtedly hardy, is of no ornamental value. Erpe-
tion may be noticed here because of its great beauty and its useful-
ness for out-of-doors work in the summer, in any part of the country.
Violas are all plants of the easiest requirements as regards culture.
They thrive best in a good rich gritty loam, but do very well in
various kinds of soils. A very important point in the culture of these
plants is an abundant supply of moisture during the growing season.
They are much better adapted for growing in naturally damp soils
than in dry ones, and if a choice can be made, this should be remem-
bered, otherwise ample artificial supplies must be provided. More
particular remarks regarding culture will be made, when necessary, under
the species, and all that need be noted here in a general way is, that
Violas may all be increased by means of division and cuttings ; and in
all cases, where practicable, the latter is the best, because productive of
the most vigorous plants ; and it is so simple an operation, and re-
quires so few ordinary facilities, that it may be practised every-
where. Cuttings may be taken any time early or late in the summer
as they can be got, inserted in sandy soil under a hand-glass in a
shady place, and kept close for some time, or until they begin making
roots, when a little air may be given by degrees, increasing daily.
They are all easily raised from seeds also, and by this means varieties
of interest and value are obtained, especially of the more variable
species, such as the Pansy. The seeds may be sown in spring in pots
in a cold frame, or in a bed or border in a warm spot of the garden,
afterwards nursing them on by pricking the seedlings out from the
seed-bed into rich soil in a somewhat shady but warm position, where
they must be abundantly supplied with moisture.

Erpetion reniforme — New Holland Violet. — This beautiful little
plant is too tender to be trusted out in our climate in most parts of
the country during winter ; but it is such an essential gem that it
should be included in every collection of any pretensions, where a dry
cold frame can be afforded it when it wants protection. I have seen
it survive mild winters in the neighbourhood of London ; but it was

404 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

late in being stirred into growth, and weakly throughout the season,
and flowered unsatisfactorily. There is no doubt but that it would
be much more comfortable and successful left out in some of the more
southern and western parts of England, and the more favoured locali-
ties of Ireland ; but there is little hope for its safety if left out in
Scotland. It has quite the habit and appearance of some of the
smaller alpine Violets, extends itself by weak trailing branches rooting
as they advance, has small bright-green kidney-shaped leaves, and the
flower-stalks only 2 or 3 inches high, bearing the small delicate blue-
and-white flowers in moderate profusion and long continuance. It is
a charming little pot plant cultivated in the same way as pot alpine
plants, and may be used with good effect in light airy greenhouses ;
but its best use will be found in edging and carpeting small beds in
warm positions in the flower-garden. In the north it may not succeed
so well in this way as in the south, but in warm terrace-gardens it
may succeed in any part of the country; and it is so easily propagated
by division and cuttings that it should be tried out of doors every-
where, for though not very striking, it is sure to arrest the attention
of all who may pass it who are fond of simple beauty and freshness.
In cold localities the plants would be best plunged in their pots
instead of planted out. Native of Australia.

Viola calcarata — Spurred Violet. — This is a low-growing species
with many underground creeping stems, by which it extends itself
and forms carpet-like masses of a lively green. The stems are angular,
and clothed with acutely egg-shaped leaves toothed on the margin.
The flowers, produced in great profusion, are large, pale purple, and
furnished with a conspicuous awl-shaped spur. Adapted to either the
rockwork or mixed border, preferring a little shade and ample supplies
of moisture during the growing season. The yellow-flowered V. Zoysii
of some catalogues is regarded by some botanists as a variety of calca-
rata under the name V. c. flava. Flowers from early spring throughout
the summer in moist situations. Native of the Alps of Switzerland.

V. cornuta — Horned Violet. — This is very near in character to the
last, but is a more vigorous plant, and further distinguished by its
broader and less deeply toothed leaves, and the more upright tendency
of the stems. It is now a well-known plant in flower-gardens, having
been extensively tried for some years as a dwarf bedding plant, and
most conflicting reports have been made regarding it. When it is
successful, there can be but one opinion as to its merits ; it is very
beautiful, but it is successful as a massing or edging plant only in
moist soil and seasons. There are several varieties of greater or less
pretensions for being improvements on the normal form, but chiefly
marked by different shades of the purplish colour of the original. The

1870.] NEW PLANTS OF PAST TWO MONTHS. 405

best that has appeared is the one named " Perfection," a very distinct
and handsome plant with large Pansy-like flowers of a bright purplish
blue, yellow -eyed, and more strongly fragrant than the reputed
parent; but it has so little in common with cornuta, beyond the horn,
that there are grounds for questioning the alleged parentage. It is
as unlike cornuta in its power of resistance of drought as in most other
particulars. During this excessively droughty season it has looked fresh
and bloomed profusely, while cornuta has been " done brown " for
weeks. Cornuta is a native of the Pyrenees.

V. lutea — Yellow Mountain Violet. — This is another unsuccessful
candidate for parterre honours of recent introduction. It is a native
of mountain pastures in Wales and the north of England and west
of Scotland. It grows in rather a straggling manner, rising 3 or 4
inches high, with weak stems and small oblong egg-shaped leaves.
The flowers are bright yellow, with a few black lines radiating from
the centre on the lower petals. Although it succeeds better in the
majority of dry soils and aspects than V. cornuta, yet it is not so flori-
ferous as that species, and has disappointed many in the expectations
raised regarding its adaptibility to summer bedding-out when first
introduced for that purpose. It is a pretty little gem, creeping over
rockwork, or in the front line of a partially-shaded moist mixed
border ; but in bright blazing parterres it is eclipsed, and very often
burnt up, and does not supply effectively the much - desiderated
dwarf bright yellow edging plant. The variety grandiflora has, as
its name implies, larger flowers than the ordinary form, and is some-
what of an improvement also in the matter of habit being slightly
more vigorous. Flowers continuously from May till September.
{To be continued.)

NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

With the passing away of the great shows, comes to some extent a
diminution of the number of new plants periodically produced. Still,
some good things have put in appearance, and of these, first-class certifi-
cates have been awarded to the following : Bowenia spectabilis, a re-
markably handsome compound-leaved Cycad, from Messrs Veitch «fe
Sons; Macrozamia magnifica, a very elegant slender pinnate Cycad
from Australia ; and Cycas Broughtoni, another Australian species in
the way of C. Armstrongii — both from Mr William Bull ; to Catalpa
syringaefolia aurea, a fine bold golden-leaved tree, which was raised
from a seedling on the Continent two or three years ago, from Messrs

40G THE GARDENER. [Sept.

Thomas Cripps & Son, Tunbridge Wells ; to Hydrangea japonica
speciosa, the leaves dark green, with a broad flame of cream-colour
along the centre of each, a good addition to this class of ornamental-
foliaged plants, from Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son ; to Pteris serru-
lata major cristata, a handsome tasselled variety of the tall-growing
form of P. serrulata, from the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens
at Chiswick \ and to Pteris serrulata gleicheniifolia, a very beautiful
and elegant Fern, from Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son.

Thanks to the persistence of Mr G. F. Wilson, F.R.S., and others,
some of the most valuable species of the genus Lily are being brought into
notice ; it is hoped to be much more extensively grown. The following
have received first-class certificates : L. auratum, Charles Turner, a large
flower, with the golden band replaced by a suffused tint of reddish-
brown, from Mr C. Turner ; to the hybrid form of L. auratum, obtained
by Mr G. Thomson, and alluded to under the head of ' Notes of the
Month ; ' to L. Leichtlinii, yellow spotted with dark brown ; to L.
tigrinum flore pleno, with several tiers of petals regularly overlaying
each other, like the petals of a hexangular Camelia ; and L. longiflorum,
var. albo-marginatum ; — all from Mr Geo. F. Wilson, F.R.S. : and to
L. Tigrinum splendens, a fine form of the common Tiger Lily, from
Mr W. Bull

The fine new varieties of hardy Clematises have received good addi-
tions in C. Victoria, with purplish lilac flowers of fine quality, and said
to be remarkably free, from Messrs Thomas Cripps k Son • and C. Gem,
a dark mauve-coloured form of C. lanuginosa, from Mr Geo. Baker,
Windlesham. The same award was made to Mr B. S. Williams for
Lrelia elegans, var. gigantea, stated by Mr J. Bateman to be Cattleya
elegans ; and to Mr W. Bull for Curculigo recurvata variegata, belong-
ing to the natural order Hypoxids.

Mr H. Cannell, Woolwich, received a first class-certificate for Double
Pelargonium Crown-Prince, a fine deep pink-coloured variety of large
size ; Messrs W. Barron <fe Son a second-class certificate for Zonal
Pelargonium magnificum, with large but somewhat rough trusses of
pale orange-scarlet flowers ; and Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son a
first-class certificate for a finely- coloured golden-edged Variegated Zonal,
named The Rev. E. R. Benyon. The following Verbenas have re-
ceived the same award : John Laing, pale rosy carmine, rich crimson
centre, very fine pip and truss ; Perfection, soft lilac pink, very pretty
and good quality; Mrs George Prince, pale pink, with orange-red
centre, fine pip and bold truss ; and Mrs Boulton, white, with claret
crimson eye, fine pip and truss — all from Mr C. J. Perry ; also Mrs
Dodd, pale pink, with rosy-violet centre, very fine pip and truss ; and
Grand Monarque, orange-red, shaded centre, a very fine hue of

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 407

colour, from Mr H. Eckford. The same award to Picotee Ne plus ultra,
a heavy rose-edged flower with a very fine petal, smooth and pure,
from Mr J. Payne, St Paul's, Oxford ; to Tropseoluni Minnie Warren,
a compact-growing form, the leaves green, edged with cream, and
appearing as if it would prove useful as a bedding- plant, from Mr
John Cattell, Westerham; to Dahlia Marchioness of Bath, pale ground,
tipped with rose, a very finely-formed flower, from Mr George Wheeler,
Warminster ; to Hollyhock Rose Queen, colour clear rose, from Mr
Porter, Isleworth : to Dahlias Incomparable and Flora Wyatt, from Mr
John Keynes, second-class certificates were awarded. Lastly, a first-
class certificate was awarded to Godetia (CEnothera) Whitneyii, having
bright lilac flowers, with a spot of red on each petal • stout dwarf
habit of growth, and very free blooming — a capital addition to our
dwarf-growing hardy annuals, sent by Mr William Thompson, Ipswich.

R. D.

GARDEN RECORDS.

NO. IX.

GUNNERSBY PARK, ACTON, MIDDLESEX, THE RESIDENCE OF
BARON LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD, M.P.

(Continued from page 368.)

This place is situated in the south-west side of London, and about midway be-
tween Ealing and Kew, though comprehended in the parish of Ealing, and can
be readily reached by railway to Ealing, Acton, Turnham Green, and Kew. It
has acquired a high reputation as a place for the production of first-class fruits,
and from it are drawn the large supplies of fruit, flowers, vegetables, &c, to meet
the requirements of the Baron's palatial mansion in Piccadilly, as well as those of
other members of the family.

The present area of the park and grounds is some 100 acres, but recently a
further space of 140 acres has been enclosed on the Ealing and Brentford sides of
the desmene, for the purpose of extending the park. When this is laid out and
planted, it will give it what it has hitherto much needed, surroundings in keep-
ing with the mansion, and the splendid liberality with which the estate is main-
tained. The kitchen-garden is about 14 acres in extent, 5 acres of which are
wholly within walls ; a wall running from east to west, however, bounds a space
of some 9 acres. There is a great extent of glass, and there are also two flower-
gardens, besides many supplementary beds ; also two pieces of ornamental water,
from the middle of the largest of which rises a jet capable of reaching a height of
some 60 feet. The mansion occupies the highest part of the grounds on its eastern
boundary, and is effectually screened by belts of fine trees, some noble Cedars of
Lebanon, &c. The quiet and repose pervading the place, although so near
to London proper, and its encircling associations of country and rural life, con-
stitute it a most charming and pleasant place of residence during the summer
months.

408 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

The gardens and grounds have been under the management of the present gar-
dener, Mr William Forsyth, for the space of twenty years. Incapacitated by phy-
sical infirmity— though yet in the prime of life— from actively superintending the
duties belonging to a place so well maintained, Mr Forsyth is just on the point of
retiring from the service of Baron Rothschild, whose munificent liberality has
made abundant provision for him for the remainder of his life. Into comparative
retirement Mr Forsyth will carry with him the regrets and best wishes of many
attached friends and brother horticulturists.

An inspection of the glass structures gave some eight vineries ; the late house
a fine span-roofed building, 62 feet in length by 42 feet in width. This is mainly
planted with Black Hamburgs on the restriction system, with here and there a
row of the Golden Hamburg. This Grape Mr Forsyth regards as a finely-flavoured
Sweet Water, but it must be eaten as soon as ripe, as it will not keep ; therefore
it is practically useless as a late variety. A range of four old lean-to vineries is
now to be removed, and a new range now in course of construction substituted.
This will be 150 feet in length by 26 feet in width, with a broad walk at back
6 feet in width ; the communication between each house by folding-doors. The
roof of the new range will take a half -span form. A simple contrivance will raise
the top sashes simultaneously at both sides, so as to ventilate the house when
necessary. Four years ago this range was thoroughly planted with young Canes,
and so concurrently with the new houses will be good crops of fruit. One vinery
was entirely filled with Lady Downes, and one with Muscats. All the vine-
borders are constructed on the aerated principle.

Gunnersby is well known for the fine quality of the Pines grown there, and as
a cultivator Mr Forsyth has made a good reputation. Here, then, can be seen
plenty of succession pits, and two capital fruiting-houses, each 33 feet in length
by 16 feet in width. It is not too much to state that Pine- Apples are cut all the
year round at Gunnersby, but a supply during the London season — i.e., from the
first week in February to the end of August — is particularly studied, and there is
never a lack of fruits through that time. All the Pines are planted out, suckers
and all, and not a single one is cultivated in a pot. A good number of Queens
are grown, also smooth and prickly-leaved Cayennes, Black Jamaica, and Char-
lotte Rothschild ; of the latter variety Mr Forsyth has exhibited, before the
Royal Horticultural Society, some fruits 9 pounds in weight. The Pines are grown
in a soil composed of two-thirds good rough peat and one-third loam ; and when
the fruits are swelling some manure-water is given, but not so frequently as some
cultivators administer it. In order to keep up such a constant succession as is
here required, Mr Forsyth finds the oftener the suckers are planted the better ;
and so, as soon as they are sufficiently large to admit of their being planted out,
it is done.

The forcing of Strawberries is a great feature at Gunnersby, and the average
quantity of pots cultivated in a season is about 6000. Already Mr Forsyth has
some 5600 fine plants well established in pots. For early forcing he depends
mainly on Keen's Seedling, and to succeed this, Empress Eugenie, British Queen,
and a few other varieties for later work. The White Bicton is much appreciated,
and about a thousand plants of that variety are forced annually. To succeed these
there are about 1^ acres of Strawberries out of doors of similar kinds to those
mentioned. Dr Hogg promises well for next year's fruiting. Ripe fruit is always
gathered by the first week in March, and sometimes in February.

A prime feature is the Fig-house, or rather a series of three succession-houses
in one length of nearly, or quite, 200 feet. The first crop is commenced in
March, and the successive crops last up till the autumn. The principal varieties

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 409

grown are the Brown Turkey and the White Marseilles. There are other varie-
ties, but they are not so much relied on as these. This house, in the early part
of the summer especially, is a great treat to the visitors at Gunnersby.

The Peach-wall is 140 yards in length, and is covered with a lean-to range of
glass 10 feet in height at the back by 5 in width. Here a gathering is always
made by the last week in May or the first week in June. The leading Peaches
are Grosse Mignonne, Bellegarde, Violet Hative, and others ; of Nectarines,
Elruge, Roman, and Violette Hative. Enormous crops of fine fruit have been
the order this season.

There are two nice Cucumber -houses, one for summer and one for winter
work, and from these fruit can be cut each day in the year. For winter work,
a good variety, known as Volunteer, is a great favourite. Melons are not
largely grown, as this fruit is not very highly esteemed on the Baron's table.
The new Burghley Park green flesh appears to be a good variety.

The kitchen-garden is in keeping in all its general features with such a place.
The Plum wall is a fine feature, and includes a good number of varieties ; the
leading kinds are Green Gage, Golden Drop, and Jeffersons. Pear-trees can be
seen in great numbers, trained in the pyramidal form, but with the branches
brought down in a pendant form, as is common in some of the French gardens.
The large collection comprises all the leading kinds, and some three years ago Mr
Forsyth cut down something like 200 fine old standard Hazel Pear trees, and
grafted on them the best sorts obtainable at the Royal Horticultural Gardens
at Chiswick ; so there will be no lack of Pears by-and-by.

Varied collections of plants are grown at Gunnersby, and there are several
houses for their cultivation ; but they are used for furnishing the residence
here and the London mansions. Exceptions to this are seen in a small but
very choice collection of Orchids in excellent health — a house of stove and hand-
some foliaged plants, and two span-roofed houses for the same. Among the hitter
are many kinds of Coleus, especially of the golden-leaved varieties, which prove
of great value for furnishing purposes. There is a span-roofed house for the cul-
ture of Pelargoniums ; and there is another house of similar construction divided
by a partition into two parts ; the roof of one of these is entirely covered by a
fiue plant of Stephanotis floribunda, which produces a vast number of flowers.
On the 16th of June last Mr Forsyth sent to the Baron's residence in Piccadilly
200 trusses of blooms, and vast numbers are cut during the blooming time. In
the other division Lapagerias were planted out ; a fine plant of the red variety
was in full bloom, and the beautiful white variety was rapidly opening its flowers.
They are both planted out in pit-beds 6 feet in length, in a soil composed of
rough peat mixed with charcoal, and plenty of drainage underneath. They have
an abundance of water, but the nature of the soil, and the drainage beneath,
causes it to pass away from the roots very freely. There is also grown here a
very fine collection of Azaleas for house-decoration in London, and the supply of
cut flowers for the same purpose is something enormous. Every morning a cart
is despatched to London with plants, vegetables, flowers, and fruit.

The flower-gardens and pleasure-grounds are charming in the extreme ; and
the former are so disposed that only glimpses of them can be gained from the
front terrace of the house. The grounds are finely wooded ; magnificent Elms
tower up aloft with the growth of many years in their majestic proportions.
Thorns, Sycamores, and Beech bear them company, and some grand Cedars of
Lebanon spread out enormous spreading branches from colossal trunks ; and
underneath the Cedars and other trees are verdant carpets of evergreen Ivy.
Dotted about are fine specimen coniferous plants, Magnolias, and other trees,

410 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

more or less valuable for their flowers or foliage. Lighting up borders of Rhodo-
dendrons, or lending a radiance to the sombre hues of huge clumps of shrubbery,
can be seen vigorous-growing heads of Acer negundo variegata ; and with these are
also used other ornamental-foliaged plants to aid the production of similar results.
The greensward is most deliciously verdant; all the summer through it has been
kept watered by a long tube composed of iron and leather, and running on wheels ;
portions of the tube are finely punctured with holes, and a stream of water forced
into the tube at a high rate of pressure " distils a gentle rain " over a consider-
able portion of turf surface. It plays in one position for about twenty minutes,
and then is removed to another part of the lawn. A man can work it and fill up
his time about the flower-beds.

One of the flower-gardens gives lines of basket-beds, with a wire-fencing round
the margin, and handles also, over which climbing Roses, &c, were growing.
Decided colours are sparingly used ; neutral and soft tints, with plenty of foli-
aged plants, are employed, and a charming effect results. All the beds have an
outer margin of some foliaged plant, such as Cineraria maritima, Stachys lanata,
Pyrethrum Golden Feather, &c. Some beds of a dark-coloured Heliotrope were
very fine and somewhat unusual, as the Heliotrope is somewhat sparingly used
as a bedding-plant now. A mass of Coleus Verschaffeltii, edged with a silvery-
leaved plant, was very fine indeed. Dotted about the ground, mostly under
the shade of tall trees, or filling up open spaces, were fine beds of Cannas,
Castor-Oil plants, and suchlike, with suitable edgings. Some mixed sub-tropical
beds, having Abutilon Thompsoni, Dracaena terminalis, and other foliaged plants,
plentifully mingled with Lilium auratum and similar rare flowering-plants, were
very fine indeed, and a pleasant study, so many different kinds of plants being
used in their composition. Another flower-garden on the north-west side of the
house gave a huge circular bed filled with Stella nosegay Pelargonium ; round
this was a broad gravel walk, and then a circular line of small round beds, each
planted with Mrs Pollock, and banded together by means of a low archway of
Convolvulus major trained over from one to the other. Round this circular
line was another of beds in the shape of segments of a broad circular band, edged
with box, each of which was filled with Christine Pelargonium ; and all encircled
with a series of iron archways over which were trained climbing and pillar Roses.
Round the large piece of ornamental water are clumps of fine trees and banks of
Rhododendrons, and at intervals fine plants of the Pampas Grass in threes, that
are grand objects in autumn, when the waving silvery spikes are reflected in the
shining waters beneath. Huge clumps of Arundo conspicua were very fine also,
some of the plants having many heads of the peculiar silvery inflorescence it
produces.

The front of the mansion has a broad terrace-walk, on which are placed in the
summer months Orange-trees, Fuchsias, &c. From this point there gradually
falls away, towards another piece of ornamental water in the distance, one of the
most charming sloping banks of turf our eyes have this season been refreshed by,
happily without an obtrusive flower-bed to desecrate it. Almost in the middle
of this slope stands a trio of majestic Elms : —

"Grandeur, strength, and grace
Are here to speak of Thee. Not a prince
In all that proud old world beyond the deep
E'er wore his crown as loftily as these
Wear the green coronal of leaves with which
Thy hand has graced them : "

and others of equal imposing proportions screen the dwelling from the noon-

1870.] GRAPES AT CHATSWORTH. 411

day sun, the scaring tempest, the " swift dark whirlwind," and the keen edge of
the northern blasts. It is a lovely spot in the charming grounds of Gunnersby —
beautiful, sublime, and peaceful. It is one in which

" To meditate
In these calm shades Thy milder majesty,
And to the beautiful order of Thy works
Learn to conform the order of our lives."

GRAPES AT CHATSWORTH.
A collection of Grapes exhibited at the recent show of the Royal Horticultural
Society at Oxford by Mr Speed, gardener to the Duke of Devonshire, which con-
sisted of three remarkably fine, compact, and well-finished bunches, each of Mill
Hill Hambui'g, Black Hamburg, and Black Prince, gave occasion for much con-
gratulation among the advocates and adherents of the Extension System in Grape
culture. The following information relative to the production of these Grapes
has recently been furnished by Mr W. P. Ayres to the ' Gardeners' Chronicle.'

"The Vines have, it appears, been planted about thirty-seven years, and
occupy one of the first houses built at Chatsworth upon the ridge-and-furrow
system. The border has been well raised above the surrounding soil, and Vines
have been growing both inside and outside the house, but in distinct borders.
For years, we are informed, the Vines had been failing ; the bunches, in the first
year of Mr Speed's charge, being disfigured by shanked berries, and some of them
shanked altogether. The leaves, though of good size, were flaccid and poor, in-
dicating the presence of too much moisture in the border and atmosphere, and
considerable prostration of vital energy. All the Vines were in nearly the same
state, the more recently-planted ones, though immensely strong, being soft and
pithy — so much so that in the leading shoots an ordinary pencil might be inserted
down the centre with little or no trouble. The consequence of this immaturity
in the wood was the development of long, lean, loose bunches, shanked berries,
and deficient colour and quality. The gardens at Chatsworth lie low and damp,
considerably lower than the flood-level of the river Derwent, which runs close to
it. Consequently Mr Speed knew that the Vines were not likely to suffer from
the want of water, but they were more likely to receive injury from the want of
heat. To this end he at once arranged the surface of the borders, sloping them
so as to afford a ready discharge at the surface for storm water. Where the bot-
tom-heat of the borders had been disconnected it was restored, and through the
parching summer of 1868 not a border, inside or outside the vineries, received
any water beyond that which fell from the heavens, or an occasional surface
sprinkling. The rents in the borders were such as to suggest a copious watering,
but Mr Speed's object was the perfect maturation of the wood, and he knew that
could only be effected by encouraging short sturdy growth, with clean well-
developed foliage and buds. Air, so soon as the foliage was sufficiently hardened,
was admitted by a free circulation night and day ; and when the fruit was cut,
heat was kept on until the leaves at last fell from the Vines from sheer matura-
tion. Under such treatment the practised eye could soon detect that the wood
was close-grained and hard as ebony, and hence in a fit state to produce well-
formed bunches of finely-coloured fruit. In 1869 the Grapes were much superior
to what they had been the preceding year ; and this season we should say there
can scarcely be a finer series of vineries in the country. Several of the vineries

'412 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

at Chatsworth are stocked with old Vines, some of them planted, we believe, prior
to Sir Joseph Paxton going there. In these, and also in the house to which we
have specially referred, there was a confusion of branches; in fact, the leaders were
laid in so closely together that it was impossible that the foliage could be properly
exposed to the light. These, last winter, were reduced in number, so that now
the main branches are 3 to 4 feet apart, giving ample room for lateral extension of
the foliage. In the ridge-and-furrow house the inside Vines have been entirely re-
moved, and the advantage of giving the foliage ample room for development is now
conspicuously manifest. Shanked Vines are things of the past ; each bunch is a com-
pact cube of immense berries, finely hammered and coloured, and with the bloom
laid on with an unsparing hand. The 264 bunches which form the crop average
3 lb. each, and some of them weighing double that weight. The kinds are Black
Hamburg and Black Prince, and below we give statistics of the crop : —

Girth 2 ft.

Name.

UrirUl A It.

from ground.
Inches.

Number
of rods.

Number of
bunches.

Mill Hill Hamburg .

5

2

27

Black Hamburg

7

2

22

Black Prince

5h2

3

43

Black Hamburg

5k

2

28

Black Hamburg

4f

2

33

Black Hamburg

5

3

40

Black Hamburg

H

3

46

Mill Hill Hamburg .

54

2

25
—264

The stems, it will be seen, are not remarkably large, but the girth below where
they divide would double, perhaps treble, that of the branches. The average
number of bunches is thirty-three, and taking the weight at 3 lb. each, or, for the
sake of even numbers, at 100 lb. to each Vine, and the value at 5s. per pound,
which they would readily bring, the value of the crop would be £200, and that
from Vines which two years ago were condemned to the hatchet and the fire-pile.
Nothing can be finer than the bunch which we have received ; the berries are in
every respect superb, and yet we are assured it was one of the smallest in the
house. We regard this as one of the most extraordinary instances of the revivi-
fication of plant life which has ever been recorded, and we congratulate Mr Speed
upon his well-merited success. Although there are at Chatsworth many houses
of young Vines, varying from two to seven years old, not one of them is equal to
this house of veterans. The extensionists may well be proud of this success,
and those who visit Chatsworth (and we should advise all who have the means to
do so) will find that extension is not confined to Vines, but extends to orchard-
house trees, upon which may be seen splendid crops of Peaches, Nectarines,
Plums, &c, the young shoots free from a single pinch, and many of them 2 to 4
feet long. Mr Speed contends that to have weight of fruit it is indispensable to
have breadth of foliage. Not a shoot will be stopped before the middle of
August, and then, when 'the fruit begins to ripen, it will be necessary to do so to
admit light and give full flavour."

:87o.] NOTES ON THE NEWER PEAS. 413

NOTES ON" THE NEWER PEAS.
There are a few new or at least reputed new varieties which I
have seen growing this season that are well worthy of being recom-
mended. In describing these I will so arrange them as that the
order of their bearing shall be observed.

Of the Ringleader type, and as representing the very earliest, one
called Caractacus (Waite & Co.) appears to be about the very best.
Rather more robust in growth and a better bearer than Ringleader, it
has also the advantage of larger and better-filled pods. A comparison
between the pods of each gave a larger average of peas in a given
number of pods in the case of Caractacus than in those of Ringleader.
Advancer (Maclean), a pea now getting pretty well known, is a fine
early wrinkled marrow of first-class quality and a great cropper. It
grows about 2J feet, and comes in as quickly as some of the reputed
earlyk inds. Essex Rival (Eley) is a most useful second early pea,
growing from 3 to 3J feet, and cropping heavily. It, however, lacks
the fine quality of flavour of the wrinkled varieties. Little Gem
(Maclean) is a very dwarf -growing variety, well adapted for forcing
or for early work. In height about 12 inches, it can be planted closely,
and it crops well. It is a wrinkled marrow of fine flavour. A little
taller, a little more robust in growth, and a rather better cropper, yet in
other respects exactly like it, is Multum-in-Parvo (Nutting). Either
one or the other should be grown in all large establishments. Wonder-
ful (Maclean) is another very useful and prolific Pea, growing about
3 feet, and a wrinkled marrow. As a cottager's Pea it can scarcely be
surpassed for general usefulness. Premier (Maclean), Veitch's Per-
fection, and the Prince (Stuart & Mein), are three fine main-crop
Peas somewhat similar in character, and give a good succession.
Premier is the earliest, and the Prince the latest. Laxton's Alpha
sent out as a new variety for the first time last season, is A 1 in
quality, very early — within three or four days of Ringleader ; a great
cropper and of fine quality. This bids fair to become a standard first
early Pea. Laxton's Supreme I am somewhat disappointed with as
it has not proved so early as it was said to be. The pods are very fine
and it is a grand Pea for the exhibition-table. Hundredfold or Cook's
Favourite, a round olive-coloured Pea sent out by Messrs Carter & Co.
for the first time a short period since, is a wonderful cropper, of fine
quality, and a thoroughly good late variety.

The foregoing sorts I have had an opportunity of testing during the
past summer, and what I have set down concerning them is, to my
mind, a fair estimate of their true characters. Nemo.

414 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

ON JUDGING FRUITS.

A PAPER READ AT THE HORTICULTURAL CONGRESS AT OXFORD, ON JULY 21, 1870.

Da Hogg, after a few preliminary obseiwations, said : Though the judging of fruit
has on various occasions occupied the attention of those interested in the subject,
and has from time to time been discussed in the public prints by those most
competent to deal with it, I am not aware that any common understanding as
to the basis on which fruit-judging should rest his yet been arrived at. Notwith-
standing this want of a written law on the subject, the practice of judging fruit
is followed with results which, though not always agreeable to unsuccessful com-
petitors, are, upon the whole, generally accepted and acceptable.

It is not my intention to submit anything to this meeting which can be regarded
in any light as a solution of the question — Upon what principles ought fruit to be
judged ? This I will leave to be dealt with by those of my audience who are
sufficiently versed in the subject, and who feel themselves competent to do so.
All that I shall do is to state the motives which actuate me in coming to the
conclusion I do when I am acting the part of a fruit judge, leaving others to set
up any other code they may think better and more in accordance with their own
views.

And first, let me remark that, in judging fruit at exhibitions, I think we ought
to do so upon different grounds to those upon which we should judge it at our
own tables. "We must bear in mind that exhibition fruit is exceptional, and is
produced by the greatest effort of the horticultural skill of the exhibitor. It
generally receives an amount of attention which he cannot afford to bestow on a
general crop, provided his establishment is an extensive one ; and we ought,
therefore, to regard the exhibition fruit of a gardening establishment very much
as we should the exhibition ox — as the exceptional animal on the farm. In
judging fruit, therefore, we must look to those points which exhibit the greatest
amount of horticultural skill — and the first of these are size and symmetry.

In judging size and symmetry we must deal with each variety on its own merits.
It would not be fair, for instance, to judge on the same grounds a bunch of Buck-
land Sweetwater Grape and one of White Muscat of Alexandria. A bunch of
Buckland Sweetwater may be much larger than, and equally as handsome as, one of
Muscat of Alexandria, and both may be in every point what gardeners call " well
finished ; " but the skill required in producing such a bunch of Muscat of Alex-
andria being much greater than that which is required to grow the Buckland
Sweetwater, and the Muscat of Alexandria being a much superior fruit, I would
give the preference to the latter, although inferior in size to the former. The
same may be said of Black Hamburg and Black Prince shown in the same class,
though not on the ground that Black Hamburg requires greater skill in the pro-
duction of it, but because it is a superior fruit.

It matters not what description of fruit we may be judging; be it Grapes,
Pines, Peaches, or any other fruit, size and symmetry are the features which
first attract our attention ; and therefore to size and symmetry, but not to size
apart from symmetry, I attach, perhaps, the greatest importance when other
points are not greatly de6cient.

The next important feature is colour, requiring much skill in the development
of it. This is by some regarded a3 of even greater importance than size and
symmetry. I am rather inclined to give colour second place, except when it is
unusually fine, and the difference of size and symmetry between the competing
fruit is not great. In such a case I would certainly give the preference to

1870.] ON JUDGING FRUITS. 415

colour, for I conceive that in such circumstances there is a greater exhibition of
horticultural skill in producing the highly-coloured fruit than in producing the
larger, because it betokens attention to the maintenance of the just equilibrium
between the action of the roots and that of the leaves, and a knowledge as to
the crop the plant is capable of producing, without which I conceive no fruit
can be well and perfectly coloured. One may feed and force a plant so as to
induce it to produce large and showy fruit ; but unless the treatment is so regu-
lated as to preserve the just equilibrium between the root, which serves as the
mouth, and the leaves, which perform the functions of digestive organs, there is
no guarantee either for high colour or perfect flavour, which generally go
together. Still, I say, when fruit has not an objectionally bad colour, and is
not deficient in flavour, but has size and symmetry much in advance of another
which possesses higher colour and better flavour, but is much inferior in size
and symmetry, I would certainly give the award in favour of the larger fruit.

The next point on which I have to touch is flavour ; and here I know there is
a great diversity of opinion. Some hold that the beginning and the end of all
fruit-culture is flavour; no matter how large or how small, or however badly
coloured, the fruit may be, if flavour is obtained the grower has got all he has
ever striven for. Now that is very well when fruit is grown merely for private
use — and so long as the palate is satisfied there is no other desire to be gratified ;
but we are now discussing the merits of exhibition fruit, into which the whole
energy of the cultivator is thrown to develop, not one, but every feature of h'.s
production, and the greatest display of cultural skill is to succeed in gratifying
the mind as much through the eye as through the palate. It is not to be
supposed that I depreciate flavour. On the contrary, I consider it an important
point in making awards to exhibition fruit ; but it ought only to come in
when the competition is otherwise so close that another point is required to
turn the scale.

There is only one exception I would make on the question of flavour, and that
is in judging Melons, which, if they have not flavour, have nothing whatever to
recommend them. They may be Vegetable Marrows or Pumpkins, or any other
vegetable production, if flavour is absent ; and I think experience will testify
that if the flavour of a Melon is even but indifferent, then the fruit is not worth
eating ; and hence I think all Melons ought to be cut, and' judged by flavour
only.

In the discussion which ensued on the reading of Dr Hogg's paper, Mr Marshall
said that flowers were grown to please the eye, and therefore were judged by the
eye ; but fruit being grown to please the palate, he thought that flavour should
stand first, as being more requisite, say to the Grape, than either size or colour.

Mr Ayres remarked that it should be the duty of the Society to say that all
fruit should be grown for use, and not merely for exhibition ; he would certainly
consider flavour as the first requirement.

Major Clarke thought that fruit was produced commonly on two distinct
principles, one to obtain fruit for exhibition, and the other to obtain it for
dessert. The man who could combine these two principles he should certainly
choose for his gardener.

416 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

PANSIES.

The summer of 1870 must have tried the patience of many a Pansy-
grower, for such hot dry weather is terribly against this flower, and
drives colour, marking, and form, into all kinds of fantastic shapes.
Many a flower has this season been condemned as worthless on this
account ; and I caution all young beginners to suspend judgment
until the autumn can give blooms from young plants, or wait until
the spring for flowers.

Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing are now monarchs amongst Pansy-
growers, and to that firm we are indebted for a great many grand kinds.
My old friend Mr Downie sent me early in the summer a box of Pansy
blooms which gave me intense pleasure, they were so very fine. I
fear I cannot do them justice, but I give you a copy of my notes taken
at the time. Many of them are quite new, some not sent out yet, but
all may be relied on as A 1 exhibition flowers, and their catalogue
will indicate prices. They were enough to again rouse a florist's
smouldering love, and I hope very soon once more to be a Pansy-
grower. May I be able to raise a flower that cannot easily be beaten !
and when I do, I shall name it John Downie !

FANCY VARIETIES.

Sunrise, William Dean, Pandora. — Three very bright flowers, in which scarlet
and yellow are particularly bright and striking. The two latter are evidently
seedlings from the former, the colour of all having a resemblance only vai'ying in
the markings, with immense bright orange-brown markings. Sunrise has a broad
margin of solferino. Pandora has a rich chocolate-brown shade in it. W. Dean
has the best form. All three are grand flowers.

Princess is a superb flower ; the top petals purple, with an immense blue-violet
blotch, bordered with greyish white and violet.

William Forbes. — The top petals light violet, shaded with darker violet and
white, with an immense well-defined regular deep-violet blotch, and well-defined
creamy-white margin in the lower petals. This is a very refined and superb flower.

Miss Baillie. — Nankeen and canary colour, with large shaded violet and maroon
blotch ; a very distinct and fine flower.

Fritz Penary. — Top petals pale peach, flushed with white, the lower petals hav-
ing a superb well-defined solid deep- violet blotch, and distinct well-defined peach
and cream-coloured margin. A grand flower of very superior refinement. A 1.

Avoca. — Top petals white bordered with violet, very large shaded violet blotch,
having a margin of Petunia colour and white. Quite distinct, but the under
petal is too small.

Gliffe. — Top petals creamy blush veined with violet, and having an immense
solid shaded violet and maroon blotch in lower petals, and distinct margin of
creamy white, also a bright yellow eye. Distinct from Fritz Benary, though
similar in colours, and even superior in form. A very superb floiver.

David Thomson. — Rich dark yellow, with an immense well-defined rich brown
maroon blotch, fine form, top petals veined with violet. A superb flower.

George Voir. — The top petals light violet, with a wire margin of white, and an

1870.] PANSIES. 417

immense rich dark-brownish maroon and violet blotch rayed into a pale- cream
margin. Very fine form and a grand flower.

David Syme. — A Sunrise style of flower, but distinct. The top petals are of
an orange crimson and peach colour, margined with pale yellow. An intense
rich-coloured blotch margined with yellow. Extra fine.

Miss C. Arhuthnot. — The top petals white veined with rich blue violet, having
an immense blotch of rich blue and violet, and even narrow margin of white.
A very rich and distinct flower of great beauty.

SHOW VARIETIES.

Selfs.

Snowdrop. — A white self of great substance and fine form, with well-defined
blotch. A decided acquisition.

George Keith. — A rich purple self with a bluish centre. Very fine form and
substance.

Cherub. — A splendid yellow of superb form, with a well-defined solid blotch.
First class.

Mrs Forbes. — A superb rich dark purple self, with violet-shaded centre ; very
stout, smooth, and fine form.

White - Gro und F lo ice rs.

Bonnie Jean. — Creamy white ground, with rich purple belting, which meets
well, forming a fine shield ; shoulders high and close, and of good substance.
Blotch a trifle too much rayed, but a superb flower.

Lavinia. — Large white shield, with medium belting of pale violet purple ;
shoulders well, fine form, and smooth. Blotch too small, and not dense enough.
Still a very useful old show flower.

Ladybum Rival. — Rich dark-violet purple belting, and clear white ground;
medium-sized dark blotch, smooth, stout, and shoulders well. First-class.

Princess of Wales.' — A charming white-ground flower, with medium rich purple
belting, which meets so as to form a perfectly-defined shield ; a fine solid well-
cut blotch, stout, smooth, shoulders high and close, and of first-class form.

Mrs Thornton. — Creamy white ground, with broad margin of rich velvety-
purple, the blotch dense and wTell defined in each petal. The belting of the
lower petals meeting that of the side petals. Stout and very smooth ; a very
highly finished and superb flower.

Yellow-ground Flowers.

Adonis. — An exceedingly rich flower of great beauty ; deep golden yellow, with
rich shaded violet and maroon belting ; stout, smooth, shoulders close, and
fine form. A 1.

John Downie — Light-yellow ground with medium light-purple belting, which
meets so as to form a bold well-defined shield. Fine solid well-cut blotch, stout,
shoulders high and close, and fine form. A first-class fiower.

J. C. Champion. — Almost first-rate ; deep yellow, with purple and maroon
belting. A large bold smooth flower, but the belting of the under petal has a
bronzy colour in it ; very fine blotch. A useful variety, but a trifle too small.

Robert Burns. — A beautiful flower ; deep yellow, with margin of rich violet-
purple, and superb large well-cut blotch ; smooth, stout, and shoulders high and
close. Fine form.

George Muirhead. — Almost perfection; rich yellow, with beautifully-shaded
violet and purple margin, and such a blotch ; fine form, stout and smooth. A
great acquisition ; the blotch as perfect as can well be desired.

William Dean.
2d

418 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

THE GETTING UP OF ZONAL PELARGONIUMS
FOR EXHIBITION.

Years ago, when one saw in a schedule of prizes a class for three, or
four, or six " Scarlet Geraniums," the intending exhibitor had no diffi-
culty in understanding what was required, for at that time the number
of varieties was limited to those having more or less of this shade of
colour in the flowers. Then, when with an increase of varieties came
some having flowers with quite pale colours, the limitation of " Scarlet
Geraniums," though always widely interpreted as inclusive of a certain
class rather than of a certain shade of colour, was felt to be somewhat
absurd ; and in time that gave place to " Zonal Pelargoniums," the
former again widely interpreted as taking in all that section known
as "Scarlet Geraniums," though having flowers of various hues and
leaves destitute of the zone common to many of them. A better
botanical knowledge also led to the substitution of the generic term
Pelargonium for Geranium. A wonderful improvement has gone on
in these plants during the past twenty years ; and tracing forwards
from the circle of bright colour in the flowers of the well-known Tom
Thumb, it has been seen to change, like a chromatrope, into a wondrous
variety of shades of colour and types of flowers, that now form at sum-
mer and autumn exhibitions some of their brightest and most effective
features. The general term "scarlet," still found in some schedules of
prizes, has become a misnomer. We are no longer confined to that
sole colour, but have a range from the purest white, as found in
Purity, to the deep crimson scarlet of Sambo. Thus it is easy and
possible to stage, in a collection of six, nine, or twelve plants, as many
shades of colour \ and there is not a good variety in cultivation at the
present day of which a well-grown plant does not constitute a striking
and beautiful object. But classes and varieties have developed as
well as colours ; and the Zonal Pelargonium, swelling into importance
with its high-sounding name, has assumed double forms that bid fair
to become formidable rivals to the single varieties, either for exhibi-
tion or for decorative purposes. 'Tis true the range of colour in the
flowers is as yet somewhat restricted; but that is a drawback that
probably will not long exist, whilst it is also largely compensated for
by the more permanent character of the flowers, which retain their petals
and consequent usefulness for a much longer period. The Nosegay
section has usually a separate class also allotted to it, because it differs
in its general features somewhat distinctly from the original Zonal
kinds ; but later varieties have exhibited such an approximation in the
form of the pip to that of the best of the Zonal section, whilst retain-
ing all the Nosegay freedom of growth and floriferous character of

1870.] ZONAL PELARGONIUMS FOR EXHIBITION. 419

truss, that we may naturally look by-and-by to such a fusion of the
two divisions as shall result in one improved type that will swallow
up the distinction, but leave us, nevertheless, a section perfect in beauty
and in form, and possessing all those features that make the Nosegays
so popular both for bedding and pot-culture. I purpose in this paper
to deal with the three sections of Zonal Pelargoniums here enumer-
ated, and describe as logically as I can in what manner I prepare my
own specimens, having usually been fortunate as an exhibitor in my
day and generation since I first took them in hand.

Perhaps it will not be out of place to state at the outset that there
is no exhibition plant that appears more to dislike training, or less to
require a formal severity of shape, than the Pelargonium ; and yet, in
spite of these facts, there are to be found plenty of judges ready and
willing to make leading awards to plants that have been subjected to
a degree of training and torture that would be ridiculous were it not
that it is almost disgusting in appearance. Who that has visited
metropolitan shows is not familiar with those flattened surfaces bear-
ing a resemblance to giant floral Mushrooms 1 or, if you like, flower-
beds upon wire ? What a miserable parody on plants do these things
present, tortured and twisted out of natural form, devoid of all grace
and beauty ! They add another instance of the fitness of the saying,
"that nature gave us form and outline, and humanity alone are its
despoilers."

As a reverse to this, I have lately seen staged for competition at a
provincial show a lot of pillar -trained plants, from 4 to 6 feet in
height, certainly fairly flowered, but nevertheless looking so ungainly
as to merit ridicule rather than praise. Unfortunately against them
there was no competition, otherwise I should have viewed with some
interest the awards of the judges, as, in spite of size and flower, I could
not conceive that any sensible men would have placed these statuesque
abortions before well and naturally grown specimens. As a mode of
training to obtain plenty of bloom the pillar plant may be very useful,
but for exhibition it only deserves disqualification.

My own specimens have usually been prepared for autumn exhibi-
tion— say beginning of September ; and having this in view, I get some
cuttings and put them in early in the previous year, and when well
rooted, potted up into 48's to stand the winter, giving the shoots their
first stopping. In an ordinary greenhouse these plants will not make
much growth during the winter, but by the beginning of April will be
ready for a shift into 32's, giving any robust shoots another pinching.
Plenty of air and light is necessary now to maintain robust short-
jointed growth, and by the time the pots are well filled with roots the
cold weather will have passed away, and the external air may be safely

420 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

trusted. To save much needless labour a shift should now be made
into the blooming-pots (No. 12's is a good size for that purpose); and
as the plants are to remain in these for a long time, a really good
compost should be used, nothing being better than yellow loam, well-
rotten manure, especially cow-dung, and a fair mixture of sand. I
find it to be desirable to pot firmly, otherwise the soil will settle very
much by the autumn, and therefore it is better to make it all the
firmer at the first. When the plants are thus potted, and especially
potted low down, an open situation in the garden is selected that is
convenient for watering. A good hard and level bottom should be
secured, or, if soft beneath, pieces of slate should be used to place the
pots upon, to exclude the worms. Here the plants should be placed
at proper distances from each other to admit of growth without crowd-
ing, and then filled in all round to the brim of the pots with ashes or
some other good plunging material, so that the roots are thus pro-
tected from the force of the sun's rays, and consequent drought and
exhaustion. The bedding Pelargonium can bear almost any amount
of solar heat with impunity if its roots are kept moist and cool. As
I usually put my plants in the open air at the end of May, and get
them under glass from a week to ten days only before showing, they
thus get about three months of thorough exposure to the weather, and
are as dwarf and short-pointed as could possibly be wished. Of course
the process of stopping has not been neglected, but rather has been
maintained with constant regularity, every strong shoot having its
extremity nipped out as fast as it had made three or four joints, care
being taken also to encourage the centre growth, so as to secure a
somewhat rounded form. An occasional turning round the plants
will also facilitate the production of a good shape. Pinching out all
points and flower-buds is rigidly continued until within one month of
the time of showing, when the process is discontinued, and the plants
are allowed to grow away as freely as they please.

As a result of all this careful attention and exposure, the grower
will find that he has a lot of robust dwarfy bushy plants that will now
commence to throw up a mass of flower well above the foliage, that
will, when expanded, need but the finish of a week or so under glass
to make them perfect specimens. There are no yellow or discoloured
leaves to be seen, all is fresh and vigorous ; and the plants, after they
have brought the highest honours at the show, will, with a little atten-
tion, make a greenhouse or conservatory look very gay indeed nearly
up to Christmas.

The Zonal Pelargonium is naturally a gross feeder, and will take
up an abundance of strong diet. The use of such material, however,
to plants in the open ground would have a most undesirable ten-

1870.] ZONAL PELARGONIUMS FOR EXHIBITION. 421

dency. This objection does not exist in the case of pot-plants, as
the roots being confined within a contracted space, are necessarily-
subject to different conditions, and need stimulants to maintain that
free growth so essential to the production of good specimens. Any
application of liquid manure is scarcely needed until the flowering-pots
have become filled with a mass of roots ; but when such is the case —
and that would probably result in about six weeks from potting — then
a watering of a weak mixture twice a-week is desirable ; and this dose
may be increased in strength when the bloom is allowed to come up,
as the claim on the resources of the plants will be proportionately
increased. Horse -droppings well soaked in water usually make
good liquid manure, and even stronger stuff than that may be used,
such as guano-water, drainings from cow-sheds, and even from the
closet cesspool, as I have used this latter during the past summer in
the proportion of one bucketful to about five of water with the best
results. Amateur growers especially may take my word for it that
they will secure better specimen plants in moderate-sized pots with a
free use of liquid manure than they can obtain in large pots under
any conditions, besides the credit of having produced as good or even
better results in small pots than their fellow-competitors have realised
in large ones.

Readers will have observed that I have not proposed the tying
down or pegging of the plants in any way, and I say certainly not, as
all these processes are to me highly objectionable. I do strongly con-
tend that it should be the object and purpose of all exhibitors to pro-
duce specimen plants that have been as little as possible subjected to
training with ties or sticks in any shape or fashion. Especially does
this apply to the Zonal Pelargonium, as training of any description
other than that induced by stopping is both unnecessary and absurd.
I have now ready for show on the date that this issues from the press
a fine lot of dwarf compact plants, with close rounded heads, each
about 24 inches in diameter, and which will be larger still in a few
weeks hence. Flower-stems are being thrown up all over them, and
I have every reason to be satisfied with the prospect. The treatment
that is here so strongly recommended for the Zonal section bears with
equal force to the growth of the Nosegays, with the exception that
some of the latter require less pinching, otherwise I make no distinction
as to treatment. The double Pelargoniums are now rapidly becoming
popular, and have become at many shows a class of themselves ; and
exceedingly attractive they are when well-grown specimens. With these
pinching must be performed with rather more moderation, but should
still be carefully attended to, otherwise the plants will soon become
leggy. If well looked after and grown as herein described, plants as

422

THE GARDENER.

[Sept.

dwarf and compact and almost as free of flower as the single varieties
can easily be produced.

Heartily commending what is here written to the readers of the
1 Gardener,' I shall conclude with a list of twelve good show Zonals,
the same number of Nosegays, and six double-flowering Pelargoniums,
all of wdiich will well repay good cultivation.

Purity.

Clipper.

Rosabella.

Excellent.

Sambo.

William Underwood.

Beaute des Suresnes.

Lord Derby.

Highgate Rival.

Madame Madeline.

Dr Lindley.

Madame Werle.

NOSEGAYS.
Grand Duke.
Violet Hill Nosegay.
Chilwell Beauty.
Gathorne Hardy.
Celestial.
International.
Eclat.
Emmeline.
Dr Hogg.

Triomphe de Stella.
Pink Globe.
Mrs Laing.

Wilhelm Pfitzer.
Gloire de Nancy.

DOUBLE-FLOWERING.

Andrew Henderson.
Victor Lemoine.

Madame Lemoine.
Marie Lemoine.

Exhibitor.

PETUNIAS AS BEDDING PLANTS.

The drought has served most unmistakably to bring out the value of
Petunias as bedding plants. Eepeatedly have I seen them furnishing
masses of effective colours without that intensity of hue so peculiar
to Scarlet Pelargoniums. A little seed raised in March on a gentle
heat will give an abundance of plants, and if the strain be good, some
pretty things are sure to result. In my own case I use two or three
very nice striped flowers obtained from what is known as Bull's Strain
of Petunia. I find that, in contrast to other strains of seed I have
attempted to grow, these have a peculiarly wiry and not very gross
habit, and are remarkably free blooming, and have flowers quite rounded
inform, of thick substance, capable of withstanding both heat and sun.
These selected flowers I propagate from cuttings in February, and by
the end of May I have an abundance of nice stuff. Either growing in
pots, or if, as sometimes happens, I have not space enough to house
them, I place a number of rooted cuttings in boxes, and when planted
out they lay hold of the soil, and are soon pictures of bloom.

Those requiring a larger quantity of plants than I do for my mod-
est little parterre, would need to begin propagating earlier in the sea-

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 423

son, say at Christmas, by putting their stock plants into a "brisk heat,
such as a Cucumber or Pine pit. Here they will begin to break at
every eye, and by the time the shoots are 2 inches in length will be
the very time also to begin striking cuttings. These placed in a
gentle bottom-heat will soon root, and in their turn supply tops for
cuttings. Then comes the process of hardening off, and there results
an abundance of plants for bedding purposes.

To keep beds of Petunias of a neat symmetrical shape, pinching
out must be done. If you want beds of Petunias that shall be in-
deed beds, and masses of bloom, weekly pinching must be persevered
in. This should be done by shortening the shoots to one bud above
the opening flower. So treated, they are continually throwing fresh
flower-buds in the most admired profusion.

I have observed on two or three occasions that Messrs Bell &
Thorpe of Stratford-on-Avon have a very nice strain of Petunias, as
witness what they exhibited at the recent show of the Royal Horticul-
tural Society at Oxford. Similar in habit and as fine in shape as
those of Mr Bull's, they appear to run mainly on mottled flowers, by no
means a bad trait, as mottled flowers are preferred by many for bed-
ding purposes. Others attach themselves to pure self colours, and
find these very satisfactory. Thus, a good strain of Petunias will be
found to satisfy all these requirements ; but my chief point is, select
from your seedlings such flowers (in combination with proper habits of
growth) as you best fancy, and propagate by cuttings so as to get
plants to fill the flower-beds the following year. D. E. B.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

Royal Horticultural Society's Great Provincial Show, at Oxford, July 19-22.
— This show took place in the grounds of the Radcliffe Observatory, a place very
suitable for it, as it was pleasantly situated, nicely sheltered by trees, and the site far
less rough than at Manchester. Our space will not admit of a detailed report ;
we can therefore only indicate a few of the more salient points of the exhibition.

In the class for the best 20 fine foliage and flowering plants, Mr Baines, gardener
to H. Micholls, Esq., was well first, with large and excellent specimens of Bou-
gainvillea glabra, well bloomed Ixora aurantiaca, Allamanda nobilis, Dipladenia
amabilis, Erica obbata, very good ; Ixora coccinea, very fine trusses of flowers ;
Croton angustifolia, large and well coloured ; Yucca variegata, Cordyline indivisa,
Verschaffeltia splendida, first - rate ; Stevensonia grandifolia, very handsome ;
Gleichenia rupestris, a grand specimen ; and a first-rate Croton variegatum. In
Mrs Cole & Sons' collection, which came in second, were a large well-grown plant
of Kalosanthes punica, Aphelexis humilis grandiflora, Hedaroma tulipifera, very
fair; Erica Cavendishiana, very good, but a very "old stager;" and good speci-
mens of Crotons, Dracaenas, Dicksonias, Palms, &c.

The best 9 foliaged or variegated plants in the amateurs' class were shown by

424 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

Mr Johnson, gardener to the Marquis of Ailesbury, Savernake Forest, who had
splendid specimens of Pandauus elegantissimus, Sanseveria angolensis, Croton
variegatum, Alocasia macrorhiza variegata, very handsome ; Sphocrogyne latifolia,
very good ; Alocasia metallica, a verj7 good specimen ; Caladium Bellemeyii, &c.
The next best group came from Mr A. Wright, gardener to C. H. C. Roberts,
Esq., Avenue Road, Regent's Park, with very good and familiar specimens of
well - known plants. In the corresponding class for nurserymen, Mr B. S.
Williams came in first with, amongst others, a very handsome specimen of Cycas
revoluta, Cordyline indivisa, Croton picturn and angustifolium, Alocasia metallica,
very fine ; Chamoerops humilis, &c; the second prize being taken by Messrs Bell
& Thorpe, with a very good group.

The best specimen stove plant in flower was a remarkably fine Allamanda
cathartica, from Mr Baines ; Messrs Standish & Co. being placed second with a
very good specimen of A. Hendersoni. Mr Perkins exhibited a large plant of the
curious but offensively - smelling Aristolochia ornithocephala. Mr Baines also
supplied the best specimen greenhouse plant in flower — Erica Fairreana, very large
and well flowered. The second prize was taken by Mr A. Wright, with a large
nicely flowered specimen of Kaloisanthes Madame Celeste Winnans. From Mr
B. S. Williams came the best 6 Palms, which were very handsome specimens of
Livistonia Jenkinsii, Stevensonia sechellarum, and Verscbaffeltia splendida, &c. ,
large and well-clothed specimens. Messrs Rollisson & Son were placed second,
with a very neat group; and Messrs Bell & Thorpe third. The best 4 Dracaenas,
large handsome examples of D. atrosanguinea, lineata, australis, and umbraculifera,
also came from Mr B. S. Williams, who also exhibited in the same tent one of
the largest and most beautifully furnished specimens of Cycas circinalis we have
ever seen.

Orchids were sparingly shown ; the best came from Mr B. S. Williams. Exotic
ferns were very fine. Especially grand specimens of Cyathea dealbata, Dicksonia
antarctica, Todea Africana, Cyathea princeps, Cibotium Schiedei, and C. furcans,
from the same exhibitor.

Messrs Ivery & Son, E. J. Lowe, and J. E. Mapplebeck were exhibitors of
British ferns, the two last named especially having collections of rare merit.

