UMASS/AMHERST 312066 0333 3017 3 LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE so v.M 1677 ■, 203 ; Menziesi, 493 Architecture and Cedars of Lebanon, 105 ; villa garden. 105 Arctomecon californlcam, 215 Areca purpurea, 556 Argenteuil, Asparagus gathering at, 315 ; Asparagus planting at, 246 ; Fig trees at, 245 Artichokes, Globe, culture of, 256 ; Je- rusalem (for stock), 10; smooth- tubered, 99 Arundo conspicua, 428 j Donax, 428 Ash, Cockscomb, 361; Golden, 79; the, in Shakespeare, 213 Asia, Central, the fruits of, 376 Asimina (Anona) triloba, 167 Aspai'agus at Argenteuil, 246; climb- ing hardy, 546; culture of, 438, 453; early outdoor, 16 j; fiae English, 443; forcin Moccasin-flower, 251, ; growing, 3)4 Mole-Cricket trap, 519 Molin'a ccerulea variegata, 12! Monnoyer, Jean Baptiste, 5^3 Montreal, Grapes at, 75 Montreuil, Pfache?, at, 2^o Moor Park, 5 U Mortar, old, for succulents, 224 Moss in Shakespeare, 431 ; on fruit trees, 65 ; how to destroy, 128, ^95 Mousetraps, SO Mulberries in Shakespeare, 4Si Musa Cavcndishi, 345 Maacari armeniacum, 466 ; atlanticum 460 Mnshroom-beds, soiliQg; 123; cuturc, Japanese, 16 i Mushrooms, calture of, 77 ; in Shake- speare, 435; poisoning by, 42) Musk Roses in Shakespeare, 435 Mustard, culture of, 7 ; in Shakespeare, 435; sowing of, 36 Myosotis dissitiflora and rain, 11: pots, 130; substitute for, 232 Myosotis, the, 13); notes on, 430 Myrsiphyllum aspara^oldes, 305 Myrtle in Shakespeare, 493 Myrtles, hardiness of, 447 N. Narcissi, Cyclame:! - flowereJ hybrid, 2S5', 423 ; seedlmg, 235 Narcissus Bulbocodium, 413; in pots 406 ; calathinus, 269; Empress, 265; Hoop-Petticoat, 443 ; Horsefieldi, 265 \ minimus, 269 ; minor, 226, 239 ; Paper- white. 122; poetarum, 393; poeticus, 346 ; Tazetta floribundus, 102 Natal, a garden in, 546 Nectarine leaver, blistered, 377 Nectarines, culture of, 9J, 172, 530 ; for succession, 36i, 334; in bloom, 24-4; setting in, 203 Nepenthes, the, 475 ; intermedia, 429 • sanguinea, at York, 539 Nephrolepis Daffii, 2 43, 284 Nerium splendens, culture of, 5 5 Nerve tonic, Celery as a, 53 Nettles in Shakespeare, 493 New Granada, vegetation of, 408 New York, early vegetables in, 431 Niagara, Peach culture at, 474 Nicotiana macrophylla gigantea, 314 Notts, weather in, 330 ; rare hardy plants in, 121 Nursery garden, Paris, 141 Nut in Shakespeare, 498; bushes in flower, 80 ; trees, raising, 87 Nutmeg in Shakespeare, 496 Nymphasaodorata, 471 ; pygmtca, 493 377 Olcnuders, the, culture of, 505 Olive in Shakespeare, 497 Oraphalodes verna, 232 Oncidium cheirophorum, 189; crispum marginatum, 415 ; Marshallianum, 306,346; aplendidum,144; varicosum, 166 Oncidiums, Golden, 325 Onion-beds, salt for, 387 Onion, New Queen, 107 ; Spanish, at home, 347 Onion tree (the Catawissa), 75 Onions, culture of, 4)38 ; in Shakespeare. 525 ; sowing, 174 Ouosma echioides, 524 Opuntia vulgaTis, hardy, 103 Opuntias, hardy, 274 Orange, a large, 452 ; and Citron, hybrid, 292 ; culture in Florida, 209 ; the, in Shakespeare, 525 Oranges, variety in, 331 Orchards, planting, 474 Orchids at Highgate, 166 ; at Mr. Day's, 22; at South Kensington, 391; at Twickenham, 205; culture of, 14, 36, 52,77,94,108, 109, 129, 151, 173.414, 416 ; in America, 168 ; epiphytal, 217 ; Ferns among, 225 ; groups of, 201; in conservatories, 2S6; in dower at Fer- niehurst, 62 ; in fog, 43 ; Lycopods among, 225; Mr. Wilkins', 186; new and rare, 4-44; select, 363, 512 ; various, 492 Orchis pallens, 422 Orchises, English names for, 459 Ornithogalum arabicum, 515 Orychopbragmus sonchifolius, 2r3 Osier, the, in Shakespeare, 526 Osniunda palustris, 204 Oxlips in Shakespeare, 526 Oxon, Photinia serrulata in, 323 Owls and mice, 100 Ozone, influence of forests on, 7 O. Oak, a noble, 430 ; Concordia, 79; ever- green,insects onthe,304; Golden, 79 ; inhabitant of an, 443 ; in Shakespeare, 497; Mistletoe on the, 224; the Mon- arch, 212 Oak-galls, 132 Oasis, an Algerian, 199 Oats in Shakespeare, 497 Obituary, 60, 120. 181, 264, 306, 344, 372, 437, 464 Odontoglossum Alexandrte roseum, 492 ; Andersoni, 20, 144; Cervantesi de- corum, J 39; cirrhosum, 22, 82 ; cris- pum , 102 ; Halli, 2 4G ; Londesbor- oughianum, 93 ; luteo - purpureura, 226; Roezli album, 326 ; vexillarium, 393,493 Paionies, notes on. 391 ; the, in Shuke- apeare, 551 Paisley, a ne? park af, 443 Palestine, vegetation of, 477 Pallavicini Gardens, Genoa, 217 Palm, the, and Fir, 336; the AVinc, 517 ; tree, the, in Shakespeare, 526 Pampas Grass, 144, 427 Panax laciniatum, 243,473; speciosnm, 326 Pansies in Paris Gardens, 224 ; notes on, 498, 507 ; in Shakespeare, 526 Pansy S'^ciety's Show, Scottish, 660 Papaw Trees, North American, 483 Paradise stock, the, 338 Paraffin oil and seeds, 431 Parasites, tropical, 239 Pari?, a new flower market in, 185 ; Asparagus forcing in, 315; flower markets, the, 265 ; gardens, Pansies in, 224; International Exhibition, 164 ; Ivy in, 118 ; new Boulevards in, 62 ; nursery garden, 144; Parma Violets in, 186 ; the trees of, 482 Park, a new, at Paisley, 443 ; gift of, to Falmouth, 443 ; river scene in a, 502; roads, 213 ; scenery, improvement of, 06 ; trees, 282 Parks, new, for Salford, 466; public, wild gardening for, 61 Parmentier, the introducer of the Po- tato mto France, 553 Parsley, culture of, 53 ; floe, how to grow, 99; in Shakespeare, 527 Parsnip, market, 56 Passiflora quadrangularis variegata, 325 Patagonian vegetation, Sir Wyville Thomson on, 477 Paulownia imperialis, 47 ; hard'ness of, 79 Pavements, tar, 557 Peach, Desse Tardive, 273 ; Double- flowered Crimson, 396; blossoms and ants, 453 ; crops, thinning, 379 ; flowers and b'ack ants, 250, 273 ; houses, 128; leaves blistered, 377; perfume from, 9 ; trees, gumming in, 426 ; the, in Shakespeare, 527 Peaches at Montreuil, 205 ; culture of,93, 172, 213, 235, 489, 504, 539 ; at Niagara, 474; in Delaware, 126 ; in Maryland, 126 ; donble-fiowered, 103 ; earliest, for forcing, 450 ; for succession, 362, 364 ; bloom, 214 ; in houses, 406 ; in pots at Llanover, 65 ; large and emall- fliwered, 104; new early, 452, 516; on open walls, 406 ; setting in, 203, 451 ; treatment of, 461 Pear, Beurre Bachelier, 451 ; Beurro de Jonghe, 331 ; blossom, 312 ; insect^, 245; Josephine de Malines, 60; tbe Pitmaston, 231, 245, 273; Vauquelin, 451; the, in Shakespeare, 549 Pears, clay soil for, 401 ; free bearing, 21, 47, 65; good, ^election of, 17; indoor, culture of, 499 ; late winter, 128 ; select, 61; the best February, 141 Pear tree, an old, 214; trees pruning, 151, 133, 329; upright, 503; aged, 543 Peas, best new, 107 ; birds and insects, 648 ; culture of, 13. 68, 03. 172, 335, 301 ; early, 160, 548 ; sowing, 76, 99 ; green, 205 ; in Covent Garden, 443 ; in trenches, 334; in Shakespeare, 530; preserved, 236; protecting, 120; varie- ties and culture, 120; vitality of, 181 Peat in Italy, 363, 392 Pectis angustifolia, 233 Pelargonium, a good forcing, 144 ; Cooperi, 5J8 ; Duchess of Bedford, 323, 393 ; Dr. Masters, 535 ; Elo- quence, 492 ; Empress of Indi', 366 ; Gauntlet, as a wall plant. 265; Konig Albert, 237; La Grande, 22 ; Leamington Lassie, 334; Marie Lemoine, 50 ; Mr, King, 492 ; Ne- mesis, Ivy-leaved, 471 ; Queen of Stripes, 502 ; Tom Bowling, 492 ; Vanessa, 179; Venus, 492; Virgin Queen, 492 ; Society's Exhibition, 536 Pelargoniums, best market, 43 ; blighted, 491 ; culture of, 129, 172, 300, 461, 487 ; Fancy. 512 ; for forc- ing (Mr. Ladd's), 1; for pleasure grounds, 220; large-flowered, 230 ; scarlet, 346; Show, 512 ; variegated, propagating, 257; Zonal, 334 Peotas carnea, 353 Pentstemons, culture of, 69, 334, 470 ; hybrid, origin of, 89 ; notes on, 402 Peonies, forced, 185 Pepper, the, in Shakespeare, 550 Perennials for beds, 559 Petit Trianon in spring, 325 Petunias, culture of, 433 ; in masses, 246 notes on, 439 ; double-flowered, 5 43 Phajus grandifolius. 330 ; Wallichi, 22 PhaliBuopsis at Clapton, 186 ; fuscata, 325 ; Portei, 22 Phlox Drummondi, Striped, 44; the Dwarf, 493, 503 Phloxes, culture of, 334; herbaceous, 167: seedling, 186 Phoenix rupicola, 498 Photinia serrulata in Oxon, 326 Phylloxera, the, 30 ; and insecticides, 39 ; cure for the, 17 ; on American Vines, 435; precaution against, 515 ; steel glove for, 246, 543 Phytolacca decandra, 10 ; electrica, 54 Picea Nordmanniana in Wiltshire, 7 Picotees, 129, 333 ; notes on, 439, 489 ; proposed show of, 22 Pigeon Berry, the, 10 Pig-nuts in Shakespeare, 550 Pimelea decussata, hardy in Ireland, 6 Pine, Corsican, and rabbits, 197 ; tree in N.Wisconsin, 556 ; in Shakespeare, 550 Pine-apple, Lord Carington, 60 Pine-apples, ciiHure of, 213, 363 ; West Indian, 336 ( Pinks, culture of, 328, 438 ; for forcin*?, 186 ; notes on, 403 ; Tom Thumb Scarlet, 535 ; White Mule, winter, flowering, 62 Pinus insignia in Ireland, 49 ; Sabini- ana, 479 Pipes, hot- water, underground. 75 Pippin, the, in Shakespeare, 551 Pitcher-plants, the, 475 Pits and frames, 150 Pittosoporum Tobira as a small pot plant, 82 ; undulatum, 305 Place du Louvre, Paris, 35 Planes in the Green Park, 393 Plane tree, golden, 79 Plant, an electrical, 51 ; a useful wall, 299 Plantains on lawns, 530, 560 ; in Shake- speare, 551 Planting, artistic, 233 ; early, of Pota- toes, evils of, 386 Plant fertilization, 59 ; list, an old, 184 Plant-lore of Shakespeare, 237, 248, 276, 296, 308, 336. 357, 37i), 395, 433, 458, 481, 496, 525, 549 Plant protectors, Reed mats as, 34 1 Plants, Alpine, in Scotland, 540 J aquatic, in Regent's Park, 409 ; r? re hardy, 523 ; arranged according to co- lour, 417; bedding, culture of, 51, 128, 173, 316, 513; hardy pink, 492, 4^4; hardy purple. 492,494; intermixed w ith, spring flowers, 329; providing, 2i9; bsrrj-bearing, 18; for winter declina- tion, 23; biennial, 362; bog, and tanks 253 ; bulbous, drying oS*. 143 ; by post, 558 ; coloured-leaved, 176 ; dates of early-flowering, 82 ; decorative, 366 ; Myrtles as, 447; early-flowering, dates of, 82; effect of climate on, '95 ; efTects of blue glass on, 306 ; effects of coloured Hght on, 556 ; exhibition, sale of, 306; fine-foliaged, 413; for market. Mailer's, 343 ; freeing from insects, 270 ; garden varieties of, permanence of, 44 ; greenhouse, 1^3, 413, 416 ; in small pots, 554 ; half • r.ardy, wintering, 221 ; hard-wooded greenhouse, renovating, 340 ; hardy aquatic, 188 ; hardy, choice, 371 ; mar- ket, 536 ; rare in Notts, 121 ; round London, 21 ; herbaceous, for beds, 152, 206,554; in Scotland, 540; honeydew on, 103; in bloom at Christmas near Cirencester, 32 ; in Dorset, 322; in Suf- folk, 22; atEnville,40; at Rochestown, Cork, 40 ; in bloom at Holloway, 369 ; on wood, 60; in Capri, 254; indoor, 255 wall, 3; insect- eating, 381; market 336; miscellaneous, 60. 129, 140,204* 243, 284, 323,414,415,403,512,536; fo^" pleasure grounds, 320 ; new, 189, 233, 378, 511; at South Kensington, 493; perennial. 362 ; prize, at Slough, 393 : rare, 511; hardy, growing, 141, 182; sleeping, 518 ; softening spring water for, 344 ; star-like hairs on, 424, 533 ; stove, 108, 128, 413, 416, 511, 535 ; use- ful, winter-flowering, 19 ; select, 546 sub-tropical without glass, 3 ; window, 24 ; Cyclamens as, 185 Platanus occidentalis aurea, 79 Pleroma elegans, culture of, 505 Plum, Coe's Late Red, 17 Plums, select, 64; culture of, 504; im- ported, 515 ; in Shakespeare, 553 Poinsettia pulcherrima, culture of, 19 ; major, 121 ; plenissima, 244, 266 ; the double, 131, 164, 168, 100, 351 Poinsettias, culture of, 520 ; late-struck, 84; propagating, 343 Poisoniug by Mushrooms in France, 420 Poke Root, 10 Polyanthus, Duke of Wellinglon, 323; Hose-in-Hose. 35t ; notes on, 301 Polyanthuses, Gold-laced, 143, 184, 303, 315; Hose-in-Hose, 527, 533; hybridiz- ing, 341 : select, 344; the garden, 23o Polygalas, British, 466 Pomological Society (American), 370 xu. THE GARDEN INDEX. [aUPPLBMBMT TO IHB GARBJSN, JOLT 7, 1877. Pontederia crassipes, 345 Poplar, Black Italian, 513, 425; the Abele, 513 ; the Silver, 538 Popalas alba, 513, 533 ; monihfera, 435, 613 Potato, Bennett's Schoolmaster, 68; the. Introducer of into France, 553 Potato planting, 360, 399 ; shoots o. sets 304 Potatoes, and their powers of produc- tion, 223 ; best new, 107 ; culture of, 14, 36, 160, 235 ; early, in pots, 410 ; planting, 34, 388 ; when to plant, 400 ; frame, 123, 216. 38", 444 ; for exhibi- tion, 103 ; in Cocoa-nut fibre, 40, 56 ; keeping two years, 23, 59 ; late, plant- ing of, 333, 454 ; new, in succession, 16-1, 174 ; old, the best, 343 ; protec- tion for, 38 ; nndug, in ground, 161 Potting, soil for, 51 Preserving stakes, PO ; vegetables, 271 Primula amcena alba, 352 Primrose, Brilliant, 283 ; Chinese, donble-flowered, 205 ; hybrid, 209 ; field, a, 61S Primroses, coloured, 81 ; earliest, 6il ; wild, 322 ; early. 69, 89, 163 ; bloom- ing, 119 ; hardy, 225. 358, 362 ; hybrid, 124, 392, 442; hybririizirg, 341; in Easter decoration, 265; in January, 23 ; in pots, 129 ; notes on, 458 Primula cortusoides amcena for forcing, 230 ; alba, 329, 374 ; cojrnlea, 323 ; prandis, 493 ; maxima, 323 ; purpurea, 323 ; involucrata llunroi, 123 ; pur- purea, 244; new double Chinese. 102 ; sinensis, fi. -pi. Marchioness of Eseter, 214 Primulas, Chinese, culture of, 350 , double Chinese, 289 ; new double; 144 ; propagation of, 100 ; hardy, 225, 353, 362 ; culture of, 554 Privets, the, 212 Privet hedges, cutting, 203 Propagation of Santolinas, 476 ; leaf, 33; excessive, evils of, 520 Frctecling fruit trees, 273, 516, 642 Prunes in Shakespeare. 553 Pruning, early and late, 272, 313 ; Fir trees, 5 ; Gooseberries, 542 ; Lonicera fragrantissima, 184; Pear trees, 151, 133 ; influence of, on time of bloom- ing, 329, 343; Roses, 178, 232, 275; trees and shrubs, 347 Prunus triloba, 299 Pnlmonaria azurea, 205 Pultensea rosea, 243, 284 Puschkinia scilloides, 305 Pyracanthas, berries of, a substitute for Holly berries, 23 ; for decoration, 60 Pyrenees, flora of the, 148. 305 Pyrethrum anreum laciniatum, 393 .Pjrctbrum, notes on, 391 Pyrns japonica, fruiting of, 542 Q- Querctis Mirbecki, 117 ; peduncolata aurea viridis, 79 ; Concordia, 79 Quince, Japan, on Grass, 102 ; White- flowered Japan, 123 Eeed mat coverings, 341 Regent's Park, aquatic plants in, 4C9 ; floral decorations at. 539 Reserve ground, the, 389 Restrepia antennifera, 278 Reviews — •' Agricultural Text Book," 313 " Agrostographia ; or, a Treatise on Cultivated Grasses," 263 " Album Benary," 22 •■'Cultivated Plants— their Pj-opaga- tion and Improvements," 430 " Economic Entomology — A.ptera," 445 " Flore des Serres," 424 " Fruits and Fruit Trees of America," 56 "Garden Account Book" (Nisbet), 623 " Garden Receipts," 424 " Hardy Plants for Little Front Gar- dens," 313 ** History of Ferns," 523 ** History of a Flower Mission," 522 "Journal of Forestry," 346 " Orchid Culture," 263 "Poetry for Children," 26 " Text-book of Structural and Physio- logical Botany," 15 4 " The American Fruit Calttirist," 431 " The Cactus and Other Tropical Succulents," 154 "The Effect of Cross Self-fertiliza- tion of Plants in the Vegetable Kingdom," 4 "The Miniature Fruit Garden," 293 *' The Various Contrivances by which Orchids are Fertilized by Insects," 152 " White's Sslbome," 26 " Wild Flowers of America," 63 Roses, Attar of, 503 ; culture of, 216 ; early, 322 ; early pruning of, 233 ; enemies of, 407 ; Fairy. 185 ; for a north wall, 19 ; forced, 321 ; for forc- ing (Mr. Ladds'), 1; from grafts, 179; from seeds, 179 ; good climbing, 121 ; in pots, 414 ; at Waltham Cross, 369 ; forcing, 193; greenfly on, 611 ; non- pruning of, 76 ; pot culture, of, 437 ; prize, 466 ; protecting. 192 ; pruning of, 178, 275; seedling Brier best stncks for, 143 ; standard, in pots, 13 ; on lawns, 119 Rotten Row, 135 Royal Botanical Society, 21:3, 324, 415, 511 Royal Horticultural Society, 60, 80, 139, 134, 20t, 244, 264, 233, 344, 366, 415, 492, 623, 635 Rnbus rossefolius, 230 Ruscus androgynus fruit, 264 Rush Sunday , 464 Russeha juncea as a basket plant, 84 Rutlandshire, Chrysanthemum culture in, 142 Rye, nutriment of, 481 Babbits and tarred trees, 48 ; and the Corsican Pine, 197 ; and trees, 7 ; coal oil on trees, a preventive of, 493 Radish, Stuttgart, Giant, 107 Radishes, best new, 107; culttue of, 6, 13, 160; in Japan, 663 Eafflesia Arnoldi, 239 ; Patma, 261 Rainfall at Welbeck in 1876, 22; effect of, on vegetation, 44 Rampion, culture of, 6 Eannncnlus Bertoloni, 369 ; mille- foliatns, 329 Banunculuses, notes on, 462, 607 Raspberries, manuring, 264 ; treatment of, 461 Raspberry beds, 109 Blading, Calceolarias, at, 443 Bhexia virginica, 294 Rhodanthe Manglesi in pots, 136 Rhododendron Aucklandi hybridum 452 ; cinnabarinum, 420 ; jasmini- florum, 466; Nuttalli, 248; Taylori, 166, 204 Rhododendrons, at Bag shot, 529 ; early, effect of wet autumn on, 60 ; at Knap Hill, 634 ; new hybrid, 118 ; not American plants, S ; soil for, 514 Rhubarb, culture of, 14, 256 ; the new, 467 Rhus vernix, 317 Ribes, young trees of, 18 Richmond Park, 638 Riviera, flowers of, in January, 173 Roads, park, 213 Rockwork.Aubrietia grandifloraon,398 ; near the Serpentine, 163 Rogiera gratissima, 103 Rogieras shedding blooms, 131 Roman Hyacinths, 143 ; in second year, 110 Rome, wild flowers in the vicinity of, 141, 165 Romneya Coulteri, 374 Rondeletia Backhonsei, 278 Rose, Comtesse de Sereuye, 50 ; de Means, 493; Dnchesse de Vallombrosa, 244; Emily Laxton, 368; Frangois Michelon, 356 ; Gloire de Dij on, flowering in December, 23 ; Lamarque, in cool houses, 393; Reynolds Hole, 358, 373 ; Safrano under glass, 265 ; Mrs. Opie, 370; the Bauksian, 393; Tea, exhibitions of, 494 Rose-beds, 332 Rose-beetle, the, 536 Rose-buds and black ants, 353 I Rose decorations, 518 1 Rose garden, a, 103 ; forming a, 143 ; hedge, budding, 447; prize, a 60- guinea, 123 ; Show at Alexandra Palace. 393; at Bath, 420; at Crystal Palace, 560 ; stocks and springfrosts, 94 ; tree, a large, 179 ; trees, wash for 512, 536 Saccharam cegyptiacum, 73 Saffron in the Abruzzi, 5 Salad, the Dandelion as a, 174 Salads and slugs, 233 ; culture of, 0 ; winter, 56, 99 Salford, new parks for, 466 Salt as a manure, 120, 224; for Onion beds, 387; on walks, 544 Salvia gesnersefolia, 237, 433 ; splendens miniata, 140 Sambucus californica, 331 Samphire, pickling, 560 Santolinas, propagating, 476 Sarracenias at Glasnevin, 470 ; culture of, 150 Sarsaparilla leaves as a decoration, 113 Satin-flower, the crimson, 110 Saulsaie, crossed espaliers at, 361 Saxifraga Burseriana, 137 ; crassifolia, 62; in pots, 206; granulata fl.