■:filt«iK!;f!l>l[!im«i«lililftim'. UMASS/AMHERST 312066 0333 3025 3 i (fc.m>miimm~\mmmsmmmn)mmmm^^ atumrnfm^^ifiiBSisik^i^aiBiic^gmi^^ LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE NO.__(s_'3._Q3„._ DATE.4 nLSg..? SOURCE_.H.aJc,Q \_UT1Q_. J^ I I; ty ^^''^-^S^^^l.i JOHN GIBSON. ii^x^U3Ti^AT£^D wz;£;k^y joui^Kax, HORTICULTURE IN ALL ITS BRANCHES, FOUNDED BY V7. IizlinrjOTh, F.L S.j jQuihor of ^' JUpine Flowers/' etc "You see, s-weet maid, we marry A gentle scion to the wildest stock And make conceive a "bark of baser kind By bud of nobler race: This is an arb Which does mend nature change it rather. The art itself is nature." — Shakes^peare. VOL. XIX. -MIDSUMMER, 1881. LONDON: OFFICE: 37, SOUTHAMPTON STREET, COVENT GARDEN, W. Q vK ■^ TO THE MEMORY JOHN GIBSON, FOBMEELY SUPERINTENDENT OF VICTORIA AND BATTERSEA PARKS, THE XINETEENTH VOLUME OF "THE GARDEN^ IS DEDICATED. CL ■Thr ai^ 1891 ' W. II, June, 1881. n July 2, 1881. THE GARDEN INDEX. litTIDEIX: TO "VOLTJIMIE 22112^. Abies EuselmaDni glauca, 605 ; lasio- cavpa grafted, 83 ; SraitUiana, 3o9 Abrouias, the, 203 . Abutilon insigne. 21 ; \an Ilouttei, -2t Abutilons for winter tlowenng, IjJ ; new, o2i Abyssinian Knipliofla, 548 Acacia avmita, 112 ; oxypbylla, 112 ; dealbata, 34 ; longifolia magnihca, 209 ; platyptera, 2 ; Eiceana UU ; at Kew 308 ; cuttinss of, 112 ; Hose, 616 Acer insigne, 355 ; rubrum, 368 Actiniopteris radiata australis, 363 Ada aurantiaca, 143 Adiautum Capillus-venens coruubiense, 111 ■ Lawsoni, 563 ; maorophyllum, 612 ;'monochlamys, 411 ; pedatiim, 591 Adiantums, hardy, 179 jEchmea tasciata, 654 Aerides Fieldingi, 251 , ^,, . „, jEscuIus Hippocastana fl.-pl., 621 , ma- crostachya, 309 _ Agapanthus, 21 ; the white, uoS Agapetes bnxfolia, 483 Aijave Hunti, 460 ; Parryi, 460 ; striata Bichardsi, 372 ; attennata var. glau- cescens, 3 ; Hookeri, 3 Agaves flowering at Kew, 3 Ainsliw, Wallieri, 116 Altebia quinata, 392 Alexandra Palace Show, 639 Algeria, plants of, 202 Album azureum, 643 Allosoms crispus, 179 Alocasia, culture of, 69 . Aloe macracantha, 323 ; supralfcvis, 116 ; Salm Byckiana, 116 ; abyssmica Aloes, Cape, at Kew, 116 Alonsoa Mutisi, 464 Alpine flora of Forfarshire, 15 Alpines from Berwick, 616 Alpinia nutans, 335 Alstrremeria Pelegrina, 686 Amaryllis Hendersoni, 34 ; John Id eal, 294 ; Miss Alice Gair, 294; Koyal Standard, 294 ; Leopoldi, 88 ; mal- formed, 344 ; ilr. Henry Little, 341 seedling, 166; Storr's Beauty, 363 Cecilia, 363; Empress of India, 363 Madame Albani, 363 American blight, 386 ; Watcrton's cure for, 283 American Grapes, 76 American spring flowers, 418 American plants, 620 Amhei'stia nobilis, 416 Ammobium alatum, 493 Anipelopsis Veitchi, 61 Anchusa capensis, 21 Andromeda floribmida, 294 ; japonioa, variegated, 264 ; pulverulenta, 634 Androsacc Laggeri, 374; hardiness of, 448 Androstrephium violaceum, 516 Anemone alpina, 617 ; apennina, 414 ; capensis, 367, 649 ; coronaria, 386 ; and vaiieties, 438 ; Hudsouiana, 616 ; Ko- binsoniana, 433 ; stellata, 385 Anemones, blue, in the wild garden, 555; Chrysanthemum-flowered, 439 ; from Nenagh, 416 ; from seed, 447 Angra;cuni citratum, 224, 483 ; Kotschyi, 675 ; sesquipedale, 62 Anguloa Tnrneri, 560 Annuals, for bedding, 349 ; hardy, 256 Auopteris glandulosus, 300 Ansellia afrlcana superba, 142 Anthericum Liliastruin, 683 Anthurium Andreanum, 116, 363 ; finely- flowered, 592 Antliurium candidum, 124 ; floribundum, 30; Palmeri, 368; Veitchi, 344 Antirrhinums from seed, 570 Ants in Ferneries, 480 Aphrophuta spumaria, 316 Aphelexis maerantlia, 56 Aponogeton distacbyon, 367, 392, 665 Apples, Baruack Beauty, 189 ; culture of, 136; ditto, for market, 137; Giielton, 109 ; imports of, 592, 630 ; preservation of, 282 ; baked, and Cherries, 270 ; best market, 270; boxes of, for winter, 164 ; Canadian v. American, 4 ; cookiug des- sert, 4, 109 ; keeping sorts of, 78 ; local sorts of, 2S9 ; packing, for market, 77 ; Sharp's, an oruamental tree, 613 ; Snow, 46 ; Faracuse, 46 Apple trees, canker in, 441; Mistletoe on, 480; grafting old, 270; American, 111 Apricot bloom, 450 Aquarium, plants for a tropical, 328 Aquilegia canadensis, 313; ditto, at home, 600 ; glandulo--a, 555, 597 ; viridiflora, 462, 540 Arabia anbrietioides, 463 Aralia Chabrieri, 513, 560 ; Kerchoveana, 457, 469 ; Maximowiczi, 664 Araucaria imbricata, 504 Ardisias, 104 Arenaria grrenlandica, 27 Arisaiina tiiphyllum, 439 Aristolocllia Goldieana, 534 Arineria alpina, varieties of, 557 ; Lau- clieana, 516 Arnebia echioides, 490 Arthropodimii cirrhatum, 404 Artichokes, Jerusalem, not growing, 311 Art ill the garden, 31 Artocarpus Cannoni, 387 ; incisa, 162 Arum orieutale, 576 Aruudina bambusicfolia, 53 Ash and Oak, 628 Asimina triloba, 689 Asplenium apieidens, 560 ; Baptisti, 204, 4 0 Asparagus, blanched, 23 ; competition, 640 ; culture of, on the French plan, 53, 160 ; cutting, 450 ; elTectof wind on, 117 ; in small gardens, 101 ; new, 658 ; on clay soil, 171 ; salt on, 434 ; tenu- issimus, 457, 459 ; one year old, 651 ; Cornish, fc51 Asparagus Kale, 580 Aspen, the, 60-4 Asplenium contiguum flisuni, 560 ; aaundersoni, 363 ; Trichomanes, 314 Aster tenellus, 21 Asters, perennial, 408 ; the best kinds of, 38 Astilbe Thunbergi, 569 Astragalus adsurgens, 510 Aubrietias, propagation and culture of, 10 ; seedling, 29 Auriculas, seedling, 192 ; lecture on, 601 ; Mrs. William Brown, 460 ; John Bull, 490 ; Philip Frost, 460 ; Lizzie, 460 ; Hilda, 460 ; Splendour, 458 ; Mrs. Moore, 458 ; Purpurea fl,-pl., 463 ; alpine, 391; laced, 494 Azalea Phrebus,660 ; Mrs. Cannicliael, 34 ; Mrs. Gerard Leigh, 252 ; Eoi Leopold alba, 363 ; rosffiflora, 391 ; obtusa, 117 Azaleas at Fulham, 639 ; Indian, out ot doors, 464, 677, 600 ; Mr. Carniichael's seedling, 103 Azara Gilliesi, 87, 100 B. Babiana, 21 Balsams as border plants, 300 ; in the open air, 466 Bamboos, hardiness of, 128 Bambusa Maximowiczi, 664 Barbai'ea vulgaris fol. var., 134 Barberry, the purple leaved, 530 ; fruit of, 642 Baskets, hanging, at Chatsworth, 21 Battersea Park, rockwork in, 70 Beans, Broad, amongst other crops, 358, 411 ; Scarlet Runner, 632 Bear's-foot Hellebore, 204 Beaucarnea recurvata, 372 Bedding, geometrical, 575 ; herbaceous, 670 Bedding plants, 163 ; and colour, 168, 107 ; summer and winter, 42 Beech, fine Fern-leaved, 622 Begonia Davisi fl.-pl. superba, 510 ; Mrs. Sheppard, .560; Dregei, 262; fuchsioides as a pillar plant, 263 ; glaucophylla spleiidens, 163 ; hybrida F'rccbeli vernalis, 201 ; incariiata, 323 ; miniata rosea, 323 ; prunosa, 226 ; Ver- schaffelti, 226; Koezli, 293 ; socotrana, 33, 209 Begonias for walls of hothouses, 241 ; good winter, 166 ; hardiness of tuber- ous, 610; new tuberous of 1830, 217; tuberous tor bedding, 425, 467 ; tuber- oil;', from cuttings, 682, 645 Belgium, notes from, 407 Berberis chinensis, 464 ; DarwinI, 154, 627 ; japonica, 3b0 ; repens, 217 ; steno- phylla, 562 Billbergia pallescens, 5S ; nutans, 59 ; vittata macrantha, 68 Birds, preservation, 28 Black Alder, 18 Black Currant, culture of the, 43 Black Pepper, 99 Black Pepper Vine, 103 Bladder Nuts, the, 43 Blandfordia Cunninghami hybrida, 34 ; (lammea elegans, 635 Blazing Stars, 38 Blenheim, 63 Blinds for greenhouse, 342 ; French, for shading, 352 Blue Bells as Kew, 558 Bluets, white, 26 Bcehmeria nivea, 184 Boerkhausia rubra, 40 Bogs and bog plants, 175 Boilers, fuel for saddle, 11, 64, 112, 160 ; in frost, 199 ; slow combustion, 375 Bomaria Caldasiana, 253, 634 ; multi- flora, 235 ; oligautha, 2 Book hawking, 194 Book on indoor gardening, 21 Boots, waterproof, 145 Borders, digging, 361 ; herbaceous and shrubbery, 30 ; root-infested, 121 Boronia megastigma, 368 Bos primigenius, 515 Botanical gardens, ill-managed. 627 Botanic Garden, Georgetown, 56 Bougainvillea from Algiers, 346 ; glabra out-of-doors, 217 Bouquets, large, 117 ; Italian, 2 Bouvardia, new double, 181, 109, 645 Bowiea volubilis, 312 Bramble, the double white, 344 Bread Fruit, the, 162 Brier, the Sensitive, 40 Broccoli, autumn and winter, 54 ; the hardiest, 413 ; laying -winter, 358, 465, 667 ; sprouting, 196 ; Veitch's Self-pro- tecting, 24 ; winter and spring, 557 Brodiseas, Califoruian, 645 Bromeliad, a new, 37 Bronisgrove, effects of the winter at, 505 Brooch, new water, 59 Broussonetia papyrifera, 18 Brownea coccinea, 199 ; grandiceps, 116 Brugmansia sanguinea in borders, 472 Brunsvigias, culture of, 103 Brussels Sprouts from home-saved seed, 82 ; good and bad, 277 Bulbs, annual reproduction of, 57 ; Lily, 336 ; ditto, annual or perennial, 120 ; transplanting, 57 Bullfinches and fruit buds, 109 Burlingtonia Candida, 483 C. Cabbage, spring, 627 : sprouts, 65S Cabbages, autumn-planted, 631 Cactus Dahlia, 472 ; a splendid, 642 Cacti at Sudbury House, 686 ; Rockjr Mountain, 603 ; winter-ilowering, 6» Caladium Frederick Baus6, 459 Caladiuras, new, 638 Calandrinia grandiflora, 376 Calandrinias, the, 376, 419 Calanthes as cut flowers, 6 Calanthe vcstita and Veitchi, 132 ; Tex- tori, 657 Calceolaria bicolor crenatiflora, 490 ; Cloth of Gold, 569 ; hybrida Burbidgei, 59 ; fiichsi:cfolia, 252, 490 ; GoldenGeni, 347 ; violacea, 345 Calendars, curiosities of, 324 Califoruian Big Ucot, 0!) Calla canariensis icthiopica, 300 ; culture of, 485 ; double spathed, 345 ; fine plants of, 226 ; out-of-doors in summer, 288 Calla Lilies, 385 ; planted out, 214, 317 Callirhoe pedata, 445 Calochortus Benthami, 587 Calypso borealis, 535 Camassia esculenta, 515, 557 ; Fraseri, 585 ; LeichtUni, 489 Camassias, the, 540 Camellia, black fungus on leaves, 123; C. H. Hovey, 203; japonica, 220; reticulata. 226 Camellias, 48, 317 ; and Azaleas, hardy, 552 : and lime water, 250 ; as wall plants, 20 ; at Chelsea, 226 ; at Exeter, 620 ; at Upper HoUoway, 34 ; hardiness of, 479 ; in Cornwall, 204, 477 ; out of doors, 415 ; single red, 399 ; stems splitting, 413 : without shade, 603 Campanula alpina, 624 ; double white, 620 ; thyrsoiJea, 313 ; pulla, 646; piuic- tata, 645 ; nobilis, 645 Campanulas, dwarf, in pots, 103 ; for pot culture, 160 Campemelle Jonquils, 34 Candahar, fruit growing at, 77 Candytuft, winter flowering, 220 Canna Ehemanni, 291, 440 ; iridiflora, 294 Cantua dependens, 367, 440 Cannes, notes from, 130, 203 Cape Pond Wee;! in Devon, 367 Cape Plant, the, 22 Cape Town, director of Botanic Garden at, 84 Capparis spinosa, 22 Cardinal Flower on Blue Lobelia, 27 Cardinal Larr, spur, the, 234 Carnation Andalusia, 82 ; and Picotee, 308 ; culture of, 237, 445 ; cut- tings of, 70 ; Mrs. G. Hawtrey, 52 Mrs. Maclaren, 52 ; in summer, 655 crossing, 490; for exhibition, 267 sporting, 398 ; best kinds, 07, 63 flowers from first year's seedlings, 214 from seed, 11, 65, 66, 97, 98, 153 " Jacks," 102 ; liquid manure for, 268 piping, 336; propagating tree, 166 tree, as chmbers, 67, 242 Carpenteria californiea, 535 Carrot Early Nantes, 102 Caryopbyllus aromaticus, 19 Cassia Fistula, 78, 133 Catasetnms in baskets, 5 Castle Ashby, 7 Castle Douington Cemetery, 83 Casuarina sumatrana, 192 Catalogues, garden, 90, 2-9, 290 Catalpa speciosa hardier than C. big- nonioides, 504 Catalpa tree, the new, 128 Cattleya bulbosa, 62 ; Mendelli superba- 560 ; Mossia! and its varieties, 383 , Skinneri, fine specimens of, 438 ; Trianai, varieties of, 142, 198; Wag; neri, B3S Ceanothus rigidus, 430 Cedar, a storm-tossed, 235 Cedars, ancient, 290, 360 Gedronella cordata, 559 Celeriac, culture of, 196 Celery, good, 24 ; raising new kinds of, 24 ; failing in growing, 24 ; tall v. dwarf, 24 Celsia cretica, 645 Cetosias, culture of, 397 Cemlostoma Laburnella ,429 THE GARDEN INDEX. July 2, 1881. Centaurea candiclissima, hardiness of, 5G0, 65i ; moschata alba, 337 Cepha'otaxus, the species of, 233 Cerasns corotiniana, 478 ; pumila, 558 Certificatiug fruits, 118 ChamEcrops Fortunei, 47» 558 ; Griffith!, 558; Pahnetta, 534 Changed times, 133 Chatsworth House, closing grounds at 78 Cheirostemon platanoides, 123 Cherry, early, 610 Cherries and starlings, 138 Cheshire, spring notes from, 389 Chestnut, douhle. 621 Chevalliera Veitchi, 87, 654 Chilian Crocus, 495 Chimonauthus fragrans, 315, 386 i'hionanthus virginica, 478 Chionodoxa Luciliffi, 294 Choisya ternata, 363, 409, 558 Chorozema elegans, 497 Clu-istraas Roses, 10, 34, 58, 121 ; culture of, 206; cut, 6-in. pots, 66; d-^ep planting of, 336 ; twin-flowered, 337, 4U0 Clirysanthemum hloonis, size of, 160 ClirysantheniumcoroDarium,584 ; Etoile (I'Or, 304 ; culture of, 4S, 275 ; small flowered, 70; Anemone flowered, 103; few or many flowered, 262; for floweis and exhibition, 40 ; large, 213 ; of, 90 ; untrained, 32 Chysis Chelsoui, 199 Cineraria Marclied Fast, 458 Cineraria seed, 173 Cinerarias at Kedlees, 320; double, 191, 388; dwarf, 43S ; from seed, 242; y. cuttings, 350; summer treatment of, 545 Clematis alpina, 557 ; halearica, 88 ; ditto, hardiness of, 447 ; George Eliot, 559 ; Lady Constance Kennedy, 559 ; W. E. Gladstone, 559 ; indivisa, 438 Clematis montana, 489, 610 Clematises, comparative hardiness of, 440 ; exhibition of, 512 ; select, 617 Clerodendron speciosum, 191 ; squama- tum, 453 Clethra, the species of, 208 Clianthus Dampieri, 139, 367, 422, 439 Clibran, Messrs., nursery, Altrincham, 8 Climate, has it changed?, 145 ; of Japan, 27 ; Scotch, GOO Climbers, stove, 320 Climbing plants, greenhouse, 173 Clintonia pulchella, 233 Clitorea Ternatea, 422 Clove tree, the, 205 Club Moss, the, as a basket plant, 241 Cluster-flowered Yew, the, 230 Cob Nuts and Filberts, culture of for profit, and list of best kinds, 81 Cochleostemon Jacohianum, 686 Cocoa tree, the, 161 Ccclogyne conferta, 305 ; cristata alba, 345, 303, 411 : note on, 62 ; varieties of, 53, 251, 273, 323 ; ocellata maxima, 251 Coffea ai'abica angustifolia, 294 Colchicum luteum, 322 Coleus mania, 346 Coleuses, new, 638 CoUetia cruciata, 124 Colour and bedding plants, 168 Columbiues, seedling, 591, 642 Columnea SchieJeana, 535 Combination, a graceful, 642 Corahretum purpureum, 583 Comparettia falcata, 62 Conifer mania, the, 18 Conifers and frost, 217 : at Kew, 216 ; for fiuwer beds in winter, 87 ; in Messrs. Perkins' nursery, 71 ; on the prairies, 215 ; propagating, 246, 263 ; manual of, 644 Conservatory, a lai'ge, 116 ; at Kew, 199 Conservatories, lighting, 296 Constantinople Hazel, 191 Cooks, English v. French, 275 Copings, permanent, 189 Coprosma lucida, 294 Corbularia citrina, 191 Cordyline austrnlis, 159, 314 ; in Ireland, 233 Corn, ancient, 627 Corn Marigold, the common, 348 Cornish gardens, 564 Cornus suecica, 584 Coruwall, notes from, 111, 204, 385 Corydalis aurea, 600 ; Ledebouriaua, 299 Corylus Colurna, 191 Cotoneaster Simousi, 1 Cottage gardening, 374 Cottage porch, the, 519 Cotyledon fulgens, 166 Country seats, 7, 63, 393 Crab, the American, 401 Cranberry culture in England, 432 Crassula jasminea, 557 Crinum Moorei, 260, 204 Crocus buds not perfecting, 343 Crocus bulbs not maturing, 312 Crocuses, forcing, 350 ; in grass, 323 Croton Austinianum, 500 ; Lady Zetland, 457 : Princess of Wales, 560 ; Sinit- zianum, 457, 450 ; recurvifolium, 663 Cropping, double, 457 Crops, market, 635 Crops that come in early, 357 Crystal Palace, School of Gardening at, 543 ; show at, 5S3 Cuckoo flower, 404 ; double, 506 Cucumber plants, raising. 433 Cucumbers, large, 90, 117, 145, 171; failing to swell, 551 ; frame, 451 Cunonia capensis, 75 Cups, prize, 90 Cuttings, broken crocks for, 158 Cycad cones, scented, 252 Cycas undulata, 507 Cyclamen culture, 396 ; economical ditto, 13 Cyclamen persicum, 294 ; Miss Lilian Cox, 294 ; Charming Bride, 204 ; semi- double wliite, 190; Qiieen Victoria, 363 ; Ruby Gem, 199, 363 ; at Reading, 59 ; fine Persian, 226 ; from seeds, 286 ; hardy, 226 Cyclanthera pedata, 447 ; C. explodens, 447 Cyclobothra pulchella, in pots, 534 Cyclones and tropical vegetation, 22, 129, 624 Cydonia japonica, 478 ; JIaulei, 300 Cyrabidium Devonianum, 3S3 ; ebur- neum, 593 ; eburneura maculatum, 483 Cyperus laxus variegatus. 459 Cypress, a celebrated, 664 Cypripedium Calceolus, 152, 586; eury- andrum, 037; (Dnanthuni, 62 ; porphy- reum, 62 ; pubescens, rapid growth of, 494 ; purpuratum, 142 ; spectabile, 152, 664 ; selligerum niajus, G3S Cypripediums, 306 ; at Belton Park, 105; at home, 586 ; at Upper Holloway Nurseries. 251 ; hardy, 420, 574 Cyjtanthus Mackeni, 2 Cytisus hirtorus, 5S7 ; old purple, 5S3 Dacrydium Franklini, 30O Baft'odils, and other spring flowers, 490 ; at itrockhurtt, 521 ; indoor decoration, 416 ; in parks, 493 ; races of, 508 ; twin flowered, 033, 654 Dahlia Vuarezi, 472 Dahlias, single. 154, 174, 100, 361 Daisy, a new douide greenhouse, 558 ; Aucuba leaved, 313, 318; double. 584; Michaelmas, 493 ; for market, 267 ; on lawns, 667 Damson trees, pruning, 271 Daphne Blagayana, 368, 414, 451 ; Cneo- rum, 534; indica, 191, 242, 761, 288; ditto on its own roots, 304 ; salici- folia, 683 Davallia elegans polydactylon, 458, 459 Day Lily, the yellow, 300 Day Lilies, 589 Delphinium cardinale, 234, 254 ; nudi- caule var. elatins, 234 Delphiniums, the scarlet, 308 Dendrobium nobile, 225, 306 ; Cam- bridgeauum, 6, 53, 62 ; chrysanthuni, second flowering of, G, 53 ; Domini, 62 ; Falooneri giganteum, 637 ; Free- mani, 224; litniflorum, 224; 1. candi- dum, 341; Hilli and speciosum, 274; macrophyllum, 470 ; moniliforme, 62; senile, 384 ; splendidissimum. 143 ; "Wardianum album, 225 ; Wardianum, finely-flowered, 274 Dendrobiuras, fine growth of, 224 Dendrochilum glnmaceum, 198 Dentarias, the, 345 Deodar, the, 360 Desfontainea spinosa, 74 Deutzia, for forcing, 63 ; gracilis, after flowering, 578 Dianthus alpinus, 591 ; Heddewigi, 152 ; barbatus, 645 Dicentra cucuUaria, 368 Didiscus cffiruleus, 337 Dieffenbachia insignis, 560 Dielytra oximia, 524 ; spectabilis, 469 Dillenia speciosa, 50 Dinner-table decoration, 120, 200 Dioscorea retusa, 411 Diospyrosyirginianaclroppingitsflowers, 2S8 ■ " Draba gigas, 489 Dracrena Leopold!, 560 ; Salmonea, 560 ; majestica, 500 ; Lindeni, 450, 579 ; Mrs. C. J. Freake, 19; Rossi, 450; recurva, 450 ; Alexandra;, 450 Dracaenas at Anerley, 126 Draytoii-Beauchanip, notes from, 554 Drumlanrig, hardy flowers at, 323; in winter, 276 Dryer, fruit, 77 Dubhn, notes from, 566, 617 Dunham Park estate, 3 Durian, the, 161 Enrly Dwarf T'lm Savoy, 81 Early vtgetables, 61 Earth enriched and moist, 157 Echiaocereus FeudlerJ, 638 Echium Decaisneanum, 440 ; planta- gineum, 507 Edelweiss in England, 018 Edinburgh Botanical Society, 246 Education, rural, 547 Eichornea azurea, 438 Elseagnuses, evergreen and deciduous, 73 359 Elder, golden, 640 Electric light for Cucumber growing, 413 Elm, a weeping, 400 ; destroyed by Sculytus at Hatfield, 130 ; the Whit- worth, 409 Embothrium coccineum, 515, 594 Encephalartos, species of, 68 English names for foreign plants, 354, 535 Epacris onosmreflora, 252 Epacrises, 300 ; for winter flowering, 122 Epidendrum bicornutum, 333, 525 ; pria- raatocarpum, 433 ; vitelliuum, 384 ; Walhsi, 482 Epigwa repens, 413, 41G, 494 Epiphyllura truncatum, propagating, 582 Epping Forest, 30, 50 ; and the new railway, 242, 290 ; I'unch on, 33 Epping Korest School, IS Eranthemum albifloruni, 3,438 Eremurus caucasicus, G20 ; himalaicus, 554 Erica carnea, 294 ; carnea alba, 322 ; codonodts, 106, 233; nielanthera, not hardy, 46, 121, 166, 175, 241 Erigeron aurantiacum, 438, 580 Eriocampa adundjrata, 380 Erodium, list of, 50 Erysimum pulchellum, 523 Erythrina Crista-galli, G5 ; herbacea, 440 Erythronium americanum, 438; gigan- teum, 457 ; purpureum, 463 Erythrotis Eeddomei as a basket plant, 422 Escallonia macrantha in Cornwall, 537 Eucalyptus, the, 568 Eucharis amazonica not flowering, 202 ; culture of, 246 ; Candida, 87 Eugenia caryophyllata, 10 ; jambolana, 104 ; Ugni. 154 Eulophia guineensis, 332 Euonjmus angustifolius, 591, 619 Euonymuses as wall plants, 128 ; golden, 92 ; on walls, 92 Eupatorium ianthinum, 252 Eurybia argyphylla, 463 ; ramulosa, 71, 92 EuryclesCunninghami, 625 Eurya latlfolia variegata, 454 Eutoca viscida, 523 Evening Primroses, 21 Evergreen walls in glasshouses, 60 Evergreens, pruning, 236 ; transplanting and trimming, 239 Everlasting Peas in wild garden, 347 Exaggerations, seedsmen's, 143 Exhibition at Frankfort, 191 ; prize cups, 90 ; at Manchester. 234 Exochorda grandiflora, 553, 586 F. Fabiana inibricata, 409 Fennel, the giant, in spring, 313 Fenzlia diauthiflora, 337 Fern, tlie Japan Climbing, 128 Fernery, an indoor, 214 Ferns, culture of, 300 ; hardy, 89, 178, 278, 337, 406 ... Ferns in pots and baskets, 2<"0 FeiTis, outdoor, 504; small and large, Briti.3h, 231 Ficus repens, 314 ; companion plants to, 422 ; hardy, 257 Figs, culture of, 106; and frost, 577 ; in pots, 475 Filberts and Cobnuts, 31 Flax, the yellowy 20 Flora, alpine of Forfarshire, 15 Florist's flowers, 522, 670 Flower gardening, cost of, 140 ; Mr. D. Thomson on, 293 Flower house, a cool, 400 Flower Mission, the, 337 Flowers, arranging cut, 110, 524; at San Remo, 230 ; choice hardy, 302 ; culture of, 9 ; demand lor cut, in New Vork, 146, 210 ; early spring, 222 ; exchanging wild, 346; forced, 454 ; f]-om Belvoir, 401 ; hardy, 121 ; and the frost, 88, 233 ; at Farnborough, 374 ; in pleasure grounds, 323 ; in rooms. 48G ; notes on, 59, 334, 447, 493 ; old-fashioned, 28 ; packing, 524 ; spring, 348, 509 ; at Baden- Baden, 344 ; in Devon, 344 ; at Glas- nevin, 200, 321 ; at Tottenham, 191,299; at York, 226; in cold houses, 287; mixed, 337 ; language of, 160 ; tropical V. English, 39; undesirable for their odour, 583 ; white, 489 ; wild, by Lago Maggiore, 336 ; ditto, for rockwork, 615 ; winter, 108 ; on Grass, 652 Food reform, 71 Forget-me-nots, for market, 2GS ; Impera- trice, 592 ; New Zealand, 39 Forest, the New, 128 Forsythia viridissima, 478 Forsythias, the, 605 Fowls, trespassing, 629 Fragaria indica, 437 France, notes from the south of, 471 Francoas and their culture, 65 Frauds in horticulture, 333 Fra.xinella, 645 Freesia refracta alba, 109, 465 ; varieties of ditto, 522, 6o7 ; and their culture, 260 Fi'emontia californica, 619 French garden produce, 535 Fritillaria contorta, 462 ; Moggridgei, 391 Frog-hopper, the common, 310 Frost among the vegetables, 455 ; and boilers, 199 ; in Guatemala, 354 ; in June, 019 Fruit, Chinese Passion, 83 Fruit culture for profit, 43, 70, 106, 135, 185, 244, 268, 282, 310, 355, 378. 429, 443, 474, 490, 530 ; for market, 338 Fruit dryer, 77 Fruit gardens, Kentish, 281, 433 Fruit growing at Caidahar, 77; made easy, 404, 501, 594 Fruit houses, ants in, 531 ; wrongly planned, 77, 163, 189, 283 ; sunless lean-to, 433 Fruit plates, Dewey's, 140 Fruit prospects, 444, 550, 577, 595 Fruit I'ooms, ventilating, 4 Fruit walls, recessed. 133 Fruit tree blossoms, 627 Fruit tree pruning, 107 Fruit trees, cordon. 573 ; everywhere, 355 ; mulching, 75, G30 ; on outbuildings, G29 ; pruning and dressing, 40; wall space for, 77, 3 09, 138 Fi nits, bush, 635; orchard house, 280; thinning, 271 ; tropical, 101 Fuchsia as a roof climber, 542 Fuchsia hybrida rubra, 341 ; procumbens as a basket plant, ditto in fruit, 131 ; ditto not hardy. 394 ; serratifolia, 323 ; splendens, 214 ; winter flowering species of. 294, 385 ; light and dark, 500 Fuel for saddle boilers, 64 Fungus, black, on Camellia leaves, on Mushrooms, 272 Funkia, the wliite, 590; grandifiora, 645 Gaillaidia picta, 523 ; grandiflora, 645 Galanthus Redoutei, 336 Galegns, the, 121 Galley worms, 27 Galtonia candicans, 70 Garcinia Mangostana, 101 Garden, a Christmas flower, 40 ; an Englishman's in South Italy, 26 ; a Lancashire, 563, 641 " Garden Annual," 191 July 2, 18S1. THE GARDEN INDEX. vu Garden appointments, 509 Garden catalogues, 290 Garden design, Hi) (.farden expenses, 508 Garden fanns, Gladstone on, 31 Garden, of iron, 021; picture, a, 2!)3 ; progress, 8 ; railway bank terrace, 324 ; in winter, 11 J ; tlie rock, 507; the woodland, 334 Garden spider, 70 Garden Thought?, 1, 41, 60, S5, 114, 143, 167, 222, 249. 274, 297, 343, 5(i4 Gardens, wild, in a Scotch lake, 340; Cornish, 564 ; near Grecian or classic houses, 5U ; school, 93, 593 ; terraced, 145 ; water, 490 ; winter effects in, 41 ; Devonshire, t>53 Gardening, encyclopaedia of, wanted, 172 ; hardy, 324; old-fashioned, 114; on Grass, 413 536, 542 ; out and indoors in winter, 143 ; prospects of, 508 ; spring, 373 ; the future of, 353 Gardeners, ancient, 251 ; and their em- ployers, 297 ; promotion of young, 105, 190 ; value of travel to, 30 Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution, 275, 375 Gardenia citriodora, 252 ; Stanleyana, 437 ; Thunbergi, 625 Gardenias in small pots, 450 ; planted out, 52S, 607 Gardoquia betonicoides, 597 Garland flowers, the, 544 Garrya elliptica, 605 Gas tar for dressing Vines, 399, 627 General Horticultural Company, 191 Genista hispanica, 558 Genistas, cultivated species of, 503 Gentiana acaulis, 523, 554 ; verna, in bloom, 153 Gentianas, list of, 59 "George Eliot," 55 Georgetown Botanic Gardens, 56 Geranium, best bedding variegated, 112 Gesnerad a showy winter, lid Geum miniatum, 557 Gishurstine, 34, 140, 194 Gladiolus purpureo-auratus Froebeli, 112 Gladioli, spring culture of, 255 ; Jingliah, 045 Glasnevin, plants in flower at, 438; spring flowers at, 321, 418 Glass for orchard house, 77 ; value of cheap, 114 Glasshouses, evergreen walls in, 69 ; sunken, 625 ; ventilating, 565 Glazing hothouses, 118 Glen Eyre, notes from, 205 Globe flowers, 571 ; in Cheshire, 539 Glonera jasminiflora, 392 Gloriosas, 578 Gloxinias at Chelsea, 592 Gloxinia Brantome, Fabiola, 559 ; Lady Marriott. 559 ; Christophe ColomD, 560; Airs. Abbey, 560 ; Mrs. Bause, 460 ; Radiance, 510 Gnaphalium decurrens, 09 Goat's Rues, 121 Godetia Lady Albemarle, 348 Golden-leaved Black Currant, 523 Golden Rods, 87 ; the alpine, 27 Goniophlebium lachnopus, 457, 459 Goodyera discolor, 251 Gooseberry caterpillar, 577 Gooseberries, culture of, 43 ; standard, 138 Gourds, culture of, 433 Grafting, 315 ; and bearing, 220 ; imple- ments for, 239 Grape Eptahilo, 284; Groa Guillaume, 75,138; Kempsey Alicante, 109, 165; American, 79, 109; Mrs. Pearson, 284 ; best winter, 4 ; brown spots on, 444 ; Frontignan, 660 Grapes, Foxy, 549 ; Hamburgh, in au- tumn, 13 ; keeping, 109 ; Muscats, high and low temperature for, 550 ; without fire heat, 108, 233 ; early, 551 ; fertilising Muscat, 444 ; American, 660 ; outdoor, 661 Grass la^vns and non-collecting mowers, 97, 232 Grass plot, forming, 257 Grass in churchyards, 175; renovating, 257 Grasses in pots, 241 Greenhouses, amateurs', 288; plants for sunless, 496 ; value of, 114 ; painting, 625 ; construction of, 626 Greens, winter, 413 Grey Plover, the, 81, 124, 157 Griffinia Blumenavia, 528; hyacinthina micrantha, 33 Groundsel, the Piedmont, 14 Gunnerabury Park, 227 Gyranogramma schizophylla, 363, 411, 60S H. Habcrlea rhodopcnsis, 490 Habranthus pratensis fulgens, 587 Halirotharanus fasciculatus, 173 ; New- elli, 199 Haddon Hall, 99,100 Hail, direction of, 209 Halesiatetraptera, 47S, 5'9, 567. 5S3, 622 Hamamelis virginica arborea, 193 Handcross Park, 636 Hand Flower Tree, the 123 Hardenbergia vimaculata, 440 Hardy flower gardening, 9 Hardy flowers, transplaniing, 11 Hardy plants, piices of, 70 Harper's Magazine on the future of gadening, 353 Hart's-tongue Fern, 60 Hatfield, 047 Haworthia Bolleri, S3, 303 Hawthorns. 533; late, 643 Heaths and Anemones mixed, 464 Heaths, Cape, culture of, 579; gold and silver, 618; haroy, 160; ditto, two beautiful, 322 Heating, economical, 303 Hedges, ornamental, 92, 128, 154, 190 Hedychium Gardnerianum, 5;.6 Hedychiums, the, 544 Hedysarum gyrans, 634 Helichrysums by the sea, 313 Heliconia aureo- striata, 560 ; nigra punc- tata, 560 Heliotrope, the winter, 2, 166 Helleborus fcetidus, 204 ; in a wild state, 391, 448 ; niger, 60 ; forcing of ditto, 10 ; in pots, 66 Hellebores at Kew, 321 ; at Tooting, 373 ; from Devonshire, 58 Hemerocallis flava, d^O EEemlock Spruce, 617 ; in winter decora- tion, 215 Henfreya scandens, 252 depaticas and Christmas Rnse^ from seed, 257. 555 ; remarks on, 11, 452 ; at home, 233 Hexacentris mysorensis, 323 Heythrop, Oxfordshire, 301 Hibiscus africanus, 553 Hippeastrum Hendeisoni, 34 ; Leo- poldi, 88 Hogg, Dr., 387 Holly berries, scarcity of, IS Holly fly, the, 601 Holly, the American, 235 Hollies, 626 ; moving in April, 38 Hollyhocks, pyramidal, 122, 175 Honeysuckles, Japanese, 1 ; standard, 478 Hop Hornbeam, the, 423 Horticulture in Ireland — school gar- dening, 259 Horticultural record, 34 Horticultural shows, touting at, 609 Hot air heating, 497 Hoteia(Spirfea) japonica, 212 Hothouses, cleansing, 56 Houses, span-roofed, 212 ; sunken, 454, 542 ; ditto for Orchids, 141 ; wrongly planned fruit, 220 Houstonia alba, 535 ; ccerulea, 600 Hovea ilicifolia, 252 Humea elegans, 628 Hyacinth bulbs, rotting of, 372 Hyacinths at Fulham, 367 ; in open ground, 495 ; second year, 454 Hyacinthus amethystinus albus, 513 ; candicans, 70 ; princeps, 535 Hydrangea Mariesi, 63a Hydrangea, the, and its varietiei^, 477 HymenocaUis macrostephana, 235 Iberis rosmarinifollus, 414 ; winter flowering, 226 Ice houses, filling, 155, 272 Iceland, gardening in, 524 Hex crenata variegata, 128 Imantophyllum miniatum, 399 ; super- bum, 392 Implements, grafting, 239 India-rubber plants, 263 ; cutting down, 287 Indian Laburnum, 78, 133 Indigofera decora alba, 592 Indigoferas, the, 93 Ink for zinc labels, 450 Ipomsea HorsfaUia;, 315 Ireland, effects of winter in, 388 ; horti- culture in, 116 Iris, bulbous rooted, 59 ; flmbriata, 109 ; Histrio, 33; Kolpakowakyana, 299; Melpomene, 616 ; missouriensis, 034 ; olbiensis, 634 ; reticulata, 252 ; scor- pioides, 59, 98, 113 ; stylosa, 60 ; t^usiana, 585, 587 ; the bulbous. 08 ; Thunderbolt, 016 ; Van Houttei, 489 Irises, spring flowering, 345 ; winter floweriup, 113; yellow Spanish, 016; dying off, 619; varieties of, 590; Sibe rian, 643 Ivy, a new, 420 ; indoors, 541 Ixia flowers in water, 591 Ixias from Guernsey, 585 Ixiolirinn tataricum, 566,584, 585, 590 Ixora Fraseri, 34 Jamesia ameiicana, 622 Japan, climate of, 27 Japanese gardening, 111 Jasmines, indoor, 30 Jasminum nudiflorum, 1, 74 ; pubescens (gracillimum), 628; Sambac ti.-pL, 495 Jetfersonia diphylla, 392 Journal ofJIorticiUture, the, 364 Judas tree, fine, 592 June berry, the dwarf, 478 Jungle, a tropical, 135 Kale, dwarf or Scotch, 509 Kalmia latifolia, 47S Kalmias, 616 Kemsley and Howe s insect destroyer, 16 Kentia costata, 560 Kentish fruit gardens, 281, 378, 502 Kentucky, Blue Grass of, 26 Keiria japonica fl.-pl. major, 457; variegated, 439, 553 Kew Gardens, improvements in, 367 ; buildings in, 607 Kniphofia carnosa, 548 KocJreuteria, 300 Labels, garden, 260 ; ink for zinc, 450 ; plants, 116 ; prizes for ditto, 172 Laburnum sports, 605, 664 Laburnum moth, 428 Lachenalia Nelsoni, 166, 193 ; pallida, 46-i Lachenalias, culture of, 285 ; seedling, 166 Laiy's-slippers, 306 Lffilia albida gemma, 142 ; flammea, 482 ; harpophylla, 363 ; peduncularis, 53 Lamorran, gardening at, 537 Lamprococcus Wielbachi, 34 Lancashire garden, 563 Land question, the, 248 Landscape gardening, Mr. Milncr on, 516 ; school for, 543 LantanaVictoire, 11 Lapagerias from seed, 331 ; red and whitp, 422 Larkspur, the Cardinal, 254 ; Siberian, 642 ; perennial, 646 Lastrea a;mula, 314 ; elongata, hardy in Ireland. 66 ; membrauifolia, 560 ; Richardsi multifida, 550 Lathyrus DrummOndi, 597, 643 ; Sib- thorpi, 514 Laurie Park, Sydenham, Orchids at. 61 Laurustinus, the white, 117 , 189, 290, 369, 663 Lawn mower, Excelsior, 509 Lawns, should cut Grass be left on ? 30 Leaves, fallen, 10 Ledum palustre, 488 Leptospermuni lanigerum, 42 Leptotts, bicolor, 62 Lettuce, Brown Cos, 313, SS2 Leucojum restivum, 300 ; vernum, 305 Lewisia rediviva, 314, 348, 640 Leycesteria forniosa, best places for, 37 Liatris, species of, 38 Libonias and their culture, 327 Library :— •' Botany of California," 265 Library (continved) .- — " Carter's Practical iJardcner," 317 " Dendrology," 183 "Dietetic Reformer," 183 "Extinct British Animals," 111 " Farming in a Small Way," 139 " God's Acre Beautiful," 35 " Indian and Coloifial Mercantile Directory," 139 '"Modicus Cibi, or Nature her own Physician," 183 " Mice and her Neighbours," 264 "Pastoral Days,", 320 "Rosarian'8 Year Book for 1881," 125 "Success with Small Fruits," 4j5 "Systems of Land Tenure in Various Couniries," 346 "The Wea'her of 18S0 in the Neigh bourhool of London," 346 L'etzia braziiienais. 99 Lilac, Charles X, 300 ; double flowered, 437 ; English forced, 113 Lily beds. 201 Lily, black, of Kamtschalka, 539 Lily bulbs, 197, 314, 336 ; growth of, 151, 203 Lily, Pyrenean, 618; St, P.runo's, 5'9 ; Scott Wilson, 638; the Wood, at home, 26; of the Valley, show of, 512; of the Valley of Scripture, 522 ; noble white, 642 Lihes, annual or perennial, .58, 97, 120, 232, 2.57 ; best in shade and shelter, 97, 152, 201 ; culture of, 96, 390 ; from seed, 255, 315, 600 ; notes on, 29 ; Yel- low Bay, 620 ; early scarlet, 643 Lilium auratum, 472 ; inferior bulbs of, 313; in Ireland, 40; in Nova Scotia, 337; long established roofs of, 417; giganteum from seed, 11; neilgher- rense, 314 ; philadephicum at home, 20 ; polyphyllum, 180 ; tenuifolium, 5S4, 017 ; Thunbergianum, 139 Limnanthes Douglasi, 635 Linum trigynum as a shade-It ving plant, 69, 160, -ZAlj 304 ; culture of, 20 Liquidambar styracifiua, 478 Liriodeudron Tulipifera, a fine tree of 74 Lisianthus glaucifolius, 424 Lithospermum fruticosuui, 535, 566 Livistona sinensis, 47 Loasa vulcanica, 495 Lobelia cardinahs, 27 ; syphilitica, Logan Stone, 651 Lombardy Poplar, the, 236 London squares and open spaces. 345 Lonicera serapervirens, 415 Loquat in fruit, ?45 Lowfield Niu'series, 573 Luculia gratissima, 2 ; killed by repot- ting, 26 Lj'godium scandens, 128 M. Magnolia auriculata, 605 ; couspicua, 414, 479, 663 ; fuscata, 619 ; graudiflora, 478; Lennei, 479, 53-4; Umbrella, 643 Magnolias and the winter, 439 Malt dust, 573, 623 Mamillaria Caput Medusa;, 363 Mangosteen, the, 161 Manure, best Cucumber, 527 ; Malt dust as, 573, 623 Maples, Japanese, 571, 583; inarched, 344 Maranta crocata, 193, 226 Marica gracilis, 322 Market gardens, fruit prospects in, 43L ; Mr. Lancaster's, 12 Jlarket garden notes, 13, 102, 210. 407, 415, 635, 657 JIarket gardening, Parisian, 365 Market, packing Apples for, 97 MartjTiias and their culture, 453 MasdevAllia Chelsoni, 384; civilis, 113; ignea, 142 ; tovareusis, 52 Slats, Russian, 413 May, weather in, 627 Meconopsis uepalensis, 336; Wallichi, 308, 566 Megarrhiza californica, 99 Tilegaseas, spring flowering, 391 Melia floribunda, 377 Melittis Melissophyilum, 585 Jlellidores, 591 JMelons at Christmas, 56, 77 Mertensia sibirica, 592 Methonicas, 578 Mexican Orange Flower, 558 Mezereon, the, 264 Michaelmas Daisies, 59; best kinds of, 38, 498 VlH THE GARDEN INDEX. [July 2, 1881. Miorostylis metallica, 500 Mignonette, Spiral, 36S, 458 ; new ivliite, 669 Mildew on Eoses, 623 Sliltonia cuneata, 30G Milla laxa, 98 Mimuliis glutinosus, 93 Mnnuluses, improveil, 39 Mint for marltet, 12 Minorca Virgin's Bower, 88 Jlistletoe, 185 ; improved, 59 Moluccella laivis, 49 Mortxa, 21 Moss, lluskin on, 41 Mossing, manuring, and oyster sliell croclving, 372 Mulcliins, value of, 630; with moss, 156- and watering. 6(il Alunby's Violet, 65 JIuscari Strangewaysi, 489 Mushrooms, culture of, ITO ; failure in ditto, 243 ; in vineries, 112 ; in cellars, 455 Mushroom house, ceiling of, 430, 551 ; farm, 65S Myoporum crystalliuum, 210 Myosotis dissitidora alba, 565 ; d. splen- dens, 464, 623 ; rupicola, 657 ; ^^"eir- leigh Surprise, 523, 654 Myriophyllum proserpinacoides, 678 Myristica fragrans, 161 N. Names, English plant, 129, 628, 642 Narcissus albus aureus, 363; biflorus, 439 ; calathinus, 368 ; in flower, 385 ; maximus, 321 ; monophyllus Clusi, 34 ; poeticus, 642 ; Xazettafloribundus, 59 Narcissi. Cornish, 494 ; in pots, 104, 314 ; in the shrubbery, 201 ; Mr. Barr's, 392; the last of the, 557 Kasturtiums, dwarf, 419, 463 Nature and Art in the garden, 627 Nebraska, wmter in, 472 Negnndo, the variegated, forforcing, 124 Neroatanthus longipes, 34 Nepenthes superba, 560 Nephrolepis davallioides furcans, 155 Nertera depressa. 445, 678 Never Green, a, 479 New England, notes from, 156, 600 Newtown Pippins in May, 490 New ZeaLand Forget-me-nots, 39 Notable trees at Hopetown Park, 74 Notes and Readings, 90, US, 145, 171, 190. 276, 323, 360 • ' . > . Notes, an artist's. 94, 176 ; from Baden 661 ; first spring, 277 ; from New England, 26 ; from South Wales, 450, 663 ; on spi'ing flowers. 334 Nursery Association, Scottish, 112 Nui'series, old London, 110 Nutmeg tree, the, Ifil Nuttallia cerasiforniis. 299, 350 Nympbrea ccerulea, 21 ; sculifolia. 21 Oak and Ash, leafing of, 623 ; fourfold stemmed, 200 ; new evergreen, 285 Oaks, line, at Kew, 216 Obituary— Charles Edmunds, 34 John Spencer, 34 Mr. Parsons. 3 Mr. W. A. Nesfleld, 296 William Gorrle, 31 Oilontoglossum Alexandra and its varie- ties, 361 ; fine varieties of, 63 ; A. grandiflorum, 660 ; A. reginre, 458 ; Chestertoni, 62 ; cirrhosum, fine variety of, 62 ; Ooradinei, 62 ; crispum grandi- florum, 460 ; Edwardi, 105 ; Lindeni, 251 ; membranaceum, 333 ; nevadense, 426 ; Pescatorei grandiflorum, 363 ; polyxauthuni, 560 ; prasnitens, 62 ; pul- chellummajus, 171; rare, 62; Euckerl- anum, 306, 453 ; vexillarium and crispum, fine varieties of, 457 ; bronzy- leaved, 6, 104, 133; winter-flowering, CEnothera taraxacifolia, 467 tEnotheras, 26 Olearia stellata, 386 Omphalodes Krameri, 411 ; verna, 348 • V. alba, 624 ' Oncidium Balderramto, 483 ; Cro?sus 4s2 ; cucullatum, 62, 261 ; flexuosum! 132 ; hyphasmaticum, 306 ; pubes, 261 ; sai'codts, 483 Onions, culture of. 111, 196 ; preparing ground for, 157 ; silver-skinned, 381 ; sowing on heavy soil, 167 Onoclea sensibilis, 380 Onosma taurica, 617 Ophrys tenthredinifera. 166 Orchard, an Appleless, 532 Orchard blossoms, 441 Orchard, formation of an, 135 Orchard house, the, 162, 356, 474 ; glass tor the, 77, 109 ; work in the, 650 Orchards, cultiv>*ting young, 502 Orchid culture, 133, 171, 224, 250 ; collec- tor, 057 Orchid growing for market, 273 Orchids at Burford Lodge, Dorking, 305; at Clapton, 332 ; at Constable Burton, 172 ; at Daveuham Bank, j\lalvern, 6 ; at Glasnevin, 637 ; at Kenwood, 637 ; at Selborne, 198 ; resting, 142, 193, 250 ; at Silverdale Lodge. 51 ; at Sudbury House, Hammersmith, 221 ; at Syden- ham, 481 ; classiftcation of, 140 ; cool, 105, 133 ; dirtereuce in the treatment required for. 383 ; in flower, 482, 593 ; at Bradford Peverill, 53 ; at Brentham Park, Stirling, 133; at Fernlleld, Bridge of Allan, 53 ; at York, 352, 457 ; in Yorkshire, 133 ; our, 6, 104 ; potting and temperature for, 63 ; pseiido bulbs shrivelling, 332 ; repottiog cool house, 62 ; roots of epiphytal, 306 ; SAles of, 490; Mr. Day's, 368, 415; shading, 604 ; at Clapton, 504 ; small unesta- blished, 6 ; suitable houses for, 361 ; sunken houses for, 141, 399 ; at The Firs, 61 ; growth of, 656 ; notes ou, 657 Orolriis veruus, 350 ; varieties of, Hi Orpine, the purple, 9 Osborn, Messrs., fire at, 70 Osmantbus (Olea) fragrans, 261 Osmunda regalis, 523 Osmundn, species of, 504 Ostrya carptnifolia, 428 Ourisia coccinea, 490 Out-door Grapes, 3 Pwonies iu Grass, 373 ; French, 56 ; new herbaceous, 14 ; tree, hardiness of, 233 Palms as table plants, 64 ; for the open air, 485; of Panama and Darien, 362; some of the hardier. 47 Pampas Grass, imported plumes of, 106 ; Silvery Red, 612 Pancratium carriba3um, 124 Pandanus Veitchi, 262 Pansy, Alpha, 634 ; Cliveden Blue, 348 ; new, 619, 659 Pansies and Violas, 030 ; border, 616 ; exhibition, 98 ; fancy, 556 ; ditto, for market, 267 ; French spotted, 555 ; in pots, 398; Scotch, 540; seedling for spring beds, 522; let alone, 663 Paper ilulberry, 18 Papaver nudicaule, 510 ; orientale. 592 Paper waxed, 692 Paris Daisy Etoile d'Or, 211 Paris, market gardening in, 365 Parks and open spaces, 566 Paniassia palustris, 663 Parsnips, dibbling, 311 Passiflora kermesina and princeps, 534 Patent record, 166 PauUinia thalictrifoha, culture of, 21 Paiilowmia imperialis, 479, 558, 622 Pavia macrostachya, 309 ; rubra, 589 ; californica, 621 Pea beetle, the, 220 Pea, best late. 382 ; large Everlasting, 618 ; Early Sunrise. 668 Peas and Potatoes, 635 ; first early, 24 ; in pots, 632 ; midseason and late in trenches, 609 Peach, the Chili, 46; the Parnell, 220; Alexander, 658 ; trees, flv on, 661 Peach aphis or black fly, 629 Peach houses, 109 ; sectional trellises in. 431 Peaches, diseased, 602 ; double flowered, 439, 652 ; lime lor, 451 ; out-door, 576 ; renovating, 404 Pear, profitable, culture of the, 263 ; Petite M.irguerite, 5 Pear saw-fly, sso Fear shoots, vitality of, 109 Pear trees at Chiswick, 361 Peai-8 and Apples, preservation of, 233 ; cordon, 379 ; for rough climates, 475, 677 ; twelve sorts for November and December, 33 Pearl bush, the, 652 Pelargonimn, Anua Pfltzer, 411 ; Charles Darwin, 639 ; double-flowered Ivy- leaved; 639; Eureka, 82; Madame Thibaut, 660 ; Vivandi^re, 560 ; RoUis- soii's Unique, 214, 332 Pelargonium Society, 639 Pelargonium, the best variegated, 121; tricolor, 326 ; bedding in Moss, cutting down, 263, 237 ; early flowering, 122, 644 ; scented leaved, 113 ; winter flowering, 36 ; zonal for winter, 384 Pendell Court, Bletchingley, 147 Pennywort as a basket plant, 134 Pentstemon Coba;a, 349 ; Sconleri, 585 Perkins', Messrs., nursery, 71 Pernettya blooms, 617 Perpetual flowering Carnations, 67 Perpetual Spinach or Spinach Beet, 244 Petasites fragrans, 204, 314 Petrsea volubilis, 392, 438 Petunias from seed, 202, 521 Phaius graudifolius, 172 ; irroratns, 482 ; tuberculosus, 274, 294; Humboldti, 105 Phala;nopsis after flowering, 225 ; at Chelsea, 142 ; at Clapton, 53 ; Parish!, 482 ; snmatrana, 637 Philadelphus, 661; coronal ins, 063 Philodendron, 450 Phlox ovat 1,620; pilosa, .536; subulata vars. , 653 ; verna, 535 Phloxes, early, 639 Phylloxera, the, and sulphide of carbon, 231 Phyllocactus niveus, 646 Phyteumas, 413, 446, 634 Phytolacca purpurea, 054 Phytonizzaa([Uifolia, 60L Picotees and Carnations, 303; forexliibi- tion, 257 ; liQuid manure for, 268 Picture, a garden, 298 Pilrig Park Xurseries, 470 Pine-apple Lady Beatrice Lambton, 163 Pine, the Weymouth, 652 Pinguicula Bakeriana, 411 ; caudata, 3C7, 439 Pinguiculas, culture of, 413 Pinks, Tom Thumb, 619 Pinus austriaca, 476 ; Ceinbra, 369 ; Strobus, 662 riper nigrum, 99, 103 Pipes, and boilers and frost, 199 ; cement for hot water, 314 Pitcairnia corallina, 322 ; maiifolia, 537 Plagiarism, a, 607 Plane, Corstorphine, 489, 513 ; Oriental at Weston Park, 74 ; at Fawley Court, 04 Platanns orientalis, fine tree of, 74 Plantations, management of hardwood, 426 Planting in connection with building, 239 Plants lorcing into bloom, 210 ; indoor winter, 114 ; labels for, 375; derivation of names of, 144, 223; EngUsh n,imes of, 354, 577 ; pests of, 315 ; a few new and rare, 98 ; after the thaw, 233 ; alpine, 664; in chai'coal dust, 122; in Cumberland, 539 ; under snow, 167 : American, at Bromley, 620; ditto in Hyde Park, S3 ; artiBiial, for table decoration, 90; bedding, 120, 150; prices of ditto, 31 ; berried and vase, 87 ; edging, 87 ; bold water-side, 253 ; bulbous, 322, 620; certificating, 118; effect of frost on, 167, 175, 271 ; flower- ing in open air in winter, 11 ; for a sunless greenhouse, 496 ; for floral decoration, 134 ; for liall and corridors, 449, 641 ; for hanging baskets, 395, 452 ; for jardinieres, 41 ; for root-infested borders, 83. 112 ; for table decoration, 64 ; for walls, 165 ; from Newry, 533 ; hardy golden, 392 ; grouping r. dotting, 420 ; hai-dy at Tottenham, 463 ; ditto, demand for roots of, 279 ; ditto for market, 102, 267 ; ditto in winter, 88, 276; ditto V. bedding-out, 85; trans- planting ditto, 11 ; herbaceous, cost of, 70, 202 ; in flower iu Cornwall, 111 ; insectivorous, 626 ; list of, in flower at Christmas, 40 ; list of, named from animals, 144 ; market, 647 ; models of carnivorous, 83 ; new and rare. 463 ; at Baden-Baden, 414 ; New Holland, at Clapton, 322; notes on hardy, 86; of Algeria, 202 ; over potting, 104 ; packing, 157 ; pendulous-leaved, 450 ; mulching with Moss, 240 ; mutilating the roots of, 242 ; procuring sub-tropi- cal, 66 ; rock, 615 ; selecting decorative winter, 48 ; winter flowering, 48 ; to grow in shade, 48; shade-loving, 83, 124, 241, 617 ; showy succulent, 166 ; two good winter, 33 ; weedy, 616 ; with- out soil, 607 Pleione Hookeriana, 534 Pleopeltis albida squamata, 660 Plover, the grey, 81 Podocarpus alpina, 360 Podophyllum Einodi, 439 Plum, Cherry, 674 Plum-tree training, 30 Poinsettia, double, 469, 628; pulcher- , rima, a fine, 34 ; increasing, 386 Polyanthus, laced, 312, 347; Queen of Hose iu Hose, 45S Ponds, garden, 581 Pomegranate, double, 616 Pontederia azurea, 433 Poppy, large Iceland, 613 Poppies, annual, 277, 336 ; French, 617 ; oriental, 618 ; perennial, 634 Poplar, the Lombardy, 91, 236 Potato disease, 627 ; deep planting, 361 Potato, Magnum Bonum, 102 ; ditto in America, 3S2 ; Scotch champion, 311 Potatoes and Peas, 635; certiflcated, 196, 244 ; drying, 382 ; facts about, 411 ; for pot culture, 196, 358 ; lifting before ripe, 24; new kinds of, 331; new plan of storing, 101 ; notes on, 455; seed, 195; sprouting seed, 311; wintering, 64 ; eftect of peat, charcoal on, 64 Potbos aurea, 629 Practical men, an erroneous idea of, 265 Pratia angulata, 619 Primrose Amaranth, 411 ; Chinese, 34, 48, 191, 252, 263, 320; evening. 26; hardy, 299, 415. 447, 472 ; Himalayan, 345 ; green, 344 ; on grass, 345 ; protecting outdoor, 11 ; for under trees, 409 ; wild, 609 ; Cloth of Gold, 510 Primroses and Polyanthuses, 420,- 514, 556; at Marlfleld, 447; colonies of coloured, 447 ; dividing, 416, 467 Primula capitata, 313 ; ciliata, 415 ; pubescens, 535 ; cortusoides amcena, 658 ; delicata, 82 ; sinensis magniflca, 252 ; new Japanese. 655 Primula sinensis The Queen, 294 ; Gil- bert's Double, 21 ; new seedling, 191 ; at Reading, 69 ; propagating, 682 Prinos verticUlatus, 18 Piitchardia grandis in flower, 87 Prize cups, 116, 166, 199 Prizes, special, 88 Propagating, 56 ; in sand and water, 315 Propagatuig house, 139 Pruning and training, Hibherd on, 31S Pruning to improve quality, 17 Pruiius pennsylv.anica, 488 Pteris tremula crispa, 560 Public parks, for Burnley, 593; new, 558 Puschkinia scilloides, 126; ditto and sicula, 252 Putty, substitute for, in glazing, 273 Pyracanth, the, 1 Pyrethrnms, 627 Pyrus coronaria, 400, 685, 586, 689 ; Ilosti, 613; hybiida, 613; Malus floribunda, 409 ; ditto, forced, 287 ; pubens, 580 Quassia aiuara, 123 ; the Surinam, 123 Quercus Buergeri, 286 ; glabra, 370, 409 ; virens. 477 R. Rabbits, the plague of, 502 Radish, a new, 627 Ragged Jack, 358 Railway embankments, embellishment of, 223 Railways, what they might do, 158 Rauunculus Ficaria, 570 ; speciosus, 514, 535 ; Traunfellneri, 414 ; Roman. 535 Eaphiolepis ovata, 664 Raspberry, culture of, for profit, 79 ; modes of training, 70 ; new planta- tions of, 79 ; propagation of, 79 ; varie- ties of, 79 Rehmannia sinensis, 400 Recessed walls, 188 Red Hawkweed, 40 Reseda odorata prolifera alba, 559 Kheea Plant, the, 184 Rheum Ribes, 419 Rhipsalis salicornioides, 226 Rhodea japonica anreo variegata, 459 Rhododendron altaclarense, 589 ; Auck- landi, 477 ; Daviesi, 464, 560 ; Duchess of Edinburgh and others, 69 ; ex- oniense, 457, 460 ; Lady Alice Fitz- william, 458, 460; prfficox and dahuri- cum, 368 ; Princess Royal, 178 ; Shep- pardi, 414 ; garden, 669 July 2, 1881. THE GAEDEN INDEX. Rhododendrons at Tarbert, 537 Rhodoclendrons, dwarf, 619 ; early, 204 ; flnely-Howered, 438 ; greenhouse, 565 ; Himalayan at Kew, 533 ; hybrid greenhouse, 117 ; Sikkim at Kew, 322, 437 ; large, at Kew, 372 ; under glass, 29S Rhodora canadensis, 464, COO Rhodotypus kerrioidee, 514 Rhubarb, forcing, 196 ; for succession, 358 Rhus glabra laciniata, 315 Rhynchospermum jasminoides, 651 Ribes aureuni, 439; pumilum aureum, 510 ; sanguioeum, varieties of, 415 ; subvestitura and lacustre 558 Rocket, double French, 61S Rockets, 102 ; white, 617 Rock garden, the, 276, 468 ; at Bickley, 344, 53S ; at CMswick, 438; forming a, 596 Rock garden, plants in flower at Bick- ley, 507 Rock plants in June, 615 Rockwork in Battersea Park, 70 Roctwork, wild llowers for, 615 Rogiera gratissima, 48 Roman Ranunculus, 591 Rondeletia cordata, 199 Room decoration, 424 Ro»t pruning, 118, 628 Rosa berberidifolia, 3S5 ; polyantha, 619 ; Anna Maria de Montravel, 391 ; rugosa, 623 ; sericea, 586 ; simplicifoUi (berberifolia), 473 ; a beautiful Tea, 527 ; A. K. Williams, 673 ; Beauty of G-lazeuwood, 515 ; best of past two seasons, 481, 487, 520; cuttings, 519; ditto in February, 310 ; Ferdinand Chaflfolte, 460 ; Fortune's China, 2, 606 ; Gloire de Dijon, 96, 310, 371 ; gmbs, how to destroy, 240 ; Japanese, 274 ; a fine, 310 ; Marcchal Niel, fine tree of, fiOiS ; ditto, age of, 276 ; best stock for ditto, 33, 95, ISO, 291, 332 ; ditto in Camellia houses. 371 ; old plants of ditto, 2.58, 332 ; ditto on a lofty conservatory, 548 ; ditto on own roots, 399 ; ditto out of doors, 573 ; peculiarities of ditto, 430, 437 ; pruning ditto, 258, 309 ; ditto, short lived, 208, 313; Niphetos, 14, 573; portraits, 274 ; Rsynolds Hole's book on, 274 ; Safrano in bud, 520 ; Society, the National, 592 ; stocks, burying, 622 ; the Banksian, 310, 513, 527, 573 ; ditto as a stock, 208, 310 ; York and Lancaster, the, 548, 606, 616 ; Boule d'Or, 655 Roses, abnormal tendencies and perpe- tual blooming of, 371 ; and irritration, 33, 96 ; and the frost, 145, 167, 208, 474; at Nice, 579 ; best twenty-four for bed- ding, 423 ; best, for a verandah, 223; cuttings of, 124, 143, 207, 431, -1S7, 489 ; Californian, 572 ; climbing, 537 ; culture and varieties of, 343 ; dwarf, how frost prunes, 259 ; under glass, 259 ; early, earthing up dwarf, in winter, 370, 487 ; effects of Avinter on, 481 ; English and American, 249; excretions of, 225; first attempts at growth, 437 ; forced, 41 ; for forcing, 31, 203 ; grafting, 179 ; in pots, 408 ; in winter and spring, 409 ; keeping within bounds, 17; layering Tea, 331 ; maggot hunting on, 622 ; malt dust for, 573, 623 ; manuring, 225 ; mildew on, 606, 622; moving in June, 573; on extension system, 16 ; on tlieir own roots, 291, 310,423; propagating, 275 ; protecting, 225 ; pruning, hardy, 17 ; select, 275 ; single, 371, 415 ; stocks for, 145 ; from cuttings, 353 ; tender, extra protection for, 96 ; the excretions of, 180 ; at Chiswick, 438 ; the. of Scripture, 423 ; the time to prune, 352 ; unmulched, 291 ; tweuty best hardy, 437 ; under glass, 168 ; wall, 16 ; pro- tected ditto, 168 ; winter protection of, 276 ; old, 642 ; Mr. Baker's, 652 ; show, 655 ; suckers of, 656 Roses, Christmas, 10 Royal Horticultural Socfety's law suit, 640 Rubus arcticus, 464 ; deliciosus, 558, 559 ; ros3eflorus, 566 ; ditto, in winter, 58 Rudgea macrophylla, 415 Ruskin on Botany, 599 Ryde, spring flowers at, 463 s. Saccolabium giganteum, 52 Sages, the Blue, 600 Salix pentandra, 419 Salvia Camertoni, 70 ; Pitcheri, 600 ; verticillata, 119, 205 Sambucus racemosa, 320 ; dropping its berries, 288 Sand, a preservative of young plants, 316 Sand, Verbenas, the 203 Sandwort, the Mountain, 27 Sanguinaria canadensis, 392 San Remo, flowers at, 230 Saponaria ocymoides, 615 Sarana, tlie 539 Sarcochilus Fitzgeraldi, 383 Sarmienta repens, 586 Sarracenia melanorhoda, 033 San'acenias, 455 Satyriura carneum, 58'i Savoy, Early Dwarf Ulm, 81 Sawdust, and its uses, 506, 564 ; as a manure, 206, 382; for plant growing, 450 Sawdust in propagation, 18 ; uses of, 143 SawflyOphrys, 166 Saxifrages at Fettes Mount, 555 Saxifraga cordifolia purpurea, 453 ; flagellaris, 438 ; lantoscaua, 620 ; op- positifolia, 312 ; oppositifolia maxima, 300; peltati, 324; siblrica, 493; Wallacei, 540 ; in a cut state, 540 Scabious, dwarf in pots, 409 Schismatogottis crispata, 560 Schizostylis coccinea indoors, 377 School gardens, 593 School gardening, 93 School of Gardening, 345, 374 Schrankia uncinata, 40 Sciadocalyx Luciana, 110 Science and horticulture, 197 Sciences, song of the, 194 Scilla amethystina, 019 ; nutans alba, 558 ; peruviana, 620 Scolopendrium vulgare, GO Scolytus destructor, 130 Scutellaria Mocciniana, 69 Seakale, forcing, 190, 434 ; from seed sown indoors, 358 Sedges, graceful, 533 Sedum Maximowiczi, 203; purpurascens, 9; sempervivoides, 354 Seed lists, 360 ; paciiets illustrated, 252; saving in market gardens, 12 ; sowing, 331 Seeds, covering, 315, 403 ; orders, 32 ; paraflined, 208 ; sowing small, 214, 279 Seedsmen's exaggerations, 143 Senecio Balbisianus, 14 ; cruentus, 234, 449 ; mikanioides, 256 ; speciosus, 586 Serpentine walls, 78 Shearland, a suburban sketch, 513 Shepherdia argentea, 606 Shrubs and trees, flowering, at San Remo, Italy, 153 ; berry bearing, 317 Shrubs, climbing on Grass, 235 ; flower- ing, 37, 573 ; in Cornwall, 553 ; spring flowering, 489 : hardy, 480 ; two sweet scented, 93, 199 ; white-flowering, 643 Shrubberies, digging in, 235 ; mis- managed, 488 Silenes, alpine, 571 ; virginica, 010 Silver Bell tree, 478 Silver trees, the, 73 Sisyrinchium graudiflorum, 323 Skimmias, 92 Sloe, the common, 439 Smilacina stellata, 600 Smother, how to make a, 375 Snake's-head Fritillary, varieties of the, 464 Snowdrop tree, 539, 567, 533, 622 Snowdrops and Crocuses for forcing, 401 Snowdrops, forcing, 528 ; Slelville's, 226 Snowflake, the summer, 300 Sobralia macrantha nana, 575 SociETFES AND EXHIBITIONS :— Alexan- dra Palace, 560 ; Bath and West of England, 613 ; Manchester Horticul- tural, 013; National Auricula, 435; Royal Botanic, 363, 459, 560 ; Royal Horticultural, 32, 192, 294, 363, 457, 510, 559, 000, 63S Solanum setaceum, 83; venustum, 2 Solidago Virgaurea var. alpina, 27 Solidagos, 87 Sollya linearis, 620 Solomon's Seal, 454 Solomon's Seal and variegated Funkias, 242 Sorghum, cultivation of, at Belvoir, 27 Southwood, Bickley, hardy plants at, 59 Spamiannia africana, 70, 263, 480 Sparaxis out of doors, 524 Specialists, 181 Speirantha convallarioides, 464 Spider, the garden, 70 Spinach Beet or Perpetual Spinach, 244 ; New Zealand, 580 Spirrea confusa, 483; japonica iu and out of doors, 543 ;lD0vigata, 359; opuli- folia, 619 ; palmata, 24, 595, 639 ; Thun- bergi, 21, 74, 416; Uimaria and varieties, 420, 419 Spray apparatus, new, 322 Spring buds for sick rooms, 418 Spring bulb garden, 415 Spring flowers, 334, 335; notes, 560; notes from Cheshire, 389 Staphylea colchica, 488 ; for forcing, 241 Staphyleas, species of, 43 Staple for wire /eucing, 374 Starlings and Cherries, 133 Starling, habits and food of the, 73 Statice sinuata, 671 Stauntonialatifolia, 439 Stems dead, 202 Stenorrhynchus speciosum, 52 Stephens' Green, 624 Stevia glutinosa, 252 Stocks, testing doubleness of, 522 Strawberry, Black Priuce, 620 ; culture, 79, 377; iu pots, 80; planting of, 80; Keen's Seedling, 444 ; plants, two in a pot, 502, 576; supports, 570; varieties, best of, 80 ; Vicomtesse Hi^ricart de Thury, 211 Strawberries, early forced, 340 ; in small pots, 475 ; wintering out-of-doors, 531 ; wintering pot, 211 Strelitzia ovata, 34 Streptocarpus biflorus, 241 ; Rexi, 21 Striped Squill, the, 126 Stylophorum ohiotense, 464, 490 Sub-tropical plants, procuring, 6G Sunflower, the Russian, 314 Swanley Nurseries, notes from, 334 Swede, a good table, 34 Sweet Peas, autumn sowing of, 589 Sweet Sultan, the white, 307 Sweet Williams, 102 Siou, notes from, 235 T. TabeiTiremontana Camassa, 414, 541 ; coronaria, 497 Table decoration, plants for, 54 Tar and pitch running, 235 Tar dressing, 603 Tan, old, as a top-dressing, 128 Tea farm in United States, 116 Tecophylea cyanocrocus, 416, 495 Temperature iu valleys and on heights, 375 Temperatures, low, 194 Terrace at Haddon Hall, 99 Teirace wall, effect of the, 450 Testudinaria sylvatica, 166 Thalictrum anemonoides 11. -pi., 368 The Fii's, Sydenham, Orchids at, 61 Theobroma Cacao, 101 Thermopsis montana, 537 ; rhombifolia, 034 Thorn, the Glastonbury, 8t Thyrsacanthus rutilans, 304 Tiger flowers, 20 Tlgridia Pavonia, 26 Tillandsia Lindeni, 116 Timber and bark trade, 604 Timber belts, 230 Toad, pugilistic, 537,023 Toads y. slugs, 131 Tobacco culture, 062 Tomatoes, value of, 543 ; as perennials, 245; Bliss's Paragon, 619; fruiting quickly, 450 ; in frames, Ac , 13 ; under glass, 653 Tovaria oleracea, 586 Toxicophylea Ttiunbergi, 199, 559 ; spec- tabilis, 199 Trade, bark and timber, 004 Training and pruning improved, 476 Transplanting trees, 323 Tree, a valuable evergreen, 503 Tree, Carnation cutting, 70 Tree record, 74, 290, 370 ; roots in bor- ders, 233 ; transplanting, 323 ; trunks, evils of earthing up, 75 ; wall space for fruit, 77 Trees, a few choice, for lawns, 409 ; age of, 429; and shrubs at San Remo, Italy, 153 ; Apple, 289 ; big in Wabash Valley, Indiana, 74 ; columnar, 139 ; diseased Apples, 386 ; flowering, 538, 620 ; fruit in Bohemia, 220 ; pruning, 191 ; grafting old Apple, 270 ; large at Yester, East Lothian, 74 ; late leafing, 605 ; mulching fruit, 75 ; neglect of deciduous, 235 ; notes on, from Vienna, 74 ; on the Thames Embankment, 225 ; phenomenal, 217 ; protecting wall, 220 ; pruning and training of fruit, 46 ; shelter for fruit, 162 ; some of the old at Kew, 216; staked and unstaked, 444; wall space for fruit, 138; varie- gated, 643 Tregothnan, shrubs at, 537 Tiichopilia suavia alba, 559 Trifolium repens as basket plant, 422 Trillium atropurpureum, 438 ; culture of, 66, 112, 231 ; graudiflorum, 122, 204, 524; recurvatum, 540 Triteleia laxa, 98 ; uniflora alba, 438 TroUius dahuricua, 515 ; in Cheshire, 539 ; napellifolms, 633, 571 Tropaiolura azureuni and tricolorum, 545 ; Hermine Grassholf, 414, 524 ; new climbing, 619 ; tricolorum, 392 ; aquaria, plants for, 328 Tropical jungle, a, 135 Tropical vegetation, beauty of, 243 Truffles, true and falre, 28 Tuberoses, culture of, 543 ; price of, 30 Tulip culture near towns, 11; three flowered, 535 Tulip tree, fire, 74, 616 Tulips, florists', 82 ; in the Regent's Park, 534 Tulipa Gesneriana, 537, 591 ; Greigi, 433 Turnip, 54; purpletop Early Munich, 24, 54 '^ussilago fragrans, 2, 87, 166, 263, 314, 348 Tyda;a fonnosa, 333 u. Ulmuscampestris Wheatleyi, 47 Ungnadia speciosa, 309 Urceolina aurea, 415 Valleys and hills, temperature of, 541 Valleys, cold in, 197 Vauda Cathcarti, 351 ; lamellata Boxalli, 82, 574 Vases, dinner table, 316 Vegetable, cropping, 26(5 ; Marrows, 580 ; showing, a suggestion, 82 ; show, pro- posed, 102 Vegetables and the frost, 332; early, 81; exhibition of 244; large, 90; re- naming, 197 Vegetation, effect of violent wind waving on, 66 ; in the Tropics, beauty of, 243 Vegetarian colonies, 105 Ventilator, self-acting. 30 Verbascum tauricum, 5S4 Veronica Hulkeana, 584 ; longifolia sub- Bessilis, 448 Veronicas, cultivated hardy herbaceous, 448 ; hai'diness of, 314 Viburnum Opulus, 618; plicatum, 585, 589; prunifolium, 583 ; Tinus lucidura, 513 Vienna, notes from, 32, 74, 494 Vine borders, 197; compost for, 400; culture of, 660 Vine, culture of the Grape, 106; of Soudan, 117, 531 ; open air cultivation, 403 Vines and gas tar, 627 ; bleeding, 342, blood dressing for, 270 ; coal tar dressing for, 533 ; dressing for mealy bug, 414; extension-trained, 443; in the open air, 3, 46, 429, 454, 532, 594 ; layering at Coombe Abbey, 189 ; new mode of propagating, 570 ; on open walls, 164; scraping, 220, 234, 379; syringing, 027 ; tar dressing for, 501, 542 Vineyards, ancient, 145 Viola, American species of, 230 ; Munbyana, 65, 304 ; pedata, 534, 540 ; pedunculata, 515 Violas and Pansies, 635 ; the best species, 65 Violet Cress, the, 279 Violet, Munby's, 204, White Czar, 3 Violets all the year rormd, 221 ; Ameri- can, 230 ; and Narcissi, 416 ; in pots, 262 ; Neapolitan, 113, 214 Vitex Agnus Castus, 359 Vriesia Falkenbergi, 193 THE GARDEN INDEX. July 2, 1881. W, Walilonberpia capensis, 21 Walchereii Broccoli ami Ciiuliflower, 455 "Wall plants, 2 ; Hoses, 16 Walls, evergreen in glasshouses, 69 ; recessed, SZ ; serpentine, 78 Wallflowers, 821, 416, 46S, 555 ; and frost, 232, 313, 4*i3 ; and Roses, 418 ; and the winter, 421 ; double, 175 ; for market, 261 ; for cuttini??, 374 ; propagating and growing, 420 Wasps, 658; nest, a large, 382 Water-bottles for button-hole flowers, 553 Water-casks and tanks bursting, 353 Water, foul, in gardens. 5S1 Water Lilies without tanks, 213 Water, margins and termination of arti- ftcial, 110 Water Melons, culture of, 370 Water plants in Cheshire, 530 Watercress, 455 AVatering in dry weather, 5S7 ; and mulching. 631 Watering-pot, long-spouted, 90 Waterside plants, bold, 253 White Alders, the, 203 Weather in 18S0, 14; low temperature of, 140 Weeds on walks, S3, 486 Weigela for forcing, 6S ; Lavallei, 369, 591 : rosea, 063 Weirleigh, Brenchley, Kent, 525 Wellingtonia cone. 664 Westminster Abbey, new garden at, 310 Weston Park, Plane at, 74 Wlll>randia dia^tica, 98, 09 Wil « Olives, the, 73 WiUl water gardens, 490 Willows, PolJard, 292 Winter Cress, varies^ated, 63t Winter, effects of the late, 473, 5t6 ; at Longleatj 567 SS ; Grapes, 4 ; 1, 175 ; the, and Winter flowers, 60 Winter blossoms, 60, Heliotrope, the, S7, plants, 167 Wire-nettin^r trade, 531 Wisley, hardy plant culture at, 597 Wistaria sinensis under glass, 450; white 533 Witloof for salads. 551 Wolverhampton, park for, 620 Woodland garden, the. 334 Woodland work, 50, 153 Woodlice, remedy for, 453 Wood paving, 14 Wych Elm at Bury St. Edmunds, 470 Xiphiou Histrio, 33 ; p'.auifolium, 50, D3 Y. Yestcr, fine trees at, 74 Yew, poisoning by, 154 Yews and Chestnuts, 503 York, the weather at, S3 Yucca alolfolia vari gita, 192 ; Peacoc'ii, 226, 460 Yuccas, h irdy in groups, 9 ; on grass, 654 Yulan, the, 414 Zephyranthes Treatirc, S'iS, 4^)0 Zinni^is, 253; and Heltchrysmis by the S3a, 313 COLOURED PLATES. ABUTILONS, GROUP OF NEW CALANDRINIA GRANDIFLORA CHEVALLIERA (JOCHMEA) VEITCHI ... CLEMATIS COCCINEA CLETHRAS, GROUP OP CRINUM MOOREI DAHLIAS, SINGLE-FLOWERED DAHLIA YUAREZI DELPHINIUM CARDINALE EULOPHIA GUINEENSIS HYACINTHUS (GALTONIA) CANDICANS JASMINUM PUBESCENS (GRACILLIMUM) KNIPHOFIA CARNOSA P.\RE 5-24 376 erA •2S4 208 200 134 472 234 332 70 G2S 548 LEPTOSPERMUM LANIGERUM ... LILIUM POLYPHYLLUM LISIANTHUS GLAUCIFOLIUS MECONOPSIS WALLICHIANA MICHAELMAS DAISIES MILLA (TRITELEIA) LAXA P.EONIES, NEW HERBACEOUS ... PUSCHKINIA SCILLOIDES PYRUS CORONARIA SALVIA PITCHERI SEDUM SEMPERVIVOIDES VANDA LAMELLATA BOXALLI ... VERONICA LONGIFOLIA SUBSESSILIS PAGE 42 180 42 1 308 498 98 14 126 400 600 354 574 448 July 2, 1881. TliE GARDEN INDEX. ENGRAVI NGS. Abies Smithiana .. 359 Abronia unibellata .. 203 Acer iiisigne .. 355 Agave striata Itiehardsi .. 372 Amaryllis, malformed. . .. 3% American spring flowers .. 417 Ammobium alatuni .. 493 Anemone capensis .. 649 Angraicum Kotschyi . . .. 675 Aphis amygdalis .. 529 Viola pedata .. 634 Aquarium, a tropical . . .. 339 Artocarpu^ incisa, fruit o£ . . .. 162 Asplenium Baptisti ^ 480 Aster turbinellus .. 38 Aster ericoides .. 38 Aster Amelias .. 39 Beaucarnea reciuvata . . . . 372 Besonia socotrana 209 ,, showing habit of growth .. 209 Berdaguer's grafting tool .. .. 238 Birches, old, on Biicklebury Common ITC Blenheim 03 Boihmerianivea 185 Bread fruit, the 1G2 Broussonetia papyrlfera .. ..IS Bouvardia Alfred Neiiner .. .. 181 Bouvardia, new double ., .. 181 Butterbur, group of, by waterade .. 254 By the Lake, Blenheim . . . . 567 Boerkhausia ruVra 40 Bomarea multiflora 235 Eowiea volubilis 312 Cactus in the south of Trance CaJandiiuia speciosa . . ,, umbellata Callirhoe pedata , Caper plant Capparis Epinosa , Carya tomentosa Ca ttley a M< 'Ssi :e Cassia Fistula Casuarina sumatrana Cedars at Greenlands Cemetery of the Future ,, of the Past Cemiostema Laburnella Centaurea moschata alba Fenzlia dianthiriora Chamajrops Fortunei Chestnut, double-flowered . . Cheirostemon platanoides Clerodendron squamatum Clitoria Ternatea Clove tree, flowers of Cocoa, fruit of Cordyline australis Crack Willows at Thatcham, Berks.. Cratajgus coccinea Castle Ashby Croton recuTvifolium Cycas undulata Cymbidium ebumeum Cypress, the Eastern, in Greece Cjpripedium macranthum . . ,, acaule ,, spectabile ,, Calceolus Cypripedimn euryandrum Daffodil, twin -flowered Daffodils in spring in shrubbery Dicentra cucullaria Didiscus ccE'uleus Dillenia speciosa 2G4 376 376 415 2> 22 216 334 75 192 94 36 37 125 337 337 47 021 123 453 327 205 IGI 159 517 . 216 7 . 662 . 506 , 593 183 423 421 421 421 636 633 201 368 337 50 Dracrcna Lindeui airs. C. J. Freake . ,, terminalis albo-mai'j ,, Thomson! Duriau, fruit of Durio Zibethiuus, flower of . . .. 579 .. 19 :inata. 126 .. 127 .. 101 .. 161 Echium plantagineum 597 Elreagnus angustifolia 73 Elm destroying scolytus .. .. 130 Elm atUatfleia 647 Epidendrum bicornutum . . . . 525 ,, vitellinum .. .. 384 Epiphyllum truncatum 582 Epping Furest, plan of, showing line of proposed railway 242 Erioeampa adumbrata . . . . 3Sl Eunonia capensis 75 Eurybia ramulosa 71 Eiirycles Cunninghami . . . . 625 Eutoca viscida 523 Everlasting Peas in the wild garden. 347 Fennel, the Giant 313 Fern, depauperated 94 " Flower Pot " Inn, Aston . . 94 Flower stand for dinnt r tal >U . . 129 Forsythia Fortunei 605 Freesia refracta alba 465 Fouque's grafting tool . . 239 Fuchsia procumbens in basket . . 303 ,, serratifolia 327 Gaillardia p'cta 523 Galega olticinalis 121 Garcinia Maugostana floweiing .. 161 Gardenia Tbunbergi . . . . . . 625 Gardoquia betonicoides 597 Genista tinctoiia .. .. .. 503 Gloriosi superlia .. .. .. 573 Gourds, ornamental 433 Graft. ng implements, various .. 233 Gieat Spearwort, the 256 Griffinia Blumenavia 523 Guezte's tying machine . . . . 239 Gunneras, distant effect of, at Pendell Court 149 ,, group on lawn at Pendell Court 149 Gunnersbury Park, Cedars near the temple . . . . 227 ,, purple Clematis on Arbor vitai .. 229 ,, in Cedar grove near the house. . ,, 231 Gymnogrammaschizophylla .. COS Habrothamnus fascicu'atus , ,. 173 Ilalesia tetraptera 507 Hand flower, the .. .. 123 Hatfield House 650, 651 Hedychium Gardnerianum .. .. 544 Helichrysum, flowers of ^ .. 313 Helleborus fcctidus .. ,. 2(^4 Hey throp, Oxfordshire ,. ..301 Hibiscus africauus 553 Holly fly 601 Hop Hornbeam 42S Hydrocotyle vulgaris 134 Indian Laburnum .. .. ..75 ludigofera tinctoiia 93 Ipoma?a Horsfallia;, cutting of .. 315 lonopsidium acaule . . . . . . 279 Irises by waterside 253 Ivy in a church 541 pi. Jasminum Sambac fl. Juglans cinerea Juvenile fruit gatherers 495 216 405 Laburnum moth 429 Lake, with wooded margin . . . . 119 Lastrea Richard si multifida . . . . 556 Leydier's grafting machine . . . . 239 Lilies in Grass in pleasure ground at Castle Ashby 11 Lilium pardaliuum in London garden , 325 Lisianthus Paissellianus .. .. 434 Livistona sinensis . . . . . . 47 Loasa vulcanica 495 Mangosteen, fruit of 161 aiarsh Penny Wort 134 Martynia proboscidea .. .. 453 Methonica superba 573 Molucella Irevis 41g Myristica fragrans .161 Nelu mbium speciosum Xephrolepis davallioides furcans Nertera depressa Nutmeg, fruit of 513 155 445 16 Oak at Hatfield 649 Odontoglossum membranaceum ,, nevadense .. ,, Rossi .. (Enothera taraxacifolia Old Farm, Aston Old Willows Olive tree, old Onoclea sensibilis Orchard in spring Osmanthus (Olea) fragrans 333 424 306 467 94 176 2G3 3S0 4-11 261 Ostrya carpiiiifolia 42S Pansy cutting 659 Pa?onies in Grass 373 Parnassia palustris 553 Paper Mulberry is Pavia macrostachya . . . . £09, 621 529 381 238 396 147 Peach aphis, or black-fly Pear saw fly Pelaquier's grafting machine Pelargonium tricolor .. Pendell Coart, view from meadow Penshurst, Acanthus spinosus in bloom in mixed border .. ,. 393 Penshurst, distant view of house from near Sidney Oak . . . . 403 Pensliurst from the garden . . , . 397 Pentstemon Cobcea :^49 Petunias, tall and dwarf strains .. 521 Phalamopsis grandiflora .. .. 305 Phyteuma comosum 419 Phytomyzaaquifolia 601 Piedmont Groundsel 15 Pinus austriaca 477 , , Cembra 369 ,, Strobus 552 ,, sylvestris 476 Poppy, an annual . . . . . . 277 ,, double-flowered .. .. 277 Poplar stems 177 ,, twigs 176 ,, the Lombardy, in the land- scape 91 Pothos aurea 629 Prickly Pear (Opnntia) in south of France .. .. .. .. ., 625 Primrose, fine growth of Japanese.. 94 Primula, a new . 056 Propagating house i;iO ,, instruments .. .. 13;) Purple Orpine 7 Quamash, the 540 Quassia amara i-2:j Quercus Buergeri 285 ,, occidentalis 21G :, Phellos 216 Rafter, section of, glazed witliout putty 5J3 Ranunculus Lingua 256 Rheea plant 1^5 Rheum by watercourse at Pendell Court 251 ,, oflUcinale among Ferns .. 151 ,, Ribes 429 Rosa simplicifolia (berberi folia) . . 4:3 Rushes and Sedges by riverside .. 255 Sabatier's grafting implement . . 233 Salix fragilis ^17 Scabious, dwarf purple .. ..469 Scolytus destructor X30 >» jj galleries.. .. i;io Sedges growing naturally .. .. 5:12 Sedum Maximowiczi 203 ,, purpurascens 7 Senecio Balbisianus 15 ,, cruentus 449 Silene alpestris 57 ^ Slug worm on leaf 331 Snowdrop Tree 557 Strawberry, flowers of the .. .. 2SL Staphylea pinnata 43 Statice sinuata 57^ Stemless Palms of the Isthmus of Panama ggo Surinam Quassia, the 123 Terrace walls, example of .. . . i'-,6 Theobroma Cacao lot Trabuc's grafting tool 233 Trees, eximple of effective grouping 289 Trees, spiral, wrongly placed .. ^89 Tritomas, group of, near water . . 253 Tropical jungle in Sumatra .. ..134 Truffles and their spores . . . . 28 Tussilago Petasitea, group of, by water 054 Umbilicus Sempervivum .. .. 3.-4 Unguadla speciosa j;09 Vanda Cathcarti 351 Vincent's grafting tool 233 Viola Munbyana C5 Violet Cress 279 Walnut tree, old, at Greenlands . . 94 Wargrave. a Thames side water gar- tien 491 Weymouth Pine 552 Willows, pollarding 292 Wistaria at Erleigh .. .. 176, 177 direction of stems of, at Erleigh.. 