The only exhibitors of 4 hardy Clematises in pots or tubs were Messrs Jackman
& Son of Woking. The plants were one of the special features of the show, and
attracted a large share of attention on account of their extreme beauty. They were
grown in pillar form, from 3 to 5 feet in height, and about 3 feet through, and
were well covered with blooms. The best were Jackmannii, Rubella, these two
very fine ; Launginosa Candida and Lady Bovill.

Fuchsias were indifferently shown : it would have been well if one or two prizes
awarded had been withheld on the ground of insufficient merit. There were no
large flowering or fancy Pelargoniums, and the Zonal Pelargoniums were below
the average.

The class for 3 double Pelargoniums brought several competitors, and some
very well grown and flowered plants. The best 3 came from Mr F. Perkins, Regent
Street, Leamington, whose plants were of medium size, a trifle deficient in habit,
but well formed. The sorts were Madame Lemoine, Marie Lemoine, and Wilhelm
Pfitzer. Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing were second, with large and well-grown
plants, not carrying so much flower : the sorts were Madame and Marie Lemoine,
and Gloire de Nancy. Messrs Standish & Co., Ascot, were third, with Gloire de
Nancy, Capitaine l'Hermite, and Madame Lemoine. The best 6 plants com-
peting for the special prizes offered by the Rev. W. V. Harcourt, came from Mr
Wm. Bragg, Star Nursery, Slough, and were nice young plants, well grown and

iSyo.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. . 425

bloomed, the sorts being Gloire de Nancy, Madame Lemoine, Capitaine l'Hermite
Victor Lemoine, Marie Lemoine, and apparently Victor, though named Victor
Lemoine. 2d, Messrs Bell & Thorpe, with Triomphe de Thumesnil, Marie
Lemoine, Hector, Miss Evelyn, a deep-coloured Madame Lemoine, with fine full
flowers ; Gloire de Nancy, and Wilhelm Pfitzer. These were larger and well-
grown plants, but somewhat spare of bloom. The best 6 variegated Pelargoniums
came from Mr Turner, who had young, finely grown, and healthy plants of
Princess Alexandra, May Queen, Miss Bridges, Jane, Albion Cliffs, and Com-
pactum ; 2d, Mr J. E. Mapplebeck, with large but old plants, having the usual
defect of small growth; 3d, Mr E. Perkins — but this group contained two
gold and bronze kinds, not usually classed with the variegated kinds. In class
18, for 6 variegated Zonals, not only were the plants extremely well done, but the
competition was very close also. The best 6 came from Mr T. Welch, gardener
to D. Putter, Esq., Hillingdon, Uxbridge, having capital examples of Lucy Grieve,
Sophia Cusack, Countess Tyrconnell, Italia Unita, Sophia Dumaresque, and Lady
Cullum ; 2d, Mr J. Stevens, Ealing, with plants scarcely inferior, but losing, per-
haps, about half a point in the matter of growth ; his kinds were, Mrs Turner,
Gamos, Sophia Dumaresque, Sophia Cusack, Lady Cullum, and Italia Unita ;
equal 3d, Messrs C. Turner and J. Tomkius, Spark Hill Nursery, Birmingham :
the former with small but finely-developed plants, the latter with large ones.
The special prizes offered by Sir A. W. Peyton, Bart., for 6 "tricolored " Pelar-
goniums, brought another close competition between Messrs Welch and Stevens
the former being placed first.

The attempt made to encourage the growth of Delphiniums, Lobelias, Phloxes,
Pentstemons, Antirrhinums, and suchlike, in pots, was certainly encouraging up
to a certain point, though much more remains to be done. The Delphiniums
staged by Mr Turner were of the most praiseworthy character, and showed most
conclusively the superiority of young over old plants when well grown.

Mr Turner was a long way first with 6 Delphiniums in 12-inch pots, having the
following beautiful varieties, all superbly bloomed : Madame Chate, L'Elegante,
very fine; Mons. Stenger, Le Grand, Imperial Blue, and Bella Donna. 2d, Messrs
Bell & Thorpe, with plants of inferior growth. 3d, Mr H. Hooper, Bath. A
second prize was awarded to Messrs Bell & Thorpe for 6 Lobelias, f ulgens type, they
being the only exhibitors. They had Ringleader, rosy purple ; Marvel, cerise
crimson ; Carminata, rosy carmine ; and some seedlings. They were somewhat
large plants, not nicely grown, and only just coming into flower. The group of
Phloxes to which the first prize wras awarded consisted of Madlle. Trotter, Madame
Rendatler, these two being very much alike ; James Veitch, Liervalli, Charles
Ptouillard, and Madlle. M. Saison. Three or four of these were well done, the
others were somewhat deficient. Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing came next with
more even and very well bloomed plants of Mons. Linden, Mrs Campbell, Com-
tesse de Malart, James Veitch, Deacon, and one other. The flowers of these
were a little undersized. Mr Henry Hooper was third, and there were several
other competitors. The best 6 Pentstemons came from Mr J. J. Chater,
Gonville Nurseries, Cambridge. They were well grown and bloomed.

Cut flowers were very numerous, and of these Carnations and Picotees were
especially fine. The best 24 in the nurserymen's class came for Mr C. Turner,
who had : Scarlet Bizarres— Dreadnought, Lord Lewisham, Lord Kancliffe, Oliver
Goldsmith, and Prince Albert; Crimson Bizarres — Anthony Dennis, Captain
Franklin, Eccentric Jack, Graceless Tom, Rifleman, and Young Milton ; Pink
and Purple Bizarres— Princess Ptoyal and Twyford Perfection ; Purple Flakes —
Colonel Wyndham and Squire Meynell ; Scarlet Flakes— Annihilator, Coronation,

426 THE GARDENER. * [Sept.

Mr Battersby, and "William Cowper ; Rose Flakes — Aglai'a, Flora's Garland,
James Merryweather, King John, and Rose of Stapleford. 2d, Mr George Edward,
York, with smaller ilowers, the best being : Rose Flakes — Mr Patey, Mr Walton,
and James Merryweather ; Purple Flakes — Mrs Gunning and Mayor of Notting-
ham ; Scarlet Flake — George Edward ; Crimson Bizarres — Rainbow and John
Davidson. The best 12 in the amateurs' class came from Mr S. C. Buttrum,
Burgh Mills, Woodbridge, who had S. B. Lord Rancliffe and Sir J. Paxton ; C. B.
Rainbow, John Bright, and Tenby Rival ; P. and P. B. Hannibal and Sarah
Payne ; P. F. Premier ; S. F. John Bay ley and Marmion ; R. F. Flora's Garland
and Uncle Tom.

The Earl of Abingdon's special prize for 12 Carnations was also taken by
Mr Turner, with S. B. Admiral Curzon, Duke of York, and Lord Lewisham ; C.
B. Eccentric Jack and Rifleman ; P. and P. B. Princess Royal ; P. F. Colonel
Windham ; S. F. Sportsman and Mr Battersby ; R. F. Flora's Garland, James
Merryweather, and King John. 2d, Mr N. Norman, Plumstead, with a good
stand of flowers, mostly seedlings.

The best 24 Picotees, in the nurserymen's class, also came from Mr Turner,
and consisted of : Red-edged — Chancellor, Colonel Clerk, Exhibition, Forester,
Lavinia, Lord Valentia, Mrs Norman, and Miss Turner; Purple-edged — Frances,
Jessie, Mary, Mrs Summers, Mrs May, Picco, and Admiration; Rose-edged — Elise,
Lucy, Juliana, Obadiah, Alfred Ingleton, Mrs Rollings, Queen Victoria, Purity,
and a bright-looking seedling purple-edged flower. 2d, Mr George Edward, with
nice flowers of the following : Red-edged — Fairest of the Fair, George, and John
Feather ; Purple-edged — Lord Mayor of York and Mrs Hanaford ; Rose-edged
— Hannah Maria and Harriet.

In the amateurs' class for 12 Picotees, Mr D. Pizzey was first with fine flowers
of the following : Red-edged — Eliza Forester and Rosetta ; Purple-edged —
Frances, Ganymede, Jessie, Margaret, Mary, Admiration, and Mrs May; Rose-
edged — Lucy and Princess Alice. 2d, Mr N. Norman, with Purple-edged — Jessie
and Margaret ; Red-edged — Mrs Newhall and Prince of Wales, and some good
seedlings.

The best 12 Pinks came from Mr G. Kirtland, who had Rev. George Jeans,
Annie, Brilliant, Mary Ann, Attraction, Blondin, President, C. Turner, Bertram,
John Bull, Victory, and a seedling. 2d, Mr D. Gammon, Marston, whose best
flowers were Marion, C. Turner, and John Bull. The best 12 competing for the
special prize offered by Mr J. G. Henderson, came from Mr D. Gammon, and con-
sisted of Alfred, Diadem, Charles Turner, Rev. George Jeans, Bertram, Miss
Nightingale, John Bull, Royal Standard, Device, Blondin, Mrs Norman, and Marion.

Several collections of cut Zonal Pelargoniums were staged : the best came from
Mr J. Walker, Thame; the second best from Mr C. J. Perry; 3d, Mr H. Minchin.
A very fine dark-crimson variety, named Madame Amelotte, was in Mr C. Perry's
stand. Mr Perry had all Zonal kinds, Mr Walker had one or two Nosegays.
The cut blooms of double-flowering varieties were an interesting feature, and
the competition taught how much a little taste in setting up helped their appear-
ance. The best came from Mr F. Perkins, Leamington, and were set up in nice
bunches, backed by their leaves. Twelve varieties of 5 trusses each were required,
and they consisted of Andrew Henderson, Gloire de Nancy, Madame M. Buck-
ner, rather darker than Madame Lemoine ; Marie Lemoine, Wilhelm Pfitzer,
Triomphe de Thumesnil, Capitaine l'Hermite, Madame Lemoine, Victor, Triomphe,
Victor Lemoine, and Madame Rose Charmeux. 2d, Messrs Kelway & Son, with
some very nice trusses, but not so well set up, including Sparkhill Beauty, and
Rosetta, in the way of Capitaine l'Hermite.

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 427

The best 12 cut Verbenas were staged by Mr C. J. Perry, and consisted of
Edwin Day, Rev. C. Peach, James Birbeck, Rev. P. M. Smythe, Firefly, Butter-
fly, Rising Sun, Mrs George Prince, Thomas Harris, and seedlings. 2d, Mr H.
Minchin, who had good examples of Champion, Charmer, Mrs Pochin, Richard
Dean, James Birbeck, and Geant des Batailles. The special prize offered by
Mr George Prince for the best 36 varieties was also taken by Mr Perry, he being
the only exhibitor. His sorts consisted of Nebula, James Birbeck, Madame H.
Stenger, Champion, Rev. C. Peach, Carnation, King of Lilacs, Rose Imperial, Kate
Lawden, Thomas Harris, Ada King, Geant des Batailles, Model, Leah, Mr George
Prince, Rising Sun, Annie, Rev. P. M. Smythe, Velocipede, Apollo, Black Prince,
Lord Leigh, Firefly, Thomas Lawden, Rev. J. Dix, Magnificus, and seedlings.

Cut Roses were much past their best, and those that were at all good were soon
despoiled of their beauty and freshness by the great heat that prevailed in the
tents. The best 48 came from Mr John Cranston, Hereford. The best amateur's
48 from Mr C. J. Perry.

The best 12 Roses of 1867, '68, '69, came from Mr C. Turner, the sorts being
Comtesse de Hainault, Marie Cirodde, Charles Perry, Baronne A. de Rothschild,
Francois Fontaine, La France, Duke of Edinburgh, Hardy Freres, Edwaid Mor-
ren, Miss Poole, and Elie Morel ; 2d, Messrs Paul & Son ; 3d, Mr B. R. Cant.
The best 9 varieties of yellow Roses came from Messrs Paul & Son, and con-
sisted of Mardchal Niel, very fine ; Mons. Furtado, Madame Falcot, Triomphe
de Rennes, Madame Villermoz, Gloire de Dijon, Madame Margottin, Lamarck,
and Celine Forestier ; 2d, Mr C. Turner, who had Solfaterre, Reine de Portu-
gal, and Narcisse, differing from the foregoing ; 3d, Mr J. Cranston. The
special prize offered by the Oxford Rose Society for the best collection of
cut Roses sent out in 1867, '68, '69, '70, was taken by Mr C. Turner; 2d, Mr
B. R. Cant. The best 6 varieties of new Roses sent out in 1868, '69, '70, also
came from Mr Turner, and consisted of Duke of Edinburgh, Reine Blanche,
Henri Ledechaux, Lord Napier, Montplaissier, and Edward Morren. In the
class for the best 24 Roses of any one variety, a special prize being offered by
Mr George Prince, no award was made, the judges considering those staged
unworthy the prize. The best 3 blooms of any one variety was Pierre Notting,
from Mr B. R. Cant, very fine. Mr Cant also had Comtesse de Paris, fine also ;
and Marechal Niel.

Fruit. — The fruit department was quite as well represented as at Manchester,
and occupied the central staging of a long tent. Pines were not quite so numer-
ous, Black Grapes were scarcely up to the average, Muscats and other White
Grapes were very good. The show of Peaches and Nectarines was not over
large, though some very good fruit was shown. The ' Gardeners' Chronicle '
prizes were taken by Mr Miles, gardener to Lord Carrington, "Wycombe Abbey,
and Mr J Simpson, gardener to Lord Wharncliffe, Wortley, though the prize in
the latter instance was not awarded in accordance with the wording and proper
interpretation of the schedule, more than 6 distinct kinds of fruit being ^hown ;
whilst the ' Journal of Horticulture ' prize fell remarkably easily to Mr J. Miller,
gardener to Lord Foley, Worksop Manor, there being no other competitor. The
exhibits were certainly not worth the prize, and it is a question whether the
judges would not have done better by withholding it altogether.

For the prizes offered by the ' Gardeners' Chronicle ' there were five competi-
tors. It was a very close race between Mr Miles and Mr J. Simpson, Wortley,
for the 1st prize ; and had it not been for a mishap on the railway it would have
been even more so, with the probability of the prize going to Mr Johnson, gar-
dener to the Marquis of Aylesbury, Savernake, whose fruit, from some cause or

428 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

other, was much bruised. In Mr Miles's collection were three very fair bunches of
Buckland Sweetwater Grapes, a good Queen Pine (weighing 5| lb.), nice Scarlet
Gem Melon, very fine Barrington Peaches, Downton Nectarines, and Kirk's Plum;
and of vegetables, Globe Artichokes (good), flat Tripoli Onions (of immense size),
French Beans, wonderful Broad Beans, and Myatt's Prolific Potatoes. In Mr
Simpson's collection, the Grapes — Black Hamburg and Muscat of Alexandria —
were good in bunch and berry, but wanting in colour. His other fruit were very
good Pines, Melons, Peaches, and Nectarines— and of vegetables, Cauliflowers,
Peas, Artichokes, Turnips, Potatoes, and Cucumbers, &c. Mr Johnson came next
in order of merit ; his vegetables were first-class, but the fruit was rubbed and
disfigured. The other competitors were Mr Challis, gardener to the Earl of Pem-
broke, Wilton House, Salisbury ; and Mr R. Kean, gardener to J. G. Sheppard,
Esq., Haigh House, Campsy, Suffolk. In Mr J. Miller's collection, which took
the ' Journal of Horticulture ' prize, the Pines and Nectarines were of a very fair
order; but the Grapes, Peaches, and Strawberries were of the poorest description,
and in one or two instances were positively bad.

The best 3 Pines came from Mr Paton, gardener to H. S. Lucy, Esq., Charlcote
Park, "Warwick, and were very fine specimens of Moscow Queen ; the next best
were large examples of the Providence variety, exhibited by Mr Allen, gardener
to J. B. Glegg, Esq., Withington Hall, Congleton ; whilst the third position was
occupied by Mr W. Gardiner, gardener to E. P. Shirley, Esq., Eatington Park,
with two Moscow Queens and a Providence. Mr G. Ward, gardener to T. "W.
Miller, Esq., Bishop Stortford, sent specimens of Smooth Cayenne, weighing 7
lb. ; a Queen, 4 lb. 11 oz. ; and a Charlotte Rothschild, 7 lb. 10 oz. : other ex-
amples of Black Jamaica, Queens, &c, were shown. Mr Paton also came in first
in the class for a single fruit, any variety, with a fine Enville, weighing 8 lb. 14 oz. ;
the second best was a Moscow Queen, 44 lb. in weight, from Mr Gardiner; and
the third a specimen of the smooth-leaved Cayenne, weighing 7 lb., from Mr G.
Ward. Only one collection of 12 dishes, 6 distinct kinds, was shown in that class,
which came from Mr Clark, gardener to Earl Covvper, and consisted of Pines,
Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Melons, &c. Eight dishes of Black Grapes
were staged, the best being contributed by Mr Coleman, gardener to Earl Somers,
Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, which consisted of three exceedingly well finished
bunches of Black Hamburg, weighing 12 lb. 6 oz. ; Mr J. Smith, gardener to the
Earl of Gainsborough, Exton Park, came in second with fine examples of the same
variety ; and to Mr Turner, Slough, and Mr J. Ralty, gardener to C. Scholefield,
Esq., Turville Park, Henley-on-Thames, equal third prizes were awarded, the com-
petition being so close. The number of competitors in the class for White Grapes
exceeded the former by one, the specimens shown being uniformly good. The
first prize was awarded to an excellent dish of Muscat of Alexandria, large in bunch
and berry, and of a good colour. These came from Mr J. Thomas, gardener to
Mrs T. Drake, Bignell, Oxon. Mr Turner came in second with good bunches of the
same variety ; Mr R. Ianson, gardener to S. Statter, Esq., Stand Hall, Manches-
ter, was third. Mr Colegrave sent large bunches of Buckland Sweetwater, but de-
ficient in colour. Several examples of Muscat of Alexandria were shown, in very
green condition. Mr Coleman sent the best basket of Grapes, good specimens of
Black Hamburg, the next best coming from J. Thomas, and consisting of very
fine Muscat of Alexandria; Mr R. H. Smith, gardener to H. Walker, Esq., Calder-
stone, Liverpool, and Messrs Standish & Co., were placed equal third. Eleven
baskets were shown ; among them one of Gros Colmar attracted much attention
from the highly-finished style in which it was shown by Mr Ward, gardener to
T. W. Miller, Esq.

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 429

For the best 6 varieties of Grapes, 3 bunches of each, there were several com-
petitors. Mr Turner took Professor Lawson's prize of 5 guineas, with very fair
specimens of Eoyal Ascot, Buckland Sweetwater, Muscat of Alexandria, Black
Prince, Black Hamburg, and Black Alicante ; Messrs Lane & Son secured the second
prize, given by S. Davis, Esq., with, amongst others, Golden Champion, fine in
size, but quite green, and apparently unripe ; Foster's Seedling, Buckland Sweet-
water, &c. ; Mr J. Wallis, gardener to J. Dixon, Esq., Astle Park, Congleton,
secured the third prize, given by Mr Sheriff Hanley, with fruit of a very moderate
quality. Whilst noticing the Grapes, we must not forget to mention a fine ex-
hibition made by Mr Speed, gardener to the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth,
which were "cut from Vines 37 years old, rejuvenised upon the extension sys-
tem." The exhibition consisted of three remarkably fine, compact, and well-
finished bunches, each of Mill Hill Hamburg, Black Prince, and Black Hamburg.
The berries of the former were very large, as also were the bunches of Black
Prince.

Fourteen dishes of Peaches were shown, the best being very fine well-coloured
Barringtons from Mr J. Wallis; Mr Miles, gardener to Lord Carrington, came in
second with first-rate specimens of Groose Mignonne ; and Mr Sage, gardener to
Earl Brownlow, Ashbridge, third with Bellegarde. Good examples of Royal George
Gallande, Violette Hative, Barrington, and Noblesse were also staged by other
exhibitors. In the corresponding class for Nectarines, 10 dishes only were
staged : Mr H. Tuke, gardener to R. Nicholls, Esq., Bromley, Leeds, came in first
with Violette Hative, large and finely coloured ; specimens of the same variety,
from Mr J. Miller, were placed second. Pitmaston Orange, Elruge, and Hunt's
Tawny, were also very fairly represented. In Apricots there were only three
competitors ; Mr J. Smith took first honours, and Mr W. Early, Digswell, second.

Vegetables were numerously represented, and, the season considered, generally
of good quality. There were many other articles staged, but not of a character
to call for special remark.

The show of glass structures, garden implements, requisites, &c, was as num-
erous as ever, and these will be attended to and illustrated as their value becomes
demonstrated, and opportunity offers.

Royal Horticultural Society Pelargonium Show, August 3. — Whether it
was that the classes of Variegated Pelargoniums are less regarded than they were,
or owing to the drought having affected the coloration of the leaves ; or whether
because the prizes offered were considered too small in amount to induce exhibi-
tors to take their plants to the show ; in each class one variety, three plants of
each had to be shown. The best golden-edged variegated Zonal Pelargonium
was a fine-looking, robust, and well-coloured variety named the Rev. E. R. Benyon,
one of Mr Grieve's raising, and exhibited by Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son. The
next best was Gold Crown, from Mr John Mann, Brentwood; and the next,
Ealing Rival, from Mr John Stevens, Ealing. The best silver-edged variegated
Zonal was Lass o' Gowrie, also from Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son — a vigorous
grower, and well coloured, but rather rough-looking ; the next best Mrs Rousby,
from Mr C. Turner, very promising, and with nice smooth leaves ; 3d, Mr C.
Edmonds, Hayes, with Hayes' Rival. Each of the winning plants in these two
classes had been grafted on a strong-growing stock, said to be the double-flower-
ing Gloire de Nancy, which, to all appearance, gave the plants great robustness
of habit as compared with those on their own roots. The best gold-and-bronze
Pelargonium was Imperatrice Eugenie, very finely grown and coloured, shown
by Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing ; 2d, Mr Henry Cannell, Woolwich, with Annie

430 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

Keeler. Messrs Downie Laird, & Laing also had Black Douglas and Reine
Victoria; but, unlike the practice of other Pelargonium exhibitions, the judges
only awarded one prize to one exhibitor in each class, even though that exhibitor
might have plants of a better variety than the one gaining the second prize. A
single plant of an indifferent golden -leaved variety, named Golden Defiance, was
staged by Mr Ford of St Leonard's Gardens, Hexham, Happily for the interests
of floriculture, but one plant was staged, so no prize was awarded, or there is too
much reason to fear it would have been awarded a first, on the seeming ground
that the judges are bound to give the prize to the best thing staged in every class,
even though the best may be very bad. The best silver-edged variegated Pelar-
gonium was May Queen, from Mr C. Turner, who was the only exhibitor in this
class ; he had also Bright Star and Princess Alexandra, both well worthy the
second and third prizes, but they were not awarded. The best Ivy-leaved Pelar-
gonium was Compactum, a close wiry-growing variegated variety, from Mr C.
Turner, the only one staged for competition. The best Nosegay Pelargonium
was W. E. Gladstone, from Mr George Smith, Tottington Nursery, Islington,
with large trusses of bright orange- crimson flowers ; 2d, Mr H. Cannell, with
Master Christine, said to be a hybrid Nosegay, with large trusses of deep pink
flowers, and remarkably free. By many competent judges this was thought to
be the best of the two. Giant Christine was also shown by Mr Cannell, the
flowers pale pink and very large, the habit dwarf. The best Zonal Pelargonium
was Lord Derby, shown in fine condition by the raiser, Mr John Mann, Brent-
wood. The next best was Annihilator, from Mr J. George of Putney Heatb,
having glowing fiery-red flowers. Mr Mann had several other fine varieties, but
no third prize was given. Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing and H. Cannell were
the only exhibitors of double Pelargoniums ; the former had three well grown
and bloomed plants of Marie Lemoine, the latter the same number of small but
nicely-flowered plants of Madame Lemoine.

Prizes were also offered for the best dish of early Plums. This was taken by
Mr Douglas, The Gardens, Loxford Hall, Essex, with Greengage ; the second
best being Morocco, from Mr Porter, gardener to C. Benham, Esq., Isleworth.
Some fruit of M'Laren's Prolific Raspberry, which was awarded a first-class cer-
tificate last year as a fine free-bearing autumnal kind, was produced on this occa-
sion, and much admired. It was exhibited by the raiser, Mr M'Laren, Ash,
Surrey. From the Orchard-house at Chiswick came some Mulberries, which
were found to be much finer in every respect, and more melting, than in the case
of fruits plucked in the open air.

Royal Horticultural Society, Aug. 17. — This meeting proved extremely in-
teresting for the excellent display of cut Gladioli, Phloxes, and Hollyhocks brought
together. The former were very finely shown, and their superb beauty was much
admired. The 36 cut spikes staged by Messrs Kelway & Son, Langport, were
magnificent, and consisted of the following sorts : Homer, Ncemie, Anna, Canova,
Van Dyck, Sultane, Mons. de Brogniart,Orphee, Leonora, Mattrilde de Landevoisin,
Virgile, Norma, Due de Montebello, Prince Imperial, De Humboldt, Schiller, New-
ton, Lacepede, Le Gouve, Velleda, Eugene Scribe, Formosa, Rossini, Stella, Meyer-
beer, Elizabeth, James Veitch, Agnes Mary, Robert Fortune, Madame Desportes,
Freemason, Rosa Bonheur, Le Titien, Moliere, Spectabilis, and Madame Vilmorin.
The second prize was withheld ; but had not a collection of flowers from Messrs
Thomas Bunyard & Sons, of Ashford, arrived too late, it would have been placed
second. 3d, Mr Robertson, Helensburgh, Dumbarton. With 18 spikes,
Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing, Edinburgh and London, were placed first with a

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 431

fine lot consisting of Milton, Alexandra, Crystal Palace, Diomede, Meyerbeer,
Shakespeare, Fulton, Lacepede, Le Gouve, Sultan, Norma, Horace, Madame
Binder, Orphee, Canova, Le Poussin, Hortense, and Madame Leseble. Messrs
W. Draycott & Son, Humberstone Nursery, Leicester, were second. Messrs
Stuart & Mein, Kelso, had a stand containing a few remarkably fine spikes, but
they were shut out from the competition by reason of not having been entered.
With 12 spikes, in the class for amateur growers, the Rev. H. H. Dombrain, Ash-
ford ; and Mr Fry, gardener to V. Stuckey, Esq., Langport, were placed equal
first, with capital stands ; the former had Leonora, Agathee, Roi Leopold, Eleanor
Norman, Rosa Bonheur, James Veitch, Madame Furtado, Maurice Dumortier,
Madame Dombrain, Homere, Marie Stuart, and Orphee. Mr Fry had Newton,
Madame Furtado, Le Gouve, Mathilde de Landevoisin, Norma, Vandyke, Ncemie,
Madame Vilmorin, Charles Turner, Shakespeare, Agnes Mary, and Cymbal ; Mr
Douglas, of Loxford Hall Gardens, was second. The best 9 also came from Mr
Fry, the next best from Mr Douglas. The best 6 from Mr "Welsh, gardener to
J. Marshall, Esq., Taunton — he being the only exhibitor. The best 4, which were
very fine, came from Mr Fry ; the next best from the Rev. H. H. Dombrain.

Hollyhocks, both in spikes and cut blooms, were good, the season considered.
Some of the latter were very fine. The best 24 cut blooms came from Mr
William Chater, Saffron Walden, who had Fanny Chater, Conquest, Champion,
Walden Queen, Leah, Leviathan, Constance, King, Scarlet Gem, Bullion, Eclipse,
Jewel, Alfred Chater, Perfection, Crimson King, Mochanna, Carus Chater
Talisman, Lord Napier, Walden Primrose, Midnight, Bijou, Junia, and one un-
named. Mr H. Minchin was second, and Messrs W. Draycott & Son third.
The best 12 blooms came from Mr W. Minchin, Hook Norton, who had Invin-
cible improved, Ruby Queen, Hercules, Whitley King, Acme, Sanspareil, Alypius,
Queen Victoria, Peri, Midnight, Ada, and one unnamed. The best 6 spikes
came from Mr W Chater, who had Fascination, Conquest, Fred. Chater, Scar-
let Gem, Cygnet, and Eclipse, all good ; 2d, Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing,
with John M'Donald, Miss Henderson, Queen of Yellows, Lady W. W. Wynne,
Alexander Henderson, and Mrs Downie ; 3d, Mr H. Minchin. The best cut
Phloxes came also from Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing.

Prizes were also offered for the best dish of Apricots, which was won by Mr
W. Tillery of Welbeck Gardens ; 2d, Mr Gardener, Lower Eatington. First-
class certificates were awarded by the Fruit Committee to Mr J. R. Pearson,
Chilwell Nurseries, Nottingham, for two seedling Grapes ; also to Mr Dry of
Hayes, for a seedling purple Plum, named Duke of Edinburgh. Some further
account of these will be found under the head of " Notes and Queries."

The Newark Gooseberry-Show. — This exhibition was held at the Robin
Hood Inn, Newark, on the 1st of August, and judging from the weight of some
of the fruits staged on this occasion, they must have been very fine. Our readers
not acquainted with the routine of Gooseberry-culture for exhibition purposes,
must bear in mind that, in order to give the fruit every opportunity of attaining
a great size, only aboxit three or four are allowed to remain on the tree, and that
is fed with liquid manure and other stimulants to create size. Only those also
who have looked into a Gooseberry-show can realise any idea of what it is like,
and also come to understand the extraordinary amount of enthusiasm it calls
into play. Generally, the large show-Gooseberries are worthless for dessert pur-
poses, and a handful of fruits of the Red Warrington would far outweigh many
of the monsters staged at a Gooseberry-show in point of quality. On the
occasion of the Newark show, the mayor of that town occupied the chair. Even

432 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

much more pretentious shows often sigh in vain for municipal support. It would
seem his worship was an exhibitor at the show, and not a whit the less useful
mayor will he be in consequence. Weighing commenced about four o'clock, Mr
H. P. Foster officiating as weigher, and Mr Sandaver of Southwell as judge. The
following is a list of the awards : Premier Prize (heaviest of all colours) — Mr
J. T. Egglestone's London, 26 dwts. 4 grs. Reds. — Mr Fretwell's London, 26
dwts. 2 grs. ; Mr Newton's London, 25 dwts. 14 grs. ; Mr Grocock's Ploughboy,
21 dwts. 3 grs. ; Mr Earp's Wonderful, 18 dwts. 21 grs. Yellows.— Mr Fret-
well's Leveller, 21 dwts. 22 grs. ; Mr Grocock's Leader, 20 dwts. 15 grs. ; Mr
Chatwin's Leveller, 20 dwts. 2 grs. ; Mr Noddall's Drill, 17 dwts. 16 grs.
Greens.— Mr W. Clarke's Stockwell, 21 dwts. 1 gr. ; Mr C. Clark's Stockwell,
20 dwts. 12 grs. ; Mr Asman's Green London, 20 dwts. ; Mr Asman's Shiner,
18 dwts. 2 grs. Whites. — Mr W. Clarke's Antagonist, 20 dwts. 19 grs.; Mr
Chutwin's Antagonist, 20 dwts. 18 grs. ; Mr C. Clarke's Careless, 19 dwts. 9 grs.;
Mr Bishop's Careless, 19 dwts. 1 gr. Best Pound — Mr Fretwell, 14 berries.
Second Pound — Mr W. Clarke, 15 berries.

REVIEW.

Home-Made Wines : how to make and keep them. With Observations on
Gathering and Preparing the Fruit, Fining, Bottling, and Storing.
By G. Vine. London : Groombridge & Sons.

In a neat, compact, readable little book of forty-eight pages, the author tells us
much of an extremely useful character. A season when fruit of all kinds abounds
is just the time to bring out a manual treating on the manufacture of wines, when,
in many large gardens especially, and not a few small ones, there is often seen a
lamentable waste of fruit, that might and can be made into good wholesome
wines. "Considering," says the author in the introduction to this little book,
" the large number of fruits from which excellent wines may be made, and their
economy compared with the cheapest of foreign wines, it is remarkable that
home-made wines are not more common. Probably of those whose gardens pro-
duce abundance of rich fruits, not one "goodwife" in a hundred makes a bottle
of British wine, except the old-fashioned and wholesome elder that has been
known and drunk for generations. Pei-haps this neglect of our native fruits may
be accounted for by the want of a cheap treatise giving plain directions for the
manufacture of home-made wines. To supply this want is the object of the pre-
sent little work."

Mr Robert Fenn, of Woodstock, Oxon. , has done good service from time to
time, in various of the gardening papers, in putting the question of wine manufac-
ture before the readers of these periodicals, and pressing it home as a matter of
social economics. More than that, he has frequently illustrated what he has
himself done in the way of producing good wines "that maketh glad the heart
of man," from Grapes, Rhubarb, Gooseberries, &c, by submitting the same to
the taste of juries at some of the leading flower-shows. We have tasted, by his
hospitable fireside, wines of excellent quality, all generous beverages, far supe-
rior to many of the cheaper foreign wines of the present day, which he was en-
abled to manufacture and bottle at the small cost of something like fivepence
three-farthings per bottle. What Mr Fenn has been able to do with his super-
abundance of fruit hundreds of others can do in like manner, and with results as
satisfactory in every respect. That all this waste of fruit should go on from year to

i87o.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 433

year without any attempts to utilise it, seems monstrous and absurd. Probably
the plea of ignorance as to the rules of manufacture might have been put in ; but
now that this small manual brings the matter home in all its details, the plea of
ignorance will have to be abandoned. We heartily commend this book to the
attention of our readers.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

[We regret being obliged to postpone several valuable communications. — Eds.]

Errata. — In August number, page 357, line 14, for "Coss," read " Cos; "
page 370, line 23, for "Apholexis," read " Aphelexis ; " page 383, for " Vida
Blue Perfection," read "Viola."

Potatoes, sets, whole or cut ? — Rear- Admiral Hornby, of Prescott Cottage,
Knowsley, Lancashire, writing to us anent Potatoes, states in regard to this
matter : ' ' One thing is quite plain to me, that our plan in this country of cut-
ting sets is all wrong. The contrast between cut and uncut sets (especially of
Paterson's Victoria) is something remarkable." What is the experience of
others of our readers ?

Fuchsia, Champion of the World (Seeker). — This huge double variety,
which you saw at the Regent's Park Show on the 2d of June last, will be distri-
buted by Mr Henry Cannell of Woolwich in the coming autumn. He thus de-
scribes it: "An intense bright coral-red tube and sepals; the corolla is of a
most beautiful violet-blue colour, of immense size and thickness, and expanded
to the extent of 2 inches and more across. The size of the blooms is certainly
something extraordinary, and will cause a sensation in every greenhouse. " If
you are an admirer of floricultural monstrosities, purchase it ; if, on the other
hand, you admire what is elegant and graceful in Fuchsias — don't.

Name of Flower (J. Kempson). — The bloom of Clematis sent is undoubtedly
C. Jackmannii. We are not surprised to find you writing of it in such warm
terms of praise. The straggling habit of your plant is no doubt traceable to the
fact that the old wood was not cut away last autumn. In November give the
roots a good dressing of decayed manure; and in the spring, say February, just
as the buds begin to swell, cut it back to within 6 inches of the ground. You
will be astonished at the growth it makes in one season when so treated.

Hybrid Lime (A. B. C.) — Your tree may be a hybrid between the Lime and
the Elm, as you suppose. We will consult some botanical authority in the
matter, and give you the opinion expressed regarding your tree.

American Blight (A Perplexed One). — You have ample cause to be per-
plexed. Root the trees up and burn them ; burn the soil in which they grew,
add some fresh soil to it, and replant perfectly clean trees. Anxiety, labour, and
cost will be saved thereby, and a better chance of a crop of fruit made
probable.

Selection of Apples and Pears (B. J., Frome). — The following nine varieties
of dessert Apples, given in the order of their ripening, will be likely to meet
your requirements : Summer Golden Pippin, Kerry Pippin, Cox's Orange Pip-
pin, Adams's Pearmain, Scarlet Nonpareil, Gravenstein, Court Pendu Plat, Cockle
Pippin, and Herefordshire Pearmain. The best nine Kitchen Apples : Lord
Suffield, Wormsley Pippin, Blenheim Orange, Waltham Abbey Seedling, Mere
de Menage, Dumelow's Seedling, Cox's Pomona, Emperor Alexander, and Old

2e

434 THE GARDENER. [Sept.

Hawthornden. The best twelve Pears for succession on Quince Stocks will be
found in the following : Williams's Bon Chretien, Fondante d'Antonne, Jersey
Gratioli, Suffolk Thorn, Comte de Lamy, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Marie Louise,
Passe Colmar, Glout Morceau, Beurre d'Aremberg, Winter Nelis, and Beurre
Ranee. All these can be obtained of any nurseryman in a nice pyramid form.

Hardy Clematises (Q. J.) — The best, most distinct, and most floriferous of
Jackman's lot are Jackmannii and Rubella. Both of these you should have.
Lady Bovill, which looks much better on paper than it was shown at Oxford by
Messrs Jackman & Son, has very much of the habit of C. lanugniosa about it,
and never will be so free as the one first named. Get the two just named at
once, and wait a bit for light varieties till something definite is known of them.
Mr Charles Noble of Bagshot, and Messrs Thomas Cripps & Son, Tunbridge
Wells, are to send out some very fine new varieties shortly.

Exhibiting Dahlias (A Young Beginner). — The following remarks will be found
to contain, in a condensed form, the rules laid down by Messrs Glenny, Turner,
and other prominent exhibitors of the Dahlia : First, then, we recommend young
exhibitors to cut the flowers that are most perfect ; that is to say, with centres as
full up and outlines as fine as they can find them, without regard to colour or
size. Of course, among these there will be some large, some middling, and some
even less than middling, therefore the next thing is to divide them into the three
sizes. Beginning, then, with the largest that are perfect, they must begin with
the back row. If they can, they should put the best two light ones at the top
corners, and the best two dark ones next to them, working towards the centre.
The next two must be the next best light ones they can produce, and the next
best dark ones in the centre. They may then look to the middle-row size, and
put the best two dark ones at the two ends, under the two top corners ; two
light ones next under the top dark ones, then two other dark and two light
ones in the centre. The bottom row is done after the plan of the top; and when
these are all arranged, look among the spare flowers to see if any are better than
you have already placed, but be careful that you have no duplicates, because two
of one sort disqualifies the stand. It is just possible that you may be deficient
of light or dark flowers, and unable to carry out the plan to your liking. In this
case, see if you can mend matters by putting larger flowers in the second or third
row, instead of carrying out the three sizes complete, remembering the four corners
are always the more striking when light. Again, it may be that light flowers are
scarce; you must then substitute the brightest. Now whites, edged flowers,
lilacs, and yellows, and even orange colours, may be fairly used as light. Next to
these, bright scarlet may be so appropriated ; but purples are all dark, and heavy
crimsons; and even when a majority of dark flowers prevents us from doing as we
wish, still a great deal may be done by uniformity of arrangement, not to have
two dark ones together, except in the centre, nor two light ones. When they all
run too much of one character, there will be shades of difference to enable us to
do something towards uniformity. A stand of twelve must be done in the same
way, keeping the outsides in the top and bottom rows as light as we can, and
the centres as dark as we can, and the middle row reversed. We are quite sure
that uniformity in a stand is a strong point in its favour ; and judges, if they do
their duty, are bound to notice it so far that wThen two stands are equal in other
respects, the stand properly arranged should have the benefit. Simple as this
may seem, let any one go over a number of stands in an extensive show, and he
will see more than half of them set up without the slightest attempt at arrange-
ment, and many a stand of really good flowers spoiled by a total disregard to any

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 435

kind of contrast — one end of the stand, perhaps, with nearly all dark and the
other light, or otherwise the effect spoiled by a bad disposition of the flowers.

Name of Plant (Iago Clark). — What you forwarded was not a plant, as you
supposed, but simply the fine fibrous roots of some plant — probably a grass — that
had penetrated through one of the joints of the drain-pipes, and being constantly
satured with water made excessive fine thread-like growth. We once saw a well
opened near to which a Lombardy Poplar was growing, and one of the roots had
penetrated into the well, and there formed an extraordinary mass of fine fibrous
roots, of a similar character to the instance sent by you.

If Mr James M'Millan will oblige a subscriber with the address of the house
from which the woollen netting referred to in page 349 of your Journal can be
obtained, and add such particulars as will enable him to order the exact descrip-
tion, he will confer a great boon. — C. Z.

Mildew on Vines (A Constant Reader). — When mildew makes its appear-
ance in a vinery it spreads with great rapidity, unless checked at once by the
application of flowers of sulphur to the affected parts, whether fruit or foliage.
This done, keep in house dry, and increase the fire-heat, giving plenty of air at
the same time. This parasite thrives best in a damp stagnant atmosphere, there-
fore give it a dry one, with plenty of circulation.

Vegetables for Exhibition (A Subscriber, Stirling Castle). — The best vege-
tables are of course the following : Potatoes, Peas, Cauliflowers, Artichokes, Scar-
let Runner, and dwarf French Beans, Celery, Vegetable Marrows, Tomatoes,
Leeks, Cabbage, Carrots, and Onions ; and from these you may be able to fur-
nish a good collection. Quality, and therefore fitness for table, is a great point
with good judges — not mere size. "A basket or box of vegetables cotaining ten
varieties'1 could include two or more varieties of Onions, or Peas, or Potatoes, in
making up the sum of ten varieties, but it is always best to have ten distinct
kinds, all of the very best quality. Add to quality cleanliness and a nice
arrangement, showing you have judgment in selecting and taste in making the
best possible display, and you will have done a good deal towards getting the first
prize.

Cultivation of the Cucumber (Alma). — 'Moore on the Cucumber,' 'Ayres
on the Cucumber,' ' Mills on the Cucumber,' and ' Cuthill on the Cucumber,' are
all very useful manuals, published in a cheap pamphlet form. Probably the two
former are out of print, but the two last can be obtained through any bookseller.
The price of each would be about Is. or Is. 6d. For the cultivation of " Winter
Cucumbers," see the volume of the ' Gardener' for 1868, page 385.

Bridal Bouquet (Ulster). — The prevailing colour of a bride's bouquet should be
white, with just a pale shade of violet or blue, or a light shade of pink sparingly
distributed over the surface. A little scarlet can be used in a bridesmaid's
bouquet, but not enough to make it glaring. As a general rule, far too much of
scarlet is placed in bouquets during the bright summer months ; there appears to
be such a prevailing affection for scarlet, that our flower-gardens and bouquets are
often rendered unsightly by such a glare of it. In winter-time, when the skies
are dull and leaden, some scarlet should be used by way of giving life by contrast;
in hot bright sunny weather the colours should be dark, sombre, and soft.

Royal Vineyard Grape (Ulster). — Just as the fruit is ripening off, com-
mence to keep the border and the atmosphere of the house as dry as possible,
and admit plenty of air to the house, at the same time giving no water to the
roots.

436 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 1870.

Gunnersby Park, Acton, W. — As will be seen in our notice of this place, Mr
William Forsyth, who has filled the post of gardener to Baron Lionel de Rothschild,
at Gunnersby, for the past twenty years, is about retiring from the active duties of
his profession : he will be succeeded by Mr John Richards, for fourteen years
gardener to Lord Londesborough, Grimston Park, Tadcaster, and recently
gardener to E. J. Coleman, Esq., Stoke Park, Slough. The new gardener at
Stoke Park will be Mr Reuben Budd, formerly with the Earl of Darnley, Cobham
Hall, Gravesend.

Metropolitan Society for the Encouragement of Florists' Flowers. —
"We have to remind our readers that the first exhibition of the Society takes place
at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, on Tuesday the 6th, and Wednesday the 7th
of September next. Liberal prizes are offered for Dahlias, Hollyhocks, Gladioli,
Asters, Verbenas, and Roses, and first-class certificates of merit will be given to
Seedling Flowers worthy of such a high distinction. The Rev. H. H. Dombrain,
Westwell Vicarage, Ashford, Kent, will give all requisite information.

New Fruits The Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society have

just awarded Mr J. R. Pearson, Chilwell Nurseries, Nottingham, first-class cer-
tificates for the following new Grapes : Chilwell White, a very promising seed-
ling, which in size and form more resembles the Black Hamburg than any
Grape in cultivation ; and the other, named Ferdinand de Lesseps, also a wrhite
Grape, which created some interest when exhibited last year, as being a remark-
ably successful cross between the American Strawberry Grape and the Royal
Muscadine. It is exceedingly rich in flavour, and though, not particularly a
showy Grape, it well merits the award given to it, on account of its interesting
pedigree, and as the means through which further novelties may be obtained.
The opinions here expressed are extracted from the 'Gardeners' Chronicle.'

Vine-Border (A Constant Reader). — It will be advantageous to cover the
Vine-border, so as to keep the roots dry. This can be done with tiffany or
wooden shutters ; the last named is the best thing, as they can be made cheaply,
and will last several seasons. Actually, the cost would not be much larger
than for frigi-domo. The latter rots quickly, while the shutters are durable.
The covering should be put on the Vine-border at the beginning of October.

Charlotte Rothschild Pines.— At the meeting of the Royal Horticultural
Society on the 17th of August, Mr J. Ward, gardener to Mr T. N. Miller, Esq.,
Bishop's-Stortford, exhibited four magnificent fruits of the above fine Pine, of the
aggregate weight of 38 lb. They were remarkably even in size and shape, two of
them as finely formed as if they had been cast in a mould. To these a special cer-
tificate was awarded. By the side of these was a collection of somewhat ordinary
blooms of Dahlias, and these received the same award. A special certificate neither
carries weight nor money value with it, and it is given to many things of question-
able quality. The least the Society could have awarded these fine Pines was its
gold medal. We certainly sympathise with Mr Ward in having such splendid
examples of high-class cultivation borne down to the level of excellence of some
medium-sized Dahlia blooms !

The Caterpillar Goat-Moth (Charles Hull) The only remedy for this is in

killing the moth, which may be observed sitting near its cocoon protruding from
the hole formed by the caterpillar, and destroying the caterpillars themselves
by thrusting a wire up the holes, or filling the holes with tobacco smoke, or,
as they do in America sometimes, with chloroform.

THE

GARDENER.

OCTOBER 1870.

ON PRUNING SMALL-BUSH APPLE AND PEAR TREES.

CORRESPONDENT has by means of some queries placed
this matter before us, and we have thought it of sufficient
importance to lift it out of the ordinary space allotted to
answers to correspondents, and give it a more prominent
position. "A. E." asks for some brief instructions as to the shoot-
pruning of small-bush Apple and Pear trees. He finds, as many
others have found to their dismay, that gardeners differ very much
about it \ and while some advocate the constant nipping back of the
shoots to two or three eyes all the summer, others state this plan, if
closely followed, will not throw them into fruit-buds, but will cause
them to make root, and then large gross shoots will be the result. The
advocates of the last method find twice a-year to be enough, and re-
commend that it be done at the end of June and late in the autumn.
Who wonders that amid this chaos of opinions "A. E." asks for
some enlightenment1?

Curiously enough, "A. E.'s" query comes just at a time when the
question has been presented to ourselves in a practical form. We
have in our garden, the soil of which is a dark stiff clayey loam,
resting on a bed of London clay within 2 feet of the surface, certain
pyramid and bush Apple and Pear trees, the former on the Paradise,
the latter on the Quince stock. Planted in the autumn of 1865, all
the trees have done well, and — the Pear-trees especially — made strong
growth. The system of pruning pursued had been up to the present
year that mentioned by " A. E. " as the " nipping off the shoots to
two or three eyes at short intervals during the summer." The trees
bore slightly in 1867, and since then but only very sparely indeed.

2f

438 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

Regarding the Pears, there has been this season a good crop on Louis
Bonne of Jersey ; spare crops on Alexander Lambre, Easter Beurre,
and Williams's Bon Chretien j and not a fruit on Beurre Diel and
Duchesse d'Angouleme. It did appear that the constant pinching
back of the shoots to two or three eyes caused the tree to make vigor-
ous root-growth, and this reacted on the tree in the form of bringing
out numbers of shoots all over it, while but very few fruit-buds were
formed, or none at all. This season we altered the plan of pruning,
and all the leading shoots have been allowed to make a free growth,
but only one permitted to remain when two or three had issued from
the same stem of a branch. All lateral growths were kept cut back
to three or four eyes. The leading shoots have now perfected, and
are maturing the summer growth; and by Christmas these will be
cut back to five or more eyes, according as the pyramidal shape of the
tree can be best secured. Each tree is now clothed with fruit-spurs,
and plentiful crops next season may be fairly predicted.

Similarly as in the case of the Pears, the Apples were subjected to
the same process of constant pinching back. King Pippin has yielded
a fair crop ; Early Margaret and Cox's Orange Pippin only a very
few • Nelson's Glory, usually a free bearer, and some others, none at
all. The same course of treatment as applied to the Pears this sum-
mer fell to the lot of the Apples. There is not a tree without fruit-
ing spurs ; and with but one exception, and that a bad situation, there
is the promise of a very plentiful crop for another season. The drought
notwithstanding — and the London district has suffered very severely
from it — each Apple-tree has made a fine vigorous growth, to the mani-
fest improvement of the plants in general. Hitherto the trees, both
Pears and Apples, were continually making young wood till late in the
season ; now there is no appearance of young growth, nor has there been
for the past month ; and the growth of the summer, as presented in the
unshortened main shoots, is ripening off admirably. Some bush
Apples and Plums planted last November have been similarly treated,
and though sorely tried by the drought, there is every appearance of
abundant bloom.

Whether this mode of treatment will produce permanent effects of a
character like those that now result, is as yet "not proven." Finding
by the non-fruitfulness of the trees that the mode of pruning previ-
ously carried out was producing results of a totally different character
to those wished for, we felt the urgent need for some modification of
the pruning process; with what effect has been shown. Thinking the
best way to answer our correspondent would be to lay before him our
own experience, we have done so, and leave it with him. Should he
be induced to follow it, or apply it in] part, we shall be glad to learn

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 439

another season how his trees fared ; meanwhile some of our readers
will perhaps give us their experience, and "A. E." and other in-
quirers the benefit of their advice. B. D.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

One of the most notable incidents of the month is the fact of the
Eoyal Horticultural Society having decided to go to the provinces
alone in 1871. An influential meeting has been held at Nottingham
— Lord Belper, the Lord-Lieutenant of the county of Notts, presiding
— when it was resolved to invite the Eoyal Horticultural Society to
hold a provincial exhibition in the county town during the summer of
the ensuing year. We hail with lively satisfaction this decision of the
Society. Scarcely does any other city or town present such an admir-
able field for its operations as does Nottingham. There horticultural
enterprise is not only active, but highly successful. It is said that
there are 20,000 allotment gardens in the suburbs of the town, and
those who till them are among the flower of the artisan classes. Be-
sides these, there are in the suburbs of the town, and further away in
the county, many places where plant and fruit growing is followed
with the best results, and these will be sure to furnish many subjects
at the coming exhibition.

Already a committee is at work, organising a guarantee fund and
obtaining donations of special prizes. This shows a thorough hearti-
ness that augurs well for the success of the show. In all matters of
public importance Nottingham has been in the habit of speaking out
thoroughly and working energetically, and the Eoyal Horticultural
Society could not have done a better thing than yielded to the request
which came to them from thence.

It is to be hoped that the Local Committee will be allowed consider-
able freedom of action, which they can exert without perilling the
independence of the Council. Probably such an influential committee
has never before co-operated with the Society on the occasion of a pro-
vincial show. As the Society takes a new course, it would be well if
the Committee would embrace a broader scope of action than has yet
fallen to the lot of a provincial aid of this character. There is one
thing especially which it can and should take cognisance of. Many
horticulturists, and especially the gardener class whose means are
limited, are deterred from visiting these meetings in consequence of
the expense incurred in finding accommodation. A bed at 5s.
or 7s. 6d. per night is too much of a good thing : let the Committee

440 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

grapple with this evil, and arrange a register of lodgings at reason-
able charges. Let it also endeavour to utilise the element of prac-
tical gardening attracted to these shows. There should be some-
thing more than an expensive hotel in which to meet, with nothing
but tippling and talk for the evening's amusement : the former is
injurious, the latter mainly unprofitable. A public room should be
engaged as a rendezvous, where dinner and tea at least can be
obtained, and something less inebriating than spirits enjoyed. The
charges for these should be arranged on a moderate scale. For those
inclined to discuss, there should be a room provided ; those inclined
to a quiet chat over a glass of toddy should have their place of meet-
ing also. If it was desired to hold a Gardeners' Congress, as has been
suggested, to discuss their position, pay, and prospects, those advocat-
ing it could make their arrangements beforehand, and hold it at this
public meeting-place. There should be a popular horticultural dinner,
where all can meet; and while the jovial element need not be alto-
gether overlooked, speakers who can talk common - sense and say
something worth being listened to should be selected to lead the pro-
ceedings of the evening. The Horticultural Congress could also be
held, and the arrangements of this might be kept solely, as before, in
the hands of the Royal Horticultural Society. What is wanted is that
a gardener may be able to go to Nottingham and live and enjoy him-
self there for three days for the cost hitherto incurred for one night's
sojourn at Bury St Edmunds, Leicester, Manchester, or Oxford. This
great advantage secured, the next question is, How can he best dis-
pose of himself when there 1 These and other details are within the
scope of a committee, and we should like to see some of the sugges-
tions herein made, as well as those put forward by others, considered,
and as far as possible given effect to. All the separate atoms of indi-
vidual force, feeling, desire, and regard, want crystallising into one
mass of sociality and fraternal intercourse : in such an attempt as
that lies worthy work for a provincial committee.

In the new society formed for the purpose of encouraging the
growth of florists' flowers, we recognise an agency by which a new
impetus will be given to the cultivation of many of the popular
flowers specially regarded by the florist. Its first exhibition was a
decided success ; and its supporters, pleased with such a result to
their labours, promised increased aid in the time to come. Among
others, Mr Keynes of Salisbury has given the sum of £7 for the best
twelve Dahlias of 1870-71, to be shown at the autumn exhibition of the
Society next year. This is a gleam of that fine enthusiasm that used
to shine out years ago at the various large Dahlia exhibitions then
held about the country. On this occasion exhibitors came from a long

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 441

distance. Scotland was worthily represented ; so was the far west of
England. The Yorkshire contingent of Dahlia exhibitors mustered in
strong force ; and many old exhibitors, whose experiences must date
back hard on half a century, were competing, or if not competing,
came to see and support. The Society proposes, should sufficient
means come to hand, to give prizes for Tulips, Eanunculuses, Auricu-
las, Pansies, Pinks, Carnations, and Picotees, &c, at such of the early
spring and summer shows as may be held at the proper season for such
flowers. Practically it aims to supplement other schedules by providing
classes for flowers overlooked partially, if not wholly, in the present
day. Thus, without attaching itself to any particular society or place, it
desires to give its meed of support to all florists' flowers as occasion
may serve. After the show at the Crystal Palace, there was a dinner-
party of the supporters of the new movement ; but it was nearly as
heavy as a funeral party, and scarcely more lively than a state banquet.
The dinner was bad for the price charged; the wines indifferent; the
after-dinner talk, with one or two exceptions, feeble. The Society
dined as if wearied with its day's work, and it rose from its dinner
dull and heavy. Perhaps, as some said, its social intercourse was
overweighted with the article of divinity, and lacked vivacity in conse-
quence. Still it was a first attempt, and the second will no doubt be
an improvement on the first.

The drought of the past three seasons appears to be awakening in
the breasts of scientific men a fear that it may come to denote a
decline of the rainfall in England, and consequently to the expression
of weighty counsels as to the imperative necessity for conserving as
much as possible waste waters for the irrigation of cultivated lands
in seasons of drought. Anent this matter the 'Architect' gives expres-
sion to the following : —

" Is there no cause for fear that similar influences may be at work in England
which will ultimately reduce the amount of rainfall, and lead to such a change
of climate and season as may seriously affect our prosperity and powers of pro-
duction 1 Two causes at least are at work tending to cause an inordinate waste
of our water supplies, which may perhaps in their turn influence in some
manner our annual rainfall. We do not say that such is the case merely because
the past has been an exceptionally dry season ; but as similar seasons may occur
again, it behoves us to see in what manner their ill effects may best be guarded
against. This subject must be considered under two heads— viz., deep-soil
drainage, and what is generally known as water conservancy. The one applies to
country and the other to town districts. Although we have not, perhaps, been so
improvident with our forest-lands as to denude the country of trees to any danger-
ous extent, so as to seriously affect the supply of our rivers, as has been remarkable
in other countries to which we have referred, yet it cannot be denied that a some-
what similar operation has for some years been gradually extending itself
throughout England by the modern system of subsoil drainage, which in itself

442 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

Las been found so beneficial in the cultivation of land. The inevitable effect of
this has been to get rid of rainfall water from the soil in a more rapid manner
than has been provided for by nature, and which, finding its way more rapidly
into adjoining streams, tends equally with forest destruction to cause floods in
our rivers at one time, h,nd to lessen their supplies at another ; or, in other words,
to destroy a balance of power provided by nature, and recklessly to waste one
of her most precious gifts. With our present limited knowledge there appears
but one means whereby this evil can be effectually remedied. It would be
impossible to return now to the old system of farming ; neither would it be
desirable, even were it practicable. Advancement cannot be checked, but it
should be carried out systematically, and with due provision for the maintenance
of an equilibrium of forces. In order to do this, the effluent water from culti-
vated lands must be conserved, and not permitted to run wastefully away ; and
therefore reservoirs must be constructed in connection with the natural water-
courses, from which the ordinary rainfall which does not enter deep into the
land for the replenishment of springs may be made available for irrigation, and
for the better supply of towns and villages with water for drinking and purposes
of sewage conservancy."

