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FLOEIST,    FEUITIST, 


GARDEN    MISCELLANY. 


1856. 


LONDON: 

28,   HENRIETTA  STREET,   COVENT  GARDEN. 


INDEX  TO  COLOURED  PLATES. 


Achimenes  carminata  splendens,  321 

„  Parsonsi,  321 

Cineraria,  Brilliant,  161 

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

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


Erica  Andrewsi,  97 

Fuchsia,  Emperor  Napoleon,  65 

„  Venus  de  Medici,  65 

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

„     Lord  Raglan,  353 
Yanda  t.  flavescens,  129 

„      t.  formosa,  129 


INDEX  TO  WOODCUTS. 


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


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

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


^Mk 


■^4« 


J-^  AtiHm-JJel'^i.  Zmc.. 


DaMia 
Sessie  f  Tricrnery 


Terfecturru  f^y-rces ./ 

ILalexOS. 


FLORIST,   FRUITIST,   AND    GARDEN 
MISCELLANY. 


THE     DAHLIA. 

(Plates  108  and  109.) 


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

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

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

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


THE    FLORIST. 


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


HORllCULTURAL  SOCIETY. 


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

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

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


JANUARY.  3 

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

B  2 


4  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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

J.  Shuter. 


REVIEW  OF  THE  PAST  YEAR. 

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


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

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

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

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

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

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


b  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

G.  P. 


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


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

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


8  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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


JANUARY.  9 

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

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


CONSIDERATIONS  ON  SOILS. 

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


10  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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


JANUARY.  1 1 

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

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

M.  Saul. 


WINTER  FLOWERING   PLANTS. 

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

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


12  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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


JANUABY.  13 

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

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

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


THE  PEACH. 

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

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

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


14  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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


JANUARY.  15 

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

A  Gardener  in  the  Country. 


THE  LATE  MR.  GROOM'S  TULIPS. 

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

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

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


16  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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


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

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

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


1.  Neutral  tint  Heliotrope. 

2.  Scarlet  Geranium  (tall). 

3.  Purple  Verbena. 

4.  Yellow  Calceolaria. 

5.  Blue  Lobelia. 

6.  Rose  and  pink  Verbenas. 

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


7.  Box. 

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

9.  Thuja  aurea. 
10.  Taxus  erecta. 

WILLIAM  DAVIDSON. 


18  THE  FLORIST. 


NEW  PLANTS  OF  THE  YEAR. 

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

Abies  IJookerianj.  \  Californian    Conifers,  forming  large  handsome  evergreen 

Abies  rattoiiiana.  J      trees.     Mr.  Murray. 

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

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

Acacia  Neilli.     A  distinct  greenhouse  variety.     German  Gardens. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Araucaria  multiceps.     Greenhouse  variety.     German  Gardens. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bougainvillea  glabra.     Interesting  stove  climber.     French  Gardens. 

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


JANUARY.  19 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

^  c  2 


20  THE    FLORJST. 

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

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

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

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

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

Australia.     Greenhouse  evergreen  shrub.      It  is   the  Hederoma   tidipifenim 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


JANUARY. 


21 


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


22  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


23 


REVIEWS. 


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

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

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


24  THE    FLORIST. 

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


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

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


The  Garden  Book  of  Annuals.      By  William  Thompson.     Simpkin 

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


JANUARY.  25 

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


DRYMONIA  VILLOSA. 


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


THE  NEW  DAHLIAS. 

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

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

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


2(j 


THE    FLORIST. 


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

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


i 

^ 

i 

p 

g 

w 

^ 

__ 

s. 

a 

ai 

3 

P 

Name. 

g 

3 

1 

1 

1 

fl 

S 

0. 
0 
K 

Ph 

1 

o 

3 

1 

1-5 

i 

Bessie       .         .         .         .     . 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

8 

Colonel  Wyndham 

... 

... 

... 

12 

12 

2 

Corsair      . 

... 

... 

i"i 

... 

... 

1 

Chameleon     . 

i"i 

io 

2 

Duchess  of  Wellington 

6 

1 

"5 

'9 

4 

"7 

"7 

7 

8 

Eclipse  . 

12 

9 

10 

12 

... 

10 

5 

Grand  Sultan    . 

9 

3 

11 

10 

'9 

9 

"9 

7 

Lollipop 

4 

6 

7 

5 

"3 

3 

8 

3 

8 

Lord  Palmerston 

3 

... 

4 

4 

8 

5 

3 

4 

7 

Lord  Raglan 

... 

U 

1 

Lady  Raglan    . 

». 

8 

... 

i'i 

12 

2 

Mrs.  Wheeler         . 

5 

2 

"3 

3 

"5 

"8 

2 

10 

8 

Magnet     . 

9 

1 

Miss  Burdett  Coutts 

v 

5 

*6 

2 

6 

2 

5 

5 

8 

Perfection 

1 

4 

1 

8 

2 

4 

4 

2 

8 

Princess 

... 

12 

12 

2 

Reginald  . 

9 

.'. 

... 

1 

Shaded  Model 

io 

i'i 

... 

"7 

U 

io 

8 

6 

Tyrian  Prince  . 

12 

11 

2 

Yellow  Beauty 

8 

10 

"s 

"e 

"i 

6 

"i 

'*6 

8 

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

Lord  Raglan,  buff 

Lady  Raglan,  buff 

Mrs.  Wheeler,  deep  scarlet 

Magnet,  white  tipped  with  purple 

Miss  Burdett  Coutts,  fawn  colour 

Perfection,  orange 

Princess,  rose 

Reginald,  primrose  tinged  with  purple 

Shaded  Model,  orange  and  buff  shaded 

Tyrian  Prince,  dark  mulberry 

Yellow  Beauty,  bright  yellow 


Bessie,  deep  yellow 

Col.  Wyndham,  deep  rose,  with  small 

bronze  tip 
Corsair,  crimson 
Chameleon,  yellow  slightly  edged  with 

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


27 


ON  DEEP  CULTIVATION. 


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

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

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

CULTOR. 


28  THE    FLORIST. 

CALENDAR  FOR  THE  MONTH. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


JANUARY.  '  29 

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

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

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

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

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

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


30  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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


JANUARY.  31 

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

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

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

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

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

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


THE    FLORIST. 


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


t 


-%. 


► 


^: 


FECRUARV. 


THE  STOCKWOOD  GOLDEN  HAMBURGH  GRAPE. 

(Plate  110.) 

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

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


NEW    SERIES,    VOL.    VI.,    NO.  LXII 


84  THE    FLORIST. 


THE  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY  OF  LONDON. 

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

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

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

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


FEBRUARY.  35 

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

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

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

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

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


THE    FLORIST. 


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

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

COMPARISON  OF  THE  COST  OF  EXBIBITIONS 

IN  THE  TEARS  1852,  1863,  AND  1854. 


Expense  of  Exhibitions. 

1852. 

1853. 

1854. 

Total. 

AVERAGK 

PKR  Show. 

£  «.  d. 

£    s.   d. 

£   s.   d. 

£    s.  d. 

£  s.  d. 

Miscellaneous  timber  .     . 

18    7    7 

9  11  10 

40    6    1 

68    5    6 

„             repairs 

45  13    4 

30    2    0 

13  1210 

99    8    2 

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

140    2    5 

118    2    3 

124  12    4 

382  17    0 

42  11    0 

Labour   beyond  service  S 

of  garden J 

Miscellaneous  printing     . 

72  13    8 

77  17    0 

61    6    0 

21116    8 

23  10    9 

59  17    4 

56    9    0 

66    2    6 

182    6  10 

Admission  tickets  .     .     . 

25    7    0 

23    5    0 

23    2    0 

71  14    6 

Advertisements       .     .     . 

119    1    0 

104    1    6 

87    6    0 

310    8    6 

34    910 

Judges 

31  10    0 

34  13    0 

24    3    0 

90    6    0 

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

24    0    0 

2811    6 

33    6    0 

85  17    6 

Police 

71  12    0 

76  13    0 

61  15    0 

210    0    0 

23    0    0 

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

270    0    0 

270  10    0 

270    0    0 

810  10    0 

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

56  16  10 

01  13    7 

60    3  11 

178  14    4 

Watering  roads .     .     .     . 

15  15    0 

10  10    0 

11  12    6 

47  17    6 

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

41    4    8 

40  19    3 

43    4    4 

125    8    3 

13  18   C 

Cost  of  new  tents    .     .     . 

32    0    0 



- 

32    0    0 

Green  baize  for  tables  .     . 

5    0    0 





5    0    0 

Extra  on  Her  Majesty's  \ 
visit / 

- 

- 

18    5    6 

'   18    5    6 

1029    0 10 

942  16  11 

938  18    6 

2910  16    3 

323    8    5 

Medals  awarded      .     .     . 

1227    0    0 

975  10    0 

967  10    0 

3170    0    0 

352    4    5 

Total 

2256    0  10 

1918    Oil 

1906    8    6 

6080  16    3 

67512  10 

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


FEBRUARY.  37 

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

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


Wace  Cottage,  HoUomay,  Jan.  18. 


John  Edwards. 


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


as  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

Florist. 


LIGHT:  ITS  INFLUENCE  ON  VEGETATION. 

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


FEBRUARY.  6\) 

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

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

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


40  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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

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


FEBRUARY.  41 

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

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

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

J.  S. 

(To  he  continued.) 


42 


THE    FLORIST. 


NEW  FRUIT-BEARING  SHRUB.— EUGENIA  UGNI. 


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

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

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

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

leaves  studded  with  ruddy  fruit. 

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

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


FEBRUARY.  43 

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

Froginore.  J.  PoAVELL. 


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


44  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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


45 


NOTES  ON  SOBRALIA. 


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

J.    HOULSTON. 


4G  THE    FLORIST. 


THE  EARWIG. 


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

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

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


FEBRUARY.  *  4/ 

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

Charles  Perry. 
Handsworth,  Birmingham. 

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


THE  TREATMENT  OF  CLERODENDRONS. 

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

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


48  •  THE    FLOR/ST. 

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

M.  Saul. 


GARDENERS'   ROYAL   BENEVOLENT   INSTITUTION. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


FEBRUARY.  49 

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

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


Dr.                    £ 

s. 

d. 

Cr. 

£     s. 

d. 

To  Balance,  1854.       .     .180 

12 

10 

By  Pensions    . 

442     0 

0 

„  Annual  Subscribers     .  347 

1 

0 

,,  Stock  purchased,  300Z. 

269     2 

6 

„  Donaiious    received   at 

„  Secretary's  Salary 

50     0 

0 

and   in  consequence   of 

,,  Stationery     .         .     . 

6     1 

0 

Anniversary     Festival, 

,,   Printing    . 

41    14 

0 

June  11,  18.35     ...    181 

12 

0 

„  Advertising   .          .     . 

6  13 

0 

„  Dividends  on  Stock      .     95 

12 

6 

„  Expenses    of      Anni- 

versary Festival 

29     3 

y 

,,  Office  Furniture     .     . 

3     3 

0 

„  Postage,  Parcels,  Cir- 

culars, Messages,  and 

sundry  expenses 

23     6 

11 

£876     8 

8 

Balance  at  Bankers      .134     9 
£1010   18 

8 

£1010 

18 

0 

4 

Stock  in  £3  per  Cent.  Consols,  £3700. 

Audited.  Jan.  14,  1836. 

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

GEORGE  KIDD 634   Votes. 

JOHN  BL.ACKE 003 

JOHN  KENT 576        „ 

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


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


50  THE    FLORIST. 


OUVIRANDRA  FENESTRALIS. 

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

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


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


FEBRUARY.  51 

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

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

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

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

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


THE  CHRYSANTHEMUM. 


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

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

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

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


52 


THE    FLORIST. 


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

Large-Flowered. 

Bright  rosy  purple. 

Yellow,  fine. 

Rosy  purple. 

Pale  carmine,  with  yellow  tip,  fine  form. 

Bright  orange  brown. 

Blush,  fine. 

Deep  orunge,  slightly  shaded  with  red,  fine  form. 

Orange  yellow. 

Pale  rosy  purple,  fine. 

Deep  rosy  carmine,  large  and  fine. 

Golden  yellow,  dwarf  and  good. 

Bright  yellow,  good. 

Shaded  carmine,  distinct. 

Fine  yellow. 

Fine  white. 

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

Shaded  purple,  fine. 

Pale  yellow,  fine. 

Deep  chestnut. 

Rosy  purple. 

Very  fine  incurved  yellow. 

Bright  buff,  yellow  centre,  good  form,  fine. 

Orange,  tipped  with  brown  red,  fiue. 

Delicate  blush  white,  fine. 

Delicate  blush  white,  fiue. 

Bright  red  salmon. 

White. 

Red  eged  with  gold,  fine. 

POMPONE. 

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Triomphe  du  Noir 
Vesta 
Zephyr   . 


Anna  Boleyn 

Annie  Henderson 

Aurore  Boreale    . 

Aigle  d'Or 

Aureole 

Berrol     . 

Bernard  de  Rennes 

Brilliant 

Bob     . 

Comte  Achille  Vigier 

Dr.  Bois  Duval    . 

Durnfiet 

Marabout    . 

Madame  CelpstinePhil 

Madame  de  Vatry 

Madame  .lules  d'Kvry 

Mdlle    Felicie  Albert 

Modele  . 

Nonsuch 

President  Decaisne 

Requiqui 

Sacramento     . 

Solfiiterre    . 

Surprise 

Scarlet  Gem 

Zebra 


FEBRUARY.  53 

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

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

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


54  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

(To  be  continued.) 


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

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

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


FEBRUARY.  55 

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

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

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

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

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


56  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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


FEBRUARY.  57 

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

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

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

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

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

Henry  Bailey. 

Nuneham,  Oxford. 

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


THE    FLORIST. 


REVIEWS. 


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

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

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

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

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

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

Mr  John  Keynes,  op  Salisbury. 

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


FEBRUARY.  59 

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

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

Messrs.  Downie  &  Laird's  Plant  Catalogue 

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

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


CALENDAR   FOR  THE  MONTH. 

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


60  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


FiiBHUAKV.  61 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


62  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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


FEBRUARY.  CS 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


6-4  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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

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


Plate   m. 


J^Jlutra,sJ}tit,£  Zma) 


65 


FUCHSIAS, 

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

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

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

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

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


66  THE    FLORIST. 

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


MARCH.  67 

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

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

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

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

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

F  2 


DO  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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


GIVING  AIR. 

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


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


70  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

F.  H.  S. 


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


71 


THE  PEACH. 

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

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

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

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

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


72  THE    FLORIST. 

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


MARCH.  73 

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

{To  be  continued.) 


A  WORD  OF  ADVICE  TO  YOUNG  ROSE  GROWERS. 

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

Recipe. 

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

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


74  TUE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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


MARCH. 


75 


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


Roses  having  but  one  season 

Moss. 
Blush 

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

Provence. 
Cristata 
Old  Cabbage 
Rachel 
Reine  de  Provence 

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

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


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


of  blooming,  viz.,  in  Summer. 

Alba. 
Felicity 
La  Seduisante 
Madame  Audot 

Damask. 
Duke  of  Cambridge 
La  Ville  de  Bruxelles 
Madame  Zoutman 

Hybrid  China. 
Blairii 
Brennus 

Charles  Foucquier 
Chenedole 

Comtesse  de  Lacep^de 
General  Jacqueminot 
Gloire  de  Couline 
Juno 

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

than  one  season  of  blooming,  improperly 
Perpetuals. 

Trioraphe  de  Paris 

William  Griffiths 

William  Jesse 

BotlEBON. 

Acidalie 

Aurore  de  Guide 

Charles  Souchet 

Dup-itit  Thouars 

George  Cuvier 

Henri  Lecoq 

La  Gracieuse 

Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison 

Vorace 

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

Noisette. 
Cloth  of  Gold 
Lamar  que 
Solfaterre 


76  THE    FLORIST. 

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

A.  S.  H. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  OP  HARDY  CONIFERS.— No.  XIX. 

ABIES    MENZIESII — MENZIES'    SPRUCE    FIR. 

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

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

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

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


MARCH.  77 

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


If 


/ 


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


Abies  Menziesii. 


78  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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


A  FEW  WORDS  ABOUT  BEDDING  PLANTS. 

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


MARCH.  79 

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

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

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


80  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

Much   has  been  done  in  shrubby  Calceolarias  lately,  especially  by 


MARCH.  81 

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

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

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


82  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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


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


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

/ 


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

G  2 


84  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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


NOTES  ON  A  JOURNEY.— No.  III. 

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

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

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

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


MARCH.  85 

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

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

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

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

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

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


86  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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

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


MARCH.  87 

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

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

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

JSuneham  Park.  Henry  Bailey. 


EDWARDS'   REGISTERED   EARWIG  TRAP. 

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

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

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

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


88 


THE    FLORIST. 


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

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


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

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

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

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


MARCH.  89 

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

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


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

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

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

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

Henry  Munro. 

Clevelands  Gardens,  near  Lyme  Regis,  Dorset. 


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


90  THE    FLORIST. 

REVIEWS. 

Rendles  Price  Current  and  Farm  Directory. 

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


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


MARCH.  91 

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


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


92  THE    FLORIST. 

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


CALENDAR  FOR  THE  MONTH. 

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

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

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

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


MARCH.  93 

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

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

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

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

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

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


94  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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


MARCH.  95 

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

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

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

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

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


96  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


^ 


,.H 


A\ 


^^:^^J"^f^  'f 


J-'^ntirem  JJrU   i   linai. 


Erica  s 
1    IL   Spcncfru 

2.  Z  Zxonimsis 

3.  -Zf  Andrewsit 

Hate.  112.  . 


Trmtecl   h\    ('  If'n 


97 


CAPE     HEATHS. 

(Plate  112). 

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

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

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

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


98  THE    FLORIST. 


HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

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

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

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

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


APRIL.  99 

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

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

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

H    A 


100  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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


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


APRIL.  101 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HEIGHT. 

A  very  handsome  Diospyros  Virginiana        .         .         .50  feet. 

Tulip-tree 90  „ 

Several  Scarlet  Oaks 90  „ 

Cedar  of  Lebanon 103  ,, 

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

Weymouth  Pines         .         .         .         .         •         •         •  95  „ 

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

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


102  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


APRIL.     •  103 

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

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

Henuy  Bailey. 

Nunekam,  March  20. 


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

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

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


104  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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


APRIL.  105 

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


106  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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


Apr.iL.  107 

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

M.  Saul. 
Sitourton. 


WINTER  BLOOMING  PLANTS. 

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

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


108 


THE    FLORIST 


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

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

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


THE  PEACH. 

[Continued  from  page  73.) 

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


APRIL.  109 

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

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

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


110  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

A  Gardener  in  the  Country. 


LIGHT— ITS  INFLUENCE   ON   VEGETATION. 

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


APRIL.  Ill 

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

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

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

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

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


112 


THE    FLORIST. 


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

J.  S. 

{To  he  continued.) 


CARNATIONS  AND  PICOTEES  RECENTLY  INTRODUCED. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


APRIL.  113 

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

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

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

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

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

PICOTEES. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


114  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


APRIL.  115 

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

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

Derby.  E.  S.  Dodwell. 


NOTES  ON  THE  MONTH. 


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

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

I  2 


116  THE    FLORIST. 

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


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


APRIL.  117 

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


118  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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


APRIL.  119 

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

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


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

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


120  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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


APRIL.  121 

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

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

S.  T.  F. 


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

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


PiNus  Hartwegi. 

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


122  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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


BEDDING    PLANTS. 


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

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


APBIL.  123 

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

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

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


124  THE    FLORIST. 

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

M.  Saul. 


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


APRIL.  125 

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

Bowood,  March  1856. 


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

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

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


126  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

C.  E. 

Bath. 


CALENDAR  FOR  THE  MONTH. 

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

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

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

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

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

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


APRIL.  127 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


128  TUE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


2^> 


^W 


YaiKla_  s 
I      tricolor  flavescene 
Z      trwoloT  farmoscv' 

Hale  113, 


129 


VANDAS. 

(Plate  113.) 

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

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

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

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


130  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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


THE  PEACH. 

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


MAY.  131 

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

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

{To  be  continued.) 


BEST    DAHLIAS. 


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

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


132  THE    FLORIST. 

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

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

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

Votes. 

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

2.  Fanny  Keynes  (Keynes)  „         „ 20 

3.  Pre-Eminent  (Fellowes)  „         „  ....     20 

4.  Rachel  Rawlings  (Keynes)  „         „ 20 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robinson  ,  .         .         .         .     .  18 

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

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

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

and  Mr.  Oswald 17 

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

Soden 17 

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

Walker 17 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


MAY.  133 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Holmes,  Robertson,  Paul,  &  Co.,  Robinson,  Sladden,  and  Turner    .       8 

36  Miss  Susan  (Drummond),  returned  by  Mr.  Barnes,  Fellowes,  Holmes, 

Oswald,  Perry,  Pope,  Robertson,  Paul,  &  Co.,  and  Robinson  .  .       8 

37  Cossack   (Fellowes),  returned  by  Messrs.   Downie  &  Laird,   Fellowes, 

Holmes,  Robertson,  Paul,  &  Co.,  Sivewright,  Sladden,  and  Turner       7 

38  Edmund  Foster  (Turner),    returned   by  Mr.   Cook,   Fellowes,  Holmes, 

Legge,  Oswald,  Turner,  and  Walker        ......       7 

39  Queen  of  Whites  (Drummond)  returned  by  Mr.  Barnes,  Jarvis,  Pope, 

Schotield,  Smith,  Turner,  and  Walker    ......       7 

40  Richard  Cobden   (Stem),  returned  by  Mr.   Fellowes,   Holmes,  Jarvis, 

Perry,  Pope,  Robinson,  and  Sladden 7 

41  Beauty  of  the  Grove  (Burgess),  returned  by  Mr.  Cook,  Jarvis,  Legge, 

Robinson,  Schofield,  and  Soden       .......       G 

42  Mrs.  Seldon  (Turner),  returned  by  Mr.  Perry,  Pope,  Robinson,  Soden, 

Sivewright,  and  Sladden    .........       6 

43  Queen  of   Lilacs   (Turner),   returned  by  Mr.  Holmes,    Legge,    Pope, 

Robinson,  Sladden,  and  Walker G 

44  Ringleader  (G.  Holmes),  returned  by  Mr.  Fellowes,  Holmes,  Schotield, 

Smith,  Soden,  and  Walker 6 

45  Salvator  Rosa    (Miquet),  returned  by  Mr.  Cook,    Fellowes,    Keynes, 

Perry,  Sladden,  and  Turner    ........       6 

4G  Bishop  of  Hereford   (Union),  returned  by  Mr.  Cook,  Fellowes,  Jarvis, 

Smith,  and  Sladden   ..........       5 

47  George  Villiers   (Union),  returned  by  Mr.  Barnes,   Legge,  Robinson, 

Soden,  and  Walker    ..........       5 

48  Magnet  (Kimberley),  returned  by  Mr.  Barnes,  Jarvis,   Legge,   Perry, 

and  Schofield 5 

49  Primrose  Perfection   (Keynes),  returned  by  Messrs.  Downie  &  Laird, 

Robertson,  Paul,  &  Co.,  Schofield,  Soden,  and  Walker    ...       5 

50  Sir  R.  Peel  (Drummond),  returned  by  Mr.  Legge,  Perry,  Robinson, 

Soden,  and  Walker 5 


134  THE    FLORIST. 

The  following  eleven  varieties  have  been  returned  by  four  growers  : 
Coeur  de  Lion,  Diadem,  Edwin  Harrison,  Exquisite,  King  of  Yellows, 
Louisa  Glenny,  Ne  plus  Ultra,  Port  Royal,  Rosea  elegans,  and  Scarlet 
King  ;  and  these  ten  varieties  by  three  growers :  Absalom,  Admiral, 
George  Glenny,  Glenlyon,  Goldsmith,  Lady  Mary  Labouchere,  Plan- 
tagenet,  Royal  Sovereign,  Shylock,  and  White  Standard.  These  ten 
sorts  get  each  two  votes :  Colonel  Baker,  Deutche,  Duchess  of  Kent, 
General  Canrobert,  Immortal,  King  of  Dahlias,  Mon  Dugere,  IMorning 
Star,  Mrs.  B.  Stowe,  and  Queen  of  Beauties — equal  to  81  varieties. 
There  yet  remain  thirty-three  sorts,  each  with  but  a  single  vote. 
Of  these,  not  one  is  returned  by  that  leviathan  grower,  Mr.  C.  Turner, 
and  therefore  not  worth  occupying  the  pages  of  the  Florist  by  enume- 
rating them.  Mi.  Keynes  gives  one  vote  each  to  Haidee  and  Omar 
Pacha.  I  therefore  for  the  present  close  from  public  gaze  31  sorts, 
leaving  83  varieties  from  which  to  make  selections. 

Of  the  50  most  popular  sorts  I  think  I  am  correct  in  assigning  12  as 
emanating  from  Mr.  Keynes's  establishment,  and  20  from  the  Royal 
Nursery  ;  five  sorts  were  raised  by  Mr.  Sainsbury,  although  bearing  the 
name  of  Drummond  or  Turner  ;  four  sorts  were  raised  by  the  Rev.  C. 
Fellowes.  Mr.  Keynes  also  has  many  sorts  to  which  his  name  is 
affixed,  that  were  raised  by  Mr.  Brown,  Mr.  Dodds,  &c.  Mr.  Raw- 
lings  claims  the  parentage  of  some  sterling  sorts,  while  Mr.  Barnes  and 
Mr.  Bragg  are  represented  by  only  one  sort  each. 

Of  these  50,  15  were  sent  out  in  1855,  eight  in  1854.  Essex 
Triumph  has  been  before  the  public  by  far  the  longest,  dating  back  to 
1843.  Richard  Cobden  was  sent  out  in  1848,  and  the  only  variety  of 
that  year  now  enumerated  ;  1849  gave  us  Mr.  Seldon,  Duke  of  Wel- 
lington, and  Fearless ;  these,  after  seven  years'  probation,  maintain 
forward  positions,  the  Duke  being  one  of  five  sorts  returned  by  the 
whole  twenty  growers.     What  a  triumph  for  Mr.  Sainshury,  its  raiser ! 

In  conclusion,  I  give  the  returns  received  in  reply  to  my  hurried 
application  for  the  names  of  the  best  twelve  fancy  varieties  ;  these  are 
treated  in  the  same  way,  except  the  use  of  initial  letters  by  way  of 
abbreviations  ;  these  will  doubtless  be  readily  understood. 

B.,  Mr.  Barnes ;  DL.,  Messrs.  Downie  &  Laird ;  F.,  tlie  Rev.  C.  Fellowes ; 
J.,  Mr.  Jarvis ;  K,  Mr,  Keynes;  L.,  Mr.  Legge ;  Po.,  Mr.  Pope;  Py.,  Mr. 
Perry;  R.,  Mr.  Robinson  ;  RP.,  Messrs.  Robertson,  Paul,  &  Co.;  Sc,  Mr. 
Schofield;  Sm.,  Mr.  Smith;  SI.,  Mr.  Sladden ;  T.,  Mr.  Turner  ;  and  W.,  Mr. 
Walker  ;  in  all  13. 

Votes, 

1.  Ba,ron  Alderson  (Ferry),  returned  by  all 15 

2.  Duchess  of  Kent  (Knight)      ,,         „       except  DL 14 

3.  Pigeon  (De  Knyff)  „         „       except  J.  and  Sc.         .         .     13 

4.  Miss  Frampton  (Rawlings)      ,,         ,,       except  B.  F.  J.        .         .     .     12 

5.  Gloire  de  Kaiu  (Cailloux)        „         „       except  F.  K.  L.  R.  RP.       .     10 

6.  Topsy  (Keynes)  „         ,,       except  F.  J-  Py.  R.  Sm.      .     10 

7.  TriomphedeRoubaix  (Busine),,         „       except  J.  Po.  R.  RP.  S.  W.       9 

8.  I  aura  Lavington  (Keynes)  returned  by  i.  K.  Po.  R.  Sc.  Sm.  SI.  W.       8 

9.  Butterfly  (Salter)  „  F.  J.  Py.  R.  RP.  SI.  T.         .       7 

10.  Comet  (Keynes)                            „  DL.  F.  K.  L.  Py.  R.  Sm.  .       7 

11.  Imperatrice  Eugenie  (Addis)       ,,  DL.  F.  K.  Py.  R.  Sm.  SI.  .       7 

12.  Empereur  de  Maroc  (Haidoux)   „  DL.  F.  L.  Po.  RP.  Sm.  .       6 

13.  Marvel  (Pope)                               „  DL.  K.  L.  Py.  RP.  T.  fi 

14.  Mrs.  Hansard  (Edwards)            „  J.  Py.  R.  Sc.  SI.  W.         .  .       6 

15.  Elizabeth  (Prockter)                    „  K.  Po.  SI.  T.        .         .  .4 


16.  Miss  Herbert  (Keynes)        relurnul  bij    Po.  Py.  R.  Sm.        .         .     .       4* 

17.  Admiration  (Green)  ,,  J.  Sra.  W.    .         .         .  3 

18.  Miss  Ward  (Turner)  „  DL.  F.  RP 3 

19.  Phaeton  (Miquet)  ,,  P.  R.  W 3 

The  following  eight  sorts  have  each  two  votes  :  Claudia,  Duchesse  de 

Brabant,  Flora  M'lvor,  Forget-me-not,  Janas,  Lady  Grenville,  Reine 
des  Fleurs,  and  Wonderful.  Fourteen  varieties  having  each  but  a 
single  vote  are  therefore  not  given  in  detail.  It  will  be  observed  that 
the  15  lists  extend  to  41  sorts  ;  of  these  but  one,  Baron  Alderson 
(Perry)  obtains  what  I  may  term  universal  suffrage. 

Originally,  I  believe,  the  fancy  Dahlia  was  introduced  to  our  notice  by 
our  Gallic  neighbours,  and  for  a  time  we  were  indebted  mainly  to  im- 
ported varieties  ;  this  is  not  now  the  case,  as  will  be  evident  from  these 
returns,  the  majority  of  the  varieties  being  those  of  home  produce. 

Again  thanking  those  gentlemen  who  so  readily  responded  to  n;y 
application,  and  trusting  they  may  not  regret  the  use  I  have  made 
of  their  ideas,  I  subscribe  myself  theirs  faithfully, 

John  Edwards. 


PELARGONIUMS. 


In  trying  to  judge  of  the  progress  made  in  the  improvement  of  florists' 
flowers  from  one  year  to  another,  we  are  sometimes  unable  to  perceive 
any  great  advance.     Now  and  then,  certainly,  a  list  is  made,  and  all 
can  see  at  a  glance  the  improvement  that  is  made  ;  but  to  gain  a  clear 
and  definite  idea  of  what  has  been  done,  it  is  needful  to  look  back  for  a 
few  years,  that,  by  comparing  the  favourites  of  the  past  with  the  new 
flowers,  we  may  be  made  aware  of  what  has  been  achieved.     These 
reflections  occurred  to  my   mind  on  looking  over  the  plates  in  the 
Florist,  and  contrasting  that  of  Pelargoniums  in  the  first  number  with 
those  in  the  number  for  September,  1854,  and  certainly  the  most  un- 
initiated could  not  fail  to  be  struck  with  the  immense  improvement  that 
has  been  effected  in  those  seven  years,  and  it  should  be  particularly 
noticed  that  this  improvement  has  been  effected  upon  flowers  already 
highly  cultivated,  and  which  it  was  thought  by  the  talented  editor  of 
the    Gardeners'   Chronicle  could  not  be  surpassed,  when  he  recom- 
mended seedling  Pelargonium  raisers  to  give  up  their  pursuit  and  try 
some  fresh  crosses  of  the  wild  species,  according  to  a  long  series  of 
directions  given  in  the  Chronicle.     But  I  am  not  aware  that  any  one 
has  followed  them  ;  and  the  rich  success  that  has  rewarded  those  who 
persevered  in  their  own  way,  proves  how  incorrect  were  the  editor's 
views.     Perhaps  he  was  misled  by  the  high-sounding  names  sometimes 
given  ;  for  we  have  had  the  "  Perfection"  of  one  raiser,  the  "  Victory  " 
of  others,  and  "  Defiance  "  often  hurled  about,  and  he  might  take  it 
for   granted  that  raisers  themselves  really  thought  they  had  reached 
perfection ;  but  it  may  now  be,  I  confess,  somewhat  difficult  to  point 
out   in    what    Hoyle's  "Wonderful,"  one  of  the  varieties  figured  in 
Plate  92,  can  be  improved  upon.   Of  course,  we  now  want  to  get  every 


136  THE    FLORIST. 

variety  of  colouring  on  flowers  of  equal  merit  as  to  form,  and  size,  and 
tiuality,  which,  no  doubt,  will  be  done  in  time,  and  probably  new 
beauties  will  be  brought  out  of  which  none  but  the  ardent  seedling 
raiser  ever  dreamed.  I  know  of  no  flower  that  presents  so  great  a 
variety  of  colouring  and  fine  form  as  some  of  the  new  varieties,  and 
we  may  confidently  anticipate  still  greater  things  in  this  justly  favourite 
flower. 

The  exhibitions  have,  no  doubt,  been  very  useful  in  stimulating  the 
cultivation  and  the  raising  of  seedling  Pelargoniums,  and  I  believe  the 
collections  from  Slough  exhibited  last  season  at  Gore  House,  the  Crystal 
Palace,  and  Regent's  Park,  were  by  far  the  best,  both  in  quality  and 
cultivation,  that  ever  were  seen.  It  would  be  well  had  the  general 
cultivation  kept  pace  with  the  examples  exhibited  at  the  shows,  but, 
alas  !  it  is  far  from  being  so  ;  to  see  a  house  or  a  collection  of  Pelar- 
goniums even  decently  grown,  is  a  rare  exception.  I  saw  a  houseful 
the  end  of  last  February,  with  the  main  shoots  scarcely  an  inch  long 
and  the  leaves  about  the  size  of  a  shilling — a  state  of  growth  which 
they  ought  to  have  attained  full  five  months  before.  What  can  be 
expected  of  such  plants  ?  May  and  June  is  the  natural  period  of  their 
blooming,  and  they  cannot  be  had  mgood  bloom  at  other  periods.  And 
this  is  no  exceptional  case,  but  is  nearly  the  rule  ;  the  plants  are  not 
cultivated,  they  are  barely  kept  alive.  The  first  error  is  their  not  being 
cut  down  early  enough,  so  that  neither  the  cuttings  nor  the  old  plant 
have  time  to  make  sufficient  growth  before  winter  ;  then  they  are 
huddled  together,  often  in  a  cold  damp  house,  half  their  leaves  either 
fogged  or  eaten  by  the  green-fly,  so  that  spring  and  blooming  time  finds 
them  not  only  unprepared  to  give  a  generous  head  of  flower,  but,  lank 
and  sickly ;  they  are  not  really  fit  to  furnish  cuttings,  and  their  most 
appropriate  place  is  the  rubbish  heap.  No  plant  better  repays  good 
treatment,  and  I  would  ask  all  who  profess  to  grow  it  to  bear  this  in 
mind ;  there  is  no  secret  in  the  best  cultivation,  and  no  difficulty,  the 
needful  conditions  of  success  are  easily  learned,  and  as  easily  followed 
by  all  who  try  to  succeed. 

An  Old  Geranium  Grower. 


FRUIT  TREES  AND  FRUIT  TREE  PROTECTION.— No.  II. 
Mr.  Bailey  says  :  "  In  this  county  I  can  adduce  many  instances  of 
trees  in  the  villages  known  as  the  '  Apricot  villages,'  where  trees  have 
not  failed  in  bearing  heavy  crops  for  many  years  running,  and  which 
have  scarcely  ever  been  touched  by  a  knife  since  they  were  in  the 
nursery."  I  can  easily  believe  this,  more  particularly  from  what  Mr. 
Bailey  says  afterwards  ;  but  I  think  "  heavy  cropping  for  many  years 
running  "  a  practice  which  cannot  be  too  strongly  reprobated.  These 
Apricots  of  the  "  Apricot  villages  "  are  Apricots  only  in  name — they 
are  nearly  aU  stone  and  very  little  flesh.  Hear  what  the  Editor  of  the 
Gardeners'  Chronicle  "  says :  "  It  is  an  axiom  in  applied  physiology 
that  no  animal  or  plant  can  bear  more  than  its  system  can  nourish  ; 


MAY.  137 

where  an  attempt  is  made  to  contravene  this  natural  law,  abortion  is 
the  result,  or  the  produce,  whether  animal  or  vegetable,  if  it  survives, 
is  degenerate  or  imperfect.  Let  a  Pear  (the  case  is  applicable  to 
any  other  kind  of  fruit  tree)  contain  a  pound  of  nutrition,  or  natural 
food,  ready  to  be  attracted  into  its  spurs,  let  each  receive  a  drachm  of 
such  food,  then  the  tree  may  carry  256  spurs,  supposing  the  food  to  be 
equally  distributed.  But  if  a  thousand  such  spurs  are  present,  it  is 
probable,  not  that  750  will  be  starved  and  250  fed,  but  that  the  whole 
will  be  starved  :  in  the  struggle  among  them  for  food  none  will  obtain 
what  is  requisite  to  sustain  lite,  and  all  will  perish."  The  truth  of  the 
foregoing  Mr.  Bailey  will  not,  I  think,  question.  If,  then,  those  trees 
in  the  "  Apricot  villages  "  have  never  failed  in  bearing  "■heavy  crops 
for  many  years  running,^''  must  we  not  conclude  that  at  the  end  of 
these  "  many  years  "  bearing  heavy  crops,  the  fruit  is  worthless — as 
in  reality  it  is — and  not  like  the  fine  spotted,  rosy,  large,  luscious  fruit, 
which  the  trees  here  bear  annually — not  biennially — and  which  many 
gardeners  can  corroborate  ? 

I  know  a  Vinery,  which,  like  the  trees  in  the  "  Aprico!;  villages," 
has,  for  "  many  years  running,'''  borne  very  heavy  crops  of  Grapes. 
The  person  to  whom  it  belongs  once  told  me,  that  he  had  the  finest 
crop  of  Grapes  in  England.  When  I  inqu^'red  how  many  bunches  were 
on  each  Vme,  I  was  told,  upwards  of  forty  bunches.  I  saw  some  of 
these  Grapes  afterwards — and  such  Grapes — as  much  like  Grapes  as 
the  Apricots  of  the  "  Apricot  villages  "  are  like  Apricots  ;  they  were 
Grapes  in  name  only — not  such  as  Mr.  Bailey  would  like  to  acknowledge 
as  his  growing,  nor  were  they  such  Grapes  as  I  have  exhibited  at  the 
]\Iidsummer  Shows  at  York  the  last  four  years  successively,  and  to 
which  was  awarded  the  first  prize  each  season. 

Need  I  tell  Mr.  Bailey,  I  did  not  leave  forty  bunches  on  a  Vine. — 
No,  I  am  sure  I  need  not.  In  size  of  berry,  for  colour,  bloom,  and 
flavour,  better  Grapes  than  these  were  never  exhibited  at  the  Chiswick 
shows  in  their  palmiest  days  :  I  have  seen  larger  bunches.  Yet  there 
was  no  mystery  in  the  growth  of  these  Grapes.  The  house  is  an  old 
lean-to,  heated  with  a  flue ;  but  bear  in  mind,  the  border  is  all 
right — the  roots  do  not  perish  in  the  winter — the  Vines  are  never 
overcropped — the  berries  are  always  thinned  immediately  they  are  set, 
the  wood  is  also  kept  thin,  not  overcrowded :  these,  with  proper  attention 
in  heating  and  giving  air,  are  ah  the  means  that  were  adopted 
in  the  production  of  these  Grapes.  And  here  I  would  ask  how  it 
happens,  that  we  do  not  always  see  Grapes  of  superior  quality  in  all 
Vineries,  which  we  ought,  if  glass  and  heat  were  all  that  is  required : 
— the  cause  is  in  badly  made  and  badly  drained  borders,  together  with 
bad  management.  So  it  is  with  the  covering  of  wall-fruit  trees,  if  not 
accompanied  with  good  management.  Apricots,  in  the  market  here, 
were,  last  year,  four  shillings  per  score  ;  this  season,  the  best  samples 
will  not  be  more  than  two  shillings  per  score,  and  I  make  no  doubt 
there  will  be  some  samples,  as  there  were  two  years  ago — like  the 
Apricots  of  the  "  Apricot  villages  " — that  will  not  realise  more  than 
fourpence  per  score. 

Mr.  Bailey  says,  "  Why  is  it  that  we  almost  always  see  the  appa- 


138  TUE    B'LORIST. 

rently  ill-cared  for  and  ill-trained  trees  of  the  cottagers  producing  fine 
crops    of   fruit,    and   generally   much    overcropped  ?      It   is,    in   my 
opinion,  for  the  reason   I  am  about  to  give.     There  can,"  continues 
Mr.  Bailey,  "  be  no  doubt  the  more  massively  a  wall  is  built,  or  the 
thicker  it  is,  even  if  hollow,  the  longer  it  will  be  in  radiating  at  night 
the  heat  it  has  accumulated  during  the  day."     This  kind  of  theory  looks 
very  well  on  paper,  but  practically  it  amounts  to  nothing.     I  wonder 
how  much  heat  a  thick  wall  would  accumulate  during  a  month  like 
March,  1855.     "The  walls,"  continues  I\Ir.  Bailey,  "of  the  cottages 
about  here  are  generally  built  of  thick  stone,  and,  in  addition  to  the 
heat  absorbed  by  the  sun's  rays,  they  are  warmed  internally  by  the 
fire  of  the  house ;  the  wall,  therefore,  of  every  cottage  is,  in  fact,  a  hot 
wall,  slowly  giving  off  its  heat  to  the  tree  trained  upon  it,  and  repelling 
the  action  of  frost,  while  the  projecting  thatch  or  tiles  keep  all  perfectly 
dry,    and   arrest   the   heat  radiated  from  the   surface   of  the  wall." 
Here  we  have  hot  walls  introduced,  of  which  I  have  not  expressed  any 
opinion,  but  of  which  I  am  as  great  an  advocate  as  Mr.  Bailey.     Mr. 
Bailey  makes  these  hot  walls  stand  in  the  place  of  coverings.     If  I 
were  in  search  of  a  fact  to  support  what  I  have  so  often  advanced,  I 
have  it  in  these  hot  walls  of  Mr.  Bailey's  cottages  ;  the  soil  round  the 
foundations  of  these  thick  hot  walls  must,  of  course,  be  dry  and  warm 
— what  a  grand  place  for  the  roots  of  Apricot  trees  to  luxuriate  in — and 
then  we  have  the  wood  trained  to  these  hot  walls  ;  the  roots  dry  and 
warm,  the  wood  trained  on  a  hot  wall — what  favourable  conditions  to 
ensure  well-ripened  wood  and   thoroughly  matured  buds,  and,  as  a 
natural  consequence,  plenty  of  fruit,  which,  owing  to  their  not  being 
thinned,  are  almost  worthless.     In  April  last,  Mr.  Bailey  said,  "  Let 
our  inquiry,  then,  be  this :  By  what  means  can  we  best  retard  the 
progress  of  the  abundant  blossom  with  which  our  fruit  trees  in  the 
open  air  are   this   spring   covered."     Pray,   how  do   those   cottagers 
retard  the  progress  of  blossoms  on  their  hot  walls  in  early  springs  ? 
We  are  not  informed  of  this,  which  is  a  very  material  point ;  for  if  these 
cottagers,  without  retarding  or  covering,  get  heavy  crops  of  fruit  many 
years  running,  is  it  not  a  proof  of  what  I  have  so  often  said,  viz. — that 
with  dry  warm  borders,  and  well-ripened  wood,  we  may  dispense  with 
coverings.     Mr.   Bailey  winds   up  thus :    "  Remember,    then,    gentle 
reader,  that  at  vStrathfieldsaye  there  is  as  fine  a  wall  of  Apricots  as  any 
in  the  country,  which  produced  no  fruit  till  protected,  and  yielded  a 
splendid  crop  the  first  most  trying  season  after  its  application."     How 
Mr.  Bailey  could  pen  the  above,  alter  all  he  had  just  before  told  us  of 
the  doings  at  Strathfieldsaye,  is  to  me  an  enigma.     In  the  same  article 
Mr.   Bailey  informed   us,   that  "  Mr.  Johnson,   his  grace's  gardener 
there  (Strathfieldsaye),  has  for  years  lost  his  crop  of  fruit ;  till,  under 
the  advice  of  Mr.  Parkes,  the  eminent  drainer,  he  adopted  the  Deanston 
plan  of  deep  drainage,  coupling  with  it  an  efficient  canvas  screen,  with 
temporary  copings  removable  at  pleasure."     ..."  The  result  was, 
that  from  being  the  latest  garden  in  the  neighbourhood,  it  has  become 
one   of  the    earliest."      Mr.    Bailey   quotes    Mr.    Johnson's    words  : 
"  Many  persons,"  says  Mr.  J.,  "  who  visited  me  were  sceptical  as  to 
the  advantages  of  deep  draining,  but  afler  examining  the  test  holes. 


MAY.  139 

invariably  went  away  converts."  Again,  Mr.  Johnson  says  :  "  I  saved 
a  good  crop  of  fruit  this  season,  which,  without  covering,  I  should  not 
have  done."  What  !  then  deep  draining,  though  it  has  made  Mr. 
Johnson's  garden,  from  being  tlie  latest  in  the  neighbourhood  to  be  one 
of  the  earliest,  has  done  nothing  towards  securing  a  crop  of  fruit.  How 
does  Mr.  Johnson  know  that  he  would  not  have  saved  a  crop  of  fruit 
last  year  without  covering  ?  It  appears  he  never  covered  his  trees 
until  he  adopted  the  plan  of  deep  draining.  If,  before  he  adopted  the 
plan  of  deep  draining,  he  had  covered  his  trees,  and  year  after  year 
secured  good  crops,  then,  in  his  case,  we  would  be  compelled  to  admit 
the  benefit  of  covering.  But  as  Mr.  Johnson  has  not  done  so,  I  cannot 
admit  that  the  crop  of  last  year  was  owing  solelij  to  his  covering. 

This  is  the  real  point  between  Mr.  Bailey  and  myself  He  ascribes 
everything  to  retarding  and  covering :  I  do  not.  I  think  much  of  the 
good  results  are  due  to  thoroughly  drained  borders,  well  ripened  wood, 
&c.  Mr.  Bailey  believes  that  Mr.  Johnson's  crop  was  owing  solelij  and 
entirely  to  the  covering  :  I  do  not.  I  am  of  opinion  it  was  owing  more 
to  his  deep  draining,  and  consequently  to  the  wood  being  better  ripened. 
]\lr.  Bailey  says:  "  ]\Ir.  Spencer,  of  Bowood,  uses  broad  projecting 
coping  boards,  and  makes  breaks  in  his  walls,  to  shelter  his  trees  from 
the  cold,  cutting  winds."  But  Mr.  Bailey  did  not  tell  us  that  Mr. 
Spencer,  before  he  applied  these,  thoroughly  drained  all  his  borders, 
and  renewed  some  of  them.  This,  Mr.  Bailey  omitted  to  tell  us, 
which  is  a  very  important  affair.  I  can  ascribe  his  success  more  to 
this  than  to  the  use  of  coping  boards,  &c.  When  I  visited  Bowood,  in 
October,  1853,  though  very  much  pleased  with  everything  about  that 
beautiful  place,  the  wall-fruit  trees  pleased  me  more  than  anything  I 
saw.  Widely  different  was  the  appearance  of  the  trees  then  to  what 
it  was  twelve  years  before.  I  ascribe  this  great  change  to  the  thorough 
draining  and  renewal  of  the  borders.  Mr.  Bailey  may,  as  I  dare  say 
he  will,  attribute  it  to  the  coping  boards.  If  Mr.  Spencer  had  left  his 
borders  in  the  state  they  were  sixteen  years  ago,  he  might  use  coping 
boards  in  vain.  Mr.  Bailey  thinks  that  retarding  and  covering  will 
alone  secure  good  crops.  Though  I  do  not  object  to  coverings,  if  people 
like  to  use  them,  I  still  am  of  opinion  that  by  thorough  drainage  and 
improvement  of  the  land — by  proper  selection  of  stocks,  scions,  and 
sorts — by  proper  cultivation,  especially  disbudding  and  summer  pruning 
— by  thinning  of  the  spurs,  when  crowded — and,  above  all,  by  never 
overcropping  ;  I  say,  I  am  of  opinion,  that  by  these  means  we  can, 
in  nine  seasons  out  of  ten,  secure  good  crops  of  fruit.  I  have  done  so 
myself,  here,  the  last  seven  years. 

M.  Saul. 
Stourton. 


Weigela  AMABilis. — This,  we  presume,  like  rosea,  is  a  native  of 
China  or  Japan.  It  has  flowered  with  Messrs.  Low  and  others,  and  is  a 
pretty  shrub  ;  though,  of  the  two,  we  certainly  think  rosea  the  hand- 
somest.    It  is  figured  in  the  "  Botanical  Magazine"  for  January  last. 


140  THE    FLORIST. 


ON  DEEP  CULTIVATION. 


Were  we  to  examine  the  depth  to  which  the  roots  of  many  of  our  cul- 
tivated plants  will  penetrate  a  loose  open  soil  in  quest  of  food,  we  should 
be  less  sceptical  as  to  the  advantages  which  deep  cultivation  affords  to 
the  roots  of  plants.  The  market  gardeners  around  London  trench  ofien 
and  deeply,  not  only  to  change  the  surface,  as  some  suppose,  but  to 
allow  the  roots  of  their  crops  to  range  as  deep  as  they  please,  and  with- 
out this  assistance  the  enormous  crops  of  first-rate  produce  they  obtain 
from  the  land  could  not  be  obtained.  If  deep  cultivation  is  requisite  in 
the  rich  and  deep  alluvial  soils  of  the  Thames  valley,  how  much  more 
so  is  it  on  poor  and  shallow  soils,  which  afford  comparatively  only  a 
limited  pasturage  for  the  roots  of  plants. 

It  is  true,  gravelly  and  rocky  subsoils  are  almost  beyond  the  reach 
of  improvement;  as  the  expense  of  breaking  up  the  substratum  would, 
in  most  instances,  be  too  great  to  pay.  But  this  is  not  always  the 
case,  for  I  have  seen  the  brashy  subsoil  of  some  localities  broken  up 
with  good  results,  as  well  as  some  gravelly  subsoils,  particularly  where 
the  layers  of  gravel  are  thin  and  mixed  with  clay  or  ferruginous  matter, 
rendering  them  impervious  to  water,  as  well  as  to  the  roots  of  plants. 
By  breaking  through  this  crust,  so  as  to  admit  a  free  passage  for  the 
water,  a  marked  improvement  follows.  Clay  subsoils,  however  reten- 
tive, are  capable  of  being  reclaimed  ;  but  this  is  a  work  of  time,  as  all 
you  can  do,  after  thorough  drainage,  is  to  break  up  the  clayey  bottom 
to  the  depth  of  twelve  or  eighteen  inches,  according  to  its  nature,  each 
time  the  ground  is  dug  or  trenched.  This  bottom,  when  forked  up, 
should  be  kept  as  open  as  possible,  which  will  facilitate  the  passage  of  water 
through  it,  and  the  salts  and  ammonia  carried  down  by  the  rains  from 
the  manuring,  &c,,  of  the  upper  soil  will  in  time  reduce  its  tenacity, 
assisted  by  the  decomposing  action  of  the  air,  which  will  now  have 
better  access  to  it ;  and  in  a  kw  years,  by  practising  this,  you  will  find 
your  land  gradually  increasing  in  depth  and  productivtness.  Many 
calcareous  and  slaty  rocks  are  likewise  capable  of  improvement  when 
broken  up  and  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  weather,  and  when  shallow 
soils  rest  on  these  descriptions  of  rocks,  by  all  means,  break  up  a 
stratum  of  it  yearly,  below  the  top  soil.  Many  hard  compact  marls  of  the 
red  sandstone  and  lias  formations  are  as  unfavourable  for  the  growth  of 
plants  as  rock  or  gravel,  and  yet  when  broken  up  and  exposed  to  atmo- 
spheric influences,  they  make  fertile  soils  capable  of  producing  every 
kind  of  crop.  I  remember  some  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  back  paying  a 
visit  to  the  garden  of  the  late  E.  Davis,  Esq.,  of  Bath,  whom  many  of 
your  readers  will  recollect  was  the  first  amateur  Dahlia  grower  of  that 
day,  and  his  plants  were  growing  apparently  in  a  mass  of  stones.  The 
garden  of  this  gentleman  was  situated  on  the  side  of  one  of  the  oolitic 
ranges  which  surround  Bath,  with  barely  a  covering  of  soil  over  the 
rock;  this  Mr.  Davis  had  broken  up  two  feet  in  depth,  and  had  mixed 
with  it  the  surface  soil  and  a  little  manure  ;  the  luxuriance  of  his  Dahlias 
and  general  garden  produce  was  remarkable,  and  may  perhaps  be 
remembered  by  those  of  your  readers  who  visited  Entre-hill  at  the 
time  in  question. 


MAY.  141 

To  obtain  a  sufficient  depth  of  soil  for  the  roots  of  vegetables  to  pene- 
trate is  one  means,  and  a  great  one,  of  increasing  their  produce. 
Plants  growing  in  soils  made  open  for  a  considerable  depth  are  much 
less  liable  to  suffer  in  dry  weather,  as  their  roots  are  in  a  position  to 
obtain  moisture  at  a  lower  depth,  and  hence  the  suitability  of  deep  soils 
for  summer  crops  ;  the  same  soils  are  likewise  warmer  in  winter.  A 
soil  from  which  the  water  passes  through  freely  can  never  be  very 
damp,  and  relatively  never  very  cold ;  nor  are  they  so  dry  in  summer, 
for  this  reason,  the  action  of  the  sun's  rays  on  the  surface  soil  causes  the 
moisture  therein  to  be  given  off  by  evaporation,  and  this  produces  an 
upicard  action  of  the  moisture  contained  in  the  soil  below,  to  supply 
that  wdiich  has  escaped  by  exhalation  and  the  surface.  We  shaU  find, 
then,  that  in  proportion  to  the'  power  of  the  evaporating  process  on 
the  surface  there  will  be  a  corresponding  rise  of  watery  particles 
throughout  the  entire  mass  of  soil  below.  This  will  positively  keep  the 
soil  moister,  because  it  is  more  open  and  porous,  than  a  shallow  soil,  with 
a  compact  subsoil,  which  would  obstruct  the  progress  of  moisture  from 
below,  at  the  same  time  as  it  prevented  its  escape  downwards.  By  all 
means  then  for  vegetables,  have  a  mass  of  soil,  if  practicable,  from  two 
to  three  feet  deep,  sufficiently  open  to  admit  air  and  water  to  pass  freely 
each  way  when  needed.  X.  Y.  Z. 


NOTES  ON  THE  MONTH. 


Since  writing  my  last  remarks  the  weather  throughout  the  month 
('March)  was  cold  and  hazy,  with  keen  easterly  winds,  varied  only  now 
and  then  by  a  bit  of  sunshine.  On  the  night  of  the  27th  there  was  12° 
of  frost,  and  about  15°  on  the  29th  and  80th.  Severe  for  the  season, 
the  air  up  to  the  Ist  of  April  was  remarkable  for  its  dryness,  even  for 
March.  On  the  1st  of  April  we  had  a  change  and  milder  weather  ; 
from  this  time  up  to  the  14th  there  was  rain  almost  daily,  which 
swelled  the  brooks  and  filled  the  springs  to  overflowing.  On  the  l4tli 
the  wdnd  shifted  back  to  its  old  quarters,  the  East — piercing,  and  at 
times  blowing  a  gale,  with  frosts  on  the  19th,  20th,  and  21st;  to-day 
(23rd),  there  is  a  change  indicating  rain.  If  we  are  to  credit 
"  Howard,"  the  ensuing  summer  will  be  a  dry  one,  the  winds  during 
the  vernal  equinox  being  E.  and  N.  E.  The  temperature  for  the  last 
two  weeks  has  been  rather  above  the  average,  but  yet  the  season  is  by 
no  means  a  forward  one,  owing  to  the  low  temperature  of  March  and 
part  of  April. 

The  weather,  on  the  whole,  has  been  more  favourable  for  the  farmer 
than  the  gardener.  Young  Cauliflower,  Lettuce,  and  other  early 
vegetables  which  we  noticed  as  suffering  last  month,  have  not  pro- 
gressed with  the  season,  owing  to  the  absence  of  mild,  genial  weather. 
Potatoes  and  root  crops  generally  have  been  got  in  well,  and  the  present 
weather  is  favourable  for  clearing  foul  land,  completing  alterations, 
preparing  borders,  &c. 

The  main  task  before  the  gardener  just  now  is  the  flower-garden 
work ;  and  during  the  next  month,  everywhere,  "  bedding-out"  will  be 


142  THE    FLORIST. 

the  all-engrossing  care.  About  this  I  am  glad  to  notice  good  taste  is 
beginning  to  sicken  with  the  everlasting  repetition  of  red,  yellow,  and 
blue,  with  which  colours  almost  every  garden — from  that  of  the  palace 
down  to  the  humblest  manse — has  been  crammed  for  the  last  few 
years.  Not  that  I  object  to  masses  of  colour — not  I — but  1  like  to  see 
the  thing  properly  done.  Artistically,  if  you  like  that  word  better  ; — 
and,  as  we  have  a  whole  range  of  colours,  we  may  as  well,  make  them' 
enter  into  combination  a  little,  as  dab  them  about  in  spots.  To  do  this 
there  are  two  ways  of  managing  the  matter : — one,  by  keeping  one 
colour  to  a  bed,  having  the  brightest  and  most  distinct  in  the  middle, 
and  shading  them  down  to  the  margin  by  varieties  of  less  intense  colour 
— excepting  where  the  mass  is  a  great  one,  wdien  a  band  or  divisional 
line  may  be  introduced  ; — the  second  is  to  blend  the  colours,  by  planting 
rows  or  bands  of  different  colours  round  a  centre.  When  the  plants 
employed  are  judiciously  selected,  according  to  their  habit  and  colour, 
most  pleasing  combinations  of  colours  can  be  obtained — the  same 
results  follow  planting  in  borders  in  right  lines.  In  this  style  a  great 
variety  of  plants  can  be  introduced,  and  the  general  effect  is  pleasing 
and  harmonious.  By-the-bye,  will  nobody  have  a  word  to  say  in 
favour  of  some  old  IHends  in  the  shape  of  Larkspurs,  Campanulas, 
and  other  herbaceous  plants  ?  What  is  really  so  fine  as  the  now 
neglected  Double  Siberian  Larkspur,  unless  we  might  find  it  with  our 
old  friend  at  Dropmore,  who  I  like  all  the  better  ibr  sticking  to  these 
old-fashioned  things  ? 

I  had  nearly  filled  my  space,  Mr.  Editor,  without  saying  one  word 
about  fruit  trees,  on  which  I  see  there  is  a  vehement  discussion  in  your 
columns,  into  which  I  do  not  care  to  enter.  For  certain,  however, 
Apricots  "  caught  it "  last  month  ;  there  are,  however,  enough  left  for 
a  crop.  Peaches  appear  to  be  safe,  or  nearly  ;  but  I  am  sorry  to  see, 
in  places,  evidences  of  gum,  resulting  from  the  autumn  of  1855  not 
being  so  favourable  for  ripening  the  wood  as  1854.  Plums  and  Cherries 
are  now  in  full  bloom,  how  they  will  escape  the  frosts  of  the  last  few 
nights  is  more  than  I  can  say  now  ;  one  thing  in  their  favour  is  that 
the  air  is  very  dry.  Early  Pears,  the  same  ;  some  kinds  are  not  out  yet 
— the  bloom  appears  scant.     Apples,  on  the  contrary,  abundant. 

As  a  hint  worth  remembering,  I  say,  for  this  next  month  care  more 
about  keeping  the  tops  of  newly-planted  trees,  &c.,  damp,  than  their  roots. 

By  way  of  postscript  let  me  add  that  the  subscription-list  for  raising 
the  5000/.  required  by  the  Council  of  the  Horticultural  Society  to  enable 
them  to  carry  on  the  Garden,  fills  slowly.  Let  the  nobility  of  England 
take  for  example  the  nobIe-mm6.<n\  German,  H.  Behrens,  Esq.,  who  so 
liberally  subscribed  100/.,  and  the  list  would  soon  be  complete. 


NATIONAL  FLORICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

3Iarch  27. — As  the  meetings  of  this  Society  give  greater  oppor- 
tunities than  are  afforded  by  any  other  society  for  seeing  seedling 
florists'  flowers  as  well  as  new  plantS;  it  is  our  intention  to  report  fully 


MAY.  143 

the  meetings  of  the  season,  and  we  were  much  gratified  at  finding  this 
— the  first — so  well  attended.  There  were  a  great  many  seedling 
plants,  and  several  novelties  were  produced.  The  principal  plants 
were  Cinerarias,  Hyacinths,  Rhododendrons,  Camellias,  and  Gera- 
niums. 

Mr.  Williams,  gardener  to  A.  Farrie,  Esq.,  Liverpool,  exhibited  two 
new  Rhododendrons  :  Hookeri,  of  a  deep  rich  coral  crimson  colour,  and 
a  beautiful  variety,  as  well  as  very  dissimilar ;  also  a  light  kind  named 
nervosum,  with  large  noble  foliage,  but  the  flower  is  not  very  attractive. 
Messrs.  Wood  and  Ing  am,  of  fiuntingdon,  received  a  certificate  of 
merit  for  a  bright-coloured  Geranium,  named  Crimson  King.  This  is 
by  far  the  best  variety  we  have  seen  for  early  work,  the  habit  is  so 
good ;  a  very  free  grower  as  well  as  flowerer,  and  of  much  better  form 
than  those  hitherto  grown  for  forcing.  It  appears  to  be  a  continuous 
bloomer. 

Messrs.  Henderson  and  Co.,  of  Pine-apple-place,  received  a  first- 
class  certificate  for  a  Camellia  named  Enl'ant  de  France,  rosy  crimson, 
very  double,  and  of  the  finest  imbricated  form.  Mr.  Gaines,  of 
Battersea,  received  the  same  award  for  a  white  Camellia  named  com- 
pacta  alba.     This  also  is  of  fine  form,  but  not  a  large  flower. 

Mr.  G.  Smith,  of  Hornsey-road  Nursery,  received  a  certificate  for 
his  blue-tipped  Cineraria,  Princess  Royal.  This  is  a  showy  bright 
variety  with  clear  white  ground,  but  the  ends  of  the  petals  are  square 
instead  of  being  well  rounded.  ]\lr.  C.  Turner,  of  Slough,  received 
similar  awards  for  Lady  Jane  Peel  and  Prince  of  Wales,  both  white 
ground  flowers ;  the  former  being  tipped  with  rosy  purple,  the  latter 
with  bluish  purple  :  they  appear  to  be  of  good  habits,  and  were  of 
excellent  shape.  Mr.  Bousie,  gardener  to  the  Right  Hon.  H.  Labou- 
chere,  Stoke  Park,  sent  two  kinds,  of  which  Miss  Labouchere  ap- 
peared to  be  the  best  ;  it  is  tipped  similar  to  Picturata,  but  has  a 
dark  disc. 

The  ]\Iessrs.  Smith,  of  Dulwich,  sent  a  large  number  of  seedlings, 
some  of  which  were  of  new  shades  of  colour,  but  deficient  in  form. 
The  best  of  these  were  Decision,  Pourpre  de  Tyre,  Crimson  King,  and 
Beauty  of  Dulwich. 

Mr.  Sharman  and  Mr.  Crockford  also  exhibited  seedlings  of  this 
showy  useful  spring  flower. 

Hyacinths  and  Camellias  were  the  subjects  prizes  were  offered  for  in 
collections.  The  former  were  exhibited  by  IMr.  Cutbush,  of  Highgate ; 
Messrs.  A.  Henderson  and  Co.,  Pine-apple-place  ;  Messrs.  E.  G. 
Henderson  and  Co.,  Wellington-road ;  and  E.  Rosher,  Esq.,  Hamilton- 
terrace.  The  prizes  were  awarded  respectively  in  the  order  named. 
The  best  Reds  were  Mrs.  Beecher  Stowe,  Robert  Steiger,  Diebitsch 
Sabalskanski.  Blush  :  Duke  of  WeUington  (very  fine),  Norma, 
Cavaignac,  Catherina.  Dark  Blues  :  William  the  First,  Laurens 
Koster,  Graff  Van  Nassau,  Baron  Van  Tuyll,  Prince  Albert,  Mimosa. 
L/(/la  Blues:  Grand  Lilac  (very  fine),  Schiller,  Murillo,  Bloksberg, 
Charles  Dickens.  In  W/iites  we  noticed  as  fine.  Prince  of  Waterloo, 
Mont  Blanc,  Mammoth,  La  Tour  d'Auvergne,  Peine  Blanche,  La 
Deese,  and  Anna  Maria.  The  Camellias  were  not  fine.  A.  Farrie, 
Esq.,  sent  the  best  three  blooms;    2nd,  E.  Rosher,  Esq. 


144  THE    FLORIST. 

A]ml  24. — Cinerarias  were  the  principal  feature  at  this  meeting, 
being  shown  in  considerable  numbers  and  in  excellent  condition. 

Mr.  Bousie,  of  Stoke  Park,  exhibited  two  varieties  :  Mrs.  Turner, 
white  tipped  with  lilac ;  and  Mrs.  Edwards,  light  purple — both 
possessing  good  quality,  the  latter  being  the  best  in  shape.  Mr.  C. 
Lidgard,  of  Hammersmith,  sent  two  kinds,  but  in  bad  condition.  Mr. 
Pope,  of  Pimlico,  had  eight  seedlings.  Vivid  was  selected  by  the 
judges  for  a  certificate — white  with  bright  crimson  tip,  style  of  Esther, 
but  of  better  form.  The  others  were  too  thin.  Mr.  C.  Turner,  of 
Slough,  received  a  similar  award  for  Mrs.  Hoyle,  white  tipped  with 
crimson  purple,  marking  very  distinct  and  good  form.  Mr.  Turner  also 
exhibited  Earl  of  Clarendon,  dark  purple  with  red  ring  round  the  disc  ; 
Lavinia,  lilac  with  white  ring,  novel ;  Admiral  Lyons,  dark  purple  with 
white  ring  ;  and  Alice,  white  and  lilac  rose.  These  all  possessed  good 
properties.  Mr.  Clark,  of  Cheltenham,  sent  a  white  ground  variety 
with  very  bright  tip,  but  thin  and  of  bad  form.  Many  others  were 
shown,  but  none  worthy  of  notice. 

Mr.  Kinghorn,  of  St.  Margaret's,  Isleworth,  received  a  certificate  for 
a  seedling  Epacris  named  carnea  rubra ;  its  name  denotes  its  colour.  It 
is  free,  and  of  good  dwarf  habit, 

Mr.  Hamp,  of  South  Lambeth,  received  a  certificate  for  Azalea 
potissima,  a  good-shaped  kind,  strong  grower — colour,  rosy  salmon 
marked  with  crimson  in  the  upper  part  of  the  flower — a  pretty  variety, 
but  not  particularly  new  in  colour. 

Mr.  Beck,  of  Isleworth,  and  Mr.  Wheeler,  Hendon,  exhibited  early- 
flowering  varieties  of  Pelargoniums,  adapted  for  forcing.  Helen,  from 
Mr.  Beck,  has  pale  lilac  lower  petals,  dark  top  ;  very  free,  but  dull  in 
colour.  Mr.  Wheeler's  is  a  white,  free,  but  of  bad  form.  A  label  of 
commendation  was  awarded  to  the  latter.  Mr.  Hoyle,  of  Reading,  sent 
two  Pelargoniums — Review  and  Ion.  The  former,  a  large  free- 
flowering  variety,  evidently  a  very  early  bloomer.  It  has  a  clear 
white  centre,  lower  petals  scarlet  rose,  top  rich  dark  blotch,  shaded 
bright  margin.     Ion,  a  dark  variety,  of  fine  substance. 