-pl., 4 iO ; opposittf olia, 133 ; On rockwork, 45 ; maxima, 209 ; virginiensis fi.-pl., £16 Saxifrage, early white, 187 ; the large- leaved, 63 Schllmmia trlfida, 80 Scllla bifolia rosea, 245 ; verna in Ire- land, 546 Scotland, Alpine plants in, 511; her- baceous plants in, 540 Scottish Seed Association, 21 Screens, Clematis, 3 ; Conifer, and their uses, 421 Seakale, culture of, 14, 173 ; Lily-white, 509 ; sea-shore, 271 Season, forwardness of the, 303 Secateur, a, in the sixteonth century, 619 Sedum acre elegans, 291; for borders, | 374 Seed, Anemone f algens from, 245 ; Cen- taureas from, 353 ; Cinerarias for, 345; Grevillea robusta from, 541; Hepaticas from, VS; Alpine Auricu- las from, 352 ; Verbsaas from, 218 ; Stock, saving, 269; vegetable, early sowing, 414; sowing, &c., 13, 225, 353 Seeds, paraffia-oil-ooated, 343, 431 ; and vermin, 400; Roses from, 179 Senecio saracenicus, 313, 336 Serpentine, rockwork near the, 166 Shakespeare, plant-lore of, 237, 218, 276, 293, 308, 336, 357, 370, 395, 433, 458, 484, 495, 625, 619 Shelter, evergreen, 295 Shrubberies, treatment of, 276, 332 Silenes, the, 10; Alpine, hybridizing, 268 Slough, prize plants at, 393 Slugs and perennials, 40 ; and salads, 233 Smyrna, Fig cultivation at, 373 Snails, preventing, 314 Snowberries for decoration, 60 Snowdrop, a reflexed, 311 ; the Cri- mean, 231 Snowdrops, the, 194 ; and the rain, 123 ; rare, 226 ; two new, 207 Soil, does it wear oat? 9 ; potting, 51 Solanum acauthoides, 233 Solanums, outdoor culture of, 316; sow- ing, 123 Soot and lime v. birds, 153 Sophronitis violacea, 22 ; on Cork, 63 Sowing, early, of culinary vegetable seeds, 444 Sparaxis, notes on, 403, 507; pulchor- rima, culture of, 142 Spathog'.ottis Lobbi, 139 Speedwell, a white Germander, 23 Spigelia marilandica, 174 Spinach, culture of, 433, 517 Spindle Tree, the, 23, 117 Spiraea, the Pearl-bud, 141 Splitting in fruits, 133; in vegetables, 133 Sprekelia glauca, 346 Squares open by ticket, 369 Squash, the, culture of, 533 Squills at Pulham, 393 Stakes, preserving, 34, 60 Statice Holfordi for market, 238 St. Bruno's Lilies, 143 St, Panoras, new garden iu, 539 Stenandrium igneum, 233 Stephanotis floribuuda, fruit of, 369 Stigmaphyllum ciliatum, 163 Stock, Twickenham Purple, 443 Stock seed, saving, 269 Stock!, notes on, 463 St. Pancras, churchyard gardens in, 83 Strawberry, Garibaldi, 265 ; James Veitch, 494 ; La Grosse Saoree, 203 ; The Four Seasons, forced, 246 ; Vi- comtesse HerioArt de Thury, 243; beds, 76 ; culture, 211, 401; for mar- ket, 604; in pots, 401; forcing, 361; best for forcing, 303; culture of, 218, 362, 364, 503, 530 ; in Notts, 85 ; early, 65 ; forking soil among, 86, 104 ; losing foUage, 65; ripe in February, 163; select, 292 ; watering, 331; winter, 47; wood ripe, 184 Strelitzia Regina;, 250 Streptocarpus Saundersi, 265 Succulent plants and Cacti, 265 ; old mortar for, 224 Suffolk, fruit prospects in, 234, 420, 494 ; May frosts in, 394 Sumach, Ailantns-leaved, 307 Surface-stirring, importance of, 90 Swans and water weeds, 184 Sweet Brier, forced, 423 Sweet Sops, the, 167 Sweet WilUams, culture of, 331 Switzerland, curious tree-planting cus- toms in, 526 Symplocarpus fcetidus, 144 Synonyms, fruit, 504 Syon house, Bignonia venusta at, 33 T. Tan, spent, as manure, 119, 263 Tanks, underground, and bog plants 253 Tar pavements, 557 Tarragon, compost for, 455 Telfairea occldentalis, 189 Temperature, effect of trees on, 145 Temple gardens, Inner, 46S Shrubs by artiacial water, 267; early Tetratheca ericoides hirsuta, 325 pruning of, 347 ; hardy, at Kew, 443 ; hardy, in Wicklow, 364 ; manure for, 40; two good wall, 190; wall, hardy at Kew, 101 Silene Bolanderl, 23 Thames Embankment, trees on, 637 Thinning Peach crops, 379 Thalia dealbata, 523 Thomson, Sir Wy ville, on vegetatlo Patagonia, 477 STTPPLSlCBirT TO TBK GA-BDBIT, JTTLT 7. 1H770 THE GARDEN INDEX. xni Thrinax gracillima, 535 Tbnja Lobbi, 40 ; giftantea, 621 Tillandsia Lindeni, 288 TiUa europsea dasystyla, 46 Timber, growth o£ condition affecting, 48 ; creosoting, effect of, 537 ; sea- Boninj, 299 Tomato, Golden Trophy, 10, 490; Trophy, 194 Tomato leaves, v. insecte, 322 ; plants. pinchinjf, 360 ; omelette, a, 609 Tomatoes, cnltnre of, 235, 407, 481; Hathaway's Excelsior, 466 ; in April, 304 Tools, garden, handy, 58 Torenia exappendicalata,233; Foumieri, 345 Torenias, caltnre of. 250 Tottenham, Dipladenias at, 515 ; Fern- las at, 102 ; Ixias at, 515 Transplanting young vegetables, 491 Traps for noxious animals, 515 Tree, an early, 214; planting in Algeria, 302 ; roots, exhaustion, 145 ; stump, dancing on, 219 Tree-planting customs in Switzerland, 536 Trees, age and leafing of, 66 ; ages at which felled, 262 ; and flowers, 655; and rabbits, 7; at the Villa d'Este, 457 ; bash fruit, culture of, 504 ; climber-covered, 391 ; deciduous. Golden Variegated, 79, 93 ; destroying stumps of, 97 ; destruction of at Fulham Palace, 20; early pruning of, 347 ; effect of, on temperature, 145 ; for parks, 282 ; fruit, culture of, 604 ; pyramidal, 504 ; hardy, at Kew, 413 ; hedgerow, trimming, 468 ; in London, 184, 369 : in Newington Causeway, 2 ; in Paris, small size of , 91 ; in West-end parks, 185 ; in towns, 659 ; Ivy as a carpet under, 117; large, moving, 212 ; manure for, 49 ; Mistletoe growing on, 146, 293, 233, 255 ; on Thames Embankment, 537 ; ornamental, lists of, 96 ; sea-side, 533 ; street, 295; tarred, v. rabbits, 48 ; the, of Paris, 393, 432 ; town, early-flowering, 370 ; trellised v. fruit trees in pots, 379 ; varying forms in, 659; young, the best, 338 Trellis, Webb's Adjustable, 139 ; West's patent, 163 Trichonema ramiflorum, 468 Triteleia uniflora under glass, 168 Trolllus europaeus, 503 ; Fortune!, 163 Tuileries, gardens of the, new street in, 186 TuUpa Greigi, 173, 323, 380, 398 ; in Lon- don, 185 Tulips during wtt and wind, 328 ; notes on, 391 Tulip Society, Royal National, 492 Tulip Tree, the, at home, 622 ; Golden, 79 Tupistra macrostigma, 169 Turf -pit, the, 27 Turnip culture, 369 Turrsea obtusifolia, 189 Twickenham. Orchids at, 205 Tydaea Belzebuth, 62, 82 Typha latif olia, 231 u. TJlmus campestris aures, 79 Underwood, evergreen, 117, 115 V. Vallota purpurea, 300 Tanda CathcarLi, 222 ; LowJ, 524 Van Huysam, Jean, 348 Vanilla aromatica, 423 VaseB, hardy foliage for, 103 ; planting, 397 Vegetable and fruit garden, mixed, 399 ; crops of France, statistics of, 147 ; diet, 424 Vegetable Marrows, culture of, 387, 407, 455 Vegetables, Continental, show of, 324; early, in New York, 431 ; for market, 92 ; imported, 326 ; in Covent Garden, 539; list of,51; miscellaneous, 367; new, notes on best, 107 ; preserving, 371 ; select, 92 ; show of, 536 ; splitting in, 182 ; transplanting, 431, 491 Vegetation, effects of excessive rainfall on, 44; winter on, 125 ; in February, 208 ; in March, 307 ; in April, 398 ; in May. 258 ; in Palestine, 477 ; of New Granada, 403 ; in Southern India, 495 ; outdoor in Suffolk, 22 ; Patagonian, 477 ; sea-side, effects of frost on, 542 Ventilating forcing houses, 303 Verbenas as annuals, 125, 143, 181 ; for pleasure grounds, 220; from seed, raising, 218; in beds, 489; in pots, 489; notes on, 391 Veronica Chamsedrys alba, 23 ; Halkei, 420; atGlasnevin,471 Versailles, school of horticulture at, 325 Victoria, land under gardens in, 102 Vienna, Floral Exhibition at, 345 Views, two, in gardens, 401 Villa d'Este, trees at the, 457 Villa Franzosini, gardens of. 63 Vine, a new enemy of the, 504 ; borders, 311; covering, 363. 378, 394, 451, 474, 494, 516 ; experiments in, 272, 291, 292 ; inside or out? 197.210,^0, 252. 273; temperature of, 273 Vine culture, experiments in, 251 Vine leaves, dewdrops on, 440, 492 Vine-growing without steaming, 348 Vine roots, bottom-heat for, 46 Vines, American, Phylloxera on, 485 ; bleeding in, 154. 183 ; cnltnre of, 218, 300, 362, 364, 406; cure for bleeding in, 203 ; for a new Vinery, 152. 170 ; late in breaking 254; liquid manure for, 362 ; stopping, 450; syringing, 380; training, 450; under blue glass, 306 ; when to water, 391 Vineries, 128. 216, 235, 530 ; insects in. 304 Vinery, anew, Vines for, 170 j at Castle Coch, 543 Viola.Blue Bell, 89 ; a drought-resisting, 89 ; pedata, 422 ; Sir Walter Scott, 374 Violas, notes on, 507 ; and drought, 60, 80 ; bedding, 315 ; in mixed beds, 23 Violet, Bird's-claw, 422; new seedling, 166 Violets and the rain, 122 ; double white, 334 ; long-stalked, best. 25. 8) ; Neapolitan, 373; Parma, in Paris, 186 Virginian Creeper, the, at home, 495 W. Wales, Erica mediterranea io, 374 Walks, and lawns, 195 ; treatment of, 76 j salting, 544, 554 Wall gardening, 376 Wall plant. Begonia lacida as a, 337 ; shrubs at Kew, 515 Walls, serpentine, and fruit crops, 426; dead, wreaths for, 525 ; high. Ivy on 498 Wallflower, the, indoors, 264 Wallflowers in market gardens, 23 ; perennial, 514 Walnut, the Cut-leaved, 495, 515, 522 Waltham Cross, Roses in pots at, 369 Wash for Rose trees, 512 Water, spring, how to soften, 344 Water-cress, properties of, 558 Water Lily, the Fragrant, 471 Water Lilies, packing seeds of, 461 Water margins, ornamental, 267 Water supply, Metrepolitan, 531 Water weeds, 159 ; and awaus, 184 Weather in North Notts, 330 ; in South Lincoln, 394 ; mild, results of, 42 Weeds on lawns, how to destroy, 560 Weigelaresea forced, 168 Welbeck, rainfall at, in 1876, 22 West London market garden, 270 '* Whangee" walking canes, 480 Wheelbarrow, a new, 98 Wicklow, hardy shrubs in, 364 Wild garden, the, in Wilts, 269 Willow planters, rules for, 283 Willow planting, 233 Willows, Weeping, in spring, 159 Wimbledon Gardeners* Society, 264 Wind, the, and the War. 392 Windflower, the Scarlet, 214; size of, 281 Winter, greenhouses in, 13 Wireworms, trapping, 512 ; and Beans, 512 Wistaria on railings, 380 ; sinensis as an indoor climber, 286 Wistarias as wall-top climbers, 397 ; in wreaths, 466 Witloof, a winter ealad, 99, 337 ; cooked as Seakale, 99 Wood pavements, 40; in Piccadilly, 184 Wood preservatives, 537 Wood Spurge in wild garden, 269 Woodwardia radicans cristata, 518 Worcestershire, fruit crops in, 166, 273, 542 Worm-grass, the, 174 Wormwood Scrubb?, 493 Worthing, outdoor flowers at, 2 Wreaths for dead walls, 525 Xanthisma fcexannm, 189 Xanthoceras sorbifolia, 325 Xylosteums, the, 410 Tews, the, 425 York, Alpine flowers at, 323 ; Nepenthes sanguinea at, 639 Yorkshire, Lonicera fragantissima in, 164 Yucca picta and seed-pods, 203 Yuccas on Ivy, 269 Zamia Lindeni, 366 ; Roezli, 366 Zinnias, notes on, 462 Zootoca vivipara, 255 Zygopetalum Claji, 363 obliqua, 386 XIV THE GARDEN INDEX. LSDPPLBUENT TO THE GABD^iV, JULY 7, 1S77. ILLXJSTIlA.TJ[ON S Agalmyla longistyla ... Aqmlegia Cffirulea Anemone falgens Azalea mollis Brodiiea coccinea Clerodendron Bpeciosum Colchicum speciosum COLOURED PLATES, Myosotis rupicola Pear, the Pitmaston Pelargonium Leamington Lassie.. Phlox subalata var Rhexia virginica Rhodcdendron Auckland! hybridum 452 Rose, Comtessede Scrcnye Page Pago 621 Cjpripedium macranthum .. ... 311 90 Cypripedium spectabile ... 254 211 423 Echiiioc:ctus Simpsoni ... 274 Edraianthus Pamilio ... 314 110 Exochorda grandiflora ... 163 404 Facli&ia boliviana ... 70 B-13 Geranium armenum ... 473 Page 130 234 Rose, Francois Michelon ... Rose, Keynolds Hole Page ... 358 ... 353 334 502 291 Silene pumilio Snowdrops, the Spigelia marilandioa ... 10 ... 191 ... 174 n 452 no Tulipa Greigi ... 381 WOODCUTS A. Acanthus latitolius 264, 23! Aconite, Winter .^thionema ooridifolium Algerian Oasis, an Anacardium occidentale „ section of Anona squamosa Arabis alpina Aralia fllicifolia Aralias, plan o£ propagating Araucaria Goldieana Arclomecon caliEomicum Areca purpurea Artichoke as a flas-toliaged plant Arum Dracnaculus „ section oE .. Arnndo Donax in flower Auhrietia purpurea on a wall B. Bagatelle garden, plan of Bamboo stems, a U3e for Bambusa Metako Barren-wort. Alpine Saans, Haricot, new (3 illustrations) Bearded Grapes Begonia, a, for a wall ,, Davisi ,, leaf propagation of Beu.re Bachelier Pear Birch, a Weeping Bombyx Processionea larvas Bouiiuet, anold-fashioned Bridge between two islands Broom grafted on Laburnnm ,, Weeping, flower of Bryophyllum, leaf of Bulbocodium vernum Bulrush, the Gieat C. Cabbages, early, tied Calliphruria subedontita (2 illus.) Canbya Candida CaprifoUum Periclymenum belgi- cum ... jj floribandum ,, sempervirens Cardamine pratensis fl.-pl Caryotaurens Caserta, " gardening " at Cashew Nut, the ,, section of Catawissa Tree Onion Celery, Dwarf White Cephaloncummyriadeum on Maple leaf Chantilly Coal flora, examples of Cockscomb Ash, branch of Colchicum speciosum Colorado Potato Beetle Corydalis cava Crinum aquaticum Crioceris merdigera Croton M'Arthurianum ,, tortile Cuckoo-flower, double-flowered ... Custard Apple, th Cycas Normauby D. 239 Dance on a big tree stump 219 91 Dasylirion lougifoliuoi 291 633 Dentaria palmata 313 199 Dictamnus Fraxinella 633 211 Digitalis lanata 633 253 Draba Mawi 189 167 DracjBua Goldieana 607 293 Drosera rotundif olia 331 433 423 E. 601 Epimeuium alpinum 293 215 Erodium moschatum 313 656 Erythronium Dens-canis 165 103 Espalier.s, crossed, at Saulsaie ... 381 383 Espeletia corymbota in New Gra- 334 nada 408 428 „ flower of ... 4 8 370 Evergreen shelter (3 illustrations) £95 15 P. Ferns in plant ca-5es 423 319 Flowers, hardy, of the week in 471 Loudon pardons — in all, 132 293 illustrations— 91, 127, 165, 191, 65 213, 271, 293, 313, 335. 355, 333. 65 430, 437, 449, 488, 487, 510, 632, 3 644, 545 18 Flowers (Monnoyer) 401 38 „ (Van Huysum) ... 319, 353 451 Frame coverings 255 9 Fritiilar'a recurva, a bulb of 112 412 Front garden of fruit trees 474 63 Fruit she'1, glazed 169 373 Punkia giandidora 45 433 433 G. 33 Galanthus Elwesi 195 91 ,, Imperati buds (2 illus ) 191 231 ,, plicatus reflesus 311 Garden design by M. Andri5 6"S „ „ by Mr. Marnock ... 489 399 „ frame 183 279 ,, horror, a 36() 215 „ tool, anew 80 Garden of Plants of old 608 87 Gardens near the Louvre 433 87 Gilbert White's Garden ... 27, 29 88 ,, House 31 313 Gronovia and Lizard 888 617 Gunnera Rcabra 511 629 H. 211 253 Hairs, star-like, on plants (4 illus.) 421 75 Hall Place, Tonbridge 489 107 Handy garden tools (3 illustrations) 63 Hearts'-easo, the Common 293 445 Helleborus niger 127 67 ,, purpurascens 127 3)9 Helonias latifolia 437 36k Hepatica triloba 323 618 Heron'a-bill, Musk-scented 313 460 Himalayan Primrose, blooms of ... 123 271 Hippophae rhamnoides, stellate 61 hairs of 623 337 Hip-roofed house, section of 312 259 Holly, Golden-edged, leaf of 316 83 Honeysuckle, Japanese, on Birch 313 stem 322 167 Hose collector (Peirce's) 161 443 Hymera-ithua cra>£ifoUa 113 Ice-flowers on windows Idea, the old 302 400 Radish, Stuttgart Giant Raffiesia Arnoldi 107 239 Irispersica 207 Ranunculus bulbosus fl.-pl. 336 ,, stylosa 43 Rheum ofiiciiiale 467 ,, Xiphium 611 Rhus vernix ... ... 307 Ivy on high walls 498 River scene in a park 602 ,, bower, an „ growing, flowers in a vase of ,, Iri^^h, railing screen of 118 171 397 Rock-cress, Alpine Rose. Gloire de Dijon flowering at Christmas 293 23 J. Rose tree, a large 179 Japanese vase garden, a K. Kingsley's, Canon, garden 223 ,, house at Edmonton 375 95 S. Saccharum cegyptiacum 78 L. Sambucus caUforn'ca 331 La Granja, fountaina at 432 Saxifraja Burseriana If 7 Lake and Islands, artificial 411 „ crassitol'a 163 Lawn with artificial water 299 „ hypnoides 213 Lawson's Holly, leaf of 233 Scilla sibirica 165 Leptosiphon androsaceus 611 Secateur of the 16th century 519 Lily bulbs (15 illustrations) 13 3-138 Sedum coeruleum 641 Lily bulbs (14 illustrations) 15 -159 Silene maritima fl.-pl 12 Lily seed-bud 203 ,, pendula 271 Lilium davuricum, anoinaloui „ Sasifraga 11 growth in 114 ,, Schaftse 11 Limnanthes Douglasi 437 Soldanellaalpina 335 Lizard, the garden 255 Steel Glove for the Phylloxera ... S13 Lupiuus bicolor elegans 437 T. Lychnis Pi esli 437 M. Thalia dealbata 523 Melon, Cantaloup (French) Menlzelia and captured fly 83 335 Thuja gipaatea Tomato, the Trophy 621 489 Moor Park 641 Traps for insects (2 illustrations) . . 477 ,, for Mole Crickets (1 illus.)... 519 N. Trees, pollard, in hedgerows (3 Narcissi, Cyclamen-flowered 377 illustra'.ions) 463 Narcissus calathinus 209 Trellis, West's Adjustable (2 illus.) 139 Nepenthes Chelsoni 475 TuUpacornuta 335 Nepen'hes intermedia 429 „ pra'MX 335 0. Turra^a obtusifolia 189 Oak branch laden with galls 133 Typha latitolia 231 Oak-gall and cynipes 182 V. Omphalodes verna Orchards, plan of under-cropping 335 399 Vauda Lowi Vase of common flowers 524 227 P. ,, of flowers 478 Pallavicini Gardens (2 iUustrati ms ) „ of growing Ivy 171 247 251 Vauqaelin Pear ... • Vegetation in the Pyrenees 451 Panax laciniatum 453 149 Park scene 431 502 Vio'abifloia 293 Parmentier 653 ,, cornuta 271 Paulownia imperialis 47 „ odora'a 213 Pear tree, an upright 503 „ tricolor 293 Pelargonium Kcenig Albert 237 Villa, a near Wandsworth 103 Pentstemon confertus 437 Villa d'Este, view in the 457 „ Jaflrayanus 69 Violet, twin-flowered 293 „ ovatms 69 Volvulifex Aceris 415 Phlox setaoea 213 VolvuUfex Fruni, galls of 416 Phosnix rupicola 499 „ „ section of 416 Phytoptus and head (2 illu tration?) 415 W. Picea Nordmanniaua 7 Pinguicnla vulgaris 383 Walnut, the Cut-leave 1 495 Pinus Sabiniana 479 Wandsworth, a villa near 105 Place du Loavre, Paris 33 Water margin, an ornamental ... 267 Poplars at Ermenonville 232 Wistaria and Ivy on railings 339 Primrose, a Himalayan 123 Wheelbarrow, a new OJ Primula denticulata 127 Wreaths for dead walls 523 „ involucrala Munroi 123 Y. Yew, Irish or Upright „ vulgaris Prunella granditolia 127 4S7 425 Jan. 6, 1877.] ijj LL^y.. '^Si ^\ / < ot frost.-E. K. Q. P. Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora.— So much has been said of this new Japanese shrub during the past year that little need be added now. It has, according to "Moore's Rural," stood 26'=' below zero unharmed. It begins blooming early in August, and continues until alter hard frosts. The thyrses of flowers first greenish-white, then white, then rose, often measure 1 ft. in length and 20 in. in circumference. Every stem being thus terminated, the strikin" appearance of an entire plant may he conceived. There can be no doubt that this is one of the most valuable of all perfectly hardy shrubs. Pruning Fir Trees.— Does the Spruce Fir suBfer from cutting ? Will you kindly inform me which is the best time for pruning this description ot tree ?