177 Wistaria with Rosegrowing through it 177 Yew at Bucklebury Churchyard ..176 Vuccabrevifolia 401 ZephjTanthes Treatia; 499 xii THE GARDEN INDEX. [July 2, 1881. JOHN GIBSON. Few horticulturists were better known or respected than John Gibson, and few will be longer remembered. To him we are chiefly, if not wholly, indebted for sub-tropical gardening, which was so well carried out by him in Battersea Park. He also laid out the ground for the great International Exhibition of 1866, and was often consulted on similar matters on subsequent occasions ; indeed, in artistic arrangements and in decorative gardening gensrally he was largely employed. Mr. Gibson was born June 18, 1815, at Eaton Hall, Cheshire, where his father was gardener to Sir E. Antrobus, in whose gardens he worked until about 1833, when he went to Chatsworth, and was apprentice:! to Mr. (afterwards Sir Joseph) Paxton. After being there about a year he was sent to Wentworth to study the cultivation of plants under Mr. Cooper, with whom he remained a season, and then returned to Chatsworth. Soon afterwards he ■was sent by the Duke of Devonshire to India to collect plants, and especially to bring over the Amherstia nobilis. The success of that mission is best exemplified by the many beautiful plants he introduced, some of which were figured in Paxton's Magazine of Botany and other botanical periodicals. Besides collecting and importing 50 new species of Dendrobium and many other plants, the following may be mentioned as amongst the most valuable, viz., Amherstia nobilis, Rhododendron Gibsoni, Rhododendron Paxtoni, /Eschynanthus grandiflorus, ..Eschynanthus Roxburghi- anus, Thibaudia setifera, Thibaudia glauca, Thibaudia coccinea, Saccolabium calceolare, and others. Lord Auckland having been appointed Governor-General of India, arrangements were made that Sir. Gibson should accompany him and take charge daring the voyage of a large collection of medicinal plants destined for the Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. A start was made September 21, 1835, in H.M. ship Jupiter. A short stay was made at Madeira to enable visits to be paid to certain gardens of note there. Calls were also made at the Capo and elsewhere, Calcutta being reached in March, 1836. Here Mr. Gibson was introduced to Dr. Wallich, with the view of arranging the districts which it would be most advisable to explore, means of transit, &c.. Preliminaries having been settled, a start up country was made on July 5, 1836. The journey was not a pleasant one, his life being frequently in danger and provisions short. On arriving at the Kliasya Hills, work was com- menced in reality as soon as the weather would permit, and the first collection of plants was sent ofl^ August 17, 1836. By the end of December, 101 baskets of plants, generally Orchids, had been forwarded to Dr. Wallich at Calcutta, by whom they were sent on to England ; and in addition to these a large collection of tree and other seeds was also sent home. On returning to Chatsworth, Mr. Gibson had charge of the exotic department. In 1849 he was appointed superintendent of Victoria Park, some portions of which he designed and carried out, particularly around the lake and on the Pagoda Island. In 1850, Greenwich Park was placed under his superintendence, and in 1856 the formation of the shrubberies and planting at Battersea Park, then in a very rough state, were further added to his duties, until August, 1857, when he was appointed superintendent, and shortly after that Kenuington Park, Chelsea Hospital, and the Military Asylum Grounds were added to his duties. In April, 1871, he was appointed superintendent of St. James's, the Green, and Hyde Parks, and Kensington Gardens, &c., a post he held until shortly before his death, which took place early in 1875. Mr. Gibson is best known to the present generation of gar- deners by his bold break into the common system of " bedding out " by the introduction of fme-foliaged plants, the use of which he had previously studied in various Continental gardens. His skill in selecting and arranging the various kinds used was widely admitted. The tenderness of many of the plants, and the fact that few had such means and such a situation for growing them, prevented the system from extending much, but its teaching cannot be lost, and it was a decided step onwards in the art of gardening. He made Battersea Park more interesting, so far as the space went, than any public garden near London, and no ordinary man could have done it. His death, long before so strong a man should have done his work, was a serious loss to horticulture. Our personal knowledge of him was long and most agree- able, and we can say that with men of his stamp the influence of our public gardens would be efiective for good. JAN. 1, 1881.1 ^ ^^ -^-a-A-^ THIE Gr-A-IRDE DST. VOL. XIX. GAEDEN THOUGHTS. Close by my door stands a hero, so handsome and so brave, that the face smiles and the heart is refreshed to look on him. While the army to which he belongs is in f uU'retreat, or under canvas, he remains, in his bright uniform of green and gold, defiant. While the other ships of the fleet are driven with bare poles to and fro by the winds, he walks the waters like a thing of life, full sail, " dressed " with all his flags and pennants, and with joyful music on deck. He is 20 ft. high, and his name is Jasmine. What a gracious gift in our dreary season of decay, like a child's laugh in a dull company, or an examiner's nod when one is " up for degree !" What a fountain of golden glory to make our desert smile ! No home should be without these flowers — which Twinkle to the wintry moon, And cheer the ungeuial day — without Jasminum nudiflorum on its walls. * It comes to us so silently, unexpectedly, unostentatiously in its beauty, like true charity. It is the brother born for adversity, who enters unheard the darkened room, and puts his hand upon the shoulder when the head is bowed down by sorrow, and says, Let me share and help. I was told in the Kiviera that not long ago a young English gentleman came to Cannes, having a letter of credit for £500 given to him by his father, that he might travel for a year, that he went, " just for the fun of the thing," to that satanic institu- tion, the gambling house, at Monte Carlo, and in two or three visits lost all. In the same hotel there was staying at the time a rich manufacturer who had rather a full-flavoured Lan- cashire accent, who occasionally joined plural nominatives with singular verbs, and sometimes went in pursuit of fugi- tive Peas with his knife. The younger man had made merry with his friends with little restraint or consideration concern- ing these idiosyncracies, but now his mirth was gone. It was piteous to see his miserable degradation and despair, and the rich man (as my informant reported) heard from an adjoining bedroom his sighs and prayers. One night he knocked at his neighbour's door, walked in, and said, " Now, youngster, its my turn to laugh, but I've been a foo myself, and I've a lad about your age, and, to cut it short, I'll tell you what I'll do. If you'll give me your word of honour never to gamble again, and put down on a bit o' paper how much them thieves have got, I'll give you a cheque for the brass. You can pay it back to me or to mine if ever you're flush o' cash." So was the winter of his dis- content made glorious summer by the red rose of Lancaster ; so when his home was dark and desolate, the Jasmine made it glow with gold. * As charming and as cheerful, with the further claim_ on our admiring love that it is evergreen, the Mespilus spinosa — "the prickly Medlar with an Almond leaf "*— which we know best as Pyracantha— should flnd a place for its glossy foliage and fiery fruitage on our walls. Though it is most eff'ective upon stone— now framing beautifully with its scarlet berries one of the windows of my church— it is attractive everywhere, not excepting shrubberies, " always providing," as is sagaciously remarked by an old writer, " that the berries be not eaten up by birds." t On either side of the Pyracantha, when grown upon a brick wall, I commend the introduction of variegated Ivies, those especially which have the silver leaf. * The Cotoneaster of Simmonds and the Honeysuckle of Japan must, of course, be in every garden, and in a genial season may, when grown side by side on a wall, vie with the Pyracantha and silver Ivy in their contrasted beauty. But we don't have genial seasons, and Simmonds and Lonicera look usually at this time of year as a married couple who have had a serious quarrel, and Mespilus and Hedera like two lovers who are most delectably "engaged." There are persons who are wishful to improve upon Provi- dence, and who, taking a good deal of rest themselves, do not like to see it in other departments, and these say, I hate deciduous plants (forgetting that "we all do fade as a leaf "), • Miller's "Gardener's Dictionary." t Hanbury's "Gardening," THE GARDEN. [Jan. 1, 1881. an 1 will not have them on their walla. And there are some who cry, I have lost my Magnolias and my Roses so often, that I cannot incur the peril and disappointment. But give me the gardener who, like the husbandman, hath long patience, and thankfully watches his children's sleep ; and give me the love which sighs, in the memory of its deep happiness, " 'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." And, therefore, let us have our Wistaria sinensis, though it never can attain in our climate the amplitude of loveliness which seems almost to weigh down its branches in the sunnier south, and though it sheds its foliage awhile. Let us protect our Magnolias, though even then the bitter frost will maim and discolour, and though at best they are but as branches and offshoots compared with the glorious timber trees which we see in France and Italy. Let us replant our white and yellow Banksian Roses and our magnificent Mardchal Niel, though they be (twice, at most, in a lifetime) " kilt dead." NOTES OF THE WEEK. And, ci jyropos of climbing Roses, there must be a sentence of special praise — Yet OQS I would select from that proud throngs concerning Fortune's Yellow. This Rose was introduced by Mr. Fortune from China many years ago, and though its merits were recognised to some extent, it was not cherished with the careful cultivation which it so well deserved, and, being generally regarded as unsuitable for our climate, became almost extinct I da not know, nevertheless, a Rose tree which produces, when once established, a more abundant sup- ply of beautiful Roses. It should have a place in every Rose house or conservatory, and also on walls having a S3uthern aspect, and not in an exposed situation. You may cit baskets of its piuk and yellow bloom? daily and week after week when it has found a happy home. I should be glad of the opinion of more experienced brothers* as to the relative merits of the Ampelopsis (prettily so-named from its Vine-like growth), introduced by Mr. Veitch, and the creeper from " Old Virginny." My own observation has inclined me to think that the latter has greater depth and richness of colour, but I have seen it in much the more favourable positions. There is an old church at Lincoln, for example, which is half covered with its crimson glory. ♦ And why are not more of our churches thus beautified 1 "The Ivy-mantled tower" may be open to objection, such as steppage of spouts and multiplication of 'sparrows, but many ai ugly building would lose its ugliness, and many a fair edifice would be fairer, like a bride in her bridal garment, if the walls were clothed with the glowing berries, the shining leaves (let us not omit Escallonia macrantha), the sweet flowers which I have named with Clematis and Honeysuckle, Jasmine and Rose. S. Reynolds Hole. The Winter Heliotrope (Tugailago fragrana).— Amongst Waiter flowers this is one of the 'most reliable. We use it as a cirpeting plant for banks aad other positions under trees when little else will grow ; its foliage looks well at all times of the year, and at this time its deliciously-perfumed flowers are very useful for indoor deooration. It is a vigorous grower, and when once planted will take care of itself. I find those clumps that are planted under the shelter and shade of mixed evergreen and deciduous shrubs the best, as the flower-spikes draw up a good height, and the blossoms are better coloured than when fully exposed ; in fact, its proper place is as a carpet under trees where the shrubs are thin. — J. Groom. Tlie Garden Thoughts' of others would be acceptable to the author ol 1 hese papers, and would be repeated with his own, so far as they seemed to have some special interest. Address, Caunton Manor, Newark. The Choco Plant at Kew.— In the Cactus house there is now a fine fruiting plant of Seohium edule, a Cucurbitaceous plant, a native of the West Indies, where it is called Choco, and is culti- vated for the fruits, which aS'ord an article of food. Like plants of a similar character, it has slender twining stems and large leaves. The fruits on the Kew plant are now about the size of a Cocoa-nut, which is about their full size. They are oblong and of a pale green colour, and have a deep indenture at the apex. They are imported and sold in this country under the name of Chayotes. In Covent Garden Market there is now an importation of these fruits from St. Michael's. Oyrtanthu3 Mackeni. — A few weeks ago we had occasion to allude to C. lutescens, a beautiful congener of the present species, from which it ditfers conspicuously in the colour of the blossoms ; in C. lutescens they are pale yellow, while in C. Mackeni they are pure white — hence the most desirable for cultivation. The blossoms, long, narrow, curved tubes, about '2 in. long, are produced in umbel- like clusters of from six to nine on slender stalks about 9 in. high. They are sweetly-scented, which adds greatly to their value as deco- rative plants. All the species are of easy culture in a warm green- house, and as they flower plentifully for some weeks in succession during autumn and winter they are well worth growing for cutting purposes alone, for which purpose they are specially suitable. Solanum venuatum. — We are often asked to recommend a beautiful stove-climbing plant which would yield a plentiful sup- ply of cut flowers during winter. Here is one that is well suited to the purpose, being a vigorous grower, requiring very simple cul- ture, and never failing to produce an abundance of flowers in con- tinuous succession for several months. The blossoms somewhat re- semble those of the common Potato, but are of a delicate mauve colour, and borne in dense clusters on slender twigs, a circumstance which causes them to droop gracefully. In the Palm house at Kew there is a large specimen trained to a pillar now in flower, and it attracts the attention of almost every visitor. The plant is procur- able at the large nurseries, and may be easily propagated by means of cuttings. Large Acacia dealbata.— In the garden at Rickerby we learn that there is a remarkably fine specimen of this beautiful Aus- tralian shrub in full flower, and will probably continue in good con- dition for a fortnight hence. Tlie specimen is 16 ft. in height and about 28 ft. through. It might be interesting to know the condi- tions under which such a fine plant has been grown, whether planted out in free soil or in a pot or tub, and to what condition of tem- perature subjected. Even in a small state this Acacia is a highly desirable plant, and we recommend all who do not possess it to add it to their collection, as it cannot fail to give satisfaction. Bomarea oligantha. — The few kinds of Bomarea, or Alstroi- meria, as they are sometimes called, that are in cultivation requiring greenhouse treatment have much to recommend them, for their flowers are showy, and they seem to be almost perpetual flowerers. At Kew, in the cool part of the Cactus house, there are some four kinds trained to the sides of the house. Of this, B. oligantha is now very attractively in flower, a condition in which it has been nearly all the year round. It is a twining species with slender stems, each of which bears at its apex an umbel-like dense cluster of showy flowers, which are deep orange, prettily and copiously spotted with deep brown or chocolate. Planted out in a bed of good soil, it is very free in growth and flower, and is a capital plant for growing in a greenhouse, trained, in a light position, to a wall or partition. Luculia gratissima.^Among winter-flowering plants in Mr. B. S. Williams' nursery at HoUoway, few are more attractive than this beautiful Nepaulese shrub, quantities of which are grown in small pots. These plants have produced remarkably fine heads of rosy- pink blossoms, and, being deliciously perfumed, are specially adapted for indoor decoration. Acacia platyptera. — Among the earliest to flower of the vast number of species of Acacia in the temperate house at Kew is this old, but little-known kind, now gay with golden blossoms, arranged on the edges of its singular Bat branahes, that rise to a height of from 4 ft. to 5 ft., and hence distinct from the majority of the other kinds. Another early-flowering kind is A. retinodes, which, though not so showy as the preceding, is desirable on ac- count of the profusion with which its sulphur-yellow blossoms are produced all along the slender twigs. Both are of ea«!y culture in pots in an ordinary greenhouse. Large Italian Bouquets.— The principal objects of attrac- tion lately at the Horticultural Company's floral depot, Warwick House, Regent Street, have been some large bouquets of flowers, Jan. 1, 1881.] THE GARDEN, which had been sent there direct from Italy. They consisted chiefly of white and striped Camellias, Neapolitan Violets, common Agera- tum, Skimmia japonioa berries, and one or two other kinds of berries which we did not recognise. These bouquets were Mushroom- shaped, and, being about 2 ft. across, it must have required skilful manipulation to adjust the flowers, as those of each kind were arranged so as to form a portion of a geometrical design, which, though it had a formal appearance, was novel and attractive. Each bouquet was surrounded by a row of leaves of the Loquat (Erio- botrya japonica), twigs of Conifers, and other evergreen shrubs. The floral display altogether at this establishment has been lately remarkably fine and very extensive. The windows are adorned with a great variety of plants, including choice Orchids, and arranged very tastefully. The interior of the building is also very attractive, particularly the rockeries and groups of plants. The various kinds of fruits and flowers, artificial as well as natural, combine to render this establishment a very attractive one to lovers of both flowers and fruits. "Wliite-flowered Eranthemum (E. albiflorum).— If this plant, which we saw the other day in flower at Kew, were grown in a similar manner to the more popular blue-flowered kind, it would probably prove a useful plant, as it continues a long time in flower. The Kew specimen is about 15 in. high, and has large leaves of a deep green hue, which form a fine contrast to the large, branching clusters of pure white flowers which terminate the branches. Though small, the blossoms are produced in great numbers, a circumstance which amply compensates for their small size. It is a free grow- ing plant, and one which will doubtless some day be generally culti- vated. Flo^wering Agaves at Kew.— Among the most attractive plants now in flower in the Palm house at Kew are two huge speci- mens of about equal size of Agave attenuata var. glaucescens, which for some weeks past have been developing fine flower-stems. They are thick and woody, about 6 ft. in height, and are terminated by a head of fleshy leaves of a bluish-grey tint. The flower-stems arise from the centre of the crowns to a height of about 9 ft., and are gracefully arching. The flowers, which are of a yellowish- green colour, are disposed thickly in a bottle-brush-like manner over the whole length of the stem, and the long protruding stamens, tipped with yellow anthers, relieve, as it were, their otherwise rope- like appearance. A fine specimen also of the rare A. Hookeri is in flower, but it is not nearly so attractive as the preceding, which are indeed among the noblest of the American Aloes. Presentation to Mr. Peter Grieve.— We recently ar». nounced the retirement of Mr. Grieve from the post which he has so long held as gardener at Culford Hall, and stated that it was proposed by his friends to present him with some tangible mark of the esteem in which he is held in the neighbourhood in which he has resided for nearly four and thirty years. Though no special efibrts were made t ) swell the subscription list, the proposal was heartily received, and the willing contributions of upwards of seventy subscribers placed the committee in a position to provide a really handsome testimonial, consisting of a valuable gold hunting lever watch and a drawing- room timepiece with a pair of candelabra en suite, together with a very chaste silver cake basket for Mrs. Grieve. The watch bore the following inscription on its inner case : " Presented to Mr. Peter Grieve, by a number of his friends, as a token of their regard, on the occasion of his leaving Culford. August, 1880." We may add that Mr. and Mrs. Grieve have also received other testimonials from the householders of Culford, and from the gardeners who have worked under him in the Hall gardens. White Ozar Violet.— I noticed a bed of this Violet in Messrs. Lee & Sons' Feltham Nursery in full bloom this day (Dec. 29). In growth and flower it very much resembles the Czar, but differs from that well-known Violet in the colour of the flowers, which are pure white. As most of the single white Violets are such bad growers, we look upon this as a good addition to our collection. It is not a new variety, but seems little known. When better 'known no doubt it will be cultivated largely, as white flowers are much in demand in the London and other markets at Christmas. — D, T. We have to record the death of Mr. Parsons, long gardener at Banesbury, near Welwyn. Mr. Parsons was a member of the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society, a judge at the Regent's I'ark shows, and otherwise well known to a wide circle of horticul- turists. He died on Christmas Day. M. Jean Sisley, of Lyons, informs us that a Mons. Dumesnil, of Rouen, is growing plants to a large extent without soil. Messrs. Veitch announce a " Manual of the Conifera3," with numerous woodcuts. It is certain to be of much interest to all ■wbo study these pjagtg. It wiU be ready in March. THE FRUIT GARDEN. OUTDOOR GRAPES. "Pebegbine" says, "that it is a fact beyond all cavil that Grapes can be ripened on waUs out of doors in the soutli of England, and even in the midland counties." Yes ; I have seen as good Grapes on the walls of buildings in the midland countic s as I have seen in Surrey ; in fact, tlie best Grapes I ever saw on walls were ripened on a farmhouse in the midland counties. All the back part of the house (a high two-storied one) was covert d with the Vines, which had been looked after properly, the growth of some fine young canes having been encouraged. I have seen many a worse lot of Hamburghs in Vineries than the black Grape i were ; they were well coloured and well ripened, and there was a good crop. The roots ran under the pebble causeway next to the house, and out under the farmyard adjoining, which was surrounded by farm buildings. It was just one of those warm sheltered cosy sort of places where one would expect under proper treatment to see good results, and there are hundreds of such places with bare walls which might be covered with beautiful foliage and fair fruit if proper advantage were taken of them. "It is simply," as " Peregrine" says, "a question of trying." Horticultural societies should encourage the growth of outdoor Grapes ; and it might bo a step in the right direction if, say half-a-dozen gardeners could be got to give their experience of Grape cultivation out of doors in each of the southern and midland counties. I feel certain from my own experience that hundreds of tons of good Grapes might be obtained in most seasons if advantage were taken of positions favourable to their growth. Thirteen years ago I planted four Vines on the south front of the house in which I live. I made no border for them, but simply dug out a hole for each, and put in a barrowful or two of the lop spit taken off a common (a healthy one), and mixed a little half- rotten_ stable manure with it. The natural soil in front of the house is a very poor sandy loam that will grow forest trees and Coniferse pretty well if trenched, but not vegetables without very heavy dressings of manure. Gravel covers this poor soil quite 13 ft. out from the house, then turf. This has remained undis- turbed ever since they were planted with the exception of opening the ground alongside of the turf to put in a drain a few 5'ears ago. Now for results. The Vines are the ordinary White Sweetwater. They were strong plants which had been grown out of doors in a nursery (not in pots). After planting they grew away well, for I did not stint them in the way of .water the first j'ear or two either at top or bottom. They made good strong canes, which I was careful not to overcrop for the first three or four years. The first account I have of the produce is that of 1874, when I gathered about a hundredweight of good well-ripened Grapes. Some of the bunches weighed a pound and a quarter each, and a gentleman who has travelled on the Continent told me that they were quite as good as the ordinary Grapes grown there. 1 had good heavy crops every year till 1879, when, owing to the very bad season, they did not ripen, nor did the wood ripen properly, and for the first time since planting mildew made its appearance. This I killed by dusting with 2 lb. of sulphur, distributed by that excellent French invention Boife a Houppe. This year, owing to the severe check which they had experienced, there was very little fruit, and that did not ripen properly. Mildew again made its appearance, but not so bad as the year before. The Vines made very fair growth, and have ripened their wood pretty well, so that with a return of good sunny seasons I hope again to have good results, though ] do not expect to have such heavy bunches as when the Vines were younger. I intend taking off the gravel and putting some better soil underneath, and I have no doubt that they will pay well for the trouble. R. Lloyd. Brooliwoiid. In a field on the east side of the river Lark, opposite theBotanic Gardens in Bury St. Edmunds, is a portion of land still known as the " Vine fields," and here may still be traced the terraces or raised beds in which the Vines are said to have been grown by the monks of the abbey of St. Edmund's Bury. From the produce of those Vines the monks of this establishment are said to have manufac- tured excellent wine ; and if this be so, it is only fair to infer that the Grapes used for this purpose must have attained a considerable degree of ripening. Some have, therefore, been inclined to think that a change for the worse must have taken place in the character of the seasons ; but, what is more probable, the palate of the THE GAEDEN. [Jan. 1, 1881. ancient monks of St. Edmund's Bury was leas fastidious than that of wine drinkers of the present day. Be that as it may, however, there can be no question about the ripening of Grapes during most seasons in the open'air in the southern parts of Kngland, and even in the eastern counties, which are far from being cele- brated for their balmy breezes in spring, or even during the early part of summer. A few years ago the late Mr. Darken, of West- gate Road, Bury St. Edmunds, was, and had for years been, in the habit of cultivating the Grape Vine in the open air, and he by no means confined himself to one or two varieties ; on the contrary, he grew many sorts, and seldom failed, even in unfavourable seasons, to ripen most of them. The 'situation, was, however, peculiar, and to a great extent accounted for his extraordinary success. It had formerly been a chalk-pit of large dimensions, open to the south, and thoroughly sheltered on the remaining three sides. Most of the Vines were trained to very high walls, while some were attached to short stakes placed in a slanting position. The Pruning and Training jiractiaed in the case of the Vines upon the walls was a combination of the long rod and short spurring systems, and black as well as white sorts generally coloured and ripened well. Even such sorts as the Grizzly Frontignan I have seen well coloured and of good flavour, and I believe it never shanked upon the open wall, although its propensity to do so under glass is only too well known. Mr. Darken '3 son and successor has now covered most of these Vines with glass, and, with slight assist- ance from artificial heat, produces fruit of improved quality, as well as earlier in the season. There are, however, several other successful growers of Grapes in the open air in, the town of Bury St. Edmunds whose gardens possess none of the advantages which went so far to secure success in the case of the late Mr. Darken, but who, nevertheless, during most seasons' succeed in producing per- fectly ripe and delicious fruit. I believe, however, that they confine their culture mostly to the well-known Royal Muscadine, or occa- sionally to the Esperione and the Black Cluster, but the first named variety is considered to be the best. Among the most successful growers of Grapes in the open air here may be mentioned Mr. J. Clarke, of College Street, and Mr. Harvey, of Westgate Road. The first only grows the Royal Muscadine, and, with tlie exception of the present season and its predecessor, he has never once failed to obtain ripe and delicious fruit in abundance for these last twenty years, or since the very unfavourable season of 1860. The Soil is naturally of good quality, and the Vines are trained to a brick wall, some 6 ft. higli, and about 45 ft. or 50 ft. long, facing due south. The method of training adopted may be called the long rod system ; that is, the bearing rods are trained in a ver- tical position, 'at a distance of not less than 2 ft. from each other, and between eacli pair of bearing rods a young shoot is annually trained, to become in its turn the bearing rod of the succeeding season. As soon as the fruit is gathered the old rods are at once cut out, in order to as much as possible facilitate the ripening of the young rods, which are destined to furnish fruit next year. The weather of 1879 was so exceedingly unfavourable, that wood as well as fruit failed to ripen ; hence the failure this year ; but 1880 has, however, been sufficiently favourable to apparently ripen the wood, so that reasonable expectations may be entertained as to the suc- cess of the fruit crop of 1S81. Mr. Clarke does not stop the young shoots at the top of the 6-ft. wall, to which they are trained, but allows them to grow 1 ft. or IS in. higher, secured to wire netting, which surmounts the wall, but at the winter pruning each shoot is cut back to the height of the wall, and this operation is generally per- formed as soon as the leaves are about to fall, when the rods are at once fixed in their proper positions. Cottage walls, especially the end one or that of other buildings with a southern aspect, are generally eligible positions for the Grape Vine, and there it is frequently to be found, but very often mis- managed or altogether neglected, so that however favourable the season may be the fruit fails to come to maturity, a circumstance very much to be regretted, as very little trouble or attention is really necessary in order to secure good crops in ordinarily favourable seasons. In such situations it is possible that the spurring system is preferable to the long rod, as in the latter case more attention might be required than the Vine would be likely to get, and if the former system befoUowed, the shoots or rods may be trained either vertically or horizontally. The latter is the^most suitable, and if so, the shoots should be trained not less than 1 ft. apart, or say four courses of bricks between each. The pruning and nailing in of such Vines should be performed as soon as the leaves have fallen, or they may be deferred until 'after severe frosts are over in spring. To prevent as far as is possible the spurs becoming large and unsightly, it is necessary to cut the young shoots well back, or to the nearest well-developed bud to the rod. When this is done the rods should have the loose bark rubbed off them, and, as a prevention of mildew, should be painted with a mixture of soot and sulphur ; when this is dry the rods should be" securely nailed to the wall, when nothing more will be required until the time for disbudding or summer pruning has arrived. When tlie spurs become somewhat old they will each generally produce a number of.'young shoots, all of which, witli the exception of one or at most two of the strongest and best placed, should be rubbed off, while those retained should be stopped at the joint next the embryo bunch, or I have never known any evil to result from stopping the shoot at the bunch itself. These shoots with their bunch of fruit may be allowed to protrude from the wall, or, with the view of giving the fruit the benefit of closer contact with the wall, the shoots may be neatly nailed to 'it on the upper side of the rod, and tliis when properly done gives a neat and ornamental appearance to the Vine. Lateral shoots should from time to time be stopped in order to give the fruit the benefit of light and sunshine, but large leaves from the young shoot must never on any account be removed. Thinning the Berries. — As a rule, each shoot should only be allowed to carry one bunch, and if it be desired to have the fruit as fine as is possible, the berries in each bunch must be carefully thinned out, an operation which should be performed when they are very small. By adopting the spurring system of pruning, more par- ticularly in cases where the wall is of considerable height, the latter can be kept permanently and perfectly covered ; and if the bunches produced be smaller than would be the case if the long-rod system was successfully pursued, there would nevertheless be probably an equal weight of fruit and of equally good quality. — P. Grieve. We have had during the last few years such indifferent ripening seasons for tender fruits in the open air, tliat it re- quires considerable faith in the future to induce one to plant Vines lai-gely out-of-doors in the expectation of obtaining a crop of ripe fruit. But the greatest inflictions do not last for ever ; therefore, let us not despair of again seeing ripe Grapes upon our outside walls. I am hopeful that we shall have fine ripening seasons soon ; indeed, but for the general paucity of fruit this year, owing to the comparative absence of sunshine in 1879, we have had heat and warmth enough to ripen Grapes in the open air, as I found here Madresfield Court with well coloured and almost sweetened berries on immature bunches on a soutli wall. The season has, at least, well ripened the summer's wood, and there is plenty of fine hard brown shoots to cut back, and the buds are full and firm. A few years since I planted here small forms of several kinds against the buttresses of a south wall, intending to carry rods up each and then along the top of the wall above Tea Roses. The Vines have done well, and I think, when more fully trained, will yield an abun- dance of good fruit. — A. D. In reference to the subject of Vines in the open air, may I be allowed to say that I have not been correctly represented (see p. G05). No one who has an opportunity of seeing what is done in many parts of the country could say that Grapes could not be ripened in the open air, as there are many seasons in which fairly eatable fruit is grown, but there are many in which they never get sufficiently matured to be of use except for wine-making, and Grape wines of this country's growth are not likely to compete with those of foreign production ; consequently, except in such cases as that of any one feeling inclined to grow a Vine or two with such chances of fruit as the summers permit, I maintain that good walls may be turned to better account by planting them with Peaches or good keeping Pears. — T. Baises. THE BEST WINTER C4RAPES. What we call winter Grapes are those fit for use from early in November until late in March, and to secure a good supply of Grapes from the beginning to the end of that period is worth a little con- sideration. The Muscat of Alexandria is a finely-flavoured Grape, when well grown, at all times, and where there are plenty of means it may be had in good condition at least until February, but it can only be kept good until then through being thoroughly matured and well finished by the end of September, and as it is well known this cannot be done in the majority of cases, I will leave this variety out of my winter Grape list altogether, and as a light-coloured Grape substitute Raisin de Calabre. This variety, although not very thick in the skin, is an admirable keeper, and the berries retain their rich flavour well up to the last. It is not at all a shy grower, and under ordinary care the bunches usually pass through their various stages of development without blemis.h. As a companion to it, let me recommend Gros Guillaume, in my opinion one of the best late Grapes in cultivation, and one which should be much more grown than it is. In growth it is all that could be desired. The berries form and swell well, and when ripe come nearer those of the Black Hamburgh in flavour and quality than any of our other late black Grapes. It might be called a winter Hamburgh, Jan. 1, 1881.] THE GARDEN. Next to this I would place Black Alicante, then Lady Downes, and last Gros C'olmar. I wonder if there was ever a single berry of this tasted which could justly be said to be first class in flavour. To its appearance I have no objection, but, as a rule, the less said about its flavour the better ; moreover, I find that it does not ripen so well as some others, neither fruit nor wood, facts which stand much against it. If I add another light fruited one to our list it will be Pearson's Golden Queen, a coloured representation of which appeared in The Garde.v aomo years ago, and I iind thatthis Grape quite comes up to what it was there stated to be. It grows strongly, ripens freely, and hangs well, and its flavour is by no means bad, although sometimes not perfect. Trebbiano is another which I think much more of than such as white Tokay or Syrian. Apart from having good varieties of late Grapes, it is a great advantage to have them properly matured before the days get too short. I have never had any difficulty in keeping Grapes that were thoroughly ripened in September, but others which had not reached that state until well into November were difficult to deal with. CUMBRIAN VENTILATING FRUIT ROOMS. Success in keeping winter fruit without decay depends almost wholly on the apartment which it occupies. If the fruit room is too warm, or if the temperature is changeable, it is liable to decay soon. Care- ful ventilation, conducted so as to maintain a uniform low tempera- ture nearly down to the freezing point, will keep most fruit sound until the warm weather of spring. For common family use it is most convenient to provide a separate apartment in the cellar, and if win- dows are on opposite sides the ventilation will be more entirely under control, although this is not indispensable. The best way is to hang the windows so that they may be hooked up at different heights or closed at pleasure. One or two thermometers in the room are indis- pensable, and enough air should be admitted to keep them nearhj at tlie freezing point at all times. The windows, being placed near the top, eflFect a more complete shange of air through all parts than if situated lower down by the descent of cold air. A little practice will enable the attendant to control a uniform temperature with little trouble by adjusting the windows for the admission of more or less air, according to the condition of the air without. When the weather is warm in the daytime and cold at night, the windows are to be closed by day and sufficiently opened in the night, and the same care is to be taken for any other fluctuations in the weatlier. The same treatment in ventilating is applicable whether the fruit is placed on central shelves, in cases of drawers, or in barrels — a uni- form and low temperature being alike desirable. If those who have been in the practice of storing their Apples in warm and damp cellars where no provision has been specially made for keeping them would provide a room purposely, and regulate the temperature in the man- ner we have indicated, they would be amply repaid for the trouble by sound fresh fruit instead of the baskets of rotten Apples which they have had to carry out from their badly aired cellars. — Oountri/ Gentleman. [Inasmuch as in our country keeping the fruit room at nearly freezing point is impossible, the conditions that will suit best are to be found underground. — Ed.] Cooking Dessert Apples. — I quite agree with "Justicia" that the best Apples for cooking are those that contain their own sugar, and I think all will agree that Messert varieties do this most. I will name an instance or two that have come under my own notice. This season we had a fair crop of King of the Pippin.=!, and not having much demand for them for dessert, they were used for cooking. After I had supplied them for a day or two I was told that they made very fine puddings and tarts, the flavour of which was pronounced to be greatly superior to that of those made of Cod- lins and similar sorts. Who will say that Sturmer Pippin is not better for cooking than the Norfolk Beaufin ? Then why go on planting the latter while the former will keep as long, and my expe- rience of it is that it is as good a bearer ? I think Sturmer one of the very best late Apples grown. An Apple tart or pudding is best without sugar, but who appreciates one made with sour Apples ? — J. C., Farnboro\ Canadian v. American Apples. — I was glad to see in The Garden the other day some seasonable remarks by "Justicia " on American Apples, which I can endorse by my own experience. In a season like the present, when most consumers have to depend mainly on American Apples, owing to the almost total failure of our own crops, it is a matter of considerable importance that we should have the imported fruit in as good condition as circumstances will allow. I have my supply from one of the most respectable dealers in Liverpool, and I believe get as good fruit as is in the market, with the result that the American or, to be more exact, United States Apples are not so well packed, are in smaller barrels, and have a layer or two of fine fruit at the top of the barrel and inferior fruit below, while the Canadian barrels are larger, contaiii finer fruit, more firmly packed, and of uniform quality throughout. As no doubt TuE Garden has numbers of American readers, it is to be hoped that the remarks which appear in it on this subject will receive the attention of both growers and packers. The little extra labour required to carefully handpick and pack the fruit will bo amply repaid by the superior condition in which it will be received in this country ; it will then deserve a higher price, and thus in the end will prove more satisfactory to all concerned — growers, dealers, and consumers. — J. E. A Fine Early Pear.— Petite Marguerite is one of M. Andre Leroy's seedlings, and it was held in such high esteem by that cele- brated French pomologist, that he named it after the youngest of his granddaughters. In the year 1863 it was first offered in France, and in this country it has been on trial several years, but not until re- cently has its merits been recognised, and its propagation and dis- semination seriously undertaken. This shows how much time is required to determine the value and to raise a stock of a new fruit. Petite Marguerite, although a moderate grower, both on Pear and Quince, is sufficiently vigorous to satisfy nurserymen, and I hope in the near future to see this valuable Pear extensively propagated. The list of choice early Pears is not so large but a few more good sorts may be added, and I am certain that all lovers of fine fruits will welcome the new comer. It is of medium size, just large enough to be acceptable as a dessert fruit. Ripening as it does about ten days before the Bartlett, it possesses a particular value as an early Pear. As a fruit of the very first quality, it can be highly recommended to connoisseurs for tlie table, but it is not large and showy enough for market. M. Leroy, in his Dictionnaire de Pomologie, describes it as the best Pear ripening in August. We believe this statement to be as true in America as it is in France. — W. C. Barry, in Country Gentleman. ORCHIDS. CATASETUMS IN BASKETS, I AM sure that Catasetums, Cyonoches, and Mormodes would be more generally cultivated if they were better known, as the singular structure of their flowers always commands a considerable amount of interest, while the peculiar manner in which the pollen masses of the Catasetums are ejected on the horns with which the column is furnished is in itself a great curiosity. Another characteristic of the Catasetums and Cycnoches is the occasional production of two or three kinds of flowers on the same plant, sometimes on the same flower-spike. So dissimilar are these flowers, that when first observed they were considered to belong to distinct genera, and named respectively Catasetum, Monachanthus, and Myanthus — the first name being assigned to the large fleshy flowers furnished with horns or feelers, and which are now generally considered to be the seed-bearing flowers, the second to the hornless sterile flowers, and the last to those which, together with other structural differences, bear the horns at the base instead of the apex of the column. The difference between these flowers was so wide as to warrant the supposition that they were distinct, but being produced together on one spike was directly contrary to such an opinion. Cycnoches Loddigesi, too, runs into a variety of forms. Even in small collec- tions a few of these plants are to be found, thus 'showing that they are not entirely disregarded ; but owing to unskilful treatment the possessors in most cases do not know what the flowers are like, and so interest in them is lost. The common error in the management of these plants consists in their being given too little water when growing and too much when resting. When growing too much water can scarcely be given them, provided they be well drained ; but when resting they should be dried as thoroughly as a deciduous Dendrobe, the resting period to continue from the time the new growths are fully completed until they again begin to grow, no matter how long it may be, unless flower-spikes appear, in which case water should be given until the flowers are decayed. I think it a great mistake to grow these plants in pots, for, although not strictly epiphytal, they are generally found in their native habi- tats growing on loose deposit composed of decayed twigs, leaves, Moss, &o., permeable to air to a considerable depth. I have grown them fairly well in pots, and so have many others I know ; but so treated I have always found the roots liable to decay periodically, and that small or weak plants stand but little chance of improvement in them. Having a few poor plants of each of these last spring, and having just tlien received a small importation in very bad condition, I thought I would try what a radical change would do for them. I therefore basketed them all in peat and Sphagnum, and suspended them in an intermediate house, The effect was surprising ; they THE GAEDEN. [Jax. 1, 1881, made in many cases stouter growths than tlie imported ones, being shorter and proportionately tliickeri than any I ever saw in pots. They flowered remarkably well, some of them twice, and one plant of Catasetum tabulare brachyglossum three times during summer and autumn. As they finished their growth water was altogether with- held, and they were suspended in a drier house, but the pseudo- bulbs did not shrivel, for as soon as the plants got thoroughly dry innumerable threadlike air-roots rose perpendicularly from the sur- face of the basket. The tender points of these roots kept the plants nourished, and the roots continued to grow, until now many of them are 3 in. in height. These auxiliary air-roots resemble those on fresh imported plants, but which I have never seen to a like extent on plants in pots. It is evident to me that a sounder and a riper growth, fitter to produce flowers to perfection, can be obtained liy growing these plants in baskets than in pots. I therefore advise amateurs who have these Orchids in an unsatisfactory condition to treat them as above described, keeping them perfectly dry until they begin to grow, and then placing them in baskets. Afterwards sus- pend them in a cool stove or intermediate house, and liberally supply them with water from the time they begin to root until growth is completed. I know there are many of these plants (particularly in smvU collections) for which the owners begrudge the room on account of their not flowering, but still dislike throwing them away. If they be grown and Howered well, but few plants in their collections will command so much attention. Almost the whole of them are natives of South America. The beautiful Mormodea citrinum and M. luxa- tam are found in Mexico, and may, in case of necessity, be grown in the greenhouse, but even these are grateful for a little extra heat, and flower best when grown in the intermediate house with the others. A rather dry house, of a temperature of from 50" to GO", is the best for them when at rest. James O'Brien". OUR OECHIDS. I CANNOT agree with " F." (p. 567) when he says that Orchids are the easiest things imaginable to grow. Many of them, as every grower knows, are quite the reverse, and there is no class of plants that taxes the skill of the grower so much. Other plants have a resting time and a growing time that is sure to begin witli spring and end with autumn, unless otherwise arranged to suit some particular re- quirement ; but such is not the case with Orchids. They require constant watching in order to ascertain their particular wants. Even in the same house some will be growing while others are at rest, and some will not require any rest at all, and so on. Then we are told because " F." had no gardener who understood Orchids it was so much the better. Can " F.'' jioint to a man who can manage Orchids as they should be without having some knowledge of them ? Should valuable Orchids be entrusted to such a person ? The state- ment, "Oh, I shall do my best ; I think they'll succeed," reminds me of the banker who said to a depositor, "Oh, I'll take care of your money if my bank don't break." " F." tells us when he got home room was made for his plants (of which he is kind enough to give us a list) in the stove. Does he mean to tell Orchid growers that they grew and flourished in a satisfactory manner in a stove for any lengtfi of time ? I should certainly much doubt it ; the more so as he tells us they were put on the sunny side. Why, I say it is nothing short of sure death for such things as Cypripediums to be exposed to the sun ; and again, Maadevallias would die at the very name of stove heat, for they are amongst our coolest Orchids, and will not be at all satis- factory if they are not kept from the direct rays of the sun. They may be some time in dwindling away, but they are sure to do so under such treatment. "F. " must be convinced by this time tliat an Orchid grower could not be such a mistake as his friend considered him to be. Depend upon it, wherever Orchids are grown wpU they will be found under the care of an experienced cultivator. Nor need a good Orchid grower be a bid oaltivator in other departments, but rather the reverse. II. C. NOTES ON ORCHIDS IN FLOWER. Second Flowering of Dendrobium chrysanthum.— I have a plant of this in a basket which flowered freely in July in an Odontoglossum house. Here it was allowed to remain at rest and kept dry, but eaidy in November, showing signs of growth it was moved into warmer quarters ; here it grew freely and made twelve growths, eleven of which have flowered profusely. The growth is short-jointed, so much so, that thirty-eight flowers were borne upon one growth of 15 in. The flowers are now opening upon the last growth. The colour is very fine, but the size smaller than usual. In spite of all we can do to dry it off, it is now again showing young growth, two from each of the old shoots. Is this second flowering usual ? and how shguld it novf be treated ?— W. B. Bronzy-leaved Odontoglossums. — I cannot agree with " F. W. B.'s " statement (p. 5'J3) that a bronzy-leaved plant is equal in vigour to a green-leaved one, as from close and repeated observa- tion I am quite convinced that it is a loss of sap from deficient root action that causes the foliage to assume a bronzy tint, and with further practice I think " F. W. B." will find this statement to be correct. My object in cautioning cultivators to moderate the watering of these plants during winter was to prevent any one from destroying the roots from this cause, thereby preventing the plants from putting on this bronzy hue, which they are not long in doing when they lose their roots without the aid of the sun. Of bronzy bulbs I said nothing, as I like to see a good dark bronzy bulb well clothed with deep green foliage. The two plants " F. \Y. B." has in one pot, the one bronzed and the other green, clearly proves that sun-bronzing is incorrect. If it were so, both plants would be bronzed alike. It rather tends to prove my statement to be correct, and if " F. W. B." will make a careful examination of the two plants he will find the green- leaved one in possession of a good set of roots, and the bronzy- leaved one deficient in this respect from some cause or other, most probably from injudicious watering. — J. Roberts. Calanthes as Out Flowers. — Amongst Orchids for supply- ing cut flowers during the darkest days of tlie year that are easily grown, and for the space they occupy yield a large number of beauti- ful blossoms, few are more worthy of culture than Calanthes. If they would only hold their beautiful foliage in good green condition durmg the time of their flowering, what beautiful decorative plants they would be ; but unfortunately the leaves begin to turn yellow and get unsightly as the blossoms begin to expand, consequently tliey re(iuire some extraneous aid in the way of foliage to set them off to advantage. Their long arching spikes look extremely well in living rooms rising from a groundwor.f of fresh Fern fronds, and in stoves they are very effective mingled with the ordinary inmates of audi structures. As the blooms on the spikes expand in succession from the bottom, it is wasteful to gather the whole spike until it has niarly done flowering, but as the sinjle blooms are well adapted for button-hole and other bouquets, they may be utilised most effec- tively for that purpose. Calanthe Veitchi, bright pink, C. vestita, white with crimson eye, and the white kind with a yellow eye are the sorts which we grow most largely. They delight in rich cow manure, loam, and peat. They should have plenty of moisture, a stove temperature during the growing season, and a drier atmosphere and somewhat cooler temperature when flowering. They will last in perfection a long time, ami are Orchids really worthy of general culture. — J. Groom, Orcliids at Davenliam Banli, iMaivern.— Amongst a good collection of Orchids at this place the most noticeable in bloom at the present time are Angra^cum eburneum, A. sesqnipedale, Calanthe vesrita and its variety lutea, C. Veitchi, Cypripedium insigne, Ladia autumnalis, Cattleya crispa, Masdevallia ignea, M. tovarensis, Odontoglossum Andersonianum, 0. Blunti, 0. cordatum, 0. Pesoatorei, and Oncidium ornithorhynchum. — J. S. T. Small tJnestablislied Orcliids. — I have just receive 1 twelve small Orchids of the undermentioned varieties ; they are not established, and are at present in 3-in. and 4-in. pots. What temperature should I ksep them in during the winter? They will require repotting ; had they better be done now or in the spring ? The sorts arc — Epidendrum vitellinum, Oncidium sphacelatum, 0. leucochilum, Odontoglossum pulchellum, 0. Rossi majus, 0. cirrho- sum, 0. Lindleyanum, Cymbidium aloifolium, Maxillaria Harrisoni, Cypripedium Pearcei, Masdevallia coccinea, Trichopilia tortilis, and a very slender-growing Dendrobium, of which I do not know the name. — Perplexed. Calanthes and Ferns, — I find Ferns a great assistance t) these lovely Orchids by way of compensating for their lack of foliage when in bloom, and for the future I intend to plant the two together. The Maidenhair Ferns, or Pteris serrulata, or any others easily raised in quantity from seed may be utilised in this way. When the Calanthes are repotted in spring, about halt a dozen seedling Ferns may be dibbled into each pot, and under the conditions that Calan- thes are usually grown they will form a good undergrowth of green foliage by the time that the Calanthes are in bloom, and the beauti- ful flower-spikes rising from amongst the Ferns will prove much more attractive than when only bare bulbs are visible. Moreover, I do not find that the Ferns interfere in the least with the growth of the Orchids, as in baskets and pots pretty well filled with ITerns the growth of the Orchids is quite equal to that of those where no Ferns are used in tiiat way. — J. G., Linton. Dandrobium Cambridg'eanum —Will some of your correspoutlents Icinilly inform me in what \vi\y tllis Dendrobe sliows Ijlooni. I have seen it de- scribed as " blooming witli tile young grovvtli," and Mr. B. S. M'illiams says in his " Orchid ilanual" th'it it " blooms on the young growth." To put the ques- tion plainly, does it bloom in W.irch on the young growth now Ijeing mad^ ? or on the ripened bulbs of last year's growth ?— T. L. C. Jan. 1, 1881.] THE GARDEN. COUNTEY SEATS AND GAEDENS OF GKEAT BEITAIN. CASTLE ASHBY. Castle AsHBV, the seat of the Marquis of Northampton, in Northamptonshire, is a fine Elizabethan house, standing on high ground, having on two sides gardens and terraces, and on the third an Ehn avenue three miles long. In 1715 four Elm avenues were planted on the four sides. Of three of these only here and there an old Elm remains ; but the fourth, originally about a mile in length, was continued by the late Marquis of Northampton. For many years an invalid, he tains. The colours of this were arranged by Lord Northamp- ton with the skill of a painter, and nothing can be more lovely on a summer day than its rich and harmonious beauty, with the grey old house above it ; on one side the church, the park, with great variety of trees surrounding it, and beyond, over trees and water, a blue distance. The flowers used are chiefly Geraniums, carefully shaded, avoiding the brightest scarlet. Lobelias, Petunias, African Marigolds, and Tagetes, all shaded with dark points of Coleus. A broad walk between Portugal Laurels, grown as Oiange trees, and Irish Yews divides this from another terrace, in the centre of which is a large basin between stiff beds of trimmed Laurel, and small beds with masses of bright WS?^^^ Castle Ashby (sketched, ISSO). resided almost entirely at Castle Ashby, and he made the terraced gardens, with manj' other alterations and improve- ments. An old plan exists of a large terraced garden before the house, but this has been entirely swept away, probably when the grounds and shrubbery were arranged by " Capability " Brown. About fifteen years ago the present garden was made, with broad terraces, straight walks and steps, fountains, and balustrades of terra-cotta. Eound the top of the house is an open balustrade of letters in stone ; and this idea is carried out in the external balustrade of the garden, with the words — ^" Consider the Lilies how they grow ; for I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." From a broad gravelled terrace before the house a green slope falls to the first wide terrace laid out in a stiif garden of beautiful design, in the old French style, with two foun- flowers between. On another terrace is a fanciful garden with the initials of Theodosia, Lady Northampton, for whom the garden was made, and to whose memory a Latin inscription appears in part of the balustrade. When the summer flowers in the garden on the first terrace are over, it is planted again for spring, and is as beautiful in May with soft pink and blue, and white and yellow, js it is in July with richer colours. At both times it is an example of the effect that may be made in a bedded-out garden by careful study of harmony of colour and the use of shading. The following is a list of the flowers now used in the spring garden (JMyosotis has been lately given up, as it goes out of flower too early) : Pansies — Lilac Queen, Cliveden Purple, Mulberry (dark purple). Blue King (royal blue), Jjeviathan (white), Viola Seedling (white), Corisande (pale primrose). Seedling (yel- low), Crown .Jewel, Silene compacta, Silene pendula, Silene THE GARDEN. [Jan. 1, 1881 ruberrima, Limnaiithes graudiflora, Erysimum Peroffskianum, and Nemophila insignis. The old church, of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, looks down upon this garden, and round and beyond it the sunny churchyard ; on the south side one garden follows another in perpetual variety — -one all turf, and trees, and flowering shrubs, then an Italian garden in front of a large conservatory of stone, with three great arches in the centre. From it a straight walk goes between sunk panels filled with arabesques in coloured stones and gravel, through an arch- way to another garden of Yew and Box hedges, Carnations, Sweet Brier, and Ros^.s, and beyond a large kitchen garden, where the long walk, continued between pyramidal Pear trees, ends in an old-fashioned herbary. Crossing the long walk at right angles, another walk between borders full of a great variety of herbaceous flowers leads down through an arboretum to a wild garden by the water, brilliant in spring with Polyanthus, Aubrietia, (fee, with a great variety of Iris. The walks continue into the shrubbery, with the large " ponds," the work of " Capability" Brown. Perhaps we have dwelt too long upon these gardens, but their beauty is very fascinating, and they have the charm of being the work of time ; the old and the new are blended together, growing under the hands of succeeding generations full of love for the place and reverence for the past. H. THE FLOWER GARDEN. GARDEN PROGRESS. A SEVERE affliction, lasting over five or six years, has prevented me from following my profession, and seldom seeing any of the horticultural journals, I seemed to lose sight of what was going on in the horticultural world, but on removing to another district I have in a great measure regained my health. I have, therefore, been enabled to look about me again, and a friend having lent me The Gabdbn I have bad much pleasure in reading many of the articles therein. It puts one in mind of early days, when garden- ing newspapers were in their youth ; when Mr. Marnock's paper was before the public ; when the pen was used with freshness and vigour by the Barnes's, the Ayres', and many others ; and when to be flower gardener to Mrs. " So-and-So, or at Suoh-and-Sucli a place, was something to excite the ambition of the best class of young men. Those were the days before the fashion of four months' bedding, with its rows of Verbena, yellow Calceolaria, scarlet Geraniums, and white something else, if it could be found, was thought to be the acme of perfection in the gardening art. What a pleasing change has taken place in that five or six years in re- gard to the arrangement of the flower garden ! Surely it needs not to be asked who were the wisest men — those who followed the red, white, blue, and yellow style, throwing all hardy plants awa}', or those who kept them, and now find their gardens the most fashionable ? It maj' please the hard-hitting '' Justicia " to hear from one who, like myself, has, as it were, begun life afresh that I have not goue into one garden this summer, and I have been into many, but where I have heard these remarks, or some- thing like them — " This is the beginning of a new era as regards hardy plants, and we have just got in a collection," or " We are going to form an old-fashioned hard3' plant border." More than once has been said to me, " We don't know anything about such plants, but our people say they are coming up ao;ain," and this by really good gardeners in first-class positions. That they really did not know much about hardy plants was evident from the positions in which many of them were planted, some small choice alpine or dwarf Aster being set perhaps in the centre of a 4-ft. bed, with some strong vigorous-growing plant near the edge. Still there is the growing taste for such things, and the good old- f aslnoned style of flower gardening, and if " Justicia " and his coadjutors could only put an end to that other class at which he has hit so hard — I mean that class of self-called landscape gar- deners, whose knowledge of trees and shrubs is so limited, that they plant the same things everywhere — he woidd be doing the gardening world good service. Such men hesitate not to plant a hundred or two of the variegated Negundo and similar things in one place, and the result is that the persons employing them get disgusted and disheartened. The highest art in the opinion of this class is to get lots of white glistening spar or limestone at 30s. or 403. per ton, and stick it about round the walks, more espe- cially between the gateway and the front door ; also in front of borders and Grass, and call it rockwork. One of this class once said to me, " I learned my landscape gardening with So-and-So," naming one of our most noted men in the nortli. By-and-by I found that he had been running the barrow at one job for about six weeks when he was out of a situation. My chief object, however, in writing is to direct attention to one or more pretty pieces of work with which I have met this summer, and which I think even " .lustioia " would say was beautiful. At one place at which I called when going round some borders which were, without doubt, good in their day, I noticed several patches of Funkia Sieboldi from 3 ft. to 4 ft. in diameter ; but one of the prettiest hollows I have seen was a natural hardy plant carpeting on part of the Dunham Park Estate in a somewhat aged wood. This was purchased by JMr. Scott, of Manchester ; many of the trees had been cut down, and a fine mansion built, and the grounds were laid out and planted at very great cost. Indeed, valuable shrubs are already spoiling one another ; more than half want taking out. But this was not the only blunder committed by the landscape gardener who renovated the place, for he made an oval pond close to one end of the mansion. On the present gar- dener (Mr. Ellis) taking charge of the place, steps were taken to do away with this pond, but a difficulty presented itself, both from its depth, 14 ft., and also getting soil in to fill it up if it could have been found, for it would have to be wheeled over a hundred yards after it had been tipped down from the carts. The diffi- culty was got over by first letting off all the water ; and when the bottom had dried up, an oval stone basin with a fountain in the centre was constructed; then at the end a flight of stone steps to match the fountain, and likewise to harmonise with the mansion. Between the steps and round the centre fountain a 6-ft. gravel walk was laid down ; at the ends on each side of the steps, at the foot are four circular mounds raised some 2 ft. above the level of the walk. On these are planted good specimens of weeping Yews worked on the Irish Yew, the stems and heads being well furnished, symmetrical, and well matched. Further on are four circles containing Cupressus Lawsoniana erecta viridis ; these circles and mounds are planted with Saxifraga hypnoides, and the contrast of colour between the dark sombre foliage of the Yew and the bright lively green of the Saxifrage is very pleasing. The banks are filled with Roses, Ghent Azaleas, choice Rhododendrons, weeping and other HolHes. On the top of the banks and next the principal walk hybrid Rhododendrons are carpeted with dwarf Heaths, and on the dull November day on which I saw this arrangement it looked very charming indeed. I also noticed about the place that Antennaria tomentosa and Spergula pilifera were largely used for carpeting for bulbs and similar plants. A Visit to Messrs. Clibran'a, at Altrincham, woidd at once convince the most sceptical that The Gabden was influencing public opinion in matters of taste. Here were to be seen Ilepaticas in thousands, as they seed so freely. Polyanthuses for bedding in thousands, Colchicum autumnale and the double kind in large quantities, every kind of hardy plants for carpeting and dottino;, masses of Aquilegia coeridea. Anemone fulgens, A. japonica alba, and Ilonorine Jobert, Violas and Pansies innumer- able, double Rockets, the new Forget-me-not (Myosotis elegantis- sima), and in one corner of the grounds advantage has been taken of a spring of water to make beds for Cape Pondweed (Aponoge- ton distachyon). Of herbaceous Pjeonies they grow some forty kinds, double Primroses, white, yellow, lilac, crimson, and deep purple-crimson ; in short, men were as busy as they could be send- ing oS hardy plants in all directions. The houses, too, were full of general stock, to name which woidd be to make a catalogue ; but I may remark that Gilbert's new Primidas were very fine indeed. One thing I noticed here which may be of service to many readers of The Gardex, and that was a box for propagating or protecting hardy plants. Of this I noticed several hundreds; they are 33 in. by 24 in., back 12 in., and front 6 in., thus giving a good fall ; over the top is stretched tightly oiled linen, and a iron handle is fixed to the sides, by which the box is carried from place to place. I was assured that these boxes were prefei'red to cloches, Jan. 1, 1881.] THE GARDEN. or the old-fashioned handlights, for many things. There were also one or two houses made with oiled linen stretclied over a span-roofed framework, which aiiorded great protection to hun- dreds of plants. Some clieap liousea were likewise just erected, 78 ft. by 12 ft., and span-roofed. The doors and framework were gas-tarred instead of painted ; T "'d I'an from end to end, on which the glass was laid and held firmly by strips of copper. The path- way down the centre was sunk, and the plants stood on the natural ground-line ; ventilation was obtained both at bottom and top. Plants, such as Pelargoniums, under such conditions looked short, sturdy, and strong. N. J. D. THE PURPLE ORPINE. (SEDUM PUBPDEASCENS.) None of the Stonecrops, or Li velongs as they are sometimes called, are so variable as the British species S. Telephium, of which the plant represented in the annexed engraving is a variety. No fewer than twenty forms have received names either as sub-species or varieties, but of these our native S. puipurascens is as showy as any of The Purple Orpine (.Sedum purpurascens). them, and the most desirable for cultivating as a border flower. It grows from 1 ft. to 2 ft. high, and has stout erect stems furnished with roundish fleshy leaves, and terminated by dense broad clusters of blooms usually of a bright rosy-purple hue, but sometimes white. It is not an uncommon plant, and may be found generally distri- buted about the country, usually growing in hedgerows and thickets, where late in summer and in autumn it produces its showy blossoms. In the garden this Stonecrop, and indeed all the other varieties and allied species of about the same size, are particularly useful for planting in places which would be too dry for other plants, such as on rough rookwork and dry borders ; of course they prefer, however, to be treated as liberally as other plants, and well repay any attention by growing and flowering more vigorously. When cut, the flowers last a long time in perfection ; the stems are so tenacious of life after they have been severed from the root, that they are often called Everlasting Livelongs. W. (i. HARDY FLOWER GARDENING. If I were in "H. M.'s" place (p. 590), and had such a garden of my own, instead of making borders at 5s. per yard, which I con- sider quite unnecessary, I would expend the surplus in creating shelter from the winds which are so destructive as to render fine foliaged plants useless, for how a garden is to be enjoyable I fail to see if the rude blasts render the growth of tall plants impossible ; why not raise mounds and plant shelter trees and shrubs, and groups of choice subjects in front to come prominently into view ? There is no real necessity for many beds even in a large garden, and eight appears to me to be too many for one of the size men- tioned. Many plants, such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, Deutzias, Tree Pseonies, Magnolia conspicua, and hosts of others, look best springing direct from the turf in clumps ; and Yuccas, Pa,mpas Grass, Arundos, hardy Palms, or Araha Sieboldi make excellent central subjects for beds permanently planted with edgings of hardy flowers that only require a minimum of attention. With plants like these that do not sufier from our roughest gales, and single specimens of Hollies and Conifers, or groups of Acers and other choice shrubs, there will not be much need for many beds on the double shift or any other system. If "H. M." dislikes carpet beds, by which I suppose he means the flat surface of dwarf plants, he should adopt the compromise plan that embraces all the good points of immediate effect without the flat surface, by grow- ing good specimens in pots of Palms, Agaves, choice variegated Yuccas, &c., for central or dot plants, and using a thick under- growth of Coleus, fine-foliaged Pelargoniums, tuberous Begonias, Fuchsias, or the many suitable subjects now employed in that way. I would also advise him to aim at making his garden permanently beautiful with subjects that do not fade with the first frost. J. Gboom, HARDY YUCCAS IN GROUPS. Wherever space can be afforded, and suitable situations can be found for them, the hardy Yuccas should be grown. Few hardy subjects are so distinct in leafage and manner of growth as these ; but to see them to the best advantage they should be arranged in bold groups, and in the immediate vicinity of such trees and shrubs as are best fitted to form a harmonious contrast to them. Perhaps the best situation for them is a sloping bank or piece of laud, fully exposed to the mid-day sun, and backed up by evergreens of some kind. Thus placed, and allowed ample space for development, they will gain in beauty from year to year, and when in bloom will form a striking feature in the pleasure ground. The handsome spikes of large cream-coloured flowers are extremely effective, especially when thrown out into bold relief by the mass of verdure behind them. Yuccas like a well-drained soil, and thrive well where the subsoil is pure chalk. They delight in full exposure to the sun, and enjoy the shelter from rough winds which a stronger vegetation is capable of affording them ; hence the advisability of planting them in toler- ably close proximity to trees or shrubs of some