A  seedling  Heliotrope  was  exhibited  named  Florence  Nightingale. 
It  is  no  improvement  on  Beauty  of  the  Boudoir,  if  so  good. 

Messrs.  Ivery,  of  Dorking,  sent  a  w^ell-bloomed  plant  of  their  Azalea 
Criterion,  figured  by  us  in  1852.     This  is  a  very  fine  thing. 

The  prizes  offered  were  for  Cinerarias,  Auriculas,  and  Polyanthus. 
None  of  the  latter  were  sent,  and  only  two  of  the  former.  These  were 
in  very  good  condition.  The  four  best  Cinerarias  were  Rose  of 
England,  Magnum  Bonum,  Emperor  of  the  French,  and  Brilliant :  the 
two  latter  are  new  varieties,  both  of  which  received  first-class  certificates 
last  season,  and  have  well  maintained  the  high  opinion  then  expressed 
of  their  merits.  These,  with  a  collection  of  specimen  plants,  were 
exhibited  by  Mr.  C.  Turner.  The  same  grower  also  sent  a  collection 
of  healthy  well-bloomed  Auriculas.  The  four  exhibited  for  the  prize 
were  Dickson's  Unique,  Bolivar,  Lovely  Ann,  and  Blackbird. 

Mr.  Richards,  of  Oxford -street,  exhibited  a  collection  of  wire  baskets 
for  suspending  flowers,  similar  to  those  so  extensively  used  at  the 
Crystal  Palace,  and  flower-stands  made  of  the  same  material,  some  of 
which  are  beautifully  designed.     The  baskets  are  very  elegant. 


145 


HOW  TO  HAVE  GRAPES   FROM  THE   BUD  OR  EYE  THE 
FIRST  YEAR. 

Not  long  ago  Vine  growers  were  startled  at  the  fact  of  Mr.  Elphln- 
stone  having  fruited  pot  Vines  the  same  year  in  which  they  were  struck. 
We  had  supposed  that  to  do  this  the  second  year  was  as  early  as  it  could 
be  done.  JBut  happy  are  they  who  live  to  learn ;  and  though  I  am  not 
aware  how  the  feat  was  accomplished  by  Mr.  Elphinstone,  I  can  state 
a  way,  if  not  the  way  how.  Strike  the  eyes  in  January,  grow  them  on 
Vigorously,  potting  as  required;  when  about  two  feet  long  stop  them, 
and  when  four  feet  or  so  stop  them  again  ;  the  laterals  from  the  second 
stopping  produce  the  bunches.  The  Vines  should  now  be  quickly  grown, 
and  in  due  course  the  fruit  will  ripen.  Those  who  have  had  charge  of 
vineries  will  recollect  how  that  from  repeated  stoppings  the  laterals 
often  show  bunches,  particularly  at  the  terminal  bud.  It  is  by  applying 
such  observations  that  we  make  progress.  We  do  not  think  that 
the  practice  of  so  fruiting  Vines  will  become  general,  still  it  is  worth 
trying,  and  perhaps  tliis  may  be  cited  as  an  illustration  of  the  theory, 
that  in  a  bud  are  the  germs  of  a  perfect  tree,  which  the  gardener  may 
develope  at  will.  Geo.  M'Ewen,  Arundel. 


THE  ROYAL  GARDENS,  FROGMORE. 

It  is  now  more  than  two  years  since  we  gave  an  account  of  these  noble 
gardens,  and  we  believe  we  need  make  no  apology  for  again  placing 
before  our  readers  the  following  memoranda  of  what  came  under  our  notice 
during  a  recent  visit.  The  forcing  of  fruit  is  carried  on  very  exten- 
sively, and  forms  the  principal  feature  at  this  season  of  the  year,  when 
each  kind  is  in  different  stages  of  forwardness,  as  required  for  furnishing 
a  supply  up  to  the  period  when  forced  fruit  is  succeeded  by  that  from 
the  open  air. 

We  noticed  eight  houses,  each  varying  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  feet 
in  length,  occupied  by  Vines  in  different  stages  of  growth.  The  earliest 
Grapes  are  growing  at  the  back  of  the  Pine  stoves,  situated  in  the 
principal  range  of  houses.  The  crop  is  a  very  good  one,  and  fast 
approaching  maturity  ;  indeed,  some  of  the  bunches  at  the  warmest  end 
of  the  house  were  rijie.  The  forcing  of  these  Vines  usually  commences 
about  the  end  of  November,  and  at  that  time  the  fruiting  Pine  plants 
are  planted  in  the  pits  occupying  the  front  part  of  these  houses,  and 
remain  there  till  the  fruit  is  ripe,  which  is  late  in  the  autumn  ;  conse- 
quently, the  Vines  get  but  a  limited  season  of  rest,  and  although  sub- 
jected to  this  severe  treatment,  they  remain  remarkably  healthy  and 
produce  excellent  fruit. 

The  next  Vinery  for  succession  is  a  half-span  house,  eighty  feet  long, 
situated  at  the  back  of  the  principal  range ;  it  contains  a  splendid  crop 
of  fruit,  which  is  thinned  and  swelling  fast.  They  are  chiefly  Black 
Hamburghs  together  with  a  few  fine  seedlings  raised  here. 

The  Vmes  in  this  house  have  been  planted  four  years,  and  it  is 
intended  ultimately  to  use  this   house  for  forcing  early  Grapes.     Mr. 

NEW   SERIES,    VOL.    VI.,   NO.    LXV.  L 


146  THE    FLORIST. 

Ingram  has  adopted  an  excellent  plan  for  warming  the  borders  of  this 
house,  which  undoubtedly  will  be  a  great  assistance  in  early  forcing. 
This  is  done  by  a  hot-water  pipe  carried  round  the  edge  of  the  borders, 
placed  in  a  narrow  chamber  two  teet  below  the  surface.  From  this 
chamber  air-drains  run  underneath  the  border  to  the  back  of  the  house ; 
ventilators  are  fitted  to  the  chamber  containing  the  hot-water  pipes, 
which  causes  a  circulation  of  warm  air  to  pass  under  the  border  to  the 
back  of  the  house. 

The  large  Vinery  in  the  front  range  is  one  hundred  feet  in  length  ; 
it  was  started  the  end  of  January,  and  the  Vines  are  now  in  bloom, 
promising  a  heavy  crop  of  well-formed  bunches ;  indeed,  we  never 
remember  seeing  Vines  more  healthy  and  vigorous.  In  the  same 
range  is  another  Vinery  of  the  same  dimensions,  where  the  Vines  are 
just  breaking  without  the  aid  of  fire  heat. 

The  variety  grown  in  the  latest  house  is  "  St.  Peter's,"  and  they  are 
taken  out  and  tied  to  stakes  in  the  front  of  the  house,  where  they  will 
remain  until  they  begin  to  break  naturally,  when  they  will  be  again 
placed  inside.  The  fruit  from  these  Vines  was  in  use  up  to  the  middle 
of  March,  so  only  a  few  weeks  intervene  between  the  late  and  early 
Grapes.  This  house  at  present  is  filled  with  French  Beans  and  Straw- 
berries. 

Last  season,  the  Vines  in  one  of  the  small  Vineries  in  the  principal 
range  had  become  somewhat  weak  from  hard  forcing  and  heavy  crops, 
therefore  Mr.  Ingram  had  them  cut  down  in  June  last,  immediately 
after  the  fruit  was  gathered  ;  they  soon  made  strong  shoots,  and 
ripened  tlie  wood  well  by  the  end  of  the  season.  The  rods  are  now  cut 
back  to  about  seven  feet  in  length,  and  there  is  every  prospect  of  a  good 
crop.     Thus  a  season  is  gained  by  the  above  treatment. 

French  Beans  are  grown  on  all  the  Vinery  borders ;  some  are  in  full 
bearing,  and  others  are  but  just  planted.  Strawberries  are  grown  in 
large  quantities,  and  occupy  the  shelves  in  the  forcing-houses ;  two 
small  span-roofed  houses  were  also  filled  with  them.  We  noticed  some 
beautiful  ripe  fruit  of  Mr.  Ingram's  seedling  Prince  of  Wales,  which  is 
a  favourite  sort  here  for  early  forcing ;  British  Queen  is  also  largely 
grown  for  use  later  in  the  season. 

In  the  Plum-house  there  is  a  fine  crop,  and  the  fruit  is  beginning  to 
stone.  Several  varieties  are  forced,  among  which  are  the  Washington, 
Early  Orleans,  and  Green-gage,  but  the  Victoria  is  considered  the  best 
for  early  forcing.  In  a  division  of  this  house  there  are  two  trees  of  the 
Jefferson  Plum,  carrying  a  good  crop.  It  is  an  esteemed  American 
variety  recently  brouglit  into  notice.  This  sort  is  found  to  force  well, 
and  is  also  hardy  and  productive  when  grown  in  the  open  air.  On  the 
back  wall  are  trained  some  promising  seedling  Peaches  and  Nectarines, 
now  in  fruit.  Plants  of  the  Eugenia  Ugni  are  planted  in  bottomless 
pots  on  the  border  of  this  house,  where  they  are  intended  to  fruit. 
They  are  growing  freely  in  rough  loam  with  a  mixture  of  peat  and 
broken  pots.  A  short  account,  with  a  woodcut,  of  this  new  fruit-bearing 
shrub  appeared  in  our  February  number. 

Two  span-roofed  houses,  sixty  feet  in  length,  are  filled  with  Cherry- 
trees  growing  in  pots,  and  forced  every  alternate  season ;  after  the  crop 


MAY.  147 

is  gathered,  the  trees  are  turned  out  of  the  pots  and  plunged  in  the  open 
ground,  where  a  fresh  set  of  trees  is  in  preparation  for  next  season, 
'ihe  forcing  of  the  early  house  commenced  the  first  week  in  January, 
and  the  fruit  is  now  ripening ;  in  the  second  house  they  are  about  the 
size  of  Peas,  having  been  started  a  month  later,  to  succeed  those  in  the 
early  house.     In  both  houses  the  trees  are  well  furnished  with  fruit. 

The  whole  of  the  Pines  were  looking  strong  and  remarkably  healthy, 
especially  those  planted  in  loam  on  a  bed  of  leaves  in  the  larger  fruiting 
pits,  without  the  assistance  of  more  bottom  heat  than  the  bed  of  leaves 
affords.  The  heated  air  is  supplied  through  hot-water  pipes  placed  in 
the  front  part  of  the  pit.  Some  of  the  best  Pines  are  grown  in  these 
pits,  and  with  comparatively  very  little  trouble.  The  Pines  in  the 
principal  range  are  grown  much  in  the  same  way ;  only,  instead  of  a 
bed  of  leaves,  hot- water  pipes  supply  the  bottom  heat. 

Cucumbers  are  produced  throughout  the  year,  and  the  plants  from 
which  the  supply  is  now  obtained  have  been  in  bearing  all  through  the 
winter  months.  The  plants  are  growing  in  a  bed  of  earth  placed  over 
a  heated  chamber,  forming  a  pit  in  the  centre  and  back  of  the  house, 
which  is  a  half-span,  and  the  plants  are  trained  near  the  glass. 

Early  Potatoes  are  looking  strong  and  healthy  ;  they  are  chiefly  grown 
in  cold  pits  over  a  bed  of  leaves,  without  the  aid  of  fire  heat.  Carrots, 
Peas,  Turnips,  &c.,  also  occupy  several  cold  pits  and  frames. 

Most  of  the  plant-houses  were  exceedingly  gay,  especially  the  stoves 
in  the  front  range,  where  many  varieties  of  Begonias  are  now  in  great 
perfection.  The  following  are  amongst  the  best : — Albo-coccinea,  a 
pretty  variety,  with  scarlet  and  white  flowers  ;  manicata,  nitida,  and 
hybrida,  which  is  an  exceedingly  good  variety,  raised  a  few  years  since 
at  Cliveden,  between  manicata  and  hydrocotylifolia  ;  it  partakes  of  both 
its  parents,  and  'is  of  good  habit  and  fine  foliage.  Fuchsioides,  Ingrami, 
and  coccinea  contrasted  well  with  other  varieties  of  less  colour.  We 
also  noticed  several  hybrids  raised  by  Mr.  Ingram,  among  which  was 
nitida  rosea,  a  fine  variety  of  better  habit,  and  the  flowers  deeper 
coloured  than  nitida.  Suaveolens  rosea  is  also  a  great  improvement  on 
the  old  variety.  There  were  also  several  other  seedlings — varieties  of 
Fuchsioides — not  yet  named.  Several  other  stove  plants  were  in  flower 
— such  as  Hibiscus  rosa  sinensis  and  flore  plena,  Adamia  versicolor, 
Centradenia  rosea,  Franciscea  Hopeana  and  confertifolia,  and  many 
more,  too  numerous  to  admit  of  their  being  noticed  here. 

We  observed  two  fine  plants  of  Impatiens  Hookeri,  not  yet  in 
flower,  but  growing  very  strong  in  rough  turfy  loam. 

The  greenhouses  were  also  very  gay  with  the  different  varieties  of 
Cinerarias,  Azaleas,  Camellias,  Ericas,  Epacrises,  and  scarlet  Rhodo- 
dendrons, intermixed  with  other  plants — such  as  Boronia  tetrandra, 
Dielytra  spectabilis,  Hardenbergia  monophylla,  Cytisus  racemosus, 
Deutzia  gracilis  (a  useful  little  plant  for  forcing  and  early  spring- 
flowering),  Tropseolum  tricolorum.  Cyclamens,  &c.  On  the  back-wall 
we  noticed  a  fine  plant  of  Clianthus  puniceus,  covered  with  scarlet 
flowers 

We  were  much  pleased  with  some  seedling  Ericas  which  Mr.  Ingram 
showed  us  in  one  of  the  principal  houses.     Three  varieties — seedUngs 

L  2     - 


148 


THE    FLORIST. 


from  hiemalis  fertilised  with  other  good  kinds — deserve  especial 
notice  ;  these  are  all  decided  improvements  on  E.  hiemalis,  which  variety 
they  most  resemble  ;  they  are  all  free  blooming  and  of  vigorous  habit, 
and  the  plants  were  covered  with  flowers  of  a  purple  colour,  tipped  with 
white ;  but  one  variety,  which  was  considered  the  best,  had  more  of  a 
carmine  tint  in  it.  Several  other  promising  varieties  raised  between 
Willmoreana  and  Linneana,  were  in  bloom,  and  we  hope  at  some 
future  time  to  present  our  readers  wuth  coloured  illustrations  of  some  of 
the  seedlings  which  are  not  yet  named. 

Among  the  new  erections  in  these  gardens,  is  a  glass-case  placed 
over  a  portion  of  a  south  Cherry  wall,  which  the  accompanying  wood- 
cut represents.     The  principal  feature  in  this  glass  covering  is  the  plan 


which  Mr.  Ingram  has  adopted  for  giving  air,  viz.,  the  opening  of  the 
front  sashes,  which  are  nine  feet  long,  and  turn  on  a  pivot  at  each  end  ; 
when  opened  they  are  simply  fastened  with  a  small  hook.  This  allows 
plenty  of  air  in  every  part  without  moving  the  top  sashes.  This 
case  is  eighty  feet  long  and  made  portable,  so  that  it  may  be  easily 
moved  or  packed  away  when  not  in  use.  The  trees  were  in  full  bloom 
early  in  April,  and  every  part  of  the  wall  completely  covered. 

There  is  an  excellent  show  of  all  kinds  of  fruit  in  the  hardy  fruit 
department,  and  if  fortunate  enough  to  escape  spring  frost,  doubtless  it 
will  be  a  season  of  plenty.  The  Peach,  Plum,  and  Cherry  walls  are  in 
fine  condition :  most  of  the  Peach  trees  cover  a  space  of  two  hundred 
square  feet,  and  are  well  furnished  with  bearing  wood  quite  to  the  stem, 
with  not  the  least  sign  of  becoming  bare  in  any  part  of  the  trees.  These 
trees  are  protected  with  canvas  screens  through  the  spring  months. 


MAT.  149 

Strawberries  have  suffered  much  in  the  open  quarter  from  the  effects 
of  a  wet  autumn,  and  at  the  same  time  an  attack  of  mildew  ;  several 
plants  are  quite  dead,  and  others  so  weakened  that  a  crop  will  be  long 
uncertain  ;  the  Filbert  and  Prince  of  Wales  remain  the  most  healthy. 
Lettuce  plants  also  suffered  from  the  same  cause.  All  other  kitchen 
crops  stood  the  winter  well. 


HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 


April  22. — A  large  quantity  of  Sikkim,  Bhotan  and  other  Rhododen- 
drons was  exhibited  on  this  occasion.  Some  of  them  were  in  flower, 
but  many  others  were  not.  The  most  conspicuous  among  those  in  blos- 
som was  a  pale  yellow  kind,  called  R.  campylocarpum.  This  was  a 
standard  worked  on  catawbiense,  and  having  a  fine  head  of  bloom,  was 
really  very  handsome.  It  was  stated  to  have  flowered  out  of  doors  at 
Holkar,  near  the  seashore  in  Lancashire.  Hopes  are,  therefore,  enter- 
tained that  it  may  be  sufficiently  hardy  to  withstand  the  vicissitudes  of 
our  climate.  This  came  from  Messrs.  Standish  and  Noble.  Messrs. 
E.  G.  Henderson  had  also  an  extremely  interesting  exhibition  of  these 
plants,  among  which  were  R.  Hookeri,  of  which  we  soon  expect  to  be 
able  to  give  a  coloured  representation,  the  fragrant  Edgworthi,  Nuttalli, 
a  Bhotan  kind  reputed  to  possess  wonderful  beauty,  Boothi  and  Java- 
nicum,  Messrs.  Veitch  and  Son,  of  Exeter  and  Chelsea,  sent  R.  jas- 
miniflorum,  which  is  one  of  the  prettiest  tender  Rhododendrons  in  culti- 
vation. Its  numerous  clusters  of  long  waxy  white  tubular  blossoms 
make  it  an  object  of  universal  admiration.  It  may  be  mentioned  as  a 
curious  fact  connected  with  this  charming  genus  of  plants,  that  as  they 
approach  the  eastward  of  Asia  they  all  more  or  less  partake  of  the  long 
tubular  form  of  flower  ;  while  in  Sikkim  and  Bhotan,  the  head  quarters 
of  the  race,  the  blossoms  are  for  the  most  part  of  a  more  open  and 
spreading  character.  The  same  nurserymen  also  sent  Dodecatheon 
integrifjlium,  a  new  kind  something  like  D.  Meadia,  cut  specimens  of 
one  of  Mr.  Skinner's  Fuchsias,  a  Primula,  and  a  variegated  East  Indian 
Carex.  Mr.Glendinning  furnished  a  fine  specimen  of  Gesnera  Doncklaari, 
which  has  been  figured  by  us  in  a  former  volume.  It  is  certainly  a 
beautiful  variety,  considerably  handsomer  than  G.  discolor.  Gaultheria 
furens,  a  hardy  evergreen  from  Chili,  with  little  white  bell-shaped 
flowers,  like  those  of  an  Andromeda,  came  from  Messrs.  Standish  and 
Noble.  Messrs.  Henderson,  of  Pine-apple-place,  supplied  a  collection 
of  greenhouse  plants,  in  which  Tetratheca  ericifolia  was  perhaps  the 
most  remarkaljle,  inasmuch  as  its  pale  lilac  blossoms  are  sufficiently 
large  and  abundant  to  point  it  out  as  just  the  plant  for  an  amateur  who 
wishes  to  cultivate  a  few  select  kinds,  and  those  only  of  the  best 
description  Messrs.  Lee  had  some  variegated  Geraniums  and  other 
hybrids,  among  which  was  a  very  pretty  Begonia,  called  Splendida, 
which  was  said  to  be  sweet  scented.  From  the  garden  of  the  Society 
also  came  Begonias  and  other  plants,  among  which  was  Nemesia  versi- 
color, a  blue-flowered  Cape  perennial,  which  it  was  thought  might 
make  a  good  bedding  plant. . 


150  THE    FLORIST. 

After  the  Rhododendrons  and  other  interesting  plants  just  described. 
Cinerarias  were  the  most  showy  and  striking.  These  were  sent  by 
Mr.  Turner,  of  Slough,  and  Messrs.  Dobson  &  Son,  of  Isleworth.  JMr. 
Turner's  were  mostly  new  kinds,  some  of  which,  Brilliant,  white  tipped 
with  blue,  and  Emperor  of  the  French,  crimson  with  a  ring  of  white 
round  the  disc,  were  by  far  the  best  in  shape.  The  other  kinds  were 
Magnum  Bonuni,  Scottish  Chieftain,  Lord  Stamford,  ]\Irs.  B.  Stowe, 
Loveliness,  Rose  of  England,  Ringleader,  Optima,  Sir  C.  Napier,  and 
Esther.  Messrs.  Dobson's  plants  were  well  grown  and  bloomed,  but 
the  kinds  were  indifferent,  with  the  exception  of  Lady  Camoys  and 
Picturata.  Mr.  Miellez,  of  Lille,  sent  two  new  Azaleas,  Modele,  rosy 
purple,  a  very  pleasing  flower,  of  great  smoothness  and  substance,  and 
Madame  Miellez,  white  slightly  striped  with  pale  purple,  also  very  good 
in  shape.  Both  are  promising  varieties.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Beadon,  of 
North  Stoneham,  sent  an  mteresting  collection  of  cut  Camellias,  grown 
on  a  south-east  wall. — Some  fruit,  in  the  shape  of  Pines,  Grapes,  and 
Strawberries,  were  shown,  as  was  also  an  example  of  a  double  iron 
espalier,  concerning  which  we  may  have  somethmg  to  say  hereafter. 
Wood  of  our  two  British  Oaks,  from  the  ancient  log  church  at  Green- 
sted,  in  Essex,  were  produced,  to  show  that  the  one  is  as  good  as  the 
other  as  regards  durability ;  at  least  in  this  instance,  if  there  was  any 
advantage  it  was  in  favour  of  the  Durmast ;  and  it  has  been  proved 
that  the  latter  grows  faster  and  forms  a  handsomer  tree  than  the 
common  Oak. 


GOSSIP. 

There  is  now  on  private  view,  at  14,  Newman-street,  the  bark  of 
a  portion  of  the  Wellingtonia,  stripped  off  the  wood  at  twenty  feet  from 
the  surface.  The  specimen  is  twenty  feet  in  diameter  inside  the  bark, 
and  gives  an  idea  of  this  stupendous  tree,  such  as  no  drawing  or 
description  can  convey. —  Gardeners   Chronicle. 

The  Crimean  Snowdrop  (Galanthus  plicatus),  represented  lately  as 
a  rarity  in  England,  was  introduced  years  ago  by  the  Hon.  W.  F. 
Strangeways,  F.H.S.,  who  sent  plants  to  Abbotsbury,  Melbury,  and 
other  places. 

The  Crystal  Palace  Company  intend  this  season  to  test  the  strength 
of  the  Horticultural  world.  The  programme  for  three  grand  Horticul- 
tural Exhibitions  are  before  the  public.  The  first,  which  is  for  one  day 
only,  will  take  place  on  I\Iay  24 ;  the  second,  a  two  days'  show,  on 
June  25  and  26 ;  and  an  autumnal  one  on  September  10  and  two 
following  days.  The  prizes  to  be  given  for  plants  and  fruits  are  on  a 
scale  commensurate  with  the  list  of  classes  and  number  of  articles  in 
each.  The  class  embraces  a  wide  extent  of  subjects,  well  chosen,  and 
we  are  particularly  glad  to  see  provision  made  for  encouraging  the 
humbler  class  of  exhibitors.  The  prizes  offered  for  the  three  Exhibitions 
exceed  in  the  aggregate  2350/.  Surely  there  is  now  something  to  sharpen 
the  faculties  of  our  exhibitors.  We  can  only  hope  that  the  prizes  will  be 
well  contested  and  fairly  won,  and  that  the  liberality  of  the  Company 
will  meet  with  a  hearty  response. 


151 


SHRUBLAND  PARK,  IPSWICH,  SUFFOLK, 
The  Seat  of  Sir  William  Middleton,  Bart. 

The  flower-gardens  at  this  place  have  of  late  years  acquired  great 
celebrity,  and  the  alterations  recently  in  progress  being  now  completed, 
we  have  great  pleasure  in  presenting  our  readers  with  a  short  descrip- 
tive notice  of  them,  for  which  we  have  tlie  permission  of  Sir  William 
Middleton. 

The  mansion  and  gardens  are  so  intimately  blended  together,  both 
from  situation  and  design,  that  our  sketch  of  the  grounds  would  be 
imperfect  did  we  not  devote  a  few  lines  to  describe  the  mansion,  as  each 
affords  evidence  of  great  taste  in  design  (and  execution  also)  ;  and  we 
should  not  be  doing  justice  to  the  liberal  proprietor  of  Shrubland  and 
his  estimable  lady,  if  we  omitted  informing  our  readers  that  Shrubland 
is  the  work  of  their  own  creation — the  designs  for  the  gardens  and 
parterres,  we  understand,  as  well  as  the  main  features  of  the  mansion, 
having  been  laid  dowm  by  themselves.  A  residence  for  a  considerable 
period  in  Italy  appears  to  have  embued  both  Sir  William  and  Lady 
Middleton  with  the  spirit  of  the  great  Italian  masters  in  architecture 
and  gardening,  which  they  so  well  knew  how  to  combine.  And  they 
have  thus  been  enabled  to  carry  out  at  Shrubland  the  purest  designs  of 
the  Italian  school,  as  exhibited  in  the  palaces  and  villas  near  Rome. 
True,  we  cannot  assimilate  our  climate  and  scenery  to  that  of  the  south 
of  Europe ;  but,  notwithstanding,  Sir  William  has  been  wonderfully 
successful,  and  without  question  has  formed  a  very  perfect  copy  of 
Italian  gardening ;  and,  taking  into  consideration  the  great  superiority 
of  English  gardens,  as  regards  floral  embellishment,  Shrubland  must 
far  outvie  the  best  gardens  of  Italy,  though  we  must  yield  in  com- 
parison to  her  glorious  climate — her  groves  of  Orange,  Myrtle,  and 
Bay,  and  the  classic  associations  of  her  Villas. 

First,  then,  the  mansion  is  situated  on  the  brow  of  an  eminence, 
which  rises  abruptly  from  the  general  level  of  the  country  to  the  west, 
which  is  overlooked  by  the  commanding  position  on  which  the  house 
stands.  Within  these  few  years  great  alterations  and  additions  have 
been  made  to-  the  exterior  of  the  house,  under  the  direction  and  from 
the  designs  of  that  eminent  architect.  Sir  Charles  Barry.  From  the 
south  \ving  rises  a  lofty  campanyle  tower :  the  view  from  the  upper 
story  of  this  comprises  a  wide  extent  of  country,  and  affords  a  bird's- 
eye  view  of  the  magnificent  gardens  below  ;  we  may  also  add,  that  the 
entire  designs  of  the  upper  and  lower  terraces,  and  adjoining  grounds, 
are  seen  to  best  advantage  from  this  elevated  position. 

The  situation  of  the  house  and  ground  immediately  in  front  was 
extremely  well  adapted  for  displaying  the  Italian  style  of  gardening. 
As  before  noticed,  the  ground  on  which  the  mansion  stands  shelves 
rapidly  to  the  west,  and  forms  naturally  a  steep  woody  bank:  advantage 
has  been  taken  of  this  position  to  form  two  grand  terrace  gardens — the 
lower  one  being  some  seventy  or  eighty  feet  below  the  upper  one,  with 
which  it  is  connected  by  a  noble  flight  of  stone  steps,  leading  from  a 
pavilion  which  forms  a  centre  of  the  balustrade,  the  boundary  of  the 
upper   terrace,   and   directly   opposite   the   centre   of    the    mansion. 


152  THE    FLORIST. 

We  omitted  to  name  that,  connected  with  the  house,  on  the  west  front, 
is  a  plant  conservatory,  which  is  kept  constantly  gay  with  plants  in 
bloom,  and  which  can  be  thrown'  open  to  the  morning  gallery.  The 
balcony  garden,  as  we  have  before  stated,  is  directly  in  front  of  the  house, 
and  is  divided  in  two  by  a  centre  walk  leading  to  the  pavilion,  through 
which  a  fine  view  is  obtained  of  the  country  beyond,  and  likewise  of  a 
loggia,  at  the  extremity  of  the  lower  garden. 

To  describe  any  of  these  gardens  without  referring  to  a  plan,  is  almost 
a  hopeless  task.  The  principal  feature  in  the  design  of  the  balcony 
garden  is  a  group  of  four  large  beds  on  each  side  the  centre  walk. 
These  have  raised  stone  borders,  wide  and  massive  ;  next  a  band  of 
turf;  and  between  the  turf  and  box  edging  inside  a  band  of  white  sand. 
This  gives  a  high  architectural  finish  to  the  garden,  and  is,  besides, 
quite  in  keeping  with  the  walls,  balustrading,  vases,  and  other  archi- 
tectural accessories  which  surround  it. 

The  great  object  in  this  garden  is  to  have  large  masses  of  colours ; 
hence  it  was  imperative  that  the  beds  should  be  large,  to  produce  a 
grand  eff'ect,  and  rich  warm  colours  are  only  employed  for  the  like 
purpose — four  of  these  beds  are  scarlet,  two  purple,  and  two  blue. 
The  scarlet  beds  are  planted  in  this  way  : — In  the  centre,  .Shrubland 
Scarlet  Geraniums  ;  next,  a  band  of  Punch  Geraniums ;  then  a 
band  of  Mangles'  Variegated,  followed  by  Tom  Thumb  ;  the  edging 
to  finish  being  a  band  of  "  Harkaway,"  a  very  dwarf  scarlet  Geranium. 
When  in  full  bloom,  nothing  can  exceed  the  richness  of  these  groups, 
as  regards  arrangement  of  colour. 

The  two  purple  beds  have  for  centres  a  mass  of  "  Prince's  Feather;" 
surrounding  this,  "  Love-lies-bleeding  ;  "  next.  Geranium  Purple 
Unique ;  followed  by  a  band  of  Golden  Chain,  and  finished  off  by  an 
edging  of  the  Baron  Hugel  or  Princess  Royal  Geranium,  with  a  well- 
defined  horse-shoe  leaf,  from  which  the  flowers  are  taken  off,  that  they 
may  not  interfere  with  the  colour  of  the  bed. 

The  two  blue  beds  are  planted  with  a  centre  of  Salvia  patens,  mixed 
with  the  Blue  Chinese  Delphinium  (Larkspur)  ;  next  a  band  of  the 
African  Lily  (Agapanthus) ;  then  a  band  of  Lobeha  racemosoides  ;  next. 
Golden-chain  Geranium,  finishing  with  an  edging  of  Baron  Hugel,  as 
for  the  purple  beds,  the  scarlet  flowers  also  taken  off. 

Two  long  square  turf  plots  flank  each  side  of  these  beds,  forming 
altogether  a  balcony  garden.  These  have  a  tracery  pattern  in  white 
sand  with  stone  tripods,  and  in  the  centre  a  fine  plant  of  Libocedrus 
chilensis,  planted  by  H.  R.  H.  Prince  Albert,  when  he  visited  Sir 
Wifliam  and  Lady  IMiddleton  in  1851. 

The  eight  beds  described  above  are  connected  by  a  stone  pattern  and 
three  circular  beds.  The  centre  one  is  planted  with  Hydrangeas,  and 
the  one  on  each  side  with  Yuccas.  There  are  stone  boxes  planted  with 
Humeas,  and  the  same  on  each  side  the  centre  walk,  planted  with 
Portugal  Laurel,  in  imitation  of  Orange  trees,  for  which  they  are 
excellent  substitutes.  The  borders  under  the  retaining  wall  at  the  top 
nearest  the  house,  which  supports  the  terrace  walk,  is  planted  with 
Hollyhocks  in  lines,  fronted  with  Lady  IMiddleton  Geraniums,  a  rosy 
coloured  scarlet  raised  here  by  Mr.  Beaton,  and  very  valuable  for  bedding 
purposes. 


MAY.  153 

Before  leaving  this  part  we  must  not  forget  to  mention  two  beds  of 
yellow  Calceolarias,  which  fill  up  a  vacant  space  to  the  right  and  left, 
at  the  top  of  the  garden ;  these  have  a  good  effect,  and  contrast  well 
with  the  warm-coloured  beds  in  the  centre.  To  the  left,  leading 
towards  the  entrance  gate  from  the  park,  is  a  long  border  under  the 
conservatory  terrace,  formed  into  the  "  chain  pattern."  The  oval 
centre  beds  are  filled  with  Cerise  Unique  and  Commander-in-chief 
Geraniums,  alternately ;  the  bands  are  yellow  Heartsease  and  blue 
Lobeha,  with  the  space  intervening  between  the  beds  and  the  parallel 
lines  of  the  border  filled  in  with  white  sand. 

On  leaving  the  balcony  garden,  and  descending  by  the  steps  to  the 
panel  garden  (a  lower  terrace),  the  view  is  very  striking,  with  the 
loggia  directly  in  front,  in  the  boundary  line  within  which  is  a  large  open 
space,  filled  with  beds,  vases,  and  statues.  Towards  the  bottom  the  steps 
branch  off  right  and  left,  forming  a  circular  sweep,  the  area  of  which  is 
filled  with  a  fountain  in  a  large  stone  basin,  with  a  circular  walk  leading 
from  the  steps  round  it.  A  wide  central  walk  starts  from  this  direct  to 
the  loggia,  and  four  grass  terraces  diverge  to  the  right  and  left,  having 
the  fountain  as  a  common  centre.  Passing  through  the  loggia,  a 
deep  dell  separates  the  highly  dressed  grounds  from  those  beyond. 
This  part  has  only  very  recently  been  added ;  and  crossing  the  dell 
by  a  rustic  bridge,  we  find  ourselves  among  great  masses  of  shrubs 
(selected  chiefly  for  their  foliage),  herbaceous  and  common  wild  plants 
— everything,  in  fact,  which  conveys  the  idea  of  wild  and  natural 
scenery.  Looking  from  the  upper  paviUon — or,  indeed,  any  part  of  the 
higher  grounds — these  masses  of  shrubs  are  completely  under  the  eye, 
and  it  was  important  that  they  should  by  contrast  set  off  the  floral 
embellishment  within  the  boundary,  as  well  as  form  a  back-ground  for 
the  panel  gardens  and  other  part  of  the  grounds  on  a  line  with  them ; 
arid  we  doubt  not,  as  they  grow  up,  they  will  produce  the  desired  eftect. 

We  must,  however,  retrace  our  steps  to  the  panel  garden,  to  notice 
the  long  green  glade  or  drive  which  passes  through  it,  having  the 
fountain  in  its  centre.  This  green  walk  is  nearly  a  mile  in  length, 
and  terminates  at  one  end  with  a  flight  of  steps  and  balustrade  to 
a  platform  from  which  diverge  walks  and  drives  in  the  woods. 
From  this  eminence  there  is  a  fine  vista  of  its  entire  length,  passing 
through  the  lower  ground,  and  ending  near  the  Swiss  cottage  at  the 
other  extremity  of  the  grounds.  This  drive  is  margined  by  parallel 
beds  of  Savin,  Irish  Yews,  Arbor-vitaj,  vases  raised  from  the  ground, 
filled  with  choice  Geraniums,  &c.  To  the  right  of  the  panel  garden 
is  the  French  garden,  enclosed  within  a  Laurel  wall,  in  which,  set 
in  niches  cut  out  of  the  usall,  are  a  number  of  marble  busts,  four 
feet  high.  This  garden  is  laid  down  on  gravel  with  Box  edgings,  and 
is  planted  with  dwarf  flowering  plants,  as  Lobelias,  Brachycomes, 
Cupheas,  Golden-chain  Geraniums,  &c. 

Proceeding  southward  from  the  panel  garden  by  the  long  walk, 
we  reach  the  fountain  garden,  which  lies  to  the  right.  This  is  nearly 
circular  in  shape,  and  has  a  fountain  in  its  centre,  from  which  four 
walks  radiate,  throwing  the  garden  into  four  divisions.  There  are, 
besides,  a  boundary  wall  and  a  conservative  wall,  taking  the  sweep  of 


154  THE    FLORIST. 

the  garden  to  the  west.  This  wall  is  built  hollow,  and  is  heated  by 
hot-water  pipes ;  the  west  side  is  covered  with  greenhouse  and  half- 
hardy  climbing  plants,  which  have  the  protection  of  glass  during  winter; 
the  plants  grow  with  great  luxuriance,  and  bloom  profusely  in  the 
summer  months,  when  the  glass  is  removed!  On  the  garden  side  plants 
of  a  more  hardy  nature,  including  Roses,  &c.,  are  planted ;  and  the 
border  at  the  base  contains  many  interesting  half-hardy  plants. 

The  four  divisions  of  the  fountain  garden  are  each  planted  in  six 
colours,  with  white  to  begin  and  finish  with.  Each  division  has 
its  separate  plants,  but  the  colour  and  height  of  each  are  the  same. 
Commencing  with  the  centre  it  is  white,  which  is  continued  all  round 
through  the  four  divisions ;  next  purple,  yellow,  scarlet,  blue,  pink ; 
and  lastly,  white  again,  at  the  outside.  This  arrangement  takes  up  a 
vast  numljer  and  variety  of  plants,  as  the  height  and  habit  have  to  be 
studied,  as  well  as  the  colour  of  each ;  but  the  arrangement,  when  well 
done,  is  unique  and  very  pleasing. 

Beyond  the  fountain  garden  are  some  beds  on  gravel,  with  raised 
stone  edgings,  and  planted  with  mixed  colours ;  amongst  others,  the 
shot-silk  bed  our  esteemed  friend  Mr.  Beaton  speaks  so  much  of,  is  very 
conspicuous :  its  composition — variegated-leaved  Geraniums,  mixed  with 
Verbena  venosa,  or  any  light-purple  variety — is  now  well  known. 

Below  these  beds  is  the  Rosery,  which  contains  a  very  choice 
collection  of  summer  Roses.  The  climbing  varieties  are  trained  to  a 
fancy  iron  trellis,  which  forms  bowers  over  the  walks.  A  circular  bed 
in  the  centre  is  in  the  form  of  the  heraldic  York  and  Lancaster  Rose, 
with  red  and  white  Roses  and  a  yellow  centre  bed. 

Towards  the  southern  extremity  of  the  grounds  is  an  exceedingly 
characteristic  Swiss  cottage,  with  the  accompaniments  faithfully  carried 
out.  It  contains  a  museum  of  curiosities  collected  by  Sir  William 
Middleton,  and  among  other  things,  some  interesting  relics  of  Napoleon 
the  First,  the  Duke  of  Wellington,  Lord  Nelson,  &c. 

At  a  short  distance  from  the  Swiss  cottage  is  the  Verbena  garden,  in 
which  are  planted  those  kinds  not  used  in  other  arrangements.  By 
this  garden  is  the  Box  terrace,  forming  a  beautiful  scroll  pattern  laid 
down  on  a  smooth  surface  of  fine  sand  of  a  reddish  tint,  completely  in 
the  parterre  style  of  the  French.  The  interior  is  planted  with  very 
dwarf  flowers — as  Silene  Schafti,  dwarf  French  Marygold,  Lobelia 
ramosa,  &c. 

The  whole  of  the  retaining  and  dividing  wall  is  surmounted  with 
rich  balustrading,  in  the  same  style  as  the  mansion,  pavilion,  and  loggia, 
all  of  which  are  from  the  designs  of  Sir  C.  Barry.  Hence,  there  is  a 
harmony  and  unisow  between  the  several  parts  rarely  met  with,  which 
does  credit  to  the  admirable  taste  and  judgment  of  Sir  William 
Middleton.  In  addition  to  the  Italian  features  of  the  entire  place,  a 
great  number  of  busts,  vases,  and  statues  are  disposed  throughout  the 
grounds  in  appropriate  positions.  These  greatly  assist  in  forming  the 
peculiar  tone  of  Italian  scenery  so  characteristic  of  Shrubland. 

Mr.  Foggo,  the  present  head-gardener,  iniorms  us  that  80,000 
plants  of  Geraniums,  Verbenas,  Petunias,  Lobelias,  &c.,  &:c.,are  amiually 
required  for  turning  out  into  the  numerous  beds,  borders,  vases,  &c.. 


MAT.  155 

and  this  independently  of  annuals,  &c.,  raised  from  seed,  which  are 
Ukewise  worked  into  the  general  arrangement.  To  procure  annually- 
such  a  large  number  of  plants,  and  to  arrange  each  to  the  several  com- 
partments for  flowering,  requires  a  large  amount  of  care  and  forethought. 
Both  .Sir  William  and  Lady  Middleton  are  deeply  interested  in  all  that 
is  going  on,  and  provide  liberal  help  to  keep  the  whole  in  the  highest 
order  of  neatness ;  and  to  keep  Up  so  large  and  brilliant  a  display  of 
bloom  throughout  the  season,  large  reserves  are  always  ready  to  fill  up 
vacancies  and  maintain  uninterrupted  the  display.  We  purpose  noticing 
the  kitchen -garden,  forcing,  and  extensive  plant-growing  departments, 
hereafter,  as  well  as  the  grand  Spanish  Chesnuts  on  the  Brownlow 
terrace. 

To  be  appreciated,  Shrubland  should  be  seen  in  its  summer  glory — 
say  between  June  and  October.  The  coup  lVcpaI  from  the  steeps  leading 
from  the  upper  temple,  which  overlooks  the  panel  garden,  eighty  feet 
below,  with  its  fountains,  statuary,  parterres,  and  exquisite  loggia,  or 
open  temple,  at  the  further  side,  in  the  foreground,  and  a  wide  stretch 
of  country  beyond,  has  few  equals. 

Mr.  Beaton,  so  well  known  to  the  horticultural  world,  was  for  many 
years  gardener  here,  and  many  of  the  Geraniums,  &c.,  employed  were 
raised  here  by  him.  He  was  followed  by  Mr.  Davidson,  who  super- 
intended the  principal  improvements  noticed. 

Mr.  Foggo,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Davidson  eighteen  months  back,  is 
very  successful  in  meeting  the  requirements  of  so  large  an  undertaking, 
and  will  maintain  the  high  character  Shrubland  for  many  years  has 
enjoyed,  as  one  of  the  finest  and  best  kept  places  in  the  country. 


BEDDING  ROSES. 
This  family  is  not  made  the  most  of  in  the  generality  of  gardens.  We 
have  seen  splendid  beds  of  the  following : — Geant  de  Batailles,  dwarfs, 
with  Aimee  Vibert  (Noisette),  planted  between  and  pegged  down  over 
the  surface  in  the  autumn ;  when  the  surface  was  covered  with  the 
glossy  foliage,  and  white  blooms  of  the  Noisette,  out  of  which  grew  the 
Geant  with  its  bloom  of  glowing  crimson,  the  effect  was  beyond  any- 
thing beautiful.  We  saw  the  Chinese  Madame  Fabvier  tried  with  the 
white  for  a  bottom,  but  the  effect  was  not  so  good.  Devoniensis  makes 
a  noble  bed  on  dry  warm  soils,  as  does  Souvenir  de  Malmaison  and 
Mrs.  Bosanquet. 


THYRSACANTHUS  RUTILANS. 
It  has  been  stated  that  many  of  the  "continental  nurserymen"  deem 
a  plant  worthy  of  their  attention  so  long  as  it  is  new,  without  regard 
to  its  merits  as  an  ornamental  plant.  This  doubtless  arises  from  the 
fact  that  newly  introduced  plants  are  more  sought  after,  or  find  a 
readier  sale  than  those  that  are  more  common.  I  can  scarcely  imagine, 
however,  that  we  should  accept  the  censure  to  its  full  extent,  although 
doubtless  there  are  many  plants  sent  out  to  the  public  which  are  worse 
than  useless,  and  in  no  class  is  it  more  evident  than  with  those  requiring 


156  THE    FLORIST. 

a  stove  temperature.  The  most  valuable,  as  decorative  plants,  requiring 
the  protection  of  a  glass  structure,  are  those  that  are  ot"  dwarf  compact 
habit,  with  elegance  and  beauty  of  flower  or  tbliage.  These  qualities  will 
at  all  times  recommend  themselves,  whereas  plants  of  an  arborescent 
nature  are  totally  useless  in  this  country,  with  one  or  two  exceptions  ; 
for  such  plant  houses  as  the  large  Palm  house  at  Kew,  the  conservatory 
at  Chatsworth,  and  one  or  two  others,  there  is  no  place  to  accommodate 
them  :  and  even  for  such  houses  as  those  there  are  so  many  beautiful 
plants  that  it  is  desirable  to  cultivate,  that  there  is  room  only  for 
very  few  of  the  large  growing  kinds.  Of  another  section,  by  far  too 
numerous,  are  those  that  are  termed  of  "  botanical  interest."  Now,  if 
an  ordinary  admirer  were  to  see  a  collection  of  those  botanical  curiosities 
he  would  undoubtedly  condemn  them  to  be  consigned  to  the  rubbish 
heap,  and  with  great  justice ;  for  however  interesting  they  may  be  in  a 
botanical  point  of  view,  they  are  not  what  are  required  for  tilling  up 
our  plant  houses. 

That  we  possess  a  great  number  of  plants  that  can  scarcely  be 
surpassed  in  beauty  and  adaptability  is  evident  to  those  who  have  been 
accustomed  to  visit  the  metropolitan  exhibitions  ;  but  on  the  other  hand, 
if  we  glance  over  a  list  of  plants  that  have  been  introduced  to  this 
country  during  the  last  two  or  three  years,  we  shall  see  the  names 
of  many  that  are  worthy  of  every  attention  requisite  to  bring  them  to 
their  highest  point  of  perfection,  and  amongst  that  number  will  be  found 
the  name  which  heads  this  paper. 

This  Thyrsacanthus  was,  I  believe,  brought  to  this  country  from 
Belgium,  and  will  undoubtedly  compensate  for  many  disappointments, 
allowing  what  has  been  stated  to  be  true.  It  is  a  plant  of  easy 
culture,  growing  freely  when  treated  as  the  well-known  Justicia  carnea, 
which  plant  it  much  resembles  in  habit  of  growth.  In  that  of 
flowering,  however,  it  is  so  totally  distinct  as  to  lend  quite  a  new  charm 
to  our  plant  houses.  The  flowers  are  produced  on  pendulous  branching 
stems  of  from  two  to  three  feet  in  length ;  the  flowers  are  tubulous, 
nearly  two  inches  long,  and  are  of  a  bright  scarlet  colour,  and  certaiidy 
there  are  few  plants  so  easy  of  cultivation  possessing  such  desirable 
qualities,  for  with  it  are  combined  brilliancy  and  an  elegance  which 
can  scarcely  be  surpassed.  It  is  also  in  possession  of  another  quality 
that  will  recommend  it  to  many — that  of  flowering  during  the  winter 
months ;  for  however  much  the  exhibitors  at  our  summer  flower  shows 
may  regret  this  quality,  to  the  many  it  will  enhance  its  value.  For 
the  last  few  years  there  has  been  a  great  love  of  plants  trained  as 
standards,  and  this  "  rage "  has  led  many  to  train  plants  as  such 
without  regard  to  their  natural  habits,  or  at  least  one  would  suppose 
such  to  be  the  case,  as  there  is  not  much  in  the  habit  of  an  Azalea  or  a 
Geranium  to  point  to  that  system  of  training ;  and  if  such  plants  do 
look  well  it  arises  from  the  fact  that  they  cannot  do  otherwise  when  in 
good  health  and  full  of  bloom.  With  the  Thyrsacanthus,  however,  it 
is  quite  different,  for  undoubtedly  that  is  the  most  natural,  consequently 
the  best,  and  it  would  look  quite  as  unsightly  if  dwarfed  by  too  frequent 
stopping,  as  some  do  when  mounted  on  a  naked  stem  of  three  feet  in 
height. 

J.  Shuter. 


157 


CALENDAR  OF  OPERATIONS  FOR  MAY. 

Auriculas. — The  cooler  the  situation  the  plants  are  placed  in  at  the 
present  time,  the  longer  they  remain  in  flower.  As  soon  as  the  blooms 
begin  fading,  remove  the  plants  to  a  more  exposed  yet  cool  situation ;  a 
raised  bed  is  best  suited  to  stand  them  on,  with  lights  placed  over  them 
during  wet  weather.  Give  the  plants  a  good  fumigating  before  they  are 
taken  from  the  pits  or  frames  to  be  stood  out  of  doors. 

Azaleas. — Examine  carefully  for  thrips,  and  if  you  discover  any, 
fumigate  immediately.  As  soon  as  the  large  specimen  plants  go  out  of 
flower,  pick  off  the  seed  vessels  ;  if  any  of  them  require  a  shift  they 
should  have  it,  as  they  will  be  commencing  to  grow ;  when  potted,  keep 
them  rather  close  for  a  time  and  syringe  daily.  Young  plants  will 
require  attention  in  stopping  and  training  of  the  shoots. 

Camellias. — Keep  a  tolerably  high  temperature  to  assist  the  forma- 
tion of  flower-buds.  Give  liberal  supplies  of  water,  and  occasionally 
some  liquid  manure  ;  syringe  daily. 

Carnations  and  Picotees. — There  will  be  but  little  to  do  for  the  next 
three  weeks  with  these  plants,  excepting  watering  in  dry  weather. 
Choose  a  mild  day  for  this.  Towards  the  end  of  the  month,  stake 
them  permanently.  Keep  the  plants  trimmed  of  all  dead  fohage,  and 
clear  of  aphides. 

Cinerarias. — Procure  seed  from  the  finest  kinds,  a  little  of  which 
should  be  sown  as  soon  as  ready,  and  the  plants  will  bloom  about 
Christmas  next,  giving  plenty  of  bloom  at  a  time  when  flowers  are 
scarce.  As  soon  as  the  named  kinds  are  past  their  best,  stand  them 
out  on  a  shady  border  to  produce  cuttings,  which  should  be  taken  off  in 
a  young  state,  and  struck  in  sand  in  a  cool  situation. 

Cold  Frames. — Leave  air  all  night  when  plants  are  hardening  off; 
and  in  very  mild  weather  the  lights  may  be  left  quite  off  all-night.  Pot 
off  spring-struck  cuttings,  also  seedlings  of  all  kinds  ;  propagate  all 
desirable  plants. 

Conservatory  and  Show-house. — Attend  to  the  regulating  and 
training  of  climbers.  Keep  a  watchful  eye  for  insects,  which  are 
generally  troublesome  at  this  season,  if  once  allowed  to  get  ahead. 
Remove  all  plants  as  soon  as  the  flowers  begin  to  die  away.  Examine 
the  soil  around  all  plants  in  beds,  and  see  they  do  not  suffer  for  want  of 
water.  Syringe  plants  not  in  flower.  Give  abundance  of  air,  and 
water  freely.  In  fine  weather,  towards  the  end  of  the  month,  leave 
some  air  in  all  night. 

Cucumbers. — Regulate  the  growth  of  the  plants,  and  never  let  the 
shoots  become  crowded.  Water  freely,  and  do  not  let  the  plants  carry 
too  many  fruit  at  one  time.  Prune  back  plants  that  have  been  in 
bearing  for  some  time  ;  and  when  they  make  a  fresh  growth  regulate 
the  shoots,  but  do  not  stop  them  too  fi-eely.  Keep  a  watchful  eye  to 
insects,  particularly  red  spider,  which,  if  not  kept  down,  will  soon  over- 
run old  plants.  Keep  a  steady  bottom  heat  and  a  moist  atmosphere.  , 
When  grown  in  pits  and  frames,  attend  to  the  Hnings,  and  renew  them 
when  the  heat  declines. 

Dahlias. — Re-potting   and   growing  on  the  young  plants   in   cold 


158  THE    FLORIST. 

frames  is  of  more  importance  than  early  planting.  Planting  may  be 
commenced  towards  the  end  of  the  month.  We  do  not  plant  ourselves 
before  the  first  week  in  June.  See  that  the  points  of  the  young  plants 
are  not  mfested  with  green-tiy  when  planting  time  arrives.  Fumigate 
before  they  leave  the  pits,  if  this  troublesome  insect  is  visible,  as  it  will 
not  be  easy  to  get  them  under  after  the  plants  are  in  the  ground.  Seed- 
lings will  require  considerable  care,  watering,  &c.,  the  first  few  weeks 
after  being  planted. 

Flower  Garden. — This  is  a  busy  month  here.  We  presume  the 
arrangement  has  long  since  been  determined  on ;  if  so,  and  the  weather 
be  favourable,  you  may  begin  to  "  bed  out  "  after  the  middle  of  the 
month,  planting  first,  of  course,  such  things  as  have  been  well  hardened 
off,  and  the  more  tender  plants  towards  the  end  of  the  month ;  a  nice 
showery  day  after  all  are  planted  would  save  a  deal  of  trouble  ;  if  the 
weather  sets  in  dry  you  will  be  obliged  to  water.  Propagate  by  slips 
double  Wallflowers,  and  divide  the  roots  of  Violets  and  similar  plants. 
Roll  and  mow  the  Grass  weekly  ;  roll  the  walks  frequently,  and  keep 
every  place  neat.and  tidy. 

Forcing  Ground. — Plant  about  the  middle  of  the  month  ridge 
Cucumbers  and  Vegetable  Marrows  under  glasses,  on  a  bed  of  fermenting 
materials.  We  generally  plant  ours  in  turf  pits  where  we  grow 
early  Potatoes.  As  soon  as  the  Potatoes  are  taken  up  in  May  we 
plant  the  Cucumber,  and  on  the  same  bed,  placing  glasses  over  them. 
But  the  following  plan  answers  equally  well  :  Take  out  the  soil  in  any 
open  situation  about  one  foot  deep,  four  or  five  feet  wide,  and  as  long  as 
may  be  required.  Fill  this  trench  with  the  fermenting  materials,  and 
raise  the  bed  twelve  or  eighteen  inches  above  the  soil ;  on  this  place 
the  earth  that  was  taken  out  of  the  trench,  always  putting  about  a 
barrowful  of  fresh  soil  under  each  glass  for  the  young  plants  to  strike 
root  into.  If4he  weather  be  bright  and  sunny,  the  plants  will  require 
shading  for  a  few  days,  and  air  must  be  admitted  freely  on  fine  days. 

Fruit  (Hardy). — Apricots  are  with  us,  this  season,  a  most  extra- 
ordinary crop ;  they  have  set  in  clusters  of  ten,  fifteen,  and  twenty  in 
a  cluster.  Thinning  is  indispensable,  and  it  must  be  done  with  no 
sparing  hand.  The  young  leaves  of  Apricot  trees  are  often  devoured  by 
little  caterpillars  ;  their  presence  is  plainly  indicated  by  the  curling  up 
of  the  leaves  ;  the  only  way  to  get  rid  of  them,  and  to  save  the  trees 
from  serious  injury  (for  they  make  sad  havoc  when  not  looked  after), 
is  to  unfold  the  leaves  and  kill  them.  This  is  rather  tedious  work ;  but 
as  it  is  the  only  effectual  way  of  getting  rid  of  the  caterpillars,  and  as 
the  present  and  future  well-being  of  the  trees  is  by  this  means  secured, 
the  labour  is  well  bestowed.  Peaches  and  Nectarines  appear  to  be 
setting  pretty  well  :  the  trees  will  require  disbudding,  but  do  not 
remove  too  many  at  one  time,  but  go  over  the  trees  often.  In  dis- 
budding Peach  and  Nectarine  trees,  the  general  rule  is  to  divest  the 
bearing  wood  of  the  present  year  of  all  shoots  except  the  terminal  one 
and  those  issuing  near  the  bases  ;  when  there  is  no  fruit,  the  buds 
should  be  rubbed  clean  off;  but  when  there  is  fruit  at  the  base  of  the 
buds,  instead  of  rubbing  the  buds  clean  off,  merely  pinch  off  the  point 
between  your  finger  and  thumb  nail,  leaving  two  or  three  of  the  leaves 


MAY.  159 

nearest  the  base.  Keep  a  watchful  eye  to  aphis ;  as  soon  as  you  per- 
ceive any,  give  the  trees  a  syringing  of  weak  tobacco  water,  which  will 
soon  stop  them. 

Greenhoase  (Jiard- wooded). — Shade  plants  in  flower ;  give  abun- 
dance of  air,  and  leave  some  on  all  night.  Many  of  the  young  plants 
potted  early  in  the  season  will  now  be  beginning  to  grow  freely  ;  they 
will  require  attention  as  to  stopping  of  the  shoots,  training,  &c.  ;  they 
will  also  want  liberal  supplies  of  water — do  not  let  them  get  too  dry, 
and  do  not  saturate  them.  Pick  off  seed-vessels  from  all  plants  as  soon 
as  they  go  out  of  flower.  Shift  such  plants  as  require  it ;  stop  back 
and  regulate  the  shoots.  So/t-ioooded  Plants. — If  not  already  done, 
the  specimen  plants  of  all  kinds  should  be  shifted  into  the  pots  they  are 
intended  to  flower  in,  and  they  should  not  be  stopped  very  much  after 
this. 

Hollyhocks. — Late  struck  plants  may  now  be  planted  to  bloom  with 
the  Dahlias  in  September ;  watering  and  staking  are  all  that  is  required 
to  be  done  during  the  present  month. 

Kitchen  Garden. — Keep  the  hoe  always  going  when  the  state  of  the 
soil  permits  ;  hoe  deeply  and  frequently  among  crops,  weeds  or  no 
weeds.  Thin  young  growing  crops — as  Carrots,  Parsnips,  Turnips, 
Beet,  Onions,  Parsley,  &c.  Dung  and  dig  deeply  ground  as  it  becomes 
vacant,  for  the  winter  crop  of  Greens,  Broccoli,  Brussels  Sprouts,  &c. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  month,  go  daily  over  the  early  Potatoes,  and 
draw  some  dry  soil  over  such  as  are  above  ground  ;  this  will  save  them 
from  frosts,  if  any  should  occur  ;  towards  the  end  of  the  month  the  early 
crops  of  Potatoes  will  require  regular  soiling  up.  Sow  Scarlet  Runners  ; 
sow  successional  crop  of  Peas  and  Broad  Beans  ;  sow  also  French  Beans. 
Sow  also  for  succession,  Cauliflowers,  Lettuces,  Turnips,  Radishes, 
Spinach,  &c.  Transplant  from  seed-bed  the  strongest  plants  of  Lettuces 
and  Cauliflowers.  Plant  against  a  wall,  or  other  vsTarm  situation, 
Tomatoes  and  Capsicums  ;  plant  sweet  Marjoram  and  Basil  on  a  warm 
border ;  plant  Celery  in  trenches  weU  filled  with  good  manure,  and 
plant  Leeks  in  a  somewhat  similar  manner.  Rod  Peas  and  Scarlet 
Runners.  Water  freely  in  dry  weather.  Give  the  Strawberry  plants 
two  or  three  good  soakings  of  water.  Cut  Box  edging  and  bring  up  all 
arrear  of  work. 

Melons. — See  the  directions  in  last  month's  Calendar. 

Orchard  House. — Water  freely  and  occasionally  with  liquid  manure. 
Give  air  freely  in  fine  weather.  Thin  the  fruit,  and  go  .over  the  trees 
frequently  to  disbud  and  stop  shoots.  When  fruit  is  set,  syringe  freely. 
Keep  down  insects. 

Pansies. — Water  the  beds  freely,  to  prolong  the  blooms  in  good  cha- 
racter. Those  in  pots  should  now  be  stood  in  a  cool  situation,  sheltering 
the  plants  in  bad  weather  only,  on  all  other  occasions  keep  them  quite 
open.  Cuttings  strike  readily  if  put  in  now ;  the  small  side  shoots 
should  be  chosen  for  this  purpose. 

Peach-forcing. — See  our  directions  in  previous  Calendars. 

Pelargoniums. — The  directions  given  last  month  will  apply  to  the 
plants  generally.  The  early  or  May  plants  will  now  require  shading 
'during  the  brightest  part  of  the  day,  as  the  bloom  expands.     Bees 


160  THE    FLORIST. 

must  be  carefully  excluded  from  the  house;  muslin  or  thin  garden 
netting  may  be  used  for  this  purpose  at  the  openings.  This,  with  careful 
and  judicious  shading  and  watering,  prolong  the  bloom  to  a  considerable 
time.  No  plant  in  fact  lasts  longer  in  flower  than  the  Pelargonium  if 
"  well  done." 

Pinery. — Attend  carefully  to  the  bottom  heat,  and  see  it  does  not 
fluctuate.  Plants  in  fruit  will  now  require  liberal  supplies  of  water, 
and  occasionally  some  liquid  manure.  Give  air  according  to  the  state 
of  the  weather;  always  close  up  early  in  the  afternoon,  and  syringe  well 
all  fruit  done  flowering  overhead  ;  sprinkle  paths  well  with  water  ;  keep 
up  a  moist  atmosphere.  The  young  plants  will  now  be  beginning  to 
grow  freely,  and  will  require  more  air  and  water.  Syringe  daily. 
Towards  the  end  of  the  month  many  of  them,  if  not  all,  will  require 
shifting ;  and  at  this  season  of  the  year  strong  well-rooted  plants  should 
have  a  liberal  shift. 

Pinks. — If  dry  weather  continues,  water  freely,  using  weak  liquid 
manure  about  twice  a  week.  The  shoots  should  be  thinned  if  large 
flowers  are  required  for  exhibition,  leaving  a  good  number  to  bloom  on 
such  kinds  as  Great  Britain,  Narboro  Buck,  Duke  of  Devonshire,  and 
other  full  kinds.  Thin  flowers,  such  as  Criterion  and  Lola  Montes, 
should  not  be  allowed  to  carry  more  than  two  blooms. 

Pleasure  Grounds. — Roll  and  mow  the  Grass  every  ten  days  or  a 
fortnight ;  clean  and  roll  walks.  Attend  to  newly-planted  trees  and 
shrubs.  If  very  bright  weather  prevails,  valuable  specimens  recently 
planted  should  be  shaded,  to  check  evaporation ;  they  should  also  be 
well  watered,  and  should  be  syringed  night  and  morning  until  they  are 
considered  safe. 

Roses. — In  reply  to  inquiries  as  to  the  reason  of  our  advocating  late 
pruning,  or  rather  shortening  the  branches,  it  is  principally  to  guard  as 
much  as  possible  against  the  destruction  by  weather  or  accident  of  the 
outer  bud,  to  which  we  have  so  frequently  directed  the  shoots  to  be  cut 
back.  The  green-fly  and  rose-maggot  will  soon  commence  their 
destructive  work,  and  we  again  urge,  as  we  have  in  former  Calendars,  to 
attack  the  enemy  ere  they  have  time  to  entrench  themselves,  or  they 
will  sap  most  effectually  all  hopes  of  an  early  bloom.  Buds  that 
are  pushing  in  a  direction  that  will  interfere  with  the  shape  of  the 
plants,  or  are  growing  too  thickly  in  the  centre,  should  be  removed. 

Stove. — Shift  all  growing  plants  that  stand  in  need  of  it.  Tie  out 
and  stop  plants  intended  for  specimens.  Water  freely  and  syringe 
dailv.  Give  air  plentifully  in  fine  weather,  but  guard  against  dry 
cutting  winds.  Use  every  means  to  keep  down  insects,  and  attend  to 
the  training  of  climbers. 

Strawberries. — If  the  early-forced  plants,  instead  of  being  thrown 
away,  are  planted  in  a  south  border,  and  well  watered  for  a  time,  they 
will  produce  a  good  crop  in  September  next. 

Tulips. — On  a  mild  day  water  between  the  plants,  so  as  not  to  wet 
the  foliage  ;  the  morning  is  the  best  time.  Shade  with  care,  to  protect 
'  the  expanding  bloom  without  drawing  the  plants. 


J''jiJidnits  JDelt  &■  2uur 


Cuifirarias 

1.  JMbiTTit'  ILidqarcl' 

3    Herd   dorfrrder/-  Tvrrur' 

3.  Emperor i7f  tiie  Trench   Turner' 


TnttUd  U  C  Chahat 


161 


.  CINERARIAS. 

(Plate  114.) 

We  this  month  furnish  our  readers  with  a  plate  of  Cinerarias. 
Within  the  last  few  years  this  flower  has  become,  and  most 
deservedly  so,  an  especial  favourite,  whether  we  view  it  as  an 
ornamental  plant  for  the  conservatory,  or  for  exhibition  ;  and 
although  it  may  be  said  to  thrive  and  flower  in  almost  any  soil,  a 
little  more  care  and  attention  are  necessary  to  bring  it  to  a  state 
approaching  perfection,  and  for  this  care  it  will  repay  the  cultivator. 
In  the  first  place  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  strong  cuttings 
should  be  selected  and  inserted  in  a  light  sandy  compost,  and 
placed  in  a  shady  situation,  in  a  cold  frame,  until  rooted,  which, 
under  favourable  circumstances,  will  be  in  a  few  days.  As  soon 
as  rooted  pot  off"  into  60-sized  pots,  in  a  compost  prepared  of 
fibrous  loam  and  leaf-mould,  with  a  good  admixture  of  silver  sand. 
As  soon  as  the  roots  reach  the  outside  of  the  pot,  which  will  be  in 
a  short  time,  they  should  be  repotted  into  larger  pots,  and  kept 
close  for  a  few  days — sprinkling  them  overhead,  and  throwing 
them  open  for  an  hour  in  the  morning  and  evening,  will  be  found 
very  beneficial.  As  soon  as  they  attain  the  height  of  about  three 
inches  they  should  be  stopped,  which  causes  them  to  Ijreak  into 
strong  laterals.  (Jnce  stopping  is  all  that  is  necessary,  as  the 
second  o[)eration  produces  weak  growth.  When  first-rate  plants 
are  wanted  for  exhibition,  care  will  be  required  to  keep  them  in  a 
healthy  and  growing  condition,  to  which  end  they  should  be  shifted 
every  lew  weeks  until  they  receive  their  final  potting,  which  should 
be  about  January.  Every  care  should  be  taken  that  they  do  not 
get  pot-bound  in  the  small  pots,  as  that  will  throw  them  in  a 
blooming  state  immediately.  The  compost  we  would  recommend 
for  larger  plants  generally,  is  two  parts  of  good  turfy  loam, 
and  equal  parts  of  good  well-decomposed  cow-dung  and  leaf- 
mould,  with  an  admixture  of  silver  or  river  sand.  As  the  plants 
grow  take  care  to  thin  out  all  the  superfluous  leaves  and  all 
small  shoots,  so  as  to  admit  air  freely  and  prevent  mildew, 
which  is  a  great  pest  among  Cinerarias,  and  which  can  only  be 
removed  by  applying  sulphur  to  the  parts  aff'ected.  Fumigating 
is  highly  necessary,  to  prevent  the  green-fly.  As  the  plants  grow 
they  should  be  pegged  down  or  tied  out,  so  as  to  keep  them  as 
open  as  possible.  It  is  indispensable  that  they  should  be  kept  as 
near  the  glass  as  possible,  which  is  the  only  way  to  insure  dwarf 
and  compact  plants. 