A few weeks since, Mr George F. Wilson, F.R.S., exhibited the true
form of the Japanese Lilium speciosum, subsequently known as L.
lancifolium. The flowers of this one were richly coloured, but the
petals were distinctly margined with white, and the edges were not
run into by the deep colour spread over the centres of the flowers.
The ' Gardeners' Chronicle ' has supplied some information respecting
this Lily, of a highly interesting character, which we transfer into our
columns.

"The cultivators of Lilies— and we are glad to think they are increasing in
number — owe their thanks to Mr Wilson for directing their attention to the true
Lilium speciosum, sometimes known as lancifolium, of which he has on two
separate occasions shown well-flowered specimens at the meetings at South
Kensington. This Lily is occasionally met with under the name of cruentum,
and is very far superior to the dark-coloured varieties usually seen cultivated
under the names of lancifolium, rubrum, atrosanguineum, &c, all of which are
apparently seedling forms, raised either in this country or on the Continent, and
which, we suppose on account of their greater prolificacy, have gradually usurped
in most collections the place which belongs rightfully to the variety which Mr
Wilson has again brought into notice. The characteristics of this Lily are the
following : A stature somewhat below the average ; the flower-buds considerably
shorter than ordinary, and consequently broader petals or perianth segments ;
more perfectly and evenly recurved, and consequently neater-looking flowers ;
a distinct white margin and tips, more apparent on the petaline segments — the
colours not being so much run together as in the ordinary forms ; very richly
coloured spotting, and a somewhat later period of flowering. When seen there
is no mistaking the plant, which at once asserts its pre-eminence over the long-
petaled irregularly-recurving forms commonly seen grown in its place. Since
the plants above alluded to were exhibited, Ave have met with collateral evidence,
supporting Mr Wilson's conclusion as to this finer variety being the form
originally introduced from Japan. In one of the secluded bays of the Knaphill
Nursery, the home of so many choice old plants, is a bed of Japan Lilies, a large

1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 443

group of which was pointed out to us as being the original L. speciosum, grown
on from the original stock, which has never been lost. On examining the flowers?
we found they had all the characteristics of Mr "Wilson's plants, and we have
therefore now no doubt upon two points, that the Lily in question is the best
of all the forms of speciosum, and that it is not beyond the reach of those who
wish to obtain it.

NOTES ON" HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

VIOLACE.E.
{Continued from page 405.)

V. odorata — Sweet Violet. — It would be superfluous to describe this
universally known and cherished plant. In one or more of its varieties
it is to be seen in every garden, large or small ; all love it, and well
they may, for its modest beauty and sweetness are unrivalled. The
immense demand for it about the large cities, such as London, Man-
chester, and Liverpool, throughout the spring, has rendered its culture
a profitable branch of market-gardening, and acres of Violets are to be
met with in the neighbourhood of such places : and the gardener in
private establishments must have a long season of Violets by whatever
means, or he fails to please the ladies by a good many points ; for
Violets, in season and out of season, are indispensable in many estab-
lishments. The Sweet Violet is a British plant, common in many
parts in hedgerows, open woods, and pastures, and very generally
affecting clayey districts ; while in many widespread parts, where the
soil is gravelly, or hot and dry, it is rarely if ever seen. The plant, in
fact, prefers moderate shade and considerable moisture, and strong
rich loam to grow in ; and the nearer we can attain to these conditions
in cultivation, the greater will be our success.

Many have written on the culture of the Violet, and the writers have
by no means been harmonious in the practice they inculcated, though
each has stoutly enough maintained that his, and his only, was correct
and likely to be attended with success — as indeed it may really have
been in his circumstances, but not therefore the best for one differently
situated as regards climate, soil, and choice of aspect. A moderately
heavy rich soil is that in which they thrive best, and sustain the most
continuous and abundant bloom ; and if the natural soil is in any point
short of this, the best means at command should be adopted to bring
it up to the desired condition. If it is light and gravelly, clay and
manure should be added to it, in requisite quantity ; or if a poor hard
clay, sharp gritty matter, with no stint of old manure, would be the
proper correctives. As regards the aspect of the spot on which they

U4= THE GARDENER. [Oct.

are to be grown, it is a point of some importance, especially if no
natural means of affording the plants a little shade are available.
Whether it is open to the east, the west, or the south, is of less import-
ance than the necessity of placing them where they will enjoy slight
shade either in the morning or afternoon. My own experience is most
favourable to placing them on a west border, where they will be
sheltered from the rays of the sun during the earlier hours of the day.
It is well, however, to have the stock designed to bloom out of doors,
growing in different aspects, as by that means there will be less danger,
in exceptional seasons, of total failure. A very important point in their
culture, by the practice of which I have always been rewarded with
good results, is to lift and divide the plants annually, cutting away all
old and weak crowns and runners and trimming the roots, trenching and
manuring the ground, and replanting them. The best time for doing
this is immediately after the flowers are over, about the middle or end
of April or the beginning of May. It is bad practice to leave them
undisturbed for several years in the same place ; the ground becomes
exhausted, and the plants too ; and it is always difficult, often impossi-
ble, to get a vigorous stock from plants so treated. The Neapolitan, a
more tender variety of the Sweet Violet, is best adapted for culture in
pots, to be sheltered in cold frames, in a sunny airy place in winter, or
forced according to requirements. These may be grown planted out
in rich ground in the same way as the others till September, when
they may be lifted and potted or planted in frames closely,
and afterwards merely protected from severe frost, and kept well
aired in all open weather. Of course, if they are intended to be
placed about rooms, they must be put in pots at the time they are
removed from the open air, and they may be forced in mild bottom-heat
with much more convenience if the plants are in pots than if they are
planted out in frames. All the varieties are easily increased by cut-
tings made of the stout short runners, rejecting all that are wdry and
hard ; and they should not be taken off plants that have been forced,
as these are deficient in vigour. Plant them in rich fibrous very sandy
soil, in a frame facing northwards ; keep them close till they begin to
grow, then give air, a little at first, gradually increasing it till the
lights may be dispensed with wholly till the return of winter, when
they will require to be put on, and the plants protected during frost.
In the beginning of April they must be planted out, and everything
possible done to encourage vigorous growth, on which depend the
quality and quantity of bloom more than anything else. Some raise
their stock from seeds sown annually; and it is a good plan, but more
troublesome in the matter of attention, and requiring more labour,
than either division or cuttings, while the result in bloom is nothing

1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 445

superior. Among the varieties of Sweet Violets, the Czar, the King,
and Giant are the largest flowers and stoutest stalks, and are conse-
quently best for cutting ; but I have not found either superior to the
common Russia, in single or double flowers, for continuous and sus-
tained bloom, while nothing surpasses the Neapolitan for forcing.

V. p.dmata — Palmate-leaved Violet. — This is a very rare plant in
gardens, and a very distinct species. It grows about 6 inches high,
in rather tufted fashion, with palmated or five-lobed coarsely-toothed
hairy leaves, and rather large purple flowers on stout short stalks.
Native of North America. Best adapted for culture on rockwork, in
deep rich gritty loam, in shade. Flowers in late spring and early
summer.

V. Pedata — Birdfoot Violet. — This is related to the last, but is
even a finer species, and about as rare. It grows about the same
height, and is very compact and neat in its style. The leaves are cut
into seven narrow lobes, the basal and the central ones usually deeply
notched. The flowers are large, dark blue, carried well above the
leaves on stout stalks. Best adapted for rockwork decoration in deep
moist sandy soil, in shade. Native of North America. Flowers in
late spring and early summer.

V. plumata — Feather-leaved Violet. — This is a south European
species, with much of the habit of the two preceding. The leaves are
broadly ovate in outline, and divided almost to the midrib, giving the
appearance of a broadly pinnate leaf, and the divisions are notched at
the point. The flowers are smaller than in either of the two preceding,
nor are they thrown so high above the foliage, but they are rich dark
violet, and in this respect they are superior to those of the others.
It requires the same treatment in cultivation, and is adapted to the
same purposes as palmata and pedata, and flowers about the same
time.

V. pyrolcefolia — Winter green-leaved Viola, syn. Viola lutea. — This
is a Patagonian species, and one of the handsomest of the family. It
grows in tufted masses, producing bluntly egg-shaped leaves, with a
heart-shaped base, toothed and hispid, as is every part of the plant
outside the corolla, and inside also it is somewhat bearded. The
flowers are large, bright yellow, on slender stalks, but raised consider-
ably above the foliage ; the lower petal is beautifully penciled with
narrow dark red lines, suitable only for warm partially-shaded posi-
tions on rockwork or for pot-culture, and delights most in rich fibrous
loam with a good allowance of grit in it.

V. tricolor — Pansy or Heartsease. — The garden varieties of the
Pansy are so familiar and so much admired by everybody that they
scarce require praise or description ; the mere mention of their name

446 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

is sufficient recommendation. It is less of the finer florists' varieties or
show sorts that I would speak than of the Fancy or Belgian and bed-
ding ones. They will be found most useful for planting in the front
line of the mixed border and on rockwork. The Fancies bloom very
freely and for a long period if the soil is moist and rich ; and they
present most novel and pretty colours and unions of colours. But for
continuity of bloom and general decorative usefulness and hardiness
all kinds of Pansies are eclipsed by the bedding sorts. The Cliveden
blue and yellow were the first of the race to which general attention
was drawn, but they are now rapidly increasing in numbers and in
improvement, and no doubt will continue to do so for some time. The
Pansy delights in strong rich loam with a little sand in it, and is most
sustained in its bloom when shaded for some part of the day, and
copious moisture can hardly be overdone in the growing season. V.
tricolor is a native of Britain, and it is the reputed parent of all the
races of Heartsease. Other European species, there are good grounds
for believing, have had something to do with the origin of these favour-
ite flowers ; but in the mixed and confused condition of the cultivated
varieties now, it is impossible to determine wTith any accuracy their
parentage, but the probability is that tricolor and altaica give rise to
the Pansies between them.

The few species described above do not nearly exhaust the list of
plants valuable for ornamental purposes comprised in the group. They
are only a few of the best, and the following list contains others well
worthy of cultivation in larger collections : —

V. alpina, 4 to 6 inches, dark purple,
ii anicena, 4 inches, dark purple,
ii biflora, 4 inches, yellow, in pairs in-
teresting and pretty.
ii hlanda, 6 inches, white.

V. Canadensis, 6 to 8 inches, pale blue,

it cucullata, 6 inches, dark blue.

ii palmsensis, 4 inches, blue and white.

ii striata, 6 inches, blue and white.

FANCY PELARGONIUMS.

These beautiful free-blooming forms of the Pelargonium, termed for
some reason or the other " Fancy '; varieties, are worthy of high ad-
miration, both for the charming softness and delicacy of their tints of
colour, and for their remarkable free-blooming properties. " It has
been called the Ladies' Pelargonium, and well it deserves the name,
seeing the profusion of many-coloured flowers it produces, varied as
the colours in the rainbow, added to which its sweet foliage renders
it indispensable in the formation of the bouquet." So wrote an ad-
mirer of the Fancy Pelargonium nearly twenty years ago, and what was

i87o.] FANCY PELARGONIUMS. 447

then stated applies with added fitness now, seeing how much improve-
ment has taken place in the past ten years in the way of producing
variation in colour and increased size of the flowers. When we re-
member the flowers of this class of Pelargoniums, as they appeared
twenty years since, with their narrow petals resembling the sails of a
windmill, so deficient were they in form, and compare them with
the exquisite symmetry of the flowers in the present day, we shall
then clearly perceive what the florist has accomplished in his work of
improvement. Time was when they were a weak and sickly race, re-
quiring more than ordinary care in their management; but now,
thanks to the enterprising exertions of the hybridiser, we have robust
free-growing habits and free-blooming characters, which will bear the
same treatment as the larger varieties. The Fancy Pelargonium is, in
fact, a perpetual-flowering plant. If the trusses are taken off imme-
diately the flowers have withered, and the plant be repotted, it will
come into flower again in the course of a few weeks, and continue to
bloom the whole of the winter, the assistance of a slight artificial
heat being necessary at this season.

Our notes of the leading flowers give the following as a fine selection
of eighteen Fancy Pelargoniums : — Acme (Turner), purplish maroon,
with white throat and margin, and excellent grower; Belle of the
Season (Turner), French- white, with distinct rosy spots on each petal,
very pretty and good; Brightness (Turner), deep rosy crimson, clear
white centre and edges, good habit ; East Lynne (Turner), white
ground, lower petals heavily marked with crimson purple, upper petals
with bright crimson, very fine and distinct ; Ellen Beck (Turner), deli-
cate lilac carmine, with bright throat and edges, of dwarf robust habit,
and very free blooming ; Fanny Gair (Turner), rosy lake, suffused with
purple, clear white throat and edges — a flower of exquisite shape and
very fine ; Lady Carrington (Turner), soft pale peach, top petals suf-
fused with pale pink, white throat, very delicate and pretty ; Lady
Dorothy Nevill (Turner), pale rosy pink, white throat, and clear white
edges, a charming variety; Leotard (Turner), extra fine in quality,
bright cherry rose, with clear white throat and edges, remarkable for
the great substance and smoothness of the flowers ; Lord of the Isles
(Turner), deep rosy purple, white throat and margin, fine free habit ;
Marmion (Turner), rich crimson top petals shaded with purple, clear
white throat, and narrow edge of same, large and extra fine; Mrs
Alfred Wigan (Turner), pink, with clear white centre and edges, pretty
and very free ; Mrs Dorling (Turner), lilac, mottled with rose, very
soft and delicate, white throat and edges, form fine and habit free ;
Mrs Mendel (Turner), white, with delicate spots of rosy lilac, a charm-
ing light variety ; Pink of Perfection (Turner), a charming shade of

443 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

bright soft pink, pale throat, very free and fine habit ; Princess Teck
(Turner), one of the most exquisite varieties in cultivation, white, with
carmine spots, very smooth, and a most profuse bloomer ; Sarah (Tur-
ner), deep crimson, suffused with purple, white throat ; and Vivandiere
(Turner), rich crimson, novel and distinct, and very free and striking.
It will be observed that all the foregoing were seedlings raised by Mr
Turner of Slough. A dozen older but very useful varieties would give
Bridesmaid (Turner), Cloth of Silver (Henderson), Delicatum (Am-
brose), Edgar (Turner), Evening Star (Henderson), Madame Sainton
Dolby (Turner), Miss-in-her-Teens (Turner), Modestum (Turner), Roi
des Fantaisies, Silver Mantle (Turner), Sylph (Turner), and Victor
Hugo (Turner).

The Fancy Pelargonium has this advantage over the large flowering
kinds, that it will stand almost any amount of heat, and open its
flowers freely, if the plants are properly ripened for the process. But
few cultivators, however, will require to do this. If a collection of
plants be obtained from the nursery, and they had been packed in a
basket to keep them from injury, it is advisable to place them in a
warm house or close pit for a day or two previous to potting them,
to induce a reaction of the roots, and restore the partly-bleached leaves
to their proper condition. If a collection of varieties is to be worked
up from cuttings, strong and healthy ones should be selected, which,
when cut into lengths from 2 to 3 inches long, should be inserted
round the edges of well -drained pots filled with a light compost,
having at least one-third silver-sand mixed with it. As soon as the
cuttings are rooted, pot them off into small pots, using a compost
made up of sweet fibrous loam, with an admixture of rotten manure
and sand, using plenty of drainage in the pots. As soon as the
growth has reached 3 inches in length, pinch out the centre of each
shoot, when they will be found to break right from the bottom of the
plants, which should be kept rather dry during this process. As
soon as the strength of the plants admits of it, tie out the side
shoots, and shift them into larger pots as soon as they reach the
outside of those in which they are growing. Pots from 6 to 8 inches
in diameter are large enough for the final potting, but the size em-
ployed must be in accordance with the purpose for which the plants
may be required.

Some special instructions are requisite in the case of plants in-
tended for exhibition purposes. Actually, Fancy Pelargoniums may
be grown to almost any size, by keeping the house in which they are
making their growth moist and warm. Fancy Pelargoniums undoubt-
edly like warmth, but plenty of air should be given during the day, even
supposing some fire-heat is being employed, and the specimen plants

1870.] ABOUT POTATOES. 449

should have plenty of room. The outside branches should be kept
tied out in order that the centre shoots may have all the light and
air possible. With every attention to tying out, however, the plants,
from their peculiar close habit of growth, are very apt to become
crowded in the branches ; then it is a good plan to thin out a few of
the under leaves from the centre of the plants, which will lessen the
tendency to become drawn.

The experience of the most successful cultivators points to such a
compost as that formed of the following ingredients as the most suit-
able for specimen plants of Fancy Pelargoniums : — Equal parts turfy
loam, peat, and well-decomposed cow and horse dung, adding silver-
sand freely. The pots should be well drained with charcoal and
broken oyster - shells. Some cultivators mingle a little rough peat
with their soil, and add also oyster-shells broken into small pieces.
In potting, the Fancy kinds should be kept higher in the pot than the
large flowering Pelargoniums; what is termed the "collar" of the plant
should be level with the surface of the soil in which it is planted.

Great attention should be paid to watering. Better to have the
plants too dry than too wet ; the first can soon be remedied, the last
scarcely at all. The roots of the Fancies, being of a much finer and
more delicate character than those of the stronger-growing class, are
seriously and speedily affected by an excess of moisture. In their
culture, one very important point is often neglected — namely, cleanli-
ness. There must not be either damp, mildew, or aphides suffered to
accumulate. Either or all of these can be kept under by the use of
timely precautions. Damp will bring mildew, and want of cleanli-
ness will engender green-fly. There is no mystery whatever in pro-
ducing the splendid specimens of Fancy Pelargoniums seen at the
London exhibitions ; attention to a few easily accomplished rules is
all that is required, with a little watchful intelligence presiding over
and directing their application.

ABOUT POTATOES.

"Many of them of good size, but very coarse," was the critical judgment lately
passed upon a large collection of some fifty kinds of Potatoes that were staged at
one of the meetings of the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington.
This critique was just, but not sufficiently severe ; for if it had proceeded to
denounce in strong terms the far too prevalent practice of growing, and especially
of staging for exhibition, the huge, ungainly, sunken-eyed, and altogether " coarse"
samples of our noble tuber that some people seem to think the ne iplus ultra of
Potato culture, then would a service have been rendered to horticultural taste,
and possibly our eyes might soon be rid of the sight of those ugly monstrosities

450 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

yclept " exhibition '' Potatoes. I do protest against the Potato beiug put on a
level with Mangold-wurzel as a show-root, making size the criterion by which
to judge of its merits. Nay, even in judging Mangolds some respect is paid
to shape and outline ; but a Mangold, be it big or little, is but a Mangold
still; whilst there are Potatoes and Potatoes, the difference being just this,
that whilst some are fit to go upon the table of an epicure, others are only
fit diet for the pigs. The difference may be but trifling, but it is enough that it
exists. If I were philosophically inclined, I might profitably moralise over the
strange taste for mere size that seems to prevail among horticulturists. We
have nearly gone mad in the pursuit of it in some things, and now find we have
committed a huge blunder.

Big plants have had their day, and are now rather pooh-poohed ; big Cucum-
bers, also, are now looked upon as so much cattle-food by judges of taste ; big
Melons or other fruit must pass through the sharp ordeal of the flavour test ; and
so it is all through the piece. And now we have but to get rid of the strange
anomaly of big Potatoes from our exhibition tables, and then we may well hope
for the display in the future of such cultural results as shall both please the eye
and delight the taste ; and that such a reformation is near I have good reason to
believe. Business pursuits took me a short time since to the classic regions of
Oxford ; and whilst there, how could I resist the temptation, so strong to me as a
" potatoologist " (?), to drop in upon that celebrated cultivator Mr Ptobert Fenn
of "Woodstock, and get a look at what he was doing in the way of raising new
varieties, as well as note the results of his mode of cultivation]

Mr Fenn is a strong advocate for what is known as the " ridge-and-trench sys-
tem" of culture; and which system, however, simply means that the ground,
having been well prepared and manured during the previous winter, the line is
laid down at intervals of 3 feet apart, the sets are then placed in a row alongside
of the line, and about 15 inches? distant from each other in the rows, and then
the soil is thrown up over the sets with the spade, burying them to the depth of
about 6 inches. Of course no earthing-up is needed, and the trenches in between
are at any time available for the planting out of winter crops. I had tried this
mode of planting myself, on a dry soil, during the past summer, with but indiffer-
ent results — that is to say, I obtained no greater produce out of a line so planted
than I did from a line planted on the old method, and therefore I did not esteem
the mode of cultivation a desirable one to follow. Naturally I felt desirous to
note how Mr Fenn's ridge-planted Potatoes turned out ; so, when the inevitable
refreshment had been partaken of, we turned out to the garden, he grasping his
digging-fork with as much zest and fervour as a soldier would his beloved rifle, and
I, note-book in hand, to mark in permanent characters the results. But first I must
state, to my great joy, I found Potatoes were grown both upon the ridge and the
flat system in the old rectory garden at Woodstock ; and after a fair comparison
of the produce, we concluded that nothing was gained by ridging, as the crop in
each case was about equal in a given length of row. The advantages of the ridge
system appear to be two — first, a saving of seed ; second, greater convenience for
putting out winter crops. The disadvantages are — first, more manual labour re-
quired in planting ; second, a smaller crop from off a given space of ground. One
thing, however, must not be forgotten. Mr Fenn grows solely for comparison, and
not for his own consumption, a few of the coarse, rank-growing varieties, of which
we have far too many. His study and endeavour has long been to obtain sorts that
produce but a medium green growth, and of such is the bulk of his crop ; so that
the necessity does not really exist for wide spaces between* the rows, as the ex-

i87o.] ABOUT POTATOES. 451

pansion of root-fibres is pretty much regulated by haulm -growths. Hitherto,
also, the grafting process had found in Mr Fenn a stanch believer — not neces-
sarily, however, in its capacity to produce great or beneficial results, but rather
in its capacity to produce changes ; and as I have not previously scrupled to ex-
press my doubts as to results of any kind being obtained, the first thing to be
done was to lift some roots of grafted samples, starting with Milky White, to show
its natural character. We next lifted a root of the same variety grafted into a
Fluke, and found the produce to be more rounded in form ; there was a decided
deviation both in shape and colour, the foliage also distinctly altered. Then
followed Milky White grafted into Yorkshire Hero. Here the foliage presented
a combination of both these kinds, but the tuber was decidedly indifferent.

Onwards, a handsome second early round of good quality was next raised, and
was followed by the same variety grafted into Yorkshire Hero ; that developed a
later growth of foliage that was still green, and the tuber rather rougher and of
coarser appearance, and showing no improvement. Yorkshire Hero grafted into
Onwards exhibited no change whatever.

Here we held a conference to discuss and compare notes ; and this was the re-
sult of our conclusions : He to retain his belief in grafting, but that it produced
in the Potato no beneficial results ; I to forego my hitherto utter incredulity, and
to recognise the principle of Potato-grafting, but with the belief that for the pro-
duction of improvement in sorts thereby it was worthless.

Thus far wTe had cleared out of our way two important points of difference, and
now turned to the more congenial, but not less interesting, duty of lifting and
taking notes of the seedlings and more recent kinds. I think we started with the
Old Lapstone, the parent of a numerous progeny. Why, I was quite startled this
year to note in my large collection how many of the sorts developed the Lapstone
foliage, a growth that, once seen, can at all times be recognised — upright, stiff,
with rounded incurved leaves — a most desirable sort of haulm to get to a good
variety; but I fear that betwixt the sorts that now yield this form of foliage there
is rather too much of the tweedledum and tweedledee difference. Here are a few
of them : Lapstone, Haigh's do., Huntingdon Kidney, Rixton Pippin, Lady
Paget, Pebble White, Crystal Palace, Ashtop Fluke (how Ashtop ?), Daintree's
Kidney, Yorkshire Hero, and Beaconsfield Kidney, which latter Mr Fenn thinks,
as I do, is just the old Pebble White, but having a rougher skin than the
Lapstone. Mr Turner's other new variety, Union, is an early round that closely
resembles Walker's seedling round in general features. The Waterloo Kidney as
usual lifted a fine sample, and it is without exception one of the handsomest and
best bred of the White Kidneys that we have.

Now we come to one of Mr Fenn's newest and choicest productions, the Rector
of Woodstock, which is decidedly a good stock. It ranks as a second early, haulm
of moderate growth, and turns out such handsome white round tubers, and (for
we tasted them) of such excellent quality, that it must be pronounced in Potato
circles a real acquisition. This Potato has been the result of most careful selec-
tion, as some dozens of seedlings, all of the same family, were lifted, and all good,
but the Rector was the best ; and we were thus enabled to sign and seal Mr Fenn's
judgment, as well as that of the Fruit Committee of the Royal Horticultural
Society, who last year awarded this variety a first-class certificate of merit. A
fine seedling round, pink in colour, of handsome appearance and good cropper,
is approved, and so is a handsome Red Kidney that is very promising. Then we
come upon a batch of seedlings raised from that capital round variety Early Em-
peror, the pollen parent being Onwards, and lift a red round, much like the

452 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

Emperor parent, but does not run out like that variety. This seedling was both
handsome and prolific. Next was a pink round, much the colour of the Ameri-
can Rose. It was rough in skin, early, and handsome, and is named English
Rose. This is a very promising kind also. A white round, with purple-blotched
eyes, very handsome and promising, is next approved ; and so is a peculiarly
good-looking, rough-skinned red kidney, out of the same batch, that we dubbed
Fenn's bountiful, for it is a good cropper and a real beauty. The last selected
of this breed is a strong-growing white round, having pink eyes, which is very
handsome, and will make a superb exhibition variety. One more seedling was
from a cross between Shutford seedling and Hogg's Coldstream. This was a fine
white round that will by-and-by take a prominent place as a fine early. I think
this is the one we dubbed, in a gallant spirit, Eliza Fenn, after Mr Fenn's kind
and hospitable better-half. Mr Fenn grows altogether a large collection, having
nearly all the best-known sorts that are in the market, and many of these also
were looked over, but notes of them may well be left until some other time, when
I may also embody with them mention of the results of my own trials. I must,
however, not omit to bear witness to the great care and patient attention that Mr
Fenn bestows upon the culture of his favourite esculent, as also upon the still
more difficult duty of selection. A high appreciation of beauty in shape and out-
line rules his judgment ; and so much did the handsome and almost perfect form
of many of his new seedlings impress me, that when the next day, on passing
through Reading, I looked in upon the show then being held, I became so
shocked with a sight of many of the big, coarse, ugly Potato monstrosities there
staged, as to have suffered for some time afterwards from Potato nightmare. I
exhort people who will show Potatoes, in the future to have some regard for the
outraged sensibilities of Potato critics.

Years ago, long before Moules's system of earth-closets had been unearthed,
Mr Fenn put the system into operation at Woodstock. I saw his modus
operandi, and can vouch for its simplicity, originality, and effectiveness.
This is the source from which is obtained the manure that has for some years
grown the Woodstock Potato, and capital stuff it is. The best time for its appli-
cation is early in the winter, and then it becomes thoroughly incorporated with
the soil. It, moreover, keeps the soil light and porous, and is altogether exempt
from most of those objections that apply to other strong manures when used for
potato-culture.

Mr Fenn has three specialties, in each of which he is well posted — viz., Pota-
tatoes, Bees, and British Wine-making. Of the first I have written; of the second,
I can only say that his hives are of the best design, full of busy bees, and that his
honey is delicious ; and of the third — well, readers should see and taste for them-
selves who can. The fine old rectory-house has its entire front enveloped with
Grape Vines that are bearing, goodness only knows how many bunches ; but we
saw that on one chimney only there must have been, at least, half a hundred-
weight of fruit ; and then there is a large portion of garden-wall also covered
with Vines, and from the entire produce I suppose will soon be brewed wine
enough to fill the large cellars under the rectory-house.

Some day or other, perhaps, the Potatoes, Bees, and Wines will make a noise,
for Mr Fenn has a right to look forward for the fruits of his labours. May the
kind geniality of disposition that so strongly permeates the character of ov.v
Woodstock friend always be his ! and when once more he shall shoulder the fork
and go forth to his annual Potato harvest, may I be there to see !

SoUTHPwON.

1870.] NOTES ON LILIES. 453

notes onsr lilies.

The varied beauty of form and colour in the many species comprised
in the genus Lily, and the sweet fragrance which some of them possess,
combine to make one wonder why they are not more generally seen
in our gardens.

I can well remember the beauty of some kinds that were common
in cottage gardens years ago — the elegant tall white L. candidum,
the orange Lily (L. aurantiacum) so dear to northern Ireland, the
Tiger Lily (L. tigrinum), the Turk's Cap (L. martagon), &c. These
are all worth growing, but there are some kinds of more recent intro-
duction which are equally hardy and easy of cultivation.

One section contains L. longiflorum, L. eximium, and L. Take-
sima, all dwarf-growing species and varieties, with large white bell-
shaped flowers of exquisite odour. L. longiflorum is most common;
L. eximium, when it can be obtained true, will be found to differ from
it in having longer and more elegantly-shaped flowers ; while L.
Takesima is of a more robust habit, with black stems and larger
flowers. An allied species is known as L. Brownii or Japonicum
verum. This grows to about 4 feet, and has flowers of a creamy white
shaded outside with dark brown. In my opinion it surpasses those
previously mentioned in beauty.

Another section includes the varieties of L. umbellatum, sold under
many different names, according to colour, which varies from" pale citron
to a rather dull crimson, plain or more or less spotted with darker
colour. The flowers are bell-shaped, the odour scarcely perceptible,
or slightly unpleasant.

In another section the flowers have the petals reflexed like the old
Turk's Cap Lily, and this section contains species which vary much in
their other characters. Among them are the following : —

L. tenuifolium, a small kind with slender leaves and scarlet flowers,
very elegant.

L. Canadense or superbum, a plant of elegant habit, with pale
orange flowers spotted with black.

L. excelsum, L. testaceum, and L. carneum are various names
under which I have bought a Lily of very strong growth (about 5 feet
in height) with buff flowers and crimson stamens. It is very hardy,
and the bulbs increase rapidly. It is one of the finest of Lilies. I
have not found it to be sweet-scented, as it is stated to be in some of
the catalogues.

The varieties of L. lancifolium are well known for their beauty
and sweetness ; they do well in the open ground, as does L. auratum,
wrhich may now be procured at a moderate price.

2 G

454 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

L. tenuifolium flowers early in June, and from thence to September
other kinds come into bloom, until the varieties of L. lancifolium
wind up the season in September.

All except the very tall-growing kinds are well suited for growth
in pots. When they require shifting into larger pots, the earth
about the roots should only be partially removed, and the bulbs should
not be allowed to get dry. George D. Brown.

Ealing, W.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

THE PEACH AND NECTARINE.

(Continued from page 400.)

I will take it for granted the cultivator has succeeded in his
operation of either budding or grafting. If so, the young tree should
make a good healthy shoot several feet long during the first season.
The next object is to get the wood thoroughly ripened by exposure
to light and air. At the pruning season, in winter or spring, the
leader ought to be cut back to 12 or 14 inches from the ground in the
case of a dwarf-trained tree, but in the case of a tree intended for a
rider — which probably will have been wTorked at the desired height
— it ought to be cut back to three eyes from whence it started. The
after-management of either a dwarf or rider is much the same. The
second year three shoots should be allowed to spring from the young
tree, one from the centre to form a leader and one on either side to
form the basis of a tree. The side-shoots may be elevated to an
angle of 45° or thereabouts, so as to encourage their growth. These
in their turn should be thoroughly ripened. In autumn the young
tree would benefit much by a gentle root-pruning, which may be done
any time after the middle or end of August. All strong watery
roots should be amputated by a nice clean cut, the points of the other
roots being trimmed back a little so as to encourage the formation of
healthy-feeding roots. At the pruning season in winter, the leader,
which has been formed during the summer, may be cut back to 4 or 6
inches from whence it started, while the side branches may be cut to
any length from 1 to 1J foot, according to the quality of the wood.
I need not give further details regarding the after-pruning or training
of the Peach and Nectarine ; suffice it to say that the principal object
to be aimed at is the the regular filling up of the tree with young
fruit-bearing wood. Nothing looks worse than to see a tree, either
Peach or Nectarine, have the whole of its centre a blank devoid of

i87o.] THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 455

either leaves or fruit, while the extremities are crowded with both
in order to make up for the deficiency elsewhere. This is no
uncommon sight, however, and is simply the result of an injudi-
cious handling of the knife at the pruning season. Let the cul-
tivator do his best to keep a supply of wood near home, and the
tree itself will make ample provision for the extremities without his
assistance. The disbudding season is perhaps the period when the
greatest mischief is done in this way. In performing this operation
let the best back-buds remain to form shoots ; and if this one simple
matter is attended to year after year, there will never be a lack of
fruit-bearing wood regularly distributed all over the tree. Some
cultivators have tried to grow peaches upon what I may call a semi-
spur system, but as in every case the fruit of the Peach is produced
upon the wood formed the previous year, I see many drawbacks to
the method, and little or nothing in its favour. I would therefore
never leave a spur, but, where the knife is used, would make a clean
cut, removing the entire shoot. I consider another great error is
committed by leaving too much wood. If the shoots are left at a
distance of from 4 to 6 inches apart all over the tree, there will be less
disbudding required in spring, while there will be plenty of wood to
bear a crop, which will have a greater chance of getting well ripened
than if the tree were crowded with foliage. Root-pruning should be
regularly attended to every two or three years, and the probability is
that by the time the tree is eight or ten years of age it will be in a
regular fruit-bearing condition for life. As in the case of other
fruit-trees so is it with the Peach — early autumn is the best time for
performing this operation. From the middle of August till the end
of September may be considered about the best season of the year.
I would further recommend that the operation be performed much in
the same way as already recommended for other fruits, and at the
same time using the usual precautions for protecting the roots from
drought, frost, or excessive rains. If such simple things as these get
the attention they deserve, the cultivation of the Peach and Nectarine
as hardy fruits is not such a difficult matter as some suppose it to be.
The most difficult matter in their cultivation is the protection of the
blossom and young fruit from the frosts of spring ; this being over-
come, the greatest obstacle has been surmounted : but as it is my inten-
tion to speak more fully on this point hereafter, I will drop the subject
for the present.

There can be no two opinions regarding the situation which is best
suited for the Peach and Nectarine. A south exposure is the only
one from which success may be looked for. I cannot deny but that
I have seen good crops occasionally taken from other situations, yet

456 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

this is no argument why the best situation in the garden should not
be given to the best of all our hardy fruits. A few points east or
west of south will matter but little, but with this slight margin to
work upon I claim the south aspect for the Peach.

In preparing borders for the reception of the Peach, my motto is,
" Do it well, and the better it is done the more profitable will it be in
the end." I am not a believer in that shortsighted economy which can-
not see the practicability of spending a shilling to-day because there is
no immediate certainty of having it returned with usury to-morrow. It
savours too much of the slothful servant and the unused talent in the
parable, and the gardener who does not do all in his power to have
this operation well done is sowing for himself the first seeds of the
want of success. The first thing to be observed when forming new
borders is, that they be thoroughly well drained. Common tile- drains
should run from the wall at distances of not more than 12 feet apart
down to a main drain which should have enough of fall to carry off all
superfluous moisture as rapidly as possible. These drains should not
be more than 2J feet deep, and should be covered over with from
8 to 10 inches of broken bricks, stones, or suchlike, so as to leave
from 20 inches to 2 feet for the soil of the border. This depth
I consider quite enough ; in fact, I believe that more success in Peach-
growing has been accomplished with borders about this depth than
when deeper. In this opinion I find most of our horticultural writers
agreed.

I now come to the sort of soil that is best suited for the Peach. A
light mellow loam is what has been found generally to suit best. In
wet and cold localities I would be inclined to have a very light loam,
yet one possessing a good deal of vegetable matter ; and according to
the nature of the climate and the amount of rainfall should I be in-
clined to vary the nature and texture of it. In very dry localities I
would not object to a slightly adhesive loam, always choosing it if
possible from good old pasture, and consequently possessing abundance
of vegetable matter. Notwithstanding all this I would have no scru-
ples in attempting the cultivation of the Peach in any ordinary soil,
for it is my belief it does not depend so much upon the nature of the
soil, provided it be not positively bad, as upon the proper con-
struction of the border and the nature of the drainage. I say this
for the encouragement of those who may not have a choice in the
matter ; but to those who may have this, I recommend a moderately
heavy and rich alluvial soil, cut from an old pasture, and stacked for
nine or twelve months before being used. If of this nature, the addi-
tion of a few bones and a little charcoal will be found beneficial ; but
if it is rather poor, I would recommend a slight addition of cow-dung

1870.] GARDENING AT PINKIE HOUSE. 457

over and above. Mr M'Intosh, in his ' Book of the Garden/ vol. ii. p.
487, has some very good and judicious remarks regarding the formation
of Peach-tree borders, and in addition to what I have stated, he says
regarding aeration, " Thorough drainage is not only necessary to the
welfare of the roots of the Peach and all other tender trees — and this
the more so as the situation is cold, late, or damp — but subterranean
aeration, or underground ventilation, is equally essential." I have
never seen this put into practice, but in theory I like the idea very
much. The simplest mode I know of accomplishing this is to place
ordinary tiles in communication with the drains of the border and the
material covering the same. By placing these tiles perpendicularly so
as to make regular communication with the air and the bottom of the
border, placing one set along the bottom of the wall and the other at
the front of the border near the walk, a regular and free circulation of
air will be secured, which, I have no doubt, would prove highly
beneficial to the cultivation of the Peach in localities where now its
growth is regarded as almost impossible.

James MOIillan.
(To be continued.)

GARDENING AT PINKIE HOUSE.

As an Englishman rather enthusiastic in botanical research, I venture to state
how very much I am interested, in my yearly visit to Scotland, in what I find
in the many gardens that come under my notice. Go where I will, I find either
something new, or some old and valuable herbaceous plant under cultivation, or
the general garden in a high state of order and beauty. I have, however, only
found one garden where all the requisites for complete study and enjoyment
are existing — viz., bedding-out plants, herbaceous, Alpine, and Ferns. Many
gardens are indeed a glorious display of colouring ; the eye is pleased, the taste
gratified, but the mind is dissatisfied. In visiting one, you visit all — the only
variety is the transposition of the colouring. But where botany is really con-
sidered, where the different classes or orders of plants are valued, where plants
from the smallest sedum to the tallest herbaceous plant are to be found, there is
cultivation of the mind with intense gratification and useful study. I might
then state how gratified I was at finding at Pinkie House all that I so much
longed to see, — a most picturesque arrangement of bedding plants, with a back-
ground of fine timber ; a large assortment of herbaceous plants, about 300
varieties ; an interesting collection of Alpines, and a very fine collection
of Ferns, these latter numbering at least 300 hardy varieties, all of which had
remained out during the last winter. Some of the specimens are in great
vigour, especially the Polystichums. There was also one very pleasing feature
in this garden — it is not kept up at a very heavy expense. Many of the
great shoiv gardens require a large staff and a heavy outlay, but here all is

45S THE GARDENER. [Oct.

produced in a very moderate scale of expense. Ferns do not appear to me
to be nearly so much cultivated in Scotland as in England. It may be that
it is a more common plant here, and not considered so worthy of a place in
the garden ; but the varieties are bo increased, and the cultivation so much
better understood, that they are to many of the deepest interest. Formerly
there were not more than 100 varieties, now there are more than 1000. Many,
however, that are styled varieties are so little removed from the form and
appearance of the mother plant that they are hardly worthy the trouble of
cultivation. Filix-Mas.

HINTS FOR AMATEURS-OCTOBER."1

During the past season we have read and heard much of drought,
mildew, and failures among many of the principal garden crops— such
as Peas, Cauliflowers, Turnips, Spinach, &c. Where manure is scarce,
and ground light and shallow, such failures are almost certain • and as
a help to meet such difficulties in future, everything should be done
during the next few months to secure deep tilth. Harvest all waste
vegetation, collect soil, road-scrapings, leaves, parings of walks or
road-edges, &c, which make excellent dressing, especially if all
liquids from the washing-house and elsewhere have been thrown over
the heap. There is still great waste in villages and cottage dwellings
of valuable material, which might have done much during a season
even like the past to secure good vegetables, as well as keeping
impurities within proper limits. Trenching will soon require atten-
tion, and that may be done deeply, and the effect will tell favour-
ably on the crops. Where soil may be rich and rather heavy, light
sandy earth will be of great advantage to it. Last season we had
large quantities of soil at our disposal from Vine and Peach bor-
ders. It was spread on vacant ground instead of manure, and well
incorporated with the ground in process of trenching (which was
three spades deep), and the effect was excellent. We never had finer
crops, except Cauliflowers, supplies of which, after the first planta-
tion, were only kept up by frequently planting successions, thus
taking up more ground than we could afford ; but as each lot was
about its best, Spinach or Turnips were sown, which filled up the
ground, and were soon ready for use after the Cauliflowers were
cleared off. From the benefit we have had by sowing and plant-
ing under the shade of tall fruit-bushes and Raspberries, we believe
that much more might be done with dwarf fruit-trees for shade than
is generally admitted. Single rows of Jerusalem Artichokes, Scarlet-
Runners, and tall-growing Peas are always useful for shading some

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 459

kinds of vegetables ; and where plenty of water is not to be had,
it is necessary to strike out of the beaten track if regular supplies
of crisp produce are wanted. The system adopted by Mr Speed of
Chatsworth, to secure supplies of rain-water at once, tells its own
tale of usefulness. There are few gardens where it, to some extent,
cannot be put in practice ; and the drought which this island has
been subject to for some years past suggests to us that waste sur-
face-water might be turned to much better account than it is. It
is an old plan to have carriage - roads, walks, lawns, gardens, &c,
drained and led into one or two large tanks for watering plants,
&c., but this falls far short of having cisterns in convenient posi-
tions to water growing crops of fruit and vegetables. Lifting of
roots — such as Carrots, Beet, and Parsnips — will now require attention.
The two former, lifted and allowed to become rather dry on the ground,
then placed under cover compactly together, and a covering of dry straw
over them, will keep them well. Pitting them in a dry position answers
well enough when the quantity is bulky. Parsnips keep well in the
ground, taking up a few in open weather to keep up the supply
as required. Potatoes should not be stored in large quantities while
they are wet, as many would rot. Lettuce and Endive may soon be
lifted and placed in frames, or where shutters can be placed over to
throw off heavy rain and keep out frost. If they are not sufficiently
blanched, tying up the heads or placing a board or slate over the
Endive will soon make it fit for use. Cauliflowers under protection,
and small Lettuces, should have sifted coal-ashes and a little lime spread
through among the plants to dislodge slugs, &c. Where glass is used,
the covers should be off at all times except when rain or frost prevails.
Spinach for winter supplies, and young Onions, may have a little lime
thrown between the drills to keep the worms from throwing out the
young plants. Asparagus may be cleaned, cutting off all decayed stems.
It is a common practice to put a layer of decayed manure over the
roots, but in damp localities, where the crowns do not ripen, the manure
helps to destroy them, and often good crops are lost. Where there is
danger from damp, it is a good practice to place the soil over the
crowns in ridges, forking in what manure is necessary before growth
commences. French Beans in full bearing may be protected from frost
by hoops and mats, or if a frame can be placed over a few rows,
pickings may be had for some time after the main crops are de-
stroyed. In a sunk pit we have a fine lot coming into bearing : wooden
shutters are placed over them at night. Tomatoes cover the back, which
also may be kept on late in the season. Cucumbers in frames depend-
ing for heat from linings may now require close attention, keeping
the heat as steady as possible, cutting out any leaves which are decaying,

460 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

preventing crowding of shoots, and giving water only when absolutely
necessary. Mushroom beds maybe made where droppings can be had
from the stables : a little straw mixed with them is not objectionable :
turfy loam helps to keep the heat long in the bed. The manure re-
quires to be moderately dried before it is used, and not allowed to
evaporate the virtue out of it. Burning of the material by letting it
lie in heaps must be strictly avoided. Use a layer of manure about 1 5
inches or less in depth, thoroughly beaten firm, and when the heat
stands about 75° to 85°, the spawn (after being broken up in pieces
the size of hen eggs) may be placed regularly over the bed about 9
inches or more apart, and 1 or 2 inches below the surface. When it
is certain that the bed will not heat violently, let it be beaten with
the back of a shovel, and 2 inches of good healthy loam placed over
and made firm and smooth. The bed may then be covered with an
old mat or dry hay, and if all is right the Mushrooms will appear in
the course of five to eight weeks, according to the heat of the bed.
Water need not be given till the Mushrooms appear, and then it should
be tepid, and the soil only moistened.

Fruit-gathering will now require attention : if any are allowed to
fall on the hard ground and be bruised, they should be kept separate
from those which are to be stored for keeping late. When placed in
the store-room, plenty of air should be admitted for a week or two, then
the structure may be kept close and dark. When fruit-trees are to be
planted, let the pits be made wide, and, if it can be had, a quantity of
fresh loam placed in with the roots. If there are any broken roots, let
them be cut clean below the break ; if any are long and naked, they may
be cut well back, so that plenty of fibre may be thrown out. When
planting, place the roots on the level of the surrounding soil, and add
8 or 10 inches over them. Stake the tree firmly, if it is a standard,
so that it will not move the roots by the force of wind : a quantity of
litter placed over the whole is necessary to keep out frost. If planting
is done against walls, the stems of the trees should be kept 8 inches
or so off the walls, so that in the course of time they may have room
to grow. Fruit-trees when planted in firm soil make sturdy growth,
and come more quickly into bearing. Concrete placed in the bottoms
of the pits, 2 or 3 feet wide, will cause the roots to turn outwards ; and
when root-pruning may be necessary, it is easily performed without the
necessity of lifting the tree. If trees are to be chosen at the nurseries,
those which have been often cut back and have been pruned, with
pieces of wood left on, which are known by knife-men as "snags,"
should not be accepted as a gift, as disease is almost certain to lay
hold of them. This hint is most applicable to Peaches, Apricots, and
Cherries. It is well to ascertain what kinds of fruits suit the

1870.] LAPAGERIA ROSEA. 461

locality before a purchase is made. Apples, Pears, and Plums may-
be had as "maidens," or with first season's growth, and planted as
cordons on vacant spaces on walls. No portion of wall or fence should
remain uncovered ; plant against it either fruit-trees or Roses, &c.
Some Apples we have used for this purpose, below larger fruit-trees,
produced fine high-coloured fruit, especially Bibston Pippin, and
Margil, which do little good here as ordinary standards. It is soon
enough to begin pruning; but if any cuttings of Currants or
Gooseberries are to be saved, it would be well to select them in
time, as, when left to be picked up after the general pruning, the
different kinds are liable to become mixed. Tie them in bundles
and stick them in the ground till wanted, and the making of them
may have attention on a wet day.

Plants to be kept under glass during the winter should now be
examined, putting the drainage to rights, surfacing with fresh soil,
washing the pots, or anything that is necessary, before arranging
them in their winter-quarters. Cinerarias, Primulas, and similar plants,
should be placed near the glass, where no drip can reach them, and
where plenty of fresh air can be admitted. Frost may now be ex-
pected, and all bedding-plants of value should be lifted and placed
under, protection. Chrysanthemums coming into flower may be liber-
ally supplied with manure-water, turning them round to the light.
Get all bulbs potted or planted as formerly advised : those under cover
should have timely attention before they grow under the covering.
Plants for forcing, such as Skimmias, Lilacs, Roses, Deutzias, <kc, should
be under cover soon, and not exposed to much frost. Cleanliness, fresh
air, and careful watering, should now be the order of the day for plants
under glass. M. T.

LAPAGERIA ROSEA.

I have now under my care, growing in a cool conservatory, and gradually covering
a good portion of the roof, a plant of this fine greenhouse twiner. It came into
my hands in 1865, and was then a plant about 18 inches in height, growing in a
48-pot. I planted it at the south-west corner of the conservatory, in a spot which
gets some shade at the latter part of the day; and to receive the roots, I made a
small pit or tank, about 3 feet in length by 1 foot in width, and edged it with
stone. The pit was made about 18 inches in depth, and one-third of it filled with
brick-rubble for drainage. The Lapageria was then planted in some bog-peat, as
spongy as I could get it, with which was mingled some rough sand. It, soon
began to grow, and flowered for the first time in 1868 ; since then it has bloomed
yearly ; and as the plant increases in size and strength, the flowers not only be-
come more numerous, but larger and of finer quality.

432 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

My mode of treatment is as simple as it appears to be effectual. During the
summer, at the growing season, I water plentifully ; during the winter, when at
rest, it is watered only occasionally — just enough to keep the soil moist. Occa-
sionally I top-dress the plant with peat and sand as required ; the constant water-
ing duriug summer tends to wash away the soil from the roots. It is well to
thoroughly top-dress at the beginning of winter, just as the summer supply of
water is withheld; then the newly-added soil gets pretty well settled about the
roots by the time growth commences in the spring.

I get a supply of flowers about nine months in the year ; and it seeds freely,
some of the pods hanging on the plant for a considerable time. The plant makes
vigorous growth, and during the past summer has made shoots 16 feet in length.
It has been in robust health, and made wood freely.

I find it necessary to shield the young growing* ishoots from the attacks of
woodlice and snails or slugs. These young shoots come up through the ground of
a character similar to those of the Asparagus ; and as soon as there is a slug or a wood-
louse in the house, it will find its way to it, and eat away the tip of the shoots. If
this happens, the growth of the shoot is checked directly, and it rarely if ever
starts again. As soon as I perceive a shoot coming through the soil, I place a
lamp-glass over it, and keep it there till it has made sufficient growth to be
out of reach of the foes.

I think a very pretty effect could be secured by blending the white with the
rose-coloured variety in the interior of the roof of a suitable house. At present
the former is very scarce and expensive ; when it becomes cheaper, it will no
doubt be grown as much as the other and older form. George Venner.

The Grove Gardens. Hanwell.

ON. COLOUR, IN THE TREE SCENERY OF OUR
GARDENS, PARKS, AND LANDSCAPES.

(Read before the Horticultural Congress at Oxford, July 21, 1870.)

Last year I had the privilege of reading a paper at the Manchester Congress of
this Society "On the Improvement of Races," which subject may be said proper-
ly to belong to the " science " of gardening. To-day I have the pleasure of sub-
mitting to you my thoughts " On Colour in the Tree Scenery of our Gardens,
Parks, and Landscapes ; " and here I find myself dealing more directly with the
"art" of gardening. While fully recognising the progress both in the art and
science of gardening which has taken place in my day, I yet think that in this
outlying but important province our professors have not made so free and effec-
tive a use as they might have done of the various tints of foliage which are to be
found amongst trees and shrubs. Lest I should be misunderstood, permit me to
state at the outset, that I hold the prevailing green with which the earth is
clothed to be the best colour that could have been devised for the purpose, as
blue is the most appropriate colour for the sky. But the sky, which is beyond
our reach and power, is naturally subject to constant and considerable variation,
and is singularly free from monotony. It is not altogether, or long together, of
one colour. There are light fleecy clouds continually breaking up the hemi-
sphere of blue ; varying in substance and colour ; sometimes hanging motionless,

1870.] ON COLOUR IN TREE SCENERY. 463

but oftener sailing noiselessly along, more or less rapidly, and every moment
changing in form. Then there are the dark thunderclouds, and the golden,
silvery, purple, and roseate hues, which often give both life and brilliancy to
the morning and evening sky.

But we have the power given unto us to vary and adorn the surface of the earth,
and I would here invite public attention, and invoke the artist's aid in behalf of
colour. There appears to me a monotony on the face of our English landscapes
arising from one uniform and all-pervading colour — green. This monotony I
would seek to remove by the introduction of trees with purple, white, and yellow
leaves. "With the same end in view, I would also plant more freely the transi-
tory red, yellow, brown, and purple tints of spring and autumn, supplementing
these effects by the introduction of berry-bearing trees — trees with white, red,
black, and yellow berries, and trees with* white, red, and yellow bark for winter
ornament. With these preliminary remarks I shall endeavour to show, 1st,
that the object I seek is desirable ; next, that it is attainable ; and shall
conclude with a few general remarks and brief examples in support of
my views. I am free to confess that there is nothing in the whole
range of nature which yields me more pleasure than the contemplation of a beau-
tiful landscape. To stand on some elevated spot in the English or Scotch lake
district, for example, and look down on a broad and varied expanse of country;
to row upon the surface of the lake, and look upwards upon the towering masses
of rock and tree ; to trace the lake shores, the lake islets and waterfalls, is, I
believe, a recreation of a highly intellectual and more aesthetic order than the
many who have not practised it might at first sight take it to be.

A highly- cultivated American gentleman once said to me : " England is a series
of varied and improved landscapes. Now and then in remote districts one
catches a glimpse of nature, unaided and adorned ; but generally throughout the
length and breadth of the land high art has been so skilfully applied as to effect
the artist's object without leaving behind any traces of the artist's hand. But I
miss the brilliant autumnal glow of the American forests : your landscapes lack
colour." This very nearly expresses my ideas of English scenery; the natural
beauties of our landscapes have in many cases been improved or developed at a
sufficiently distant date, that the old and the new have become blended in one
harmonious whole, leaving no strong lines of demarcation between the work of
nature and the work of art ; but the landscapes are generally cold and mono-
tonous— wanting in variety and colour.

If we proceed to analyse a beautiful English landscape we shall find it composed
of diversity of surface, light and shade, wood, water, rock, and many minor
accessories, which may or may not be present, either singly or in combination.
These I mention not to dwell upon, but to dismiss, as the recognised features of
the landscape. My business at present is with tree scenery, and principally
with one feature of it — colour. Our earth-tints are prominently neutral, often
sombre ; and to correct this should, in my judgment, be a leading idea with the
true artist in landscape-gardening. A piece of country, however beautiful by
nature — a garden, however perfectly planned — yields more or less pleasure
according to the skill and taste exercised in the planting; just as the proportions
and beauty of the human form are improved or otherwise by the style of dress —
trees, shrubs, and flowers constituting, in fact, the exterior dress of the garden
and the landscape. Now it must be patent to those even who are but slightly
acquainted with this subject, that the labours of our plant-collectors abroad and
plant-cultivators at home have placed within our reach many trees with coloured
leaves — purple, yellow, and white — of various shades, and I hold that these

4G4 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

colours should be so blended with the prevailing green as to remove the monotony
which at present obtains. That the effect of colour in the landscape would be
generally appreciated, was once brought home to me in a peculiar manner. I
was riding in company with some friends through the park at Chatsworth, in
Derbyshire. Suddenly we sighted a tree with reddish-brown leaves rising from
the greensward, and surrounded at some little distance with the usual green trees.
Remote as it was, we could not at the moment make it out, but all admired it,
and agreed that it was at once telling and beautiful. Led by admiration as much
as by curiosity, we approached it, and discovered a dead tree retaining its reddish-
brown withered leaves.

I think that any cultivated observer who may dwell ever so briefly on the
tree scenery of Great Britain, will admit that the contrasts of colour, weak and
little varied as they generally are, present to him one of its most pleasing features.
If, then, the slight existing variation of colour, restricted principally to the
contrast between light and dark green, is admitted to be an element of beauty,
may we not justly infer that we should gain something if we varied and increased
the contrasts by the use of stronger and more distinct colours? I think, then,
that I may fairly assume that, on a free and full consideration of this subject, it
will be generally admitted that a greater variety of colour would be an improve-
ment in the tree scenery of our English gardens, parks, and landscapes.

I have next to show that the object I seek is attainable. The arrangement of
the colours of flowers in the flower-garden has of late years been worked out with
wonderful skill and effect. What were our flower-gardens in this respect thirty
years ago ? I remember that results predicted then were considered impossible
by the many, although they have been accomplished, and more than accomplished,
long ago. Now, as far as I am aware, no one has yet applied the same principles
in the arrangement of trees and shrubs with coloured leaves. I have been told
that it cannot be done. But after a long study of the question and numerous
experiments, I have come to a different conclusion, which I submit with all
deference to those who think otherwise. I believe that here, as in the flower-
garden, there only needs a beginning, and progress will be rapid and success
certain.

Many years ago I formed a collection of pictorial trees and shrubs, and planted
them closely together, with the view of watching their development and eradi-
cating those kinds which might prove undesirable on more mature acquaintance.
This plan I vigorously pursued, and now find myself in possession of a select
list, which I believe is sufficient to carry out all that I shall advance.