Kind which may screen them, not only from rough westerly gales when in bloom, but will also insure them against the withering influence of easterly or northerly wintry winds. The Yucca is a hardy plant, but the foliage of several of the most ornamental species, such as filamentosa, is apt to get either torn or discoloured when the plants are growing in free exposure, and when the leaves become much in- jured the decorative value of these fine hardy subjects is much diminished. A little discrimination in the choice of situation will, however, be all that is necessary to ensure their perfect safety in this respect, and there are few gardens where suitable accommodation could not be found for them. In Grouping' Yuccas a wonderfully fine as well as a more free and natural effect is obtained where a proportion of the specimens employed have attained sufficiently large dimensions to raise the head of foliage some 3 ft. to 6 ft. above the soil ; these tall plants should not, however, be placed in a regular manner in a back line, but one here and there should be allowed to advance somewhat into the foreground, with some of the smaller specimens nestling at their feet. The effect of a group thus arranged charms by its irregularity and quaint beauty, and forms a picturesque and distinct feature in the garden landscape. I have often thought that we do not sufficiently value these noble hardy plants, for one seldom sees a bold, free use made of them, the owners of gardens generally being content with employing them on the dot system, which cannot be said to convey an adequate idea of their high qualities. It should be the aim of all who may have a large extent of pleasure ground to embellish it with plants of an enduring character, to create as much diversity as pos- 10 THE GARDEN. [JaiJ. 1, 1881. sible ; this can be well effected by grouping families of plants having distinctive features in situations most favourable to them, avoiding as far as possible all semblance of regularity and formal outline. The Yuccas, offering as they do a complete contrast to all other forms of hardy vegetable life, may be made good use of in carrying out this idea, for by their means alone a distinct and interesting piece of gar- den scenery may be created. As before stated, the hardy Yuccas are children of tlie sun, and they do not as a rule flower freely unless they get a good baking in the summer ; they need apparently a large amount of maturation to perfect their growth and prepare it for the production of bloom. With respect to soil, they can scarcely be termed fastidious, but it must be well drained. They appear to be perfectly at home where the subsoil is pure chalk, attaining a rude vigour, and flowering freely when thus situated. J. C. B. practises that must be given up by all who really look into the needs of our hardy garden flora. — J.] Fallen Leaves. — "Justicia" draws a pretty picture of what a hardy border should be and how it should be kept in winter. There should be no digging, he says, and the fallen leaves should be left. I fully agree with him except as to the leaves. Theore- tically, it seems quite right to allow the leaves to lie and decay amidst the surrounding plants, but in practice it does not answer. There are, forinstance, in most gardens such things as slugs andsnails. These delight in a leafy covering, and, protected from frost by the shelter, will prey uijon the perennial green leafage and the starting crowns of the herbaceous plants, and do an immense amount of mischief. Then there are usually in gardens in winter, especially in hard weather, blackbirds and thrushes, whicli in their efforts to obtain food set all notions of tidiness at defiance. A troop of fowls would hardly turn a flower border more topsy-turfy than would a few of these birds. The first storm that came would whirl the disturbed leaves all over the place, much to the disgust of the culti- vator, and the hardy plants would find that the theory of a natural dressing of leaf manure had broken down. I detest the forking of borders so common in winter. A moderate stirring of the surface first with a two or three-tined rake is good, then a dressing of soot or guano or both, and over all a thin surfacing of old pot soil or the rough screened produce of the rubbisli heap, or, in fact, any kind of refuse soil that may offer. I think that most cultivators will agree that such a plan would answer better than the natural, but very inoperative leaf-dressing. — A. D. [I never deal with theory except in the sense of its correspon- dence with actual fact. Your slug and snail notion is based on another kind of structure. How do the swarming herbs of the wood and copses of the world exist in spite of the slugs ? A good protection for them is hard gravel walks and paths, where they lay their eggs without danger. There is no theory in the plan at "all, as it can bo carried out by anyone in any shrubbery. Against the door one may do what one likes, but not one leaf would I ever allow removed from a clump of shrubs or trees on my lawn or in vay pleasure ground. I would prefer the leaves all over the place to a dug border, but I would, if need be, meet that difli- culty by scattering a light dressing of soil over them. In what 1 should call a properly managed shrubbery' or clump, with the bushes well spaced, and their branches resting on the ground, with low shrubs between, and evergreen and other herbs, there are natural impedients to the leaves rushing about in the waj' " A. D." suggests. Tliey would fly off a bare dug border, but not S3 quickly off a clump treated in a more intelligent way. It is amusing to see my correspondent assuming that he Imows what is practicable, and I do not. It is clear from what he saj-s that he lias not really seen the practicable side of the question at all. Let him go to any wood or copse where our native vegetation is happiest, and he will find the most excellent soil and surface to 133 found, and that on whicli our loveliest native flowers grow best is precisel}^ where the leaves have gathered and rotted into a more perfect mulch than man could devise. I do not object to his dres- sing, but it will be all the better over the leaves — the two com- bined with care in spacing, grouping, and selecting the plants, ■would soon give us shrubberies more lovely than anything ever seen in a flower show or conservatory. This is a subject of the greatest interest and the utmost practical importance. I can say no more of it at this time, but would recommend " A. D." to refer Ijack to some letters of Mr. Falconer, in which he tells us of the conditions under which the beautiful wood plants of North Ame- rica grow. Our annual digging, mutilation, scraping away of leaves, and exposing on bare sloppy borders plants that in Nature shelter each other, and are shielded from bitter frost and burning beat by layers of fallen leaves, gradually sinking into excellent lijht surfacj soil for th> young roots, are ignorant and brutal CHRISTMAS ROSES. Few plants can produce a flower that will equal In elegance and purity a well-cared-for bloom of tlie hardy Hellebore, or Christmas Rose. What could be greater praise than that applied to it the other day by a well-known floral decorator at South Kensington ? Noting the flowers on the fine plants sent by Mr. Barron from Chis- wick, he said: "You might mistake them for Eucharis blooms." These plants had been lifted a few weeks ago from the open border, and, with big clumps of roots attached, were dropped into half-sieve baskets, and then put into a gentle warmth. From twelve to twenty blooms were expanded on each plant, with plenty of others to follow. Mr. Barron mentioned that the purest flowers were those on plants kept farthest from the light. In most gardens this year there should be no great difficulty in getting flowers of the Christmas Rose ex- panded in the open air, but unless covered with glass they can hardly be pure, and of necessity they wdl expand slowly and singly. When, however, a quantity of flowers are wanted at once, as is the case at Christmas, some half-dozen strong plants lifted, as has been done at Chiswick, and placed in a gentle warmth, will enable the larger portion of the flowers to be ready for use just when wanted. It need hardly be said that plants so lifted, if replanted as soon as the flowering is past, will be little the worse for moving. But keep- ing all as large plants will not increase the stock ; and therefore if but one plant out of the half dozen be broken or cut up into single crowns each year, a good stock will in time be had. To get good jjlauts for this particular use, it is well to afford them something better in the way of culture thancan be found in an ordinary plant border. A small quarter in tiie kitchen garden is well applied if specially assigned to the cultivation and propagation of plants that are needed for house decoration or the supply of cut flowers. With these Hellebores may also be planted Dielytras, Spiraias, Schizosty- lis, Tritomas, and similar plants, of which it is rare we find too many in any garden. Christmas Roses were very scarce in the trade not long since, that is, the pure white kind, which alone is in request for market purposes. Perhaps the quantity has been in- creased since, as any special demand often serves to promote a large increase in regard to stock. If they are to be had at a moderate price and true, gardeners will find few better investments than in the purchase of a score or two of strong roots and growing them on. With a good stock, relays may be had, and the blooming period made to run over some two months, whilst strong roots may be lifted for forcing only in alternate years, A. I). AUBEIETIAS : PEOPAGATIOX AND CULTURE. A VERY useful class of plants, whether for spring bedding, for the furnishing of rockwork, or for forming permanent patches in the hardy plant border, are Aubrietias. In no case do they look more attractive than when left as permanent clumps in any position, for the masses of bloom produced by them in the spring are perhaps more striking and more enduring than those borne by most other spi'ing plants. Clumps where left untouched, except having a little trimming of seed pods and straggling growtli, have stood fresh and robust with me tor many years, and that is much more than can be said in reference to many choice plants that are much more favoured, but have not nearly so much merit. There are three methods of propagating Aubrietias : by seed, cut- tings, and by division. All are simple enough, and the marvel is that as they may be propagated so freely, they should none the less be so comparatively scarce. Seed sown as soon as ripe will yield plants to bloom the first year, and good-sized clumps the second year. As some plants will always seed there is no reason why seedlings should not be raised every year. Cuttings taken off just as the plants are going out of bloom, and inserted in shallow pans placed in a cool frame, will strike root and make strong plants for the winter's planting. By dividing old plants of course the largest new ones are obtained, but the Aubrietia does not root freely at the ground line, and often in pulling plants to pieces but small portions of root are found compared with tops. If, however, rootless portions are planted, they as a rule make root the following spring. Surface rooting is much encouraged by dressing the plants in the summer with spent pot soil. The more these can be encouraged the better, as then the earth roots may be dispensed with when transplanted. Where the Aubrietia is largely used to furnish beds in spring it is well to get in a large batch of cuttings early in the summer, and when these are struck put them in 3-m. pots, and encourage the Jan. 1, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 11 plants to fill them with roots. Such plants will turn out in Novem- ber, and push up growth much more freely than plants that have had their few roots much disturbed. Well-established plants of the Aubrietia are very recuperative ; they recover from injuries by frost and snow marvellously fast. Last winter the hoar frosts quite killed back every piece of growth on a bed of plants, so that I gave them all up for dead ; but no sooner did the weather become favourable than the roots threw up fresh growth, and in a short time the plants were as large as ever, blooming most profusely. The old Aubrietia deltoidea, useful as it still may be to cover rockwork, hardly finds a place in gardens where such fine kinds as grajca, Eyrei, Hendersoni, and violacea are grown, as these are all robust growers, with large flowers, and produced in large masses. Gr.-Eoa is the palest, but a capital kind, and very striking amidst the darker-hued kinds. Of these the deepest is violacea, the colour of which is quite a reddish-purple. It is an excellent feature of this kind that it not only seeds freely, but comes true from seed. As amongst spring flowers light colours, such as white, yellow, and lilac, so largely preponderate, any hardy plant that will give good masses of deep reddish hues is very acceptable. Mr. Ingram, of Belvoir, has a pretty little lilac-pink kind that is eftective in large masses, but it is rather disappointing in single clumps. The flowers, though smaller, very much resemble those of Arabis rosea. A. O. ^ (feVs- Lilies in Grass in Pleasure Ground at Castle Ashby (see p. 7). NOTES AND QUESTIONS OE THE ILOWEE GAEDEN- Tulip Culture near Large To-wns.— It is too true that Tulip culture has quite become a thing of the past near London, and "pity 'tis, 'tis true," for a Tulip bed is a beautiful feature in any garden. It is quite a common thing to plant out hundreds of thousands of the early flowering Dutch Tulips, hundreds of one kind being planted together to make a mass of red or yellow, whereas few now-a-days have an opportunity of looking into the inside of the large, beautifully marked, and delicately tinted golden cups of such flowers as George Hayward (Lawrence), Willison's Sir Joseph Paxton, or the lovely rose-coloured blooms of Heroine or Lee's Industry ; that is reserved for the artisans about Sheffield or populous Manchester, where a great exhibition of them is held every year in May. — J. Douglas. Hepaticas do fairly well here with ordinary treatment, and they are now showing for a fine crop of blossom. Having a good stock, the various coloured kinds have been planted in any and almost all posi- tions ; some in deep shade, and others " high and dry " on rockwork, with a south aspect. In the latter position they do not make so much growth as those more shaded, but they flower and seed well, and seedlings may be taken in great numbers from near the parent plants yearly. The foliage and flowers in more shady places are finer and more lasting. I cannot say, as I have seen stated, that here the foliage is evergreen, excepting in the case of H. angulosa, which thrives well in every position. Its flowers have been 2 in. across, and its foliage nearly 5 in. across its upper lobes. Late last spring, before they had done flowering, I had some large clumps divided, and found the following method to answer well : Bits with one and two crowns were planted in 5-ft. patches, and over them were trained our usual crop of Scarlet Runners, tent fashion. They were secure from being trodden, and well shaded. Indeed, I thought too much so. However, having occasion to take up a few of each sort recently, it was found that they had made rapid progress during seven months, being strong, deeply rooted plants. If I had to make the best of this beautiful Wind-flower, as I have to do with many plants whose wants I either cannot or have iiot yet found out how to accommodate, I should plant in a shady place in deeply dug and well manured stiff loam. I find from several inquiries respecting He- paticas .and the finer Primroses, that they are not everywhere so easily grown. Both with me have similar treatment in the open ground, and both Primroses and Polyanthuses make fine growth, but sooner or later every year they are severely attacked by red spider, which is difficult to clear from plants in the open border. — .T. Wood, KirkMall. Plants in Bloom Outdoors.— Although many may still have Roses in bloom out-of-doors, yet some of the readers of The Gauden may like to hear that to-day (December 10) I cut two fine half- opened Roses of Gloire de Dijon and a similar bloom of the splendid Bouquet d'Or, the three forming a choice posy. I may add that my large-flow-ered, dwarf. Ten-week Stocks have been in constant bloom since last July to the present time. Notwithstanding many losses in Chrysanthemums last winter and summer, our altar vases have for the last fortnight perfectly glowed with these flowers, in several varieties, obtained from all quarters, and I have now gathered a supply of them, which will open in the house and probably last some days, or even weeks, in the New Year. — ^Villiam H. Sewell, Yaxley Vicarage, Suffolk. Transplanting Hardy Plants. — A grand time we have had for the dividing and replanting of all kinds of hardy plants, work tnat must be done regularly wh ere trade has to be done, and is none the worse for being occasionally done in private gardens when a good time like the present offers, and it can be done well. How much better it is to be able now to get all Polyanthuses, Primroses, Vio- lets, Pansies, and scores of similar things replanted in fresh soil, and where the plants can get established, than it is to do so in the spring when there is a press of work. In open weather plants make root at once, and in spring have a great advantage over those more recently moved. — A. D. Protecting Outdoor Primroses.— Owing to the exceptional mildness of the winter so Jar, Primula japonica is making new leaf grinvlh, and with me, in many instances, throwing up a premature flower-spilve. P. acaulis at the pre- sent rate of progress, and with the minimum shade temperature at 46'^, will be in bloom in a month, but the latter is much hardier than the former. Now, as seems very probable, "we shall yet have smart, and perhaps prolonged frosts, I have taken the precaution of spreading loose stable litter over two beds of P. japonica ; the strawy portion can be removed in spring, otherwise for the reasons stated they would lie much more liable to serious injury, especially as they must be full of sap, and the surrounding soil perfectly saturated with moisture. A\'herever P. denticulata, P. cortusoides, or P. .Sieboldi have been tried out-of- doors, or valuable Polyanthuses, similar treatment would be more desirable. — W. J. M., Clonmel. Lilium giganteum.— Mr. Bnrbidge says this Lily is for the south or milder parts of our climate. Has he noticed the splendid growth recorded in 'I'HE Garden by ilr. .Jackson near Bangor, in a district certainly no more favoured, if so much as that near Dublin? Surely many can boast of Lilium auratum five jenrs planted ! The great clumps in Mr. ilclntosh's garden must be as old. — W. H. Lilium giganteum Seed.— To any readers of The Garden who may feel inclined to grow Lilium giganteum from seed, it will give me much pleasure to forward a packet of it on receipt of a stamped and addressed envelope. The seed has just been gathered in from a specimen which measured over 10 ft. high, and to which allusion is made in The Garden (p. MS). I would recommend its being sown at once, under glass of course, and plenty of time allowed for ger- mination, wliich possibly may not take place in less than a year's time. — Edwin Jackson, Llandegai, Banc/or, Carnarvonshire. Carnations from Seed.— Would you open your columns to the solution of the following enquiry, viz., the value of the advertised collections of Carna- tion seed ? Collections of twelve varieties of all sorts of colours ornament our seed lists. Is there any, even the remotest, connection between the descriptions and the produce? None, in my opinion. I would much like the experience of others.— B. G. Lantana Victoire.— This is an exceedingly pretty variety, and should find a place in every collection of these useful free flowering subjects. The flowers are pure white with a lemon eye, .and have a very chaste appearance, especially when expanded under ghass in early spring. The Lantanas are easily grown, and should be more frequently used than they now are for spring decoration, as many of the kinds exhibit shades of colour scarcely to be found in other flowering plants.— J. C. B. Fuel for Saddle Boilers. — Mr. Simpson (p. 581) gives the preference to the old saddle boiler over all others because " there is no other boiler that presents so great a proportion of its surface to the direct action of the fire." It would appear from this that Mr. Simpson burns coal in his furnaces, and I should be glad to know whether he would recommend this system of boiler in gardens where coke is burnt. I have long been dissatisfied with the heat which my saddle boilers give, and recently was told that saddle boilers were only suitable for coal, and that if coke is used, the boiler should be directly over the furnace. Can any of your readers give their expe- riences of burning coke in t|ie furnaces of saddlg boilers ? — A SuB- SCEIBEB, 12 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 1, 1881. MR. LANCASTEE'S MAKKET GARDEN.* This comprises eighty acres, situated at Stratford, within four and a half miles of the General Post Office, and is, with the exception of a few pieces of land at Rotherhithe and Deptford, the nearest market garden to London. Three acres are meadow land and the remainder is closely cropped with various vegetables. The land is partly held on lease and partly upon a short tenancy, at rents varying from £5 to £6 per acre. Its soil is a dark-coloured loamy claj', heavy and naturally fertile, about S ft. in thickness, resting upon a peaty sub- soil 2 ft. in depth, lying on the gravel, upon the Woolwich Beds, or the Oldhaven Beds of the Lower Tertiaries, which crop up here and overlie the London Clay, forming a curiously irregular patch nearly two miles in length from north to south, and hardly a mile in width. Though heavy and difficult to work in wet seasons, this soil soon dries and becomes pulverised quickly and absorbs a deal of moisture. In Mr. Lancaster's words : "It is peculiar stuff to work and re- quires an apprenticeship before you can manage it according to the varying seasons. It is most prolific when there is some amount of heat, when we say 'things go mad.' I have had Veitch's spring- sown Cauliflowers measure 4 ft. round, and quite close, and Celery 1 ft. round, indeed like sturdy trees." Mr. Lancaster has with much ingenuity adopted irrigation upon his market garden most successfully in dry summers, having fixed a steam engine to pump up the water, and laid pipes and cut channels to spread it over the land. A wide sewer or watercourse whose water runs into the Thames intersects this land, and small ditches connected with this watercourse divide it at intervals. These formerly served as fences to part the fields when it was pasture land and grazed by cattle. In wet seasons like the last it happens that the water in these ditches overflows, and in this event the steam engine is used to pump it out. Mr. Lancaster said that he is the only market gardener, except those who have sewage farms proper, who systematically irrigates his land in dry seasons. "My neighbours," he added, "laughed at first when I began to irrigate, but the first season I did so turned out to be a very dry one, so that I had good crops when others were bad, and therefore made high prices, which stopped their laughter." When the judges went over this market garden the engine was pumping the surplus water away from the land. Only about twelve years ago the whole of this garden was Grass land, and has been gradually broken up by Mr. Lancaster. He has built a comfortable dwelling- house, with stables, sheds, greenhouses, forcing pits, and an engine- house, and has changed the land from average grazing land to highly productive, profitable market-garden ground, fitted with all appliances for its management. As the soil is heavy and lies wet in the winter and is unsuitable for growing winter greenstuff, so much so that Mr. Lancaster cannot grow his own Cabbage plants, it is found much better to let much of the land lie dormant during the winter, and to work it as hard as possible in the spring and sum- mer when it has been dried by March winds. Therefore the system of cropping differs from that of ordinary market gardens, inasmuch as Radishes, Lettuces, Marrows, Cucumbers, spring Onions, Cauli- flowers, and Celery are principally grown. Celery is Mr. Lancaster's speciality, which he grows singularly well, and for which his soil is peculiarly suited. He has a reputation tor Celery in Covent Garden, and almost invariably makes the top prices in the market. He either sows the Celery seed first in frames with a certain amount of heat, from whence the plants are put out into the rows, or the seed is sown in hot-houses having a high temperature, and the plants are pricked out into small frames close to the ground, with a gentle heat under them, and taken from thence for planting out. This plan answers well in cold, changeable seasons, as the plants are gradually accustomed to changes of temperature ; but it entails a gi-eat amount of work, of which some idea may be gained when it is stated that it requires 10,000 Celery plants per acre, set at 1 ft. apart in the rows, and that Mr. Lancaster usually plants about forty-six acres, which would take 460,000 plants. London manure to the depth of 1 ft. is put into the trenches prepared for the Celery plants, and covered with soil. The trenches are 5 ft. 6 in. apart, and the distance from plant to plant in the trenches is 1 ft. Earthing up is done by hand gradually, three or four times, to suit the growth of the plants. Early in the next spring Radishes are sown thickly upon the spaces lately occupied by the Celery ; or Cauliflowers or Coleworts are planteti, all of which thrive wonderfully in the richly manured soil. Celery is grown again in the next season. In many parts of this land, where the soil is best suited for Celery, thiscrophasbeentakenuow five yearssuccessively, the position of the trenches having been shifted each year, and Radishes and other quick-growing crops grown upon their situation in alternate years. The beds of Radishes are 4 ft. 6 in. wide, and 1 ft. is allowed for * This gamed the (Irst prize last year in the competition for the premiums offered Ijy the Jlansion House Committee, in connection with the International Ex- hibition o£ the Royal .Agricultural Society, tor the best managed market-garden farm in one of the live metropolitan counties. the Celery trenches, so that in the autumn when the catch crops are gone the Celery has a space of 5 ft. 6 in. At the time of the first inspection over 5000 dozen of bunches were being marketed each week, and made from 6d. to Sd. per dozen bunches. They were Turnip Radishes, known as French Radishes iu the market, of a bright pink colour, beautifully shaped and cutting firm even to the largest and oldest bulbs. As many as 1500 dozen bunches are occasionally grown per acre, but an average crop runs to about 1200 dozen bunches, a bunch being a good sized handful. In other parts of the land Coleworts, or Cabbages, or Cauliflowers were planted in the spaces between the Celery, and in one part there were rows of splendid Paris Cos Lettuces ready for tying, and the Celery plants between were looking fresh and vigorous. Near the house there were innumerable small frames set in rows with plants of Vegetable Marrows within them, which were covered with glass by night and served to protect the plants from the weather until they were well established. These plants were strong and luxuriant, and in fact were almost the only Marrows that the judges saw which looked like yielding a good crop. Rows of Osiers were planted at intervals in this place to serve as a shelter for Marrows, or Cucumbers, or other delicate plants that may be cultivated. Osiers are grown upon most of the market gardens in corners or wet places, to furnish twigs for bunching Radishes and other produce, and rods for making baskets. Near the Marrow frames were many hundred thousands of Veitch's Cauliflower plants in a seed bed, and many thousands in small frames with a little heat from manure under them, that had been transplanted from the seed bed, and were ready to go out into their places on the land, being splendid plants, showing no tendency to "run," and having well paid for their intermediate transplantation. Mint and other Vegetables. — It was a novel experience to find two acres covered with Mint, with an abundance of leaves that seemed sufficient to supply all the lamb-eaters in London with Mint sauce. Although this bed of Mint was only two years old it was doomed to be dug up this summer, and tiny shootlets were being taken from it and set, 9 in. by 3 in. apart, in an adjoining piece of land to form a new bed. It was suggested that it was a pity to destroy such a wealth of Mint, but Mr. Lancaster inferred that he had already found it a satisfactory and sufficient Mint of wealth. There were three acres of Seakale, six acres of Horse-radish, which thrives upon this soil, one acre of Parsley, patches of Beet, and of Cabbages for pickling, and large beds of Rhubarb, and divers other things. Among the material Cabbages and Cauliflowers were plots of ground devoted to Moss Rose bushes. The Rhubarb plants are a sight to be. seen. It is a peculiar sort of Rhubarb, and the judges saw nothing like it in their travels. Mr. Lancaster grows it about 4 ft. apart, and strips the plants bare of leaves twice and sometimes thrice in a season, leaving nothing but the ma,in stem. Like all the other crops grown on this market garden, the Rhubarb is well manured each year with London manure. Expenditure and Income. — As Mr. Lancaster does not indulge in the luxury of accounts, being, as he said, too tired to write after his marketing, for he and his daughter sell all his pro- duce, no definite notion of the quantity of manure bought iu a year could be obtained. Neither could the judges get any precise infor- mation as to the cost of labour, but they were assured, and can well believe from the amount of work that is entailed by such crops as Radishes, Celery, and Lettuce, that the labour comes to £50 per week during the summer and autumn months. Labour wages are rather higher than at Barking. Carters and skilled hands get from 20s. to 24s. per week. Ordinary labourers get 18s. per week, and both these and skilled labourers make considerably more at piece- work. Women earn 2s., 3s., and even 4s. per day. Seven horses of a good stamp are kept, which do all the work on the market garden and take the vegetables to the Borough and Spitalfields Markets in the summer, and the Celery to Covent Garden in the winter, when it sells best. The buildings are suitable and in good repair, and there are capital sheds for preparing and washing the vegetables for market, fitted up with boilers for heating water for washing the Celery and Radishes, which is a great comfort to the women in cold weather, and causes them to wash the Celery better. By putting this and that fact together it was gathered that an average crop of Radishes sown between the Celery would make at least £28 per acre : say 1100 dozen bunches at 6d. per dozen ; and the Celery, planted in the rows between the beds of Radishes, would make from £52 to £60 per acre, taking an average of seasons : say from 1000 to 1200 bunches at 12s. per dozen bunches. Again, taking Lettuces and Celery together, an average crop of Let- tuces, grown as Mr. Lancaster grows them, would be worth about £30 per acre. Or a crop of Coleworts and Cabbages grown with Celery would be worth from £25 to £30 per acre, plus the value of the Celery crop ; so that even if the expenses amount to £40 per acre, there is still a good margin of profit. ; Jan. 1, 1881.J THE GARDEN. 13 Seed Saving. — Mr. Lanoaater growa hia own seed, and is moat particular in keeping hia sorta distinct and true. He haa improved hia various kinds of vegetables by selection, by sowing the seed from the best plants with the required characteristics most strongly marked. His Celery, as has been mentioned above, is of particular excellence, and is well known in the London markets. Being of a good type, and carefully prepared for market, it generally nakes rather more money than that grown by other market gar- deners. The judges were much struck with the energy and skill displayed in the management of this market garden, as well aa with the manifold indications of large profits made upon it. Much courage, capital, and ingenuity were required to change ordinary meadows in such a situation and with such surroundings into a gar- den of Cucumbers — a very oasis in a wilderness of building land. — Royal Agricultural Society's Journal. MARKET GARDEN NOTES. Economical Cyclamen Culture. — By the method generally followed by those who grow for sale Cyclamen seed is sown some- where between the beginning of August and November, many large growers sowing in October in bottom-heat, so that the young plants are up and fairly in growth by December. Now, it will be easily understood that a Cyclamen seedling which in the last month of the year has not got beyond the seedling leaf will require to be pushed along briskly if it ia to develop into a well-grown, marketable plant by the following October, for by that time the plant should be formed and the first blooms riaing well above the foliage. When the aeed is sown in either August or September the young plants are of course that much forwarder, and by the time winter sets in are somewhat advanced beyond the rudimentary first leaf, and will in many in- stances be throwing up a third leaf, the bulbs having attained the dimensions of a good-sized Pea. Such plants as these, however much mere forward they may be than those sown in October, require a long season of artificial warmth to bring them to the desired strength by the time they have to be shifted into their blooming pots, which, in a general way, may be said to be between the last week in June and the middle of July. If the grower wishes to obtain handaome, well-furnished specimens, the foliage extending over the rima of the pots, and carrying from five to ten dozen blooms, he will have to make the best use of the time at his disposal, and must keep up a constant growing temperature all through the winter and spring months. This necessitates a large con- sumption of fuel, for during January and February strong fires will, as a rule, have to be maintained to keep the tem- perature sufficiently high to move the little plants briskly along. I am much inclined to think that it is just at this period that many inflict an irreparable injury on their plants. The Cyclamen loves a moist, genial warmth, but when the necessary amount of heat is exceeded the leaf becomes drawn and weak, and every practical grower is aware how extremely difficult it is to bring back any plant into a sturdy hard condition when once the tissues have become weakened by too much artificial warmth in conjunction with an unduly confined atmosphere. A plant which, through over anxiety on the part of the grower, has been subjected to too great a pressure early in the year can scarcely be expected to respond to the genial tempe- rature of the aummer months, and often comes to a standstill just when it should move along moat freely. Now I consider that it not only lies in the power of the grower to avoid much of the risk which forcing the young plants along at the earliest and darkest period of the year entails, but he may also curtail the labour ex- penses and the firing bill by at least one half. Let us suppose that the seed be sown early in June, a time at which no fussing about bottom-heat and no artificial warmth whatever will be needed. The young plants will be pricked out into 6-in. pots or pans — the latter most preferable in very free, well-sanded, but not too rich compost. They will be kept in a frame, but merely sheltered against heavy rains and shaded from hot sun, as the object is not to promote a rank growth, but rather to keep them dwarf, sturdy, and hard. By the month of November the bulbs /vill have come to the size of a Cob nut, and will have on each one some four and five stiff leathery leaves. Winter them in a frost-proof house, and about the beginning of March pot them off' into small 3-in. pots, and give them a nice growing heat of 50° by night, and 55° to 60° by day until April, when these temperatures may be increased by 5°. Supposing that fire heat ia more or less required until the latter end of May, and in most years such will be the case, it will be seen that the consumption of fuel will extend over a period of about three months, as against at least seven months when the aeed ia sown in the autumn, for be it remembered that at that time artificial warmth is needful in order to get the seed up well ; whereas by sowing early in summer no such accommodation is required. It may be asked if the results are equally good when artificial stimulus is resorted to at such a late period. I can conscientiously answer in the affirma- tive, for the best plants I ever saw in 4J-in. pots were thus grown ; they began to bloom in October, gave a considerable amount of flowers for cutting, and were then marketed and sold at a good price. Hamburgh Grapes in Autumn.— In spite of the large importations of foreign Grapes into this country, home-grown Ham- burgha of good quality still command remunerative prices, and I think that I may with safety say that any grower who may not wish to be troubled with keeping his produce until a late period in the year, when naturally higher prices are to be loo-.ed for, may calculate upon a profitable return if he should determine upon marketing his fruit as soon as ripe. Let it be understood, however, that I am speaking of good Grapes only, for bad Grapes are often a complete drug in the market, and neither fi-uiterers nor salesmen care to be troubled with them. When the Hamburgh starts naturally it will in ordinary seasons ripen off about the latter end of August to the middle of September, and good, fresh fruit will then fetch from la. 6d. to 2s. 6d. per lb., extra fine samples of course commanding a still higher price. Now, in cut- ting the bunches as soon as ripe the grower obtains two very distinct advantages, which materially serve to compensate him for the comparatively low price obtained at that time of the year. In the first place, he sends to market the full weight of hia crop, for I need acarcely remind your readers that from the time a bunch of Grapes is quite ripe until it is out a gradual process of deteriora- tion is going on. There is a sensible loaa of weight by evaporation and decayed berries which, in the case of the Black Hamburgh, are sure to declare themselves, and also serve to diminish the weight of the crop. Then, again, a certain loss of quality must be counted on when the fruit is kept on into December ; whereas, when cut in its prime, just aa it finishes off', the grower has at least the satisfac- tion of knowing that his fruit has gone to market in its best condi- tion. It ia astonishing how quickly Hamburgh Grapes go back in quality, unless a large amount of care is taken with them in the late autumn months ; unless the house is nearly drip-proof, and every means is taken to drive out damp as it forma, there will sure to be a certain loss of berry, and the fruit generally will lose ita.freahness and beauty ; so much so, indeed, that I have known a week's inclement weather in November to take off 6d. per lb. from a houseful of fruit. I would therefore counsel those who may be growing Black Hamburgha, and particularly should they desire to use the house for any other purpose during the winter, to cut and market each bunch as it attains its full maturity. Taking into consideration the way in which home-grown Grapes hold their own against foreign produce, there is great encouragement for English growers, who may, unless affairs should undergo a audden and un- expected change, safely rely upon getting a profitable return for time and labour expended, even should they confine themselves to the growth of such kinds aa should be marketed aa soon as ripe. Tomatoes in Frames and Plant Houses. — The Tomato has within the last few years greatly increased in popularity in this country, with the consequent effect that its culture has been undertaken on a much more extensive scale by market growers generally. The popularity of the Tomato may be said to have set in with a sudden rush, and those who took the tide at its flow, and such as were actively engaged in the culture of this comestible, reaped for several seasons quite a golden harvest. A large Straw- berry grower in the neighbourhood of London fills all his frames with Tomatoes as soon as the Strawberry crop ia over. By the beginning of June the tan is cleared out and replaced with suitable compost and the young Tomato plants set out. This grower told me that Tomatoes grown in that manner were a good paying crop, adding that they were "much more profitable than Cucumbers." Another Strawberry grower of my acquaintance, and who grows his fruit in span-roofed houses, fills them with Tomatoes for the summer, and considers them a fairly profitable crop. The Tomato is, as is well known, liable to the attacks of a fungus, which often comes in such a virulent form aa to sweep off the outdoor crop in a few days. This disease, in combination with the uncertain nature of our climate, will do much towards ensuring fair prices for fruit grown under glass. In some years when we are favoured with a very fine summer, prices will range very low, but those who may have glasshouses at their disposal by the beginning of June, and such is often the ca.se where bedding and other plants are grown, cannot be far wrong in filling them with Tomatoes. Some years a good hit will be made, and at any rate it will be better to thus occupy them than to allow them to remain empty all through the summer. Winter-flowering Carnations. — Few flowers are more in request than these in Covent Garden at the present time. They have been gradually increasing in favour for some years past, and are now considered indispensable by those engaged in the making up of 14 THE GARDEN [Jan. 1, 1881. hand bouquets, button-holes, and floral decorations generally. When I mention that one grower cuts during the winter months some sixty dozen blooms daily, some conception will be formed of the favour in which this flower is held. I do not think that the market is ever likely to be glutted with winter-flowering Carnations, for their growth requires to be thoroughly understood before they can be made to pay. It is curious that many otherwise good plant growers fail with this hardy subject, or, at any rate, do not achieve success encJugh to make its culture satisfactory or profitable. The great point is to strike the cuttings early in the year, so that the plants get a long season's growth, so that they get well matured by the autumn. Some resort to layering, but this practice does not find favour with market and trade growers, who consider that cutting plants exhibit much greater freedom of growth. One of the finest collections I ever saw was at the Messrs. Lows', at Clapton, the foliage being broad and of great substance, and the plants so uni- formly good that they might have been cast in a mould. When the winter-flowering Carnation can be thus grown it will give a good return for all expenses incurred in its culture, for the compact habit of the plant allows of the pots being stood together rather thickly, and strong specimens in 5-in. pots yield a large amount of flowers for cutting. There is, however, one point upon which I would warn the would-be Carnation grower, and that is, never to subject the plants when they have arrived at the flowering stage to a close, warm atmosphere. Such treatment can only yield disastrous results, for the Carnation is extremely impatient of undue confinement, and must only get just enough warmth to drive out damp and keep the plants from stagnating. Rose Niphetoa. — As the time for planting Roses has now arrived, it may be as well to remind those who contemplate going into the Rose trade that this variety takes the lead in the market. The demand for this Rose appears to be very great, for I hear that one great Rose-growing firm have at the present time 33,000 plants of it 'n pots, being just the half of their stock. This fact tells more than words could do of the estimation in which this variety is now held. J. CoKxiiiLL. Byfleet. The Year 1880. — The following remarks in reference to this were made at the last meeting of the Meteorological Society by the Rev. T. A. Preston, M.A., F.R.S. : The unfavourable season of 1879 produced very serious eflfects on vegetation, especially on trees and shrubs and their produce. The young wood was not ripened, and as a natural consequence the severe winter killed an enormous quantity of some kinds, and greatly injured others. Plants of the Laurustinus were generally killed to the ground, .and in some dis- tricts the destruction of other slirubs was severely felt. Evergreens in many cases lost large quantities of their leaves ; Hollies especially are mentioned by several observers, and Privet hedges were some- times quite leafless. With respect to fruit trees. Apples and Pears in 'some localities (but not all) were hardly able to put forth any bloom, and the crops were consequently extremely poor. Wall fruit was also a general failure, but this was partially owing to severe weather when the trees were in bloom, for in some instances the show of bloom was all that could be desired. Gooseberries and Currants produced enormous crops, and Strawberries were very fine, but they lasted an unusually short time. Among the special features of the year may be mentioned the great quantity of certain insects. Aphides were in astonishing numbers in the early part of the year. The Apple shoots, before the leaves expanded, were in almost every case covered with them, and among wild plants the mealy Guelder Rose was especially attacked by them. Wasps, again, have been in extraordinary numbers, and dreadful accounts of them have been sent to the various entomological periodicals ; their numbers appear to have exceeded all previous experience. The larva; of the Goose- berry moth and of the Gooseberry sawfly have also been extremely destructive ; and finally, as an undoubted result of the wet season of 1879, the larv.-e of the crane-fly have been a perfect plague in some localities. The scarcity of small birds has been universally noticed ; some, no doubt, perished from the cold, but vast numbers had migrated. The enormous numbers of larks which hastened to the eastern counties on the outbreak of cold weather was astonish- ing. Wood Paving — Tlie advantages of this are now supposed to be apparent, aud in consequence tlie authorities are adopting it tlirougliout tile country. Bat in Edinburgh they are abouttoremoi^e wood paving from Queensferry Street and to aubstitute some hard stone. Tlie street in question leads into Prince's Street, the principal thoroughfare of E.— Acacia dealbata. A Report on Sorghum .Cultivation at Belvoir, in the form of a pamphlet of some ten pages, by Wm. Ingram, has just reached us. Minnesota Eirly Amber is the name of the variety tried at Belvoir, and Mr. Ingram is of opinion that it might be profitably cultivated by farmers in some of the warmer English counties, inasmuch as if its juices were insufficiently elaborated for the manufacture of sugar, a valuable supply of nutritious food would be obtained for stock. We are glad to see that the cultivation of herbaceous plants is making progress in France. Mons. Godefroy-Lebeuf, of Argenteuil, sends us his catalogue of them, containing many illustrations. 28 THE GAKDEN. [Jan. 1, 1881. TRUFFLES, TRUE AND FALSE. Every one who has pai-taken of ilindon aiij: Irufef:, or }xtte dc foie ijras, on the Continent, or, indeed, in tliis country, must have re- marked how very superior is the flavour of the French and German Truffles in comparison with the expensive and indigestible article sold as the Truffle in Covent Garden Market. It is, however, one of the things ' ' not generally known " that the Truffle of the Continent is a very different plant from the Truffle sold as an esculent in Great Britain. Here we consume a species known as Tuber i-estivum (often referred to as Tuber cibarium), whilst in France, Germany, and Italy they select the far more delicious Tuber nielanosporum. The latter plant was long ago published as a British species by Mr. Berkeley, but it has latterly been placed in our 'text books as a synonym for Tuber brumale. The left hand figure represents the Truffle of the English markets, that on the right the Continental Truffle ; the English Truffle is black, with large warts, the Continental one is brown, with smaller warts. The English Truffle, T. iEstivum, grows to be very large in size, whilst T. melanosporum never attains a large size. The spores of the two plants differ very much in form, for in the English plant they are covered with a reticulated network, whilst in the Conti- nental species tliey are covered all over witli a hair-like growth. These spores are contained in minute sacs or bags, from one to six spores in a sac, according to the species of Truffle. The bags are tightly compacted into the body of the Truffle. When the TrufHe decays the spores are of course set free in the ground, where they germinate, and form a mycelium for another year's crop. The market for Truffles in this country is a bad one. One of the reasons for this is, the Truffle it- self is a bad one, indiges- tible and ill-esteemed. Another reason is, the race of TrulHe dogs is here fast becoming ex- tinct, owing to the Dog Tax. When more strin- gent legislation was enforced in reference to dogs a few years back in this country, the Truffle dealers in the southern counties tried to get their Truffle dogs exempted from the tax. This attempt failed, and as the living to be derived from find- ing Truffles was always a hazardous and bad one, this extra tax on trade. Hogs are fond of Truffles, and, these animals are used on the Continent for discovering them. Squirrels are also fond of Truffles, and many gardeners have detected spots where Truffles grow by merely watching the scratching of squirrels. Strange as it may seem, TrufHe dogs are (or were) equally fond of eating the Truffles when found, the TrufHe dealerhaving commonly to take the Truffle out of the dog's mouth. Although Truffles are truly subterranean fungi ("hypoga?ous,'' as the botanists say), yet they are often so close to the surface of the ground that they may be seen by any sharp fungus eye. A man with a sharp and well-trained eye has no need of either hog, dog, or squirrel, for he knows by experience the exact spot where Truffles are likely to be found. Truffles can commonlj' be bought of London dealers for is. Cd. a pound, but the better French article costs more. A white Truffle is often referred to in books, and Napoleon I. is said to have preferred it to any other variety, but whether Napo- leon I. was a reliable authority on fungoid esculents, we do not know. Our central figure represents the white Truffle ; it delights in the euphonious cognomen of Choiromyces meandriformis. It is common, it attains a very large size, and has a strong smell. We believe we are right in stating that Dr. Hogg and the Rev. M. J. Berkeley once made an experiment with this, and tried its esculent or non-esculent qualities Both gentlemen were made ill, and a report of the result was published in one of our contemporaries. At one time a spurious Truffle used to be sold in Covent Garden named Elaphomyces variegatus. This is an atrocious species for the table, and it has now vanished from the market. Truffles and '.Truffle-like fungi and subterranean and sub-subter- ranean fungi are very numerous in this country, and probably it is the same in most other countries where there are woodlands. They are not much sought for, and so get greatly overlooked. One of the most remarkable of the British Truffle-like fungi is found in Melanogaster ambiguus ; this plant is about the size of a pigeon's egg, and black inside. It has sometimes been sent to this office to bo named, and is remarkable for its powerful, sickening, and horrible odour. So strong is this insufferable stench that a single specimen of the fungus will make a large] room quite unbearable, and the odour remains for a long time after the offensive object bias been removed. A close ally of this vile plant is Melanogaster var e- gatus, referred to by Dr. Cooke as 'the false Truffle of the Bath market. Dr. Cooke says this latter species "is eaten there (at Bath) in preference to the common Truffle." As the English " true Truffle " is a false one, the inhabitants of Bath are (or were) perhaps not much the worse for their [peculiar choice. F. Tnifttes and their Spores, the Truffle dogs almost extinguished the Bird Preservation. — As you have apparently exhausted the subject of insect destroyers of the garden, may I suggest a change to bird or other destroyers of insects and other garden pests, for as every year furnishes increasing numbers of such pests, it seems a subject worth being ventilated for the benefit especially of the suburban or amateur gardener ? As there seems to be a variety of opinions as to the destruction of birds, perhaps we should protect our fruits, seeds, &c., more than we do, but that becomes too expensive generally. I am the more induced to bring this subject before your readers because, in spite of recent laws in fa- vour of the feathered tribe, too many, it seems to me, are de- stroyed, especiallyin the suburbs of towns, some- times in ignorance of their use or necessity — a fact to be regretted. This is often done for the sake of a dainty meal, as, for example, in the case of the larks, which we see exposed for sale in poulterers' windows by the score. This bird seems not to be included in the most recent legislation on the subject of the de. struction of small birds. I suppose there is some doubt about the utility of the lark, and_also of some others. I am in favour of preserving birds, even the common sparrow, as an insect destroyer. I am, how- ever, annoyed by its eating off my Primrose and Polyanthus blooms ; but perhaps sparrows need to be kept under, which is easilj' done as they build in any hole, which may or may not be made for them, and their eggs can be taken. We have made a specimen coping for garden or other walls, in which are places for birds to build their nests ; therefore they may be encouraged or easily destroyed, as may be found expedient. This was sent to the Melbourne Exhibition, along with other exhibits. These suggestions I submit to the consideration of those having knowledge and experience of the subject. — James PuLHAJi, Broxhourne. Old-fashioned Flowers.— Tliere are many points in connection witli tliis subject on which I want information. Is that wonderful Carnation figured in vol. i. of the Horticultural Calniut, and also in vol. i., page 39, of Curtis's Botanieal Magazine, under the name of " Franklin's Tartar " still in existence? Does any one know by flgnre or otherwise the Blue Hulo (extinct in 1737)? I have grown Carnations for many years, and this year have seed from Carnations grown among Sweet iWilliams according to a hint taken from page 123 of Bradley's "Planting and Gardening" (year 1731), from whicli the following is an extract: "This consideration leads me to advise the curious florists to phmt of every good sort of his double Carnations in beds on a line in the middle, and on each side of them to set a two rows of single ones of choice colours, andjamong them some plants of Sweet William .... and be assured of good varieties from them," Ac. Some years ago I flowered a beautiful cream-coloured and lilac Picotee, with considerably over 200 blossoms on at one time, good substance and very much puckered. As I have never kept notes, though I have kept different growers' seeds apart, I have no wish to add anj-thiug to the pro- posed correspondence. If some seedsman would inform us whence these col- lections as advertised come, and on whose authority they bear the descriptions, it would be highly interesting ; but perhaps this is too much to expect.— B. G. THE GARDEN, 29 SATURDAY, JAN; 8, 1831. [Vol. XIX. " This is an Art Which does meml Nature : cliange it rather : but The Art iiiELP la Natuee."— ,5/if(/icsj)care. MOEE NOTES ON LILIES. A yeae's more experience witli Lily growing has only made me more certain tiian ever that Lily bulbs are not truly peren- nial, but that an annual growth is formed, and that no Lily is in perfect health unbss it renews itself annually. And I am led to believe that with very careful observation we should find all true bulbs to be only of annual __or biennial duration. The whole subject was threshed out by"Dunedin" in the pages of this paper some time ago, bat since then we have all had opportunities of finding out for ourselves if the theory is correct, and though most gardeners would laugh at the idea of every bulb renewing itself j'ear by year, I believe it will be" found that some of the greatest names amongst gardeners are on my side. This is what I believe. Take up a very healthy bulb of Lilium speoiosum, for instance, when it is in flower. A new bulb is beginning to form in the middle of the bulb, with its axis at a slightly dift'erent angle to the present flower- ing stem, and this new bulb will next spring throw up a flowering-stem which will point in a slightly dift'erent direction to the present flowering stem. In the centre of this new bulb and close to the corm is a tiny formation, perhaps at this time no bigger than a pin's head, which later in the year will be about as big as a small Pea, and which will go on growing all the winter and spring till the following summer it is as big as a Walnut, and by autumn has formed out of the old scales, which it lives upon, an entirely new bulb on a new axis, containing in itself also the germ of a new bulb. It is according to the time from which you date the birth of this axillary germ-bud that one is entitled to call a bulb a biennial or an annual growth. The new growths, in my belief, are always feeding on and ex- hausting the old scales, while the roots beneath the bulb and the stem roots above the bulb are the feeders to the stem with its buds and flowers, and it is on the power of the bulb as a whole to make these roots, especially those below the bulb, that the growth of the flower-stem depends. The Lily bulb then, supposing we took it in September, contains within itself three growths in one, the bulb for the following summer, and the present growth of flower-stem, and the tiny axillary seed-bud. That Lily bulbs are in a certain sense annual growths, is, I think, proved also by the fact that their roots below the bulb are of annual dura- tion. This is not so very apparent, except to a practised observer, because the roots of the old bulb and the roots of the new bulb, as it were, interlace, and a continuous appear- ance of new roots is the consequence ; but, if in autumn, when the flowers are past, you look closely at the apparently healthy old roots, you will see they are ceasing to be of any use, and have lost their plumpness, merely the skins of the roots being left; at the same time new roots are being pushed out from the corm. But these are feeding the new bulb, which will go on getting bigger and bigger till the time comes for the flower-stem to rise from its centre. It is im- possible to make the subject very cleir, and I am afraid few people take the trouble to thoroughly digest and understand what one writes, but I beg they will not criticise these theories without thinking a little about my meaning. Of course, if there are two axillary seed-bulbs forming, then the bulb eventually forms two bulbs, each on its own axis, each throwing a flower-stem, and eventually separating into two bulbs. I hear Mr. ]]j,ines has como to think that Lily bulbs are of annual growth. i\Iy friend Max Leichtlin is still unconverted. The curious growth of Lilium Washingtoniaaum bulbs is his stumbling-block, because in the bulb of that Lily the new growth certainly does not seem to absorb the old growth. Perhaps this is the exception that proves the rule ; but any- way, Lilium Washingtonianu.n is a Lily which has not been grown well yet, and the theory only applies to bulbs in full health. For instance, it is a proof of the argument that one never sees the flower-stem of this year on the same axis as the flower stem of last year, showing that the bulb has made a new bulb growth on a new axis. But I once had a flower-stem come plump up the very centre of the old flower-stem which had been cut down to within 1 in. or 2 in. of the ground, and was quite hollow. Up the old hollow stem the new stem came, and thereby my theory seemed to be shaken. But when we uncovered the bulb we found it had made no new growth, but consisted of twenty or twenty- five old scales, each scale far apart from the other, with earth between. No new growth had been formed, consequently the bulb that threw up this flower-stem was the same bulb that threw up the flower-stem the summer before. This new flower-stem only grew a few inches high, and then, having nothing to back it up, died, and the bulb, having no renewal of itself, died also ; so what .seemed likely to upset my theory only confirmed it. It is not so easy to say what becomes of the old scales, and why one doesn't see them round the new bulb in October if you look at it then. I think one does generally see them as much as you would expect, and doubt- less little but the mere skins of the old scales are left, and that is absorbed by the soil, jnst as the soil absorbs the skins of the scales of a flowering bulb of Lilium giganteum. You plant a huge bulb of Lilium giganteum in October ; if it flowers by next October, there will be nothing visible of it but a little black slimy stuft' which is part of the .skins of the old scales, which scales have gone ,to form the great flower- stem, and three or four new bulbs round the stem-base. Talking the matter over the other day with one of the greatest gardeners in England (Mr. Stevens, of Trentham), I found he was quite prepared to accept my theory, and even to go the length of thinking bhe same of all true bulbs in good health. What does Dr. Wallace, Mr. Elwes, Ih: Wilson, j\Ir. Burbidge, or Mr. Ellacombe, j\Ir. Harpur Crewe, Mr. D. T. Fish, or Mr. Hovey say 1 For if this is true of Lily bulbs, is it not true of all bulbs 1 I am convinced it is true of Iris Xiphium and Erythroniums, and something of the kind is obvious in Croci and Ltladioli. Fkank Miles. Bingham. Seedling Aubrietias. — In an article on Aubrietias (p. 10) aUiision is made to a pink variety v/liich I raised from seed a ievr years ago, and distributed among a fe«' friends for trial. It is of value, being tlie first brealc with wliich I am acquainted in Aubrie- tias, from tlie various sliades of lilac which characterise the blossoms of all the varieties commonly cultivated in our gardens. Kaising many thousands of seedlings every j'ear of this'most useful and hardy spring flowering plant, I have succeeded in securing many charac- terised by the increased she of their flowers, by vigour of growth, and by a free habit of blooming ; but this shy little pink seedling is the only instance of a marlied variation in colour being produced, and I look upon it in skilful liands as the possible precursor of a strain of brighter coloured varieties. It needs to be improved in habit ; it follows A. deltoidea rather than A. grasca or grandiflora, and, forming dense low tufts, it is perhaps better adapted for the rock garden than flower-bed. In our floral arrangements for early spring we very much want a plant of the habit of the Aubrietia that would give us a flush of crimson, or pink, or bright red. I hope it will be the fate of my little seedling to give us in its seedlings something in tliis way. 'the evolutions of distinct novelties is a slow afliiir in floriculture at starting, — W, Ixgkam, Belroir, so THE GARDEN. [J>N. 8, 1881. Should Cut Grass be Left on Lawns?— We have a large, fine lawn at our college, which is kept nicely mown, and is oae of the most attractive features of the grounds. In mowing, the Gr.i3s was not gathered, but allowed to fall upon the lawn. As the lawn was mown quite freipieutly, the presence of the dead Grass was not so obvious as to provoke remarls, except when from some mishap the intervals between the cutting were too long. In August a lawn- mower with a gatlicriug attachment was brought upon the grounds. This machine with its attachment worked very easily, and did its work ijerfectly, and just about as fast as though there were no .at- tachment for gathering up the Grass, liy using this mower side by side with one with no gatherer there was soon noticed a very striking contrast in the two areas ^mown, very much in f.avour of the one where the sliort Grass was gathered up. All admitted that the lawn was much improved by removing the cut Grass ; but the important question was raised, wliether or not the removal of the (irass would work injury to the lawn. Professor Beal and others thought that even this light mulch might benefit the lawn to no in- considerable extent. — The above, which I notice in an American jjaper, is a question that interests me, and I shall be glad if any of your correspondents will kindly give us their experience of the mat ter.— J. E. H, Antliurium floribundum. — This is one of the most useful, if not the showiest, of the many kinds of Authuriums in cultivation. It is valuable as a pot plant, and particularly useful in a cut state for bouquets, &c., as the spathes last long in good condition, and being of ivory whiteness atlord a fine contrast to the short erect apadix, which is deep green. The spathes, moreover, are not small and therefore better adapted for bouquets and similar purposes than kinds with larger spathes, such as A. Scherzerianum, A. ornatum, and others. NOTES AND HEADINGS. .Judging' from what Ave have ssen and heard of the new Jasmi- nuni shown at a late mseting- of the Royal Horticultural Societ}', it is likely to become a popular winter-flowering subject. The stove and gTeenhou33 .Jasminums are all favourites, but the flowers are evanescent, except in the double form of Sambac. This new single variety is said to be more lasting, a profuse flowcror, and sweetly scented. # Would somo m'3ml)3r of the trade explain why Tuberoses vary so much in price in different trade circulars ? We have before us Just now an offer to supply fine roots of the best variety at £1 os. per lOJ, wliile the same roots by some other firms are quoted at 9s. per dozsn, the kind known as Pearl being highest priced. It would appear the demand for these is increasing, their ex- ceedingly ea^y culture, comparative freedom from insect pests, beautiful and fragrant flowers, unsurpassed by either the Ste- phauotis or Gardenia, and the length of time they can be had in bloom, rendering them the favourites of everybody who has a warm frame or greenhouse. During the past year (LSSO) we had the pleasure of seeing Tuberoses daily in flower from June tiU the end of Djcembar. The bulbs require to be potted as soon as received and started in a moderate heat. Thej^ will not all throw up their tall flower-spikes at the same time, and those that do may be made to succeed each other for a long period by pushing some on in the stove and retarding others in a lower temperature. They should never, however, be subjected to a temperature so low as to bring growth to a standstill ; the leaves turn yellow and the flowers are not so good. A contemporary, which has not hitherto been accused of subscribing unconditionally to the " Thirty-nine Articles," has actually treated its readers, I observe, to a homilv this Christmas in which singleness of purpose and nobility of aim are earnestly inculcated, concluding with a really evangelical admonition to which all must hopefully subscribe. Prominence is given to tlie fact that ISSO will in future be remembered horticul- turally as the year when Strawberries were first forced under the electric light, but we do not think it will be a red letter year to many gardeners on th.at account. We are not inclined to make much of this business, horticulturally speaking. It may serve as an interesting hobby for some people, but the most pressing want of the present time is information as to how w-e can make the best use of the light which Nature has already provided us witli. The waste of fuel in our furnaces is nothing to the waste of sun-heat and light occasioned by bad management, ignorance, and bad hor- ticultural appliances. It w ill be a vear to be remembered when a Dr. Siemens will invent a ventilating shutter that shall be self- acting, worked bj' the temperature, on the principle of the barometer plummet, and when gardeners will he taught liow to dispense with sheets and mats and other opaque coverings, which are at present used to shut out the sunlight three or four hours or more out of the twenty-four, as liappens when coverings are put on perluips two hours before the sun sets, and left on till it is two hours above the horizon next day. It is quite a common thing, even in well- conducted gardens, to see sleepv men uncovering long ranges of pits and houses during spring and early summer mornings hours after all Nature out of doors has been basiling in the genial and life-inspiring sunshine. It is skvlight, not candles, that we want at present to force our early Strawberries, Grapes, and Peaches. * It is gratifying to find a cultivator like Mr. Cox, of Redleaf, corroborating what has been reiterated in The Garden more than once, and particularly of late, in relation to the training of fruit trees. Speaking of the Plum trained on the fan system, and permitted to extend freely, he says : — I am compelled to admit that so managed, that is, more in accordance with natural conditions, the trees are more healthy and longer-lived, and that although it is generally some years before they become very fruitful, yet, when such is the case, the very act of fruit-beaiing, judiciously regulated, forms the natural restrictive power through which we are enabled to maintain the balance between fruit-bearing and wood-development, so as to keep the tree in a healthy and fruitful state for a long aeries of years. * The reviewer of " Kambles among the Hills " thinks the one above all things concerned witli the beautiful living things of Nature — the gardener — is often by reason of his work prevented from seeing much of the loveliness of his own land, and hence can only have restricted views regarding those "' aspects of Nature " which concern his profession. It must be admitted that although the " ranks " have, perhaps, produced the best landscape gardeners, gardeners are not often fitted for that position. They have neither learned nor seen enough, but through no fault of their OAvn. The wonder is the}' are so cle\ er and able as they are. They have one failing, how-ever, which they might remedy. Wordsworth said that many of tlie poets before and of his age did not borrow their images from Nature, but from one another, until they had become in a manner conventionalised, and were about as true to Nature as the conventionalised flowers and figures of the sculptor. It is pretty much the same with gardeners ; they copy one another, and their holidays are principally spent not in seeing and studying Nature, but in noting what their neighbours have done, whether it be good or bad, and in imitating w-hich they are just as likeh' to go wrong as not. Horticulture shows this in all its phases, and particularly in the various " styles" of landscape gardening. The Dutchman, never having anything but flat prospects before him, could conceive of no other diversification of the earth's surface than a piece of ground divided into little squares and panels intersected " with canals and ditches of stagnant water," and sometimes varied with mounds, but always symmetrical and decorated with abund- ance of ornaments. Yet it attained to the dignity of a " style " which at one time was often copied in this country, and is 3'et to be found, onlj' altered and modified into carpet-bedding and other formal patterns. ♦ There is need for 'gardeners to travel, if they could only afford to do so, and see other landscapes than their own, as well as other gardens. Hugh ^liller, coming from the bolder landscapes of the north, was depressed with the monotonous flats of Yorlt- shire and the drear}' fens of Lincoln — "the long grey fields" of Tennyson " with the bulrush by the pools " — and he went so far as to say that the inhabitants of such tracts could not only not understand other aspects of Nature, but could not be such patriots, their country being without striking features of a kind to impress them, or that could attach them to it by sentiment or remembrance. * I am glad to see that the Saturday Revieio strongly opposes the spoliation of Epping Forest by the making of a railway. There really is all the rail accommodation needed at several stations in the forest even now, one within about a quarter of an hour's walk of High Beech. The scheme of another railway can only Jan. 8, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 51 be destructive to the remainiug charms of the forest.