As  seedlings  make  fine  ornamental  plants,  it  is  necessary  to  select 
a  few  examples  of  the  most  esteemed  kinds,  bearing  in  mind 
that  those  chosen  should  be  of  the  best  possible  form,  clear  colours 

NEW    SERIES,    VOL.    VI.,    NO.  LXVI.  M 


162  THE    FLORIST. 

and  marking,  as  mucli  depends  on  this  in  producing  new  and 
first-rate  varieties.  As  soon  as  the  seeds  are  ripe  they  should  be 
sown  immediately  in  some  shady  place;  and,  as  soon  as  large 
enough,  prick  off  tliinly  into  flat  pots  or  pans,  and  keep  close  for 
a  few  days  until  thoroughly  established.  They  may  be  stopped 
and  treated  in  all  ways  similar  to  those  struck  from  cuttings. 

Alter  flowering,  the  old  plants  should  be  partially  cut  down  (as 
cutting  them  down  cljse  is  very  injurious,  and  in  many  instances 
rots  the  crown),  and  placed  in  a  north  situation — and  protected, 
should  a  continuance  of  rain  prevail.  Water  moderately  through 
the  winter  months,  and  as  spring  advances  and  the  plants  get 
stronger,  weak  liquid  manure  may  be  given.  For  the  guidance 
of  the  amateur  and  those  interested  in  the  culture  of  this  charming 
plant,  we  append  a  list  of  the  best  and  most  useful  varieties  yet 
sent  out. 

Admiral  Dundas  (Henderson),  white,  with  bluish  purple  margin  and  dark 

disc  ;  good  show  flower. 
Admiral   Dundas   (Ivery),  rich  crimson  purple,  with  white  centre  and  dark 

disc ;  good  habit. 
Brilliant  (Lidgard),  white  with  an  azure  bine  edge,  blue  disc  and  fine  form. 
Emperor  of  the  French  (Turner),  a  bright  rosy  crimson  with  white  ring  and 

dark  disc  ;  fine  show  plant. 
Earl  ot  Clarendon  (Turner),  violet  purple  with  red  centre — of  good  form  ; 

a  first-rate  show  flower. 
Fascination  (Henderson),  light  blue  with  light  circle — good  form. 
Lord   Stamford  (Henderson),  white  with  light  blue  edge,   light  disc,  and 

very  free. 
Lady  Paxton  (Turner),  white  with  a  broad  margin  of  purple — dark  disc  ; 

large  and  showy. 
Lady  Camoys  (Sutton),  pure  white  with  deep  blue  edge  and  disc ;  dwarf 

habit. 
Lablacbe  (Henderson). 
Mrs.  Sidney  Herbert  (Henderson),  white,  with  rosy  carmine  edge  and  pure 

disc  ;  fine  habit. 
Monarch   (Turner),  rich  purple  with  fiery  centre;  dwarf  and  distinct. 
Optima  (Bousie),  white  with  deep  blue  edge  and  disc;  a  good  show  plant. 
Optima    (Hopwood),  white  with  a   broad    crimson  edge;    good  form  and 

dwarf  habit.  . 
Octavien   (Ker),  white  with  rosy  purple  edge  ;  good. 
Prince  Arthur,  scarlet  crimson  ;  good  form  and  substance. 
Prince  of  Prussia,  bright  azure  blue  with  light  centre. 
Picturata  (Henderson),  rosy  violet  with  light  centre  and  disc;  a  good  show 

flower. 
Scottish  Chieftain  (Sievewright),  white,  with  deep  violet  edge  and  dark  disc  ; 

dwarf. 
Sir  Charles  Napier    (Turner),  an  intense  blue  self— of  good  form ;  good 

show  flower. 


Aquilegfas. — A  pretty  hybrid  has  lately  been  raised  in  the  gardens 
at  Chiswick  between  A.  fragrans  and  A.  calitbrnica.  It  is  exactly  inter- 
mediate between  the  two  parents,  and  is  a  plant  of  great  beauty. 


163 


LIGHT:— ITS  INFLUENCE  ON  VEGETATION. 

(Continued  from  page   \\2.) 

The  great  desideratum  in  plant  growing  is  to  have  a  symmetrical 
growth,  green  healthy  foliage,  and  short-jointed  wood,  which,  at  the 
proper  season,  should  be  well  furnished  with  bloom.  As  this  last  con- 
dition is  the  admitted  criterion  of  excellence  for  exhibition  plants,  it 
follows  that  a  too  luxuriant  state  of  growth  must  not  be  encouraged 
beyond  a  certain  limit,  as  this  would  interfere  with  the  full  develop- 
ment of  bloom,  the  great  object  to  attain  in  growing  plants  for  display. 
I  need  hardly  remind  your  readers,  that  to  know  exactly  how  to  regu- 
late or  control  the  growth  of  plants,  so  as  to  check  further  growth  and 
direct  the  energies  of  the  plant  towards  the  maturation  of  the  wood,  or 
to  induce  that  state  of  repose  necessary  to  enable  it  to  form  the  requisite 
secretions  for  organising  flower-buds,  is  one  of  the  great  triumphs  of 
the  gardener's  art,  and  only  to  be  obtained  by  a  practical  acquaintance 
with  the  peculiar  habits  of  each  race  of  plants ;  the  agent  by  which  he 
effects  his  purpose  is  light,  in  connexion  with  heat,  due  regard  being 
paid  at  the  same  time  to  the  state  of  the  roots. 

Supposing  then  a  collection  of  ordinary  hard-wooded  greenhouse 
plants  are  being  started  into  growth  in  the  spring,  it  should  be  the  main 
object  of  the  manager  to  see  that  every  plant  is  exposed  to  as  much 
light  as  can  be  made  to  reach  it.  This  premises  that  the  plants  should 
be  as  near  the  glass  as  possible,  and  sufficiently  wide  apart  to  allow  the 
light  to" fall  on  every  part  of  tlie  plants,  as  well  as  fjr  tlie  air  to  circu- 
late freely  between  them.  As  each  shoot  advances,  it  will  be  acted 
upon  by  the  agency  we  are  considering,  and  as  each  leaf  is  formed  it 
will  be  enabled  to  perform  its  allotted  functions  in  the  |)lant's  economy  : 
there  will  be  no  drawing,  because  each  leaf,  having  the  full  exercise  of 
its  powers,  will  therefore  be  enabled  to  build  up  and  make  strong  the 
young  growth  ;  and  as  the  general  health  of  the  plant  will  depend  on 
the  healthy  action  of  the  leaves,  we  shall  in  time  have  plants  possessing 
all  the  properties  which  constitute  their  value  as  specimens,  and  which 
we  have  pointed  out  at  the  commencement  of  this  article,  attention 
having  in  the  meantime  been  paid  to  supplying  their  roots  with  the 
necessary  elements  for  their  growth.  But  as  tlie  time  will  arrive  when 
further  growth  should  be  gradually  arrested,  and  when  subjected  to  a 
drier  atmosphere  a  more  complete  exposure  to  light  will  be  necessary, 
to  perfect  the  growth  already  made  and  allow  time  for  the  due  formation 
of  the  embryo  flower-buds. 

In  stating  that  plants  are  benefited — and,  indeed,  can  only  be  grown 
in  perfection — when  every  leaf  is  brought  under  the  influence  of  light, 
I  by  no  means  wish  it  to  be  understood  that  in  all  cases  full  exposure 
to  the  sun  under  glass  sliould  be  permitted,  being  fully  aware  tliat, 
under  glass,  the  plants  we  are  considering  would  suffer,  not  perhaps  from 
free  exposure  to  light  alone,  if  attended  with  complete  ventilation,  but 
to  the  heating  rays  of  the  sun,  which  are  injurious  to  many  plants  when 
under  glass,  although  not  so  when  fully  exposed  out  of  doors.    Shading, 

M  2 


164  TUE    FLORIST. 

therefore,  will  have  to  be  adopted,  to  prevent  that  brown,  rusty  tinge  of 
fuliage  which  tliis  class  of  plants  get  by  being  exposed  to  the  sun's  rays. 

Although,  generally  speaking,  most  hard-wooded  plants  will  perfect 
their  growth  and  form  tlower-buds  ("  set  for  bloom"),  if  kept  under 
glass  throughout  the  year,  yet  I  am  convinced  that  placing  them  out 
of  doors,  during  the  latter  part  of  the  summer,  very  much  assists  the 
process  and  is  beneficial  to  the  plants.  But  while  advocating  their  free 
exposure  to  sun  and  air  while  out  of  doors,  they  should  be  protected  trom 
rain,  and  the  sun  should  on  no  account  be  permitted  to  shine  on  the 
pots,  as  this  is  frequently  the  cause  of  much  mischief  to  the  plants  by 
its  extracting  the  moisture  from  the  ball  of  earth,  and  perhaps  entailing 
death  on  the  plant  itself 

I  was  forcibly  reminded  of  the  effect  produced  on  shy-blooming 
plants,  by  setting  them  out  of  doors  during  summer,  some  years  ago, 
when  I  had  under  my  care  a  very  large  plant  of  Erica  depressa,  which 
had  been  treated  as  an  ordinary  greenhouse  plant,  and  kept  in  the 
house  throughout  the  year.  Having  to  repair  the  house,  I  placed  all 
the  plants  on  a  gravel  walk  in  front.  This  was  in  July,  and  they 
remained  there  till  the  end  of  September.  My  depressa  had  only 
bloomed  very  sparingly  before,  but  in  the  following  spring  I  was  much 
gratified  by  seeing  one  mass  of  bloom  ;  the  surprise  died  away  with  the 
decay  of  its  bloom,  and  the  plant,  as  formerly,  remained  all  the  autumn 
in-doors.  The  following  spring  there  were  no  blooms  ;  but  ever  since, 
this  and  some  other  shy-blooming  varieties  have  been  accommodated 
with  a  seat  out  of  doors  the  last  months  of  summer,  and  each  spring 
since  have  bloomed  in  the  greatest  perfection.  I  may  add,  the  plants 
were  completely  exposed  to  the  sun,  care  being  taken  of  their  roots  and 
preserving  them  from  rain. 

Respecting  the  kind  of  houses  for  growing  plants,  I  am  of  opinion 
that,  for  purposes  of  culture  only,  our  houses  are  by  no  means  what 
they  should*  be.  To  grow  a  plant  is  one  thing,  and  to  display  a  plant 
in  bloom  is  another  ;  and  it  by  no  means  follows  that  what  is  good  for 
one  is  so  for  the  other.  We  think  that  where  very  high  cultivation  is 
carried  on,  structures  must  be  erected  for  the  special  purposes  of  culture, 
and  I  am  pretty  certain  that  we  shall  find  that  a  series  of  low  light  pits 
or  houses  will  be  devoted  solely  for  growing  and  bringing  plants  up  to 
the  blooming  period,  when  other  structures  which  may  have  more 
architectural  pretensions,  and  may  be  expressly  adapted  for  displaying 
plants  when  in  bloom,  will  be  in  general  use.  How  often  do  we  see  a 
well-finished  span-roofed  house,  half  full  of  plants  in  flower,  requiring 
a  dry  cool  atmosphere,  and  close  shading  from  the  sun,  conditions 
necessary  to  preserve  the  plants  in  flower,  as  fresh  and  as  long  as  possible, 
while  the  remainder  of  the  plants  probably  required  exposure,  and  a 
course  of  treatment  the  reverse  they  were  subject  to,  owing  to  its  not 
suiting  their  neighbours. 

(To  be  continued.) 


Delphinium  oardinale.— It  is  a  hardy  perennial,  and  is  repre- 
sented in  coloured  plates  to  be  a  bright  scarlet. 


166 


STUDY  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY. 


Recently  you  did  me  the  honour  of  inserting  a  letter  of  mine,  and 
you  encourage  me  to  pursue  my  endeavour  to  wm  the  attention  of  your 
readers  to  the  subject  of  Natural  History. 

In  a  charming  volume*  which  Her  iMajesty  has  caused  to  be  pubHshed, 
and  copies  of  which  have  been  presented  by  H.R.H.  Prince  Albert  to 
nearly  all  the  public  institutions  in  the  United  Kingdom,  I  find  the 
following  impressive  remark  : — 

•'  Our  object  in  examining  the  stone,  the  rock,  the  lichen,  the  moss, 
the  flower,  the  fruit,  the  insect,  the  bird,  or  the  quadruped,  is  to  exer- 
cise our  faculties  by  learning  how  beautifully,  and  with  what  wisdom 
all  things  have  been  constructed,  how  wonderfully  they  are  formed  with 
relation  to  each  other,  and  how  manifestly  they  display  a  power  of 
which  we  could  form  no  conception  were  we  not  to  attend  to  its  working 
as  exhibited  by  them.  It  is  true,  we  cannot  fully  comprehend  the 
complicated  relations  of  the  most  common  objects,  much  less  understand 
the  ordination  of  the  universe,  or  even  of  our  own  world;  but  we  labour 
in  hope,  we  are  studying — some  of  us,  no  doubt,  very  imperfectly, 
others,  more  profoundly — the  works  of  the  Deity,  and  the  more  progress 
we  make,  the  more  we  glorify  Him  by  an  intelligent,  not  a  vague 
admiration. 

"  There  are  some  who  aim  at  the  knowledge  of  general  laws,  more 
who  seek  simple  facts.  Both  parties  will  find  enough  to  engage  their 
faculties,  and  neither  will  do  the  work  of  the  other  efficiently.  There 
is  no  reason  why  one  should  despise  the  other  ;  contempt  of  anything 
but  vice  indicates  an  unsound  mind,  a  defective  judgment,  an  ignorance 
of  the  relations  which  men  have  to  each  other  and  to  their  Creator,  an 
undue  self-estimation,  and  a  contempt  of  the  rights  of  other  men.  He 
who  measures  the  orbit  of  a  comet  has  not,  therefore,  higher  faculties 
than  he  who  examines  the  cytoblast  of  a  fungus,  and  there  is  far  more 
to  be  seen  by  us  in  a  beetle  than  in  a  planet — upon  that  granite 
mountain  opposite,  at  the  distance  of  nine  or  ten  miles,  than  in  the  sun, 
the  moon,  and  the  stars." 

Words  feeble  as  mine  are  may  not  be  added  to  the  above  eloquent 
passage  until  next  month;  therefore  I  conclude,  and  will  then  endeavour 
to  stimulate  the  industry  of  your  readers  in  the  acquisition  of  knowledge 
which  will  be  to  them  a  never-failing  source  of  innocent  gratification. 

C.  E. 

Balk. 


SONERILA  MARGARATACEA. 
This  is  unquestionably  one  of  the  most  handsome  variegated  plants  in 
cultivation;  for,  although  its  prettily  marked  foliage  may  not  be  so  striking 
or  beautiful  as  that  of  some  of  the  Anaectochiluses,  Marantas,  &c. ;  the 
beauty  of  these  is  confined  to  their  foliage,  while  this  is  one  of  the  freest 
blooming  stove  plants  which  we  possess,  and  it  would  certainly  be  diffi- 

•  "  The  Natural  History  of  Dee-side  and  Braemar."    By  the  late  William  Macgilliyray, 
M.D.    Printed  for  private  circulation. 


166  TUE    FLORIST. 

cult  to  name  a  more  attractive  plant  than  a  moderate  sized  specimen  of 
the  Sonerila,  when  well  covered  with  bloom.  It  is  also  much  more 
accommodating  in  its  habits  than  some  of  our  variegated  plants,  being 
of  easy  culture,  and  readily  increased  to  any  desirable  extent ;  and  for 
amateurs  and  persons  liavnig  but  small  accommodation  for  stove  plants, 
it  is  a  real  gem.  It  would  appear,  however,  that  there  are  two  varie- 
ties of  this  plant  in  cultivation,  the  one  having  the  markings  on  the 
foliage  much  larger  and  clearer  than  the  other;  and  persons  having  yet 
to  })i.irchase  will  do  well  to  make  sure  that  they  procure  this  variety, 
which  is  very  much  handsomer  than  the  variety  with  the  smaller  spots. 
But,  as  it  is  stated  in  your  remarks  accompanying  your  plate  ot  this 
plant, — and  this,  doubtless,  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Veitch, — that  it 
may  be  propagated  from  seed,  it  is  probable  that  the  plants  which  the 
Messrs.  Veitch  supplied  had  been  obtained  in  that  manner.  Be  this  as 
it  may,  however,  your  representation  is  either  unworthy  of  Mr.  Andrews, 
or  the  variety  represented  there  is  greatly  inferior  to  one  in  cultivation ; 
hence  those  who,  like  myself,  may  not  have  been  fortunate  enough  to 
obtain  the  best  variety  have  no  cause  to  find  fault  with  the  Messrs. 
Veitch,  for  having  served  some  of  their  customers  better  than  they  had 
engaged  to  do.  But  either  variety  is  well  worthy  a  place  in  every  col- 
lection, for  the  foliage  of  the  worst  is  very  pretty;  and  when  the  plant 
is  covered  with  its  trusses  of  rose  and  yellow  coloured  flowers,  it  would 
be  difficult  to  name  a  more  attractive  subject  for  decorative  purposes ; 
and  then  it  blooms  at  a  season  when  attention  is  not  diverted  from  it 
by  the  presence  ofsucli  showy  plants  in  bloom  as  Echiteses,  Dipladenias, 
&c.,  and  it  also  remains  long  in  beauty. 

Fortunately  this  charmingly  pretty  subject  appears  to  be  as  easily 
managed  as  it  is  beautiful ;  but  it  is  more  than  probable  that,  with  our 
present  limited  experience,  we  may  not  have  hit  upon  the  best  treat- 
ment for  it.  I  will,  therefore,  only  profess  to  state  the  treatment  I 
have  adopted,  and  leave  your  readers  to  judge  for  themselves,  whether 
it  is  the  most  suitable  that  could  be  pursued.  My  plant,  which  was  a 
very  small  bit  in  a  four-inch  pot,  came  to  hand  about  the  middle  of 
May  last ;  and  as  I  entertained  a  very  high  opinion  of  it,  special  care 
and  attention  were  afforded  it  from  the  first.  I  was  afraid,  however,  to 
treat  it  too  kindly  at  first,  lest  it  should  damp  off;  and  for  two  or  three 
weeks  it  occupied  a  shady  place  near  the  glass  on  a  shelf  in  the  stove. 
When  it  had  made  some  little  progress,  and  I  had  obtained  a  cutting, 
it  was  re-potted,  plunged  in  moss  in  a  ten-inch  pot,  covered  with  a 
large  bell  glass,  aud  plunged  in  a  brisk  bottom  heat.  The  glass  was 
removed  at  night  for  some  time,  until  it  was  evident  that  there  was  no 
danger  of  the  plant  damping  off;  and  then  the  glass  was  only  raised  a 
little  on  one  side  for  a  night  or  two  after  watering.  Here  it  grew 
rapidly,  and  towards  the  middle  of  July  was  shifted  into  a  nine-inch 
pot,  plunged  in  moss  again  and  treated  as  before.  Shortly  after  this, 
however,  the  foliage  began  to  curl  and  damp  at  the  points  ;  and  to  pre- 
vent this,  it  was  removed  to  a  shady  part  of  the  house,  the  bell  glass 
removed  and  kept  rather  dry,  which,  to  a  great  extent,  had  the  desired 
effect  of  checking  the  evil;  and  I  fancy  it  will  be  found  that  the  old 
leaves  are  subject  to  get  disfigured,  especially  if  they  are  allowed  to 


JUNE.  167 

grow  very  thickly  together.  I  have,  therefore,  been  careful  to  keep 
the  shoots  nicely  distributed,  and  have  regularly  removed  as  many  of 
the  old  leaves  as  could  be  done  without  causmg  the  plant  to  look  bare  ; 
and  I  think  it  advisable  that  the  foliage  should  be  rather  freely  thinned 
out,  if  only  for  the  chance  of  having  the  leaves  left  larger  and  more 
vigorous  than  would  be  the  case  without  thinning ;  and  my  plant  has 
certainly  been  much  more  handsome  since  I  have  practised  thinning 
its  foliage.  The  little  specimen  bloomed  nicely  late  in  autumn,  carrying 
some  twenty  trusses,  which  continued  in  beauty  for  some  six  weeks. 
As  soon  as  the  last  of  the  flowers  had  disappeared,  it  was  placed  close 
to  the  glass  on  a  shelf  in  the  stove,  and  very  sparingly  su[)plied  with 
water  at  the  root ;  but,  instead  of  its  remaining  dormant  as  I  antici- 
pated, it  seemed  very  much  inclined  to  grow,  and  was  in  consequence 
more  freely  supplied  with  water  at  the  root  than  I  had  intended  that  it 
should  be  during  the  winter.  After  blooming,  something  like  a  third 
of  the  plant  was  cut  out  to  afford  cuttings,  but  it  is  as  compact  again  as 
ever,  and  is  now  covered  with  flowers,  having  upon  it  something  like 
thirty  trusses.  I  did  not  look  for  it  to  go  on  blooming  through  the 
winter,  and  have  been  looking  for  signs  of  exhaustion,  fearing  that  1  had 
been  over-driving  a  willing  subject,  but  no  symptom  of  the  kind  is 
perceptible,  and  1  think  it  all  the  more  valuable  for  having  deceived  me 
this  way.  And  I  see  no  rei^'son  to  doubt  but  that  with  kind  treatment 
the  plant  will  bloom  for  months  in  succession  during  the  winter.  But 
it  will  doubtless  be  advisable,  when  the  object  is  to  increase  the  size  of 
the  plant,  not  to  let  it  bloom  too  freely,  and  to  place  it  in  a  sufficiently 
low  temperature  to  prevent  growth  for  some  three  months  after  bloom- 
ing, and  I  think  it  may  be  wintered  safely  enough  in  a  temperature  of 
about  50°.  For  soil  I  have  used  rich  fibry  peat,  turfy  loam,  and  leaf 
soil,  in  about  equal  proportions,  mixing  it  liberally  with  silver  sand, 
and  in  this  the  plant  seems  to  do  perfectly  well.  Young  plants  I  have 
tried  in  peat  and  sand,  thinking  this  might  improve  the  colour  of  the 
foliage,  but  without  any  apparent  improvement.  Propagation  is  easily 
effected  by  means  of  cuttings,  which  root  freely  enough  under  ordinary 
treatment,  but  shoots  for  cuttings  should  be  secured  off  the  main  stem  if 
possible,  as  the  runners  do  not  seem  to  make  as  good  plants.  As  to 
raising  it  from  seed,  my  plant  has  not  exhibited  any  signs  of  producing 
any  ;  but  if  seed  can  be  obtained,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  plants 
would  be  more  vigorous  than  those  from  cuttings.  X.  Y. 


PROTECTION  OP  FRUIT  TREES. 
Having  perused  the  very  elaborate  papers  on  the  protection  of  wall 
trees  by  Mr.  Saul,  and  having  had  during  the  last  twenty  years  a 
tolerably  good  share  of  practice  in  the  management  of  wall  trees,  my 
experience  compels  me  to  dissent  from  some  of  the  opinions  expressed 
by  your  correspondent  at  Stourton. 

Now,  it  matters   not  whether  we  prosecute  our  investigations  in 
acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  laws  that  govern  either  the  animal  or 


1G8  THE    FLORIST. 

vegetable  kingdom,  we  shall  find  that  certain  causes  produce  certain 
effects.  Anything  that  tends  to  interfere  with  Nature's  performing  her 
systematic  action  necessarily  involves  to  a  certain  extent  imperfect  or- 
ganisation. If  Nature's  laws  are  infringed,  her  machinery,  if  i  may  be 
allowed  the  expression,  is  thrown  out  of  gear,  and  her  perfect  action 
impeded,  if  not  absolutely  destroyed.- 

There  is  such  a  word  to  be  found  in  "Johnson"  as  accidental,  and 
what  does  that  one  word  imply?  why,  a  whole  host  of  unforeseen 
events  and  vexatious  disappointments. 

We  are  the  creatures  of  circumstances.  Is  there  no  analogy  between 
plants  and  animals?  most  assuredly.  A  man  leaves  his  happy  do- 
mestic hearth  in  full  vigour  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening  per- 
haps returns  a  mutilated  mass.  A  plant  may  to-day  be  hi  most 
beautiful  condition,  but  alas — the  Ice-king  and  the  morrow — and  its 
beauty  is  faded  and  gone. 

A  gardener  may  be  proud  of  the  healthy  fruit-promising  condition  of 
his  trees,  but  if  he  does  not  efficiently  protect,  his  pride,  in  all  proba- 
bility, will  result  in  mortification.  I  hope  this  is  not  the  case  with  Mr. 
Saul.  At  page  106  he  states  that  he  hopes  to  have  the  pleasure  in  a 
few  weeks  of  thinning  many  quarts  of  young  fruit.  Has  this  been 
verified?  If  sO;  he  must  have  well  covered  up  his  trees  the  last  week 
in  March,  i.e.,  if  the  frost  was  as  intense  at  Stourton  as  it  was  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  London.  I  very  much  question  if  in  this  part  of  the 
country  there  will  be  any  occasion  to  thin  ^le  Apricots,  having  been 
subjected  to  eight  or  nine  degrees  of  frost,  unless  the  trees  were  well 
protected.  I  can  scarcely  conceive  it  possible  that  any  one  at  all  con- 
versant with  the  physiology  of  plants  should  presume  for  a  moment  that 
such  very  tender  and  succulent  orgar.s  as  the  stamens,  pistils,  and  the 
stigmas,  &c.,  could  escape  hijury  if  exposed  to  the  biting  blast.  Is  it 
not  of  the  greatest  importance  that  no  obstacle  presents  itself  to  prevent 
the  full  development  and  maturation  of  the  flower  ?  As  to  the  para- 
mount importance  of  this  part  of  nature's  work,  who  so  well  convinced 
as  the  hybridiser,  the  raiser  of  new  and  choice  seedlings  ?  We  cannot 
and  must  not  expect  successful  results  except  under  circumstances  purely 
conditional. 

I  have  had  and  have  seen  excellent  crops  of  wall  fruit  without  pro- 
tection, although  the  season  may  have  been  frosty  ;  and  I  account  for 
it  in  this  way :  the  atmosphere  was  dry,  the  days  clear,  no  clouds  to 
intercept  the  warming  influence  of  the  sun's  rays,  the  walls,  the  earth 
absorbed  heat  sufficient  during  the  day  to  keep  the  Ice-king  under 
subjection  during  the  night,  by  radiation.  Frost  is  at  this  season  of 
the  year,  generally  speaking,  the  most  severe,  or  its  intensity  more 
sensibly  felt,  just  before  the  rising  of  the  sun  at  dawn  of  day ;  this  is 
in  my  humble  opinion  on  account  of  the  radiating  powers  of  the  earth, 
&c.,  having  become,  if  I  may  so  speak,  exhausted.  When  fruit  trees 
are  blooming,  I  much  prefer  two  or  three  degrees  of  frost,  with  a  fine 
light  atmosphere,  to  wet  ;  as  a  wet,  dripping  season  is  the  worst,  de- 
cidedly, as  regards  the  fructification  of  the  fruit  blossoms. 

Trees  may  be  ever  so  well  managed  by  the  most  skilful  manipu- 
lator, they  may  be  in  the  most  robust  condition  possible,  yet  for  all 


JUNE.  169 

that,  if  seasons  are  not  propitious,  artificial  means  must  be  had  recourse 
to,  or  all  our  efforts  as  regards  a  successlul  issue  will  prove  abortive. 

Geo.  Fry. 
Manor  House  Gardens,  Lee,  Kent. 


FOLIAGE  versus  FLOWERS. 
To  contemplate  the  past  history  of  British  gardening,  the  rapid  strides 
it  has  made  of  late  years,  and  the  great  number  of  new  and  beautiful 
plants  introduced,  together  with  the  perfect  state  of  cultivation  attained, 
must  be  a  subject  of  the  highest  gratification  to  all  lovers  of  horticul- 
ture. It  is  also  pleasing  to  find  so  many  of  our  countrymen,  when 
travelling  abroad  either  upon  business  or  pleasure,  instinctively  turning 
their  attention  to  the  collection  of  seeds  or  plants,  feeling  desirous  to 
add  something  to  the  botany  of  their  native  lands  ;  and  some  of  these 
amateur  collectors  have  been  fortunate  in  sending  home  plants  of  the 
highest  importance,  and  all  have  given  a  proof  of  their  love  of  fiowers. 

But  while  we  have  been  collecting  and  improving  the  class  of  plants 
that  produce  fine  flowers,  we  have  to  a  great  extent  neglected  those 
that  produce  fine  foliage.  Now,  if  we  take  into  consideration  the 
transitory  nature  of  the  flowers  and  the  permanent  character  of  the 
foliage,  we  cannot  but  regret  that  the  latter  class  is  not  more  exten- 
sively cultivated. 

In  this  particular  branch  of  gardening  we  are  far  behind  our  conti- 
nental neighbours.  They  appear  to  consider  foliage  of  the  first  im- 
portance, and  many  fine  plants  imported  by  nurserymen  to  this 
country  have  met  with  so  little  favour  that  the  importers  have  been 
obliged  either  to  send  them  to  the  continent  to  find  a  market,  or  sell 
them  to  foreigners  for  the  same  destination.  But  let  us  hope  that  this 
state  of  things  is  nearly  at  an  end,  and  that  foliage  wiU  soon  carry  with 
it  as  much  influence  as  flowers. 

Persons  who  have  seen  the  magnificent  Palm  stoves  at  Chatsworth 
and  Kew  would  be  better  able  to  estimate  the  real  value  of  beautiful 
foliaged  plants.  The  noble  and  varied  leaves  of  the  Palms,  Cycads, 
Musas,  Agaves,  tree  and  other  Ferns,  &c.,  presenting  as  a  whole  the 
most  enchanting  aspect,  and  giving  us,  as  the  late  Dr.  Wallich  enthu- 
siastically observed,  "  a  perfect  miniature  of  a  tropical  forest." 

The  first  large  house  of  this  kind  in  England  was  undoubtedly  built 
by  the  late  Messrs.  Loddiges,  of  Hackney,  who  attained  a  world-wide 
celebrity  for  their  unrivalled  collection  of  these  interesting  plants, 
althougli  that  collection  is  now  no  longer  for  sale.  We  are  happy  to 
find  the  nucleus  to  another  has  been  rapidly  formed,  and  will,  we  doubt 
not,  if  encouragement  be  given,  be  as  rapidly  increased  by  Mr.  Veitch, 
of  the  Exotic  Nursery,  Chelsea,  where  may  be  seen  some  excellent 
specimens  of  this  class  of  plants. 

We  are  quite  aware  that  large  plant  houses,  such  as  those  referred 
to,  will  never  become  universal,  and  that  large  specimens  of  Palms,  &c., 
cannot  become  generally  cultivated  ;  still  there  are  many  fine  foliaged 
plants  which  may  be  introduced  into  our  ordinary  stoves  and  green- 


170  THE    FLORIST. 

houses,  and  with  the  best  possible  effect;  such,  for  instance,  as 
Browneas,  Rhopalas,  Ficus,  Dracaenas,  Cycads,  tree  and  other  Ferns, 
&c.,  for  the  stove,  and  Aguostus  sinuatus,  Stadmannia  australis,  Dick- 
sonia  antarctica,  Berberis  nepalensis,  and  others;  Dacrydiums,  Arau- 
carias,  and  many  other  kinds  for  the  greenhouse.  HorticuUural 
societies  aiipear  to  have  been  fully  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
tliese  plants,  and  are  offering  liberal  prizes  for  them  at  the  tbrthcoming 
exhibitions.  Let  us  hope  that  it  may  be  the  means  of  bringing  them 
into  more  general  cultivation. 


EDGINGS. 
What  are  the  best  materials  for  forming  edgings  with  ?  This  is  a 
question  which  admits  of  a  variety  of  answers,  as  several  things  are 
used  for  the  purpose.  Amongst  "  dead  matter,"  may  be  mentioned 
slates,  tiles,  bricks,  stones,  boards,  &c.  ;  and  amongst  plants.  Box, 
Thrift,  London  Pride,  and  a  dozen  other  kinds  of  dwarf-growing 
things,  all  of  which  are  capable  ot  being  formed  into  good  and  neat 
edgings.  Much,  however,  depends  upon  locality ;  for  what  would 
answer  in  one  place  might  be  perfectly  useless  in  another  :  the  chief 
object  in  view  should  be  to  lay  down  that  kind  of  edging  which  looks 
most  sightly,  or  is  the  most  efficient  with  the  least  trouble  and  expense. 
What  I  am  going  to  state  is,  perhaps,  neither  novel  nor  rare  ;  but, 
nevertheless,  it  may  be  of  practical  use  to  some  of  your  readers.  For  a 
kitchen-garden,  where  there  are  straight  lines,  if  yellow  bricks  are  laid 
down  with  their  angular  edge  uppermost,  resembling  the  roof  of  a 
house,  they  form  one  of  the  neatest  looking  edgings  possible.  Let  the 
face  of  the  bricks  slope  inwards  towards  the  path,  then  lay  gravel  to 
within  two  inches  of  the  upper  edge  ;  they  should  be  good  smooth 
bricks,  and  laid  or  fitted  close  and  even  together,  so  as,  when  finished, 
to  form  a  small  angular  ridge.  They  are  easily  cleaned  with  a  little 
trouble,  form  a  good  permanent  edging,  and  afford  no  protection  to  any 
kind  of  vermin  :  round  the  corners  a  few  rough  burrs,  if  fitted  together, 
prevent  its  being  trodden  down,  and,  if  laid  uniformly  with  the  bricks, 
are  by  no  means  unsightly,  but  rather  an  improvement. 

J.  H. 


TEDWORTH  HOUSE,  WILTS, 
The  Residence  of  Tuomas  Assheton  Smith,  Esq. 
Everyone  will  have  heard  of  Tedworth  and  its  hospitable  proprietor, 
T.  A.  Smith,  Fsq.,  the  warm  patron  of  British  field-sports,^  and  the  no 
less  liberal  supporter  of  gardening.  What  the  stables  and  kennels  of 
Tedworth  are  to  the  sportsman,  the  giant  conservatory  and  gardens  are 
to  the  admirers  of  horticulture.  We  may  add  that  both  are  objects  of 
especial  interest,  and  are  supported  with  the  utmost  liberality  by 
LIr.  Smith,  who,  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  is  the  model  of  an 
English  country  gentleman. 


JUNE.  171 

The  domain  of  Tedworth  lies  on  the  extreme  verge  of  Wiltshire, 
bordering  Hants.  The  road  from  Devizes  passes  through  the  rich  corn 
district  of  the  Pewsey  Vale,  and  next  over  a  more  open  down  country, 
till,  past  Everleigh,  the  woods  and  coppices  of  the  Tedworth  estate 
become  a  marked  feature,  and  we  find  ourselves  surrounded  by  all  the 
indications  of  a  fostering  landlord,  as  shown  by  the  neat  and  comfortable 
cottages  of  the  district. 

Tlie  gardens  at  Tedworth,  which  are  so  widely  knowm,  have  been 
for  more  than  twenty  years  under  the  charge  of  our  friend  Mr. 
Sandars,  a  gentleman  well  known  as  one  of  our  best  and  most  intelli- 
gent gardeners,  as  everything  at  Tedworth  abundantly  testifies,  and  of 
which  we  shall  have  to  speak  hereafter. 

The  mansion  is  situate  in  a  valley  well  furnished  with  timber  trees, 
and  surrounded  by  gentle  eminences  richly  clothed  with  wood.  The 
views  from  the  house,  though  not  very  extensive,  are  much  varied,  and 
comprise  some  pleasing  peeps  over  the  diversified  home  scenery  to  the 
distant  downs.  The  house  itself  is  large,  and  internally  fitted  up  with 
every  comfort  and  luxury  suitable  to  the  position  of  its  proprietor, 
and  of  the  distinguished  company  who,  during  the  season,  enjoy  the 
sports  and  princely  hospitalities  of  Tedworth. 

In  front  of  the  mansion  is  a  large  space  of  ground  laid  out  in  a  style 
of  mixed  gardening,  having  large  masses  of  the  rarer  evergreen  shrubs 
and  American  plants,  standard  Roses,  &c.,  interspersed  with  beds 
solely  devoted  to  flowering  plants.  Near  the  house  the  flower-beds 
partake  of  a  regular  design,  and  were  well  filled  with  the  choicest 
bedding  plants ;  we  noticed  particularly  some  large  beds  filled  with  the 
"  Crystal  Palace  Dahlia,"  a  very  dwarf  scarlet  variety  raised  here  by 
Mr.  Sandars,  and  which  is  likely  to  be  a  very  valuable  acquisition  for 
bedding  out  in  masses,  as  it  only  grows  1 J  foot  in  height,  and  is  pro- 
fusely covered  through  the  season  with  bold  double  flowers  of  an  intense 
scarlet.  The  Messrs.  Henderson,  of  the  Wellington  Nursery,  have  the 
stock,  the  demand  for  which,  we  understand,  is  very  great.  To  fill  the 
beds  in  this  garden,  and  a  smaller  flower-garden  between  the  house  and 
the  kitchen-garden,  in  addition  to  the  borders,  &c  ,  a  large  quantity  of 
bedding-out  plants  are  required,  which  is  now  being  transferred  to 
their  summer  quarters.  Adjoining  the  mansion  is  a  conservatory 
devoted -to  Camellias,  Oranges,  and  plants  in  bloom,  which  are  furnished 
from  the  reserve  houses  in  the  kitchen-garden  ;  this  house,  like  the 
larger  one,  having  to  be  kept  gay  with  flowering  plants  throughout  tlie 
year.  From  this  conservatory  a  corridor  leads  through  a  part  of  the 
grounds  to  the  great  conservatory,  and  is  continued  to  the  stables,  which 
lie  beyond.  The  corridor  has  an  opaque  roof,  with  glass  sides  made  to  open 
for  ventilation  in  the  summer,  and  is  heated  by  hot-water  pipes,  to 
preserve  an  agreeable  temperature  in  winter.  By  this  arrangement 
Mr.  Smith  and  his  friends  are  enabled  to  visit  the  conservatory  and 
stables  in  bad  weather  without  the  least  exposure  ;  and  as  the  con- 
servatory is  admirably  adapted  for  walking  or  even  riding  exercise,  the 
luxury  of  getting  there  during  bad  weather  in  winter — a  suggestion  of 
Mr.  Smith's — cannot  be  too  highly  appreciated. 

This  conservatory  is  310  feet  long,  40  feet  wide,  and  16  feet  high 


172  THE    FLORIST. 

in  the  centre.  It  has  a  simple  span-roof  of  wood,  and  is  glazed  with 
sheet-glass  of  the  best  quality;  a  row  of  handsome  pillars  gives  support 
to  the  roof  on  each  side,  and  these,  and  the  braces  and  ties  which  con- 
nect them  with  the  roof,  are  made  available  for  training  climbing 
plants,  which  not  only  hide  the  supports  and  braces,  but  give  an 
additional  charm  to  the  interior.  The  house  is  heated  by  one  boiler 
and  a  well-arranged  system  of  hot-water  pipes  ;  both  the  heating  and 
ventilating  apparatus  appear  perfect.  A  gravel  walk,  seven  feet  wide, 
runs  down  the  centre  of  the  house. 

The  borders  on  each  side  the  centre  walk  are  divided  into  eight  com- 
partments ;  four  of  these  have  borders  of  prepared  soil,  in  which, 
among  some  plants  that  remain  permanently,  plants  in  bloom  are 
turned  out,  so  as  to  maintain  an  uninterrupted  succession  of  flowers  : 
the  other  four  compartments  (which  occupy  the  centre  of  the  house), 
are  furnished  with  stages  for  plants  in  pots  ;  at  the  present  time  these 
were  filled  with  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  plants  blooming  at  this 
season — Calceolarias,  Pelargoniums,  Begonias,  Fuchsias,  Cmerarias, 
Acacias,  Roses,  Azaleas,  and  a  host  of  other  things,  forming  a  double 
bank  of  bloom,  very  brilliant  and  striking.  Our  readers  will  be  able  to 
form  some  idea  of  the  quantity  of  plants  which  have  to  be  kept  in 
stock  for  furnishing  this  house,  when  we  inform  them  that  it  takes 
annually  60,000  pots  of  plants  to  keep  up  the  requisite  succession  of 
bloom;  and,  independently  of  the  great  number  of  things  which  remain 
permanently  in  the  borders,  we  should  say  5000  plants  in  bloom  are 
kept  constantly  in  the  house,  all  good-sized  plants,  many  of  them  being 
fine  specimens.  On  looking  down  the  centre  walk  from  either  end  of 
the  building,  the  appearance  of  the  masses  of  colour  on  each  side,  and  the 
graceful  climbers  arched  over-head  and  hanging  from  the  roof,  has  a 
beautiful  effect ;  from  the  north  end,  this  view  is  heightened  by  the 
vista  being  connected  with  an  avenue  continued  through  the  grounds, 
from  the  south  door,  for  a  considerable  distance  into  the  park.  At  the 
north  end,  which  abuts  on  the  kitchen-garden,  Mr.  Sandarshas  planted 
an  admirable  screen,  opposite  the  end  of  the  building,  which  effectually 
cuts  off  all  appearance  of  the  garden ;  the  foreground  of  this  is  made 
into  a  Piosery,  of  which  we  shall  have  something  to  say  hereafter. 

Many  of  the  specimens  which  have  been  growing  for  some  time  in 
the  open  borders  of  the  conservatory  are  high  bushes,  of  which  we 
noticed  Pelargoniums,  Fuchsias,  Callas,  and  many  others.  Oestrum 
aurantiacum,  occasionally  grown  as  a  stove  plant,  flourishes  here  like  a 
weed ;  and  the  like  may  be  said  of  many  other  stove  plants.  The 
climbers  for  the  roof  comprise  everything  in  that  way — a  profusion  of 
Passion-flowers,  Tecomas,  Fuchsias  (which,  by  the  way,  look  exceed- 
ingly fine,  with  their  branches  of  bloom  hanging  pendant  from  the  roof), 
as  does  Begonia  fuchsioides,  which,  treated  as  a  climber,  had  reached  a 
distance  of  25  feet,  and  was  covered  with  its  crimson  blossoms ;  Roses, 
Acacias  affinis,  dealbata,  and  pubescens,  and  many  other  things,  very 
fine.  Mr.  Sandars  has  raised  a  number  of  new  varieties  of  popular 
plants  from  seed,  among  which  he  has  a  strain  of  Calceolarias,  very 
striking  and  distinct  ;  they  have  been  obtained  by  crossing  Sultan  with 
other  varieties  of  a  larger  size,  and  the  breed  has  rich  crimson  grounds 


JUNE.  173 

blotched  with  yellow,  dark  maroon,  and  other  colours ;  we  noticed  one, 
a  bright  crimson  self,  very  distinct,  and  likely  to  prove  the  parent  of 
some  choice  varieties.  One  good  thing  Mr.  Sandars  studies  in  hybrid- 
ising, which  is  to  induce  a  shrubby  habit  in  his  seedlings,  and  many  of 
the  newest  batch  are  a  decided  advance  in  this  respect. 

We  question  whether  any  other  design  would  have  so  well  answered 
the  purpose  for  which  this  house  was  erected  as  the  present  structure. 
Built  and  finislied  in  the  most  substantial  manner,  its  large  size  gives 
an  air  of  grandeur  to  its  plain  elevation,  to  our  minds,  much  superior  to 
the  over-ornamented  style  of  many  similar  structures.  We  omitted  in 
the  proper  place  to  name,  that  the  exterior  walls  are  built  up  from  the 
basement  (four  feet)  with  masonry,  on  which  rest  the  upright  sashes, 
forming  the  sides  ;  a  broad  stone  shelf  runs  round  the  interior,  well 
adapted  for  growing  plants  requiring  a  deal  of  light.  There  is  likewise 
a  smaller  path  on  each  side  of  the  house,  accompanying  this  shelf  for 
purposes  of  culture,  &c.  Connected  with  the  large  conservatory  is  a 
kind  of  reserve,  or  preparing-house  for  bringing  on  stove  plants.  This 
was  filled  with  young  stock  ;  and,  suspended  trom  the  roof,  were  mag- 
nificent specimens  of  Hoya  imperialis,  AUamandas,  Ipomseas,  &c. 

The  kitchen-garden  we  must  notice  in  our  next. 


THE  CULTURE  OF  THE  HOVEA.' 
The  Hovea  is  one  of  the  most  ill-used  plants  in  cultivation  ;  it  na- 
turally grows  erect  and  fast  in  excitable  compost,  but  the  soil  cannot  be 
too  simple,  provided  it  be  healthy  and  clean.  It  is  essential  even 
when  it  is  first  struck  as  a  cutting,  that  stopping  should  be  attended  to 
with  unremitting  attention  ;  not  more  than  the  two  leaves  next  the  soil 
should  be  left,  and  these  throwing  out  two  more  lateral  shoots,  give 
us  an  opportunity  of  stopping  them  at  the  first  joint,  and  thus  obtain- 
ing from  each  two  more  lateral  shoots,  which  should  be  stopped  in  turn, 
for  the  same  number  again,  thus  continuing  till  it  is  perfect,  but,  like 
other  plants,  it  cannot  be  neglected  many  days.  This  constant  stop- 
ping should  be  continued  till  we  have  shoots  enough  to  form  a  perfect 
bush  ;  it  is  then  by  taking  ofl'  all  that  are  in  the  way,  and  leaving 
only  su£h  as  will  help  to  make  a  perfect  bush,  we  may  allow  the  plant 
to  go  on  till  it  blooms  ;  but  after  blooming  the  plants  require  pruning 
as  regularly  as  a  wall-fruit  tree,  and  the  new  shoots  should  be  regularly 
stopped  and  tied  out,  and  the  same  provision  made  for  the  beauty  and 
symmetry  of  the  plant  as  in  the  first  instance.  Were  the  shrub  left 
to  itself  and  planted  in  rich  soil,  it  might  be  made  to  grow  six  or  eight 
feet  in  a  single  season,  and  in  a  season  or  two  be  absolutely  unmanage- 
able after  the  blooming  season.  The  decayed  bloom  should  by  all 
means  be  removed,  because  the  formation  of  seed  pods  would  retard 
growth,  and  the  shoot  cut  back  as  before  intimated,  because  the  bloom 
comes  at  the  ends  of  the  shoots,  and  the  long  under  portion  becomes  bare 
of  leaves  and  flowers.  The  two  most  beautiful  are  Hovea  ilicifolia  and 
Celsi.     Loam  and  peat,  with  a  free  drainage,  will  answer  well. 

John  Mould. 
Devizes, 


174  THE    FLORIST. 


THE  PEACH. 
{Continiitd  from  i^age  131.) 

Thinning  the  fruit,  like  disbudding,  should  be  done  at  two  or  three 
times,  and  should  be  performed  with  care,  so  as  to  have  the  fruit  finally 
left  at  regular  intervals  over  the  tree.  On  young  trees,  where  the  wood 
has  been  left  long,  two  and  even  three  fruit  may  be  allowed  to  remain 
on  each,  as  it  is  presumed  the  wood  has  been  left  long  in  consequence 
of  the  vigour  of  the  tree.  But  where  the  trees  have  filled  their  allotted 
space  on  the  wall,  and  the  young  wood  has  been  cut  closer  in — to  three 
or  four  eyes — one  fruit  will  generally  be  sufiicient ;  when  this  is  deter- 
mined on,  the  leading  bud  from  these  short  shoots  should  be  stopped, 
as  tw^o  shoots  to  each  would  only  crowd  the  tree  with  useless  wood  ;  the 
leading  bud  should  therefore  be  pinched  back,  leaving  two  or  ihree 
leaves  and  joints,  and  allow  the  shoot  at  the  base  to  grow  for  next 
season's  bearing  wood ;  the  lateral  shoots  made  during  the  summer 
should  be  pinched  out  of  the  shoot  stopped,  but  care  must  be  taken  of 
the  leaves,  as  they  will  cause  the  sap  to  fiow  on  freely,  and  on  its  return 
will  nourish  the  fruit.  Should  these  leaves  not  be  left,  or  become 
injured,  the  fruit,  although  it  would  swell  fully  and  be  to  all  r.ppearance 
as  good  as  the  rest,  would  be  flavourless,  as  we  have  before  observed 
when  noticing  the  importance  of  having  a  growing  terminal  bud  to 
each  shoot.  It  may  be  recorded,  that  a  rather  larger  crop  of  Nectarines 
than  Peaches  may  be  taken  from  trees,  the  size  and  vigour  of  each 
being  the  same. 

It  was  formerly  the  practice  to  thin  out  the  fruit,  leaving  a  still  extra 
quantity  to  allow  for  a  number  to  drop  off  in  stoning  1  may  here  remind 
your  readers  that  if  proper  attention  is  paid  to  thinning  off  the  crop, 
and  regulating  it  according  to  the  strength  of  the  tree,  no  fear  need  be 
entertained  that  any  will  drop  off  by  the  process  if  the  trees  are  healthy. 
When  you  see  such  to  be  the  case,  you  may  be  sure  too  many  has 
been  left  on,  or  the  tree  is  become  sickly  and  cannot  accomplish  all  you 
have  allotted  it  to  do.  A  tree  wh;ch  may  be  healthy  enough  to  give 
support  to  and  perfect  the  formation  of  the  seed  of  100  fruit,  may  fail  in 
accomplishing  the  same  for  200,  or  even  150.  But  here  is  the  mischief: 
in  this  case  the  whole  are  supported  alike  up  to  a  point,  and  when  the 
energies  of  the  tree  cannot  go  further,  the  weakest  fruit  goes  first,  and  as 
all  are  more  or  less  affected,  there  is  now  no  drawing  a  limit  how  far 
this  dropping  off"  may  go;  much  will  depend  on  the  rapidity  with  which 
the  first  gives  way,  as  there  may  yet  be  time  for  the  tree  to  rally  and 
perfect  the  rest.  On  the  other  hand,  we  have  seen,  particularly  when 
being  forced,  the  entire  crop  of  Peaches  and  Nectarines  fall  off";  where- 
as, had  the  trees  been  thinned  in  time,  and  those  only  left  which  the 
trees  could  carry  out,  the  whole  would  have  been  saved. 

In  regulating  the  crop,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  over-cropping 
has  a  deal  to  do  with  preventing  the  wood  from  ripening,  for  if  the  tree 
has  to  support  an  extra  heavy  crop  a  certain  amount  of  energy  is 
expended  to  effect  this,  which  should  have  gone  towards  maturing  the 
wood  and  organising  fruit-buds  for  the  following  year  ;  and  where  this 


JUNE.  175 

has  been  the  case,  a  weak  growth  and  a  great  number  of  abortive  fruit- 
buds  the  following  spring  are  the  result.  Your  able  correspondent, 
Mr.  Saul,  very  justly  lays  great  stress  on  this  as  an  important  point 
in  fruit-tree  culture,  in  which  I  entirely  concur. 

At  page  ]  09,  I  gave  directions  relative  to  keeping  the  borders  dry 
after  the  middle  of  August.  As,  however,  the  border  becomes  filled 
with  roots,  it  will  require  to  be  well  supplied  with  water  in  dry  weather 
up  to  that  time  ;  and  where  the  trees  are  in  full  bearing,  manure 
water  may  be  given  in  July  and  the  beginning  of  August,  to  assist  the 
swelling  iruit.  1  on  no  account  advise  strong  ammoniacal  liquid  manure 
for  the  Peach — such  as  guano  water,  and  water  made  from  stable 
dung — but  prefer  the  soakings  from  a  cow-yard,  or  made  with  cow  and 
pig  manure,  as  more  cooling  and  suitable  to  the  Peach.  If  the  border 
is  well  watered  up  to  the  middle  of  August,  our  directions  at  page  109 
may  afterwards  be  put  in  force.  When  the  fruit  begins  to  colour,  go 
over  the  trees  and  hnally  lay  in  any  stray  wood  omitted,  and  likewise 
remove  any  leaves  which  may  shade  the  fruit  too  much ;  they  will  by 
these  means  get  a  high  colour  and  flavour.  I  leave  the  protecting  of 
the  fruit  from  wasps  and  flies,  as  within  the  reach  and  comprehension 
of  all.  Avoid,  however,  wrapping  the  fruit  in  cotton  wool,  as  I  see 
many  do,  as  the  iruit  is  never  good-flavoured,  and  in  wet  weather  this 
plan  spoils  more  than  the  insect^.  The  hexagonal  netting  placed  on 
irames,  and  hung  before  the  trees,  is  the  best  plan  where  these  pests 
are  troublesome. 

There  are  some  kinds  of  Peaches,  of  which  the  Royal  George  is  one, 
very  subject  to  have  the  young  shoots  during  the  sunmier  attacked  with 
mildew,  the  leaves  having  the  appearance  of  being  covered  with  a  white 
]iowder,  which  spreads  rapidly  over  the  adjoining  leaves  and  young 
wood,  destroying  the  leaves  and  preventing  the  growth  of  the  shoot.  To 
stop  the  progress  of  these  fungi,  mix  quick  hme  and  flower  of  sulphur 
in  equal  [iroportion  ;  syringe  or  dip  the  infected  shoots  and  leaves  in 
water,  and  then  cover  them  with  the  mixture,  either  by  a  brush  or 
blowing  it  on  the  wood  by  a  small  machine  sold  for  the  purpose,  or  an 
old  flour  dredger  may  be  used.  This  application  must  be  repeated  till 
the  leaves  assume  their  natural  healthy  colour. 

Gather  the  fruit  as  it  approaches  ripeness,  and  allow  it  to  remain  for 
twenty-four  hours  in  a  dry  room  of  medium  temperature ;  this  much 
improves  the  flavour. 

When  the  fruit  is  all  gathered,  go  over  the  trees,  and  at  once  cut 
away  every  piece  of  wood  not  wanted :  next  season,  this  will  relieve 
the  trees  of  an  incumbrance,  and  the  wood  left  will  be  more  fully  exposed 
for  ripening.  As  the  leaves  change  colour  remove  them  by  degrees, 
gently  sweeping  them  off"  by  a  bunch  of  spray.  The  rest  has  been 
detailed  in  former  papers,  to  which  I  must  refer  your  readers  for 
particulars. 

Your  readers  will,  I  hope,  bear  in  mind  that  these  papers  have  been 
written  from  time  to  time,  as  wanted,  without  having  had  the  advantage 
of  that  revision  and  comparison  which,  had  they  appeared  as  a  whole, 
they  would  have  had.  They  have  been  written  from  daily  practice, 
and   if  found  to  contain  points  of  practice  worth   following   by   the 


17G  THE    FLORIST. 

amateur,  as  well  as  by  my  fellow-professionals,  I  shall  be  amply  repaid 
for  any  trouble  they  may  have  cost  me. 

I  beg  to  append  a  short  list  for  the  amateur  to  select  from. 

PEACHES. 

Royal  George     .         .  This  is  the  most  generally  useful  Peach,  though  apt  to 

mildew  in  some  situations. 
Acton  Scot    .         .     .  A  good  useful  Peach. 

Malta        .         .         .  Hardy,  and  succeeds  well  in  cold  situations. 
Barrington    .         .     .   Fine  hardy  handsome  Peach. 
Bellegarde  .         .  Rather  tenderer  than  the  above,  but  a  fine  Peach. 

Noblesse        .         .     .   Wants  a  warm  situation. 

Chinctll^r''^^'^'^  '     '  }  ^'^^^  recommended  where  late  Peaches  are  required. 

NECTARINES. 
Videue  Hative    '     [j  These  are  both  good  Nectarines. 
Pitmaston  Orange     .  Hardier  than  the  above  and  a  good  Nectarine. 

A  Gardener  in  the  Country. 


HINTS  ON  IMPROVING  ENGLISH  SCENERY. 

In  our  previous  pages  we  have  pointed  out  the  importance  of  placing  a 
proper  value  on  such  hardy  trees  and  shrubs  as  are  remarkable  either 
for  the  colour  or  beauty  of  their  leaves.  If  we  examine  the  different 
varieties  of  Maples,  Oaks,  Sumachs,  &c.,  at  this  season,  whose  leaves 
die  off  in  the  autumn  to  brown  crimson  and  intermediate  shades  of  colour, 
we  shall  find  that  the  leaves,  when  first  expanded,  are  tinted  more  or 
less  with  the  prevailing  colour  they  assume  in  the  autumn.  Acer  coc- 
cineum,  purpureum,  rubrum,  and  circinatum  ;  Liquidamber  ;  Rhus 
typhina,  toxicodendron,  kc. ;  Quercus  coccinea,  rubra,  tinctoria,  &c.  ; 
the  American  Hickories,  and  many  others,  have  their  newly-formed 
leaves  of  various  shades  of  brown  or  purple-brown  colour,,  and  are 
therefore  valuable,  as  affording  a  pleasing  contrast  with  the  beautiful 
bright  green  of  the  Beech,  Birch,  Thorn,  Limes,  Horse  Chestnuts,  &c., 
at  their  period  of  coming  into  leaf,  as  they  do  in  October,  when  their 
warm  glowing  colours  so  admirably  enrich  the  landscape. 

To  those  of  our  young  readers  who  are  making  the  composition  of  land- 
scape scenery  their  study  (and  all  young  gardeners  should  do  so),  we 
recommend  a  careful  examination  of  this  peculiarity  in  certain  trees 
to  their  notice,  as  worthy  of  being  noted  down,  in  addition  to  more  par- 
ticularly noticing  the  effect  produced  by  their  various  shades  of  colour 
in  the  autumn. 

If  there  is  one  thing  more  generally  to  be  lamented  in  rural  or  park 
scenery  than  another,  it  is  this  deficiency  in  our  plantations  of  trees, 
which,  during  the  autumn,  would,  by  the  rich  colour  of  their  dying 
foliage,  give  an  expression  of  warmth  and  tone  to  our  scenery,  and  as 
such  should  make  them  worth  sjecially  introducing  for  the  purpose. 
What  an  additional  feature  would  be  given  to  our  ordinary  plantations 
in  the  spring  and  autumn,  if  groups  of  the  scarlet- leaved  Maples,  Oaks, 


JUNE.  177 

Sumachs,  &c.,  were  judiciously  introduced — and  how  rich  might 
English  scenery  really  become  with  the  deep  browns,  oranges,  and 
crimsons  of  the  kinds  named,  and  others,  intermixed  with  our  ordinary 
forest  trees. 

These  trees  are  now  to  be  rnet  with  in  most  nursery  grounds,  and 
their  expense  is  but  trifling ;  in  fact,  there  exists  no  reason  why  they 
should  not  be  as  commonly  planted  as  Poplars,  Elms,  and  the  like, 
except  that  we  fear  taste  is  sometimes  wanting,  and,  in  other  instances, 
the  plants  are  not  known  sufficiently  to  be  appreciated,  or  they  may  be 
thought  too  expensive. 

Gardeners  who  have  the  management  of  plantations  should  take 
every  opportunity  of  bringing  these  facts  under  the  notice  of  their 
employers,  or  should  introduce  them  on  their  own  responsibility.  As 
far  as  landscape  gardeners  are  concerned,  especially  those  who  have 
commenced  with  being  artists,  we  have  not  much  hope  that  it  will  be 
done  by  them.  Their  profession,  in  a  great  measure,  precludes  that 
practical  knowledge  of  trees — their  colour,  habit,  and  peculiarities — so 
essential  to  dictate  their  exact  position  in  the  landscape ;  and,  with  the 
most  correct  knowledge  of  design  and  effect,  they  fail  in  not  being  so 
well  up  to  the  study  of  colour  in  trees  as  the  subject  demands.  Those, 
therefore,  who  have  to  carry  out  the  designs  of  landscape  gardeners, 
should  be  prepared  to  suggest  what  would  recognise  the  admission  of 
more  colour  into  park  and  rural  scenery. 


ROYAL  NATIONAL  TULIP  SOCIETY. 

May  24. — The  seventh  anniversary  meeting  of  this  Society  took 
place  at  the  Crystal  Palace,  in  connection  with  the  great  exhibition  of 
plants,  &c.,  and  is  fully  reported  in  another  page. 

The  spring  has  been  unfavourable  generally  to  the  growth  of  the 
Tulip,  yet  there  was  a  good  show  of  blooms,  far  better  than  many  were 
led  to  expect.  Eighteen  stands  were  put  up  for  competition  in  one  class 
alone,  so  that  there  were  plenty  in  number.  It  was,  however,  too 
early  for  the  midland  growers. 

The  show  for  this  season  differed  from  its  predecessors,  there  being 
no  class  showincr.  The  committee  may  congratulate  itself  on  the  result 
— the  experiment  was  in  every  way  successful;  neat  uniform  stands  set 
the  flowers  off  to  advantage,  besides  the  desirable  change  of  being  with- 
out the  unsiglitly  bottles. 

The  principal  new  flowers  were  Groom's  Duchess  of  Cambridge,  a 
feathered  bybloemen  ;  Groom's  Lord  Raglan,  a  flamed  bizarre  in  the 
way  of  Shakspeare,  but  much  finer  shape  ;  and  Willison's  Mr.  San- 
derson, a  feathered  bizarre,  a  small  but  beautiful  flower. 

There  was  a  fine  specimen  of  Lawrence's  George  Hayward  exhibited 
— decidedly  the  best  bizarre  in  the  entire  exhibition. 

No  premier  prizes  were  given.  Had  there  been,  we  should  have 
placed  them  thus  :— Feathered  Bizarre,  George  Hayward  (figured  by 
us  in  1854)  ;   Flamed  Bizarre,  Lord  Raglan. 

NEW    SERIES,    VOL.    VI.,    NO.    LXVI.  N 


178  THE    FLORIST. 

In  Roses,  Heroine  would  have  taken  first  for  feather,  as  it  generally 
does.  Headky's  Mary  Headley  would  have  been  the  best  flamed.  Byb- 
loemens,  feathered,  by  far  the  best  was  a  Chellaston,  shown  in  the  first 
stand  tor  siiX  blooms.  The  same  flower  was  figured  by  us  in  1852, 
under  the  name  of  Chellaston  Beauty,  but  there  is  no  certainty  what 
the  names  of  these  Chellaston  flowers  really  are. 

The  finest  flowers  of  each  class  are  marked  with  an  asterisk.  The 
first  stands  of  twelve  and  six  blooms  were  finely-grown  specimens,  very 
pure,  and  generally  well  marked.     We  subjoin  the  awards. 

Class  A,  twelve  varieties:  1st,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough,  *Lord  Raglan, 
*Duchess  of  Cambridge,  Aglaia,  Maid  of  Orleans,  *Triumph  Royal, 
*Dr.  Horner,  *Bloemat,  ^Heroine,  Selim,  David,  *Mary  Headley, 
Polyphemus  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Lawrence,  Hampton,  Musidora,  Caliph,  Violet 
Alexander,  Madame  Vestris,  Polyphemus,  Lady  Wildair,  Duke  of 
Devonshire,  Don  Pedro,  Chellaston  Rose,  Vivid,  David,  Heroine ; 
3rd,  R.  H.  Betteridge,  Esq.,  Milton  Hill,  Abingdon,  Thalia,  George 
Hayward,  Royal  Sovereign,  Aglaia,  Triumph  Royal,  Lord  Denman, 
Gygas,  Seedling,  Admiral  Codrington,  Madame  Catalini,  Due  de 
Boufleurs,  *Claudigna  ;  4th,  B.  Colman,  Esq.,  Norwich,  Caliph, 
Kosciusko,  Godet  Parfait,  Madame  Vestris,  Musidora,  Polydora, 
Brulante  Eclatante,  Friend,  Strong's  King,  Aglaia,  Earl  Douglas, 
Arlette ;  5th,  J.  Hunt,  Esq.,  Wycombe,  Fabius,  Violet  Quarto,  Shak- 
speare,  Madame  Vestris,  Triumph  Royal,  Polyphemus,  Lady  Catherine 
Gordon,  Julia  Romano,  Salvator  Rosa,  Brulante  Eclatante,  Princess 
Royal,  Vivid. 

Class  B,  nine  varieties,  for  Amateurs  only  :  1st,  C.  Williams,  Esq., 
London,  Duchess  of  Sutherland,  *Royal  Sovereign,  G.  Bournonville, 
Duke  of  Devonshire,  *Triumph  Royal,  Garrick,  *La  Belle  Manette, 
John  Kemble,  Claudiana ;  2nd,  R.  Betteridge,  Esq.,  Triumph  Royal, 
*George  Hayward  (very  superior),  Violette  Alexander,  *Royal  Sove- 
reign, Seedling,  Emily,  Incomparable,  Brulante  Eclatante,  Shakspeare ; 
3rd,  Mr.  T.  Westbrook,  Abingdon,  Royal  Sovereign,  Reine  de  Sheba, 
Triumph  Royal,  David,  Claudiana,  Shakspeare,  Countess  of  Wilton, 
Vivid,  Gibbon's  Bybloemen ;  4th,  S.  M.  Sanden,  Esq.,  Staines,  Sylvia, 
Sampson,  Sappho,  Princess  Maud,  *Lord  Denman,  Duke  of  Devon- 
shire, Seedling,  Duchess  of  Sutherland,  David  ;  5th,  Mr.  Lymberry, 
Nottingham,  Rosa  Blanca,  Bacchus,  Platoflf,  Rose  Camellia,  Shakspeare, 
Gem  (Abbott's),  Paul  Pry,  Violet  Quarto,  Lac. 

Class  C,  six  blooms,  one  feather  and  one  flame  in  each  class :  1st, 
Mr.  C.  Turner,  *Lord  Raglan  (bizarre),  Queen  Charlotte  (bybloemen), 
*Chellaston  Beauty  (bybloemen),  *Aglaia  (rose),  *  Heroine  (rose), 
*J.  Sanderson  (bizarre)  ;  2nd,  Mr.  R.  J.  Lawrence,  David,  Duke  of 
Devonshire,  Triumph  Royal,  Queen  of  the  North,  Polyphemus,  Heroine; 
3rd,  R.  Headley,  Esq.,  Cambridge,  Phoenix,  David,  Friend,  Aglaia 
(flame),  Aglaia  (feather).  Royal  Sovereign  ;  4th,  Mr.  Bragg,  Slough, 
Madame  Vestris,  Aglaia,  Violet  Blondeau,  David,  Sphinx,  Shakspeare ; 
5th,  S.  M.  Sanders,  Esq.,  Royal  George,  Thomas  Brown,  Enchantress, 
Aglaia,  Platoff,  Bijou  des  Amateurs. 

Class  D,  three  feathered  roses  :  1st,  Mr.  Turner,  ^Heroine,  *Aglaia, 
Arlette  ;  2nd,  J.  Hunt,  Esq.,  Claudiana,  *Bion,  Heroine  ;  3rd,  Mr. 
Thorniley,  Manchester,  Celestial,  Rose  Imperial,  Comte  de  Vergennes. 


JUNE.  179 

Class  E,  three  flamed  roses,  1st,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Triumph  Royal, 
Aglaia,  Anastasia ;  2nd,  Mr.  R.  J.  Lawrence,  Madame  Vestris,  Lady 
Wildair,  Aglaia ;  3i'd,  Mr.  Treacher,  Wycombe,  Lannia,  Triumph 
Royal,  Bacchus. 

Class  P,  three  feathered  bybloemens  :  1st,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  *Duchess 
of  Cambridge,  Coupe  de  Hebe,  Victoria  Regina  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Hunt,  Lady 
Denman,  Helen,  Eliza ;  3rd,  J.  Brown,  Esq.,  Sydenham,  Eliza,  Mid- 
land Beauty,  Gem  (Abbott's). 

Class  G,  three  flamed  bybloemens  :  1st,  Mr.  J.  Hunt,  East  Hendred, 
Passe  Salvator  Rosa,  Incomparable,  Chellaston  Bybloemen ;  2nd,  Mr. 
R.  J.  Lawrence,  Beauty  of  the  Glen,  Don  Pedro,  Violet  Alexander ; 
8rd,  I\Ir.  C.  Turner,  Sarah  Anne,  Marshal  Pelissier,  David. 

Class  H,  three  feathered  bizarres  :  1st,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Eurydice, 
Dr.  Horner,  King  (Willison)  ;  2nd,  J.  Hunt,  Esq.,  Rembrandt,  Poly- 
phemus, Fabius ;  3rd,  Mr.  R.  J.  Lawrence,  Ulysses,  Fabius,  Vivid. 