In addition to the ordinary or prevailing green, I find that I have five colours,
or tones of colour, with which to work — 1. Light green ; 2. Dark green ; 3.
Reddish purple ; 4. Yellow or golden; 5. White or silvery; — and these may be
combined in a variety of ways. Dark-bluish green has a good effect when placed
in contrast with light-yellowish green ; white with dark green ; reddish purple
with light green ; reddish purple with yellow ; yellow with dark green. And
these contrasts by no means exhaust our resources. I merely quote them
from among a number of experiments which I have actually tried and
found agreeable to my taste. I have, indeed, no intention here of laying
down any precise or definite rules for the application of these principles ;
I aim at no more than to show that the materials in colour exist, leaving
their combination to be dealt with by the ingenuity and industry of a
cultivated taste. It would be chimerical to suppose, unfair to expect, that any
person taking this subject in hand without previous study, or without the fullest
acquaintance with the materials which exist — some of them newly introduced —

1870.] ON COLOUR IN TREE SCENERY. 465

would at once realise any great measure of success. To such an individual the
scheme would probably appear Utopian. He might, by a momentary effort, call
up in his mind the short list of old and familiar trees with purple, white, and
yellow leaves — the purple Beech, the white Poplar, the variegated Turkey Oak,
and some few others still among the most valuable — but so few in number that he
would dismiss the subject as impracticable. But unless familiar with the black
and yellow Oaks, the yellow Elm, Acacia, and Alder, the white-leaved Acer Ne-
gundo, and the many beautiful Maples recently introduced from Japan — the host
of richly variegated trees only now becoming plentiful, — in a word, unless famil-
iarly acquainted with the latest introductions of this kind, he would, I submit, be
drawing his conclusions from incomplete information.

In order to bring my views to a practical test, I have here a diagram, in which
I have merely sought to obtain the identical colours existing among trees and
shrubs, and must refer you to the specimens exhibited to show that these col-
ours really exist. This diagram, hastily executed, will perhaps also give some
idea of the effect of the arrangement of the colours which we possess. The light
green here is supposed to represent the Larch, the dark green the Yew, the red-
dish purple the purple Beech, the yellow the golden Oak and the white variega-
ted Acer Negundo. There is also introduced here the ordinary green of nature,
which may fairly be taken as the groundwork of our operations.

Now I am well aware, and would not ignore the fact, that the colours of the
leaves of trees are influenced in some degree by cultivation and soil ; but this does
not affect our argument, as in the majority of cases they still bear the same re-
lation to each other.

I have now to offer a few general remarks, with brief examples in support
of the views which I have advanced. Let us remember that we are working
with pictorial trees for pictorial effect. We may have spring pictures, summer
pictures, autumn pictures, and permanent pictures. Summer and perman-
ent pictures are the most valuable because of their greater durability.
Specimens of these are before you, and a list of their names will be given
at the end of this paper. The materials for spring and autumn pictures can only
be shown in spring and autumn. The varying tints of the unfolding leaves of
some trees in spring, and the glowing colours of the leaves of other trees in
autumn, must be familiar to all observers ; and these trees are beautiful in their
seasons, whether regarded individually or in combination. But they are transitory.
The varied and telling colours of spring, ordinarily, quickly subside into the uni-
versal green ; and the bright leaves of autumn fall speedily before the frost and
gales of that season. Yet both are desirable. The warm red and yellow tints of
the unfolding leaves are peculiarly cheering in the colds days of early spring, and
should be introduced freely when planting. The splendour of the American
forests in autumn is a theme on which many travellers have loved to dwell, and
leaves from these forests may be seen in that admirable institution the South
Kensington Museum. The trees we have long had under cultivation, and they
are not only available but capable of being wrought up with magnificent effect in
this country. Among the most effective of spring trees the Corstorphine Plane
(Acer Pseudo-Platanus fiavo-variegatum), yellow; the Acer colchicum rubrum
(red) ; the purple Horse-chestnut (iEsculus Hippocastanum purpureum), purple ;
and the Silver Poplar (Populus argentea), white, may be instanced. The shades
of green at this season are also innumerable, although for the most part gradually
subsiding into one nearly uniform tint. The brightest among the leaves of autumn
are perhaps the Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea), the Liquidambar (L. styracifiua),
the Stag's-horn Sumach (Rhus typhina), the Ostrya virginica, and several varieties

4G6 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

of Cherries, Pears, and Maples ; these usually die off bright red. Of yellow shades
may be instanced the Lombardy and Ontario Poplars (P. fastigiata and P. candi-
cans), the Norway Maple (Acer platandides), the Horse-chestnut {JE. Hippo-
castanum), the Salisburia adiantifolia, the Lime (Tilia Europcoa), the Tulip-tree
(Liriodendron tulipiferum), the "White Mulberry (Morus alba), the Gleditschia
triacanthos, the Magnolia tripetala, the Juglans amara, the Acer Negundo, the
Kolreuteria paniculata, the Birch (Betula alba), and certain varieties of Cherries,
Pears, Thorns, and Maples.

As examples of planting for pictorial effect, nothing can be more beautiful in
the flower-garden than pillars or columns of Ivy, provided that they be appropri-
ately placed. Here we have dark green, light green, green blotched with gold, and
green edged with silver, all calculated to form permanent pictures. Standard
and pyramidal golden Yews and golden Hollies also form beautiful permanent
pictures in the garden. All permanent pictures are of course also winter pic-
tures ; but the common Beech (Fagus sylvatica) deserves special notice : it holds
its reddish-brown leaves throughout the winter, and this colour stands in warm
and beautiful contrast with the Pines and other Evergreens at that season. The
white bark of the Birch, the white, purple, and yellow bark of certain species of
"Willows, the red and yellow berries of the Holly, and the yellow and black ber-
ries of the Privet, are also invaluable for winter decoration. I have often admired
the effect of three large trees placed in juxtaposition in a garden in my neighbour-
hood, whether by accident or design I have no means of ascertaining. Near the
bend of a river is a Weeping Willow, the pale-green drooping branches appearing
in the distance almost to sweep over the stream. Behind rises a mass of the dark
feathery Yew, the plumes of foliage waving in beautiful contrast of motion, form,
and colour. Still further behind there appear in spring rigid masses of Apple-
blossom, the snow-white crimson-tinted flowers blending in beautiful contrast
with the dark and pale green of the Yew and Willow. Here we have the ever-
green and deciduous forms in combination, but they are most effective as a spring
or summer picture. Of all the errors to be avoided in the association of colours,
I would caution the planter against an arrangement that should present a "spotty"
appearance. Broken lines or irregular shapes of colour appear to me more
desirable in forming plantations or belts than figures with a more easily definable
outline. On the face of belts or woods three or five plants of a kind may be
planted in a group, the outline being so broken that there are bays or promon-
tories. In parks and gardens, single trees or groups of trees, each group of a dis-
tinct colour or shade of colour, would seem most appropriate. In working out
these ideas we must never lose sight of harmony, x-emembering, however, that
there are harmonies of contrast as well as of analogy. There is another point
which should on no account be lost sight of. There are some trees the effect of
which is beautiful close to the eye, but which lose their distinctive character in
the distance. Such are more appropriate to the garden, where brought in close
contact with the eye, than in the distant landscape. But there are others which
lose little or nothing from a distant view, and these facts must be taken into
account and acted on when planting. As a rule, trees with variegated leaves are
best placed near to the eye, and those of one uniform tint are most effective in
the distance. I have already instituted a comparison between the colours of
flowers and the colours of leaves, but there is an important difference in them
which I must not omit to mention. The colours of flowers are often so bright
and pronounced that certain of them cannot be judiciously brought into close
contact; they require an intervening mass or line of some intermediate or neutral
colour to render the effect agreeable and satisfactory. Not so, however, with the
colours of trees ; they are so subdued in tone that the association of the strongest

i87o.]

ON COLOUR IN TREE SCENERY.

467

colours does not produce violent contrasts. Again, for this very reason, the col-
ours of leaves being less bright than those of flowers, it becomes necessary here
to accomplish by breadth of colour that which, with flowers, is effected by bril-
liancy of tone. Thus it follows that great breadths of scenery may be dealt with
most effectively. It is, indeed, a mere question of outlay, and nothing more,
whether variety of colour shall or shall not be extended from the garden to the
outer pleasure-ground and shrubberies, the hills of plantations, the outskirts of
woods and forests, and the most distant mountains and plains.

A. — Summer Pictures.

1. Light Green.
Larix Europsea.
Taxodium distichum.
Gleditschia triacanthos.
Juglans laciniata.

Acer Neguudo.
Tdia Europfea.
Catalpa syringsefolia.
Robinia Pseudo-Acacia.
Platanus occidentalis.

2. Dark Green.
Fraxinus crispa.

ii monophylla.
Alnus glutinosa.
Cytisus Laburnum.
Pyrus Aucuparia.
iEsculus hippocastanum.
Betula nigra.
Fagus sylvatica.
Ulmus, various kinds.
Quercus Cerris.

3. Reddish Purple
Fagus sylvatica purpurea.
Ulmus campestris fol. purp.

Acer Pseudo-Platanus fol. purp.
ii japonicum atropurpureum.
Corylus Avellana purpurea.
Quercus pedunculata purpurea.

H nigra.
Berberis vulgaris fol. purp.

4. Yellow or Golden.
Quercus Cerris variegata.

n Robur var. Concordia.
Fraxinus aucubte folia.
Castanea vesca variegata.
Sambucus nigra aureovariegata.
Symphoricarpos vulg. fol. aureis.
Spiraja opulitolia lutea.
Robinia Pseudo-Acacia aurea.

5. White or Silvery.
Populus argentea.

Acer Negundo variegatum.
Tilia argentea.
Pyrus vestita.

ii salicifolia.
Salix argyrea.
Shepherdia argentea.
Hippophae rhamnoides.

B. — Permanent Pictures.

1. Light Green.
Pinus Pyrenaica.

Cedrus Deodara (the green variety).
Abies orierj talis.

ii rubra.
Ilex Balearica.
Juniperus thurifera.
ii Virginiana.

ii Chinensis.

2. Dark Green.
Pinus insiguis.

ii Austriaca.
Picea Nordmanniana.
Araucaria imbricata.
Cupressus Lambertiana.
Quercus Ilex.
Cerasus Lusitanica.
Phillyrea.
Garrya elliptica.
Hollies and Yews, various.

3. Purple.
There are no suitable purple Ever-

Waltham Cross.

greens, consequently this colour is re-
stricted to summer pictures.

4. Yellow or Golden.

Abies excelsa Finedonensis.
Cupressus thyoides variegata.
Ilex aquifolium aurea.
Thuja aurea.

ii elegantissima.
Taxus baccata aurea.
Euonymus japonica flavescens.
Retinospora pisifera aurea.

o. White or Silvci-y.

Cedrus Deodara (the glaucous variety).
Pinus excelsa.

n monticola.

n nivea.
Abies alba glauca.
Ilex aquifolium argentea.
Juniperus Virginiana glauca.
Rhamnus Alaternus fol. argentea.

W. Paul.

4G8 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

PETUNIAS AS BEDDING PLANTS.

I can fully endorse all that has been said by D. E. B. in praise of the
Petunia as a bedding plant. I think that seedlings may be confidently
depended on to produce good free-blooming varieties, if the strain be
a good one. I have had glorious beds of Petunias, the plants having
been raised from seed ; and these beds have received the largest share
of admiration this season. The seed should be sown in seed-pans, or
wide-mouthed 42-sized pots, which ought to be well drained with
crocks to about one-third of their depth, over which should be placed
about an inch of the coarse siftings of the soil. This keeps the fine
soil from being washed down among the drainage. A good drainage
should be given to all pots and pans in which fine seeds of this char-
acter are to be raised. The finely-sifted soil can be used for sowing
the seed in. I sow about the first week in March, and a vinery or
cucumber-pit wrill suit as a temperature in which to raise the plants.
As soon as the rough leaves are formed, the pots should be removed
to a greenhouse, and placed near the glass to keep the plants from
being drawn. When large enough to handle, the plants are pricked
off into pans, or shallow boxes, and placed in a little warmth for about
a week or ten days ; this gives them a fine start, and by the time
they are wanted for planting out, they are of strong robust growth.

After the temporary sojourn in warmth, they are removed to a green-
house or cold frame, and here they are hardened off till required for
bedding out by the middle of May.

As I was passing from the Cambridge Railway Station to the Bot-
anic Gardens of the University town on the 15 th of August last, my
attention was attracted by the charming appearance of a villa garden,
the beds of which were planted on the mixed system, prominent being
Petunias, which were bright, gay, and effective.

William Plester.

Elsenham Hall Gardens.

GAKDEN RECORDS.

NO. X.

MR FRANCIS N. DANCER'S MARKET-GARDEN", LITTLE SUTTON,
TURNHAM GREEN, MIDDLESEX.

A London market-garden is ever an instructive place to visit, and this being
one that has always borne a high reputation, we felt certain to be much
interested, and were not disappointed. This market-garden is famous for the
production of fruit, and Plums, Apples, Pears, Currants, and Gooseberries are

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 469

the leading features. It is in three or four divisions : one lies eastward of the
Chiswick Gardens, another southwards, and further plots westward ; and it is
on one of these that Mr Dancer resides. The soil is that rich black loam found
along the valley of the Thames, and which is so suitable for market-gardening
purposes.

This paper is intended as a record of certain features presented in these
grounds as we walked through them. It was just in the midst of the Plum
season, and, allowance being made for the extraordinary fruitfulness of the Plum
this season, the crops were of a wonderful character. It was computed that the
yield of Plums for this season was four thousand bushels, and Mr Dancer stated
that the difficulty was to procure a sufficient number of hands to pick aud pack
them, and conveyances to take them to Covent Garden Market.

We had an excellent guide and companion in Mr A. F. Barron, of the Royal
Horticultural Society's Gardens, and our explorations commenced at the eastern
portion of the grounds. Here we saw large plantations of the Victoria or
Alderlin Plum, a variety that is well known and extremely useful for culinary
purposes. The trees were both of bush shape and of the standard form also,
and all were bearing very heavy crops. This is a bad dry-season Plum, because,
being a great bearer and the crop very thick, the fruit does not swell out, and it
is therefore small in size. In a wet season it is much larger. This Plum finds a
ready sale in Covent Garden Market, and large quantities are sent on to Glasgow,
Manchester, and other places in the north. The Victoria Plum is a capital tree
with which to fill up blanks in orchards ; it does not mind a crowded position ;
and when a tree decays in one of his plantations, if the spot be at all confined, M r
Dancer plants a Victoria Plum. Another staple Plum was Gisborne's, a roundish
oval-shaped fruit of a yellowish-green colour, that is also a prolific bearer, and
comes in rather earlier than the Victoria ; it is of somewhat coarse quality, but
makes excellent preserves, &c. Underneath these Plum-trees, and near them, were
plantations of red and black Currants, which are grown to a very great extent.
Between the Currant-trees were rows of purple sprouting Broccoli, which grows
well on poor soil and in little room. This is a variety of Broccoli that gets
overlooked because of its coarse appearance, but when cooked it is a delicious
aud finely-flavoured vegetable, and one that is gradually finding its way into the
gardens of large establishments.

A good quantity of that fine dessert Plum known as Jefferson's is also largely
grown, though not so extensively as the Victoria. Another was Richardson's, a
black Plum something after the Mussel character, and an enormous cropper.
Hundreds of bushels of it are grown, as it is a particular favourite of Mr Dancer's.
It bears a high character as a cooking Plum.

There was also a very large number of Gooseberry bushes, among which had been
planted pyramid trees of Cox's Orange Pippin Apple. Mr Dancer grows a great
lot of this fine variety between the bushes, the trees being planted 1 2 feet apart
each way. This is a great improvement on the old plan of standard trees, under
which nothing would grow. These bush-trees bore heavy crops of fine fruit.
Instead of putting various kinds of Apples in a plantation, as of old, Mr Dancer
and others form a plantation of the same variety ; by this means a piece of
ground is cleared at the same time, and recropping is not retarded. Near these,
and skirting one side of a walk, was a line of fine young standard trees of the
Wellington Apple, heavily cropped — a sort that sells well, and brings a good
price.

A plantation of Red Currants here shows considerable variation. It is seen in
the habit of growth, shape of berry, and fruitfulness. Mr Dancer grows very

470 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

largely of one variety he has selected, which bears very abundantly on young and
small trees, to such an extent as to produce crops equal in extent to that seen on
trees as large again of the old variety. He has no particular name for it, but is
content to have an exceedingly abundant bearer.

At this point Tears came into view, for a change of crop is seen as each planta-
tion is passed by. Louise Bonne of Jersey could be seen bearing great crops,
grafted on the Quince stock, the fruit of fine quality : there was more than an
acre of this variety, and it is considered to be one of the best and most profitable
Pears grown. Between lines of pyramid Apples could be seen Potatoes, and be-
tween the rows of Potatoes Savoys, for a winter crop.

Of Poupart's Plum a great quantity is grown ; it is a medium-sized reddish -
purple variety of excellent quality, and an abundant bearer, can be used for
dessert or cooking purposes, and valuable because late. Rivers's Early Prolific is
the earliest Plum grown : it is a round purple variety, like an Orleans, and the
first of the group that finds its way into the market. Another was Prince of
Wales, a round, reddish-purple, medium-sized Plum, a great bearer and a good
kitchen sort, of the Orleans type also : a great quantity of this is grown, as it is
a certain cropper year by year.

In odd corners away under the shade of trees, where nothing else would grow,
patches of Rhubarb could be seen, and in such places it does remarkably well.
Now followed a large piece of bush-trees of Small's Admirable Apple, about 4
feet in height, which bore a heavy crop of this excellent kitchen variety. These
are worked on the Paradise stock. Succeeding these was another piece of
Cox's Orange Pippin, the trees larger than any we had yet seen, the crops, as
well as individual fruits, being very fine. To show how the London market-gar-
deners make the best use of their ground, it may be stated that the piece of
land on which these Apples were growing produced last spring a good lot of
early Cabbages ; this was succeeded by early Potatoes, and before the Potatoes
are lifted, lines of Savoy Cabbage for winter use are planted between the rows.

Returning again to Plums, it may be stated that the season lasts about two
months, the early and late varieties turning in about that time. A capital Plum
is Sandell's Late, considered to be of very fine quality ; it is the latest of all, and
fit for general use. The crops of this variety were something astonishing.
Mitchelson's, a medium -sized, oval - shaped, deep purple Plum, is also largely
grown, and a great lot of this goes to Scotland. Goliath is also grown for market
purposes, but the drought had told on it : it is a general good bearer. A fine late
cooking Plum is Autumn Compote, one of Mr Rivers's varieties. Belle de Sep-
tembre is another fine late Plum also.

Here we come upon a piece of Prince of Wales Plum, where the gatherers are
busy at work. These and other trees are gone over three times by the pickers ;
the largest fruit, being also the earliest, is gathered as soon as ready ; this allows
space for the smaller fruit to swell, and another picking takes place when the
smaller fruit is ready. Of the yellow Magnum Bonum a great quantity is grown ;
also of Pond's Seedling, an enormously large, bright red, oval - shaped Plum,
some of the trees bearing very large clusters of fruit. Of Mitchelson's, Sandell's,
Victoria, Prince of Wales, and Diamond Plums, there were plantations of large
trees covered with fruit, the former preponderating. One great advantage about
Mitchelson's Plum is, that it looks thoroughly ripe before it really is so, aud
travels well : it is a rich dark purple Plum, with a fine bloom on it. All the
Plums that travel a long distance are packed before they are fully ripe, and
being placed in the baskets when somewhat hard in the flesh, get nice and
mellow by the time they reach their destination. They are packed in round

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 471

baskets, which are usually denominated " sieves, " green nettles being employed
in the process. Mr Dancer informed me that he had sent 400 bushels of
Gisborne's Plum to Messrs Grosse & Blackwell of Soho Square, for preserving
purposes.

Further, in the way of Apples, there were trees of Warner's King, Cellini
Pippin, and Golden Noble, all very fine ; also a good quantity of Hawthornden,
which had been gathered by the 20th of August ; of Pears, Beurre Box, a fine
Covent Garden variety ; Beurre" d'Amanlis, of which there were very fine crops
on large bush trees ; Jersey Gratioli, a great lot, grown on fine young pyramidal
trees ; Aston Town also, a small Pear that sells well ; the Hessel, of which very
large crops could be seen — this is a Pear of which vast quantities are sent into
Covent Garden market ; and lastly, Beurre Capiaumont, a good market Pear also,
that bears and sells well. Some standard trees of this had heavy crops.

Morello Cherries growing on bush trees in open parts of the ground appeared
to be quite a new feature, and heavy crops have been taken from them ; notwith-
standing, the trees looked remarkably well. Underneath the large trees is grown
the American Peach-blossom Potato, a large red round variety that will grow
where no other will, and never takes the disease : it makes rank growth, but is
said to be a good keeper, and of fine quality at the end of the winter. Among
Currant trees, where it is more open, Brussels Sprouts are planted.

Moss Roses for cut flowers were quite a feature. Of these there was about
three-quarters of an acre, and as many as forty-five dozen bunches have been
sent to Covent Garden market on one night in the month of June, the average
price obtained being about 6s. per dozen bunches. The Roses are well manured
over the top to about the depth of 3 inches, the shoots are pegged down, and
the young growth pinched back to three or four eyes. The Gooseberries are all
gathered in a green state, and this for two good reasons : first, they sell as well
as when ripe, and there is no waste ; secondly, they are thus gathered at a season
when labour is so not much in demand. The French or Dutch Horn Carrot,
usually used for frame purposes, is here grown in the open ground very largely.
About 2 A inches in length and 14 in diameter, there is no waste, and it is a
delicious eating variety. How truly Mr W. Robinson wrote of them in his book
on French Gardens as "pretty dwarf tender little carrots." "They are alwayB
fresh, always to be had, and never contain a particle of the tissue which makes
the coarser Carrots so much less valuable." Mr Dancer, it is to be presumed taking
another hint from Mr Robinson's book, was growing Asparagus after one of the
methods employed by the French gardeners. On page 501 of ' The Parks, Pro-
menades, and Gardens of Paris,' Mr Robinson states, "I first saw it (Asparagus)
growing to a large extent among the Vines. The Vine under field culture, I need
scarcely say, is simply cut down to near the old stool every year, and allowed to
make a few growths, which are tied each to a stake : they do not overtop the
Asparagus in any way, but, on the other hand, the strong plants of that show well
above the Vines. It was not in distinct close lines among the Vines, but widely
and irregularly separated, say 6 or 7 feet apart in the rows, and as much as 9
the other way. They simply put one plant in each open spot, and give it every
chance of forming a capital specimen, and this it generally does. When the stems
get large and a little top-heavy in early summer, a string is put round all, so as to
hold them slightly together (the careful cultivator uses a stake), and the mutual
support thus given prevents the plant from being cut off in its prime. We all
know how apt it is to be twisted off at the collar by strong winds, especially in
wet weather, when the drops on every tiny leaf make the foliage heavy. The
growing of Asparagus among the Vines is a very usual mode, and a vast space is

472 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

thus covered with it about here." Acting on this idea, Mr Dancer had placed
out a small plantation of Asparagus : how it will succeed he will be able to show
next spring.

All rubbish, such as the prunings of trees, &c, is collected together, and
burned, and the ashes so obtained used to sprinkle over plants affected by fly,
which are dispersed if not killed by the application.

Such are a few of the chief features of one of the leading fruit - gardens
about London. There are many of them, and they furnish many excellent hints
and suggestions to observant minds. A walk through any one of them at any
season of the year would not be labour altogether lost.

DAHLIA EXPERIENCES.

"A Four Years' Subscriber" desires us to give a list of Dahlias of 1868 and 1869
which can be recommended for form, constancy, and size. His soil, he states, is
a very heavy one, and he is compelled to use an abundance of manure, which he
thinks is the reason why so many sorts come "seedy" with him. He has for-
warded two lists of Dahlias, one containing varieties he can grow, the other those
he cannot grow. The former includes Mr Dix, Vice-President, Miss Henshaw,
Criterion, Mrs Dodds, white tipped with purple ; Baron Taunton, Annie Neville,
Caroline Tetterell, Firefly, Hugh Miller, Sir Greville Smythe, Buttercup, Lady
Gladys Herbert, Mrs Boston, Annie Keynes, Madlle. Nillsson, Flossy Gill, Andrew
Dodds, Paradise Williams, Heroine, Julia Wyatt, Lady Jane Ellis, Emperor,
Chancellor, Leah, Ellen Potter, Imperial, Golden Drop ; and the following fancy
varieties : — Grand Sultan, Ebor, Samuel Bartlett, Prospero, Attraction, Billy
Button, Master Johnny, President Lincoln, Butterfly, and Fanny Sturt. The
following is the list of Dahlias our correspondent cannot grow to his satisfaction :
— Clai'a Simons, Scarlet Gem, James Backhouse, Artemus Ward (fancy), Princess
Alice, Favourite (fancy) ; Gbairman and Mrs Dodds, yellow ; all of which
are described as coming seedy; Hebe, James Hunter, Lord Derby, British
Triumph, John Kirby, Hon. Mrs G. Wellesley, Guardsman, Samuel Nay lor,
Regularity (fancy), Mrs Brunton, Lady Popham, Miss Roberts, Mrs Edgar Green,
and Queen Mab (fancy), as small ; Lady Derby, hard centre ; Queen of Sports
(fancy), small and thin; Miss Ruth (fancy), coarse; Chameleon (self), hard
centre; Albion, pointed and small ; Yellow Boy, bad centre; Earl Russel, bad shape
and low centre ; and Flambeau, small and hard centre. Our correspondent states
that both lots of flowers had similar treatment ; the plants were well cut out, an
abundance of manure dug in, a top-dressing of manure given, and a liberal allow-
ance of guano-water; these have produced the foregoing results. "I have no
doubt," he adds, "that the seedy condition of many of the flowers has been
caused by cutting out, but several years' experience has proved that I must do
this in order to get size, which is a most desirable thing on the exhibition table.
I trust you will be able to name a few sorts, fancy and selfs, which will bear my
treatment and at the same time embody the requirements mentioned in my le! ter —
viz., form, size, and constancy."

The foregoing remarks are not without their use to other cultivators of the
Dahlia, and we have thought it well to publish them. We sent our correspon-
dent's letter and lists on to Mr Chas. Jas. Perry, of Birmingham, for many years
past one of the most successful amateur cultivators of the Dahlia, and the follow-
ing is his reply : —

1870.] THE UTILITY OF SCIENCE. 473

" Your correspondent should discard his No. 2 list, with the exception of Lord
Derby, Chairman, Queen Mab, Mrs Brunton, James Hunter, and Regularity, all
of which are too good to be dispensed with. He can with advantage add to his
list of show kinds the following— viz., Head-Master, Toison d'Or, Gypsy QueeD,
Yellow Perfection, Thomas Hobbs, King of Primroses, Valentine, Oxonian, Flag
of Truce, Memorial, Matilda Keynes, and Adonis ; and to his list of fancy varie-
ties, Polly Perkins, Pauline, Viceroy, Purple Fluke, Mazeppa, Leopard, Magdala,
Lightning, and Octoroon. As his ground is heavy, I should recommend him to
have it well ridged up as soon as the roots are taken up, and allow it to remain
so until it is prepared for planting. If well dressed then with farmyard manure,
no guano- water will be necessary. Chas. J as. Perky.

The Cedars, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham.

[Will other of our readers who are Dahlia cultivators give us the results of
their experience also ? We shall be much obliged if they will do so.]

THE UTILITY OF SCIENCE.

The address of the President of the British Association, delivered at Liverpool,
illustrates in a very remarkable manner the practical utilities of Science. One
of the largest and profoundest questions with which Science deals is that of the
relationship of life and matter, yet the discussion of that question brings us into
immediate contact with those terrible epidemics which scourge all organised
beings from the insect up to man. Dr Huxley reviews the progress of scien-
tific discovery in its inquiry into the genesis of life, and pronounces a strong
opinion in favour of the theory that only life begets life, and against the
theory that life can ever spring from death. With true scientific modesty,
he declines to assert that at no period in this planet's history has living
protoplasm ever been evolved from matter which was not alive, but he in-
sists that no such evolution has ever been shown to have taken place within our
experience or observation. So far as that experience goes, an impassable line
exists between living matter and matter which is not alive, and the living never
comes out of the dead. The experiments which demonstrate this scientific
truth lead us into the realm of inquiry with which Dr Tyndall familiarised us
early in the year in his striking lecture on "Dust and Disease." Dr Tyndall's
experiments completed the demonstration of the doctrine of Biogenesis — that is,
the doctrine that life springs only from life, and never from dead matter — by
showing first that ordinary air is full of particles, which are very often the float-
ing germs of animal and vegetable forms ; and secondly, that filtration through
cotton wool allows only physically pure air to pass. These minute forms, float-
ing in the dust which the sunbeam reveals, are the origin of all the life which
putrefaction and other forms of fermentation produce. It is this minute life,
sometimes in the form of fungi, sometimes in that of minute animalcule, which
is the cause of infectious and contagious disease. The terrible disease called
Pebrine, which has been so fatal to silkworms, has been demonstrated by M.
Pasteur to be caused by the development and multiplication of minute organisms
in the body of the silkworm. These organisms pass from one silkworm to
another by infection, by contagion, and by transmission in the egg, and develop
into a disease which greatly corresponds to the cholera in man. M. Pasteur
has consequently been able to suggest a method of extirpating the f dis-
ease, which has been completely successful wherever, it has been carried

474 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

out. A similar discovery had previously been made as to the cause of
the Grape disease, and Science has thus saved to France the silk crop and the
Grape crop, and shown the way to, their future safety. But even greater results
than these may be expected from these investigations. The cholera and the
scarlet fever are probably both due to minute organisms which float in air or
water, and being received into the body, develop and propagate there. The germ
theory of life is leading us to so complete a knowledge of epidemic diseases, that
Professor Huxley is able to say that so far as scarlet fever is concerned, "the
facts which I have placed before you must leave the least sanguine without a
doubt that the causes of this scourge will one day be as well understood as those
of Pdbrine are now, and that the long-suffered massacre of our innocents will
come to an end." It is thus that science and civilisation go hand in hand to-
gether. We study Nature to subdue her, stoop to humble observation of her
ways that we may conquer her ; and Science, which is only knowledge of her
laws, makes us free of her kingdom.— Daily News.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

Dundee Horticultural Society, September 1. — This Society held its annual
meeting on this date in the Baxter Park, with results most gratifying to all con-
nected or interested in its success. The show was contained in three tents,
situated near the entrance gate from the town, the large marquee being
allotted to pot-plants, and the two lesser ones afforded accommodation for cut
flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Immediately in front of the large tent, and between
the two smaller ones, a space was enclosed and tastefully furnished with dwarf
Firs and evergreen shrubs. On no former occasion has there been such a display
of really fine pot-plants, and one can only attribute this success to the prizes
offered for groups, for which four separate prizes were given.

Conspicuous among the groups of from twenty to twenty-five plants shown by
gardeners was that furnished by Mr Heath, Clement Park Gardens, who was
first with a well-assorted lot. In the nurserymen's group of thirty stove and
greenhouse plants, Mr James Cocker, Aberdeen, was first ; Messrs Stewart &
Sons, Dundee, second ; and Messrs Laird & Sinclair, Dundee, third. Other
groups of less numbers were good, and the prizes well contested. Cut flowers
made a good display, notwithstanding the dry summer. Dahlias were numerous,
and some really excellent. Mr M'Pherson, Aberdeen, took first prize in the
nurserymen's class for a stand of eighteen blooms, and Mr Cocker was second.
Hollyhocks were comparatively poor, both in spikes and cut flowers. Gladioli,
as is usual here, were excellent, especially those staged by Mr M'Pherson. Poses
formed a good array, the blooms nice indeed for this season of the year. Coleuses
were numerously shown, and, we are inclined to think, shown to disadvantage.
They stood above the reach of the eye, and too near the canvas for effect. On the
whole, they formed a gloomy feature in the show. The Fuchsias were creditable
to the exhibition, as also to the growers. Pelargoniums were shown in abundance
and in excellent blossom ; Mr George Philip, Huntly Castle Gardens, carrying
the palm with four splendid doubles ; tricolor and bronze-leaved kinds were also
superb. We have seen the Ferns in greater strength here, but any deficiency in
numbers was amply compensated for by their fine quality. A plant of Lilium
auratum was of remarkable excellence. This plant came from Mr James Fergus-

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 475

son, a mechanic, and any gardener might have been proud of it. One large
stem sprung from the centre, adorned with thirty full-sized expanded blooms.
There were also two lesser stems, the three coming out of one bulb. Strange
that a company of Japanese should have visited the show, and the first object to
greet them was this plant, which they at once recognised, when an exchange of
warm glances, accompanied by happy mutterings, passed amongst them.

In regard to the fruit, an exceedingly fine collection came from Mr William
Brow, Kilmaron Castle Gardens, which was placed first. Regarding the Grapes,
suffice it to say that Mr Johnston, from Glamis Castle, was here, and was con-
spicuous wherever his fruit lay. His four bunches in that class were very
superior, but his bunch for bloom beat all that has been witnessed on these
tables. We may safely say that scarcely a bad bunch of Grapes was present, and
there was a great number staged. Peaches were shown extensively, and many
fine fruits were among them. Mr Philip, Castle Huntly Gardens, took first
with full-sized and beautifully-coloured' fruits. A large golden-coloured sort
called " Titon de Venus," sent by Mr Irvine, gardener, Hermitage, Broughty
Ferry, was so good that many thought it ought to have had a prize awarded it.
These Peaches were the largest on the table, very regular in form and size, with
first-rate flavour, but wanted the rich appearance of the others. Plums were also
good and plentifully produced. Pine- Apples not very large, but in fine form and
colour. In short, the whole range of fruits did credit to the exhibition.

Vegetables were not so formidable in quantity, but their quality was unim-
peachable. A. K.

[A list of prizes was sent with this, but our space is so occupied that we are
compelled to abandon the publication of mere prize-lists. — Eds.]

The Floral Fete in the Baxter Park, Dundee. — Saturday being the cheap
and last day, the attendance was enormous. Besides the members and their
friends who passed free, there were 850 passed the pay-gates at 6d. each betwixt
ten and three. From three to nine there entered no less than 7500, who paid 3d.
each. Altogether, there were about 10,000 visitors on Saturday. The sum
drawn during the three days amounted to upwards of £200. Notwithstanding
the crowd, through the admirable arrangements of the directors and the disposi-
tion of the visitors, the greatest order prevailed. The directors, not being sham,
nominal, or merely ornamental, but thorough workers, were all present during
the entire three days, and conducted the arrangements in person. Notwith-
standing their vigilance, and the police present, we were sorry to note that some
flower-fanciers had succeeded in filching slips from new plants. One of these
was detected, and we hope he will be punished as he deserves. [So do we. —
Eds.] Among the miscellaneous subjects exhibited was a collection from Mr B.
Kirk of 2000 queen wasps, more famous in death than in life, for they were much
inquired after at the show. He declared on the label, "had all these queens
escaped, they would have produced this season a progeny greater in number than
the population of Great Britain."

Metropolitan Society for the Encouragement of Florists' Flowkrs.
First Exhibition at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, September 6. — This
was in every respect an excellent exhibition, perhaps one of the most extensive
shows of Dahlias that has taken place during the past twenty years. Some idea
of its extent may be gained when it is stated that in the seven classes for Dahlias
there were sixty-nine entries, and of these sixty-three stands of flowers were pro-
duced. The various flowers were arranged on a line of tables running from the

470 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

centre transept towards the east end of the Palace. (Jut flowers formed the
whole of the exhibition, and in no one particular could it be denominated
weak.

The best 48 Dahlias were staged by Mr John Keynes of Salisbury, and fully
maintained his high reputation as a cultivator. Next to him came Mr H. May,
Bedale ; Mr J. Harrison, Darlington; and lastly Mr George Edward, York. Mr
Keynes's stand consisted of Vice-President, Queen of Beauties, John Kirby, Flag
of Truce, Annie Neville, John Neville, Purple Flake, Gazelle, James Cocker, Amy
Creed, Heroine, Princess of Prussia, Octoroon, William Lucas, Mrs Henshaw,
Yellow Boy, Flora Wyatt, Mrs Thornhill, Mary Keynes, Mrs Eckford, Mr Dix,
Matilda, Toison d'Or, Lady of the Lake, Sir G. Smythe, Lady Jane Ellis, James
Backhouse, Golden Drop, Hon. Miss Herbert, Victory, Lilac Queen, John Harri-
son, Julia Wyatt, James Hunter, Lady Gladys Herbert, Mrs Boston, Nelly Buckle,
Emperor, King of Primroses, George White, Jenny Austin, Memorial, Norfolk
Hero, Leah, Lightning, Earl Pembroke, and seedlings. In Mr May's stand were
good examples of Leopard, George White, Baron Taunton, Leah, Miss Henshaw,
Master of Arts, Eclipse, Criterion, Memorial, John Kirby, and Yellow Boy.

In the class for 36 flowers, Messrs Draycott & Sons, Humberstone, Leicester,
were first with superbly- finished blooms of Norfolk Hero, Lady Jane Ellis, Cri-
terion, Gazelle, Lord Derby, Heroine, John Dunnington, Annie Neville, Volun-
teer, Julia Wyatt, Blushing Fifteen, James Hunter, Mr Dix, Princess of Wales,
Memorial, Leah, Lilac Queen, Eclipse, Vice-President, Flag of Truce, Miss Hen-
shaw, Hon. G. Wellesley, John Kirby, Yellow Perfection, British Triumph, James
Bennett, Mrs Boston, Mrs Thornhill, Lady Gladys Herbert, Lord Palmerston,
Juno, Sir G. Smyth, King of Primroses, and George Brown. The second, third,
and fourth prizes in the same class were awarded to Mr May, Mr Keynes, and Mr
Harrison, in the order in which the names are placed.

The prize-takers in the class for 24 were Mr J. Walker, Thame, Oxon ; Messrs
Kelway and Son, Langport ; Mr H. Clark, Rodley, near Leeds ; and Mr T. W.
Pilcher, Horsham, Surrey, in the order in which the names are placed. The
varieties in the first prize-stand were James Austin, Councillor, Purity, Mr Dix,
Yellow Boy, Annie Neville, Ne plus ultra, John Kirby, Gazelle, Lady J. Ellis,
Vedette, Lady G. Herbert, Hugh Miller, Toison d'Or, Norfolk Hero, Nelly Buckle,
George White, Mrs Boston, Flag of Truce, Heroine, Champion, and Yellow Per-
fection.

The fancy varieties were also contributed in grand condition, Mr Kejnes taking
first for 24 with Flora Wyatt, Lightning, Flossie Williams, Chang, Sam Bartlett,
Alice Purchase, Sparkler, John Sealey, Mrs Bunn, Hero of York, Richard Dean,
Marvellous, John Salter, Wonderful, Fanny Sturt, Chameleon, Grand Sultan,
Octoroon, Oliver Twist, Attraction, Viceroy, Purple Flake, Leopardess, and Ar-
temus Ward. The second prize was taken by Mr H. May with Coquette, John
Bunn, Gem, Hero of York, Prospero, John Salter, Attraction, Remarkable, Leo-
pard, Lady Dunmore, Glory, Grand Sultan, Queen of Sports, Startler, Leopardess,
Polly Perkins, Formidable, Princess of Wales, and Fanny Sturt.

The classes in the amateurs' divisions were well filled, and the blooms on the
whole were of excellent quality, although not quite equal to those staged by the
trade exhibitors. The first prize for 24 was taken by Mr C. J. Perry, Castle Brom-
wich ; the second by Mr Pelford, gardener to G. Thornhill, Esq., Diddington ;
and the third by Mr J. Purfitt, Wandsworth Common. Mr G. Martin, Henfield,
Sussex, Mr G. H. Tewks, and Mr A. Glasscock, Bishops Stortford, were the prize-
takers in the class for 12 ; and Mr C. J. Perry, Mr Pitfield, Mr Purfitt, and Mr
Tewks, in the class for 6 Fancies : the prizes in each instance were awarded in the

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 477

order in which the names are placed. The varieties were chiefly the same as those
shown in the previous classes.

Hollyhocks were good, considering the dry season we have had. The best col-
lection of nine spikes was shown by Mr H. Minchin, Hook Norton, Oxon ; and
the second by Mr W. Chater, Saffron Walden. The best varieties staged were
James Anderson, Her Majesty, Anna Maria, Acme, Hermione, Fred. Chater
Mrs Bruce, Speciosa, Whitley King, Exultium, Cygnet, Oscar, Perfection, Sylph,
and Carus Chater. The position of the above were reversed in the class for 24
cut blooms, Mr Chater being first and Mr Minchin second, with Mr Harrison
third, and Messrs Draycott & Sons fourth. The stand from Mr Chater consisted
of Alfred Chater, Perfection, Countess of Craven, Fred. Chater, Exultium Im-
proved, Speciosa, Bijou, Standard-Bearer, Triumph, Eclipse, Joy, Carus Chater,
Bullion, Marion, Exhibitor, Lord Napier, Nonpareil, King, Rose d' Amour, Con-
quest, and Walden Primrose. Only three stands in the class for amateurs were
put up, and the prizes were awarded to Mr W. Minchin, Hook Norton, Oxon,
Mr R. Fry, Taunton, and Mr Rickwood, Ilkley, near Leeds, in the order in which
the names are placed.

The show of Roses was somewhat limited in character, and, as a matter of
course, of but passable quality. Decidedly the best flowers were in the stand of
24 varieties, contributed by Messrs Paul & Son, Cheshunt.

Asters, both French and German, were very fine ; and the lai-ge size and rich
colouring of many of the flat-petalled or French varieties fairly puzzled some of
the visitors, whose idea of " Chaney Asters" dates back' twenty years ago.

The stands of Gladioli made a fine display, and attracted considerable attention.
The best 36 came from Messrs Kelway & Son, Langport ; the next best from Mr
Geo. Wheeler, Warminster. The best 24 were shown by Messrs Stuart & Mein,
Kelso ; the second best by Messrs Draycott & Sons. Mr R. Fry, gardener,
Taunton, was first in the amateurs' class for 12 varieties, and the Rev. H. H.
Dombrain second. The varieties given in last month's ' Gardener,' as shown at
South Kensington, will serve to indicate the best flowers staged on this occasion.

Verbenas were finely shown by Mr C. J. Perry and others. The example of
Shakespeare in Mr Perry's stand was as fine as a Verbena could well be.
The leading varieties in Mr Perry's stand, who was first with 24 kinds, were
Model, Mrs Hole, Magnificent, Ada King, Rose Improved, Velocipede, Apollo,
Rev. P. M. Smythe, Mauve King, Clara Perry, Mrs George Prince, Miss Lawden,
Shakespeare, Giant, Diana, Rev. C. Peach, Modesty, Mrs Stenger, Edwin Day, and
the Rev. S. R. Hole.

Large collections of plants, nicely arranged, were contributed by Messrs
Downie, Laird, & Laing, and Carter & Co., and materially aided the show.
Unfortunately the weather was very unpropitious, nevertheless there was a very
good company, and the tables were thronged with visitors.

In the evening the subscribers and friends of the Society sat down to dinner
in one of the dining-rooms of the Palace, there being a good muster of florists
and others present. The Rev. H. H. Dombrain, Hon. Sec. to the Society, took
the chair, and the Rev. Cleaver Peach the vice-chair. Hearty promises of sup-
port were given to the Society, and several new subscribers were announced ;
while others expressed their intention of doubling their subscriptions another

Royal Horticultural Society, Dahlia and Verbena Show, Sept. 7. —
The large exhibition held at the Crystal Palace on this day helped to thin this
one somewhat, though the prizes being rather small, there was but little induce-
ment to show.

2 I

478 THE GARDENER. [Oct.

In the class for 12 Dahlias, open to amateurs only, the prize-takers were Mr
R. Hopkins, Brentford; Mr J. Burfitt, gardener to C. Lambert, Esq., Wands-
worth Common; and Mr T. Adams, Wyke Green, Isleworth, who were first, second,
and third respectively. The varieties in the stand put up by Mr Hopkins, who
is a thorough veteran exhibitor, were Constance, Annie Neville, Bullion, Prin-
cess of Wales, Tops}', Chancellor, Sir Greville Smythe, Princess, Chairman, Lady
Gladys Herbert, Leah, and British Triumph. Mr C. J. Perry, Castle Bromwich,
also sent a good stand, which would have been second at least, but it was not
entered early enough to allow of its being staged in competition for the prizes.

The prizes in the open class for 24 were well contested, the first being carried
off by Mr J. "Walker, Thame, Oxon, who had grand blooms of Chairman, Julia
AVyatt, Flag of Trace, John Dunnington, Princess, Autocrat, Nelly Buckle, Toison
d'Or, Annie Neville, Gazelle, Mrs Walker, Norfolk Hero, Lady Jane Ellis, Mrs
Boston, Lady Gladys Herbert, George White, Queen of Beauties, Mr Dix, Jenny
Austin, Rosy Circle, Commander, Ne plus ultra, and Lotty Atkins. Mr Burfitt
was also second in this class.

The only exhibitor of Verbenas was Mr C. J. Perry of Birmingham, who
staged a splendid stand of 24 varieties. Though the sole exhibitor, these were
entered too late for competition. One would have thought that under the circum-
stances the first prize might have been awarded to Mr Perry without the inter-
vention of this piece of red tape.

Mr W. Bull was the only exhibitor of 6 Liliums, distinct kinds. They con-
sisted of L. auratum, Auratum maculatum, Lancifolium album, L. rubrum, Tig-
rinum splendens, and T. Fortunei, and were a very interesting group.

Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. — This Society held its autumn
exhibition in the Music Hall, George Street, Edinburgh, on the 7th of last month.
As a whole, it was scarcely up to the average of the autumn exhibitions of the
Society. At the same time there were some fine plants, some excellent fruit, and
good vegetables produced. Among fruit, Mr Johnston, of Glamis Castle, had
splendid bunches of White Muscats, weighing from 5 to 6 lb. each ; Mr Greig,
gardener to Mr Christie, of Craigend, near Edinburgh, had splendid Alicants
and very good Muscats. T. Boyd, gardener to William Sanderson, Esq., Oak-
lea, Galashiels, got the prize for Golden Champion, with very good bunches
of that Grape. Mr Johnston got first for flavour in white Grapes with the
Duchess of Buccleuch; and Mr Temple, gardener, Balbirnie, first for black
with Black Muscats. Mr Johnston got first for 20 sorts of fruit ; Mr M'Kay,
of The Glen, second. The largest bunch of Grapes we ever saw came from
James Dickson, gardener to J. Jardine, Esq., Arkleton, weighing 19 lb. 5 oz.
— a well-formed compact bunch named Syrian; but we considered it to be the
White Nice, with which the Syrian is often confounded.

Messrs Lawson & Sons filled the orchestra, as they generally do, with a great
variety of handsome Palms, Conifers, and fine-foliaged plants. All the other
Edinburgh nurserymen contributed to fill the hall with nice ornamental plants.

The members of the Society, to the number of forty, dined together at the
Albert, where the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were proposed and re-
sponded to.

The Edinburgh Southern Horticultural Society held its autumn exhi-
bition in the grounds of George Watson's Hospital on the 14th of last month.
There were a great many well-grown plants for a local exhibition, especially fine
examples of Zonal and Scarlet Geraniums, excellent vegetables, and some very
good fruit.

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 479

This Society is doing a great deal of good in the way of developing a taste for
horticulture amongst the proprietors of the numerous villa residences on the south
side of Edinburgh, and deserves every encouragement.

— -3TO»s££a£^w —

NOTES ANT> QUERIES.

Woollen Netting. — In reply to your correspondent C. Z., I beg to state that
the woollen netting referred to by me on page 349 is what is known as " Patent
Wool Netting." Messrs Stuart & Mein, Kelso, are the only agents for it, so far as I
am informed on the matter. It is manufactured in widths of 1^ yard. The mesh
is square (not a diamond, as in ordinary netting), each mesh;being f of an inch by
4 an inch. The price is Is. per yard, in webs of about 50 yards long or there-
about. James M'Millan.

To Preserve French Beans. — French Beans and Scarlet Eunners, nicely
trimmed for cooking, can be preserved for winter use by salting them, thus : —
Make a brine of salt strong enough to float an egg. Fill a jar with the Beans,
then pour over them brine enough to cover them ; tie the jar over with bladder.
When required for the table, take the beans out of the brine, and put them in
clean water for an hour or more : change the water often. They will be then
ready to cook in the usual way. It is not every housekeeper that can put French
Beans on the table in January.

Names op Plants (Jane L.) — 1. The Cobweb House Leek, Sempervivum Arach-
noideum. 2. Saxifraga pyramidalis. 3. Omphaloides verna. 4. Arabis lucida
variegata. The foregoing are quite hardy, but it will be as well to give them
the shelter of a cold frame during winter, as you have them in pots.

War in relation to Horticulture. — The magnitude of the recent French
reverses is vividly realised when a great centre of scientific intelligence, like the
capital of France, is hemmed in by a powerful army. The Jard'm dcs Plantes is
now little else but a collection of cattle-pens ; the Champs Elysees a dusty arid
throughfare, except when the heavy autumnal rains deluge its untended roads ;
and the beautiful woods around the city are devoted by the torch or the axe to
entire destruction. If the terrible ravages of war could have been prevented by
the advancement of Science, and the liberal encouragement of Art, Paris would
not now be suffering. We must go deep into the hearts of men before we can
find the reasons for such fearful outbreaks of human passion as we are now wit-
nessing.— Land and Water.

Tomato Sauce for Cold Meat. — Boil Tomatoes when ripe with only enough
water to prevent burning ; rub them through a cloth ; to every quart of pulp
add 4 an ounce of Garlic and 1 ounce of Shallots ; salt to taste, boil half an hour,
strain out the Garlic ; add to every quart half a pint of common vinegar and a
wine glassful of Chili vinegar ; let it stand a day or two before corking.

Amaryllis Vallota Purpurea. — Some excellent examples of this fine plant
were shown at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on the 7th of Sep-
tember. They were in large pots, and had been in them for five years, and were
finely bloomed, several trusses of bloom being on each plant. They were exhib-
ited by Mr Filcher, gardener to S. Rucker, Esq., Wandsworth, S.W., and the

480 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 1870.

treatment to which they had been subjected was simple in the extreme. They
are grown in a warm greenhouse all the winter, where the temperature does not
fall below 40 degrees. In summer they have just enough water to keep them
alive, and then they form their flowers. Just now they are makiog their growth.
The soil at the growing season should be kept damp. The variety known as
Kxitnea is an improved form, having broader petals and a rather brighter hue of
colour.

Nekine Fothergillii. — At the same time Mr Pilcher produced some fine ex-
amples of this showy autumn-flowering plant. Some were in 24-pots, others in
12-sized pots. The Nerine requires a winter treatment similar to the Vallota, but
they are placed out of doors at the end of May, under a south wall, and there
allowed to get thoroughly dry and lose every leaf. One specimen in a pot about
12 inches across had not been shifted for 6 years ; it was a mass of bulbs, many
of which were blooming freely. The variety shown by Mr Pilcher was known as
N. Fothergillii major.

J. D. P. —For such a wet climate as yours, Lady Downes is the best late
black Grape. From what you say of your climate, we doubt if Muscats would
ripen with you, and unless this Grape is well ripened it does not keep well. The
best white companion for the black Lady Downes is the white Lady Downes. It is
the black one in every sense except the colour. The Madredsfield Court is a
showy black Grape of good flavour, and if it keeps well, which has yet to be
proved, it will be an acquisition. The Mrs Pince's Muscat, according to our ex-
perience, is worthless.

Your soil seems much too light for Grapes, therefore use a little cow and not
horse manure, and a good few bones of various sizes. There is no portable
manure we could recommend you to use for Vines, nor do you require it if you
can get the drainage of a dunghill or farmyard.

J. G. H. S. would like to know in your next number how to press flowers and
ferns properly, in order to make them keep their colour. (Place them between
old newspapers under a heavy weight, and dry them quickly ; that is, as often
as the newspapers get damp replace them with dry ones. — Eds.)

Tobacco (St. E.) — The plants should be taken up as soon as they have done
flowering, and hung up by the heels against a south wall, or any convenient
place, and exposed to the sun and air. If the plants cannot be gathered in till
late in the season, they may be placed in a greenhouse not fully employed, and
when quite dry, stowed away until wanted for use. When used, the dry plants
should be chopped up, leaf and stalk, and about one third part of tobacco-paper
mixed with it for fumigating purposes. — W. L.

Epps's Selected Peat. — Mr James Epps, Lewisham, Kent, has sent us a
sample of his selected peat, for choice plants, Orchids, Ferns, &c. The quality
of the peat seems unexceptionable, and we think it well worthy of being
commended to our readers, especially as some plant-cultivators are often at a
loss where to obtain such an article.

Cultivation of Fruit Trees. — Rivers's ' Miniature Fruit-garden ' would pro-
bably suit you, or Thomson's ' Gardener's Assistant,' or the English translation of
De Bruill, by Wardle. The name of this Correspondent has been unfortunately
mislaid.

THE

GARDENER

NOVEMBER 1870.

AMATEUR ROSE -GROWING.

NE is really led to ask, What becomes of the tens of
thousands of budded and grafted Roses that are an-
nually sent out from our nurseries 1 Are we to assume
that they go on from year to year constituting posi-
tive additions to our existing Rose-gardens 1 Or are we, on the
other hand, to acknowledge that these large numbers chiefly serve
the purpose of maintaining, in a slightly extended form, our pre-
sent Rose-plantations, by filling up the ranks of those that have been
decimated by disease, starvation, and death? Is it not a certain
fact that the culture and growth of Roses either in the form of
standards budded on the Brier, or as dwarfs on the Manetti stock,
is decidedly unpopular amongst the great mass of amateur growers,
and also amongst a few of the professional gardeners, as they find
the Rose, when grown under these artificial conditions, to be
amongst all our hardy plants the most sickly, and liable to speedy
exhaustion 1 There are reasons for this tendency to decay, of course,
and it is worth while trying to discover them, although, perhaps, there
are not a dozen readers of the 'Gardener' to whose minds these same
thoughts have not already presented themselves, and who have felt
all the miseries attendant upon Rose-cultivation if they have limited
their operations exclusively to budded or grafted plants. My earliest
recollections of budded Roses date back for many years, and all
through that long period the propagation of them has been going on
literally by millions ; and yet, could we but take a census of our stock
of living Roses and compare it with what has been worked during the
last twenty years, should we not exclaim, " How can this thing be 1 "

2 K

482 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

But I shall perhaps be told it is preposterous to expect any Rose to
live for twenty years. Why preposterous ? Is it not a perfectly
hardy shrub, capable of any amount of extension, withstanding cold
or heat alike almost with impunity ? And if this is its character, why
should if not live twenty years as well as any other bush or shrub? I
am not unconscious of another point that may be told against my
position, and that is this — from year to year older kinds of Roses are
deliberately destroyed to make way for newer kinds. This may be true
in some instances, but I greatly doubt its general application. We are,
as a people, far too conservative in our likes and dislikes to part with
favourite old Roses if they thrive well ; but if this point has any force
at all, it will be found to be strongest in the fact that older kinds are con-
stantly being replaced by others, simply because the former have proved
to be failures. The conditions essential to artificial Rose-cultivation —
that is, to plants worked on artificial stocks — are clean bottoms and
hard pruning. These two conditions constitute the death-warrant of
tens of thousands of Roses. Let it be understood that I am applying
this assertion solely to standards and those worked as dwarfs upon
the Manetti stock. To pillar, wall, or other trained Roses, it does
not apply, as hard pruning is not essential to them, fortunately for
the continuity of their existence. Most climbing Roses are upon their
own roots, so that their chances of continual reinvigoration by means of
suckers or root-growth is assured. But the standard Rose worked upon
the Brier must have no root-growths, as all such are looked upon as rob-
bers to be at once annihilated ; whilst the exigencies of their position
compel the cultivator to keep the size of their heads within rigidly-
prescribed limits. Then take the Manetti stock, so highly eulogised
as an instrument of Rose-growth, but which, at least to those who
have purchased it, has proved to be the source of continual disap-
pointment. What amateur grower ever yet succeeded afterwards
in obtaining from the Manetti such superb growths as were upon it
when it was purchased from the nursery — so rich, so luxuriant, so
full of promise? and when it is planted in rich deep soil, well manured
and not deficient in moisture, and these long growths cut back in the
spring to something like fair proportions, is it possible to produce its
like again ? I say seldom, if ever, from the budded Rose, but plenty
from the root. Nature's first law with the Manetti is self-preservation;
and to promote this it thrusts up from the base of its stem or its roots
a lot of luxuriant growths that, by the untutored, are believed to be
made by the Rose itself, whilst the experienced cultivator cuts them
away, but only to realise that he must have that or nothing.

How, then, would I have Roses grown? I reply, Upon their
own roots. Mr C. J. Perry of Castle Bromwich, a famous amateur

1870.] AMATEUR ROSE-GROWING. 483

grower, once said : " No doubt the Manetti is very serviceable to those
who require to propagate Roses in large quantities, but, as a per-
manent stock, I have for it a great dislike, and never plant Roses
worked upon it except the new ones, which, as dwarfs, I cannot obtain
in any other form." And again he says : " I have for several years
noticed that, if any of the plants in my beds of dwarf-Roses (which
consist entirely of these on the Manetti and those on their own roots)
die, they are sure to be those on the Manetti. ... I would
rather give three times the price for Roses on their own roots than
for those on the Manetti, even if the latter were the largest." This is
a very pronounced opinion, and one entitled to all possible respect.
It is an opinion in which I cheerfully and cordially coincide, not only
because it truly expresses my own views, but, I believe also, those of
many other amateur Rose-cultivators.