^ I am sorry to hear of an elaborate series of roads and walks being projected in Epping-. I hope it is not true, liailways run through it even now, and there are plenty of means of getting to it. The thousands who go to Chingford now make a disgraceful uproar there — a kind of Donnybrook fair — while the quiet parts of the forest have no attractions for such people. The danger is cutting up the forest to form a rendezvous of this kind near railway stations. # Mr. Brotherston has a laboured article supporting the unsup- portable, i.e., that tender flowers are as cheap as hardy ones or cheaper. Long and wearisome pages are filled to this end. Many of the nobler hardy flowers from Daffodils to Paionies will thrive in properly prepared ground for years at a time, whereas bedding plants have to be put out every spring, and taken up and increased every autumn. This is the broad fact, and miles of print cannot alter it. The public see it too, and some of the big " bedding men" who astonished the natives in their own localities are evi- dently sore that any one should doubt the merit and enquire the cost of the whole ghastly business; and also what does it deprive us of ? But I notice Mr. Brotherston advises after all " the common- sense plan of finding a place for each." lie is already a " happy- mean " man, and by-and-bye, as his eyes open, we shall probably find him among the reformers. Of course, even all the youngsters know that in many places a few years ago you might look in vain for even a white Lily. This is true still of too many places. How many gardens in a county contain one-fourth of the first class things in cultivation ? In how many gardens are they properly arranged or grown ? To have a few in a border is only one of the least important ways of growing them. * While he, on the one hand, proclaims himself an " advocate of hardy plants," on the other he takes the most effective means of discouraging their culture by frightening his readers with an exaggerated account of their cost. He has been at some pains to procure the highest estimates he can find of the value of hardy plants, while at the same time making discoveries of cheap " bedding stuff " tliat will gladden the hearts of the devotees of the bedding style. He knows a member of the trade who will supply general bedding-out stock at from £2 5s. to £4 10s. per thousand — all good plants fit for planting out of single pots or store pots by May next ; but his hardy plants, which are reckoned by hundreds, are from £3 10s. to £7 10s. per hundred, or let us say from £35 to £75 per thousand. This is a tale ! Mr. Brotherston's hardy plant man must have suicidal tendencies in his business capacity, and his man who offers the cheap bedding plants must be a horticultural " Brownie of Bled- noch," who works for nothing. It therefore only remains for Mr. B. to tell us of his " cheap John's " whereabouts, for he surely will not want customers. We have at the present moment one of the cheapest catalogues before us, in which Ageratums are quoted at the rate of £6 per thousand, Calceolarias at a rate per doz. and 100 which would brino- them up to £10 per 1000. Common bedding Geraniums, like blaster Christine and Vesuvius, at the same rate, and higher variegated kinds like the old Flower of the Day, and bronzes and tricolors at from £1 4s. to £1 os. per 100 "for bedding." Common blue Lo- belias in pots at 15s. per 100, or about £7 per 1000, none out of a list of twenty sorts being offered for less. Bedding Pansies at from 6s. to 18s. per 100, or say from £2 10s. to £i^ per 1000. Ver- benas, "in May for bedding," are 16s. per 100, lowest price per 1000, £7 10s. Succulents are dearer still, the cheapest Echeverias being quoted at from 15s. to £1 10s. per 100, and others going up to £10, carpet plants and general stock going at the same proportion. Turning to hardy plants, I find that Messrs. Cllbran & Son, of Cheshire, for example, who make a speciality of hardy plants, as many of the trade do now, offer a hundred varieties "of fine showy perennials" at from 21s. to 40s. per hundred, and half that number of varieties at half the price, and many of these, be it remembered, can be at once divided into several, a thing imprac- ticable with most bedders, which have to be renewed every j'ear, while a hardy plantation is permanent. The last, too, are every day becoming cheaper. Will Mr, B. be persuaded to tell us where his marvel of cheapness lives? But the nurseryman is not tha only wonder he knows. He is also acquainted with a gardener who produces 200,000 bedding plants at a cost of 2s. Id. per hundred. It is not asserted that this feat is accomplished by Mr. Brotherston himself, for what reason we cannot understand. We also know gardeners who bed out a similar quantity of plants, bedding being indeed the chief feature of their charge, as well as the most costly, and the general expenditure of the year is two or throe thousand pounds. If, therefore, the nearly quarter of a million of bedding plants can bo produced for a fractional £250 of this sum or thereabouts, it is evident that the gardener must simply squander the odd £2000 or more. Can Mr. Brotherston name the place where the feat he speaks of is accomplished ? and will he tell us the garden expenditure generally as well ? If he can- not do this he has no business to malve such a statement, for it is perfectly well known that bedding stock is not produced at this rate, nor do we believe any experienced gardener can be found who will deceive his employer by making such an offer. * A good deal has been said about Koses for forcing purposes lately. It is singular that they have not occupied a far more im- portant place among forced flowers long ago, seeing that there is hardly anything more acceptable than Roses between November and May even among Orchids, and they are comparatively easy to grow. For winter forcing pot plants are best, but for supplying flowers between February and May planted-out trees are by far the most serviceable ; a good single tree two years old will pro- duce a large quantity of flowers. There seems to be abundant testimony on this point, and the best sorts for the purpose appear to be Gloire de Dijon, Kelne Marie Ilenriette or red Glolre de Dijon, Marechal Niel, Madame Levet, Cheshunt Hybrid, Solfa- ter're. Climbing Devoniensis, Duchess of Edinburgh, Madame Trifle, Niphetos, Madame Berard, Souvenir de la Malmaison, La- marque, Celine Forestier, Cloth of Gold. These are mostly all Teas and Noisettes, or Bourbons. Among Hybrid Perpetuals the favourites are General Jacqueminot, Glory of Waltham, AKred Colomb, Anna Alexieff, Horace Vernet, John Hopper, Comtesse de Chabrillant, Duke of Edinburgh, Madame Lacharme, Victor Verdier, lleynolds Hole, Madame Croplet, Paul Ngron, Pierre Netting, Charles Lefebvre, Prince CamlUe de Rohan, Abel Grand, and Victor Verdier. These are some of the kinds that our most extensive Rose growers of great experience grow specially for forcing and greenhouse culture, being found particularly adapted for that purpose. The Teas are specially favoured, as they are rapid growers ; the climbing section of them soon produce great quantities of flowers. Poets like William Morris no doubt do now and then hit on a truth by happy chance, but they cannot be accepted as authorities on all subjects. They are just a trifle too ethereal. A wild Rose is no doubt beautiful and attractive, but getting up a violent en- thusiasm for it beside a Gloire, a Marechal Nlel, or La France requires a mighty sophistical imagination.* It must be a peculiarly sensitive olfactory organisation, too, which can detect a scent in the wild Rose than which "nothing can be so sweet and so pure." The cultivated Rose shows the " art which does mend Nature " in a surpassing degree, and some of the varieties exhibit a matchless wealth of beauty in form and colour, and exhale a perfume that is indescribably rich and delicate. 'We are not speaking of the "florist's" Rose after it has been tailored by him. A flowerof the old Coupe de Heb(3 is a study in itself, and is as unlike a wild Rose as a Rose can be, but it possesses an almost unapproachable grace and loveliness, and there are many others little inferior to it. No ; a poet in a garden may be useful now and then, but he ought to be chained. He is one of those people who think gardening consists in Emptying the rain of the thunder showers Out of the cupa of the heavy flowers. _ * We read a day or two ago that iMr. Gladstone's advice to farmers to grow Strawberries has been followed with great success by one well-known author. Mr. Blackburne, the author of " Lorna Doone," has taken the advice, with such happy results that he recommends his friends to follow his example. Mr. Blackburne finds fruit farming and literature somewhat more successful than • We think Mr. Morris referred to old garden Koses rather than to wild ones. — Ep. 32 THE GAKDEN. [Jan. 8, 1881. poor Ml-. Jleohi has found sliillluq; razor-strops and saientifio agriculture ; for Mr. jMechi was again in the bankruptcy court. It is simply astonishing what a man lilie Mr. Gladstone can do ! If he, orsone one elss lilie him, would only take up this "bedding- out" business and suggest its abolition, it would l)e done for di- rectly. The remark about poor Mr. Mechi's scientific farming su^o'ests several reflections. Mr. Jlechi's experiments have no doubt been instructive to many, but he never could make any one believe that a peck or even two pedis of Wheat was enough to sow an acre. There are not a few soientifio horticulturists of Mr. Mechi's type, only not half so clever or so honest. AVe do not mean to say that the scientific mind is an incapable one, but there is often a crack in it. Such people are often as blind as bats, and cannot perceive either cause or effect, however plain both may b3 placed before their eyes. The great fault of our so-called " scienti- fic investigators" — a section of them at least — is tliat they either cannot or will not conceive of things as they exist, but persist in looking at everything through their scientifio spectacles ; hence tlieir blunders and the scepticism with which their teachings are regarded by practical people. Recessed walls, similar to those described in The Gakden- lately, are not uncommon, but a difference of opinion exists as to their utilit3\ They are not adapted for fruit walls, unless the " recesses " are large enough to accommodate the trees, and they are not then so ornamental ; but for what are called " con- sjrvatory walls," devoted to the less hardy flowering shrubs, the style is not objectionable, except for the reason tliat tlie trees growing in the recesses are more apt to become infested with insects than when growing on the open walls, the arches prevent- ing the occasional cleaning of the trees bytlie rains. It is doubtful if anything but a plain surface is best for fruit trees, which, ^^■hen w dl managed, are the best ornaments. Many of the Chrysanthemums, though bright and showy, are not adapted for personal decoration, and the ideal flower of the florist is perhaps the worst of all ; but there are a few that pro- di;ce pretty and attractive flowers for the purpose, and one of the holt IS the varietj^ named Felicity, a reflcxed kind with pure white flowers when nearly expanded and not too large. The petals are rather loosely arranged, and the lower ones project beyond the body of the flower, giving it a star-lilie and graceful appearance. The flowers are produced very freely, singly, and in clusters, and may ba used with good effect either way. Some lands of vegetable and flower seeds are going to be dear tliis Sia?on, and gardeners will have to exercise considerable eco- nomy in their orders. An acquaintance with the "trade " enables VIS to state that many gardeners, as well as employers who order their own seeds, display great ignorance in filling up their order- sheets. By far the smallest orders proportionatelj- come, as a rule, from the largest gardens, and I'ics vers'i. We have heard of a £20 order for a H-acre garden, said order including 2 lb. of Lettuce seed and 4 oz. of Onion seed. Such disproportionate quantities are common ; and one noted seedsman, to his credit be it said, is in the habit of revising such orders in a vcaj to make them better suit the wants of his customers. lie divides his seed orders into two classes, " daft orders and wise orders," and he shrewdly gauges the ability of his gardener customers by their order-sheets —not a bad waj' of estimating a man's practical capacit}' either. For nearly half a century our friends the florists have been conferring diligently together in order to decide in what pattern Nature ought to "cut" her Tulips. A correspondent of tlie Fiorisf has in the last days of the year suni- marised the deliberations of the bod}' as regards the " hardy Tulip," and should the world go on, and tlie writer's health permit, deliberations on the subject will still be carried on for an indefinite period. The pattern sketched for Nature to copy is briefly as follows : 1st. "Every Tulip" is to be circular in its out- line, and it is to be half as deep as it is wide. 2nd. It is to have six petals, three inside and three outside (Nature has proved rather obstinate in this direction, and has gained a point), and all are to be of the same height, and stiff and smooth at their edges (any horticultural barber may use starch). Ord. Nobody should be able to see through between the petals. 4th. There should be exact uniformity between the outline of the cup and the outhne of the upper margin of the petalj the radius of " whose " curve should be equal to half the diameter. 6th. We beg to state, on our own ac- count, that as paste and scissors will always be needed to enforce compliance with these rules, they may be used as heretofore, and, 6th. That the correspondent of the Florist is not a Chinaman, but was born and bred in England. We believe it has been suggested by a member of the bodj' of florists, that, in view of the obstinacy of the subjects tliey have to deal with, and the dis- couragement met with in their earnest and well-meaning en- deavours to "mend Nature," the Artificial Flower-makers Company be appealed to to make their Tulips for them, or any flower they may want. It is pointed out that every florist could then have his favourites cut to please him in the same way as his clothes, thus removing a source of much irritation and ill-will among the mem- bers (humble members of the fraternity have not unfrequently appealed to their fists in order to settle the exact length of a petal), and, above all, green-flj' and woolly aphis will be extin- guished for ever. There are, however, florists and florists. Of that section who iudustriousl}' devote themselves to the production of new and good things for the decoration of our gardens, taking what Nature sends them in a thankful spirit, and witliout confining her to one pattern, we desire to speak with becoming respect, for to them we owe much . This is a modern type of the florist, however, and the only one worth}' of the name. The specialist who devotes his days and nights to the production of ideal flowers — destro3'ing such as do not please him, and tailoring those that do to make them still more " per- fect"— is not an individual who inspires either love or admiration. It was Addison in whose mind Nature's works inspired the lofti- est thoughts and admiration, as shown by his works, who felt S3 little respect for the florists of his day. He ventured once, in the presence of some Tulip fanciers, to admire a particular flower, and was laughed at by the compan}' for his taste. Upon that he praised a second and a third with " the same fate ; " and he there- fore humbly " desired the owner of the garden to let him know which were the finest flowers," since he himself "thought the most beautiful were the most valuable." " But," says Addison aside, speaking of the florist who showed him these things, " he seemed a plain honest man and a person of good sense had not his head been touched with that distemper called 'Tulip mania;'" and he continues, " I have often looked upon it as a piece of happiness that I have never fallen into any of these fantastical tastes, nor esteemed anything the more for its being uncommon or hard to be met with." It is instructive to read what a man thought of the florist aud his productions who looked upon the whole country as " a spacious garden," and who could say there " is not a bush in blossom within a mile of me which I am not acquainted with, nor scarce a Daffodil or a Cowsliii that withers away in my neighbour- hood without my missing it." Pbeegbine. NOTES FKOM VIENNA. Ox a reoent stiy at Vienna I visited the town garden of Baron Rothschild. It beiug situated in a very populous part, one did not expect to find a girden of large extent. On entering, a well-kept undulated broad lawn is a pleasant sight, as on it, dotted about here and there, are various choice deciduous and evergreen shrubs and trees. Of Conifers, the majorit;y consists of the common Spruc3, various Firs aud Junipers, Abies Nordmanniana, Thujopsis borealis, Pinus Piusapo, and several specimens of Wellingtonia, wliicli liave, I may say, well withstood the disastrous effects of last winter. Deciduous trees are represented by conspiououa speci- mens of Beeches, Birch, Maples, Plane trees, Weeping Willow, and Ash, not to forget the ricli collection of deciduous flowering shrubs, such as choice Spiniciag, Lilacs, Symphoricarpus, &c., asso- ciated with dark-leaved Hollies. A free distribution of hardy American Azaleas and Kalmlas, which seem to brave well our usually severe winter, is a source of great attraction in spring, Aucubas are also planted out in great masses, but they arc yet too small to look well. The ground under trees and in the shrubberies is mostly covered with Ivy and trailing variegated Eaonymus (Euonymus radicans fol. var.). A small lake associated with rocks contains a few plants of the white and yellow-flowered Nympha^as, seedlings which ori- ginated in a piece of water in our neighbourhood. ,Small seedlings of these may be valuable for many smaller kinds of aquariums, where big plants would not look so well. The flower beds in front of the house, occupied during the summer with flowering and orna. Jan. 8, 1881.1 THE GARDEN. 33 mental-leaved plants, contain daring the winter small Conifers with Ivy and variegated trailing Euonymus. Two oblong beds of that very floriferous pink Rose Madame Fellenberg, bearing a consider- able quantity of blooms expanded now (Dec. 6), were very con- sp'cuous. Louis Kropatsch. Laxenhurf]. THE ROSE GARDEN. STOCK FOR MARECHAL NIEL. " J. S. W." asks (Vol. XVIII., p. 643) the opinions of your readers as to the best kind of stock on which to work this Rose. Doubtless information on this subject would be acceptable to many besides ".J. S. W." I for one unfortunately can endorse all he says about the Marechal being so precarious, although my experience probably does not extend over such a long period as his. I also frequently hear the same account of it from other good Rose growers. Yet the Martiohal may sometimes be found doing well, and producing grand blooms for years in perhaps some old tumble-down greenhouse, whose owner makes no pretension whatever to a knowledge of Rose growing. Two years ago, a good plant three or four years old on the Manetti, growing in a brick pit built for it in a greenhouse here, after making tine growth, suddenly cankered just under the surface of the soil, and was soon in a miserable condition. We raised the sides of the pit, and added 6 in. of soil, into which the plant rooted above the canker, thus becoming an own root plant, but it was again attacked by the disease above the new roots, and we had to throw it away. \*et another plant in a pot being similarly attacked and somewhat similarly treated by having a portion of the stem surrounded with soil enclosed in the] two halves of a split pot was quite renovated, and is now healthy and vigorous. Being desirous of planting out some Mar^chala under glass, we last year sought advice from various sources on this subject, and in reply received a variety of opinions. One recommended the Seedling Brier as a stock ; another spoke strongly in favour of own root plants ; a third recommended us to work the Marechal on Gloire d» Dijon ; and a fourth thought the De la GrifFeraie would prove the best stock for it. From one good grower and successful exhibitor we had this curious piece of advice : "Life is not long enough to plant own root Marechal Niels ;" intimating that on its own roots it is a slow grower. On this point there is undoubtedly a mistake. We decided to plant some on De la Grifferaie and some on its own roots. Young plants were planted in May in good soil. Some of them were allowed to make two shoots only from the base, the original plants being cut down. The strongest plant on the De la Grifferaie has made growths measuring 17 ft. and IS ft. ; the strongest on its own roots has made 19 ft. and 14 ft., all thick in proportion. The others have made growths not far short of these. So far there is no sign of canker, but one never feels quite safe from it. Perliaps some one may discover the cause of the peculiar liability of this Rose to fail ; that would be one good step towards finding a cure, or what would be better prevention, G. Duffield. Winchmore Hill. IRRIGATION AND ROSES. Two of the greatest difficulties with which the cultivator of the Rose in the open ground has 'to contend are dryness and natural poverty of the soil and late spring frosts, or it may be over early excite- ment in mild winters. The first is not always a difficulty, because the soil often happens to be naturally suitable, i.e., when it is a stx'ong retentive clay, which simply requires enriching and deep cul- ture. Such a soil will grow Roses well without artificial waterings, except, perhaps, in summers of unusual drought. Very many of the readers of The Garden will remember the magnificent Roses which used to be staged by the late Mr. Harrison, of Darlington, and also the exceptionally strong, healthy Roses which he used to distribute every season from his Scoreton Nursery, the result of cul- ture on a strong, rich, yellow clay. But everyone is not so favour- ably situated as to soil ; very many have to fight their way with light sand)' rpaterial, or with a poor, brashy, or gravelly soil, or it may be with soil on a dry, gravelly bottom. A really and naturally good Rose soil is the exception and not the rule, but I am satisfied that, with a judicious application of manure and thorough attention to watering, Roses can be grown on any soil. I am prepared to say this from what I have seen accomplished on poor sandy material with tlie means of complete and thorough irrigation at command — irrigation effected by means of underground channels, drains, in fact, for letting in the water, accompanied with drains for letting it out at pleasure, Tlie overflow drain was stopped while the water was turned on say for one night. When the Rosery became sufliciently soaked, the inflow was stopped and the overflow drain opened, thus drawing off all superfluous water. I never can forget the fine healtliy bushes of the choicest Hybrid Perpetuals which we had, and the dozens of huge flowers, not one or two fine blooms, but quantities. I never before nor since have seen such blooms of Paul Neron, Pierre Netting, Cheshunt Hybrid, Madame Lacharme — indeed the cream of the catalogues — as used to be grown at C'anford Vicar- age under this system of irrigation. I have no doubt that the com- paratively hot and dry summers of Dorset, accompanied with this complete feeding of the Rose plants, strengthened and ripened the wood, and resulted in such a wealth of Roses. I should, however, be prepared to believe that irrigation would not be so eSectual in the colder north ; still, where irrigation can be applied without much difficulty, I say do so by all means. We read of wonderful results from irrigation in Spain, California, and other foreign places, of which the above instance reminds one. Irrigation there is applied over the surface ; in this instance the water was applied from underneath, so that the walks and beds were not disordered or rendered uncomfortable. Mimulus eupreus, the little creeping coppery Monkey Flower, was a sight worth seeing growing on the surface of the Rose beds, where it never ceased flowering. W, D, P. P. AP POI NTMENT3. .Jan. 10.— Sale of Lilium auratum bulb? at Stevens' Rooms. Jan. 11.— ROVAL HORTICULT'JRAL SOCIETY, South Keusington. Meeting of Fruit and Floral Committees at 11 a.m. Jai. 11.— NATIONAL Rose Society. General Committee Meeting at 3 p.m. Horticultural Club, Arundel Street, Strand. Jan. 13.— Sale op Orchids at' Stevens' Rooms. NOTES OF THE WEEK. T'WO Good Winter Plants. — What an exquisite wintei flowering plant is Euphorbia jacquina^flora ! It has been unusually good with us this season ; it has been flowering for a mouth past, and still continues in great beauty. The plants of it first cut are just bursting forth into flower again. I have cut and still can racemes of blossoms IS in. in length, with fine bronzy leaves and crowded with bright orange-scarlet flowers, quite a feast of floral beauty. Another useful winter plant is Plumbago coccinea ; the trio, treated with plenty of light and a fair amount of heat, produce a grand display at this time of the year. Of each of these I enclose specimens. — J, Hopkin.s, High Cross, Frarnfield, Sussex. [Very bright indeed these excellent specimens were, the racemes of Euphorbia sent us measuring 15 in. long ; of the scarlet Plumbago, the best spikes were about 10 in. — Ed.] The Ne'W Grifflnia which has recently been introduced by Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, Pine-apple Nursery, Maida Vale, and named G, hyacinthina micrantha by Mr. Baker, of Kew, proves to be a really desirable plant, even superior in many respects to the typical form. Its chief distinguishing oharaoteristio is the freeness with which it flowers ; every sm.all bulb having produced a fair- sized umbel of blossoms, and a group of plants all about one stage of flowering, makes a showy display in one of Messrs. Henderson's houses. A striking variation with regard to the colour of the flowers is also very apparent, for not only is deep violet-purple similar to that of the type represented, but also every conceivable gradation to pure white, an acquisition in the case of cut flowers in midwinter, and the blossoms continue long in perfection. It is ap- parently a strong grower, and as easily managed as the other kinds. These plants under notice are in pots and placed in a moist, mode- rately warm atmosphere. As the varietal name micrantha might convey the idea that the flowers are unusually small, -n-e may add that they are really not so ; in fact, some of the finest are quite equal in size to a small flower of the typical form. Iris (Xipliion) Histrio. — Mr. Kingsmill sends us from his garden at Eastcote, Pinner, his first flowers of this beautiful bulbous Iris. It is much earlier than its equally beautiful congener, I. reticulata, and therefore very desirable, though it is to regretted tliat its scarceness debars it from being grown so extensively as it deserves ; it is cer- tainly a plant which some of our enterprising nurserymen might introduce in quantity from its native habitat on the Mounts of Lebanon and Gerizim, where it is said to grow plentifullj'. It is taller than the Netted Iris (I. reticulata), and its blossoms are much lighter in colour, but about the same size. The colour is a rich bluish- purple, the lip-like petals or falls being copiously spotted with the deepest purple relieved by a conspicuous crest of bright gold. New Begonia. — The new Begonia which was brought by Dr. I. B. Balfour from Socotra has been named by Sir J. Hooker B, SoQotraua, It may now be seen in flower in the Begonia house in 34 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 8, 1881. the T range at Kew. It is a showy species, with large round leaves set on the stalk in a shield-lilce manner ; the flowers are roundish about the size of a florin, and of a clear rosy-pink colour. The seed- bearing flowers have six petals, and the poUen-beariug ones have but four. The plants at Kew are about!) in. in heiglit, but as they are young and immatured they do not show the true character of the plant. I'^-entually when well grown this new Begonia will doubtless prove a great acquisition, and will probably be the fore- runner of a new race of hybrid sorts. A Fine Christmas Rose. — I enclose a photograph of a beautiful specimen of Helleborus altifolius, which I purchased here for one guinea. Tlie plant was, I believe, grown in the open ground near Plymouth, and potted up in an 18-in. pot in the end of (.)ctober. It is exactly 3 ft. in diameter, in perfect health, and has more than 100 blosson-.s on it. I have never seen any thing of the Hellebore , tribe better, if so well, grown. Some of the Hower-stems are nearly 2 ft. in length, thrown well up above the foliage, which is ample. These plants will not do any length of time in a room ; the proper place for them is a pit or frame, from which the lights can be removed at all times, except during frost or rain. It is very mild here ; Hydrangeas, Fuchsias, Calceolarias, Auriculas, Veronicas, Migno- nette, late Chrysanthemums, &c., are in full bloom out in the open garden. I wonder this unsurpassed seaside place is not full to overflowing ; it is the only place the Americans envy us in England. — B. Hook, Torquai/. [A very handsome plant. — En.] Azalea Mrs. Carmichael. — Among forced winter flowers at the Victoria Nurseries, Upper HoUoway, the hybrid varieties of Azalea raised by Mr. Carmichael, formerly of Sandringham, are con- spicuo^^s, owing to the profusion with which their flowers are produced and their pure delicate tints. One variety was particularly attrac- tive— that bearing the name of Mrs. Carmichael, the flowers of which are of medium size, borne profusely on every twig, and of a clear pale magenta hue, forming a charming contrast to its associates. It is a cross between A. amnena and one of the larger flowered kinds, as, indeed, are all of Mr. Carmichael's hybrids, we believe ; they are therefore particularly well adapted ior forcing into flower early, as they require but little heat. The names of the other varieties are Lady Musgrave, Princess Maude, William Carmichael, Prime Minister, and Princess Beatrice. These vary chiefly in the si^e and shade of colour of their flowers, but there is a family likeness apparent in all of them which indicates their iiarentat'e. Blandfordia Ounningliaml hybrida. — The Blandfordias, notwitlistanding their great beauty, do not seem to be favourites with cultivators. They, however, possess much to recommend them, for the flowers of all of them are extremely beautiful and especially adapted for cutting, and the culture of the plants is l)y no means difficult, inasmuch as they may be grown to perfection in any green- house, and this, together with the fact that they flower freely in midwinter, ought to be sufficient to commend them to the attention of every plant lover. B. Cunninghami is one of the most beautiful of the genus, and not less so is the hybrid variety of it, wliich is now finely in flower in Messrs. Henderson's nursery, Maida Vale, where there is the finest collection we know of. The erect flower-stems rise about 1 ft. above the long grassy foliage, and are terminated by a dense umbel of drooping bell-like flowers which are red, mar- gined with clear yellow. The flowers remain a considerable time in perfection, especially if the plants are placed in a cool and dry at- mosphere. Strelitzia ovata. — Of this gorgeous South African plant we saw a tine specimen in flower in one of the Orchid houses at Silverdale Lodge, Sydenham. The bright orange colour of the pointed erect bracts is in striking contrast to the deep bluish-purple of tlie tongue- like petals in the front, and quite as attractive and interesting .as any of the surrounding Orchids. It is a favourite plant with Mr. Cobb, who piys some attention to its culture. It is growing in a rather small pot compared with the size of the plant, and is placed in a house having an intermediate temperature. Nematanthus longipes.— This is a Gesneraceous plant, the flowers of which somewhat resemble those of an ^Eschynanthus, lliough abundantly distinct in habit of growth. It has erect stems .about 18 in. high, furnished with thick, fleshy, oblong leaves of a deep green. The flowers are tubular, about 2 in. long, and 2 in. wide at the mouth ; the sides are flattened, and the segments of the tube suddenly reflex, thus giving the flower a singular appearance. The colour of the blossoms is bright red, and as they are suspended on thread-like stalks some o in. long from the axils of the leaves, they are highly .ittractive. There is a plant of it now in flower in one of fthe compartments of the "f range at Kew. Cataellias at Upper HoUoway.— Everywhere Camellias promise to make a good display this season, but nowhere have we seen such a remarkaljly fine show of buds as in the spacious Camellia houses in Mr. B, S. Williams' Nursery at HoUoway, where there are some fine specimen plants. On many'of these the blooms are already expanded, but in the course of a month or six weeks the majority will be open, and then the collection will be well worth a visit. All the finest of the older varieties are represented besides the new kinds, which include the beautiful sorts raised and sent to this country by Mr. C. M. Hovey, of Boston, U.S.A. Lamprocoocus Weilbachi. — This is a strikingly showy Bromeliad, nearly allied to the Billbergias, and much resembling some of the dwarfer-growing kinds of that genus in habit of growth and mode of flowering. The leaves are arr.anged in a pitcher-like manner, and from the cavity the stout erect flower-spike is produced, terminated by a long head of flowers of a deep purple colour, making a fine contrast with the scarlet br.acts and stem. It is now in flower in Mr. B. S. Williams' nursery at HoUoway, where it is grown in a moist stove. Narcissus monophyllus Clusi. — I am happy to be able to report that I h.ave again been successful in flowering this interesthig plant. In a pot containing ten bulbs, five have flowered. In another pot of four bulbs, the whole have flower-stems, two of the bulbs showing twin blossoms. The culture was the same as before, as stated in The G.\rdex for January, ISSO.— JoHX F£Rme, Had- dington. Acacia dealbata. — We have at Golder's Hill, Harapstead, a fine specimen of this shrub. It has a clean stem which measures l-t ft. C.V in. round, and the plant covers the roof of a conservatory 24 ft. in length and 9 ft. in height. It is now in full bloom. It is planted out, in rather heavy soil, its roots extending under the path outside. In autumn it is liberally supplied with water, and after it has done blooming it is pruned to about half its length, as we find that it blooms well on the young growth. The temperature of the house in which it is growing is about 50^ by day and 4.5'-' at ngh'. This plant rarely ripens seed with us, the pods usually dropping otf before they arrive at maturity. Two yeai-s ago we were, however, fortunate enough to get a few good seeds, whicii were sown in a brisk heat. They germinated rather sparingly. Those which came up were potted in good samly loam and leaf-mould, and are now in 6-in. pots, with leaders about 4 ft, high. They must, I believe, be of good age before they bloom well. — R. Sei.m.^n. [The flowering sprays sent were very fine indeed, and the colour remarkably bright. — Ed.] Gishurstine. — The inventor of the well-known Gishurst insecti- cide has recently invented a new compound in Ihe form of dubbing for boots which is specially intended for the use of gardeners who are necessarily mnch exposed to all kinds of weather. We have given the sample sent by the manufacturers, Price's Candle Company, a fair trial, and find that it eH'ectually repels moisture, thus keeping the feet perfectly dry and warm. Unlike ordinary dubbing, it is free from smell, and the boots, if necessary, may be polished immediately after its application. Its cheapness will place it within the reach of everyone, audit will be found a boon not to gardeners alone, but to all whose occupations necessitate exposure, suoli as gamekeepers, wood- men, and shooting, fishing, and other sportsmen. Fine Poinsettia pulcherrinaa.— I saw in Mr. Middleton's garden, at Bradford Peverill, the otlier day some fine plants of this, with whorls of bracts or floral leaves measuring 20 in. across. The plants, too, were unusually dwarf and well grown, the leaves covering half the pot.— A. C. A Good Table Swede. —Those who think the Swede the best of eating Turnips would be more fully confirmed in their ideas on the subject by a trial of Laing's Swede. Mr. David Syme, of the Lawson Seed Company, has kindly sent us a sample of this with a character which, after testing, we can fully ooudrm. Mr. Syme says this Turnip is distinct from all others iu foliage. It is a better Turnip than any we can now get in Covent Garden. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) Hendersoni. — This noble flowei ■ ing bulbous plant is now attractive in the nursery at Pine-apple Place, where it had its origin. The flowers, which are as large as those of any of the race to which it belongs, are of a greenish-white, and heavily stained with deep crimson. Ixora Fraseri.— In Mr. Middleton's garden at Bradford Peverill I saw the other day a plant of this in an S-in. pot with twenty-seven trusses of bloom on it, a fact which shows that this Ixora is an excellent one for winter blooming. — A. C. Fine Chinese Primulas. — I noticed in Mr. Middleton's garden, at Bradford Peverill, some fine plants of these in full bloom. They measured 2 ft. across and were in S-in. pots. — A. C. We omitted to state last week that our plate of the Pa^onics was drawn by Mrs. DutHeld from flowers obtained from Mr. Kobert Parker's collection, which is a good and well-grown one. A Death in the Family. — We hear that the little paper known as the Ilortkultural lieconl is no more. Rax-somes, Sim.s, & He.vd, Ipswich, have changed the name of th§ firm to Ransomes, Head, & Jetferiea, Jan. 8, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 35 THE LIBRARY. GOD'S ACRE BEAUTIFUL : OR, THE CEMETERIES OP THE FUTURE. London : THE Garde.n Office. New York : Scribner & Welford. We give without commsnt illustrations from tliis work, witli extracts relating to the public gardening- aspect of the ques- tion : — By the adoption of urn-burial all that relates to the artistic embel- lishment of a cemetery would be at once placed on a very different footing. One of the larger burial grounds now closed, perforce in a A Cemetery of the Future. With Temiiles and Tomhs towards Ijoundary, the centre permanently open for Grass and planting. Designed by W. Robinson, drawn by Alfred Parsons. less time than that of an ordinary life, would accommodate a like number of burials on an improved system for many ages. The neglect and desecration of the resting-place of the dead inherent to the present system would give place to unremitting and loving care, for the simple reason that each living generation would be as much interested in the preservation of the cemetery as those that had gone before were at any previous time in its history. We should at once have what is so much to be desired from artistic and other points of view — a permanent resting-place for our dead. With this would come the certainty that any memorials erected to their memory would be carefully preserved in the coming years, and free from the sacrilege and neglect so often seen ; hence an incentive to art which might be not unworthy of such places. The knowledge that our cemeteries would be sacred — would be sacred to all, and jealously preserved by all, through the coming generations— would effect much in this new field for artistic effort. In days when careful attention is bestowed upon the designs of trifling details of our houses it is to be hoped that we shall soon be ashamed of the present state of what should be the beautiful and unpolluted rest-garden of all that remains of those whom we have known, or loved, or honoured in life, or heard of in death as having hved not unworthy of their kind. In endeavouring now to obtain any good effects, defeat is certain through the essential coiTditions of the present mode of burial. With urn-burial everything we can desire for the artist is not only possible, but easily attained. Soft, green, undisturbed lawns ; stately and beautiful trees in many forms ; ground undisturbed, except in certain small parts ; a background of surrounding groves ; no hideous vistas of crowded stones ; and the cer- tainty that the monumental work done may remain permanently. The expense which is now spread over a variety of graves, headstones, and the purchase of ground would, intelligently applied, build a tomb which might endure for ages. To make it beautiful and enduring as man and stone could would be an aim not unworthy of an artist. A single burial in such an urn-tomb need not be so expensive as one in the commonest of the graves with which such large areas in our cities are now covered. The disturbance of the ground would not be neces- sary, as it is now, not to speak of the abolition of other onerous charges. Cemeteries Beautiful and Perma- nent Public Gardens.— Apart from the question of art is the important consideration of the great advantages the improved system would give us in adding natural beauty to the gardens of the dead, and improving many large open spaces in our cities of all sizes. Given a space equal to one of our largest London cemeteries, or one of those in America several hundred acres in extent, we may begin to outline what the cemetery of the future may easily be made. Perm.anent and inviolable it must be. The cemetery of the future not only prevents the need of occupying large areas of ground with decaying bodies in a ratio increasing with the population and with time, but leaves ample space to spare for those open green lawns, without which no good natural effect is possible in such places. It is to be a national garden in the best sense ; safe from violation as the via sacra, and having the added charms of pure air, trees. Grass, and flowers. The open central lawns should always be preserved from the follies of the geometrical and stone gardeners, to as to secure freedom of view and air, and a resting-place for the eye. Buildings. — Approaching the boundary, but not quite near it, should be erected a covered way, as strong and lasting as rock. This is to form a series of urn-receptacles on its inner side, well but simply designed with the best architec- tural skill obtainable. This alone, in the case of a large place, could easily be arranged to afford space for burials for ages. All other tombs and buildings of whatever kind should be confined to a belt of the ground within and near the covered way, and, with their accompanying groves, should not occupy more than a fourth of the whole space. The covered way should not be the work of one man or period, and this being so, it would be well to separate its divisions by planting or otherwise —the division occurring, if possible, m places commanding views of the surrounding country. , ^, , ,. ■ j c j. We are now considering a cemetery of the largest size and first importance-a national or metropolitan one. Several reasons deter- mine that the covered way and mam buildings shall not be on the extreme boundary ; namely, to have them in as quiet a position as possible, as safe from injury on their outer as on their inner sides : to secure freedom from any kind of nuisance which might arise from the buildings being placed too near property over which the governing body of the cemetery had no control; also to allow of the buildings being screened from the surrounding neighbourhood 36 THE GAEDEN. [Jan. 8, 1881. by tall trees, on any side where the viewa were not such as would add to the landscape beauty of the place. Thus it would be possible to control the views not only from the centre to the covered way and tombs, and rice versa, but also beyond them, and to secure free- dom from any objectionable sights or sounds. The actual Boundary would be secured in a more ordinary, but effectual manner. There being ample space within and with- out the great covered way and accompanying tombs for much noble tree-planting, the larger trees need not be planted near tombs, as there have been many instances of the disturbance of these by their roots. The buildings should be near and between groves of ever- greens, and the dwarf er-flowering, weeping, or columnar trees. These would partly conceal and soften them, as seen from the central parts. A main walk passes by these groves and the monuments, and it should be the principal, and if possible the only, road in the place. A beautiful church or classic temple, such as that at Munich, might form the entrance ; this and all other structures being built subject to the approval of a group of artists and architects who would see that their design and workmanship were not unworthy of the spot, Sylvan and Floral Beauty of the Cemetery.— The sylvan charms of such a spot might be greater than is usually obtained in public gardens. The protecting architectural wall is far enough from the boundary to allow of groves of Oak and other hardy native trees being planted outside it ; these groves to have Grass and wild and naturalised flowers beneath and between them. The interior groves and gardens might be the home of all the beautiful green things that grow in our climate. The main portion of the sur- face being always free for such ends, we should soon have a beau- tiful tree-g.arden which might even be of great public use. As some might desire to enrich the place with useful buildings, so others might claim to plant memorial trees or groups where the opportunity existed. The views should be numerous and carefully considered. The planting should be wholly natural, in the best sense of the word. The outer portion, with its bordering tombs, columbaria, architec- tural covered way, and churches, should contain all the purely artistic adornments of the place ; while the central portions should be quite free from the drill-master manner of marshalling plants, and sundry like effects of a too prevalent style of gardening. The Cemetery Winter Garden. — However all-suffioient the sylvan charms of the place miglit be, a desirable structure, in a bad climate like ours, would be the winter garden, in which re- ligious or burial ceremonies could take place at inclement seasons — in an agreeable temperature, and in the midst of a variety of beauti- ful living things. Few would object to this plan were it not from the objectionable way in which such structures are generally designed, the too frequent idea being that a glass shed more or less vast is the best plan. But the Palm house in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, and a variety of structures used as winter gardens in Continental cities, prove that vegetation thrives in buildings with stately and solid walls. Far more beautiful effects are obtained in such, from the contrast of the graceful forms of Palms and other fine plants with noble building, than in the ordinary way. The temperature necessary to keep plants from temperate climes in health would be also that which would make it agreeable to people assisting at ceremonies, for which, of course, its most important spaces should be reserved. Improvement in Planting Old Graveyards.— Apart from the question of improvement in burial, the present state of our rural cemeteries may be fittingly alluded to here. Possessing often considerable advantages as to site and soil, and associations that always seem to call for some care in adorning them with trees and flowers, they are often seen amidst our fairest landscapes as bare as a stoneyard, and, as regards vegetation, mucli less interest- ing than the hedgerows by which they are surrounded. The church garden, even if small, need never be arid or ugly. But if there were only the walls — so often hard and naked — they alone might form a garden. Fresli foliage and blossoms are not often seen to greater advantage than against tlie worn stones of our churches, often unadorned with even Ivy or Virginian creeper. Many of the best climbing Roses and other climbers may be grown well on tliese walls. The several sides of tlie church might each have the plants suitable to tlieir slielter or position. The walls round graveyards might also oft'er a suitable position for numerous low-climbing plants and bushes. Tombs may be partially garlanded with trailers, Sweet Brier, or Honeysuckle, and all this without disturbance of the ground or stones. It is best to adorn or gracefully relieve, instead of obliterating, such objects. The ground is generally well adapted for trees, and even the turf itself may be converted into a garden of early flowers. Indeed, the graveyard might often be a tree garden, and one not without its uses. In planting it is essential not to hide the building from important points of view ; too much care can hardly be paid to the views obtainable towards or from the site. In cities and large towns trees often enrbellish the space round the churches to a much larger extent than in the rural districts, though the practice of planting evergreens in city churchyards is a foolish one in all ways, as they can only perish under our smcke plague. In such cases the summer-clad trees only should be used. Our old city churchyards could all be easily converted into oases of trees. The not unusual way of levelling or removing the headstones and making the whole into a formal garden is not the best. There is no real need for any sacrilege of the kind. The trees that flourish in such places are those that require little preparation of the ground — weeping and other native trees. Much short-lived and formal flower gardening should be avoided, in consequence of the ceaseless oai-e and cost it requires ; the attention should mainly be devoted to the suitable hardy trees. Near country seats urn-burial would lead to the family burial- place within the grounds — a quiet inclosed glade in some sunny spot, chosen for its beauty, embowered in a grove of evergreens, the Grass sprinkled with hardy native or naturalised flowers only — so as to prevent any frequent attention on the part of workmen. Such a spot, with its carpet of turf and walls of musical-leaved trees, wliolly free from tlie long-lasting and many-staged horror of decomposition, wlrich makes the ordinary churchyard so far from inviting to many persons, would form a fitting place of meditation for the living as well as of repose for the ashes of the dead. Country Cemeteries. — The drawbacks of various kinds known to exist in connection with large urban cemeteries are often supposed not to exist in the case of rural ones ; but, unhappily, they are sometimes in quite as bad a state as those in cities. Over- crowding is far from uncommon in country districts, but here there is less chance of the wholesale removals before mentioned. Some years ago, however, when certain changes in the church required the raising of a number of bodies in the churchyard at Cobham, in Surrey, the work of the navvies was of the most horrible and dangerous character, and was accomplished with difficulty in the early mornings, partly under the influence of repeated doses of gin administered to tlie men. Such removals are not uncommon, but they are performed as secretly as possible, for fear of raising opposition. In many quiet country places there is as great need to close the graveyard as ever existed in large ones, and some- times greater danger, owing to imperfect drainage. In such cases any improvements or changes are extremely difficult to carry out, owing to the state of the ground. Tlie same plan already spoken of in connection with great urban or national cemeteries would be proportionately no less advant,ageous, on a small scale, for country towns and villages. Danger to tlie living ; pollution of earth or water ; overcrowding ; decay of memorials through exposure ; hideous ugliness of stone, telling of accumulated horrors beneath the turf — all these and m.any other evils should be avoided in country as in town, while the various advantages of the improved system would be as precious in one case as in tlie other. The church and its vaults, and other unused spaces, and a covered way, replacing the wliole or a portion of the usual fence, would in most cases suffice for ages for urn-burial, leaving the whole of the churcliyard itself free, as a beautifully jjlanted spot. Urns placed under memorial windows, and in various positions on the walls, would invite monumental work of tlie highest olas5. The sentiment that people's ashes might repose in the church where they worship- ped during life would not be interfered with in this case, whereas, frequently in rural districts nowadays, the present system often compels the formation of a new graveyard away from the church. 'Winter-flo'werlng Pelargoniums. — In order to obtain an abundance of brilliantly-flowered Pelargoniums during the dull da,ys of winter the main point is to grow the plants in full exposure out of doors in summer, so as to get tire wood thoroughly ripened by the end of .September, when they should be taken indoors, and to hus- band the strength of the plant by picking off all blooms as they appear. The plants should be well rooted before they are taken into the house — in fact, pot-bound plants are better than newly- potted ones, as they are easily stimulated at the root by manure water. We have a quantity now in full bloom that were employed for conservatory decoration last summer ; as they ceiised flowering they were divested of all remaining blooms and buds, set in a sunny position out of doors, .and kept dry at the root. They have produced abundance of blooms in a house kept at about 55", and I find that the plants at this time of year retain their blossoms far longer for indoor decoration than in summer. If packed tor travelling, a little liquid gum dropped in the centre of each flower will keep the petals from shaking off. Varieties of which Vesuvius is a type are the best for winter flowering. — J. G. L. Jan. 8, 1881.1 THE GARDEN. 37 TREES, SHRUBS, AND WOODLANDS. FLOWERING SHRUBS. There are so many beautiful flowering shrubs and small trees in cultivation equally hardy and so little more expensive than the com- monest kinds, that it might have been supposed everyone possessing a garden would have them ; and yet how many gardens are to be found where they are absent ? There is the constant repetition of common Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Lilacs, Laurustinus, Laburnum, Guelder Rose, Thorns, Ribes, BerberisAquifolium, and a few others, ■which often comprise most that are grown where a great deal of additional beauty and variety might exist. Not that some of the old, long-known plants are not still, and always will be, deserving a place, but this is very different from the exclusion of others equally deserv- A CemtJteiy 01 the Pibt Ly the bicicd VVij it Pompeii , iorabs used foi uin hurial. Present aspect. The Cypress trees have grown on the spot since the town was uncovered. (See p. 35.) ing. To begin with Rhododendrons. A score of years ago the fine hybrids were high-priced, [but now they may be had in almost end- less variety of colour and shade at a tithe of what they used to cost. They have every thing to recommend them — the massive beauty of their flowers is unsurpassed in the whole range of out- door plants, added to which there is no difficulty now in selecting varieties that have foliage equal in appearance and hardiness to a Laurel. Azalea amoena is quite hardy in many parts of the kingdom, and yet in not one garden in a score is it to be found, except treated as a pot plant. The hardy Heaths and their Irish allies, the Menziesias, will thrive; in any fairly favourable situation, and deserve prepared soil where such is needful ; when massed they make quite a feature in a garden. The Andromedas are sel- dom met with so fully represented as they deserve ; for, where com- pact, healthy-looking plants of dwarf growth are required, they have the merit of doing double duty with both pretty flowers and foliage. Kalmias will grow in some parts of the kingdom that they do not flower freely in, but where they will bloom they should be exten- sively planted, for their wax-like flowers are beautiful, and their stout, pretty foliage is equally distinct. Cistus ladaniferus (the Gum Cistus). Old as this distinct and beautiful flowering shrub is, there are many gardens wliere it does not find a place. Barberries are seldom seen represented as they deserve to be ; especially such kinds as B. Fortunei, B. japonica, B. Darwini, and B. stenophylla, the last equal to any, if not the prettiest of all. Buddleia globosa, although not quite hardy in many places, is still worth having, even if it is some- times cut down by very severe frosts, and there is generally a favour- able warm corner in every garden that can be found for it, and a few others of a like nature. The dwarf, compact-growing Daphne Cneorum, with its flowers as sweet as the tender Chinese species, will not do everywhere, but in many places where it would it is not present. Deciduous Flowering' Shrubs and Small Trees. Amongst these the deficiency of many fine species and varieties in the majority of gardens is still more apparent. The old Guelder Rose is everywhere, but the beautiful free-flowering species, Viburnum plicatum, is slow to have its claims acknowledged by being grown more generally. The disposition of this plant to bloom profusely whilst quite small is not the least merit it possesses. Favourites as the old kinds of Lilac are, such fine sorts as" Dr. Lindley, Charles X., alba grandiflora and several others of the newer kinds are decidedly in advance. Amongst the Spirreas are many not so often met with as they deserve. Halesia tetraptera, the Snowdrop tree, is such a distinct plant that it needs no recom- mendation. Amongst other shrubs, odd plants here and there of Ribes sanguineum, the Red-flowered Currant, always assert their pre- sence when in bloom ; but a group of the difierent colours — red, deep red, white, and yellow — all together show each other off to much better advantage than any number of single plants will do. Prunus alba fl.-pl. and P. rosea fl.-pl., the double Chinese Plums, are alike beautiful and suitable for either small or large grounds. So are botli the single and double Peaches, which are more gener- ally planted than the double-blossomed Cherries ; the latter, when in flower, possess a beauty distinct from everj'thing else. A single plant of Cydonia japonica on a wall, or grown as a bush, is always a telling object during the long time it remains in flower ; but when the difierent colours — white, rose, and red — are each represented, like the Ribes already sjiokeu of, each are improved by the presence of the other. The only drawback there is in growing these beautiful early flowering shrubs in the open shrubbery is that their flowers are not so much sheltered as on a wall, and consequently are more likely to get disfigured by frost. The white Daphne Mezereum, though not pure white in colour, so far improves the appearance of the red variety, that both should go together. Hydran- gea japonica paniculata is sucli a gem, literally covering the branches with its flowers, that it miglit be expected to be in every garden ; yet it also is slow in making its way. Thorns of various colour.-, double and single, are known everywhere, but those who have not got Paul's Double Crimson are undoubtedly deficient of the best. If there is any more beautiful and efl'ective deciduous flowering plant than this Thorn, I should point to Pyrus IXalus floribunda as the one. Wherever there is room to grow half a dozen kinds of shrubs, this Pyrus should be included in the number ; its branches are literally wreaths of blossoms. Of the Deutzias, D. scabra and D. crenata h.ave their merits acknowledged by often finding a place, but D. gracilis is much more frequently used as a forced pot plant than out of doors. Yet, when it has had time "to grow to a good- sized bush, it is one of the most beautiful objects imaginable, bloom- ing after many shrubs are over. In the latter part of summer we have not many flowering shrubs, but in the different kinds of Hibiscus, double and single, there is scarcely anything more telling. Yet so meigrely are they represented in most gardens, if not altegether absent, that they might be looked upon as expensive varieties, or difficult to grow, in pla?e of which they cost little and will thrive almost anywhere. A group comprising the single and double varie- ties, in their different colours, is almost as bright and cheerful- looking in August and September as anything we get in spring. T. B.\INES. Berry-bearing Shrubs in North Norfolk. — We have here, as in many other parts of England, a scarcity of Holly berries this year, a remark which also applies to Hawthorns, Laurels, and common Yews, but the Irish Yews are loaded with bright scarlet berries ; indeed, some of the plants are quite beautiful with their bright load of fruit. — Edwakd Sendall, Barn'ngham Hall. The Best Places for Leycesteria formosa. — These are sheltered, rather open places in shrubberies or home woods. Some years ago this pretty and graceful plant was much extolled for cover. It was said that pheasants eat the largish bracts or berries. But it never seems to have made much progress as a plant for cover, though where it does it afibrds abundant shelter alike for fur and feather. On good soils it forms huge masses, 5 ft. or 3S THE GARDEN. [jA>f 8, 1881 more high and through, and the long pendent branches, with their drooping clusters of bracts on their ends, are very showy and grace- ful. It thrives best on good soils enriched with rotten leaves and resting on rather a moist base. The sprays are useful for cutting for the furnishing of large vases or baskets. — D. T. Fish. Moving Hollies in April.— I can conflrm tlie statement of " .T. C. B that Hollies can be moved In April " with perfect safety." I planted 300 last year (1880), every one of which has grown, and they now look strong and healthy . The \vo.ither was dry, with parching north-east winds after they were planted. — J. jr. are produced on stems about 2 ft. high. The Pyrenean Starsvort (A. pyrenaius), though not so showy as the ast, is a desirable early autumn-flowermg plant ; it grows about 2 ft. high, and bears large heads of lilac-blue flowers. A. Reevesi is a pretty little variety, THE FLOWER GARDEN. THE BEST MICHAELMAS DAISIES. Selecting the best from the long list of perennial Asters, or Michaelmas Daisies, as they are called, is no easy task for those unacquainted with them. As a rule, they are a somewhat despised class of plants, simply because the commonest possess a somewhat dingy appearance ; such, for example, as the old A. dumosus, may be seen in almost every cottage garden, and one or two others wliich have small flowers of no decided colour. There are, however, some really beautiful Michaelmas Daisies, but it is only within the past few years that they have become generally grown. Three distinct types of Aster may be re.adily distinguished by their habit of growth ; first, there is the alpine or dwarf-growing kinds, from 6 in. to 3 ft. in height, such as A. alpinus ; then the tall- growing kinds, varying in height from 8 ft. to 9 ft. in height ; and lastly, those with spreading slender stems, such as A. turbinellus, patens, &c. A representative selection should include some of each of these sections ; therefore, of the dwarf kinds, we would recom- mend A. alpinus, a handsome sort, about 9 in. high, which produces large purple-blue flowers during summer, and which is excellent for rookwork. A. Amellus is also one of the most beautiful of hardy perennials ; it grows about 2 ft. high and produces a profusion of bright purple blossoms. There is also a white-flowered variety of Aster turbinellus. it, named bessarabious, which is even much finer than the type, but a little taller in growth. A. longifolius var. formosus, called also minor and minimus, is an extremely fine plant, remarkable for the profusion with which its heads of deep rosy-pink flowers Flowering Spray of Aster ericoides (reduced). with slender stems laden in early autumn with tiny white flowers. A. cordifolius, A. Lindleyanus, and the Galatella section, A. dra- cunculoides, linifolius, may be added to the dwarfer-growing kinds, as well as A. sericeus, a remarkably distinct and pretty kind, and so is A. versicolor, a dwarf sort, with flowers an inch across, changing as they grow older from white to mauve. The kinds with a spreading habit of growth are extremely grace- ful, and ought to be in every garden, as the slender sprays are spe- cially useful for cutting purposes, in which state they last a long time in perfection. There are not many, the best being A. turbi nellus, a sort with large mauve flowers ; A. patens, with a similar spreading growth, but smaller flowers ; A. laxus, a fine species, with pale purplish flowers produced freely early in autumn. The tallest growing kinds are very numerous, and most of them possess a strik- ing similarity in habit of growth and flowers. The most distinct are the largest kinds — A. Novaj Anglic and its varieties roseua, pul- chellus, and A. Novi Belgi, all of which are well worthy of culture, as they produce a fine effect planted in back rows of borders ; A. Chapmani, A. Drummondi, A. punioeus, and A. Shorti, all about 5 ft. high, should also be included in a selection as well as those which bear doubtfully authoritative names, such as A. purpuratus, A. amethystinus, A. elegantissimus, and A. multiflorus, which may be found in trade lists, and not omitting the elegant little A. ericoides, with its graceful growth, which, with the two other kinds represented in the accompanying woodcuts, are among the best for cutting pur- poses, as their slender sprays associate well with any kind of flower. This list might, of course, be extended to greater length, but the selection just made, all of which we saw in Mr. Parker's nursery at Tooting, includes the majority of such kinds as are easily procurable and may be grown in any garden soil of good depth. W. G. Blazing Stars (Liatris). — ^Tlie genus Liatris contains several of the most beautiful of American wild flowers. There are about twenty species, one -half of this number being natives of the Northern and the remainder of the Southern States. We (Ameri- can Agricidlurisl ) have had thirteen species under cultivation at different times, but none more showy than L. Chapmani and L. Jan. 8, 1881.] THE GAEDEN. 30 punctata. The former grows to a height of 2 ft. or 3 ft. , forming a spike of beautiful pinkish-purple flowers 2 ft. long. The flower- stem is slender and graceful, and there is a neat and handsome look about the whole plant which at once attracts the lover of beautiful flowers. There is, however, one drawback to its cultiva- tion which may discourage some from attempting to grow it in the Northern States : it is not hardy enough to withstand our winters. The roots, like most species of Liatris, are tuberous, and before freezing weather sets in they may be lifted and stored perfectly well in dry leaf-mould in the cellar. L. Chapmani is only found, as far as we are aware, in Florida. The other species, L. punctata, is found in Arkansas and Texas, and is so called from its punctate or dotted leaves. The root is tuberous and oonsidei-ably larger than in L. Chapmani, the leaves are long and narrow, very stiff, and sharp pointed. The stems grow to a height of 2 ft. to 3 ft,, and the flowering portion is often IJ ft. in length, densely covered with beautiful reddish-purple flowers. These flowers open about the middle of Aster Amellus (natural size). September and last until the middle of November, the frost having no effect upon them. This species, though a native of Texas, with- stands the severest winters without protection. Among other kinds of Liatris which are worthy of cultivation is L. spicata, the earliest flowering species, blooming in July and producing short, very dense spikes of purple flowers ; this is followed soon after by L. pycno- stachya, which grows in rich soil to a height of 5 ft. to 6 ft., and has a flower-spike 4 ft. to 5 ft. long. Following this are L. cylindracea, L. graminifolia, and L. scariosa, the last a quite common kind, the flower cluster of which appears in the form of buttons, whence it is often called Button Snakeroot ; then last, the dwarf and very showy L. elegans. This grows to a height of about 18 in., the flowers first being of a dark purple, finally changing to white. Ne^w Zealand Forget-me-nots. — One of the Mountain Forget-me-nots mentioned in the account of New Zealand plants (Vol. XVIII., p. 662), Exarrhena Lyalli, promises to be hardy in the south of Ireland, though this being its first winter in Ireland, it has been partially covered with glass on the rockery, which very likely is unnecessary. Mr. Anderson- Henry, who introduced this flower from New Zealand, and who gave me a plant, says that it likes protection in Scotland. Its blossom is like a large white For- get-me-not, and the leaves somewhat resemble those of Myosotis dissitiflora, but they are of thicker texture and slightly covered with down. — C. M. OwEJf, Gorey. IRIPEOVED MIMULUSES. Of all easily and quickly grown flowers of a hardy annual character none are more worthy of attention than Mimuluses. Like other very hardy flowers, they have been vastly improved on lately, and the massive, strikingly coloured flowers which anyone can secure from a well-selected packet of seed is surprising. Most people know the shape of the flowers, but none can imagine the beauty of their mark- ings without seeing them. The only thing with which I can compare them is a choice selection of lieibaceous Calceolarias, but while few can succeed in growing the Calceolaria to perfection, the Mimulus attains that state with little or no care, and in the most common garden. Named varieties are sold, but I prefer to buy a packet of seed^ from which plants of all colours are obtained, and these will continue to intercross themselves into a great variety of markings for years afterwards. Seed, should be procured now, and it may either be sown in a pot or box and placed in a cold frame in February or March, or it may be sown in the open ground in April. In any case all the plants will grow large and bloom before the autumn. When sown m a pot the plants should be planted out as soon as they are large enough to handle, and when the seed is sown in the open ground the produce may be treated in the same way. A soil not too light, but moderately rich suits them best ; and as to situation, they have much to recom- mend them, as no spot suits them better than a partially shaded one, such as under trees or facing the north with a wall or hedge behind. At the same time they do well in sunny places too, and in these res- pects they are most accommodating. A good patch of them here and there iu mixed borders is very pleasing, and they are the same when planted about shrubberies or indeed anywhere. When once the roots are in the ground they will take care of themselves for years, and at the same time they will never fail to flower most profusely every summer. We know of one garden, with not an over large stock, where Mimulus flowers may be found from April until September. Cambeian^. ENGLISH F. TROPICAL FLOWERS. TiiK following passage in "The Gardens of the Sun " is of especial interest with regard to the culture of hardy plants, so strongly advocated in The Gardex. j\Ir. Burbidge's knowledge of tropical plants as seen to the greatest advantage in their own homes .yives additional weight to his opinion as to the beauty of plants belong- ing to temperate climates : "A lover of Nature who sees a tropical country for the first time cannot help but enjoy the bright light and heat, the vegetable glories of flower, fruit, and leaf called forth by the rain and sunshine, of a clime where winter is unknown, and jet, with all the sunshine and showers, the tropical blossoms are in a way aristocratic and exclusive, and never mingle socially in bosky masses, as do our own wildings ; and it is not possible to name half-a- dozen of them that could at all compare with the Bluebells or Heather, the Buttercups, Primroses, Forget-me-nots, Anemones, Violets, and rosy Lychnis of our own cool, moist woods and pastures. During a year's rambles in one of the richest and most fertile of tropical islands I saw nothing really fresh and spring-like ; nothing like the ' green and gold ' of Daffodils and the tender young Grass of April, or the royal glory of a summer Iris, or an autumnal Crocus on its mossy bed. This much is ever lacking in the forest primjeval, and ever in gardens — eastern gardens, beautiful as they are in many ways, the sameness, the cloying degree of permanency observable in the forests become intensified, and so still more unsatisfying. The plants seem always to present the same aspect ; and although most of them are at their best when revived by the rains just after the dry season, yet the charm of freshness is destroyed by the num- ber of evergreens everywhere, and the driblets of bloom kept up by them nearly all the year round. . . . Indeed, there is no gain- saying the fact, as has been pointed out by Wallace and others, that the most lovely and satisfying, the most sociable of all flowers, are those of temperate climates." C. M. 0. Goreij, Ireland. Herbaceous and Shrubbery Borders.