Class  I,  three  flamed  bizarres :  1st,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  *Lord  Raglan, 
*Polyphemus,  Selim  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Bragg,  Polyphemus,  Shakspeare, 
Darius ;  3rd,  J.  Hunt,  Esq.,  Charbonnier,  Marcellus,  Pilot. 

Class  K,  six  rose  breeders  :  1st,  Mr.  Westbrook  ;  2nd,  R.  Headley, 
Esq. ;  3rd,  Mr.  C.  Turner. 

Class  L,  six  bybloemen  breeders  :  ■  1st,  Mr.  C.  Turner ;  2nd,  R. 
Headley,  Esq.  ;  3rd,  J.  Hunt,  Esq. 

Class  M,  six  bizarre  breeders :  1st,  R.  Headley,  Esq. ;  2nd,  Mr. 
Slater,  Manchester ;  3rd,  J.  Hunt,  Esq. 


GRAPES  FROM  EYES  THE  FIRST  SEASON. 
In  reference  to  what  Mr.  M'Ewen  states  on  this,  as  having  been 
practised  by  Mr.  Elphinston,  I  beg  to  say,  without  wishing  to  detract 
anything  from  the  party  in  question,  that  I  saw  it  done  for  several 
years  consecutively  at  Woodchester  Park,  in  Gloucestershire  (formerly 
a  residence  of  the 'Earls  of  Ducie),  by  my  friend  Mr.  Wm.  Pillans,  now 
gardener  at  Alnwick  Castle,  Northumberland.  This  is  now  more  than 
twenty  years  ago,  and  his  success  was  complete,  as  I  saw  him  cut 
bunches  of  Sweetwater  Grapes  l^lb.  by  this  method,  in  Septeniber. 
Mr.  Pillans,  who  was  then — as  now — one  of  the  most  enterprising 
gardeners  I  know,  was  likewise  a  great  hybridist,  in  Pelargoniums 
particularly,  which  the  late  Earl  Ducie  much  admired.  Had  he 
continued  his  experience  up  to  the  present  day,  he  would  have  had  a 
strain  of  Pelargoniums  second  to  none. 

Gloucester. 


LANDSCAPE  GARDENING,   No.   IV. 
It  has  been  our  aim,  in  the  course  of  articles  we  have  given  in  this 
periodical,  to  make  the  examples  illustrative  of  such  modes  of  treatment 
as  are  suitable  for  the  various  contingencies  and  requirements  which 
mark  different  cases.     However,  we  necessarily  deal  with  principles 

n2 


180  THE    FLORIST. 

rather  than  details,  as  the  former  apply  with  equal  force  to  every  case 
of  the  same  kind  or  class,  and  the  latter  are  seldom  suitable,  excepting 
to  the  special  case  for  which  they  are  designed.  It  has  been  our 
impression  that  such  treatment  of  the  subject  is  most  likely  to  be  prac- 
tically useful,  and  we  shall  from  time  to  time,  by  a  retrospective  article, 
bring  the  detached  articles  into  such  systematic  order  that  the  leading 
principles  exemplified  in  each  may  be  so  arranged  as  to  serve  as  an 
index,  and  aid  such  end  by  reference  ns  may  render  them  of  service. 

The  subject  we  have  taken  this  time  is  a  garden  to  a  villa  in  one  of 
the  southern  suburbs,  in  which  a  small  piece  of  very  irregular  shape 
was  submitted  to  us  to  be  arranged,  with  a  view  to  make  it  useful 
to  a  certain  extent,  as  well  as  ornamental.  The  useful  elements 
required  were  a  consistent  amount  of  fruit  garden,  and  a  moderate 
portion  of  ground  for  the  choicer  vegetables.  We  have  taken  itfoi-  tlie 
subject  of  this  paper,  as  it  affords  us  an  opportunity  to  give  prominence 
to  some  matters  of  economical  gardening. 

The  house  was  already  built  at  the  north-east  corner,  and  the  south 
end,  occupied  by  large  trees  which  the  proprietor  had  covenanted  not 
to  destroy.  The  wall  at  the  north  end  was  existing,  and  bounded  the 
property. 

The  portion  for  the  kitchen  garden  was  the  first  thing  to  decide 
upon.  It  was  not  expedient  to  place  it  under  the  shade  of  the  large 
trees,  neither  was  it  desirable  to  let  it  occupy  too  large  a  space  at  the 
north-west  corner,  where  the  direct  view  from  the  windows  would  have 
looked  on  to,  or  against  it.  We  made  it  our  object,  therefore,  to  pre- 
serve the  greatest  space  possible  of  lawn,  in  direct  line  from  both  the 
west  and  north  fronts,  and  bringii  gdown  the  broadest  part  of  the  fruit 
and  kitchen  garden  opposite  the  corner  of  the  house.  The  wall  at  the 
north  end  having  a  south  aspect  towards  the  garden,  it  was  determined 
should  be  devoted  to  the  choicer  wall  fruits,  with  an  intermixture  of 
ornamental  climbing  plants,  which  should  be  allowed  to  occupy  all  the 
space  which  the  fruit  trees  did  not  make  use  of  The  wall  thus  be- 
came an  appropriate  link  between  the  flower  garden  and  kitchen 
garden,  and  the  walk  after  leaving  the  terrace ;  passing  the  wall ; 
entering,  passing  through,  and  emerging  from  the  kitchen  garden,  and 
skirting  or  winding  through  the  thick  planting,  returned  to  the  terrace. 
The  terrace  is  excellent  in  its  effect  of  increasing  the  extent  of  the 
ground,  by  detaching  the  flower  garden  proper  from  the  open  lawn. 

The  site  for  the  conservatory  was  fixed  upon,  partly  on  account  of 
existing  wall,  and  partly  that  it  might  stand  in  the  confines  of  both 
kitchen  garden  and  lawn  ;  being  too  large  and  important  an  object  to 
conceal,  it  was  determined  that  it  should  be  ornamental. 

The  semicircular  outline  to  the  kitchen  garden  is  obviously  a  suitable 
arrangement,  where  it  is  desirable  to  conceal  all  semblance  of  formality 
on  the  outside. 

The  fruit  trees  on  the  borders  are  all  dwarfs  aad  pyramids,  to  be 
kept  within  compass  by  root-pruning,  the  only  mode  of  growing  them 
by  which  they  are  preserved  in  size  and  shape  fit  for  gardens  generally, 
and  especially  small  ones. 

The  kitchen  garden  is  bounded  on  the  lawn  side  by  a  hedo-e  of 


181 


182  THE    FLORIST. 

common  Arbor-vitfe,  clipped  on  the  inside  and  broken  on  the  outside  by 
masses  and  groups  of  various  kinds  of  shrubs.  We  would  specially 
call  attention  to  the  excellence  of  the  common  Arbor-vita?  as  a  material 
for  evergreen  fences,  being  cheap,  efficient,  and  ornamental. 

William  Davidson. 


CRYSTAL   PALACE   EXHIBITION. 

The  Crystal  Palace  Company  issued  a  schedule  of  prizes  that  was  well 
responded  to  on  the  24th  ult.,  as  on  that  day  an  excellent  display  of 
plants  and  fruits  was  brought  together,  and  was  inspected  by  a 
numerous  attendance  of  visitors.  The  arrangement  of  the  exhibition 
this  year  was  much  more  efficient  than  last,  and  on  the  present 
occasion  was  confined  to  the  transept  and  nave.  We  do  not  consider 
the  exliibition  so  extensive  as  last  year,  but  it  was  much  more  select, 
and  in  many  respects  better.  The  Messrs.  RoUisson  and  Sons  did  not 
compete,  and  the  absence  of  their  collections  of  course  detracted  from 
the  general  display. 

In  some  remarks  we  made  at  the  time  on  the  show  of  last  year,  in 
reference  to  the  suitability  of  exhibiting  plants  under  a  glass  roof,  we 
expressed  our  dissent  from  the  plan  as  one  ill  calculated  to  show  off 
plants  to  the  best  advantage,  owing  to  the  glare  of  light  falling  from  the 
roof  having  an  overpowering  effect  on  the  colour  of  the  flowers.  This 
season  a  canvas  screen  was  placed  over  the  stage  containing  the  plants, 
to  intercept  the  light  from  the  roof,  and  this  was  found  to  be  a  great 
improvement,  and,  so  far  as  preventing  the  vertical  light  from  reaching 
the  plants,  answered  the  purpose ;  but  in  a  building  all  glass,  and 
consequently  admitting  the  light  from  every  side,  it  is  very  difficult  to 
place  plants  in  a  position  where  their  colours  can  be  seen  to  the  best 
advantage :  add  to  this  the  many  objects  to  detract  attention,  all  of 
which  help  to  lessen  the  effect  of  the  plants  themselves,  and  render  them 
less  interesting. 

Notwithstanding  these  drawbacks,  however,  the  show  was  a  glorious 
one ;  the  collections  of  plants  presented  wonderful  instances  of  horticultural 
skill  and  energy.  Much  of  the  fruit,  too,  was  fine,  though  why  some 
exhibitors  will  persist  in  sending  green  Grapes  and  other  things  unfit 
for  exhibition  is  to  us  a  mystery.  Mr.  Davis,  of  Oak  Hill,  had  a  fine 
collection  of  Pine-apples  and  Grapes.  There  were  also  some  remarkably 
good  Melons ;  two,  under  the  name  of  Orion,  shown  by  Mr.  Boreham, 
were  both  fine,  and,  we  understood,  well  flavoured.  We  have  seen 
better  Strawberries,  but  then  Mr.  M'Evven  was  not  there.  Cherries 
were  very  good,  and  Nectarines  particularly  fine  for  the  season. 

We  hope,  supposing  the  Company  intend  holding  their  June  show 
in  the  building,  they  will  have  the  September  one  in  the  grounds  under 
tents.  In  wet  weather  the  building,  so  far  as  the  comfort  of  the  visitors 
is  concerned,  is  the  best  place  ;  and  as  the  weather,  even  in  June,  may 
be  uncertain,  it  might  not  be  safe  to  venture  out.     We  hope,  however, 


JUNE.  183 

that  if  the  season  is  at  all  favourable,  the  September  exhibition  will 
take  place  under  canvas  ;  and  it  will  be  much  more  enjoyable,  and 
will  leave  more  room  for  the  public  to  inspect  the  many  and  varied 
treasures  of  the  building  at  leisure. 

In  25  Stove  and  Greenhouse  Plants  grouped  for  effect,  Mes-srs. 
Veitch  and  Son  were  first  with  a  splendid  collection  of  ornamental 
plants  ;  Mr.  G.  Young,  of  Dulwich  Hill,  2n<i  ;  and  Mr.  James  Morris, 
gardener  to  Coles  Child,  Esq.,  3rd.  For  20  Stove  and  Greenhouse 
Plants,  Mr.  May,  gardener  to  H.  Colyer,  Esq.,  Dartford,  was  first  with 
a  collection  of  fine  plants,  among  them  being  the  veteran  gigantic 
Epacris  miniata  grandifiora,  a  fine  Eriostemon  nerifulium,  and  good 
plants  of  Pimelea  spectabilis,  Hedaroma  tulipiferum,  but  not  sufficiently 
in  bloom ;  Aphelexis  speciosissima,  and  Gompholobium  polymorphum  ; 
2nd,  Mr.  G.  ]5arter  ;  3rd,  Mr.  John  Green,  gardener  to  Sir  E.  Antrobus, 
Bart.,  in  whose  collection  were  good  })lants  of  Tetiatheca  ericifolia,  a 
very  pretty  greenhouse  plant,  with  a  profusion  of  bright  lilac  flowers, 
and  Franciscea  calycina ;  4th,  Mr.  Rhodes,  gardener  to  J.  Philpot,  Esq., 
Stamford  Hill.  For  12  Stove  and  Greenhouse  Plants  in  Flower,  Mr. 
Dods,  gardener  to  Sir  John  Cathcart,  Bart.,  Englefield  Green,  was 
deservedly  first  with  a  collection  of  superb  plants,  the  most  attractive 
being  fine  plants  of  Azalea  Gledstanesi,  Pimelea  spectabilis,  Epacris 
miniata  grandifiora,  and  Boronia  pinnata  :  this  exhibitor  seems 
determined  to  maintain  his  position  as  a  skilful  cultivator  ;  2nd,  Mr. 
Carson,  gardener  to  W.  F.  G.  Farmer,  Esq.,  among  whose  plants  were 
fine  specimens  of  Azalea  variegata,  Chorozema  Lawrenceanum,  and 
Aphelexis  macrantha  purpurea.  Mr.  Roser  also  exhibited  in  this 
class,  and  had  a  good  plant  of  the  charming  Boronia  Drummondi. 
Extra  prizes  in  this  class  were  awarded  to  Mr.  C.  Smith,  gardener  to 
A.  Anderson,  Esq.,  Norwood,  and  Mr.  Jas.  Morris,  gardener  to  Coles 
Child,  Esq.,  Bromley.  For  six  Stove  and  Greenhouse  Plants,  1st,  Mr. 
Cutbush,  Barnet ;  2nd,  Mr.  Taylor,  Streatham  ;  3rd,  Mr.  W.  Laybank, 
Norwood ;  4th,  Mr.  Williams,  gardener  to  Miss  Traill.  Extra  prizes 
were  also  awarded  to  Mr.  G.  Brush,  Norwood,  and  Mr.  Page,  Streatham. 
Four  other  collections  were  also  staged. 

Orchids  were  supplied  in  their  usual  profusion  and  beauty  ;  and, 
judging  from  the  eager  and  patient  attempts  of  many  to  get  a  glance  at 
them  over  the  shoulders  of  the  crowd  which  continually  surrounded 
them,  we  should  say  that  they  have  lost  none  of  their  interest.  A  very 
fine  collection  was  furnished  by  Messrs.  Veitch.  It  contained  Ca- 
lanthe  veratrifolia,  a  noble  plant;  Cattleya  Mossise,  covered  with  showy 
flowers  of  extraordinary  size  ;  C.  intermedia,  the  large  variety  of 
Oncidium  ampliatum,  Dendrobium  Farmeri,  the  purple  variety  of 
Aerides  odoratum,  a  handsome  variety  of  Saccolabium  Blumei,  two 
beautiful  plants  of  Phaltenopsis,  the  rich  orange  scarlet  Ltelia  cinna- 
barina,  the  rare  Cypripedium  villosum,  and  other  Lady's  Slippers  ; 
Vanda  suavis,  and  the  greatly  prized  Epidendrum  vitellinum.  An- 
other excellent  collection  came  from  Mr.  Gedney,  gardener  to  Mrs. 
Ellis.  In  this  we  observed  beautiful  examples  of  Oncidium  ampliatum. 
Cattleya  Mossite,  Saccolabium  guttatum,  Dendrobium  nobile,  D.  den- 
siflorum,  a   magnificent   plant,  beautifully   in  bloom;    the  Rhubarb 


184  THE    FLORIST. 

scented  D.  macrophyllum,  extremely  well-flowered  ;  Calanthe  veratri- 
folia,  with  many  spikes  of  snow-white  blossom  ;  Phalcenopsis  grandi- 
flora,  finely  bloomed  ;  Phaiiis  Wallichi  and  Lycaste  Skinneri,  both,  but 
more  esjfecially  the  latter,  literally  covered  with  flowers.  Mr.  Mylam, 
gardener  to  G.  Peed,  Esq.,  also  furnished  a  very  fine  group.  In  this 
was  the  stately  Phaius  Wallichi,  one  of  the  best  bloomed  plants  of 
Vanda  teres  that  has  perhaps  ever  been  shown  ;  the  sweet  smelling 
V.  suavis,  Epidendrum  alatum,  Dendrobium  densiflorum,  with  some 
twelve  bunches  of  yellow  flov/ers ;  D.  Earmeri,  the  rare  Cattleya  Aclan- 
dia?,  Barkeria  sjiectablis  (beautifully  bloomed),  Cattleya  Mossise,  nearly 
three  feet  high,  as  much  through,  and  covered  with  flowers ;  the 
charming  Saccolabium  preemorsum ;  Odontoglossum  hastilabium ; 
Lselia  purpurata,  a  comparatively  little  known  species  of  rare  beauty  ; 
and  Odontoglossum  citrosmum,  with  much  more  colour  in  it  than  is 
usually  found  in  flowers  of  this  plant.  Mr.  Woolley,  gardener  to  H.  R. 
Ker,  Esq.,  and  others,  also  showed  Orchids,  but  the  above  formed  what 
may  be  termed  the  cream  of  the  collections. 

For  12  Azaleas,  Mr.  Green,  gardener  to  Sir  E.  Antrobus,  Bart., 
was  first  with  superb  plants  loaded  with  flower,  the  foliage  of  many 
being  scarcely  visible ;  the  best  were  Perryana,  Gledstanesi,  Triumphans, 
Iveryana,  and  coronata.  Mr.  Gaines,  and,  we  believe,  others,  exhibited 
in  this  class,  but  we  could  not  get  near  the  plants.  For  six  Greenhouse 
Azaleas  (amateurs)  Mr.  Carson  was  first  with  Broughtoni,  sinensis, 
speciosissima,  rubra  pleno,  a  splendid  plant  of  lateritiu,  and  variegata, 
all  very  fine  well  flowered  plants ;  2nd,  Mr.  R.  Roser,  in  whose  collec- 
tion was  a  superb  plant  of  Optima  ;  3rd,  Mr.  R.  Grix  ;  4th,  Mr.  J.  May, 
gardener  to  H.  Colyer,  Esq.,  Dartford.  Extra  prizes  were  also  awarded 
to  Mr.  W.  Taylor,  Streatham  ;  Mr.  Brush,  Norwood ;  Mr.  H,  Smith, 
Roehampton  ;  and  Mr.  Jas.  Morris,  Bromley.  In  the  class  for  12 
Greenhouse  Azaleas  of  new  kinds,  Mr.  R.  Roser,  Streatham,  was 
first,  the  best  among  his  being  Marie,  brilliant  orange  scarlet ;  Formosa, 
Frotheniana,  a  fine  light  carmine  variety  ;  Magnifica,  a  fine  white 
variety ;  Juliana,  pale  orange  scarlet,  fine  ;  Formosa,  a  striped  white 
variety  ;  Glory  of  Sunning  Hill,  Delicata,  Admiration,  and  Constantia 
rosea.  2nd,  Mr.  Green ;  3rd,  Messrs.  Frazer ;  4th,  Mr.  Taylor. 
An  extra  prize  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Lane  and  Son.  None  of  these 
plants  were  large,  but  it  was  an  interesting  class.  For  10  Cape  Heaths, 
1st,  Mr.  Williams,  gardener  to  Miss  Traill ;  2nd,  Mr.  Roser  ;  3rd,  Mr. 
May,  Dartford  ;  4th,  Mr.  B.  Reed,  Norwood.  Messrs.  Frazer  also 
exhibited  in  this  class.  In  Mr.  Williams's  collection  were  good  plants 
of  Devoniana,  a  very  fine  variety ;  tortulaeflora,  ventricosa  coccinea 
minor,  and  mutabilis.  An  extra  prize  was  also  awarded  to  J.  Philpot, 
Esq.  For  six  Cape  Heaths,  1st,  Mr.  Taylor,  gardener  to  J.  Coster, 
Esq.,  Streatham  ;  2nd,  Mr.  W.  Cutbush,  Barnet ;  3rd,  Mr.  W.  Lay- 
bank,  gardener  to  J.  Maudsley,  Esq.,  Norwood ;  4th,  Mr.  Young, 
gardener  to  W.  Stone,  Esq.,  Dulwich.  An  extra  prize  was  also 
awarded  to  Mr.  G.  Barter,  gardener  to  A.  Bassett,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill. 
Three  other  collections  were  exhibited  in  this  class.  Two  collections  of 
six  Tall  Cacti  were  exhibited:  1st,  Mr.  Green  ;  2nd,  Mr.  R.  Grix, 
Cheam.     For  six  Rhododendrons,  1  st  prize  to  Messrs.  Lane  &  Son,  for 


JUNE.  185 

good  plants  of  aureum,  Sabinum,  decorum  majus,  primulum  elegans, 
sulphureum,  delicatum,  all  distinct  and  good  varieties  of  the  "  aureum  " 
section  ;  2nd,  I\Iessrs.  Standish  &  Noble  ;  3rd,  Mr.  Gaines. 

The  Roses  in  pots  were  an  especial  feature.  The  first  prize  for 
twelve  Roses  in  pots  was  awarded  to  Messrs.  Lane  and  Son,  for  some 
superb  plants,  the  best  being  H.  P.  Baronne  Prevost,  H.  P.  Leon  des 
Combats,  Noisette  Lamarque,  a  very  fine  H.  B.  Paul  Perras,  H.  P. 
Duchess  of  Sutherland,  with  more  than  fifty  fully-expanded  blooms  ;  a 
very  fine  Tea  Adam,  Comtesse  Mole,  Souvenir  d'un  Ami,  fine ;  Louis 
Peyronny,  and  Coupe  de  Hebe  ;  2nd,  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son,  in  whose 
collection  was  a  superb  plant  of  the  rich  yellow  Tea  China  Rose, 
Viscomtesse  de  Gazes  ;  also  fine  plants  of  Jules  Margottin,  Paul 
Perras,  Ghenedole,  Mad.  Laffay,  Geant  des  Batailles,  Blairi,  Belle 
Marie,  Coupe  de  Hebe,  Louis  Bounaparte,  Tea  Mansais,  and  Paul 
Ricaut;  3rd,  Mr.  Francis,  Hertford,  his  best  being  Ehse  Sauvage, 
Coupe  de  Hebe,  and  Noisette  Lamarque.  Mr.  Wilkinson,  of  Ealing, 
also  exhibited  twelve  small  plants  budded  on  Celina  Stocks,  among 
them  being  Tea  Madame  Willermoz,  a  very  fine  pale  creamy-blush 
variety. 

In  the  amateur  class  for  six  Roses  in  pots,  Mr.  Busby  was  first 
with  some  very  good  plants,  the  best  being  Chenedole,  Paul  Perras, 
Madeline,  Gen.  Jacqueminot,  Auguste  Mie,  and  William  Jesse  ;  2nd, 
Mr.  A.  Rowland,  Lewisham ;    3rd,  Mr.  W.  IMortimore,  Hornsey. 

The  first  prize  for  six  Calceolarias  in  pots  was  awarded  to  Mr. 
George  Lambert,  Oakwood,  near  Chichester,  for  very  fine  well-grown 
plants-;  2nd,  Mr.  John  Cole,  nurseryman,  St.  Albans,  with  six 
shrubby  varieties,  among  them  being  Grandis,  a  fine  variety  for  pot 
culture,  something  like  Ajax  in  colour,  but  not  so  tall  a  grower ;  3rd, 
Messrs.  Dobson  &  Sons,  with  compact  well-grown  plants.  Seven 
others  also  exhibited  in  this  class,  one  of  them  being  Mr.  John  Liley, 
gardener  to  G.  King,  Esq.,  Edenbridge,  whose  plants  were  of  inferior 
growth,  and  rendered  very  unsightly  by  a  mass  of  large  sticks. 

The  first  prize  for  six  Fuchsias  in  pots  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Bousie, 
gardener  to  the  Right  Hon.  Henry  Labouchere,  M.P.,  Stoke,  Bucks, 
for  some  of  the  finest  plants  we  have  ever  seen.  The  sorts  were. 
Queen  of  Hanover,  Autocrat,  Alpha,  Macbeth,  Glory,  and  Othello. 
These  were  grown  on  a  single  stem,  tall,  bushy  to  the  bottom,  and 
well  flowered ;  2nd,  Mr.  0.  Rhodes,  gardener  to  J.  Phillpot,  Esq., 
Stamford  Hill;  3rd,  Mr.  H.  Chilman,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Smith, 
Epsom.  Three  other  collections  were  staged,  Mr.  George's  plants  being 
large,  but  grown  too  freely,  and  Mr.  Lamy's  were  old  varieties  that 
should  now  be  discarded,  and  the  plants  were  not  well  bloomed. 

There  was  a  good  display  of  Pelargoniums.  For  twelve  Pelargo- 
niums, Mr.  Charles  Turner,  Slough,  was  first  with  some  superb  plants, 
well  grown  and  blooms  of  excellent  quality.  The  varieties  were.  Na- 
tional, Wonderful,  Una,  Sanspareil,  Basilisk,  Majestic,  Governor-Ge- 
neral, Arethusa,  Lucy,  Petruchio,  Carlos,  and  Magnificent ;  2nd, 
Messrs.  Dobson  &  Son,  with  Harriet,  Bouquet,  Arethusa,  Rosamond, 
Delicatum,  Ambassador,  Conqueror,  Gertrude,  Lucy,  Purpureum,  and 
Roseum,  the  colour  of  Governor- General,  but  not  so  good.     Messrs. 


186  THE    FLORIST. 

Frazer's  collection,  although  containing  many  of  these  varieties,  was 
deficient  in  clearness  and  brightness  of  colour,  so  apparent  in  the  first 
and  second  collections.  Mr.  Gaines  exhibited  a  collection,  consisting  of 
French  and  other  varieties,  some  of  them  quite  unknown  to  us,  and 
possibly  new,  but  we  did  wot  recognise  any  good  varieties  among  them. 
In  the  amateurs'  class  for  six  Pelargoniums,  I\Ir.  Nye,  gardener  to 
E.  Foster,  Esq.,  Clewer  Manor,  near  Wmdsor,  was  first  with  very  fine 
plants,  covered  with  flowers  of  good  quality  ;  2nd,  ]\Ir.  Wiggins,  gar- 
dener to  E.  Beck,  Esq.,  Isleworth.  Others  exhibited  in  this  class,  but 
we  were  unable  to  take  notes  of  them. 

For  twelve  Fancy  Pelargoniums  :  1st,  Mr.  Charles  Turner,  with 
Empress  of  France,  Electra,  Madame  Sontag,  Delicatum,  Celestial, 
Mary  Hovvitt,  Lady  Hume  Campbell,  a  superb  plant  of  Jenny  Lind, 
Queen  of  Roses,  Cloth  of  Silver,  Conspicuum,  and  Richard  Cobden. 
These  plants  exhibited  the  peculiar  qualities  characteristic  of  the  Slough 
collections ;  2nd,  Messrs.  J.  and  I.  Frazer,  with  Advancer,  Delicatum, 
Madame  Sontag,  Princess  Alice  Maude,  Formosissimum,  Princess  Marie 
Galitzin,  Miss  Sheppard,  Jenny  Lind,  Argus,  Floribunda,  Celestial,  and 
Gaiety;  3rd,  Messrs.  Cutbush  &  Son,  Highgate ;  4th,  Messrs.  Dob- 
son  &  Son. 

For  six  Fancy  Pelargoniums  ;  1st,  Mr.  Winsor,  gardener  at  Kidde- 
pore  Hall,  Hampstead,  with  Magnifica,  Duchesse  d'Aumale,  Fairy 
Queen,  Berrier,  Electra,  and  Princess  Alice  Maude,  all  fine  plants  and 
well  flowered.  Mr.  Bousie  was  a  good  second,  with  Delicatum,  Per- 
fection, Princess  Marie  Galitzin,  with  a  superb  head  of  fine  bloom  ; 
Triumphant,  a  well-flowered  plant  of  Formosissimum,  and  Richard 
Cobden.  Mr.  Weir,  of  Hampstead,  had  six  well-grown  plants,  but 
not  sufficiently  in  bloom,  excepting  Jenny  Lind,  which  was  a  very  fine 
plant,  and  there  was  not  sufficient  variety  in  this  collection.  ]\Ir.  Car- 
rigan's  collection  had  evidently  been  grown  too  freely,  and  was  in  con- 
sequence very  deficient  of  bloom.  Mr.  Joseph  Monk,  Cranbrook  Park, 
Ilford,  sent  six  wretched-looking  plants  that  would  not  have  found  a 
ready  purchaser  in  Covent-garden  market.  IMr.  Lambert's  were 
nicely  grown  plants,  but  not  sufficiently  in  bloom.  There  were  also 
four  other  exhibitors  in  this  class. 

In  the  classes  for  newly  introduced  plants  were  exhibited  Begonia 
splendida,  with  large  crimson  leaves,  and  the  Hedaroma  tulipiferum,  to 
which  a  second  prize  was  awarded  ;  both  plants  came  from  Mr.  Epps, 
nurseryman,  Maidstone.  The  judges,  however,  seem  to  have  made  a 
mistake  in  awarding  a  prize  to  the  Hedaroma,  as  the  schedule  states 
that  "  no  plant  will  be  considered  new  that  has  been  shown  at  the 
metropolitan  exhibitions  in  a  previous  season,"  while  examples  of 
Hedaroma  tulipifera  have  been  frequently  exhibited.  Mr.  Miellez,  of 
Lille,  sent  a  new  Gesneraceous  plant,  of  no  great  beauty,  with  pale 
Gesnera-like  flowers ;  and  Messrs.  Standish  &  Noble  sent  Azalea 
amoena  floribunda  and  A.  amcena  grandiflora.  Messrs.  A.  Paul  & 
Son  had  a  new  Bourbon  Rose,  Bacchus,  of  good  form,  colour  pale  rose. 
From  Messrs.  Veitch  &  Son  came  the  beautiful  Ouvirandra  fenestralis, 
or  Lattice  Plant,  and  a  plant  of  the  Sundew  (Drosera  dichotoma),  two 
of  the  most  interesting   plants  in  the  exhibition.     The  same  firm  also 


JUNE.  187 

exhibited  the  beautiful  Embothrium  coccineum,  a  hardy  shrub,  with  a 
profusion  of  bright  scarlet  flowers :  this  will  be  a  valuable  addition  to 
our  hardy  shrubs  ;  Philopodendron  species,  a  New  Zealand  shrub,  of 
no  beauty,  and  only  to  be  valued  as  a  botanical  curiosity  ;  a  beautiful 
dwarf  growing  Fern,  Gleichenia  microphylla,  Rhododendron  cinna- 
barinum,  Brodisea  species,  a  new  hardy  bulb  from  Calilbrnia  ;  Ceanothus 
origanus,  a  new  hardy  dwarf  growing  shrub,  with  a  profusion  of  white 
flowers  ;  Corrtea  cardinalis,  with  very  bright  scarlet  flowers  ;  and  a  new 
Tropaeolum  Schumannianum,  of  a  pale  yellow  colour,  with  dark  blotches 
in  the  upper  petals,  and  partaking  of  the  habit  of  the  garden  Nasturtium. 
The  first  prize  for  six  Nepenthes  was  awarded  to  Messrs  Veitch  &  Son, 
among  them  being  very  fine  plants  of  N.  Isevis  and  N.  phyllamophora. 
A  great  many  subjects  were  shown  in  the  Miscellaneous  Class. 
From  the  conservatory  at  Trentham  were  cut  flowers  of  Cantua 
dependens,  of  a  bright  rosy  carmine  colour,  and  handsome  ;  a  box  of 
cut  Rhododendrons  from  Mr.  A.  Ingram,  gardener  to  J.  J.  Blandy, 
Esq.,  Reading,  among  which  were  ignescens,  a  very  fine  rich  scarlet 
variety  ;  Ca]itivation,  pale  rose  ;  and  Blandyanum,  deep  rose,  also  very 
fine.  Mr.  Bragg  had  a  collection  of  Pansy  blooms  ;  and  Mr.  R.  Roser, 
of  Streatham,  sent  a  handsome  brace  of  the  Himalaya  Cucumber,  a  fine 
smooth  Black  Spine  variety.  Mr.  H.  White,  of  Chelmsford,  exhibited 
a  brace  of  the  Essex  Rival  Cucumber,  both  of  which  were  nearly  two 
feet  long,  handsome,  but  a  little  ribbed  :  black  spined  ;  both  of  these 
varieties  carried  the  flowers  at  the  points.  Mr.  Cole,  of  St.  Alban's, 
sent  a  collection  of  12  shrubby  Calceolarias,  but  we  did  not  observe 
any  of  them  to  be  decided  acquisitions  as  bedding-out  plants ;  and  Mr. 
Dennis,  of  Chelsea,  sent  12  plants  of  his  Geranium  Alma,  a  good  bright 
coloured  market  variety.  Mr.  Hamp  had  a  collection  of  Amaryllis ; 
Mr.  Taylor,  Streatham,  a  collection  of  compact  well-grown  Aphelexis  ; 
Mr.  Dall,  gardener  to  tiames  Renny,  Esq.,  Pimllco,  exhibited  six  good 
Gloxinias,  among  them  being  fine  plants  of  Haacke,  shaded  purple ; 
Stellata,  white,  with  carmine  throat,  fine  ;  and  Castilloni,  pale  rose,  with 
bright  carmine  throat.  These  are  fine  varieties  of  the  erecta  section, 
the  upright  growing  Gloxinias,  and  are  much  superior  to  the  other 
varieties  for  exhibition  purposes.  Mr.  G.  Young,  gardener  to  W.  Stone, 
Esq.,  Dulwich,  also  sent  12  Gloxinias,  the  best  sorts  being  Imperial,  a 
fine  light  coloured  variety  ;  Carminata  splendens,  Duke  of  Wellington, 
Maria  Van  Houtte,  and  Victoria  Regina.  Mr.  Forsyth,  gardener  to 
Baron  Rothschild,  contributed  a  collection  of  seedling  Calceolarias,  fine 
varieties,  but  small  plants  ;  and  Mr.  Lavey,  gardener  to  E.  A.  De  Gram, 
Esq.,  of  Fitcham,  a  collection  of  Petunias  and  other  plants,  and  a  collec- 
tion of  24  Ferns.  Mr.  C.  Turner  sent  12  fine  plants  of  Cinerarias, 
consisting  of  Emperor  of  the  French,  Admiral  Dundas,  Purple  Standard, 
Viola,  Orlando,  Etoile  du  Vaise,  Duchess  of  Wellington,  a  fine  formed 
variety  ;  Sir  C.  Napier,  Lady  Paxtori,  Magnum  Bonum,  Bousie's  Optima, 
and  Brilliant,  an  extra  fine  light  blue  edged  variety ;  Mr.  Wiggins, 
gardener  to  E.  Beck,  Esq.,  Isleworth,  also  sent  12  Cinerarias,  among 
them  being  Excelsior,  a  good  variety,  and  an  improvement  on  Scottish 
Chieftain.  A  collection  of  good  seedling  Calceolarias  came  from  Messrs. 
Smith,  Dulwich.    Miscellaneous  plants  from  Mr.  Dunsford,  Chingford ; 


188  THE     FLORIST. 

seedling  Heaths,  triumphans  rosea  and  andromedseflora  rosea,  from 
Messrs.  Jackson  &  Sons  ;  and  four  fine  Azaleas  from  Messrs.  Ivery  & 
Son,  of  Dorking :  these  were  Beauty  of  Reigate,  a  handsome  striped 
white  variety,  of  Lateritia  habit ;  Iveryana,  .also  a  handsome  striped 
variety ;  Criterion,  and  Rosea  superba.  Messrs.  Ivery  also  exhibited  a 
collection  of  Azaleas,  among  which  we  particularly  noticed  Criterion, 
Trotteriana,  bright  rosy  carmine,  and  a  free  bloomer  ;  Lord  llaglan,  pale 
salmon  pink,  large,  but  deficient  in  form  andsubstance  ;  General  Williams, 
a  fine  variety,  pale  orange  scarlet,  of  good  form  ;  and  the  beautiful  Crispi- 
flora.  From  this  firm  also  came  cut  fiowers  of  Rhododendron  ponticum 
coccineum,  very  deep  rich  scarlet,  fine  truss,  one  of  the  parents  evidently 
being  arborea.  Messrs.  Dobson  &  Son  staged  12  Pansies  in  pots,  the 
sorts  being  Queen  Victoria,  Omar  Pacha,  Father  Gavazzi,  Mary  Taylor, 
Marian,  Emperor,  Aurora,  Satisfaction,  Nonpareil,  Great  Western, 
Constance,  and  Topaz.  Some  of  these  subjects  received  awards,  but 
owing  to  the  difficulty  of  getting  a  full  report,  the  company  being  so 
numerous,  we  are  unable  to  give  them  further. 

Fruit. — Only  one  collection  was  sent,  by  Mr.  Fleming,  of  Trentham. 
It  contained  a  well  coloured  and  swelled  Moscow  Queen  Pine,  very  fine 
Black  Hamburgh  Grapes,  some  beautifully  ripened  Nectarines,  good 
Bi'itish  Queen  Strawberries,  two  nice  Melons,  two  dishes  of  Plums  (well 
ripened),  and  fine  May  Duke  Cherries. 

In  letter  B,  collections  of  Pine-apples,  Mr.  Davis  exhibited  a  fine 
collection,  which  obtained  the  first  prize,  containing  Providence,  Black 
Jamaicas,  one  Blood  Pine,  Enville,  and  several  Queens — in  all,  thirteen. 
The  next  prize  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Nichol,  Oxton  Park,  Devon,  for  an 
Enville  Providence  and  Cayenne.  Mr.  Hobinson,  of  Hedson,  also 
exhibited  three  fine  Providence  Pines  in  this  class,  but  being  all  the 
same  variety, -the  judges  could  only  award  them  an  extra  prize  of  the 
first  class.  For  single  specimens  of  Providence,  Mr.  Davis  was  first 
with  a  well  swelled  fruit  ;  Mr.  Robinson,  second  ;  and  Mr.  Bailey, 
Shardelowes,  third :  these  were  all  well  swelled  fruit  for  the  season. 
For  single  fruit  of  the  Queen,  Mr.  Turnbull,  of  Blenheim,  was  first 
with  a  well  swelled  fi-uit ;  Mr.  Davis,  second  ;  Mr.  Jones,  Dovvlais, 
South  Wales,  third,  with  a  fine  fruit  rather  past  its  best  ;  and  Mr. 
Peed,  of  Norwood,  fourth.  In  Jamaicas,  Mr.  Davis,  of  Oak  Hill,  was 
first,  with  a  well-grown  Jamaica ;  Mr.  Jones,  second,  with  the  same  ; 
Mr.  Taylor,  Streatham,  third,  with  a  smooth  Cayenne,  a  nice  fruit ; 
Mr.  Turnbull,  fourth,  with  a  prickly  Cayenne,  over-ripe. 

For  collections  of  three  dishes  of  Grapes,  Mr.  Turnbull,  gardener  to 
the  Duke  of  Marlborough,  Blenheim,  was  awarded  the  first  prize.  His 
collection  contained  very  fine  Muscats,  very  good  St.  Peter's,  and  well- 
ripened  Black  Hamburgh  ;  the  second  prize  was  given  to  Mr.  Monroe, 
gardener  to  Mrs.  Oddie,  Colney  Hatch,  for  Grizzly  Frontignan,  Black 
Hamburgh,  and  Sweetwater ;  a  third  prize  was  also  given  to  I\Ir.  Tegg, 
Roehampton.  Single  dishes  of  Black  Hamburgh  :  A  large  number  of 
dishes  was  exhibited.  The  best  were  sent  by  Mr.  Davis,  of  Oak  Hill, 
and  were  fine  specimens  of  gocd  cultivation;  the  second  })rize  fell  to 
Mr.  Clarke,  of  Hoddesdon,  for  fruit  not  much  inferior  to  the  above  ;  the 
3rd,  to  Mr.  E.  Bundle,  Streatham ;  fourth,  to  Mr.  Spary,  Brighton — 


these  latter  were  rather  small,  but  were  intensely  black  and  well- 
ripened.  For  single  dishes  of  Frontignans,  &c.,  the  first  prize  was 
gained  by  Mr.  Henderson,  of  Coleorton,  with  the  Grizzly ;  the  second 
prize  was  given  to  Mr.  Reid,  gardener  to  J.  Hunt,  Esq.,  Sydenham, 
for  Chasselas  Musque.  For  single  dishes  of  Muscats,  Mr.  TurnbuU's 
were  the  dishes  selected  for  the  first  prize  ;  these  were  good  both  in 
bunch  and  berry,  and  tolerably  ripe :  some  others  exhibited  were  not 
considered  ripe  enough  for  exhibition.  In  class  J,  Sweetwaters,  &c., 
Mr.  Davis  was  first  with  some  beautifully  ripened  Sweetwaters  ;  Mr. 
Jackson,  Lambeth,  was  second  for  a  dish  but  littie  behind  the  first ; 
]\Ir.  f  mith,  gardener  to  —  Ricardo,  Esq.,  third ;  and  Mr.  Williams, 
Hoddesdon,  fjurth,  for  fine  and  well-ripened  Muscadines. 

For  single  dishes  of  Peaches,  Mr.  Gardner,  gardener  to  Sir  George 
Phillips,  had  some  well-ripened  Royal  George,  which  were  placed  first; 
Mr.  Fleming  was  second  with  Royal  George  ;  Mr.  Evans,  gardener  to 
C.  D.  Newdegate,  Esq.,  M.P.,  Arbury,  Warwickshire,  for  Violette 
Hative ;  and  Mr.  Hill,  fourth,  with   Hoyal  George. 

Nectarines  were  very  good.  Mr.  Fleming  was  first  with  a  dish  of 
large  well-coloured  Violette  Hative  ;  Mr.  Hill,  second,  with  the  same ; 
Mr.  Evans,  gardener  to  C.  D.  Newdegate,  Esq.,  M.P.,  was  third. 

The  prize  for  the  heaviest  Melon  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Boreham,  for 
Orion,  weighing  5  lbs.  In  the  next  class  (Green-flesh),  Mr.  Boreham 
was  also  first  for  the  same  variety  ;  the  second  prize  was  given  to  Mr. 
Nichol,  gardener  at  Oxon  House,  Devon,  for  a  small  but  highly- 
flavoured  Melon  called  Marnal  Patamn ;  the  same  grower  had  also  a 
fine  Bromham  Hall.  Of  scarlet-fleshed  Melons,  the  only  one  was  from 
Mr.  Ewing,  Bodorgan,  a  fine-flavoured  variety  and  handsome  fruit. 

For  single  dishes  of  Figs,  equal  first  prizes  were  given  to  Mr. 
Richards,  Grinston,  York,  and  Mr.  Busby,  Stockwood  ;  the  second  to 
Mr.  Tegg ;  and  fourth  to  Mr.  Bain,  gardener  to  —  Perkins,  Esq. 

Collections  of  Cherries — three  dishes  :  Mr.  Fleming,  first,  with 
Elton,  Black  Eagle,  and  May  Duke — all  excellent  fruit ;  second,  Mr. 
Evans,  Arbury,  with  Early  Purple  Griotte,  Circassian,  and  Duke.  Single 
dishes  :  1st,  Mr.  Shute,  gardener  to  Lord  Wilton,  Heaton,  for  May 
Duke  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Evans ;  3rd,  Mr.  Monroe ;    Extra,  Mr.  Fleming. 

Plums  :   Mr.  Fleming  for  Early  Prolific,  a  dark  purple  fruit. 

Strawberries — three  dishes  :  1st,  Mr.  Ewing,  Bodorgan,  for  good 
Queens,  Bicton  White  (a  dirty  looking  fruit),  and  Keens'  Seedling  ; 
2nd,  Mr.  Turnbull.  Single  dishes:  1st,  Mr.  Dunsford,  for  fine  Queens; 
2nd,  Mr.  Gillham,  for  very  good  Keens  ;  3rd,  Mr.  Ingram,  gardener 
to  —  Blandy,  Esq.,  Reading,  for  exceedingly  well-grown  Alice  Maudes. 

Mr  Forsyth,  of  Gunnersbury  Park,  exhibited  four  pot  Vines  (Black 
Hamburghs),  in  fruit.  We  counted  twenty-one  bunches  of  nicely  grown 
and  coloured  fruit  on  the  four  Vines. 

Miscellaneous  class  :  1st,  Mr.  Davis,  for  a  basket  of  his  fine  Black 
Hamburgh  Grapes  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Spary,  for  a  nearly  similar  basket— the 
fruit  smaller,  but  very  highly  coloured  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Allport,  for  Black 
Frontignan  Grapes.  Mr.  Hill,  for  Black  Prince  (fine) ;  Mr.  Williams, 
Hoddesdon,  for  Citrons  ;  Mr.  Clarke,  for  ditto,  new  variety  ;  Mr.  Till- 
yard,  Heckfield,  for  some  exceedingly  well  preserved  Pears,  were  like- 
wise awarded  prizes  in  this  class,  in  the  order  we  place  them. 


190  THE    FLORIST. 

The  exhibition  altogether  was  most  successful,  and  Mr.  Eyles  and  hi  s 
staff  of  assistants  were  unremitting  in  their  exertions  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  exhibitors. 


CALENDAR  OF  OPERATIONS  FOR  JUNE. 

Auriculas. — By  no  means  allow  these  plants  to  become  saturated 
with  too  much  rain.  Follow  generally  the  treatment  recommended 
last  month. 

Azaleas. — Any  young  plants  of  new  kinds,  which  it  may  be  desirable 
to  increase  in  size,  should  be  shifted  into  larger  pots  and  should  be  kept 
in  the  closest  part  of  the  house,  and  should  be  shaded  in  very  bright 
weather  and  syringed  daily.     See  previous  Calendars. 

Camellias. — Many  of  the  early  flowering  kinds  will  now  show  their 
bloom  buds.  If  wanted  to  flower  early  they  must  still  be  kept  warm, 
but  the  atmosphere  must  be  kept  drier ;  discontinue  syringing,  for  if 
kept  too  moist  it  will  induce  a  second  growth,  which  generally  spoils  the 
bloom.  Prepare  some  strong  turfy  loam  and  peat  for  potting  them 
next  month. 

Carnations  and  Picotees. — The  staking  of  these  having  been  by 
this  time  completed,  keep  the  plants  clean  of  all  dead  foliage,  as  well  as 
aphides.  Remove  the  surface  of  the  soil,  should  it  become  sour,  and 
top-dress  both  pots  and  beds  with  good  rich  soil.  It  will  be  of  ad- 
vantage to  turn  the  pots  round  occasionally.  The  pots  must  not  be 
stood  on  the  ground,  but  be  kept  well  drained  by  being  placed  on  strips 
of  slate  or  wood. 

Cold  Frames. — Though  the  plants  which  have  occupied  these  during 
the  winter  and  spring  will  now  be  all  planted  out,  they  should  not  be 
empty  one  single  day.  They  can  be  turned  to  a  variety  of  purposes  ; 
either  to  grow  tender  annuals,  or  Melons  and  Cucumbers,  or  soft- 
wooded  greenhouse  plants. 

Conservatory  and  SJww-house. — Pelargoniums,  Calceolarias,  Fuchsias, 
Roses,  &c.,  wfll  assist  in  keeping  up  a  good  display  of  flowers.  Observe 
the  most  scrupulous  order  and  cleanliness.  Give  plenty  of  air,  and  in 
fine  weather  leave  the  lights  open  all  night.  Attend  to  the  tying  and 
regulating  of  tlie  creepers.  All  planted-out  specimens  in  a  growing 
state  should  have  liberal  supplies  of  water,  and  occasionally  a  good  dose 
of  liquid  manure. 

Cucumbers. — Keep  up  a  regular  bottom  heat ;  do  not  let  the  shoots 
get  crowded.     Attend  to  directions  in  former  Calendars. 

Dahlias. — These  having  been  grown  into  good  plants  as  previously 
recommended,  should  now  be  planted  out,  choosing  a  fine  day  when 
the  soil  is  tolerably  dry.  Use  a  little  fine  rich  soil  for  planting  them 
in,  after  turning  in  a  few  spits  of  rotten  manure  underneath  the  spot 
marked  out  for  planting  them  out.  The  distance  from  each  plant 
should  be  from  four  to  five  feet,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  soil.  If 
it  be  rich  and  deep,  the  Dahlia  grows  to  a  much  larger  size  than  it 
does  in  a  poor  or  very  stiff  soil.    Stake  them  securely  as  they  are  planted. 


JUNE.  191 

Flower  Garden. — In  dry  weather  water  all  newly-planted  flowers  : 
this  should  be  done  towards  night  and  effectively,  rather  than  too  often. 
Arrange  and  fix  with  pegs  in  the  proper  places,  the  shoots  of  Verbenas, 
Petunias,  &c.  Attend  to  stirring  of  the  soil  amongst  Pelargoniums, 
Calceolarias,  &c.  Plant  annuals  and  sow  for  autumn  bloom.  Stake 
perennial  and  other  tall-growing  plants  as  they  advance  in  growth. 

Fruit  {Hardy). — Thin  and  nail  in  the  shoots  of  Peaches  and  Nec- 
tarines, leaving  as  little  wood  to  be  removed  at  the  winter  pruning  as 
possible  ;  thin  the  fruit  to  about  one  foot  apart  in  a  general  way  ;  but 
on  strong  vigorous  growing  trees  they  may  be  left  much  thicker,  whilst 
on  weak  growing  trees  they  should  be  left  much  farther  apart.  By  this 
means  the  weak  growing  trees  will  have  a  chance  to  make  stronger 
woods,  and  the  luxuriance  of  the  more  vigorous  growing  trees  will  be 
checked.  Thin  the  fruit  of  Apricots,  and  stop  and  thin  shoots.  Net 
Cherries  from  birds.  If  any  caterpillars  appear  on  the  Gooseberry 
bushes,  dust  them  with  white  hellebore  immediately ;  this  will  effectually 
stop  them.  Thin  the  shoots  of  Figs,  and  do  not  on  any  account  either 
stop  or  lay  in  the  shoots  that  are  left.  Secure  the  young  shoots  of 
grafts. 

Greenhouse  {hard-wooded). — After  the  middle  of  the  month  all  the 
large  specimens  of  the  stronger  growing  and  more  hardy  plants,  such  as 
Acacias,  &c.,  should  be  placed  out  of  doors  in  rather  a  sheltered,  shaded 
situation.  All  the  tenderer  and  more  delicate  kinds  should  remain  in 
the  house.  The  young  stock  ought  to  have  the  protection  of  a  cold 
frame,  or  pit ;  they  should  have  plenty  of  air,  and  should  be  slightly 
shaded  in  very  bright  weather  ;  water  in  the  afternoons.  Shift  any 
plants  that  require  it.  Soft-vooded  Plants. — These  must  not  be 
allowed  to  suffer  for  want  of  water ;  they  will  now  be  commencing 
flowering,  and  should  have  more  air. 

Hollyhocks. — Stake  and  securely  tie  the  spikes  as  they  start  for 
bloom.  If  dry  weather  sets  in,  keep  them  well  watered  after  mulching, 
i.e.,  placing  some  half  rotten  manure  round  each  plant. 

KitchenGarden. — Thin  all  crops  that  require  it,  and  hoe  deeply 
among  them,  leaving  the  soil  light  and  porous.  Sow  Peas  for  late 
crops ;  sow  Lettuces,  Radishes,  and  Spinach  for  succession  ;  sow  French 
Beans  and  Scarlet  Runners  ;  sow  Endive,  Turnips,  and  Coleworts. 
Plant  out  Celery  in  well  prepared  trenches ;  plant  Leeks  ;  plant  out 
Broccoli  of  sorts,  Brussels  Sprouts,  Savoys,  &c.  If  ground  be  limited, 
Brussels  Sprouts  and  Borecoles  may  be  planted  between  the  rows  of 
early  Ash-leaved  Kidney  Potatoes,  and  the  sooner  they  are  planted  the 
better.     Plant   Cauliflowers  and  Lettuces  for  succession. 

Melons. — Keep  up  a  regular  bottom -heat  to  late  crops  by  renewing 
the  linings  Do  not  let  the  foliage  get  too  crowded,  and  let  the  fruit  have 
the  sun.  Water  late  crops,  but  those  with  fruit  approaching  maturity 
should  not  have  any. 

Orchard  House. — Go  frequently  over  the  trees  to  thin  and  stop  the 
shoots ;  do  not  on  any  account  retain  too  much,  it  is  a  very  frequent 
and  a  very  great  mistake  to  do  so.  Thin  finally  alMhe  fruit ;  and  here 
also  I  would  caution  not  letting  too  many  fruit  remain  on  the  trees.  Give 
air  freely,  and  water  Uberally  with  liquid  manure.  Syringe  daily,  to 
keep  down  red  spider. 


192  THE    FLORIST. 

Peach-forcing. — Keep  a  drier  atmosphere  and  give  more  air  in  the 
early  houses,  but  in  the  late  ones  maintain  a  moist  warm  atmosphere. 
Water  inside  borders  liberally  ;  give  air  early  and  abundantly  in  the 
forenoon ;  shut  up  early  in  the  afternoon,  syringing  the  trees  well  at  the 
same  time,  and  well  wetting  the  paths,  borders,  &c.  Keep  down 
insects. 

Pansies. — Propagating  should  now  have  especial  attention.  Healthy 
cuttings  strike  readily  in  a  shady  border.  Procure  seed  as  often  as  it 
can  be  gathered  in  a  ripe  state. 

Pelargoniums. — Here  will  be  much  to  do  as  regards  seedlings  and 
new  varieties,  in  comparison  with  the  old.  Careful  shading  and  water- 
ing will  prolong  the  bloom,  but  in  other  respects  there  is  not  much  to 
be  done  before  the  general  cutting  down. 

Pinery. — Give  the  plants  regular  supplies  of  water  ;  fruiters  may 
have  liquid  manure  every  other  time,  and  the  young  plants  occasionally. 
Syringe  every  afternoon,  excepting  any  in  bloom.  The  young  plants 
will  now  be  growing  freely  ;  those  not  shifted  last  month  should  now 
have  larger  pots  ;  the  roots  should  never  become  very  matted  before 
they  are  shifted.  When  potted  they  should  be  kept  rather  close,  and 
slightly  shaded  for  a  few  days ;  afterwards,  they  should  have  all  the  light 
and  air  possible. 

Pinks. — This  month  is  the  month  for  Pinks.  Both  blooming  and 
propagating  must  have  good  attention,  and  both  is  perfectly  easy  if  set 
about  in  a  proper  manner,  and  at  the  proper  time. 

Pleasure  Grounds. — Attend  to  the  regular  routine. 

Stove. — Guard  against  thrips  and  red  spider,  which,  if  not  well 
watched,  will  soon  increase  on  many  stove  plants.  Do  not  stint  any 
for  pot  room,  and  do  not  on  any  account  let  any  of  the  plants  stand  too 
close  together.  Syringe  plants  not  in  flower  and  keep  everything 
perfectly  clean. 

Roses. — The  check  vegetation  has  received  during  the  last  month  has 
been  so  favourable  for  the  increase  of  the  aphides  and  Rose  maggots, 
that  more  than  ordinary  vigilance  must  be  exercised  to  keep  them  in 
check.  So  soon  as  the  blossom  buds  are  formed,  liquid  manure  will  be 
found  very  advantageous  in  increasing  the  size  of  the  blossom. 

Strawberries. — In  order  to  have  good  plants  for  early  forcing  next 
season,  runners  should  be  layered  in  small-sized  pots  as  soon  as 
possible  ;  one,  or  at  most  two  in  a  pot,  is  quite  sufficient. 

Tulips. — Collections  growing  in  some  localities  will  be  ready  for 
lifting  by  the  latter  part  of  this  month.  The  bloom  has  been  short- 
lived when  not  protected  from  an  early  time.  Many  beds  have  been 
failures  this  season,  others  have  been  altogether  fine.  We  shall  review 
the  bloom  in  our  next.  For  the  present  we  recommend  the  perusal  of 
the  meeting  of  the  Royal  National  Tulip  Society,  given  in  the  present 
number. 

Vinery. — After  the  fruit  is  gathered  from  the  first  houses,  the 
greatest  care  must  be  taken  to  keep  the  foliage  in  as  green  and 
healthy  a  state  as  possible.  Keep  the  house  containing  ripe  fruit  dry, 
and  give  abundance  of  air.  Grapes  that  are  colouring  should  have 
plenty  of  air  ;  attend  to  later  houses,  and  keep  fire  heat  while  in 
bloom. 


AnirtMsDiIJp  Si'lincc. 


Ei-odfldfiaSxciL  Eookeri 


Ihnted-hC.Chaict 


193 


RHODODENDRON  HOOKERL 

(Plate  115.) 

TniS  fine  Rhododendron  is  one  of  a  number  of  remarkable  species 
discovered  in  Assam  and  Bhotan  by  Thos.  J,  Booth,  iisq.,  and 
introduced  by  him  to  English  gardens.  The  one  we  now  figure 
has  bloomed  this  present  spring  with  Mr.  Fairie,  of  Liverpool. 
Messrs.  E.  G.  Henderson,  of  Wellington  Road — an  enterprising 
firm — have  purchased  the  entire  stock  of  these  Rhododendrons 
from  Mr.  Booth,  which  includes  twelve  species,  and  which  will,  we 
doubt  not,  prove  equal,  if  they  do  not  surpass,  the  splendid  species 
of  the  same  tribe,  introduced  from  Sikkim  by  Dr.  Hooker,  some 
of  which,  including  R.  Edgworthi  and  Dalhousise,  have  already 
flowered  in  this  country.  We  are  told  respecting  the  present 
group,  that  amongst  these  brilliant  discoveries  from  the  Bhotan 
Alps  are  the  most  wonderful  sized  flowers,  delicious  fragrance, 
and  distinct  colours  of  any  that  are  known  to  exist  in  this  gorgeous 
tribe  of  plants.  We  are  therefore  the  no  less  indebted  to  Mr. 
Booth  than  to  Dr.  Joseph  Hooker,  for  having  enriched  our 
gardens  with  these  magnificent  natives  of  the  Indian  Alps. 

Considering  the  many  grand  plants  which  yet  remain  in  Bhotan, 
Nepal,  Cashmere,  and  adjoining  districts,  we  are  surprised  that 
none  of  our  enterprising  nurserymen  have  thought  it  worth  their 
while  to  send  a  collector  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  the  many 
treasures  yet  unknown  beyond  their  native  haunts.  Those  of  our 
readers  who  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  have  seen  the  splendid 
work  on  the  plants  of  Nepal  and  Cashmere,  edited  by  Dr.  Hooker, 
from  drawings  made  on  the  spot  by  Lieut.  Cathcart,  will  be  able 
to  form  some  idea  of  the  magnificent  plants  yet  to  be  introduced, 
and  whose  value  will  be  additionally  enhanced  by  the  fact  that 
they  may  be  expected  to  prove  hardy.  It  is  not  more  than  20 
years  ago  when  nothing  but  K.ponticum,catawbiense,and  maximum 
worth  naming,  were  cultivated  in  this  country ;  and  these,  though 
very  valuable  introductions  at  the  time  (and  useful  plants  still), 
possessed  but  a  poor  variety  of  colour,  the  prevailing  tints  being 
a  dull  or  rosy  purple.  By  crossing  these  with  the  scarlet-flowered 
arboreum  from  Nepal  a  strain  was  obtained  having  scarlet  flowers 
but  retaining  the  tender  habit  of  their  Indian  parent.  This  pro- 
geny was  again  crossed  with  hardy  kinds,  and  so  up  to  the  present 
dav,  when  our  collections  (as  may  be  now  witnessed,  and  to 
which  our  pages  this  month  amply  refer),  present  us  with  every 
intermediate  shade  of  colour  between  intense  scarlet,  rich  purple, 
and  down  to  a  pure  white,  produced  on  plants  in  every  respect 
hardy.  This  great  triumph  of  the  hybridiser's  art  has  already 
produced  a  great  improvement  in  our  gardens;  and  from  the 
quantities  which    are   annually  raised  by  the  great  growers    of 

NEW   SERIES,   VOL.    VI.,   NO.  LXVII.  0 


194  THE    FLORIST. 

American  plants,  the  demand  for  them  must  be  great.  Amongst 
the  many  names  of  those  who  have  been  successful  raisers  of 
hybrid  Rhododendrons,  are  Mr.  Burn,  of  Tottenham  Park, 
Wilts,  whose  display  of  his  own  seedlings  at  Tottenham  is  worth 
Visiting;  Mr.  Carton,  late  of  Highclerc,  Hants,  who  raised 
many  magnificent  varieties,  some  of  which  may  now  be  seen. 
(Mr.  Carton  was  warmly  supported  in  this  branch  of  gardening  by 
J.  R.  Gowen,  Esq.)  Messrs.  John  and  Hosea  Waterer,  of 
Bagshot  and  Knap  Hill ;  Messrs.  Lee,  Hammersmith  ;  Messrs. 
Standish  and  Noble,  Bagshot ;  Mr.  Baker,  and  many  others. 

That  the  species  now  introduced  will  prove  a  valuable  material 
in  the  hands  of  the  hybridisers  there  can  be  no  doubt.  But  very 
few  of  our  present  hybrids  are  fragrant ;  the  Bhotan  as  well  as 
some  of  the  Sikkim  species  are  deliciously  so,  and  this  fact, 
we  know,  is  not  escaping  the  notice  of  these  indefatigable  culti- 
vators ;  we  may  therefore  expect,  in  the  course  of  time,  to  see  the 
size  and  colour  of  these  Asiatic  species  added  to  the  habit  of 
plants  now  in  common  cultivation ;  and,  to  crown  the  whole, 
with  their  exquisite  fragrance  too. 


TEDWORTH  HOUSE,  WILTS. 

(Continued  from  page  170). 
The  kitchen-garden  at  Tedworth  is,  as  may  be  supposed,  extensive, 
and,  besides  a  large  breadth  of  vegetable  and  fruit  ground,  contains  a 
number  of  forcing-houses  ; — Pines,  Peaches,  Grapes,  Plums,  Cherries, 
and  Apricots  are  forced  here  in  large  quantities.  The  houses  in  which 
these  fruits  are  grown  are  principally  of  the  lean-to  description,  and 
have  mostly  been  erected  by  Mr.  Bandars.  We  need  hardly  remind 
our  readers  that  Mr.  Sandars  has  for  many  years  paid  great  attention 
to  fruit  culture,  and  is  the  author  of  a  very  useful  little  work  on  the 
culture  of  the  Vine,  which  contains  the  result  of  his  experience,  as 
practised  at  Tedworth,  and  of  which  Mr.  S.  informed  us  he  was  pre- 
paring a  second  edition.  To  return  to  our  subject : — there  are  several 
houses  devoted  solely  to  Grapes  (which  are  supplied  throughout  the 
year),  two  large  Peach  houses,  and  a  range,  in  two  divisions,  for  Plums, 
Cherries,  and  Apricots,  besides  Pineries,  and  a  great  number  of  pits, 
&c.  The  earliest  crops  of  Grapes  are  furnished  by  Vines  in  pots,  of 
which  a  large  number  are  grown  ;  at  the  time  of  our  visit  (the  third 
week  in  May),  one  crop  had  been  cleared  and  a  second  was  then  ripe, 
among  which  were  some  very  excellent  Muscats,  quite  ripe.  We  next 
found  a  house  filled  with  Black  Hamburghs,  about  half  swelled. 
These  Vines  have  borne  heavy  crops  for  more  than  twenty  years,  and 
are  still  very  vigorous,  as  their  wood  and  luxuriant  leaves  bore  witness, 
and  produce  very  superior  fruit.  Mr.  Sandars  thins  out  his  bunches 
more  than  is  usually  done,  aiming  at  having  large  berries,  some  of 
which,  he  informed  us,  he  has  measured  in  past  seasons,  and  found  to 
be  five  inches  in  circumference,  and  we  have  no  doubt  that  this  season 


JULY.  195 

some  of  them  will  be  equally  large.  There  are  two  houses  exclusively 
devoted  to  the  Muscat  Grape,  which  is  a  great  favourite  with  Mr. 
Assheton  Smith.  The  border,  in  both  houses,  occupies  the  body  of  the 
house,  excepting  the  path  along  the  back.  The  Vines  are  planted  in 
the  middle  of  the  house,  two  together — one  being  trained  downwards 
towards  the  front,  and  the  other  towards  the  back.  In  one  of  the  houses 
the  Vines  have  been  planted  many  years,  and,  notwithstanding  that 
their  roots  are  confined  within  the  limited  area  of  the  interior  of  the 
house,  produce  large  crops  of  fine  fruit,  and  the  Vines  were  growing 
vigorously.  This  fact  should  teach  us  that  Vines  may  be  kept  for  years 
at  the  highest  pitch  of  health  and  productiveness  with  a  very  limited  space 
for  their  roots,  when  well  managed  in  other  respects.  The  second  house  of 
Muscats  is  planted  and  trained  in  a  similar  manner  ;  but  in  the  case  of 
these,  as  the  house  was  larger  and  the  Vines  had  more  room  to  grow, 
he  has  allowed  them  to  pass  through  the  arches  of  the  front  wall  to  a 
narrow  border  outside.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  health  of  these  Vines, 
nor  the  quality  of  their  produce.  Respecting  the  economy  of  planting 
Vines  so  thick  as  Mr.  Sandars  does,  as  compared  with  the  ordinary  practice 
of  one  to  a  rafter,  we  are  of  opinion  that  for  Muscats,  and  perhaps  one 
or  two  other  kinds  of  Grapes,  this  plan  has  its  advantages,  as  we  think 
heavier  crops  can  be  obtained  under  a  given  space  of  glass,  than  where 
one  Vine  only  is  planted.  As  to  the  advantage  of  having  the  principal 
part  of  the  roots  of  Muscats  within  the  house,  there  is,  in  our  mind,  no 
doubt  whatever,  as  in  this  case  the  roots  are  under  the  direct  control  of 
the  manager.  If  we  remember  correctly,  the  late  Mr.  John  Wilniot 
was  of  opinion  that  for  Muscats,  planting  thick,  allowing  a  limited  space 
to  each  Vine,  and  taking  five,  or  six,  or  eight  bunches  from  each,  was 
the  best  plan  of  securing  heavy  crops ;  and  we  recollect  seeing,  a  few 
years  back,  several  houses  planted  in  this  way  at  his  establishment  at 
Isleworth.  The  house  to  produce  the  last  Grapes,  which  are  retarded 
until  the  early  Grapes  come  in,  is  planted  with  Barbarossa — a  variety 
now  admitted  to  be  very  valuable  as  a  late  Grape,  as  we  have  noticed 
in  a  separate  article  in  our  past  volumes.  These  are  turned  outside 
the  house  after  the  fruit  is  cut,  and  the  house  is  occupied  by  a  variety 
of  forced  articles,  while  the  Vines  are  having  their  winter. 