— M W. [Conifers are seldom injured by judicious pruning, that is when pruning is absolutely required, and done at a proper time, viz., between September and November, according to the season. In all cases, the cut points should be sloped cutting outwards and upwards, to as not to expose the cut surface to the sun or frost. In a dry summer pruning can be done at a much earlier period than during a cold, wet one. Extensive ranges of Spruce Fir hedges along the roadside in several parts of Perthshire are cut every autumn, an^ look as well Md quite as compact as a hedge of Yew,— M.J THE GARDEN. [Ja.\. 6, 1877. COTTAGE GARDENING. Salads. An effort is seldom made by the occupiers of small gardens to supply anj'thing like a succession of the materials used for salad making, and yet there are often patches of bare ground sufficient in many gardens, if made the most of, to do this without much expense or trouble. A cottage gardener cannot afford to have any headlands round his small patches of vege- table or fruit ground. Mustard and Cress, Radishes, Lamb's Lettuce, and even Lettuces, may be grown in the margins and corners, or be taken as a stolen crop, so to speak, in the early growth of others that require more time, without doing any injury. All this of course implies the possession on the part of the cultivator of that thought and perseverance tbat prompts him to leave the beaten track and strike out an independent path for himself, and there is as much need for this in cottage gardening as in other things. The cultivator who thinks is hardly ever satisfied with things as they are, and there is nothing so perfect that may not be improved. There is no royal road to the possession of any kind of knowledge, especially practical knowledge ; that at least must be acquired by steady persistent effort, by cultivating that faculty of " trying again " when things do not turn out exactly as we wish— that always ultimately leads to success. Lettuces. To commence at the beginning of the season, sow a few seeds in February of the Tom Thumb, or any of the small, quick-growing Cabbage Lettuces — the early Paris Market is an excellent kind — in a pot in a warm, sunny window if there be no band-light or frame; place a handful of rubble in the bottom for drainage, fill up to within i in. of the top with light, rich soil, make firm, sow the seeds thinly, and scatter sufficient fine, light soil over to just cover the seeds, then press the surface down with the bottom of another pot or something similar. If the soil be just kept moist, the seeds will soon vegetate, when the plants may be hardened off, and be planted out 8 in. apart in any warm corner. A pinch of White or Green Cos may be sown at the same time and be treated in the same way, only when planted out give each a square foot of space. Unless there are means of disposing of a portion of the produce, a very small pinch of seeds at each sowing will be ample. Little and often should be the rule. At the same time that the seeds are sown iu the sunny window just a pinch should be sown in some warm corner in the open air : these will form a good succession to the plants raised in the window, and from this time to the middle or end of Jnly sow a few seeds at intervals of every three weeks or so. The June-sown plants, if it can be managed, should be sown thinly, without trans- planting, on some cool, partially-shaded border, for iu hot weather both Lettuces and Cauliflowers, if transplanted, are more liable to bolt prematurely than if undisturbed. The Bath or Brown Cos should be the kind principally sown in July and August for autumn and winter use, as it is hardier and better able to resist cold weather than other kinds. A few seeds may also be sown about the 1st of September to stand in the seed-beds all winter to put out in spring. Small plants generally go through a severe season better than larger ones, but in very severe weather it is easy to lay a few fronds of Bracken over them when there is a sharp frost unac- companied by snow, but when the ground is covered with snow, no other protection is necessary, as that is Nature's own covering, and, unlike all others, it protects without blanching or weakening. Although I recommend frequent sowings to be made, it does not follow that large quantities of seeds need be purchased. Probably in many, if not most gardens the same quantity of seeds now used, it divided into six or eight portions and sown at intervals through the season, instead of being all sown at once or at the most twice, would suffice to gfve a moderate succession. Of course some pains must be taken to place the seeds in a suitable position to germinate, and although Lettuce will produce a very useful crop under very moderate cultivation, yet to grow a first-class crop it requires as much skill and attention as it does to produce a prize dish of Pota- toes or Cauliflowers. Mulching in dry, hot weather will well repay the trouble. Liquid manure, where it can be obtained. will insure a quick, crisp growth; and, where neither are avail- able, a frequent stirring of the surface an inch or so in depth will be of great service. All Cos Lettuces are improved by being tied up to blanch a few days before they are used, as are also some of the large, loose-growing Cabbage Lettuces. The Brown Cos from the Jnly and August sowings for autumn and winter use should be planted out on a warm, dry site, and if covered up with dry leaves or Fern when nearly fully grown, and the plants themselves are dry, they will keep in good con- dition a long time, and will become white, crisp, and delicate. Endive. This is rarely grown in small gardens, but it forms a very desirable addition to the salad bowl in autumn and winter, especiaV'y if Lettuces be scarce or inferior. Sow towards tho end of June (if sown early the plants are very likely to bolt before they are large enough for use) in drills 1 ft. apart, and when large enough thin out to 10 in. or 12 in. apart in the rows ; the thinning may be planted elsewhere the same dis- tances asunder. Sow again in July, and transplant the prin- cipal part in some open, well-exposed situation; the remainder should be planted in some well-drained, raised border. A few more may be sown in August if some shelter, such as a frame, can be found for them in winter. There are various ways of blanching them, viz., by laying boards or slates over the plants when they are full grown and quite dry ; tying them up and placing inverted flower-pots over them, with pieces of slate over the holes at the tops to exclude light ; covering them with dry leaves or coal ashes ; or taking them up with balls of earth and storing them in a dark cellar — placing them, in fact, in any position not too damp to induce decay, and from which light can be excluded. Of course only a few should be blanched at a time, as this hastens decay, and they should not be blanched till they nearly fully grown. In other respects Endive requires much the same treatment as Lettuces. There are several varieties, but the Green Curled is the most useful. Kadislies. Sow the Salmon Short-top or Wood's Frame on a warm rich border early in February, and cover with clean long straw or mats. As soon as the seeds come up the coverings should be taken off every fine day, and replaced at night until the plants are gradually inured to the weather. From March to Sep- tember sow tbe French Breakfast — an Olive-shaped kind — at intervals of a fortnight or three weeks. The early and late sowings may be made on a warm border of light, rich soil. In very hot weather sow in a north or shady aspect, at other times sow iu any open position. Quick growth is essential to mild flavour ; therefore abundant watering in dry weather will be found serviceable. Rampion. This is scarcely known in small gardens, and I just mention it here as it proves a desirable addition to winter salads. Sow in M.ay, iu a partially shaded position, such as the west side of a wall or hedge where the soil is light and rich. The ground should be well prepared, made firm, and the surface smooth and level. The fine dust-like seeds must be thinly and evenly sown over the bed, which might be about 8 ft. long and 4 ft. wide, and the least possible covering of fine soil will be suffi- cient. The young plants when large enough should be thinned out to 3 in. apart, and the thinnings transplanted if required, taking care to insert the roots straight down. They will come into use in autumn, and will continue in season during the winter and earlj' spring months. The white roots may be eaten like Radishes, or both roots and leaves cut up with other ingredients for salad. Corn Salad or Lamb's Lettuce. This grows well without much trouble in almost any soil. Sow in Febru.ary or March for the first crop iu drills 6 in. apart, and thin out to 4 in. asunder. They are best used when quite young. Sowagain in May, June, and August under similar conditions. In gathering the winter crop only the outer leaves should be used, leaving the roots for further production, but in summer the whole plant may be cut up when young. Jan. 6, 187?.] THE GAEDEN. Mustard and Cress. The culture of these is generally so well understood that little need be said respecting it. Sow thickly in drills from February to September as often as may be necessary to keep up the required supply. In hot weather sow in a shady posi- tion and keep moist by laying Rhubarb leaves over the drills until the seeds germinate. In winter they may be forced in any light position where the requisite temperature cau be secured. In a warm kitchen or room a constant supply might be kept up without much trouble. E. Hobday. TREES AND SHRUBS. (M. Hallcana). — Mr. S. Paraoiis, A New Hardy Magaolia junior, speaks with en. thusiaam of this shrub in the " Country Gentle- man";— "This plant came from Japan to Ame. rica nearly twenty years ago, but continues very little known; indeed, hardly recognized in the country at large. The cause may be found partly in the general difficulty of propagating Magnolias, and partly in that lack of regard for plants that prompts acceptance of the meagre, second-hand information of dealers. AH who see M. Halleana in our nurseries are de. lighted with its beauties. The first impression made is one of intense individu- ality. It rounds out and matures into a complete bush of symmetrical form and solid wood, and is a true member of the shrubby type of Magnolias. The same excellence ap. pears also in unrivalled earliness and beauty of flowers. These somewhat resemble the Water Lily in the translucent white- ness of the narrow petals, and surpass all others in delicate, subtle odour. The leaves, of rich green, neither large nor small, are in agreeable keeping with the general habit, and, altogether, the effect produced is that of a noble plant. Trees and Rabbits. — Would it injure young trees to put tar round them to prevent rabbits from destroying them ? — W. [Tar is objectionable, as it is injurious to young trees. A mixture of soot, sulphur, lime, and cow manure, made thin enough to be put on with a bi-ush, will help to ward off the attacks of rabbits during ordinary Feasons. Blood has also been found effective sprinkled at the base of the trees. Wire netting or tying Birch or Heath round the necks of the plants, is the only effectual remedy in severe seasons where rabbits are nume- rous, and where other food ia scarce; but, where large plantations are made, these are troublesome as well as expensive remedies, and unless it is desirable to keep the rabbits, the best way is at once to take means to destroy them. — C] Nordmann's Silver Fir (Picea Nordmanniana). Influence of Forests on Ozone.— In a note by M. L. Pantrat in the " Bulletin Hebdomadaire," No. 475, of the ScientiBc AsBociation of France, it is shown from observations made at Halatte and Ermenoville, that less ozone was observed in forests, particularly forests of Pine, than in the open country, and more ozone at a height of 46 ft. above the ground than near the surface. PIOEA NORDMANNIANA IN WILTSHIRE. This distinct and beautiful variety of Silver Fir was discovered by Prof. Nordmann growing on the summit of the Crimean Mountains ; it was afterwards found to be common on the declivities of other mountains adjacent to the Black Sea towards the east, where it forms a majestic tree from 80 ft. to 100 ft. in height. Since its introduction into this country (some thirty-two years ago) it has proved to be one of the hardiest varieties of the Silver Fir. It commences growth late in spring, thus never suffering from the effects of spring frosts — a great recom- mendation for planting in low-lying situations, where many of the less hardy Conifers do not succeed satisfactorily. It is slow of develop- ment when young, and inclined towards a spreading habit ; but when once planted out into permanent quar- ters, and its tap-root fairly established in the ground, it begins to grow more rapidly, and soon shapes itself into a well-balanced tree. In suitable soils it makes an annual growth of from 15 in. to 18 in. Deep, heavy, rich loam, resting on clay or rock, is the most suitable formation for its healthy progress. The contrast in its pale green foliage in summer between the old and young growths, and the beau- tifully glaitcous coating underneath its foliage, is very effective ; while the silvery appearance underneath its leaves is hardly percepible in young plants unless closely examined, but when the tree is older, and upwards of 20 ft. high, this glaucous ap- pearance is at once in striking and beautiful contrast with the colour of the branches on the upper side. The timber of this tree is said to be harder than that of the Common Silver Fir (Picea pectinata). It is rather premature to form a decided opinion as to the quality of its timber ; I how- ever venture to predict that it will never be of great com- mercial value, neither do I think that it will ever attain to the noble proportions that belong to the common variety in Britain. The latter tree grows to a height of upwards of 140 ft., girthing 16 ft. at 5 ft. above the ground, and containing from 450 ft. to 550 ft. of timber; whereas Picea Nordmanniana only grows to a height of 100 ft. in its native habitats. Silver Fir timber does not command a high price— at the present time it is selling at about Is. per ft. ; Larch timber is worth one-half more ; therefore Picea Nordmanniana can hardly be recommended to be planted with a view to its becoming a profitable timber tree; but, on the other band, for 8 rn THE GARDEN. [Jan. 6, 1877. its ornamental character, planted singly or in groups amongst other trees, it is one of the best of the Picea family. Longleat. Geokge Berry. RHODODENDRONS NOT AMERICAN PLANTS. In an article that appeared some time ago in a contemporary the impropriety of calliDg Rhododendrons "American plants" ia alluded to. Ehododendrou catawbiense, Ledums, Andromedaa, Kalmias, &c., the writer of the article in question states, have " very naturally acquired the name of American plants — a term still in use, but one that conveys quite a wrong idea, and had better be discarded." He then goe3 on to show that grand as the R. arborenm from India is, it "could not exist permanently except under the pro. tection of glass," consequently the hybrids from it are not American, because raised in England. I venture to ask what hardy Rhododendrons would be without catawbiense ? It was once asked, "who reads an American book?" The writer of the article in question does not, as we shall soon see. " The work," he says of hybridizing, "has been accomplished almost wholly in England, though the Belgians have attained considerable suc- cess in that direction. In any case these beautiful hybrids are all emphatically European, and in quite a preponderat. ing degree purely English, therefore the impropriety of calling them American plants. Hybridizing may have been practised, for aught we know, by Americans, but so far, in Eng. land, no results of it are known to exist." Now all thanks to the Waterers, the pioneers in Rhododendron and Azalea culture in Great Britain, and to Messrs. RoUisson, Standish, Noble, and other English cultivators, who have produced many iine varieties of this shrub : but where are the Belgian growei-s ? Did not the late Mr. Van Hontte produce B. fastuoaum flore-pleno, which Mr. Waterer in his last catalogue says should be in every collection .? In London's " Arboretum," under date of 1836, he gives a list of thirty. five varieties as the total produce of English hybrid Azaleas up to that time, including the Highclere seedlings, and ninety. five varieties of Belgian hybrids. And who produced the fine double Azaleas ? Van Houtte, in his catalogue of 1856, enumerates upwards of 200 varie. ties of Rhododendrons, and 100 of them are of Belgian origin. For aught the writer knows, so far, in England, as the results are known to exist, America may be a myth. One would suppose that in writing upon the progress of horticulture, particularly upon hybridization, Buch progress would not be confined to one country, unless there were no means of knowledge accessible ; but when we have had three or four horticultural periodicals published for forty years, it would seem that the information is ample, and not to be familiar with the subject is inexcusable for one who undertakes to write for the information of the public. Probably not one in ten of our American amateurs and nurserymen who saw Mr. Waterer's fine exhibition of Rhododendrons in the Centennial grounds in Philadelphia were at all surprised, unless it was at their great beauty, for all of us know what splendid varieties have been produced in England. Americans do not wait, like Micawber, for something to turn up, and in these days of rail, roads and telegraphs, for a writer to state that, for " aught he knows," such things do not exist because he has not seen them in England, only shows that though Greek may be at his tongue's end, he has yet much to learn in the way of horticulture. C. M. Hovey. Boston. ORNAMENTAL BIRCHES. Few trees are less fastidious as regards soils and situations than Birches ; they thrive in the lightest and most porous of loams, in peat, and often iu fissures of rocks on mouutain sides under circumstances iu which most other trees would fail. Of the known species and varieties the following may be