— The season is now at hand when herbaceous and shrubbery borders generally get maltreated and broken up either by fork or spade, which should never be allowed, for, besides the risk of disturbing and mutilating bulbs, roots get injured by the digging. The fallen leaves of the plants and other vegetable matter are, or ought to be, laying and rotting, and the fibres, ever ready for fresh food and always travel- ling instinctively in the right direction to find it, thread their course where it is deposited for their use. Nature, in the ordinary way, provides nutrition for the plants annually, but we, with our ideas of tidiness, rob them by raking up and gathering all accumulation of decaying matter, by doing which greatly im- poverishes the soil, and then wonder why our pets do not thrive 40 THE GAEDEN, [Jan. 8, 1881. in the free manner they ought. Not only are leaves beneath shrubs highly beneficial on account of the manurial matter they contain, but they answer the double purpose of a mulching, and thus prevent evaporation of the earth's moisture which is a most important matter, although one too frequently overlooked. If proof were wanted of their great utility in this latter respect, one has only to examine the ground under them to see how damp it is at all times compared with that exposed to the air, which in summer, when heated by the sun, drinks up all aqueous matter at a great rate. What suits herbaceous and shrubbery borders far better than the digging or pointing over they receive is a top-dressing of rich mould or a mixture of that and short decomposed manure, which if put on at once will be a protection to many of the plants whose roots will get the benefit of the juices carried down by the rains. For such things as Anthuriums, Pentstemons, Hollyhocks, and others of that character that suffer and often get killed by hard frost it is a good plan to place a shovelful of leaf-soil around the collars of each, which will jirevent them taking harm should the weather set in severe. — S. D. THE BED HAWKWEED. (boeekhausia eubea.) There are such vast numbers of Composites with yellow flowers, that it is a relief to find one possessing a diflfercnt colour, and in this Hawkweed, a hardy Italian annual, we have one. Though called red, the blossoms are in reality not so, but rather rosy-pink. It The Ked Hawkweed (Boerkhausia rubra). should be sown in spring, like other hardy annuals, iu any ordinary garden soil, and will produce flowers from June to September. The annexed woodcut well represents the habit of growth of this plant and the style of flowers, which are about the size of a crown-piece. The yellow Hawkweed (Tolpisbarbata), also a South European plant, is likewise a pretty annual, equally hardy and pretty. The flowers are a bright, clear yellow, with a few blackish spots, which gives them a distinct appearance from other yellow kinds. W. G-. Chrysanthemums for Flowers and Exhibition.— In " J. S. W.'s" remarks upon this subject (Vol. XVIII., p. G30) pointed allusion is made to the flowers which I exhibited at a show held at Southampton, and your correspondent seems to write in disparage- ment of the system of cultivation which only produces from four to nine flowers on a plant. From my point of view the material dif- ference lies in the superior quality of the flowers produced bj' ex- hibitors as compared with those that are grown on the old-fashioned bush system. Of course no one has a right to complain of any cul- tivator growing plants in a way that answers his purpose best, but when he writes in disparagement of his'neighbour's system without apparently fully understanding it, I think it is going rather too far. "J. S. W." assumes that the terminal flower on each stem is almost invariably the largest and finest, which is not correct. It may interest your correspondent to learn that it takes an ordinary culti- vator from five to seven years to master the peculiarities and charac- teristics of a good collection of Chrysanthemums, and to be able to select the "proper bud" upon which particular varieties succeed best. May I also suggest that the fairest way of ipstituting a com- parison between the two systems of culture would be by bringing two groups of plants together, when the merits of both could be taken into account by disinterested judges ? Nothing has so good an effect upon people of strong opinions as a comparison of their produce with that of their neighbours in public competition. Instead of the flowers grown on our system lasting only a few days, as "J. S, W, " seems to think they do, I may say that our flowers were in good condition si.x weeks (I mean the same prize blooms) ; then there are the varieties that precede these, and the later kinds that succeed the exhibition plants. In all, we have Chrysanthemum blooms four months. I know of one society only that encourages spikes of Chrysanthemums (Pompones). Tliis, I think, is sufficient to show that fine individual flowers are more in favour than those advocated by "J. S. W." — Eiiwix MoLYNEUX, i^vanmore Park, Bishop's Waltham. A CHRISTMAS FLOWER GARDEN". Subjoined is a list of garden and wild plants which were in flower in this part of Cornwall on Dec. 25 and 27, 18S0. We have had very little frost— twice, I thinlv, and then it only lasted for a few hours ; lowest temperature 34'^ : — .\lys5um, white Erica mediterranea Pansiea Anthemis nobilis Escallonia Ingrami Papaver Uhfeas Antirrhinums , montivedensis Pelargonium, zonal Al'abis albida macrantha Pernettya speciosa Aralia Sieboldi Forget-me-not Petasites fragrans Arbutus magnifica Fuchsias Poa annua .A.rmeria inarltima Garrya elliptica Polyanthuses Aubrietia grxca purpurea Gazanias Polygala Dalmaisiaua Aucuba, male Geranium Robertiauuai Potentilla reptans Auriculas Glastonbury Thorn Fragrariastrum Berberis Darwini Groundsel Primroses vulgaris Gunuera scabra Primula vulgaris Borage Hawkweed japonica Brompton Stocks Helleborus niger Pyrethrura aureum Calceolarias Hemp Nettle Ranunculus repens Camellia, several sorts Hydrangea Rhododendrons Campanula, blue Iberis gibraltarica Roses, severjil sorts Carnations l.xias Salvia splendens Cassia corymbosa Lapageria rosea Silene maritima Ceanothus azureus Laurustinus hirsutus pendula Chorozema macrophyllum common Snowdrops Chrysanthemums Lettuces .Sow Thistle Clematis Jackmani Lobelia Spirica Thunbergi Correa cardinalis Lychnis diui-na Veronica polita Cotoneaster micropbylla Marguerites oiBcinalis Cuphea platycentra Marigolds Lindleyana, and sever.al Cytisus australis Mignonette other garden vars. Daisies, double and single Narcissus Tazetta floribun- Viburnum plicatum Desfontainea spinosa dus Vinca, blue Dock (Rumex viridis) paper-white Violets Erica carnea Nasturtium Virginian Stock ciliaris Pampas Grass Wallflowers gracilis 9, Chapel Street, Pi?v:anrc. W. Roberts. Lilium auratum in Ireland. — In The Garden of December 25 ilr. F. W. Burbidge asks, " I wonder if any one can boast of a clump of Lilium auratum, the actual undisturbed produce of a bulb planted in the open air, say five years ago ?" I am happy to say I have several splendid clumps of Lilium auratum, purchased seven or eight years ago, at Stevens' auction rooms — miserable little im- ported bulbs they were ; very different from the large ones to be obtained there now. It is true they have, within the last two years, been disturbed, owing to alterations in my garden, but until the last two winters, and then not till much of the severe weather had passed, they received little or no protection. They are planted 3 in. or 4 in. deep in a mixture of loam, leaf-mould, sand, and bog- mould (peat being hard to obtain), on a limestone gravel subsoil. Lilium speciosum, which I bought at the same time, have never had any extra covering or care in the winter, nor do they seem to require it. This autumn I have planted many other kinds of Lily, being encouraged by the success of the above. — J. H. W. Thomas, Cannes. The Sensitive Brier. — This is not the real Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica), but closely related to it, and is known as the Sen- sitive Brier (Schrankia uncinata). Like the true Sensitive Plant, it has sensitive foliage. It is a perennial, found in sandy soil from Virginia southwards, and is a long trailing Vine with prickly stems and very fine handsome foliage. The flowers come from the base of the leaves and are in little balls about half an inch in diameter, of a pretty rose colour, and appear abundantly throughout the summer and autumn months. To those, says the American Agriculturist, who desire to grow this trailer, it is suggested that they try the method of giving it a spot raised above the general level where water will not settle around the root and cause it to rot. A " rockery " or rockwork is one of the least expensive methods of successfully growing many doubtfully hardy plants such as this is. Jan, 8, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 41 GARDEN THOUGHTS. Walking about my house, musing upon mural plants, and as I remember how the more beautiful, but less sub- stantial vestments have been discoloured and destroyed by cruel winters, inclining more and more to the conclusion that Ivy makes the best overcoat for a brick mansion in a midland shire, because it never wears out, and always looks well, my eye is attracted by bright objects within my home, and I find myself gazing througli the glass as intently as a lean dog on a meat safe, or a poor schoolboy on a new revolver. Though I have no longer " a Rose looking in at the window," I have a most charming bouquet of Roses looking out of it, not Christ- mas Roses — albeit I received them on Christmas Eve, the prettiest and most welcome Christmas box I ever had, from my friend Mr. Henderson, of Thoresby — but the veritable flower of flowers. They are all perfect specimens of the lovely Tea-scented species, pure white, pale yellow, soft pink, chiefly Niphetos, emblematic of our winter snows, and Sou- venir d'un Ami to remind me of the donor, who ought to be publicly decorated by Her Majesty the Queen of Flowers for this masterpiece of iloricultural skill. Well does he deserve the cross of victory who here in cloudland and in drear December days creates a summer of his own, and makes his desert blossom as the Rose. Mr. Henderson tells me that there is no special secret to be communicated nor difficult directions to be observed in the production of these beautiful Roses, but we must not forget that to an accomplished artist art seems always easy. " Last spring," he says, " when they had done good service through the winter the plants were plunged along the bottom of a back wall in a large late Vinery, the shoots untied, and, after the removal of dead and weakly wood, again secured to wires upon the wall. The shade of the Vines seems to do them no harm, and very little attention is required beyond the training and tying of the new growth. Being plunged in pots, they do not make so much wood as if planted out " — and for this reason probably have more and better Roses. * Looking tlirough another window from the jarclin to the jardiniere, I see a charming combination of colour. In the centre of a circular stand a tree Epiphyllum, laden with roseate purple-crimson flowers, bends to meet the white Roman Hyacinths which surround it, and are them'ielves surrounded by Violets, and the pretty Panioum trailing its tricoloured Grass, green, pink, and silver, over the dark Moss which covers the pots, and drooping gracefully in accord with its second title "gracile" fi'om the outer circle of the yarcZiWere, Charming contrasts may also be made by intermixing the glowing scarlet Poinsettia with the white Primula, double or single, the crimson Amaryllis with the Eucharis, small plants of white Azaleas with dark purple Cinerarias ; but nothing is more pleasing or effective in my sight than a stand of Primroses well grown and tastefully grouped. Back to the garden. There are some who seem to grudge Nature her sabbath season of rest. I would allocate them to toll-bars in high and bleak situations, and, waking them in the middle of the night with dissonant screams and ill-played horns, would bring them out with bare legs into the snow. There are some who see no beauty in her sleep, who take no interest in their gardens from November to May. Let not these usurp the grand old name of " gar- dener." The colouring is paler and the outline less defined, but there is an infinite variety of tint and symmetry in this wonderful picture of Still Life. There are gleams of gold, and silver, and bronze, as on the Aucuba, the Holly, Vinca, and Berberis ; flashes of scarlet on the berries of which we have spoken ; and even when all the garden wears its shroud of snow, there is the sunset of memory and the sunrise of hope, everywhere the suggestion of a glory which has passed, and the promise and preparation of a glory to come. But some can see nothing smaller than a Sunflower, and some never venture to express their approbation of a plant until the duke's gardener has told them that " it's a good thing," or they have read its praises in print. As for noticing a plant out of flower or a tree out of leaf, they would as soon think of commending a brave soldier out of uniform, or a champion cricketer without his bat. They care about as much for a Sedum or anything else that' is minute and lowly as a mad bull for a musical box ; and you might as well read to them a bit of Confucius in the original as Ruskin's exquisite and true description of the Lichen and the Moss. They will not conceal the form of the rook, but will gather over it like small cushions of velvet made of mixed threads of dark ruby silk and gold, rounded over more subdued films of white and grey, with lightly crisped and curled edges, like hoar frost on fallen leaves, and minute clusters of upright orange stalks with pointed caps and fibres of deep green and gold and faint purple passing into black, all woven together, and following, with unimaginable fineness of gentle growth, the undulation of the stone they cherish, until it is charged with colours, so that it can receive no more, and, instead of looking rugged, cold, or stern, or anything that a rock is held to be, it seems to be clothed with a soft dark leopard skin, embroidered with arabesque of purple and silver. Do we not find this indifference to things common, how- ever beautiful, where we should least expect it ? Have we not been disappointed visiting or receiving gardeners of some reputation to find that they have only learned two or three tunes, and will not listen to any other? Were you never sadly bored by a companion who seemed far happier in finding out what things you had not than in admiring those which you had, who " was really surprised not to see the new Anthurium, and wondered how you could exist without a plant of Lapageria alba 1" And there is the odious wretch who always condemns by comparison — " Ye=!, it is a nice little plant, but you should see a specimen which was exhibited last season, 6 ft. across, with .500 blooms, every one of them three times as large as that." I remember a farmer in my hunting days who bought and sold a good number of horses, but never was known to praise a steed which was not or had not been in his own possession. The nearest approximation to any such eulogy was uttered to myself, when, as we were one day returning from the chase together, I expressed my admiration of an animal which had carried its owner bravely through a long and difficult run. " Oh, yes ! " replied my companion with a frank vivacity, which at first surprised me, "he's a nice plain slow 'oss." And so there are gardeners who always, show them what you may, will damn it with faint praise. * And the explanation, as it seems to me, is partly this. That in the days of our great prosperity and wealth, horticulture, like many other cultures, was enervated by luxury. The gardener became a gourmand, and lost his zest and relish for his ordinary wholesome food. More than twenty years ago "in the most high and palmy state" of the Garrick Club, a young Guards- man came one night into the dining-room long after we had all finished our repast, and languidly asked a waiter what he could have for dinner. But when the attendant suggested " Beef -steak. Sir 1" the soldier made a sudden start, and uttered an expressive " Oh ! oh !" of horror. "Chop, Sir V provoked a second shudder, as though the very thought of such coarse, vulgar food was as an east wind upon the exposed nerve of a 42 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 8, 1881. tooth, or the boot of a bargee upon a corn. Ultimately the exhausted warrior refreshed himself with a snipe and a bottle of champagne ! We know what comes to the pampered per- sistent epicure as surely as delirium, dropsy, and a hundred other maladies to the drunkard — surfeit and sickness. And so luxury, and excess, a fastidious craving for titbits and rarities, produced among the florists that terrible disease — a combination of scarlet and yellow fever, rash, measles, and jaundice, which went by the name of Bedding Out. » Bildiiij Out ill Summer and Winter, the difl'erenoe between them being this, that there is something to be aaiJ for the former, but for the latter nothing. We, who have sutfered most from our folly in spoiling a pretty garden by clearing away flowering shrubs, bright evergreens, beds and borders of herbaceous flowers, to make way for the gaudy idol, who have broken the kaleidoscope, which made our eyes ache, and exchanged our spangled harlequin tights for more graceful and becoming dress, we are, nevertheless, of the first to affirm that there are certain gardens, having ample space for every phase of horticulture, in which the system of bedding out half-hardy plants may be efiectively introduced. J\Iore than this, we thankfully acknowledge that the Spring Garden was an emanation, an offspring far more beautiful than its parent, from the summer system, and has by its natural grace and beauty added much to the enjoyment of a garden ; but of those arrangements which attempt to turn winter into summer by dotting the beds with biby evergreens and vege- tables havingcoloured or curly leaves, whichlook about ashappy ;n frost and snow as a lot of little fishes on the towing-path of a canal for this winter garden, even when enriched with pathways of cockle shells and powdered bricks, we have nothing but a groan or a grin. It may be that I am disabled by strong prejudice from reasoning rightly in this case. The bitter experience of a great catastrophe and defeat may have enfeebled my percep- tive powers. The reader shall hear the sad story of my sufferings, and I know that he will feel for me, if not with me, when I have told my winter's tile. Scampering like a silly sheep, with the rest of the floral flock, wherever that tinkling bellwether. Fashion, was pleased to lead us, 1 found myself in a winter garden. This consisted of ridiculous little evergreen shrubs, prematurely brought into public notice from the nursery like some other small children — Hollies, Aucu- bas, Laurustinus, Junipers, Euonymus- -collected at no small outlay of time and metal. These precious pigmies were so carefully and tastefully arranged, that the garden resembled and rivalled a segment of the nursery from which they came, and the general effect was that of a doll's cemetery laid out on an enormous scale. But there was, nevertheless, a most charming and complete success in two large groups of Aucu- ba and variegated Kale intermixed, gleaming, like the cohorts of the Assyrian, with purple and gold, streaked with silver, flushed with roseate hues. I had seen this combination in the charming gardens at Belvoir, and by the kind aid of my friend, Mr. Ingram, who gave me a packet of his seed, I had accurately reproduced it. It was in full glory, the admiration of all who saw it, when one evening — 0, melancholy night ! The worst Time ever saw In lasting labour of liis pilgrimage. I went out to dine. The garden gates were left open, and when I returned I saw in the moonlight some six or eight vagabond cows, who, exhilarated by their supper (they had scarcely left a leaf of the Kale) or set in motion by the sound of the wheels, appeared to be dancing a quadriUe in my winter garden. I caught cold and spoilt my best evening boots in chasing them away, and dreamed all night that great herds of bulls and buffaloes galloped over my bed into im- mense warehouses of china adjoining, and awoke next morn- ing to find the pride of those stuck-up little dwarfs crushed and broken, and a sufficient number of graves in my liliputian cemetery for all the worn-out dolls in the midland district. Unkindest cut of all, I mot with little condolence. My father said, that if I filled the garden with Cow Cabbages the cows would naturally infer an invitation and accept it ; and a neighbouring squire remarked when he saw it — instead of sympathising and blending his tears with mine — that he "thought he had got into INIr. Ball's Nursery, and that my long face reminded him of Macbeth when he said — Accursed be that tongue which tells me so, For it hath cowed my better part of man." I said that no doubt it was all very funny, and the utler destruction of a pretty garden was quite a gem in jokes, but that somehow for the life of me I failed to see it. And he, first looking at me and then at my winter garden, broke out iuto peals of mirthful laughter — and so did I. S. E. H. THE GARDEN FLORA. PLATE CCLXVI— LEPTOSPERMUM LANIGEEUiM. LEPTOSPEnMUM L.VNiGEnuM is one of the characteristic Australian Mj'rtles, or Tea plants as the colonists designate them. It is one of some 500 species, many of them vei'v beautiful, belonging to about twent3'-five genera. They constitute a tribe distinct from tlie true Myrtles, which are equalh' numerous in south America. The essentially Australian tribe Leptosptrmese extends to New Zealand, and it is also represented in the Malayan Islands. With the exception of the (Ilum trees, and two or three small genera, the tribe is composed of small-leaved evergreen shrubs and trees, many of them having gorgeously coloured flowers, and most of them, Hke the present, flowering very profuselj'. Among those bearing brilliantly coloured flowers are the genera Callistemon, Calothamnos, ]51etrosideros, and Beaufortia. Years ago many of these fine shrubs were introduced into our gardens, but few of them are seen now. In the Scilly Islands and some other locali- ties on the west coast where the climate is favourable, they suc- ceed in the o^en air. Leptospermumlanigerum, judging from the variety of soils and situations in which it grows naturally, should 1)3 as easilj' grown as a Camellia. It abounds in Tasmania and the colonies of South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, from the sea coast to a considerable altitude in the interior. Mr. Ronald Gunn, who collected largely in Tasmania from 1836 to 1845, supplemented his dried specimens by copious notes on size, soil, situation, &c. Respecting the present plant, one of his notes runs as follows : " Very abundant upon the wet, healthy plains between Lake St. Clair and Macquarie Harbour, growing, as upon Kocky Cape, 1 ft. to 3 ft. high, which I had fixed in my mind as the maximum of the species. You may judge, therefore, how puzzled 1 was at finding what 1 believe to be the same growing at Detention Corner (on the same road) 12 ft. high, and farther on finding trees 60 ft. to 80 ft., with a circumference in one case of t) ft. 0 in., and which I also beUeve to be the same. I fired at the branches of one of these trees and brought down some twigs, which I send." His opinion respecting the specific identity of these various collectings has been endorsed by Mr. Bentham and other botanists who have written on the vegetation of Australia. The remarkable point is that it should flower freely, both as a shrub 1 ft. high and as a lofty tree. In another note jNIr. Gunn describes it as a shrub 6 ft. to 12 ft. high, growing on the banks of rivers and rividets ; and in a third he states that it grows in very wet, marshy situations. Several other labels embody similar information, and Gunn likewise collected the same species on the sides and tops of the Western Mountains, where it formed a tree 20 ft. to 30 ft. high. Besides the diversity in stature, it is very variable in the size and shape of the leaves, in the degree of hairi- ness, and in the size of the flowers. The accompanying figure repre- sents a variety with medium-sized leaves and rather lar^e flowers. The species is not new to cultivation, having been introduced and .EPTO SPERMUM LANIGERUM Jan. 8, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 43 cultivated more tlian fifty years ago. It should be added that on the mainland of Australia it often inhabits comparatively dry situations. Altogether, the genua Leptospermum comprises about a score of species, but all those having showy flowers are very much alike in general appearance. L. flavescens and L. soopa- rium, both of which are ecjually variable, and have a much wider area of distribution than L. lanigerum, the former extending to tlie Indian Archipelago and Malacca, and the latter to New Zealand, have been in cultivation. They have not the woolly calyx of L. lanigerum, and L. flavescens has yellowish (not yellow) flowers, otherwise they are all three very much alike. W. B. IIemsley. Culture and Position. — Mr. W. 0. Stanley, of Penrhos, near Holyhead (from a fine bush on whose lawn specimens from which our coloured plate was prepared were obtained), writes to us as follows concerning this Leptospermum : " It is," he saj's, " well named lanigerum, for in .lune it was a mass of white flowers as if it were covered with fresh fallen snow. It is found to require a sheltered spot, as the sea gales from the south-west destroy its beauty. Like all New Holland shrubs, it will stand a considerable amount of frost, but in early spring occurs the greatest danger, as the sap rises early"; indeed, it seems to grow all winter; so when the early frost comes and the earth is still cold, the hot sun affects it — the feet are cold, but the head is warm — and, as Sir .1. Hooker tells me, this is the greatest danger to all Aus- tralian shrubs. The frost bursts the bark of the branches and the stem near the earth ; it will appear to thrive for a summer, but then gradually dies off. I was afraid this was the case with my large plant, but it has stood the last two severe winters, and al- though the bark is burst in many places, it seems to flourish and make fresh growth, much dead wood being cut awaj^ I cannot say exactlj-, but it has certainly been planted more than .'55 years. Sir J. Hooker tells me some winters it will survive planted against a wall at Kew, but severe frosts kill it." THE STAPHYLEAS, OR BLADDER NUTS. The Staphyleas are a free-flowering class of shrubs, attractive both when in blossom and when bearing their singular inflated seed pods, from which the English name Bladder Nut is derived. The species Staphylea pinnata. are— S. pinnata (the common Bladder Nat), the strongest growing of the genus ; in this the leaves are composed or five or seven leaflets, and the flowers, which open in May and June, are white, and are succeeded by the pods to whicli allusion has just been made. This, and in fact all the species, throw up suckers with sucli freedom as to form dense bushes ; therefore in propagating them the only thing required is to detach the suckers from the parent plant, when they will be found already rooted. This plant is commonly distributed throughout Europe, and is even found wild in some parts of England. S. trifoliata, a North American species, bears (as its name implies) trifoliate leaves, but in flower and liabit it resembles S. pinnata, only weaker in growth. S. colchica bears much larger panicles of flowers than the two preceding species ; indeed, it has lately taken high rank as a plant for early forcing, as it forces very readily, and when thus treated the flowers are of a purer white than those which open out of doors. It is a native of Asia Minor, but has been largely imported from French gardens within the last few years. Alpha. THE FRUIT GARDEN. FRUIT CULTURE FOR PROFIT. The object which I have in view in regard to tliis matter is to popularise fruit culture by creating a general interest in it. That hardy fruit culture is in a backward state in this country it is impossible to doubt ; the state of many orchards loudly proclaims tliis fact; but all that any one can hope to do is just to add a little to the general fund of knowledge, to throw a little liglit here and there on the obscure places, and so help to carry the sub. Ject onwards. It is the Vine that has made the peasant farmers in France so prosperous, and if small farms in tliis or any other country are ever to yield a living profit, fruit culture must be made to furnish one of the mam props. The demand for fruit for our ever increasing town populations is constantly getting larger, and it must be borne in mind that, unless we are up and doing, the foreigner, with his greater aptitude for minutire in his -work, his greater care in small things, will step in and reap the profit. In this and succeeding portions of the sub- ject, which will in due course follow, I shall say all 1 want to say as plainly as I can without weighting myself with a single unnecessary word, and for this reason I shall eschew all scientific and technical terms. The title may to some seem rather out of place, inasmuch as I am not treating upon market fruit growing exclu- sively ; I, am, however, trying to take a comprehensive view of the subject, looking into all its details, and I contend that all fruit culture, whether it be carried out on a small scale for home supply or in a market garden, either is or should be regarded from the standpoint of profit and loss. Let us, therefore, commence with bush fruit. The Gooseberry. In some of the northern and midland counties, socie- ties have long ago been established for the purpose of encouraging the production of large individual fruits, and through their agency have sprung up those monster berries we occasionally read about in the newspapers. To the amateur growers clustered round the large northern and midland towns the culture of the Gooseberry for exhibition becomes an interesting pursuit, and is the cause of much emulation, leading to much thought and study bearing upon the best methods of increasing the size and weight of the fruit. Though we may not always sympathise with a given object, yet we must admire earnest, steadj', persistent effort, even though we fail to see its real utility. I re- member a good many years ago visiting an amateur's garden who was famed as a prize taker at the Gooseberry shows, and the way in which bis bushes were trimmed and trained, and the manner in which their wants were supplied, especially in the way of mois- ture, was most interesting. The fruit was severely thinned, and little dishes of water were placed under the bushes, so that dur- ing the warm sunny days a soft and genial atmosphere constantly enveloped the fruit, adding much to their size. Though the pro- duction of monster Gooseberries is interesting to those members of Gooseberry societies who are anxious to win a prize, they do not meet a really useful want, and need not be further referred to here. Such kinds as Crown Bob that bear immense crops of berries for gathering green, or the Warrington for making into jam when ripe, are better to grow for profit. Gooseberries are adapted for planting in various positions, but the soil for the main crop must be deep and rich. In poor soil in drj' summers the fruit never attains full size or flavour, though for meeting special wants posi- tions not generally suitable for producing first-rate fruit may still be profitably utilised. In large towns there is a brisk demand for early green" Gooseberries for making tarts, Szc, and they are eagerly bought up in the neighbourhood of Exeter and other places on the west coast for the London markets, as a week or even a very^ few days in point of earliness adds immensely to their value. Thus anybody in possession of a warm, dry, early bank may plant it with'.Gooseberries for gathering green to obtain them early in the same way that warm sunny slopes are planted with 4>4> THE GAEDEN. [Jan. 8, 1881. Strawberries to meet the first demand, and such a crop is often more profitable than if permitted to ripen. Form of Bush. — The Gooseberry may be trained as pyra- mids or espaliers, or as palmettes on fences or walls, but the bush form is best, as it involves no expense in training. The bush should stand on a clean straight leg, not much less than 9 in. or 1 ft. long. The head should be made to assume a circular form, witli the centre Icept open by pruning for the pur- pose of letting in the air and sunshine, as well as to enable the fruit to bs readily gathered ; an expert cultivator with a good eye and a sliarp knife finds no difficulty in making liis bushes assume the desired shape. If we take a cutting of a Gooseberry or Cur- rant bush, say 1-5 in. long, cut out all the eyes except the three upper ones, cut the base across smoothly beneath a joint, plant its lower 3 in. firmly in tlie ground, and mulch with short manure or litter, the three eyes or buds left will in nearly every case make three shoots, and at the end of the first year commences the pruner's work of training the bush, and this is done simply by pruning to an eye pointing in the direction we wish the future branch to take. Thus it is eas}' enough to keep the centre of the bush open by cutting to eyes pointing outwards, and a bush that natural!)' assumes a weeping habit, like the Warrington, may be lifted upwards bj' cutting to an eye on the upper side of the shoot, whilst those bushes with too erect a tendency, such as the Cham- pagne, may be made to assume a more spreading habit by cutting to an eye situated on the lower side of the branch. It will thus be seen that with bush fruits the form is in the pruner's hands, like clay in the hands of the potter, and may be as easil_y made into any shape. Of course in the case of pj'ramids there must be some support for the main stem. A stout stake o ft. or 6 ft. high should be driven into the ground, and against this stake the tree should be planted, and its leading shoot tied to it. Though the natural habit of the Gooseberry is not suggestive of a pyramidal outline, yet by training the branches will rise tier above tier, graduall}' narrowing from its, base to the summit, and where land is scarce and the most has to be made of it this is a very good way of grow- ing Gooseberries. Planting'. — They may be planted in beds or quarters by themselves, or they may be planted as undergrowth with taller fruit trees, such as Apples, Plums, or Pears, to form the top crop. They may also be planted either as dwarf bushes, or trained on espaliers round the margins of the vegetable quarters. In the kitchen garden the former is a common mode of culture, but however and wherever they are planted, the land should be well manured and well cultivated before planting, and they should not be planted too near each other; a space of 5 ft. square is not too much for a well-developed Gooseberry bush to allow the light to play all round it, and give free access for the purpose of gathering the fruit. On the best soils the distance should be in- creased rather than diminished. It is true the bushes will not occupy all the space for two or three years, but other crops of dwarf growth, such as Lettuces, Spinach, &c., may fill up the in- tervals till the bushes have made some progress. Strawberries are a good crop to plant with young Currant or Gooseberry bushes, as by the time the latter require all the space the former will have done their work. When the bushes are allowed the full space named, at first very young bushes should not be selected, as those five or six years old, if they have had justice done them in the nursery, will transplant in November and bear a good crop of fruit the following season. In proportion to the bulk of the trees there is scarcely any fruit tree that bears a heavier crop than the Gooseberry, and there is no tree that during a time of pressure, such as a hot, dry summer, pays better for e'xtra support or that is better able to assimilate and turn it to the best account. During a severe drought, when the bushes are heavily laden, if the ground beneath them is mulched and a soaking of sewage or even clear water is given, it has a marvellous effect in bringing the fruit to perfection. The adaptability of the Gooseberry for all positions is not taken advantage of to the fullest extent. There are everywhere hundreds of feet of bare walls and fences in north and other aspects that would yield a good retm-n if planted with Gooseberries or Currants. They might be planted 4 ft. apart, and the branches trained up vertically pabnette fashion, and in this way walls or fences would soon be profitably covered. Pruning'. — Gooseberries do not receive so much attention in summer as regards pruning as they require. The fruit woidd be better flavoured and finer if the young wood was thinned out with a pair of small pruning scissors towards the end of June, keeping an ej-e upon the shape of the bush at the time, so that its symmetrical outline is not marred. It is not often that market growers over-prune ; if they err at all it is in the opposite direction. But I am convinced among amateurs who take a warm interest in their gardens, and who are apt sometimes to ride their hobby too hard that a serious loss of crop does result from too much kuife work in the case of Gooseberries and probably other fruits also. The best way of pruning the Gooseberry — especially on good land of a heavy nature — is to thin out the young shoots in summer when they have nearly completed their growth. This will consolidate the wood left for bearing and let in the air and sunshine to ripen the fruit. In the autumn or winter, when the leaves are down, the bushes should be gone over again to put them into shape, and any more thinning that may be required should be done, and the unripe points of the shoots vaaj have a few inches cut off them, but the less shorten- ing they receive the better for the fruit crop. Excessive pruning has the same effect everywhere in a greater or less degi'ee, that is, it causes the production of a redundancy of soft wood that cannot bear fruit, because it never acquires sufficient ripeness or firmness ; and in the case of Gooseberries when closely spurred in, the parts that would if left bear fruits, viz., the ends of the shoots, are generally cut off. I have often seen the bad effects of severe prun- ing in the case of Gooseberries. The bushes run wild from want of a load to steady them, which was cut off at the autumn pruning. Let the face of the cut be smooth, and to accomplish this the in- strument used must be sharp. A rough, jagged wound takes longer to heal, and looks slovenly and unworkmanlike. The same objection may be urged against those long sloping cuts which the late Dr. Lindley called ladies' cuts. Sever the branch near a bud bjr placing the knife on the opposite side to it, cutting through to the side on which the bud is placed at an acute angle. A little practice is worth a good deal of theory, although all theory that is based on sound practice is calculated to help us to understand and master the subject quicker, and more easily and thoroughl}' ; but in performing any operation, unless we closely observe its effect, we fail to learn all that the subject matter is capable of teaching. Thus in pruning, say a Gooseberry bush, we shoidd observe the trees carefully the next year, with a view to discover whether we have pruned too much or too little, and be guided accordinglj'. In this way a sound system of management will be built up, at least so far as the Gooseberry is concerned. Caterpillars and Birds- — Green fly sometimes curls up the young leaves, but the chief enemies to the Gooseberr}' are those just named ; and if the birds would only eat the caterpillars, as it is sometimes claimed they do, the mind of the Gooseberry culti- vator would be set at rest, but until that happy time ^arrives both have to be reckoned with and circumvented in some way or other. Where bullfinches are numerous they must be shot, and the same course of treatment is best for sparrows also. There is no fear of the sparrow being exterminated ; I daresay we should miss them if they were, the same as we should the flies, or any other domestic insect or animal whose existence is not of prime necessity to our welfare, but the sparrow is a wide-awake bird, and knows how to take care of himself. I have sometimes on a dark night taken a bat-fowling net and gone round his lodgings, but he always sleeps with one eye open, and is not easil}' caught. But in this, as in all other matters, prevention is better than cure; and there is more than one way of preventing birds eating the buds of Gooseberry bushes. The buds may be made distasteful by syi'inging some thick liquid over them that the birds do not like. A mixture of soot and lime is the simplest, and will not cost much either of time or monej', and adheres pretty closely to buds and boughs ; and I have generallj' found that when they taste anything that disagrees with them, they are not often troublesome in the same spot again, even when the dressing has worn off and disappeared. Another way of keeping off birds is to act upon their fears and suspicions, and tie dark coloured twine or thread from branch to branch and bush to bush, especially over the tops of the bushes, where the birds like to alight to begin their depredations. This is usually effectual in keeping them off, but not always, for sometimes they will not be deterred where the birds are many and the food supply malls. The caterpillars may easily be kept down by hand- picking if taken in time, but as they cling to and feed upon the undersides of the leaves, the enemy can effect a lodgment Jan. 8, 1881.] THE GAEDEN. 45 almost uupei'ceived. In dealing with an evil of this or any other kind, we should first ascertain something- of its cause and history. The fly, the origin of the caterpillar, measures about five-eighths of an incli across the wings when extended, and the body is about three-eighths of an inch long. She lays her eggs along the ribs of the leaves in rows ; the eggs grow rapidly, and the grubs are usually hatched in less than a week, and begin feeding on the leaves at once. This being so, it will be obvious that where we have a suspicion of their presence, or if the flies have been noticed round the bushes, if we find and pick off the leaves on which the eggs have been laid, we could destroy them and prevent them doing mischief. 1 may say the fly is a gay-coloured insect, throat yellow with black spot above and below, body yellow, with yellow legs and black feet ; it has four wings. In a couple of months the grub comes down from the tree to the soil, in which it burrows 2 in., 3 in., 4 in., or more according to its firmness, where during the winter it gradually undergoes a change, and emerges aa a fly in the month of April or beginning of May. From eggs laid the beginning of May the insect will sometimes go through its changes by July 10 or soon after, the first brood taking about twenty- eight days ; the second will remain underground till the following- spring. A good remedy is to make the ground as firm as possible by treading or beating all under and round the bushes as far as the branches extend to prevent the grubs burrowing, and by removing some of the surface soil in winter the bushes may be kept free from them. Other remedies are dusting the bushes with hellebore powder — tying the mater al up in a piece of muslin, and shaking it so that the powder may rise and envelop the leaves. The powder should be put on when the bushes are slightly damp. Shaking the bushes will generally make the grubs drop to the earth, when they can be killed or captured. Select List of Goosbbbiiries. Red. — London, Roaring Lion, Warrington, Raspbsrry, Cham- pagne, Wonderful, Crown Bob, Beauty. Yellow. — Gipsy Girl, Leader, Oldham, Gipsy Queen, Criterion, Golden Ball. Green. — General, Lord Eldon, Washington, Rough Green, Stockwell, Queen Victoria. White. — Antagonist, Snowball, Eagle, Wellington's Glory, Hero of the Nile. Heavy E.vMbition " Kinds. — Dan's Mistake, Conquering Hero, Leveller, Catherine, Stockwell, Telegraph, Careless, King of Trumps. The Black Currant. The Black Currant may be planted on good land in any situation and it thrives better than most things in moist, shady corners, or on the north side of a wall. In dry soQs the ground over the roots must be mulched with manure, or the fruit will be small, and an occasional soaking of sewage will be very beneficial. The Black Currant does bast planted in beds or quarters, with no other kind of bottom growth mixed with it. It forms also a profitable crop under tall Apple or Pear trees, as it will do well in the par- tial shade. Its management and pruning are exceedinglj^ simple, and consists in keeping the trees always well furnished with young wood, as it is on the young branches of the previous year that the crop is borne, and unless these are more than 1 ft. in length they should be left unshortened. The best way of pruning the Black Currant to insure a reg-ular and even crop of fruit annually is to thin out a certain proportion of the old branches every year and encourage the production of young- wood to fill up. In this way the Black Currant will continually renew itself, and go on bearing many years ; and the best way to treat any old worn-out-looking- bushes, instead of destroying- them, is to cut them well back into the old wood, and thin out the young shoots that break from the old stools — thus excellent fruiting bushes, with a long period of usefulness before them, will be obtained. The Black Currant can hardly be said to wear out, hence its value in every garden. No doubt one reiison of this is, it is not exhausted by carrying- its crop over long. When the fruit is ripe, if it is not gathered it begins to fall ; unlike most of the other berry-bearing bushes, it scatters its load if not eased of it, and this makes the trees long-lived. The propagation is easily effected by planting cuttings a foot or so long. The Black Currant, in the course of years, is almost sure to become a stool rather than a single-legged bush, and I don't think in this case it is so objectionable as it would be with the Goose- berry or the Red or White Currants. In the lattercase, permitting the growth of suckers will almost certainly throw the system of tlie trees out of gear, and lead to unfruitfidness. But in the case of the Black Currant, when the bushes are advancing in years it seems to give them a much-desired stimulus. Of course the Icnife must be used freely to thin out the old wood, so that the young shoots can have a chance of ripening. Black Currants should bo planted from 5 ft. to 6 ft. apart each way. Red and White Currants. The White Currant is usually less vigorous than the Red, and is generally of dwarfer habit, consequently may be planted rather closer together, and therefore it is better that each should occupy a row, or it may be a plot or quarter to itself, rather than bo mixed indiscriminately. The fruit of Red and White Currants will hang in a good state of preservation till October if protected from birds, and they readily yield to almost all forms of training. Every bit of vacant space on the worst aspects of walls or fences may be planted with Currants ; they may be trained as two or three-branched cordons, or seven or nine-branched palmettes, and in either way will rapidly cover a 10-ft. wall. All that is required is to shorten back the leader of a J'oung plant, to obtain two good shoots to lay in at right angles horizontal^ on each side of the main stem, and from these obtain a sufiicient number of shoots to train up vert cally. But the two shoots which are to form the foundation of tlie framework of the future tree should be led out diagonally during summer to obtain greater strength, and at the winter dressing be dropped down to the horizontal line. The young shoots that break up the sides of the main stem should be stopped back to three or four leaves in June, and be finally pruned back to 1 in. or so in winter. The Red and White Currants bear freely under the spurring system ; of course, young shoots should be left to fill up vacant spaces, and it is beneficial to all fruit-bearing trees to feel the impetus which a new shoot or two gives, especially in the case of old bushes ; it seems to impart new life and vigour to them. The basin is the best form for bushes to assume, whether dwarfs or standards, and as I have referred in treating of the Gooseberry to the ease with which an intelligent pruner wielding a sharp knife moulds the growth of a tree, simply by cutting to a bud pointing in the direction the branch is required to take, 1 need not further dwell upon it here. Standard Currant bushes with clear stems from 2 ft. to .3 ft. high are interesting little trees, and are easily made by pruning the bush to one stem till the requisite height is reached, then open out the centre in the same manner, as is done in the ordinary dwarf bush form. The only objection I have to these standard trees is, they seem more liable to form suckers than the low bushes do. The reason probably is the stem does not swell in proportion to the head, and the circulation be- tween the top and the roots is rather impeded in consequence, and so the sap that cannot find a passage up the stem bursts out at its base. The White Currant may be planted about 5 ft. apart and the Red about 6 ft. They will not, of course, occupy all the space for several years, but dwarf-growing vegetables, such as Let- tuce, Endive, Cauliflower, &c., may profitably fill up all vacant ground. Before planting any crop that will occupy the ground at least a dozen years, it is important that the land should be placed in a good fertile condition, for fruit bushes that, like Goose- berries, Currants, and Raspberries, seldom fail to bear every season , must be well fed, and it is essential that the ground be well and deeply cultivated and well manured. After the trees settle down to their work, and the roots are fast occupying the land, there should be no digging with the spade, but every season after the pruning is finished the ground should have a dressing of short manure (soot and lime are also useful), and be forked over. I always like to get this work done soon after the leaves fall, at any rate before Christmas. The roots are never idle, and this autumn top-dressing is placed within their reach by the winter's rains. In dry, poor, sandy soil mulching in summer is exceedingly benefir cial, and adds much to the value .of the crop. It is sometimes considered advisable to defer the pruning till spring in places much infested with sparrows and other bud-eating birds, but I think it is far better to prune early and dress the bushes with something that will make the buds distasteful. However, the buds of Currants do not suffer so much from the depredations of_ birds as do those of the Gooseberry. As soon as the fruit begins to change colour the birds, especially the blackbirds and thrushes, will begin to take it, and if not scared off with a gun, or the fruit protected by nets or mats, a very few days wiU see the produce of a large garden carried away, as all the birds in the neighbourhood will come to help in the work. The Currants, like all other things 46 THE GAEDEN. [Jan. 8, 1881. under cultivation, are subject to insect attaclis, but the most common and tlie most destructive are the green aphides, which attach them- selves to tlie undersides of the leaves, causing them to curl and blister, and ultimately to fall off. The garden engine with soap- suds or soft soap and water well soused among them will dislodge a good many ; even clear water will be very useful if talien in time. Tlie tiy usuall_Y attacks the ends of the branches first, and often the best and most expeditious way is to cut off tlie curled ends of the shoots and burn them. The bushes suffer no injurv from this decapitation, as it is not often the flies are realh- troublesome before June, the time for summer pruning. The caterpillar sometimes attacks the leaves, and if not checked speedily does a lot of mischief. Hand-picking is the best remedy. If taken in time a few sharp-ej'ed children will soon clear a large garden. See also what has been said on this subject in the case of the Gooseberry. Select List of Ccrhants. Red — Eaby Castle, Red Dutch, and lied Grape. l]liite — Victoria and "White Dutch. Black — Lee's Prolific and Black Naples. E. Hobday. (To he continued.) PRUNING AND DRESSING FRUIT TREES. The season still continues favourable for the pruning of fruit trees, but somehow or other many people have an aversion to early pruning, although for what reason I am at a loss to guess. From my experience, I am prepared to say there is nothing gained by deferring such work, and that the earlier it is carried out after the fall of the leaf the better, as not only is it desirable for the welfare of the trees, which can then be trained, cleaned, and put in order, but one can go over them so much quicker, and without any fear of bruising or injuring the buds. The first that should be taken in hand are Apples and Pears, and if the first-named are grown in orchards where they can have plenty of room, all they will require is a judicious thinning of the branches, by cutting out with a fine saw all that cross or crowd each other in such a way that when they have leaves on'proper light and air is excluded. This opening up will let the sun in to ripen and colour the fruit, which, from being more exposed, will be larger and of better quality than it would be if overshadowed by foliage. To enable tlie cuts made by the saw to heel over quickly and surely, it is always advisable to smooth them by running a sharp pruning knife over them, which, from removing the jagged parts, prevents any dying back from the effect of wet lodging there, as would be the case if left rough for the winter to act on. Should tlie stems be mossy, as is often the case, they should either be scraped with a blunt instrument, so as to remove it, or, better still, receive a good dressing of thick lime-wash, with some soot in it to take off its white, glaring appearance. The wash may be easily and quickly put on by the aid of a large brush, or if thought desirable to coat over the branches as well, a syringe or garden engine must be used, from either of which it may be squirted in any direction at will. Not only is Moss got rid of in this'way, but otlier parasites besides, and the trees being thus freed of these seem always to get a new lease of life and show a more healthy appearance at once. As to Bush or Pyramid Apples or Pears, or such of either as are trained as espaliers where they have to be limited to a certain size, the only wa}' to manage tbem to insure fruitfulness is to root prune, especially if they are on free stocks which force much wood, for to cut this out is very little good, as, so long as the propelling force is left uninterfered with, gross barren shoots will be produced again and again. No doubt much may be done in the summer by judicious pinching and stopping of the shoots to correct this ten- dency, but the seat of the evil being at the roots, that is the part to attack, and the best time to do this is early in the autumn, just before the fall of the leaves, as when carried out at that period the wounded roots heal over at once, and hosts of fresh fibres are formed. These lead to the production of flower-buds, which, during the first summer after trees have been thus operated on, crowd about the spurs, which may then be thinned out and shortened considerably, so as to bring them all nearer home. Even now, late as it is, rather than leave rampant barren trees for another year, it will be better to root prune at once, but not to the extent that would be safe and desirable if taken in hand at the proper season, as to do much to them now would cause too great a check, and throw them back for a time. When Apples and Pears have received the requisite attention, the trees to go on with next are Plums, Cherries, and Apricots, the spurs of which should be kept thin and regular and as close to the wall as pos- sible, that the bloossoms, when open, may derive full benefit from the protection it ought to afl"ord. Unless seen to annually, and as many cut back as will bear it, it is surprising how soon spurs seem to elongate, and more particularly is this so if the pinching is not closely attended to during the summer, for if shoots are allowed to break away then instead of being removed, buds seldom or never form at the base. In regard to Apricots, it is a good plan always to lay in a certain portion of young wood instead of trusting wholly to spurs, as Apricots, like Peaches, flower freely on the young wood, and it often happens that the bloom from this escapes frost when that projecting further from the shelter of the bricks is cut off, and not only this, but as branches die off there is always then plenty of shoots to train in their place and fill up the vacancies. Peaches and Nectarines come in last, and to retard these to as late a period as possible it is advisable to loose them from the walls and tie them out to stakes or other supports away from it, %vhich will be the means of keeping them back a week or more, and this may make all the difference between success and failure in getting a crop. Bush Fruits, such as Gooseberries and Currants, are often left till very late before being pruned, m.any thinking thereby to avoid the loss of buds by sparrows and other birds, which is a great mis- take, for if these depredators begin them at all they generally make pretty clean work where they go ; and if not, they take away such that no one can prune in a manner that will leave a shapely and fruitful bush. Rather than defer the pruning it is much better to do it early, and adopt any simple means of keeping birds off, one of the easiest being to syringe the branches with lime and soot wash, like that recommended for destroying the Moss on trees. By coating the buds in this way they are safe, and not only that, but the Gooseberry caterpillar is made to take its departure, as the lime that goes into the earth destroys the larva where it lays ready to hatch out in the spring. S. D. Vines in the Open Air. — In continuation of the remarks on this subject (p. 6.33) allow me to offer my experience. When I came to my present residence eleven years ago in the month of August, I found four Vines, which had been very much neglected, full of Grapes, but eaten up with mildew. My first operation during the winter was to cut them down to within 1 ft. of the ground. During the following summer I selected two shoots from each stump, and trained them straight up the wall ; they made rods from 14 ft. to 16 ft. long ; these were pruned during the winter slightly, that is, they were left as long as the wood was good. Next summer these rods carried o\ er one hundred bunches of Grapes which ripened perfectly ; there was also run up one fresh rod from the base to each Vine, thus making twelve rods to the four Vines. The next winter six of these were cut down to the very bottom, and six were left alternately, and that has been my practice ever since. The only year I failed. to get a crop was 1S79, when, in consequence of the wet and cold summer, the Grapes failed to ripen. The aspect ia west, the wall about 20 ft. high and 24 ft. long, thus allowing 2 ft. between each rod. I do not know the variety ; it is a white one. Although we grow Grapes under glass, I assure you the out-door ones are much appreciated. — H. Mukall, Maiddone, Kent, The Fameuse or Snow Apple. — In The Garden of the 18th ult. a quotation is inserted from the Country Gentleman extol- ling this Apple. Some of your readers may be interested to know bow it has succeeded with me in Ireland. In November, 1863, I brought several trees of this variety from Canada, and planted three of them in my kitchen garden (Co. Carlow) ; two of these survive and bear a few Apples annually. The effect of a different sunless climate upon them is remarkable. Instead of the bright crimson fruit seen in Canada, they here yield a smaller green Apple with a faint blush on its side facing the sun. Inside the skin, however, the flesh retains its snowy whiteness, and is sweet and very juicy. Some years back I tried, by twisting round the green sides of the Apples to the sun, to improve their colour ; in two or three days the sides so turned had obtained the red blush. The Fameuse is an early non-keeping Apple. — J. H. W. Thomas, Cannes. The Chili Peach is spoken of as very hardy in Canada. Have any of The Garden readers grown it ? Erica melanthera. — This, though not a new or rare plant, is not grown so abundantly as its merits deserve. It well repays any attention that may be bestowed on it by a wealth of flowers rarely seen on any other plant. They are of a pale mauve colour, with black anthers, and though small render the plant, when in bloom at this season of the year, very pretty and attractive.— J. S. T. Jam. 8, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 47 THE INDOOR GARDEN, SOM-E OF THE HAEDIEE PALMS. Palms are so suggestive of the Tropics, that it is generally believed they all require a tropical temperature, and in the case of the Chamxrops Fortunci. ^ greater number this is undoubtedly correct. There are, however, considerable numbers of species whose hardier nature renders them capable of cultivation in an ordinary greenhouse, and to this num- ber belong the two plants represented by the accompanying wood- cuts. Nothing gives a plant house a more striking appearance than Palms, and the ease with which they may be cultivated renders them doubly valuable. The two plants here figured are perhaps the best known of the many Palms which we possess, though their fit- ness for greenhouse culture is not generally understood. Chamierops humilis is the only Palm that is truly European, the Date Palm (Phoenix) so extensively cultivated in Southern Europe, having been introduced from North Africa. Although the specific name of this plant implies dwarfness, it is known to reach a height of from 20 ft. to 30 ft. , a fact confirmed by the fine specimens of it at Kew and elsewhere. It has been cultivated in this country since the year 1731, when it was grown by Phillip Miller, in the Apothecaries' Garden, at Chelsea. It is one of the few Palms which produce offsets from the base, by which it may be readily propa- gated. In the south of England it has stood out-of-doors for many years without any protection from frosts other than that aff'orded by a mat, and has a very distinct and graceful appearance growing amongst other outdoor vegetation. If in tubs it may be placed outside iu summer, sinking the tubs below the ground level ; in the winter a place in a cool greenhouse may be afforded it. Grown in this way it has a much fresher and more graceful appearance than when permitted to stand outside all winter. In pots it also forms a beautiful plant, as is well shown in the accompanying illustration. A light rich loam well drained is the kind of sod in which this plant delights, and for young plants a little leaf-mould may be added ; manure water given now and then will also be found of benefit to it, especially when large. The petioles of this species are clothed with sharp brown spines ; the leaf blade is fan-shaped, rigid in texture, and divided into from twenty to twenty-five deeply-split segments. This species is what is generally known as the Dwarf Fan Palm. C. Fortune!, of which the annexed is a representation, is a native of Northern China, whence it was introduced to this country by For- tune in 1844. It is quite as hardy as the species just described, from which it may be distinguished by the absence of spines from the petioles, which are slightly serrate. The leaf blade, too, is of a more graceful character than that of that species, and is divided into about forty segments, which are again less deeply split than in C. humilis. This description will answer for another supposed spe- cies named — C. exoelsa, which is also a native of China, and to all anpearances identical with C. Fortunei. The plant sometimes met with under the name of arborescens is consi- dered to be only a form of C. hu- milis, and C. tomentosa is an In- dian species also resembling in its young state C. humihs. Other less common species which resemble one or other of the above are C. Martiana and C. P^itohiana, both Himalayan kinds ; C. elegans, a very beautiful plant, the young leaves of which are covered with meal-like scales ; and C. hystrix, the only true member of this genus found in America. It is a native of Georgia, and has a creeping trunk, and spines sometimes 15 in. long. The Livistonas have not yet proved capable ot standing so low a temperature as the different kinds of ChamaBrops, though most of them may be grown iu a green- house and set outside in summer. The species of which the annexed is an illustration is the plant gene- rally known under the name Lata- nia borbonica, and is well known. -_ For general furnishing purposes it has few equals, as is proved by the large number grown by those who supply plants for such purposes. Other species are : L. rotundifolia, the leaf blade of which is round, giving the leaf a peltate appearance. The petiole is thickly clothed with short, thick, dark brown spines. It is a native of Java. L. Livistoua sinensis. Hoogendoysi resembles the last named species, but may easily be distinguished by its shorter, thicker petiole and more rigid leaf 48 THE GARDEN [Jan. 8, 1881. blade. L. Jenkinsiana and L. olivieforinia are very similar in ap« pearanoe to L. chiueusia. L. australis is generally known under the name Corypha, and is a commonly cultivated species. It has long petioles, which are clothed with sharp brown-tipped spines, a rotundate leaf blade, which is smaller than that of other species and furnished with a cream-coloured blotch surrounding the base, where the petiole joins it. Other less known kinds are : L. inermis, L. papuana, L. subglobosa, &c. As to soil and treatment, these are similar to those recommended for the Chamterops, though owing to the less hardy nature of the Livistonas, they require a higher tempe- rature in winter than the Chamajrops. Z. B. SELECTING WINTER DECORATIVE PLANTS. In the summer-time, when all kinds of flowers are plentiful, no one hardly ever thinks of making a selection of the most useful plants and flowers ; but as winter approaches, and especially this season of the year, we begin to find out that many things are comparatively worthless so far as being either ornamental in habit or leaf, or pro- ducing a quantity of choice and useful flowers. The value of selec- tion therefore stands out in bold relief, and the smaller the accom- modation for production is the more does this fact become apparent. Those with abundance of glasshouses and an unlimited supply of artiSoial heat may have little regard for this ; but the great majority of us always find that our means of production never exceed the demands. Some years ago I was fond of going in for a variety of fine-foliaged and flowering plants, but for some seasons past we have been gradually allowing our notions of this to slip into the back- ground, and directing attention to selecting those plants alone which afford tlie greatest amount of usefulness with the least labour and expense. Fire heat we cannot brag about nor depend much on, so that our ways and means are not very elevated or out of the reach of small growers ; and yet at the present time we cut large quantities of choice flowers almost daily, and make a very creditable display of dinner-table decorations on many large occasions, and all our success we attribute to selection. Growing one or two plants only, of auy- thinw or everything, has never proved satisfactory. Growing really "ood, useful things in large quantities is the only plan to insure a large supply of what is most wanted. Ohrysanthemums, of course, form a staple article during November and December, but they can hardly be regarded as the choicest of flowers, and are of little use by themselves. Cinerarias are good and showy, but in my opinion not one person in a dozen who "rows them can manage to do them thoroughly well and have them in flower when most wanted. Their great liability to be infested with insects is much against them at all times, and we have often seen very poor plants take up space and time that would have been much better devoted to something else. We do not include them amongst our easiest-managed things ; and, wrong as it may appear, we have the same ideas about Cyclamens. Although we go a good deal amongst all kinds of gardens, it is very rarely indeed that we find Cyclamens paying for either their attention or space. I know they loolc first-class in exhibition form, and the accounts of tliem we occasionally read are gratifying in a way, but their cultiv.atiou with the majority is a failure. I would like, and yet I do not like, to say to one and all, " CJrow them," as I feel certain if the advice were o-enerally accepted, disappointment would follow with few exceptions. Primulas are very different ; every one should grow them. Good strains of the single-blooming kinds are valuable, but these are simply " nowhere " compared with the new double varieties. We have some dozens of them, and our great ambition is to have them by hundreds. ^They are as easily cultivated as the others, and they bloom far more freely. If allowed, they would bloom all the year round, and at this season they throw up their flower-spikes in crowds without any forcing assistance. It is love at first sight with every person who sees them, and the use and appearance of the blooms in a cut state is beyond description. Bouvardias are very different- looking, but they are the most delicate in appearance of all our winter flowers. They might well take the place of Ixoras. We have been cutting handfuls of them weekly for some months past from plants in a temperature of from 45'' to 60°, and they are now far from being exhausted. Poinsettias are very different again in appear- ance, but none the less useful. They may be grown in a cold frame all summer, and they never fail to produce their glowing heads in December. When cut, they last longer in water than most things, and on this account, as well as for their cheerful appearance, they should be extensively grown. Erica hyemalis and E. gracilis are in our selections of Heaths. Azaleas of the indica alba, Stella, and amojna type are distinct, choice, and easily managed. Surprising as it may appear to some, they are more free in flowering at this season than zonal Geraniums, and their flowers are more choice and useful when cut. Geraniums may produce a few heads of bloom at this season, but as for their producing an abundant succession of bloom at this time, it is what not one person out of every hundred who grows them sees them do. Bulbs, especially Hyacinths and Nar- cisai of the early-flowering kinds, are no trouble, provided they are potted early. Oar early batelies will 'soon be out of bloom ; we can- . not keep tliem back. Camellias will soon speak for themselves if they only get a fair chance. We cut blooms in November from a plant of the old double white that has now over 1000 buds on it yet to expand, and we regard it as a treasure and gem of the first water. No new white or any other coloured variety has ever equalled this in profusion of flower, and it well deserves attention and culture. Those who can cut a good basketful of double Primulas, Poinsettias, Bouvardias, Ericas, Azaleas, Hyacinths, Narcissi, and white Camellias on Dec. 25 will have cause to feel pleased with their selection of flowers ; and if they add leaves to them in the form of good Maidenhair Fern, the effect will be complete. This Fern does so well in small pots and in a 'cool atmosphere, that it will always stand well to the fore. Palms, Dracaenas, and Lyoopodiums are all most useful for table and vase embellishment, and we think there is less caution needed in selecting them than flowering plants, as their leaves are ornamental at all times, and we do not depend on them to come into beauty or usefulness at any particular time. It is surprising how little heat tlie choicest of them will do with, always provided a high tempera- ture is strictly avoided at all times. Growing plants in much heat at one time, and not being able to keep it up at another, is what proves most injurious. Cambrian. NOTES AND QUESTIONS ON THE INDOOR GARDEN. Winter-fiowering Plants. —At Farnboro' Grange a short time ago I noticed the following really good plants for winter cutting and furnishing : Of zonal Pelargoniums there was a good collection in from ,3-in. to S-in. pots, some seventy or eighty of them being in bloom. Amongst them, the best for winter were — Mrs. Levers, Lucy Bosworth, Lady Sheffield, Mrs. Holden, and Mrs. Kent, all pinks. Of shades of red there were Dr. Rawson, Rev. A. Atkinson, Sir W. S. Stanhope, Cleopatra, Harry King, Prince of Wales, Law- rence, Harpur, and Vesuvius. Purplish tints were furnished by Irene, Alonza, and Dr. John Denny. White Vesuvius, New Life, and .Jealousy were also in bloom. Double -flowered kinds con- sisted of Wonderful and Veita. Portions of these were mixed with dwarf Chrysanthemums and other plants, such as Ageratum Lady Jane, the latter literally covered with bloom, growing in 4-in. and o-in. pots. Bougaiuvillea glabra, struck in soring in small pots, had two or three shoots to each plant ; these prove use- ful for hanging loosely over other plants. Plumbago rosea and coc- cinea superba are also serviceable in that way. Euphorbia jacquin'fe- flora, Eranthemum Andersoni and pulchellum, Gardenia tiorida, Ixora Dixiana, Centropogon Lucyanus, Sericographis, Strelitzia Reginai, Clerodendron Thomson!, Begonias, such as nitida alba, Saundersi, fuehsioides, &o., Linum trigynum, Goldfussia anisophylla, Calanthe Veitchi, and vestita are all good winter-flowering plants, as are also Gesneras. Amongst the last the best were Cliftoni, Van Houttei, splendens, refulgens, and cinnabarina. Of these, some of the plants were '2 ft. through and as much high. Gloxinias, too, are in bloom here all through the year. These were also in and coming into bloom with many other plants for winter display. — ■ W. B. B. Plants to Grow in the Shade.