There  is  one  point  respecting  the  mode  by  which  Mr.  Sandars  keeps 
his  late  Grapes  which  deserves  special  notice.  The  Grapes,  when  ripe, 
are  not  permitted  to  remain  on  the  Vines  ;  Mr.  S.  considering  that 
when  once  the  fruit  is  ripe,  it  can  be  better  and  more  economically 
preserved,  when  cut  and  kept  in  a  suitable  room,  than  by  letting 
them  remain  on  the  Vines.  His  practice  is,  therefore,  with  the  last 
houses  of  Muscats,  &c. — say  towards  tlie  middle  of  December — to  cut 
the  fruit  with  the  wood  attached  to  the  bunch  ;  the  cut  end  of  the  shoot 
is  closed  over  with  sealing-wax,  and  the  bunches  are  taken  to  a  dry 
and  dark  room,  where  they  are  suspended  from  the  ceiling  on  rods 
which  are  placed  across  the  room,  and  on  temporary  tressels  :  the 
bunches  must  on  no  account  touch  each  other,  and  will  require  looking 
over  once  in  a  week,  to  remove  any  berries  which  may  happen  to  get 
mouldy  among  them.  Mr.  Sandars  informed  us  he  has  practised  this 
for  years,  and  keeps  the  Grapes  without  shrivelling,  and  in  very  good 
condition  for  the  table,  until  the  beginning  of  the  March,  by  which  time 


196  THE   FLORIST. 

the  early  forced  Grapes  are  ripe.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  after 
Grapes  are  once  ripe  they  will  keep  better  when  cut  in  the  manner 
described  and  hung  in  a  dry  dark  room  where  a  uniform  temperature 
of  something  like  40°  can  be  maintained,  than  when  allowed  to 
remain  on  the  Vines.  The  great  drawback  to  keeping  Grapes 
through  the  winter  is  damp  and  the  action  of  the  sun's  rays, 
which,  by  exciting  a  circulation  in  the  sap  of  the  Vines,  tends  to 
produce  decay  in  the  ripe  fruit.  We  were  ourselves  forcibly  reminded 
of  this  at  the  end  of  last  February  with  a  house  of  the  St.  Peter's. 
The  mild  warm  weather  of  that  month  put  the  sap  in  rapid  motion, 
and  we  found  it  even  exude  from  the  berries,  which  rapidly  decayed  in 
consequence.  Now,  had  these  Grapes  been  cut  previously,  and  kept 
according  to  the  plan  of  Mr.  Sandars,  this  would  not  have  happened, 
and  the  Grapes  would,  we  doubt  not,  have  kept  till  the  end  of  ]\Iarch. 
The  economy  of  the  system  must  be  obvious  to  all ;  the  expense  of 
firing  houses  with  retarded  Grapes  is  great,  particularly  in  wet  weather, 
as  air  must  be  given  largely  at  the  same  time,  and  this  expense  is 
increased  when,  as  often  is  the  case,  only  a  few  Grapes  are  left,  as 
they  are  just  the  same  trouble.  We  need  not  say,  as  an  additional 
recommendation,  that  when  the  fruit  is  cut  the  house  can  be  used  for  a 
variety  of  purposes,  which  would  be  impossible  when  it  contained  the 
fruit.  As  the  best  plan  for  fruit  rooms  is  now  often  discussed,  we  hope 
a  dry  compartment  for  the  above  and  other  similar  purposes  will  be 
connected  with  it,  as  one  of  the  most  useful  garden  structures  which 
could  be  built  where  fruit  has  to  be  kept,  and  which  no  good  garden 
should  be  without. 

The  Peach  houses  are  of  the  usual  lean-to  form,  the  trees  being 
trained  close  under  the  glass.  We  found  fine  crops,  and  were  pleased 
to  see  the  White  Nectarine  successfully  grown  with  others.  On  one 
side  of  the  Melon  ground  is  the  range  devoted  to  Cherries,  &c. ;  this  is 
likewise  a  lean-to  erection  ;  Cherries  occupy  the  back  wall.  A  semi- 
circular trellis  runs  along  in  front,  on  which  are  trained  Plums, 
Cherries,  and  Apricots  ;  one  division  had  been  cleared  of  the  Cherries, 
while  the  Plums  and  Apricots  were  progressing ;  the  trees  are  all 
planted  permanently,  and  nothing  could  exceed  their  health,  and  we 
never  saw  finer  fruit ;  the  Royal  Duke,  Churchill's  Heart,  Bigarreau, 
and  Elton  were  particularly  fine.  We  have  purposely  noticed  the 
forcing  houses  being  of  the  common  lean-to  form,  as  we  are  convinced 
that  for  early  forcing  they  are  much  superior ;  and  as  Mr.  Sandars' 
Cherries,  &c.,  have  been  hard  forced  for  several  years,  and  the  trees  are 
now  as  healthy  and  productive  as  they  can  possibly  be,  we  think  the 
planting  the  above  fruits  permanently  to  remain  in  the  houses  much 
preferable  and  far  less  trouble  than  growing  them  in  pots,  as  is  usually 
done.  The  Pinery  was  well  filled  with  plants ;  many  of  the  fruit  had 
been  cut,  as  Pines  are  chiefly  in  demand  here  during  the  season  from 
November  to  April,  but  a  number  were  swelling  off  for  the  summer. 

Forced  Asparagus  is  in  great  demand  here  throughout  the  winter ; 
the  beds  are  planted  in  the  open  ground,  with  a  trench  three  feet  wide 
between  each  ;  these  are  filled  with  a  mixture  of  leaves  and  stable  dung 
a  month  or  so  before  the  crop  is  wanted,  which  excites  the  roots  to 
action,  and  the  beds  at  the  same  time  are  covered  with  a  span-roofed 


JULY.  197 

glass  frame  about  one  foot  high  on  the  side,  with  arrangements  for 
giving  air  and  cuttiwg  the  grass.  By  this  process  Asparagus  is  obtained 
of  excellent  quality  and  with  httle  trouble.  Glass  frames  have  this 
advantage  over  wooden  ones  :  they  admit  light,  and  the  grass  has  in 
consequence  the  green  colour  and  flavour  of  out-door  produce.  The 
beds  are  forced  each  alternate  year,  and  have  been  now  worked  for  20 
years,  and  appear  as  strong  and  as  good  as  four  year  old  beds.  Mr. 
Sandars  informed  us  he  allowed  the  dung  to  remain  between  the  beds 
the  year  they  rested,  which  materially  helped  the  beds,  and  he  did  not 
find  cutting  the  roots  away  where  the  trenches  were  cleared  out  for 
forcing  at  all  injure  the  plants,  as  the  fact  of  their  lasting  so  long 
sufficiently  demonstrates. 

We  have  overrun  our  space,  and  some  other  notes  we  made  must 
stand  over,  and  we  cannot  conclude  without  thanking  Mr.  Sanders  for 
his  kindness  in  imparting  to  us  the  many  interesting  points  in  his 
practice. 


ROYAL  BOTANIC  SOCIETY,  REGENT'S  PARK. 
May  28. — This,  the  first  exhibition  of  this  Society  this  season,  was  in 
every  respect  first-rate.  Generally,  however,  the  plants  were  the  same 
as  those  exhibited  at  the  Crystal  Palace  on  the  24th,  and  which  were 
fully  described  by  us  in  our  last  number.  No  prizes  were  offered  for 
fruit  on  this  occasion,  and  as  a  matter  of  course  none  was  shown. 
The  number  of  new  plants  was  also  very  limited.  Azaleas,  pot  Roses, 
Orchids,  and  Pelargoniums  were  fresh  and  most  gorgeous.  Mr.  Beck 
changed  places  with  Mr.  Foster  on  this  occcasion  with  Pelargoniums, 
I\Ir.  Foster  being  first  at  the  Crystal  Palace,  but  second  only  here. 
The  prizes  generally  were  taken  by  the  same  exhibitors  as  at  the 
Palace.  Florists'  flowers  in  a  cut  state  were  far  from  being  plentiful ; 
there  was,  however,  a  fine  collection  of  Tulips,  72  blooms,  embracing 
many  of  the  leading  kinds.  Pansies  were  not  good  ;  the  only  collection 
well  coloured  was  from  Mr.  James,  of  Isleworth.  Seedling  Pelargoniums 
consisted  of  Viola  (Hoyle),  Matilda  (Hoyle),  Rose  Raglart  (Hoyle), 
Conspicuum  (Turner),  Mr.  Hoyle  (Turner),  Carminatum  (fancy), 
Emperor  (ditto),  Helen  Faucit  (ditto).  The  few  new  plants  shown 
were  contributed  by  Messrs.  Veitch,  Messrs.  Henderson,  and  Mr. 
Linden.  Mr.  Barnes,  of  Bicton,  sent  cones  and  catkins  of  Araucaria 
imbricata.  The  afternoon,  unfortunately,  was  wet,  preventing  many 
from  enjoying  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  best  exhibition  of  the  season. 

June  18. — This,  the  second  show,  was  very  successful,  both  as 
regards  the  collections  of  plants  and  company.  The  day  was  very  fine. 
On  this  occasion  there  was  the  additional  attraction  of  fruit,  and  the 
wonderful  exhibition  of  American  plants  alluded  to  elsewhere.  There 
were  not  so  many  large  specimens  of  stove  and  greenhouse  plants 
perhaps  as  we  have  formerly  seen,  but  what  were  shown  were  generally 
well  flowered  and  fresh.  Pot  Roses  were  not  so  good  as  they  were  last 
month,  and  the  out-door  Roses,  being  late,  this  beautiful  class  of  flowers 
was  by  no  means  strongly  represented. 

Large  collections  of  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  came  from  Mr.  May, 


198  THE   FLORIST. 

gardener  to  H.  Colyer,  Esq.,  of  Dartford,  to  whom  the  first  prize  was 
awarded.  Among  them  were  Dipladenia  crassinoda,  beautifully 
flowered;  Ixora  javanica,  with  abundance  of  orange  coloured  blossoms  ; 
some  huge  specimens  of  Aphelexis,  Epacrises,  and  Pimeleas  ;  Rondeletia 
speciosa  in  full  growth  and  well  flowered  ;  the  pale  yellow  AUamanda 
grandiflora,  and  a  large  bush  of  Dillwynia  clavata.  Next  came  Mr. 
Taylor's  collection  from  Streatham.  It  contained  Adenandra  fragrans ; 
Aphelexis  spectabilis  grandiflora,  literally  a  ball  of  blossoms  ;  Pimelea 
hispida,  and  Ixora  coccinea.  Mr.  Peed  showed  Cyrtoceras  reflexum, 
in  good  condition  ;  Epacris  miniata,  two  well  flowered  Azaleas,  and 
Pimelea  Plendersoni.  Of  other  plants  in  this  class  Mr.  Barter  had 
Roella  ciliata,  covered  with  handsome  blue  blossoms ;  Dipladenia 
crassinoda,  Statice  arborea,  and  AUamanda  grandiflora,  from  the  same 
exhibitor,  were  also  excellent  specimens  of  good  cultivation.  Of  groups 
of  16  plants  the  above  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  cream.  In  the 
Nurserymen's  Class  of  12  Stove  and  Greenhouse  Plants  the  first  prize 
was  awarded  to  Mr.  Cutbush,  of  Barnet,  in  whose  group  were  beautiful 
bushes  of  Aphelexis,  Polygalas,  Heaths,  and  Statices.  Messrs.  Eraser 
had  Statice  Holfordi,  Pimelea  Hendersoni,  Rhynchospermum  jasmini- 
oides,  and  the  bright  red-flowered  Azalea  refulgens. — In  collections  of 
10  Stove  and  Greenhouse  Plants,  Mr.  Carson,  gardener  to  W.  F.  G. 
Farmer,  Esq.,  had  an  excellent  Musssenda  frondosa,  covered  with  large 
white  floral  bracts,  in  which  the  beauty  of  the  plant  resides  ;  two  Ever-  • 
lastings,  two  Allamandas,  two  Polygalas,  and  two  handsome  Azaleas. 
Mr.  Green  sent  Epacris  miniata,  beautifully  flowered,  and  certainly  the 
finest  plant  in  his  collection.  Mr.  Green  also  showed  Allamandas, 
Azaleas,  and  Everlastings.  Mr.  Dods'  collection  contained  Phsenocoma 
proliferum  in  good  condition,  and  Aphelexis  humilis  rosea,  a  fine  kind 
with  large  showy  blossoms.  Among  Mr.  Morris's  plants  were  Hoya 
imperialis  and  campanulata,  the  latter  with  numerous  bunches  of 
greenish-yellow  saucer-shaped  blossoms.  —  Stove  and  Greenhouse 
Plants,  in  sixes,  came  from  Messrs.  Roser,  Williams,  Morris,  and 
others.  Among  them  were  Aphelexis  macrantha  purpurea.  Erica 
Cavendishi,  Eriostemon  buxifolium,  Abelia  floribunda,  a  handsome 
greenhouse  shrub ;  Ixora  coccinea,  and  Stephanotis.  Mr.  Hamp 
showed  Relhania  squarrosa,  a  plant  with  bright  yellow  Chrysanthemum- 
like flowers,  and  Mitraria  coccinea. 

Tall  Cacti  were  shown  by  Mr.  Mortimer,  in  whose  group  we 
remarked  the  white  Cereus  crenatus,  and  Mr.  Green  ;  and  a  beautiful 
seedling,  a  cross  from  Cereus  speciosissimus,  came  from  Mr.  Davey,  of 
Colney  Hatch.  Each  petal  was  of  a  beautiful  violet  colour  with  a  rib 
of  red  down  the  centre. 

Orchids  were  not  very  numerous.  In  groups  of  20,  Mr.  Gedney,  of 
Hoddesdon,  was  first ;  it  contained  the  seldom  seen  Galeandra  Funcki^ 
Lycaste  Skinneri,  beautifully  flowered ;  Phalsenopsis,  Cattleya  Mossice, 
Harrisonise,  and  superba,  the  latter  a  very  handsome  crimson,  with 
yellow-streaked  lip ;  Calanthe  Masuca,  and  Aerides  maculosum. 
Among  Mr.  Woolley's  plants,  which  stood  next,  were  Dendrobium 
transparens,  a  small-flowered  species  but  extremely  pretty  ;  Barkeria 
spectabilis ;  Cattleya  intermedia  and  superba,  the  latter  with  two 
blooms  on  it ;  Sacrolabium  guttatum,  the  white   Phaius,  and  Sobralia 


JULY.  199 

macrantha ;  the  last  was  better  flowered  than  ever  we  remember  to 
have  seen  it.  Orchids  in  groups  of  12  plants  came  from  Mr.  Keel, 
gardener  to  J.  Butler,  Esq.,  of  Woolwich,  who  was  first.  His  collection 
contained  Cattleya  Mossise  and  aurantiaca ;  Dendrobium  tortile,  with 
sulphur-coloured  trumpet- shaped  lip  ;  and  Laelia  cinnabarina.  Mr. 
Clarke,  of  Hoddesdon,  had  Epidendrum  macrochilum,  with  large  white 
lip  stained  with  purple ;  Phaius  Wallichi  and  Oncidium  stramineum, 
the  last  more  rare  than  beautiful. — In  collections  of  six  Orchids,  Mr. 
Grix,  gardener  to  A.  Palmer,  Esq.,  of  Cheam,  was  first.  His  group 
contained  a  large  and  fine  Aerides  odoratum,  also  A.  crispum,  a  mass 
of  flower.  Mr.  Carson  showed  Dendrochilon  filiforme,  with  long  tails 
of  green  blossoms ;  Saccolabium  Blumei,  which  is  one  of  the  hand- 
somest of  the  genus ;  and  Oypripedium  barbatum  superbum.  Mr. 
Dods  had  Anguloa  Ruckeri,  two  beautifully  flowered  Stanhopeas, 
especially  S.  tigrina,  and  Cattleya  Mossise.  Mr.  Morris  sent  Acineta 
Humboldti,  Maxillaria  tetragona,  and  the  deep  brown  and  purple- 
flowered  Epidendrum  Hanburyanum,  a  distinct-looking  kind,  which  is 
not  so  common  as  it  ought  to  be. 

To  Roses  in  pots  we  have  already  referred.  They  came  from 
Messrs.  Lane  and  Francis.  Mr.  Lane's  Persian  Yellow  was  fine,  and 
so  was  his  Miss  Glegg.  Some  other  kinds,  such  as  Paul  Perras, 
Duchess  of  Sutherland,  Louise  Peyronney,  Great  Western,  and 
Souvenir  de  Malmaison  were  also  "  well  done."  Mr.  Paul  had  some 
boxes  of  cut  blooms ;  but  in  the  crowded  state  in  which  the  tents  were, 
we  could  not  get  near  enough  them  to  closely  inspect  them. 

Cape  Heaths  were  shown  in  good  condition.  Among  the  different 
varieties  were  tricolor  Wilsoni  and  other  sorts  belonging  to  that  class ; 
metulaeflora,  denticulata  moschata,  depressa,  ventricosa  grandiflora, 
Cavendishi,  propendens,  Bergiana,  mutabilis,  ampuUacea,  gemmifera, 
and  tortiliflora. 

Of  plants  having  fine  foliage  Mr.  Parker  and  Messrs.  Henderson  sent 
collections,  in  which  were  Fern.^-,  some  pretty  Lycopods,  including  L. 
IMartinsi,  the  variegated  Hydrangea,  Caladiums,  Rhopalas,  and 
variegated  Orchids.  The  plants  composing  these  groups  were,  however, 
for  the  most  part,  small,  and  therefore  made  but  little  display. 

Ferns  were  shown  by  Mr.  Fletcher  and  others.  Among  them  were 
Woodsia  Ilvensis,  Hymenophyllum  Tunbridgense,  and  other  rare  kinds. 
Their  arrangement  was  judicious  and  good,  and  the  eye,  tired  with 
looking  at  gayer  objects,  turned  to  these  inhabitants  of  our  woods  and 
glens  with  delight. 

Pelargoniums  were  good  and  numerous,  and  formed  one  of  the  chief 
features  of  the  day.  Mr.  Turner  was  first  for  twelve  finely  grown  and 
Avell  bloomed  plants ;  they  were  Sanspareil,  Lucy,  Astrea,  Governor- 
General,  Painter  Improved,  Esther,  Enchantress,  Virgin  Queen,  Carlos, 
Queen  Eleanor,  Rowena,  and  Leonora.  Messrs.  Dobson  sent  the  next 
best  collection.  These  were  large,  finely  grown  plants,  but  thin  of 
bloom.  The  finest  plants  in  this  collection  were  Arab,  Delicatum, 
Astrea,  Painter  Improved,  Fidelis,  and  Arethusa.  Messrs.  Fraser,  of 
Lea  Bridge ;  Mr.  Gaines,  of  Battersea  ;  and  Mr.  Cutbush,  of  High- 
gate,  exhibited  in  this  class,  and  were  awarded  prizes  in  the  order 


200  THE    FLORIST. 

they  are  given. — For  collections  of  10  plants,  private  growers,  Mr.  Nye, 
gardener  to  E.  Foster,  Esq.,  Clewer  Manor,  was  first,  with  a  select  lot 
of  plants,  some  of  which  were  exceedingly  well  bloomed.  Attraction, 
Golden  Fleece,  Enchantress,  Carlos,  Purple  Perfection,  and  Seraskier, 
were  very  fine.  Mr.  Holder,  gardener  to  the  Rev.  E.  Coleridge,  was 
second :  these  were  large  plants,  of  good  kinds,  but  a  little  drawn. 
Mr.  Windsor,  gardener  to  A.  Blyth,  Esq.  ;  and  Mr.  Weir,  gardener  to 
J.  Hodgson,  Esq.,  sent  ten  plants  each,  but  they  were  indifferently 
flowered.  The  most  interest  attaches  to  the  class  of  six  plants,  new 
varieties,  open  to  all  growers ;  we  therefore  give  the  whole  of  the 
names.  1st,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  with  Snowflake,  Wonderful,  Lord 
Raglan,  Phaeton,  Omar  Pacha,  and  Admirable ;  2nd,  Mr.  Nye,  gar- 
dener to  E.  Foster,  Esq.,  with  Wonderful,  Saracen  (these  two  were 
very  fine).  The  Clipper,  Edith,  Sparkler,  and  Phaeton ;  3rd,  ]\Iessrs. 
Dobson,  with  Wonderful,  Conqueror,  Gem  of  the  West,  Fandango, 
Mr.  White,  and  Commander-in-Chief;  4th,  Mr.  Gaines,  with  Eugenie 
Duval,  Feu  Follett,  Wonderful,  Raphael,  Argus,  and  James  Odior. 
The  Gem  of  the  West  in  Messrs.  Dobson's  collection  was  very  fine. 
Mr.  Gaines's  plants  were  one  and  all  poor  in  the  extreme.  It  will  be 
seen  that  one  variety,  namely,  Wonderful,  was  in  all  four  collections. 
Fancies  were  never  seen  so  fine  before.  The  best  six,  sent  by  Mr. 
Turner,  were  covered  with  bloom,  and  good  blooms  too  ;  four  of  the 
plants  were  very  large :  they  consisted  of  Celestial,  Evening  Star,  Lady 
Hume  Campbell,  Criterion,  Perfection,  and  Erubescens.  Messrs. 
Fraser,  Mr.  Gaines,  Messrs.  Dobson,  and  Mr.  Cutbush  also  contributed 
to  this  class.  There  were  also  the  same  number  of  amateurs  who 
exhibited  fancy  varieties.  Mr.  Bousie,  gardener  to  the  Hon.  H. 
Labouchere,  M.P.,  Stoke  Park,  was  first;  Mr.  Windsor  and  Mr.  Bray 
sent  very  good  collections.  Mr.  Thompson,  of  Barnet,  sent  four  very 
large  plants  of  the  old  free-flowering  kind,  Princess  Marie  Galitzin. 
It  is  a  good  grower,  but  by  no  means  an  attractive  variety.  These 
plants  created  quite  a  sensation  from  their  immense  size  ;  but  when 
we  consider  the  large  pots  they  were  grown  in,  they  were  nothing  very 
wonderful,  and  being  full  of  growth  did  not  produce  what  is  termed  a 
"  head  "  of  bloom.  The  plant  of  Celestial  in  the  first  collection  of  six 
had  as  much  bloom  as  the  four  put  together,  and  this  was  in  an  eight- 
inch  pot  only. 

Fuchsias  were  beautifully  exhibited  by  Mr.  Bousie,  Mr.  Bray,  and 
others.  Mr.  Bousie's  collection  was  very  varied.  It  contained  a  well- 
bloomed  plant  of  the  white  corolla  variety,  named  Queen  Victoria, 
figured  by  us  last  year. 

Ranunculuses  were  shown  very  good  by  Mr.  Tyso,  of  Wallingford. 

Calceolarias  were  shown  well  by  Mr.  James.  The  sorts  were  Bru- 
nette, Fandango,  Beauty,  Marie,  Commander-in-Chief,  and  Duchess  of 
Northumberland.  Of  shrubby  kinds  Mr.  Turner  produced  the  following: 
. — Echpse,  bright  red  ;  Hebe,  yeflow  ;  Hawk,  spotted  yellow  ;  Harle- 
quin, spotted  yellow  and  brown  ;  Albira,  a  free  flowering  yellow,  slightly 
spotted  ;  and  Orange  Perfection,  extra  fine.  Some  good  unnamed 
seedlings  of  the  herbaceous  class  were  shown  by  Messrs.  E.  (t.  Hen- 
derson, and  some  fine  shrubby  kinds  by  Mr.  Turner,  viz. : — King  of 


JULY.  201 

Yellows,  a  very  fine  dwarf  yellow  for  bedding ;  King  of  Sardinia,  the 
best  dark ;  Orange  Boven  and  Pilot  were  fine.  Mr.  Cole,  of  St. 
Albans,  also  sent  some  pretty  varieties  of  this  class. 

Pansies  were  not  good.  Mr.  Bragg  was  first ;  Messrs.  Dobson, 
second.  There  were  also  two  collections  from  Edinburgh,  finely  grown 
flowers,  but  had  become  damaged  from  the  length  of  tha  journey.  A 
pretty  fancy  kind,  exhibited  by  Mr.  Stark,  of  Edinburgh,  named 
Mazeppa,  we  have  seen  years  ago  on  the  Continent,  under  the  name  of 
Magpie.  It  may  be  compared  to  some  of  our  fancy  Dahlias  in  its  style 
of  marking,  being  purple  tipped  with  white.  The  white  extends 
down  each  of  the  five  petals  in  a  three-cornered  or  wedge  shape.  There 
were  some  fine  new  varieties  in  Messrs.  Downie  &  Laird's  collection. 

Seedling  Pelargoniums  were  exhibited  in  large  numbers  by  the  prin- 
cipal growers,  there  being  a  large  bank  of  them,  some  of  which  were 
great  improvements  on  existing  varieties.  The  first  prize  for  the  best 
scarlet  kind  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Turner  for  King  of  Scarlets.  This 
is  a  very  bright  free  flowering  variety.  The  second  prize  was  also 
awarded  to  the  same  exhibitor  for  Prince  of  Prussia,  a  bright  flower, 
with  large  rich  blotch  on  the  top  petals.  It  is  a  large  bold  flower. 
The  judges  selected  the  following  for  certificates  : — Spotted  Gem 
(Turner),  the  finest  of  all  the  varieties,  having  distinct  spots  on  the 
bottom  petals;  Mr.  Beck  (Turner),  another  spotted  kind;  General 
Williams  (Turner),  a  rich  dark  flower  of  good  shape  ;  Viola  (Hoyle), 
pale  lavender  lower  petals,  dark  top — a  distinct  new  variety.  The 
following  were  also  good  :  Symmetry  (Foster),  a  fine  bright  flower ; 
Golden  Fleece  (Foster),  very  bright  orange  scarlet,  exceedingly  showy  ; 
Miss  Foster  (Turner),  a  dark  flower  with  white  centre,  very  free  and 
attractive,  but  not  of  the  finest  form  ;  Agnes  (Hoyle),  large  rose  with 
white  centre  ;  Standard  (Hoyle),  large  Carlos-like  flower,  but  of  finer 
form;  Bianca  (Hoyle),  resembling,  but  finer  than  Virginia;  Marvellous 
(Hoyle),  a  free  flowering  dark  variety  with  strongly  veined  bottom 
petals,  very  showy  ;  Josephine  (Hoyle),  light  purple  ;  Mr.  Hoyle 
(Turner),  a  showy  spotted  kind;  and  Conspicuum  (Turner),  a  strongly 
marked  and  beautifully  spotted  variety.  These  two  latter  had  certifi- 
cates awarded  them  at  the  first  show.  May  28. 

In  Seedling  Fancy  Pelargoniums  we  noticed  General  Pelissier, 
Emperor,  Helen  Faucit,  Sir  J.  Paxton,  Madame  Rougiere,  King  of 
the  Fancies,  and  Jenny  Ney  ;  all  of  which  were  more  or  less  good,  and 
considerable  improvements.   The  three  first  named  received  certificates. 

There  were  some  interesting  new  bedding  plants  exhibited.  Mr. 
Turner  sent  a  basket  of  the  new  variegated  Geranium,  Alma.  This 
has  smoother  foliage  than  most  of  the  variegated  kinds,  with  bright 
scarlet  flowers  ;  it  is  also  of  good  habit,  being  free  flowering.  A  certi- 
ficate was  awarded  to  it ;  also  to  a  new  striped  Petunia,  Marquis  de 
St.  Innocent,  exhibited  by  Mr.  Turner  :  this  is  striped  like  a  Carnation. 
There  were  also  three  seedlings  marked  in  the  style  of  Picturata,  of 
very  good  shape — Gem,  Picotee,  and  Nonsuch. 

Mrs.  Halford,  a  new  white  Verbena,  was  shown,  very  good,  and  is 
certainly  the  best  of  its  class. 

Mr.  J.  Salter,  of  Hammersmith,  sent  a  collection  of  herbaceous 
Pseonies,  which  were  exceedingly  gay.  " 


202  THE    FLORIST. 

Mr.  Field  sent  his  free  flowering  Heliotrope,  Miss  Nightingale. 

Messrs.  Henderson,  of  Pine-apple  Place,  sent  a  small  group  of  plants, 
the  most  remarkable  of  which  was  a  finely  grown  plant  of  the  sweet- 
scented  white  Bouvardia  longiflora. 

Mr.  Cutbush  received  a  certificate  for  a  variegated  variety  of  Shrub- 
land  Rose  Petunia.      It  is  curious,  but  not  very  showy. 

The  best  of  Cole's  seedling  shrubby  Calceolarias  were  Model, 
Empress,  Brilliant,  and  Nymph. 

We  also  noticed  the  new  double  white  Petunia,  Imperial. 

The  fruit,  as  usual,  excited  a  good  deal  of  interest.  There  were  up- 
wards of  30  Pine-  apples.  The  heaviest  Providence  weighed  8 lbs.  10 oz. ; 
this  was  from  Mr.  Fleming,  of  Trentham,  and  obtained  the  first  prize. 
The  second  prize  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Gilham,  for  a  finely  formed  and 
well  finished  fruit.  There  were  several  other  good  specimens,  but  they 
were  either  over  or  under  ripe.  The  Queen  Pines  were  very  superior, 
and  mostly  from  growers  in  Wales.  Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Burn  obtained 
the  chief  prizes  for  handsome  fruits  averaging  5  lbs.  We  observed  a 
very  good  Lemon  Queen  from  Mr.  Jones  which  weighed  6J  lbs.,  but  it 
was  not  nearly  ripe,  and  therefore  received  no  award. 

The  1st  prize  for  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes  was  justly  awarded  to 
Mr.  Fleming ;  the  bunches  were  not  extraordinary  for  size,  but  they 
were  finely  coloured,  and  had  large  berries.  There  were  seventeen 
exhibitors  in  this  class,  but  none  of  the  others  passed  mediocrity.  Mr. 
Hill,  gardener  to  R.  Sneyd,  Esq.,  had  first-rate  examples  of  Black 
Prince,  which  were  rewarded  accordingly.  Mr.  TurnbuU  had  the  best 
Muscats  ;  they  were,  however,  deficient  in  that  fine  golden  yellow 
which  they  should  possess  when  in  perfection  ;  but  this  perhaps  must 
not  be  looked  for  in  June.  In  the  Frontignan  class  Mr.  Forbes,  of 
Woburn,  was  placed  at  the  top,  and  in  Muscadines  Mr.  Baillie  and 
Mr.  Clarke  were  equal.  Mr.  Turnbull  exhibited  three  bunches  of  a 
seedling  Black  Grape,  but  the  judges  deemed  it  so  like  the  West's  St. 
Peter's  as  to  make  it  no  award. 

The  prize  Peaches,  as  usual,  came  from  Mr.  Snow,  gardener  to  Earl 
de  Grey  ;  the  sort  was  Noblesse.  Mr.  Hill  and  Mr.  Drummond  were 
second  with  Royal  George.  In  this  class  there  were  nineteen  exhibitors 
and  thirteen  prizes  awarded. 

The  Nectarines  were  generally  very  good  and  beautifully  coloured. 
Mr.  Davis,  of  Oakhill,  was  first,  with  Violette  Hative ;  Mr.  Ayres  and 
Mr.  Mitchell  were  good  seconds  with  Elruge.  Mr.  Monro  exhibited 
several  boxes  of  this  fruit.  An  extra  award  was  made  to  Mr.  Burn  for 
an  excellent  dish  of  Apricots. 

For  Plums  Mr.  Fleming  was  1st,  with  Goliath.  In  Figs  there  were 
five  or  six  competitors  ;  Mr.  Snow  and  Mr.  Richards  were  equal  with 
"  Brown  Turkey."  Mr.  Bousie  had  very  good  May  Duke  Cherries, 
which  were  placed  on  a  par  w^th  Mr.  Fleming's  Tartarians.  Mr.  Smith 
showed  very  superior  examples  of  British  Queen  and  Sir  Charles 
Napier  Strawberries,  for  which  the  judges  gave  an  extra  award. 
Mr.  Bailey  had  good  examples  of  Admiral  Dundas,  a  new  sort  in  the 
way  of  British  Queen,  but  coarser.  Among  others  shown  were  Sir 
Harry  and  Black  Prince  ;  these  were  stated  to  have  been  ripened  out 
of  doors. 


JULY.  203 

Of  ]\Ielons  there  was  a  fair  display ;  Mr.  Ruffett  and  Mr.  Bailey 
obtained  first  prizes  for  Hybrid  Greenflesh  sorts  ;  and  Mr.  Dawson 
was  first  for  a  Scarlet  Hybrid.  No  second  or  third  prizes  were 
awarded  for  Scarlet-fleshed  sorts,  as  they  were  very  deficient  in 
flavour. 

Among  Miscellaneous  Fruits  were  Plum  trees  in  pots  from  Mr. 
Fleming ;  on  one  tree  of  Jefferson,  about  two  feet  high,  were  a 
dozen  of  fruits.  Mr.  Tillyard  had  a  nice  dish  of  White  Currants ; 
there  were  also  Strawberries  in  pots  from  Mr.  Drummond.  They 
were  British  Queens  and  extremely  well  flavoured. 


LIGHT :  ITS  INFLUENCE  ON  VEGETATION. 
Having  in  my  last  expressed  an  opinion  that  where  the  highest  points 
of  cultivation  were  aimed  at,  structures  specially  erected  for  growing 
plants  would  be  adopted,  in  which  all  the  requirements  of  light,  heat, 
and  ventilation  could  be  afforded  them,  I  may  notice,  as  regards  the 
materials  of  which  plant  houses  and  pits  should,  in  my  opinion,  be 
constructed,  that  nothing  so  well  complies  with  all  the  wants  of  the 
cultivator  as  metal  framework  glazed  with  a  good  quality  of  sheet  glass, 
and  I  consider  these  materials  cheapest  in  the  end ;  and  as  metal  bars 
may  be  made  very  slight  in  comparison  with  wood  ones,  the  squares  of 
glass  need  not  be  so  large,  whereby  a  saving  is  effected  when  repairs 
are  wanted ;  and  besides  the  sashes  are  really  stronger,  and  there  is 
less  danger  from  breakage  than  with  wooden  ones.  It  is  true  more 
shading  may  be  considered  necessary — which  is,  however,  not  true  in 
the  abstract,  as  I  shall  notice  hereafter. 

It  is  in  the  early  spring,  when  the  annual  growth  of  most  plants 
commences,  that  the  influence  of  light  is  of  most  importance  in  producing 
short  joints  and  healthy  leaves,  and  again  during  autumn,  when  the 
ripening  of  the  wood  has  to  be  completed,  that  the  advantages  of  metal 
frames,  as  compared  with  wooden  ones,  are  made  manifest.  As  regards 
the  opinion  on  shading  offered  above,  I  may  observe  that  plants  grown 
under  a  free  exposure  to  light  from  early  spring  are  better  able  to 
withstand  the  brilliant  light  of  a  summer's  sun  than  when  they  have 
been  grown  with  a  less  share  of  it,  and  consequently  do  not  require 
more  or  thicker  shading  than  the  latter,  by  reason  of  their  having  been 
accustomed  to  more  light  during  their  growth  ;  the  same  amount  of 
shading  will  therefore  affect  both  in  an  equal  degree. 

That  some  plants  are  more  susceptible  than  others  of  the  influence 
of  light  is  obvious  enough,  from  an  inspection  of  plants  growing  in  a 
natural  state.  On  this  point  let  me  quote  what  Dr.  Lindley  has  to  say 
on  the  subject : — "  The  capability  of  plants  to  bear  the  action  of  direct 
light  varies  according  to  their  specific  nature.  One  species  is  organised 
to  suit  the  atmosphere  of  a  dense  wood  into  which  diffused  light  will 
only  penetrate  ;  another  is  planted  by  nature  on  the  exposed  face  of  a 
sunburnt  rock,  upon  which  the  rays  of  a  shadeless  sun  are  daily 
striking  ;  in  these  cases  the  light  which  is  necessary  to  the  one  would 
be  destructive  of  the  other.     The  organic  difference  of  such  species 


204  THE    FLORIST. 

seems  to  consist  chiefly  in  the  epidermis,  which  regulates  the  amount 
of  perspiration.  It  is,  therefore,  to  be  remarked  that  it  is  not  the 
greatest  quantity  of  Hght  which  can  be  obtained  that  is  most  favour- 
able to  the  healthiness  of  plants,  but  the  greatest  quantity  they  will 
bear  without  injury." — (Theory  of  Horticulture,  p.  79.)  As  examples 
of  plants  commonly  cultivated,  I  may  notice  that  the  Calceolaria, 
Cineraria,  and  Pelargonium  quickly  draw  and  become  yellow  in  the 
leaf  when  not  placed  near  the  glass  in  houses,  while  the  Camellia  and 
many  other  plants  do  not  suffer  in  the  same  degree,  and  in  fact  grow 
best  in  a  partial  shade. 

But  the  effect  light  exercises  on  the  functional  power  of  plants  is 
most  strikingly  shown  when  the  period  for  blooming  arrives.  For  as 
the  great  object  of  the  plant's  economy  is  the  reproduction  of  itself  by 
seed,  preceded  by  the  opening  of  the  petals  or  flowers,  which  it  is  the 
cultivator's  object  to  produce  in  the  greatest  quantity,  it  follows  that  in 
proportion  to  the  activity  of  the  secretory  organs  stimulated  under  free 
exposure  to  light,  so  will  be  the  number  and  brilliancy,  or  pureness  of 
colouring  of  the  flowers,  as  the  case  may  be.  I  frequently  observe 
what  a  difference  exists  in  the  size  and  colour  of  the  flowers  of  plants 
of  the  same  kind  ;  one  shall  have  its  colours,  whatever  they  may  be, 
clear,  distinct,  and  brilliant  as  compared  with  the  dull  muddy  colour  of 
the  other.  This  marked  difference  is  to  be  accounted  for  by  the 
explanation  given  above,  and  forms  a  point  of  great  importance  in  plant 
cultivation. 

{To  he  continued) 


PROTECTION  OP  FRUIT  TREES. 
In  the  last  number  of  the  Florist,  your  correspondent,  Mr.  G.  Fry, 
alluding  to  a  statement  of  mine  at  page  106,  where  I  said  I  hoped 
to  have  the  pleasure  in  a  few  weeks  of  thinning  many  quarts  of 
young  fruit,  asks,  "  Has  this  been  verified  ?  "  I  reply,  yes,  it  has ; 
even  better  than  I  anticipated.  Never  have  I  seen  so  many  Apricots 
set  before.  The  Apricot  crop  is,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  an  average  one 
this  season  in  Yorkshire.  Peaches  and  Nectarines  are  also  a  very  good 
crop  with  me.  Pears  on  the  wall  trees,  a  fair  crop  ;  on  standards,  thin, 
owing  more  to  the  wet  than  the  frost.  Plums,  thin,  also  owing  to 
heavy  showers ;  Apples,  a  fair  crop  ;  Cherries,  above  an  average  ; 
Gooseberries,  Currants,  Raspberries,  and  Strawberries,  most  abundant 
crops. 

In  the  Gardeners'  Chronicle  of  June  7th  Mr.  Fry  will  see  a 
communication  from  a  person  who  signs  himself  "  G.  A.,  Leytonstone, 
Essex."  This  person  ("  G.  A.")  says  that  he  always  used  coverings 
for  his  Apricot  trees,  but  that  six  years  out  of  seven  he  failed  to  obtain 
crops,  so  this  year  he  determined  to  do  without  covering,  and  the  result 
is  he  has  a  most  abundant  crop  of  fruit.  I  merely  quote  this 
correspondent's  communication  to  show  Mr.  Fry  that  though  he  may 
have  failed  to  get  a  crop  of  Apricots,  there  are  persons  nearer  to  him 
than  I  am  who  do,  and  that  without  protection. 


JULY.  205 

My  time  has  been  lately,  and  is  now,  much  taken  up  with  some 
extensive  improvements  that  are  being  completed  here,  so  that  my 
reply  to  Mr.  Fry  is  in  consequence  brief;  but  I  could  not  let  it  pass 
unnoticed  lest  my  silence  may  be  misconstrued. 

Stourton.  M.  Saul. 


MESSRS.  WATERER    AND    GODFREY'S    EXHIBITION   OF 

AMERICAN  PLANTS. 
The  above  firm,  so  well  known  for  their  extensive  collection  of  American 
plants,  as  well  as  for  hardy  nursery  stock,  have  this  season  an  exhibition 
of  the  former  at  Ashburnham  Park,  Chelsea,  arranged  in  a  series  of 
beds,  under  a  very  spacious  tent.  The  beds  are  well  arranged  for 
filling  the  space  and  showing  off  the  plants  to  the  best  advantage.  A 
gallery  runs  across  the  upper  end,  and  the  view  from  this,  looking  over 
the  various  groups  with  the  colours  well  mixed,  has  a  striking  appear- 
ance, and  would  alone  repay  a  visit  to  the  exhibition.  The  plants 
consist  of  Rhododendrons,  Azaleas,  Kalmias,  and  a  few  others.  Many 
of  the  specimens  are  large  and  well  bloomed ;  the  object  has  been 
rather  to  show  what  effect  good  varieties  of  American  plants  will 
produce  when  planted  in  masses  than  merely  a  display  of  rare  sorts, 
of  which  in  the  nursery  at  Knap  Hill  they  have  a  large  stock,  and  no 
one  can  have  visited  the  exhibition  without  being  impressed  with  the 
great  value  of  these  plants  for  the  decoration  of  country  residences. 

Among  some  of  the  more  striking  varieties  we  noticed  Atrosanguineum, 
a  good  old  sort,  of  a  dark  crimson  ;  Archimedes,  bright  rose  ;  Brayanum, 
vivid  scarlet,  a  first-rate  kind;  Currieanum,  a  late  blooming  sort,  of  a 
lilac  colour ;  Delicatum,  blush,  pretty  ;  Fastuosum,  a  double  variety, 
with  lilac  flowers  ;  Hogarth,  rosy  scarlet,  fine  ;  Nero,  dark  rosy  purple  ; 
Pelargoniflorum,  rose,  with  distinct  spots  ;  Cato,  rosy  blush,  very 
fine  ;  Catawbiense  elegans,  a  beautiful  light  variety  ;  C.  grandiflorum, 
blush,  a  fine  truss  ;  C.  delicatissimum,  ditto,  changing  to  white,  very 
fine  ;  C.  roseum  grandiflorum,  C.  grandiflorum  :  these  two  are  splendid 
varieties,  with  large  trusses,  and  bloom  freely,  as  are  C.  roseum  elegans 
and  C.  roseum  pictum,  which,  like  the  above,  were  covered  with  bloom  ; 
C.  hyacinthiflorum,  a  double  kind,  distinct ;  C.  Everestianum,  a  good 
old  light  variety.  The  hybrids  from  R.  catawbiense  and  ponticum  are, 
many  of  them,  extremely  beautiful,  and  as  the  plants  are  hardy,  and 
will  grow  in  almost  any  soil ;  and  besides,  blooming  late  they  are  the 
sorts  to  select  for  extensive  planting.  The  other  hybrids,  including 
the  scarlets,  are  more  brilliant  in  colour,  but  scarcely  grow  so  free 
except  in  suitable  soil.  We  noticed  some  fine  plants  of  Kalmia  latifolia 
7  or  8  feet  high  and  nearly  as  many  through  ;  with  a  good  sprinkling 
of  Azaleas.  The  bringing  of  these  collections  together  is  a  good 
opportunity  for  country  gentlemen  and  gardeners  to  select  for  themselves. 


206  THE    FLORIST. 


NATIONAL  FLORICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

June  12. — The  Rev.  J.  Dix  in  the  chair.  The  following  are  the 
awards  of  the  censors,  Messrs.  Parsons,  Keynes,  Cook,  Andrew 
Henderson,  T  Moore,  and  Robinson,  who  furnished  the  following  report : 
— First  Class  Certificate  to  Pelargonium  Viola.  Habit  first-rate,  truss 
well  arranged,  formed  by  four  to  five  pips  ;  form  good,  size  full,  substance 
good,  upper  petals  deep  plum  maroon,  with  margin  of  pale  lilac ;  lower 
petals  pale  lilac,  throat  white,  colour  new,  and  general  good  qualities. 
From  G.  W.  Hoyle,  Esq.,  Reading. — First  Class  Certificate  to  Pelar- 
gonium Spotted  Gem.  Truss  of  five  pips,  form  first-rate,  size  full, 
substance  good,  colour  bright  rose,  with  beautifully  defined  spots  of 
dark  crimson  maroon  ;  throat  white.  From  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough. — 
First  Class  Certificate  to  Fancy  Pelargonium  Warrior.  Truss  five  to 
six  pips,  form  good,  size  full,  substance  thin,  upper  petals  rich  carmine, 
lower  petals  mottled  and  veined  with  same  colour,  throat  white.  From 
Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough. — First  Class  Certificate  to  Pansy,  Duchess  of 
Wellington.  Form,  size,  and  substance  all  very  first-rate  ;  colour, 
deep  velvet  purple  upper  petals,  and  broad  margin  of  same  on  lower 
petals ;  yellow  ground,  eye  well  defined.  From  Messrs.  Downie  and 
Laird,  Edinburgh. — First  Class  Certificate  to  Rose,  Bacchus.  Form 
good,  size  large,  substance  stout,  rich  glowing  carmine  crimson,  foliage 
large,  stout,  and  compact,  of  the  Bourbon  character ;  the  three  outer 
rows  of  petals  very  stout,  large,  and  fine,  remarkably  smooth  ;  centre 
petals  small,  well  arranged  throughout.  From  Messrs.  A.  Paul  & 
Son,  Cheshunt. — Certificate  of  Merit  to  Pelargonium,  Matilda.  Truss 
four  to  five  pips,  form  of  lower  petals  first-rate,  upper  petals  somewhat 
deficient,  full  size  and  stout,  bright  salmon  lower  petals,  upper  petals 
margined  with  same,  blotch  rich  crimson,  throat  clear  white,  a  new  and 
delicate  colour.  From  G.  W.  Hoyle,  Esq.,  Reading. — Certificate  of 
Merit  to  Pelargonium,  Standard.  Habit  good,  truss  four  pips,  flowers 
large,  lower  petals  first-rate,  upper  petals  somewhat  deficient,  colour 
bright  rose  lower  petals,  upper  petals  crimson  maroon,  throat  white. 
From  G.  W.  Hoyle,  Esq.,  Reading. — Certificate  of  Merit  to  Pelar- 
gonium, Emperor.  Truss  four  to  five  pips,  form  good,  size  average, 
substance  medium,  upper  petals  black  maroon  with  scarcely  a  margin, 
lower  petals  deep  carmine,  veined  ;  the  colour  of  this  flower  is  rich. 
From  E.  Beck,  Esq.,  Isleworth. — Certificate  of  Merit  to  Pelargonium, 
King  of  Scarlets.  Truss  somewhat  irregular,  five  pips  ;  form  and 
substance  but  medium,  colour  a  near  approach  to  scarlet,  and  for  that 
rewarded.  From  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough. — Certificate  of  Merit  to 
Pelargonium,  General  Williams.  Truss  four  to  five  pips,  form  and 
substance  good,  size  full,  upper  petals  rich  black  maroon,  regularly 
margined  with  carmine  ;  lower  petals  carmine  mottled  crimson,  throat 
white,  colours  rich.  From  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough. — Certificate  of 
Merit  to  Pelargonium,  Conspicuum.  Truss  five  pips,  stout,  bright 
rose,  with  distinct  and  dense  spots  of  maroon ;  in  all,  five  petals  ; 
attractive.  From  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough. — Certificate  of  Merit  to 
Pelargonium,  Prince  of  Prussia.     Truss  four  pips,  size  large,  substance 


JULY.  •  207 

good,  form  middling,  lower  petals  scarlet  crimson,  upper  petals  crimson 
maroon,  margined  with  iiery  crimson ;  throat  bluish  ;  colours  rich. 
From  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough. — Certificate  of  Merit  to  Fancy  Pelar- 
gonium, Helen  Faucit.  Truss  five  pips,  form  and  substance  good, 
size  full,  upper  petals  dense  rich  carmine,  lower  petals  paler.  From 
Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough. — Certificate  of  Merit  to  Fancy  Pelargonium, 
Emperor.  Truss  five  pips,  form  and  substance  good,  size  large,  upper 
petals  deep  maroon  margined  with  lilac,  lower  petals  spotted  with 
crimson,  throat  white.  From  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough. — Certificate  of 
Merit  to  Fancy  Pelargonium,  Carminatum.  Truss  four  to  five  pips, 
form  and  substance  good,  size  medium,  rich  bright  carmine,  with  a 
well-defined  throat  of  pure  white.  From  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough. — 
Certificate  of  Merit  to  "Heliotrope,  Miss  Nightingale.  Habit  good, 
trusses  large,  and  equally  in  bloom ;  light  lavender,  highly  fragrant, 
improved  truss,  with  well-expanded  flower.  From  Mr.  Field,  Kensal 
New  Town. — Certificate  of  Merit  to  Daisy,  Annie  Salter.  Quilled 
white,  deeply  edged  with  rose.     From  Mr.  Salter,  Hammersmith. 

The  following  subjects  were  also  exhibited  : — Pelargoniums:  Bianca. 
A  striking  flower  from  the  contrast  of  colours  ;  the  upper  petals  maroon, 
shading  off  to  a  narrow  belt  of  purple  near  the  edge,  and  bordered 
with  another   narrow  zone   of  white  ;  the  lower  petals  white,  almost 
imperceptibly  tinged  on  the  veins  with  purple.  Exhibited  by  Mr.  Hoyle. 
— Marvellous.  Upper  petals  dark  maroon,  with  narrow  rosy  edge  ;  the 
lower,  pink  with  crimson  veins  ;    throat  white ;  in  the  way  of  Beck's 
Emperor.     Exhibited  by  Mr.  Hoyle. — Rose  Raglan;  A  bold  flower, 
but  wavy ;  deep  rose,  passing  to  crimson  in  the  upper  petals,  which 
have  a  moderate-sized  dark  veiny   blotch. — Mr.   Hoyle.   The  upper 
petals  mottled  pink,  with  very  dark  blotch,  shading  off  to  veiny  crimson  ; 
lower  petals  also  marked  with  smaller  dark  spots.     Exhibited  by  Mr. 
Turner. — Hermione  (Hocken).  A  free-blooming  white  of  fair  properties, 
the  upper  petals  having  a  medium-sized  veiny  spot  of  crimson  maroon. 
Exhibited  by  Mr.  Turner. — Mr.   Beck.    Upper  petals  dark  maroon, 
passing  into  crimson,  and  edged  with  rose  pink ;  the  lower,  rose-pink 
with  maroon  spots.     Exhibited  by  Mr.  Turner. — Queen  of  the  Fairies. 
A  free  bloomer ;  the   upper   petals  blush  with  maroon  spot,  feathery, 
and  passing  into  crimson  towards   its   edge ;  the  lower,  with  smaller 
crimson   spots,  from  which   two  coloured   lines   extend  to  the   base. 
Exhibited  by   Mr.   Turner.     Fancy  Pelargoniums. — Sir   J.    Paxton. 
Upper  petals  maroon  purple,  white   at  the   edge ;   the  lower  heavily 
marked  with   mulberry.     Exhibited  by  Mr.  Turner. — Mrs.  Colman. 
Upper  petals  bronzy  rose,  with  white  border  ;  the  lower  heavily  marked 
with  paler  rosy  purple  ;    very  free.     Exhibited  by  Mr.  Turner.     Mr. 
Westwood,  of  Turnham  Green,  exhibited — Bijou.  A  variegated  variety  ; 
the  foliage  grayish,  edged  with  white   and  flaked  with  gray  ;  flowers 
bright  scarlet,  with  narrow    upper   petals.     Phloxes. — The  following 
was  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Downie  &  Laird,  Edinburgh : — Countess  of 
Morton.  A  tall  overgrown  variety,  with  bold  foliage  and  pyramidal 
heads    of   bloom  ;    flowers   1^  inch  in    diameter ;    pure  white,  well 
formed,   and  of   firm  texture.      Mr.   Cunningham  exhibited  Oculata 
Cunningham!    (inconveniently    long    in    name).    A    variety    of    P. 


208  THE    FLORIST. 

Drummondi ;  bright  pale  rose,  with  a  white  feathered  eye  ;  cut  blooms. 
Calceolarias. — From  Mr.  Oddy,  of  Epping,  came — Count  Cavour.  A 
shrubby  variety,  apparently  well  suited  for  bedding  ;  tlie  flowers  oval 
in  outline,  the  upper  lip  large  and  closing  the  mouth,  the  colour  clear 
bright  yellow  ;  cut  blooms.  Messrs.  A.  Henderson  &  Co.,  of  Edgeware 
Road,  exhibited — Brilliant.  Herbaceous ;  flowers  large,  broader  than 
long,  well  inflated,  rich  bronze,  unequally  marbled  with  yellow.  From 
Mr.  James,  of  Isleworth,  were  cut  blooms  of  several  bright- coloured 
spotted  herbaceous  varieties.  Verbena. — Mr.  Fozard,  of  Paddington, 
exhibited — Minnie.  Rosy  lilac,  with  dark  red  eye,  and  blotch  of  brighter 
rose  at  base  of  each  segment ;  good  truss  ;  flowers  large,  the  segments 
broad,  rather  wavy,  but,  except  the  lower  one,  without  notches. 

Recjistered Pot. — Mr.  Thorniley,  of  Heaton  Mersey,  near  Manchester, 
exhibited  under  this  name  a  new  garden  pot,  furnished  with  a  shallow 
ledge-like  trough  on  the  exterior  half-way  down,  with  holes  pierced 
through  to  the  interior,  the  object  being  to  more  readily  furnish 
moisture  to  pot-bound  plants.  The  contrivance  is  not  likely  to  become 
of  general  use. 

The  following  Prizes  were  awarded: — Pelargoniums:  1st,  Messrs. 
A.  Henderson  &  Co.,  Pine  Apple  Place,  for  Magnet,  Galate-,  end 
Painter  Improved.  These  were  in  bad  condition.  Fancy  Pelar- 
goniums: 1st,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  for  Cassandra,  Richard  Cobden,  and 
Erubescens  ;  2nd,  Messrs.  Henderson  &  Co.,  for  Constance,  Advancer, 
and  Formosissimum.  Calceolarias:  1st,  Messrs.  Henderson,  for  Agnes, 
Constance,  Leopard,  and  Louisa.  Mimuluses:  1st,  Mr.  G.  Smith,  for 
seedlings.  Pansies  in  pots  :  1st,  Mr.  Bragg,  for  Marchioness  of  Bath, 
Miss  Talbot.  Satisfaction,  Mr.  Thompson,  Kate,  and  Magnum  Bonum. 
Pansies,  24  blooms,  1st,  Messrs.  Downie  &  Laird,  for  Cyrus,  J.  B. 
Gough,  Royal  Standard,  Flower  of  the  Day,  Miss  Talbot,  Sir  J. 
Cathcart,  Miss  Walker,  Duchess  of  Wellington,  Jeanne,  Jubilee,  Alice, 
Indian  Chief,  Royal  Albert,  Sovereign,  Miriam,  Lady  Emily,  Nonpareil, 
Admiral  Dundas,  Satisfaction,  Royal  White,  Una,  Beauty,  Lord  John 
Russell,  and  Princess  ;  2nd,  Mr.  James,  for  Duke  of  Perth,  Pandora, 
Earl  Mansfield,  Duke  of  Newcastle,  Royal  Visit,  Father  Gavazzi,  Mrs. 
Campbell,  Marie,  Emperor,  Miss  Talbot,  Goldfinch,  Marion,  Argo,  Sir 
J.  Cathcart,  Flower  of  the  Day,  Jubilee,  C.  Cowan,  Sultan,  Isabella, 
Topaz," Beauty,  Great  Western,  and  Mary  Taylor;  3rd,  Mr.  Bragg, 
for  Black  Prince,  Marchioness  of  Bath.  Lord  John  Russell,  Telegraph, 
Blanche,  Grace  Darling,  Harlequin,  Miss  Talbot,  Dr.  Phillips,  Omni- 
flora.  Emperor,  Pandora,  Royal  Standard,  Lord  Cardigan,  Mr.  Bragg, 
Evangelina,  Glory,  Magnum  Bonum,  Sir  C.  Napier,  Sir  E.  Lyons, 
Mr.  Thompson,  Mrs.  Marriott,  Yellow  Model,  and  Seedling.  The 
Pansies  from  Messrs.  Downie  &  Laird,  of  Edinburgh,  were  very  fine. 
The  seedling  Pelargoniums  were  also  very  fine.  Altogether  it  was  a 
very  interesting  meeting. 


209 


GARDENERS'  ROYAL  BENEVOLENT  INSTITUTION. 
The  anniversary  dinner  of  this  excellent  charity  took  place  at  the 
London  Tavern,  on  Wednesday,  the  11th  of  June,  and  was  well 
attended;  S.r  Joseph  Paxton,  M.P.,  in  the  chair,  supported  by  Sir 
Charles  Fox,  Frank  Crossley,  Esq,  M.P.,  J.J.  Mechi,  Esq.,  imd 
several  gentlemen,  nurserymen,  and  many  of  the  leading  gardeners- 
The  interests  of  the  institution  were  ably  advocated  by  Sir  Joseph 
Paxton,  and  donations  to  the  amount  of  270/.  were  announced  dur  i  g 
the  evening.  A  liberal  supply  of  fruit  was  contributed  by  several 
friends  of  the  charity,  and  a  bank  of  Geraniums  and  other  plants  behind 
the  chair  added  very  much  to  the  decorations  of  the  room.  These  were 
gratuitously  contributed  by  Mr.  Charles  Turner,  Messrs.  Henderson 
and  Son,  and  other  nurserymen. 

On  the  9th  mst.  an  election  of  two  pensioners  on  the  funds  of  the 
charity  will  take  place,  and  subscribers  of  one  guinea  per  annum  are 
entitled  to  two  votes.  We  cannot  too  earnestly  recommend  the  institu- 
tion to  the  notice  of  our  readers,  to  many  of  whom  the  amount  of  the 
subscription  is  but  a  trifle,  whilst  to  the  charity  it  is  a  gain.  There 
are  .ixboen  candidates  at  the  next  election,  their  ages  ranging  from 
54  to  83  years  of  age,  and  the  greater  tiie  funds  at  the  disposal  of  the 
committee  the  more  they  will  be  able  to  increase  the  number  of  pen- 
sioners. 


THE  AMERICAN  EXHIBITION  IN  THE  REGENT'S  PARK. 
On  the  occasion  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Society's  June  show,  these  plants 
were  in  perfection,  and  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  see  a  grander  disi.lay 
of  flowers  at  one  time.  The  immense  undulated  banks  of  Rhododen- 
drons were  a  complete  mass  of  flower,  and  away  in  the  distance  could 
be  seen  a  magnificent  tree— which  seemed  to  look  almost  contemptu- 
ously on  its  smaller  companions — of  Lady  Eleanor  Cathcart,  towering 
above  the  rest.  There  is  this  year  an  improvement  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  ground,  and  the  plants  are  exclusively  Rhododendrons. 
We  last  year  described  many  of  the  best  varieties  in  the  preceding 
exhibition,  and  on  the  present  occasion  we  particularly  noticed — 
Mr.  Johr>  Waterer,  a  very  fine  variety,  deep   scarlet  with  dark  spots.     This 

should  be  in  every  collection,  as  it  is  one  of  the  finest,  if  not  the  finest 

of  the  scarlets,  and  is  a  free  bloomer. 
Mrs.  John  Waterer,  pale  rosy  scarlet  with  spots,  fine  truss ;  a  fitting  com- 
panion for  the  other,  and  of  a  different  shade  of  colour. 
Lady  Eleanor  Cathcart,  soft  salmon   blush,  with  very  dark  spots,  very  free 

bloomer.     This  is  a  beautiful  variety,  of  great  merit. 
Brayanum,  soft  rosy  scarlet,  fine  form  and  truss.     This  is  an  exceedmgly 

fine  variety,  worthy  to  be  in  every  collection. 
Concessum,  delicate  blush  pink  with  warm  pink   margin,  good  form  and 

truss.     A  very  fine  light  variety,  of  great  beauty,  an<l  a  good  bloomer. 
Fleur  de  Marie,  light  rose  with  bright  salmon  rose  margm,  good  form,  but 

rather  loose  truss.     A  variety  possessing  beautiful  colours  and  much 

to  recommend  it. 

NEW    SERIES,    VOL.    VI.,    NO.     LXVII,  ^ 


210  THE    FLORIST. 

Maculatum  grandiflorum,  pale  rosy  purple  with  lighter  centre,  dark  spots, 
large  truss,  and  a  very  free  bloomer.  A  very  showy  variety,  contrasting 
well  with  its  surrounding  neighbours. 

Everestianum,  an  excellent  light  coloured  border  variety,  and  a  dense 
bloomer. 

Gloriosum.  partakes  of  the  "  catawbiense  "  habit,  with  immense  trusses  of 
pale  silvery  blush  flowers. 

Blandyanum,  bright  rosy  scarlet,  fine  truss,  and  a  free  bloomer.  A  first 
class  variety. 

Blatteum,  spotted  like  "  Victoria,"  but  not  so  dark  in  colour  as  that  variety. 
Both  are  very  free  bloomers  and  good,  but  Victoria  is  the  least  showy. 

Reedianum,  one  of  the  best  and  most  useful  in  the  whole  collection,  and 
should  be  in  every  garden  where  Rhododendrons  are  used.  It  is  a 
variety  of  ponticum  habit,  partaking  of  the  characteristics  of  that 
variety,  evidently  quite  hardy  and  a  late  bloomer ;  bright  rosy  scarlet 
colour  with  spots.  Tliis  variety  will  be  valuable,  as  it  is  so  bright  and 
a  later  bloomer  than  many  of  the  scarlet  varieties. 

Levefrianum,  bright  rose  tinged  with  purple,  and  with  very  dark  spots.  A 
fine  attractive  variety. 

Delicatum,  pale  blush  tinged  with  deep  blush,  with  green  spots;  good  truss, 
a  very  showy  free  blooming  variety. 

Roseum  eiegans,  soft  pale  rose  and  a  dense  bloomer  ;  excellent  for  out-door 
decoration.  A  superb  standard  of  this  variety  was  planted  near  the 
fine  specimen  of  Lady  Eleanor  Cathcart  we  have  alluded  to. 


HORTICULTURAL   SOCIETY. 
The  adjourned  special  meeting  of  this   Society  took  place  in   Regent- 
street  on  June  24,  to  receive  the  Report  of  the  Council  and  decide  on 
the  future  plans  which  the   Report  nriight  recommend  ;  Col.  Challoner 
in  the  chair. 

The  Report  informed  the  meeting  that  of  the  sum  of  5000/.  originally 
fixed  on,  as  the  amount  to  be  subscribed  to  enable  the  Council  to  carry 
on  the  gardens  at  Chiswick,  3256/.  Is.  had  been  promised  in  furtherance 
of  that  object ;  but  as  this  sum  was  promised  only  on  the  conditions 
that  the  full  amount  should  be  subscribed,  they  could  not  avail  them- 
selves of  any  part  of  it ;  and  it  therefore  remained  for  the  Council  to 
consider  whether  or  not  other  plans  might  not  be  resorted  to,  to  avoid 
if  possible  (which  every  Fellow  of  the  Society  must  regret),  giving  up 
the  lease  of  the  Chiswick  garden,  and  thereby  abandoning  the  most 
important  part  of  the  Society's  operations.  With  these  views  the 
Council  asked  for  the  meeting  to  confirm  the  powers  already  granted 
them  by  the  bye-laws  of  the  Society,  so  as  to  enable  them  to  exercise 
their  discretion  as  to  what  part  of  the  Society's  property  should  be  first 
disposed  of.  The  Report  stated  that  could  the  Council  obtain  sufficient 
room  for  the  purpose  of  the  London  exhibitions,  &c.,  either  in  Burling- 
ton House  or  some  other  Government  building,  they  would  consider 
whether  it  might  not  be  advisable  to  dispose  of  their  present  office  in 
Regent-street,  the  value  of  which  was  estimated  at  nearly  5000/.  ;  this 
would  materially  relieve  their  fixed  debt.     (We  understood  an  applica- 


JULY.  211 

tion  to  Government  was  about  to  be  made,  for  the  purpose  of  ascer- 
taining how  far  Government  would  agree  to  afford  them  the  necessary- 
room.)  In  the  next  place  they  will  take  into  consideration  whether  or 
not  a  uniform  rate  of  two  guineas,  as  the  annual  subscription  of  Fellows, 
should  not  be  substituted  for  four  guineas,  the  amount  at  present  paid. 
But  the  privileges  of  existing  Fellows  to  be  by  no  means  curtailed. 
Although  the  Council  do  not,  and  in  fact  could  not,  pledge  themselves 
as  to  whether  they  should  keep  on  the  gardens  or  not,  the  Report  stated 
that  every  available  means  should  be  tried  before  an  event  so  disastrous 
to  Horticulture  should  be  allowed  to  take  place  ;  and  that  nothing  short 
of  the  determination  of  the  Council  not  to  increase  their  present 
liabilities  on  any  account,  would  induce  them  to  abandon  them.  They 
hoped,  by  widening  the  basis  of  the  subscription,  and  by  good  manage- 
ment, to  be  able  to  retain  the  gardens  ;  and  with  the  expression  of  their 
desire  to  effect  this,  hoped  the  meeting  would  strengthen  their  hands  by 
affirming  the  Report. 

It  was  moved  by  J.  J.  Blandy,  Esq.,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Spencer, 
"  That  the  Report  be  received."  Considerable  discussion  followed, 
several  Fellows  asking  for  information  on  various  parts  of  it.  The 
general  tone  of  the  discussion  was  entirely  in  favour  of  the  Report,  and 
a  resolution  embodying  the  principles  of  it  was  then  put  from  the  chair 
and  carried  unanimously. 

We  can  only  say,  that  we  consider  the  Report  was  the  only  one  which, 
under  the  peculiar  circumstances  under  which  the  Council  are  placed, 
could  be  presented.  Should  the  Council  succeed  in  obtaining  apart- 
ments from  Government  or  elsewhere,  the  sum  which  the  house  in 
Regent-street  would  bring  would  go  a  long  way  towards  liquidating  the 
more  pressing  claims  against  the  Society  ;  and  when  once  the  Council 
can  see  their  way  clear  to  retain  the  gardens,  and  this  fact  becomes 
known  to  the  public,  we  have  no  doubt  that  many  of  the  subscribers  to 
the  garden  fund  will  allow  their  subscriptions  to  remain,  as  adverted  to 
in  the  Report ;  and  should  this  be  the  case,  a  large  portion  of  the 
Society's  debt  will  be  provided  for,  many  gentlemen  in  the  room  having 
promised  to  double  their  subscription  when  they  knew  for  a  certainty 
that  the  gardens  would  be  retained. 


WEIGELA  AMABILIS. 
In  your  number  for  May,  page  139,  is  a  notice  of  this  plant,  comparing 
it  with  rosea,  which,  as  an  early  forcing  pot  shrub,  it  far  surpasses,  and 
only  requires  to  be  more  known  to  become  a  general  favourite,  and 
admired  as  much,  I  have  no  doubt,  as  it  has  been  here  for  the  last  two 
seasons.  It  blossoms  freely  in  a  48  sized  pot ;  its  light  graceful 
branches,  when  covered  with  pinky  blooms,  make  it  a  fit  companion 
for  the  pretty  Deutzia  gracilis,  which  it  much  resembles  in  the  treat- 
ment it  requires.  When  done  blooming  I  cut  the  plants  down  hke 
the  latter,  inducing  them  to  make  as  many  young  shoots  as  possible 
for  the  next  season's  display.  By  a  succession  it  can  be  had  in  b^om 
from  February  up  to  the  present  month.  J  •  ■'^  • 

p2 


212 


THE    FLORIST. 


WARDIAN  CASE  AND  AQUARIUM  COMBINED. 
[The   following   is    extracted,    by    permission,    from   the    Gardeners' 
Chronicle.     The  second  illustration  is  our  own.] 

Not  being  aware  that  a  fresh-water  aquarium  has  before  been  con- 
nected with  a  Wardian  case,  I  beg  to  furnish  you  with   sketches   of  a 


contrivance  combining  the  tw9,  which  I  have  had  in  operation  for  some 
time.  The  apparatus  consists  of  four  parts  made  of  flint  glass,  with  a 
little  cobalt,  to  give  it  a  tinge  of  blue.     Contrivances  of  this  kind  are 


JULY. 