regarded as the most distinct and most worthy the attention of planters of decorative trees :^ "White or Common Birch. (B. alba), so named from its beautiful silvery bark, is the species found wild iu the mountain glens in Scot, land, as well as all over the coldest and most inhospitable regions of Northern Europe, extending even to the verge of perpetual snow. In alluvial valleys and more sheltered districts it rises to the stature of a lofty tree, with a straight stem from 50 ft. to 70 ft. in height, amply furnished with long, wiry branches more or less pendulous, but on high exposed altitudes it dwarfs down to a mere bush. In Iceland and Lapland it forms the principal ligneous vegetation, clothing vast plains and valleys, and rarely rising higher than from 2 ft. to i ft. The leaves, which are light green when they unfold in spring, change to a darker tint in summer, and die off a bright yellow. The flowers, which come out in February or March, are individually very minute, but are produced in great profusion in pendulous catkins. Both in a wild and cultivated state this tree occasionally exhibits a curious malformation, which some authorities attribute to insect agency, some of the branches forming themselves into dense, bushy tufts resembling birds' nests, and having an interesting and not unpleasant effect, particularly in winter, when, from the absence of leaves, they are seen to full advantage ; country people call them " Witches' Besoms." The wood, which is white, close-grained, and susceptible of a high polish, is used in turnery, and a large quantity of it is annually made into charcoal. Though extensively planted on the margins of woods in bold exposed situa. tions as a shelter to more tender trees, the Common Birch and its varieties rank among the most ornamental of park or pleasure ground trees ; hence the frequency with which it is found occupying promi. nent places, both as single specimens and associated with other and rarer trees of denser growth and more sombre tints. The weeping form, which comes from seed along with that of a more upright growth, is probably the true species, as its bark is the more silvery of the two ; at all events it is the one most in request for decorative planting, and doubtless that which, from its singularly elegant out. line and the gracefulness of its spray-like branches, has so often attracted the attention of the poets. From a number of varieties in cultivation more or less distinct, the following may be regarded as the most interesting : — B. A. lACiNiATA PEN'DULA, known as the Fern. leaved Weeping Birch, is a very beautiful form which has the fine drooping branches of the species, with leaves deeply cut or laciniated. B. A. URTICJLFOLIA, 80 named from its leaves resembling some of the species of Nettle, has foliage deeply laciniated, serrated, and hairy, and therefore very distinct from that of the parent. It is quite as handsome as any of the other forms, and richly deserves a place among the choicer trees. B. A. PENDULA ELEGANS, sometimes called Youug's Weeping Birch, is a most desirable variety, differing only from the species in its more decidedly weeping habit, which it assumes while in a comparatively young state. It is one of the finest of oar ornamental trees, and cannot be too highly recommended to planters who, from limited space, have to confine themselves to a small selection. Isdian Birch (B. Bhojputtra). — The singular name of this species is spelt by some writers " Bajapootra." It was first sent home in 1840 from the Garwal Mountains, in Eamaon, where in valleys at high altitudes, it forms a straight-stemmed, bushy.headed tree of from 50 ft. to 70 ft. iu height. The leaves are oblong.aoute, prominently serrated, and somewhat larger than those of the Cooimon Birch. The bark is light brown, a feature which gives the tree a special value for decorative purposes. It cannot be regarded as the hardiest of the species, and should never be planted in cold, exposed situations ; in moderately sheltered districts, however, it is found to stand onr winters without injury, and to grow with great luxuriance. As its merits become better known it will no doubt be more exten- sively introduced into collections of ornamental trees. Sweet Birch or mountain Mahogany (B. lenta). — This species is indigenous to a vast area in North America, extending from Canada to Georgia, and attaining heights of from 50 ft. to 70 ft. It has been cultivated iu this country since about 1759. Its leaves are large, oordate.ovate, sharply serrated; and as they unfold in early spring they ai'e covered with a minute, light-coloured pubescence. The tlowers,'whioh are in larger catkins than those of the Common species, have a delicate aromatic fragrance ; they are at their best about the end of May. This tree furnishes the well-known Araeri. can Birchwood, so much in favour with cabinet makers, who employ it in making many articles of furniture. It grows here very freely, and has much of that light, graceful aspect so much admired in all the other species, to which, though distinct enough to give a feature in woodland scenery, either standing alone or grouped with other trees, it has a general resemblance. From its tendency to early growth, and consequent liability to suffer damage from spring frosts, it should be planted on a dry soil and in a moderately-sheltered situation. Dwarf Birch (B. nana). — ^This is a dwarf, shrubby species found wild on several of the mountains iu the Highlands of Scotland, iu Lapland, Sweden, Northern Russia, and in the colder parts of North America. In a wild state it is rarely seen above 3 ft. high ; but cul. tivated in our gardens it grows with great vigour, and reaches heights of from 4 ft. to 6 ft. The leaves are orbicular, orenate, and reticulated. The habit of growth is dense, the branches much di- vided into short wiry branchlets. It is a quaint little shrub, useful for planting in front of those of more robust growth, and admirably suited for rockeries. It thrives best in damp, peaty soil, but will grow tolerably well iu cool, stiff loam. Jax. 6, 1877.] THE GARDEN. Paper Birch (B. papyraoea). — This species is widely diffased over the colder regious of North America, where it grows to heights of from 60 ft. to 70 ft. It was first sent to Europe in 1750. The leaves are ovate-acuminate, serrated, and slightly downy on the under surface. The bark has a beautiful silvery whiteness, which is much admired, and is all the more conspicuous as the tree reaches a large size. The North American Indians make their canoes from the bark, stretching it in long wide strips over a wooden frame, sewing them together with the root fibres of the White Spruce, and render, ing the seams water-tight with the resin of the Balm of Gilead Fir. The wood is hard, very durable, and takes on a high polish. With ns it is a valuable tree for decorative planting, having a distinct-looking A Weeping Eirch; appearance, tlie branches being more upright than those of the other species. It requires a dry and sheltered situation, as, like the other American species, it has a tendency to start into growth early in spring. B. GRANDis, a variety of the above, is a magnificent tree, differing from the species in having larger leaves and a more upright and robust habit of growth. It is as yet comparatively little known, but well worthy of being extensively introduced into collections of the rarer ornamental trees. Poplar-leaved Birch (B. populifolia). — Another American species found in many parts of Canada and the United States, grow- ing in dry, rocky places, and rarely attaining greater heights than from 20 ft. to 30 ft. It was introduced in 1750. The leaves are deltoid-acuminate, sharply serrated, and smooth. The bark is of a light cinnamon colour. Its habit of growth is broad and bushy, much denser than that of the Common Birch. It forms a neat dwarf specimen tree, thriving under the same circumstances as the other American species. B. LACINIATA or INCISA IS a Very distinct form of it, the leaves being somewhat larger and much more deeply cut than those of the species. — " The Gardener." THE KITCHEN GARDEM. A Frenchman is occupying himself in making a perfame from Peach leaves, ■vrhicli promises to become deliciouB, DOES SOIL WEAR OUT? We sometimes hear it remarked that certain plots of soil are worn out and will not produce good crops, arid the question arises. Is it the soil or the cultivator who is at fault ? for the first and greatest requisite of good culture is to restore to the land the elements necessary for the growth of crops that have .been extracted or obtained from it by previous ones, so that it may not decrease, but rather increase in fertility. Although applicable to all crops, whether in field or garden, let us con- fine ourselves to the kitchen garden under spade cultivation, as most likely to suffer from a constant repetition of crops of the same kind ; and we have here a good practical illustration, for a portion of our kitchen garden has occupied the same site for hundreds of years, and is now as prolific as those portions that have been but recently enclosed. The natural soil is of considerable depth, and consists of a moderately light sandy loam, which will produce almost any kitchen garden crop in perfection, when first broken up, with but little addi- tion as regards manure ; but it is not at all the rule for such favourable conditions to exist on the spot selected forakitcheit garden. However, I never saw any soil so bad but that it was capable of yielding good results after careful cultivation, and in such cases old gardens are certainly preferable to new, as in soils of a stiff, retentive character it is a work of time to get depth of soil enough into a condition sufficiently friable to be suitable for many crops, while in the case of light, sandy soils the very opposite applications must be resorted to in order to give the necessary fertility and consistence to mature crops. When a choice of substances containing manurial qualities is at command, much may be done to modify the character of any kind of soil. On stiff retentive land in which clay or heavy loam predominates, such substances as ashes or burnt earth, sand or grit, peat, leaf-mould, and stable manure, either used separately or combined, will, with careful cultivation and exposure to the action of frost, be highly beneficial ; while light sandy soils that are usually poor in manurial matters, are equally benefited by the addition of clay or marl, cow and pig manure, salt, and such substances as tend to enrich the soil and retain moisture. When the above-mentioned sub- stances are abundant, it will still be well to bear in mind that every kind of vegetable refuse that collects in a garden con- tains more or less a valuable manure, which will, if retained, be available for future crops. Deep pits or excavations suffi- ciently large to contain all that collects in one year is the plan we adopt, and advantage should be taken of frosty weather to wheel or cart the wtiole quantity into one ridge, the most decayed portion going to the top, and covering the whole sur- face with a good coating of garden soil. On this we plant Vegetable Marrows and ridge Cucumbers the following May, and always get abundance of fruit until the frost cuts them down, when the whole mass will be in good condition for applj^- ing to stiff soils, or as a top-dressing to orchard trees, for which purpose it is preferable to fresh manure, as it is immediately available as food to the surface roots, and tends to keep them within reach of atmospheric influences, thereby inducing fruitfulness, and at the same time increasing the depth of fertile soil. Trenching or deep cultivation is an important operation, whereby the worst soils may be eventually converted into fertile ones, and those of naturally good formation may be rendered exceedingly prolific, and kept in that condition for an indefinite period. Trenching should be performed according to the nature of the soil to be operated on, for when it has not previously been deeply culti- vated, only a small portion of the bottom spit should be brought to the surface at first ; but if well broken up, and plenty of manure incorporated with it as the work proceeds, in a few years it will be fit to bring to the surface for exposure to the atmosphere, thus securing fresh food for succeeding crops. Old kitchen gardens, or any lands that have been long under cultivation, and on which large quantities of manure have been applied, and a limited rotation of crops has been obliged to be adhered to, are greatly benefited by bringing the bottom spit entirely to the top, whereby a partial rest is given to them, 10 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 6, 1877. and fresh food supplied. For any crop that is intended to remain any length of time, as, for instance. Strawberry or Raspberry beds, &c., it is advisable to trench deeply and manure heavily, both previous to planting and when they are worn out. When it is possible to select the season for trenching, autumn or early winter is preferable, as the surface then gets thoroughly pulverised before spring seed-time arrives, and a good seed-bed is worth all the extra labour it takes to secure by the future development of the crop. The interval between successive trenchings depends rery much on whether a rapid rotation of crops and high culture is adopted, or wider inter- vals for cultivation and lying fallow, with smaller applications of manure. A decided improvement as regards the cropping of kitchen gardens has been pretty generally observed within the last few years, more especially as regards the grouping of certain crops, whereby their special wants may be more readily attended to than -where a mixed system is followed. For instance, it was originally more the rule than the exception to see standard and bush fruit trees freely dotted along the mar- gins of every quarter in the garden, whereas the rule is now to group crops that are stationary for a given number of years, such as bush fruits, Raspberry, Strawberry, and Asparagus beds, and to leave the quarters devoted to annual cropping entirely open. There is no necessity for separating them into distinct gardens, for, on the contrary, a quarter or square that has been long under vegetable crops will be decidedly bene- fited by a course of fruit culture, and ivVe vcrad. The require- ments of various places necessitate distinct methods of crop- ping, and sheltered borders are obliged frequently to be cropped differently from the general routine of open quar- ters, in order to meet the demand for early vegetables. But a general rule may be advantageously observed, to follow heavy manuring and trenching with the most succulent moisture- loving crops, such as Cauliflowers, Cabbages, Peas, and Salads, and to succeed them with root crops that are apt to be rather injured than improved by fresh manures. There is a very general impression that crops in kitchen gardens of very long standing are more subject to disease and insect plagues than those in freshly broken up soil, but such is not our experience, as we find the presence or absence of such evils more affected by the variety of soil thau the length of time it has been under cultivation, that is, if ordinary precautions be taken to guard against them. James Gkooj:. HeiiliaM. Jerusalem Artichokes for Stock. — The caltivatiou ot Arti. chokea is being greatly extended in the Western States of America. Many cultivators prefer them to any other root for their cattle and hogs, and believe that they cause cows to yield a larger flow of nailk. After the fact that they are excellent food for stock. Artichokes owe their popularity in large part to their being raised with little trouble. They are .adapted to all soils, though the crop is more profitable from rich land. They are also very productive, yielding from 700 to 1000 bushels per acre. There is no insect enemy that makes the least impression on them, neither are they injured by the severe cold of northern winters, and rarely from the drought of summer. Like the Parsnip, they require no protection in winter. — C. NOTES AND QUESTIONS ON THE KITCHEN GARDEN. The Golden Trophy Tomato.