After all, this long introduction is simply intended to lead the
reader on to the consideration of this very important point — how
most successfully to grow Roses. I write for the benefit of my fellow-
amateur Rose-growers, as one who has done his best to solve this pro-
blem for himself; and my conclusions are these: 1st, Purchase or pro-
pagate plants on their own roots — that is to say, struck from cut-
tings • and 2d, Grow them in beds or lines under the pegging-down
system. Here, in these two conditions, will be found the secret of
success.

The Rose is very accommodating as to the nature of the soil in which
it will grow, but it specially delights in depth. Newly-made ground,
where a lot of rubbish of all kinds has been deposited, and with from 2
to 3 feet of fairly good soil on the surface, is just the place whereon to
plant them — the drainage is good, and there is abundance of room for
the roots to travel in without feeling the effects of drought. This is
a much more important consideration than mulching or watering.
However, I presume it is not convenient to every one to have such a
place in which to plant Roses ; but by the expenditure of a little extra
labour it is possible to make the future home of the plants somewhat
closely to approach these important conditions, and, having added
thereto a moderate quantity of well-rotted manure, get the Roses
planted out about 2J feet apart in the month of November, and cut
all the growth back hard in the following March. Trom the base of
each will spring up shoots that will attain to a height of from 4 to 6
feet. Almost all of these shoots will carry autumn llowers.

During the summer the beds should be kept very clean, and well
stirred, and in the winter receive a top-dressing of manure. In the
following February the shoots must be shortened to a length of from
20 to 14 inches, and then brought down and fastened within an inch

4SI THE GARDENER. [Nov.

or two of the ground by means of stout wooden pegs, in whichever
direction may seem to be most convenient. From henceforth the
plants may be looked upon as permanently established ; and the
cultivator has but to gather his flowers in the summer and autumn,
cut out all the old wood, and cleanse and dress the bed in the win-
ter, and shorten back and peg down the young growth early in the
following spring. This, then, will be for many years to come the
annually - recurring routine of labour necessary to be performed.
The advantages presented by this mode of cultivation are many
and obvious. It permits the Rose to exist under the most natural
conditions, and to develop suckers or root -growth to an unlimited
extent. Such strong shoots as are annually sent up also aid the
root -extension wonderfully, the limitation to which can only be
found in the depth or space prepared beforehand. Then the whole
of the flowers can be seen with perfect ease, as the lateral growth
all comes upward, and forms in time a perfect mass of foliage and
colour ; the whole of the soil, also, is effectually shaded, and is kept
cool and moist in hot weather. The period of blooming is also
greatly prolonged, as the buds at the point of the shoots start first,
and are succeeded by those nearer the base \ these, again, being
followed by the summer growth from the roots, which, as I have
before mentioned, carry bloom all through the autumn.

Mr Perry has long been a bold practiser of the pegging system,
and earnestly recommends it. He has beds of more than twelve
years' planting, and yet they are as strong and vigorous as ever —
indeed it would be difficult to prescribe the period that Roses might
last under this mode of growth. In planting beds of Roses that
are to be treated as here described, care should be exercised to keep
the more robust growers in the centre, and the weaker ones on the
outside. Hybrid Perpetuals and Bourbons are best for this kind
of work. Tea -Roses it does not suit; but these latter should in
variably be grown upon walls or as climbers. The Brier and Manetti
stocks may be very useful for the purpose of quickly obtaining plants
of new or scarce varieties, but, for all permanent work, nothing
can beat the culture of Roses upon their own roots.

t ROSAEIAN.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

At last, after much patient waiting, there has come a break in the
weather, and the long-continued drought that almost without inter-
mission had lasted from March till the middle of October, has come

iS7a] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 485

to an end. This — in so far as relates to the London district, and
others similarly affected. A drought, almost unexampled in its
intensity and duration, had settled down on the land like a spell, and
fields became as dry and barren as if a fire had passed over their sur-
face, robbing them of their verdure. It is seldom that anxious aspira-
tions for rain have expression given to them as late in the year as
October ; but it has been so, and hedgerows have looked as parched
as they usually do in the hottest July weather. On the morning of
the 10th of October, the neighbourhood round London, and for many
miles in every direction, was visited with a white frost; on the
following morning this was continued with some severity ; and then
the wind changed to a southerly point, and the sky became overcast ;
then getting more westerly, the wind freshened into a severe gale, and
for some eighteen hours a hurricane swept the face of the country,
uprooting trees, or tearing limbs from their strong sturdy trunks, and
wresting from them the leaves, already becoming sear and yellow ; then,
softening to a southerly breeze, the rain came — and now a glorious and
much-needed fall is taking place. And so there comes to a close a
season of drought many grey-headed men have asserted to be unpre-
cedented in their past experience.

Probably the unusual swarms of insect life that have prevailed
during the past few weeks are simply one of the results of the drought.
Many districts have suffered from a kind of plague of small flies, so
numerous that the ground was literally covered with them, and the air
filled with them also. When the sun was shining brightest, then did
these visitants swarm in myriads : in some instances they settled on the
fruit-trees and devoured the leaves ; healthy young Peach-trees were so
infested with them that the weight actually broke off the leaves ; trees
that were healthy and clean a few days previously became covered
with green-fly in consequence of the visitation, and fell into a very bad
condition ; and the green crops suffered severely from their ravages.
This unpleasant experience appears to have been spread over a
considerable tract of country. Those who were partridge-shooting
after the frosty nights of the 12th and 13th of September were
struck with the failure of the young Turnips, and saw myriads of in-
sects similar to American blight devastating the leaves. In this
instance it was supposed these insects were the production of the
frosty nights ; that the cold nights tended to put a stop to the rapid
growth of vegetation ; the hot sun, shining forth with an intensity more
befitting June than September, had a putrefying action on the plants —
and in consequence insect life burst forth instant* r, and hence the
swarms seen as described. Perhaps this theory of production is more
ingenious than correct, but it is given as a theory. In relation to the

486 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

plague of black flies, the Rev. John Fountaine, of Brandon, Suffolk,
has supplied some very interesting information to the 'Gardeners'
Chronicle.' Mr Fountaine states : "They had not been long upon the
leaves before they were surrounded with a number of green lice : upon
watching carefully, it was evident that these lice were produced (and,
as I thought, alive) by the black flies. A further examination with a
strong glass confirmed this supposition unmistakably. Not only did
the young travel about as soon as deposited, but were alive and kick-
ing during the process of parturition, which occupied some minutes.
To confirm this fact still further, I held some of the black flies between
the finger and thumb of the left hand, and squeezed them gently whilst
watching with the glass held in the right hand. The result was — first
the green aphis quite alive ; secondly, ditto in an imperfect state ; and
thirdly, a lump of green matter in the embryo state. I do not think
each fly brought forth above a dozen young ones, but of this I will not
speak positively. After they had, however, completed that quantity,
they appeared to shrivel up and die." Mr Webster, of Gordon Castle
Gardens, also furnished some information in regard to this matter.
He states that a plague of flies is not uncommon there in the autumn,
although by no means to the same numerical extent as this season.
They are commonly known in that locality as the harvest -midge.
" The Peach seems a favourite tree for reproducing the species. In
a few days after settling upon the leaves an increased number of brown
aphides will be seen, especially along the main rib of the leaf, which
very soon exhausts its strength in its ripening stage, and causes it to
droop while it is yet green, much corresponding to the effects of
Physalea Pyrea, which we have more or less every season upon some
of the wall Pear-trees." Mr Webster does not think it is the weight of
the flies merely that causes the leaves to fall ; and he goes on to state :
" I have been on the look-out for it (the aphis) in dry autumns ; and as
soon as any are observed on the Peach -leaves, they are syringed over with
Gishurst compound, at 2 oz. to the gallon, which helps to taint the leaves,
and prevents these pests from having a resting-place. Several of the
trees, having fruit upon them this season when the fly was first seen,
could not be so easily washed over, and have in consequence lost a
large portion of their leaves ; but all those which were taken in time
have suffered but little. I deem it of the utmost importance to keep
the leaves on until they drop by natural ripeness, which will generally
insure a strong healthy blossom in spring."

There may be some connection between the ravages of the Pine-
beetle and the drought ; certain it is that this destructive little insect
has left unmistakable evidences of his presence in some districts this
season. His visitations have more interest for the arboriculturist than

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 487

the gardener, but his presence is worthy of note. A small shining
black fellow, his very build is suggestive of capacities for working mis-
chief ; and settling on the Scotch Fir, he works his way into the young
growth, and tunnelling along the centre of it towards the point, devours
its pith, and the shoots shrivel speedily. A large plantation of Pinus
sylvestris, growing in the neighbourhood of Bagshot, Surrey, looked as
if the surface of the tree had been burned with fire. It would seem
this beetle attacks all the true Pines, such as P. Austriaca, P. strobus,
&c, but avoids Abies, Picea, and Wellingtonia. Though somewhat
pigmy in appearance, this beetle is a formidable foe to planters if he
works out his mischievous tendencies similarly as witnessed in this
Surrey plantation of Scotch Fir.

It is very rarely indeed that well-known creeper Wistaria Sinensis
produces seed-pods. The fact that in one instance it has done so
during the past summer is perhaps also traceable to the drought.
When Mr Fortune returned home from his second journey to China,
he brought with him five seeds of Wistaria Sinensis. A plant obtained
from one of these seeds is now growing in Mr Charles Noble's Sun-
ningdale Nursery, at Bagshot, and this plant has this season produced
two pods of seed hanging on one stem. In appearance the seed-pods
resemble those of a Scarlet-Kunner Bean, but are gathered in, as it were,
between each seed, so having an indented appearance. One pod
contained three seeds, the other two. A plant of the white variety of
Wistaria Sinensis, one of the original plants brought home by Mr For-
tune, and growing on a cottage in the same nursery, had bloomed very
freely this season — unusually so, probably because a dry season is apt
to produce a more floriferous quality.

The fungologists had a grand field-day at South Kensington on the
5th of October last. " Such bad weather for the production of Fungi
as that experienced for many weeks previous to the exhibition had
not been known for years. The sun had continually shone with de-
pressing brightness and warmth, the air had been free from delightful
and exhilarating fogs, there had been no drenching rains, no slush, no
mud, no nothing. Spores were down, and mycelium paralysed. The
enemies of Fungus-eating prophesied a failure ; they said ' vege-
table beefsteaks ' would be as rare at South Kensington as bovine
steaks at Strasburg, and it would be no good seeking for Hydnums.
But the prophets were altogether off the scent ; Fungi in the woods
and fields were certainly scarce enough, but the various species shown
at South Kensington." So writes Mr Worthington G. Smith in the
'Gardeners' Chronicle.' Notwithstanding, some very good collections
were staged ; the edible species in one group, the poisonous in
another, and the doubtful ones by themselves ; and the leading myco-

488 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

logists and mycophagists were gathered together on the occasion. The
number of persons attracted to witness the exhibition was something
extraordinary ; all the afternoon the council chamber was thronged,
and up till a late period of the afternoon the stream set in towards
the tables on which the Fungi lay. Subsequently, a gathering of fun-
gologists took place at Hereford — a large number of gentlemen met to-
gether, and the meeting appeared to have been successful in the highest
degree. In the name of science, and in the interest of gastronomy, we
thank these gentlemen for their work \ the practical utility of it time
alone will demonstrate.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

THE PEACH AND NECTARINE.

{Continued from page 457.)

The reader will no doubt have observed that in all cases early autumn
has been the season recommended for planting the various fruit-trees
I have brought under his notice. In the case of the Peach and
Nectarine it is perhaps of even greater moment than with any other
fruits already named. The earlier in autumn the operation of planting
is done — say after the middle of August — the greater will be the chances
of success ; if left till spring, the later in spring it is performed, the
greater will be the chances of failure and permanent injury to the
young tree. This is easily accounted for. The Peach starts early
into activity in spring, so that if transplanted after the sap is in full
flow, the check occasioned by the sudden change proves often very
injurious by deranging the whole system of the tree for a time. Its
means of providing nourishment are for a time destroyed until it has
become fixed in its new situation and begun to form young spongioles.
This being the case, all activity in the tree is for a time suspended ;
and if the weather should be dry, the wood, and even the buds, will
to a certain extent become shrivelled. It takes no great amount of
physiological reasoning to prove the injurious effects of planting under
such circumstances. By planting in autumn all this is avoided, and
the young tree gets time to settle into its new position and form
young roots, which are ready at the first call of spring to start and
carry on the work of the season. If planting in autumn cannot be
done, the next best plan is to lift the young trees in December or
January, when they are at rest, and put them in by the heels in some
sheltered corner until their permanent quarters are ready for them.
Here they should not remain longer than the end of February ere

1870.] THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 489

planted. The nearer the surface the Peach and Nectarine are planted
the better. It is a common practice — and a good one, especially in
wet, cold localities — to spread out the young roots on the surface, and
cover them over to the depth of 6 or 8 inches, thus leaving the young
tree standing upon a little mound. The stem of the tree should not
be nearer to the wall than 5 or 6 inches, thereby giving it ample space
to swell and grow without coming in contact with the wall, which is
very hurtful to the tree, and also in time gives it an unsightly ap-
pearance. If the tree is planted in autumn it would be well to give it,
in the first place, a good mulching to prevent evaporation, and after-
wards to ward off the frosts of winter from its young and delicate roots.
If planting is not done till spring, there will be no need for mulch-
ing till the middle or end of April, unless severe frost should
succeed the operation; in that case, by every means have it done. If,
however, the weather should be genial and warm, the influence of
the sun upon the soil will prove of much benefit until such time
as its rays become too strong and cause rapid evaporation, after
which a good mulching will prove of much benefit. It should,
however, be removed early in August, as the young tree will now
be established, and will not require it the same as when first
planted ; the truth is, it will be beneficial to the tree to have the
soil around its roots then exposed to the action of light and air.

The style of training generally adopted for the Peach and Nectarine
is the fan in one or other of its modifications. No other style can
well be applied to it, considering the manner of its growth and the
way in which its wood and fruit-buds are produced. As indicated in
my last paper, some cultivators have attempted a sort of spur style of
pruning. Of this I do not approve ; but beyond this there are two
other methods of pruning in general practice, either of which in dif-
ferent circumstances will be found very good. In both cases the
wood intended to be cut is taken entirely away, and no semblance of
a spur is allowed to remain. The difference consists in the advocates
of the one system leaving the shoot entire, while the advocates of the
other remove the point of the shoot left, generally cutting back to the
first wood-bud beyond the first fruit-bud upon the shoot. Now in
practice the one may be right under certain circumstances, and the
other wrong, while if the circumstances were changed the reverse
might be the case. My practice has been to adopt both of these me-
thods. When the tree is young, healthy, and vigorous, I consider it
best to cut the point out of the shoot, always cutting at a good wood-
bud in front of the best fruit-buds upon the shoot. If the shoot were
left entire upon a tree, such as I have indicated, the sure result
would be that the point bud would start first into rapid growth, mak-

490 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

ing a too strong and probably unhealthy shoot, while all, or nearly all,
the back buds would remain dormant, thus causing the tree to form its
growths far from home, the inevitable result of which would be the
leaving of the tree bare of young wood and foliage save at the extre-
mities. Now by pruning as I propose this is avoided, and a well-fur-
nished tree is the consequence. In the case of an old tree it is very
different. When a Peach or Nectarine tree has arrived at a certain
age it generally ceases to a great extent to produce what are usually
known as gross watery shoots. At this age it also begins to produce
its young wood and fruit more regularly all over the tree; the fruit-
buds often predominate over the wood-buds to such an extent that
sometimes the whole shoot is clothed by them except the point bud
and a few others down near the base of the branch. Where the tree
has arrived at this stage of its existence there should be no pointing
of the shoots, as all the wood-buds produced will be necessary to bring
forward and perfect the crop. Besides all this, it is sometimes
the case that old trees drop a great many of their buds during the
period of rest ; but in no case have I ever known the point
bud to fall ; so that should all, or nearly all, the wood- buds fall
save this one at the point, it should be left so that it may carry the
fruit through to the period of ripening. As already stated, both of
these methods may in practice be correct, but I have indicated to the
best of my ability the circumstances under which each of them may
be followed with the greatest safety.

The next point for consideration is the protection of the blossoms
from the effects of frost. As the Peach and Nectarine produce their
exj)anded flowers early in the season, and before the leaves of the trees
are sufficiently developed to afford them, any natural protection, it is
absolutely necessary that some artificial means be adopted to insure
their safety. This will be all the more obvious when we consider that
the Peach is a native of such a genial climate as Persia. It is
therefore necessary that some sort of protection be obtained, and I
know of nothing better suited for the purpose than the woollen net-
ting already recommended when speaking of the protection of the
Apricot, at page 349 of the present volume. For full particulars re-
garding it, and the manner of its application, I must refer the reader
to that article. Much of the success of Peach and Nectarine culture
depends upon proper attention to this important matter. Not only is
protection necessary for the blossoms, but the young leaves and shoots
so often suffer from late spring frosts that it is as necessary for them
as for the flowers. The woollen netting should be allowed to remain
for the protection of the trees till the middle of May. Progressing
with the season, the next thing requiring notice is the thinning of the

iSyo.] HOW I GROW MY ASTERS. 491

fruit. If the season is good, and the tree in perfect health, more fruit
will set than is required to form a crop. This being the case, it is
necessary to go over the trees when the fruit is about the size of Peas,
to remove all superfluous or badly-formed fruit, leaving the best ones
single, and at distances of from 4 to 6 inches apart all over the tree ; the
small-growing varieties at the former distance, and the larger-growing at
the latter. Even at these distances there will be four times the number
of fruit necessary ; but as the crop is not secure till after the stoning
period, they can remain and be afterwards thinned out to 9 inches and
12 inches apart respectively, according to the size of the fruit. At
these distances the weight of crop and quality of the fruit will be
better than if less space is allowed them. James M'Millan.

(To be continued.)

HOW I GROW MY ASTERS.

I am both a grower and exhibitor of the Aster, and at the end of the
season I take up my pen to detail my experiences of the sorts I, dur-
ing the summer, took in hand for the purpose of growing for exhibi-
tion. I take it for granted some of your readers are exhibitors of
flowers, and probably among them will be found those who grow the
Aster for competition. I hope, therefore, to make my remarks accept-
able to some of these.

Much as I admire and gloat over the superb beauty of a stand of
finely-finished blooms of the quilled or German Aster, I am fully alive
to the fact that much high feeding and disbudding is necessary to
produce these fine flowers. I don't take kindly to them somehow.
As a general rule, they are dull-coloured, and, unless the plants are
protected, they are apt to have a cloudy and even dirty appearance. I
have given up growing the quilled Asters, both for exhibition and
decorative purposes : the latter, because of the reasons just named ;
the former, because I got tired of almost entirely stripping my plants
of buds and side shoots for the sake of obtaining two or three flowers
on each, fit for the exhibition-table. One has to manure, and water,
and shade, and bestow the most careful tending, just to obtain a few
blooms, which may perhaps fail one just when they are most needed.

In what are known as the flat-petalled Asters I get something to
my mind ; and I grow them, and enjoy the rich full harvest of
flowers they yield. Of these I grow four types — viz., Truffaut's
Peony -flowered, which give both reflexed and incurved flowers of
large size, and in good variety of colours ; the Victoria, which I have
no hesitation in pronouncing the finest Aster in cultivation; the

492 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

dwarf Chrysanthemum-flowered, one of the most useful kinds, both
of which produce handsome and symmetrically-shaped flowers ; and the
Crown-flowered, so named because of having a large disc of white in
the centre of the blooms. These four I now rely on to furnish me
with collections of flowers for the annual struggles in our district in
the month of August.

Truffaut's Aster is tall in growth, and frequently ungainly in habit,
but I like it because it is so certain. One can always cut plenty of
good flowers from plants that have not had special attention. It is
an Aster that affords as much variation in colour as any kind I know
of. I grew this season the seed from a collection of Truffaut's Aster
in eight varieties, and at any time I could have cut as many as
twelve blooms differing materially in the hue of colour, saying noth-
ing about softer and heavier shades of apparently the same variety,
and the difference in the flowers from the same plant occasioned by
their relative age. The flowers also vary in form, but by far the
greatest number are raised in the centre, the petals folding over from
the outside towards the centre, and they are then known as "in-
curved " flowers. In this form they are very handsome when staged
for exhibition. Another form is the " reflexed " flowers — in these the
petals are thrown back from the centre to the circumference of the
blooms. In this way they are also very handsome ; but the difficulty
is to get the centre full and raised, and of a uniform hue of colour
with the other portion of the flower. I had two kinds of the Chry-
santhemum-flowered Aster — one as tall-growing as Truffaut's, the other
the ordinary form of the dwarf-growing kind. Both are very hand-
some and varied in colour, though not so varied in form, but some-
what late in flowering ; and the grower does not get the best flowers in
time for the early Aster shows. The flowers are of large size, and
very full. The dwarf Chrysanthemum-flowered is very compact in
habit of growth ; and I often wonder beds of this variety are not more
frequently planted out in large flower-gardens. The Victoria Aster is
a splendid and sure kind for exhibition purposes, and without excep-
tion the finest Aster grown. The habit of growth is erect, and reaches
a height of about 12 inches. It does not present so many dense hues
of colour as Truffaut's, yet the flowers are large and full, and of
considerable depth. Year by year some new shade of colour
appears to be added, and a greater diversity of hue is thereby obtained.
I find, however, that some of the most decided colours to be obtained
in the Aster are found in the Victoria type — such as crimson, blue,
purple, rose, carmine, and white. This fine Aster simply wants rich
soil, plenty of moisture and room ; and I am persuaded the cultivator
will never abandon it when once he has made a trial of it.

1870.] HOW I GROW MY ASTERS. 493

Though my remarks are mainly directed to the use of the Aster as
an exhibition-flower, its usefulness for decorative purposes must not
be overlooked. Scarcely anything is so gay or so pleasant to the eye
as a border well studded with Asters ; and scarcely is anything more
useful during the summer months. But none of the tall-growing
types that have the habit of hanging down their flowers, as if always
in a dejected mood, should be employed for the purpose. There are
one or two dwarf-growing types of the quilled flowers that are very
useful for the purpose, but give me the Victoria and the dwarf Chry-
santhemum-flowered. I sometimes amuse myself by looking over the
seed catalogues at the lists of the different types of Asters therein
arranged, and I am led to fancy they are constructed especially to be-
wilder and torment poor unsuspecting folk, who cannot know much
about them. I have bought much rubbish in this way in the time
past, but I have done with that for ever. I now know something
about Asters, and I always get for my money that which amply repays
me; and because I am anxious other growers should not be dis-
appointed I have here set down my Aster experiences.

I sow later than sowing is sometimes done. The end of March, or
the beginning of April, is my time for doing it. I plant out in small
beds, putting the plants in lines about 12 inches apart, and the plants
about 9 inches apart in the row. Some assure me I crowd my plants ;
I fancy I don't, and so continue to plant 9 inches apart. The beds are
previously prepared by forking into the soil plenty of rotten manure,
and working it well together till light and friable. When the plants get
from 6 to 9 inches in height, I scoop out the soil between the rows to
the depth of 3 inches, and fill up the space with some rotten manure,
and I cover the surface of the beds with a layer of the same. Unless
the weather is very dry, not much watering is required. When the
blooms are filling out, those intended for the exhibition-table are helped
with some weak liquid-manure ; yet it is hardly essential. From plants
grown in this way I get exceedingly fine blooms, and seldom do I miss
taking the first prize at our local show the last week in August,
though I have to fight hard to secure that honour. But in these
days of severe competition we must fight if we would excel.

A bed of Asters is an admirable preparation for a plantation of
Eoses in the autumn. Those who contemplate making a Rose-bed
should grow Asters the previous summer, and when they are removed,
well trench the ground. If fine blooms of Roses are not produced the
following season — well, then, I am but an indifferent prophet.

Nemo.

494 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

HINTS FOR AMATEURS. -NOVEMBER.

In highly cultivated gardens, November is generally a busy month, as
the work for a future season may be said to fairly commence then.
There is also much storing to be done, and protecting and clearing off
the remains of the past season's crops; and every means should be used
to forward operations before winter sets in. Wheeling out manure,
trenching, and otherwise preparing ground, may now be carried on
judiciously and with all haste. It is also a good time to make ar-
rangements for next year's cropping. A rough sketch of the ground
and what it grew last season might be put on paper, and the necessary
changes for next season also noted down. This saves much trouble,
and reduces the management to great simplicity. Systematic cropping
is of great advantage — especially where gardens are limited in space.
It is well to arrange to have the root-crops by themselves ; and where
several crops are to come in at the same time, such as Celery, Leeks,
Brussels Sprouts, and late Brocolis (which are winter crops), it makes
easy work to turn over the soil after their removal, as great breadths
can be done at one time, and the same ground answers for a number
of summer and autumn crops, and can be manured accordingly. Where
manure has been freely used the previous season, it may be withheld
if the succeeding crop is not to be of an exhausting nature. Lime and
sand in moderate quantities may be used freely in very heavy soil ; and
if the bottom is of a sandy nature, some of it may be incorporated with
the surface with great advantage. Light sandy soils may be improved
with a little clay placed on the surface, exposed to the winter's frost, and
then well worked in with rotten manure ; this will do much to improve
the ground. Mud from the bottoms of ponds, or rivers, sweetened by
frost, is of great service when used on poor light land. Some old fruit-
tree borders here, trenched up and dressed in this way, produced excellent
Kidney and Forty-fold Potatoes • after which were sown Turnips and
Spinach, which promise to do good service all through the winter.
While advocating the mixing of soils when entirely of an opposite
nature to each other, I am strongly opposed to bringing up unhealthy
subsoil unnecessarily to mix with good soil, as the mischief might not
be overcome for years. The sowing of early Peas and Beans will now
require attention. A warm sheltered spot, well turned up, should be
chosen, and the seed sown (more thickly than usual) on the surface in
drills and the earth drawn over. Where mice or other vermin may be
troublesome, chopped furze thrown over the seed will keep them off.
Red-lead sprinkled over before covering up often answers well. Keep
Spinach, autumn-sown Onions, and other crops free from weeds, with
a well-broken surface. Quantities of Parsnips, Chicory, Horse-Radish,

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 495

&c, should be taken up. in order to have a store on hand when frost
sets in. Chicory (which is very wholesome in salad) when wanted for
use, may be taken up and the tops trimmed off, and the roots placed
in soil, where the tops will become blanched by being in the dark. A
little warmth will bring them quickly into use. Brocoli coming into
use can be lifted to save it from frost ; it may be stored in a cellar,
shed, or outhouse, keeping the roots and leaves entire. "Where late
Brocolis have grown strong, they are in danger of being destroyed by
severe weather. They may be laid down with their heads from the
sun, thus checking their growth. Where there are vacant spaces, such
as where Peas have been cleared off, the late Brocolis may be thinned
out and transplanted ; damp and frost do great damage to strong
gross plants. In dry weather all the Brassica tribe should be gone
over and their decaying leaves taken off, as they would soon be offen-
sive. Celery will require earthing-up to blanch it, keeping the hearts
together and free from soil. Quantities lifted up with balls and
placed in close quarters will keep well for weeks, and can be easily
got at in severe weather. Endive and Lettuce fit for use may be
lifted and placed under protection : an earth-pit with glass lights
answers well for this purpose. Plenty of air in fine weather is neces-
sary to keep the plants from decaying. Tomatoes (in positions
not likely to ripen) should be taken into heat and they will soon
change colour ; when they are grown in pots they are easily removed to
safe quarters. Mustard, Cress, and "Thread" Onions may be sown in
small quantities, as demand requires. Sowing in boxes or pots, and
placed in heat anywhere, and brought to light and air after the leaves
begin to form, is a simple method of keeping up supplies. Rhubarb
may be lifted for forcing — a few roots placed in a cellar, or where 55°
to 60° of heat can be given ; keep the roots close together, and slightly
cover them with a little soil, litter, leaves, moss, or anything to retain
moisture, and frequently sprinkle with tepid water. If the produce is
wanted early, extra heat must be given, but the Rhubarb will then
not be so large. Rhubarb, unlike Seakale, does not require blanching,
but is better flavoured when grown in light and air : pots placed over
the crowns, and manure used for warmth, is an old simple plan, but
gives a good deal of labour, and is untidy-looking in gardens. Where
there is a manure -heap, the roots can be carried there, and placed
together in a box, and covered over with manure — it gives less labour
to wheel the roots than the manure. When roots are done with, they
should be hardened slowly, and then kept for dividing, to make fresh
plantations. Seakale may be lifted in quantity. If it is not wanted
before the end of the year, forcing need not begin till the middle of
the month. Like Rhubarb, it is easier managed when lifted. In large

49G THE GARDENER. [Nov.

places, Mushroom-houses are generally used for forcing it into use, but
amateurs and others may have it in a stable or any outhouse, if placed
in a box in soil of any kind, and kept close, dark, and moist, with heat
about 55° to 60°. The white tops will soon be fit for use ; when
allowed to grow more than G inches high, it becomes weak and worth-
less. Asparagus is also come-at-able by every one, as it only requires
packing closely and tightly in a little good earth in a box : a glass
light over it, and manure round it for warmth, will soon start the
crowns, when a watering (say at 90°) will bring it on quickly.
Light and air are necessary to give flavour ; blanched Asparagus is not
of much value. The three foregoing useful vegetables can be bought
cheaply by those who have no ground, and grown in towns or any-
where.

Pruning of trees and bushes may be commenced, but avoiding the
use of the knife when the wood is frozen. If birds are troublesome,
pruning may stand over till late in the season, which is the least of
the two evils; then the buds not destroyed can be retained. Keep up
a regular supply of young wood among all fruit-trees ; even those
which are trained to long rods and spurs, such as Pears and early
Cherries, are the better of having new shoots occasionally led up to
replace old ones. Upright-growing shoots on bushes are preferable,
as they do not bend so much with the weight of the crop. Currants
may be closely spurred (except blacks, which require regulating and
thinning the wood) ; but vigorous shoots left to form permanent ones
may be left alone, yearly cutting out here and there an old one as they
get stunted, when young healthy ones will take their places. There
need not be any great haste with wall-trees ; but Plums, Cherries,
Pears, and Apples (where the latter may be on walls to get them extra
fine), may be pruned while the weather is mild. Cut off spurs
which are growing out from the walls ; but any which have formed
at the sides of main shoots should be retained, as they are likely to
be fruit-bearing. Pears should have (if not done in summer manage-
ment) the young wood shortened back to form spurs, and if placed out-
wardly, should be cut clean off. If spurs are crowded (which is often
the case on old trees), they should be thinned, and some shortened, to
keep the fruit near the wall. Crowding of Plums and Morello Cher-
ries with young wood is often seen. The fruit is thus kept small and
inferior in quality. Enough wood should be retained to secure
plenty of fruit, but not to smother it. Peaches, Nectarines, and
Apricots may be left till late in the season. When the leaves are off
the trees the young wood can be taken from the walls with much
benefit. The wood gets firm, and is kept from going quickly into
growth, and is less likely to be destroyed by early frosts. This is an

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 497

old practice, and we have seen it proved to be a good one. bailing
in young wood of pruned trees can only be done with comfort in mild
weather, so every opportunity should be taken to get the work for-
ward. We seldom use shreds now, simply from the objection to the
harbour for insects, and the appearance, especially if the cloth they
are made from is "showy." Matting neatly used is hardly seen, and
the nails may remain, as where systematic training is practised,
the young shoot is taken from the base of the old one, and when
the latter is cut out, the young one is laid in its stead. Cast-
metal nails are best, and if not placed where they can be used
on the walls, they may be broken over, thus saving the plaster.
Holes in walls may be filled up with putty, mixed with a little
white lead, and harbour for insects will be scarce. Trees in-
fested with scale may be carefully scraped with the back of a knife,
and painted with Gishurst compound (see directions for use) : all moss
on trees should be taken off if possible, and the bark well painted with
a mixture of lime and soot. Root-pruning, if not already finished,
should have attention at once. I always advise its being done early,
and only when the tree requires it. Where any strong watery shoots
are taking the lead upwards, some roots will be also taking the lead
downwards, and should be cut off; but cutting right round the tree in-
discriminately is unnecessary destruction. When trees are to be kept
within certain limits, root-pruning is necessary to equalise the growth.
When much wood is made and cut off, the tree soon yields to canker ;
but timely lifting prevents these evils ; trees making no growth and
abundance of fruit-buds should be helped with good top-dressing, or if
roots are down in poor unhealthy soil, lifting will be the only means
of securing success. Lifting and replanting fruit-bushes gives them a
fine constitution ; as well as modifying the growth of wood and insur-
ing always abundance of fruit. Stake and tie securely newly-planted
fruit-trees, but they must be allowed to settle with the fresh soil,
otherwise the bark might be cut with the ties. Raspberries should
already be freed from the old wood, and suckers not wanted should be
lifted. Pruning will require attention soon. They require a good
deep soil, rich and moist.

Lawns and shrubberies now require to be often gone over with rake
or broom. Worm-casts on the former may be kept down by tbe
use of lime-water, and well rolled afterwards. Where leaves are all
down, quantities may be forked over among shrubs, keeping clear of
the roots. To give grounds, however small, an interest at the dull
season, thorough cleaning of grass, borders, and walks is necessary.
Improvements and renovations can be done well at this season.
Cover roots of Fuchsias, Aloysias, and other plants remaining in the

2 L

498 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

ground likely to be injured by frost. Fern or coal-ashes does well
for the purpose. Myrtles or any other less hardy plants on walls
might be covered with fern or spruce branches and straw. Tender
Roses may be lifted, and their roots placed in soil under a wall or
similar place, where they can be protected. Rose-planting may be
finished without delay. Well-trenched heavy loam, in which is mixed
plenty of good rotten manure, is most suitable. A quantity of fresh
turfy loam placed with each plant in process of planting, will give
health and vigour to the plants ; a good mulching for protection after
the planting is done will keep them safe from frost. The grafted
parts should be well protected. Bedding and other plants now re-
quire careful attention ; no more water should be given than is abso-
lutely necessary, and always enough to moisten all the soil about the
roots. Open clean surfaces do much for health. Impure damp air
is a great evil. Hardy plants in pots, if not under cover, should have
the roots plunged in coal-ashes. Heaths and Camellias, when mixed
with other plants in structures, should be kept in the coolest end
where air can be freely given, and the more tender things where
they would be best protected from draughts, &c. Violets and Roses
flowering in pots require plenty of air and light ; also Primulas and
Cinerarias to succeed Chrysanthemums ; but they stand little frost.

M. T.

HOW TO OBTAIN ROSES ON THEIR, OWN ROOTS.

I have read in a contemporary an article under the heading of "Roses
for Hedges." This is a good idea — one I, as an old Rose cultivator,
have long believed in and practised. The month of November, into
which we are just entering, is a busy time for me as a grower of Roses,
as during that month I put in my cuttings, and plant Brier and
Manetti stocks for budding. With regard to cuttings, it is of the
greatest importance to get them all planted before severe frosts set in
and the ground gets too cold. Although both the dog-Rose and
Manetti are hardy, they are 'apt to suffer from the effect of frost if
exposed to it after they are taken up, and weak shoots, instead of strong
healthy growth, results.

In any place where there is a great demand for cut Roses, every ex-
ertion should be made to keep up a sufficient supply. I always make
it a rule here to supply the table with cut Roses during eight months
out of the twelve : in March and April I get blooms from plants

1870.] ROSES ON THEIR OWN ROOTS. 499

forced in pots ; in May from walls ; and from that time till the autumn
has begun to strip the trees of their emerald tresses, the blooms come
from various sources — some from plants budded on the Brier, some
on the Manetti stock, and others from plants on their own roots.
To obtain a good supply of Roses, three classes are principally grown —
namely, Noisettes, which are mostly grown on walls, and protected with
branches of evergreens during winter; Tea-Roses, which are grown
and protected the same way as the Noisettes — both of which I find to
bloom earlier and finer from the protection they get, as the blooming
wood is preserved intact, instead of being killed back, as is frequently
the case ; and the Perpetuals, which form the largest class grown here.
A great many of these are on their own roots, and these I obtain in a
very simple manner. I first trench a piece of ground in the kitchen-
garden, two spits deep, and mix plenty of rotten dung with the soil as
the work proceeds. The cuttings I prepare in the following manner :
I select the strongest growers of the Perpetual class, and cut up the
wood into lengths of about 6 inches, and take out all the eyes but the
three top ones. The ground should be trodden firm at planting time,
and I always select for this a day dry enough to prevent the soil
sticking to one's feet. A line is put across the ground, and the soil
chopped away from the line by the spade just deep enough to take the
cuttings, leaving the eyes out of the ground ; they are placed from 4
to 6 inches apart, and the soil trodden firmly about them. And so I
plant a piece of ground, leaving a space between the rows of fully 2
feet. I find the cuttings strike more readily in a sandy soil, and gen-
erally place some road-grit about them previously to treading the earth
firmly against them. Here the cuttings remain for two years. At the
end of the first year the growth of that season is cut back to about four
or six buds from the ground, and by the end of the second year they
form fine healthy plants.

These I use for the formation of Rose-hedges, the front row of a
Rose-border, for potting, for forcing purposes, or to form a bed of
Roses on their own roots. The ten varieties of Perpetuals now to be
named are very fine plants from cuttings struck this way three years
ago, and they are all strong growers and constant bloomers — viz.,
General Jacqueminot, John Hopper, Jules Margottin, Anna Alexieft",
Duchesse d' Orleans, Auguste Mie, Anna des Diesbach, Charles Lefeb-
vre, Mademoiselle Louise Carigue, and Madame Alfred de Rougemont.

There are two hardy Tea-Scented Roses growing with the above
that stood the severe frost of last winter without any protection —
namely Gloire de Dijon, and L'Enfant Trouve, a beautiful yellow
flowering kind.

If I were to form a Rose-hedge of one particular flower, it would

500 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

be Jules Margottin, an old but very free-blooming Rose, that is a
great favourite with me, and, I doubt not, many more.

William Plester.
Elsenham Hall Gardens.

ON PEACH-TREE TRAINING.

Old writers (I use the term with all respect), and some young ones,
borrowing from them, generally advise, in beginning with a young
Peach-tree, to train up several shoots, to pick out the sublaterals, and
cut back at the winter pruning to 9 inches or 1 foot — and so on from
year to year; and to prevent an outburst of superabundant vigour
thereby induced the following season, and perhaps gumming, will
further advise you to root-prune annually, until a balance is effected
between root and top.

By this system good trees and fruit can be secured, I am aware ;
but another system has been coming into repute of late years, which,
I think, possesses not only all the advantages of the old plan, but
enables us to get large trees in about half the time, or less, that was
formerly required, and consequently quick returns.

To give your readers an idea of this plan, I perhaps cannot do
better than give the history of two Peach-houses here that were
planted in 1866.

Our old early Peach-house was taken down for the purpose of erect-
ing two better and larger houses on the same site. The old trees
could not be used again, and as we would be without early Peaches
while the young trees were growing, I had recourse to the plan I have
alluded to, and which I shall call the " extension system of Peach-tree
culture." The trees, with the exception of two which were got the
year before, were brought from the nursery in the beginning of 1866.
They each had from four to six strong immature shoots upon them,
which were shortened back to about 1 foot, and the trees were planted
permanently about the beginning of April, when the houses were fur-
nished. From each of the cut-back limbs two or three shoots were
trained, and these were encouraged not only to make all the growth
they would in length, but all the sublaterals were also laid in that we
could find room for, thereby expending the gross vigour of the main
shoots, and at the same time laying in a stock of bearing-wood.

Instead of cutting away perhaps one-half or two-thirds of the
season's growth at the winter pruning, as some recommend, we retained
the whole of it, with the exception of some of the extreme points of
the strongest shoots, which were cut off for the sake of preserving the

1870.] POTATOES. 50]

symmetry of the tree. By this method we had trees at the end of the
first season measuring from 6 to 7 feet across, and about 4 feet high,
and filled with bearing- wood all over, and which bore about 12 dozen
fruit the following year, though all the trees did not bear. This
practice we have continued up till this date, never pruning in winter
or pinching in summer, unless here and there occasionally, to preserve
the balance of vigour or to shorten back a bare point.

For the last three years the two houses have been forced early and
hard, and the trees have borne a crop every year. This season we
gathered over 56 dozen Peaches and Nectarines, fine fruit, from the
two houses, each 25 feet long, and containing four trees, two dwarfs and
two riders, all trained under the roof over the glass — the riders being
cut away as the dwarf fan-trained trees in front overtake them. The
Peach-trees measure now generally about 15 feet across, and are 10
feet high, and more than fill the space allotted to them ; had they had
room they would have been more than 20 feet in diameter by this
time. The Nectarines are a little less in size. Two or three of the
trees have been root-pruned once since planting. We trust rather to
the roots expanding their energies through their natural outlets — wood
and fruit • though, now that the trees are forced early, and well-ripened
wood an object, we do not lay in any sublaterals : indeed we do not
find this necessary, as the trees produce sufficient bearing -wood with-
out. J. Simpson.
Wortley Hall Gardens.

POTATOES — THE EFFECT OF A CHANGE OF SEED
ON THE PRODUCTION" OF CROPS.

Rear-Admiral Hornby, of Knowsley Cottage, Prescot, Lancashire,
has forwarded to us a table, giving the results of a trial of various
sorts of Potatoes, in which the comparative productiveness of seed
obtained from other localities was tested against that which had been
grown in the neighbourhood. By a reference to the table, it will be
seen that one column contains a list of twelve varieties, the sets of
which had been grown at Knowsley Cottage. The other column con-
tains a list of twenty varieties, the sets of which had been obtained
from a distance — those marked with an asterisk having been obtained
from Southampton last spring. A comparison of the relative produce
given exhibits an extraordinary result in favour of a change of seed,
especially in the case of some of the varieties — such as Yorkshire
Hero, Early Emperor, Daintree's Kidney, Dawe's Matchless, Waterloo

502

THE GARDENER.

[Nov.

Kidney, Early American Rose, Breese's Prolific, and The Queen ; the
highest relative produce coming from Daintree's Kidney, in which
instance 3J lb. of Potatoes realised nearly 200 lb. In the first list
we are pleased to see that Veitch's Improved Ashleaf, a first-rate new
early Kidney of superior quality, takes a high place. In a note
accompanying the table, the gallant Admiral states that all the kinds
were " treated exactly alike, and were grown alongside each other in
light soil, what we call in this country 'moss' soil;;' but what his
particular mode of culture was he unfortunately omits to state.

Potatoes 1870.

Old Seed. Produce.

Early Coldstream, . 34 lb. 43f lb.

Transell's Seedling,

63| ..

Veitch's Improved Ashleaf,

112 ,.

Lemon Kidney,

501 „

Mona's Pride,

464 h

Little Green Kidney,

46i „

Daintree's Seedling,

71 n

Early Oxford,

86 ii

Ready Penny, .

62 i.

Regent (Paterson's),

774 ..

Milky White, .

614 M

Royal Ashleaf, .

571 «

New Seed. Produce

*Gryffe Castle Seedling, 34 lb. 65 lb.

^Yorkshire Hero,

1244 „

*Scotch Blue, .

48f 'I

*Wormsley Kidney,

754 „

*Redbridge Ashleaf,

71 .,

*King of Flukes,

79 „

*Early Emperor,

140| "

* Alexandra,

734 ,.

*Daintree's Kidney,

1994 „

^Gloucestershire Kidney,

52| „

*Dawe's Matchless,

1574 "

* Wellington,

884 ,.

Early Coldstream,

71* ..

Webb's Imperial Kidney,

1224 "

Harris's Nonpareil,

77| ..

*Waterloo Kidney,

7 lb. 138^ ,.

Early Rose,

267f ,.

Breese's King of the Earlies,

3 lb. 71 ii

Breese's Prolific,

137 ii

The Queen,

1154 ii

WHEN AND HOW TO LIFT AND STORE DAHLIA -ROOTS.

A few words on these points may perhaps prove to be words in sea-
son to many of our readers just now. For the present year the glory
of the Dahlia has departed, for

1870.] DAHLIA-ROOTS. 503

" November comes, with gloomy fogs begun,
Through which, dim-looming, frowns his furrowed face :
Like a huge globe of molten iron the sun
Seems labouring through upon his daily race.

All nature speaks of changing and decay,

Which is not death, but sleep, to cease in spring's bright day."

These aspects of November bring with them cold days, and sharp
white morning frosts, which soon have their effect on the beauty of the
garden. Very shortly, therefore, the roots of Dahlias must be lifted
and stored away for the winter.

It is somewhat singular that most writers on the cultivation of the
Dahlia from some cause omit giving instructions how to keep the roots
during winter. There are many different opinions current as to the best
mode of doing this, and a variety of plans are carried out ; but one that
has borne the test of many years' experience is likely to have an in-
terest for those anxious to be informed in regard to the matter.

Generally speaking, the roots of Dahlias are lifted in November.
There is no great difficulty in keeping them through the winter. They
should be got up on a dry day ; but when taking them up, it is by no
means necessary that all the soil should be shaken from the roots. A
dry day is best, because the ground works better, and because the roots
should be dried a little before storing them away for the winter.
Some of the old school of florists, and probably some of a more modern
date, used to wash their roots very carefully indeed from all soil adher-
ing to them, and then dry them as some do Potatoes for exhibition
purposes nowadays. Careful as they were, all their attention could
not prevent the roots from decaying sometimes. Some growers made
a point of keeping them in dry sand, packed in boxes : this was the
plan recommended by James Hogg of Paddington, the renowned Pink
cultivator. Some placed them in pits as they would Potatoes, and
covered them with straw and mould. Others would strew them about
an underground apartment. Some have been known to sew them up
in a Kussian mat and hang them up in the coal-cellar. Others wTould
put them into dry mould and stow them away underneath the potting
bench. One enthusiastic amateur grower used to hang his roots round
the walls of his kitchen, in the hope of thus escaping all chances of
disappointment ; rot they could not, at least from damp, and freeze
they could not, for the kitchen fire prevented that. Another, no doubt
quite as enthusiastic in the matter, recommended that, " for the tender
small bulbs which will not bear drying too much, that they be potted
on taking them up from the ground, and have a slight watering to close
the mould about the roots, and then kept in the dry till wanted."
Generally, among amateur growers, this dry place was the kitchen or

504 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

sitting-room. It was contended that " the roots, in short, require to be
only kept from heat, frost, and wet;" and to those who had hitherto
failed to preserve their roots during winter, the following piece of
advice was tendered : " To let the roots dry the same as they would a
bulb or a pod of seed before they are stored, for if put away damp
there is great danger of the rot."

Now for a more modern, but in our own experience as well, thor-
oughly successful, mode of wintering the roots of the Dahlia : " Select
a dry day for getting them up, cut the tops clean off to within an inch
of the crown with a small saw, lay the roots on some sticks or flattened
boughs, so placed in the ground that the air can pass through them,
with the neck downwards, and with as much soil in the tubers as will
remain after they have been poked with a small stick, which is the
best tool to remove the soil with. If the weather is fine and dry, the
roots may be removed to their winter quarters in three days, care hav-
ing been taken that they have been covered with mats at night, and
the covering taken off each morning. The floor of a greenhouse I con-
sider the most suitable place in which to keep them during the winter;
or, if the grower does not possess a greenhouse, a dry cellar will answer
the purpose, or any room where frost will not penetrate. A little
ventilation is always necessary to prevent mould. When valuable
roots, such as seedlings or other scarce kinds, are required to be
kept in plump condition for early forcing, I would recommend that
they be taken up from the ground with all the soil that can be lifted
with them, and that they be at once placed in large pots in a dry place."

The writer of these valuable directions (Mr C. J. Perry of Castle
Bromwich) also alludes in a somewhat amusing style to an error some-
times committed by growers — " that of drying the roots too much.
Many a time," he says, " have I seen them suspended in some coach-
house or loft, until nearly all the juices have been dried out of them.
They were then consigned to a warm room, where no frost could
penetrate, and by the time they were required for propagating, half
the tubers were as dry as old sticks."

A great deal depends on properly drying the roots previous to stow-
ing them away : they should never be dried up so as to present a
shrivelled appearance, but merely the surface of the tubers dried, and
the stems cut off as recommended. None of the greener portion of the
stem should be left, as it would certainly decay during winter, and
endanger the crown, which is the portion of the root most necessary to
be preserved. Those who have a greenhouse can keep the roots well
under the stage, which is a good place for the purpose, excepting only
that they usually give a slovenly appearance to the house, which ought
always to be a picture of neatness.

1870.] FLOWER-GARDEN AT EALING PARK. 505

FLOWER-GARDEN AT EALING PARK, MIDDLESEX,
THE RESIDENCE OF J. S. BUDGETT, ESQ.

There must be many gardeners and others about the country who
have lively recollections of and still feel an interest in the place so
long and famously associated with the late Mrs Lawrence and her
almost unrivalled collections of plants. Those who remember the
Chiswick exhibitions of old — now living only in the records of a
glorious past — must also have memories of the display Mrs Lawrence
used to make in the days of her great popularity as an exhibitor.
Some who worked there and gained a knowledge of the first rudi-
ments of their profession at Ealing Park, others who have visited it at
some time or the other, and many more who have only heard of the
wealth of plants to be once seen there, and the breakfast-parties that
used to draw together the elite of aristocratic and fashionable society,
will all be interested in hearing again of the place, and knowing
whether any of its former splendid reputation still survives. The
block of plant-houses, the occupants of which used to excite the envy
and wonder of the horticultural world, are gone, but there is no lack
of glass at Ealing Park notwithstanding. The plan of the flower-
garden now engraved is on the site of the old flower-garden of Mrs
Lawrence, and it occupies a piece of ground nearly square in shape
on the south side of the site of the once famous plant-houses. When
Mrs Lawrence resided here, the flower-garden contained twenty-nine
pincushion beds set down very closely together. Mr William Cole,
the gardener at Ealing Park, has altogether altered the details of this
garden, and its present arrangements can now be seen by a reference
to the accompanying plan.

The line of vases on the left hand of the plan (9) occupies a
higher elevation than the flower-garden, which is reached by three
flights of steps at different points. The vases are planted both for
summer and winter display, and are always a pleasant feature of the
garden. Starting from the bottom of the page, the line of vases runs
almost directly west to east. The sloping bank of rockwork, which
is continued all along on the north side of the flower-garden, is about
6 feet in height, and is covered with various Ivies, Arabis albida,
Aubrietias, a variety of Sedums, Helianthemums, Alyssum saxatile,
Iberis sempervirens, Corydalis lutea, &c. ; and during summer there
are various Peas and suchlike to lend their quota of effectiveness.
This arrangement gives an almost unbroken succession of bloom, as
something or the other continues almost to the time the charming
soft-coloured Aubrietias unfold their blossoms in the early spring
months. There are also two such pieces of rockwork set down at the

506

THE GARDENER.

[Nov.

angles immediately contiguous, marked 2. On the east, as also
on the west sides, the garden is bounded by a wall, against which
grow Tea - Roses and various creepers ; and the herbaceous borders

ma

GoO

m

m

3§e_

ml

c>3(p

GROUND-PLAN OP FLOWER-GARDEN AT EALING PARK, MIDDLESEX,
THE RESIDENCE OF J. S. BUDGETT, ESQ.

1. Vases.

2. Sloping banks of rock work.

3. Summer-house.

4. Fountain.

5. Shrubbery borders.

6. Gravel- walks.

7. Ivy bower.

8. Herbaceous border and lines of standard Roses.

9. Line of Vases.
10. Statuary.

flanking the walls, with their lines of standard Roses, are rarely with-
out some flowers. A light iron fence forms the boundary on the
south side of the garden, with shrubs planted next it, shutting it
in from the pleasure-grounds outside. At 7 there is a glorious

1870.] FLOWER-GARDEN AT EALING PARK. 507

bower of Ivy, under and through which a walk leads to the pleasure-
grounds ; when the fountain in the centre of the garden (4) is play-
ing, a peep of it can be obtained from the pleasure-grounds along
a walk of considerable length. The lines marked 6 are gravel-walks
about 5 feet in width, and the remainder of the groundwork is
turf, with the flower-beds set down on it. In planting this garden,
Mr Cole made a most judicious and excellent use of foliaged plants,
and the result was a charming piece of soft, inviting, decorative gar-
dening. The four beds round the fountain, forming the segments
of a circular line, were thus filled : In one of them Coleus Verschaffeltii
formed the lines of a chain of diamonds, the diamonds being filled with
Mrs Pollock. In the centre of each (and there were four of them) was
a fine plant of the silvery -leaved Centaurea candidissima. The
angles outside the diamond lines were filled with Gnaphalium lana-
tum — a most useful silvery-foliaged bedding plant when kept within
due bounds — and edged with blue Lobelias. The opposite bed had
Mrs Pollock forming the diamond lines, and the Coleus the central
masses, with the Centaurea as before. The angles were filled with blue
Lobelia, edged with Echeveria secunda glauca. The reverse of these
segment beds had circles of Coleus Verschaffeltii resting in a ground-
work of Centaurea candidissima. One of them had a Dalkeith chain
of golden feather Pyrethrum, edged with blue Lobelia. In the other
the relative positions of these two were reversed, as the Pyrethrum here
became the outer edging. The mode of planting the four beds behind
these has now to be stated. In shape they represent irregular triangles
with the points scolloped out. One had an oval centre of Centaurea
gymnocarpa; round thisGrieve's Culford Rose Zonal Pelargonium, which
was wanting in freedom of bloom ; this was bounded by a diamond line
of Iresine Herbstii, and next a diamond line of Golden-leaf Pelargo-
nium, one of the very best of the golden-leaved section. The angles
were filled in with blue Lobelia, and the whole edged with Gnaphal-
nium lanatum. The next bed had a cross of Coleus Verschaffeltii in
the centre ; next this similar lines of Flower of Spring Variegated
Pelargonium, with blue Lobelia filling up the angles. The reverse
bed had a cross of Iresine Herbstii, with Golden-leaf Pelargonium
instead of Flower of Spring, and still edged with blue Lobelia.
The last of this quartette of beds was to some extent the reverse of
that first described. Centaurea gymnocarpa formed diamonds in the
middle, and round it were diamond lines of Golden-leaf Pelargonium ;
then similar lines of Coleus Verschaffeltii, and next this Mrs Pollock
variegated Zonal Pelargonium similarly planted ; and, as before, the
angles filled in with blue Lobelia.

The two circular beds in the corners at the right of the plan were

508 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

nicely planted in the following manner : Each had two transverse lines
in the form of an elongated letter S — in one instance the lines were
formed of Christine Pelargonium restingon a circular mass of Gnaphalium;
in the other case the lines were formed of Golden-leaf Pelargonium
resting on a mass of blue Lobelia. The circular beds on the other
side were planted similarly with these just noticed. Filling up the
ground-plan can be seen four other beds, square in shape, but with
the angles scolloped out. In the centre of one of these was a kind of
wedge of Abutilon Thompsoni, round this a broad band of Christine
Pelargonium, then another broad band of Golden-leaf Pelargonium,
with the angles scolloped out to suit the shape of the bed ; all margined
with blue Lobelia. Another had a centre of four shields of Iresine
Herbstii, very finely coloured and running between the blocks,
filling up the spaces, and forming a line outside, there was Flower of
Spring Pelargonium, the only variegated variety of this type grown
here ; next this a single line of Golden-leaf, edged with Heliotrope.
Another of these beds had a central band of Lucius, which proves
to be a grand bedding Pelargonium, of a fine and effective bright rose-
coloured hue, and across this was thrown a diagonal line of Christine \
the bed being filled up with clumps of Tagetes signata pumila on the
east and west — and very fine and effective it was — and with Helio-
trope on the north and south. On the north side, the fourth bed
was the reverse of that opposite to it, except that Lucius took the
place of Christine. In a line with the fountain, east and west, are
two pieces of statuary, marked 10 ; and in continuation of this line
come two circular beds, with a fine stone vase and pedestal in the
centre filled with Pelargoniums and Petunias. Round this in each
instance was a fine bold band of Geranium Canariense, a species likely
to prove useful for subtropical work, but which had not yet bloomed ;
in one instance this was edged with the variegated Periwinkle, in the
other with the golden-tipped Stone-crop, Sedum acre aureum.

It will thus be seen that flowering plants were sparely used, while
f oliaged plants were much brought into requisition. About the whole
there was a pleasant softness, and an entire absence of that glare that
makes many a flower-garden so offensive to the eye. Under the
standard Roses, east and west of the garden, dwarf Asters were in full
bloom, and looked extremely pretty.

The flower-garden is not the only feature of interest at Ealing Park.
There is a nice lot of forcing and plant houses, in every one of which
the condition of the inmates proves Mr Cole to be in the front rank of
his profession. As a Grape-grower he has shown his skill at first-class
shows by taking leading prizes; as a cultivator of specimen plants
he has been equally successful. Other features of interest are the

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 509

charming grounds, sonie fine ornamental trees, several coniferous plants
planted by Mrs Lawrence, a fine avenue of Cedrus Deodara, &c., all of
which tend to make the place at any time well worthy a visit.