2/^ 


made  of  various  sizes.  In  the  one  from  which  the  first  sketch  was  taken, 
the  tank  which  contains  the  water  in  which  are  the  aquatic  plants, 
fishes,  mollusks,  and  insects  is  about  twelve  inches  in  diameter  and 
about  nine  inches  deep  ;  near  the  top  in  the  inside  is  a  flange  with  a 
groove,  into  which  runs  the  condensed  water  from  the  bell-glass,  which 
forms  the  Wardian  case  for  the  Ferns,  Lycopods,  &c. ;  from  the  groove 
it  descends  to  the  tank  below.  Into  the  centre  of  this  vessel  I  put  the 
glass  pedestal.     I  then  cover  the  bottom  with  about  2|  inches  of  fresh, 


but  not  very  rich  soil,  in  which  I  plant  my  aquatics:  I  use  for  this 
purpose  Valisneria  spiralis,  Aponogeton  distachyon,  Nymphsea  odorata 
minor,  and  N.  macrantha.  On  tlie  soil  I  put  one  inch  of  well  washed 
flints,  or  sea  gravel,  which  prevents  the  insects  or  mollusks  from  makmg 
the  water  toul.  1  then  introduce  the  water  through  a  fine  rose  to  about 
four  or  five  inches  deep,  into  which  I  put  gold  fish  (small)  or  stickle- 
backs, or  any  other  small  fish,  mollusks,  Succinea  putiis,  Planorbis 
corneus,  carinatus,  and  marginalis,  Cyclas  rivicola  and  cornea  ;  msects 
—any  species  of  Colymbetes,  Hygrotu?,  Hadaticus,  Gyrnius,  and 
several  other  aquatic  genera ;  care  nmst  be  taken  not  to  introduce  any 
of  the  large  carnivorous  larvse.     I  then  prepare  for  introducing  the 


214  THE    FLORIST. 

plants  proper  for  a  small  Wardian  case — I  put  the  soil  into  a  blue  glass 
dish,  with  a  rim  at  the  bottom  to  keep  it  steady  on  the  pedestal ;  this 
dish  is  1|  inch  deep  by  seven  in  diameter,  the  soil  is  raised  in  the 
centre  about  two  inches;  in  this  1  plant  the  tallest  Feins  or  Lycopods, 
and  the  smaller  round  the  edge  of  the  dish.  Ihe  Ferns  I  plant  are 
Adiantum  Capillus  Veneris,  Lastra?a  dilatata  Sthofieldi,  a  beautiful  small 
Yorkshire  variety ;  Asplenium  viride  and  trichomanes ;  Asplenium 
fontanum,  &c. ;  Lycopods  Willdenovi,  umbrosum,  stoloniferum,  mutu- 
bile,  densum,  and  lepidophyllum.  "When  planted  I  cover  the  soil  in 
imitation  of  rockwork  with  agates  and  pebbks  of  any  sort.  I  then  give 
the  whole  a  good  watering  before  placing  the  dish  on  the  pedestal ;  the 
whole  is  then  covered  with  the  bell-glass.  One  before  me  at  the  present 
time  has  been  standing  in  a  window  eight  months,  the  water  has  never 
been  changed,  or  any  addition  made  except  a  small  quantity  once  given 
to  the  Ferns,  &c.,  in  the  dish.  Should  the  water  become  green  in  the 
summ.er  a  small  piece  of  gutta-percha  pipe,  with  a  small  rose  at  the  end, 
will  draw  off  the  water,  which  may  be  replaced.  The  beil-glass  may 
likewise  be  removed  with  benefit  to  the  plants,  and  a  sprinkling  of  water 
given  them. 

Museum,  York.  Henry  Baines. 


THE  SCOTTISH  PANSY  SOCIETY. 
This  Society  held  its  first  meeting  for  the  season  at  the  Caledonian 
Society's  Garden,  Inverleith,  Edinburgh,  on  the  5th  ult.  For  some 
time  previous,  the  weather  had  been  unusually  unfavourable,  and  much 
against  the  success  of  growers  in  exposed  situations,  many  of  whom 
were  unable  to  make  up  their  stands ;  consequently,  the  flowers  pro- 
duced were  not  as  numerous  as  usual ;  those  which  were  exhibited, 
however,  were  quite  up  to  the  usual  average — indeed,  some  of  the 
stands,  especially  in  the  Gardeners'  and  Amateurs'  classes,  were  superior 
to  those  brought  forward  in  1855.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the 
awards  ;  to  avoid  useless  repetition,  the  names  only  of  the  flowers  in  the 
winning  stands  are  given. 

Nurserymen,  best  24 : — 1st,  Messrs.  Downie  and  Laird,  Edinburgh, 
with  ^ir  Colin  Campbell  (Pater  &  Small),  Duchess  of  Wellington 
(Downie  &  Laird),  Royal  Standard  (Dickson  &  Co.),  Jubilee 
(D.  &  Co.),  J.  B.  Gough  (D.  &  L.),  Father  Gavazzi  (Holland),  Cyrus 
(D.  &  Co.),  Flower  of  the  Day  (D.  &  L.),  Lord  Raglan  (P.  &  S.), 
Princess  (D.  &  Co.),  Lady  Emily  (D.  &  L.),  Lord  J.  Russell  (Turner), 
Rev.  H.  Gosset  (Turner),  Beauty  (D.  &  L.),  Jeannie  (D.  &  L),  Alice 
(D.  &  L.),  St.  Andrews  (D.  &  L.),  Miriam  (D.  &  Co.),  Gem  (Syme  & 
Middlemas),  Farl  of  Cardigan  (Holland),  Sovereign  (D.  &  Co.),  Non- 
pareil (D.  &  Co.),  Sir  J.  Cathcart  (Turner),  Indian  Chief  (D.  &  Co.)  ; 
2nd,  Messrs.  J.  Dickson  &  Sons  ;  3rd,  Mr.  J.  Black,  Currie ;  4th, 
Messrs.  Robertson,  Paul  &  Co.,  Paisley. 

Gardeners  and  Amateurs,  best  18; — 1st,  Mr.  James  Henderson, 
gardener  to  C.  K.  Sivewright,  Esq.,  Cargilfield,  with  Flower  of  the  Day 


jui.Y.  215 

(D.  &  L.),  Mrs.  Dodwell  (Fisher),  Sir  J.  Cathcart  (Turner),  Royal 
Albert  (Turner),  Lord  Raglan  (P.  &  S.),  Royal  Standard  (D.  &  Co.), 
Charles  Cowan  (M'Nab),  Alice  (D.  &  L.),  Beauty  (D.  &  L.),  Emperor 
(Hale),  Jeannie  (D.  &  L.),  Cyrus  (D.  &  Co.),  Sir  R.  Kapier  (— ), 
Duke  of  Perth  (Handasyde),  Lord  J.  Russell  (Turner),  Minerva 
(D.  &  Co.),  Monarch  (Hale),  Mesmerist  (Veitch)  ;  2nd,  Mr.  T.  Reid, 
gardener,  Broomfield,  Blackhall ;  3rd,  Mr.  Alexander  Shearer,  gardener 
to  Marquis  of  Tweeddale,  Yester ;  4th,  Mr.  W.  Campbell,  gardener, 
Pollock,  Glasgow. 

Gardeners  and  Amateurs,  best  12 : — 1st,  Mr.  Shearer,  gardener, 
Yester,  with  Fanny  Kemble  ( — ),  Lady  Emily  (D.  &  L.),  Miriam 
(D.  &  Co.),  Alice  (D.  &  L.),  British  Queen  (D.  &  Co.),  Sovereign 
(D.  &  Co.),  Earl  of  Mansfield  (D.  &  Co.),  Cyrus  (D.  &  Co.),  Juventa 
(Hooper);  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  (M'Nab),  Monarch  (Hale),  St.  Andrevjr 
(D.  &  L.)  ;  2nd,  Mr.  W.  Campbell,  Pollock  ;  3rd,  Mr.  MTntosh, 
gardener,  Inglis  Green  ;  4th,  Mr.  Hampton,  Dundee. 

Gardeners  and  Amateurs,  best  6: — 1st,  Mr.  M'Intosh,  vsrith  Duke 
of  Sutherland  (  I  inley),  Alice  (D.  &  L.),  Flower  of  the  Day  (D.  &  L.), 
Father  Gavazzi  (Holland),  Alpheus  (D.  &  Co.),  J.  B.  Gough  (D.  &  L.); 
2nd,  Mr.  J.  Cunningham,  Cowglen  Cottage,  Glasgow ;  3rd,  Mr.  Hen- 
derson. 

Classes  open  to  all,  best  12 — 4  yellow,  4  light  grounds,  and  4  selfs : 
— 1st,  Mr.  J.  Cunningham,  with  Father  Gavazzi  (Holland),  Alice 
(D.  &  L.),  Lord  J.  Russell  (Turner),  Cyrus  (D.  &  Co.),  Charles  Cowan 
(M'xNab),  Sir  C.  Campbell  (P.  &  S.),  Royal  Standard  (D.  &  Co.), 
Princess  (1).  &  Co.),  Wonderful  (Hooper),  Jeannie  (D.  &  L.),  Royal 
White  (Thompson),  St  Andrews  (D.  &  L.)  ;  2nd,  Mr.  James  Gibson, 
Glasgow  ;  3rd,   Mr.  Henderson. 

Amateurs  exclusively,  who  cultivate  their  own  plants,  best  6: — 1st, 
Mr.  J.  Cunningham,  with  Cyrus  (D.  &  Co.),  Sir  C.  Campbell  (P.  &  S.), 
Jeannie  (D.  &  L.),  Alice  (D.  &  L.),  Mrs.  Dodwell  (Fisher),  Miss 
Talbot,  (D.  &  Co.)  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Alexander  W.  Lamond,  Arbroath  ;  3rd, 
Dr.  Stuart,  Chirnside. 

Sweepstakes : — Mr.  Wm.  Campbell,  Pollock,  with  Yellow  Climax 
(P.  &  S).  Sir  C.  Campbell,  (P.  &  S.),  Lord  John  Russell  (Turner), 
Duke  of  Sutherland  (Tinley).  Princess  (D.  &  Co.),  Father  Gavazzi 
(Holland),  Sir  C.  Napier  (P.  &  S.),  Royal  Standard  (D.  &  Co.),  Sir  J. 
Cathcart  (Turner),  Satisfaction  (Turner),  St.  Andrews  (D.  &  L.), 
Royal  White  (Thompson). 

JBest  Self  in  the  Room  : — Mr.  J.  Cunningham,  with  Jeannie  (D.&L.). 

Best  Yellow  ground  : — Messrs.  Downie  and  Laird,  with  Cyrus 
(D.  &  Co.). 

Best  Light  ground  : — Mr.  James  Henderson,  with  Royal  Standard, 
(D.  &  Co.). 

Best  Pansy  in  the  Room  : — Mr.  J.  Cunningham's  bloom  of  Jeannie. 

Best  Dark  Self  in  Amateurs'  class  : — Mr.  J.  Cunningham  with 
Jeannie. 

Best  Yellow  ditto: — Dr.  Stuart,  Chirnside,  with  Sovereign  (D.&Co.). 

Best  Yellow  ground  : — Mr.  J.  Cunningham,  with  Cyrus  (D.  &  Co.). 

Best  Light  ditto  : — Mr.  J.  Cunningham,  with  Sir  C.  Campbell  (P.&  S.). 


216  THE    FLORIST. 

Cyrus,  which  won  the  prize  for  the  best  yellow  ground  in  1855, 
was,  it  will  be  seen,  again  successful  this  season ;  the  same  also  was  the 
case  with  Royal  Standard  among  the  light  grounds  ;  establishing  these 
two  at  the  head  of  their  respective  classes.  With  respect  to  the  above 
there  seemed  to  be  no  doubt  as  to  which  was  the  best  variety  in  its 
class  ;  the  only  difficulty  was  which  bloom  to  select  of  each.  The 
bloom  of  Jeannie  which  won  the  prize  for  the  best  self,  and  also  that 
for  the  best  flower  in  the  room,  was  an  exceedingly  fine  one,  far 
superior  to  any  other  of  the  same  variety  which  was  exhibited  on  the 
occasion,  most  of  which  were  deficient  in  smoothness. 

Many  seedlings  were  sent  in  competition  for  the  prizes  offered.  No 
award,  however,  was  made,  as  none  of  them  came  up  to  the  require- 
ment "  that  they  must  be  superior  to  varieties  already  known  in  their 
class." 

The  Scottish  Pansy  Society  has  now  been  in  operation  for  twelve  years, 
during  which  period  it  has  effected  much  improvement  in  the  flower 
which  it  so  liberally  encourages — many  are  the  sterhng  good  varieties 
which  it  has  been  the  means  of  calling  into  existence.  The  interest 
shown  in  the  Society  seems  to  be  on  the  increase ;  for  at  the  general 
meeting  held  after  the  exhibition,  the  contributions  towards  the  prize 
fund  for  1857  were  considerably  larger  than  has  been  the  case  on  any 
previous  occasion. 


GRASS?  OR  MOSS?  ON  LAWNS. 
Fond  as  I  am  of  every  part  of  my  garden,  and  of  every  one  of  its 
inmates,  I  think  its  lawn  ranks  highest  with  me  ;  perhaps  because  its 
velvet  surface  is  the  best  platform  from  whence  to  see  the  serpentine 
belt  of  minature  fruit  trees  and  flowers,  and  flowering  shrubs,  by  which 
it  is  engirdled  ;  perhaps  because  it  has  cost  me  some  time,  trouble,  and 
expence  to  bring  it  to  its  present  smoothness.  But,  that  human 
pleasure  in  things  mundane  may  not  be  unalloyed,  I  was  troubled  last 
year,  as  the  whale  is  said  to  be,  by  a  peculiar  insect,  from  which  it 
cannot  shake  itself  free,  by  a  fear  that  the  moss  which  I  saw  in  patches 
over  the  whole  of  it,  might  in  time  supersede  the  grass  and  leave  my 
beautiful  carpet  threadbare  and  unsightly.  After  the  first  mowing 
this  spring  I  carefully  examined  it,  and  discovered,  or  thought  I 
discovered,  to  my  horror  that  the  enemy  was  gaining  upon  me.  Just 
at  this  time  the  Gardeners  Chronicle  came  to  my  rescue,  and  in  an 
answer  to  some  correspondent  who  was"  suffering  from  the  same  disease, 
said,  "  Water  your  lawn  with  gas- water.  The  moss  will  die  and  the 
grass  flourish."  With  a  proud  consciousness  of  certain  victory  I  went 
immediately  to  the  gas-works,  hired  a  water-cart  and  two  men,  and 
in  spite  of  the  exclamations  of  my  family,  who  afl  declared  they 
should  be  poisoned  (in  fact  there  izas  some  danger  of  the  younger 
children  being  stifled  by  the  fumes  of  highly  creosoted  ammonia  and 
hydrosulphuric  acid)  in  the  course  of  the  day  150  gallons  of  gas-water, 
diluted  with  300  gallons  from  the  pond,  were  distributed  over  the 
lawn,  with  effects  that  are  worth  recording. 


JULY.  217 

In  the  first  place  the  children  did  not  die,  though  the  moss  did. 
The  gases  are  all  very  volatile,  and  the  water-pots  had  hardly  ceased 
their  work  when  the  horrible  stench  Had  dissipated  itself.  But,  under 
the  influence  of  the  stimulant,  the  grass,  each  part  as  it  was  watered, 
assumed  the  delicate  green  of  fresh  growth,  all  the  more  striking  from 
the  general  stagnation  around,  owing  to  the  long  drought  and  the  cold 
north-east  winds.  But,  by  the  next  day,  this  had  changed  to  a 
suspicious  apple  green  ;  by  the  day  after  to  a  decided  yellow,  which 
finally  turned  to  the  brown  of  death  ;  in  which  state  it  continued  a 
full  fortnight.  Oh,  that  fortnight !  The  titterings  of  the  family  might 
be  silenced  by  the  voice  of  authority  ;  but  it  required  the  self-conmiand 
of  a  courtier  to  answer,  with  an  unruffled  mind,  the  condolence  of  one 
friend  at  the  extent  to  which  my  beautiful  lawn  had  suffered  by  the 
trying  spring  ;  the  enquiries  of  another,  who  called  on  purpose  to  know 
whether  I  had  been  using  arsenic  to  poison  the  worms  ;  and  the 
impertinence  of  a  third  who  thought  I  had  done  it  to  have  it  all  gravel. 
I  almost  myself  believed  at  last  that  the  grass  was  injured.  That, 
however,  was  not  to  be  added  to  the  list  of  my  annoyances.  The 
Gardeners'  Chronicle  was  right.  The  moss  has  slowly  perished,  and 
the  grass  has  still  more  slowly  shown  an  intention  of  supplying  its 
place,  though  it  seems  more  rank  than  it  was  and  less  velvety.  But 
the  unkindest  cut  of  all  was  still  to  come  ;  and  that  was  a  question  put 
to  me  by  a  knowing  one,  "  But  why  did  you  wish  to  get  rid  of  it  ? 
Beaton  considers  moss  good  for  a  lawn,  as  he  stated  not  long  ago  in 
the  Cottage  Gardener,  in  reply  to  some  one  who  asked  how  to 
destroy  it  ?  "  Really  the  question  never  occurred  to  me  before.  Will 
you  kindly  answer  it  for  me,  and  tell  me  whether  I  ought  to  have 
wished  to  destroy  it ;  for  certainly  the  moss  is  both  the  softest  and  the 
driest  part  to  walk  upon.  It  is  gone  now,  every  shred  of  it,  and  for 
twenty-four  hours  after  every  mowing  the  places  look  patchy,  where 
it  once  did  its  best  to  please  me.  And  is  it  absolutely  true  that  I  have 
spent  fifteen  shillings,  incurred  much  of  domestic  reproach,  and  trial 
of  the  serenity  of  my  temper,  and  encouraged  sympathizing  or 
facetious  remarks  from  neighbours,  all  to  get  rid  of  my  best  friend  ? 
In  other  words — is  moss  bad  for  a  lawn  ? 

Iota. 

[On  lawns  which  have  been  mown  for  a  number  of  years.  Moss  is 
frequently  met  with,  particularly  when  the  soil  is  dry  and  sandy.  We 
do  not  consider  it  objectionable,  as  it  assumes  its  greatest  luxuriance  in 
the  autumn  and  winter  months,  when  the  natural  Grasses  go  into  a 
state  of  rest ;  and  as  the  Grasses  grow  in  the  spring,  the  Mosses  mostly 
die  away,  and  are  soon  hidden.  Unless,  therefore,  its  growth  pre- 
ponderated greatly,  and  was  destroying  the  Grass,  we  do  not  recommend 
it  to  be  eradicated  ;  and  not  then  by  such  a  dangerous  remedy  as  gas 
water,  whose  effects  are  worse  a  hundred  times  than  the  disease. 
Where  the  Grass  on  lawns  gets  thin,  sow  among  it  in  April  or  August 
a  mixture  of  Crested  Dog's-tail,  Sheep's  Fescue,  and  Wood  Meadow 
Grass,  with  a  little  Trifolium  minus — these  will  spring  up  and  thicken 
the  bottom  ;  or  dress  your  lawns  over  in  April  with  a  mixture  of 
guano,  superphosphate  of  lime,  and  nitrate  of  soda.     Any  respectable 


218  THE    FLORIST. 

dealer  in  artificial  manures  will  make  you  up  a  mixture  of  the  above 
of  the  proper  proportion  for  the  extent  of  lawn  ;  this  will  greatly 
improve  the  appearance  of  your  lawn,  by  promoting  a  close  thick 
growth,  without  driving  the  Grasses  too  much  ;  and  we  strongly 
recommend  you  to  try  this,  if  your  Moss  again  gains  on  you. — Ed.] 


CRYSTAL  PALACE  EXHIBITION. 

The  Company  was  favoured  with  fine  weather  for  their  second 
show  this  season,  which  took  place  on  Wednesday  and  Thursday, 
the  25th  and  26th  ult.  The  arrangement  of  the  plants  this  time 
was  somewhat  different  from  that  in  May,  and  was,  perhaps,  the 
best  that  could  have  been  adopted  under  the  circumstances  ;  still, 
however,  we  feel  compelled  to  adhere  to  our  opinion  that  nothing 
beats  the  open  lawn  and  canvas  tents  for  rendering  a  flower-show 
effective  and  pleasing.  As  it  was,  however,  the  alteration  was  an 
improvement,  and  on  the  first  day  upwards  of  14,000  people  visited 
the  budding.  The  display  was  chiefly  confined  to  the  principal  transept, 
along  the  sides  and  middle  of  which  the  plants  were  tastefully  arranged, 
and  in  the  centre,  so  as  to  form  an  object  at  once  grand  and  striking, 
was  a  raised  circular  dais  or  clump  quite  30  feet  in  diameter,  surmounted 
by  an  Araucaria,  and  surrounded  with  stove  and  greenhouse  plants. 
Here  Mr.  Collyer's  noble  specimens  were  exhibited  to  much  advantage, 
as  well  as  those  from  other  growers.  On  the  two  stages  in  the  middle 
were  Orchids,  Ferns,  and  Pitcher  Plants,  all  of  which,  we  need  not  say, 
associate  well  together,  and  round  the  sides  were  variegated  plants, 
of  which  there  were  several  charming  collections;  Azaleas,  Pelargoniums, 
Roses,  and  Heaths. 

The  ends  of  the  stages,  at  the  four  corners  where  the  nave 
crosses  the  transept,  were  rounded  off  in  an  architectural  and 
tasteful  manner,  by  means  of  circular  stagefuls  of  plants  crowned  with 
different  kinds  of  figures  in  statuary,  which  overtopping  and  looking 
down,  as  it  were,  upon  the  plants,  served  to  furnish  variety,  and  set 
the  latter  off  to  good  advantage.  The  magnificent  Orange  trees,  too, 
with  their  lively  green  foliage,  rearing  their  heads  above  the  stages  in 
front  of  them,  served  to  fill  up  the  spaces  between  the  top  of  the 
plants  and  the  lower  gallery ;  while  above  these,  again,  the  gaiety  was 
maintained  by  the  hanging  baskets,  about  which  there  was  a  wild 
beauty  and  luxuriance  which  was  quite  delightful. 

With  respect  to  the  exhibition,  the  names  of  the  different  plants 
composing  the  great  classes  of  which  it  was  chiefly  made  up,  having 
been  fully  given  in  our  report  of  the  Royal  Botanic  show,  which  will 
be  found  in  another  page,  little  more  now  remains  for  us  to  do  than  to 
refer  to  the  new  things  which  were  produced  on  this  occasion. 

Though  not  in  flower,  Mr.  Glendinning,  of  Chiswick,  furnished  some 
interesting  plants,  among  which  were  the  new  Larch  called  Abies 
Ktempferi,  to  which  we  hope  to  allude  more  particularly  by-and-by  ; 
a  species  of  Rhanmus,  from  which  the  green  dye  of  China  was  said  to 
be  obtained  ;  and  an  Orange  from  the  North  of  China,  which  was  stated 


JULY.  219 

to  be  hardy  ;  it  is  furnished  with  sharp  spines  and  small  cut  leaves. 
The  same  exhibitor  likewise  showed  Erica  Spenceriana,  of  which  we 
hope  soon  to  give  a  coloured  representation.  Messrs.  Veitch  sent 
Philesia  buxifoha,  flowering  freely  in  a  small  state  ;  Sonerila,  Leptodac- 
tylon,  two  Nidularias,  a  species  of  Capsicum  with  yellow  Iruit ;  Ixora 
floribunda  and  Lobbi  ;  Gesnera  Doncklaari,  of  which  we  some  time  ago 
gave  a  coloured  plate,  and  beautiful  plants  of  Wellingtonia.  The  same 
firm  also  showed  Rhopala  Jonghi,  Myrtus  microphylla,  Ouvirandra 
fenestralis,  or  Water  Yam,  of  which  we  lately  gave  a  drawing  ot  a  leaf; 
Aralia  japonica,  and  Theophrasta  imperialis  ;  the  last  has  leaves  of 
great  size.  Of  flowering  plants,  though  not  all  quite  new,  Messrs. 
Veitch  had  a  fine  variety  of  broad-leaved  Kalinia  called  picta,  two 
Hoyas,  an  Aerides,  the  beautiful  pink-flowered  Rhododendron  called 
Princess  Royal,  a  parasol-shaped  plant  of  Lapageria  rosea,  beautifully 
flowered,  a  yellow  annual  called  Wartzia  aurea,  and  a  Thibaudia. 
Messrs.  Jackson,  of  Kingston,  sent  the  white  variety  of  Agapanthus 
umbellatus,  which  is  rather  a  pretty  plant.  From  the  above,  some 
idea  may  possibly  be  gathered  of  what  kind  of  rarities  this  exhibition 
was  possessed ;  and  as  our  space  is  but  limited,  let  us  now  pass  on  to 
the  florist  flowers. 

For  collections  of  twelve  Pelargoniums,  Mr.  Turner  was 
a  long  distance  before  the  other  competitors.  The  only  variety 
shown  that  we  have  not  before  seen  this  season  was  a  fine  plant  of 
Portia.  Messrs.  Dobson,  Messrs.  Fraser,  and  Mr.  Gaines  came  next, 
and  an  extra  prize  to  Mr.  Cutbush.  Private  growers  for  six  plants, 
Mr.  Holder,  gardener  to  the  Rev.  E.  Coleridge,  Eton  College,  was 
first ;  second  prize,  Mr.  Windsor.  Mr.  C.  Turner  sent  twelve  plants 
of  twelve  fancy  kinds :  these  were  beautifully  flowered,  and  were 
deservedly  first.  Lady  of  the  Lake,  Queen  of  Roses,  Cloth  of  Silver, 
and  Evening  Star,  were  very  good  in  modern  varieties.  Celestial, 
Cassandra,  Magnum  Bonum,  Perfection,  and  Erubescens  were  fine. 
Messrs.  Frasers  were  2nd,  with  old  kinds,  with  the  exception  of 
Evening  Star ;  3rd,  Mr.  Gaines ;  4th,  Mr.  Cutbush.  In  the  class  of 
six  plants  for  private  growers,  Mr.  Windsor  was  1st,  with  nice  fresh 
plants.  The  same  seedling  Pelargoniums  have  been  so  frequently 
shown  that  we  shall  not  now  describe  them  ;  we  give  the  awards  on 
this  occasion,  however,  to  show  what  varieties  remain  good  to  a  late 
period,  as  prizes  were  liberally  offered  on  this  occasion  for  flowers  raised 
in  1855-1856.  First  prizes  were  given  to  Spotted  (lem  (Turner), 
Prince  of  Prussia  (Turner)  ;  2nd  prizes  to  Viola  (Hoyle),  Matilda 
(Hoyle),  Conspicuum  (Turner),  and  3rd  prize  to  Miss  Foster  (Turner). 
King  of  Scarlets  (Turner),  Agnes  (Hoyle),  Standard  (Hoyle)  were  also 
shown  good.  Ardens  (Beck)  is  a  nice  bright  scarlet  crimson,  and 
Amethyst,  a  pretty  purple,  by  the  same  raiser,  were  promising  flowers. 
Clarissa  (Topping),  a  Virgin  Queen  style  of  flower,  was  exhibited  by 
Messrs.  Veitch.  It  is  a  free-flowering,  good-shaped  kind,  but  shown 
in  bad  condition. 

Cut  Flowers  were  short,  Roses  not  yet  being  in  good  bloom. 
Messrs.  Paul,  of  Cheshunt,  were  first,  the  same  award  to  Mr.  Francis, 
Hertford.      Mr.  Wilkinson,  of  Ealing,  also  exhibited  a  collection  in  this 


220  THE    FLORIST. 

class  of  fifty  varieties.  Mr.  Francis  was  first  for  twenty-four  varieties. 
In  private  growers,  1st  prize,  A.  Rowland,  Esq.,  Lewisham  ;  2nd, 
Mr.  G.  J.  Brush,  Gardener  to  J.  Tretton,  Esq.,  Norwood ;  3rd, 
Mr.  G.  Bradstock,  Gardener  to  T.  Anderson,  Esq.,  Carshalton. 

In  the  Miscellaneous  Class  Messrs.  Lane  sent  a  collection  of,  cut 
Rhododendrons  in  good  variety,  Mr.  Tyso,  of  Wallingford,  a  large 
and  well-bloomed  collection  of  Ranunculuses,  a  smaller  collection  also 
from  Mr.  Mitchell,  of  Brighton.  Mr.  Salter,  of  Hammersmith,  sent 
Herbaceous  Pseonies.  Some  Verbenas  came  from  Mr.  Shrimpton,  of 
Putney  Heath,  in  single  trusses. 

Mr.  C.  Turner  exhibited  24  varieties  of  finely-grown  and  well-laced 
Pinks,  the  best  of  which  were,  Adonis,  Mr.  Stevens,  Mrs.  Stevens,  New 
Criterion,  Purity,  James  Hogg,  Sarah,  Cardinal,  Purple  Perfection, 
Rival,  Mr.  Hobbs,  Sovereign,  and  Optima.  Prizes  were  awarded  to 
Mr.  Turner  for  the  Pinks,  and  to  Mr.  Tyso  for  Ranunculuses.  Also 
to  Mr.  Salter  for  his  Peeonies.  Pansies  were  not  good,  but  three  prizes 
were  awarded. 

There  were  fine  collections  of  Calceolarias.  Mr.  James,  of  Isle- 
worth,  was  first,  with  good  plants  of  Purity,  Marie,  Duchess  of 
Northumberland,  Virago,  Commander  in  Chief,  and  Golden  Pleece  ; 
2nd  prize,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  with  Orange  Perfection,  Tamberlik,  Lady 
Grenville,  Eclipse,  Albira,  and  David  Copperfield.  These  were  all 
shrubby  varieties  of  excellent  habit.  Messrs.  Dobson  and  Son  had  a 
3rd  prize,  and  extra  prizes  were  awarded  to  Mr.  Gaines,  and  Mr. 
Bates,  of  Oxford. 

Fuchsias  were  but  poor.  1st,  Messrs.  Dobson ;  2nd,  Mr.  Blundell, 
Gardener  to  W.  D,  Rowland,  Esq.  The  best  kinds  were  Queen  of 
Hanover,  Omega,  and  Glory. 

In  Bedding  Plants  Mr.  Kinghorn,  of  Isleworth,  sent  well-bloomed 
specimens  of  General  Pelissier,  Annie,  and  Countess  of  Warwick. 
These  are  excellent  free  flowering  Pelargoniums ;  the  two  latter  have 
variegated  foliage,  and  have  maintained  the  high  character  we  gave 
them  in  our  reports  last  season.  Mr.  Kinghorn  exhibited  some  new 
kinds,  Richmond  Gem  was  very  fine,  being  very  bright  with  a  very 
large  truss.  It  has  white  footstalks,  in  this  respect  resembling 
Pelissier.  Captivation  and  Prim  are  two  good  scarlet  kinds,  the 
latter  has  very  long  footstalks.  These  were  also  exhibited  by 
Mr.  Kinghorn. 

Messrs.  Lee,  of  Hammersmith,  sent  nine  plants  of  a  Scarlet 
Geranium,  named  Stunner,  of  a  deep  rich  scarlet  colour ;  but  has  not 
much  to  recommend  it.  A  Bedding  Geranium,  exhibited  b\'  Messrs. 
Veitch,  of  Exotic  Nursery,  King's  Road,  Chelsea,  is  an  excellent  free 
flowering  variety,  named  Quercifolium  floribundum  ;  colour  rosy  pink, 
with  spot  on  the  top  petals.  The  same  firm  exhibited  Belvidere 
(Topping)  rich  lake,  with  dense  spot  on  each  petal. 

The  show  of  Fruit  was  tolerably  extensive,  and  included  many  excel- 
lent productions.  The  Pines  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Fleming,  Burn, 
Jones,  Povey,  and  Barron,  were  good  specimens  of  culture.  There  were 
some  fine  dishes  of  Hamburgh  Grapes  exhibited,  in  addition  to  those 
which  obtained  prizes ;  amongst  which  we  noticed  some  Hamburghs 


JULY.  221 

from  Mr.  Frost  remarkable  for  their  size,  but  had  been  spoile  1  in  tra- 
veUing,  and  a  dish  of  finely  coloured  Hamburghs  from  Mr.  Manby. 
A  seedling  white  Grape  was  exhibited  by  Mr.  Carpenter,  call  1  Perry 
Bar  Hamburgh.  This  Grape  has  round  berries,  larger  than  th  Dutch 
Sweetwater,  it  has  a  full  vinous  flavour,  but  rather  a  thick  sk  a ;  we 
understood  it  to  be  a  cross  between  the  Black  Hamburgh  and  Sweet- 
water, and  it  appears  to  partake  of  the  habit  of  both  parents.  Some 
very  capital  Muscat  Grapes  were  shown  by  Messrs.  Clark  and  Turn- 
bull,  very  fine  Peaches  by  Mr.  Snow,  and  good  Nectarines  liy  Mr. 
Davis.  There  was  a  scant  supply  of  out-door  Strawberries,  a  id  some 
well  managed  Vines  in  pots. 

Collections  of  Fruit,  eight  dishes  :  1st,  Mr.  Fleming,  Tre  itham  ; 
2nd,  Mr.  Nichol,  Oxton  House,  Devon ;  3rd,  Mr.  Monro,  Colney 
House. 

Pines,  collections  of  three  :  1st,  Mr.  Fleming ;  2nd,  Mr.  Jones, 
Dowlais  ;  3rd,  Mr.  Beale. 

Pines — Providence  :  Mr.  Povey  and  Mr.  Fleming,  equal  1st ;  2nd, 
Mr.  Gilham.  Queens :  Equal  1st,  Mr.  Burn,  gardener  to  Colonel 
Pennant,  and  Mr.  Barron,  Singleton  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Jones,  Dowlais  ;  3rd, 
Mr.  Davis,  Cardiff;  extras  to  Mr.  Burn  and  Mr.  Dalrymple.  Jamaicas, 
&c.  :   1st,  Mr.  Davis. 

Grapes,  three  varieties :  1st,  Mr.  Turnbull,  Blenheim  ;  2nd,  Mr. 
Young,  Dulwich.  Single  dishes,  Hamburgh :  Equal  1st,  Mr.  Fleming, 
and  Mr.  Smith,  Norwood ;  equal  2nd,  Mr.  Hudson,  Wandsworth,  and 
Mr.  Hill;  extra,  Mr.  Davis.  Single  dishes,  Muscats:  1st,  Mr.  Clark, 
Hoddesden  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Turnbull ;  3rd,  Mr.  Davis  ;  extra,  Mr.  Taylor. 
Single  dishes,  Sweetwaters,  &c.  :  1st,  Mr.  Forsyth,  Gunnersbury ; 
2nd,  Mr.  Blake.  Baskets  of  12  lbs.— Market  Gardeners  :  1st,  Mr.  Hill, 
gardener  to  —  Sneyde,  Esq. ;  2nd,  Mr.  Davis ;  3rd,  Mr.  Spary  and 
Mr.  Hindle;  extras,  Mr.  Mitchell  and  Mr.  Kay. 

Peaches,  single  dishes  :  1st,  Mr.  Snow;  2nd,  Mr.  Turnbull;  3rd, 
Mr.  Frost,  Preston,  and  Mr.  Mitchell ;  extra,  Mr.  Monro. 

Nectarines  :  1st,  Mr.  Davis  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Ayres,  Whittlebury  ;  3rd, 
Mr.  Hill. 

Melons,  green -fleshed :  1st,  Mr.  Dalrymple,  Pontypool ;  2nd,  Mr, 
Teg ;  equal  3rd  to  Mr.  Snow,  Mr.  Evving,  and  Mr.  Taylor.  Scarlet- 
fleshed,  Mr.  Bailey,  Shardeloes. 

Figs  :   1st,  Mr.  Snow  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Ewing. 

Cherries,  three  dishes,  distinct :  Mr.  Fleming.  White,  single  dish  : 
Mr.  Fleming.  Black,  single  dish:  1st,  Mr.  Ferguson,  Stowe  ;  2nd, 
Mr.  Fleming. 

Plums:   1st,  Mr.  Fleming;  2nd,  Mr.  Monro. 

Strawberries,  three  dishes  :  Mr.  Turnbull.  Single  dishes  :  1st,  Mr. 
Wortley  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Cuthill. 

Grapes  in  pots  :   1st,  Mr.  Forsyth  ;  2nd,  Mr.  Page,  Streatham. 

Plums,  Apricots,  &c.,  in  pots  :    Mr.  Fleming. 

Fruit  of  superior  excellence  :  Extra  prize  to  Mr.  Carpenter  for 
seedling  Grapes  noticed  above  ;  Mr.  Turnbull,  for  seedling  St.  Peter 
Grape;  Mr.  Dalrymple  for  Strawberries  ;  Mr.  Clarke  for  Citrons;  Mr. 
Hill  for  Black  Prince  Grapes ;   Mr.  Monro  for  collection  of  Peaches. 


222  THE    FLORIST. 

The  Bath  Hanoverian  Band  Committee  held  their  first 
Horticultural  Fete  for  the  present  season  on  the  28th  of  May,  in 
Sydney  Gardens.  Last  year  we  announced  in  our  pages  that  horti- 
cultural exhibitions  were  about  being  established  in  Bath,  under  the 
management  of  the  principal  tradesmen  of  the  town,  who,  determined 
to  have  some  rational  enjoyment  for  themselves  and  families,  had  formed 
a  committee,  and  had  engaged  the  services  of  the  Hanoverian  Hand  for 
the  purpose  of  performing  daily  in  the  park  and  other  public  places. 
This  display  of  public  spu-it  was  properly  appreciated  by  their  leilow- 
townsmen,  and  it  was  last  year  suggested  that  a  horticultural  fete  would 
be  an  additional  source  of  gratification  to  the  members  and  the  public 
generally.  Notwithstanding  the  complete  failure  of  the  old  horticul- 
tural society  in  Bath,  the  suggestion  was  entertained  by  the  committee, 
and  warmly  taken  up  by  the  body  of  exhibitors,  who  offered  to  exhibit 
their  productions  for  nothing,  should  the  fete  prove  a  failure.  So  far 
from  this  being  the  case,  however,  the  public  spirit  of  the  committee  was 
responded  to  by  the  whole  neighbourhood,  as  well  as  by  the  inhabitants 
of  Bath.  They  realised  a  large  sum  by  the  fete,  gave  the  exhibitors 
liberal  prizes,  and  had  something  left  in  hand,  tmboldened  by  the 
good  feeling  which  had  become  established  between  themselves  and  the 
exhibitors,  they  issued  this  season  a  programme  for  three  shows,  the 
first  of  which  took  place  as  above  noticed,  and  we  have  the  greatest 
pleasure  in  asserting  that  it  was  by  far  the  best  exhibition  ever  seen  in 
Bath.  We  can  only  find  space  to  notice  a  few  of  the  articles  shown  ; 
pre-eminent  among  which  were  the  Chinese  Azaleas  of  —  Lawrence, 
Esq.,  which  were  not  surpassed  by  any  we  have  seen  at  the  metro- 
politan shows ;  those  exhibited  by  the  Rev.  —  Rhodes  were  nearly 
equal,  some  of  them  quite  so.  In  the  next  class  of  sixes,  E.  Barton, 
Esq.,  of  Laycock,  exhibited  six  plants  not  quite  so  large,  but  in  splendid 
condition ;  in  fact,  we  never  saw  better  grown  plants.  Stove  and 
greenhouse  plants  and  Heaths,  contributed  by  Messrs.  Lawrence  and 
Tugwell,  contained  fine  specimens  of  good  culture.  Mr.  Bassett,  of 
Weston  Birt,  had  a  fine  collection  of  ornamental-leaved  plants,  including 
many  rare  things.  This  gentleman  had  also  a  group  of  Ferns  and 
Lycopods,  of  which  interesting  family  half  a  tent  was  exhibited. 
Orchids  and  cut  flowers  and  fruit  were  all  equally  meritorious,  and 
prove  how  greatly  the  cultivation  of  plants  is  increasing. 


CALENDAR  OF  OPERATIONS  FOR  JULY. 

Carnations  and  Picotees. — There  has  been  too  much  rain  for  these 
plants,  but  the  grower  for  exhibition  will  not  be  so  likely  to  be  teased 
with  thrip  as  a  hot  dry  season  produces.  Keep  the  plants  neatly  and 
well  tied  up.  Those  that  require  large  blooms  must  now  attend  to  dis- 
budding, leaving  one,  two,  or  three,  according  to  the  strength  of  the 
plant  and  the  known  character  of  the  flower,  some  varieties  being  much 
larger  and  more  full  of  petals  than  others. 

Conservatory  and  Show-house. — Here  little  need  be  added  to  the 
directions  in  previous  calendars.  Keep  a  sharp  look-out  for  insects. 
Syringe  freely  all  plants  not  in  flower. 


JULY.  223 

Dahlias. — These  must  be  coaxed  to  grow  as  fast  as  possible,  to  be  in 
time  for  the  early  exhibitions  of  this  flower.  If  dry  weather,  watering 
overhead  early  in  the  evening,  stirring  the  soil  about  the  plants,  keeping 
down  insects,  and  securely  tying  the  plants,  are  the  ordinary  methods 
adopted  to  secure  this  end.  If  slugs  are  troublesome,  fresh  lime  strewed 
about  the  soil  as  well  as  over  the  plants,  when  they  are  out,  either  late 
in  the  evening  or  early  in  the  morning,  will  be  effectual,  if  followed  up 
for  a  short  tune.  If  earwigs  destroy  the  points  of  the  plants,  we  have 
a  remedy  in  Edwards's  trap.  A  little  short  manure  spread  round  the 
plant  as  mulching  is  very  beneficial.  This  should  be  done  about  the 
middle  of  the  month,  as  it  can  be  done  more  easily  before  the  side 
stakes  have  been  used  to  tie  the  plants  to. 

Flower  Garden. — The  frequent  showers  of  rain  we  have  lately  had 
will  have  obviated  the  necessity  of  much  watering ;  this  will  have  saved 
much  labour,  which  ought  to  be  usefully  and  profitably  employed 
otherwise.  Pegging  down  and  tying  up  will  demand  considerable 
attention.     Keep  everything  as  neat  and  trim  as  possible. 

Greenhouse  {hard-wooded). — Attend  to  the  young  stock  in  pits  and 
frames ;  there  will  be  every  now  and  then  some  plants  that  will  require 
shifting  into  larger  pots ;  turn  them  round  occasionally,  and  stop  and 
train  the  young  shoots.  Towards  the  end  of  the  month,  if  the  weather 
be  fine,  the  lights  may  be  left  off  during  the  night.  Attend  to  large 
specimens  out  of  doors  ;  see  they  do  not  suffer  for  want  of  water  in  dry 
weather,  nor  from  excess  of  water  in  wet  weather.  Soft-wooded 
Plants. — See  directions  in  previous  calendars. 

Eollifhocks. — Side  shoots  should  be  taken  off  This  answers  two 
purposes :  they  make  cuttings  which  produce  early  plants  for  next 
season,  and  it  strengthens  the  main  shoot,  thereby  producing  larger 
blossoms.  The  Hollyhock,  like  the  Dahlia,  will  be  strengthened  by 
mulching. 

Kitchen  Garden. — The  sowings  of  the  chief  crops  of  the  various 
kinds  of  vegetables  being  now  over,  the  principal  work  will  be  to  attend 
to  thinning  in  proper  time,  to  make  good  all  vacancies,  to  guard  against 
their  suffering  either  from  insects  or  drought,  and  to  keep  constantly 
hoeing  among  them,  in  order  to'  promote  a  healthy  and  luxuriant 
growth.  Plant  out  immediately  the  principal  breadth  of  Celery  in  well 
manured  trenches  ;  also  Leeks.  Plant  every  vacant  space  with 
Broccolis  of  sorts,  Brussels  Sprouts,  Borecole,  Savoys,  &c.  Plant 
Lettuces  and  Endive.  Sow  a  good  breadth  of  Turnips  ;  sow  Endive, 
Lettuces,  and  Radishes  ;  sow  Cabbages.  Plant  a  good  breadth  of 
Cauliflower  now — they  will  come  during  the  autumn. 

Melons. — Give  abundance  of  air  when  the  fruit  are  approaching 
maturity  ;  keep  the  atmosphere  dry  ;  attend  to  late  crops  ;  thin  shoots, 
water,  &c. ;  still  keep  up  a  regular  bottom  heat. 

Orchard  House. — Attend  carefully  to  watering.  Syringe  freely,  and 
give  abundance  of  air.  Stop  and  thin  shoots,  and  do  not  retain  one 
more  than  is  necessary. 

Pansies. — Seed  should  be  gathered  for  a  short  time  longer,  but  not 
from  flowers  that  have  become  small  and  out  of  colour  from  the  plant 
having  become  exhausted.     Continue  to  propagate  by  putting  in  cut- 


224  THE    FLORIST. 

tings  that  are  young  and  healthy.     Plant  out  in  sandy  soil  the  young 
stock,  as  soon  as  rooted. 

P each-forcing . — When  the  fruit  is  all  gathered  in  the  early  house, 
give  the  trees  a  few  good  heavy  syringiiigs  to  clear  them  of  red  spider, 
&c.  ;  keep  the  foliage  in  a  good  healthy  state  as  long  as  possible ;  by 
tliis  means  the  v\rood  will  be  properly  ripened,  and  this  is  a  point  of  the 
utmost  importance,  as  on  it  depends  in  a  great  measure  the  success  or 
failure  ot  next  season's  crop.  When  late  crops  of  fruit  are  swelling, 
water  must  be  supplied  liberally,  and  where  it  is  ripening  it  should  be 
withheld. 

Pelargoniums. — We  are  fast  approaching  the  general  cutting  down. 
Before  doing  this  the  plants  should  be  gradually  dried  off.  It  is  better, 
both  for  the  young  wood  intended  for  cuttings,  as  well  as  for  the  old 
stool.  Seed  should  be  sown  as  soon  as  ripe  enough.  There  have  been 
some  fine  new  things  shown  this  season  by  the  principal  raisers. 
Foster,  Hoyle,  Beck,  and  Turner  have  each  exhibited  some  very 
promising  seedlings.  There  appears  to  be  a  never-dying  interest  in 
this  most  showy  and  most  interesting  greenhouse  plant.  Nothing, 
certainly,  can  exceed  the  beauty  of  a  well-grown  house  of  Pelargoniums. 
Fancy  varieties  may  be  cut  down  also,  and  used  generally  pretty  much 
hke  the  large-flowered  kinds.  The  cuttings,  when  put  in,  should  be 
longer,  or  they  are  liable  to  dry  up.  They  will  break  up  at  the  bottom 
— the  plants  will  not  be  long. 

Pinks. — The  bloom  in  the  south  will  be  drawing  to  a  close  ;  the  late 
varieties  are,  however,  good  yet,  as  well  as  in  colder  districts.  The 
bloom  has  been  very  fine.  Tlie  showers  experienced  during  May  and 
the  early  part  of  June  have  caused  them  to  lace  beautifully.  Cardinal, 
New  Criterion,  Sovereign,  Purity,  Mrs.  Norman,  Adonis,  Mrs.  Stevens, 
Mr.  Stubbs,  Kuh-i-noor,  Criterion,  Brunette,  James  Hogg,  have  been 
very  finely  exhibited.  Finish  putting  in  cuttings  with  all  dispatch,  in 
the  ordinary  manner,  under  small  glasses  with  a  little  bottom  heat. 

Pleasure  Ground. — Rolling,  mowing,  and  sweeping  are,  at  this 
season,  the  principal  matters  to  be  attended  to  ;  and,  if  the  weather  be 
showery,  they  will  often  require  doing,  to  keep  up  anything  like  an 
appearance  of  order  and  neatness. 

Roses. — Where  our  previous  directions  respecting  searching  for 
maggots  and  destroying  them  have  been  neglected,  the  large  number  of 
the  earliest  flowers  rendered  imperfect  is  now  apparent,  and  will,  we 
trust,  be  a  lesson  for  the  future.  We  never  remember,  either,  so  much 
destruction  being  committed  by  the  maggot,  which  bores  the  young  shoots. 
Where  the  ends  of  them  are  seen  to  flag,  let  them  be  cut  off"  below  the 
perforated  part  and  trodden  under  foot.  If  fine  blooms  are  required,  the 
buds  must  be  thinned  and  copious  doses  of  liquid  manure  freely  adminis- 
tered. When  the  sun  is  powerful,  shading  will  be  requisite.  This  may  be 
easily  done  by  means  of  hoops  of  split  hazel  or  willow,  with  cross 
pieces  to  foi-m  a  dome,  being  covered  with  thin  calico  or  paper,  and 
fixed  in  a  couple  of  cleft  sticks,  the  flowers  being  tied  so  as  to  pr-event 
rubbing.  In  pots,  where  flowers  are  over,  they  should  be  cut  back, 
plunged  in  aslies,  liberally  top-dressed  with  decayed  manure,  and 
watered  as  frequently  as  dry  weather  may  render  necessary. 


J'-'JMnns  det'llinai 


Con^ea  Cardmalis . 

Tlate  16 


Jhnbui'  If  C  duiiot 


AUGUST.  225 


CORREA    CARDINALIS. 

(Plate  116.) 

Among  the  new  plants  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Veitch  and  Son  at 
the  Crystal  Palace  in  May  last,  that  figured  in  our  present 
number  was  one  of  the  handsomest  and  most  interesting.  It  was 
raised  by  Messrs.  Veitch  and  Son  from  Australian  seeds  found  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  Latrobe  River,  where  plants  were  discovered 
in  sandy  places,  on  the  plain  of  Port  Albert,  Gipps  Land,  Colony 
ofVictoria,  South  Australia.  In  habit  it  resembles  Correaventricosa, 
but  it  is  far  superior  to  that  kind  in  colour  and  attractiveness, 
producing  rich  scarlet  flowers  an  inch  to  an  inch  and  a  half  in 
length.  It  is  an  abundant  bloomer  and  of  compact  habit,  and 
continues  blooming  longer  than  any  other  variety.  As  Correas 
are  so  easily  cultivated,  we  hope  to  find  this  valuable  greenhouse 
plant  more  generally  grown. 


NEW  PEAS,  &c. 


Three  new  Peas  were  ushered  into  notice  this  spring  with  very  high 
recommendations.  One  of  them,  Dillestone's  Early  Prolific,  was  to  be 
the  earliest,  and  Harrison's  two  new  varieties,  were  to  be  as  early  as 
the  Early  Frame,  with  Knight's  Marrow  flavour.  These,  with  several 
other  varieties,  have  been  proved  by  an  eminent  gardener  in  our 
immediate  neighbourhood,  and  with  the  following  results  : 

Dillestone's   Early   Prolific,  sent  out  as  a  fortnight   earlier   than    Daniel 
O'llourke.     In  this  instance  we  could  see  little  or  no  difference  as  to 
earliness.     It  may  be  a  day  or  two  earlier,  but  we  could  not  detect  it. 
A  friend  in  Yorkshire  says  that  he  sowed  this  and  Daniel  O'Rourke  on 
the  same  day,  and  that  it  was  about  a  week  earlier.    It  is  a  free  bearing 
variety,  from  three  to  four  feet  high,  with  a  short  well-filled  pod,  and 
in  this  respect  we  think  Daniel  O'Rourke  the  best  podder,  if  not  the 
best  Pea. 
Harrison's  Perfection,  white  Marrow  \  „  x    a  r    i. 
Harrison's  Glory,  blue  Marrow     .     .  /  "^  "^o  *  ^eet. 
In  these  two  varieties  no  perceptible  difference  can  be  seen  when  growing; 
either  or  both  may  be  regarded  as  most  desirable,  because  so  early  as  the 
Early  Frame,  with  the  productiveness  and  flavour  of  Knight's  Marrow. 
The  pods  are  produced  in  pairs,  as  in  Hairs*  Mammoth,  from  which  they 
seem  to  be  seedlings.     They  are  both  very  heavy  croppers,  and  come  in 
immediately  after  Daniel  O'Rourke. 
Dickson's  Favourite,  5  to  6  feet.     One  of  the  very  best  second  early  Peas, 
producing  an  abundant  crop  of  handsome  well-filled  pods,  from  eight  to 
ten  peas  in  a  pod. 
Lord  Raglan  (Epps),  3  feet.     An  excellent  late  Marrow  Pea,  bearing  a  close 
resemblance  to  Hairs'  Mammoth.     This  variety  should  not   be  sown 
thickly  in  good  soil,  as  it  is  a  robust  grower  and  a  good  cropper. 

NEW   SERIES,    VOL.   VI.,   NO.   LXVIII.  Q 


226  THE    FLORIST. 

Monarch  (Epps.)  A  very  tall-growing  kind,  and  the  pods  fill  rather  better 
than  British  Queen,  which  it  resembles,  but  is  not  prelerable  to  it. 

Danecroft  Prolific,  3  to  4  feet.     A  capital  late  Pea  and  a  good  cropper. 

British  Queen.     The  best  of  all  the  tall  late  Marrows. 

Ne  Plus  Ultra.     Closely  resembling  British  Queen. 

Thurston's  Reliance,  G  to  7  feet.  A  late  ISIarrow  Pea  of  very  good  quality, 
resembling  Ne  Plus  Ultra  and  others  in  growth. 

Champion  of  England,  3  to  6  feet.  A  good  second  crop  Pea,  and  a  good 
cropper. 

Fairbeard's  Surprise,  5  feet.     A  good  second  crop  Pea,  and  a  good  cropper. 

All  the  above  varieties  were  sown  on  the  23rd  of  April,  in  ^ood, 
well-trenched  soil,  indispensable  requisites  to  the  growth  of  good  Peas. 
With  regard  to  early  Peas,  we  do  not  consider  that  an  earlier  than 
Daniel  O'Rourke  is  requisite,  unless  a  much  hardier  race  can  be  pro- 
cured to  resist  spring  frosts  ;  but  it  is  essential  that  a  Pea  as  earh/  as 
Daniel  O'Rourke,  with  the  flavour  and  productiveness  of  our  best 
Marrowfats,  should  be  procured,  and  to  the  attainment  of  this  object 
we  direct  the  attention  of  hybridisers.  For  small,  or  even  large 
gardens,  we  recommend  the  following  sorts  : — 

First  Early — Daniel  O'Rourke  (with  a  succession  a  fortnight  after  for  large 
gardens) . 

Second  Early — Harrison's  Perfection  or  Glory,  Dickson's  Favourite. 

Third  Crop — Champion  of  England. 

Fourth  Crop — Lord  Raglan,  Hairs'  Dwarf  Mammoth,  British  Queen. 

Near  these  Peas  was  a  breadth  of  CauUflowers,  consisting  of — 

Early  London — the  earliest. 

Walcheren  and  Waite's  Alma — second  early. 

The  Alma  seems  to  be  an  improved  "Walcheren,  is  dwarf  and  compact  in 
growth,  with  a  close  head,  and  may  be  regarded  as  an  excellent  variety. 

Mitchell's  Hardy.  We  cannot  see  that  this  is  better  than  Waite's  Alma, 
although  rather  later,  with  more  pointed  foliage  and  of  a  little  dwarfer 
growth.     All  were  sown  and  planted  out  at  the  same  time. 

In  Cucumbers,  we  have  found — 

Weedon's  Symmetry  a  very  good  black  spine,  growing  from  18  to  20  inches 
in  length,  with  a  rather  long  heel,  but  a  very  good  cropper  for  frame- 
work. 

Ipswich  Standard,  black  spine,  an  excellent  one  for  winter  work  in  houses  or 
in  pits  on  trellis,  being  a  very  prolific  variety  and  a  good  setter.  It  is 
also  an  excellent  Cucumber  for  frame  culture  in  summer,  but  does  not 
produce  such  fine  fruit  as  when  grown  on  a  trellis,  or  in  a  house. 

Wheeler's  Improved  Sion  House,  white  spine,  an  excellent  variety  for  winter 
work,  and  the  best  of  all  the  Sion  House  class ;  also  a  very  prolific 
Cucumber  for  frame  culture,  crisp,  and  of  good  flavour. 


LIGHT— ITS  INFLUENCE  ON  VEGETATION. 

(Continued  from  page  204) . 
The  influence  which  light  exercises  on  vegetation  and  on  vegetable 
products  is  in  no  instance  more  clearly  demonstrated  than  in  the  culti- 
vation of  fruit,  where,  as  a  conditional  law,  favour  must  be  combined 
with  size  and  colour,  to  form  the  highest  examples  of  horticultural 
skill.  It  is  to  the  late  President  of  the  Horticultural  Society — 
T.  A.  Knight,  Esq. — that  we  are  mainly  indebted  for  having  directed 
attention  to  the  importance  of  light  to  fruits  grown  under  glass,  as  well 


AUGUST.  227 

as  In  the  open  air,  and  many  of  his  interesting  experiments  in  culti- 
vation and  the  construction  of  glass  houses  had  a  direct  reference  to  this 
important  end. 

I  need  not  point  out  to  the  grower  of  fruit  under  glass  the  absolute 
necessity  of  his  trees  or  plants  having  their  full  share  of  light,  as  this 
fact  is  fully  substantiated.  The  superiority  of  houses  for  fruit  culture, 
where  a  large  portion  of  the  light  which  falls  on  the  roof  is  enabled  to 
pass  through,  is  seen  by  the  excellence  of  the  productions  grown  under 
them  in  comparison  with  others,  where  the  heavy  materials  of  the  roof 
and  small  squares  of  glass  cause  a  considerable  portion  of  the  sun's  rays 
to  be  reflected  or  thrown  back,  and  therefore  useless  for  every  purpose 
connected  with  the  well-being  of  the  plants  within  the  house.  I  may, 
perhaps,  here  notice,  as  affording  evidence  on  this  part  of  my  subject, 
the  iron  and  glass  forcing-houses  in  the  Royal  Gardens  at  Frogmore, 
whose  productions  are  unequalled,  the  new  houses  at  Arundel  Castle, 
and  Pennant  Castle,  Bangor,  which  are  all  nearly  alike  as  regards 
materials  and  construction,  and  which  are  known  to  produce  some  of 
the  best  specimens  of  fruit  exhibited. 

As  regards  the  form  of  houses  for  fruit  growing,  here  again  the  angle 
at  which  the  roof  is  placed  is  a  point  which  should  be  carefully  studied, 
and  on  which  there  can  be  no  doubt  that,  where  fruit  is  to  be  ripened 
much  out  of  its  natural  season — i.  e.,  either  very  early,  or  late — houses 
with  a  considerable  angle  of  elevation  are  preferable,  on  account  of  their 
admitting  more  light  at  those  periods  of  the  year  to  houses  with 
flatter  roofs.  Lean-to  houses  we  consider  better  adapted  for  forcing- 
houses  than  those  having  span  roofs,  not  so  much  in  respect  to  the 
quantity  of  light  which  passes  into  them,  as  in  their  longer  retention  of 
the  heat  which  enters  with  light,  and  which,  as  every  gardener 
knows,  escapes  more  rapidly  from  houses  having  glass  on  all  sides,  than 
from  those  having  only  glass  on  one  side,  and  that  facing  the  south. 

The  colouring  of  fruit  depends  not  altogether  on  the  direct  action  of 
light  on  the  fruit  itself,  but  on  the  vigour  and  consequent  healthy  action 
of  the  leaves,  from  which  source  fruits  draw  the  principal  part  of  their 
support;  but  they  have  in  addition  the  power  within  themselves  of 
organising  those  peculiar  products  which  give  to  each  particular  kind  of 
fruit  its  value  ;  all,  however,  depends  on  the  healthy  action  of  the  parts 
engaged  in  forming  these  secretions,  for  neither  can  a  high  or  deep 
colour,  nor  yet  first-rate  flavour,  be  imparted  to  fruit,  if  the  leaves  are 
unhealthy,  and  incapable  of  producing  organizable  matter  of  a  healthy 
character.  To  carry  out,  therefore,  the  ripening  of  fi-uit  to  its  highest 
point  of  excellence,  the  leaves,  from  their  earliest  development,  must  be 
kept  fully  exposed  to  hght,  to  ensure  the  healthy  action  of  their  organs 
in  furnishing  an  abundant  supply  of  the  necessary  food  for  the  fruit 
while  in  a  young  and  growing  state;  and  as  the  fruit  approaches 
maturity,  light,  and  a  more  full  exposure  to  air  than  what  may  even 
be  necessary  during  the  period  of  growth,  should  be  admitted,  to  enable 
the  vital  force  within  the  fruit  itself  to  perform  the  changes  requisite  to 
give  flavour  and  proper  consistence  to  its  component  parts.  To  effect 
this  more  effectually,  fruits  should,  if  possible  (I  here  allude  to  forced 
fruits),  be  allowed  to  ripen  slowly,  that  the  processes  whereby  their 


228  THE   FLORIST. 

characteristic  qualities  are  obtained  may  have  time  to  be  formed  with- 
out being  hurried,  and  the  fruit  consequently  may  attain  its  fullest 
development  of  size,  colour,  and  flavour. 

{To  be  continued.) 


ROYAL  BOTANIC  SOCIETY,  REGENT'S  PARK. 
July  9. — This,  the  last  meeting  of  this  Society  for  the  season,  was  a 
most  successful  one.  We  do  not  remember  to  have  seen  plants  exhi- 
bited so  fresh  in  July  on  any  previous  occasion.  Fruit  was  also  in 
great  abundance,  and  contained  many  excellent  examples  of  superior 
culture. 

The  prizes  were  very  generally  awarded  to  the  same  exhibitors  that 
have  been  successful  at  the  previous  shows,  which  have  been  fully 
reported  by  us  :  we  shall,  therefore,  on  this  occasion^confine  our  remarks 
principally  to  subjects  not  before  exhibited. 

The  Messrs.  Veitch  sent  a  very  interesting  collection  of  new  plants, 
conspicuous  amongst  which  was  the  new  scarlet  Delphinium  cardinale ; 
four  spikes  of  this  handsome  plant  were  sent :  Gesnera  Miellezi  ;  this 
resembles  an  upright  Gloxinia,  with  a  creamy  white  tube,  the  top  of 
which  is  of  a  rosy  lilac  colour  and  very  pretty  :  Eucharis  amazonica,  an 
Amaryllidaceous  plant,  shown  before  as  E.  grandiflora ;  it  has  beautiful 
white  flowers,  which  are  large  in  size  and  very  showy.  The  I\Iessrs. 
Veitch  also  exhibited  flowering  plants  of  Leptodactylon  californicum, 
Philesia  buxifolia,  and  Sonerila  margaritacea :  these  last  named  have 
been  made  familiar  to  our  readers  by  our  artist,  Mr.  Andrews. 
Messrs.  Veitch  also  sent  a  plant  of  the  beautiful  shrub  Desfontania 
spinosa  (in  flower),  a  new  Burlingtonia,  cut  specimens  of  the  pretty 
Rhododendron  Princess  Royal,  and  a  plant  of  Topping's  light  Pelar- 
gonium Clarissa,  described  in  our  last  number. 

The  most  remarkable  new  f)lant  in  the  entire  exhibition  was  Clematis 
lanuginosa  pallida,  a  noble  specimen  with  numeious  flowers,  from 
Messrs.  Standish  and  Noble,  Bagshot.  This  was  figured  by  us  in 
1854.  The  same  firm  also  sent  12  blooms  of  a  new  Hybrid  Perpetual 
Rose  named  Victor  Trouillard,  being  of  the  rich  deep  shade  of  colour  of 
the  old  Tuscany,  but  like  Geant  des  Batailles,  from  which  it  was  raised, 
the  colour  soon  fades.  It  is  very  dissimilar  to  existing  varieties, 
particularly  of  the  Hybrid  Perpetual  class.  Mr.  Glendinning,  of  the 
Chiswick  Nursery,  sent  plants  of  Abies  Ktempferi,  and  other  new 
plants,  both  in  and  out  of  bloom ;  the  most  conspicuous  among  the 
former  were  Erica  Spenceriana,  and  Mandirola  Roezli,  a  plant  resem- 
bling a  Gesnera  in  habit ;  as  exhibited,  it  was  dull  in  colour — a  shaded 
lilac.  Mr.  Taylor,  of  Streatham,  sent  a  small  but  well-bloomed  plant  of 
his  new  striped  Azalea  striata  formosissima,  which  is  an  excellent  variety. 

Verbenas  were  shown  in  a  cut  state  by  Mr.  G.  Smith,  Mr.  C. 
Turner,  and  Mr.  Weatherill,  in  good  variety  and  condition.  General 
Simpson,  Standard  Bearer,  Jaquinta,  John  Edwards,  Victory,  Gloire  de 
France,  Reine  des  Amazones,  Mrs.  Halford,  Noel,  Duke  of  Cambridge, 
Blue  Bonnet,  and  Lord  Raglan  were  very  distinct  and  good. 


AUGUST.  229 

In  new  bedding  plants,  the  most  remarkable  was  a  collection  of  shrubby 
Calceolarias  from  Mr.  Turner.    These  were  raised  by  Mr.  Cole,  and  are 

of  almost  every  shade  of  colour — selfs,  blotched,  and  spotted  flowers 

from  white  to  dark  maroon.  It  should  be  mentioned  that  these  are  more 
effective  for  pot  plants,  both  for  the  home  stage  and  for  exhibition,  than 
the  herbaceous  kinds,  and  the  majority  of  them  are  well  adapted  for 
bedding-out  purposes. 

Mr.  Hally,  of  Blackheath,  sent  two  variegated-leaved  Geraniums — 
IJurning  Bush  and  Scintillatum — but  not  being  in  bloom  no  opinion 
could  be  formed  of  then-  merits. 

Messrs.  Henderson,  of  the  Wellington- road  Nursery,  St.  John's 
Wood,  sent  Tydsea  amabilis.  This  is  one  of  the  class  of  plants  between 
Achimenes  and  Gloxinias  ;  free-flowering  like  the  former,  and  appears 
to  be  of  easy  culture ;  the  flowers  are  rosy  crimson,  beautifully 
spotted. 

Mr.  Parsons,  gardener  at  Danesbury  Park,  near  Welwyn,  exhibited 
a  seedling  Achimenes  named  Vivid — a  pretty,  distinct,  new  variety ; 
colour,  bright  carmine. 

Pinks  were  shown  very  good.  Dr.  Maclean,  of  Colchester,  took  a  first 
prize  for  12  blooms  in  the  Amateur  class,  with  varieties  all  of  his  own 
raising.  Dr.  Maclean  also  exhibited  several  seedlings,  the  best  of  which 
were  Purity,  William  Hale,  and  Essex  Buck.  Mr.  Bragg,  of  Slough, 
sent  a  pretty  bright  variety  named  Venus ;  it  is  too  thin,  and  a  little 
serrated  on  the  edge. 

Cut  Roses  were  exhibited  in  very  fine  condition  by  the  Messrs.  Paul, 
of  Cheshunt ;  Mr.  Francis,  of  Hertford  ;  Mr.  Mitchell,  of  Piltdown  ; 
and  Messrs.  Lane,  of  Great  Berkhampstead.  In  the  Amateur  Class, 
by  Miss  Palmer,  Portland  Place;  C.  M.  Whittington,  Esq.,  Caversham; 
and  ]\Ir.  Hume,  gardener  to  R.  Hanbury,  Esq.,  Ware.  Many  of  the 
varieties  were  exquisite.  We  should  give  the  preference  to  General 
Castellane  for  shape ;  for  colour,  to  General  Jacqueminot  and  Lord 
Raglan.  Some  of  the  light  kinds  were  very  double,  and  of  the  most 
approved  form. 

Several  new  Grapes  were  shown.  Mr.  Snow's  Muscat  Hamburgh 
is  a  fine  addition,  being  of  the  most  pleasant  rich  flavour.  Three 
bunches  of  anew  white  Grape,  Marchioness  of -Hastings,  were  of  an 
immense  size.     These  were  from  Mr.  Mitchell,  of  Brighton. 


THE  SUMMER  PRUNING  OP  FRUIT  TREES. 
The  advantages  of  summer  pruning  have  of  late  years  been  so 
repeatedly  pointed  out,  that  it  may  appear  to  some  perhaps  almost 
unnecessary  to  insist  further  on  it,  or  to  repeat  what  has  already  been 
so  often  said  before.  I,  too,  should  be  of  this  opinion  were  the  practice 
now  universal ;  this,  I  am  compelled  to  say,  is  not  the  case.  I  there- 
fore hope  that  a  few  remarks  on  the  subject  wiU  not  be  deemed 
mistimed. 