— This is .a sport from the well-kDown Trophj-, but, it ii a strODger and more rapid grower, more productive, and ripens a week earlier, continuing until fro^t. The fruit is almost an exact counterpart of the Trophy in form and size, of a light yellow or straw colour, occasionally faintly streaked with red ; the flesh is Urin and solid, containing but few seeds. Its llavour is entirely different from that of any variety with which we are acquainted, being free from tne strong Tomato taste and fragraace which belong to most other varieties, having very little acidity, and when eaten raw without seasoning resembling in tiavour some varieties of Apples. [Tomatoes free from Tomato taste are doubtful additions to the family.] Tie Pigeon Berry (Phytolacca decandra), also called Poke and Garget Root, is not often planted in the vegetable gardens of this country, still, it is, according to " Moore's Itural," a valuable esculent, and deserves to be more extensively cultivated. It will tlirive in almost any soil and situation, and may be readily propagated by dividing the old roots or from seed. The young shoots are used as a substitute for or in the same manner as Asparagus, which they resemble in taste. The sprouts may aUo be cooked in the same manner as seakale, or as Spinach, for greens. There is also an annual variety, the Phytolacca, koown as P. eaculenta, but the former is the preferable species, on account of being a perennial. I=Xi^T E XjV. THE CATCHFLIES, OR SILENES. (WITH A COLOURED riGURE OF S. PUillLIO). Drawn by H. NOEL HUMPHREYS. The genus Silene — of one of the pigmy forms of which the accompanying plate (prepared from a piant in Messrs. Back- house's nurseries at York) gives a charming illustration — is one of considerable extent. Amongst the 200 species which it numbers there is one special section characterized by extreme dwarfuess and compact Mossy habit of growth. So distinct is it that I have often wondered that it has not been separated from the Silenes and re-christened under a special generic title of its own. The plants included in this small section are known by the name of Moss Campions or Cushion Pinks — both appropriate titles. The genus contains amongst its numerous annual and biennial species few showy plants, but among the perennials there are various species of great beauty. Altogether the genus is — so far, at least, as our pre- sent knowledge goes — confined to the Northern Hemisphere ; it is certainly true that there is one species figured many years ago in the Bot. Mag., and chronicled as a native of the Cape of Good Hope ; but the history accompanying it gives no particulars as to its introduction, and possibly its habitat may have been recorded in error; be this as it may, it stands as a solitary exception. Southern and Central Europe must be looked upon as the home of the Silene, though a few species extend westward to America, a few eastward to Siberia, while a sprinkling of them will be found on the southern shores of the Mediterranean and in Asia Minor. The English appella- tion (Catchfly) originated doubtless in the excreted viscid fluid given out by the flowering stems, constituting a means by which small flies are caught in numbers. Tlic Stemless Section. Pigmy Moss Campion (Silene pamilio). — So happy has the artist been in delineating the general outward appearance and beauty of this species that a detailed description is rendered almost unnecessary. To those who are familiar with oar native S. acanlis, a distinctive character will at once be obvious, in the leaves being longer, more linear in shape, and less dense and compact in arrange, ment. The flowers are mach larger, the petals being wider apart, and broken np towards the point into an irregularly divided and undulate margin ; the calyx is tubular, and in its deep chocolate, crimson colour adds its quota to the general beauty of the flowers. It is a native of high altitudes on the Alps of the Tyrol, where it blossoms and grows freely ; originally introduced in 1823, it, I fear, never became established in general culture, and was re-introdaced some years ago by Messrs. Backhouse, but is still very rare in culti- vation ; nor, indeed, would its condition when seen lead one to suppose that it possesses a tithe of the vigour ot the allied species from our own native mountains. In pot culture it completely failed with me. I appre- hend that the position best adapted for its cultivation would be in a sunny nook of a rockwork amongst a mixture of firm peaty soil and sand, well secured with nodules of broken stone; and being a hard, woody. rooting plant, I would suggest that far greater success would be attained by getting seeds rather than plants from its native habitat, which latter always suffer seriously in transit. By means of these seedlings a fair chance would be given for the young plants to adapt themselves to such a change of circumstances as must necessarily occur between the Tyrolean mountain tops as compared with our lowland, artificial rockeries. Stemless Moss Campion (3. acaulis). — This species possesEcs a hard, woody, branching root-stalk, the stem growth being exceed- ingly compact, each branchlet furnished with a dense arrangement of short, linear leaves, gradually tapering to the point, and ciliated at the base, but devoid of pubescence ; the flowers are solitary, on stems so short as just to raise them above the dense foliage; the petals are entire as to their margin, and slightly notched at the points. The usual colour is a deep rosy-purple. Every one who has seen this plant in its native habitat, whether on the mountain tops of Wales, Cumberland, or in Scotland, must have been struck with its wonderful beauty in the month of June, when it forms a perfect carpet of blossom — here nestling high np amongst the broken fragments of rock, there spreading out in soft, cushion-like masses — thoroughly eudorsing the appropriateness of its popular title. Cushion Pink. Under ordinary garden culture, to which it is easily amenable, it blossoms in May, but rarely are its flowers produced in r/;e Ga,r,\. ■ -^-^n -, 'J^% ^\"nV. --Mn-VV rA7''C,H - Ki -m' JAS. 6, 1877.] THE GARDEN. 11 Buoh wondrous profusion as in its native wilds. This plant may be readily increased by division of the tufty roots, or by seeds, which it produces sparingly. The flowers have a tendency to become diceoious, a characteristic which is occasionally to be found both in this genus and the closely allied Lychnis. There is a white variety— not uncommon — whose flowers are somewhat smaller in size. Emerald Cush.ioii Campion (S. exscapa). — Literally trans, lated, this specific term is synonymous with that of the previous species; but, in fact, the flowers are so far stemless that they are perfectly embedded amongst the dense mass of foliage — their bright colours resembling rubies in an emerald setting. Possessing many of the characteristics of the former species, of which, indeed, it is considered by some authors as a mere variety, it is distinguished by the leaves being broader at the base, more fleshy, and devoid of the ciliated hairs ; the petals also are narrower and devoid of the emarginate indentation at the top. In growth it is equally free, and retains a much brighter green colour as regards the whole plant throughout the season than does its close ally, S. acanlis, whose representative type it appears to be in the more northern regions, for it occurs in Norway and Lapland more abundantly than in the Swiss Alps, though by no means absent in the latter. I have been informed by travellers who have seen both species growing side by side in their native habitats that they may be distinguished with the utmost ease, even by a botanically uneducated eye, the same differ- ence being noticeable under caltivatiou. I have come to the conclu- sion, therefore, that we are quite justified in recognizing its specific identity. The Many-flowered Section. Four-toothed Catchfly (S. qaadridentata). — A diminutive and wonderfully floriferous plant, with small, lanceolate leaves, each blossom of the purest white, supported on stems about 3 in. high, and each petal regularly notched into four distinct blunt divisions or teeth at its extremity, the whole forming a tuft of unsurpassed love- liness and purity. This charming plant is a native of the Alps, and, though considered somewhat delicate, is perfectly hardy, but subject to the influence of damp rather than of cold. It seeds freely, and will readily establish itself by this means in the chints and crevices of the rockery. I may here note that seedling plants estab- lished in small pots will survive the winter where large, vigorous- growing plants will succumb. S. (JUADRIDENTATA var. (juADRiFiDA, Considered by some as a dis- tinct species, is, I fear, only a slender form with smaller flowers, and the petals more deeply notched. When raised from seeds, which it produces equally free with the last species, amongst its progeny all sorts of graduations between the two types will be found, for which reason I think it better to consider it only as a variation. Alpine Catchfly (S. alpestris). — This is recognised by some as a British plant, one or two specimens having been seen on one of the Scotch mountains ; the authority, however, appears doubtful, and any one who is familiar with the persistent habit of the root-spread- ing propensities of the plant, can easily understand that if once established it would be very diflioult to eradicate. In cultivation it forms a mass of underground stems, from which arise a few inches above the ground, tufts of smooth, lanceolate, deep green leaves, tinged with a chocolate shade. The flowers are borne on branching cymes 5 in. or 6 in. high, and are pure white, each petal being neatly and sharply notched into four lobes at the extremity, of larger size, but very similar in appearance to the previous species ; the flower- stems are covered with dark, glandular hairs that exude a viscid fluid. There is a narrow-leaved form that is sometimes met with under the title of S. saxatilis, but that species, as described by Sims, and figured in the Bot. Mag., belongs to quite a distinct section. The plant under notice is found in abundance on the mountains of Central Europe ; it is equally well adapted for the front r.ank of the herbaceous border as for the rockery, having a vigorous habit of growth, and increasing readily by division and by seeds. This, and the two preceding species, are sometimes to be met with under the distinct generic title of Heliosperma, arising from the fact that the seeds are flat, circular in shape, and surrounded by a membranous ring, finishing off with a ciliated margin ; hence the applicability of the name, which, literally translated, means " sun-seed." Elizabethan Catchfly (3. Elizabethse).— This charming plant, from whose woody root. stock arises a mass of floriferous stems to a height of 8 in. or 9 in., has its stems covered throughout with a viscous pubescence, which is especially pronounced in the upper por- tion. The flowers are fully 1 in. in diameter, of a bright crimson colour, the limb or expanded portion of each petal being broad, very slightly bilobed, and irregularly notched round the margin. In general aspect it reminds one of a very compact-flowered Clarkia, with which its tint of colour exactly corresponds. It is a native of the Italian Alps and the Tyrol, and blossoms in July. Its period of flowering is of considerable duration, owing, as in the preceding species, to the successional rather than to the simultaneous expansion of the flowers. It is a matter of no little surprise that so lovely a plant should con. tinue to be so long a comparative stranger in our collections as it hitherto has been, although introduced some fourteen or fifteen years ago. Saxifrage Catchfly (3. Saxifraga). — A slender-growing plant forming elegant lax tufts. Tbe stems (single-flowered) attain a height of 8 in. or 9 in. ; the petals are deeply notched, and, though the individual flowers are not showy, when combined in numbers they have a very effective appearance. They are French white in colour. Saxifrage Catchay (S. Saxifraga). and are produced in succession, extending through the months of Juno and July. Native of the south of France- It is equally well adapted for the border as the rockery, growing freely in any ordinary garden soil. Being of a very tufty growth, it should be increased by seeds rather than by division. Rock Catchfly (S. rupestris). — Very closely related to the pre- ceding, differing chieSy in its narrower leaves and more compact growth. It is a native of the Apennines and the Vosges, where it abounds in dry, exposed localities. Late-blooming Catchfly (S. SohaftEe). — A procumbent plant, producing from a tufted crown numerous leafy stems bearing large pink flowers toward their extremities ; its leaves are ovate, lanceolate, sparsely covered with a short, somewhat rigid greyish pubescence It flowers freely in August and September, when few other repre- sentatives of the genus are to be found. A native of the Caucasus, Late-blooming Catchfly (S. Schaftje). and, although making an admirable rock plant especially valuable for its late-blooming proclivities, it answers equally well in the mixed border. It may be increased by division of the root or, still better, by seeds, which it produces very freely. Pennsylvanian Catchfly (3. pennsylvauica). — A similarly dwarf plant to the preceding, of branching, semi-procumbent habit, the lower leaves of which are lanceolate, gradually tapering down to the base of a long petiole, and margined with short, somewhat rigid ciliDO J they have also a slightly glaucous colour ; the upper leaves are few in number, linear-lanceolate, and widening towards the base, where they become almost connate ; the inflorescence is loosely fasciculate, the arrangement, general appearance, and colour of the flowers reminding one a good deal of Phlox ovata. The calyx is almost cylindrical and viscously pubescent; the petals are broad towards the apex, and, in place of baiag deeply notched, they are 12 THE GARDEN. [Jax. 6, 1877. almost truncate, that is, cnt nearly square across, and slightly crenn. lated along the terminal margin ; the stamens and styles are scarcely exserted ; of the former, one-half are included within the flower, while the other half juet protrudes beyond the narrow throat. As the name indicates, it is a native of Pennsylvania, and its rosy- pink flowers are produced in the months of June and July. This species is rarely met with in cultivation, at least I have not even seen it for the last twenty years. The Inflated- calyx Section. Caucasian Catchfly (S. Zawadski). — This English appellation I have adopted from the fact that it is sometimes met with in culti. vation under the speciOc name of S. caucasica, and being a native of the Caucasus, though by no means the only one, it is an improve- ment on the hard Russian patronymic which I believe is its authentic descriptive title. It is a dwarf-growing plant with broadly-lanceolate, shining, light green leaves ; the flower-branches are devoid of the viscid secretion so characteristic of the genus, as indeed are all the plants in this section. They acquire a height of about 9 in. The calyx is loose and inflated, with reticulated markings, and the flowers are white, deeply emarginate, and large in proportion to the size of the plant. It makes alike a good rockery or border plant, thrives well in any garden soil, and is much appreciated by slugs, who often devour the young shoots to the very core during the winter. It blooms in May and June. Sea-side Catchfly (S. maritima). — This plant is supposed by some to be nothing more than a mere variety of S. inflata, which occurs frequently iu inland hedgerows; but I hold that it is essentially dis- Double Sea-side Catclitiy (S. maritima, fl.-pl.) tinct from that species, having grown them both side by side for many years without the slightest variation in the typical characters, the one (maritima) being essentially procumbent, the other (inflata), if obliged to assume that character, evidently does it against its will, being naturally erect, but dependent on adjacent support to counteract its own inherent weakness of f tern. The leaves are ovate, lanceolate, and spathulate, of a decidedly glaucous hue; the stems individually are few-flowered, but are produced in such numbers that the plant becomes a trailirg mass of white blossoms; the calyx is broadly inflated, and the limb of the petals is widespread and slightly bilobed ; the flowers are much larger than in S. inflata. A native of Britain, and, though truly a sea-side plant in every sense of tlie word, like the Thrift or Sea Pink, it is sometimes met with along- bide of our mountain rills, and under those conditions has received the title of S. alpina. The glaucous character is far from being so marked in the Alpine as in the sea-side plant. S. MAKITIMA KOSEA is an exceedingly pretty rose-coloured variation, with whose origin I am quite unacquainted ; besides the difference iu the colour of the flower it is less rambling in habit. S. MARITIMA PLENA. — The double form, if it flower less freely than the normal type, amply compensates for it by the enormous size of individual blooms, which are extremely double. This variety makes a lovely rock plant, and ought always to be placed in such a position that its stems, borno down by the weight of blossom, may hang over the lodge of a rook; otherwise, it planted in a border, they get besprinkled with soil after every shower of rain. Producing no seeds, from the fact that all the parts of the flower are metamor. phosed into petals in quite a wholesale manner, it retains its blossoms longer in perfection, and the flowering season extends over a much longer period than in the single form. It should be increased by cuttings struck in the spring in a gentle heat, care being taken to anticipate the removal of the cuttings by placing the plant itself in heat so as to start it into growth. The plant does not readily divide. Fimbriated Catchfly (S. fimbriata). — This is an erect, strong, growing plant, whose flowering stems attain a heightof at least 2 ft. ; the leaves are broadly ovate, cordate, and sessile ; the flower-stema are terminated by compact, branching cymes ; the flowers are white, and their chief beauty consists in the finely cnt. fimbriated edges of the petals, which have a very elegant, tassel-like appearance; the stems rise from a dense, compact root-stalk with such rapidity in early summer, that if not watched and staked in time they are liable to break over ; and if they have not broken completely away in the first instance, they are still more liable to do so when raised from their prostrate position. It is a good border plant, and is a native of the Caucasus. Floverx Erect, in La.c -branching Cymes. Cut-leaved Catchfly (S. laeiniata). — An erect-growing plant, attaining a height of 15 in. or 18 in. The leaves are large, ianceo- late, and acute, the whole plant covered with a short pubescence ; the calyx is long, cylindrical, and rose-coloured ; the petals are divided through the entire extent of limb into four linear segments each ; the flowers are of a crimson-scarlet, varying to orange. scarlet, and, being large and laxly arranged, they have a very pretty and attractive appearance. It is scarce in cultivation owing to the fact that it does not seed freely — possibly our summers lack the intense heat and brilliancy of sunshine that it enjoys in its native habitat at the foot of Mt. Orizaba, in Mexico. Virginian Catchfly (S. virginica). — This claims a very close relationship to the foregoing species, diilering chiefly in its less erect habit, its broader leaves, and the presence of a rigid pubescence that gives the whole plant a roughness to the touch which the other does possess ; moreover, the petals, though deeply notched in the centre, are only slightly divided, while the singularly linear divisional chs. racter is absent altogether in this species. The flowers are purplish, red in colour, and aie produced in July and August. It is a native of the Southern States, and, culturally speaking, should have a damp sub-soil and full exposure to all the sunshine obtainable. Royal Catchfly (S. regia). — An erect-growing plant, attaining, with its flowering stems, a height of from 3 ft. to 3 ft. ; the entire plant is pubescent, the leaves lanceolate, acuminate, and scat, tered sparsely over the plant ; the petals are very narrow, lanceolate, and undivided at the point — in this respect it is almost exceptional in the genus : the flowers are an intense scarlet, remind, ing one of Lobelia fulgens. It was discovered by Nuttall in the neighbourhood of St. Louis. I question if the true species be at present in cultivation, nor, indeed, has it been for years; there ia, however, a comparatively worthless annual cultivated under that name, which belongs to a different section of the genns. The HhriMi/ Section. Shrubby Catchfly (S. fmticosa). — This evergreen plant acquires in its native habitat all the character and appearance of a neat and somewhat compact-growing shrub. The leaves are densely arranged, obovate, lanceolate, and distinctly acuminate, gradually narrowing down to the base, are of a leathery consistency, and of a bright and cheerful green colour ; the flowers are large, of a deep rosy pink, produced on a short, three-branching cyme, and are developed in the months of May and June. Under favourable ciroum. stances, where a too vigorous grovfth is not induced, it flowers all the summer through. Indigenous to Sicily and Southern Italy, where it affects the dry fissures of the rocks. For ordinary border culture it can scarcely be considered hardy, but its natural habitat may readily be imitated on the rockery ; and, under such circumstances, it makes a persistent and moderately free-blooming plant. It ia sometimes known under the specific title of S. arborescens. Tlie Semi-shriilhy Section. Tartarian Catchfly (S. tatarica) is of a semi-shrubby character, that is, it forms a thick, woody base, whence arise during summer its erect, flowering stems, which assume a spike-like appearance. The lower leaves are broadly lanceolate and smooth, almost sessile, and ciliated at the base ; those of the inflorescence, which attains a height of from 2 ft. to 3 ft., become gradually narrower. The flowers are of a yellowish-white colour, and are produced on short secondary spikes in such abundance as to give a somewhat stiff contour to the entire plant. Its flowers expand fully towards night, but, unlike some other not very showy species that possess this peculiar habit, they are devoid of any perfume — I allude especially to S. saxatilia and S. bupleuroides, the fragrance of both of which is of the most delicate character. S. CILIATA and S. Gk.bfferi, if not, as at present cultivated, identical, bear a very close relationship to each other. They both Jah. 6, 1877.] THE GARDEN. 