E. D.

GARDEN RECORDS.

NO. XI.

MR CHARLES TURNER'S, THE ROYAL NURSERY, SLOUGH.

Almost every florist knows, or has heard of, the Royal Nursery, Slough. For
years past — even long before Mr Turner became associated with it, it was a spot
towards which florists turned their eyes and wended their steps ; and forty years
ago Dahlia cultivators looked as expectantly and as anxiously for the Dahlia
catalogue of Messrs E. & C. Brown, the then proprietors, as the 'Times' news-
paper has been at any time during the prevailing Franco-German war. Sub-
sequently a Mr Cutter became the tenant of the Royal Nursery, and eventually
Mr Turner, who had previously established himself in business at Chalvey, a small
village lying midway between Slough and the classic halls of Eton. From the time
that Mr Turner first became the lessee of the premises, and subsequently its pro-
prietor, it has gone on increasing in extent, year by year adding to the rich floral
treasures it contains, till it has now become one of the largest establishments of
the kind in the United Kingdom.

The Royal Nursery, S Lough, comes into our garden records mainly to afford us
a means of recording our impressions of the new Dahlias of the present year, as
well as those not so new to the floral world. The Dahlia has long been one of
the leading flowers grown there, and the number cultivated for sale annually is
something enormous. Notwithstanding the apparent decline of the Dahlia as an
exhibition flower, there seems no lack of purchasers ; and the Dahlia trade
appears as brisk as ever.

For a few years past Mr Turner has given up the exhibition of Dahlias.
During a long term he stood in the van of successful cultivators, and to the last
was capable of holding his own against his most determined and talented oppon-
ents. At length he laid aside his arms, not because defeated, but to all appear-
ance because satiated with victory ; and retired from the field like a valiant
warrior crowned with the trophies of conquest. He now arbitrates where he once
pleaded, for having never lost the respect and confidence of Dahlia cultivators,
his services are always in request as a judge. When the order of St Flora is
established, and its honours dispensed, and the muster-roll of her worthy adher-
ents called, one of her most gallant knights, for the sake of the victories his
high talent and patient skill have won for him, will be Charles Turner of Slough.

Altogether, Mr Turner had this season planted out something like 700 Dahlias,
and as there were three or more plants of each variety selected, a pretty
accurate estimate could be formed of them. Not being required for exhibition
purposes, but simply for comparison and stock, they were planted closer
together than is usually the case when blooms are required for show. Of the
new flowers sent out by Mr Turner in May last, Alice Gair (Turner), pure white,
edged with purple like a Picotee, had not done well, owing to its being so hot
and dry. A moist cool season suits it best, — then it is very pretty. Head Master
(Turner), deep rose, had not done well ; yet it must be a good flower, as on p. 473

510 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

of the October No. of the 'Gardener' it was commended by Mr Perry. Mrs
Coleman (Turner) is another flower with a white ground, tipped with crimson,
very pretty, but the dry weather had told against it also. Oxonian (Turner), a
deep flower of a bluish-purple shade, is distinct in character, of fine petal and
outline, and likely to prove very useful. Provost (Turner), shaded orange, is a
flower suitable for exhibition or border purposes, having a capital upright habit,
and being free blooming, makes a fine back-row flower. Sunshine (Turner), yellow,
tinged with red on the points of the petals, pretty, good, and very constant ; and
Toison d'or (Turner), no doubt the finest yellow Dahlia in cultivation, of a deep
pure golden hue, very fine and constant.

Of Mr Keynes's new flowers of the present year, the following were seen here,
and they were estimated as under : Aristides (Rawlings), deep crimson, shaded
with purple, perfect form and fine quality, but, as seen here, too small ; Charles
Backhouse (Goodwin), glowing scarlet, fine shape and hue of colour, also small ;
Gipsy '.King (Hopkins), a novel shade of mulberry, new in colour, and fine quality ;
Golden Eagle (Keynes), yellow, with a lacing of maroon, like a Picotee, petals a
little pointed, but a good useful constant flower; James Grieve (Keynes), buff,
deeply edged with crimson, late in blooming, large and coarse ; Mrs Eckford
(Keynes), blush, a large and bold flower, but rather inclined to coarseness; Netty
Buckell (Keynes), blush, tinted with pink, large, and wanting refinement ; Paul
of Paisley (Keynes), lilac, fine form, high centre, full substance, promising to be
very useful ; Pretender (Keynes), lilac, nearly white at the base of the florets,
flat, and a little coarse; Roundhead (Keynes), a peculiar shade of bronze, novel
and distinct, large, fine shape and substance ; Royalty (Rawlings), rich golden-
yellow, with a dark centre, fine outline and petal, canes good early in the sea-
son— wants another season's growth to test its constancy ; and Thomas Hobbs
(Keynes), deep crimson, of good size and quality, and a constant and reliable
show-flower.

Of older kinds the following were passed in review, and possibly the descrip-
tive notes appended may be found of some service to our readers. Adonis
(Fellowes), French white tipped with lilac rose, a lovely Dahlia; Albion (May),
white, very useful as a back-row flower, though a little coarse ; Andrew Dodds
(Keynes), a good useful dark flower, of fine quality; Artemus Ward (Fellowes),
blush, striped and edged with lilac rose, actually a fancy flower, though capable
of being shown in both classes, a novel and pretty variety; Autocrat (Fellowes),
rich maroon, shaded with purple, very fine ; Bullion (Fellowes), deep yellow, a
good useful flower ; Buttercup (Fellowes), very fine shade of yellow, but comes
thin ; Champion (Thorneycroft), crimson, a good-shaped flower, but uncertain in
a dry season ; Charles Turner (Keynes), yellow, tipped with crimson, very fine
and useful ; Charlotte Dorling (Turner), white ground, edged and tipped rosy-
purple, very fine ; Fair Imogene (Fellowes), white, delicately edged with laven-
der, very fine and constant ; Hugh Miller (Salter), shaded orange, very useful,
though old ; Iona (Fellowes), buff, edged and tipped with lake, wants depth of sub-
stance ; James Bennet (May), blush, veined and tipped with purple, very useful and
good ; John Downie (Keynes), yellow, tipped with red, a good early-flowering
variety ; John Dunnington (May), dull red, large, and very constant ; John Kirby
(May), a very good and constant buff-yellow flower ; King of Primroses (Raw-
lings), primrose, very fine, of great depth of substance, and constant ; Lady
Gladys Herbert (Keynes), white, deeply edged with crimson, inclined to be
coarse, but a very useful exhibition flower ; Lady Jane Ellis (Eckford), cream
ground, tipped with purplish - rose, very constant ; Lord Derby (Pope), rosy
crimson, a very useful show-flower, but inconstant this season ; Lord Napier

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 511

(Keynes), both thin and inconstant ; Memorial (Eckford), pale rose, a most use-
ful and beautifully-formed flower ; Mrs Boston (May), lilac, exquisite shape, and
very constant ; Mrs Brunton (Eckford), pure white ground, heavily laced with
deep purple, very fine indeed, and constant ; Mrs Dorling (Turner), in the way
of Charlotte Dorling, and quite constant ; Paradise Williams (Keynes), clear
claret, with a good deal of fire in it, very useful and constant ; Princess (Fel-
lowes), pure white, good, constant, and early to bloom ; Queen of Beauties (Fel-
lowes), pale straw, tipped with purple, very fine ; Valentine (Fellowes), white,
with a well-defined edge of purple, fine outline, and very constant ; Vice-Presi-
dent (Keynes), bright-orange, a good, useful, and constant flower ; Yellow Boy
(Keynes), pure deep yellow, somewhat uncertain, but comes very fine occasionally ;
and Yellow Perfection (Turner), bright yellow, of fine shape, but apt to come
quilled in the petals.

No new Fancy Dahlias were sent out by Mr Turner last spring. Mr Keynes
sent out the following : Judy (Keynes), yellow, fully striped and spotted with
maroon, good and useful; Lord Dalkeith (Keynes), pale ground, edged with
purple and crimson, wanting in quality ; Model (Eckford), pale buff, striped with
maroon, fine petal, shape, and substance ; and Purple Flake (Keynes), pure white,
deeply flaked with clear purple; came somewhat thin this season. Among older
Fancy flowers, the following notes will pretty fairly estimate their worth, as seen
this season : Annie (Collier) crimson, tipped with white, useful and good ; Bessie
Wyatt (Keynes), white, striped with red, fine and constant; Butterfly (Keynes),
pale ground, striped with scarlet and brown, very constant and good ; Chang
(Keynes), yellow, striped and mottled with scarlet, very large and somewhat flat,
but very useful; Ebor (Godwin), chocolate, striped with dark maroon, fine form,
and useful ; Fanny Sturt (Pope), red, tipped with white, very pretty, and a reli-
able show variety; Formidable (Legge), red, tipped with white, pretty and good;
Frank Tiffin (Keynes), yellow, heavily striped with red, fine and constant; Galatea
Fellowes), white, striped with maroon, very pretty ; Glory (Legge), blush, striped
with rosy-crimson, useful, and dwarf in growth; Lady Dunmore (Turner), saf-
fron, with bright crimson stripes, and tipped with white, very fine and constant ;
Le Domine Noir (Turner), maroon, tipped with white, very pretty indeed when
caught good ; Miss Annie (Eckford), yellow, tipped with white, the best of its
class ; Negress (Fellowes), rosy purple, striped with maroon, and tipped with
white, very pretty, but comes small ; Norah Creina (Green), orange, tipped with
white, very fine and constant ; Pauline (Turner), buff, tipped with white, of extra
fine form and quality ; Pluto (Turner), dark maroon, tipped with white, a fine
and showy flower; Polly Perkins (Turner), yellowish buff, tipped with white,
fine quality, one of the best Fancies grown ; Prospero (Godwin), maroon, tipped
with white, very pretty; Punch (Keynes), light ground, striped with purple,
pretty and good ; Queen Mab (Turner), white, with scarlet edges, very showy
and fine ; and Top Sawyer (Keynes), white, striped and mottled with purple,
very good.

There were many other features of interest to be seen in this Nursery which
were noted down at the time, but our space forbids any further extension of this
paper. In subsequent numbers we shall be able to allude to them.

— «^9^S>^^S~*-«

512 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

NOTES ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

(Continued from page, 446.)

CItASSULACEiE.

The hardy section of this tribe comprises few genera but many species.
A good many of them were old familiar plants in gardens ; but they
have for many years been lost sight of, their quiet unobtrusive style
being scarcely tolerated while the rage for colour was rampant. Re-
cently, however, some species of Sempervivum with rigid geometric
aspect, and Sedums with close carpet-like growth or glaucous leaves,
and several Echeverias, along with other plants of succulent or peculiar
foliage, have been used to produce novel and pretty results in flower-
gardening. It is a step in the right direction, and will serve to relieve
the present style of flower-gardening from the ban of obtrusive monot-
ony that has been laid on it for some time. Very few, if any, of the
hardy Crassulacere are distinguished by brilliant colours or showy
qualities of any kind ; their peculiar recommendations are rather that
they abound in soft tints of flower and foliage, and great variety of
form and aspect — they are, in fact, generally humble quiet objects,
but attractive and pleasing in a high degree. For the most part they
are mountain rock-plants, generally affecting dry habitats where little
else will grow but themselves ; they are therefore naturally well
adapted for ornamenting dry rock work, for planting in thin gravelly
soil, on dry exposed banks, and for draping stumps and stones and
old walls or ruins with a varied mantle of interesting vegetation.
Many of them are excellent border-plants ; and, as already alluded to
above, some are likely to become popular for many uses in the flower-
gardens in bedding out. They are plants of the easiest culture, flourish-
ing abundantly in almost any soil but those that are excessively wet ;
but special requirements of species for peculiar purposes will be noticed
afterwards in the proper place. All may be propagated by division —
that method is unmistakably suggested to even the casual observer by
the Sempervivums generally, which divide themselves, more or less
freely, annually; but in nearly every case propagation in this tribe is
the most simple matter, whether by division or cuttings.

Cotyledon umbilicus, syn. Umbilicus pendulinus — Wall Navelwort.
— The genus Cotyledon is a small one, comprising plants of no strik-
ing ornamental qualities; but they are useful for planting on old walls
with a view to covering them, and are easily established in such posi-
tions if inserted in crevices where a little soil or decayed lime or stone
exists — anything, in short, that will serve to retain them in their place,
along with a little moisture, which is all they appear to want in the
shape of nutriment. The species selected grows about 6 or 9 inches

1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 513

high. The leaves are thick, fleshy, and round, with a few remote
teeth, and attached by their centres to the longish stalks. The flowers
are greenish yellow in long racemes, and are produced throughout the
summer. Native of Britain and Ireland, and "many parts of western
Europe.

Sedum. — This is the most numerous genus in the hardy section of
the tribe. There is a large number of the species in cultivation, but
they are chiefly confined to botanic gardens, and only a few of the
more common are to be found generally in private ones throughout the
country. Some are pretty border plants, others are suitable for rock-
gardens, and generally for furnishing dry gravelly places with vegeta-
tion, and draping stumps, old walls, and ruins. Hardy species only
are selected, but there are some tender ones, with peculiar and varie-
gated leaves, that are valuable ornaments of the flower-garden ; and
some of the hardy ones are not inferior to these for the same purpose,
and are becoming popular.

S. acre — Common Btonecrop. — This is a well-known British plant,
abundant in many parts of the country on rocks and dry banks and
walls. It forms close masses of weak trailing stems, thickly crowded
with bright-green, thick, short, almost globular, leaves. The flower-
stems are nearly erect, about 2 inches high ; flowers bright yellow in
small crowded cymes. This is an invaluable species for clothing old
walls, stones, and dry sandy banks. There is a very pretty variegated
form, which in spring assumes the appearance of a carpet of gold when
planted in breadth; the tips of the shoots become bright golden yellow
as soon as growth begins in spring. It is therefore a valuable plant
for spring massing in dry light soil, but does not succeed so well in
richer and wetter soils ; it is quite easy, however, on a small scale, to
provide a dry enough position for it under any circumstances, and the
plant is well worth an effort. Both the species and variety are capital
plants for suburban gardens ; and although the species manages to
make a tolerable existence on the face of a dry rock, it does not object
to richer pabulum, and luxuriates in any soil not absolutely boggy.
The variety is found in nurseries under the names S. a. variegatum
and S. a. aureum.

S. album — White Stoiiecrop. — An elegant species, with numerous
barren stems matting and creeping on the surface of the ground. The
leaves are crowded, fleshy, and cylindrical. The flower-stems are
erect, about 6 inches high, bearing pretty corymbs of pure white
flowers, in some individuals also pink j they appear in June and July.
Native of dry banks, rocks, and walls in Britain and Europe generally.
Suitable alike for rockwork and beds and borders in light dry soil,
and for clothing gravelly stony banks.

2 M

514 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

S. albo-roseum — White-and-rose Stonecrop. — This plant grows about
18 inches high, with leafy upright stems. The leaves are broad oblong,
widening upwards. Flowers in large terminal corymbs, white and rose,
appearing in summer. Native of Japan. An excellent ornament of
the mixed border, nourishing in ordinary garden soil.

S. Anacampseros — Eoenjrcen Stonecrop. — Avery distinct species, with
numerous decumbent or creeping stems ; the barren ones are crowded
with wedge-shaped glaucous leaves in conical rosettes. Flower-stems
nearly erect, somewhat leafy, and terminating in a dense corymb of
purplish flowers in July and August. Height about G inches. Native
of the Alps and Pyrenees.

S. dasyphyllum — Thick-leaved Stonecrop. — This is a very attractive
little plant, only an inch or two high. The stems are prostrate and weak,
clothed with numerous thick, fleshy, almost globular, leaves, deeply
glaucous. The flowers are dull white, often pink or tinged with
pink. A very pretty rockwork plant, but quite unsuitable for the
border or flat surfaces unless very dry. Native of the south of England,
but rare — and widely spread in Europe, but not abundant.

S. Ewcrsii — Ewers's Stonecrop. — A very dwarf species 2 or 3 inches
high, with flat, succulent, toothed, deeply-glaucous leaves. The flowers
are purplish rose, in pretty terminal corymbs, appearing in July and
August. This is one of the most choice and handsome of the dwarf
Sedums, and is a beautiful ornament of rockwork or border, but in
the latter must be provided with a dry warm soil. Native of the
Altai Mountains.

S. Fdbaria — Large pxuple Japan Stonecrop. — The plant grows erect,
with stout stems 1 foot or 18 inches high, furnished with broad oval
leaves, glaucous and toothed, and standing horizontally on the stems.
The flowers are rosy purple, in dense broad corymbs, appearing in
September and October. Native of Japan. This is perhaps the hand-
somest of the tall-growing species. It is worthy of a place in the
choicest collection of hardy plants, being very distinctive and beauti-
ful. It is useful for flower-gardening on the bedding method, either
in the way of breaking the uniformity of large flat surfaces or for
centres to small beds ; and where the style is formal and severe its
rigid aspect will be found to harmonise well with the surroundings.
For this purpose the plant is best divided annually into single crowns
in early spring, and assisted wTith a little heat for a time. It is
perfectly hardy, but flowers rather too late to be of much use in cold
late districts in Scotland as a flowering plant ; but its habit and
glaucous hue are valuable and desirable for their own sakes.

S. Kamtschaticum — Kamtschatka Stonecrop. — This species has numer-
ous prostrate barren stems clothed with opposite, roundish, regularly-

1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 515

toothed, dark-green flat leaves. The flowering stems ascend a little,
terminating in a corymb of deep-yellow flowers, which appear in July
and August. Native of Kamtschatka. A very good border species,
and handsome also on rockwork. Height, 6 to 9 inches.

S. op posit i folium — Opposite-leaved Stonecrop. — This species grows
only a few inches high. Like the last, it has prostrate barren shoots
clothed with opposite wedge-shaped leaves, flat and toothed. The flowers
are in corymbs, are dull white, and appear in summer and autumn.
Native of the Caucasus. A useful border species.

S. popidi folium — Poplar-leaved Stonecrop. — This is one of the most
distinct, though not the most beautiful, of the group. It assumes rather
a shrubby habit, about 1 foot high. The leaves are flat, heart-shaped,
toothed, and supported on stalks that are lengthy for a Sedum. The
flowers are in terminal corymbs, and dull white, with purplish carpels
and pistils. Flowers in July and August. Native of Siberia.

S. Rhodiola, syn. Rhodiola rosea — Rose-root Stonecrop. — This is a well-
known old-fashioned border plant, common in many cottage-gardens
in the country. It is not highly ornamental, but has a good deal of
distinctiveness about it. The stems are leafy, stout, and erect, about
a foot high. The leaves are oblong, toothed, and slightly glaucous. The
flowers are in terminal close corymbs, and each flower contains only
one sex, either male or female ; and in colour they are in different indi-
viduals either yellow or purplish, the former in nature being the most
prevalent. Native of the mountains of Britain, and the mountainous
countries of Europe and Asia.

8. rupestre — Rock Stonecrop. — This is a dwarf creeping species, form-
ing lowly masses of barren stems, and branches clothed with awl-shaped
cylindrical leaves, more or less glaucous in hue. The flowers are in
terminal cymes, composed of several recurved branches, and bright
yellow, appearing in July and August. Native of Britain and vari-
ous countries of Europe. Two slightly-differing varieties are circu-
lated in gardens as species under the names reflexum and Forsteri-
anum, but they are not desirable in any good collection together.

S. sempervivoides — Houseleck-lilce Stonecrop. — This species differs
from all the preceding. The leaves are thick and succulent, egg-shaped,
with an abrupt sharp point, and somewhat hairy above and below,
and arranged in close compressed rosettes. The flowers, in terminal
corymbs on erect stems, are dark purple, appearing in July and August.
Height from 9 inches to 1 foot. Native of Iberia.

S. sexangulare — Six-angled Stonecrop. — This is near in aspect to
S. acre, but is quite distinct. It has the same close mat-like growth, but
the leaves are longer, narrower, and darker green. The flowers are
bright yellow, in the manner of those of acre, but begin to open as

516 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

the latter become exhausted, and continue for a couple of months.
Native of Britain, but rare, and of other countries of Europe.

S. Sieboldii — SiebolcFs Stoneer&p. — A very distinct and handsome
plant. The stems are slender, erect at first — in established plants after-
wards arching outwards. Leaves in opposite pairs or threes, roundish,
flat, and glaucous, as are the stems and all parts outside the corolla.
Flowers pink or rose in handsome corymbs. Native of Japan. Quite
hardy, but in cold wet localities in Scotland flowering too late to be
of any use, as the flowers are cut up with frost or cold and wet com-
bined. It is a very useful early winter greenhouse plant, when well
cultivated in pots. There is a very handsome variegated form.

S. spurium — Fringed Stonecrop. — This is a prostrate species, with nu-
merous barren shoots matted on the surface of the ground. The leaves
are numerous, flat, roundish, or wedge-shaped, and toothed, having a
fringe of minute sharp semi-transparent hairs on the margin. Flower-
stems decumbent at the base, ascending only an inch or two, bearing
heavy corymbs of bright rose-coloured flowers. Flowers from July
till October. Native of the Caucasus. This is one of the best of the
dwarf border species, and beautiful also on rockwork.

S. Telephium, syn. S. purpureum — Orpine Stonecrop. — This species
grows erect, with hardunbranched stems, to the height of about 18 inches.
The leaves are oblong and coarsely toothed, scattered irregularly on
the stems — sometimes distant, but often nearly opposite, in pairs or
threes. The flowers are in handsome pyramidal dense corymbs, and
purple; they appear in August and September. Native of Britain
and northern and central Europe. It is a useful border plant, and
may be used to adorn semi-wild places, either in moderate shade or
bright sunshine, if the natural vegetation is not too tall. One of its
popular names — Livelong — is suggestive of its tenacity of life, and it
possesses that quality in a high degree ; in fact, if turned out roots
uppermost, it will rear its head in spite of the rude inversion, and
proceed to establish itself without delay on a new basis.

{To be continued.)

NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

The magnificent new Dendrobium chrysotis exhibited by Messrs J.
Brooks & Co., Fairfield Nursery, Manchester, before the meeting of
the Royal Horticultural Society on the 21st of September, and awarded
a first-class certificate, is a very fine and extremely showy species.
It is supposed to have been imported from Assam a few years ago, and
this particular plant was purchased at one of Stevens's sales. The

1870.] NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST TWO MONTHS. 517

flower-spikes contain about six large deep-yellow flowers, which mea-
sure about 2J inches across, and are produced on stems some 3 to 4
feet in length. It is placed by Professor Eeichenbach as near D.
fimbriatum, and has a lip fringed something in the same way. At a
later meeting Mr Denning, gardener to Lord Londesborough, sent a
fine specimen of this species, which received a special certificate.

New Palms have received fine additions in Calamus cinnamomea,
shown also as Dsemonorops cinnamomea ; Livistonia altissima and L.
rotundifolia, two very elegant species ; and also in Corypha Martian a :
and new Ferns in Adiantum Peruvianum, a new and extremely effective
species ; in Athyrium Filix-Fcemina Blakeii, a very handsome crested
plumose form, raised by Mr Parsons of Danesbury; Platycerium
alicorne majus ; Adiantum capillus Veneris maximum; Polystichum
angulare congestum; Scolopendrium vulgare Iveryanum, and S. vul-
gare lacerato-cristatum, the two latter being dense, crispy, ornamental
forms, well adapted for general decoration.

Wigandia imperialis, a noble foliaged plant for subtropical work, in
the way of W. caracasana, but distinct from it, was exhibited by
Messrs E. G. Henderson & Son, and awarded a first-class certificate.
The same award was made to Messrs Veitch & Sons for Daphne
elegantissima, a variegated form of D. indica, the leaves broadly
margined with yellow ; to Messrs J. & C. Lee for Thuja semper-aurea,
a welcome addition to the class of hardy ornamental plants; to George
F. Wilson, Esq., F.E.S., for Lilium Leichtlinii, the flowers yellow,
deeply spotted with dark, and the petals much recurved ; to Messrs
Ivery & Son for a white woolly-leaved Cineraria, named asplenifolia,
likely to prove useful as a hardy silvery-foliaged bedding-plant; to
Messrs Blackhouse & Son, York, for Senecio argenteus, with hand-
somely-cut frosted foliage, and compact in growth ; to Messrs E. G.
Henderson & Son for Thymus citriodorus aurea, a golden-leaved form
of the common Lemon Thyme, that will be very useful for bedding
purposes, and thoroughly hardy ; and for Alternanthera magnifica, a
vigorous-growing form of A. paronychioides, and nicely coloured ; and
to Mr Green, gardener to W. Wilson Saunders, Esq., for Agave Bes-
seriana Candida, a handsome compact-growing species. In addition,
Mr Green has exhibited male and female specimens of Stangeria para-
doxa, the latter bearing ripe fruit, produced for the first time in this
country, the two plants being rarely got in flower at the same time ;
Griffinia dryades, a new Brazilian species, with flowers of a bright
cerulean blue, with white passing down the middle to the base of the
segments ; a good flowering specimen of the handsome pale mauve-
coloured Gloxinia insignis, that well deserves a much more extended
cultivation ; and a splendid example of Miltonia Morelliana, with very

518 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

large and finely-coloured flowers of unusual dimensions. Pleroma
macrantha florabunda, now being distributed by Messrs E. G. Hender-
son & Son, has been exhibited by them, bearing large-cupped violet-
coloured flowers, of great size, and freely produced.

Several new Dahlias have been exhibited and received certificates,
but these shall be noticed in our next number. A first-class certificate
was awarded to Messrs J. & C. Lee for gold and bronze (bicolor)
Pelargonium Mrs John Lee, the leaves finely coloured and marked,
and the habit good in every respect ; also to Messrs E. G. Henderson
& Son for variegated zonal (tricolor) Pelargonium Miss Goring, a
golden-edged variety, finely coloured, and of vigorous growth ; to Mr
Douglas, Loxford Hall Gardens, for Gladiolus John Standish, a beau-
tiful flesh-coloured variety, suffused with pale crimson, and pencilled
with purple ; to Mr Parker, Victoria Nursery, Rugby, for ivy-leaved
Pelargonium Golden Queen, the leaves edged with, and some wholly,
yellow — habit vigorous : and a second-class certificate was awarded to
Messrs Backhouse & Son, York, for Aster longifolius, with bright rosy
lilac flowers, having a conspicuous yellow eye, and forming a compact
bushy growth, about 2 feet in height. R. D.

INDOOR GARDENING.

Just now, when the shadows of the on-coming autumn and winter
are thrown across the closing days of the rapidly-retreating summer,
and indications multiply that

' ' The summer is past,
And the winds have a rumour that prophesies death"

to much that is now blooming and gay in the garden — just now is
the time to consider how much of the floral beauty can in any way be
preserved through the dark months to those who would gladly trans-
fer to the interior of the house what cannot much longer be pre-
served to them without. To such as possess a greenhouse, this is a
matter of small moment ; to those without these important additions
to the garden, the question becomes one of greater significance. To
such ones indoor gardening comes as a pleasant and profitable pastime ;
and there are many ways, some of them simple enough, which can be
utilised as a means of continuing on something like a vibration of the
pleasurable emotion afforded by the summer garden when at its zenith.
One favourite and much-employed feature of indoor gardening is the
cultivation of Hyacinths in glasses. This is now so well understood
that no especial mention is necessary. It is time the Hyacinths were in

i87o.]

INDOOR GARDENING.

519

water, and that should just touch the base of the bulb. A few pieces
of charcoal should be placed in each glass to keep the water from

Fig. 1.

becoming offensive — besides, it prevents the necessity for having it fre-
quently changed. Our illustration, fig. 1, shows not only what hand-

Fig. 2.

520

THE GARDENER.

[Nov.

some types of glasses are obtainable nowadays, but also shows their
adaptation to hold cut llowers in winter, for they are at all times hand-
some ornaments on the chimney-piece. Fig. 2 shows what a charming
aspect is presented by these glasses when the Hyacinths are in flower ;
also the duty of the support, and the way it should be fixed in the glass :
it will also be seen what a finish is given to the glasses by the addition
of a little green moss placed round the bulbs.

Fig. 3 shows a rustic robin drawing-room jardinet, filled with
bulbs. The bulbs are placed either in soil, damp moss, or cocoa-

Fig. 3.

nut fibre. A layer of charcoal should be placed at the bottom as
drainage, for the jardinet having no holes at the bottom, the water
will sink to the bottom of the vessel. Notwithstanding this apparent
drawback, bulbs do very well indeed in the jardinet if only some

i87o.]

INDOOR GARDENING.

521

Fig. 5.

attention be given them. Whatever the soil used, it should contain a
good quantity of powdered charcoal or suchlike, to keep it from run-
ning together and becoming sodden. Hyacinths can occupy the
centre of it, with Narcissi, Tulips, Cro-
cuses, Snowdrops, &c, round them. A
more elaborate contrivance is the Prince
of Wales circular terraced drawing-room
jardinet, fig. 4, which has three terraces
rising one above the other; and when taste-
fully planted, this is a charming object to
place in a sitting-room window. During r^^^^llǤ^
the summer months, this and the preceding ^||
can be filled with Ferns. "When planted
with some of the most elegant species suited
for the purpose, it would be equally attrac-
tive. Fig. 5 is a rustic hanging - basket,
which can be suspended near a window,
and can be used for the growth of bulbs
during winter, and for plants in summer. There are many elegant
and tasteful designs to be had, and they are charming ornaments for
a sitting-room. Fig. 6 is a very tasteful
design, as well as an ornamental and
useful piece of furniture. It is termed
the drawing-room octagon jardinet, and
is manufactured in bronze, or in rustic
wood fitted with encaustic tiles. In our ^/T^jiSj
illustration this is filled with a hand-
some Dracaena, with a low-growing Fern
planted round it.

Such are a few of many means by
which gardening can be carried on
within-doors. They are by no means
the most elaborate, but they represent
some of the more easily managed modes.

This, then, is the time to prepare and
preserve within-doors some approximate
resemblance to what is so fast passing
away without ; and some of these ele-
gant contrivances, filled with suitable
occupants, and carefully tended because
affectionately regarded for the useful

floral service they render, will be found among the best means of per-
petuating during the desolation of winter something of that high satis-

522 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

faction so many find in the culture of plants and flowers. We are
indebted to Messrs Barr & Sugden, Covent Garden, for the oppor
tunity of figuring these excellent contrivances.

GARDEN-WALKS.

For real comfort no garden is complete without good walks ; but what consti-
tutes a good walk is not so well understood. Well, then, a good walk should be
firm, smooth, dry, and of an agreeable colour. To make a dry walk many people
go to a vast amount of trouble, especially in draining, making foundations, &c.
This is all time and material thrown away, for if we only look to the asphalt we
find that a very small quantity of material, properly applied, will make a firm and
smooth pathway. Of course the general drainage is indispensable ; but if that
be usually dry there is no further need, as is practised by some, for a drain under
each walk. The fact is, the whole secret of a perfectly dry walk is not a dry
foundation, but it is an impervious surface, which will enable you to get rid of
the water at the sides, and without it percolating into the walk at all. Hence all
walks and roads should be waterproof, and when they are so, a comparatively
small portion of material only will be necessary to form them. Xothing is more
common in going into a garden in course of formation than to find the walks
excavated to the depth of 1 foot at the least, with a drain at the bottom. This
will be filled with stone, broken to various sizes, and finally be surfaced with a
3 or 4 inch layer of finely-sifted gravel. If all this material has to be purchased,
broken, and put in its place, the cost per yard is something considerable ; and at
the last you have not a dry walk nor a firm one, for the rain sinks into it, and
when the frost breaks the surface, gravel is just so much mud. To remedy this
we have for many years past abandoned that system of walk-making altogether ;
and now we can not only produce a good path, but a cheap one at the same time.
Given the plot upon which you intend to form the walk or walks ; first put in
your levels, that each shall fall gradually to a given point, and then, placing your
line, dig the ground over one spade deep, level it perfectly from end to end, and
make it as firm as possible, not only by treading it with the feet, but also by
ramming it with a cast-iron rammer. When the first edging is done and made
as smooth and level as a billiard-table, take a straight-edge, and with a plumb-
bob or spirit-level, level across to the other side of the walk, and then proceed
to make it up in the same manner. The lining out of the walks, especially if
they are curved, is a matter of great nicety, and one upon which the beauty of a
walk in a great measure depends. Hence the curves must be perfectly easy and
regular, and the two sides of a walk must correspond to the greatest nicety.
This accomplished, proceed to lay down the verge or edging j and, be it turf, or
box, or tile, the same nicety must be observed in making the two sides uniform
and perfectly level. The excavation need not be more than 4 inches deep, round-
ing up, if the walk is 6 feet wide, 1 inch from the sides to the centre. Make
the bottom quite firm and even, and then it will be ready to receive the material
of the walk. The best is stone broken to the size of a walnut ; but when that is
expensive or difficult to procure, clinkers from the furnace, brickbats, cinders,
or any hard material may be substituted, or all may be mixed together. Of
course it is important that the material be broken to a regular size, and that it
be free from soft dirt. Sufficient rough material being provided, select a firm

1870.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 523

piece of ground, and divide into heaps of six barrow-loads, and in the centre of
each leave a hole to receive a barrow-load of fresh lime. The lime should be of
the best hydraulic quality, and should be fresh from the kiln. All being in
readiness, cover the lime over with the rough material, and then pour six to ten
gallons of water upon it. This will cause it to slake into fine powder, and then
with more water it may be mixed like mortar into concrete, and immediately
be laid down and levelled regularly, 3^ inches thick — retaining the necessary rise
from the sides to the centre. Smooth the surface with the back of a spade and
make it perfectly level. In three or four hours, according to the " quickness " of
the lime, the concrete will be getting firm, and then the fine gravel must be put
on i inch in thickness, be trodden firm, made quite level, and then rolled, and
the edges of the walk, or anywhere where the roller cannot get, must be rammed
quite firm. After the first soaking rain, when the surface-gravel is washed clean,
follow again with the heavy roller and rammer, and you will have a walk as firm
as a pavement, perfectly impervious to moisture, and not to be injured by either
rain or frost. Of course provision must be made to carry the surface-water
away ; but if the subsoil be light, then we have found an inch crowbar driven into
the side of the walk to a yard in depth where the water accumulates sufficient to
secure a quick riddance of the water, and perfect dryness. Walks made in this
manner twenty years ago are as firm, dry, and smooth as the day they were put
down, and will remain so for many years to come. Recently we have made sev-
eral thousand yards of walks with nothing but cinder, concrete, and a facing of
gravel, and these came very cheap. One specialty in these walks must be ob-
served, and that is, to take care that there be no lumps of lime in the concrete,
as a piece the size of a walnut, on becoming slaked, would make a sad patch in
the walk, which could only be mended by taking the patch out bodily and replac-
ing it with fresh concrete, not an easy matter to do without its showing. Walks
of this kind rarely become troubled with weeds or greenness, and if they do, a
sprinkling with sulphate of copper (blue vitriol), in the proportion of 1 lb.
to six gallons of water, will destroy every vestige of vegetation, and improve the
appearance of the walk at the same time. After saying this much, it is scarcely
necessary to add that vitriol will destroy vegetation of all kinds, and therefore be
careful not to allow it to extend to or beyond the verges of the walks. — Field.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, October 5. — At the peri-
odical meetings of this Society prizes are offered for a few things, and though the
amounts of these are not very large, they generally occasion a smart competition.
On this occasion the fungologists had an exhibition, prizes being offered for col-
lections of edible Fungi, as well as for collections of edible and poisonous Fungi,
separately arranged.

The Fruit Committee had to award prizes for the best dish of Grapes, consist-
ing of six bunches of any variety, grown in the open air against the walls, without
any protection whatever. A large number of Grapes were staged : the first prize
was awarded to Mr Hepper of Acton, with Eoyal Muscadine ; and the second
prize to Mr Norris of Broadclyst, with the same variety. There were good exam-
ples of Black Hamburg, West's St Peter's, Bidwell's Seedling, Esperione, Black-
cluster, &c, and, in awarding the prizes, the judges appeared to give too much im-
portance to flavour, and nothing to cultivation. The best collection of black

524 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

Grapes came from Mr Bannerman, Blithfield Gardens, Rugeley, and consisted of
Barbarossa, Lady Downes, Alicante, and Blithfield Seedling, a Black Hamburg
type in the way of Mill Hill Hamburg — these being the best ; also Gros
Guillaume, Mrs Pince's Muscat, Black Prince, and West's St Peter's. Messrs
Lane & Son, Berkhamstead, was second; their collection contained some nice berries
of Muscat Hamburg and Frankenthal. Two somewhat indifferent collections of
white Grapes were staged by Messrs Lane & Son, and Douglas, Loxford Hall
Gardens, and equal second prizes were awarded them, the first prize being withheld.
Mr Douglas had a small bunch of Golden Champion, with some nice berries on it,
and a very good bunch of Buckland Sweetwater. In the class for a single dish of
black Grapes, Black Alicante took the first and second prizes ; a glorious bunch
came from Mr Mattram. The best single bunch of white Grapes was Muscat of
Alexandria, from Mr C. Turner, a truly regal bunch, large, handsome, fine berries,
and beautifully coloured.

Mr Barron of the Chiswick Gardens exhibited a fine bunch of the Madresfield
Court Black Grape, in grand condition, and its excellent development and flavour
was rewarded with the high approbation of the Committee. This appears to be
in every respect the best new Grape of modern introduction ; and Messrs J. & C.
Lee deserve praise for their unfaltering faith in the high qualities of this variety.
A green-skinned Fig, named Monaco bianco, having a deep-red flesh, and of
most excellent flavour, was also sent from Chiswick.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

The Gardener's Magazine for October.

The Food Journal for October. The continuation of the papers on "Tea"
in this number furnishes some interesting and even startling information as to
the adulteration of this favourite article of food. Tea is both adulterated by the
foreign makers and by the importers or dealers in this country. The last is of
far less importance than in the first case. From this paper we learn that —
"The adulterations practised before import are varied and disgusting. They
consist in ' facing ' common tea with deleterious substances, in drying up foreign
leaves (chiefly those of the willow) along with tea, and in re-drying leaves which
have already passed through the pots of the celestials, and which are doubtless
considered quite good enough for us barbarians. A great trade has lately sprung
up in this branch of industry, and the result is known as ' Maloo mixture.' It
seems that the leaves are industriously collected and spread out to dry in the
sun, when they again become shrivelled, and besides being thus, after a little
facing, rendered saleable, they form a most excellent resting-place for the pigs
and other domestic animals attached to the cottage where the manufacturer
resides." A coloured illustration is given as a pictorial delineation of this wonder-
ful mixture, which was taken by the artist from a saucer, in which had been
spread the various constituents as picked out from the several samples. These
included rice husks and straw, rice blackened with plumbago, silk-worms' drop-
pings, maggots, iron-filings, fragments of limestone, minute seeds, scorched tea
buds and husks, and fragments of willow leaves and stalks. Truly this " Maloo
mixture " is one of a not very inviting character.

Transactions of the Scottish Arboricultural Society, giving the proceed-
ings of the Sixteenth Annual General Meeting held in November 1869, with the
various papers read on that occasion.

870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 525

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Capsicums (H. P.) — Certainly Capsicums can be included in a collection of
ten varieties of vegetables, and on no account should a collection be disqualified
in consequence. The Capsicum is only useful as a vegetable, and of no practical
use as a fruit.

Name of Pear (A Reader). — Fondante d'Automne, a medium-sized, delicious,
melting Pear, having a rich buttery flavour. It should certainly form one of a
select collection.

Peaches (Under-Gardener). — They were both raised from seed by Mr Thomas
Rivers, of Sawbridgeworth, and are thus described by him : — "Lord Palmerston —
Very large, the largest of Peaches ; skin creamy white, with a pink cheek ; flesh
firm, yet melting, very juicy and rich. It was raised from the Princess of Wales
Peach, and resembles in its size and beauty its grandparent the monstrous Pavie
of Pompone ; flowers very large and beautiful ; glands nearly round : season,
from middle to end of September. It clings slightly to the stone unless fully
ripe. Princess of Wales — Very large, one of the largest Peaches known, and
one of the most beautiful, its colour cream, with a rosy cheek ; melting, rich,
and excellent; ripens just before Desse Tardive, and is very valuable ; flowers
very large and beautiful; glands round." When at Lord Eversley's charming
place at Heckfield, near Reading, some weeks ago, we saw both these fine Peaches.
The former was growing in an early Peach-house, and we were informed by Mr
Wildsmith, the gardener at Heckfield, that he had gathered a large crop of mag-
nificent fruits, some of them of great size, yet combined with the finest quality.
Princess of Wales was growing on a south wall in the kitchen-garden, and
bearing a large crop : this was of a fine appearance, and truly " melting, rich, and
excellent."

Wintering Verbenas (Verbena). — Your query has been submitted to Mr
Henry Eckford, of Coleshill Gardens, the raiser of some of the finest Verbenas
now in cultivation, and the following is his reply : — " In reply to your corre-
spondent, Verbena, I have to say Verbenas may be kept in a cold frame ; in fact
some amateur cultivators in this neighbourhood keep them under common hand-
lights— of course for want of better accommodation — and sometimes are tolerably
fortunate. Although they dislike much dry heat, yet to keep them successfully
they require a house or pit where a little heat can be applied in case of long- con-
tinued dull cold weather."

Dahlia Experiences. — I must express my thanks to Mr Perry for his great
kindness, and the valuable information contained in his letter, which I shall
have much pleasure in availing myself of. I trust you will excuse my open-
ing up the subject again, but a3 there appears to be a doubt about some of
the sorts mentioned by Mr Perry, I think it advisable to ventilate it. I pre-
sume that Head Master, Flag of Truce, and Thomas Hobbs are new Dahlias
of the present year, as I cannot find them in last year's catalogues. [Head
Master (Turner) and Thomas Hobbs (Keynes) are new of the present year, Flag
of Truce (Wheeler) was sent out in 1S68.] Is Thomas Hobbs a misprint for
"The Nobbs," which is highly spoken of? [No. The latter is evidently a
misprint for the former.] Gipsy Queen and Oxonian must also be new, or is
the former identical with Gipsy King ? [Gipsy Queen is an error. It is Gipsy
King, and was raised by Mr Hopkins, of Brentford, and sent out by Mr Keynes
last spring. Oxonian (Turner) was sent out by the raiser at the same time.]

526 THE GARDENER. [Nov.

"With regard to the flowers named in No. 2 list, I will act upon Mr Perry's
advice, with one exception — viz., Chairman — which I cannot grow to any pur-
pose. I am quite aware it is a first-class kind, but I have tried it so often,
obtained from various places, and with the same result— i.e., the first bloom
or two good, and all the rest "seedy." I am happy to state that last year
(having seen it advocated in the ' Gardener') I, for the first time, trenched
and ridged my ground as recommended by Mr Perry, and the result exceeded
my most sanguine expectations, as the plants produced larger and better blooms
than ever they did before, and there is no fear of my neglecting this opera-
tion during the coming winter. In conclusion, I trust other Dahlia-growers
will give the benefit of their experience also. — A Four Years' Subscriber.

Seedling Delphinium (T. S. W.) — Your seedling from D. formosum is a
lovely flower, being of an intense bright blue, with a pale dull red-lilac spot
on each segment, the double lip and crest in the centre being pure white. It
is also quite as large as the parent. Some of the pale-blue flowers sent are
very pretty, and well worthy another season's culture.

PiEONiES (G. M.) — Pteonies grow best in a light sandy loam, and need but
little attention — digging round and manuring in the winter, and some care in
tying them up neatly in the spring, being all they require. They soon increase, but
it is injurious to divide the roots too often, as the constitution of the plant
is by this means weakened, and they generally take some time to recover their
usual vigour; nor should they be dug up and removed frequently, as this is
apt to check their growth for a season at least.

Preparation of the Ground for Roses (Rosarian). — The following direc-
tions are given by Mr Keynes, and they will no doubt prove of service to you : —
"When they are to be placed out singly on lawTns, a hole should be made 2
feet deep, and large enough to contain a good wheel-barrowful of compost, two-
thirds of which should be strong turfy loam from an old pasture, and one-third
well-decomposed animal manure. When beds are to be planted, the ground
should be thoroughly trenched 18 to 24 inches deep, as the nature of the soil
may admit, intermixing some of the above compost. If this be done well the
beds will last several years, with adding a dressing of manure yearly ; it is diffi-
cult to give the Rose too rich a soil.

" If a piece of ground is set apart for the exclusive cultivation of Roses, the
most open situation should be selected ; if wet, it should be drained well : this
done, the ground should be trenched the depth as recommended above ; the beds
may then be formed according to taste and circumstances. November is the
best month for transplanting. It is not advisable to prune at the time of plant-
ing. If planted in November, about the first week in March for Hybrid
Perpetuals, and the last week in April for Tea Roses, would be the best time to
prune.

" In pruning, if they grow vigorous and thick, some shoots should be cut out
entirely and others left long, varying from 6 to 18 inches, in proportion to their
growth ; the moderate growers should be pruned back close, say from two to
three buds to 6 inches."

Manure for Hops. — Land and water are laid under contribution to supply
manure to the Hop-garden. To obtain manure from the nearest towns, teams are
daily upon the road ; the railway brings rags from all parts, clothier's and fell-
mongers' waste from the west of England and Yorkshire, clippings and scrapings
of hides from the tan-yards of Bermondsey. At the same time, artificial manures

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 527

are introduced to increase the productiveness of other parts of the farm by applica-
tion to the particular crops they suit, which produces more food for cattle, and
in the end, farmyard manure for the Hops. The number of pigs and cattle is
increased to the utmost limit by the addition also of artificial food. The grass-
lands are enriched with every known and purchasable application to produce
more hay, to feed more stock, to make more dung for the ground under Hops.
Some of these fertilisers are not applicable to Hops direct, and must produce
their effect in a roundabout way. Every part of the farm is made subservient
by those growers who go in thoroughly for this special cultivation. The sea con-
tributes sprats and herrings, starfish, whale's blubber, and all fish-refuse ; while
barges bring sweepings from Billingsgate, as well as other suitable manure from
London. The cesspools in use before the introduction of water-closets, afforded
a large supply to the Hop-garden. Nasal evidence is forcibly summoned to attest
the strength of the above applications. Stench is a valuable property of manurial
substances, as it constantly reminds the cultivator that they should be buried for
his own benefit, not carried off by the air to be absorbed by all hungry lands, pro
bono publico. — Land and Water.

Lilium Giganteum (G. R. D.) — From inquiries made, we believe L. Gigan-
teum to be hardy. When visiting the Sunningdale Nursery of Mr Charles Noble,
at Bagshot, a few days ago, we saw there lines of this Lily growing between rows
of coniferous plants. Here, in an ordinary season, the strongest plants make a
growth of from 7 to 8 feet, and bloom freely, and the fragrance from the flowers
is diffused to an extent of from 60 to 80 yards round. Owing to the prevailing
drought of the past summer, the growth scarcely exceeded 4 feet. The plants
have no protection ; but when they begin to grow, as they do in the early part of
the spring, some fern is thrown over the tops to protect the young growth. The
hardihood of the Lily was further demonstrated by the fact that three years ago
a heap of bulbs was left out on the open ground by accident, and stood the trial
of from twelve to fourteen days of frost before they were discovered. They
were then covered up, and when the frost had left them, it was found they had
received no injury whatever.

Cauliflowers and Peas (Amateur). — Plant the Cauliflower in August, and
let it stand through the winter to seed the following summer ; it is seldom they
seed when planted in the spring. "We know of no method you can adopt to pre-
vent worms from attacking Peas. This communication was unfortunately delayed
in course of transmission, hence the time that expired before a reply appeared. '

Viola Imperial Blue Perfection (* * *) — This is quite distinct from the Viola
Blue Perfection as sent out by Mr B. S. Williams. It is pretty, and free-bloom-
ing, and likely to be useful in the flower garden. We think it a pity it was so
named, as it leads to confusion.

Sandall's Plum (A Scotch Gardener). — We cannot answer your inquiries
better than by laying before you the following extract from the 'Gardener's
Chronicle' : — "What are those beautiful black Plums which are now beginning
to make their appearance in Covent Garden Market \ Damsons ? No ; they are
far larger and finer, and more beautiful than Damsons. Though of the same
beautiful bluish-black colour, they are quite twice the size, if not more. They have
a little of the same peculiar taste, and a little of that of the Sloe also, but are not
so pleasant to the palate as a Coe's Golden Drop, yet, nevertheless, they are very
passable, and especially at this late season, when Plums are Plums. The Plum
in question is called Sandall's Plum. This fruit has been exceedingly plen-

528 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 1870.

tiful this season, and we have become almost surfeited with them, but they are
now over in most cases. There may be a few choice Golden Drops, or Irnpe'ra-
trices, or Late Reds, or Autumn Compotes, &c, carefully protected in certain
places, but nothing in quantity ; even the Damsons are over, leaving us nothing
but the ' wee ' Bullaces for our tarts, pies, and puddings ; yet in Covent Garden
Plums are still in season, for Sandalls are just coming in. From whence' come
they, then ? Not from France, which has the credit of supplying everything re-
markable in Covent Garden, but from the market-gardens round London. It was
only on Tuesday last that we saw in one celebrated fruit-garden more than 100
trees of this Plum in one group ; trees, too, of no ordinary size, being from 20 to
40 feet high, with large spreading heads, all densely laden with most beautiful
black fruit, every little twig, even, being as thickly set as the berries on a bunch
of Grapes ; many bushels might be seen on a single tree : truly they were a grand
sight ! Sandall's Plum has many recommendations; it is indeed singular it should
be so little known. It is one of the few Plum-trees which produce timber. The
tree has a twiggy sort of growth, of the Sloe type, and attains a large size, forming
a clean trunk of considerable length, and we have measured some stems 3 feet in
circumference. It is very hardy, and a certain bearer. It is one of the very
latest, and, from its beautiful appearance, fetches a high price in the market. It
has further the great merit of hanging on to the trees up to the very last, and even
when quite ripe there are seldom any blown down by the wind. It is very little
liable to cracking in wet weather — a failing which is the destruction of so many
Plums. It will hang on the tree, and be fit for use during the course of two months
— September and October. What a valuable tree, then, would not this be in a
private garden — just one to supply Plums for cooking, &c, when wanted, until
November ! The fruit is of medium size, roundish, of a beautiful jet-black colour,
with a thick bloom ; flesh reddish, clinging slightly to the stone, moderately juicy,
with a smack of the Sloe flavour ; an excellent fruit for tarts, &c., and valuable
for its lateness. "We know little of the true history of this fruit. It originated,
we believe, in some of the market-gardens of Fulham, where it is grown, and with
Mr Dancer, of Chiswick. It is known simply as Sandall's Plum."

Sandall's Plum. — This Plum was raised some 60 or 70 years since by the late
Mr Sandall, a market-gardener, then living at Crabtree, Fulham. The original
tree is now dead. I can vouch for the above, having lived in the neighbourhood for
the last 40 years, and I have seen the old tree scores of times. It is, as you say, a good
late Plum, but it is not a sure bearer, being surpassed in this respect by Prince of
Wales, Victoria, and Mitchelson's (the last especially) ; and another thing against
it (in these fast times), it is at least eight or nine years before it begins to bear.
After that time it is a prodigious cropper about once in three years. Any one
having half-a-dozen sorts or so cannot do wrong in adding Sandall's, but for a
small garden, where there is only room for one Plum,^I would say, plant Mitchel-
son's 'Market Gardener.'

[This also meets the inquiries of J. G. Durham, and a Constant Reader. — Eds.]

Vine Border (G. S.). — By using fresh horse-droppings, either in the com-
position of your soil, or as a top-dressing for your border, you always incur a
danger, more or less according to quantities, &c, of producing fungi, which would
be injurious to the roots of your Vines. If you have to use manure, let it be
partly decomposed at least.

THE

GARDENE R

DECEMBER 1870.

TO OUR READERS.

PIE Proprietors of 'The Gardener/ finding that Mr
Thomson of Dalkeith could no longer devote the
time and attention it required to the Editorial man-
agement of the Periodical, have entered into arrange-
ments with his brother, Mr David Thomson, Drumlanrig, to take
its entire direction. They feel certain that all who know Mr
D. Thomson, alike as a sound practical gardener of great
experience, and as a perspicuous writer on almost every depart-
ment of Horticulture, will approve of the selection they have
made, and extend to him their fullest confidence.

Eor the ensuing year a staff of the best practical writers on
the various branches of Horticulture and Floriculture has been
secured, and every other arrangement made that can increase
the value of the Magazine to all who prefer to receive instruc-
tion from hands that are practising what they recommend to
others.

To save time, all editorial communications for the Magazine
should be addressed to Mr Thomson, the Gardens, Drumlanrig,
Thornhill, Dumfries.

2 N

530 THE GARDENER. [Dkc.

GARDENING ON THE THAMES EMBANKMENT.

Any one interested in city gardening (and it is a matter that is
often treated of in the horticultural press) can find much to excite
their admiration at the present time in what is being carried out
along the line of the Thames Embankment, on the north bank
of the noble stream that flows through the great metropolis. From
Blackfriars to Westminster bridges there now runs a line of mag-
nificent roadway, of considerable width and admirably constructed,
which has been designated the finest thoroughfare in Europe. This
roadway is placed along by the river, with a broad pavement for
foot-passengers on either side of it, and by the edge of this pave-
ment nearest to the roadway, on both sides, runs a line of fine young
plants of the Occidental Plane (Platanus occidentalis) for a consider-
able distance. These were planted two years ago, and with very
few exceptions they have succeeded well, and are now growing into
nice trees with well -furnished heads. All these plants, averaging
from 16 to 18 feet in height, were obtained from the Continent for the
purpose ; and during the present winter the remainder of the thorough-
fare will be planted in a similar manner. Already 250 trees have been
placed there, and another 150 trees will complete the remaining distance.
The trees are planted 20 feet apart, and it is expected that in ten years'
time each alternate tree will be removed, so as to allow space for the
remainder to develop themselves. To receive the rest of the trees
intended to remain permanently, pits have been dug, 9 feet square
and 6 feet in depth ; these are filled in with 1 foot of brick-rubble for
drainage, and then with a rich loam obtained from land belonging to
the Metropolitan Board of Works at Barking Creek ; for it is under
the auspices of this important public body that this great improvement
is being worked out. The pits to take the trees which it is calculated
will be removed eventually are of less dimensions, being 6 feet square
by 4 J feet in depth. After each tree is planted, a square iron grating in
four divisions is placed round each tree on a level with the pavement,
so constructed that water can be poured into the roots of the trees
when requisite, without any necessity for the removal of the grating.
Round each tree has hitherto been placed an iron girdle about 6 feet in
height ; but as the trees, in the event of a high wind, are apt to sway
about and snap just at the collar of the girdle, three stout upright
pieces of deal about 10 feet in height are being substituted for the
girdles, and serve to keep the trees much more secure.

Between this fine thoroughfare, with its lines of Plane-trees, now
universally acknowledged to be the best of all trees for European
cities, and the line of warehouses, dwelling-houses, &c, skirting what

1870.] GARDENING ON THAMES EMBANKMENT. 531

was once the river's edge, there is an immense piece of reclaimed land,
a good portion of which is being formed into public gardens. To fill
up this reclaimed space thousands of loads of soil were required ;
happily with the progress of the Thames Embankment came the con-
struction of the subterranean way of the Metropolitan District Railway,
running close by and parallel with the thoroughfare, and this gave ample
material to form the subsoil. Then, to give a suitable top-soil, immense
quantities of loam were brought up by water from Barking Creek, well
adapted for the growth of shrubs, and nearly the whole of the space
to be planted with these is now ready for their reception. Along that
portion of the land to be so planted that skirts the old line of the
river-side, a sloping bank, rising in some instances 9 or 10 feet, has
been formed, with a broad verge of grass towards the river. There is
also a similar verge of grass, with borders for shrubs at intervals, along
by the promenade ; and between the verges runs a broad concrete walk,
solid and firm as a rock. The borders will be filled mainly with de-
ciduous mingled with such evergreen shrubs as will thrive best on such
a spot, amid the city's smoke and dust. Hollies, both plain-leaved and
variegated, Euonymus of kinds, Aucuba japonica, and a few others,
will form the evergreen shrubs ; and about the grass will be dotted
specimen Hollies, &c, likely to prosper there. Between the walk and
the grass, on both sides of the former, there runs a verge of Irish Ivy
rather more than a foot in width ; this has been somewhat thickly
planted, and pegged down on a surface covered with 2 inches of well-
rotted manure ; and already it is rapidly taking root, and by the middle
of the summer it will be a mass of green leaves marbled with a darker
hue.

The construction of the concrete paths well deserves a record. A
foundation of about a foot in depth is laid of rough bricks, with some
gravelly soil thrown over to make it level. On this is laid 4 inches
of concrete, which, when it settles down and is well rolled, becomes
as hard and firm as a stone pavement. The concrete is formed* of
gravel well saturated with tar. The gravel is thoroughly heated over
a fire, and while hot sifted into two sizes, and the tar mixed with it.
A layer of 2 inches of the coarse gravel, covered with a layer of the
fine gravel of a similar thickness, forms the surface of the path, and
over it is thrown a thin layer of powdered shells or fine shingle from
the sea-shore at Brighton ; the latter is to be preferred, as the wind is
apt to lift the former and scatter it over the turf. This path may per-
haps yield slightly on a very hot sunny day, but only in a small degree.