The  importance  of  solar  light  and  air  in  motion  to  vegetation  is  now 


230  TUE    FLORIST. 

generally  admitted,  and  yet  how  often  do  we  see  all  the  young  wood 
left  until  what  is  called  the  winter  pruning,  not  only  on  Gooseberry 
and  Currant  bushes,  but  on  standard  Apple,  Pear,  and  Plum  trees. 
Peach,  Nectarine,  and  Apricot  trees  fare  a  little  better  ;  but  in  general 
much  more  wood  is  retained  at  the  summer  pruning  than  is  required 
for  next  season.  The  air  should  freely  pass  round  every  portion. of 
wood  retained  on  trees,  whether  standards,  dwarfs,  trained  or  untrained, 
and  solar  light  should  directly  reach  the  surface  of  every  leaf  When 
the  wood  or  leaves  are  so  close  as  in  any  manner  to  obstruct  these 
(the  free  circulation  of  air  round  the  wood,  and  the  direct  action  of 
solar  light  on  the  leaves),  the  consequences  are  that  even  in  the  most 
favourable  seasons  the  wood  does  not  get  properly  ripened,  and  in 
unfavourable  ones  it  is  much  less  matured.  To  retain,  therefore,  any 
superfluous  shoots  at  summer  pruning  is  very  bad  practice,  as  they 
prevent  the  wood  that  is  wanted  for  next  year  from  being  properly 
ripened ;  and  unless  the  wood  is  thoroughly  matured  it  is  in  vain  to 
expect  good  crops  of  fruit.  Unless  every  leaf  receives  the  full  influence 
of  solar  light,  and  unless  air  in  motion  pass  freely  about  every  part  of 
the  tree,  we  cannot  secure  well-formed  buds  ;  even  then  we  must 
always  keep  the  leaves  clear  of  insects,  so  that  their  functions  be  not  in 
the  least  impaired.  If  we  wish  annually  to  have  good  crops  of  fruit, 
we  must  timely  and  properly  attend  to  the  summer  pruning  of  our 
trees  ;  and  we  must  not  limit  this  operation  to  our  Peach,  Nectarine, 
and  Apricot  trees,  nor  to  our  Apple,  Pear,  and  Plum  trees,  but  must 
extend  it  to  every  tree  of  every  description,  from  which  we  expect  a 
crop  of  fruit.  Instead  of  Gooseberry  and  Currant  bushes  being  summer 
pruned  in  general,  it  is  quite  exceptional.  I  am  perfectly  aware  that 
all  this  summer  pruning  occurs  at  a  time  of  the  year  when  there  is  an 
accumulated  demand  of  absolutely  necessary  and  immediate  require- 
ments on  the  too  often  rather  limited  labour  which  a  gardener  has  at 
his  command.  This  it  is,  I  know,  which  sometimes  causes  that  work, 
which,  though  at  that  time  it  may  not  be  so  immediately  urgent,  but 
which,  nevertheless,  is  oftentimes  of  much  more  consequence,  to  be 
postponed.  And  as  a  matter  of  course,  not  being  done  at  the  proper 
time,  it  is  not  done  until  winter,  consequently  the  wood  is  never  in  such 
case  properly  ripened ;  and  trees,  when  the  wood  is  not  ripened, 
always  suffer  more  from  insects  ;  and  the  young  shoots  from  unripened 
wood,  if  summer  pruning  is  neglected,  stand  a  still  worse  chance  of 
ripening.  When  this  goes  on  year  after  year  it  is  in  vain  to  expect 
crops  of  fruit.  No  matter,  then,  how  "  immediate  and  urgent  "  other 
work  may  be  at  the  time,  the  summer  pruning  of  fruit  trees  of  every 
kind  must  be  attended  to  properly.  It  is  labour  well  bestowed,  and 
when  trees  get  into  a  healthy  bearing  state,  full  of  ripened  and  fruc- 
tiferous wood,  they  will  require  but  very  little  summer  pruning.  It  is 
when  this  is  totally  neglected,  that  trees  that  bear  little  or  no  fruit  put 
out  a  forest  of  shoots  instead. 

Pomona. 


231 


MESSRS.  LANE  AND  SON'S   NURSERIES,  GREAT  EERK- 
HAMPSTEAD,  HERTS. 

There  are  few  of  the  gardening  world  who  have  not  heard  of  the 
magnificent  pot  Roses  and  greenhouse  Azaleas  exhibited  by  this  firm 
at  our  Metropohtan  and  other  flower  shows.  Their  nurseries  during 
the  blooming  season  of  these  plants  will  well  repay  a  visit,  while 
for  the  past  month  their  extensive  Rose  grounds  have  been  one 
mass  of  bloom.  Their  stock  of  Roses  is  perhaps  one  of  the  largest 
in  this  country,  and  comprises  all  the  most  esteemed  varieties  in 
cultivation.  Of  Hybrid  Bourbons  we  noticed  a  fine  stock,  amongst  the 
best  of  which  Paul  Perras,  Paul  Ricaut,  Chenedole,  and  Coupe  d'Hebe 
were  pre-eminent.  The  Hybrid  Perpetual  Roses  are,  however,  the  most 
extensive  class,  and  on  account  of  the  length  of  time  during  which  they 
continue  to  bloom  are  the  most  desirable  to  cultivate.  Of  these  a  long 
list  might  be  given ;  we  must  content  ourselves  only  to  name  such 
varieties  as  we  consider  very  superior.  Of  deep  crimsons  the 
new  Rose,  General  Jacqueminot,  Geant  des  Batailles,  and  Empereur 
Napoleon  III.  are  very  striking  ;  these  are  Roses  which,  as  Mr.  Lane 
expresses  it,  warm  you  to  look  upon  them.  Of  pink  and  rose  coloured 
varieties  Jules  JMargottin,  JMadame  Domage,  Chereau,  Madame  de 
Cambaceres,  Madame  Hector  Jacqueler,  Duchess  of  Norfolk,  Comtesse 
Vaillant,  Colonel  de  Rougemont,  and  Baronne  Heckeren  are  amongst 
the  best.  Of  Bourbons  there  are  many  very  splendid  varieties : 
Apolhne,  Aurore  de  Guide,  Francois  Henrincq,  Louis  Odier,  Sir  J. 
Paxton,  and  Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison.  The  Tea-scented,  though 
somewhat  tender,  deserve  every  attention  to  bring  them  to  perfection. 
Messrs.  Lane's  stock  of  these  is  particularly  good  ;  Adam,  Canari, 
Comte  de  Paris,  Devoniensis,  Gloire  de  Dijon,  Madame  de  St.  Joseph, 
Madame  Melanie  Willemorz,  Moire,  Narcisse,  Souvenir  d'un  Ami,  and 
Vicomtesse  de  Cazes  are  all  very  beautiful.  Long  beds  of  the  above, 
and  many  other  splendid  varieties,  were  in  most  luxuriant  health,  and 
covered  with  bloom,  the  fragrance  of  which  completely  loaded  the 
atmosphere.  They  are  worked  in  a  great  variety  of  shapes — dwarfs, 
pillars,  and  standards,  the  latter  so  high  as  seven  and  nine  feet,  the 
tallest  of  which  are  much  in  demand  for  covering  high  walls,  &c.,  for 
by  the  aid  of  such  plants'  it  is  possible  to  cover  such  places  at  any  time. 

Of  forest  trees  Messrs.  Lane's  young  stock  is  very  extensive  and 
good  ;  this  will  easily  be  understood  when  we  state  that' their  nurseries 
consist  of  about  60  acres  of  land  which  is  well  adapted  for  the  purpose. 

Coniferous  plants  are  propagated  in  large  quantities.  The  more 
common  are  sown  in  beds  in  the  usual  way,  after  which  the  surface  is 
thinly  covered  with  chopped  Furze  ;  this  answers  the  Ivvo-fold  purpose 
of  preventing  excessive  evaporation  during  the  summer,  and  of 
protecting  the  young  plants  from  cutting  wind  during  winter  and  the 
early  spring  months.  Of  Araucaria  imbricata  Messrs.  Lane's  stock  is 
the  largest  we  have  seen  ;  many  of  the  plants  are  large  and  handsome  ; 
seedlings  of  the  present  season  amount  to  several  thousands;  and  are 
now  growing  freely  in  a  cool  greenhouse.     When  these  plants  can  be 


232  THE    FLORIST. 

propagated  so  freely  from  seed  it  may  be  a  matter  of  surprise  that  any 
other  means  should  be  adopted.  For  certain  purposes,  however,  plants 
struck  from  cuttings  are  very  useful,  for  by  this  means  quite  another 
habit  is  acquired  :  instead  of  the  erect  symmetrical  plants  which  we 
have  from  seed  we  have  dwarf  trailing  plants  which  are  admirably 
adapted  for  planting  on  rock-work,  &c.  Messrs.  Lane  have  long  directed 
their  attention  to  this  fact,  and  are  now  in  possession  of  a  nice  stock  of 
such  plants. 

American  plants  are  very  extensively  grown.  There  are  large  quan- 
tities of  Rhododendrons,  Azaleas,  Kalmias,  Andromedas,  &c.,  all  of 
which  are  very  healthy,  and  have  been  one  mass  of  bloom  ;  in  fact, 
some  of  the  late  varieties  of  Rhododendrons  were  still  so.  Standard 
Rhododendrons,  so  much  in  demand  for  planting  singly  on  lawns  and  a 
variety  of  purposes,  are  here  in  great  numbers  ;  as  are  also  standard 
Bays  and  Portugal  Laurels — the  latter  full  of  flowers,  which  have  a 
pretty  effect. 

Plant-houses  and  pits,  as  may  be  supposed,  are  very  numerous  : 
besides  those  for  specimen  plants,  there  are  a  number  for  the  young 
stock  of  stove  and  greenhouse  plants.  Achimenes,  Gloxinias,  Pelar- 
goniums, &c.,  are  here  in  their  newest  and  best  variety  ;  their  young 
stock  of  greenhouse  Azaleas  is  the  largest  we  have  seen,  and  remark- 
ably clean  and  healthy. 

For  specimen  Azaleas  three  large  span-roof  houses  are  devoted. 
The  Messrs.  Lane  have  long  been  celebrated  for  the  culture  of  such 
plants ;  at  the  present  time  these,  like  their  young  stock,  evince  the 
best  of  management.  Of  the  more  rare,  we  noticed  tine  plants  of  Alba 
melior,  considered  one  of  the  best  white  Azaleas  in  cultivation  ;  Beaute 
de  I'Europe,  a  very  pretty  carnation- striped  variety  ;  Chelsoni,  one  of 
the  best  in  the  way  of  Perryana :  there  are  also  some  fine  plants  of 
Azalea  Lanei,  a  seedling  of  ]\Iessrs.  Lane,  which  they  consider  by  far 
the  best  white  Azalea  in  cultivation.  Of  old  varieties  they  have  mag- 
nificent plants  of  Conspicua  purpurea  (a  very  showy  variety,  the  flowers 
of  which  have  sometimes  measured  five  inches  in  diameter),  Duke  of 
Devonshire,  Iveryana,  IMurrayana,  Perryana,  Rubra  plena  (a  very  large 
plant),  Variegata,  Gledstanesi,  and  many  others ;  we'  also  noticed 
several  plants  on  which  three  and  four  varieties  had  been  worked 
together — these,  when  in  flower,  are  very  pretty.  In  one  of  the 
Azalea  houses  we  noticed  remarkably  fine  plants  of  the  two  varieties  of 
Rhododendron  javanicum  ;  they  are  each  about  four  feet  high,  bushy, 
and  well  clothed  with  foliage  to  the  pot's  rim — a  condition  in  which 
they  are  rarely  met  with. 

Messrs.  Lane's  stock  of  orchard-house  plants  cannot  possibly  be  sur- 
passed. There  are  four  span-roof  houses  devoted  to  this  branch  of 
plant  culture,  the  largest  of  which  is  150  feet  by  24,  and  it  is  now 
intended  to  extend  it  to  300  feet,  in  order  to  meet  the  demand  for 
these  trees.  One  house  is  specially  devoted  to  fruiting  plants ;  it 
contains  most  of  the  best  varieties  of  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Apricots, 
Plums,  and  Cherries,  besides  several  new  or  little  known  fruits,  which 
it  is  the  object  to  test :  we  noticed  plants  in  ten-inch  pots  of  the  Kaisha, 
Moor  Park,  and  several  other  Apricots,  loaded  with  fruit — in  fact,  this 


AUGUST.  233 

was  the  case  with  the  whole  contents  of  the  house.  In  their  large 
house  are  planted  all  the  known  varieties  of  Hamburgh  Vines.  These, 
it  is  expected,  will  not  only  furnish  a  supply  of  Grapes,  but  also  a 
quantity  of  "  eyes,"  from  which  a  stock  of  young  plants  can  be  propa- 
gated and  kept  under  their  proper  names.  The  stock  of  young  trees 
in  pots  in  this  house  is  in  excellent  condition.  Out  of  doors,  there  are 
large  quantities  of  Pears,  Plums,  Gooseberries,  and  Currants,  also  in 
pots,  and  many  of  them  loaded  with  fruit. 

Messrs.  Lane  have  long  been  known  as  among  the  most  persevering 
and  ardent  lovers  of  good  gardening,  at  the  present  time  there  is  every 
appearance  of  their  long  retaining  their  high  standard ;  everything, 
both  in  their  plant-houses  and  grounds,  evinces  the  best  order  and  good 
management,  and  we  have  to  thank  them  for  the  very  kind  manner  in 
which  they  allowed  us  to  inspect  every  part  of  their  establishment. 


THE  PINK. 
Knowing  as  we  do  the  estimation  in  which  this  sweetest,  as  well 
as  oldest  and  most  interesting  of  Florists'  Flowers  is  held,  we  have, 
by  permission  of  the  proprietor,  introduced  the  following  remarks  by 
"  J.  H.  B.,"  from  the  "  National  Garden  Almanack  "  for  the  present 
year.  As  we  know  the  discriminating  taste  of"  J.  H.  B.,"  he  will  be  found 
a  safe  guide,  and  we  hope  in  a  future  number  to  give  our  readers  the 
result  of  his  experience  of  the  present  year's  bloom. 

"  If  we  examine  the  whole  catalogue  of  Florists'  Flowers,  I  question 
if  we  shall  find  one  more  improved  of  late  years  than  this  lovely 
favorite. 

"  When  we  remember  the  fringed  mop  of  Dry's  Earl  of  Uxbridge, 
or  Pigott's  Earl  of  Cheltenham  ;  the  confused  colouring  of  Unsvvorth's 
Omega,  or  Blackheath  Hero  ;  and  the  uncertain  lacing  of  Akers'  Lord 
Brougham,  or  Barrett's  Conqueror,  all  acknowledged  favourites  a  few 
years  since,  and  contrast  them  with  the  fulness  and  compactness  of 
Ward's  Great  Britain,  or  Turner's  Duke  of  Devonshire,  the  solid 
edging  and  lovely  colours  of  Mrs.  Norman  or  Maclean's  Criterion,  or 
the  dense  margin  of  Norman's  Colchester  Cardinal,  we  cannot  fail  to 
be  struck  with  the  great  advance  made  by  this  flower,  and  although  we 
must  allow  perfection  has  not  been  attained,  yet  we  cannot  certainly 
deny  that  immense  strides  have  been  made  in  that  direction. 

"  Among  the  first  (in  my  remembrance)  improvers  of  this  flower, 
Mr.  John  Sharp,  of  Clop  Hill,  near  Selsoe,  Bedfordshire,  must  be 
named,  as  with  Splendid  and  Wm.  Cobbett ;  he  gave  us  the  first 
indication  of  that  breadth  and  smoothness  of  petal,  we  have  since  seen 
so  much  more  fully  carried  out ;  Mr.  Garrett  gave  us  a  still  further 
improvement  with  Alpha,  and  Queen  of  Roses  ;  Mr.  Hodges  gave  us 
Gem  and  Melona,  and  Mr.  Creed,  of  Woolwich,  gave  us  President,  a 
further  advance  in  the  right  direction. 

"  Mr.  Cousins,  of  Welling,  with  Little  Wonder,  and  James  Cousins 
followed  well  in  this  road,  and  Mr.  N.  Norman,  of  Woolwich,  in  con- 


234  THE    FLORIST. 

trlbuting  Henry  and  Duke  of  Wellington,  made  a  vast  stride  in  advance 
of  his  cont(2mporaries. 

"  Mr.  Solomon  Hale,  of  Hillingdon,  gave  us  Queen  of  England,  a 
flower  which  for  refinement  of  style  and  precision  of  marking  was  un- 
rivalled. Mr.  E.  Stow,  of  Chiselhurst,  gave  us  Elizabeth,  one  of  the 
best  dark  edges  of  its  day,  and  Mr.  Meade,  of  Lewisham,  contributed 
Blackheath  Rival,  a  James  Hogg  on  a  small  scale. 

"  Mr.  Smith  gave  us  Diana,  Whipper-in,  Goliath,  &c.  &c.,  and  Mr. 
Read,  a  neighbour  of  Mr.  Sharp,  of  Clop  Hill,  gave  us  Jermy  Lind 
(wrongly  called  Harrison's),  which  to  other  good  qualities  adds  that  of 
its  prolificacy,  as  a  numerous  progeny  (among  which  Kossuth,  Ada, 
Bertha,  &c.,  are  worthy  of  note)  fully  shows. 

"  Dr.  Maclean,  of  Colchester,  gave  us  Narborough  Buck,  Criterion 
(aptly  named),  Narborough  Nymph  (now  I  fear  lost),  and  later,  New 
Criterion,  and  Purity,  two  of  the  best  Pinks  in  cultivation ;  while  Dr. 
Norman,  of  the  same  neighbourhood,  has  given  us  Colchester  Cardinal 
(a  perfect  gem),  and  I\Irs.  Norman,  a  flower  which  for  breadth  of  petal 
is  unrivalled — while  Messrs.  Bragg  and  Turner,  of  Slough,  and  Keynes, 
of  Salisbury,  have  of  late  years  done  the  cause  good  service,  the  former 
with  Jupiter,  Koh-i-noor,  James  Hogg,  Hercules,  &c.  &c.  Mr.  Turner 
with  Optima,  Esther,  Sarah,  Perfection,  Richard  Andrews,  &c.  &c., 
and  Mr.  Keynes  with  Mrs.  Wolfe,  Mrs.  Lewis,  &c. ;  nor  must  we 
omit,  while  on  the  subject  of  Pink  improvers,  the  name  of  Mr.  Marris, 
of  Leicester,  who  in  giving  us  Theresa,  Theodore,  and  Geraldine,  has 
insured  the  knowledge  of  his  name,  at  least  for  some  years,  in  our 
locality. 

"  The  north  has  hitherto  been  singularly  backward  in  producing  any 
worthy  Pink  novelty — Mrs.  Burman,  of  whom  we  were  promised  such 
<jf7-eat  things,  proving  too  liltie  for  anything  useful ;  but  even  the  north 
has  at  length  made  a  step  in  the  right  direction,  and  in  giving  us  Eli- 
zabeth Gair,  Mr.  Lightbody  has  chronicled  himself  as  another  Pink 
grower's  friend.  The  south  has  had  worthy  representatives  in  the 
Chatham  growers,  and  while  Mr.  Eldridge  has  evinced  his  predilection 
for  the  yacht  line  of  business  in  naming  his  seedlings  Volante,  War 
Hawk,  Alarm,  &c.  &c.,  they  have  by  no  means  disgraced  their  name- 
sakes' aqueous  reputation.  Central  Kent  was  worthily  represented  by 
Mr.  Hardstone,  of  St.  Mary  Cray,  whose  last  contribution  was  Fanny, 
a  Yery  fair  specimen  of  a  Pink.  (I  regret  to  say  icas  represented,  as 
I  have  just  heard  of  his  rather  sudden  death,  on  the  22nd  October. 
The  Pink,  Tulip,  Carnation,  and  Picotee  world,  have  sustained  a  con- 
siderable loss  in  the  person  of  this  persevering  old  florist ;  may  his  son 
follow  worthily  in  his  footsteps.) 

"  Mr.  Looker,  of  Oxford,  must  by  no  means  be  overlooked  in  these 
remarks,  for  whether  we  take  old  flowers,  or  new  ones,  he  seems 
equally  in  the  foremost  rank.  Of  the  former,  Jane  Sarah,  Glory  of  . 
Oxford,  and  Duchess  of  Marlborough,  were  excellent  representatives  ; 
while,  in  novelties,  John  Stevens,  Juliet,  Mr.  Hoyle,  Mr.  Hobbs,  &c. 
&c.,  bear  conspicuous  places  ;  and  if  Mrs.  Stevens  prove  to  be  only  as 
great  a  trimmer  as  report  says  she  is,  her  possessor  may  congratulate 
himself  on  having  added  at  least  an  A  1  to  the  Pink  catalogue. 


AUGUST.  235 

"  Yet  with  all  these  improvements,  and  no  one  can  deny  that  they 
are  improvements,  I  miss  the  dense  black  and  wire  edge  I  so  well 
remember  on  Aker's  Lord  Brougham,  Ibbot's  Captain  Dean  Dundas, 
and  Keynes'  Ne  Plus  Ultra :  and  while  our  growers  are  conning  over 
these  few  rambling  and  discursive  remarks,  I  can  only  say,  if  they  are 
fortunate  enough  to  produce  a  flower  combining  these  qualifications, 
with  the  present  breadth  of  petal,  fulness  of  flower,  and  smoothness  of 
edge,  no  one  will  be  more  ready  and  willing  to  chronicle  their  success, 
and  rejoice  at  their  good  fortune  than 

^  "J.  H.  B. 

"  I  append  a  list  of  the  best  thirty-six  Pinks  cultivated  by  me  in  the 
past  season. 


New  Criterion  (Maclean). 
Mrs.  Norman  (Norman). 
James  Hogg  (Bragg). 
Jolin  Stevens  (Looker). 
Richard  Andrews  (Turner) 
Elizabeth  Gair  (Lightbody). 


Criterion  (Maclean). 

Jupiter  (Bragg). 

Theresa  (Marris). 

Mrs.  Lewis  (Keynes). 

Lord  Cliarles  Wellesley  (Bragg). 

Fanny  (Hardstone). 


Mr.  Hobbs  (Looker). 
Koh-i-noor  (Bragg). 
Alarm  (Elri(Ige). 
Brunette  (I\Laclean). 
Criterion  (Ellis). 
Field  Marshal  (Hale) 


Colchester  Cardinal  (Norman). 

Hercules  (Bragg). 

Ada  (Read). 

Great  Britain  (V7ard). 

Juliet  (Looker). 

Mr.  Hoyle  (Looker) . 


Duke  of  Devonshire  (Turner). 
Sarah  (Turner). 
Esther  (Turner). 
Sappbo  (Colcutt). 
Mrs.  Wolfe  (Keynes). 
Favorite  (Hudson). 


Adonis  (Maclean). 
Perfection  (Turner). 
Optima  (Turner). 
Louisa  (Phillips). 
Colchester  Buck  (Norman). 
Titus  (Edwards). 


"  Our  kind  contributor,  an  amateur  florist,  has  been  no  less  happy 
than  just  in  his  retrospective  and  recommendatory  hints  on  Pinks. 
[J.E.]" 


THE  APPLE  CROP  OF  1856. 

The  crop  is  this  year  a  very  thin  one  in  Yorkshire,  considerably  below 
the  average.  This  is  what  I  anticipated  fi-om  the  very  heavy  crops  of 
last  year,  which  not  being  thinned,  robbed  the  trees  of  all  their 
nutritious  matter,  so  that  a  season  of  rest  is  required  to  store  up 
sufficient  for  another  heavy  crop,  to  be  followed  by  another  season  of 
rest.  To  remedy  this  state  of  things,  I  have  advocated  a  proper 
system  of  culture,  such  as  thinning  of  spurs,  buds,  fruit,  _&c.  Our 
orchardists  attribute  the  failure  of  their  crop  to  our  late  spring  frosts, 
and  not  to  their  own  mismanagement  in  letting  the  trees  go  unpruned 
and  uncared  for,  never  thinning  the  fruit  when  the  crop  is  very  heavy. 
In  America  they  have  their  "  bearing  year  "  and  season  of  rest  in 
neglected  orchards,  but  they  do  not,  as  we  do,  attribute  it  to  late  spring 


236  THE   FLORIST. 

frost.  Downing,  in  his  work,  the  "  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees  of 
America,"  treating  on  orchard  culture,  says,  "  The  hearing  year  of  the 
Apple,  in  common  culture,  only  takes  place  every  alternate  year,  owing 
to  the  excessive  crop  which  it  usually  produces,  by  which  they  exhaust 
most  of  the  organisable  matter  laid  up  by  the  tree,  which  then  requires 
another  season  to  recover,  and  collect  a  sufficient  supply  again  to  form 
fruit  buds.  When  half  the  fruit  is  thinned  out  in  a  young  state, 
leaving  only  a  moderate  crop,  the  Apple,  like  other  fruit  trees,  will  bear 
every  year,  as  it  will  also  if  the  soil  is  kept  in  high  condition.  He  adds 
in  a  note,  "  One  of  the  finest  orchards  in  America  is  that  of  Pelham 
farm  at  Esopus,  on  the  Hudson.  It  is  no  less  remarkable  for  the 
beauty  and  high  flavour  of  its  fruit,  than  the  constant  productiveness 
of  the  trees.  The  proprietor,  C.  J.  Pell,  Esq.,  has  kindly  furnished  us 
with  some  notes  of  his  experiments  on  fruit  trees,  and  we  subjoin  the 
following  highly  interesting  one  on  the  Apple  : — '  For  several  years 
past  I  have  been  experimenting  on  the  Apple,  having  an  orchard  of 
2000  bearing  Newtown  Pippin  trees.  I  found  it  very  unprofitable  to 
wait  for  what  is  termed  the  '  bearing  year,'  and  it  has  been  my  aim  to 
assist  Nature,  so  as  to  enable  the  trees  to  bear  every  year.  I  have 
noticed  that  from  the  excessive  productiveness  of  this  tree,  it  requires 
the  intermediate  year  to  recover  itself — to  extract  from  the  earth  and 
the  atmosphere  the  materials  to  enable  it  to  produce  again.  This  it  is 
not  able  to  do,  unassisted  by  art,  while  it  is  loaded  with  fruit,  and  the 
intervening  year  is  lost.  If,  however,  the  tree  is  supplied  with  proper 
food  it  will  bear  every  year  ;  at  least  such  has  been  the  result  of  my 
experiments.  Three  years  ago,  in  April,  I  scraped  all  the  rough  bark 
from  the  stems  of  several  thousand  trees  in  my  orchard,  and  washed 
all  the  trunks  and  stems  within  reach  with  soft  soap  ;  trimmed  out  all 
the  branches  that  crossed  each  other,  early  in  June,  and  painted  the 
wounded  part  with  whitelead,  to  exclude  moisture  and  prevent  decay. 
I  then,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  month,  slit  the  bark  by  running 
a  sharp  pointed  knife  from  the  ground  to  the  first  set  of  limbs,  which 
prevents  the  trees  from  becoming  bark-bound,  and  gives  the  young 
wood  ain  opportunity  of  expanding.  In  July  I  placed  one  peck  of 
oyster-shell  lime  under  each  tree,  and  left  it  piled  round  the  trunk  until 
November,  during  which  time  the  drought  was  excessive.  In  November 
the  lime  was  dug  in  thoroughly.  The  following  year  I  collected  from 
these  trees  T700  barrels  of  fruit,  part  of  which  was  sold  in  New  York 
for  four  and  others  in  London  for  nine  dollars  per  barrel.  The  cider 
made  of  the  refuse,  delivered  at  the  mill  two  days  after  its  manufacture, 
I  sold  for  3f  dollars  per  barrel  of  32  gallons,  exclusive  of  the  barrel. 
In  October  I  manured  these  trees  with  stable  manure  in  which  the 
ammonia  had  been  fixed,  and  covered  this  immediately  with  earth. 
The  succeeding  autumn  they  were  literally  bending  to  the  ground  with 
the  finest  fruit  I  ever  saw,  while  the  other  trees  in  my  orchard  not  so 
treated  are  quite  barren,  the  last  season  having  been  their  '  bearing 
season.'  I  am  now  placing  round  each  tree  one  peck  of  charcoal 
dust,  and  propose  in  the  spring  to  cover  it  from  the  compost  heap.'  " 

If  time  and  space  allowed,  I  could  make  many  more  extracts  from 
this  work  to  show  that  in  America  orchards,  when  neglected,  bear  crops 


AUGUST.  237 

every  alternate  year  only ;  but  where  under  proper  culture  they  bear  every 
year.  When  our  orchardists  imitate  the  labour  and  perseverance  of 
this  American  gentleman,  who  takes  so  much  pains  with  his  Newtown 
Pippin  trees,  then  may  we  hope  to  hear  no  more  outcries  as  to  the 
failure  of  our  crops. 

M.  Saul. 


SHRUBBY  CALCEOLARIAS. 
A  VERY  great  improvement  has  lately  been  effected  in  this  most  useful 
decorative  plant  by  Mr.  Cole  and  others  who  have  devoted  some 
attention  to  hybridising  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  improved  varieties. 
We  have  this  season  bloomed  a  full  collection  in  pots  for  the  purpose  of 
testing  their  respective  merits,  and  ascertaining  which  of  them  are 
most  useful  for  bedding  uses.  Many  of  them  have  proved  most  valuable 
for  this  purpose,  others  are  only  suitable  for  pot  culture,  and  are  not 
shrubby  enough  in  habit  to  stand  the  wear  and  tear  of  out-door  work, 
and  give  a  succession  of  bloom  for  the  season.  Our  aim  now  is  to  give 
some  account  of  all  the  varieties  we  have  grown,  and  particularly  to  show 
which  are  really  useful  as  bedding  plants.  And  with  regard  to  the 
culture  of  Calceolarias  in  pots,  our  opinion  is,  that  the  shrubby  varieties 
are  far  superior  to  the  herbaceous  kinds  for  pot  culture.  In  habit, 
and  in  duration  of  blooming  especially,  they  are  greatly  superior,  as 
they  yield  a  succession  of  flowers  for  the  season,  while  the  herbaceous 
varieties  do  not  remain  in  bloom  half  so  long.  They  are  also  not  so 
subject  to  green-fly.  The  shrubby  varieties  are  very  easily  grown 
from  cuttings,  and  require  much  less  attention  in  wintering,  as  well  as 
in  their  culture.  Our  method  of  growing  them  is  this  : — The  plants 
are  just  cut  down  from  which  cuttings  will  be  taken  in  .September. 
During  the  winter  they  will  be  kept  in  dry  cold  frames  or  pits,  provided 
with  small  hot-water  pipes  in  front  to  keep  out  frost  and  damp,  and 
the  plants  will  be  kept  as  near  the  glass  as  possible,  to  prevent 
drawing.  They  should  be  kept  well  aired  and  hardy,  and  quite  free 
from  green-fly  by  repeatedly  fumigating  them.  Fspecial  care  should 
be  taken  to  keep  them  growing,  and  not  allow  them  to  receive  a  check, 
either  from  want  of  water,  too  much  water,  or  any  other  cause.  Tlie 
soil  we  use  consists  of  maiden  loam,  leaf-mould,  and  sand,  mixed  in  a 
rough  state,  and  not  sifted.  The  plants  should  he  stopped  two  or  three 
times  at  various  periods,  and  shifted  as  required,  and  8-inch  pots  are 
quite  large  enough  for  full-sized  specimens.  Plenty  of  ah-,  kept 
growing,  and  cleanliness  are  most  important  points  to  be  kept  in  view. 

Albira  (Cole),  yellow  with  brown  spots,  very  free  blooming,  of  shrubby  habit, 

but  more  suitable  for  pot  culture  than  for  bedding. 
Ajax  (Pince),  brownish  red  with  yellow  margin,  very  large  and  showy,  but 

only  fit  for  pot  culture. 
Attraction  (Perkins),  crimson  with  orange  margin  and  cap;  a  very  good 

variety  for  pot  culture. 
Brunettia  (Henderson),  like  Crimson  King. 
Beauty  of  Montreal,  bright  light  crimson,  small  flower,  but  a  free  blooming 

and  good  variety  for  bedding. 


238  THE    FLORIST. 

Crimson  King,  deep  crimson,  large,  and  of  rather  tall  liabit,  yet  one  of  the 

best  crimsons  for  bedding. 
Cotton-ball,  a  white  variety  of  no  value. 

Correggio  (Henderson),  large  brovenish  crimson,  best  for  pot  culture. 
Desirable  (Perkins),  bright  crimson,  a  good  variety  for  pot  or  bedding. 
Don  S;iturnio  (Henderson),  orange  brown,  large  flower,  best  for  pot  culture. 
Don  Francisco  (Henderson),  dark  crimson.  Sultan  habit,  best  for  pot  culture. 
Eclipse  (Rollisson),  bright  crimson  scarlet,  a  very  fine  variety,  but  unfortu- 
nately not  a  free  grower. 
Ethel  Newcome  (Henderson),  yellow,  not  so  good  as  many  others. 
Erecta,  rich  yellow,  a  first  rate  bedding  variety  with  stiff  footstalks,   very 

bright,  and  of  good  habit.     Different  shade  of  colour  to  any  other. 
Emperor  Napoleon  (Youell),  orange  crimson  with  yellow  margin,  large;  a 

good  pot  variety. 
Empress  Eugenie  (Youell),  large  yellow,  only  fit  for  pot  culture,  and  of  not 

much  value. 
General  Caurobert  (Henderson),  rich  rosy  crimson,  a  very  good  pot  variety, 

but  not  for  bedding  out. 
General  Pelissier  (Henderson),-  light  crimson,  Sultan  habit,  very  good  for 

bedding  or  pot  culture. 
Goldiinder  (Cole),  rich  yellow,  a  fine  bedding  variety  of  good  habit. 
Golden  Cap,  brown  and  yellow  with  yellow  cap,  dwarf  habit,  best  for  pot 

culture. 
Hawk  (Cole),  orange,  densely  spotted  with  large  brown  blotches,  very  bright, 

and  of  good  habit ;  a  good  bedding  variety,  and  an  excellent  pot  plant. 
Harlequin  (Cole),  dull  orange  and  brown,  spotted,  novel  in  colour,  but  only 

fit  for  pot  culture. 
Heywood  Hawkins,  a  half  shrubby  variety,  in  colour  and  marking  somewhat 

similar  to  Hawk,  but  not  so  desirable. 
Kayi,  yellow,  a  well  known  and  useful  variety. 
King  of  Sardinia  (Cole),  rich  crimson,  large  flower,  dwarf  and  good  habit, 

and  a  free  bloomer,  very  fine.     The  best  of  all  the  crimson  varieties  for 

bedding  purjjoses. 
Kentish  Hero  ;  this  variety  is  well  known. 

Lemonade  (Cole),  pale  yellow,  an  excellent  bedding  variety,  and  best  late. 
Lady  Isham  (Perkins),  reddish  brown  edged  with  yellow,  best  for  pot  culture. 
Maggiore  (Henderson),  dark  brownish  crimson,  like  lied  Rover  and  Wildfire. 
Minnie  (Henderson),  bright  scarlet   crimson,    small   flower,  very  free,  but 

not  a  strong  grower. 
Norma  (Henderson),  large  dark  brownish  crimson,  Sultan  habit. 
Negro    (Nelson),  of  Sultan  habit  and  the  darkest  of  all,  only  fit  for  pot 

culture. 
Orange   Perfection   (Cole),   soft  pale  orange,  an   exceedingly  beautiful  and 

valuable  variety  for  bedding  or  pot  culture,  and  very  distinct. 
Orange   Boven    (Cole),   bright    brownish   orange,   dwarf    habit   and   a  free 

bloomer,  good  for  bedding. 
Pallida  (Cole's),  pale  canary  yellow,  very  free,  distinct  and  good  for  bedding. 
Pilot  (Colo),  crimson  brown,  small  flowers  and  very  free,  best  for  pot  culture. 
Prince  of  Orange  (Cole),  bright  orange  brown  fading  to  light  orange,  very 

dwarf   habit,   and  an   immense   bloomer.       This   is    a   most   valuable 

bedding  variety,  and  should  be  generally  grown. 
Pygmaea  (Perkins),  brown  and  orange,  Sultan  habit,  not  worth  growing. 
Rosy  I\[orn,  dark  crimson,  something  like  Crimson  King. 
Red  Rover  (Henderson),  like  Wildfire. 
Sir  Charles   Isham  (Perkins),  crimson  with  orange  cap,  dull  colour,  of  not 

much  value. 
Surprise  (Henderson),  very  much  like  Correggio. 
Sultan,  rich  dark  crimson,  fine  for  pots,  but  superseded  by  King  of  Sardinia 

for  utility. 
Shirley  (Henderson),  pale  yellowish  brown,  something  of  Prince  of  Orange 

habit,  and  not  so  useful. 
Purity  (Cole),  clear  white  and  free  blooming.     This  variety  is  very  fine  out 


AUGUST.  .  239 

of  doors,  if  autumn-struck  plants  are  used,  and  not  allowed  to  grow  too 
freely.     A  somewhat  dry  situation  suits  it  best. 
Shaukleyana,  very  like  Kentish  Hero,  but  darker. 

Superb  (Turner),  very  dark,  of  good  dwarf  habit,  and  a  good  bedding  variety. 
Variabilis  (Rullisson),  creamy  white,  of  no  value. 
Wellington  Hero  (Henderson),  deep  yellow,  large  flowers,  and  very  free  ;  a 

very  good  variety,  but  Goidfinder  is  an  improvement  on  it. 
Wildfire  (Henderson),  brownish  crimson,  large  flowers,  best  adapted  for  pot 

culture. 
There  are  a  few  other  old  varieties  that  we  have  not  enumerated,  as 
they  are  so  well  known.     The  best,  in  our  opinion,  for  bedding  purposes 
are — 

Yellow. — Erecta,  creamy  yellow. 
Goidfinder,  deep  yellow. 
Lemonade,  pale  yellow. 
Pallida,  pale  yellow. 
Orange. — Orange  Perfection,  soft  pale  orange. 

Orange  Boven,  bright  brownish  orange. 
Prince  of  Orange,  bright  orange  brown,  fading  to  light  orange. 
^roM^ra— Kentish  Pfero. 
Crimson. — King  of  Sardinia,  rich  dark  crimson. 

Beauty  of  Montreal,  bright  light  crimson. 
Superb,  very  dark. 

These  are  a  few  first-rate  varieties  for  out-door  purposes.  In 
planting  beds  of  yellow  Calceolarias,  we  have  found  Superb  an 
admirable  border  to  a  bed  of  bright  yellow,  or  Prince  of  Orange  a  good 
border  to  King  of  Sardinia  or  any  other  dark  variety.  With  regard  to 
Prince  of  Orange,  it  is  an  invaluable  variety,  and  should  be  grown 
generally,  and  Erecta  is  a  first-rate  yellow  variety,  that  is  not 
sufficiently  known. 


PLEROMA    ELEGANS. 


This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  summer  and  autumn-flowering 
plants  in  cultivation ;  there  is  a  neatness  in  the  glossy  green  foliage 
and  compact  habit  of  well  managed  plants  of  it,  that  is  at  all  times 
pleasing.  And  if  we  add  to  this  the  large  round  dark  purple  flowers, 
which  are  produced  on  every  branch  in  great  abundance,  we  shall  find 
that  we  have  k\\  plants  more  attractive. 

The  culture  of  this  Melastomad  is  so  simple  that  any  one,  with  a 
little  attention  to  its  wants,  may  have  good  plants;  still  with  this,  as 
with  other  things,  it  is  an  easy  matter  for  them  to  get  into  ill  health, 
and  when  that  happens  it  requires  some  time  and  skill  to  induce  a  free 
growing  condition.  Neglect  in  stopping  the  shoots,  tying  them  out,  or 
repotting,  as  the  case  may  be,  or  even  a  lack  of  water  for  a  few  hours, 
when  the  pots  are  full  of  roots  and  the  plants  in  vigorous  growth,  are 
each  sufficient  to  spoil  a  plant  for  a  season.  Many,  too,  commit  the 
mistake  of  allowing  plants  intended  for  specimens  to  flower  when  too 
young  ;  when  this  is  done,  there  is  little  chance  of  producing  first- 
rate  specimens,  particularly  with  such  plants  as  the  Pleroma.     The 


240  .  THE    FLORIST. 

object  should,  be,  first,  to  obtain  a  good  foundation,  by  carefully 
stopping  and  tying  out  the  branches.  When  this  is  properly  done,  the 
greatest  art  of  plant-growing  is  complete.  On  the  other  hand,  if  these 
points  are  neglected  when  the  plants  are  young,  no  after  care  will 
compensate  for  the  omission. 

The  Pleroma  may  be  propagated  either  by  means  of  seeds  or 
cuttings ;  if  the  latter,  a  little  practice  is  requisite  to  be  able  to  insert 
them  at  a  proper  time.  They  will  not  root  readily  if  the  wood  is 
allowed  to  be  (  me  too  ripe  ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  if  too  young, 
there  will  be  the  danger  of  damping.  Those  who  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  propagate  the  Azalea  will  probably  find  httle  difficulty  with 
this  plant. 

Supposing  we  have  young  plants  in  February  or  early  in  March, 
they  should  be  placed  in  a  growing  temperature — say  about  from  45° 
to  55°.  A  suitable  place  for  this  and  many  other  plants  intended  for 
specimens,  such  as  Leschenaultias,  Eriostemons,  IBoronias,  &c.,  is  a 
pit  heated  with  a  hot-water  pipe,  to  apply  a  little  heat  in  cold,  damp 
weather.  In  such  a  situation  they  can  he  kept  near  the  glass,  to  enjoy 
the  light  and  a  circulation  of  air,  or  shaded  from  bright  sun,  as  the 
weather  may  require.  In  such  a  situation  they  will  soon  commence 
growing  freely,  and  should  be  carefully  potted  in  pots  a  size  or  two 
larger,  as  the  amount  of  roots  may  seem  to  require.  It  will  be  better, 
however,  to  give  a  rather  small  shift  until  the  plants  are  fairly  started 
into  growth ;  when  such  is  the  case,  liberal  shifts  may  be  given  at 
intervals  of  six  or  eight  weeks,  giving  the  final  potting  for  the  season 
in  July,  as  it  is  better  for  the  pots  to  be  rather  full  of  roots  during 
winter.  Stopping  the  shoots  should  also  be  discontinued  after  the  first 
week  in  July,  and  attention  paid  to  having  the  growth  well  matured 
before  the  dark  days  of  autumn.  This  done,  the  Pleroma  may  be 
wintered  in  the  greenhouse,  if  the  temperature  is  not  allowed  to  fall 
below  40°.  It  should  be  placed  so  as  to  receive  a  good  amount  of 
light  and  air,  without  incurring  cold  draughts. 

If  the  plants  are  required  in  bloom  in  the  early  part  of  the  summer, 
they  should  not  be  repotted  in  spring ;  but  for  plants  to  bloom  in 
August  and  September  a  good  shift  should  be  given  in  March,  and  the 
shoots  regularly  stopped  about  a  month  later.  By  following  the 
practice  of  stopping  and  potting  at  different  periods,  this  plant  may  be 
had  in  bloom  for  three  or  four  months  together  at  a  time. 

J.  Shuter. 


PINKS. 
The  Pink  bloom  this  year  has  been  very  fine, — unusually  so.  Almost 
every  variety  produced  large  well-laced  flowers,  there  being  scarcely  a 
failure  out  of  the  hundred  kinds  grown  here.  The  season  has,  however, 
been  much  in  their  favour,  particularly  the  spring  months,  for,  if  it 
prove  an  adverse  one,  the  most  careful  treatment  will  fail  to  produce 
that  uniform  fine  bloom  we  have  just  experienced  in  every  part  of  the 


AUGUST.  241 

country.  Many  entertain  the  idea  that  the  application  of  manure- 
water  adds  to  the  colour  and  quality  of  lacing.  It  is  true  this  will  help 
tliem  during  a  dry  season,  but  this  year  none  has  been  applied  by  me, 
and  I  never  before  saw  Pinks  bloom  so  finely.  If  the  beds  are  made 
rich,  and  also  have  some  rotten  manure  trenched  in  the  ground  when 
they  are  planted,  and  carefully  top-dressed  in  early  spring — say,  about 
the  beginning  of  March — with  good  rich  soil,  but  little  manure-water 
will  be  required.  Experience  proves  that  manure  water  used  in  excess 
is  injurious  to  the  young  stock,  causing  the  foliage  of  many  sorts  to 
become  spotted  and  sickly,  that  it  should  be  used  or  not  according  to 
the  season,  and  when  its  application  is  resorted  to  let  it  be  given  in  a 
very  weak  and  diluted  form.  Let  it  be  attentively  seen  to  that  the  soil 
for  them  to  grow  in  is  sweet,  rich,  and  good. 

The  following  are  the  best  varieties  for  exhibition : — Mrs.  Stevens, 
new  shade  of  purple,  broad  petal,  medium  size,  fine  quality,  a  very  fine 
flower  ;  Adonis,  rosy  purple,  very  fine,  a  variety  much  improved  by 
being  wintered  in  pots  ;  Mrs.  Norman,  reddish  purple,  of  very  fine  sub- 
stance and  petal,  requires  disbudding  to  one ;  Purity,  this  has  been  very 
fine,  colour  reddish  purple,  fine  quality  and  full  size,  a  first  class  show 
flower ;  New  Criterion,  red,  fine  quality,  requires  assistance  when 
opening,  as  the  petals  sometimes  open  curly ;  James  Hogg,  one  of  the 
best,  very  fine,  usually  shy  to  lace,  but  good  in  every  respect  this  year : 
unquestionably  one  of  the  finest  Pinks  in  cultivation  when  bloomed  in 
its  best  character :  it  has  a  broad  petal,  large,  and  of  fine  substance  ; 
Optima,  dark,  very  smooth,  a  full  flower,  very  fine  ;  Alma,  red,  a  large 
flower,  rather  full ;  Colchester  Cardinal,  red,  rather  thin,  fine  quality, 
requires  disbudding  hard  ;  Gem  of  the  Season,  large  petal,  and  well 
laced;  Admiral  Dundas,  purple,  smooth,  and  of  fine  quality,  medium 
size  ;  Peter  Young,  red,  a  thick  full  flower  :  disbud  sparingly,  extra 
fine ;  Lady  Blandford,  rosy  purple,  a  fine  full  flower  :  in  thinning  out 
leave  two  buds  on  each  stem ;  Sovereign,  rosy  purple,  fine  ;  Richard 
Andrews,  rosy  purple,  rather  late,  but  a  fine  show  flower  ;  Mr.  Hoyle, 
red,  very  constant ;  Arthur,  purple  ;  Titus,  reddish  purple,  large  ; 
Narboro'  Buck,  violet  purple,  full  flower  :  leave  several  buds  ;  Brunette, 
dark  broad  lacing,  a  variety  much  improved  by  being  wintered  in  pots  ; 
Goliath,  red,  a  very  large  full  flower :  disbud  sparingly ;  Sappho,  pale 
red,  rather  faint  in  colour,  good  quality  ;  Purple  Perfection,  a  large  full 
flower,  rather  pointed  petal ;  Hector,  red,  a  very  useful  flower  ;  Criterion, 
dark  purple,  very  fine  ;  Fanny,  red,  large,  and  bold  ;  Ganymede,  rosy 
purple,  a  pleasing  flower ;  Climax,  red,  very  large,  leave  nearly  all  the 
buds  ;  Prince  of  Wales,  rosy  purple :  disbud  to  one  only,  or  it  will  be 
too  thin  ;  Field  Marshal,  rosy,  very  constant ;  John  Stevens,  violet 
purple,  a  little  serrated  on  the  edge,  but  very  attractive ;  Sarah,  bright 
red,  broad  lacing,  and  very  constant ;  Mr.  Weedon,  purple,  smooth, 
and  constant ;  Mrs.  Maclean,  lilac  rose,  a  very  distinct  variety  ;  Mr. 
Hobbs,  rosy  purple,  fine  thick  flower,  full  size  ;  Lord  C.  Wellesley,  rose, 
a  very  useful  variety  ;  Jupiter,  purple,  rather  thin,  large  petal,  and 
good  quality  ;  Elizabeth  Gair,  small  and  thin,  but  very  good  quahty  ; 
Harry,  dark. 

The  above  are  the  best  varieties  to  grow  for  exhibition.     There  are 

NEW    SERIES,    VOL.    VI.,    NO.  LXVIII.  R 


242  THE    FLORIST. 

a  few  varieties  of  Pinks  that  should  be  wintered  in  small  pots  and 
planted  out  in  March,  as  some  of  them  are  delicate  growers,  and  there 
are  others  which,  by  adopting  this  treatment,  produce  much  smoother 
flowers.  The  varieties  that  succeed  best  treated  in  this  manner  are 
Criterion,  Colchester  Cardinal,  INIrs.  Norman,  Optima,  Sappho,  Great 
Britain,  Napoleon,  Peter  Young,  Brunette,  Narboro'  Buck,  Adonis,  and 
James  Hogg.  In  the  month  of  October  these  should  be  potted  into 
three-inch  pots,  a  pair  in  each,  or  one  plant  only  if  a  smaller  pot  is 
used,  and  wintered  in  a  cold  frame  the  same  way  as  Carnations.  In  the 
beginning  of  March,  if  the  weather  is  favourable,  they  should  be  planted 
out  into  a  bed  that  has  had  some  good  rotten  manure  well  mixed  in 
during  the  winter.  In  planting  them  out  great  care  should  be  taken 
not  to  disturb  the  roots  by  breaking  the  ball.  In  choosing  plants  for 
potting  or  for  planting  into  the  blooming  beds,  medium  sized  plants  are 
better  than  large  ones,  as  they  winter  and  bloom  better. 

Slough.  •  J.  S.  Ball. 


BRITISH  POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 

A  SPECIAL  meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  on  the  17th  ult.,  chiefly 
for  the  purpose  of  testing  the  merits  of  some  of  the  newer  kinds  of 
Strawberries.  Mr.  Turner,  of  Slough,  in  the  chair.  ]\Ir.  Kitley,  of 
Bath,  furnished  specimens  of  his  new  Strawberry  Carolina  superba, 
which  was  sent  out  in  the  autumn  of  1854.  It  is  a  cross  between  the 
Old  Pine,  or  Carolina,  and  the  British  Queen.  The  fruit  is  large  and 
handsome,  frequently  measuring  five  inches  in  circumference  ;  in  colour 
it  is  a  pale  red,  even  to  the  point  of  the  fruit ;  the  seeds  are  small  and 
deeply  indented,  which  gives  the  surface  a  rather  smooth  appearance. 
The  flesh  is  clear  white,  very  firm  in  texture,  like  the  Old  Pine,  and 
has  the  fine  aroma  and  excellent  flavour  which  characterise  both  its 
parents,  while  in  addition  to  these  qualities  it  is  far  more  productive 
than  the  Old  Pine,  and  hardier  than  the  British  Queen.  A  plant  taken 
from  the  open  ground  and  placed  in  a  pot  was  exhibited,  and  was 
literally  covered  with  fruit.  This  variety  was  highly  commended  by 
all  present,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  is  a  very  first-rate  and  valuable 
accession  to  our  list  of  Strawberries.  Mr.  Underbill,  of  Birmingham, 
exhibited  his  Sir  Harry.  It  is  a  noble- looking  Strawberry,  and  partakes 
more  of  the  furrowed  cockscomb  shape  than  of  heart  shape.  Its  colour 
is  dark  red,  and,  when  highly  ripened,  of  a  very  deep  blood  red, 
approaching  black.  Unfortunately  the  merits  of  this  fruit  could  not  be 
discussed,  as  it  had  been  packed  in  moss,  the  flavour  of  which  had  been 
communicated  to  the  fruit,  and  spoiled  its  flavour.  Mr.  Underbill, 
however,  intends  sending  another  supply  to  the  next  meeting.  Sir 
Harry  was  raised  between  British  Queen  and  Trollope's  Victoria.  It 
ripens  at  the  same  time  as  Keens'  Seedling,  and  bears  abundantly. 
Mr.  Snow,  gardener  to  Earl  de  Grey,  produced  specimens  of  Myatfs 
Admiral  Dundas  Strawberry.     It  is  of  a  pale  reddish-orange  colour, 


AUGUST.  243 

very  large  size,  and  inclined  to  the  cockscomb  shape  ;  in  flavour  it  was 
considered  to  be  too  acid  to  be  agreeable.  Mr.  Snow  also  exhibited  two 
seedling  late  Strawberries  of  his  own  raising,  which  presented  singular 
discrepancies  in  quality,  and  it  was  therefore  considered  desirable  that 
he  should  again  produce  them  at  the  meeting  this  month.  Mr.  Knevett, 
of  Isleworth,  sent  a  basket  of  a  new  seedling  Strawberry  of  very  large 
size,  one  specimen  measuring  six  inches  and  a  quarter  in  circumference. 
It  is  heart  shaped,  dark  red  in  colour,  and  the  seeds,  which  are  small, 
almost  level  with  the  surface.  The  flesh  is  of  a  deep  colour,  and 
tolerably  solid  for  the  size  of  the  fruit.  It  was  considered  a  very  good 
Strawberry  for  its  size,  with  a  flavour  which  renders  it  worthy  of 
cultivation,  and  certainly  superior  to  most  of  the  other  large  Strawberries 
which  have  hitherto  been  introduced.  Mr.  Snow  again  furnished  a 
bunch  of  his  new  seedling  black  Grape,  raised  from  the  Black  Hamburgh 
fertilised  by  •  the  White  Muscat.  The  berries  are  of  good  size, 
varying  in  form  from  round,  like  the  Hamburgh,  to  oval,  like  the 
Muscat.  The  skin  is  black,  and,  though  not  thick,  is  tough — a  property 
which  enables  the  fruit  to  hang  and  bear  carriage  well.  The  flesh  is 
melting  and  remarkably  rich  in  flavour,  fully  charged  with  the  aroma 
of  the  ]\Iuscat,  and  with  an  unusually  high  perfume.  The  number  of 
seeds  varies  from  one  to  two,  and  in  some  cases  they  are  wanting. 
Mr.  Snow  having  expressed  a  wish  that  the  Society  should  name  his 
new  Grape,  Mr.  Hogg  proposed  that  it  should  be  called  Snow's  Muscat 
Hamburgh,  which  was  approved  of  It  ripens  as  early,  and  with  the 
same  degree  of  heat  as  the  Black  Hamburgh.  Mr.  Snow  also 
exhibited  a  basket  of  remarkably  fine  specimens  of  Elton  Cherries  from 
a  wall,  which  were  greatly  admired.  Mr.  Rivers  exhibited  specimens 
of  Muscat  St.  Laurence,  a  white  Grape  of  the  Chasselas  or  Muscadine 
family.  The  bunch  is  similar  to  that  of  the  White  Muscadine  ;  the 
berries  small,  round,  and  greenish  in  colour ;  the  skin  is  thin,  flesh  very 
tender  and  juicy,  with  a  slight  trace  of  Muscat  in  it.  The  specimens 
exhibited  were  ripened  under  glass ;  but  Mr.  Rivers  stated,  as  its 
chief  recommendation,  that  it  would  ripen  out  of  doors  as  freely  as  the 
Sweetwater  and  Muscadine.  Mr.  Theodore  Von  Spreckelsen,  Hamburgh; 
and  Mr.  Lewis  Solomon,  of  Covent  Garden,  were  elected  new  members,  j 


HILLINGDON  COURT,  UXBRIDGE, 

THE  SEAT  OF  CHARLES  MILLS,  ESQ. 

Mr.  Mills  has  long  been  an  ardent  patron  of  horticulture,  but  it  was 
not  till  within  these  last  few  years  that  he  has  carried  into  practice  so 
successfully  every  branch  of  gardening,  and  to  so  great  an  extent,  as 
may  now  be  seen  at  Hillingdon  Court.  Mr.  Constantine,  the  gardener 
here,  is  a  most  successful  grower  of  forced  fruits,  plants,  and  general 
garden  produce.  A  new  mansion  has  lately  been  erected,  and 
surrounded  with  grounds  of  considerable  beauty.  A  Box  garden, 
designed  by  Mr.  Nesfield,  is  situated  at  the  east  end  of  the  mansion, 
r2 


244  THE    FLORIST. 

and  is  one  of  the  best  we  have  seen.  In  the  conservatory  at  the  west 
end  of  the  buildhig  was  a  brilUant  display,  consisting  of  Smith's 
Balsams,  many  of  them  very  fine  indeed  ;  Fuchsias,  Pelargoniums, 
Fancy  Pelargoniums,  Calceolarias,  Scarlet  Geraniums,  Pihynchospennum 
jasminoides,  Salvia  splendens  grown  on  freely  in  large  pots  for  autumn 
iiowering  in  the  conservatory,  and  nothing  is  more  showy  ;  Lisianthus 
Russellianus,  very  strong  and  well  grown  plants,  the  culture  of  which 
Mr.  Constantine  so  well  understands ;  and  Scarlet  Geraniums  Cerise 
Unique  and  Commander-in-Chief,  two  fine  varieties  for  pot  culture. 
Roses  and  various  other  plants  were  also  in  full  bloom. 

The  forcing  department  is  very  extensive,  and  one  of  the  most 
complete  in  the  kingdom,  Mr.  Mills  having  spared  no  expense  in  this 
particular  department  as  well  as  in  all  others.  Pines,  both  turned  out 
and  in  pots,  were  very  fine  and  healthy ;  Queens  are  chiefly  grown 
here.  Peaches  were  fine,  and  in  one  of  the  Peach  houses  w'ere  specimens 
of  the  Stanwick  Nectarine,  which  Mr.  Constantine  regards  as  a  failure. 
Vines  were  in  good  health  and  fine.  These  are  grown  chiefly  in  low 
semi-circular  roofed  houses,  one  of  them  partly  devoted  to  Muscats, 
promising  an  exceedingly  fine  crop.  In  another  was  a  heavy  crop  of 
Black  Barbarossa,  with  very  fine  bunches  from  15  to  20  inches  long. 
The  Hamburghs  were  fine,  with  from  20  to  21  bunches  on  each  rod  ; 
but  the  Richmond  Villa  Hamburgh  is  of  very  inferior  quality,  smaller 
than  the  Hamburgh,  not  so  rich  in  flavour,  and  liable  to  shrivel,  and 
does  not  hang  so  long.  Figs  are  extensively  grown  here,  the  White 
Nerii  being  the  best  for  an  early  crop,  and  Lee's  Perpetual  is  also  a 
good  variety. 

Strawberries  are  forced  on  a  somewhat  extensive  scale,  and  in  a 
range  of  pits  plants  that  had  been  forced  into  bloom  were  planted  out  in 
good  rich  soil  the  first  week  in  April,  and  fruited  abundantly,  contiiuiing 
much  longer  in  fruit  than  if  they  had  remained  in  pots.  In  this  range 
of  pits  Roberts's  tiles  were  used  fur  fruiting  the  Strawberries  on,  and 
seemed  to  answer  well.  Among  the  out-door  Strawberries  we  noticed 
Omar  Pacha,  which  here  seemed  a  very  thin  cropper  and  of  inferior 
quality  ;  Filbert  Pine,  one  of  the  finest  Strawberries  grown,  if  not  the 
best,  of  excellent  flavour,  a  free  bearer,  and  best  late  ;  Keens'  Seedling, 
Patrick's  Seedling,  which  is  a  good  forcing  variety,  very  prolific,  but 
only  second  rate  in  flavour  out  of  doors ;  British  Queen  and  Scarlet 
Nonpareil,  which  appears  to  be  a  shy  bearer  and  colours  irregularly. 

Among  Cucumbers  grown  here  Constantine's  Incomparable  is  the 
most  extensively  used.  This  is  grown  chiefly  on  trellises,  and  is 
a  handsome  and  very  prolific  variety,  from  which  Mr.  Constantine  has 
been  cutting  since  the  1st  of  January.  Wheeler's  Improved  Sion 
House  is  another  good  variety,  and  Ipswich  Standard  and  Trollope's 
King  were  also  very  fine. 


HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
July  22.— The  Right  Hon.  T.  F.  Kennedy  in  the  chair.     S.  F.  Win- 
terbottom,  Esq.,  H.  Conybeare,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Alderman  Finnis  were 
elected  Fellows. 


AUGUST.  245 

]\Iessrs.  Henderson,  of  Pine-apple  Place,  sent  a  collection  of  plants, 
among  which  were  Cattleya  Leopoldi,  the  prettily  spotted-leaved 
Maranta  pardina,  two  Achimenes,  Streptocarpus  biflorus,  three  sorts  of 
•Begonias,  Impatiens  Jerdonite  (figured  m  one  of  our  previous  volumes), 


and  the  two  hardy  Conifers,  Thuja  gigantea  and  Thujopsls  borealis.  Of 
the  appearance  of  the  last  some  idea  may  be  gathered  from  the  above 
illustration,  reproduced  from  our  volume  for  1855,  page  28.  The 
specimen  shown  was,  however,  more  compact  in  growth  than  that  here 


246  THE    FLORIST. 

represented.  The  growing  interest  which  attaches  to  this  fine  plant 
has  induced  us  again  to  Ijring  it  prominently  under  notice. 

Messrs.  E.  G.  Henderson,  of  WeUington  Road,  contributed  a  gi'oup 
of  plants  remarkable  for  their  beautifully  variegated  leaves,  Gesnera 
Miellezi,  described  elsewhere,  and  Tydsea  amabilis,  the  last  wuth 
clear  and  beautiful  rose-coloured  flowers  closely  dotted  over  with 
minute  dark  spots.  The  same  firm  also  furnished  a  collection  of 
Gloxinias,  comprising  many  of  the  newer  and  better  kinds.  From 
C.  Leach,  Esq.,  came  a  withered  flower  stem  ofiiuphane  toxicaria,  one  of 
the  most  poisonous  of  Cape  bulbs.  Messrs.  Veitf  h  furnished  a  beautiful 
plant  of  Wellingtonia  gigantea,  and  a  spike  of  their  new  Delphinium 
cardinale  covered  with  brilhant  scarlet  flowers.  This  is  indeed  a  real 
acquisition.  Mr.  Glendinning,  of  the  Chiswick  Nursery,  again  showed 
plants  of  his  new  Larch  (Abies  Kjempferi),  which  we  hope  some  day 
to  more  particularly  refer ;  Lysimachia  hneariloba,  a  Chinese  species 
with  small  white  starry  blossoms,  the  Chinese  green  dye  [ilant,  stated  to 
be  a  species  of  Rhamnus  ;  Limonia  tritoliata,  stated  by  mistake  to  be  a 
hardy  Orange  from  the  north  of  China  ;  and  the  singular  hybrid  called 
Mandirola  Roezli.  Mr.  Parker,  of  Hornsey,  sent  Epidendrum  macu- 
latum  and  Galeandra  Stangeana,  two  unimportant  looking  Orchids. 
Two  sorts  of  Grass  received  from  Buenos  Ayrts  along  with  the  Pampas 
Grass  were  furnished  by  E.  Brande,  Esq.,  of  Turnham  Green,  to  show 
that  all  of  what  is  imported  under  that  name  may  not  be  Gynerium. 
One  was  a  species  of  Setaria,  the  other  was  stated  to  be  some  Sorghum 
or  Panicum. 

Mr.  Wrench  showed  a  few  specimens  of  Myatt's  Pine-apple  Straw- 
berry, the  best  flavoured  of  all  Strawberries ;  but  unfortunately  so  difficult 
to  keep  that  most  people  have  discontinued  cultivating  it.  From  the 
Garden  of  the  Society  came  a  large  collection  of  plants,  among  which 
were  Arduina  bispinosa,  an  old-fashioned  evergreen  shrub,  remarkable 
for  its  delightful  fragrance.  Veronica  variegata,  a  charming  hybrid 
raised  by  Mr.  Anderson,  of  Edinburgh,  and  certainly  one  of  the  very 
handsomest  greenhouse  shrubs  in  cultivation ;  the  Chinese  Adamia 
versicolor  and  the  Indian  A.  cyanea,  the  former  pink,  the  latter  blue, 
and  decidedly  the  handsomest. 

The  same  Garden  also  furnished  Myrtus  Ugni  in  fruit.  The  great 
excellence  of  flavour  of  the  fruit  of  Eugenia  Ugni  (which  this  is  now 
called)  has  already  been  referred  to  in  our  pages,  where  an  illustration 
of  the  appearance  of  this  shrub  is  also  given,  and  the  high  character  it 
then  received  it  still  deserves.  Though  not  altogether  hardy  it  was 
stated  that  it  was  by  no  means  difficult  to  cultivate,  and  that  Fig- 
houses  and  places  of  that  description  wou|d  doubtless  be  found  to  suit  it 
perfectly.  A  collection  of  yellow  or  iather  straw-coloured  French 
Balsams  also  came  from  the  Garden.  They  were  beautifully  grown 
and  flowered,  a  state  into  which  they  had  been  brought  without  the 
aid  of  artificial  heat.  They  had  been  raised  in  a  cold  pit  and  after- 
wards transferred  to  a  greenhouse. 

Dancer's  Prolific  White  Gooseberry  was  also  shown  in  a  pot  loaded 
with  ripe  fruit.  This  was  from  the  orchard-house,  and  was  produced  to 
prove  that,  contrary  to  the  opinion  of  many,  Gooseberries  will  set  and 
ripen  under  glass. 


AUGUST.  247 

Among  vegetables  were  specimens  of  White  Paris  Cos  and  Neapolitan 
Cabbage  Lettuces,  two  first-rate  kinds  ;  Dancer's  Cabbage,  one  of  the 
very  best  sorts  for  market,  as  well  as  for  home  consumption,  being  very 
tender  though  of  large  size ;  and  Leyden  Cauliflower,  with  heads  large 
and  good  from  plants  raised  from  seed  sown  in  February  last ;  excellent 
Caulidowers  may  tlierefore  be  had  at  this  season  without  the  trouble  of 
keeping  the  plants  over  winter.  The  Garden  also  contributed  a  collec- 
tion of  Beans,  among  which  Mackie's  Monarch  (alias  Sangster's  Won- 
derful), had  very  long  pods,  plentiful  on  the  stalk,  each  pod  nine  and 
ten  inches  in  length,  and  containing  five  Beans.  Another  sort  did  not 
rise  above  a  foot  from  the  ground.  This  was  also  full  of  pods,  and 
appeared  well  adapted  for  small  gardens.  It  was  called  Marshall's 
Dwarf  Prolific.  Other  sorts  were  the  Mazagan  common  and  early  ; 
Green  Long  Pod,  valued  for  its  colour,  which  it  long  retains  ;  Johnson's 
Wonderful,  a  good  kind  of  Bean  ;  and  two  varieties  of  Windsor. 


HOW   TO    HAVE   A    SUPPLY   OP    CAULIFLOWERS    AND 

BROCCOLI  ALL  THROUGH  THE  YEAR. 
These  vegetables  being  in  daily  demand  throughout  the  year  in 
most  families,  a  few  cursory  remarks  as  to  how  to  supply  that  demand 
may  not  be  unacceptable  to  the  less  experienced  of  your  readers.  The 
subject  being  a  rather  threadbare  one,  the  regular  "  practical  "  will 
not  need  my  observations  ;  but  as  there  are  always  youngsters  coming 
in,  if  I  can  serve  in  the  smallest  degree  even  only  one  of  these,  my 
labour  is  more  than  rewarded.  A  statement  of  the  method  of  my  own 
proceeding  will  be  the  easiest  way  of  accomplishing  my  purpose. 