— " B. " asks for (Vol. X VIIL , p. 641) the names of plants that will suit a shady situation. There are two which I would like to name, and these are Habrothamnus elegans and Coba;a scandens variegata. The first is always green and very pretty when in flower, large crimson clusters hanging at the end of every shoot. The Cob;ea is one of the finest greenhouse climbers we have so far as leaves are concerned, as they are very richly variegated, and as two climbers these plants go well together. Two ends of one of our conservatories are very dark, and although we have tried many plants in them, none have succeeded so well as the two just named. — Cambrian. Rogiera gratissima. — This is a pretty dwarf plant and well suited for growing in 4-in. and 6-in. pots. Its rosy-pink clusters of flowers contrast finely with its shining dark foliage, and the flowers being fragrant are valuable, either for conservatory or table decora- tion.—J. S. T. Azalea Leaves.— fl. D. Palmer. — They are evidently much injured by thrips, an insect by which the Azalea is particularly liable to be attacked. The plants should be either fumigated by Tobacco, or immersed in some liquid in- secticide, such as that mentioned on page 16 of the last number of THE Garden. Flowering shrubs are treated of in another column Grcwlng Brunsvigia. — Will some kind reader of THE Garden tell me how to grow a Lily called Brunsvigia Josephinre ? — S. N,, Luton. Alocasia Culture. — When shall I start, and how grow an Alocasia, now dry in a large pot ? — S. N. Jan. 8, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 49 GARDENING FOR THE WEEK. FlO'Wer Garden. — Where tender plants are still extensively used for bedding purposes, the principal work in this depai'tmeut will be the introduction of choice ,'and scarce stores into heat for giving early cuttings, and the sowing of seeds of such things as VVigandias, Echeverias, Acacia lophantha, and other tender sub- tropicals, which take a considerable time to make strong plants fit for producing an immediate effect. Look over plants in cold pits and frames ; keep them on the dry side, free from weeds and decaying matter, and ventilate by tilting the lights at the back when the weather is mild. Get all vacant beds edged and dug. Be sparing in the use of strong manure, and have some kind of covering ready for placing over advancing bulbs in severe weather. Hardy Flower Garden. — The gr atest charm of an English garden at this dull season is well-kept turf and gravel, with ever- green and deciduous trees and shrubs arranged at distances that will allow full and natural development without crowding or choking each other. In large places of this kind we find many nooks and corners adapted for the growth of the finer kinds of herbaceous plants and dwarf flowering shruhs, and as this is a favourable time for preparing the ground, the planting of Pajonies, Anemones, Larkspurs, Rudbeckias, Day Lilies, and a host of other beautiful plants may be proceeded with at once. For giving life in the autumn a good stock of Gladioli, Tigridias, Cardinal-flowers, blue Salvias, and single Dahlias should be provided. For making groups of hardy foliage the Japanese Maples, Aralia Sieboldi, Acanthus of sorts. Polygonums, and Fortune's Mahonias are unsurpassed, and give very little trouble after they are well planted. As a single group on the lawn a centre of this Mahonia edged with Viburnum plioatum is chaste and beautiful. A light rich soil suits them best, and Lilies, Gladioli, or Lobelias may be grown amongst them. Greenhouse. — Winter-flowering Heaths and early Epacristhat have done flowering may be cut back and placed in a newly started Vinery, where they be lightly 'syringed and sparingly watered. Look over Fuchsias, and see that the roots do not perish from want of water. Place a few of the most promising in heat for giving cut- tings, and pot on autumn-struck plants, using light rich soil, clean pots, and good drainage. Give them the benefit of warmth and moisture in a light pit, and water sparingly until they have taken to the new compost. Kemove and destroy soft-wooded plants not wanted for stock to make room for forced bulbs. Azaleas, &o. One of the finest things for early forcing and cutting is Azalea mollis, and the beautiful Rhododendrons, of wliich prtecox is the type, are also worthy of extensive cultivation, as they can be had in flower by Christmas in a temperate house. Where out flowers for bouquets or rooms are largely used, roots of the early-flowering section of Gladiolus may still be potted, six or eight bulbs in 6-in. pots. Plunge in leaf-mould in cold pits until they have filled the pots with roots, then expose to light and air, and treat as Hyacinths. Byzantinus, cardiualis, Colvilli albus, and insignis are good kinds. Camellias, either in pots or planted out, will now take good supplies of water ; good liquid from the tank diluted with warm soft water will sLimulate the roots and improve the colour of the foliage, which must be kept clean. Stove. — Prune, clean, and regulate hiird-wooded climbers, such as AUamandas and Bougainvilleas, also Stephauotis that have been kept dry through the winter. Give Poinsettias and the fine old Euphor- bia jacquiniflora a short rest in an intermediate temperature pre- paratory to cutting back for propagation. Cut the stems of the latter into short lengths, insert them in threes in 4-in. pots, plunge in the propagating pit, and give bat little water. Examine Gloxinias and remove any that are starting into growth to a warm house ; also a few roots of that most useful table and decorative plant, Caladium argyrites ; water sparingly, and give them the benefit of a little bot- tom heat by placing them on the tan or leaves in front of a succes- sion Pine pit. A few pots of Eucharis should be taken in at regular intervals. If well established and rested they will stand a good bottom heat and plenty of tepid liquid. Eucourage soft-wooded winter-flowering plants to make early growth for cuttings. Scu- tellaria mocoiniana, Thyrsacanthus rutilans, and Libonias should be , propagated and grown in quantity. Cold Pits. — Hardy Primulas, alpine Auriculas, Pinks, Carna- tions, and many other beautiful spring flowering plants which suffer more from wet than cold will well repay careful attention to clean- liness and change of position. On a bright day when the lights can be thrown o0^ let every plant pass through the hands, remove weeds and other matter from the surface of the pots, spread a few fresh ashes on the bottom of the pit, wash the walls with quicklime and rearrange as thinly as space will allow. Give air every day and protect from severe frost and rain. Orchard House. — If Peaches'aud Pears are still out-of-doors, no time should be lost in getting them placed under glass. Examine the bottoms to see that the drainage is right, and wash the pots, also the shoots, the latter with soapy water or weak Gishurst. If the wood is still too much crowded, thin out to make room for summer growth, water freely when necessary and syringe overhead on fine mornings, that is, assuming the house is fitted with pipes for keeping out frost, when the trees are in flower. On the other hand, if this important provision has been neglected, defer syring- ing, water moderately, and retard the flowering by liberal ventila- tion. Top-dress the Strawberries and place batches of one or more kinds on shelves in the lightest and most airy part of the house. Water regularly, but do not place saucers under the pots. Cherry House. — Where the early house was closed last month, the buds on these excitable trees will be swelling fast, but no great change must be made in the temperature for some time. In severe or cold wet weather, when fire-heat is needed, 40° at night and 50° by day will be quite high enough, although by careful atten- tion to external conditions 5* to 10" more may often be secured under very moderate fire-heat with a circulation of air without detriment to the trees. Syringe every fine morning, see that the roots are properly supplied with water, and fumigate the house before the blossoms open. Strawberries in Pots. — Keep the earliest plants near the glass, ventilate [freely throuL,'h the early part of the day to prevent the flower-stems aud foliage from becoming "drawn," and shut up with moisture to help tliem forward on fine afternoons. Top- dress and tace in fresh supplies at regular intervals. Avoid ex- citing the roots in advance of the crowns. Aim at a night tempera- ture of 45" with 10" more by day and syringe well to keep down red spider. Melons. — A few seeds of some early kind may now be sown singly in small pots and placed in bottom heat near the glass. If a hot water pit is not at command, a good manure bed for a small frame must be made up in a dry, sheltered situation, but with full ex- posure to the south. A good body of spent tan, free from worms and woodlice, placed in tlie frame, will keep back rank steam and form a suitable plunging material for the small pots. A nursing frame of this kind, if well lined and covered at night, will also do for raising Cucumbers from seeds, or by propagation from clean healthy cuttings. By the time the plants get into rough leaf, have the fruiting pits or house ready, with the bottom heat on the decline from 90°. Large pots answer best for early work, as they can be placed on fixed sup- ports, and the fermenting material, consisting of tan or sound Oak leaves, can be turned and renovated at pleasure. Vines. — Where the buds on the early-started Vines are pushing freely syringing may be somewhat relaxed, and when the bunches become prominent it may be discontinued, but atmospheric moisture must be produced by damping all available surfaces and turning the fermenting material on the internal borders. Examine the latter, and water with diluted liquid at a temperature of 80°. Rub off all side shoots before they become too far advanced to rob the principal breaks, aud tie down the points of vigorous young canes where the back buds show signs of weakness. Aim at a night temperature of 58°, run up to GS° by day, and ventilate under gleams of sunshine, when air can be admitted without causing a draught. The second house may now be closed under treatment precisely the same as that recommended for the early Vines. Syringe well, and see that the inside borders are properly moistened at the outset. Cut Lady Downes and other late kinds and remove them to the Grape room, where they will keep better than if left hanging on the Vines. Stop and tie down pot Vines. Feed the roots with generous liquid, and renovate fermenting material when the bottom heat falls below 70°, Put in eyes from well ripened wood, and keep cool for tlie present. Forcing Ground. — Activity in this department will now be needed. With good pits and plenty of fermenting leaves at com mand, a bed should now be ready for sowing with Short Horn or Early Nantes Carrot, Radishes, a pinch of Celery, Brussels Sprouts, Veitoh's Autumn Giant, and Walcheren Cauliflower, for succeeding autumn- sown .plants. IPlant Potatoes in frames, also under warm walls where they can be protected from frost when they appear above the ground. Sow seeds and strike cuttings of Tomatoes. Pot on autumn-struck cuttings, and keep them near the glass. Sow French Beans in pots and boxes, and place them on shelves or other convenient places in Pine stoves. Osborn's and the fine old Sion House are suitable for forcing. Make up Mushroom beds, using plenty of good lumps of turf with the manure, beat very firm, and spawn when the heat has declined to 80°. Take in regular supplies of Rhubarb and Seakale roots ; also a few roots of Chicory for giving a supply of salad when Endive is scarce. Keep the latter protected from frost and damp, and blanch as required for use. In the kitchen garden plant Mazagan Beans, sow Early Horn Carrot and Radishes in a dry, warm border, plant Shallots, earth up Cab- bages, and protect Celery from frost and wet. — W. Coleman. 50 THE GARDEN, [Jan. S, 1881. Woodland Work for January. Though the late heavy and almost continuous rain has considerably hindered the planting upon the heavier soils, the season has been, on tlie whole, a favourable one for making good progress with the work upon all lighter lands. Where the work is still being carried on, the plants should be kept as short a time as possible out of the ground, and if the weather is at all severe the roots should be care- fully covered. Nor at this season of the year, when sharp frosts may be expected to set in, should plants be removed from well-sheltered nursery beds to bleak and exposed situations. Many failures are the result of carrying on the planting of clay lands in wet weather. The stiff clay will not readily settle closelyaroundtherootsof the trees, and violent treading under such circumstances reduces the soil to the worst possible conditions for the support of the tender rootlets which have hereafter to find their support in it. Steam cultivation has to a considerable extent suc- ceeded to other methods of pre- paring lands for planting, and under proper supervision this may become at once the most efficient and the most economical method. The facilities which tliis system affords for deeply stirring a soil without bringing any of the in ferior subsoil to the surface is one of its greatest recommendations. And in the case of a thin soil, which it may be thought necessary to break up and deepen before planting, steam affords a ready and speedy method of accomplishing this. By executing this work some months before the time of planting, a proper aeration of the soil takes place. If a fallow crop can be afterwards taken from the land it may be reduced to a condition well suited to the rapid growth of young trees. But where spring planting is intended a rough furrow will leave the soil in the best possible state to be acted upon by the weathering influences of the atmosphere and of frosts. Trenching, though an expensive method of preparation for tree planting, is one of the most efficient modes, and in combi- nation with tolerably deep draining it will effectually get rid of the rushes. Continue to trim, plash, and plant Hawthorn hedges. Also attend well to watercourses in plantations. Fell and remove hedgerow timber while this can be done without injury to the crops, .and push forward the falling and clearance of underwood and the thinning of plantations. Hardwoodshould be thinned gradu- ally, and this should be pro- portioned to the e:iposure of the plantation. A permanent check to the growth of the stores may be caused by too heavy a thin- ning at one time. Roads for clearing the woodlands shoukl be well brushed with small faggots before the cartage commences. About forty of these to a rod in length will generally make a firm road such as will serve for the carriage of timber. Collect Fir cones wherever tliese can be met with. Seeds which were committed to the rot lieap in the autumn will now require attention. Nursery beds which have been cleared of plants may receive a deep trenching or other preparation for the succeeding crop. Where the soil is suitable a crop of evergreen trees may succeed the vegetables which are grown as a preparation of the nursery ; the land being afterwards deeply cultivated, these may be succeeded by deciduous trees. It is not well to keep the nursery in too highly manured a state. After a good dressing at the commence- ment, such mixtures as road scraping, fresh lime, and l=me lubbish, rotted weeds, leaf mould, rotten turf, bone dust, and the refuse of the nursery will be generally found sufficient to maintain fer- *'''*y- ,, „ A. J. BUKROWS. t^luclcley, Kent. DILLENIA SPECIOSA. Of all trees generally grown in India for ornamental effect this is one of the handsomest. Some idea of its beauty may be formed when we state that the flowers, which are white with yellow stamens, have a diameter of no less thaa 9 in. The foliage associated with such Dilleuia speciosa. beautiful flowers is also extremely handsome, so much so, that young specimens well grown in this country make useful decorative plants. It was introduced about eighty years ago, and has since been well known in gardens, though not often seen in flower. Seeds of it are sometimes received, and usually grow without difficulty ; cuttings also made of the half-ripened wood are found to strike readily. It grows well in light sandy loam under the usual stove conditions, and, if freely exposed to light for the purpose of ripening its wood, it may be expected to flower, as indeed it has already done, but we do not remember seeing it in bloom lately. This tree is found in all tropi- cal India, Ceylon, and in tlie Malay Islands and peninsula. The young caij'xes of this and another species have a pleasant acid taste, and are used in curries. The fruit, though almost too acid, is still Jax 8, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 51 eaten with sugar, and the juica mixed with water ia employed as a cooling beverage during fever. Ita wood is used for guu-sbocks. Many other plants belonging to the Order are remirkable for the m^gnifioence of their foliige and Bowers, and a numbsr are now in cultivation. Wehivetw) species of Candollea, severalof Hibbertia, one Delima, and lastly a fine plant, Wormia Bnrbidgei, introduced by Mr. Burbidge. It may b3 well, too, to mention the bexutiful Acro- trem^s, which hitherto have bxHhd the cultivator to keep long, though one species at least flowered at Kew some years ago. R. I. L. ORCHIDS. ORCHIDS AT SILVERDALE LODGE, SYDEISTHAM. 0.>«E of the most evident proofs of the rapidly increasing popu- larity of Orchid culture is afforded by the numerous coUectiocs that are being formed, especially in private gardens, in the neigh- bourhood of London. Amongst others, that of Mr. Walter Cobb, which has been formed within the last dozen years, is now becoming famous, not only for the number of species and varieties which it represents, but also for the skilful culture which is carried out in it. A noteworthy fact, too, is that the proprietor has gainel his cultural experience from his own observations alone. A primary consideration in successful Orchid culture is suitably constructed houses, and here may be found houses and pits, about a dozen in number, well planned and arranged in accordance with their ultimate requirements. They are all span-roofed with a moderately sharp ridge angle, and all are glazed with large panes of good clear glass. The ventilation, too, is excellent, the lowermost ventilators being made to open on a level with the hot-water pipes ; therefore the indraught of cold air is slightly warmed before it comes in contact with the plants. None of the houses are maintained at such a high temperature as is generally considered to be essential for successfully growing the kinds from the hottest regions, though the plants, especially some of the Saocolabiums, Aerides, Vaudas, and PhaUenopsis, compare favourably with any we have seen elsewhere. The section now generally known as cool Orchids is Mr. Cobb's specialty, and certainly he has attained remarkable success in their culture. The Odoutoglossums are particularly fine, and we doubt if there exists in cultivation more vigorous plants of the lovely 0. vexillarium than we saw here grown in a cool house from imported plants. One we noticed possessed a break consisting of fifteen broad and healthy leaves. When these plants of 0. vexillarium are in flower they must IJroduce a fine display, and Mr. Cobb assured us that he possesses some of the finest forms extant. Though the cool system of growing this Orchid is not generally practised, we are convinced that it is the correct one, and certainly one that is less troublesome than the warmer plan, as the plants are not nearly so subject to the attacks of thrips and other insect pests. Its beautiful congener, 0. Eoezli, and its white variety are grown in a temperature a trifle warmer, and the plants certainly indicate that their requirements are well met. That somewhat fastidious species, 0. Phalajnopsis, is grown well by Mr. Cobb in suspended pots hung close to the roof, which seems to be its proper place. 0. crispura (Alexandra) and 0. cirrhosum are numerously represented by unusually fine examples. The varie- ties, too, of the former were among the finest we have seen — one particularly so, as the flowers were as much as 3 in. across, with broad pure white sepals, with beautifully crisped margins and large lips, with a dash of gold and conspicuous blotches of chocolate. Some of the spikes on the plants of 0. crijpum were branched after the manner of those of 0. Pesoatorei, and this fact alone affords a proof of how well they thrive. The large plump bulbs of 0. cirrhosum, the ma- jority developing stout flower-stems, also showed how well that species succeeds. Thatrareanddifficulttomauagespecies, 0.coronarium,i3suc- ce3sfully grown on small vertical trellis-work enclosing a compost of peat and Sphagnum Moss, &e. The even more rare 0. miniatum, a near neighbour of the preceding, is represented by a thriving plant, with plump bulbs, which no doubt will soon develop flower- spikes. It is grown much in the same manner as O. coronarium and in the same temperature — a cool, moist house. We have never seen finer bulbs of 0. nebulosum than we saw in this collection, and so plump and well ripened were they, that the flower-spikes which they will eventually produce must be a sight worth seeing. The plants are grown in 4t-in. and 6-in. pots, and the bulbs are raised well above the surface on a layer of growinj Sphagnum Moss, whicli keeps the soil sweet. Among other noteworthy Orchids in flower were Dendrobium lituiflorum, a charming species, reminding one of D. nobile, but the flowers are smaller and different both in form and colour. The sepals Q,re a dark purple, and the lip pure white with a border of purple. It is a most desirable kind, as it continues a long tinje in perfection, and flowers so much earlier than D. nobile. D. moniliforme, als") called Linxwianum, was just expanding its buds, and is likewise a valuable early-flowering kind. The lovely Lslia anceps was repre- sented by some fine flowering specimens of the typical form, and also by plants of a smaller size of the rarer forms, including the chastely b3autiful pure white variety. In the warmest house was a superb plant of that scarce Orchid, Saccolabium giganteum, or Vauda densiflora, as it is sometimes called. It bore three large spikes of fully expanded lilosjoms, produced on a single break beiring a dozen leaves. The variety represented is one of the finest we have seen, the large violet lip3 of the blossoms being particularly brilliant. Colax jug03U3, a fine Orchid too little known, was flowering finely in the cool house. The flowers are so distinct in coloar and form from those of most other spacies, that it is desirable on that account alone. Tiiey measure about 1 m across, and are wax like in texture, ivory white, and barred heavily with conspicuous bands of deep violet-purple. It is a terrestrial kind which succeeds well in pots in a cool Olontoglossum house. The various species of Cymbidium will shortly make a fine display, the new and still rare C. Lowianum being especially fine ; on one spike of this there were a dozen buds almost expanded. The Australian Djndrobium suparbiens was one of the showiest Orchids in flower, a specimen of it bearing two or three long arching spikes of rich amaranth blossoms indicating admirably how successfully it is grown here. It is, however, not a difficult kind to manage, and it certainly well repays a little special attention, inasmuch as it has the desirable quality of continumg a very long tinae in flower. Of D. Goluieanum, a near relation of D. superbiens, we noticed a well-grown plant, but it was not in flower. The lovely D. primulinum and the variety giganteum were flowering finely in baskets suspended close to the roof — the proper position for this and similar species. On D. Wardianum, numerous flowers were expanded, but later on they will be finer and more numerous, as the growths of the latest plants are long and well ripened. Mr. Cobb is particularly successful with the nigio-hirsute section of Dendrobia, which are reputed diffieult to miuige, for he has D. infundibulum with stout stems upwards of 2 ft. in height, and its congener, D. Jamesianum, was equally vigorous and flowering finely. Both kinds are grown in pots, under which condition they appear to thrive admirably. Besides the Odontoglossums in flower mentioned above, we noticed the rare 0. polyxanthum, to which was awarded a first-class certificate by the Royal Horticultural Society last April. It is somewhat in the way of 0. triumphaus, but the flowers are of a much darker hue. Though not a showy kind, it is desirable, ou account of its flowering in midwinter as well as in soring. We were tco late to seethe display of bloom on the numerous fine plants of Oncidium Rogersi, which are grown in pots and pans suspended near the glass, a condition which ■evidently conduces tothe production of stout well-ripened bulbs. The beautiful 0. Marshallianum, which is generally grown in an interme- diate temperature, is grown here with the cool Odontoglossums, a mode .ef treatment which appears to be the correct one, as the size of the bulbs abundantly showed. When the plants were grown in a hotter house, the bulbs did not attain beyond medium size ; but in the cooler house they have become unusually large and well ma- tured. Thus, the difl'erenoe in the size of the bulbs tends to show " that a cool temperature is best for this species. Throughout the col- lection there are several similar instances of Orchids that are gene- rally subjected to a high temperature flourishing in a cool and moist atmosphere, which is being continually changed by the currents of warmed air indrawn over the heated water-pipes, and so deprived of their rawness. Even on the cold, cheerless day that these notes were made the ventilators were open, though the atmosphere was such as would be termed by cultivators a growing temperature. One or two among the remarkably fine collection of Pescatorea, BoUea, &c., were in flower, including the rare P. Klabochorum, with its waxy white plum-tinged flowers. These plants are grown in a moderately warm, but pleasantly moist atmosphere, which seems to be highly conducive to their growth, some of them being as flne as we have ever seen them. That almost perpetual-flowering Orchid, Oncidium Weltoni, was very showy, with its large spikes of pretty purple flowers. The showiest Orchids of all, however, were plants of Calanthe Veitchi, than which we have rarely met with better grown, or more finely flowered e.xamples. They werein4J-in. or 6-in. pots, and the large bulbs they produced in these small pots were remarkable. The plants appeared to be potted in a rich loamy soil, which was completely ramified with roots. Over-potting, which is the rock on which the majority of beginners in Orchid culture spi:t, is carefully avoided in this collection, nor is the opposite extreme tolerated, but in all cases the soil and the plant are so nicely balanced, that the one is not unduly out of proportion to the other ; therefore, the soil does not contain more moisture than is required by the plant, thereby obviating that stagnation of moisture which soon renders the soil sour and unfit for the tender rootlets to thrive in. W. GOLDBING. 52 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 8, 1881, EEPOTniSrG COOL HOUSE ORCHIDS. Great diversity of opinionexists even among good Orchid growers as to the proper time for repotting Odontoglossiitng, Mxsdevallias, and other occupant3 of the cool house. For my pa,rt, I have found it best to perform that operation as early as convenient in the pre- sent month, or in the beginning of February, as the plants are less liable to suffer by the change at thit season than at any other. These plants now begin to root freely, and I consider it important that such of them as require it should be repotted before the new roots work into the old material. It repotted at the time recom- mended the risk of breaking the new roots will be avoided and the plants will have the new miterial to root into at once ; thus they will pass another year at least without having their roots disturbed. Another advantage of potting them early is, that the moist, shady condition of the house, so conducive to the healthy root action of these plants and so favourable to their being kept slightly drier in the pot after repotting, without shrivelling, can be secured without any trouble, the tsmperature outside the house being favourable to it. It may be said, the main object being to repot these plants when they are beginning to grow and root, that, as Masdevallias grow the greater part of the year, and most of the cool house Odontoglossums make two sets of pseudo-bulbs in the year, the plants will be in a proper condition for re-potting when the growths tliey are now about to make are fiaished. Such is not, however, the case, for then, the sun being bright and the weather warm, it will require all one's care to keep the plants plump, even although they have not been disturbed. If re- potted at that season, it would be next to impossible to keep them in condition. I dislike allowing any Orchid to shrivel on any pretence. It is often doneVith the idea of ripening the growth and inducing the plant to flower, but wherever an Orchid is allowed to become emaciated it is at the expense not only of the expected bloom, but also of the next growth. The chief office of the mature pseudo- bulb is to keep the incipient bud plump, and at the proper time assist in its growth and nourishment until it can support itself by making roots. Where old pseudo-bulbs are allowed to shrivel the reverse of this takes place, and instead of nourishing the bud they weaken it. On the health and plumpness of the bud or eye depends in a great measure the size and strength of the pseudo- bulb it is intended to form. With the intermediate house, Brazilian Oncids, and other strong growing plants, the ill effects of shrivelling are nob so bad or so noticeable, but the Odontoglossums, &c., from cool moist latitudes are particularly impatient of it, and in consequence I have frequently seen large pseudo-bulbs produce suc- cessors not one half their own size. On the other hand, I have found that v'hen these plants arc grown cool and kept plump, each succeed- ing new growth ii larger than the preceding one, until by exhube- rance of strength they throw out several leaders. When re-pottiug the cool-house Orchids, those with advanced flower-spikes should be left and attended to after flowering, but re-potting now does not in the least affect those with flower-spikes just appearing. The Proper Material in which to pot most cool-house Orchids is light (ibry peat and green, living Sphagnum Moss in about equal proportions. This is pretty generally understood, but I find that among amateurs a great mistake is often com:nitted as regards the preparation and using of the compost recommended. The practice is generally to break up a certain quantity of peat into small pieces, to place a like quantity of Sphagnum Moss on the top, and to turn the whole over several times until it is thoroughly mixed. This is wrong ; so prepared, the com- post when used soon gets sour if it is kept as moist as it should be, and when it is allowed to get dry it is not easy to wet it thorouglily again. Cool Orchids like free drainage, so that the water may easily run through the material around them. It is of little use to properly drain the pots and afterwards use in potting a material which is too close and retentive when watered. I alwa\'s have the peat prepared by having it broken into pieces about 3 in. or 4 in. in diameter, afterwards breaking it into smaller lumps when required as the work progresses. I keep the peat and Sphagnum on the bench close at hand, but not mixed, and work them in separately, only using the dry, fibry lumps of peat, and having the tine part of it removed occasionally ; this is much better than sifting. The Sphagnum Moss I merely have roughly picked over in order to remove sticks. Sedges, &o., but I never have it scalded (as some do, in order, as they say, to kill the insects) on any account. Scalding kills it and prevents it from making that healthy, moist, green covering which is so conducive to the health of the plants, particu- larly in summer. Fibry Peat of the proper kind is very preservative as regards the roots, and in potting them I always like to place a good lump of it just under the plants, so as to bring it up to the proper height, and to form a sort of cushion around which the roots may be arranged, afterwards placing a few good lumps immediately around the plant before working ia any Sphagnum. A good solid piece under the plant is of great use in keeping the roots from getting bunched up in the unnatural manner they usually are in the hands of inexperienced jootters. Any one who laas been in tlie habit of potting his cool house Orchids in fine mixed material will soon see a marked improvement in tliemif ha pots them in rough peat and Sphagnum as recommended. Only last weak an Orchid grower told me that his plants had always been potted in previously mixed material until he saw me potting mine last year ; he then potted his in a similar manner, and the plants improved beyond measure, the soil never becoming sour or aolden as before. The pots for use should be clean, and if new they should be soaked in water and allowed to drain before being used; afterwards they should be crocked about two-thirds of the way up for drainage. Where tha material is used rough and free from fine soil, the pieces used being large in proportion to the size of the pots, a layer of Sphagnum on top of the drainage is not necessary. I am happy to say that my experience in cold house Orchids since I so strongly advocated cool treatment in this journal some years ago has fully borne out my former views. A temperature of from 45° to 55° in winter is not only enough, but even a few degrees higher of arti- ficial heat is positively injurious. Last year, not having room in the cold house for a number of strong plants of Odontoglossum, I placed them in a warmer house. Those in the warm house are now not nearly so strong as those in the cold house, while their leaves are thin and papery, and they have an unthrifty look about them ; those in the cold house, which has sometimes been down to 40°, are plump and shiny, their leaves thick and green, the pseudo-bulbs and leaves of many of the 0. Alexaudraa and 0. Peseatorei being tinged with that purplish hue so indicative of these plants being treated just as tliey require. Grown cold, these plants are indeed easy to manage ; in heat they are an endless trouble with but poor result. James O'BraEN. NOTES ON ORCHIDS IN FLOWER. Saccolabium giganteum.— In the Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, Upper HoUoway, Mr. B. S. Williams has an unusually fine display of bloom of this beautiful Orchid. Several dozens of specimens are flowering simultaneously, some bearing as many as seven spikes on one plant, and a few have three or four spikes on a break. Most of the plants are attached to suspended blocks, a con- dition under which they seem to thrive admirably, but most pro- bably they will, in due time, be transferred to pots or pans, which, without doubt, is the best system of cultivating this Orchid. Amongst such a large number of plants there is necessarily a great variation witli regard to the depth and colour of the flowers, some being of a pale violet hue, whilst others, on the contrary, are of a very deep shade. Fine 'Variety of Odontoglossum cirrhosum. — One of the finest cool Orchids now in flo\i er in Mr. B. S. Williams' nursery, Upper Holloway, is a variety of 0. cirrhosum named Klabochorum. Its flowers are considerably larger than those of the ordinary form, the sepals being more attenuated and curled, while the spottings are more pronounced, and the golden hue of the crested lip much brighter. Among the large number of the more common forms there is also a striking variation with regard to the size of the blos- soms and their markings, but none are so distinct as that we have mentioned. Masdevallia tovarensis.— In the same nursery there is a fine display of this lovely little Orchid — one of the rarest of the Masdevallias. The plants are remarkable for their vigorous health and qwofusion of flowers, several of the flower-stems having pro- duced three and four blossoms each and of a larger size than usual. Tlie plants are in pots in a moderately cool house in company with other Masdevallias, among which we noticed in flower M. Veitchi, JI. amabilis, and M. iguea, all extremely pretty and desirable kinds, besides the singular little M. Wagneri, with its triangular blossoms and yellow, tail-like sepals. Stenorrhynchusspeciosum. — This showy terrestrial Orchid is not often seen outside a botanic garden, though it deserves to be grown by every one. It has broad pale green root leaves with a dash here and there of a silvery hue. The flower-spikes are erect and grow aloout 1 ft. in height ; the flowers, as well as the membranous bracts that subtend them, are of a beautiful deep coral colour, and very attractive. It is grown best in pots in a loamy soil and placed in a moderately warm atmosphere. We saw some excellent flowering specimens of it tlie other day in Messrs. Henderson's Nursery, Maida Vale. It is one of the most alpine of Orchids ; is frequently found in unusually cold localities, the collector Schlim having found it on Sierra Nevada of Santa Martha at about 10,000 ft. elevation, where the temperature often falls below zero. Jan. S, 1881.] THE GAEDEN. 53 Varieties of Odontoglossura Alexandres. — At the Pine- apple Nursery, Maida Vale, there will shortly be a fine display of bloom on a large number of plants of this beautiful Orchid with which a spacious house is filled. We have seldom seen so many flower- spilces developed on such small plants, a circumstance doubtless attri- butable to the cool and moist atmosphere of the house, which is main- tained at a much lower temperature than ia usual. The collection represents a great number of varieties, amongst which the most note- worthy at present in llower is one called luteolum, the flowers of which are suffased with a decided yellow tinge, rendering it very distinct from other forma. Varieties of OcBlogyne cristata.— It may not be generally known that there are two distinct forms of this popular Orchid dif- fering from each other in the colour of the crest of the lip. One has a bright deep orange crest, while that of the other ia pale clear lemon. Both forms are now finely in flower in the Pine-apple Nur- sery, Maida Vale. Phalsenopsis at Clapton. — A spacious house in Messrs. Low's nursery is entirely filled with a large importation of P. Schilleriaua, and the forms Lobbi, Veitchi, &c., will soon be very attractive, as nearly all the plants, numbering some hundreds, have produced flower-spikes, some of which will bear a large number of flowers. Seldom can such an extensive display of this lovely Orchid be seen ; it will, therefore, be well worthy of a visit when at its best.— W. a, Lselia peduncularis. — For the past three weeks the show of this Orchid at the York Nurseries has been perhaps unrivalled in the history of the species, and ia likely, we undei-stand, to continue for at least three weeks to come. Fancy 300 or 400 slender flower-stems from 9 in. to 15 in. high, each bearing from six to ten or twelve flowers in a more or leas dense panicle, and some idea of the beauty of the display will be gained. The individual blossoms are from IJ in. to 2 in. across, and vary in colour in diff'erent plants. Some are white, others shaded blush, others pink or deep rose, while all have a black-purple centre or " eye," caused by a heavy blotch on the labellum, which contrasts charmingly with a touch of pale sul- phur and the delicate tints of the sepals and petals. The individual flowers of this species do not appear to continue so long as those of other Lfelias, but their profusion and compactness largely make up for this. Nothing can apparently be more healthy than the present condition of the plants after two years' cultivation, or give better promise for the future. L. peduncularis and L. rubesoens appear to be extreme forms of one species. Arundina bambussefolia. — This plant is well worth grow- ing, not only for its beauty, but for the persistency of its blooming. Although the Lfelia-like flowers last but two or three days, yet they are constantly followed by others from the end of the same stem, I have a plant which has hardly been a day without a flower open upon one or more of its four growths for four months, from August to November. Now it is showing growth strongly from the base of the old wood. It has been potted, as advised by Mr. Freeman, in " good garden soil," and grown in a warm house. Is this the best way in which to treat it ? — W. B. Orchids in Flower at Dr. Paterson's, Fernfleld, Bridge of Allan :— Angrrecum sesquipedale Epidendruni exaltum Odontoglossum Cervantesi Erassia Lawreiiceaua fragraus bictonense Cattleya Trianre (very flue erectum TJro-Skinueri var.) Gongora Ruckeriaua Alexandra) bulbosa atro-purpurea cordatum C'alanthe Veitclii Lyr-aste Skinneri nebulosum vestita rubra-oculata Lxlia anceps conatrictum V. lutea oculata var. Barker! Loudesboroughiaiium Ccologyne, sp. peduncularis Oncidiuni ornitliorliyii- Cypi-ipedium iusigne Dayana chum .Sedeni albida clieirophorum viUosuni var. bella aureum venustum Masdevallia tovarensis rilumna fragrans Deudrobium aureiun melanopsis Sophronitis graudiflora ftnibriatiim gigauteum amabilis Cymbidium gigauteuni f . oculatum jgnea Vanda tricolor Wardianum Mesospiuidium vulcani- var. insignia Epidendrum ciliare latifo- cum var. Patersoni lium Maxillaria, sp. Zygopetalum Jlackayi rhizophorum Neottia picta maculata M. Dalvey's var. Orchids at Bradford Peverill.— I noticed in Mr. Middle- ton's garden here the other day plants of Calanthe Veitchi and ves- tita rubra in 6-in. pots, with spikes 4 ft. in length full of bloom, from three to six spikes being on each plant. I also noticed two fine specimens plants of Dendrobium nobile just coming into bloom, the buda on which might be counted by hundreds ; also Cypripedium barbatum and insigue in bloom and Ltelia anceps ; Lycaste Skinneri was pushing up four flower-spikes from one bulb. Amongat other Orchids ahowing for bloom was a fine Dendrobium Wardianum. — A. Q. Epidendrum varicosum.— This pretty and delightfully fragrant Orchid is now in flower with Sir Charles \V. Strickland at Hildenlcy. The plant has dark green, flask-shaped pseudo-bulbs, about 8 in. in height, each bearing two or three leaves. The flower- spikes, which, togetiier with the backs of the petals, are of a bright emerald-green, rise to a height of about S in., each bearing from twelve to fifteen flowers ; sepals and petals chocolate ; lip white, changing to yellow ; column white, blotched with purple. The flowers are very pleasing, but their principal charm is their exqui- site violet-like perfume, one spike being sufiioient to scent a large room. It thrives in an unusually cold house. — J. O'B. Dendrobium Cambridgeanum.— r. L. C— It flowers from the pseudo- Ijulbs ill process of maturation, before, in fact, the leaves became yellow. No sooner do the tlowers fade thau the leaves lose their chloropliyl, but it does not follow that every good-sized bulb flowers. Some vary according to constitution, and are not so free-flowering as others. Again, proper culture has somethiug to do with inducing the variety to push flower-buds from the nodes. This, liow- ever, happens witli all Dendrobiums. A check at the proper time will cause many plants to produce flowers.— J. Anderson. This beautiful Orchid blooms, in fact, on the young growth, i.e., the last made growth with leaves ou it. It blooms occasionally on the last year'sgrowth, but that is an exception. Its time of Ijlooming depends on the rapidity with which it has been grown ; sometimes it does not bloom uatil sum- mer. It shows bloom on tlie young pseudo-bulbs between the leaves. — S. O'B. Potting and Temperature.— "Perplexed" had better repot Iiis Orchids now; as they are not established, the shift cannot injure any of them. See article on potting cool house Orchids in this week's issue, Epidendrum vitellinum, Odontoglossum pulcheUum, 0. FlossI majus, 0. cirrhosum, 0. Lindleyanam, .and itasdevallia coccinea belong to the cool house, and require a temperature of from 45^ at night to 65^ by day. Oncidiuni spliacelatum, 0. leucochilum, Cymbidium aloifolium, Lycaste (JIaxillaria) Harrisonire, Cypripedium Pearcei, and Tricho- pilia tortilis require a temperature of from 50^ to 60', and a drier atmosphere than the cool house. Tlie Dendrobium is probably D, Pierardi or one of the D, transparens group ; it will succeed along with the last named, and if not showing any young growtli it should be kept dry. If growing it should be watered, —J, O'B, Second Flowering of Dendrobium chrysanthum.- It is not at all unusual for this plant to flower a second tinie as described hy " W, B." (p. 6), Tlie plant after flowering this time should be treated .as a growing plant ; it will then bloom again probably during the sunuiier,— J, O'B. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. ASPAEAGUS OX THE FRENCH PLAN". Reverring to the size of Asparagus as grown in France and England, most people interested in the matter who have visited Covent Garden Market for the first time in spring have been amazed at the immense size of this vegetable as imported from France. I, in common with many more gardeners, was very sceptical as to whether it would be possible to grow such Asparagus in England, even though we were told in the " Parks and Promenades of Paris " that it could be, and also the way in which it could be done. Soon after reading that work on its first appearance I determined to make tlie experiment, and the opportunity of doing so also presented itself under favour- able circumstances in the south of England. A piece of land to our liking was selected, a deep, yellow, sandy loam, inclining to clay and rather moist, though drained and on a gentle slope to the east. This was trenched about 2 ft. G in. deep and received a heavy dressing of stable manure, with half-decayed leaves intermixed, well incor- porating the whole with the soil as the trenching progressed ; after trenchiug, the whole piece laid some months to settle, or indeed until the time when planting had arrived. When about to plant, which was not until the young Asparagus had grown some inches, the piece of ground received another dressing on its surface of rotten manure and leaf-mould, which was dug in. It was then marked off in lines 3 ft, apart and planted with young Asparagus plants the second year from the seed 2 ft. apart in the lines, thus having 3 ft. between the plants one way and 2 ft. the other. The sets were simply laid on the sur- face with the roots spread out horizontally, and then a portion of soil was drawn over them from the spaces between the rows ; thus, when finished, the ground appeared in shallow ridges and furrows "from west to east, following the slope of the ground. The plants, being in full growth, were immediately watered, and were occasion- ally watered during summer. Every winter the whole surface of the ground was top-dressed with a mixture of horse manure and half decayed leaves. Some of the stronger stems of the Asparagus re- ceived attention as to staking, as is done in the case of herbaceous plants to prevent them from wind- waving or being broken ; but the position was a sheltered one, and little staking comparatively was required. Now for the result. On the third year after planting — the fourth from the seed — we had the satisfaction of cutting as good Asparagus as to size as could be seen in Covent Garden ; indeed, as to quality it was considered better, inasmuch as it -n-as not blanched, although I am aware that blanching is by some considered to be an improve- ment. We were satisfied that the wide planting had very much to 54 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 8, 1881 do with our success, but more especially the favourable character of the soil and its natural condition as to moisture. We were so satis- fied with our success, that we had planned a plantation of Asparagus on a large scale on a piece of ground capable of irrigation, but was prevented by unforeseen circumstances from carrying the design into effect. It is probable that the higher average temperature of the south coast of England favoured the experiment, but, from ex- perience in the north near the coast, I feel satisfied that greatly improved results may bo expected from improved culture. I am unable to refer to Mr. Robinson's " Park and Gardens of Paris " at present, but from memory I think he places all the merits of French Asparagus to the credit of culture, and I am convinced with justice. W. D. P. P. AUTUMlSr AND AVINTER BROCCOLI. This has been a good season for Broccoli of all kinds, where it has had room enough. Vcitch's Self-protecting Autumn Broccoli has been producing white close handsome heads for these last two months side by side with the Autumn Giant Cauliflower sent out by the same firm some years ago. Later on will come Snow's \Viuter White, which when true is an excellent Broccoli. To make sure of having a supply when wanted, it is beat to make at least two sowings — one in March and another towards the end of April, and to plant out some of each sowing. In early districts a furtlier sowing may be made in May, or else the later sowing may be delayed till then. I have latterly always sown a few seeds of the Autumn Giant Cauli- flower in autumn to plant out in April. I always find it so reliable in a hot dry summer. Autumn Cauliflower and Broccoli may stand a little nearer each other than would be desirable for those plants that are intended for supplying the spring demand, as in the latter case the hardiness wliich a free circulation of air round and among the plants gives will enable them to pass witliout injury through a period of low temperature that would if thickly planted destroy their less firmly built-up tissues. But with the autumn and winter kinds, such as those I have mentioned, protection in some form should be given. And tlie best plan to adopt on the approacli of a severe frost is to dig up all tliose plants that are forward, first tying the leaves over the hearts, and plant them thickly in a spare pit. The remainder may be laid down in some dry elevated spot, have some pea sticks or branches laid over them, and after the first night's frost be covered with dry litter to remain on as long as the frost continues and two or three days afterwards. It sometimes happens that these early Broccoli grow too large for table if planted far apart, especially if the summer and autumn be mild and moist ; therefore it is always a good plan to have one bed at least planted close, or say IS in. apart in the row with 2 ft. between the rows. This will give plenty of space for good medium sized heads, which when young are so much in demand. The land does not require any special preparation for Broccoli. I always plant after the early Potatoes, simply drawing deep drills with the hoe the right distances apart and planting firmly in the drills. E. Hobd.w. NOTES AND QUESTIONS ON THE KITCHEN GARDEN. "Wintering Potatoes. — The soft, moist" character of the weather renders the sound keeping of all kinds of Potatoes more than usually difficult. Early kinds lifted in July and August and stored for seed are already pushing growth, and need plenty of air to prevent the shoots from becoming weak and blanched. If this early growth can be kept stout, short, and green, no harm will result, but to have it so the temperature must be as low as possible, and the position dry. To get a low temperature, however, is not easy during a mild winter ; the best of temperatures in which to keep Potatoes well at rest is one just above the freezing point ; below that there is danger, especially to tubers that have become active. All tubers intended for planting cannot be kept too thin in bulk, and frequent turning is very desirable. Where they lie in bulk the top of tlie heap will always indicate damp, whiht perhaps below the tubers are dry. Very soon, however, the greater warmth generated by the bulk will promote growth, and if not at once checked there will be waste. In such cases it is well to turn the heap often, and with care. In close, damp pits Potatoes can hardly be keeping well. Let them be ever so well ventilated, the heavy rains will promote damp and premature gi-owth. Those, therefore, who have their stock stored in pits will do wisely to open and examine them as soon as possible. Probably the best of all places in wliich to store Pota- toes is a large, dry, cool cellar. Here especially Potatoes for eating keep well, and, best of all, the temperature is regular and even, let it be what it may outside. Late sorts intended for seed, if spread out thinly, will not push growth too early, but the early Kidneys may be best in a more airy place. It is of such importance that seed tubers should be planted in full possession of all natural vigour, that too much care cannot well be bestowed upon their proper storin". —A. D. Effect of Peat Charcoal on Potatoes.— As we are fast approaching the season for planting early Potatoes, allow me to give my experience of last season. Having heard and read a great deal of the value of peat charcoal, I thought I would give it a fair trial. I jirocured from a firm in the north a small portion of their prepared " Peat Charcoal Potato Manure;'' also some of their ground peat charcoal, pure. I then got a bag of Dartmoor peat charcoal, made from the black peat. This was unground, and I had it pounded so that it would pass through a sieve ^-in. mesh. Having selected a piece of ground, I decided to plant none but Myatt's Kidney. I first put the prepared manure by itself, then mixed with a little stable manure, next the ground charcoal in the same two ways, and lastly the Dartmoor charcoal. The results were as follows : I had the worst crop and most disease where I used the prepared peat charcoal manure, and the best where I used the Dartmoor charcoal pure and simple. I noticed in digging that the Potatoes seemed beat where the charcoal was coarsest. I purpose using this peat charcoal more extensively this year. I may observe that I use the coarse pieces of charcoal in potting for drainage, and I fancy the plants do much better with it than otherwise. My gardener believes there ia some special value in this article which he cannot explain. — Countryman. Early Purple-top Munich Turnip.— As far as my expe- rience is concerned in regard to this Turnip, I feel justified in recom- mending it. We have grown it besides other kinds, and have found it to surpass them all in point of earliness. It is also fully equal to them in flavour, and much smaller in the top ; in short, I consider it all that can be desired in the way of a Turnip. — C. B, THE GARDEN IN THE HOUSE. PLANTS FOR TABLE DECORATION. FiNE-LEAVED plants for this purpose greatly assist in economising flowers in winter when the supply of the latter is limited, and throughout the summer months they impart a coolness and fresh- ness to the table, both with and without flowers. Where a constant supply of plants has to be grown for this purpose it should be the aim of the cultivator to have them as varied as possible. It is also essential that they be well grown, as plants with sickly foliage, or otherwise disfigured, either by insect pests or overcrowding, will pre- sent but a poor appearance when placed on a table, where their general qualities can be seen at a glance. Therefore, whatever is grown for this purpose ought to be in the best of health. Six-inch pots should be the maximum in which plants for table are grown, and not many should be tolerated in this size. I much prefer 4|-iu. pots for almost all kinds of plants, and some Palms can l)c grown and kept in good health in 3-in. pots, and of sufficient size and propor- tions to produce a good effect. These smaller-sized pots have a de- cided advantage in the case of some arrangements. 1 have at times used several plants for table work when only in very small pots. I have invariably noticed that the very common error made by cul- tivators for this purpose has been adhering far too much to the larger size of pot, which has frequently been out of all proportion to the size of the plant. Now I consider quite the opposite ought to be aimed at, i.i-., to endeavour to secure a healthy plant in as small a pot as possible. Plants in such pots will require more atten- tion in the way of watering, &c., than those in larger size, but they will not be so likely to lose their roots as when the larger size is used. When the plants become pot-bound and require extra nutri- tion to assist them, they should be treated to frequent waterings, either of liquid manure or some artificial fertiliser. I have found Standen's a very useful manure, for Palms especially. By thus treating the plants, and paying attention to the cleanliness of the foliage, they can be made to do service for a long time. They ought to be changed twice or three times every week, according to their hardiness, and ought not at any time when in the house to be al- lowed to become dry at the root, for, being in a dry atmosphere, the/ suff'er from drought the more readily. Palms. — The impunity with which some kinds of Palms with- stand ill-treatment is extraordinary, notably those which thrive in a temperate house. Some of the most graceful kinds require stove treatment ; consequently they must be used more carefully. Fore- most among these stands Cocos AVeddelliana, which is one of the most elegant Palms when in a small state. In can be grown of suf- ficient size for table work in 4J-in. pots, and even in smaller pots it is very effective. Ggonoma gracilis isalsoaipost useful Palm in a Jan. 8, 1881. J THE GAEDEN. 55 small state, and very graceful. It is, when healthy, of a deeper shade of green than the former. Areoa aurea is one of the best of its class, being slender in growth and elegant in outline. A. lutes- cena is perhaps one of the most useful Palms we hare. It can be had and grown well in small pots, and will withstand exposure to a dry atmosphere. A. Veisohalfelti is>lso a useful sort, partaking of the character of A. aurea, but rather more robust in growth. A. rubra is a useful and hardy kind, very handy in 3-iu. pots ; iu larger pots it is inclined to grow too freely for table work. A. sapida is very pretty when in small pots bsfore it partakes of its more robust habit, and cm be grown in a warm greenhouse. A. nobilis (or Oncosperma Van Houtteani), distinguished by its spiny petioles, is very distinct, and in a small state most useful, but it requires a higher tempera- ture than most kinds. Calamus ciliaris, when dwarf, is one of the mist distinct of Palms grown as a plant for the table. Amongst Chamasdoreas, C. graminifolia is one of the best. It can be used very eifeotively as a centre plant for the dinner table even when .3 ft. or 4 ft. high, being very light and graceful. C. glaucifolia is also a very serviceable plant, partaking as regards the formation of its leavej somewhat of the character of the genus Cocos. This Palm can bs grown to form beautiful plants for the table in 3-in. pots. When in larger pots it is apt to increase in height rapidly, rendering it rather too tall for table decoration, but most serviceable as a general ornamental plant. Dtemouorops fissus and other kinds closely resembling it, such as D. melanochoetes and palim- banicus, can be retained in i healthy state for a length of time in small pots, in which they are very useful and effective. Euterpe edulis, I think, is one of the prettiest Palms grown as a table plant in 4^-in. and 3 in. pots ; its slender stem and the arching character of its fronds render it a most distinct and graceful Palm. And Geonoma pumila is also a good Palm for the table when in small pots ; it is quite distinct from G. Schottiana, which is another good plant for this purpose. Kentia australis, Belmoreana, and Forsteriana are amongst the hardiest and most useful Palms which we possess, invariably retaining their healthy deep green colour for a length of time. One or other of these kinds should be grown in the most select collection. As small plants they are especially useful for the table ; when larger they are invaluable as general decorative plants. They can be grown to a large size in a compara- tively small pot with the aid of occasional doses of Standen's manure. Phoenix rupioola is one of the best of its class, and not so scarce as it has been. Seaforthia elegans is a useful table plant in the smaller sizes of pots before it puts on its robust habit. Among the Fan Palms, plants of the Thrinax are the most light and elegant for table, and of these T. elegans is one of the best of its class, and quite dis- tinct from any other Palm I have named previously. Culture. — It will be generally found in growing Palms for table decoration that when they become pot-bound they will be liable to the attacks of red spider, and mostly those kinds grown in a stove temperature. In order to remedy this as much as possible in the general routine of work, they ought to be well syringed overhead at least twice daily ; but if the spider becomes very troublesome, it is better to resort to sponging the leaves, or to dipping the plants in a solution made from any of the many insecticides now so easily to be procured. Experience as to the different strengths of various kinds will be found to be highly essential to the cultivator, in order that he may know to what strength he may use any given sort without injury to the plants. J. H., in Field. GEORGE ELIOT'S FUNERAL. It was with feelings of deep sorrow that England received the sad intelligence of George Eliot's death. Though every year necessarily adds to the number of the illustrious departed, still It is not a common chance That takes away a noble mind. Thoughts like these were irppermost as I mingled with the throng which, amid faat falling rain, pressed into the Highgate Cemetery on Wednesday, the 29th ult., to see the last honours paid to one of the greatest writers that England has ever produced. That throng was composed of numbers to whom she was personally unknown, but whose acquaintance with her works (if one might judge by their words) was of the most intimate description. In this way an author has one advantage (among many others) over ordinary mortals ; these may be dearly loved and cherished by those about them, while those have a far wider range— "One touch of Nature makes the whole world akin." Leaving out the relatives and friends who occupied the mourning coaches, among whom were many who fill high places in the great republic of letters, the sad procession from the cemetery chapel to the open grave was followed by a crowd of men and women who must have felt that something had passed away from their lives. That hereafter in the long years to come they would never again look forward to the advent of a new book from the pen of her who created " Dinah Morris " and " Silas Marner,"and to whom the life of Mediteval Florence seemed as familar as that of modern London, while of her it might be said — A Ufa that all th2 lime? deck'd With gifts ul; gr.ice, lliat mi^ht express All comprehensive teaderu^iss, All subtilising iutellect. On the religious part of the funeral this is not the place to dwell ; rather would I note the demeanor of the multitude after this was over, and the manner in which their respect and sorrow were shown. As the coffin was lifted from the hearse it appeared covered with masses of flowers, for the most part white, though here and there faint patches of colour mingled with the snowy blossoms of the Eucharis, Azalea, Camellia, and Lily of the Valley. There were also large bouquets of Violets tied up with their own leaves, but this was not all. The crowds which lined the pathway which was cleared for the coffin and the train of mourners kept pressing forward to touch the narrow house which con- tained all that was mortal of George Eliot. Many of the ladies and some men bore wreaths and nosegays which they laid tenderly by the side of the other floral tributes. The coffin was lowered and the bearers paused to receive these. In this way when the proces- sion was over and the honoured dust had been placed in the vault, the grave presented the appearance of a pyramid of flowers. So was Fidele's sad grave to be " sweetened." Thus would the poet " deck the laureate hearse of Lycidas." The Romans in classic times scattered fragrant Rose-leaves over the tombs of those they loved. The custom will never " wax old and vanish away." So do English men and women mourn those who, amid the prayers and tears of kindred and friends, and the regrets of an admiring world, pass over to the majority. N. CARNATION ,SEED. " P. G." INQUIRES whether in advertised packets of Carnation seed description and produce may be expected to correspond. Certainly not ; for no one who knows the Carnation would undertake to war- rant so exactly what seedlings shall be in form and colour. From the best and worst parentage they will differ considerably, but there will probably be the least variation where the seed is saved from the commonest kinds, such as rough crimson scarlet and rose-coloured selfs. " P. G." may, however, so far put his trust in prophetical announcements that iu an advertised collection of say twelve va- rieties he may be quite sure of getting that number and as many more as there are seeds that grow. But it is too much to expect the young plants to bind themselves by printed assurances on their flowery little packets. I do not here speak of such seed as the best florist flowers would give by careful crossing. That is much too scant and precious to the raiser to be likely to find its way into public seed lists; while no true florist would commit himself to such an act of ignorance as predict- ing what unsown seed would bring forth. All he would answer for would be that thoroughbred seed from thoroughbred flowers would give, amidst diverse failures, some correct and some superior flowers in the dilTerent classes. Exact Reproduction from Seed is the very thing we do not aim at or expect. To the florist the use of seed is progress, not propagation. In the Carnation an identical variety is perpetuated by propagation from layers or pipings. Its seed is sown in the hope of carrying improvement a stage further, and all the interest of a batch of seedlings rests upon the fact that they will not be the same either as their parents or each other. A pod from the highest type of the Carnation, the scarlet bizarre, which is a flower striped with scarlet and maroon on a clear white ground, may give a seedling in its own class and another in the crimson bizarre, or even pink and purple. Other of the seedlings, omitting the maroon, will be white ground, flowers with stripes in scarlet, pink, or the more remote purple, and be scarlet, rose, or purple " flakes " accordingly. Some again will leave out the essential white from their two-coloured stripes and be nondescript or " run " flowers, and some will be simply selfs of different colours. Some will fail in fulness, and be but half double enough or lean-podded singles of five petals. So also with that lovely sister-flower the Picotee, in which the petals are edged, very strictly so, with one colour instead of striped with two or one. A pod from say a "rose-edged" Picotee will give seedlings in its own class and in reds and purples light and heavy. Result of Sowing Collections.