From the roadway the gardens will be separated by means of a
handsome iron fence, through which, at certain places, the public will
gain access to the gardens by means of gates.

532 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

The most elaborate plot of garden will be that at the east end of
Somerset House and near the Temple Gardens. Here a large foun-
tain is being constructed ; and round about and near it there will be
several beds for flowers and foliaged plants during the summer months.
To this spot can come hundreds of pent-up citizens and indoor workers
during the temporary respite from labour at mid-day, and in the even-
ing, after their toil is ended, to wander along pleasant paths and round
about gay flowers, on a spot that was but a few years ago a portion of
the bed of the great river that flows through the city. Truly it is
a wonderful transformation-scene ; and it is only those who knew the
river-side ere the embankment was commenced that can comprehend
the splendid improvement effected which gives a broad line of thorough-
fare from the new bridge at Blackfriars to that at Westminster, orna-
mented by fine trees, with a smiling garden on one side and the
flowing river on the other.

The laying -out of the garden and shrubbery -grounds has been
carried out by Mr Joseph F. Meston, under the superintendence of
Mr Alexander M'Kenzie ; and Scotland has reason to be proud of the
achievements of her two worthy sons. E. D.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

That towards the close of a long and useful life in the service of
horticulture, Mr Thomas Rivers of Sawbridgeworth should be selected
to receive some token of the high esteem and regard in which he is
held by many of his brother horticulturists, is not to be wondered at.
Pomology, especially, owes much to Mr Rivers. He has laboured un-
weariedly, and has lived to reap the reward and enjoy the fruits of
his labour; and other men have entered into the results also, and
gratefully partaken of them. Of his busy life, with its quiet energy
working out into practical result and certain good, that experimenta-
tive faculty he was so fond of bringing into active play, may be
wTritten the words of Professor Graham, "Man becomes a part of
the vast world in which he lives, and everything becomes a part of
him ; and hence it may with propriety be said that man is the
soul of the world." Mr Rivers has moved about in the world of
horticulture for years, heaping up large stores of knowledge, which
he, with ungrudging desire, has constantly given forth for the benefit
of his fellow-creatures. Mr Rivers, having a great dislike to testi-
monials, will not accept one, but it is proposed to honour him by
raising a subscription for the purpose of having his portrait painted,
as a momento of his worth and the kindly regard in which he is held.

i87a] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 533

No subscriptions will be solicited ; all already received have been
voluntarily given. Dr Robert Hogg, 99 St George's Road, Pimlico,
London, S.W., is receiving subscriptions for the purpose.

A meeting of the subscribers to the Veitch Memorial was held in
the Royal Horticultural Society's meeting-room at South Kensington,
on the 21st of October, to receive a report of the Central Committee
as to the mode in which the money raised should be expended. Alto-
gether the sum of £1012, 12s. 9d. had been subscribed; the neces-
sary expenses incidental to giving effect to the wishes of the promoters
had amounted to £121, 14s. 5d., thus leaving a net amount of £890,
18s. 4d. to be expended in furtherance of the special object for which
the fund was raised. Many propositions had been made as to the best
mode of disposing of the surplus, and of these two were singled out as
being the most likely to serve t"he end proposed to be sought — viz.,
the establishment of certain Veitch Prizes, "to be offered at such ex-
hibitions of the leading metropolitan Horticultural Societies in the
three kingdoms as the trustees may judge most conducive to the
object, the culture of both flowers and fruits being considered ;" and
that of adding a Veitch Pensioner to the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent
Institution. Although there were many supporters of the last-named
proposition, the balance of favour went with the former, and after some
discussion it was adopted. The following gentlemen were nominated
as trustees, in whose names the money should be invested — viz., George
F. Wilson, Esq., F.R.S., the treasurer, and Mr Thomas Moore, the
secretary to the fund ; and the following five others as representing
the amateur and practical gardeners of the United Kingdom — namely,
Mr Harry James Veitch, Dr Robert Hogg, and Mr Zadok Stevens,
gardener to the Duke of Sutherland, Trentham, as representing Eng-
land j Mr William Thomson, Dalkeith Palace Gardens, as representing
Scotland ; and Dr David Moore, of the Glasnevin Botanic Gardens,
as representing Ireland. The proposal to provide a portrait of the
late Mr Veitch, which was a part of the original programme as one of
the leading objects to be attained, had been anticipated by Robert
Crawshay, Esq. of Cyfartha Castle, Merthyr-Tidvil, South Wales, who
had presented the Veitch Committee with a portrait of the late Mr
James Veitch, which had been painted expressly for the purpose ; and
this, with the permission of the Council of the Royal Horticultural
Society, now finds a resting-place on the walls of the Royal Horticul-
tural Society's meeting-room. On many grounds the prize scheme was
to be preferred to that which would simply add a pensioner to the list
of the Gardeners' Benevolent Institution. The ' Gardeners' Chronicle '
said with much truth that the memory of Mr Veitch would be best
honoured " by keeping it prominently before the gardening world as

534 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

an incentive to the same energetic, persevering efforts for the advance-
ment of horticulture which we had so often witnessed and so much
admired in him ; and if we now regard the memorial as inclusive, and
intended to perpetuate the memory of both father and son, — the zeal-
ous horticulturist and the successful traveller, — the same sentiments
will equally apply. Surely this will be more effectually secured by
spurring on the active man in full possession of his powers and in the
full practice of his profession, than by pensioning the effete though
worthy man whose day of action is past, and who must, in the ordin-
ary course of things, soon pass away from the scene. There can be no
question about it ; it must be so. The stimulus to action must be
more effectual than the sop to repose in keeping up the memory of a
horticultural leader, and we hence conclude that the right thing has
been done."

Landscape-gardeners might take a hint from the common Hawthorn
(Crataegus oxycantha) at the present moment, when, in keeping with
the unusually fructiferous character of the season, it is found in most
instances literally clothed with red berries. When seen standing out
against the naked outlines of leafless trees, or even as an isolated
specimen in a piece of park-land, it lights up the scene, and gives a
tone to the barrenness around it. Berried trees during winter are of
great value in adorning our woodlands, and deserve to be planted as
much for this especial service as for the sake of the flowers they yield in
the spring. Somehow most, if not all, deciduous shrubs give tints of
red during the leafless portion of their existence, and cheer, while
leafless, the dulness and decay of winter. Hence an eye to effect in
winter is as important, in a certain degree, in the construction of a
landscape, as during the summer, when there

" Shines beauty in its vernal year,
Bright, sparkling, fascinating, clear,
Gay, thoughtless of its doom."

For the purpose of lighting up shrubbery borders, woodland ways, belts
of trees, plantations, &c, at this season of the year, scarcely anything
can compete with variegated Hollies, that shine out with their richest
garniture of gold and silver in the depth of winter. It is singular to
note how a lengthened patch of variegated Hollies, thrown into the line
of a belt of trees or line of shrubbery-border flanking a walk, will seem
to shorten its length, even to a remarkable degree. Lately a striking
instance has been afforded of the ill effects arising from placing sheets of
ornamental water or small lakes near to groups of trees on the banks
where dark-foliaged trees, and especially Firs, predominate. It has no
doubt struck many others long since, but it is worth a notice at this time

1870.] NOTES OF THE MONTH. 535

of the year, when the effects are made perceptible. A large pond of
water (in the instance referred to) occupied a hollow surrounded on
three sides by trees, including some Firs, and in consequence of the
shadow being thrown across the water, it had the dark stagnant ap-
pearance, when looked at from a slight elevation, peculiar to ponds
in close unfrequented places ; on descending to the brink, the water
appeared quite clear. But as water is generally looked at from an
elevation, the dark shadows come in the line of sight. As a matter
of course, small sheets of water are the most likely to be so rendered
unsightly.

Mr Barron, of the Chiswick Gardens, has just commended to public
notice a material for grafting purposes that is likely to be found very
useful to cultivators generally. It is siniply a sheet of indiarubber,
which can be obtained at quite a small cost per square foot, and then
cut into the lengths required for use. Previous to using the mate-
rial, it is washed in clear water, and dried by means of placing it
within the folds of a cloth or handkerchief. It can be obtained at
the shops both dressed and undressed, but the latter is to ba preferred.
The operator cuts his sheets into pieces of about an inch in length and
an eighth of an inch in width, the size being regulated by the space
to be covered. This length of material is passed round the part of the
plant to be covered, and being pulled tightly as the windings are
made, becomes elongated, and holds the graft with a firm grip. A
pressure with the thumb-nail fastens the end securely, and the effect
of the external air is to render it even more durable, hardening the
material and keeping it firm. For what may be termed fine grafting —
that is, as applied to small and delicate plants — nothing appears to be
better. For larger trees in the open air, the Mastic L'homme Lefort,
or cold grafting-wax, can be highly recommended. Ready for use at
all times, no work of preparation is required ; the thing is always
ready to hand, and has been found to be both effectual and durable.

The Royal Horticultural Society's great summer show at Notting-
ham will be held a month earlier than usual, the time being no longer
fixed according to the date on which the annual meeting of the Royal
Agricultural Society has been held. The Nottingham Exhibition will
be held on the 13th of June, and continue open to the 17th. This
early intimation of the date will enable gardeners and others to make
their arrangements accordingly. A month earlier than the time at
which the show has hitherto been held is a matter of great importance
in some districts.

53G THE GARDENER. [Dec.

NOTES ON HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS.

(Continued from page 516.)
CRASSULACE.E — COlif.

Sernpervivum — Uouseleek. — This family is possessed of the strongest
tenacity of life — the generic name implies that; and it is highly in-
teresting on account of the rigidly geometric arrangement in rosettes
that the leaves of most of the species take. Their extraordinary
power of life renders them very useful for many ornamental purposes
that are very desirable, but not by any means generally adopted.
Many a stump and block and naked rock might be appropriately
garnished with them ; and those objects, often inert enough and unin-
teresting in themselves, but from various circumstances, perhaps, irre-
movable, would by such adornment become attractive and beautiful ;
and quaint old trees and ruins may be enriched in their own style by
the same means. The natural habitats of the Houseleeks — house-tops,
walls, rocks, and generally dry exposed stony or gravelly places — at
once suggest their fitness for the uses indicated. They establish them-
selves easily in such places in nature ; and in practice to fix them in any
position is a very simple matter, all that is needed to that end
being a little clay and horse or cow dung, well mixed, as for use in graft-
ing, on which to stick the offshoots, when, even if the surface is vertical,
they may be left to themselves without any misgivings as to success.
The adaptability of some of the species to another and very different
use in flower-gardening has been noticed and taken advantage of by
some of our best gardeners recently, and is becoming popular. I
allude to the new method of bedding out, in which various Semper-
vivums are used to define intricate geometrical figures in beds or bor-
ders, the spaces being filled, according to the taste of the parties
concerned, with flowering plants, or with plants of different foliage,
with a view to the production of contrasts in form or combinations of
colour and form ; and for defining with precision intricate lines and
figures, there is perhaps nothing in the vegetable kingdom more fit
than these peculiar plants ; but for this purpose they must be used in
single rosettes, which entails the necessity of their being overhauled
annually in spring, so as to remove all off-sets or young rosettes which
would mar the lines. They are as easily cultivated on flat surfaces on
the ground-level as on any elevation, and though so well adapted to
exist on short commons, do equally well in the richest soil, but it is
always well to drain well under them.

S. araehnoideum — Cobweb Houseleek. — An extremely interesting and
curious plant. The rosettes are small, composed of oblong sharp-
pointed leaves, thickly set on both surfaces with soft, short, glandular

i87o.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 537

hairs. The tips of the leaves are connected by radiating lines of deli-
cate white threads, so interwoven with each other as to suggest the
idea that a spider had been at work upon them. The flower-stems
rise a few inches high. The flowers are pink, composed of twelve or
more spreading petals, and appear in July and August. Native of the
Alps and Pyrenees.

& arenarium — Sand HouseleeJc. — The leaves in this species, in
small rosettes, are lance-shaped, smooth above and below, but fringed
on the margin. Flowers composed of six yellow petals. Height
about 6 inches. Native of the Tyrol.

8. Calif omieum — Calif omian HouseleeJc. — A very handsome
species, with broad hemispherical rosettes, composed of oblong, glau-
cous, brown-tipped leaves, terminating in an abrupt sharp point.
Flowers purplish, composed of twelve or more spreading petals,
appearing from June till August.

S. FuncJcii—F uncles HouseleeJc. — Leaves in rather large rosettes,
oblong, with an abrupt sharp point, downy above and below, and
fringed with long hairs. Flowers pink, with usually twelve petals,
appearing in July and August. Native of the mountains of Tyrol,
Carinthia, and Salzbourg.

S. globiferum — Globular HouseleeJc. — The rosettes in this are
rather small and open in the old ones ; very small, close, and globular
in the young offsets. Leaves lance-shaped, smooth above and below, but
fringed. Flowers yellow, few, but very large ; petals more than twelve.

S. hirtum — Hairy HouseleeJc. — Leaves oblong, acutely pointed,
hairy on both sides, and fringed. Flower-stems from 9 inches to 1
foot high. Flowers white, petals six, the tips hairy ; appearing in
July and August. Native of Italy and Austria.

S. montanum — Mountain HouseleeJc. — The rosettes are close and
compact. The leaves are oblong, widening somewhat upwards, but ter-
minating in an abrupt sharp point, and fringed. Flower-stems 6 to 9
inches high. Flowers dull rose or purple ; petals twelve; appearing in
July and August. Native of the Alps.

& soboliferum — Hen-and-CJiicJcen HouseleeJc. — In this the rosettes
are close and compact, composed of oblong, wedge-shaped, sharp-
pointed leaves with fringed margins. Flower-stems about 6 inches
high. Flowers pale yellow ; petals six, fringed. Native of Germany.

S. tectorum — Common HouseleeJc. — The rosettes are large and
hemispherical, composed of oblong lance-shaped leaves, terminating in
a sharp rather abrupt point, the margins fringed. Petals twelve or
more, pink ; appearing in early summer, and continuing late. Native
of many countries of Europe, high on mountain-ranges, and not
uncommon on walls and house-tops in Britain.

538 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

GATHERING, CARTING, AND STORING ICE.

The provision of a quantity of ice is one of the duties that fall to the
lot of the gardener, it being invariably his function to provide a stock
sufficient to meet the demands of the family for the year. In the
case of a large establishment this is a very important duty, when it is
considered in how many ways ice is used during the summer. In my
own case, not only have I to keep the hall well supplied, but as it is
situated in a somewhat remote country district, the medical men fly
here in cases of emergency to get a supply necessary to aid them in
the healing arts. I am happy to know that in some instances lives
have been saved owing to our ability to supply this valuable agent in
cases of urgent danger and necessity.

I have thought it worth while to set down some of my experiences in
regard to this work for the December number of the ' Gardener/ as
it is during the end of that month or the beginning of January that
we obtain our stock of ice; and indeed any opportunity for doing
this should never be lost, as the chances are sometimes limited in
number.

Early in December the place in which the ice is to be deposited
is prepared ready for its reception when it appears. I like to store
it when about 4 inches in thickness, though some persons prefer
it thicker. And then we proceed to fill the house, which is 16 feet in
depth and the same in width, with an arched roof like that of a brick
oven ; on this there is 3 feet of soil planted thickly with Evergreens,
and the icehouse occupies a position on the north side of the premises,
the door leading to it being on the west side of the house, with a pas-
sage built of brick arched over, with three doors at intervals, which
lift from their hinges when required. This passage is 10 feet in length
and paved with flagstones, and when the pit is readied it is some 10
feet below the ground-level. At the centre of the bottom of the house
is a main drain, which receives the water from four smaller ones ; and
over these fagot-wood is placed for drainage also, as I find it very
important to allow the water furnished by the melted ice to run away
fully, as the bulk does not keep so well if the drainage be not perfect.
Over the layer of fagots is placed another of good wheat-straw, and
as the ice is built up in the house, a good thickness of straw is placed
between it and the wall.

The ice is obtained from a pond about 400 yards distant, and is
brought to the house in carts, shot down at the door, and broken to
pieces about the size of an ordinary brick before it is stowed away. I
know that some recommend it should be broken smaller, but I can
see no advantage in doing so. rather the reverse, as the act of break-

1870.] STATICE RATTRAYANA. 539

ing it small often makes it dirty, and the dirt so collected will show
itself when the ice is used. The carts employed in bringing it to the
house should be thoroughly cleansed before being so used.

The house here takes about sixty loads ; and by using four carts,
six horses, twelve men, and two boys, we manage to fill it in two days
when ice is plentiful. In addition to their usual pay, plenty of beer
and bread and cheese is allowed the men and lads employed. We also
use about a load and a half of straw — the mass of ice is thoroughly
encased in it ; and when the ice settles down into a mass it is well
trodden by the feet and beaten down with a large wooden mallet.

The whole cost of filling our house may be estimated at <£7. A
few years ago, when we had to bring a good deal of the ice from a
large horse-pond a half-mile farther off, the cost of filling it was three
or four pounds more, but the ice was never fit to place on the table.

William Plester.

Elsenham Hall Gardens.

STATICE RATTRAYANA?

How often do we meet with this splendid plant in a wretched state,
where it neither does credit to the grower, nor gratifies the taste of
any one accustomed to behold it in a thriving condition ! Pitiable,
unhealthy-looking objects, flowering wonderfully well it may be, but
not as the reward of good, kindly, and judicious treatment. Such
miserable subjects never become the glorious specimens they would
under different and more favourable conditions. As I have been some-
what successful in the culture of this most useful decorative flowering-
plant, I will endeavour as concisely as possible to detail my mode of
treatment. There are two general principles that I would put promin-
ently forward at the commencement, which if acted upon will lead to
success with this plant. 1st, It is a gross feeder; 2d, It must be
kept constantly growing — there must be no sudden checks, otherwise
the effects we too often see will be produced.

After the plants have begun to grow in spring is the proper time
for taking cuttings, which I insert singly in thumb-pots, and plunge in
bottom-heat up to the rims of the pots. I shade during sunshine, and
maintain a close moist atmosphere, which must be given until they
show signs of being rooted. So soon as the roots appear at the sides
of the pots I at once shift them into 4-inch pots, using a compost of
two parts good fibry loam, one partcow-du ng well decomposed, and
one part leaf-mould, with a little silver sand added, placing a few

510 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

pieces of dry cow-dung (which I gather in summer) over the crocks
at the bottom of the pot. I put them again into their old quarters
(bottom-heat), and give them a good shower overhead through a rose
watering-pot. I shade for a few days until the roots have begun to
run in the pots, up to which time they get no more water than a slight
shower through the rose as before ; but after the roots begin to fully
occupy the pots I give them plenty of water, adding a little sheep-
dung and guano-water every alternate time or so moisture is given.
They are thus treated until they have fully occupied their pots, and
before they have become pot-bound, when they will require shifting into
7-inch pots ; but a few days previous to this I take them out of their
quarters wherein they have been plunged, in order to harden them a little.
They are then placed in a spare corner in the vinery ; and, as before, I
give them a little water overhead with the rose, doing this morning and
evening until they show signs of being established in their pots, after
which they are liberally treated every way, all bad leaves picked off.
and flower-shoots nipped, until about August, when they may be intro-
duced to the conservatory. "Water must be sparingly given all winter.
About February they may be introduced into a vinery just started,
and after they have begun to grow a little, may be shifted into 12-inch
pots, in which I grow them freely all the season, keeping clean and nip-
ping off flower-shoots until July, when they are taken to the conserva-
tory again to be the admiration of all, attending to them regularly with
copious manure-waterings. In shifting from a 7-inch to a 12-inch pot
care must be taken not to sour the soil by over- watering ; to prevent
this I give the soil no water except what falls down through the leaves
when they are watered with the rose, until the pots are pretty well
occupied. From subjects so treated I can now (September) boast of
plants, struck between seventeen and eighteen months ago, and treated
as detailed above, that have made specimens 30 inches in diameter of
foliage, with no less than thirty-one spikes of bloom, and more con-
tinually appearing. J. F.

[Statice " Rattrayana" is not known at Kew; what is our correspondent grow-
ing under this name ? — Eds.

THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS.

THE PEACH AND NECTARINE.

{Continued from page 491.)

The disbudding of the trees next demands attention. Our practice

is not to do the whole operation at once, but to go over the tree at

least twice or thrice, at regular intervals of a week or so. The first

1870.] THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 541

time I remove all the worst-placed and unhealthy-looking buds (if
any) when they are about f of an inch in length. The next time all
the buds are removed until only four or five are left upon a shoot of 15
or 18 inches. The third and last time all the young shoots are re-
moved except two or three, which are so disposed over the shoot of last
year as to leave enough to carry on the crop, and provide enough
wood to give a good selection for the succeeding year. In perform-
ing this operation care is always taken to retain one of the buds at the
base of each shoot, so that there may be no possibility of having at the
end of a few years long bare stems, such as are always to be met with
in trees managed after the method recommended by Mr Simpson at
p. 500 for last month. The method he claims credit for having
discovered, and which, he informs us, is now becoming general, is not
new, being as old, I think, as he is himself. I know that it is 25 years
since it was adopted at a certain place to which I could point, and the
result has been disappointment and failure in every sense. For a few
years they did very well, and appeared to flourish much in the same
way as those at Wortley; but before they were 15 years of age they
were useless for practical puposes, the whole constitution of the tree
having given way from no other cause than general debility, engendered
by over-exertion in youth — much in the same way as human nature will
give way in the bloom of manhood from the very same cause. If we
want to succeed as horticulturists, we must study nature very closely,
and bring our knowledge of things known to bear upon our everyday
occupation, so that when we adopt unnatural means to accomplish a
certain purpose, we may employ a counteracting power to remedy
the evil effects of the unnatural means used. The trees to which
reference has been made above are long since removed, and young
trees have taken their place, which are subjected to a very different
style of management, and promise fair to live, flourish, and pro-
duce good fruit for generations to come, as all good trees of either
the Peach or Nectarine ought to do if properly managed. Most of
the Peaches here have been full-bearing trees for the last 50 and
GO years ; and the health of the trees, and the quantity and quality
of the fruit produced, will bear comparison with that from any trees
old or young, in the kingdom. I must not, however, be blamed for
egotism, as I claim no credit for such results, the entire credit beino-
due to my venerable predecessor, Mr Shiels, who, I am glad to say,
still lives to rejoice in the labours of his early days, and who, in his
visits here, seems proud to know that the result of his judicious man-
agement is still making its mark upon the place which he so long
filled with credit. Evidence such as this should not be thrown aside
for the hastily-arrived-at conclusions of one or two summers' practice.

542 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

When we know of two methods having been adopted, the one succeed-
ing and the other failing, we are of those who cling to the one which
has produced the best results, whether it be called old-fashioned or
new. To be old-fashioned and successful cannot be a crime, but to be
new-fashioned and fail must be a crime, say what others may to the
contrary.

After the disbudding season is over, the after-management of the
trees is very simple. The laying -in of the young shoots, and the
stopping or cutting out altogether of those which appear to be too
gross, forms the greater part of the work. As soon as the fruit begins
to make its last swelling, it ought to be exposed as much as possible
to light and air, in order to produce flavour and colour. Where the
leaves overshadow them, they ought to be either folded gently back,
or have a portion of them removed altogether.

In gathering the Peach and Nectarine, they require to be gently
handled, or bruising and after-discoloration will be the result. To
obviate this, the fruit should not be touched until the colour and
appearance give a guarantee that they are ready to pull. When this
is the case, let the hand be passed behind the fruit, with two fingers
on either side of the foot-stalk, holding the hand in such a position
that the fruit, when gently pulled, will fall into the palm of the hand.
If pulled after this manner, hundreds of dozens might be gathered
without leaving the slightest mark, or in any way doing injury to
the fruit. Some people allow their fruit to fall into nets. This
I do not like, as I fancy that a Peach, when allowed to hang
until it falls, has lost a deal of that richness of flavour so peculiar
to it.

It may not be out of place to make a few remarks regarding the
packing of Peaches before I pass to the concluding portion of my
subject. Some gardeners roll them in cotton-wadding, without any-
thing else. This is an abominable practice, as the whole bloom and
beauty of the fruit is destroyed, and so much of the cotton is left ad-
hering that it is positively unsightly to look upon them. Others roll
them in tissue-paper, and afterwards pack and roll them in cotton-wad-
ding. Some use boxes to hold one or two dozen, as the case may be ;
others have tins made with compartments for each fruit, into which
they are placed and packed with wadding. All these methods are
attended with considerable expense ; in fact, in some cases the expense
of packing is equivalent to the value of the fruit. My plan is a
simple and inexpensive one. The boxes hold one dozen, 4x3, fruit.
Each fruit is rolled in paper. I keep always a good supply of short
grass from the cutting-machine, taking care to have it always thorough-
ly dry. Into the bottom of each box an inch or so of this material is

1870.] THE CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 543

placed, when the fruit is packed into it, having about half an inch of
the same material between each. After the dozen are placed in position,
the box is filled up with the grass and screwed down, and will travel
a thousand miles without the slightest injury, provided the fruit has
been gently handled in the process of packing. This is the way I
have packed all the fruit for my employer's table during the London
season for years past, and I have reason to know that every fruit sent
from here has arrived and been placed upon his table in perfect condi-
tion, although the distance they travelled was over 400 miles, the
number of boxes sent each year averaging thirty.

The principal diseases to which the Peach and Nectarine are subject
in this country are canker, gum, and mildew. Canker is generally
the result of the trees being planted in a too deep, damp, and uncon-
genial soil. To remedy this, upon the first appearance of the disease
let the trees be lifted and replanted in well-made new borders after
the manner already described, and the result will be new vigour and
health to the tree, unless the disease has got too firm a hold upon its
constitution. Gum is generally the result of bad pruning, or careless-
ness with the hammer or any other instrument in bruising and wounding
the bark or branches of the tree. To prevent this, careful management
is the antidote. If, however, the disease appears to any great extent,
the best plan is to remove the tree altogether, and have it replaced by
a young healthy one. Mildew is a disease to which some of the
varieties of the Peach are more liable than others ; and from this fact
I conclude that, although the disease is to a certain extent the result
of external agencies, yet from constitutional weakness some sorts
are more liable to the attack than others. I have always noticed
that mildew follows on the trail of a continuation of cold, parch-
ing weather, with the wind blowing from the east or north-east.
In genial and showery weather we seldom see any traces of it, so that
certain conditions of the atmosphere, with the wind in certain quarters
has much to do with its attacks. Where the trees are regularly
syringed with water, even should such weather prevail for a time, the
attack will not be so severe as those which have not been syringed.
The best remedy, however, and also the best preventive, is flower of
sulphur applied with a sulphurator upon the first appearance of the
disease, or, what is perhaps better, let it be applied as soon as there is
the least appearance of a continuation of such weather as would be
likely to court its presence. The only other disease to which it is
necessary to call the attention of the Peach cultivator is blistering, wrink-
ling, and curling of the leaves. The cause of this may be looked for
in badly-prepared, too deep, cold, and wet borders ; in fact, it is the
usual precursor of canker, and traceable to the same causes. Seeing

544 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

this to be the case, I can only add that the cure must also be the
same.

The insect enemies of the Peach and Nectarine are not very numer-
ous, but are sometimes very troublesome. Green-fly is perhaps the
chief of these. As the cultivation of the Peach and Nectarine as hardy
trees places them in a position in which they cannot be easily fumi-
gated, the best means to adopt to destroy this little pest is to keep
the trees thoroughly syringed, adding a little tobacco-juice for a few-
times should the enemy appear powerful. Thrip, should it make its
appearance, may be destroyed by the same means.

Red-spider (Acarus telarius) is an enemy not so easily disposed of ;
yet the trees are not liable to its attack if the roots are moist enough
and the branches frequently syringed. To destroy it, heavy and fre-
quent syringings are the best cure.

The caterpillar of the figure - 8 moth (Episema coeruleocephala),
which is very troublesome at times upon Peach-trees, by eating and
destroying the foliage, should be picked with the hand, and at once
destroyed.

The Tortrix AVceberiana, or Plum-tree tortrix, is sometimes injuri-
ous to the Peach ; but as I have spoken of it when treating of the
Plum, it is not necessary to do more than name it here.

The Tenthredo populi, or Poplar saw-fly, makes its appearance
about the end of April. It is a large insect, larger than an ordinary
house-fly. The female arranges her eggs, which number about forty,
in lines along the surface of the leaves. In a few days these produce
a whitish grub, which shelter themselves within a web which they at
once begin to spin. As their period of grub-existence extends over
six weeks, it will be easily perceived that a very few females in spring
may be the cause of much damage to the Peach, as the young all have
to be fed upon the fresh and tender leaves for that period. At the
end of that time they drop to the ground, form cases in which they
bury themselves beneath the surface of the soil until spring, when
they emerge perfect insects, to become the parents of another genera-
tion of Peach-tree depredators. The fly ought to be killed as soon
as found in spring, the eggs searched for upon the leaves and de-
stroyed, while the surface-soil of the border ought to be removed in
winter to the depth of 3 or 4 inches and burned, in order to insure,
as far as possible, the entire destruction of the whole family.

Earwigs (Forficula auricularis) are generally very destructive to the
ripening fruit. To destroy them, cut bean-stems in lengths of a few
inches, placing them on the ground and among the branches. Into
these the enemy will retreat, and from thence are easily blown into a
bucket of water prepared for their reception.

i87o.] CULTURE OF PELARGONIUMS. 545

The scale (Aspidiotus concliiformis) sometimes is very hurtful to
the Peach and Nectarine. Should it make its appearance and
increase to any great extent, the tree ought to be gone over, and the
little intruder rubbed off with a hard brush in summer. In winter
this operation may again be performed, and the tree afterwards
painted over with a gentle mixture of tobacco juice, black soap, and
sulphur, with soot or clay added, to give the whole consistency. This,
in most cases, will meet the end in view upon the first, and almost
certainly upon the second, application. James M'Millan.

(To be continued.)

THE CULTURE OF GOLD AND BRONZE AND VARIE-
GATED ZONAL (TRICOLOR) PELARGONIUMS.

As the winter approaches, bright colours seem to become more
bright, and certainly more attractive and valuable, as leaden skies and
dull days prevail. With the decline of flowers comes the necessity for
foliaged plants to supply their place, and so the continuity of decora-
tive agents is sustained. It is at this time that the subjects at the
head of this paper come in to render valuable aid, when their beautiful
leaves are seen to the best advantage.

The effect of a few of these plants in a greenhouse, when neatly
grown and well coloured, is very charming ; and the value of nice,
young, gay -looking plants for table decoration can hardly be over-
estimated. Many objections have been urged against the tricolor
section of Pelargoniums, on the ground of want of vigour of constitu-
tion; but this experience must have been in a great measure owing to
some defect of cultivation. To such ones I say try again, for there
can be but little difficulty about the growth of any plant that can be
sustained in vigorous health during the winter in a temperature vary-
ing from 40° to 50°. This is the case in the matter of both the gold
and bronze and tricolor sections of Pelargoniums.

There is certainly some difference of detail in the mode of treating
these two divisions, and therefore it will be advisable to dwell on
them separately, and I will take the tricolors first.

As to Soil and Potting. — Like some other plants, Tricolor Pelar-
goniums will grow in almost any soil; but that best adapted is a com-
bination of two parts of light fibry loam, broken up into small lumps —
one part leaf-mould, the other part composed equally of well-decomposed
horse-droppings and river-sand. I am proceeding on the assumption
that the cuttings put in some time previously are ready for potting.

2 o

54G THE GARDENER. [Dec.

Supposing the cutting plants are strong, and in small 60-pots, the
shift should be made into pots fully two sizes larger. The operator
should commence by crocking the requisite number, giving double the
quantity of drainage usually afforded other plants. The pots should
be scrupulously clean. A little fibry material from the soil should be
placed over the crocks, then some fine soil. The plant should be care-
fully turned out of the pot it has previously occupied, the crocks re-
moved without doing damage to the roots, the plant placed in the
new pot, and the soil pressed firmly about it. Where perfect drainage
exists, firm potting is of great importance ; it prevents a too free eva-
poration of the moisture in the soil on sunny days, sustains the plant
for a more lengthened period, and saves the trouble of continual drib-
blings of water, which not only consume time, but are also hurtful to
the plants. If the potting compost be at all damp, no water need be
given after potting. It is a good plan to thoroughly soak the plants that
are to be potted with water the day before being shifted into the new
pots. When this is done, eight or ten days after potting will be a
good time to administer water for the first time, as at this period the
roots will be finding their way into the new soil that surrounds them.
When water is given, let it be given abundantly, and not a mere sur-
face sprinkling. The temperature of the water given should be about
60°.

General Attention. — It is of small importance what kind of structure
the plants are grown in, if the conditions under which they flourish
best are supplied. These conditions are, a sunny exposure near the
glass, in a light and airy position, in a temperature ranging from 40°
to 60° when the sun shines. A higher temperature is likely to prove
injurious, as the growth becomes weakly, drawn, and colourless. From
36° to 38° will not be so injurious as over 60° at this period of the
year. If the cultivator could command the sunshine and cool soft
air of September all the year round, he would have exactly the condi-
tion of atmosphere best adapted for the growth of Tricolor and Bronze
Pelargoniums. Let it be understood that all cold draughts of air should
be excluded — i.e., they should not be allowed to play directly on the
plants.

All leaves should be removed as they decay ; it is best to detach
the leaf at the point where it joins the stem, leaving that to drop of
its own accord. This prevents any damage to the stalk by displacing
the leaf-stems while they are yet green. The plants should be turned
about at intervals to secure uniformity of growth. As soon as the
cutting-stem is 4 inches in height, remove, by using the point of a
knife, the two uppermost leaves and shoot while yet undeveloped ;
this will check the upward growth, and cause side shoots to appear,

1870.] CULTURE OF PELARGONIUMS. 547

which should be pinched back in their turn to secure a nice bushy-
habit. This course of treatment will lay the foundation of well-grown
and symmetrical plants. Continue thus to train and turn about
the plants, and remove dying leaves ; repot when the roots reach
the sides of the ball as before, using pots two sizes larger to succeed
those the plants have occupied.

By this time the winter will have passed away, and the plants be
growing apace. A vinery just started will now be an excellent place
in which to stage the plants, near the front ventilation. The tem-
perature which best suits the vines at this stage will be that best
adapted for the Pelargoniums, so long as it does not rise much above
60°. But when it becomes necessary to raise the temperature of the
vinery above that point, the plants had better be returned to their old
quarters.

At the time of the next shift, if the plants are in vigorous condition,
a little bone-meal (not bone-dust or broken bones, but a fine bone-flour)
may be added to the heap of soil in the proportion of about one-tenth.
This will stimulate the plants to make considerable growth, and is to
be preferred to manure water.

Up to the time that the leaves begin to colour, pure water should
be given ; then, when the leaf-coloration is required, some weak cow-
dung water may be given, with a small portion of soot added to it :
the last-named material greatly helps the development of colour.

Diseases. — Only two things bearing this designation, that I am
aware of, affect these divisions of the Pelargonium ; the one " spot
on the leaves," the other " black-rot." Both of these attack the
growth, and invariably result from decay of the foliage. The worst
to be eradicated is the spot, as it seems to exist in the blood of the
plant ; and my experience leads me to conclude that the malady is
communicated by the prevalence of an impure atmosphere or bad
ventilation. This, at all events, agrees with my own experience,
and I am confirmed in this conviction by invariably finding that not
one of the Pelargoniums, from the strongest and most vigorous grower
of the ordinary zonal section to the most tender tricolor, will exist for
a few weeks in the conservatory here without spot making its appear-
ance, and this at all seasons of the year. One of the many faults
belonging to the conservatory is defective ventilation. Whether my
theory be right or wrong, however, this much is certain, that no sooner
are the plants placed in another plant-house, after removal from the
conservatory, than they begin to mend, provided their stay in the con-
servatory has not been too prolonged, in which case they die of the
disease. Some authorities attribute these maladies to over-feeding,
and to some extent this may be true ; still I have never experienced

548 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

such to be the case when the plants are grown in the open air, unless
the plants had been raised from cuttings taken from those affected
by disease.

The most effectual remedy to apply to affected plants is to turn
them out of their pots, shake the soil from the roots, cut them
back, wash those that are left after removing every diseased leaf, re-
pot in a poor mixture made up of sand and leaf-mould, and give the
plants a light, airy position.

(To be continued.)

HINTS FOR AMATEURS.— DECEMBER.

If the weather should remain mild, and not too wet, garden operations
may be hurried forward as directed last month. We again repeat
that the success of vegetable growers mainly results from properly
preparing the soil, and doing it early. A leading article in a contem-
porary has some good practical remarks on this matter. Treading the
ground, when very wet, is an evil which should be strictly guarded
against. If early Peas are to be sown now or in January, the surface
of the soil cannot be made too free ; and it is much in favour of the
seed if a quantity of old soil from pots, &c, can be placed above and
below it in the rows, as growth will then start more freely. Most
cultivators are aware of the value of warm dry soil for newly-sown
seed. If early-sown Peas should appear through the ground, a cover-
ing of dry soil of some kind should be placed over the young tops, or
the earth drawn up to cover them. When the weather is frosty, it gives
a good opportunity of getting out manure ; it should not, however, be
left exposed to the weather, but its goodness kept in by a covering of
earth. Leaves, turfs, sand, manures, and all kinds of useful garden-
material, may be collected when other work cannot be carried on.
Everything in the shape of soil should be harvested dry ; some who
cannot get it under cover thatch it to keep it dry. Pea-stakes may be
made, standing them on their ends, keeping them flat, and placing
them compactly together. Making and cleaning off old names of
labels may have attention. Stakes for plants may be made or fresh
pointed. Trimmings of Thorn hedges, Filbert and Apple trees, tied
in straight bundles and stored till required, make useful flower-stakes
in absence of better material. All operations, such as draining, im-
proving fences, or other work apart from the garden, may have atten-
tion while the season is not so pressing. See that roots of all kinds
are not decaying, and also secure plenty of Parsnips, Jerusalem Arti-
chokes, &c, under cover, to have them at hand if severe frost should

i87o.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 549

set in. Broccoli should be looked over frequently, and placed under
protection whenever it is fit for use, otherwise frost may destroy the
heads. Celery in damp localities will be more easily kept under cover
in sand than in the open ground. Turnips of useful size may also be
taken in and covered with a little straw, but kept cool ; or if they
are to be left in the ground, the soil should be drawn over the roots.
Some plant early Potatoes at this season, which must give extra
trouble and care. We never practised this system except in frames
and other structures; then the best of protection and care are necessary.
In damp low-lying localities the early planting of Potatoes is an
unnecessary evil. The tubers should not be placed in close heated
quarters, as they would soon exhaust themselves with premature
growth. Potatoes, when forced early, require very little heat either
at top or bottom, as they would grow all to leaf, but plenty of fresh
air and light should be admitted. Cold frosty air, when the tops
were above ground, would soon put an end to them. The tubers do
well when they are sprouted in boxes or pots, covered with light earth,
before planting them out. They succeed well on a bed of leaves,
with a little dung well mixed to keep a gentle steady heat. A foot
of sound healthy loam is necessary to rear good crops.

If early Cucumbers are to be forced with dung heat, well mixed
material should soon be in hand to raise the young plants ; but where
manure, &c, is scarce, it is well to let early forcing alone for the pre-
sent, as much labour and material is necessary to keep up warmth
through the winter. Rhubarb, Seakale, Chicory, and Salads of all kinds,
require the same attention as formerly advised, and quantities should
be brought forward as demand requires, giving careful attention when
heat is supplied by fermenting material. We have seen crowns of
Rhubarb and Seakale destroyed when the manure has been neglected
for a single day. Rain often cools or suddenly raises the heat of the
material. The seed-list may now be got ready, and any kinds of
vegetables, however good, which have never done well in the locality,
should be kept out, and good useful kinds substituted. We have
often gained much information on this matter from cottagers, both in
regard to fruits and vegetables. All the seeds left over from last year,
which are fresh and good, should have a note made of their quantity,
as seeds on hand (especially of the Brassica tribe) are often better
than those newly bought. Making out a seed -list, if economy and
useful articles are objects, requires practice and forethought to do it
with success. Very "cheap " seeds often turn out very dear in the
end, to say nothing of disappointment. However, respectable vendors
are careful of their good name, and will not take undue advantage of
the inexperienced willingly. Mistakes .often happen with the most

550 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

careful. Bad seed is what we scarcely ever had supplied to us,
except with a double quantity sent, and caution given to " sow thick."

All the leaves will now be off fruit-trees, and pruning may be
finished as early as possible. Keeping in mind, however, what birds
are likely to do later in the season, the advice formerly given as to
keeping up a supply of young wood in both trees and bushes should
be carefully borne in mind, as vigorous plants can soon be crippled.
Keep roots of newly-planted trees protected from frost, and if litter
is objectionable, let it be covered with some of the surrounding earth.

If planting has been neglected till past the middle of the month,
and is still to be done this season, let the trees remain till February or
March, when the soil will again be kindly, and in order for the roots
to be properly placed and covered. Nothing is more injurious to
fruit-trees than placing their roots in wet heavy soil, and treading it
into a puddle. We often, when planting fruit trees to be kept in
narrow limits, firmly ram the soil, mixing it with stones, but never
think of attempting the operation when the ground is wet. While
speaking of dwarfing trees, we may mention that we have done it to a
considerable extent during the last few years, and have found it pro-
fitable by bringing the trees into bearing the year after planting,
and filling up spaces which would have probably remained empty.
When the trees show signs of growing strong and watery, the vigorous
roots are found and shortened back, and the soil is again rammed
down. We have just received over a dozen of trained plums in fine
condition to fill up vacant spaces between larger trees. The kinds
are Victoria, Nectarine, Prince of Wales, Pond's Seedling, Goliah,
and Mitchelson's Plum. These kinds can always be brought to bear
freely in a short time, and the quantities to be seen in the possession of
the market growers around Fulham and elsewhere are a sign that they are
useful and of hardy constitution. A friend sent us a box of Cherries
about the end of October, which has induced us to plant a few trees
of the kind. Belle Agathe is the name given. Wasps are said to
keep away from the fruit. Some practical writers strongly advise the
extension system of growing fruit-trees, which is no doubt the best
when circumstances will allow it; but where variety is wanted and space
limited, " dwarfed " trees are necessary to give supplies. Some are in
favour of grafting large Pear-trees with a variety of kinds. The
practice often answers well, but the kinds chosen should be of as
much the same habit as possible, as the strong would rob the
weakly growers, and the latter would bear badly, and live only a
short time. Grafts and cuttings of fruit-trees should have their ends
placed in soil where they would not suffer from dryness. Raspberries
should have all the suckers, not required taken up, and the canes

1870.] HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 551

trained neatly to wires or wooden rails uprightly, and about 8 inches
apart, more or less according to the strength of canes. If the canes
are strong, they may be allowed to stand 5 feet high or more. The
kinds said to be double-bearing are only worthy of the name from
liberal treatment and suitable soil — cool, moist, rich, and deep. "We
often get Fastolf in quantities till frost takes them : some have been
hanging till lately.

Valuable plants which are in the open ground and not quite hardy
should have timely attention with protecting material, as formerly
advised, and if the roots can be kept rather dry, so much the better.
Roses now require a little protection over their roots and round their
collars — some nice rotten dung placed over the surface of the beds,
then a little dry litter, answers well, and it can be forked in
after the plants are pruned. Newly-planted Roses are most likely
to suffer from severe weather. All hardy plants in frames, such as
Auriculas, Pansies, Carnations, &c, require careful attention with air,
light, water, and cleanliness. Water should never be given except
when really necessary. Glass lights should be clean, and in good
repair. Confined damp air at this season is a great enemy to all
plants. Bedding-plants of all kinds are impatient of confined damp
and absence of light and fresh air. Water should be given to the roots
with a small-spouted pot, and no water spilt which can be avoided.
The Heath tribe and many other hardwooded plants are often de-
stroyed for want of air, and from water being given to moisten the
necks of the plants, instead of their roots near the bottom of the pots.
Camellia-buds often fall, and bad watering, in some shape, is often the
cause. If drainage is out of order, the buds are sure to fall before
they expand ; but "dribblings" of water given to the upper portion of
the roots, and the principal ones lower down in the pots being allowed
to suffer from drought, is a very general cause of the flower-buds
dropping. When they come into bloom, weak manure-water may be
given liberally. A number of very old plants here have been im-
proved much of late years by our taking the hint from a young
neighbour, that manure-water supplied throughout the whole of the year
to the starved roots would improve them, and so it has unmistakably.
Formerly, fresh surfacings of sheep -dung were given twice yearly,
and manure-water allowed only at the flowering and growing season.
Large tubs and good soil are what they really want. There are plenty of
cut flowers had from October to April. Camellia-roots in plenty of
rich soil would be ruined with much manure-water. Soot and sheep-
dung, well mixed, make excellent manure - water, and it should be
given clear and weak. Well-washed foliage is of great importance,
and the same applies to Orange-trees. M. T.

552 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

A PLEA FOR THE PENTSTEMON.

As a pleasant, easy-to-cultivate, free-flowering, joy-giving, summer-
blooming plant, give me the Pentstemon. I have a posy of them
before me now, — pretty, glistening, varicoloured flowers, the produce
of the side-shoots of my plants, that have unfolded their flowers despite,
and apparently regardless of, the frost : they and the Chrysanthemums,
with an occasional tea-scented Rose on a wall, are all I now have left
me as a bequest of summer.

If Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing had done nothing else in the
way of the improvement of florists' flowers than the Pentstemon,
they would have deserved well of the lovers of flowers. They
took the Pentstemon in hand some years ago, and year by year they
give us a batch of new varieties as beautiful as they are varied. At
Edinburgh, as in London, they raise batches of seedlings ; and they
alone of florists in the United Kingdom have taken this flower in hand
and brought it up to its present high pitch of excellence. This at
least is certain, that, as far as my own knowledge can be trusted, this
is the only firm that annually furnishes a batch of new flowers.

Despite its beauty, freedom of bloom, and the ease with which
it is brought to a high state of perfection, it is surprising that the
Pentstemon is so little grown. Amateur cultivators of gardens cannot
be aware of the beauty and usefulness of this plant, or they would grow
it. The Pentstemon ought to be grown ; the Pentstemon deserves to
be grown. I began a few years ago by obtaining a batch of plants
from Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing in the early spring, and year
by year I get a few more ; but as I obtain, I also discard, by weeding
out varieties that I think surpassed by others that have put in appear-
ance at a later date. But I don't destroy the discarded plants. When
the time comes to do this, I turn floricultural almsgiver, and make a
present of some of them to the poor cottagers that reside near me ; and
now many a cottage garden has an eruption of Pentstemon flowers
during the summer. They are carefully tended, and treasured as
sacredly as some cultivator of Orchids does a magnificent new Oncidium
or a splendid Dendrobium. I don't deprive Messrs Downie & Co., or
any other nurserymen, of a single order, but who shall estimate the
value of the gratification the culture of these flowers affords these poor
cottagers 1

"To perpetuate the named kinds," states a modern writer, "the
plants must be propagated from cuttings, and it is best to resort to
this practice annually, which will allow of the destruction of all the old
plants as soon as the bloom is over, and sufficient cuttings have been
obtained. To keep old plants through the winter entails a certain

1870.] A PLEA FOR THE PENTSTEMON. 553

amount of trouble, for which there is no return except in the case of
valuable varieties, from which it is as desirable to obtain as much stock
as possible ; and in this case it is best to take them up in October, put
them in large pots with plenty of drainage and poor sandy soil, and
house them in a cool greenhouse or airy pit. From these, cuttings
may be taken at the end of September, and again from the end of
February till May ; so that if a thousand plants are wanted, and there
is but one to begin with, it may be done in time to plant them all in
the following May."

" As there are some mystical notions abroad as to the multiplication
of Pentstemons, and some of the trade aver that they find a difficulty
in propagating them, I will give to all mankind in one word a code
for their management that cannot be misunderstood. That it may be
remembered the better I shall print it in italics ; and if you think it
scarcely worth being so distinguished, I hope you will take my word
for it that you are quite incompetent to estimate the value of the code
or the necessity for its publication. Well, here it is, twenty words in
all, and they will be worth a <£20 note to many a nurseryman who
has been baffled in the multiplication of Pentstemons ; let amateurs
set what value they please upon them. Grow them, keep them, and,
increase them in precisely the same manner as you groic, keep, and
increase shrubby Calceolarias"

" You will observe that as the plants go out of bloom they throw up
from the base a multitude of lively green shoots. Take these off,
trim away the lowest leaves, and dip them into pots filled with very
sandy stuff of any loamy or peaty kind, and quite poor. Place these
pots in a frame or pit ; shade them from strong sunshine ; sprinkle
frequently, but never let the soil be otherwise than very moderately
moist ; if nearly dry, it will be much safer than nearly wet. They
will soon hold up their heads, and it will be well to expose them fully
to the weather as soon as they are able to bear it, but take care not to let
them be drenched with heavy rains. Keep them safe from frost all
winter, and keep them also safe from damp, and for the rest you will
guess how to manage. In the event of requiring large quantities, make
up beds in frames, using gritty leaf -mould, loam, cocoa-nut dust, and
sand in about equal proportions, and out of this mixture they will
lift with fine roots next spring. Plants raised in this way may be
planted out in April, and all they need is a good loamy soil and a
sunny position. It will be a strange thing if they want a single drop
of water the whole season, except it may be just after being planted, if
the weather happens to be dry."

The excellent and pithy instructions given in these three paragraphs
are so suitable for amateur cultivators that I may be excused repro-

554 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

ducing them. But the Pentstemon can also be raised from seed, and
treated as an annual to bloom the same year. The seed should be
sown in early spring, in pans, using some light fine soil, and be started
into growth in a gentle bottom-heat. From the time the plants are
large enough to handle till the time they are planted out to bloom,
they should be pushed on as much as possible. I always give my seed-
ling Pentstemons so raised a good bed, pretty rich, but by no means
all manure, and they bloom gloriously. I seed from a few of the best
named kinds, and I get good flowers, yet always purchase a few new
kinds, for there is a great pleasure in proving both.

Some amateur cultivators, desirous of raising seedlings, who have
little or no bottom-heat available, can sow in August, in pans, in a light
sandy soil, covering the seeds but slightly, and place the pans in a
cold frame ; the seeds will be certain to grow. Young plants so raised
can be pricked off into boxes, or planted out in a cold frame, to winter
the plants ; or if a good warm sheltered border can be made available,
they can be planted out in the autumn, and they would be found to
winter much better than old plants. At the blooming-time the plants
should be staked in case of wind ; and whether grouped in beds,
dotted about borders, or kept in a plantation for cutting from, they are
equally acceptable and useful.

To any one contemplating the provision of a collection, I would re-
commend the following : — Agnes Laing, Black Knight, Bridesmaid,
Grandis, Henry King, Painted Lady, Snowdrop, and Stanstead Sur-
prise. These are new varieties of Messrs Downie, Laird, & Laing,
sent out in the spring of the present year, and all very fine. Of older
flowers I can confidently commend Albert Tardieu, Bons Villageois,
Colin Bell, Due de Lorraine, Eclat, Flower of the Day, George Sand,
Grande Conde, James Rothschild, Le Lion, Maria Held, Mrs A.
Sterry, Purple Perfection, Queen Victoria, Souvenir de St Paul, Sur-
passe, Victor Hugo, and The Emperor. Nemo.

NEW PLANTS OF THE PAST MONTH.

The last meeting of the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural
Society brought together a most pleasant and cheerful assemblage of
plants, all the more captivating because the weather without was dull
and cheerless. New plants and flowers were in strong force, late as it
was, and several first-class certificates were awarded. The following
plants exhibited by Messrs James Veitch and Sons were distinguished
by this high award : — Dracoena porphyrophylla, a noble-looking and

1870.] THE WINTER GREENHOUSE. 555

vigorous-growing species, with long broad drooping leaves of a deep
bronzy colour, quite distinct in character ; and Cattleya Dominiana
lutea, a yellow-lipped variety of this fine Cattleya, good in character,
and handsomely marked. Also the following, shown by Mr William
Bull, Zalacca Wagneri, belonging to a genus of Palms found growing
in marshy, swampy places in the East Indies ; this was a spring
species, with irregularly pinnate leaves ; Curculigo recurvata striata,
a fine form of this handsome plant, having a band of cream along the
midrib ; and to Licuala horrida, belonging to a genus of elegant
fan-leaved Palms of somewhat slow growth : this had its leaves
divided with five or more segments, and armed with strong spines
at the edges of the petioles. The same award was made to Messrs E.
G. Henderson and Son, for Mohria thurifraga var. achilleoefolia, a
beautiful greenhouse Fern ; also for a good winter-flowering Carna-
tion named Vulcan, of a good hue of orange scarlet, and excellent
shape. Messrs W. Cutbush and Son also received a first-class certifi-
cate for Aucuba japonica foemina, var. aurea maculata, a handsomely
variegated form, boldly marked, and of a compact habit.

Some new Chrysanthemums wrere staged, mainly of the Japanese
section. These came from Messrs E. G. Henderson and Son, and
Mr William Bull, who seem to have succeeded to the work laid
aside by Mr John Salter. The former received first-class certificates
for Bismark, dull brownish-orange, the florets broad, the flowers
large and full ; and Erecta superba, rosy-crimson, the florets stout and
spear-shaped, and very showy. Mr Bull had the same award for Jane
Salter, with large pink and white flowers, of great size and substance,
and broad ribbon -like florets, belonging to the Japanese section;
also for Renown, an incurved large-flowering variety, of a brownish
orange colour. Mr Henry Eckford, of Coleshill Gardens, received a
second-class certificate for a fine orange scarlet Zonal Pelargonium,
with immense trusses of bloom. R. D.

THE WINTER GREENHOUSE.

In the successful management of plant-houses nothing is so necessary as courage
— courage to avoid worthless varieties, courage to throw inferior plants away,
and courage to give those which are retained room sufficient to develop their
proportions in a proper manner. Nothing is more common in arranging the
plant-houses at this season, than for the best to be staged first, giving each fair
breathing-space, leaving the inferior specimens until the last.* Then it is that
courage is required to throw them away, instead of crowding them into the house,
to the certain injury of better things. But, oh no ! This is deliciously sweet ;
that will have a few flowers about Christmas ; and a third belonged to my dear

556 THE GARDEN ER. [Dec.

Somebody, and must be kept. Thus the dying are crowded among their more
healthy brethren, each is deprived of the space necessary for existence, and all
become more or less unhealthy. This is in plain English the secret of the failures
of three-fourths of the gardeners in the countr}', practical as well as amateur.
They convert their plant-houses comparatively into mere Black Holes of Calcutta,
where plants are crowded together until the weaker ones become fairly suffocated.
Of this we require no stronger evidence than the sight of the long, lean, lanky
things which crowd many plant-houses in the country, and which when taken out
are too weak and attenuated to stand aloue. To regard such things as plants in
the proper cultural sense of the word requires a stretch of imagination and cred-
ulity only to be attained by the profoundly ignorant. Our rule, directly a plant
becomes unsightly in itself, is to commit it to the rubbish heap ; flowers at the
cost of an unsightly plant have no charm for us. The first consideration before
removing plants into their winter quarters is to take care that those quarters are
thoroughly cleansed, the glass and woodwork washed with soap and water — the
latter painted if necessary — and the stone or brick work washed with hot lime, to
which a handful or two, according to the size of the house, of sulphur may be
added. The advantage of this washing is, first, the routing or destruction of in-
sects and their ova ; secondly, more light ; and thirdly, as the consequence of
cleanliness, a sweet and wholesome atmosphere. This cleanliness must extend to
the plants and the pots which they are growing in. The latter must be divested
of every particle of dirt by means of the scrubbing-brush, and, if necessary, sand.
Sometimes pots, if not properly baked, have a soddened, heavy appearance, quickly
become green, and in these the soil dries but slowly. A plant so situated may be
compared to one growing in ill-drained land ; the water does not pass away with
sufficient rapidity, and consequently there is not that free circulation of air
through the soil which is indispensable to perfect growth. Such pots should
always be removed — in fact, destroyed — and be replaced by clean pots of the
proper size. At the same time clear any wet soil from the surface of the pots,
not necessarily digging down so as to disturb the roots, but just taking away that
surface-skin upon which confervse or other water weeds may have collected.
Always replace the soil with compost of the same quality, and do not, because
you have peat at hand, use it when you ought to apply loam. At the time of
surface-dressing it will be wise, should the earth in any of the pots appear sod-
dened, to turn the plant out and wash the inside of the pot, or, what will be
better, put the plant into a clean, dry pot of the same size. At the same time,
make two or three holes vertically through the soil with a thin pointed stick, and,
with cautious watering for a short time after the top-dressing is applied, the soil will
soon regain its wonted porosity. These may appear trifling details, but it is upon
such that perfect success in plant cultivation depends ; in fact, they form the main
portion of that cleanliness without which perfect success is impossible. If you visit
the establishments of any of our great plant growers, as Baines, Cole, "Ward, Turner,
"Williams, Paul, &c. &c. , you will find their plants and plant-houses as clean as a
drawing-room and its furniture, with persons washing the leaves of the plants, and
removing every speck of dirt with as much care as it would be removed from the
most beautiful painting or piece of statuary. This may be called the refinement
of cultivation, but it never yet has been carried too far. Plants live by a respira-
tory process, just^the same as animals; they are influenced by good or injured
by bad air, precisely in the same manner. WThat Professor Tyndall regards as
the dust of the world, or the "stirabout" of our atmosphere, chokes the breath-
ing pores in the plant just as it does ours ; and if they are not washed, the plants
are affected just as we should be under the same circumstances — their natural

1870.I GARDEN RECORDS. 557

economy is disturbed, and they suffer accordingly. Thus we find that smooth
and father large leaved plants— Planes, Aucubas, Camellias, Myrtles, Indiarubber,
and the like — always succeed better in the smoke of towns than the small-leaved
plants, as the Coniferse, Heaths, and woolly -leaved Pelargoniums, Cinerarias, &c,
as these collect the dust and hold it, rain only tending to increase its tenacity ;
while upon the smooth-leaved plant every shower washes it away. This is the
simple history of the natural condition of foliage to resist the injurious conse-
quences of a bad atmosphere. Last year, from November until the following
spring, we had in our sitting-room a plant of the beautiful-leaved subject
Dracrena ferrea terminalis, which, washed twice or thrice a week, resisted the
evil effects of a gas-poisoned atmosphere, and looked well at the last. During
the same time scores of Primulas, Cinerarias, Violets, and Mignonette, perished in
the same place. Having thus far explained the reasons why plant-houses should
be kept perfectly clean, we will only remark that, before large plants be taken into
their winter habitation, it would be well that each should be laid upon its side
and thoroughly washed by means of the syringe or garden engine ; and when
we say washed, we do not mean merely sprinkled, but the water applied with
such force as to wash the foliage thoroughly clean. For this purpose it will be
best to lay the plants upon a clean pavement, or, if that cannot be had, then lay
a clean mat for them to rest upon. Apply the water with full force to the stem
of each plant, and in that manner the pores will be opened, and the health be
materially improved. The plants being cleaned, there is a point or two to be
considered in their arrangement. Some in the greenhouse, for example, such as
Heaths, Epacris, and Acacias, will bear any amount of exposure, while to
Tropseolums, Boronias, Leschenaultias, Gompholobiums, a cold draught is almost
certain death. Hence in arranging the house it will always be best to place the
last-named section in the warmest part, where they will get a free circulation of
air without a cutting draught. Then, again, in the ordinary greenhovise you
have hard-wooded as well as soft-wooded plants to accommodate. The latter will
generally be found the most susceptible to cold, and must be provided for
accordingly. The fact is, the more hardily plants are treated from this time the
less likely will they be to sustain injury through the winter ; and hence, observ-
ing the rules we have laid down, it will be manifest that, secured from frost and
the cold draughts we have spoken of, the more air a greenhouse receives the
better will it be for the plants. Never apply a fire until it is necessary to exclude
frost, and then use no more than may be requisite to maintain the desired tem-
perature. W. P. A.