13 form many branching, compact-trailing stems, covered witk obovate- lanceolate leaves, which narrow rather abrnptly into the petiole. In S. ciliata the margin of the petioles and the base of the leaves are distinctly ciliated, much more so than in the allied species ; in both the upper Seaves assume a linear character, and the flowers are white, produced in threes or fours, on long foot-stalks ; the petals are deeply bifid. These plants are more remarkable for neatness of habit than for the abundance and beauty of their flowers. Bolander's Catchfly (S. Bolanderi).— With this species, which I must class as a nondescript, I bring my enumeration to a close. My reason for giving it this title is that though it twice flowered with me raised from seeds introduced by my friend, Mr. Thompson, of Ipswich, owing to the depredation of slugs I never saw a perfect leaf. It blossomed, nevertheless, and a noble flower it produced more than 1 in. in diameter, on a stem, about 3 in. high, of a delicate pinkish-white colour, each petal being cut in the form of a trident. It would be rash with a plant so mutilated as mine was to assume that the true character was represented. I must therefore leave it to Mr. Thompson to supplemeut my article by his experience in this plant's general character and culture. James C. Niven. Botanic Garden, HiM. THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN. Br THOMAS BAINES. Greenhouses in Winter. — Those amateurs who in a great measure attend to their own greenhouses at this season find the weather a continual source of anxiety, especially when their houses are small, as in such the heat fluctuates in accordance with the ex. ternal temperature much quicker than in larger structures, which necessarily contain a greater body of air. Bright nitrhts, with the wind from a northerly or easterly direction, are always doubtful, and often cause hesitation betwixt taking the trouble to light a fire with the objectionable consequences of making the house too warm should no frost occur, and ruining the health of the plants should the tem. perature sink so low as to admit frost. Both these extremes onght to be avoided if possible, especially the latter, but nevertheless should greenhouse plants happen to get frozen, much may be done to mitigate the ill effects, provided prompt action be taken. The first thing to start with is to set the fire going as quickly as possible to raise the temperature of the house before the sun comes upon the glass ; and as soon as the thermometer inside indicates a degree or two above freezing, syringe the plants freely overhead with cold water, so as to wet the whole o£ the frozen leaves and stems, keeping the fire going briskly until the temperature rises to 40°, and main- taining it at that point till the leaves have become quite dry. So treated, many plants that at first would appear to be hopelessly injured, will suffer comparatively little ; at the same time it is not advisable to submit tender plants to frost if it can be avoided. Seed-sowing, &c. — Satisfactory results in gardening matters, more than most others, depend upon a timely commencement of operations, especially in seed-sowing, planting, cutting striking, &c.; for instance, to have a crop of any spring vegetable ready for use by a particular time, or, in other words, as early as the season will permit, in any given locality, it is indispensable that there should be no delay at the commencement of operations. Amateurs who are interested in gardening pursuits frequently express their surprise when they see the earliness and excellence of the different varieties of spring vegetables with which Covent Garden Market is supplied : I am not now alluding to the produce of the Channel Islands, the south of Fiance, Spain, Portugal, the Azores, or other favoured climes, bat to such as are grown by English market gardeners, who regulate their operations so as never to allow any delay to occur in putting in the ground seeds or plants for their early crops, further than the exigencies of the weather in different seasons influencing the soil in particular localities ; in this matter amateurs would do well to imitate the practice of those market growers who are guided by the early or late nature of the soil with which they have to deal. To have early Cabbages, Cauliflowers, Potatoes, or Peas a week or two before one's neighbour is able to secure them enhances the pleasure of growing them, independently of the agreeable change they afford from the old winter productions. We very seldom experience a winter when the all but incessant rains have rendered the soil less favourable for receiving the seeds of early crops of Peas and Broad Beans than the present ; and where the land is naturally heavy and adhesive, it will be advisable to wait for some time longer befure putting in the seeds of these vegetables, for although so hardy as to bear any amount of frost, they will rot if the soil hold au excess of moisture. Peas. — This season, even in light and moderately dry land, it will be advisable to take a little more precaution than usual to insure the success of the first sowing of Peas. The driest portion of ground at command should bo selected, independently of its sheltered posi- tion or otherwise ; this latter is of less importance than a dry bed. Instead of the usual shallow trenches being made, I should recom- mend the soil being drawn in ridges about 8 in. high, flat at the top, and 12 in. broad ; they should be made by drawing as much of the soil from the whole surface of the bed as will form these ridges at a distance of 3^ ft. apart for such varieties as William the First or Sangster's Number One. Sow on the top of the ridges, covering with about 3 in. of any sandy, open material, such as old potting soil covered with 1 in. of ashes ; or if this be not at hand, the ordinary garden soil mixed with one-third of its bulk of sifted coal ashes is a good substitute. As a precaution against mice it will be advisable to coat the Peas with red lead, or to lay under the covering of soil 1 in. of Gorse chopped flne on the top of them— where this can be had it is preferable to the red lead, as it helps to keep the seed dry until it has time to germinate. The lead is applied by simply sprinkling the Peas with water, just sufficiently moistening the surface to make the powdered lead stick when shaken over them, at the same time stirring them so as to cover the whole, and allowing them to remain for a day to dry before sowing. It is advisable to sow thicker at this early season ; a quart of these early kinds will be found sufficient for a row about 18 yards in length. If the situation be at all exposed, as soon as the Peas appear above ground take as much more soil from between the rows as will form a ridge on each side of the Peas high enough to break the force of the wind. Do not tread on the land more than can be avoided, or in its present wet state much mischief will be drne. Should the ground have been dug early in the autumn, as recommended in previous numbers of The Garden, such crops as the above^may be put in without trampling upon the soil at all by simply using a few boards about 10 in- or 12 in. wide that will reach across the bed ; the little extra labour involved in their use will be amply repaid in the produce. Some will say, defer sowing until later when the ground is drier, but late sowing means late gathering ; and even if a long frost should follow the seed being put in, it will be safe it the above method be followed. One of the best crops of early Peas I ever had was sown in this way the last week in the preceding year, after which a frost ensued that pre- vented their appearance above ground for ten weeks. Broad Beans, where required early, should also now be sown. If the land be at all inclined to be wet, sow on the surface and cover as recommended for Peas, in which way it is evident the seed will be much better able to resist the effects of the excessive moist condition of the soil. In heavy, retentive ground, and in localities where the spring is backward, it is far preferable to defer sowing for at least a month. Radislies. — Of these some should likewise now be sown. Choose a piece of land that slopes towards the sun. If such be not to hand, the slope should be made by moving 6 in. of the soil from the south to the opposite side of the ground. The advantage of the land lying in this way is, that the rains will run more quickly off, and the influence of the sun will be brought earlier to bear upon the seed. Level and rake the surface, sow the seed, and rake it in very slightly, or, what will be still better, just cover it with flne dry soil ; then lay on about 3 in. of stable litter or straw, putting on the top a few Pea or Runner Bean sticks to keep the wind from blowing it about. It a bed of the short-topped variety and the Olive.shaped kind be sown at the same time, the latter will be ready for use by the time the former is consumed. I have gone so far into detail in connection with the matter of sowing the above vegetables for the guidance of amateurs who have not had an opportunity of noticing how different the results are in a wet, season when means are taken to place the seeds in a position that will insure their being comparatively dry, to what takes place when they are in contact with a mass of soil from which the water has less chance of escaping. Cauliflower.— In the south o£ the kingdom, on the coast, and in the more favoured localities, where Cauliflowers have a reasonable chance of standing through the winter, when planted at the foot of a south wall they will be more likely to survive the sttacks ot frost if boards be placed before them so as to break the force of the wind, and above all to shield them effectually from the sun when frozen, for they are frequently killed through the effects ot a rapid thaw in the middle of the day being followed by the evening's returning frost. A little reUection upon this will convince any one that rcpeti- tions of such extremes are much more trying to vegetable life that is not quite hardy, than being for a time continuously frozen. It is necessary to take the same precaution in keeping the sun from young Cauliflowers. When inflames or under hand-lights a mat should be 14 THE GARDEN. [Jax. 6, 1877. thrown over the frame during the time that the snn is on the glass, and if a few Spruce, Yew, or any evergreen branches be placed firmly in the soil, in order to prevent the wind from disturbing them on the sunny side of the plants, they may remain until the frost is over. Lettuce, although not quite so tender as Cauliflower, should be similarly treated. Potatoes.— Early kinds of these, from the present unusually warm weather, are commencing to sprout early ; to prevent the sprouts becoming blanched and drawn up weakly, the Potatoes should be put in single layers in shallow boxes and placed where they will get a fair amount of light, and be out of the reach of frost ; under a plant stage in a greenhouse, or in any empty apartment with a window in it, these necessary conditions will be secured. Seakale and Khubarb. — More roots should be put in to force ; if the bed of leaves recommended for the purpose some time ago has been used, the heat by this time will be too much expended to induce growth and keep out frost; to remedy this surround the bed with 2 ft. of fermenting stable manure, letting it come half-way up the sides of the frame. When the first forced roots have yielded all the produce of which they are capable, if there be a deficiency of stock for making new plantations, they may be put in any spare corner and covered with ashes to keep them from frost till planting time comes. GARDEN WORK FOR EVERY DAY. EXTRACTS FROM MY DIARY. By W. denning. Jan. 8. — Cleaning Watercress stream. Sowing Siveet Peas Under the protection of a hedge; also in pots; also Mustard and Cross regularly. Shitting Nemophila into flowering pots. Potting autumn-struck Heliotropes and putting them into first Peach-house ; a'so more Potatoes for frames. Putting in a few Senecio cuttings iu order to get np stock ; also Vine eyes, Croton, Scutellaria, Petunia, and Calceolaria cuttings in heat (this being the best time for spring striking). Putting Dahlias into heat for cuttings. Planting stand- ard Apple trees. Penny Royal, Fennel, Tarragon, Chives, and La. vender, and transplanting Lettuce. Putting Figs into heat, plunging them and keeping them at 58' at night. Putting into slight heat a few Wallflowers weekly ; also ICalmia latifolia. Patting in 100 Keen's Seedling Strawberry plants weekly, and Endive once or twice a week according to the demand ; also more Asparagus, throwing away first crop. Taking first Hyacinth in full flower out of heat. Putting Salvia patens into heat for cuttings. Placing Potatoes in loft very thinly to sprout for planting. Looking over Pelargoniums again and picking off damped leaves. Filling a pit with manure for cuttings. Putting leaves and manure into Cucumber-pit. Pruning late Vinery, except shoots on which Grapes are hanging. Gathering Czar Violets from pots. Jan. 9.