— ilr. Barlow, of Stakehill, did once amuse his fellow-florists with growing the whole collection of such Carnation seeds as "P. G." refers to. We all knew how it would end, but our florist brother was willing to give the pains and ground required for the floral frolic ; and, moreover, he much wished to study the effect upon a very severe old Lancashire florist at the 56 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 8, 1881. siglit of something calculated to horrify and haunt him. The seed packets promised divers combinations of colom-s, and one description, more daring than the rest, foretold Carnations " yellow-blue-and- black, which was three times more than enough to startle a Carna- tion grower. The result was a long bed of unutterable mixtures. There were white, sulphur, rose, red and crimson selfs, and many dingy bi;ff and red ground flowers, most with rough-edged petals, blotched and barred with random markings. Nothing that I re- member came nearer our favourite packet of the " yellow-blue-jind- black " Carnation than a yelloM'ish flower with slate - coloured stripes. The amount of grass and bloom was great, but most of the flowers were single ; and all that old David, the scandalised, could say as he caught sight of them once and again was : " What, then, Barlow ; they're not shooled unuer (dug in) yet ! " Kirkbn Maheard, Ripon. Francis D. Horxer. Carnations from Seed.— "B. G." (p. 11) has at last made public a complaint which many purchasers of Carnation and Pico- tee seed make among themselves. I think, however, that these people expect tco much ; the seed in question, as a rule, comes from the south of France, and is almost invariably self-fertilised. Care- fully hybridised seed is, I suppose, a thing hardly to be obtained for money by anyone. It is too valuable ; and a florist who has carefully crossed parent with parent, selecting with as much care as a breeder of raceliorses, would, I am sure, never dream of parting with his treasure to any one whom he did not think would do his work ample justice. You buy perhaps 100 seeds for 53. or 6s. ; well, if ten or fifteen jl.rnta come double and fairly characteristic, if five will be good enough for border plants, and one is of sufficient quality to be worth a name aud a place on an exhibition st.md, not only is one's luck wonderful, but the plants are got wonderfully cheap, .and, in my opinion, there need be no cause to complain. Carnation seed is always worth growing, for no one cau possibly tell what is coming ; from a single hybridisation of the most careful description may come flakes, bizarres, selfs, and fancies. The best florists think tliemselves lucky if from 100 carefully crossed seeds there come five or six good enough for th'^ exhibition stand. My advice, therefore, is, always save your own seed. — Girofle. My experience of Carn.atiou seed as advertised in seed cat.a- logues has been pretty much the same as " B. G.'s" (p. 11), seeing that I have never yet got a plant tliat could be shown at an exhibition of this flower from such seed If '• B. G." wishes to naise plants from seed that will give satisfaction, he should buy a few nanred plants from some amateur who he knows has exhibited and taken prizes, and then save seed from such plants.— K. Iv. LATE NOTES AND QUESTIONS. French Pseonies.— Seeing tli.at the last Garden cnntaius a good .article ■and figure of the Fi-eucli P.ajoiiies allow me to say that I have grown them now four years from a collectioa of twenty-four sorts, sent by the Dean of Hereford to his brother the Earl of Powis, and I find them well worth cuitiv.ition. There was a lady here last season who wished to know where they were to be got, as she Ehould so much like to grow them. I could only refer her to the Continent. Now, perhaps, you can say where in Enalaud they can be had » In my collection there are some with highly marked ceuhes, and for cutting for vases they are very useful — G. Bosn, II'«fco(. [There is a good collection of Paionies in Jlr. Pai-ker's Nursery, at Tooting, and also in some of our other hardy plant nur- series,] Gardens near Grecian or Classic Houses— jl/"rs. i,-Our series will comprise some such gardens, and some lia'-e been puldishcd in back volumes ol The Garden. At present the style of gardening is, unfortunately, seldom con- siderately .adapted to this or any other "style." A simple, natur.al one with smooth lawn coming near the house and, for the most part, permanent beds would suit such houses as well as any others. Weeds on Walks.— Will .anyone tell me what is the best preparation to kill weeds on walks with Box edges at tliis time of year?— B. B. C. Names of Plants.— -C. G.—li, is a Berpetual-flowering Carnation of the .Sir Garnet Wolseley type, but the flower sent is not sullicient to determine its merits ; it is not open enough. D. B. C. -Euphorbia Lathyru? (Common Caper Spurge), G. J. i! — 1, Selaginella Merteusi; 2, Pteris longifolia ; 3, Adiantum hispi- dnlum ; 4, Tradeseantia species (send in flower). E. ycfc/s, —Helichrysum vestitum. Melons at Christmas.— For tlie last month we h.ave had Melons, and there are still a few left. Is not this unusual for January? The Melon is Dell's Hybrid, and the flavour and texture are excellent. — W. \Y. Kettlewell, I^ai-flne Court, near Bristol. We are informed that the annual dinner of the Horticultural Club will take place at the club house on Tuesday next, the 11th inst., Mr. John Lee in the chair, and are pleased to hear that the club is prospering, many new members having joined during the past year. Mr. L. Pointon has' left J^Biddulph Grange and is going into partnership with Mr. J. Sherratt, nurseryman &c., Knypersley, Bddulph, near Congleton. PROPAGATING. ■>'-!) Aphelexis macrantha purpurea. — All the varieties of Aphelexis are increased by means of cuttings prepared as shown in the annexed illustration. Take clean G-in. pots, fill tlieni quarter full of crocks, and on these place some of the siftings out of the soil, which should consist of two-thirds peat and the other yellow loam, made very sandy. Fill up witli this, and press down firmly to J in. below the rim, which space should be filled witli silver sand that has previously been washed. Press down again, and sprinkle with water. Mark the sand with a bell-glass, and then insert the cuttings with a small dibber, fastening them well in. Give a good watering to settle them well in, leaving the glasses off for an hour or two to dry up the leaves. The pots must then be plunged half way up in a tan bed. The glasses sliould be wiped dry every otlier morning. The cuttings are generally between two and three months in rooting. The best month for striking them in is March. When they begin to grow, which will be about the second month, tilt up the glasses with a small piece of crock or wood, gradually in- creasing the opening till they may be removed alto- gether. They may tlien be put in a cool, shady pit, ready for potting off in July. — H. Botanic Gardens, G-eorgetown, Demerara. — The report on this garden for the half-year ending June 3U last has just been received. Its matter is mostly of local interest. We note, however, that Mr. Jenman, tlie superintendent, refers in one part of the report to the r.apid growtli of some introduced plants. "This," he says, "is more particularly shown by the Roses obtained from England, The Hybrid Perpetuals from average-sized nursery plants have in the tliree montl\s which have elapsed since they were put out grown into bushes from 6 ft. to 7 ft. high, and the other hard-wooded things have liardly done less well ; while herbaceous plants, such as Coleus, Alternanthera, Iresine, Amaran- tus, &c,, appear to rusli up to maturity in two or three weeks. Much of this luxuriance is due, however, to the very moist season experienced, as vegetation soon suffers and becomes stagnant with even a short period of drought in tlie stiff, tenacious soil of the coast laud of the colony." — Nature. Cleansing Hothouses. — In every department of the garden cleanliness is one of tlie principal items of success, and p.articularly so in forcing houses, wliere, owing to the use of so much fire-heat, insects are apt to establish tliemselves, and prevention is always better than cure. For this purpose we find nothing to answer better for cleaning out the holes and corners where youug broods may be deposited than half a pint of petroleum oil put in two gallons of water, and damping every nook and corner witli the syringe. In applying it, first draw the syringe full, and discharge it back into the bucket, making the two ingredients boil up together, and while in that state draw tlie syringe full and apply it where wanted, and continue the work till the can is empty, or otherwise the petroleum will all float on the surface. This liberates the dirt and routes out every living insect with which it comes in contact ; follow up with tlie scrubbing-brush, and finish off with the syringe and plenty of clean water. — J.vmes Smith, Waterdale. Arbroath Horticultural and Natural History Association. — In an opening lecture in connection with tliis newly-formed association, the lecturer, Mr. HughFraser, Edinburgh, after describing the working of the Scottisli Horticultural Asso- ciation, said it would be wrong for any man to neglect his business in order to study natural science, but no working man could better employ his leisure hours than in the contemplation of flowers or plants or any other branch of natural history. He hoped the Ar- broath Society would have a long and successful career before it, and that from its ranks men would be turned out who would make some mark in the scientific world. The Garden Annual. — All readers of this will greatly oblige the editor by informing him of any omissions, changes, or errors. ^Ve do not desire large places only, but any where gardening is regu- larly carried on. Correspondents writing from places on the borders of counties will oblige by including those in the adjacent counties. The addresses should be written very clearly in the following order ; Name of Place, County, Itailway Station, C/ardener's Name, Owner, Post Toivn, THE GARDEN. 57 SATXTKDAY, JAN; 15, 1831. [Vol XIX. " This is an Art Which does mend Nature ; cliange it rather : but THE Art iiself is a athr^."— Shakespeare. ANNUAL KEPRODUCTION OF BULBS. Ttvo or three years ago when "Dunedin" was constantly writing in The Garden about what he thought was a new discovery, that the bulbs of Lilies perish and are renewed every year, I pointed out that all the common garden bulbs which I knew have this habit ; and I am glad to find that Mr. Miles has come to the same conclusion. All who have studied vegetable physiology must know it, and I really can- not understand how any practical gardener who digs and plants and transplants at all times of the year, and makes use of his eyes and brains as well as his hands, can fail to have observed it. I will not venture to say that what is true of most bulbs must be true of all ; but without doubt the Crocus, the Snowdrop, the Daffodil, the Tulip, the Dog's- tooth Violet, the terrestrial Orchis, the Gladiolus, and others annually form one or more new bulbs ; whilst the bulb of the preceding year either totally disappears or invariably dies. I will give my reasons presently for believing that Lilies form no exception to this rule, but I will first ask those who are either sceptical or curious about the matter to observe for themselves. !Most gardens can afford for the corpus vile of the esperiment a bunch of yellow Crocus, of Daffodils, and of common Tulips, and in most neighbourhoods the early purple Orchis or the Spotted Orchis are common enough to afford similar opportunities for observation. All these kinds should be observed, as the manner of reproduction varies in each of them, and the Orchis is the most interesting of all, the old tuber remaining apparently sound sometimes for a year after it has entirely ceased to live. One bulb of each of the above-named kinds should be dug up weekly and carefully examined and dissected from the time that the stems first appear above ground to the time that they wither. It will be found in the case of the Crocus that an entirely new bulb is being formed in concentric layers on the upjier surface of the old bulb, round the base of each stem. Sometimes a large Dutch root of yellow Crocus will produce as many as seven or eight stems ; each of these forms its own new bulb, and as these new bulbs increase the old bulb gradually decays and disappears. Much the same takes place with the Daffodil, but the new bulbs are formed inside or at the side of the old bulb, not above it ; and in the case both of the Crocus and the Daffodil every stem, whether flower-bearing or barren, is sure to form its own independent bulb, so that we know for certain, before digging them up, how many bulbs we shall find. The Gladiolus ha? nearly the same habit of reproduction as the Crocus, except that the old bulb is not absorbed, and does not decay in the process, but, having once produced shoots, it never retains any power of producing more. In the class to which the Tulip belongs the manner of renewal is quite different. The living stem in their case does not become the axis of a new concentric formation, but new bulbs are formed laterally at the lower end of the stem underground, the new bulbs being in concentric layers round the germ of next year's stem growth, the line of which forms their axis ; by the time the new bulbs are • formed the old bulb has entirely disappeared. I feel little doubt that the habit of Lilies is nearly the same as that of Tulips with regard to the annual renewal of their bulbs. Most of them are too precious for these experi- ments, but we had better select common and vigorous and fast-increasing kinds, such as the Orange Lily and the Yellow Turk's Cap. We shall find that their stem in spring rises from the line of the axis, round which the scales are arranged in concentric layers ; but if we dig up the root in autumn when the stem is dying, we shall iind no scales remaining in the former arrangement, but one, two, three, or more bulbs round the base of the stem, each having a distinct axis in the line of the next year's stem. 1 own that I have often dug up what has been when planted a large bulb of L. auratum, and has flowered well, and on removing the dead stem with its large wig of roots, I have found a much diminished bulb occupying part of the space before held by the large bulb. In other cases there remain what seem certainly to be old scales, but in these instances I believe the growth to have been imperfect and unhealthy. I have sometimes seen also in the Gladiolus stems with hardly a trace of new bulb at their base, the old bulb looking fresh and sound, but in these cases there is no increase, and little or no healthy growth the follow- ing year, and the theory seems to hold good that for the underground increase of Lilies and other bulbs the death of the old bulb is a necessary condition. We may infer that in the stoloniferous Lilies the old bulb dies, because such Lilies as L. superbum never come up exactly in the same spot the second year ; but the stoloniferous habit which we see in some Lilies, as well as in some Tulips (T. sylvestris), differs only in degree from the ordinary habit of these bulbs, which are generally reproduced at the sides of the root-stock. Transplanting. — But I must cut this short, and will aski in conclusion. What are the practical lessons to be learnt by gardeners from these observations 1 It might be thought that one lesson would be not to transplant until the reproduction is complete and the new bulb at rest, but in practice we find that bulbs succeed better if transplanted just before the stem begins to wither. Most of our common bulbs are so hardy, that it matters little when we move them ; but for Lilies and the choicer Narcissi and terrestrial Orchises, I always prefer to transplant before the dormant period begins rather than whilst they are dormant. By this plan the bulbs seem to be able to make for themselves a com- fortable bed before they go to sleep, and to be more vigor- ous when they start again. We find something analogous to this amongst insects. Caterpillars which transform under ground work for themselves, before finally casting their skins, a cavity, so as to prevent the soil from pressing upon them, and if a chrysalis is dug up and buried again in the soil, I have observed that it generally resents the disturb- ance either by dying or by producing a deformed moith No doubt if bulbs are to remain long out of the ground or to travel far, it is better to wait until they are quite at rest before digging them up, and I feel sure Mr. Elwes is right when he tells us, in the introduction to his " Monograph of Lilies " that one chief reason why so many imported L. auratum fail is that they are dug up before their growth is completed, and that for this cause the bulbs of this Lily imported m September and October are less likely to suc- ceed than those which arrive after Christmas. Udffe Hall, Malixis. C. Wolley Dod. May I say a few words in support of Mr. ililes's remarks in The Gakden of the 8th inst. ? I read all " Dunedia's " papers in Vol. XIV. and the criticisms thereon, and I made a few con- tributions on the subject, one of which " Dunedin " accepted (see p. 262) as pointing to a solution of the question as to how the Lily grows and lives from year to year. I, like Mr. Miles, have found my opinion strengthened by longer experience, and I think I can furnish a fresh argument in favour of " Dunedin's " view. In the culture of Lilies (in pots especially) it is common to find that after blooming once or twice, a Lily throws up more stems than one, and in repotting it will be seen that each such stem .11, uxi-LtUiLxN. [Jan. 15, 1881. rises from a distinct and separate bulb. From whence, then, come these separate luilba? They are not offsets in the ordinary seuse of the term, for offsets are formed on the exterior of the old bulb, as in the case of Hyacinths, while in this case not a vestige of the old bulb remains. The clear explanation seems to be that these separate bulbs are the successional ones formed in the manner maintained by "Dunedin," sometimes only singly, but at other times in threes or even fours.— W. J. T., Brixton. ANNUAL GROWTH OF LILIES. Mb. Miles has ve-opened this question, -which he truly says -was " threshed out" when last discussed in The Garden. I can assure Mr. INIiles that no one is more open to conviction than I am, or less disposed to cling to accepted conclusions when reasonable proof is forthcoming of their fallacy ; yet whoever informed him that I had come to think Lily bulbs are of annual growth was very much mistaken. In place of this, since the subject was first opened I have seen enough to confirm the opinion I from the first expressed, which is that Lilies, with the exception of one or two kinds, like other bulbs composed of scales or layers, although con- tinuous in their increase from within by the formation of new scales, and as continuous in their throwing off the old external ones, do not completely renew themselves nearly so quickly as those who entertain the annual or biennial view suppose. I may here remark that so far as 1 have been able to understand, the difference of opinion entertained by those who have spoken on the subject is simply in the time that it takes from the formation of the scales to tlieir decay. No one supposes that they exist for an indefinite time ; on the other hand, I have never seen the slightest reason for supposing that Lily bulbs are of annual formation, like the oorm or solid bulbous plants, such as the Gladioli and Croci. To test the truth of this annual or biennial decay of the scales, two years ago the past autumn I took a bulb each of several kinds of Lilies — speciosum, Krameri, and auratum — and treated them as follows: At the time of potting, soon after the tops had died down, I got some of the thinnest soft metallic wire, which is almost a3 pliable as a bit of ordinary thread ; this 1 worked carefully in be- tween the upper part of the scales in the form of a ring, enclosing within the circle more than half the scales which composed the central portion of the bulbs, leaving from fourteen to sixteen of the outer scales outside the ring of wire. I left the ends of the wire loose and long enough to permit of the enclosed portion of the bulbs growing. I then placed the bulbs in the pots, and covered them with soil iu the usual way. They grew and flowered the follow- ing summer in no way different from others not wired. When potted again twelve months afterwards the bulbs had grown con- siderably, the scales enclosed within the ring of wire having ex- panded a good deal. Of the outer scales that I had left not enclosed within the wire there were in no case more than six or seven de- cayed, the others remaining, as usually seen, browner than the younger or central portion, but quite alive. I potted them again with the wire untouched last autumn ; at the end of the second year all the scales outside the rings were gone except from one to four on each bulb ; yet there was not a single bulb but had at least one of the old scales outside the ring left alive, and there was no trace of any inside the rings having gone. Now, accord- ing to the annual or biennial theory, not a vestige of living por- tion should have been found outside the rings. This experiment, simple though it was, still more convinced me of the mistalce made by those who believe in the rapid formation and decay of Lily scales. I did not attempt to carry it further, although 1 should not expect to find the annual decay even of the scales of the same bulbs always the same, nor the formation of new ones always alike either. A good deal will doubtless depend on the many influences for and against the well-being of the bulbs, but nothing can be further from the truth than the supposition that each bulb is entirely an annual production, lilce that of the corm in true bulbous plants. If I were to hazard an opinion, I should say that a healthy strong bulb of the kinds of Lily that possess this form of root would take not less than four years for all the scales in existence at a given time to have passed away and their places been taken by a new formation — in other words by an entirely new plant. T. Baines. I am glad that the Lily ball keeps rolling ; sorry that I for one cannot respond to Mr. Miles' appeal (p. 20) for an opinion. I am busy ; even some of our Lilies are not yet potted. I would, however, suggest careful notice of L. tenuifolium, the Lily having the bulb showing least tendency to break up, while L. giganteum shows the most. I think it would be possible to grow some Lilies in water, so that the bulb might be constantly under observation, say, for instance, L. superbum (the Swamp Lily) ; this should grow in one of Powell's tall table glasses, with a nest of Moss or of some fibre at the top. Such a glass would not be much liable to topple over, and a weighted stick might support the stem ; this experiment might be worth trying. I am a great believer in Mr. Max Leichtlin, and so far would back his opinion. George F. Wilson. Heatherbank, Wii/bridge Heath. Mr. Miles asks for my experience as to the decay of bulbs after flowering. It is no new theory, but a well-known fact, that a great many bulbs (perhaps the gi eater number) and many herbaceous plants as well decay after flowering. A familiar instance is the decay of nearly all the tuberous-rooted British Orchids. There is a practical application of the fact with which I have often comforted despairing friends when they have lost (or think they have lost) their plants after a good show of flowers. The fact is that in many cases the new roots do not flower at once, and sometimes make no show above ground till they are old enough to flower. When there is a good clump there will always be a sufficient number to make a succession ; but where the clump is small there may be an apparent loss of the whole. I have known Triteleia uniflora not to put in an appearance one year, and yet be very good the year before and the year after, and I have known Arum crinitum disappear for two years and theu come up as strong as ever. — Henry N. Ellacombe, Bitlon Vicarage. HOTES or THE WEEK. Christmas Roses in Devonshire. — I have a good many Hellebores at present in bloom out-of-doors, and as there is so much discussion about them just now, I have sent you specimens of them. They are, I believe, all natural species (except one variety of atro- rubens). In one or two instances the names are without authority, and iu others I purposely appropriate them not iu accordance with some arrangements recently propounded. I have also recently flowered a fac-simile of the Hellebore sent over by Mr. Sandison, and figured in 1842 in the "Botauical Register." It is essentially diffe- rent from antiquorum, which is now so called. In the " Register " it is named orientalis, but Mr. Baker calls it antiquorum. The fol- lowing is a list of the flowers which I send : abchasicus, olympicus major, lividescens, atro-rubens, and atro-rubens var., persistent foliage ; odorus (sweet-scented), semi-persistent ; pedatus, cupreus, torquatus, intermedins, green sweet-smelling, and purpurascens, deciduous. I have, perhaps, as many more species coming forward. I send also H. niger, II. niger maximus, and an unnamed sort which appears to have been a cross between colchicus and atro-rubens. Most of these are earlier than usual this season ; but, in fact, owe gardens have been full of colour which does not ordinarily appear at Christmas. — T. 11. Archee-Hind, Coomlieji.i/inrn' lloum', Neirton Atiboll. [The specimens sent by our correspondent certainly repre- sent a very fine collection, and the colours of many of them are remarkably clear, particularly H. atro-rubens and its varieties. There are pure white flowered kinds, and the beautiful large blush form of H. niger named maximus. Accompanying the Hellebores are flowers of Crocus Imperati, one of the most beautiful of all Croci, and blooms of Triteleia (Milla) uniflora, all of which indicate the mildness of the climate of Devonshire.] Billbergias at Ke^w. — In the large collection of Bromeliaceous plants in the Palm house at Kew there are always a few in flower. Just now the beautiful B. vittata maorantha is gay with its long, gracefully drooping spikes of blossoms, which possess a combination of colours, but chiefly of rich carmine, reddish purple, and deep purple, all blended in the most charming manner, and the large rosy- pink bracts that subtend the flowers considerably enhance their beauty. The foliage, too, of this species is handsome, as it consists of broad leaves from 1 ft. to 2 ft. long, with marginal rows of black spines and broad transverse bands of a silvery lustre on a metallic green ground. It is to be regretted that this beautiful Bromeliad is as yet so scarce, for we seldom meet with it, and the only place in which we had hitherto seen it grown in quantity was in the famous but now unhappily dispersed collection atDangstein, where Mr. Vair used to grow it remarkably fine, and from this source we believe the Kew plants were derived. Among other Bromeliads worthy of note in flower at Kew are B. pallescens, which has rather pale green flowers and pink bracts, a contrast which renders it remarkable, and iEchmea fasciata, which bears a congested cluster of rosy-pink bracts and blossoms of a similar hue, wfcich last a long time in per- fection. Rubus rosseflorua in Flower in Winter.— I send a flower of this from the greenhouse borne on a plant potted the begin- Jan. 15, 1881. J THE GAEDEN. 59 ning of October. I have tried now five or six years, but cannot flower it out-of-doors. It grows strongly, but does not get mature enough before it is out down by frost. It appears to flower in single blooms at the points of the shoots, and their size surprises one com- pared with the smallness of the bud. I should like to see the single variety which I suppose exists. I find it a good plan to keep a good clump out-of-doors in a warm corner, where, when well established, it runs like Nettles, so that every season there is a good supply to give away. The pure cold whiteness and semi-transparency of the petals always strike me as unlike the colour and texture of any other flower that I know. I came upon it some years ago at a little nur- sery at Vevey, on the Lake of Geneva. They could give me no name for it but double Bramble (Bonce a Jleur double), and I only knew the proper name when it was described a year or two ago in The Garden. — F. J. The Bulbous Iris (Xiphion planifclium). — This, one of the showiest harbingers of spring among hardyflowers, is ,we hear, beau- tifully in flower in Mr. Ware's nursery, Tottenham. It is a plant which does not appear to be much known, or if knovs'n, not much grown, though it is an ancient denizen of our garden ; even in old Gerarde's time it was a great favourite, and he says of it : "It is dasht over, instead of the blew or watchet colour, with a most pleasant gold-yellow colour, and hath a smell exceeding sweet." Since Gerarde's time it has received no fewer than thirteen names, but Miller's name, X. planifolium, is generally considered the most correct, on account of priority of date. Mr. Ware grows it as Iris S3orpioides ; in other nurseries it may be found under the names of X. alatum, I trialata, I. transtagana, I. microptera, &c. It is certainly a pretty plant, and all who would like to see it on their open borders on some of these dreary mornings, a singularly shaped flower of a purple and gold colour peeping a few inches above the soil and surrounded with broad foliage, should procure and plant a a few bulbs of this pretty South European plant. Calceolaria hybrida Burbidgei.— This new and charming plant is now and tias been for more than a fortnight in flower in my greenhouse, and is, I think, likely to prove quite an acquisition. The plant in question was kindly sent me during last autumn by its raiser, the present curator of the Trinity College Botanic Gardens, whose name it bears, a name well and honourably known to readers of The Garden, and also as that of the author of the charming account of botanical travels in Borneo, recently reviewed in its columns. Mr. Burbidge informs me that he obtained this hybrid by fertilising the bloom of C. Fuchsioafolia (figured on plate 173 of the fifteenth volume of The Garden, and synonymous with the plant figured under the name of C. deflexa on plate 6431 of the 105th volume of the " Botanical Magazine ") with the pollen of C. Pavoni, a coarse-growing and not very ornamental species, figured in the seventy-fifth volume of "Botanical Magazine," plate 4525. The hybrid shows the foliage of the pollen parent, but in bloom is a decided improvement, both in size of pip and depth of shade of yellow on that of C. Fuchsioafolia. It is apparently easy of culti- vation, compact in habit of growth, and roots freely from cuttings. — W. E. G. Notes on Hardy Flowers from Bicliley.— There is here Backhouse's major form of Saxifraga Burseriana, flowering as well now as one would expect it had the season been farther advanced, and it most decidedly answers to its name. During the coming season there will be a rich variety of rare favourite Alpine plants, and to give a few examples of the way in which several genera have been worked up, I will make reference to the Gentians, Fritillaries, and Heronsbills as follows :^ Gentiana acaulis v. cciles- Gentiana verna FritilKiria parviflora tina Froiliolii Karelin: var. alba ' pannonica atropurpurea asclepiadea phlogitolia Thuiibergi v,ar. alba umbellata I'ecuvva Andi-ewsi (Saponaria) Kurroo imperialis var?. angustifolia braehyphylla Jleleagi-is vars. fcaliva algiila Krodium chrysanthum excisa \V.alleneuvi cnrvifolium bavarica lutea romanum inibricata rritillaria pyrenaica niacradenum Burse ri Moggrid^-ei bymenodes punctata Burnati pet ni; urn cruciata kamtschateiisis niauritanicum affinis lanceolata jMauescavL j^elid;i aijgustifulia Ket.hardi Eeptemfida pudica cheilanthifolium Shortly there will be a very fine cushion of Saxifraga sancta from Mount Athos in flower. Mr. R. Potter, of the York Nurseries, told me it was extremely rare. It approaches nearer to S. juniperifolia than any I know, but yet distinct. — T. D. Hatfield. Drooping-flowered Bilibergia.— This graceful-habited and beautiful Bromeliad is now finely in flower in Messrs, Veitch & Sons' nursery at Chelsea, and will probably remain in beauty for some time. The leaves are arranged in a pitcher or vase-like form, and are slender and gracefully arching. The flower-spikes spring from the centre of the tufts of foliage ; they are from 6 in. to i) in. in length, and, being slender, droop in an elegant manner. The blos- soms have the outer petals rose-coloured, with greenish-blue margins, and the inner or recurved petals are a pea-green, margined with deep blue. It flourishes in warm greenhouies, and continues to flower for a long time in succession. Bouquet "Water Brooch.— A new invention in this way has lately been brought under our notice. It consists of a brooch designed by our correspondent " Brockliurst," and manufactured by Arnold & Lewis, of St. Ann's Square, Manchester, and is intended to be worn with flowers placed in a small vessel of water, which is con- structed on the same principle as an exciseman's ink bottle, so that the water cannot be spilled. Delicate flowers will keep quite freshly in it for two or three days, and the brooch can be worn in caps or bonnets as well as in the ordinary manner. Winter-flowering Cacti.— I wonder if it is a common thing for Epiphyllums to bloom twice in such a short time as they are doing with us. They were in full bloom in October, not a leaf without a flower, and now they are set with bloom-buds again. I know it is no uncommon thing for them to be in bloom at this time of the year, but I never knew them to flower twice in so short a time as that just stated. We have them grafted on the Pereskia stock, and, of course, the Pereskia is essentially a stove plant, far more tender than the Epiphyllum ; consequently they are treated as stove plants. Epiphyllums on their own roots never show signs of suS'ering from cold so long as the temperature does not fall below 45'' ; in fact, from 45'' to 50° is the most favourable temperature in which to flower these beautiful plants. While in growth they will bear any tempera- ture without injury up to 65° or 70°. They may be kept in good health in a conservatory or greenhouse all the year round. \Vhere- ever placed to make growth, care should be taken to ripen it tho- roughly. This is generally done by placing the plants full in the sun, and giving them but little water after their growth has been made. — J. Graham, Croston Hall, Lancashire. Imported Mistletoe.— Between the 1st and the 22nd of December last there arrived in London, from France, over 1750 crates, each containing on an average 1 cwt. of Mistletoe, ^^'e also sent direct from France 160 crates of Mistletoe to Liverpool, 100 to Manchester, 40 to Glasgow, and 20 to Plymouth ; about from 200 to 300 crates were also distributed amongst these places from other quarters, making the total quantity sent from France over 2300 crates. From December 1st to the 10th Mistletoe was sold at from 4s. 6d. to 5s. per crate ; from the 13th to the ISth, Se. ; on the 20th, 12s. ; and on the 22nd as much as 203. per crate was realised. This was doubtless caused by the scarcity in London, in consequence of large quantities being bought at the cheap prices, and sent into the provinces. English Mistletoe being scarce this season was the ciuse of the great demand upon the French, as in former years, v hen the English has been plentiful, the market has been glutted, and large quantities thrown away. — C. A. Jacobs & Co., Fiissell Street, Covent Garden, Primulas and Cyclamens at Reading.— The Messrs. Sutton have for some years been noted for their strains of these, but never in any previous year have they been so fine as now. They are at present in perfection ; no other word could describe their excel- lence, both as to high quality of flower and culture. Several houses are devoted to their culture. — W. H. Epping Forest. — At a meeting on Saturday last of the council of "The Epping Forest and County of Essex Naturalists' Field Club," the following resolution was passed on the motion of Mr. Francis George Heath : " That the Council of this Society, on behalf of the large section of the population of London interested in the pursuit of natural history, desires to record an emphatic protest against the proposal of the Great Eastern Railway Company to carry a line across Epping Forest, believing that it is wholly unneces- sary for the railway to take the route projected, and that it would not fail to prejudicially affect the advantages secured by the Epping Forest Act, which directs that the Forest is to be preserved as far as possible in its natural aspect." Narcissi. — What Mr. Burbidge informs me is Narcissus Tazetta var. floribundus is now in bloom out of doors at St. Michael's Mount. We have several other sorts of Narcissi natu- i-alised in various parts of Corn%vall which I hope to hunt up this spring. — W. Roberts, Poizance. Michaelmas Daisies.— In our remarks (p. 3S) with regard to the best of these it was inadvertently stated that the flowers of Aster bessarabicHS were white ; such, however, is not the case ; they aie similar in colour to those of A. Amellus, of which it is a variety. We need scarcely add tliat an Aster with white flowers, and combining such good qualities as A. bessarabicus, would be considered a valu- able acquisition by all lovers of hardy plants. 60 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 15, 1881. GARDEN THOUGHTS. The first publication of my " Garden Thoughts " has already brought me many pleasant and interesting communications, which encourage me to hope that, by educing experiences and hints from others, I may be of use to the brotherhood and sisterhooil of gardeners whom I love so well. Specially welcome were, and will be, thoughts realised, artists' proofs, letters ac- cjmpanied, when this is practicable, with specimens of the objects to which the manuscript refers. * Placp, cm:c dames — to a Queen of Spades who sends to me from the Royal Gardens at Munstead, by a Queen's Messenger (the postman), a beautiful and perfect flower of Iris stylosa, and writes — AVas it not a pleasant surprise for Christmas morning to find a good show of this lovely Iris on a plant in the open air ? I sent some away on the same day, and left some to show you a day or two later, but a fall of snow spoilt them, and compelled me to wait for a new crop. It has never flowered with me quite so early before. I wish I had a spare corner, looking south, baclied by a bit of wall or tarred fence ; I would have such a border of flowers and greenery in full beauty at Christmas ! On the wall would be J.isminum nudi- fiorum, and in the border great clumps of Christmas Roses and Iris stylosa, with Alexandrine Laurel behind and among (its beautiful foliage is now in perfection), and in front should be bordering patches of the large variegated Periwinkle and the mossy Saxifrage. The Saxifrage should grow close up to the Christmas Roses, and, in addition to its other merits, would save the flowers from splash. Surely the recovery of that Iris from the storm, like the pretty little sister who laughs merrily as she shakes from her golden air the fraternal offering of snow, should give it a place in all our gardens. A single flower on my writing table (with its long, thin, sword-like leaf almost dipping in the ink, as though it wished to write home of its safe arrival) brightens my room, and reminds me of lines printed outside a song and under the portrait of a noble dame — The beautiful and accomplished Lady Emily G — Whose smile would make a summer where darlcness else would be. And the idea of a natural winter garden is well worthy of our garden thoughts ; a collection of all such shrubs and plants as would give us, weather permitting, fair flowers or leaves in winter. Might there not be, where space and spades abound, a garden of the seasons, the four compartments being so bounded as to be quite separate and distinct, which would beautifully illustrate our Laureate's description in " The Gardener's Daughter " — The year increased. The daughters of tlie year, One after one, through that still garden passed ; Each, garlanded with her peculiar flowers. Danced into light and died into the shade. * Of winter flowers Mr. Groom very kindly sends me from the gardens at Linton, Kent, a box containing four varieties of seedling Primroses, white (double and single), yellow, and pink ; the purple Gentian (acaulis), Polyanthus, Violets, Aconite, and the pretty little Fuchsia microphylla, and writes — As you may not be so favoured as we are by climate in Kent for early outdoor flowers, I send a few, which I have just picked in a walk round, as they may present some Garden Thoughts which may be of interest to readers of The Garden. To me they suggest the thought of that eternal spring to which we look forward with hope. How few appreciate the beauty or the blessings which surround us. We speak of " this poor dark world," and of this winter season as a dead cheerless time. Many seem to think there is nothing to see in a garden except in midsummer, and some cannot see it then. Nevertheless, though such blindness seems incurable, and we see no signs as yet of a millennium, I feel sure that the spread of horti- culture amongst .all classes is doing something to cheer many a life, especially that phase of gardening which does not overlook such simple hardy flowers as may be grown by anyone who has a few yards of soil. Here the Primrose, Aconite, and Snowdrop find a congenial home, although we do not neglect the Orchid, nor your own favourite the Rose ; and I trust that the pages of The Garden will continue to make more popular a class of plants which has been too long neglected. I think the Christmas Rose should be crowned Queen of Winter, so that a Rose may bo queen always ; but what an awful name those botanists have given it ! He must have returned on ticket-of-leave from Botany Bay who called that pale, pure, beautoous flower Helleborus niger, and must have been thinking of the black villains, poisoners and garotters, whom he had left behind. Why have we not more of these charming " chalic'd flowers " ] Because, chiefly, they like to be left to themselves, and we persist in mixing them with other plants, and in digging about and disturbing them. They don't like strange bedfellows, and we put them in large dormitories instead of single-bedded rooms. They like a warm well-sheltered place, and we put them anywhere. I saw them a few days ago blooming in happy abundance in the palace garden close by " Ely's stately fane," and some cut flowers were very tastefully arranged in Moss upon the dinner- table within. So that the wise and good prelate who rules that diocese seems to be a very superior horticulturist to his predecessor in that see who told the Archbishop of Cantor- bury that fruit was improved by the proximity of weeds — - The Strawberry grows underneath the Nettle, And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best Neighboured by fruit of baser quality. {Henry F., act i., scene i.) though he may not be so extensive and expensive in his garden operations as the later bishop, .John Morton, to whom the Duke of Gloucester said^ My Lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn I saw good Strawberries in your garden there ; I do beseech you send for some of them. {Richard III., act iii., scene iv.) or those who made it so famous for its Crocuses that part of it was known as Saft'ron Hill, and so abundant in Roses that the zealous and learned Bishop Cox, when forced to make such terms as royal possessors chose to dictate as to the tenancy of Ely Place, reserved to himself and his suoceisors the right of walking in the gardens and of gathering twenty bushels of Roses yearly.* Bat I must return to my letters. « A Northamptonshire friend, who is in horticulture a prince, though in his garden, one of the prettiest in England, only a squire at present, rightly reminds me that in enumerating the winter plants which are worthy of our admiration I must not omit those Ferns which still retain their graceful form and verdure. He says — Just at this time I liave much daily enjoyment from a bit of rock- work covered with winter-green Ferns, different varieties of Scolo- pendriura, Polypodium, and Polystichum rotundifolium and angulare. In a sharp winter like last year's even these would hide their half- frozen heads, but up to this time they have been real treats. Perhaps some reader of The Gabdex may be induced as I was by this communication to find attractions in the Fernery which he thought were gone. The Soolopendrium vulgare, or common Hart's-tongue, is especially fresh and glossy. A bachelor, who possesses a great antipathy to the gentler sex, once asked me, purposely pretending ignorance, what Scolo- pendrium meant 1 I told him it was so named from the Greek Scolopendra, a species of venomous insect like the centipede, and I read to him the reason why from my friend Mr. Lowe's excellent treatise on "Our Native Ferns" (vol. ii., p. 230), " because the lines of fructification resembled that many- * See Rev. H. N. EUacombe's interesting book on "The Plant- lore and Garden-craft of Shakspeare," p. 198 and 220. Jan. 15, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 61 legged, crawling animal ;" and' the morose misogynist ma'le answer, "Long, smooth, venomous, hundred-footed; vihy don't you give it its right name, and call it Woman's Tongue?" Indeed, there still reaiiins, in this favourable season, infiaite beiuty where there are eyes to sea it. Close to the Ferns of which I have just written I saw a striking contrast of russet- red, and green, and silver, produced by the leaves of an Epiniediura, which grows out of a clump of the varieg'ited Periwinkle (Vinca major), and not far from this the Golden Eetinospora (pluraosaaurea) rises from a silver floor of Arabis. I regard this Ketinospora, which has held its own against two very cruel winters, as one of the most precious of those acquisitions which have been so graciously and freely awarded la these latter 3'ears to the determined energj^ of our explorer.-J, amateur and professional. Ajid. while I am thinking of beautiful leaves I am reminded of another kind communication which I have received from Cannes, in reply to my enquiry as to the relative merits of the Anipelopsis introduced by the Messrs. Veitch, and bearing their name, and the dear old Virginian Creeper. The writer, J. H. Thomas, says : — I have grown Veitch'a Ampelopsis since its introduction in 1S67. With rae it colours more finely than the old Virginian Creeper, being less dependent on a sunny aspect, and it contains shades of pink, mi.xed with the crimson, which I have not noticed in the older variety. Opinions, I suppose, would differ as to the relative merits when in green leaf. The Virginian Creeper has a more graceful habit of growth, covering a wall with its festoons. Veitch's, on the other hand, has glossy, not dull leaves, and clings without artificial help. Ampelopsis Royli is a good and distinct variety, the foliage taming to a maroon-red, instead of crimson, in autumn. P.S. — I had almost forgotten the greatest recommendation of A. Veitchi, namely, that the red leaves remain without falling fully a fortnight longer than those of the Virginian Creeper, * " Captain Cuttle" bids me find, and when found make a note of, the striking effect produced by a combination here and there in plantations and shrubberies of the Silver Birch with the Austrian Pine, Yew, Cedar, or other evergreen trees, and I fully agree with the distinguished mariner that the bright boles gleaming among the dark foliage are ii'.easant features in a landscape. For other letters, sympathetic and complimentarj', " ever- more thanks, the exchequer of the poor ;" but what am I to say to my only aggrieved parishioner, I mean angry corres- pondent, who, " having accidentally met in the house of a neighbour with a paper called The Garden (what a happy, honourable day for this obscure and depraved publication!)," is surprised to find a clergyman and a florist raving about a bunch of Eoses at Christmas, and so, with a covetous craving for artificial luxuries, flying in the face of Providence, not to mention Shakespeare. Because if Providence had thought it right that we should have Roses at Christmas they would have come to us without any forcing, and because the greatest of all uninspired writers has said. At Christmas I no more desire a Rose Than wish a snow in May's new fangled shows. But like of each thing that in season grows. But it is just what one would expect from a redhot Eitualist, which you are well known to be, to be absorbed in iBsthetics, and hothouse flowers, and sentimental trash, instead of look- ing after your parishioners. Some shepherds " (here comes the cruel, crushing climax) " think more of their flutes than of their flocks." Well, I must plead in defence that neither Mr. Henderson, who grew the Roses, nor I who accepted them, had the least idea of flying 0 ny where ; that Ho, Who makes the garden' gives the gardener his art ; that Shakspeare would have written joyful sonnets could he have seen such a precious posey ; that so far from being redhot, I have serious thoughts of asking my housemaid for another blanket ; that I do not deserve to be called a Ritualist, because I am. not as yet in jail ; and that, if my correspondent will come to Caunton, and will tell my old people, and poor folks, and children, whom I will assemble for the purpose, that they are neglected and uncared for, I venture to prophesy that ho will receive some such response as was given at a confirmation by a small boy to a great bishop, who, under a strong but erroneous im- pression that the candidate had been previously confirmed, sent him a message to that effect by his chaplain. The clergyman whispered in his ear, " The bishop says that you have been confirmed." " Then," replied the youth, with more regard to truth than to politeness, ^^hes a liar!" Caunton Manor, Newarlc. S. R. H. ORCHIDS. ORCHIDS AT THE FIRS, SYDENHAM. The Orchids in Mr. Dorman's garden at The Firs is another of the several noteworthy collections that exist in the neighbourhood of Sydenham, biing onl_y a few minutes' walk from that of Mr. Cobb, Silverdale Lodge, to which we alluded last week. Though Mr. Dorman's collection is considerably more numerous than that at Silverdale Lodge, there are similar indications of skilful culture in every house, which shows plainly that the particular require- ments of every kind is well understood. The houses are constructed chiefly with span roofs, not too high, but of such a height that plants of moderate size may be placed on the stage close to the angle at the spring of the roof without touching the glass. The ventilation is effected by means of openings in the roof, but prin- cipallj' by openings in the side walls beneath or on a line with the hot-water pipes, so that the air may be warmed on entering. An important item in the construction of these houses are the capacious tanks for the storage of rain water from the roofs. x\s an ample supply of soft water is positively indispensable to the suc- cessful culture of Orchids, or indeed of any other kinds of tender plants, the importance of providing for its storage cannot be over- rated ; therefore intending Orchid house builders should pay par- ticular attention to this point. We noticed near Mr. Dorman's Orchid houses a spacious circular tank, which appeared to be supplied from the adjoining dwelling house, so that the inside tanks were supplemented by this large outer tank. If possible, tanks inside the houses should be so arranged that a hot-water pipe may run through them, so as to slightly raise the temperature of the water. The houses are glazed with good clear glass in large panes, also an important point in Orchid houses, as bad glass is so apt to burn the leaves. There is also ample provision for effectually shading the plants by means of canvas on rollers, which, when not in use, run up underneath a projecting ridge or coping. We noticed that on the stages, which seemed to be of solid slate, the fine white Derbyshire spar was much used for placing the pots on ; it has a good appearance, and is not liable to become soon green ; moreover, it retains water a long time, which evaporates steadily from it. The Cattleya House was filled to overflowing with a re- markably tine collection both as regards number of kinds and finely grown specimens. The rare and difficult to manage C. Dow'iana, figured in The Gardex (Vol. XII., p. 448), was as fine as any plants we have seen of it, the growths being stout and healthy, and developing flower-sheaths. The same remark applies to C. MeudelU, C. Warneri, and the innumerable forms of C. Mossia; and Trianse, as well as the rare white-flowered variety of C. Sklnneri. The dwarf-growing Cattleyas and Laelias are grown on blocks suspended near the roof, a position in which they acquire great vigour. An adjoining house devoted to cool Orchids, principally Odon- toglossums, likewise comprised a healthy houseful of plants, most of which are throwing up flower-spikes, which in a few weeks will 62 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 15, 1881. make a fine display. The atmosphere of this house was verj' cool and refreshing after coming from the warmer compartments. O. vexillarium is grown in a warmer house than the main collection of Odontoglossums, and we were informed that about GOO flowers were expanded at one time last season, which must have been a glorious sight. The " brealis" formed on the plants this year are also remarkably .strong. We noticed in the collection of Dendro- bia some healthy plants of D. Falconeri, an Orchid so difficult to grow well. They were attached to large sections of Tree Fern stumps, apparently a capital plan of growing it, as the Fern stumps are more retentive of moisture than ordinary wood blocks. It would, we think, confer a benefit upon beginners if experienced cultivators would give their opinion as to the best material for blocks, a point on which there seems to be considerable diversity of opinion, some thinking cork the best, others Tree Fern blocks, and others again wood, and sometimes charcoal, and in this collec- tion we noticed some Orchids flourishing finely on pieces of char- coal, particularly Uendrobium C'ambridgeanum, which seems to like such treatment. We observed some fine plants of IX AVardia- num in pots with the stems tied erect to sticks, a plan quite as satisfactory apparently as that of allowing the .=tems to hang freely, as in baskets. Orchids in Flower. — The first that attracted our notice in the Cattleya house was a plant of the charming little Cattleya bulbosa, or Walkeriana, as it is often called. A couple or so of blossoms were expanded, and the delicate satiny lustre of the rosy-lilac sepals, the violet-purple margined lip veined with golden streaks was very beautiful. The plant, a large one with many bulbs, was growing on a suspended block near the roof, and it seemed to be as flourishing as it possibl}' could be on the smooth barked trunks of Jacaranda in the Brazilian forests, its native habitat. This beautiful little species ouglit to be found in all selections of Orchids, for though somewhat difficult to manage suc- cessfully, it well repays any extra attention bestowed on it. ^Vll the spring-flowering Cattleyas and Lnelias were developing quite an array of flower-sheaths, and when the blossoms are at their best the house must present a striking appearance. L. albida and its several forms — bella in particular — were finely in flower, and when so Avell grown as here, with numerous flowerson a spike, L. al- bida is scarcelj' inferior to the popular L. anceps, which, with its va- rieties rosea and Barkeriana, were attractively in flower. The ex- tremely rare white variety of the last-named Laslia e.xists in the collection, though not in bloom. Dendrobiums w-ere represented in flower by early blooms of 1). A\'ardianum, heterocarpum, or aureum, as it is sometimes called, T>. moniliforme, the latter a pretty variety similar to D. nobile, but more desirable for early- flowering, and 1). primulinum, with sulphur-yellow, shell- like, lipped blossoms ; the large-flowered variet}' named giganteum is so superior to the ordinary kind, that, if possi- ble, it should be grown in preference. A\'e never remember seeing such finely grown specimens of that scarce Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium Sehlirai, with its small pouch-like carmine flowers, as we saw here. The plants were remarkably vigorous, the leaves long and of a briglit healthy green, and the flowers plentifully produced on long branching stems. No traces of thrips or other insect pests were discernible on the foliage, as is usualh' the case with this and allied Cypripeds. In the choice collection of Pesca- toreas, Bolleas, and similar genera, which were growing in a moist atmosphere, having a temperature about 00'^, there were several in flowe]', notably the rare P. Klabochoi'um, with wax-like blos- soms, white and tipped with a purple-violet tinge. W. Goi.DIilNG. Flower-sheaths of Ocslogyne cristata Decaying {M. C), — The house in which your plants are placed is no doubt too hot and moist for this Orchid at the present period of growth. Try it in a cooler and drier atmosphere. — G. Dendrobiuin Cambridgeanuna blooms on the young growth about April or May, the flowers appearing in twos or threes at the nodes opposite the fresh green leaves. The flowers appear soon after the last leaf ia developed and before the bulbs begin to lipen. It is generally considered rather a shy blooming species, but it requires to be grown strongly and in the full sunshine in an inter- mediate temperature. Well grown, it is very beautiful. It should now be pushing up its young growth. — F. W. B. Oncidium cucullatum.— This is one of the prettiest of the smaller growing Oncids, and as it flowers jp midwinter it is par- ticularly desirable for cutting purposes, the long slender stalks, terminated by loose clusters of flowers, having deep chocolate-tinted sepals and a large panduriform lip, varying from pale rose to a deep purple, and more or less copiously spotted with rich violet- purple. There are several varieties of it, the most distinct being nubigenum, gig,anteum, flavidum, macrochilum, and Dayanum. Of these, we saw, a few days since, several plants in flower in the rich collection in the Victoria Nurseries, Upper Holloway. — W, G. NOTES ON ORCHIDS IN FLOWER. Dendrobium moniliforme. — This and the following are some of the more remarkable among the many Orchids in flower in Messrs. Veitch's nursery at Chelsea. D. moniliforme is an ex- tremely pretty species. An old introduction from rather high districts on the Himalayas, therefore it can be grown in a cooler house than tlie majoritj' of its congeners. It bears some resemblance to the well-known D. nobile, but the stems are more deeply articu- lated in a bracelet-like manner, and the flowers are somewhat smaller and are produced in greater profusion. The colour is a pleasing rosy carmine at the base of the sepals, gr.adually deepening into a deeper hue. On account of its flowering some weeks in advance of D. nobile it is a higlily desirable kind, and we have never seen more finely flowered plants of it than those under notice, which quite enliven the whole house they are in. This kind is known also as D. Linawi- anum. Dendrobium Domini. — This is a hybrid variety, the result of a cross between U. nobde and D. moniliforme. It partakes strongly of the characters of the latter species, though its parentage on the other side is also clearly discernible. Its colour ia similar to that of D. moniliforme, and, like that kind, it ia most valuable for cutting purposes in midwinter. Cypripedium CBnanthum. — Of the many hybrid Lady's Slippers that have emanated from Messrs. Veitcli's nursery of late years, this we consider to be one of the most distinct and handsome. Its parents are C. Harrisianum and C. insigne, both fine kinds. It is an excellent cross, the colours of both flowers being incorporated in the progeny in a most effective manner. The whole flower shines with a glossy lustre, as if it were varnished ; the upper sepal has a greenish ground, spotted, as in C. insigne ; outside this is a vinous- purple, edged with pure white. Tlie lateral sepals are a shining reddish-purple, and the large, elongated pouch ia of a aimilar hue. Altogether it is an effective plant, and the flowers stand out boldly, thus showing oft' their beauty to tlie best advantage. The foliage is slightly mottled, as in that of C. Harrisianum. Comparettia falcata is a charming little Orchid, not often met with, though it has been introduced many years from South America. It has small, shining bulbs, solitary, lance-shaped leaves, and long thread-like, drooping flower-stems, bearing some half-a- dozen blossoms, the broad lips of which are of a clear rosy-pink hue. It is, on account of its colour, sometimes called C, rosea. Leptotes bicolor. — This is a pretty Orchid when well grown and flowered, and the plant we saw of it in the Chelsea nursery the other day was as fine as we have ever seen it. It was growing in a suspended basket, and was literally a mass of flowers 6 in. across. The pure white sepals and deep purple lips render the blos- soms very showy amidst the singular cylindrical foliage. The fruit, which is easily obtained by artificial fertilisation, is said to resemble that of A'anilla. Angraeoum sesquipedale.— At present flowers of Ibis extraordinary JIadagascar Orchid may be seen plentifully in several Orchid houses, as a large importation consisting of medium-sized plants is nearly all producing flowers, which, though not quite as large as those borne on large specimens, are nevertheless very at- tractive, and more than all shows plainly that the species is not such a sliy flowerer iis is generally supposed. Rare Odontoglossums. — The house devoted to this genus contains a large number of kinds in flower, aud among them several either rare or not often seen in flower. AVe give a list without description, as the distinguishing points of many of the kinds are so close that they need to be seen to recognise them. These kinds are : 0. Coradinei, crocidipterum prienitena, Chestertoni, blandum, neva- dense, pardinum, tripudians, anceps, and several uncommon forms of 0. crispum and cirrhosum. Cypripedium porphyreum. — This is a hybrid between C. Sohlimi and C. Roezli, and is similar to the now popular C. Sedeni, and appear? to be equally vigorous and free flowering. — , W. G. Jan. 15, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 63 COUNTKY SEATS AND GAKDENS OF GKEAT BRITAIN. BLENHEIM. The history of Blenheim is too well known to require reca- pitulation. At first sight, and as seen from the nortli side, the heavy effect of the building is disappointing, the south or garden front being much the more pleasing of the two. So well is the grouping of trees done, both evergreen and deci- duous, that one enjoys the picture thoroughly. There is, however, one flaw in it, and that is, the iron fence that runs at right angles with the palace and divides the dressed lawn from the park. In all such positions the dividing lines should be imperceptible and formed by a Haw-haw. The park, which decrepitude, that it would be an act of vandalism to cut them down. Elm and Beech have been largely planted, some of the former towering to a height of 100 ft., and the latter de- veloping every variety of habit of growth, from dwarf, com- pact, erect-branched trees to those that are tall and pen- dulous. As evergreens, common, black, and silver Spruce Firs predominate, but the kind of all others that, as it were, gives the finishing touches to the picture is the Cedar of Lebanon. Some groups of this Cedar on the banks of the lake opposite the north front of the palace are indescribably beautiful ; the trunks range in girth from 20 ft. to 30 ft., and several of the trees measure over 100 ft. from outside to outside of the branches, and, as in the case of Beech, there is a greater variety of form in the Cedars growing here than Blenheim. View from garden side, 1880. is 14 miles in circumference, contains .3000 acres, and varies in formation from perfectly level ground to that which is deeply undulated ; the soil, a moderately stiff loam, lies on limestone. The planting of lines, groups, and belts of trees is simply perfection. It seems as if the artist (" Capability " Brown) had studied intimately every detail of his picture before commencing it. One thing, at least, he evidently did consider, and that was the large space with which he had to deal, giving breadth of turf and large or small tree groups or single specimens as they best befitted the positions they were to occupy. The result is an unrivalled piece of landscape scenery — grand,firstof all,forits extent, and next forits natural artistic effects. The variety of trees used in the park is some- what restricted. Oaks predominate, and of these there are many extra fine specimens, ranging in girth of bole at 4 ft. from the ground, from 25 ft. to 35 ft. ; many of them have, however, seen their best days, but are so handsome in their we had ever imagined coukl be the case. Some trees are perfectly cone-shaped and formal ; others fiat, sending out boughs in true horizontal lines ; whilst others have a drooping habit. The effect produced by these noble trees is considerably heightened by the position they occupy, namely, the banks of a most naturally formed lake of more than 250 acres in extent. The appearance of this lake, combined with the undulating character of the ground in this part of the park, as seen on emerging through the archway that forms the Woodstock entrance, is very beautiful. The Flower Garden and Pleasure Grounds are 140 acres in extent, much too large to be fully enjoyed by their owners or kept in perfect order — at least, without nuicli labour. Considering the extent, however, flower gardening, in the strict sense of that term, is very limited indeed, and it would be a great improvement were it more so, at all events to the extent of filling in to the natural ground level G4 THE GAKDEN. [Jan. 15, 1881. and tiu'finc; over the so-called Italian garden situated at the east end of the palace. Whoever first suggested the forming of a garden of this description immediately contiguous to such a building as Blenheim lacked the essentials of a true artist. All the natural beauties and surroundings are here ignored, and in their place we have scrolls of Box, sand, and coloured stones, in no way in keeping with other parts of the grounds. The most suitable place for flower beds is at the west end of the palace, where the ground gradually recedes to the lake ; here there are some few beds, and the gardener, Mr. Crump, is making others that are to be filled entirely with hardy plants. The main portion of the pleasure grounds slope gently to the lake, but there are plateaux here and there, and on one of these there is a Rosery. The Cedars in the fore- ground of the accompanying illustration are perfect speci- mens, the largest being 26 ft in girth, 120 ft. through, that is from tip to tip of branches, and 90 ft. high, the head being massive and conical. Other fine trees in this portion of the grounds are a Plane, 100 ft. high, with a girth of trunk of 14 ft. ; a Copper Beech, 80 ft. high, with a girth of trunk of 12 ft. ; Picea Pinsapo, 50 ft. high, well fur- nished to the ground, and 110 ft. in circumference, measuring from the bottom tips of branches ; of Taxodium distichum several trees are 60 ft. high, and have a girth of trunk of 10 ft.. Abies Morinda is 50 ft., and perfectly furnished ; and of Cedrus Deodara there are several good specimens from 60 ft. to 70 ft. in height. Lower down in the grounds there are also several fine groups of evergreen Oaks, the largest being about 70 ft. in height. Some noble specimens of the Tulip tree may also be seen here ; indeed, an avenue of them 110 yds. in length, and also an avenue of deciduous Magnolias lUO yds. long. There are, moreover, many and good specimens of the rarer hardy trees, such as Catalpa, the .Judas Tree, Salisburia, Virgilia, Paulownia, and Acacias. The soil being on lime- stone, Khododendrons and American shrubs generally do not thrive in it ; but this defect is more than counterbalanced by the profuse growth made by Laurels, both common and Por- tugal; of the latter one specimen measures 126 yds. round. At the lower end of the lake a light iron bridge leads to the rock garden, and from this point is to be seen the most pic- turesque scenery in the whole grounds, embracing the towers and north-western side of the palace, the grand bridge that spans the lake opposite the palace, and the large expanse of water, the whole picture being franred, as it were, by over- hanging trees of various colours and habits. At this point, too, there is a cascade or waterfall, a little bit too artificial, perhaps, but unavoidable on account of the height and weight of water necessitating the use of buttresses of giant size. The Kitchen and Hardy Fruit Garden is 12 acres in extent, and is surrounded by walls 14 ft. in height, almost the whole of which have been replanted with young trees, and now may be found here the finest Apri- cot trees any one could wish to see. Peaches, too, are equally c'ood, Mr. Crump attributing his success first of all to plant- in» in maiden loam, not a particle of the old garden soil being used, and next to spring protection by means of Parham's wall coping, consisting of glass 3 ft. wide fixed in an iron framework, and, being removable, taken down directly all danger from frost is past. Other wall trees, consisting of Pears, Figs, Cherries, and Plums, are in like vigorous health, and so are the large quantities of pyramidal, espalier, and bush-form of trees growing in the open quarters of the garden. Pears on the Quince and A]>pl33 on the Paradise stock fruit the most freely. The soil, as has been said, being largely im- pregnated with limestone, the only Strawberries that do really well iu it are Sir Joseph Paxton, President, and Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury. The Fruit and Plant Houses here are very extensive, but having been built at various times the arrangement is not of the best description ; nevertheless, they are made to answer their purpose admirably. There are three houses, each 32 ft. by 18 ft., devoted to the produc- tion of early Grapes, Black Hamburgh being the prin- cipal variety grown. One house, 50 ft. by 18 ft., is filled with Muscat of Alexandria and three others of like dimen- sions are .set apart for the main and late supplies of Grapes, the sorts grown being Alicante, Lady Downes, Mrs. Pince, Gros Colmar, Trebbiano, Alnwick Seedling, and Barbarossa. There are three Peach houses, each 30 ft. by 14 ft., one large house for Figs, and also a large orchard house, in which the trees are planted out and grown in bush and pyramidal form, together with pits innumerable for the culture of Cucumbers, r\Ielons, Strawberries, and French Beans. The Plant Houses consist of two span-roofed structures 40 ft. by 18 ft., one devoted to stove and the other to green- house subjects, small plants suitable for room decoration being in request rather than large specimen plants. In the first- named house are some superb examples of Poinsettias, Crotons, Dracaenas, and Orchids, and in the greenhouse Bou- vardias, Linum trigynum. Salvia splendens Bruanti, Celosias, and Lantanas, and plants of similar character. There is a Eose hou.se 60 ft. by 18 ft, entirely set apart for the pro- duction of cut blooms. Here the Poses, which are planted out, are in luxuriant health, the sorts grown being Marechal Niel, Niphetos, Homere, Lamarque, Madame Falcot, &c. There are numerous other houses and pits devoted to the growth of Pelargoniums, the forcing of shrubs and bulbs, and the production of bedding plant.s. The Fruit and Grape Eooms, though formed out of old buildings that were never intended for such a purpose, are models of what such rooms should be. In short, order and good keeping characterised cv'ery department, and last, but not least, the young men are lodged in rooms worthy to be called working men's dwellings. H. Fuel for Saddle Boilers. — I can assure "Subscriber " (p. 11) from my owu experience that coke can be used as fuel for a saddle boiler witli as good results as coal. We have now a terminal- end saddle boiler in wliich nothing is used but coke, and it gives every satisfaction. If "Subscriber's" saddle is not set directly over the furnace he may well be dissatisfied with the heat it atfords, and he might not improve matters much by burning coals instead of coke. Much more depends on the way in which a boiler is managed than on the construction of the boiler, provided it is properly set and fitted with the necessary appliances for its economic management. All saddle boilers that I have ever seen are placed over tlie furnace bars, and it is this bringing their surface into direct contact with the tire that gives them their power. This power is considerably augmented or diminislied by the flues being kept constantly clean or never cleansed at all, and by a proper use of the "damper" to moderate the draught, which otherwise allows half of the heat to escape by the chimney. With a brisk draught for a short time in the morning a bright lire is got up ; add more fuel, and put the damper in so that the smoke can just get out ; close the furnace door and leave the ashpit door open. This will insure a slow fire which will last some time, and but little heat will be wasted. In the same way in making up the fire at night apply the damper, and shut both furnace doors, and there need be no fear but all will be right in the morning, provided the furnace doors are tight fitting. If "Subscriber" cannot get a fair amount of heat from his boiler by the above management, there must be something wrong with it which he does not explain beyond its not being directly over the furnace. — R. .3. Allow me to inform "A Subscriber" (p. 11) that we burn coke and coal under our saddle boilers here, but as as much heat cannot be got out of coke as coal, we mi,x coal with the coke in cold weather, more or less, as may be needful. In mild weather coke alone is used and found sufficient. A saddle boiler will burn either fuel, but conical boilers, such as I have had experience of, will burn coke onl}'. Coal or " slack " of coal, which we use— that is, small Jan. 15, 1881.] THE GARDEN. coal from which the lumps have been screened — cakes in the conical boilers and the fire goes out or burns imperfectly. For this reason we have had to give up the use of coal in the latter entirely. The best way to bum coke in a saddle is to fill the furnace pretty full of coke, so as to get a good hot mass and leave it, regulating the draught by the damper. — J. Simpson. THE FLOWER GARDEN. MUNBY'S VIOLET. (viOL.i MUNBYANA.) Not the least important of the plants which the late Mr. Giles Munby brought from Algeria to enrich our hardy garden flora is the pretty Violet represented in the annexed engraving. It is one of the most desirable of all the cultivated species of Viola, which altogether number about half a hundred, as it is a free grower in almost any soil, and always produces an abundant crop of flowers every year in early summer, continuing in beauty for several weeks. The blossoms are a deep purple-blue, and its habit of growth is similar to that of V. gracilis, also a valuable border plant, but not such a robust kind as ilunby's Violet. Of other desirable sjiecies of Viola we may mention V. cornuta, now well known as a showy bedding plant ; V. pedata and its beautiful variety bicolor ; V. cuoul- lata, with blossoms variegated with «'hite and purple, and of similar Munby s Violet (Viol.i Munbyana). form to that of the common Violet, but considerably larger ; V. pal- mata, said to be a variety of the preceding, is also a desirable kind. Then there are V. mirabilis, V. calcarata, V. Fischeri, and V. ela- tior, all of which are showy enough to be included in a select list of hardy flowers. They are all amenable to the simplest culture, merely requiring to be planted iu ordinary good garden soil along the margins of the border, or they may be grown with excellent effect on rockwork, where they flourish to perfection provided the soil and situation are not too dry in summer. If the position of the border be a dry one, much benefit will be derived by placing close round the roots a few good-sized stones or bricks, sunk to the level of the soil ; these prevent the ground from becoming excessively dry, and tlie roots run beneath and around the stones and seem to like the situa- tion. All Violets are partial to a little shade, in which they no doubt thi'ive best, but the shade might be dispensed witli if sufficient moisture can be supplied to the roots in tlie driest part of the summer. At Kew, where the soil is of a very light description, and therefore very dry in summer, it has proved a good plan to sink four ordinary rooting tiles, so as to enclose a square hole, and at the bottom to place the plant. This method prevents the soil from becoming too dry, and a little shade is afforded by the tiles, but as it is by no means an elegant plan of growing Violets, we cannot recommend it for ordinary gardens. W. G. were dry and warm. This old inhabitant of our gardens possesses a considerable share of beauty, and offers to other flowering plants a decided contrast. Iu the case of large specimens, where growth is luxuriant, the clusters of coral-red flowers are very effective. In any warm corner of the garden, where the soil is light, the Coral tree will thrive, and if afforded some little protection in winter will freely increase in vigour and beauty. Perhaps the most satisfactory manner of growing this plant is to lift it in the autumn and stow it away in a cool house or frame, planting out again in rich free soil in May. In this way it gets a start early in the year, and conse- quently comes into bloom at an earlier period than wlien it remains in the open ground. No matter in what way the Coral tree may be grown they will be found to well repay the care involved in their culture. — J. C. B. Erythrina Crista-galli.