GARDEN" RECORDS.

NO. XII.

MESSRS STANDISH & CO., THE ROYAL NURSERIES, ASCOT,
BERKSHIRE.

Here, in what must have appeared at the time to be one of the most uninvit-
ing spots to be found in the whole county of Berkshire, Mr John Standish
set about the formation of a new nursery, when, a few years- ago, he dissolved
his business partnership with Mr Charles Noble of Bagshot. The nursery
at Ascot lies on the west side of the rising-ground on which is situated the
celebrated racecourse at Ascot, and is only divided from the Swinley Course by

558 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

a highroad, and includes something like 80 acres of what was once wild forest-
ground. Mr Standish has already broken up a large piece of land and planted
it ; he has also erected a great quantity of plant and propagating houses, &c, and
has many acres yet in reserve that can be broken up as occasion requires. The
nursery contains many features of interest, but lovers of hardy ornamental trees
especially can revel here amid many varied and beautiful forms, among which
newly- introduced Japanese plants are numerously included. The South- Western
Railway from London to Reading has a station close behind the grand stand at
Ascot, and a short cut across the course — a very pleasant spot in summer-time,
commanding fine views of the surrounding country — soon brings the visitor to
the nursery. At the top of it Mr Standish resides ; from this point one looks
away in the direction of Windsor, and sees the nursery-grounds stretching along
for a considerable distance in that direction, with the large area of glass erections
set down almost at its furthermost point. The soil varies somewhat : on the
upper ground it is a sandy loam, in depth from 30 to 40 feet, well suited to
the growth of fruit-trees, ornamental shrubs, &c. ; but on the lower ground, near
to which are situated the Royal kennels, it is a peaty bog resting on clay, well
suited to the culture of Rhododendrons. At the depth of 6 feet there is a plen-
tiful supply of water.

It is impossible to attempt a regularly-detailed account of what was seen here
on the occasion of a visit early in September ; rather, there can only be set
down certain features of more than usual interest, by way of indicating what can
be seen here by any one interested in horticultural pursuits. Close by the dwell-
ing-house was a group of seedling Hollies from 7 to 8 feet in height, raised five
years ago from a cross made between Ilex Balearica and I. Shepherdi. The
leaves of I. Balearica are of a pale-green hue, but the leaves of the seedlings were
nearly all dark, and they make rapid vigorous growth, and appear to be exceed-
ingly hardy. Mr Standish stated that some of them had made a growth of 5 feet in
one season ; also that he had raised some 60,000 of these seedling Hollies. Thu-
jopsis dolabrata was doing remarkably well on a raised bank, somewhat steep in
construction, and on which the sun acts with considerable power when shining
brightly. It seems to like a position where its roots can run away from it freely,
and there it succeeds best. One can imagine the beauty of this splendid coni-
ferous tree as seen by Mr Fortune in Japan, growing like a huge Selaginella, some
80 feet in height. Retinospora obtusa appears one of the finest of all hardy
plants for the country; it is if anything hardier than the common Yew, while it
is not a formal-growing tree, but has a nice spreading growth. R. obtusa Kete-
leeri resembles obtusa, but is prettily variegated with cream, and very hand-
some, and even showy. Lygustrum coriaceum is one of the most distinct of
all the species, being quite a shrub, and of very compact habit. Having thick
and glossy leaves, it looks like an invaluable dwarf-growing hardy shrub for the
outsides of windows in London. This was edged with that very useful hardy
variegated plant Euonymus radicans variegata, the last being much used at
Ascot as a margin for large beds. Another good plant is Retinospora filifera,
which has been pronounced to be one of the most beautiful weeping trees ever
seen. The late Mr John Gould Veitch has described how he saw this growing
to a height of 50 feet in Japan— a sight to be envied. Equally valuable is Juni-
perus Japonica albo variegata, a veritable king among Junipers, growing about
the size and form of a Red Cedar or Juniperus Chinensis, but even closer in
habit ; the foliage of a glaucous green and white. Never sickly or poor-looking,
it is always thick and fully dressed all the year round, and is a great acquisition
to the winter-garden. Picea nobilis robusta is a very good form of this fine

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 559

coniferous plant, and quite distinct; it has larger leaves, and is more glaucous
in character than the form usually seen in our gardens. Cryptomeria elegans is
also a fine hardy conifer from Japan, and has proved thoroughly hardy even in
the interior of Scotland ; during winter the foliage turns to a lively reddish -
brown, while it is of a very elegant and dense habit. Cordolyne Australia was
doiDg remarkably well, though occupying a position fully exposed to the east
wind, and stands out all the winter. It has stood 20 degrees of frost without sus-
taining any injury. Abies grandis is a very beautiful tree when obtained
in its true form, and should be in every collection of hardy plants. A.
Japonica, thought to be a new form of A. obovata, is a very distinct species,
the leaves being of a beautiful glaucous green, the growth very rapid, and
the young shoots have the appearance of being almost transparent. It came
from the Altai Mountains of Siberia. A. Orientalis is a handsome plant also,
and can be highly commended. Eaphiolepis ovata is a very fine hardy Ever-
green ; its white flowers are freely produced during the end of May and begin-
ning of June, after which it becomes covered with purple-black berries.

In one part of the nursery was a plantation of a very fine ornamental-leaved
Walnut from China ; the leaves are compound, the component parts taking the
form of the Ash leaf — one of these measured 42 inches in length. It is just as
hardy as the common Walnut, and has been called provisionally Juglans macro-
phylla. It bears somewhat small fruit. This species was sent home by Mr
Robert Fortune from North China, and were it evergreen it would be invaluable.
It is a plant well worth looking after. Close by was a piece of variegated Hollies,
about 7000 in number, of all the leading kinds. Many of these were becoming
finely coloured, appearing to like the exposure to which they are subjected. One
of the most distinct is Perry's Weeping Silver. This was growing, as it should
grow, in a standard form in belts of shrubberies by the principal roadways, and
formed a very elegant and handsome object. It should be worked high upon the
stock, to allow ample space for the development of its elegant pendulous growth,
especially as it is the fastest-growing of all the variegated Hollies.

How well the Golden Yew stands the sun was effectually demonstrated here ;
and the moral drawn was, that it should on no account be planted in the shade.
The plants of the Ascot Golden Irish, a form raised from seed, were beautifully
tinted with gold. This retains its hue even in a sandy soil, but the striped kinds
do not keep their colour well here at Ascot.

Mr Standish firmly believes in the undoubted beauty of Paul's new crimson
Thorn, as he is working it extensively. He finds it does better budded than when
grafted, and recommends it accordingly.

In the matter of Euonymuses Mr Standish is especially rich. Among newer
forms were — E. latifolius argenteus, in fine character ; a great lot of it had been
worked as standards ; it is a fine thing, when growing in this way, to stand about
among darker-leaved shrubs, as the bright-looking heads of the Euonymus gives
a life to them. E. radicans latifolia variegata is very distinct from the ordinary
form of E. radicans variegata, and is very good also. E. latifolius albo-variegatus
is a most exquisite shrub, having the whitest variegation of all the large-leaved
kinds ; it is perfectly hardy, having withstood 40 degrees of frost without sus-
taining the slightest injury. The Japanese Skimmia oblata is well worthy of
notice, being covered with a profusion of fine red berries. Cupressus Nutkanensis
alba of Loudon has a very handsome variegation, and was raised from seed by Mr
Standish. Here, too, was the fine Viburnum Sieboldii, said by Siebold to stand
out in Holland throughout the year : if it should prove hardy in this country, Mr
Standish thinks it will be one of the finest evergreens we have. Aucubas are a

560 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

wonderful feature at Ascot ; Mr Standish goes into them very extensively indeed.
There was a large quantity worked as standards, in which form they are invalu-
able for winter decoration, and were showing berries in great profusion ; they
are also suitable for terraces and conservatories. The first male plant of
Aucuba Japonica was imported from Japan by Mr Standish, who was enabled
therefrom to exhibit the first specimen bearing berries which had been produced
in England, or even in Europe. These plants are destined to play a very
prominent part in the adornment of gardens, as nothing can be more beautiful as
Evergreens than they, with their dark glossy green leaves, bearing every sort of
variegation, from the large yellow blotch down to the very smallest speck, which
renders them quite distinct. It has now been proved that the fertilising proper-
ties of one malo plant of good size are sufficient, by the aid of insects, for a space
of 100 yards square.

Passing now into the orchard, some of De Jonghe's seedling Apples met our
view. One of them bore an enormous quantity of small red fruits ; another was
smaller in size, with the branches of the tree literally breaking down under its
load of fruit ; another was not so red, but a fine Apple. Unfortunately, there
was reason to fear any identification of these fruits could not now be made.
Lord Derby is a very fine sauce Apple. New Hawthornden is a fine culinary
Apple also, and succeeds Lord Suffield. Mr Standish has also raised new
Peaches, and with considerable success. Two especially have been mentioned
with great favour — viz., the Early Ascot and the Marquis of Downshire. These
were raised from the Pitmaston Orange and Violette Hative Nectarines, fertilised
by the Noblesse and Barrington Peaches. Twenty seedlings were raised, and
although the Nectarines were in every instance the seed-parents, but one of the
twenty seedlings proved a Nectarine. Both these new Peaches are wonderfully
healthy and vigorous growers. They, together with a number of older kinds, were
planted out on a piece of ground, and the marked vigour of the new varieties was
clearly perceptible. The Early Ascot ripens in August, the Marquis of Down-
shire two or three weeks later. The former is highly commended, and our own
experience goes to confirm its good qualities.

In some parts of the grounds were beds of Lilium Tigrinum Fortunei, which
is darker in colour than the old variety, and has larger umbels of flowers.

Seedling Rhododendrons are a marvellous feature at the Ascot nursery. The
seed is sown in January in pans ; when the plants are large enough they are
pricked out in boxes, and planted out thickly in the month of August, in beds
about 1\ feet wide, between lines of Arborvitre, running from the south to the
north, about 8 feet apart. Across the beds run at intervals other lines of Ar-
borvitse, about 6 feet apart. The Rhododendrons are three times transplanted ;
by doing this they are encouraged to make roots, and form nice bottoms to the
plants. Mr Standish has also succeeded in getting some nice breaks in the way
of seedling Rhododendrons. Amongst the various shades of R. Catawbiense
raised more than forty years ago, there were some approaching white in colour,
such as album, elegantissimum, delicatissimum, and others. About 25 years ago
Mr Standish crossed some of these with R. ponticum and other spotted kinds,
which produced R. Minnie, a late-blooming kind, and a fine batch of seedling
white varieties. About ten years ago, Mr Standish used R. Boddartsianum, R.
cinnamoneum, and R. Cunninghami, and crossed them with R. Minnie. Those
named have flowers much spotted, and Mr Standish's aim was to get some late-
blooming white varieties with spots. The result more than exceeded his ex-
pectations, for not only did Mr Standish get plants that -would flower all through
June, bearing flowers spotted almost black, chocolate, red, maroon, and various

1870.] GARDEN RECORDS. 561

other colours, but alse red, cerise, and chocolate blotches on a pure white ground,
as well defined as those on a show Pelargonium. A very beautiful variety that
flowered last June has been named R. Baronness Isabelle Taintegnies, and has flow-
ers with the blotch so apparent that it can be detected with the naked eye some
distance away. Another interesting cross has been made by taking R. Blandy-
anum and impregnating it with R. Thompsoni, one of the Sikkim kinds ; the
flowers of this are all pendulous. Yet, singular to state, some of the hybrids
so obtained are larger in size than R. Blandyanum ; — for instance, the Ascot
Brilliant, which has flowers of the most intense shining blood colour. He has
also flowered some very fine reds raised from R. Blandyanum crossed with
Minnie, and R. Johnsonii crossed with the same, five years ago. Mr Standish
has also crossed R. Aucklandii with some of the late white -flowering kinds, and
has plants at the present time from 12 to 15 inches in height, and he hopes
to flower some of them in a couple of years from this time. In the matter of
foliage they are as near as possible between the two. Mr Standish has also
tried to cross some of the smaller flowering kinds with R. Aucklandii, but to no
purpose ; and he assigns this reason for his failure, — that the pollen was too
large for the tubes of the pistils of the smaller ones. It is mentioned by Mr
Standish as a curious fact, that in the spring, when there are any of the early-
blooming kinds in flower, and there happens to be frost, the nearer the plants
stand in affinity to R. arborea, the more tender are the flowers ; while, on the
other hand, the nearer the affinity to R. Caucasicum, the better do the plants
withstand frost.

But we have lingered too long in the open grounds, for there are remarkable
features within the houses.

The production of cut flowers for the aristocratic neighbourhoods of Belgravia,
South Kensington, and elsewhere, is a prime part of the Ascot business. Mr
Standish has a shop at Knightsbridge, and commands a wonderful sale for fruits,
cut flowers, &c. There are on this nursery three houses of considerable size for
the growth of forced Roses, which are in considerable demand. To one red
Rose, twenty-five yellow ones are planted. Why, 3000 yellow Roses per week
are sent to London, during April and May, in the height of the London season !
Mignonette is largely grown, both planted out in cold frames and in pits ; so are
intermediate Stocks and Tree Carnations. The biggest house for Roses is a
large span-roofed building. Here was planted out on the 25th of May 1868 a
Marechal Niel Rose, now 70 feet in length by 8 and 9 feet in width ; this was
on its own roots, and produces immense quantities of flowers. In one house we
saw a new Ceanothus, named Gloire de Versailles, with very pale blue flowers ;
a strong plant will produce a panicle of blossoms a foot across. Mr Standish
has a large stock of Daphne elegantissima, a variegated form of D. Indica,
which was awarded a first-class certificate of merit by the Royal Horticultural
Society a few weeks ago ; it is a capital variegated plant. That fine double-red
Azalea, Francois de Vos, was also being largely propagated.

In one of the early vineries was a pot of Gladiolus cruenteus, from Central
Africa, with orange-scarlet flowers blotched with white. This is a fine and
showy pot plant, that remains in bloom for ten weeks together. In a stove-
house, and in cooler houses, were Italian Tuberoses in various stages of growth.
They are potted in February, and kept cool and dry by means of top air in a
bottom heat of 90° ; then they are removed into a house in order to push them
on into bloom. These are very useful for cut flowers ; and among other plants
cultivated for the same purpose was a species of Oldenlandia, with pretty white
sprays — a capital thing for wedding bouquets — that flowers all the year : Bouvar-

2 P

562 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

dias, of variety — these are cut back in July, and come into bloom in September.
There were also large plants of B. Huttoniana ; this blooms very freely, and
has the brightest scarlet flowers. Oncidium flexuosum is also largely grown for
button-holes, and is always in flower ; Jasminum Sambac and Sambac florepleno
were just being placed in a stove to throw them into flower ; Azalea narcissiflora,
with double-white flowers, very useful, and many other things ; there were also
a nice lot of Camellias planted out to yield a supply of cut flowers. In a con-
servatory were huge bushes of Gardenia fiorida intermedia, soon to be placed in
a stove, and brought into flower at Christmas.

No one could think of visiting Ascot without making inquiries about the Royal
Ascot Grape. We saw a house of it, and came away from it with a deep convic-
tion on our mind that it is a Grape worthy of general cultivation. There was
a commodious span-roofed house, containing forty-four Vines, which were planted
out in the month of May 1868, now covered with capital bunches of full,
plump, fine-coloured berries, of a fine brisk rich acid flavour. The best rod had
ten nice bunches, and the weight of Grapes in the house averaged about 4 cwt.
Its great value lies in that it bears and sets freely, colours well, and is easily
managed. Pre-eminently does it seem to be an amateur's Grape, one that from
all appearance will grow and produce good fruit under some of the many disad-
vantages amateur Grape-cultivators have to contend with. We also saw what
appeared to be a fine new Grape, which had been named Dr Hogg, in compliment
to that well-known Pomologist. This had been obtained from Chasselas musque
crossed with Long Noir D'Espagne. The berries were round, finely coloured, and
well flavoured ; and not the least among its recommendations is this — that it is a
fine-hanging Grape, keeping longer than Lady Downes. Mr Standish has a high
opinion of the Madresfield Court black Grape, and is growing it largely.

Coming to the open ground again, we noticed a group of plants of the pretty
Bouvardia triphylla, with its charming orange-scarlet flowers, blooming very
freely indeed. This is said to be hardy ; it is certain that it has stood out of
doors during the winter at Langport, in Somerset, without any protection. Some
seedling Zonal Pelargoniums were very fine, Mr Standish having long been
known for the value of the new flowers he has raised. Some recently-named
comprised Harry Turner, very rich fiery crimson, a splendid hue of colour ;
flowers large and of the finest form, and dark zonate foliage : Henry King, rich
deep scarlet, very fine white eye, a flower of fine quality, slightly zonate foliage :
and Richard Dean, very bright scarlet, with white eye ; a large and greatly-im-
proved Lord Derby. Jean Sisley and Lord Derby are largely grown by Mr
Standish for flowering during the winter.

It seems a curious descent from Grapes and Roses to Onions, and yet there
were growing in one part of the nursery some splendid examples of Tripoli Onions
of uncommon size and high quality. The seed was sown in a little heat under
glass in March, the plants pricked out in a cold frame as soon as ready, and trans-
planted to the open ground at the end of April.

With this notice we complete our Garden Records for the year 1870, in the
full belief that they have been very acceptable to the readers of the ' Gardener.'

R. D.

1870.] GARDENERS IN AMERICA. 563

GARDENERS AND GARDENING IN AMERICA.

Mr William Robinson, the author of ' The Parks, Promenades, and Gardens of
Paris,' is at present making a tour through the United States of America. He has
written home some communications of a very interesting character, and the follow-
ing extract from one of them will not fail to interest many of our readers : —

"No doubt many among the least fortunate gardeners in England look over
here with curious eyes, and may perhaps be interested in a few remarks on the
prospects of gardeners in this country. Of course I cannot pretend to know as
much about their chances here as persons who have been much longer in the
country, but I have perhaps seen as much of the gardening of the country since
coming here, as many who have been for years rooted in the spot. Of the capaci-
ties of the country for gardening I have no manner of doubt, notwithstanding the
complaints of many who have to do with it. To find a country or climate with-
out drawbacks, is not given to gardening men. In England, we often complain
of our cloudy skies, but here a brighter climate brings a murderous host of
insects, and the gardener finds a new source of grief and grumbling. But when
I reflect that in this country most things can be grown that we grow in England,
and that, on the other hand, not a few important products that with us require a
high artificial heat (Melons, for example) may be grown to perfection by merely
sowing them in the open air like common annuals, I have no hesitation in saying
that eventually this country will be found much more favourable for gardening than
our own. But to the professional gardener other things are of vital importance.
Of what avail to him are fertile soils, and fine and varied climates, if employers
are not to be had ? Now, in America there is a very large class who make money
freely — make it sometimes so rapidly as to astonish even Manchester — but it is a
fact that a very small proportion of these take anything like the interest in gar-
dens that corresponding classes do in England. Sundry reasons might be given
for this. Perhaps a good many of the new-rich are not sufficiently refined ; per-
haps all th-i money which they can devote to oeothetic purposes goes for the
absurdly large rings which decorate the fingers of themselves and their wives;
perhaps the amount of Nicotiana Virginica smoked and chewed may remove the
necessity for any other joys which the vegetable kiugdom can afford — but there
is little need to inquire. There are in America numbers of persons of highly-
refined taste, who delight in country and suburban life, and among these some
have good gardens, and are most agreeable masters ; but let it not be supposed
that even with these the life of a gardener is anything like what it is in England.
There is probably not a place in the country where a gardener has the same stand-
iug or the same comforts which fall to the lot of the first-class gardener in Eng-
land. Labour is so very expensive that no man can afford to keep a bevy of
workmen ; so manual labour from the head-gardener is indispensable. Thus
places for what are called first-class gardeners in England may be said not to
exist ! I have met young men who had been foremen in good places in England,
and who had got as good places as could be obtained here, who considered they
had made a mistake in leaving the old country. The rule here is, a small place
with one man or two to help ; and the master is usually master of the situation in
the garden, as well as in other departments, which we know is not always the
case in England. There he generally orders his own seeds and plants, which will
at once suggest a difference. Then, again, the pay, even in the best places, does
not leave a gardener better if so well off as he would be in England. But healthy,
hardy, young gardeners ought to be able to adapt themselves to the wants of a new

564 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

country, and, if so, they will find sundry openings not obtainable in the old
country. There is not by any means so great an improvement in the pay of the
gardener as of the labourer. Men satisfied with second or third class places, or
single-handed ones, may find their expectations answered — others not. If, how-
ever, there is less high gardening here, there are more chances in other ways.
The nursery business is fairly profitable, and in nurseries young men may find
good places from time to time ; and the cut-flower business— that is to say, the
growing of plants for the flowers they yield in winter — is still more so. The best
course of all for a young gardener is, after he has succeeded in saving a few hun-
dred dollars, to try and secure some ground of his own — not difficult in this
country — and establish himself as a nurseryman, grower of cut flowers, or mar-
ket-gardener. The two first may be, and often are, combined. The difficulty is,
of course, to get the means to start with, but the well-to-do florists round the
large cities came without a dozen dollars, and the coming men can win with the
same weight. But all should understand that success must be preceded by years
of patient labour ; therefore it should be attempted by no man who is not
young. Unless engaged for good situations previously, it is folly for gardeners
past their youthful prime to come here. Botanic gardens may be said not to
exist in this country, so there are but few chances for the budding curator. The
finest gardens in the country are the great public parks, such as the Central
Park at New York, and Fairmount Park at Philadelphia, — vast and beautifully
diversified pieces of ground, happily not yet overdone with flower-beds. But
parks of this kind are of necessity so few that they are scarcely worth alluding to
in this connection. In distant parts of this country, as most people know,
grants of land are to be had for the asking, or for a very low price ; but it need
hardly be added that to commence life on such, some little capital is required,
but not more than could be accumulated after a few years' work here. But the
hardships, loneliness, and inconvenience of out-settlement life are not such as
should be willingly encountered by any but the hardy, vigorous, and young.
Life in the backwoods or back-prairies may seem very nice in books, but it
means hard work and scant reward for a good many years. It is the second
generation that reaps the benefit of it. Yet with all its difficulties numbers of
young men from the long-settled and populous New England States go out west,
and say they like their lot there very well. Sometimes, too, town -bred men go
forth to break the virgin sod, and the young gardeners of England and Scotland
ought to be able to compete with any of these. The one charm among all the
difficulties encountered here is, that they lead to independence at last ; but that
life may not be thrown away in the attempt, it is necessary to begin young.
Briefly, then, the advice to gardeners thinking of coming here should be : If you
have a good or even a middling place at home, or even a good prospect, be con-
tent, and make the most of things as you find them around you. But if you are
young and strong, and poor and friendless, come and fear not, for no matter what
you turn your hand to here, you are almost certain to arrive at a better end than
the many poor gardeners at home, who are as dependent for their precarious liv-
ing at the end of a long life of hard work as at its commencement."

i87o.] HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS. 565

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, Nov. 2.— On this occasion
prizes were offered for 6 large flowering Chrysanthemums, the first prize being
awarded to Mr Rowe, gardener to Mr Lewis, Rochampton, for Lady Talfourd ;
Mrs G. Rundle, a lovely white flower ; Dr Sharpe, a crimson-flowered reflexed
kind, well adapted for pot-culture ; Marshal Duroc, Prince of Wales, and Lady
Hardinge. These were tied out to that formal shape now so universally con-
demned, because so destructive of all natural beauty. Mr James, gardener to
W. F. Watson, Esq., Isleworth, was second with some upright-grown plants, not
quite in flower, yet well bloomed. Mr Forsyth, Brunswick Nursery, Stoke New-
ington, was third. The best 6 Pompone varieties came also from Mr Rowe, and
comprised Antonius, Queen of Anemones, Calliope, Mons. Astic, and the golden
and white forms of Cedo Nulli.

With 24 cut blooms of large-flowering varieties Mr Rowe was also first ; Mr
Berry, also of Rochampton, being second ; and Mr James, of Isleworth, third.
The finest and most striking flowers included Empress of India, White Globe,
Novelty, Queen of England, Jardin des Plantes, Lady Slade, Prince Alfred, and
Mrs G. Rundle.

An attempt was made to bring together berried plants for decorative purposes,
and prizes were offered for groups of nine ; but only one collection was staged,
and that a very poor one, the only redeeming feature being some pretty well-
grown plants of hybrid Solanums : however, the judges gave the group the first
prize.

The meeting was greatly helped by a fine group of flowering Orchids, sent from
Lord Londesborough's, at Tadcaster. In it was a splendid specimen of Vanda
ccerulea ; also Oncidium macranthum, with a spike of six lovely flowers ; 0.
crispum, with some fine blossoms ; 0. Rogersii, with some very fine bright-
yellow flowers ; Pleione Wallichii, a nice plant, beautifully flowered ; also P.
lagenaria ; an example of Zygopetalum crinitum, with two spikes ; nice flower-
ing-plants of the chaste Odontoglossum Alexandra ; Cattleya Harrisonii, with
eight spikes of rosy-coloured flowers ; C. maxima, a magnificent species, with
five richly- coloured flowers ; and the charming Phalcenopsis Lowii, with one
spike, on which were seven of its beautiful rose and mauve coloured flowers.
Messrs Veitch & Sons, Bull, and others, also contributed collections of flowering
and other plants.

In the fruit department some interest was awakened owing to Messrs J. & C.
Lee having offered a prize of £5 for the best three bunches of Madresfield Court
Black Muscat Grapes. But two collections were staged, one of a very poor
character, the other pretty good examples, but, to our thinking, not nearly so well
done as what we have seen at Chiswick under the cultivation of Mr H. F.
Barron. This came from Mr Z. Stevens, gardener to the Duke of Sutherland at
Trentham, to whom the prize was awarded. The best six dishes of dessert Pears
came from1 Mr Stephenson, Leigh Hall Gardens, Essex, who had Duchesse
d'Angouleme, Glou Morceau, Passe Colmar, Marie Louise, Grand Soleil, and
Beurre Diel. The second prize went to Mr Miles of Wycombe Abbey Gardens,
who had Huyshe's Victoria, Van Mons Leon le Clerc, Beurre Bosc, Aethorpe
Crassane, Beurre Diel, and Marie Louise. There were several other collections,
and altogether a' very nice show of Pears was made.

In the way of new fruits, a splendid Apple was sent from Southampton by Mr
A. Dene, under the name of Beauty of Hants : in flavour and texture it some-

566 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

what resembles the Blenheim Orange, but was considerably larger, more conical
in shape, and very highly coloured. It was much admired. Mr Jennings, Shep-
ston-on-Stour, sent specimens of that pretty little Apple known as the Fairy, as
yet too sour for use.

A hrst-class certificate was awarded to Messrs Veitch & Sons for a Cauliflower
of large size and coarse-looking, named the Giant Autumn; said to come into use
when others are over.

The prizes for the best collection of Potatoes brought together two collections,
in which coarseness rather than quality predominated : — so much have we yet
to learn regarding this valuable esculent. The collections contained nothing
worthy of special remark.

REVIEWS.

Choice Stove and Greenhouse Ornamental - Leaved Plants, comprising
descriptions of upwards of eight hundred species and varieties, accompanied
by instructions for their cultivation and mode of management, with illustra-
tions. By B. S. "Williams, F.R.H.S., author of the ' Orchid -Grower's
Manual,' ' Choice Stove and Greenhouse Flowering Plants,' &c. London:
Published and sold by the Author.

As Mr Williams designates this work Vol. II., it must be regarded as a con-
tinuation of the work published last year, entitled ' Choice Stove and Greenhouse
Flowering Plants.' No better authority than Mr Williams can discourse on these
plants. Summed up in these two volumes are the results of the experience of a
life devoted to their culture, as well as to the introduction of many newer species
and varieties. Any one who has walked through the Victoria Nursery, Holloway,
must have been struck with the wonderful wealth of foliaged and ornamental-
leaved plants to be seen there ; and these have been arranged in groups by the
author, then masses in divisions, as a general would an army of soldiers, and
passed in review, and finally arranged in the book before us, in a compass of 329
pages, abundantly illustrated, and abounding in valuable cultural notes.

Before we reach the notes on plants, we are treated to several pages of inci-
dental matter extremely useful to the cultivator. There are short chapters on
Plant-Houses, Greenhouses, and Conservatories, Cisterns, Glazing, and Ventilat-
ing, &c, every one of which is well worthy a careful study. The writer has
decided opinions, and they are expressed clearly and forcibly. The prelimi-
nary matter being disposed of — none the less valuable in character because
preliminary — we are treated to a chapter on Horticultural Exhibitions, which
forms a kind of antechamber by which we pass on to the general purport of
the book. This chapter is well worth extracting, though it must not be sup-
posed we agree with the author in all the opinions therein expressed ; rather
we give it as showing what can be said in favour of foliaged plants by one
of the most successful and best-honoured cultivators of the day : —

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITIONS.

"In this concluding chapter we propose saying a few words upon horticul-
tural exhibitions. We have been connected with these public exhibitions for
many years, and we are fully impressed with their utility and beneficial influ-
ence upon horticulture generally. A difference of opinion in this respect has

1870.] REVIEWS. 567

sprung up recently, and a few visionary articles have been written, which prove
nothing but want of knowledge, aud bad taste on the part of the writers. It
is a fact beyond dispute, that horticultural societies throughout the three king-
doms have been the means of promoting the science of horticulture, and to
their influence, fostering care, and encouragement, is due the introduction of
the many plants which now ornament our stoves and greenhouses, as well as
the open ah' — both of these yielding fine flowers and ornamental foliage. Such
subjects as these, when brought together at an exhibition, and made to form
the basis of a gorgeous display, impress the enthusiastic beholders with a love
for plants, and many of our leading amateurs have assured us that these floral
displays were the means of first instigating them to become horticulturists.

" Having for many years been a constant visitor at these shows, and taking an
active part in these displays both at home and abroad, we have been able to
judge practically of the progress these have been the means of producing on plant
cultivation, and in the effective grouping of plants ; also in regard to the great
variety of objects brought for public competition. Being fully alive to all this, it
has necessarily caused us extreme regret to see the backward tendency displayed
by our Metropolitan Horticultural Societies during the present season ; for just
at the time when we have become fully aware of our error in devoting our whole
energies to produce flowers only, to the utter neglect of plants of elegant forms
and beautiful leaves, and are earnestly endeavouring to retrieve this error, and
when, too, we are introducing these plants largely for the decoration of our gardens
in the open air, the societies have totally withdrawn their encouragement for the
production of them ; and by their silence respecting them — by their not asking
for plants remarkable for the beauty of their foliage to grace their exhibitions —
they seem to ignore the existence of grand specimen plants, whether ornamental
in foliage or flowers. How such a state of things has originated it is difficult to
say, but of this we are fully assured, that the exhibitions without these fine
ornamental-leaved plants will be miserable in the extreme. What lent the great
charm to the London and Paris Great International Flower -Shows, but the
elegant Tree Ferns, and those of humbler growth, the noble Palms and Musas,
besides the vast quantities of other ornamental - leaved plants there brought
together ? The various shades of green and variegated leaves formed an agreeable
contrast with, and served to enhance the beauty of, the masses of bloom staged
with and around them; and what would these exhibitions have been without such
plants 1 Again, what is it that causes all visitors to plant-exhibitions upon the
Continent to pronounce them finer than our own? It certainly is not their grand
Heaths or New Holland Plants, for such things are not well grown by Continental
cultivators ; neither is it their magnificent stove-flowering plants and Azaleas,
for with these we are infinitely their superiors ; but it is through the quantity of
Ferns, Palms, and ornamental leafage generally introduced, and which is judici-
ously arranged with their somewhat inferior flowering subjects. These materials
being grouped for effect, the appearance produced is most enchanting, such as we
have never yet equalled. This is the only reason why all reporters receive a more
favourable impression abroad than at home. Yet such as these are the very
plants that are to be banished, as specimens, from our flower -shows in the
metropolis ! Let us fain hope that those who perpetrate such barbarisms —
who thus try, as it were, to hurl horticulture back into its dark ages — may
speedily see the error of their ways. They manage these things far better in the
provinces ; and the authorities of such centres of horticulture as Manchester,
Leeds, and York, are too well aware of, and appreciate too well, the effect large
ornamental - leaved plants produce, ever to think of discarding them from

568 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

their exhibitions. At the same time, they are fully as well aware that mill-
operatives and mechanics are great admirers of beautiful-leaved plants as well
as of flowers, and to banish either section from their great Whit-week display
would not only cause widespread dissatisfaction, but would tend materially to
diminish their exchequer ; for it must be borne in mind that at the provincial
flower-shows the working classes constitute a great portion of the visitors.
Many of them are enthusiastic botanists and amateur horticulturists, and it is a
rich treat to which they anxiously look forward, and one that enables them to
refresh their memories and gladden their sights with the beautiful works of
nature, of which, to a great extent, their daily occupation deprives them. We
say, long may such societies flourish — and nourish they must and will, whilst
their efforts all tend towards the education and elevation of the masses, which is
the noblest aim of life."

Our own experience teaches us that, as touching provincial horticultural exhi-
bitions generally, the foliaged plants are not only more numerous than flowering
stove and greenhouse plants, but also better done, though this is no doubt
owing to the fact that foliaged plants are much more easily cultivated. Ixoras,
Allamandas, Clerodendrons, Gesneras, Gloxinias, and a few others, are seen, but of
New Holland plants but very few. While we quite think with Mr Williams
that the managers of the Great London Horticultural Exhibitions are to be cen-
sured for the way in which some of the finest features of these shows have been
lopped off, we should still like to see in country shows of second-rate excellence
more of flowering greenhouse plants, Heaths, &c, than are usually seen there.
It does seem that the rage for foliaged plants, that are after all much less attrac-
tive, is gradually pushing the flowering-plants out of cultivation.

To young gardeners especially we particularly commend Mr Williams's new
book. As a reference work, they will find it extremely useful ; besides, every
page is full of instructive matter of high value to them in learning their profession.

The Farmers' Almanack and Calendar for 1871. By C. W. Johnson, F.B.S.,
and William Shaw. London : William Ridgway.

This is the thirty-first edition of this useful annual, and it is one of the cheap-
est and most useful shilling's worth issued at this season of the year, when
annuals spring up as thickly as weeds. The gardener will find much to interest
and instruct him in its pages ; and the gatherer of scientific facts will get some-
thing for his storehouse of information also.

BOOKS RECEIVED.

The Gardener's Magazine for November.
The Food Journal for November.

3>^^^S ■

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Woodlice on Mushroom-Beds (T. L. A.) — Pieces of Apple placed in a little
moss under an inverted flower-pot will trap the woodlice wholesale. The bait
must be examined occasionally.

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 569

Garden- Walks (Inquirer). — Six barrow-loads of rough material and one of
fresh lime would cover a considerable space when laid out 3£ inches in thick-
ness, but we cannot say exactly how many square yards it would cover. See the
article headed "Gardening on the Thames Embankment" for another capital
mod^of constructing paths.

Double Glazing (W. N.) — We have no experience of double glazing as ap-
plied to Pine-houses ; but you might make an experiment by having another set
of lights made to put over the others in winter and be withdrawn in summer.
Have you a proper boiler — one large enough to do its work well ? A small boiler
that does its work imperfectly is much more expensive than a larger one of more
power and fitness. The consumption of fuel would not be so great actually in the
case of the larger one.

Fuchsias (L. A. G.) — The following selection will suit you very well, being
fine and varied, and plants could be obtained next spring at a reasonable cost :
Avalanche, a fine pure white double-corolla'd variety, tube and sepals brilliant
carmine scarlet ; Enchantress, another very fine double white, one of the best
grown ; Herald, tube and sepals bright rose, corolla bright blue, changing to
violet pink, good habit and very free ; Lizzie Hexham, scarlet sepals, large rich
plum- coloured corolla, a fine exhibition variety ; Lustre, a lovely light variety,
with a vivid crimson vermilion corolla; Marvel, bright carmine sepals, and a
dark lavender-blue corolla, very good ; Killiecrankie, crimson tube and sepals,
rich dark plum-coloured corolla, extra fine ; Heather Bell, white tube and sepals,
lovely carmine i^ed corolla, very pretty ; Starlight, waxy- white tube and sepals,
clear lake corolla, a charming variety ; Catherine Parr, white tube and sepals, rich
scarlet rose corolla, old, but very good ; Giant, bright rose sepals, and immense
double purple corolla, good habit, and very free; Taglioni, a charming light
variety ; Tinted Venus, a very novel and beautiful Fuchsia, the tube and sepals
bright rose, the corolla white, tinted and feathered with violet rose ; Venus de
Medici, an old but extremely useful light variety ; and Wave of Life, red tube
and sepals, magenta corolla, shaded with purple, very good and showy. Some
of the foregoing are new of the last year or two, others older. Our advice to all
exhibitors of the Fuchsia is to strike cuttings yeai'ly in August and September,
and grow on the plants for exhibition the following summer. Much depends on
the place to keep them in during winter, but treated in this way splendid young
specimens 4 feet in height can be obtained, against which many of the old
plants one usually sees at horticultural exhibitions stand no chance if intelligent
judges (not always the case) are selected to make the awards.

Name of Plant (A Reader). — The specimen sent was so thoroughly shrivelled
that we could make nothing of it. There must have been some delay in posting
the box.

Premier Runner Bean. — I cannot but think that this new and distinct
variety will prove to be a valuable acquisition to our list of Runner Beans.
Whilst thoroughly differing in its character from the old Scarlet Runner, it
differs also materially from the rest of other well-known Runners, inasmuch as it
partakes more of the nature of a good dwarf Bean in appearance, being medium -
sized in the pod and straight in shape. The flower of it is nearly white, and
enjoys the faculty of being a good setter. In this respect it has proved during
the past exceedingly dry summer a much more reliable friend to the gardener
than even the Scarlet Runner, as in the case of the first the supply of pods was
continual, whilst the latter suffered so much from the heat that the greatest pro-

570 THE GARDENER. [Dec.

portion of the blooms fell off without bearing fruit. A neighbouring gardener, to
whom I gave some of the seed, and who grew it last summer, assured me that
but for it he should have been quite destitute of Beans, as the other kinds, both
dwarf and runner, had quite given out. The seed of it is about the size of that
of a large French Bean, is reddish in colour and quite distinct in character. The
plant usually grows from 5 to 6 feet in height, and as a cropper is wonderfully
abundant. To market-gardeners it must be most useful, and as it is very sweet
and soft to eat, must soon become a favourite with the public. I like to use
moderately-high pea-sticks to stake it with, as they seem to be better adapted to
its habit of growth than very long straight sticks are. I am not sure that it is yet
largely in cultivation, but when it is it will prove to be one of those sterling
things that have but to be known to be appreciated. A. D.

My Garden in Winter. — Your January number gave this interesting subject,
with a promise of a farther contribution in April, which has not been forthcom-
ing. Having your volumes nicely bound for reference, I like a promise or system
fairly carried out. The article on the Aster in last number is truly useful. My
half-crown's worth of seed was just money, time, and labour thrown away this
season; and now I shall request the seedsman, next time I apply to him, to supply
me with the four sorts named. As to the diversity of opinion on the Briar and
Manetti, I tried my hand this year on the latter for the first time, cutting the
usual ~T for the reception of the bud after removing the earth from the stem with
an old tooth-brush ; but somehow or other the bud was eventually thrown
out, and the cut looked a large wound instead. Do the buds on the Manetti
require different treatment to those on the Briar as to tying or otherwise?
Will A. D. give us any more contributions, as promised ? — Amateur. [Open
the earth more boldly at the roots of your Manetti stocks, and bud as low as you
possibly can. It is more difficult to bud on the Manetti than on the Briar, as the
place in which the bud is inserted on the Briar is more readily under command.
The garden of our correspondent A. D. was so completely wrecked by the hot
weather and drought that set in so unusually early, that he was prevented from
giving his promised contribution. Whether he will continue to detail his expe-
riences must depend entirely on the new editorial arrangements for the coming
year, now in course of being made. — R. D.]

Aubrietia purpurea fol. aurea. — There is now to be seen at the Chiswick
Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society a capital golden-leaved sport from
this fine old winter and spring blooming plant that seems likely to be as useful
in the spring garden as the golden-feather Pyrethrum is in the summer gar-
den. It will be a very useful companion to the pretty golden-tipped Sedum acre,
or Stone Crop.

Sempervivum — (Miss Angel). — Use S. Californicum in conjunction with
Echeveria secunda glauca. You will find it better than the combination you
tried during the past summer.

Weeds on Walks (P. A.) — Weeds on walks are often the most troublesome.
Wherever a loose shingly grav3l is used, or one that does not bind, hoeing and
raking are permissible ; but it is very undesirable in the case of walks, like those
about London, which bind thoroughly, and when well made and dusted over with
a little shell are the best walks known. If the traffic is not sufficient to keep them
free from weeds, they must be either salted or hand-picked. Salting is the best
plan, but it cannot well be applied where there are Box or other living edgings,

1870.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 571

as of course the first heavy rains will place the roots in a medium about as con-
genial to their wants as if they were planted in the salt sea. If walks are well
gravelled, picking them is not a very troublesome operation ; but after a season
or two the gravel gets infested with a myriad of small weeds. Human patience
nas not been made sufficiently elastic to enable us to pick out these, and there-
fore such must be turned over in spring, and a coating of new gravel applied.
Salt may be applied to walks cut in the turf.

Kalmia Latifolia. — I have two fine bushy plants of Kalmia latifolia that
have never shown bloom since they left the nursery seven years ago. I have
grown them in peat along with Khododendrons, which do well with me. Can
you advise me of any compost or treatment that will induce them to bloom ?
A reply in your December number will greatly oblige. Ballinasloe.

[The non - blooming of Kalmia latifolia must, I think, be caused by a too
vigorous growth — most likely the climate is very moist and genial just at the
time the shoot - growth should be ripened, and instead of flower - buds being
formed, the energies of the plants go to form a second wood-growth. If this
be the case, a copious addition of sand to well - drained peat - earth may be
made, and placed about the roots of the plants ; and if they do not then set
their flowers, I would further advise that they be replanted every season,
reducing the balls of earth . slightly : or another plan might be tried, of lifting
the plants and leaving them for a day or two upon the ground, about the months
of July and August, just as the shoots have made a few inches of growth,
and show indications of the rest-period being about to commence. — Charles
Noble, Sunningdale Nursery, Bagshot.]

Heatherside Eival Cucumber. — "We have received from Messrs Peter Law-
son & Son a new Cucumber wTith the above name, which appears to be as near
perfection as a Cucumber can be. It grows from 18 to 24 inches long, very
round and perfectly smooth, spineless, and of a dark-green colour. The rind is
very thin and the seed-vessels are very small; the flesh solid yet tender, and in
flavour what a Cucumber should be. The heel, often a great defect in Cucumbers,
is in this variety perfect. It is a seedling from a variety known as Dean's
Early Prolific, which Mr William Thomson described as "the most perfect
Cucumber he had seen." Both deserve extensive cultivation, and are extremely
valuable — winter kinds being so very prolific — and are equally desirable for
summer work.

Quince Jam. — The following is an excellent method of making Quince jam,
and a very simple one : — Take 12 lb. of Quinces, pared and cored; cut them into
small pieces ; put 12 lb. of white sugar into a preserving-pan, with about a quart
of water ; set the sugar and water on the fire; when they come to the boil, put the
Quinces in gradually without taking off the pan ; let them boil until the fruit is
all soft and of a bright-red colour. Be sure to take off the scum as it rises. A
little essence of lemon or cloves will improve the flavour. This jam, if properly
boiled, will turn out of the jars when wanted, and may be cut with a knife.

Cooking Potatoes. — The humble art of cooking this valuable esculent may be
by some held in contempt ; but I hold to the opinion that it requires more than
ordinary care and attention to boil a Potato well. And it is not improbable that
six dishes of the same variety of Potato, if cooked by six different persons, would
all present diverse features in appearance and fitness for table. So much am I
impressed with this idea, that when in the course of my Potato experiences

572 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 1870.

I wish to test the table qualities of some new variety, I invariably perform the
culinary operation myself, so as to be certain that the measure meted out to
one kind is meted out to all alike. Presuming that my samples have been
carefully scraped or peeled, I put them into a saucepan and cover them almost,
but not entirely over, with water, putting in also a small lump of salt. A brisk
fire must be burning in the grate, as therein lies the great secret of good cooking.
"With sharp boiling, the water, by the time the Potatoes are done, should be
reduced one-half, and that they are done can easily be ascertained by testing with
a fork. As soon as ready, the water should be strained off, and the saucepan
placed on the edge of the fire, to cause the evaporation of all the remaining mois-
ture, and in a few minutes they are ready for dishing up. If our cooks of all
grades will follow this mode strictly, well-cooked Potatoes, presuming the sort
is tolerable, will certainly result. A. D.

INDEX.

Alyssum, culture of, 308.
Amateur Horticulturists, another chap-
ter for, 118.
Amateurs, a chapter on, for Amateurs,
78— Hints for, 25, 56, 110, 156, 209,
263, 303, 357, 393, 458, 494, 548.
Amateur's Garden, the, 131 — Gardeners'
Chronicle, reviewed, 92.

Apple and Pear trees, small-bush, on

pruning, 437.
Apricot, cultivation of the, 199, 257,

300, 349.
Arabis, culture of, 309.
Archimedean lawn-mower, the, 228.
Argemone, culture of, 173.
Asters, how I grow, 491.

Aubrietia, culture of, 311.

Auricula, my experiences with the, 253.

Battersea Park, account of, 31, 84.

Bees, on the management of, 67, 102, 205.

Berberidacese, culture of, 249.

Bevois Valley Nursery, a visit to, 176.

Blessing on an old Broome, a, 139.

Camellia buds dropping, 91.

Chats worth, Grapes at, 411.

Chelidonium, culture of, 173.

Cherry, cultivation of the, 71, 105, 168.

Chiswick Gardens, their proposed
abandonment, 145 — the Orchard-
house at, 391.

Chrysanthemum, something about the,
115.

Colour in Tree-scenery, on, 462.

Cottager, notes by a, 171.

Cottagers, Horticulture for, 337.

Covent Garden Market in April, 246.

Crassulacese, the culture of, 512, 536.

Cruciferee, culture of, 308.

Dahlia experiences, 472 — roots, the
lifting and storing of, 502.

Dancer's Market Garden, a visit to, 468.

Ealing Park, the flower-garden at, 505.

Eastnor Castle, the gardens of, 39, 165.

Education of Gardeners, the, 88, 97, 216.

Epimedium, culture of, 249.

Farmers' Almanac, the, 568.

Flowers and Grasses suitable for drying,
notes on, 370.

Food Journal, review of, 524.

Foxgloves, new spotted, 362.

Frames, on the construction of, 88.

Frogmore Gardens, a visit to, 295.

Fruit-trees, wall protection for, 37.

Gardens in the Midland Counties, tra-
velling notes on, 39, 165.

Garden Oracle reviewed, 92.

Garden Records — Battersea Park, 31,

84 — Versailles Nursery, 128 — Bevois
Valley Nurseries, 176 — Worton Cot-
tage, 221 — Swyncombe Park, 270 —
Mottisfont Abbey, 315 — Paul and
Son's Nurseries, 365 — Gunnersby
Park, 407 — Dancer's Market Garden,
468 — Turner's Nursery, 509 — Stand-
ish and Co.'s Nurseries, 557.

Garden-walks, 522.

Gardeners and Gardening in America,
563.

Gardeners' Year-book, review of, 46.

Gesnera Zebrina, 19.

Gladiolus, the, 30.

Globularia, the culture of, 22.

Gooseberry and Currant bush pruning,
138.

Grape-growing, some random thoughts
about, 150 — thoughts about, 275.

Grapes at Chatsworth, 411.

Gunnersby Park Gardens, visit to, 407.

Hardy fruits, cultivation of : the Plum,
8— the Cherry, 71, 105, 168 — the
Apricot, 199, 257, 300, 349 — the
Peach and Nectarine, 397, 454, 488,540.

Hardy herbaceous plants, notes on :
Hottonia, 22 — Globularia, ib. — Vinca,
23 — Amsonia, 25 — Papaveracese, 172
— Berberidacese, 249 — Nymphaeaceae,
251—Cruciferse, 308— Violacese, 402,
443 — Crassulaceae, 512, 536 — a plea
for, 289 — notes on new, 353.

Hibberd's Rustic Adornments, reviewed,
333.

Hole's Book about Roses, review of, 284.

Hollyhock, amateur cultivation of the,
6,74.

Hooker's Student's Flora, reviewed, 333.

Horticultural Calendar, the, reviewed,
190.

Horticultural Exhibitions : Liverpool
Chrysanthemum,42 — CaledonianHor-
ticultural Society, 45, 232, 379, 478
— Royal Horticultural Society's, 83,
136, 188, 231, 282, 325, 423, 565— Irish
Society, 229 — Royal Botanic Society,
230, 324, 374, 378— Glasgow, 231—
Crystal Palace, 323, 327— Manches-
ter, 326— Tulip-show, 327— Scottish
Pansy, 330— Rose-shows, 376— Pelar-
goniums, 429 — August 17, 430— New-
ark Gooseberry, 431 — South Kensing-
ton, 523 — Dundee, 474 — Florists'
flowers, 475 — Dahlia and Verbena
show, 477 — Edinburgh Southern, 4/8.

Hottonia, the culture of, 22.

Hursley Park and Gardens, 371.

574

THE GARDENER.

[Dec. 1870.

Hyacinth as a bedding- plant, the, 2S1.

Ice, gathering, carting, and storing of,
538.

Indoor gardening, 518.

Iresine Herbstii, 181.

Japan Lilies, something about, 401.

Kitchen Garden, the : Potato culture,
15— Parsley, 62— Rhubarb, 63— Sal-
safy and Scorzonera, (jo.

Lapageria rosea, 461.

Lawns, &c, formation and improve-
ment of, 227.

Leaf, the theory of the, 344.

Lilies, notes on, 453.

Lobelias, bedding, 203.

Lupinus Californicus, 69.

M'Kenzie's Parks, &c, of London, re-
view of, 45.

Meconopsis, culture of, 174.

Metrosideros floribunda, 356.

Mignonette, a cottager's mode of culti-
vating, 279.

Mottisfont Abbey, the garden of, 315.

Muscat Hamburg Grape, the, 184.

My garden in winter, 12.

Nectarine, cultivation of the, 397, 454,
488, 540.

Neglected Plants, 355.

New Plants, 35, 74, 126, 214, 267, 322,
405, 516, 554.

Notes and Queries, 47, 94, 140, 191,
235, 285, 334, 380, 433,475, 525, 568.

Notes of the Month, 2, 52, 99, 147,
196, 243, 292, 341, 387, 439, 484, 532.

Nymphseaceae, culture of, 251.

Orchard-house at Chiswick, the, 391.

Orchids, winter-blooming, 122.

Ouvirandra fenestralis, 359.

Over-attention, a chapter on, 269.

Pansies, 416.

Pansy, something about the, 76.

Papaver, culture of, 175.

Papaveraceas, culture of, 172,

Parsley, cidture of, 62.

Paul & Sons' Nurseries, a visit to, 365.

Peach and Nectarine, cultivation of
the, 397, 454, 488, 540.

Peach-tree training, on, 500.

Peas, the newer, notes on, 413.

Pelargoniums, raising of, from seed, 80
— Gold and Bronze, for exhibition,
59 — double-flowered, 218— the large
flowering or show, 346 — Zonal, for
exhibition, 418— fancy, 446 — Gold
and Bronze and variegated zonal, 545.

Pentstemon, a plea for the, 552.

Petunias as bedding-plants, 426, 468.

Phlox, the, 162.

Pinkie House, gardening at, 457.

Plants as sanitary agents, 193.

Plum, cultivation of the, 8— grown as
a pyramid, 82.

Poinsettia pulcherrima, culture of, 225.
Potato culture, 15 — trials, 1113% 178.
Potatoes, new, 185 — about, 449 — effect

of change of seed on crop, 50 L.
Rhubarb, culture of, (>:>.
Richardia yEthiopica, 274.
Robinson's Alpine Flowers, review of,

233— on Mushroom culture, reviewed,

:;:;2.

Ilock-gardens, the construction of, 310.

ltoses, Pot, how to grow, 90.

Rose, its culture in pots, 109, 313.

Roses on their own roots, how to ob-
tain, 498.

Rose -growing, amateur, 481.

Royal Horticultural Society and the
Horticultural Press, 49 — and Pro-
vincial Exhibitions, 385.

Salsafy, culture of, 65.

Salter's Nursery, a visit to, 128.

Sanitary influence of plants, the, 193.

Sanguinaria, culture of, 176.

Science, the utility of, 473.

Scorzonera, culture of, 65.

Sedums, the culture of, 513.

Seed-case, curious, in Dublin, 4.

Skeletonising Leaves, the art of, 259.

Spring, a bequest of, 241.

Standish, Messrs, a visit to their Nur-
series, 557.

Statice Rattrayana, 539.

Stocks, pot-culture of, 306.

Swyncombe Park, the gardens at, 270.

Table decorations, 182.

Temple Gardens, the, 45.

Thames Embankment, gardening on
the, 530.

Tomato culture, 223.

Tree Ferns, 121.

Tree scenery, on colour in, 462.

Tulip, jottings on the, 160.

Tulip-show, the National, 363.

Tulips, early-flowering bedding, 261.

Turfing plant, new, 93.

Turner's Nurseries, a visit to, 509.

Vinca, the culture of, 23.

Vine-borders, the surface cropping of,
21 — cropping, 224.

Vine's Home-made Wines, review of,
432.

Violacese, the culture of, 402, 443.

Wall trees, protection for, 37.

Weeks' s Upright tubular Boiler, 368.

Williams's Stove-Plants, review of, 566.

"Winderbank's Nurseries, a visit to, 176.

Window-plants and their culture, 89.

Winter, my garden in, 12.

Winter-blooming Orchids, 122.

Winter greenhouse, the, 555.

Woodstock, the winter terrace -garden
at, 277.

Worton Cottage, the gardens at, 221.

New York Botanical Garden Librar

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