— Digging ground for Onions. Sowing some seeds of Viola corouta, putting them into heat, and covering them with glass ; also a box full of Red and White Celery ; also Wood's Early Frame Radishes in pit, to come in middle of March. Finishing potting Dendrobiom nobile, and beginning with others, using very fibrous peat. Planting Lilacs and Honeysuckle. Treading in newly planted Linrels, and watering several which were dry. Planting Lavender and Wallflowers. Patting a few Forget-me-nots in slight heat. Getting Camellias to conservatory, and re-airangirg it. Laying turf wherever requiied. Syringing late Peach trees with Tobacco-water for fly. Making leaf.bed for Carrots and Potatoes. Pruuing old dwarf Apple trees. Jan. 10- — Potting all Odontoglossums except a few nrarly in Flower, using Sphagnum and peat ; also some Sweet Briers. Putting in a good quantitj' of Carnation cuttings for blooming in October ; also Fuchsias in heat for cuttings. Planting some young Goose- berry trees. Top-dressing and potting Cattleya, using best peat. Giving Peach trees in pots some Standen's manures. Carting in soil (still loam) for Melons. Putting in Feverfew and Chrysanthemum cuttings. Jan. 11. — Sowing seed of Salvia patens; also French Beans for second main Vineries. Potting Hollyhock cuttings. Putting in cuttings of Achyranthes and of Tree Carnations. Planting Hype, ricnm calycinum under Oak trees, where they grow well. Beginning to plant Rhubarb. Shifting herbaceous Calceolarias into their flowering pots. Covering up Celery with litter during frost only. Giving Mart'chal Niel Roses in pots a rich top-dressing ; also Oranges. Manuring Vinery and Peach-house borders with best manure, adding bones also to that of the Vinery, and covering all with some long litter. Filling another two-light frame with soil for Carrots and Radishes. Cleaning Creepers in conservatory. Jan. 12. — Sowing Syon House Cucumbers, and keeping them at 6.5^ at night, 70^ by day. Potting Potatoes, and placing them in Fig-house to sport. Potting oil Cucumbers and Melons that were sown. Giving Roses planted. out in conservatory a top-dressing and watering. Plants ready for house decoration :— Lily of the Valley, Narcissus, Heliotropes, Hyacinths, Tulips, Callas, Sweet Briers, Deutzias, Scented-leaved and Scarlet Pelargoniums, and Mignonette. Jan. 13. — -Potting imported bulbs of Lilium auratum, and placing them in a cold, shady house ; also some yellow Calceolarias for early flowering. Pricking off seedlings ot Lobelia speciosa. Planting Hoteia japonica, dividing the roots ; also Daphne Cneoram and Schizostylis, and dividing them into small species. Patting in another forcing of Rhubarb. Looking over Apple and Onion stores. Orchids. For the next two months the Orchid grower will not have any great operations to perform, and daring that time he must look carefully after the cleanliness of hia plants, frequently examining each to see if the progress be satisfactory, and if not, attempting to better their condi. tion by changing their position, &c. When an Orchid commences to suffer from bad health, a good remedy is to bring it nearer the glass, either by suspending it, or placing it ou a shelf, which treatment will usually be followed by beneficial results. On account of the mild weather through the early part of December the temperatures of the cooler houses have not often been down to those recommended, but that is of little consequence : the temperatures previously given were intended as a guide and warning against exces- sive heat, and a few degrees above would not be injnrions so long as they were caused by external warmth. The temperatures for January should be as nearly as possible those given for December. It must be borne in mind that pure air is the food and life of plants as well in winter as in summer, and that this is only to be obtained by judi- cious ventilation ; therefore opportunities of giving air when it is clear outside should never be lost, but the ventilators should never be opened when the air in the house is considered (as in foggy weather) better than that outside. — James O'Bkie.v. PLAN OF THE GAEDENS AT BAGATELLE. Sir Richakd Wallace's garden in the Bois de Boulogne is a very distinct one, and has some of the best features of ■what the French call the English garden — we speak not of the portion near the house, which belongs to quite another style. In the picturesque portion of the grounds there are singularly quiet and charming scenes, and some pretty views from them into the adjacent country. Aji examination of the plan will show several long and quiet glades with well-planted groves and groups of trees. The views from many parts of the walks around are varied aud pleasing. It may be noticed that the curvilinear walks, which are so ofiensive in the modern French garden, are not seen here. The walks are made to suit the grounds, whereas in the modern French garden the grounds are usually made to conform to ridiculous series of curved walks generally much more numerous than are needed. Here indeed, too, a few walks might be dispensed with, but the grounds are very extensive, and it may be seen by reference to the plan that several of the long walks pass through groves and are in them concealed. The fringes of these groves may be glanced at with advantage by such as are trying to modify the stiff and harsh outlines which garden plantations too often show. The grounds contain one of the most artistic small rock-gardens in France ; it is on the margin of the water, and is very prettily clad with rock shrubs and creepers. A Laud of Cultivators.— ■Upwards of 5,500,000 men ai'e reported in the census of 1870 as engaged in agriculture in the United States— 373, i.'iS in the State ot New York alone, 375, R17 in Illinois, 39S,267 in Ohio, and Ijetween 2lXV'0 ) and 300,003 each amonE; other Northern or Middle States, in Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia. Frame Coverings.— What is the best and lightest protection for the glass of frames which could be easily made ia an out-of-the-way district ? I have hitherto used laths covered with mats and thatched wich straw, but their weight after heavy rains becomes too much lor the glass.— South Iialt. Jan. 6, 1877.] THE GARDEN. 15 BEFEEENCES TO THE PLAN. 1. Rustic Summer-honee. 3. Grotto. 3. Otelisk. 4. Rustic Bridge. 6 & 11. Banks of the Lake, e i !1, Entrances to the Grotto. IS. Tomb Island. 7. Cliinese Bridge. l(i. Tunnel 8. Lake. 10. Cascade. 12. Rock-house. 13. Etatue. 11. Bridge of Palladio. 17. Tomb of Pharaon. 18. Indian Pavilion. 19. Shed. 20. Entrance to the Glacier. 21. Tower of the Paladins. 23. Turnstile. 23. Triangular Bridge. PLAN OP SIR RICHARD WALLACE'3 GARDEN IX THE BOIS DE BOULOGNE. 16 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 6, 1877. THE FRUIT GARDEN. CULTURE OP GOOSEBERRIES AND CURRANTS. WuY take the trouble to renovate old trees— it may be asked —when young ones can be raised in their place ? To which the answer is, that young trees cannot be got up in one year, or even two or three, and there ai-e no doubt many who would be glad to know how to bring old and feeble bushes back to a state of vigour and fertility when they are not prepared to raise a fresh stock of young trees, perhaps to leave them to another tenant as soon as they are becoming useful. We have ourselves reason for being well satisfied with the results of " renovation " in very old subjects, such, perhaps, as would have been considered fit for the rubbish-heap only, but which have for many a year since yielded the most abundant crops. In fact, though young trees, two-year-olds from the nursery, were planted at the same time, the old ones still bear the main crop. A dozen years ago we found these old bushes growing as_ hedges round the vegetable quarters," the Gooseberries being planted in some places against espalier fruit trees, which they hid altogether. None of them, we should think, were less than thirty years of age, and most of them were probably more. They were in the last stage of feebleness, especially the Red Currants, some of which were quite beyond redemption. There were about one hundred and fifty bushes altogether, and as they had to be removed, and we could ill afford to dispense with them at the time, poor as they were, it was determined to give them another chance. With this view, a north border for the Gooseberries, and a quarter for the Currants, were trenched over in November. Afterwards holes from 6 ft. to 8 ft. apart— for the bushes were large— were taken out, and into the bottom of each was dug about a barrowful of good soil or decayed manure, and about as much was reserved for filling over the roots when planting was done. Before November was out all the bushes were taken up without any balls to their roots, for such could not be had with them, and trans- ferred to their new quarters, mulching them well with rotten leaves. At the same time they were pruned, and had their centres opened out by the removal of many of the old limbs which had become much too crowded. The following season, about midsummer, a few of the Gooseberries withered and died, and ever since one or two have gone off in the same way annually, owing to old age, no doubt ; but, with these excep- tions, all have done well. None of the Black Currants died, and only one or two of the Red ones did; but the old limbs of the latter kept going off from time to time, and were replaced by young ones from the bottom, so that most of these are now composed of new branches from the old roots. All are now as vigorous looking almost as our young bushes, and appear as if they were good for any length of time. It may be stated that the bushes bore fruit, but not of large size, the summer after they were transplanted, and plentifully the year follow- ing. These remarks, it is hoped, will show that old trees may be dealt with summarily, and without fear, when it is desirable to renovate them ; but, of course, it is not always needful to transplant, though that is undoubtedly the best way to give them a fresh start. Still, top-dressing the roots with fresh, rich soil or manure will invigorate them wonderfully, but it must be done liberally and continued annually for a time. The advantage of transplanting is that the trees make a fresh lot of roots altogether, and they have plenty of room to grow in the new and unoccupied soil. Young Trees. All the Ribes class are easily raised from cuttings, but, as nice young bushes two or three years old can be had from the nursery for a comparative trifle per hundred, it is cheaper and more convenient to bay them. As all require the same culture as regards soil and situation, &c., it is not necessary to speak of Gooseberries and Currants separately, e.xcept in the matter of pruning, which will be noticed by-and-by. Before speak- ing of buying, however, the preparation of the ground must first be alluded to. Any ordinary good garden soil suits the Gooseberry and Currant, but a pure friable loam is best for them, and in ground much charged with humus it is the best manure also that can be applied— if not in sufficient quantity to the soil, at least to the roots in planting. A rather moist and_ deep soil is also preferable to one that is thin and dry, aphis and honeydew being the result of dryness at the root more than anything else. The ground should be prepared by trenching 2 ft. or 3 ft. deep, but manure, if given, should not be buried out of reach of the roots. The best way is to trench the ground first, and afterwards dig the manure in deeply, taking care to secure a good opening. Loam from the fields, either arable or pasture, should be given to light or old garden soils, and sand and leaf-mould and such like materials to soils of a clayey texture and, in abundance, for a tenacious soil is the worst for the Goose- berry. Bones, if they can be afforded for the purpose, are also excellent ; in fact, it is hardly possible to over-manure any of our small fruits so as to injure them, for all ripen their wood with such certainty that they never fail to bear good crops un- less when injured by frosts. The ground having been got in readiness, the sooner the trees are planted after the 1st of November the better, but planting may be done at anytime during the winter when the weather is open and moist. Young plants, about two or three years old, and with clean, straight stems about 9 in. long, should be selected, but they should be looked over, and any suckers rubbed off that are found npon the stem. To save room the bushes may at first be planted 3 ft. apart each way, for it is assumed they are allowed a quarter to themselves ; and when it becomes necessary to afford them more room, which they will require in four or five years at the most, every other row can be removed, and every other plant in the rows that are left, which will give each bush 6 ft. of space each way. In this way more varieties can be planted than otherwise could be, and when re-arrangement becomes ne- cessary, a re-election can be made of the sorts which are found to succeed best or which are most appreciated. In planting the roots should be buried 4 in. or 5 in. at least, and about the same length of stem should be left above ground, so as to keep the branches out of the soil and prevent them rooting and throwing up suckers, which are always troublesome under such circumstances. If the plants get one good tread about the roots with the foot before the hole is quite filled up, it will keep them firmly in their places, and no stakes will be required. After planting a good thick mulching of loose rotten manure should be applied to each tree, and it should be renewed, if needful, before summer, in order to keep the roots moist and encourage growth. Other and subsequent root culture con- sists in forking the ground over annually between the rows and about the roots, but not too deeply, stirring the surface with the hoe to kill weeds, and, whenever practicable, in mulching the roots with short Grass or decayed manure dur- ing the summer, particularly in dry seasons. The advantages of this practice at such times can hardly be over-estimated. Regular dressings of manure, whether it be from the stable or cowhouse, or fresh loam from the field, should be forked in about the roots about once every two or three years ; mulch- ings, if regularly given, compensate to a great extent for the want of manure. Pruning Gooseberries. There is only one good way of training and pruning Goose- berries of the bush form, and it is very easily understood. Beginning with the young bush from the nursery, which will, perhaps, be furnished with from three to six shoots, the ope- rator must prune, so as to have them all pointing outwards without crossing each other, taking care to leave the centre of the bush open. Bought plants are not always methodically pruned but they should be put into shape when planted, if a portion of the branches have to be sacrificed. The shoots which are retained should be shortened back to from 6 in. to 9 in., according to their vigour, and with an eye to the sym- metry of the bush. All varieties are not of the same habit, some growing erect, and others like the red Warrington, after a spreading form ; but all conform to the same system of pruning. After the bushes have got fairly established, the shoots had better not be shortened back at all, but only thinned out pretty freely, always preserving the balance as evenly as possible, taking care to keep the centre open, seeing that all have space enough, and that they grow outwards. With vigorous bushes, the knife should be used freely, and a sufficiently thinned bush should look almost like a ekeletow Jan. 6, 1877.] THE GARDEN. 17 when finished. No artificial spurs — that is, spurs formed by leaving a bud or two of the shoots which are removed — should be left ; but such shoots should be cut clean off at the back. The plan of leaving the bearing shoots their entire length in- • duces the formation of natural buds in quantity upon the old wood; whereas spur-pruning only promotes the growth of spray, which chokes the bush up in a single season. Red Currants. These should be kept open in the centre like Gooseberry . bushes, and shaped in the same manner; but with the Currant it is preferable to shorten the terminal shoots back at pruning time to from 6 in. to 9 in. according to their vigour. The side- shoots too, or laterals, should not be entirely cut away as in the Gooseberry, but cut back to ,j in. to } in. from their base, to induce spurs or buds. The Jied Currant is not so apt to produce spray as the Gooseberry. Trained in this way, the limbs of the bashes become eventually not unlike Vine-rods — spur-pruned — and their treatment is much the same, the young shoots which grow from the spurs only needing to be shortened back annually, and a portion of the leader left. It is well, boivever, to leave some of the young shoots which push from the bottom, to bring them on to take the place of the older ones, or such as may die. Black Currants. This sort differs from the Red Currant and from the Goose- berry in its habit of growth, and must be treated differently. The fruit is borne iu greatest quantity upon the previous year's wood, and pruning must be coiiducted with a view to the pre- servation of the young growth, which should not be shortened at all. In fact, Black Currant bushes should only be thinned, and have their centres kept tolerably open. Long and old branches that are getting bare below should also be removed, and others brought up from the bottom to fill their places. No spurring or shortening is necessary, but shoots that have to be removed must be cut away altogether, and all others left as they are. Bud Destroyers of the Gooseberry and Currant. Bullfinches and others of the finch tribe are the most de- structive in this respect, and the bullfinch is by far the worsl, A couple of bullfinches will destroy all the buds on the bushes, and consequently the prospect of a crop, in a cottager's gar- den, in two or three days, probably before they are observed to be about the place, and a brood or two will rnin all the quarters in a large kitchen garden, if the bushes be not netted or protected iu some way. They begin their attacks generally when the buds begin to push, and invariably, so far as we have observed, they take the bushes before them in the most me- thodical manner, always beginning at those nearest to their place of shelter, and advancing as they exhaust the supply. It does not pay to net the trees against the birds alone; but where netting is regularly practised to protect the fruit, the nets should be put on early in the winter, supported in a sub- stantial way, and left on till the fruit is gathered, or all the year round. We have tried this plan, but the expense for uets was great, as they soon rot if left out the greater part of the year. The cheapest plan is to engine or syringe the trees well with water, in which soot, lime, and particularly red lead has been stirred. If the red lead is sufficient just to colour the bushes, it will stop the birds, but the dose must be re- peated two or three times during the winter and spring. Gooseberry Caterpillar. This is the only other serious plague the cultivator has to con- tend with; but it can be effectually overcome by the application of hellebore powder applied either by hand dusting or with the syringe after mixing it with water. The last plan is by far the most effective and convenient. — " Field." Cure for the Phylloxera. — The most interesting paper read at the la3t fortnightly meeting of the Sooiete Cantrale d'Hortioultare de Prance on the 14th ult. was that by Monsieur Sabatie, of Libourn, a rather extensive Vine grower in the neighbonrhood of Bordeaux, who has invented a mailed glove oompoaed of interlaoing rings of thin galv^uized irpg Yf\ih which to rtjb ostrefull^ the barl? o{ each Vine io Vineyards affected with Phylloxera at a time when the eggs have been freshly deposited in the interstices, an operation which he finds effectively destroyed the eggs; out of a Vineyard of 70 acres experi. mented on by him dnring last season, forty acres on which he was able to use his gloves enjoyed almost complete immunity from this pest, while the remaining thirty were almost destroyed. These gloves at present cost from 13 to 14 francs each, but in a little time when they come into general demand M. Sabatie hopes to be able to reduce their price to 12 francs or even lower. Such glomes are also admirably adapted for removing the Moss from Apple trees, and are provided with a chain and hook confiuiog them at the wrist so as to suit them almost to any sized hand. — W. E. 6. Want of Colour in Mrs. Pince's Black Muscat. — I have grown this Grape now for six years, and I must confess that I have been unable some seasons to get it in good condition. The flavour is excellent, and it is an abundant cropper, but the difficulty consists in getting that beautiful bloom on the bunches which is so desirable in all black Grapes. 