— Why is this plant "so seldom seen in gardens nowadays ? Formerly one often met with it thriving vigorously in some sheltered place, where when at rest the roots FRANCO AS, THEIR CULTURE AND PROPAGATION. The flowers that a plant produces may be individually beautiful, and yet little suited for using iu the many floral arrangements now adopted. Collective effect in the spike or raceme is of much more consequence. Some of the simpliest flowers, taking them singly, are most pleasing when in combination witli others, such as the elegant racemes of Francoa raraosa, which, for using in a moderately tall stand, have few equals. There are those who are guided by fashion in the form of the stands they use, which at one time may be simple and elegant, and at another fiat and dumpy, in the latter case not admitting of anything being arranged in them that is more than a few inches in height. Yet there are many who hold to that which admits of a freer, more elegant arrangement, even if it is old- fashioned, such, for instance, as tliesingle trumpet-shaped stands that were at one time used. So telling are the tall, thinly-furnished racemes of Francoa ramosa, that wherever present in a competing dinner-table arrangement they seldom fail to score a point in favour of the exhibitor who employs them. Independent of this, the plant, when iu bloom, is equally adapted for use in the conservatory or green- house, as it contrasts well in its general appearance with other things. The Francoas are herbaceous and natives of Chili ; they are nearly hardy, and do well in a cool greenhouse. Although "they have been long known in this country, they are rarely met with iu such numbers as their merits entitle them to, especially F. ramosa, for where a sufiicient quantity of this kind is grown to admit of its being freely used, it is then that its tall slender flower-stems produce a telling effect. Seed Sowing'. — Francoas are propagated from seeds. I have sown them at different times from February to midsummer, but prefer the earlier period, as then the seedlings have all the season before them to attain strength ; the seed should be sown in a well- drained pan filled with sifted peat to which enough sand has been added to keep it open, pressing the soil down smooth, not sowing the seeds too thickly, and only just covering themwith a little of the finest soil. Before sowing see that the material is moist enough without being too wet. Put a sheet of glass over the top of the pot ; this will help to keep the surface damp and so avoid the necessity for giving much water until the seeds have vegetated ; stand the pan in a tem- perature of 50°, which will be quite warm enough. As soon as the seedlings make their appearance, dispense with the glass over the pot, give water as required, standing the plants where they will get a fair amount of light. When they are big enough to handle prick them out 2 iu. apart in large pans of well prepared soil ; either peat or good loam will answer ; if the latter is used in addition to some sand add one-sixth of leaf-mould. They will get on faster for a time this way in pans than if put at once into little pots, on account of the soil being more easily kept in right condition as to water. By the end of May remove them to a greenhouse or frame, keeping them moderately moist, and giving air daily. Before the leaves get crowded place them singly in -1-in. or 5-in. pots, and encourage them to make growth. Some of the strongest will most likely want to produce flower-spikes towards the end of sununer, and if flowers are wanted thej' may be allowed to bloom, but if the object is to get the plants as strong as possible the second year, it is well to pinch them out ; if, before the autumn is too far advanced, any seem to be short of room give them pots 1 in. or 2 in. larger, en- couraging them to root into the new soil before winter-, during which season they will do anywhere out of the reach of frost, keeping them a little drier at tlie roots through the dormant time. In the spring those that were not potted in the autumn must be shifted, regulating the size of the pots by the strength of the plants. This season they may be expected to bloom well. I found that at the time the flower-spikes were about to make their appearance they were much strengthened by weak manure water once a week. F. ramosa is the best known, and may be looked upon as the handsomest and most useful kind ; its pretty white flowers stand conspicuous amongst anything else with which they are associated. 06 THE GARDEN. [Jan. 15, 1881. F. appendiculata bears reddish-crimson flowers, and makes an effective pot plant. A. Z. CHRISTMAS ROSES CUT AND IN" POTS. 1 CAN fully endorse all that "A. D." says (p. 10) in favour of these, for unquestionably they are the most useful plants that can be grown for decorative purposes or for supplying cut flowers in winter, a fact that is being made clear to some at least of the caterers for markets, as one supplying a large country town remarked to me the other day that if he had only a few hundred, they would bring him a living during these months, so freely do the blooms sell, especially if they have been grown under the protection of hand- lights or frames, as then they become pure white and are very choice looking. Valuable as they are for cutting, they are even more so in pots for the embellishment of windows and greenhouses or conservatories, where, associated with coloured Primulas or scarlet Pelargoniums, they show themselves off to the greatest advantage. The free'st flowering variety is the common Hellebore, but the finest is H. niger maximus, which has much larger blooms with massive spreading foliage, and is a very desirable kind for grow- ing in sheltered warm situations, such as the margins of Rhodo- dendron bads or shrubbery borders, positions in which they do remarkably well and look quite at home. Tlie best way, however, if they are wanted for cutting from or to lift for potting is to prepare a place specially for them, as then, being together, they can easily be protected by the aid of any spare lights. Being gross feeders, the soil in which it is intended to plant them should be enriched with rotten manure, and have plenty of leaf-mould or refuse peat worked into it, of either of which Christmas Roses are particularly fond, and having large fleshy roots, such loose open material admits of their free ramification, and is of great assistance in growing good plants. At one time Christmas Roses were thought to be difficult to pro- pagate, but I have never found them so, as they admit of being divided to almost any extent. The best time to do this is in spring, just as they are starting, as then the wounded parts heal quickly, and soon emit roots. The way we managed ours was to dig the old plants up, and after shaking all the soil from them, they were sepa- rated into as many pieces as they would make by pulling the crowns apart, when they were at once planted carefully with a trowel at about 15 in. asunder. This distance affords ample room for the spread of their foliage, and the encouragement of this must be the aim of the cultivator, as the development of the crowns and their capa- city as regards blooming depends princip.aUy on the leafage they make. To aid them in their growth during summer give them liquid manure, of which they should have several thorough soakings after being mulched to keep the ground cool and prevent it from cracking. If re- quired for pots, the best plants should be lifted at the end of October or early in November, and after being potted they should be placed in cold frames, from whence they may be brought and placed in a little warmth to bring them forward as wanted. Outdoors these Hellebores seldom or never seed, but in pots in a dry greenhouse they appear to do so freely, as pods on most of ours are this year s%velling fast and will soon begin to ripen. S. D, NOTES AND QUESTIONS ON THE PLOWER GARDEN. Readers of The Qi.'RDEtf U'ill greatli/ oblirje the editor by ansic^ring the fines- tions of their fellow-readers accordinff to their own experience in this and all other departments. Procuring Sub-tropical Plants. —Where or how can T get some thiugs whose names do not appear in any catalogue, either English or Continental, that I have seen. There are some snch as -Aralia canescens, spinosa, and edulis, and several of the Cannas, for which one does not like to trust to the chance of synonyms if possible. I shiU be much obliged for any information or help.— H. V. [Aralia edulis is a herbaceous species ichich is grown in botanic gardens, and couldbe had from some of them; 7iot being a showy plant as regards ^flowers, it may be more difficult to get in mirscries. It has fine foliage , however, and is worth growing in the wild garden in rich soil. A. spinoia is a well-known shrubbi/ species, zohich should be obtainable from any goodshrub or tree nursery. If any Can/ias are not obtainable m the London trade (lee believe Messrs. Hooper make a specialty of them), M. Chati, of Paris, has a good collection of them.] Trillium Culture.— Will any of the many growers of hardy flowers who read The Gakden tell me the conditions that suit these plants, which I admire greatly, but which do but slowly with me ?— J, H. H. Lastrea elongata Hardy in Ireland.— This Fern is hardy here, as I hive grown it in aa open Fernery since 1875. It produces perfect fructification on fronds at least 13 in. long. I bought it of an English nurseryman as L. cristata. L. elongata, a native of Madeira, has been treated exactly like other hardy British Ferns, and has stood well through the winters, and notably the exceptionally severe winters of 1S77-8 and 1S78-9, losing its fronds, but the root remaining perfectly healthy. I may mention that in this part of Ireland (Co. Kilkenny) the only Fern wliich is common to Madeira and the south of Ireland (Trichomanes radicans) will not exist in the open air, and that Asplenium marinum. which had flourished for six years in the roof of a cave that was made for it, was killed by the severe frosts of the winters 1877-S 9. —James Graves, Ini-^nag, in Gardeners' Chronicle. EFFECT OX VEGETATIOX OF VIOLENT WIND" WAVING. "Sweet are the uses of adversity" has been a favourite theme with preacher, moralist, poet, and economist, and many a poor wretch, sorely battered by trouble, has derived comfort in welcoming this truth ; but one hardly expected to see the same horticulturally illustrated in our Gardex experiences. Yet on pages 22 and 23, Mrs. M. Syme, of Jamaica, has pourtrayed ina forcible example how, in natural life in the Tropics, the violence of a cyclone, productive apparently of ruin, is in reality the parent of new life — the restorer of new vigour. She writes (and I trust your readers will excuse my iteration of her remarks, on the plea of the great importance of the subject) : "At first we saw with dismay the awful effects of the cyclone of the previous night, and the apparently complete ruin and desolation wrought in every part of the garden ; it seemed utterly impossible that the 'howling wilderness' could for very many years, if ever again, 'blossom as the Rose.'" How many poor sufferers in life, contemplating the wreck of their shattered fortunes, their peace of mind gone, their powers shaken, their bodily vigour it may be all but gone, have uttered like remarks ; and yet a little while, a week or more later, Mrs. Syme writes: "Strangely enough, the thorough "shaking up" of the plants, even to the very roots and fibres, appeared to have given them a fresh impetus as regards growth, and evtn some sickly, scraggy old trees, bare almost of verdure before the gale, seemed after it to have gained a new lease of life, and burst gady into budding leaves in company with their younger neighbours." Again: "An ugly, scrubby, almost lifeless- looking Erythrina Crista-galli, with twigs almost leafless, and flowers few and far between, since the storm has rapidly developed into a handsome, healthy, bushy plant, and each of its numerous shoots is terminated by a long bright flower-spike." "Many of the Palms whose lives were despaired of are sending out fresh leaves, and the tall tree Ferns have replaced the broken and battered remnants of their storm-beaten fronds by others more luxuriant and lively. Flowers and shrubs, that we had not seen in blossom before, are now blooming profusely." What a beautiful and comforting illustration for the poet and preacher ! But, apart from sentiment, have these points been noticed before? If so, will some one quote references 1 and will not some physio- logical botanist give us the why and wherefore, the modus operandi by which under a " thorough shaking up" the old becomes young again ? No one who has looked at trees in a storm can have failed to ob- serve the great exercise they are subjected to, not merely in the smaller boughs clashing about, but in the swaying and creaking of the larger branches ; also, the moving of the trunks to and fro even of large trees, and the consequent strain upon the roots under the soil — all are more or less in motion from the violent pressure exerted upon them. Surely, this energising process must enforce new circulation previously stagnant wherever there is cell growth. Possibly, light may be tlirown on this point by remembering what takes place in our own bodies. " A brisk trot for fifteen minutes will cause more pressure upon and stimulation of the liver than a lazy lounge of an hour or more. Lord Palmerston used to say that ' the outside of a horse is the best thing for the inside of a man.' All tliroughout the body we have most elaborate arrangements for removing waste products. In the muscles, for example, we find the fascia which surrounds them forming a regular pumping arrange- ment, the two layers of which it consists being separated from each other at each muscular relaxation, and pressed together at each contraction. The lymph, and the waste products which it contains, are thereby actually pumped out of the muscle at each contraction and sent onwards into the larger lymph channels, so that the mus- cular action itself removes the waste products. At the same time we find that the movements of the muscles of the leg, for example, will ako pump out the blood from the veins, sending it upwards from the feet and pressing it upward to the body. "Again we find that in the abdomen and thorax we have pumping arrangements whereby any excess of fluid is pumped out of the cavities by the action of respiration." (Dr. Lander Brunton, in Prac- titioner, vol. XXV., No. 5, p. 2.39.) Dr. Geo. Budd, of Clifton, writing about blood-poisoning, says : " Fibrous tissues are the passages between the blood and the lymph- atic system, and liquid containing effete matter is passing through those passages in excessive quantity ; they therefore, containing as they do the entrances to the lymphatic system, are really eliminative centres." Do not these passages relating to the excretion of waste products and the circulation of fluids show what a powerful factor of health is exercise, setting the muscular and fibrous tissues of the body in vigorous action, and thus doing for us the same as we do to a fire when we rake out the dust from the lower bars, and admit a fresh supply of air for free combustion ? Jax. 15, 1881.] THE GARDEN. 67 And doea not something of the same kind in the case of a tree happen from the energy of a cyclone — in eliminating waste products and sending a fresh circulation of new material into all parts ? AVill Mrs. Syme carry her observations a little further as to the effects of tropical storms on new growth ? and will those interested in forestry give us also the results of their observation on the com- parison of the growth of trees while exposed to. and of those that are sheltered from high winds ? Alexander Waliace. Trinity House, Colchester. THE INDOOR GARDEN, TREE OR PERPETUAL FLOWERING CARNA- TIONS. Tree Carnations of the old-fashioned description, so long in cultiva- tion, were only grown by a few people who cared mor for the perfume of the flowers that a plant bore than they did for the look of the plant A' By the Lake (see p. 64). itself. Grown as they used generally to be, their tall untidy appear- ance was such that they were anything but imposing objects, yet the iinsightly form of the plants was not alone attributable to their natural habit, but was in part owing to the way in which they were managed. But not having a sufficiency of young stock, old plants had to be kept on doing duty too long, and usually without any attempt to reduce their height. Even the newer varieties which have appeared in recent years, such as the fine kinds raised by M. Alegatifere, Mr. Turner, and others, although so great an improve- ment as regards habit, would still get unshapely if kept too long without cutting down, a practice that I always used to follow in the spring, after which they will make stout bushy growth. Still even when so treated I always found young stock more satisfactory, espe- cially when propagated early enough to give them the season before them in which to gain strength. The plants first put in warmth in the autumn will naturally be the first to make young growth, which will furnish cuttings that will root readily in a little warmth, after which they must be potted singly in good loam, to which add about one-sixth of loaf-mould, a little rotten manure, and some sand. It may be as well to remind those who have not had much to do with Carnations, that these perpetual flowering kinds are, like the show varieties, very much subject to the attacks of wireworm. Similar to the ordinary sorts, they like good fresh loam, but this requires to be carefully looked over before it is used, or many of the plants will be destroyed ; this is the more necessary if the soil is much infested with these vermin. Hard. Potting'. — I am a great advocate for hard potting, know- ing the advantages which it gives in the case of most plants, yet not all, and these Carnations are ainongst the number, for I never found them do so well when the soil was com- pressed too closely in the pots ; in fact, I have seen them come to a complete ,^ standstill when over hard , ''v * potted, a condition out of • \ ■• which they did not move ^ until turned out and potted lighter ; nor do they do so well when put out in the open air too soon in spring, as if they are exposed be- j. fore the frosty nights are over, although just as hardy as the florists' section of Carnations, and better in constitution than many of them, it seems to give them a check, which they do not like. These most accept- able continuous blooming flowers with a sufficient number of plants may be had as early in the autumn as wanted and all on through winter and spring. Not the least advantage they possess is the gradual succession of bloom they give, which, coupled with their enduring nature, per- mits of all the flowers being used. This, combined with ability to stand without flagging when mounted in bouquets, or for button- holes, at once places them second to no plants that can be cultivated where an uninterrupted supply of flowers is wanted. One essential is to see that the plants all through the season are kept quite free from aphides. It some- times happens that hard- leaved subjects, such as these which do not suf- fer quickly, get disfigured by the attacks of in- sects, as things of a softer nature are let to become much infested be- fore means are taken to rid them of the insects ; but if allowed to sufl'er in this way, they are equally longer m recovering. The best means I have found for keeping them clear from both aphides, and red spider, which latter pest sometimes troubles them, is to syringe once or twice a week all through the summer with soot water made by adding soot at the rate of a handful to a gallon of water, stirring it well up so that none remains floating on the surface, and then letting it settle, pouring the water off gently and using it in a clear state. No insect likes to come where the soot water is thus regularly applied, and in addition it helps the plants in their 68 THE GAEDEN. [Jan. 15, 1881. growth. i''ii:thei', tliuy luu^t never, especially in tUc bot summer weather be allowed to get dry, for though they will not die or lose their leaves through it like some plants of a more delicate nature would, yet over-dryuess invariably causes them to get into a hard, stunted state. One of the principal reasons why these Carnations are frequently absent from private establislnuents is that many gardeners have not a siiitable place to fio\A'er them in ; in numbers of places there is little accommodation in the shape of pits or low houses with a gentle heat at command, such as Carnations and some other plants require, where there is no structure kept at an intermediate temperature between the stove and forcing pit and ordinary greenhouses Some of the most valuable winter-blooming subjects can never be managed satisfactorily. There are now a large number of these continuous-flowering varieties of Carnations, but for ordinary use a limited selection of the most decided colours will generally be found better than an extension of the kinds, some of which will most likely be deficient in freedom of growth, or some other essential property. Varieties. — The followiug are all good kinds ; — A. Alegatiere. — Bright red, a very free flowering sort of dwarf, compact habit, and a good grower. Lucifer. — Intensely bright scarlet ; in fact, it would be difficult to imagine anything more vivid in colour. Miss Jolliffe. — Pale pink, an extremely free bloomer, a good grower, and dwarf. Osman Pacha. — Very bright scarlet, flowers large, and good in shape. Vestal. — A beautiful white, remarkably free. Madame Elizabeth. — Rose colour, an equally fine kind. Guelder Rose. — Pure white, fringed petals, a free bloomer. Souvenir de la Malmaison. — Blush white, immensely large, full flowers. T. Baines. DEUTZIAS AND AVEIGELAS FOR FOECING. Paradoxical as it may seem, it is nevertheless true that the most important part of the work connected with forcing must be done in the previousyearinthecharacterof preparatory work, unless, of course, the plants forced can be raised from seed and perfected in one sea- son. The Vine, the Peach, and other plants that are forced for their fruits must have the embryo fruits stored up in the buds, or they cannot be brought forth. Forcing only advances a stage fur- ther what had a previous existence ; it is also just the same with plants that are forced for their flowers alone, and the better the wood is developed, and the more perfect the maturation, the less difliculty will there be in inducing the flowers to come forth. Thus good prep.-»ration means not only more and better flowers, but less fuel will be required in their production. Buds that are well ripened feel the slighest pressure in tlie way of increased temperature when accompanied by a moist atmosphere. Tliey are prepared, are, in fact, waiting to begin work, having been well grown and rested. Propagation and Culture. — Deutzias and Weigelas are very easily propagated. Young shoots, just getting a little firm at the base, will strike under cloches or hand-lights in the open air in a shady border if the cuttings have been taken from plants growing outside. If they are obtained from forced plants they may be taken in a softer state, dibbled into pots of light sandy soil, made firm, and plunged in a prop.agating bed, and if kept close and moist they will soon root. Greater progress will be made with the young plants if, when they are hardened off, they are planted out in a well-prepared bed in the open air, 6 in. apart, to be mulched and watered occasionally during summer, when necessary. In the autumn, when the leaves fall, cut the young plants nearly down to the ground to strengthen the base aud cause more shoots to spring therefrom in the following year. It is more im- portant to have a number of moderate-sized shoots than to have one or two of extra strength. During the second summer atten- tion to tlie mulching and watering will expedite growth, and in the case of plants that are in training for forcing it will be an advantage to keep their roots close at home, as they will lift with less check. Though Deutzias and Weigelas are not usually forced in small pots in a young state, yet well-flowered little pLants in small pots are very useful for many purposes, as, for instance, in room or table decoration ; therefore, some of the best of the two-year- olds may be potted early in autumn, and placed in a sunny position to complete the ripening, as the better this is done the sooner forcing may begin. Thougli, as I have said, at the end of the second year a few of the best plants may be lifted for flowering in a small state, yet the greater part will be cut back again and remain for another teason, and, of course, their development will depend entirely upon she treatment they receive. If planted in poor soil and nothing else done for them, they will not be very strong even at the end of the third or fourth years. Forcing and After Treatment.— The first year's forcing should be gently done. Plants are pretty much like human beings : they can be led when they cannot be driven. If started gently in a pit where there is a little bottom-heat to encourage the root, with a night temperature not much exceedmg 5.5", a very great measure of success may be obtained even from plants lifted and potted the same autumn. I am speaking now of early forcing ; in February and March there is usually no difficulty. When the flowers are gathered or have fallen, the flowering shoots should be pruned back and the plants placed in a light warm house or pit to make their growth. Every encouragement should be given to the young shoots that break up from the base, as these, when well ripened, will flower their entire length, furnishing long wreatlis of flowers for cutting, or the plants producing them will make handsome specimens for moviuj into the conservatory. When the wood is made, and getting firm, the ripening of the plants may be best finished off in the open air ; the pots should be plunged in some sunny position, and water given when required. Here they may remain till October, when they should be placed in some cool pit or house to wait for taking their turn in the forcing pit. The two genera I have named ought to be more largely grown than they are where winter and early spring flowers are in request, not in single plants, but in dozens, and after a stock has been worked up there will be no difficulty in securing plenty of flowers. Varieties. — Of the Deutzias, gracilis is the best for early work, with the double-flowered species (crenata) to come on later. Of Weigelas, rosea is the best for pot culture and forcing. The flowers of this variety should open in a light house to obtain the beautiful rose tint which they should have if well managed. E. Hobday. ENCEPHALARTOS. These plants belong to the family of Cyoads, and for permanent conservatory or greenhouse decoration they are quite equal to any- thing in cultivation. Noble in appearance as the Tree Ferns are with their feathery spreading heads and tree-like trunks, these Encepha- lartos are quite their equals and in some respects preferable, espe- cially for using in a moderate sized house, for Tree Ferns are com- paratively quick growers, and unless the house they occupy is lofty they soon get too high ; whereas the Encephalartos are very slow growers, unless kept continuously in a high temperature. Their handsome arched leaves are long enduring. There is a great difl'er- ence in the size the difl"erent species attain, consequently by judg- ment in selection they may be had to suit houses of different sizes. A good sized specimen with a stout trunk is seen to the best advantage when occupying an elevated central position sur- rounded by lower-growing plants either flowering or fine-leaved ; they are also suitable for standing in large vases, as they do not require pots nearly so big in proportion to their size as most plants that can be used in this way. Although several of the species will live in a greenhouse temperature, yet whilst their young leaves are being formed they are much better placed in intermediate warmth. If kept quite cool, I have known them for two years without making any growth at all. The leaves are formed in a number, all together, like Cycas revoluta, and care should be taken that they do not receive any check whilst the young growth is being formed, or it will not attain its full size. The leaves being of a hard leathery texture, the plants do not require so much water as they otherwise would, particularly durmg the Aviuter season, yet the soil must not be allowed to remain too long dry, or the older leaves are liable to go oft' before their time. Strong loam is the most suitable soil, with a little sand added, and the drainage must always be such as to permit the water to pass freely away. They seldom require re-potting, but when anything in this way is to be done, the soil should be rammed hard in the pots. The following kinds are all handsome : — E. villosus. — A noble species of large growth, that forms a stout scaly trunk as large as Cycas revoluta ; the fronds are erect, grace- fully curved towards the extremity, and deeply pinnated. The ap- pearance of the plant is not unlike that of a small example of Cycas cireinalis. It comes from South Africa. E. Vroomi. — This is one of the handomest of the now numerous fine-leaved plants ; it is more compact in growth than E. villosus ; its habit is unexceptionable, the leaves assuming a partially erect posi- tion, arching over a little below the extremities ; the segments are oblong-lanceolate, toothed on the margin. A native of South Africa. E. Ghellincki (gracilis). — A stout-stemmed species, of small growth ; the leaves are about 3 ft. long, slender, and elegant. It is suitable for a small house. Introduced from South Africa. Jan. 15,' 1881.1 THE GARDEK. 69 E. plumosus. — Tliis also comes from South Africa. It is a strong-growing kind, thick in the stem, and has large pinnate leaves. The pinna3 are armed with stout marginal spines. E. Verschaffelti (oycadifolius). — A stout-growing kind, erect inhabit; thepinniu, Sin. long, are linear-lanceolate in form. Itisahaud- some species from South Africa. E. Hildebrandti. — A stout-growing plant in the way of E. villosus ; the pinnate segments crowded thickly on the rachis. It comes from Zanzibar, and is suitable for a roomy house. E. horridus.— A very strong grower, forming thick stout foliage ; the leaf segments are armed with formidable spines. It is a very distinct looking plant, that does not occupy so much room as some of the species. From the Cape of Good Hope. E. Frederic! G-uilielmi. — This is a very distinct-looking species, with close, compact, arched leaves ; the leaflets very closely packed on the rachis. It is still a comparatively new kind, and so far as appearance goes does not seem to be a large grower. A native of South Africa. These Encephalartos are not yet near so genei-ally known as they deserve to be, and when plant growers are better acquainted with them they will no doubt be much more extensively cultivated. The elegant Fern-like foliage of some of the species, and the distinct grotesque habit of the shorter-leaved kinds, alike make them deserving of a place where diversity of appearance is held in estimation. A. Z. Bank, Malvern, tells me that lie cannot succeed in growing phiiil.-; of it into large specimens, but he grows a large quantity of it for cutting from, and also for decoration, in 6-in. and 8-in. pots. They M'ill keep on blooming for some time to come, and he keeps others in a cooler house for succession. He finds them very useful, and intends growing them still more largely. — J. S. T. EVERGREEN WALLS IN GLASS HOUSES. In stoves or glass houses devoted to the culture of plants requiring much heat and moisture the back walls are frequently most un- sightly from the impossibility of keeping the brickwork clean by means of any ordinary dressing owing to the continual dampness occasioned by frequent syringing ; and when the roof is draped with climbing plants the back walls are in many cases too densely sliaded for ordinary climbers to grow, much less flower satisfactorily. Under these conditions the best remedy is to convert what is too frequently an eyesore into a thing of beauty by making it at once into an ever- green wall, clothed from base to summit with plants that delight in shade and abundant moisture. I find the following method to pro- duce excellent results : At the base of the portion of wall which it is intended to cover stout brackets must be driven into the wall for supporting strips of slate about S in. wide, on which to build the wall facing. Stout iron uprights, perforated at every C in. for the horizontal wires, are securely fastened to the wall ; they may be either quite erect or drawn in a little towards the top so as to reduce the quantity and weight of soil, which in a wall of any great height is considerable. In some walls recently covered we began witli G inches of soil at the base and reduced it to 4 in. at the top. The best soil to build with is turfy peat or turf that has been stacked up long enough to kill the Grass, but not to get rotten. Commencing at the base, we put on a layer of tnvl and peat and then pieces of Lyco- podium denticulatum, Isolepis gracilis, Panicum variegatum, small Ferns of various kinds, Fittonia argyroneura and F. Pearcei, fine foliaged Begonias, and similar plants are inserted, and tlie roots covered with finely sifted sandy soil. Another layer of turf and plants is then put on, and followed up until the whole space is covered, the soil being compressed tightly inside the wires, which are screwed up from one end like an ordinary training trellis, either by means of screws and bolts, or raidisseurs similar to those employed so largely where the French or cordon system of training fruit trees is followed. Frequent syringing with water of the same temperature as that of the house is indispensable until the plants get well rooted, after which a good soaking from the top, enough to thoroughly saturate the whole mass of soil, will greatly assist to keep the plants in perfect health for some time, together with tlie daily syringings that ordinary stove plants receive. Although irsually adopted for covering the walls of stove plant houses, this system may be equally satisfactorily carried out in quite a cold house or Fernery by merely varying the plants. The Lycopod for ground- work is such an accommodating plant that although it grows lu.xuriantly in stove heat, it seems to enjoy the cool temperature of an unheated Fernery quite as much, and is of a deeper green colour and more robust and healthy in appearance. Anyone who has ex- perienced the difficulty of attempting to keep walls clean or present- able by the ordinary means of colouring and covering with creepers will, I feel sure, find their labour well repaid by converting what is too often an eyesore into a by no means insignificant part of the decorative portions of the structure. J. Groom. Linton. NOTES AND QUESTIONS ON THE INDOOR GARDEN. Scutellaria Mocciniana.— This (a coloured plate of which was given in The Garden, Vol. X., p. 606) is deserving of being largely grown for cut-flower purposes. Mr. Jacques, of Davenham Limi33i trigynum as a Shade-loving Plant.— I am pleased to see attention directed to this old-fashioned and somewhat neglected plant. Its most serious cultural fault is its liability to red spider. We used to grow it by the hundred for winter de- coration in pots of all sizes, from 3 in. to 12 in. in diameter, and con- sequently had plants for all purposes — for tilling small baskets, for vases, or for conservatory decoration. Our plan was to break up the plants in spring when they became too large, when quantities of rooted suckers would be found round the sides of the pots. These suckers potted singly were our smallest plants. These in turn were shifted on until they became too large. This Linum is, however, easily struck from cuttings in spring. We used to grow it without being troubled with spider, and, strange as it may seem, in a Vinery under the shade of the Vines. It is a shade-loving plant, and also a great gourmand. We used almost nothing else than rotten ma- nure, leaf-mould, and sand as a compost. Though grown in a Vinery, yet the plants were near the light, the roof being flat, and there being a pit occupying the whole of the inside full of decayed tan, on which the Linum pots stood. This pit was, in fact, used at one time for the growth of Pines, but was afterwards made into a Vinery. In this position the Linums seemed to be at home. They were treated in a wholesale way as regards manure water while growing, and no particular account was taken of their rooting through into the old tan. By October or November they were green stubby plants, studded with their peculiar leafy flower-buds, and for decorating a rather dark and shaded old-fashioned conservatory they were admirable. Some old plants of this Linum, I can remember, were planted out on tue floor of the great conservatory at Chats- worth in Mr. Stewart's time, and it will be allowed that they were sufficiently distant from the glass in such a position to justifj' them being classed among shade-loving plants. A hot dry atmosphere is death to them ; they make an enormous amount of root for the size of the plant, and water runs off' the foliage, like oft" a duck's back, without wetting it, facts all of which point to the need of moisture and shade. — Hibernian. Alocasia Culture. — When shall I start, and how grow an Alocasia now dry in a large pot ? — S. N. [If a minimum temperature of say 65° can be maintained, with a corresponding rise during the day, now would be a good time to start an Alocasia into growth ; if this temperature is not yet at command it would be better to wait a few weeks longer. If the soil in which it now is should be exhausted, the better plan would be to remove the bulbs from the same, carefully preserving the live roots ; then divest the bulbs and roots of any decaying matter, and either syringe or dip them in warm water before repotting in fresli soil. This should consist of good fibrous peat, such as would be used for Orchids, with the addition, if obtainable, of a little light fibry loam ; to this add a good proportion of Sphagnum Moss and lumps of charcoal, with plenty of silver sand. In potting, use the soil in as large pieces as possible ; keep the bulbs and soil raised well above the rim of the pot, finishing off with a surfacing of either Sphagnum Moss or Cocoa fibre. The latter will soon encourage fresh rootlets. Crock the pot quite two-thirds up with clean, broken potsherds. Water freely when in good growth, and give manure water from the farmyard, if obtainable, once or twice a week during the growing season. Watch closely for red spider and thrips, and shade during bright sunshine through the spring and summer months. Thus treated success will be the result. — J. HrnsoN. ] Rhododendron Duchess of Edinburgh and Others.— For some weeks back I have noticed that your correspondents spealc favourably of these Rhododendrons. On visiting the nursery of Messrs. Downie & Laird, at Corstorphiue, Nov. 11, I was astonished to find the following in full flower, viz., Javanicum, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Royal, and Jasminiflorum, the latter two not so well ffowered as the others, but still very pretty. Such plants as these are extremely valuable, flowering, as they do, at a season when flowers are so scarce. On visiting those gardens again to-day (Dec. 28), I found a plant of Duchess of Edinburgh nearly in full flower. Mr. Downie informed me that he believed with proper treatment flowers might be had oflf this variety nine months in the year ; too much, therefore, I think, cannot be said in favour of such plants. — A. Annan. 70 THE GARDEN [Jan. 15, 1881. Small-flowered Olirysanthemum.. — Amongst the small- flowered Pompone Chrysanthemums, one called Snowdrop is quite a gem. Its charming little blossoms are about 1 in. across, and of the purest and most sparkling white, extremely full, the florets reflex- ing over each other, and illustrating well the florist's half-globe in its outline. Another similar in character is called Lilao Gem, and is of a pale rosy-lilac, very full, with reflexod petals, forming a semi-globular flower-head, a trifle larger than Snowdrop. These very small- flowered sorts will not only make pretty small pot-plants for decora- tive purposes, but must also be very useful for bouquet work, espe- cially for button-hole bouquets. — Florist. Salvia Camertoni.— This Salvia must not be confounded ■with the as yet nameless Pine apple scented Salvia, from which it is quit3 distinct. Both species have been grown for several years at Sir George Maoleay's by Mr. Charles Green, who has liad ample proof that they are two distinct species. In inflorescence they mojt closely resemble each other ; but there are well-marked points of difference. I will at present only mention one, the leaves of Salvia Camertoni have no scent whatever. — H. Harpur Crewe, IJr rijloii-B'''tucfiamp .Uectort/, Trinij, Tres Carnation Cuttings. — kWow me to point out the ad- visability of taking and starting these at once. These early-struck plants invariably produce the best results. The small side growths up the stems are the best for the purpose ; they should be taken off at tlie second joint and without any further preparation dibbled into a bo.\', rather close together, in sandy loam, leaf-mould, and a very little peat. They sliould be kept close, in a moist warm atmosphere, till they are rooted, when they may be potted off singly in small pots and grown on in the ordinary way. Taken now, one may safely count on bloom early in December. — Girofle. Sparmannia afrlcana — A frieml gave me a rooteil cuttinj of this a fev months back, wliicli has shown bloom ever since October last, but has no*". 1)100111 J(l yet, and ray friend's plant has. He tells me that it is very handsome. I potted mine in a6-in. pot, iu loam and leaf-mould, witli a little silver san 1. Is it a rare plant? I lind tliat few gardeners hereabouts know it.— J. B.VLUING. [Spirmannia africana is by no means rare. As to its not flowering, you probably have not heat euoush. It does best in a warm greenhouse or intermediate liouse —J. ai.] Rockwork in Battorsea Park.— Mr. Pulham writes to say that the outlying piece of rock to which we objected the other day in our account of this rockwork was placed where it is, not by his desire, but that of the late superintendent. (He adds that " what makes it worse is that so much of the other rock is smothered by vegetation that it cannot be seen, and I urge in vain that it should be somewhat thinned to show the rock ; also that the water should flow over the falls more regularly than it does. Prices of Hardy Plants.— I see this subject is mentioned in The Garden. I am told hardy plants are expensive just now, iu consequence of the demand for them, but they can be procured at a considerably less price than £7 lOs. or even half of that per 100 by those who know how to set about their business. A tradesman with whom I have dealings offers me good selections of a number of kinds at from £1 to £1 Ss. per 100. For £1 lOs. he includes Phloxes, Pinks, and Aquilegias, and such like ; and for £2 he offers to make a fine and good collection of 100 species and varieties, to incluile Narcissus, Potentillas, Delphiniums, Carnations, Picotees, Lilies, and Narcissus. Taken in increased quantities, a lower figure still is charged. One's own selection, including a large proportion of the more popular florists' flowers, comes to more money, yet to nothing like £7 10s. The half of tliat sum will buy 100 really fine plants.— Wild Flower. Fire at Messrs. Osborn'S.-In case reports niay reach you concerning a fire which took place on my premises on Friday even- ing last, I write to give the truth of the matter. It broke out about eleven o'clock in our packing shed which contained a quantity of dry material, hay, straw, &c. The shed was partially destroyed and all that it contained. Fortunately, there were not many trees in it at the time. The fire was got under before reaching the office and seed shop adjoining, but in the meantime the mob which had collected got in and dragged out bags of seed and anything they could lay haTids on. The consequence was a large quantity of seed was lost and other sundries connected with the seed business. The plants also in an adjoining greenhouse sufl^'ered to some extent, especially Azaleas, &c. Had the wind been blowing from a southerly direction the whole of the buildings must have been burnt ; as it is it will not interfere with our general routine of business, but the execution of seed orders will necessarily be delayed about a week. The cause of the fire is unknown. — Robert A. Osborn, Fulham. The Garden Spider.— Last autumn, while watching some spiders spinning their beautiful geometrical webs, it occurred to me to try what effect a tuning-fork would have upon them. On sounding an A fork and lightly touching with it any leaf or other support of the web or any portion of the web itself, I found that the spider if at the centre of the web, rapidly slews round so as to face the direc- tion of the fork, feeling with its forefeet along which radial thread the vibration ti-avels. Having become satisfied on this point, it next darts alongs that thread till it reaches either the fork itself or a junction of two or more threads, the right one of which it in- stantly determines as before. If the fork is not removed when the spider has arrived it seems to have the same charm as any fly, for the spider seizes it, embraces it, and runs about on the legs of the fork as often as it is made to sound, never seeming to learn by experience that other things may buzz besides its natural food. By means of a tuning-fork a spider may be made to eat what it would otherwise avoid. I took a fly that had been drowned in paraffin, and put it into a spider's web, and then attracted the spider by touching the fly with a fork. When the spider had come to the con- clusion that it was not suitable food and was leaving it, I touched the fly again. This had the same effect as before, and as often as the spider began to leave the fly I again touched it, and by this means compelled the spider to eat a large portion of the fly. The few house- spiders that I have found do not seem to appreciate the tuning-fork, but retreat into their hiding-places as when frightened ; yet the supposed fondness of spiders for music must surely have some connection with these observations, and when they come out to listen, is it not that they cannot tell which way to proceed ? — C. V. Boys, Physical Laboratory, Houlh Kensington, in Nature. THE GARDEN FLORA. PL.-\.TE CCLXVII.— HYACINTIIUS ('G ALTON lA) CAXDICANS. To the late Mr. AVilson Saunders our gardens are indebted for the introduction of this noble Liliaceous plant. It was about ten years ago tliat Mr. Cooper sent from South Africa the first living bulbs of that wonderfully rich collection at HiUfleld, Eei- p-ate, and great was the surprise of every one who saw the giant Hyacinth when it flowered there for the first time. So dissimilar, indeed, is the plant to other kinds of Ilyacinthus, both in point of growth and structural peculiarities, that for some time the propriety of its generic name has been questioned, and but a short time since M. Decaisne, of Paris, published a figure of it in a Continental contemporary, iinder the name of Galtonia candieans, a name which we consider is far more appropriate than Ilyacinthus. Another and nearly allied species, introduced to Kew about the same date, was H. princeps. which, though per- haps not quite so ornamental as II. candieans, is a very fine plant, thoroughly deserving of culture. It may not be out of place to mention the few other kinds of Ilyacinthus in cultivation. They are II. amethystinus, a charming little species witli amethyst blue flowers somewhat in the way of the common wood Ilyacintli (Scilla nutans). It is a native of the Pyrenees and otlier parts of Spain. II. orieutalis, the original of tho common garden Hya- cinth, II. provincialis, a pretty slender growing kind from South Europe, and II. romanus, called also Bellevallia romana, likewise a desirable kind, but not very showy. Culture and Position. — For the following remarks in reference to these we are indebted to our e.^cellent correspondent Mr. G. F. Wilson, Ileatherbank, AVeybridge, than whom we know of no one better able to give advice, as the plants of this Hyacinth which we have seen in his garden are finer by far than we have elsewhere seen them botli under pot culture and in the open border. " Many years ago Mr. Wilson Saunders gave me a bulb of this Hya- cinth, which in course of time seeded, and has had many descend- ants. It is quite hardy, having stood the two last trying winters in a sheltered part of my cottage garden, but I think the flower is in its greatest perfection when grown as a pot plant in a cold house. In an orchard house it grows perfectly and seeds freely. It makes a beautiful cut flower in a tall vase. I believe botanists debated for a year whetlier it was to be a Hyacinth or a Snow- drop ; the first gained the verdict, but this I am told is impugned by some high authorities. Everybody admires it ; it has one defect in common with many other beautiful flowers, and that is, its blosssms do not come out all together. Its time of greatest beauty is wlien the lower flowers are out with the upper part in bud." [Our plate was drawn by Mrs. Duflield from a spccioien obtained in flower at Ileatherbank last summer.] THE CAPE HYACINTH (Hyacinthus . candicans., Jan. 15, ;881.T THE GAEDEN. 71 EURYBIA RAMULOSA. The shrubby Asters of Australia and New Zealand may be said to correspond with the herbaceous Asters which abound in the northern hemisphere, particularly in North America. Among the numerous kinds that have been in cultivation there are a few which may be termed hardy shrubs in the southern counties of England and Ire- land, and of these E. ramulosa, of which we here give an illustra- tion, is one of the prettiest. Nothing, indeed, can well be more interesting than its long elegant sprays of starry, white blossoms, borne in rich profusion nearly throughout their length, and tliey are particularly suitable for cutting, as they last a long time in good condition when cut. For the specimen here represented we are indebted to Mr. Gumbleton, of Belgrove, Queenstown, from whom cept in the company of his children, and ho was afraid tliat their simple fai'e would not suit the taste of his insular friends. GARDENING FOR THE WEEK. Shrubby Staiwoit (Euijbia lamulosa) we have before received some beautiful sprays of otlier shrubby As^^ers, such as E. Gunni and Olearia Haasti, all of wliich flourisli in his garden. As a rule, it is best to plant this, and shrubs of similar hardiness, against a sheltered wall, as by that means they are more secure from frost, which cuts down so many established half-hardy shrubs. W. G. Food Reform. — Speaking recently. Professor Mayor, of Cam- bridge, said he regarded as an important feature of the vegetarian movement its tendency to break down caste distinctions. The luxury which had become fashionable was equally burdensome to host and guest, and, indeed, at a great dinner the only persons not to be pitied were the servants, for they had something to do, and were not laying up for themselves a store of disease and pain. In this respect the rich were greatly in need of an emancipation act. "When he was in Rome the great scholar Amari had hesitated to invite some English guests, for he had made a rule never to dine ex- Ferns. — Advantage should be taken of the present quiet time for giving tlie occupants of this structure a general look over, and as many of them are now in a thoroughly matured state, they are in the best possible condition for dipping in some kind of insecticide or fumigating to free them from the remains of thrips and scale. Wood- wardias and Tree Ferns are very subject to black thrips, and the fronds, being far away from the eye, often get permanently disfigured before the enemy is detected. These should be closely watched and fumigated two or tliree times, at intervals of a few days, before the young growths start from the crowns. In mixed Ferneries a lower temperature than is frequently given to many of our most useful varieties will often render them insect proof, or nearly so, while the fronds when used in a cut state will last much longer than when forced and attenuated in a strong heat. Where the more tender varieties of the hardy Ferns have the place they richly deserve in the cool house, many of them will soon start into growth, but water must be sparingly given for tlie present, care being taken that the balls do not become too dry, as, owing to the decomposition of the compost, the water is liable to find its way into crevices instead of passing through them. To prevent this, ram round the extremities of the pockets, and top-dress with new peat and loam. Hardy Plants for Cutting. — Those who would keep pace with the rapidly increasing taste for herbaceous plants for the decoration of rooms and corridors in the " season " will do well to turn their immediate attention to the culture, not in single plants, Irat in large groups of such things as Spirsea Aruncus, S. venusta, and S. palmata. Larkspurs, double and single Pyrethrums, the graceful Asphodelus ramosus, white Lilies, and Pa3onies. Of English, .Spanish, and Japanese Irises, which rival the Cattleyas, early Gladioli, blue and white Scillas, and an abundance of Solomon's Seal for graceful foliage, their culture is extremely simple, the secret being deep trenching, good soil, ample space, and plenty of water in summer. Where stock is limited, old stools taken up now and divided, or placed on a gentle hotbed for giving early cuttings, will enable the culti- vator to produce strong plants for turning out in the spring, and when well done they will increase in strength and beauty for several years without further trouble. Mixed collections should now be looked over and top-dressed with a good layer of old Mushroom manure, leaf mould, or charred refuse, forking being deferred until the spring. Fraxinellas, Larkspurs, and others for which slugs have a liking, may be well dusted with soot or lime, and surrounded with narrow strips of perforated zinc. Replace old labels and devote wet days to the preparation of sticks for summer use. Forcing Pit. — This structure will now be well filled with Lilv of the Valley, Solomon's Seal, a most graceful and easily managed plant, Spira;as, Deutzias, Lilacs, Roses, Ghent and Japanese Azaleas, bulbs of sorts, and Rhododendrons. Of the latter the different varieties of altaclerense, caucasicum, and Nobleanum, potted in the autumn and kept under a glass through the winter, require very little forcing, and it is diilioult to imagine anything more telling than these beautiful hybrids. In ad>lition to these a regular i-elay of Ghent Azaleas should be worked through this structure, and although they do not produce such fine flowers as mollis, their scent and delicate colours render them equally valuable for cutting or decorative purposes. One of the most telling and easily forced plants which should not be overlooked is Viburnum plicatum, and being perfectly hardy strong plants potted now and plunged in the open air will be in fine order for forcing next year. Where great variety is an object Dielytras may be lifted and forced, and such annuals as Browallias and Sehizanthus may be grown ; but unless they are kept near the glass and well done they look weedy, and take up space which may be better occupied. Pines. — Having drawn a few of the most promising Queens and Smooth Cayennes for early fruiting, the bed from which they have been removed may be turned, with the addition of a few fresh leaves, and replunged with the remainder of the plants for giving a succes- sion. If carefully supplied with water at a temperature of 85°, some of these will follow closely on the heels of the first batch, while others will make a growth before they show fruit. See that the bottom-heat does not exceed 90" to 96", dew the plants lightly overhead on fine days, and keep the atmosphere moist by damping the bed and all available surfaces after closing for the day. If it is thought desirable to push on a few of the strongest successions, see that the balls are properly moistened, and have clean pots, crocks, and soil dry and warm ready for shifting them by the time the bed is ready. Young stock may be kept quiet for the present at a 72 THE GAEDEN. [Jan 15, 1881 temperature ranging from 58° by night to 68' by Jay. Keep plants now swelling oft fruit near the glass, and moderately supplied with stimulants. If possible, give a little air every day, otherwise the closely confined heat and moisture, combined with want of light, will result in their running too much to crown. Discontinue water- ing when the Pines show signs of changing colour, and if con- venience admits remove the plants to a dry, warm position, wdiere -they will ripen well, and keep for a long time after they are fit for use. Peaches. — Trees in the early house will now l)e in Sower and fit for artificial impregnation. Pass the camel's-hair pencil over them each day when the heat has reached the maximum, and secure a steady circulation of air by opening the ventilators near the pipes, which may be icept sufficiently warm to secure a temperature of 60'" with the rise of 10" more from sun heat. At such times counteract the too rapid escape of moisture by turning the fermenting material, and damp all available spaces with water a few degrees warmer than the house. Allow the night temperature to descend to about 50' in mild weather ; but on no account risk failure bj' maintaining that figure when very severe. Cover outside borders with a good layer of dry Oak leaves to prevent tlie roots of trees in succession houses from receiving a check through the early stages. Syringe regularly, and force by day, when external conditions are favourable, in preference to exciting tlie trees by night. Get all pruning and cleansing finished without delay, as many advantages attend the performance of this work before the buds begin to swell, not the least of these being the fact that a stronger solution of Gisliurst may be applied to the young wood before the sap begins to move. Figs. — When fairly on the move. Figs make rapid propress, and the tender foliage presenting as it does a large surface to the influence jf heat and light, pot trees will now require very careful attention to watering, as one mistake in this direction may nrovo fatal to the most promising fruit. Syringe regularly twice a*^ day, but avoid having tlie leaves wet at nightfall. Keep the bottom- heat steady and allow the temperatures given in the last calendar to form the minimum with a slight increase on mild nights and bright days. Let disbudding and stopping be performed piecemeal little and often, and thin off some of the least promising fruit where thickly set. Knowing that the Fig frequently casts its fruit, many people facilitate this annoying process by overcropping to form a broad margin and lose all, when timely thinning and copious feeding would very often lead to the ripening of a full crop of fine fruit'! Shake out and repot young trees intended for next year's forciu", and give them a little bottom-heat in the succession house or near the glass in a light pit where they can be regularly syringed to help forward an early growth. Put in eyes and cuttings of favourite kinds. Trim the under ground buds off the latter and plunge in heat. Cucumbers.— Days having increased in length, plants that have been in bearing all the winter will well repay a general dressing over to get rid of some of the old wood and foliage in order to make room for the young shoots now growing freely. Where woodlice are troublesome, we remove the old fermenting material quite up to tlie pots or hills, scald the sides and bottoms of the pits, and replace with new Oak leaves at a temperature of 80'^. The hills are then to|)-dressed with new loam. Spider is kept in check by sponging with soapy water, and 'J'obacco smoke is the remedy for fly. In a very short time the plants lireak in to clean vigorous growth, and continue in bearing until the spring-sown successions are ready to take their place. By the time the first set of young plants liave formed the first rough leaf the soil should be warmed ready for giv- ing them a shift into l-in. pots. Replunge in heat near the glass, do not pinch the points, but train to twigs and prepare the fruiting pots or hills for their reception. Use good turfy loam from an eld pasture, charcoal, or lime rubble, but no manure, as it encourages worms. Make up hotbeds for frames, and keep a good supply of miterials always ready for renovating or making up new linings. Jlake another sowing of seeds, as it is better to have plants to spare than to feel the want of them. Hardy Fruits. — >[ew plantations of Kaspberries may now be made on cool, but well-drained and deeply-trenched ground, for much as its surface roots delight in cool shade in summer, a cold, undrained border is decidedly objectionable in winter. Where the garden lies high and dry the canes may be planted in blocks or squares, but in low, cold places single rows answer best. When single rows get established, tightly-strained wires 3 ft. from the ground and 2 ft. on each side from the centre make an excellent trellis for tying the canes to, making a double row of fruiting word from a single row of stools, and at the same time allowing the young growths to rise up from the centre without crowding or interfering with the gathering of the fruit. Fresh plantations of Gooseberries and Currants may also be made when the ground is in a fit state for working. Where space is limited and birds are troublesome the red kinds are very prolific and ornamental when trained to leaders and closely pruned as pyramids. Put in cuttings, choosing well-ripened growths 1 ft. in length. Remove the eyes from two-thirds of the lower part and insert firmly to that depth in rows 12 in. apart. A very im- portant, but too often neglected, operation in this department is the cleansing of fruit trees immediately after they are pruned. For general purposes there is nothing better than Gishurst Compound, 8 oz. to the gallon of water, applied with a painter's brush when the weather is dry. When American blight is troublesome a teacupful of paraffin may be added. Thin out Orchard trees, remove Moss, and wash the stems with a mixture of soot and quicklime. Fill up all vacancies in the nursery and on reserve w.alls with approved kinds that do well in the locality, and plant maidens for training as cordons where space admits. — W. Colem.\n. MESSR.S. PERKEN'S' N'FRSERY, NORTFIAMPTOIT. This nursery, the leading one in Northampton, is always worth a visit, containing, as it does, large and really well-grown stocks of fore'it trees, Conifers, evergreen shrubs, fruit trees, and Roses. The principal portion of the grounds is situated a short distance from Northampton on the Kiugsthorpe and Brampton roads, and occupies a large acreage of very excellent red loamy soil of a fertile character admirably adapted for nursery purposes, trees of all kinds grown on it being of moderate strength and well ripened. Forest Trees have for many years received much attention, and with evidently satisfactory results. The stock of Oak, Elm, and Birch is one of great extent and excellence, nearly every variety in existence worth culture being grown here. Amongst other forest and park trees attention may be directed to very fine groups of the Spanish and Horse Chestnut, and also to the scarlet-flowering kind, all remarkably healthy and vigorous. Limes, too, are very extensively grown, the red-twigged and weeping kinds being conspicuous, and Planes and Poplars also form important groups, the varieties Populus canadensis aurea and P. c. nova being particularly handsome and desirable. Amongst Thorns, Paul's new double scarlet seems most in demand. Amongst Willows the Kilmarnock is one of the most beautiful of all weeping trees. Here may be seen immense quantities of the Blackthorn or Sloe, the stock of which is said to be the largest in the country. Quicks too are literally grown by the million. Amongst other plants suitable for forming good hedges and garden screens may be named the common, broad, and oval-leaved Privets, %vhicli are very largely cultivated for these purposes, and another plant highly spoken of for fence-making is the Prunus myrobalana, evidently a fine subject for such a purpose. Gorse is another specialty extensively grown for covert planting. Conifers. — Of these there is an extensive and well-varied col- lection, an important item of which are the English and Irish Yews, for the growth of which the soil seems particularly well adapted, and more especially for the Irish kinds, which comprise some of the most beautiful little specimens we have ever seen. There are, too, some strikingly fine pl.ants of the golden variety of Irish Yew (Taxus hibernica fastigiata variegata), a really handsome and desirable kind. The universally popular Retinosporas receive a large share of atten- tion. Amongst the most popular kinds here, judging from the num- ber grown, appear to be R. leptocJada, a dwarf pyramidal kind, with a beautiful silvery grey hue, in every way a most desiralile plant ; R. pisifera,