1 have one Vine planted in a mixed house at the warmest end ; this house is assisted with firo-heat about the begin, ning of March, and the Grjpes on this Vine always colour the best, which leads me to think that Mrs. Pince requires a longer season to ripen than is generally allowed it ; for, being a late Grape, it is gene- rally kept back as long as possible, and only assisted with fire. heat after the Vines start ; and if the autumn prove dull and unfavourable, so that the bunches are not finished off before September, very little bloom can be put on after that. I have likewise two late houses planted chiefly with a few Vines of Lady Downes, which have always finished off to perfection, but Mrs. Pince has not satisfied me iu colour in those late houses ; three parts of the berry colour very fairly, but the other part remains a dull red. There area few who speak favourably of this Vine, and some who pronounce it the best late Grape in cultivation ; but a far greater number complain of its besetting fault — bad colour. Perhaps there are two varieties, a fact which 1 think has been mentioned before. I intend to commence earlier this season, and see what effect that will have, for Mrs. Pince is a very superior Grape to Lady Downes, as far as flavour is con- cerned ; but it is evident that it will not finish off with the same treatment as Lady Downes. A few hints from any of your readers who have succeeded, or failed, will perhaps enable one to arrive at the proper treatment which this otherwise excellent Grape requires iu order to give it the same finish as its companion, Lady Downes. — J. A. H. G. Experiments in Keeping Apples. — It is worth while to try experiments now in keeping Apples, as they are easily performed, and the results may prove valuable. We have found by frequently repeated trials, that Apple stsored in an outhouse opening north till nearly the first of December will keep for several weeks, and sometimes even months, longer than if taken at once to the cellar as soon as picked from the trees. They are kept cool through the last half of autumn. Much may be gained, as well as learned, by keeping one or more thermometers in the fruit room, and swinging the windows open wide euough to bring the temparature nearly down to freezing at all times. At the same time, the exclusion of air-currents is an important assistance. One hundred Apples, wrapped merely in tissue paper, kept longer for this reason than a hundred exposed ; hence, also, the great advantage of packing in dry sawdust or in pulverized plaster. The temperature is thus kept more uniform, and the fruit may be placed in a colder room without danger of freezing ; wrap, ping each specimen in thin paper first would be useful. Where dry sawdust is easily obtained it is well worth trying, either in open barrels or boxes. It is the exclusion of air that keeps Apples better in barrels, and this, according to the " Country Gentleman," would be one of the best modes if the first decaying specimens could be seen and removed before tainting all the rest. NOTES AND QUESTIONS ON THE FRUIT GARDEN. Coe's Iiate Bed Plum.— This, according to the "Country Gentleman," is the best very late Plum, when it ripens. The tree ia very hardy, and profusely productive, and the fruit succeeds weU in a large number of seasons. Where early autumn frosts occur, it would be of no value. It ripens early in October, and continues good for some weeks. Good Pears.— Will you kindly favour me with the names of a few good Pears for planting on walls and iu open quarteis?- C. [The following kinds of Pears deserve especial notice by those about to plant m open quarters or on walls. They are all well-known kinds, and will invariably give satistaction m almost any soil or situation. Those marked with an asterisk do best on a wall : —Citron des Carmes, Baronne de Mello, Beurro Diel, *Bearr(5 Brown, *3eurre Sterckmans, BeurriS d'Amanlis, Bearro Superttn, •Ber^amotte d'Esperen, •Duohesse d'Angouleme, 'Easter Beurrii, Flemish Beauty, *Glou Mor9eau, Jargonelle, Knight's Monarch, Louise Bonne of Jersey, "ilarie Louise, Thomp. SOR 9, Xlrbaniste, Passe Oolmar, Williams' Bon Cbritien, and •Winter Nelis.J 18 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 6, 1877. BEERy-BEAKlNG PLANTS. The extreme scarcity of tbe berries of the Holly this winter lias been very generally felt by all whose duty or busi- ness it is to furnish Christmas decorative material. Whilst it is impossible to excel the Holly when in good berry for this particular use, it is evident that some substitute is worth cul- tivation to supply the demand for berries should the Holly crop prove a failure. The present season has found the Cotoneaster superbly fruited, its large berries glowing on the walls like masses of pearls; indeed, this plant seldom fails in the production of a rich and abundant crop of berries. If it were grown largely for the purpose of furnishing a supply of its rich red clusters at Christmas, it is probable that a ready market would be found for them, and the cutting of these would probably facilitate the production of a crop in each suc- cessive season. It is worthy of consideration whether this plant might not be worked upon clean young stocks of the Hawthorn, and so induced to develop neat, standard, berried heads. How beautiful these would be for house or domestic decoration, besides remaining fresh and vigorous for a long time 1 Some of the freest berry-bearing Hollies might be also worked as standards for a similar purpose, and no doubt would prove a useful addition to floral decoration. Some of the Silver and Golden-leaved kinds would be effective even if devoid of fruit, but it is notoiious that the bright scarlet berries considerably enhance the value of plants or branches. We have already heard of a successful attempt to work the Mistletoe upon the Hawthorn stock, and so produce neat berried heads. It is needless to say that such plants, if largely and successfully grown for market, would meet with plenty of eager purchasers. The Solanum also furnishes one of the most charming families of winter-berried plants, all of which can be grown with great ease, and, unlike others previously mentioned, can be raised from seed in great abundance. As bush plants, the varied forms known as Wealherill's Hybrids cannot be excelled, as these develop berries in rich profusion, and, if well grown, are equally well covered with foliage. The conical-shaped-berried kind is specially pleasing and prolific, and worthy an extended cultivation. Best of all as a standard plant is the pseudo-capsicum variety, as it grows in that form naturally and produces handsome heads on stems from 18 in. to £0 in. in height. When full of berries and placed here and there amidst dwarf plants, the effect produced is at once pleasing and varied. With such a wealth of berry-bearing plants as now exist thei'e need be no future absolute dependence on the uncertain Holly for a Christmas supply. A. Insect Feitilization.— Mr. Boulger states (see p 515, A'^ol.X), that I bave confused polleuization with feitilization. In another place I have been told that I Bhonld use the word impregnation for fertilization, but feitilization best expresses what most of ns mean ; at any rale, I am quite sure that the self-pollenized flowers to which I refer are not only abundant seeders, but that the seeds are abun. dantlj fertile. Mr. Boulger tells us that " Wistaria has been shown by Messrs. Toirey and Gray (" Flora of Noith America," i., 29t), to be mostly infertile, except aa regards its cleistogamic blossoms." Torrey and Gray do not say so. I doubt much whether Wistaria ever produces such flowers. Oar species — Wistaria frutescens — sometimes seeds in great profusion and sometimes not at all, though visited by insects freely in both cases. If I were to use the lan- guage which your correspondent quotes from Dr. Gray, I might say, " It is quite pofsible that the other cases brought forward by him may bear a different interpretation," but I regard such sweeping inferences, to say the least of them, as ungenerous. As, however. Dr. Gray must object to hasty and erroneous quotations, aa well as to hasty generalization and imperfect observation, he will probably himself correct this strange warping of hia own work. The only cleistogamouB Papilionad native of the United Statea that I remember as I write is Ampbicarpcea monoica, but this will surely not be quoted in the interest of insect fertilization. If colour be for the purpose of attracting insects, I suppose the rosy-white flowers are visited. I do not remember clearly how this is, but I do know that the only fruit I ever saw came from the cleistogamouB flowers. — Thomas Meehan, Ocrnutntoifn, Pltiladeljjhia, Early Cinerarias. — What is a good time to sow Cineraria seed in order that the plants may be in flower about the middle of December ? — J. E. DWAEP SCARLET BEGONIA. (b. davisi). Tuis, although one of the smallest of all the Peruvian Begonias, is undoubtedly one of the most floriferous and brilliant, and as such deserves culture wherever Begonias of the half-hardy, tuberous-rooted section are grown for decorative purposes. The obliquely-cordate leaves grow in tufts near the surface of the soil, and are hairy on both surfaces. The flowers are borne three together on graceful radical scapes, which vary from 3 in. to 8 in. in height, the male flowers being about 2 in. in diameter, and of the most vivid orange-scarlet colour. Tbe female flowers are rather smaller, but equally dazzling in colour. The specific name appears to have been given to this plant in compliment to Mr. Davis, one of the most successful of Messrs. Veitch's travellers in Peru and other parts of South America ; but the plant must not be confounded with a variety of the B. insignis group, which is, or was, grown at Kew and elsewhere under the same name. It is not yet distributed, but when obtainable, it will soon become popular, being one of the most distinct and brilliant of all decorative plants for pot- culture, and one whose bright colouring will doubtless soon be Begonia Davisi. infused by the hybridist into the rosy and crimson varieties and sub-varieties of the B. Veitchi-boliviensis group. The plant was first exhibited and received a first-class certificate at the Koyal Horticultural Society's meeting held on August 2 of the present year. B. Standard Koses in Pots. — Where there is a demand for out Roses early in the spring, and these have to be brought forward in Vineries or other fruit houses, standard plants will generally be found the most useful shape, aa, owing to their heads standing out in the full light, both flowers and foliage during short days come stronger than on dwarfs. They are also most suitable for conservatory decora- tion, as they can be placed in poaitiooa in borders amongst perma- nent plants, where their naked stems can be hidden, and thus be ren- dered more effective than small dwarf plants. Standard Roses may be kept in health for many years in 8.in. or lO.in. pots, by annually shaking them out in autumn, shortening their roots a little, and re. potting them in clean pots of the same size. Good loam, well en. riched with thoroughly decomposed manure, is the most suitable compost in which to pot them, and if the loam be very adhesive, a liberal addition of road sand will be a great improvement. — W. S. Alsophila plnmosa.—This new Califoraian Fern is now in good condition at the Vict-i^ria Nursery, HoUoway. It does not appear to sirow so robustly as some other kinds, bit its foliage is beautifully light and elegant, and it will doubtless prove to be a valuable addition to our list o£ Tree Ferns,— M. Jan. 6, 1877.] THE GARDEN. 19 USEFUL WINTER-PLOWBRTNG STOVE PLANTS. Now that Chrysanthemums in cool houses are all but over, there may still be had at this dull season, where the conve- nience of a stove exists, many bright and cheerful plants upon which to look, if a little tact and forethought have been brought to bear on their cultivation during the past summer. Nor need we look for new things wherewith to make a display ; on the contrary, many of the best have long been occupants of our stoves, and are difficult to beat as far as general decorative effect is concerned. For winter-flowering subjects I prefer small pots, and give liquid manure as a compensation for want of root-room. Poinsettia pulcherrima has often grand heads of bright floral bracts that measure 1 ft. across, and that will keep iu good condition for six weeks or two months, according to temperature. This is a plant of easy cultui-e, and one which takes up no valuable space in the stove till autumn, and then it is all the better for being elevated close to the glass. My plan is after flowering to dry the plants off by placing them on their sides under the stage of the early Vinery, near where the hot-water pipes enter. After they become quite dry and the place gets too warm for them, they are laid under the stage of a small house used for bedding and other soft-wooded plants, till nearly midsummer, when they are cut back, shaken out, and repotted into the same sized pots (32's), using a compost of two- thirds good turfy loam and one-third well-rotted manure, with a dash of sand. They are then placed on the stage of the same house close to the glass, and when sufficiently established we generally put them out iu a two-light frame ; as they grow we raise the frame on bricks if required, which has the effect of hardening their wood and keeping them short-jointed. They should never be allowed to flag from want of water. If large bushy plants are needed they must be started earlier and the points may be stopped once. These, if inserted singly in small pots as cuttings, and plunged in bottom-heat, will make capital little plants. I prefer them to eyes for this purpose. I should add that the plants should not be left out after the nights get cold, or they will lose much of their foliage. Another well-known plant is Euphorbia jacquinia;flora, whose light and elegant sprays of scarlet flowers hanging over other plants materially enhance the general effect without injuring anything beneath them. As these go out of bloom they may be cut back a little, and kept drier than usual for a time till they commence breaking freely. When the young shoots are long enough they may be taken off with a heel and inserted in small pots, placing three in each, and then plunged in a brisk bottom-heat; cuttings of this and the preceding should be allowed to dry a little before insertion. They will require careful attention for a few weeks as regards moisture, or they are apt to damp off. When suSioiently rooted they are shifted just as they are into •32-sizedpots, in which they flower. The soil should be free and open and the pots well drained. As the plants become fairly established I place them in a cooler house, keeping them close to the glass, where they get plenty of light and air ; they are stopped once or twice during the summer. Young plants of this are always preferred. Plum- bago rosea is another useful winter plant, for, though its indi- vidual flowers are rather short-lived, it produces large numbers of them in succession. Then we have several Gesneras, the old G. zebrina being a very good one for flowering through the dullest part of the winter if started in autumn. These, inter- spersed with other plants, have a lively and striking effect, but their beautiful foliage is better seen when in a more isolated position. I have used them for table decoration, their fine leaves being very attractive under artificial light. These plants delight in warmth and plenty of light, and thrive best in peaty soil with the addition of a little well-rotted cow manure, finely-broken charcoal, and a liberal admixture of silver sand. The Amaryllis, too, is a first-rate plant | for winter work, its large Lily-like blooms being always admired. This might be grown in quantity, as it is a very accommodating plant. A 6-in. pot will answer for one of the smaller-bulbed kinds for several years with an annual top-dressing, and such plants sometimes yield as many as three spikes each. They like a rich, tenacious soil. Where sufficient numbers of plants exist, a few may be introduced to the stove or forcing-house about once a fortnight, starting about the beginning of November. Care should be taken that the plants started earliest one year are the first to begin with the next, for in course of time, if this be attended to, they will acquire the habit of starting into growth with very little exciting about the time when they are wanted. Thyrsacanthus rutilans is a valuable winter- blooming plant, the crimson, tube-shaped flowers on its long pendent racemes looking at a distance as if suspended on very thin cords. Large plants of this can be grown from cuttings in one season ; but, being a strong-rooting subject, it will require more pot-room than many others, though a good-sized plant of it may be grown in an 8-in. pot. It will do in a cooler house during the warmest months, but must not be left out too long, or it will lose most of its leaves. In room decoration, if elevated in the centre of a group under artificial light, associated with white Epacris, white Primulas, and the like, it is sui'e to be appreciated. Centropogon luceanus and Eranthemum pulchellum are both useful old plants that will succeed under similar treatment, the Eranthemum being especially welcome on account of its bright blue flowers. Libonia floribunda, though not generally treated as a stove plant, if placed in heat now will quickly open large numbers of pretty little scarlet and yellow Guphea-like flowers, which are more valuable now than later in the season ; it will make bushy little plants iu one year from cuttings. Then there are several good old winter-flowering Begonias well worth more attention than they often get ; these will generally be found to flower better when grown through the summer, with more light and air than the regular occupants of the stove receive ; this treat- ment renders them hard and short-jointed, and consequently more floriferous. These are a few of the best among winter- bloomiug plants, and I venture to say that with some of each tastefully arranged among fine-foliaged plants and Ferns, with the addition of some light-flosvered IJouvardias, yellow Oncidiums, and other late-blooming Orchids, such as the several Calanthes, Lycaste Skinneri, L