The  production  of  a  regular  supply  of  Cauliflowers  and  Broccoli  all 
the  year  round  is  an  easy  matter,  where  there  is  a  considerable  extent 
of  ground,  as  is  the  case  here  ;  but  where  ground  is  limited,  it  requires 
some  forethought  and  care  to  efi^ect  it.  I  generally  plant  out  a 
considerable  breadth  of  ground  with  the  different  sorts  of  Broccoli  from 
the  middle  of  June  to  about  the  middle  of  July,  always  taking  advan- 
tage of  showery  weather  ;  these  plants  are  from  seed  sown  in  April. 
I  go  on  planting  Cauliflowers  to  the  end  of  July,  by  which  time  there 
is  ground  to  spare ;  the  early  crop  of  Peas  and  Potatoes  will  all 
be  cleared  off,  and  if  planted  with  Cauliflowers  they  will  come  into  use 
during  October,  November,  and  December  ;  these,  with  the  autumn 
Broccoli,  furnish  an  unfailing  supply  until  February.  About  the 
middle  of  December  I  take  up  all  that  have  heads  formed,  and  hang 
them  in  the  sheds  for  a  day  or  two,  to  let  all  the  water  out  of  them. 
I  then  cut  off  the  leaves,  and  pack  them  with  the  heads  outwards  in  a 
cool,  dry,  airy  situation,  where  it  is  not  over  light ;  here  they  keep 
well  until  the  middle  of  February,  by  which  time,  if  the  weather  be 
open,  some  of  the  winter  Broccoli  will  be  fit  for  use.  From  that  time 
until  the  end  of  May  the  various  sorts  of  Broccoli  will  furnish  an  abun- 
dant supply  ;  by  that  time  the  Cauliflowers  sown  in  August  and  planted 
in  October  under  glasses  will  be  fit  for  use,  and  these  will  continue  the 


248  THE    FLORIST. 

supply  until  those  planted  out  in  February  and  March  are  fit  for  use  ; 
and  these  again  will  continue  the  supply  until  those  planted  later  still 
are  ready,  and  so  on  until  we  come  to  October,  when  those  planted 
early  in  July  will  again  be  ready.  By  always  planting  out  plenty  of 
plants,  and  always  at  the  proper  time,  I  never  fail  to  be  without  this 
much  esteemed  vegetable. 

The  whole  of  the  tribe  require  good,  well-manured  land,  dug 
deeply.  In  dry  weather  they  require  copious  supplies  of  water,  and 
will  be  much  benefited  by  liberal  doses  of  liquid  manure. 

One  of  the  market  gardeners  at  a  provincial  town  exhibited,  in 
May,  1855,  in  the  market-place,  one  Saturday,  a  waggon-load  of 
Mammoth  Broccoli,  with  heads  averaging  14  lbs.  each  ;  he  had  supplied 
the  plants  liberally  with  the  sewage  manure  of  the  town.  For  private 
families  such  monstrous  heads  would  be  nearly  useless ;  but  it  shows 
what  can  be  done.  Young  Cauliflower  plants  stand  the  winter  exposed 
much  better  than  some  persons  imagine.  I  generally  plant  out  a  good 
lot  in  October,  the  same  time  I  plant  under  glasses,  and  I  find  them 
in  general  stand  the  frost  pretty  well ;  some  do  suffer,  but  many  escape 
uninjured,  and  come  into  use  nearly  as  soon  as  those  under  glasses  ; 
and  as  there  is  no  trouble  with  them,  and  as  there  is  generally  plenty 
of  spare  ground  at  that  time  of  year,  even  if  they  are  all  killed  in  an 
extraordinary  cold  winter,  the  loss  is  but  trifiing ;  whilst,  if  they 
escape,  which  some  of  them  generally  do  most  winters,  they  come  into 
use  at  a  season  when  most  required. 

Brassica. 


HIGH     GROVE,    READING, 

THE    SEAT    OF    J.    J.    BLANDY,    ESQ. 

This  neat-looking  mansion  is  situated  near  the  Basingstoke  road,  from 
which  it  is  partly  screened  by  evergreen  trees  and  shrubs.  The  house 
stands  on  rising  ground ;  at  the  north-east  front  lay  the  lawn  and 
flower-garden — a  square  piece  of  ground,  broken  into  an  irregular 
outline  by  numerous  trees  and  shrubs.  On  the  lawn  are  planted 
numerous  Conifers,  several  of  which  are  fine  specimens.  Near  the 
mansion  is  a  Dutch  flower  garden,  the  beds  in  which  are  filled  with 
choice  Verbenas,  Geraniums,  Calceolarias,  &c. ;  the  colours  of  the 
different  plants  are  tastefully  arranged,  and  have  a  gay  and  striking 
effect  from  the  high  ground  near  the  mansion.  At  the  west  end  of  the 
house  is  a  quantity  of  beds,  filled  with  American  plants.  Of  Rho- 
dodendrons there  is  a  choice  collection ;  we  noticed  fine  plants  of 
ignescens,  a  very  bright  scarlet  variety,  Everestianum,  Towardianum, 
Leopoldi,  Lady  E.  Cathcart,  &c.  Of  R.  Blandyanum  there  are  some 
fine  plants  ;  this  beautiful  variety  was  raised  at  High  Grove,  and  is 
well  known,  ranking,  as  it  does,  amongst  the  best  of  this  splendid  genus. 
The  whole  of  these  plants  are  kept  thoroughly  well  watered  during 
their  growing  season,  but  when  the  growth  approaches  maturity  water 
is  withheld,  and  the  beds  (weather  permitting)  are  allowed  to  become 


AUGUST.  249 

dry ;  by  this  means  ]\Ir.  Ingram,  Ihe  gardener,  considers  that  the 
plants  receive  a  sakitary  check,  and  set  their  flower-buds  more  freely. 

From  the  pleasure  ground  we  are  conducted  by  a  broad  turf  walk  to 
the  conservatory,  a  large  span-roof  house,  originally  intended  for 
Orchids,  but  at  present  devoted  to  greenhouse  plants.  Through  the 
centre  run  beds  for  Camellias  ;  these  are  divided  in  the  middle  by  a 
fountain,  which,  when  playing  during  hot  weather,  has  a  cool,  refreshing 
appearance  and  a  beneficial  effect  upon  the  plants,  by  keeping  the 
atmosphere  moist.  The  Camellias  were  in  beautiful  health,  and  were 
well  studded  with  flower-buds.  On  the  sides  of  the  house  were  numerous 
fine  plants  of  Fuchsias,  Geraniums,  &c.  At  the  end  of  the  conservatory 
is  a  small  house  devoted  to  Ferns  and  Lycopods,  of  which  there  is  a 
choice  collection,  and  we  do  not  recollect  ever  seeing  this  beautiful  class 
of  plants  in  better  health  than  the  specimens  in  question.  At  the  end 
of  the  house,  opposite  the  entrance,  stands  a  magnificent  specimen  of 
Cibotium  Schiedei,  the  large  fronds  of  which  spread  gracefully  over  a 
space  of  several  feet,  and  on  each  side  is  a  plant  of  Dicksonia  antarctica. 
By  the  sides  of  the  house  are  some  fine  plants  of  Adiantums,  Gymno- 
grammas,  Aspleniums,  &c. ;  amongst  these  are  arranged  groups  of 
statues,  while  the  walls  are  adorned  by  numerous  embellishments  in 
bas-relief.  The  mouldings  and  rafters  are  tastefully  enlivened  with 
white  and  blue.  At  a  short  distance  from  the  conservatory  is  a  house 
devoted  to  stove  plants.  On  entering  this  we  are  struck  not  more  by 
the  gay  appearance  of  flowering  things  than  by  plants  of  fine  foliage  ; 
Draceenas,  Musstenda  frondosa,  Cissus  discolor,  Marantas,  &c.,  give  a 
variety  scarcely  to  be  equalled  by  plants  in  flower.  Of  the  latter  there 
were  some  fine  specimens,  consisting  of  AUamandas,  Echites,  Gar- 
denias, Ixoras,  &c.  Of  Orchids  there  was  a  nice  collection,  comprising 
Vandas,  Aerides,  Saccolabiums,  Phalccnopsis ;  and  of  other  kinds 
there  were  some  fine  masses  of  newly  imported  Cattleyas,  Ltelia  pur- 
purata,  &c.  These  were  all  beginning  to  grow  freely.  Mr.  Ingram's 
system  of  potting  this  family  of  plants  deserves  notice  ;  for  most  of 
them  he  uses  soft  peat  and  sphagnum  in  equal  proportions,  and  in 
potting  these  are  placed  together  so  loose  that  when  pressed  by  the 
hand  they  feel  like  a  sponge.  He  also  attaches  great  importance  to 
raising  the  plants  high  above  the  rim  of  the  pots. 

In  the  forcing  houses  were  some  capital  Grapes,  Peaches,  Figs,  &c. 
The  kitchen  garden  contained  an  excellent  stock  of  culinary  products, 
and  exhibited,  what  indeed  every  part  of  the  premises  presented,  the 
best  of  order  and  good  gardening. 

o. 


NATIONAL  FLORICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
July  3. — Mr.  W.  P.  Ayres  in  the  chair.  Dr.  Maclean,  of  Colchester, 
sent  some  seedling  Pinks,  the  best  of  which  were  Gem,  a  medium 
sized  flower  of  good  form  and  substance,  the  lacing  good,  of  a  light 
purple  colour,  and  Miss  Nightingale,  a  full-sized  red-edged  flower,  of 
good  form,   and  the  lacing  well  defined.     These  are  both  first-class 


250  THE   FLORIST. 

flowers,  to  each  of  which  a  certificate  of  merit  was  awarded.  The  other 
varieties  were  Lizzie,  Slough  Buck,  Eugenie,  and  Napoleon.  Several 
seedling  Verbenas  were  exhibited,  none  of  which  can  be  regarded  as 
important  additions  to  the  fine  varieties  we  now  have,  Mr.  Todman 
exhibited  a  seedling  fancy  Pelargonium  named  Sir  Colin  Campbell,  but 
it  is  too  much  like  many  others  already  in  cultivation.  In  Mr.  George 
Smith's  stand  of  Verbenas,  General  Simpson  and  Glory  of  France  were 
very  fine.  Messrs.  Keynes,  W.  P.  Ayres,  Andrew  Henderson, 
J.  Baker,  and  T.  Moore  were  the  judges.  Mr.  Wyness,  gardener  to 
Her  Majesty  at  Buckingham  Palace,  Mr.  W.  Chater,  Saffron  Walden, 
and  Mr.  R.  E.  Taylor,  Camberwell,  were  elected  members. 


THE  ORANGE  TREE. 
A  FEW  words  on  the  cultivation  of  the  Orange  tree,  the  Citrus  auran- 
tium  of  Linnseus,  may  not,  perhaps,  be  uninteresting.  This  plant, 
although  extensively  cultivated  by  our  continental  friends,  is,  generally 
speaking,  ail  but  neglected  by  us,  although  our  ancestors  were  great 
admirers  of  it,  and  beautiful  specimens  and  collections  of  this  tree  were 
formerly  to  be  met  with  in  the  plant-houses  of  the  nobility  and  gentry ; 
even  "  Orangeries  "  were  devoted  to  its  growth  ;  but  now,  ,with  few 
exceptions,  we  are  compelled  to  look  for  it  in  our  modern  Greenhouses, 
in  which  may  here  and  there  be  found  one  or  two  solitary,  half-starved 
specimens. 

The  delicious  fragrance  of  the  exquisitely  formed  wax-like  flowers, 
and  the  handsome  foliage,  which,  like  that  of  the  Camellia,  retains  its 
beauty  throughout  the  year,  make  the  Orange  tree  a  most  desirable 
plant  for    ornamental   purposes,  or  for   grouping   with   effect  in  the 
conservatory.     The  poet  Cowper  thus  eulogises  it: — 
"  Who  loves  a  garden  loves  a  greenhouse  too. 
Unconscious  of  a  less  propitious  clime, 
There  blooms  exotic  beauty,  warm  and  snug, 
While  the  winds  whistle  and  the  snow  descends. 
The  spiry  Myrtle  with  unwithering  leaf 
Shines  there  and  flourishes.     The  golden  boast 
Of  Portugal  and  western  India  there, 
The  ruddier  Orange  and  the  paler  Lime, 
Peep  through  their  polished  foliage  at  the  storm, 
And  seem  to  smile  at  what  they  need  not  fear." 

In  all  stages  of  growth  Orange  trees  are  pleasing  objects,  the  leaves 
even  yield  an  agreeable  aromatic  perfume ;  and,  on  looking  at  the 
graceful  form  of  a  large  specimen,  one  may  readily  picture  what  a 
beautiful  effect  masses  of  those  trees  must  produce  in  the  more  sunny 
climes  of  the  south.  In  our  ungenial  isle,  however,  we  must  be  content 
to  grow  our  favourites  for  the  most  part  under  glass,  where  they  will, 
nevertheless,  always  amply  repay  the  trouble  bestowed  upon  them. 

The  cultivation  of  Orange  trees  is  exceedingly  simple.  I  find  that 
they  require  rather  large  pots,  a  compost  of  equal  portions  of  peat  and 
rich  loam,  with  the  addition  of  a  small  quantity  of  sand  and  leaf-mould. 


AUGUST.  251 

The  knife  must  be  used  sparingly.  Little  fire  heat  is  needed  during 
winter ;  as  spring  advances  air  must  be  given  more  abundantly,  and 
the  house  closed  early,  shutting  in  the  solar  heat ;  the  plants  will  also 
be  benefited  by  being  syringed  two  or  three  times  a  week  during  their 
growth.  When  in  full  bloom  they  should  be  kept  rather  shaded  ;  after 
the  growth  is  completed  they  are  best  placed  out  of  doors,  in  a  sheltered 
spot,  to  mature  the  wood  for  next  season's  bloom,  but  in  autumn  they 
must  be  replaced  in  their  old  quarters. 

W.G. 


HOW  TO  DESTROY  THE  GOOSEBERRY  CATERPILLAR. 
From  the  many  communications  and  inquiries  which  have  appeared  in 
gardening  periodicals  as  to  the  best  means  of  destroying  the  Gooseberry 
caterpillar,  these  pests  seem  to  have  been  very  numerous  and  destructive 
last  year.  A  few  remarks,  therefore,  pointing  out  a  certain  means  how 
to  destroy  them,  may  not  be  out  of  place. 

JVothing  can  exceed  the  health  of  my  Gooseberry  trees  at  present, 
which  I  attribute  principally  to  having  kept  the  foliage  uninjured  the 
last  five  years,  since  I  adopted  the  means  of  destroying  the  caterpillar, 
which  I  am  about  briefly  to  detail.  I  tried  most  of  the  remedies  1 
saw  recommended,  sometimes  with  more  or  less  success,  such  as  dusting 
with  powdered  quicklime,  soot,  &c.,  liming  the  ground,  &c.  I  also 
tried  handpicking,  and  I  recollect  once  having  to  be  absent  from  home 
about  ten  days.  I  had  some  women  picking  off  the  caterpillars  from  a 
lot  ot  fine  young  trees,  full  of  fruit.  I  charged  them  particularly  to 
persevere  during  my  absence  in  picking  the  caterpillars  ;  but  on  my 
return  home  I  found  the  caterpillars  liad  completely  stripped  the  trees 
of  every  leaf  Nothing  could  look  more  deplorable  ;  fine  young  trees 
full  of  fruit,  and  denuded  of  their  foliage.  This  settled  my  resolve,  not 
to  cease  until  I  had  found  means  to  destroy  these  devouring  pests. 
I  had  occasionally  seen  powdered  white  hellebore  recommended  as  a 
remedy,  but  had  never  previously  tried  it. 

My  friend  and  neighbour,  Mr.  Massey,  the  gardener  at  Kirby  Hall, 
happened  to  call  here  at  the  time  the  trees  above  mentioned  were  in 
the  state  just  described  ;  he  named  white  hellebore  as  a  certain  means 
of  destroying  the  caterpillar,  and  advised  me  to  try  it,  which  I  imme- 
diately did,  and  with  the  very  best  results.  It  may  be  applied  two 
ways — either  by  dusting  the  caterpillars  with  the  powder,  or  putting 
the  powder  in  water,  well  stirring  it,  and  syringing  the  trees.  I  prefer 
dusting  the  caterpillars  with  the  powder.  Very  little  hellebore  is 
required,  if  a  sharp  look-out  is  kept  for  the  first  appearance  of  the 
insects  on  the  trees  ;  and  as  they  generally  begin  at  the  lower  part  of 
the  tree,  a  little  powder  of  hellebore  from  a  small  tin  box  with  a  few 
small  holes,  dusted  upon  the  caterpillars,  soon  destroys  them,  without 
injuring  any  of  the  fruit.  By  carefully  going  over  all  the  bushes  as 
soon  as  the  caterpillars  are  observed,  and  dusting  among  them,  will  in 


252  THE    FLORIST. 

general  stop  them  for  that  season  ;  at  least  it  is  not  often  requisite  to  go 
over  the  bushes  twice  during  one  season.  Wlien  this  simple  plan  is 
annually  persevered  in,  little  injury  need  be  apprehended  from  the 
Gooseberry  caterpillar. 

I  am  perfectly  aware  there  is  nothing  very  new  or  original  in  the 
application  of  white  hellebore  ;  I  am  also  fully  persuaded  many  persons 
cannot-  know  how  efficacious  it  is  in  the  destruction  of  the  Gooseberry 
caterpillar ;  otherwise  we  should  not  hear  so  many  inquiries  as  to  the 
best  means  of  getting  rid  of  them.  It  is  as  cheap  a  remedy  as  any 
that  can  be  adopted.  White  hellebore  can  be  purchased  at  any 
druggist's  for  about  two  shillings  per  lb.,  and  half  a  pound  is  sufficient 
to  dust  all  the  trees  in  any  garden ;  indeed,  a  quarter  of  a  pound  will 
be  sufficient,  if  the  trees  be  done  as  soon  as  the  caterpillars  are  first 
observed. 

M.  Saul. 


SKETCHES  OF  NATURE  IN  THE  ALPS. 
Friedrich  von  Tschudi,  the  author  of  these,  draws  a  broad  panoramic 
view  of  the  Alpine  range — the  forelands  and  the  ridges — the  lower 
regions  full  of  scenic  effects — forests  and  meadows,  springs,  streams, 
cascades,  villages  nursed  in  the  lap  of  valleys,  roads  that  rise  upon  the 
mountains,  and  lakes  that  lie  in  the  hollows,  with  a  faint,  changing 
glow  on  tlie  surface  of  the  water.  Even  to  these  seclusions,  he  says, 
the  Fon  of  Africa  penetrates  like  a  warm  breath,  colouring  the  clouds 
with  purple,  the  outline  of  tbe  moon  with  red,  the  background  of  tlie 
hills  with  violet.  Here  the  Vine  flourishes,  the  Chesnut,  the  Mul- 
berry, with  corn  and  vegetables — but  above  this  line  are  only  woods 
and  flowery  pastures.  In  the  second  zone — between  the  forests  and 
the  beds  and  masses  of  eternal  snow — are  the  high  vales,  at  intervals 
bright  with  fields,  and  alive  with  the  hamlets  of  the  peasantry,  but  in 
general  dreary  and  monotonous. 

"  The  Alpine  flowers,''  Tschudi  remarks,  "  have  a  remarkably  deep 
and  vivid  colouring.  The  most  brilliant  blues  and  reds,  with  a  rich 
brown  shading  to  black,  are  observable  amidst  the  white  and  yellow 
fliowers  of  the  low  countries,  and  these  tints  likewise  seem  to  assume  a 
purer  and  more  dazzling  hue  in  these  high  regions.  A  similar  richness 
of  colouring  is  met  with  in  the  vegetation  of  Polar  districts,  where  the 
hues  not  only  become  more  fiery,  but  ■  undergo  a  complete  alteration 
under  the  influence  of  the  constant  summer  light  and  the  rays  of  the 
midnight  sun,  white  and  violet  being  often  deepened  into  a  glowing 
purple.  The  Alpine  plants  often  grow  in  dense  masses,  and  their 
extraordinary  splendour  of  colouring  lends  consequently  that  magic 
charm  to  the  fresh  green  turf  which  renders  the  pasture  lands  of  the 
High  Alps  so  famous.  Their  balsamic  fragrance  is  no  less  remarkable 
and  characteristic  ;  from  the  brilliant  Auricula  down  to  the  Violet- 
scented  Moss  (Byssus  colithes)  this  strong  aromatic  property  is  widely 
prevalent,  and  far  more  so  than  in  the  lowlands.     As  further  charac- 


AUGUST.  253 

teristics  of  the  Alpine  Flora  may  be  mentioned  the  absence  of  plants 
possessing  narcotic  or  highly  poisonous  qualities,  the  marked  distinction 
of  species  which  exist,  the  comparative  variety  of  hybrids,  the  bitter 
taste  and  astringent  properties  of  many  plants,  and  the  disproportion  of 
stem  and  foliage  to  the  luxuriance  of  the  blossoms." 

The  Alpine  Rose,  purple  and  yellow  Gentian,  the  lilac  Campanula, 
Auricula,  Anemone,  Violet,  and  the  blue  Columbine  flourish  brilliantly 
amid  these  lofty  desolations. 


REVIEWS. 

Fruit    Culture.     No.    1.      The    Strawberry.     By    George    McEwen, 

Gardener  to  W.  B.  Beaumont,  Esq.,  M.P.,  Bretton   Hall,  and  late 

Gardener   to    His    Grace   the   Duke   of  Norfolk,    Arundel    Castle. 

London  :  Groombridge  and  Sons.     Pp.  30. 

In    our   last    number   appeared    an    advertisement   under   the  above 

heading,  informing  our  readers  that  Mr.  JMcEwen  was  about  pubhshing 

the  results  of  his   practical   experience  in  fruit  cultivation,  in  which 

department  he  has  achieved  great  results,  as  those  of  our  readers  who 

have  visited  our  metropolitan  exhibitions  for  the  last  few  years  can 

testify. 

The  essay  before  us  is  a  valuable  contribution  to  practical  gardening, 
and  contains  instructions  both  for  managing  this  really  useful  fruit  in 
the  forcing-house,  as  well  as  for  its  out-door  cultivation  ;  and  although 
on  a  subject  which  is  successfully  practised  by  hundreds  of  gardeners, 
there  is  much  in  this  little  work  worthy  of  being  considered,  if  not 
imitated,  by  our  best  growers,  while  to  the  amateur  it  will  afford  an 
invaluable  help  in  aiding  him  to  force,  or  cultivate  out  of  doors,  this 
fruit  in  perfection.     The  price  is  only  one  shilling. 

List  of  Plants  cultivated  and  sold  by  Messrs.  E.  G.  Henderson  and 

Son,  Nurserymen,  Wellington  Road,  London.  Spring,  1856. 
A  PERFECT  volume,  containing  eighty-six  closely  printed  pages,  com- 
prising lists  of  plants  cultivated  and  for  sale  (arranged  under  suitable 
headings),  nearly  the  whole  of  which  are  described,  and  many  of  the  new 
plants  very  particularly  so.  The  immense  number  of  plants  contained 
in  this  Catalogue  renders  it  invaluable  as  a  work  of  reference  to  the 
gardener  and  amateur,  and  it  should  form  part  of  every  plant-grower's 
library,  for  which  reason  alone  we  advise  those  of  our  friends  who  do 
hot  receive  it  in  the  way  of  business  to  procure  it  at  once. 

The  Gardens  of  England,  from  Paintings  and  Drawings  on  the  Spot. 
By  E.  A.  JBrooke,  Esq.  Pubhshed  by  T.  McLean,  26,  Hay- 
market. 
We  went  the  other  day  to  see  the  exhibition  of  the  original  oil  paintings, 
from  which  the  tinted  lithographs  to  illustrate  this  work  have  been 
taken.  Among  some  of  the  most  striking,  taken  as  works  of  art,  and 
as  representing  the  best  examples  of  English  gardens,  we  may  notice 


254  THE    FLORIST. 

No.  1,  "The  Trellis  Window,  Trentham,"  and  Nos.  3,  11,  and  20, 
being  views  of  the  fountain  garden,  terrace,  and  lake  at  the  same 
princely  residence.  No.  15  is  a  well  executed  painting  of  the  colonnade 
at  Alton  Tower  ;  No.  8,  a  view  in  the  gardens  at  Elvaston,  is  likewise 
cleverly  done,  as  is  No.  21,  "The  Alhambra  Garden"  at  the  same 
place.  As  the  pictures  are  open  for  the  inspection  of  the  public,  we 
hope  patrons  of  gardening  will  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  and 
judge  for  themselves.  There  are  25  paintings  in  the  whole,  and,  as 
they  are  views  taken  from  our  best  gardens  expressly  for  this  work,  they 
are  worthy  of  a  visit.  We  hope  both  the  publisher  and  artist  will  meet 
with  every  support  in  their  spirited  undertaking. 


CALENDAR  OF  OPERATIONS  FOR  AUGUST. 

Auriculas. — Encourage  the  growth  of  seedlings,  as  many,  with 
judicious  treatment,  will  flower  next  spring.  The  general  stock  should 
now  be  shaken  out  of  the  old  soil,  and  repotted  in  pots  varying  in  size 
according  to  the  size  of  the  plant,  using  good  drainage.  For  a  time, 
keep  the  plants  close  in  pits  or  frames  facing  the  north,  but  as  soon  as 
they  have  drawn  root  gradually  increase  the  air,  until  they  can  be  quite 
exposed  to  all  weather  excepting  wet. 

Azaleas. — Shift  any  of  those  that  were  in  flower  late.  Specimens 
intended  for  flowering  next  season  should  have  all  the  sun,  light,  and 
air  possible.  Young  plants  that  it  is  desirable  to  increase  in  size 
should  be  kept  warm  and  moist,  with  slight  shading  in  bright  weather. 

CameUias. — Finish  shifting  these  with  all  dispatch.  They  should 
have  plenty  of  air  night  and  day,  and  should  be  occasionally  syringed 
in  fine  weather. 

Carnations  and  Picotees. — It  will  now  be  too  late  to  put  in  pipings  ; 
layerings  should,  however  be  proceeded  with  with  all  despatch.  The 
bloom  here  is  now  at  its  height.  The  flowers  have  not  been  large  this 
season,  but  are  remarkably  clean  and  free  from  blight.  Again  we  urge 
the  importance  of  getting  the  stock  layered.  If  late,  and  a  severe  long 
winter  follows,  the  plants  will  be  few  and  weak  next  JNIarch. 

Cinerarias. — Continue  to  pot  in  cuttings,  repotting  them  as  soon  as 
struck.  Those  first  struck  should  now  receive  a  good  shift,  to  ensure 
an  early  bloom.  Seedlings  to  be  similarly  treated  as  the  named  plants. 
Mildew  and  green-fly  must  be  kept  under  with  the  usual  remedies. 

Cold  Frames. — Prepare  these  as  they  come  at  liberty — some  of 
them  for  receiving  cuttings  of  "  bedding  stuff,"  and  others  to  receive  th& 
young  plants  when  potted  off. 

Conservator//  and  Slioic-house. — At  this  season  of  the  year,  when 
there  are  plenty  of  flowers  in  the  open  garden,  as  few  extra  plants  as 
possible  should  be  kept  here  ;  a  few  good  specimens  of  Clerodendrons, 
some  Fuchsias,  Liliums,  Achimenes,  Begonias,  Balsams,  &c.,  tastefully 
arranged,  will  make  sufficient  display — the  permanent  plants  will 
have  a  better  chance  of  ripening  their  wood.  Air  should  be  given 
freely,   night  and   day.      Water   abundantly  all   plants   in   borders. 


AUGUST.  255  ■ 

Attend  to  the  regularity  of  the  chmbers  ;  do  not  trim  them  too  much, 
neither  let  them  get  entangled,  but  suffer  them  to  hang  freely  from  the 
rafters.  Syringe  freely  all  plants  not  in  flower,  to  keep  down  red 
spider. 

Cacuinbers. — Sow  immediately,  if  not  done  last  month,  for  a  winter 
crop.  By  getting  the  plants  planted  out  whilst  the  sun  is  powerful, 
they  make  vigorous,  strong  growth ;  and  by  giving  them  plenty  of  air 
whilst  the  weather  is  fine,  and  by  not  letting  them  bear  too  soon,  there 
will  be  little  difficulty  in  getting  plenty  of  fruit  during  the  winter 
months.  If  the  red  spider  makes  its  appearance  on  the  plants  in 
bearing,  thin  out  the  leaves  and  syringe  night  and  morning.  If  the 
weather  should  set  in  wet  and  cold,  make  fires  in  houses  and  renew  the 
linings  to  frames. 

Dahlias. — Thinning  out  the  small  side  shoots  and  disbudding  will  be 
the  principal  work  .for  some  time,  with  the  exception  of  watering, 
neither  of  which  must  be  neglected.  It  is  in  the  former  operation, 
however,  that  most  care  and  judgment  is  necessary.  Commence  with 
such  varieties  as  produce  small  flowers,  leaving  the  largest  kinds  till 
last.  It  will  be  superfluous  to  remind  the  exhibitor  of  the  importance 
of  keeping  down  insects,  or  the  necessity  of  tying  out  the  principal 
side  shoots  securely. 

Flower  Garden. — Attend  to  the  tying  out  and  pegging  down  of  the 
young  shoots,  so  as  to  get  all  the  beds  covered  as  early  as  possible. 
Hoe  and  rake  after  heavy  rains,  to  open  the  surface  soil.  Water  freely 
plants  in  vases.  After  the  middle  of  the  month,  if  the  weather  be  fine, 
everything  wiU  be  in  perfection  ;  attend  to  climbing  plants.  Roll  and 
mow  when  requisite,  and  keep  everything  in  the  neatest  order. 

Fruits  (Jiardy). — Do  not  leave  one  single  shoot  more  on  any  of  the 
trees  than  is  absolutely  wanted.  The  young  wood  on  Peaches  and 
Nectarines  should  have  all  the  light  and  air  possible ;  the  fruit,  also, 
should  be  fully  exposed  to  the  light:  this  remark  applies  to  fruit 
of  every  kind.  Nail  in  and  stop  shoots  of  Apricots.  Remove  the  fore- 
right  growth  of  Pears  and  Plums.  Protect  Figs  from  wSsps.  Net 
Morello  Cherries.  Net  or  mat  Gooseberries  and  Currants  intended  for 
late  use.  Cut  away  the  Raspberry  canes  just  done  bearing,  also  the 
weak  ones  of  the  present  season.  Make  new  plantations  of  Straw- 
berries. 

Greenhouse  (hard-wooded). — As  plants  complete  their  growth,  they 
will  require  less  water  and  more  light,  but  they  should  be  protected 
from  heavy  rains.  The  more  delicate  growing  plants,  such  as  Lesche- 
naultia,  should  not  be  set  out  of  doors.  Look  to  the  young  stock  in 
pits,  and  see  they  have  plenty  of  air  and  light.  (Soft-wooded  Plants.) 
— Put  in  cuttings  of  those  kinds  required  for  stock. 

Kitchen  Garden. — Hoe  and  fork  the  ground  among  growing  crops, 
and  earth  up  as  they  require  it.  Attend  to  earthing  up  of  Celery. 
Clear  the  ground  of  the  spring  and  summer  crops  as  soon  as  they  are 
over,  and  dig  and  plant,  or  sow  it  with  a  winter  or  spring  crop.  Sow 
good  breadths  of  Spinach  and  Turnips,  to  stand  the  winter.  Plant  a 
good  breadth  of  Endive  ;  also  Lettuces  and  late  Celery.  Sow  Onions 
and  Lettuces  about  the  middle  of  the  month.     Sow  Cabbages  of  sorts ; 


.256  THE    FLORIST. 

SOW  Cauliflowers  from  the  10th  to  the  26th.  Seasons  and  locaUties 
often  make  a  great  difference  in  these  sowings,  to  meet  which,  and  to 
be  on  the  safe  side,  I  generally  make  two  sowings — one  from  the  10th 
to  the  14th,  and  the  other  from  the  20th  to  the  24th.  Cut  and  dry 
herbs  ;  take  up  Shallots  and  Garlic. 

Melons. — See  directions  in  previous  Calendars. 

Orchard  House. — Pay  the  greatest  attention  to  watering,  syringing, 
and  ventilating.  Use  every  endeavour  to  keep  down  red  spider.  Stop 
and  thin  any  shoots  not  wanted. 

Pansies. — The  young  plants  will  require  frequent  watering,  should 
dry  weather  continue.  The  principal  danger  to  the  stock  at  this  season 
is  mildew,  which  must  be  kept  down  with  sulphur  ;  this  is  easily 
effected,  if  taken  in  time. 

Peach-forcing. — Towards  the  end  of  the  month,  if  the  weather  be 
fine,  the  lights  should  be  taken  off  the  early  house,  for  two,  or  at  most 
three  weeks  ;  the  wood  will  thus,  by  being  fully  exposed  to  the  influence 
of  the  hot  drying  winds,  get  firm  and  ripe.  When  the  fruit  is  gathered 
in  the  late  houses,  the  trees  should  have  a  few  heavy  syringings.  See 
Calendar  for  last  month. 

Pelargoniums. — Propagating  will  be  the  principal  work  this  month. 
Sow  seed  as  soon  as  it  can  be  saved.  The  old  stools,  after  being  cut 
down,  should  not  be  allowed  to  have  much  rain ;  in  fact,  none,  if  the 
weather  is  cold  with  it. 

Pinery. — All  plants  that  have  "  shown"  should  be  put  in  a  house 
or  pit  by  themselves.  They  should  have  a  nice  regular  bottom  heat,  a 
moist  atmosphere,  and  liberal  supplies  of  water.  All  plants  intended 
for  fruiting  next  season  should  be  shifted  into  their  fruiting  pots  without 
delay. 

Pinks. — Plant  out  these  into  store  beds  as  soon  as  struck,  in  sandy 
soil.  The  beds  should  be  closely  examined  every  morning,  to  prevent 
the  plants  being  destroyed  with  green  grubs,  which  are  very  destructive 
at  this  season.     Gather  seed  as  often  as  it  can  be  procured  ripe. 

Roses.— -T\\Q  autumnal  blooming  varieties  will  now  require  going 
over,  and  the  branches  which  have  bloomed  should  be  cut  back  about 
half  their  length,  and  always  to  a  bud  growing  outwards  ;  and  should 
the  weather  continue  dry  a  good  soaking  with  liquid  manure  (so  soon 
as  the  buds  appear)  will  much  improve  the  blossoms  in  colour  and  size. 

Straicberrles  for  forcing. — These  should  be  shifted  without  delay  into 
the  pots  they  are  intended  to  fruit  in.  We  prefer  pots  from  six  to  nine 
inches,  according  to  the  kind  grown.  As  much  of  the  success  in  forcing 
depends  on  the  attention  paid  to  the  plants  at  this  season,  no  pains  or 
labour  should  be  spared  to  get  strong,  vigorous  plants,  with  bold,  well- 
formed  crowns.  Turfy  loam  and  about  one-third  rotten  manure  make  a 
good  compost.  When  potted  they  should  be  set  in  beds  four  or  five  feet 
wide,  and  fully  exposed  to  the  sun.  Pinch  off  all  runners  as  they  appear. 

Vinert/. — Towards  the  end  of  the  month  the  lights  may  be  removed 
off  the  early  house  for  a  few  weeks.  Late  Grapes  should  have  fire  heat 
in  dull  cold  weather,  more  during  the  day  than  at  night ;  by  this  air 
can — not  only  with  safety,  but  advantage  to  the  Grapes — be  given  more 
freely  than  otherwise  it  could  be. 


--•    J: 


■It 


\ 


»' 


Tea  Chma. 

Sativmir  oUIlise. 
HateUT. 


Z"*  Andreas  Sllti  ImO! 


Pnjinj  }>)■  C  Cnahot 


SEPTEMBER.  257 


NEW  TEA  ROSE— SOUVENIR  D'ELIZE. 

(Plate  117.) 

This  new  Tea  Rose,  which  is  very  correctly  represented  in  our 
plate  for  this  month,  is  a  seedling  raised  by  M.  Marest,  nursery- 
man, of  Paris,  and  was  taken  by  our  artist,  Mr.  Andrews,  from  a 
plant  in  the  nursery  of  Messrs.  Standish  &:  Noble,  of  Bagshot. 
This  addition  to  our  list  of  Tea  Roses  is  a  very  desirable  and 
beautiful  one,  fragrant,  and  quite  hardy,  which  is  an  advantage 
not  to  be  lost  sight  of  by  Rose  growers;  for  the  great  failing  in  the 
beautiful  section  of  Roses  to  which  this  belongs  is  that  they  are 
rarely  hardy  enough  to  thrive  without  some  protection  during 
winter,  for  which  reason  we  do  not  find  them  so  extensively  grown 
as  out-door  plants  as  they  otherwise  would  be,  and  for  which  their 
delicate  shades  of  colour  and  delightful  fragrance  would  render 
them  invaluable. 

Messrs.  Standish  &  Noble  pay  great  attention  to  the  introduction 
of  new  Roses  from  the  continental  gardens,  and  import  annually 
all  the  best  new  kinds.  They  have  very  kindly  furnished  us  with  a 
select  list  of  a  few  good  new  Roses,  which  have  been  well  proved 
in  their  nursery,  and  which  will,  we  doubt  not,  be  very  acceptable 
to  Rose  growers  in  making  additions  to  their  stock.  We  hope  to 
increase  this  list  by  further  notices  in  our  next  number. 

H.P,  Victor  Trouillard,  flowers  of  the  deepest  crimson,  foliage  very  fine, 
and  in  every  respect  a  magnificent  Rose.  The  entire  stock  of  this 
variety  is  in  our  own  (Messrs.  Standish  &  Noble's)  hands;  we 
purchased  it  from  the  raiser,  a  gentleman  at  Angers. 

P.M.  Madame  Edouard  Ory,  bright  carmine,  a  fine  globular  flower. 

H.P.  Madame  Masson,  large  full  flower,  clear  crimson. 

H.P.  Emperor  Napoleon,  very  fine,  bright  crimson,  petals  velvet-like. 

H.P.  General  Jacqueminot,  vivid  red  ;  one  of  the  finest  Roses  yet  raised. 

H.P.  Gloire  de  France,  large  and  full,  crimson  shaded. 

H.P.  Madame  Place,  lively  rose  colour. 

H.P.  Colonel  de  Rougemont,  clear  carmine,  shaded. 

H.P.  Madame  Cambaceres,  rose  colour  ;  a  charming  flower. 

H.P.  Souvenir  de  la  Reine  d'Angleterre,  very  large  flower,  lively  rose 
colour. 

H.P.  Triomphe  de  I'Exposition,  bright  reddish  crimson. 

H.P.  Lord  Raglan,  centre  bright  red,  outer  petals  purplish. 

H.P.  Prince  Noir,  deep  crimson,  petals  like  velvet. 

M.P.  Salet,  bright  rose. 

B.  Gloire  de  Dijon,  pale  flesh  colour,  centre  yellowish,  large  full  flower. 

H.P.  Jules  Margottin,  carmine,  fine  full  flower,  very  handsome. 

P.  Nicholas  d'Assas,  clear  rose,  very  full,  finely  imbricated. 


NEW   SERIES,   VOL.    VI.,   NO  .  LXIX. 


258  TUE    FLORIST. 

HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
I  AM  given  to  understand  that  several  meetings  have  been  lately  held 
by  the  Council  of  this  body,  for  the  purpose,  I  believe,  of  coming  to 
some  decision  as  to  the  future  plans  on  which  the  garden  establishment 
shall  hereafter  be  conducted.  My  own  opinion  on  this  subject  has  been 
expressed  on  previous  occasions  :  it  is,  that  a  radical  change  is  necessary 
in  the  management.  I  presume,  of  course,  that  nothing  will  be  done  until 
the  result  of  the  sale  of  the  house  in  Regent-street  informs  the  Council 
what  sum  that  will  place  in  their  hands,  and  further,  until  they  have 
ascertained  what  amount  of  the  subscription  to  the  garden  fund  the  donors 
will  allow  to  remain.  Provided  the  house  sells  well,  and  that  some 
considerable  portion  of  the  garden  fund  will  be  permitted  to  remain 
at  the  disposal  of  the  Council,  the  fixed  debt  may  at  once  be  cleared 
off,  when  the  Council,  unshackled  from  this  dead  weight,  will  have  a 
clear  field  before  them — not  an  easy  one. 

The  Society  must  be  re-organised,  and  made  more  in  unison  with 
the  progress  of  the  times,  before  any  great  success  can  be  achieved. 
This  will  be  no  light  task,  I  imagine,  from  the  fact  that  for  several 
years  past  the  Society  has  declined  in  public  favour;  and  that  it  takes 
some  time  to  recover  a  lost  prestige,  every  one  conversant  with  the 
management  of  public  bodies  will  allow.  I  have  hopes  the  Council 
will  succeed  in  placing  the  gardens  under  as  good  management  as  they 
can  procure,  and  that  they  will  not  act  the  part  of  many  similar 
governing  bodies — meet  to  talk  the  news  of  the  day,  and  leave  their 
immediate  business  in  the  hands  of  the  secretary,  but  that  they  will 
themselves  see  that  their  plans  are  faithfully  carried  out.  They  are 
responsible  to  the  Fellows  at  large,  who  look  to  them  to  take  care  that 
all  is  done  which  can  be  to  maintain  in  an  efficient  state  so  useful  and 
important  an  institution,  and  likewise  that  the  money  of  the  Fellows, 
subscribed  for  the  advancement  of  horticulture,  is  not  dribbled  away 
in  unmeaning  experiments,  or  to  gratify  peculiar  whims.  The  praise- 
worthy way  in  which  your  periodical  brought  the  affairs  of  the  Society 
before  the  public  a  few  months  ago,  induces  me  to  trouble  you  to  insert 
this,  which  not  only  expresses  my  own  opinion,  but,  I  know,  that  of 
many  other  P.H.S.'s  as  well. 

F.  H.  S. 

[We  readily  give  insertion  to  the  foregoing  very  sensible  letter, 
and  think  we  may  assure  the  writer  that  at  the  present  time  the 
Council  are  engaged  on  the  very  plans  our  correspondent  points  out. 
How  far  they  will  succeed  must  depend  on  the  co-operation  of  the  hor- 
ticultural world,  who,  we  hope,  will  join  in  helping  the  Council  to  carry 
out  those  practical  measures  for  remodelling  the  Society  which  we 
believe  they  have  in  hand.  This  can  only  be  done  by  becoming  sub- 
scribers themselves,  and  inducing  their  friends  to  do  so  also.  Two  guineas 
a  year  is  the  new  scale  of  subscription  ;  no  great  sum,  certainly,  but  one 
which,  if  responded  to  by  lovers  of  gardening,  in  the  way  we  hope  it 
will,  will  enable  the  Council  to  place  the  Society  on  a  firm  footing  of 
usefulness,  and  again  render  it  one  of  the  most  really  important  public 
bodies  in  the  kingdom. — Ed.  Flokist.] 


SEPTEMEEK,  259 

LONGLEAT,  WILTS, 
THE  EESIDENCE  OF  THE  MARQUIS  OF  BATH. 
This  place  has  long  been  celebrated  for  its  magnificent  mansion  of 
palatial  dimensions,  which,  as  Loudon  observes,  is  the  proudest  archi- 
tectural monument  in  the  west  of  England — and  its  noble  park  and 
domain.  The  house  occupies  the  site  ot  an  old  religious  establishment, 
and  was  built  by  John  of  Padua  in  the  16th  century,  in  the  transition 
style  of  the  day,  placed  in  the  bottom  of  a  valley.  The  park  stretches 
away  from  it  in  every  direction,  diversified  by  hills  richly  clothed  with 
fine  timber ;  it  contains  within  its  boundary  a  delightful  variety  of 
park-like  and  sylvan  scenery.  The  view  from  the  range  of  hills  which 
run  across  the  park,  on  the  Warminster  side,  has  few  equals  in  the 
west.  Immediately  below  the  spectator  lies  the  beautiful  valley, 
encircled  with  rising  grounds,  covered  with  wood,  in  which  the  house, 
gardens,  and  lake  are  situate,  looking  over  which  the  eye  takes 
in  a  wide  expanse  of  rich  landscape,  terminating  with  the  Somerset- 
shire hills  in  the  extreme  distance.  To  the  left  the  eye  catches 
"  Alfred's  Tower,"  a  conspicuous  object  for  miles  around,  rising  from 
the  wooded  range  of  Stourhead,  the  great  feature  of  that  part  of  Wilt- 
shire and  Somerset.  At  a  distance  of  some  twenty  miles  to  the  right 
"  Beckford's  Tower,"  on  Lansdowne,  near  Bath,  is  visible ;  and  much 
nearer  the  spectator  lies  the  picturesque  market  town  of  Frome,  on  the 
skirts  of  the  park,  and  apparently  a  part  of  the  domain,  which  in  a 
great  measure  it  is. 

The  noble  proprietors  of  Longleat  for  a  long  series  of  years  have  been 
great  promoters  of  planting  and  gardening.  Switzer  describes  Longleat  as 
being,  towards  the  end  of  the  IJth  century,  laid  out  on  a  grand  scale  ; 
and  from  a  plan  of  the  place  we  have  seen  of  this  period,  it  appears  to 
have  been  surrounded  with  gardens,  in  the  regular  Dutch  style  prevalent 
at  that  time,  with  long  avenues,  vegetable  sculptures,  and  embroidery 
parterres,  occupying  a  large  extent  of  ground.  The  park  likewise 
appears  to  have  been  regularly  laid  out  with  avenues,  &c.,  in  a  similar 
formal  manner.  When  these  were  replaced,  by  substituting  the  present 
disposition  of  the  grounds,  and  planting,  we  are  not  informed,  but 
suppose  it  to  be  the  work  of  Brown,  who,  nearly  a  hundred  years  ago, 
formed  the  lakes  running  through  the  park,  and  introduced  a  deal  of 
planting.  That  the  lakes  were  formed  by  Brown  there  is  no  doubt ;  in 
fact,  they  are  the  worst  feature  in  the  park ;  their  tame  outline  and 
bald  shores  assure  us  Brown  was  their  designer,  as  well  as  of  some  of 
the  clumps  of  trees.  Brown,  though  more  extensively  employed  as  a 
landscape  gardener  than  any  person  of  the  last  century,  had  no  genius 
for  his  work,  and  were  it  not  that  many  of  the  gardens  he  laid  out  have 
been  altered  from  his  designs,  the  tame  formal  outlines  of  his  water, 
and  ever-recurring  clumps  of  trees,  would  have  transformed  the  natural 
features  of  many  of  the  places  he  altered  to  a  mere  formalism,  infinitely 
less  artistic  than  the  Dutch  or  French  style  he  was  so  anxious  to 
obliterate. 

Nearly  the  first  Weymouth  Pines  introduced  to  England,  and'  called 
after  Lord  Weymouth  (afterwards  Lord  Bath)  were  planted  here  in 

s  2 


260  THE    FLORIST. 

1705.  One  or  two  of  the  original  trees  are  yet  standing,  and  are  of 
large  size.  There  are,  besides,  some  grand  Silver  Firs  and  Cedars  ;  of 
the  former  Mitchell  relates  that  there  was  formerly  a  grove  of  sixteen 
trees,  22  feet  apart,  110  feet  high,  and  from  10  to  13  feet  in  circmii- 
ference.  One  of  the  trees  felled  produced  299  feet  of  timber.  Loudon 
describes  a  Silver  Fir  here  as  being  (in  1835)  138  feet  high  ;  the 
diameter  of  the  trunk  5  feet  8  inches.  There  is  a  tree  yet  standing 
considerably  (we  should  say)  above  100  feet  high  and  15  feet  in 
circumference.  In  the  grounds  is  a  good  plant  of  Cunninghamia 
sinensis  30  feet  high ;  likewise  fine  specimens  of  Taxodium  distichum 
(deciduous  Cypress),  the  branches  of  which  are  cut  and  grouped  with 
flowers  for  filling  large  vases,  where  its  Fern-like  leaves  have  a  pretty 
effect. 

The  flower-gardens  and  grounds  under  the  scythe  occupy  a  large 
space  between  the  mansion  and  one  of  the  lakes ;  there  is,  besides,  a 
regular  geometrical  flower  garden  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  and  fronting 
one  of  the  old-fashioned  conservatories  of  the  last  century.  ]\Iany  of 
the  beds  on  the  lawn  are  partly  filled  with  dwarf  flowering  shrubs  and 
herbaceous  plants,  and  thus  become  gay  and  interesting  at  a  much 
earher  period  than  when  only  the  ordinary  bedding  plants  are  employed. 
We  are  very  partial  to  this  mixed  system,  particularly  when  the  beds 
are  large  and  no  exact  arrangement,  rendering  it  indispensable  for 
them  to  match,  occurs.  In  the  geometrical  garden,  on  the  contrary, 
the  utmost  regularity  is  preserved,  and  the  beds  w^ere  filled  with  a  good 
variety  of  showy  plants ;  among  others  we  were  much  struck  with 
some  circular  beds  of  Zelinda  and  scarlet  Ranunculus  ;  Dahlias,  pegged 
down  close,  the  flower-stalks  elevated  the  blooms  one  foot  from  the 
ground,  and  being  one  mass  of  bloom,  they  produced  a  very  brilliant 
effect.  We  likewise  observed  some  fine  beds  made  by  mixing 
Mangles'  variegated  Geraniums  andj  Heliotropium  Voltaireanum  ;  the 
beautiful  play  of  colour  produced  by  mixing  these  two  plants  was  very 
striking. 

The  kitchen  garden  is  planted  a  mile  away  from  the  house,  at  the 
southern  verge  of  the  park  ;  it  contains  ten  acres,  and  encloses  the  two 
sides  of  a  valley  which  runs  through  from  east  to  west.  This  is  found  to 
be  an  advantage  rather  than  otherwise,  as  the  slope  facing  the  north  is 
found  very  useful  for  vegetable  crops  and  Strawberries  during  the  summer. 
The  subsoil  of  the  garden  is  strong  clay,  and  although  the  crops  are  found 
to  be  later  by  a  fortnight  than  when  grown  on  lighter  soils,  the  produce 
and  quality  are  excellent,  for  we  observed  the  vegetable  crops  generally 
and  Strawberries  were  growing  vigorously,  and  looking  quite  green 
and  healthy,  notwithstanding  the  extreme  hot  weather  of  the  last 
month.  The  subsoil  is  rather  too  cold  for  Peach  trees  out  of  doors, 
which  suffer  much  in  the  spring.  But  Apricots,  Pears,  Plums,  and 
Cherries  thrive  well,  and  even  this  present  season  are  producing  very 
fair  crops  of  fruit — in  fact,  the  best  crops  of  Pears  and  Plums  we  have 
seen.  On  the  north  bank  of  the  garden  is  a  range  of  forcing  houses 
350  feet  long,  in  eight  divisions,  four  of  which  are  devoted  to  Pines, 
having  Vines  as  well  on  the  rafters.  Mr.  Anderson,  who  for  many 
years  has  been  head  gardener  here,  very  wisely  grows  only  two  sorts  of 


SEPTEMBER.  261 

Pines — the  Queen  and  Jamaica.  The  whole  stock  was  in  fine  health — 
indeed  Longleat  has  long  been  noted  ftir  its  excellent  Pine-apples,  many 
of  great  weight  having  been  exhibited  from  this  place.  In  addition  to 
the  usual  selection  of  Grapes,  the  White  Frontignan  is  a  favourite  here, 
Mr.  Anderson  growing  it  largely  for  white  Grapes.  Although  usually 
considered  delicate,  it  grows  and  fruits  here  remarkably  well.  In  one 
house,  set  apart  for  Vines  alone,  the  different  varieties  of  the  Ham- 
burgh Grape  were  originally  planted,  with  a  view  to  test  their  merits. 
The  whole,  however,  with  the  exception  of  the  common  Hamburgh, 
have  been  cut  away,  as  Mr.  Anderson  is  of  opinion  that  though  larger 
and  more  showy,  they  were  more  or  less  deficient  in  the  many  good 
qualities  for  which  the  old  Black  Hamburgh  is  so  justly  esteemed. 
This  was  therefore  selected  to  fill  the  house,  and  was  trained  horizontally 
along  the  bottom,  and  a  rod  taken  up  each  rafter.  This  is  now 
a  vigorous  young  Vine,  and  has  this  year  upwards  of  200  bunches  of 
fine  fruit  on  it.  At  each  end  of  the  range  is  a  Peach-house,  in  a  good 
healthy  state ;  the  sashes  are  removed  each  year,  in  August,  as  soon  as 
the  wood  begins  to  change  colour. 

In  an  old  pit  40  feet  long,  and  heated  by  a  common  flue,  is  obtained 
a  constant  supply  of  Cucumbers.  A  large  wooden  trough  stands  on  the 
ilue  in  which  the  Cucumbers  are  planted  four  lights  at  a  time  for 
succession.  The  Sion  House  Improved  and  Lord  Kenyon's  are  the 
favourite  kinds.  The  winter  crop  had  just  been  planted ;  this  house 
presented  to  us  a  very  economical  mode  of  obtaining  a  crop  of  this 
useful  fruit,  the  flue  requiring  merely  a  few  cinders  or  small  coal  to 
keep  it  going. 

An  experiment  has  been  tried  here  by  Mr.  Anderson  of  considerable 
interest  to  gardeners,  by  way  of  proving  what  effect  the  different  kinds 
of  glass  now  recommended  for  plant  and  fruit  houses  had  on  the  plants 
grown  below  them.  Five  years  ago  a  four-light  frame  was  devoted  to 
the  purpose,  having  one  light  glazed  with  Hartley's  rough  plate,  one 
with  Hartley's  corrugated,  one  British  sheet,  and  one  with  Crown  glass. 
During  the  five  years  a  variety  of  plants  have  been  grown  in  this 
frame,  including  Strawberries ;  and  Mr.  Anderson  informs  us  no  per- 
ceptible difference  could  ever  be  detected,  either  in  the  growth  of  the 
plants,  the  colour  of  the  flowers,  or  flavour  of  the  Strawberries.  We 
may  therefore  infer  that  as  regards  cultivation,  no  great  amount  of 
difference  exists  between  the  descriptions  of  glass  mentioned ;  while, 
to  suit  particular  purposes,  one  sort  may  be  substituted  for  another, 
without  causing  any  detriment  to  the  vegetation  they  cover. 

About  2000  pots  of  Strawberries,  principally  Queens  and  Troflope's 
Victoria,  are  forced  annually  here.  In  the  Vineries  we  noticed  large 
quantities  of  Achimenes,  Gesneras,  and  some  very  good  Orchids,  which, 
with  a  variety  of  other  plants,  are  used  for  house  decoration.  There  is 
likewise  a  nice  collection  of  Heaths  and  other  greenhouse  plants  grown 
for  similar  uses.  J-  S. 


262  THE    FLORIST. 


BRITISH  POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 

August  4. — The  annual  meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  this  day, 
Richard  Underhill,  Esq.,  in  the  chair.  The  Secretary  produced  a 
report  of  the  progress  of  the  Society,  its  present  position,  and  its 
prospects  for  the  ensuing  year,  showing  that  it  was  steadily,  surely, 
and  firmly  establishing  itself,  and  increasing  in  usefulness. 

During  the  past  year  44  new  members  had  been  elected,  and  the 
number  of  members  brought  forward  from  last  year  being  87,  from 
which  four  had  been  removed  by  death  and  other  causes,  the  members 
on  the  roll  on  the  1st  of  August  this  year  was  127- 

From  the  accounts  of  the  past  year,  furnished  by  the  Treasurer,  it 
appeared  that 

£    s.    d.      £    s.    d. 

The  total  receipts  had  been  79     0     0 

Added  to   a  balance  brought  forward    from 

1854-35 21     3  10 

100     3  10 

And  that  the  expenditure  had  been 

For  Rent    16     0     0 

Advertising    13     0     6 

Printing,  Stationery,  Postage,  &c 17  13  11 

Fixtures  and  Furniture 3  18     0 

Carriage  of  Parcels  and  Expenses  connected 

■with  Meetings    : 4   14     3 

Assistant  Secretary's  Salary   20     0     0 

75     6  10 

Showing  as  a  balance  to  be  carried  forward  of  

Cash  in  hand £24  17     0 

The  following  abstract  was  laid  before  the  meeting,  comparing  the 
receipts,  expenditure,  and  prospects  of  the  Society  at  the  close  of  the 
financial  year  ending  31st  July,  1856,  with  those  of  the  year  ending 
31st  July,  1855. 

July  31, 1855.  July  31, 1856. 

£     s.    d.  £     s.    d. 

Received  by  Donations   16  10    0 

„              Entrance  Fees    34     0     0  18     0     0 

„              Subscriptions      33  10     0  49     0     0 

„             Arrears   12     0     0 

Total  Receipts £84.    0    0   £79    0    0 

Expenditure 62  16     2      75     6  10 

Balance  carried  forward 21     3  10      24  17    0 

Cash  uncollected  17     0     0      26     0     0 

Revenue  from  Members  in  current  year  43  10     0      63  10     0 

Comparative  prospect  July,  1855,  and  July, 

1856...... £81  13  10£114    7     0 

This  estimated  income  for  the  ensuing  year  being  exclusive  of  what 
may  arise  from  the  entrance  fees  and  subscriptions  of  any  new  members 
who  may  be  enrolled. 

It  was  explained  that  the  expenditure  this  year,  though  apparently 
greater,  was  proportionately  much  less  than  in  the  previous  one,  as  it 


SEPTEMBER.  263 

included  the  assistant  secretary's  salary  ;  and  that  although  the  cash 
uncollected  appeared  greater  in  amount,  it  was  only  in  proportion  to 
the  increased  number  of  members. 

The  accounts  having  been  examined,  it  was  moved  by  Mr.  Rivers, 
seconded  by  Mr.  Adams,  and  carried  unanimously,  that  the  same  be 
approved. 

The  Secretary  reported  that  although  the  Transactions  had  not  yet 
been  published  once  a  quarter,  in  accordance  with  the  original  inten- 
tion, he  considered  the  present  and  prospective  state  of  the  Society's 
finances,  and  the  promise  of  important  and  useful  communications  from 
members,  would  enable  the  executive  to  ensure  greater  regularity  in 
future. 

It  was  ordered  that  the  Assistant  Secretary  should  represent  the 
importance  of  the  subscriptions  being  punctually  paid,  in  order  that  the 
Society's  exertions  and  progress  should  not  be  crippled  by  the  possibility 
of  their  expenses  exceeding  the  funds  at  their  disposal,  and  especially 
that  the  early  payment  of  all  arrears  now  due  be  respectfully  solicited. 

It  was  also  ordered  that  as  soon  as  possible  after  each  meeting  a  report 
thereof  be  printed  and  sent  to  each  of  the  members  and  to  such  news- 
papers as  it  might  be  desirable  to  have  the  Society's  proceedings 
noticed  in. 

The  Secretary  then  brought  up  a  report  of  a  committee  which  had 
been  appointed  to  meet  on  the  IJth  July,  to  consider  certain  alterations 
which  appeared  necessary  in  the  rules  regarding  the  days  of  meeting 
and  other  matters. 

The  alterations  recommended  were  discussed  seriatim  and  approved, 
and  it  was  proposed  by  Mr.  Adams,  seconded  by  Mr.  Taylor,  and 
carried  unanimously,  that  the  amended  code  be  adopted.* 

The  meeting  then  proceeded  to  the  election  of  office-bearers  for  the 
ensuing  year. 

Mr.  Hogg  regretted  that  he  could  not  give  the  attention  he  desired  to 
the  duties  connected  with  the  office  of  Secretary,  and  expressed  his  wish 
to  resign,  but  promised  to  give  all  the  aid  in  his  power  as  a  member. 
It  was  then  agreed  that  Mr.  Hogg  be  elected  a  Vice-President  of  the 
institution  in  lieu  of  W.  Stephens,  Esq.,  deceased.  Mr.  J.  E.  Lane 
was  elected  a  Member  of  Council  in  heu  of  Mr.  Hogg,  and  J.  Silver, 
Esq. ,  in  heu  of  Mr.  F.  G.  Malleson,  resigned. 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  Hogg,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Rivers,  and 
carried  unanimously.  That  a  Publishing  Committee  be  appointed  to 
watch  over  the  Publications  of  the  Society,  and  assist  in  collecting  useful 
information  for  the  Transactions,  and  Messrs.  Hogg,  Rivers,  Taylor, 
G.  Paul,  and  J.  B.  Whiting  were  appointed  to  form  such  committee. 

Fruit  sent  to  the  Meeting. — Mr.  Carpenter,  of  Barr  Hall, 
near  Birmingham,  furnished  another  bunch  of  his  Seedling  White 
Grape,  with  a  reply  to  inquiries  which  had  been  sent  to  him  concerning 
its  origin,  hardiness,  and  productiveness.     It  was  reported  to  be  raised 

*  A  copy  of  the  Amended  Rules,  with  the  corrected  List  of  Members  and 
the  ofRce  bearers  for  the  years  1856-7,  was  forwarded  to  each  member  along 
with  the  Report. 


264  THE    FLORIST. 

in  1852  from  Black  Hamburgh  crossed  by  the  Royal  Muscadine,  and 
first  fruited  in  1854  ;  to  set  as  freely  and  ripen  with  the  same  heat  and 
in  the  same  time  as  the  Black  Hamburgh,  partaking  of  the  Hamburgh 
in  the  character  of  bunch,  and  of  the  Muscadine  in  foliage.  It  is  also 
said  to  be  a  good  cropper,  and  the  fruit  having  been  ripe  in  the  end  of 
May  on  the  plant  from  whence  the  specimens  were  taken,  it  appears  to 
be  valuable  for  its  keeping  properties.  The  council  considered  it  a  new 
and  very  distinct  variety,  the  berry  oblate,  skin  thick  and  astringent, 
white,  and  reticulated  with  russet ;  flesh  hard  and  of  good  flavour,  but 
not  equal  to  many  varieties  of  white  Grapes  already  in  cultivation  ;  the 
seeds  are  large,  and  adhere  to  the  footstalks  and  to  the  flesh  in  separating 
from  the  berry. 

Mr.  Rivers  brought  a  bunch  of  an  early  and  nearly  hardy  black 
French  Grape,  the  Muscat  de  Sarbelle,  very  black  in  colour,  of  the 
Frontignan  flavour  and  habit.  Also  a  dish  of  his  Plum,  Early  Pro- 
lific, No.  2.  This  is  well  known  as  a  useful  and  very  productive 
variety.  Mr.  Rivers  mentioned  that  it  is  loaded  with  fi-uit  this  year, 
but  is  the  only  one  producing  a  crop  out  of  about  three  hundred 
varieties  in  his  nursery. 

Mr.  Underbill  brought  specimens  of  his  Sir  Harry  Strawberry  in 
fine  condition,  so  that  its  qualities  can  be  fully  tested ;  the  berries  were 
large,  firm,  and  well  coloured,  and  the  flavour  betokens  a  strong  flavour 
of  Hautbois.  It  was  unanimously  pronounced  a  first-rate  fruit.  A 
two-year-old  plant  was  produced  with  its  fifth  crop  of  fruit,  ripe  and 
ripening  ;  it  had  been  forced  last  year,  fruited  again  early  in  autumn, 
and  afterwards  prepared  for  early  forcing  ;  it  produced  its  first  crop 
this  year  in  January,  and  being  planted  out  in  the  usual  way  bore  its 
second  crop  in  June,  and  again  as  exhibited.  These  matters  were 
mentioned  to  draw  attention  to  the  prolific  tendency  it  displayed,  and 
to  suggest  the  desirability  of  endeavouring  to  originate  and  perpetuate 
a  race  of  Strawberries  having  this  desirable  property  in  a  greater 
degree  than  those  we  at  present  possess. 

Mr.  Kitley,  of  Lyncombe  Vale,  Bath,  sent  a  dish  of  his  variety, 
Carolina  superba,  which  was  so  highly  approved  at  the  previous 
meeting. 

Messrs.  Stewart  and  Neilson,  of  Liscard,  Cheshire,  sent  another 
sample,  according  to  request,  of  their  Late  Seedling  Strawberry.  It 
was  not,  however,  found  equal  to  the  requirements  of  the  Society,  its 
flesh  not  appearing  firm  enough  to  endure  the  heat  of  the  sun. 

Note. — In  forwarding  this  Report  to  the  members  of  the  British  Pomological 
Society,  they  were  respectfully  solicited  to  bear  in  mind  how  much  might  be 
done  by  individuals  in  extending  its  power  and  usefulness,  if  they  would  take 
Buch  opportunities  as  occur  of  making  known  its  existence  and  objects  to  those 
friends  and  others  whom  they  might  meet  with,  and  who,  from  their  tastes  and 
pursuits,  were  likely  to  be  interested  in  the  matters  which  come  under  its 
cognizance.  Copies  of  the  llules  can  be  obtained  on  application  to  Mr. 
Davidson,  at  the  Rooms  of  the  Society,  20,  Bedford  Street,  Coveut  Garden. 


SEPTEMBER.  2G5 


ON    HYBRIDISING   FRUITS. 

It  is  a  subject  of  common  remark  with  all  my  neighbours  who  have 
gardens,  that  so  little  has  been  done  in  the  way  of  producing  improved 
races  of  fruits,  that  I  venture  to  bring  it  before  your  readers.  Though 
not  directly  connected  with  practical  horticulture,  I  have  for  years  taken 
great  interest  in  all  pertaining  to  it,  particularly  fruit  culture.  If  I 
am  correct,  we  are  indebted  for  our  best  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Apricots, 
Plums,  and  Clierries,  to  generations  long  passed  away  ;  for  by  consulting 
the  old  fruit  catalogues,  I  see  most  of  the  best  kinds  of  the  above 
were  known  a  century  and  a  half  ago,  some  even  earlier  than  that. 
Now,  as  we  may  suppose  that  these  were  raised  from  inferior  varieties 
existing  before,  how  comes  it  to  pass  that  no  improved  kinds  have  been 
raised  from  them  within  this  period  ? — or,  are  we  to  understand  that 
the  Royal  George,  Bellegarde,  and  Noblesse  Peaches  (and  likewise 
other  fruits  long  cultivated),  have  reached  their  climax  of  perfection, 
and  are  incapable  of  further  improvement  ?  But  then  why  is  it  that 
some  Pears,  and  one  or  two  other  things,  such  as  Strawberries  and 
small  fruits,  contemporary  with  the  above  a  century  ago,  are  now  dis- 
carded as  being  comparatively  worthless,  and  in  the  place  of  the  old 
kinds  of  Pears,  we  have  the  delicious  fruit,  now  found  in  almost  every 
garden,  from  France  and  Belgium  ?  I  conclude  from  this  that  the 
fruits  I  have  named  have  not  been  experimented  on  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  Pear  and  Strawberry,  at  least  in  this  country,  for  I  am 
ignorant  what  has  been  done  with  them  on  the  Continent.  I  beg  to 
ask,  therefore,  if  you  or  any  of  your  readers  can  afford  me  any 
explanation  why  so  important  a  part  of  gardening  as  raising  new  fruits 
should  be  so  neglected. 
Somersetshire,  August.  A  Country  Rector. 


POT  CULTURE  OP  STRAWBERRIES. 
The  forcing  of  Strawberry  plants  is  so  common,  that  there  are  few 
gardens  of  any  pretension  in  which  a  greater  or  less  quantity  is  not 
potted  for  the  purpose.  The  various  operations  of  layering,  potting, 
storing  for  winter,  &c.,  have  been  so  frequently  detailed,  that  there  is 
little  that  is  new  to  be  advanced.  As,  however,  there  are  differences  of 
opinion  on  certain  points  of  their  culture,  so  must  there  necessarily  be 
a  difference  in  their  relative  merits  ;  and  such  being  the  case,  I  think 
there  is  generally  an  amount  of  truth  elicited  by  candidly  stating  what 
is  considered  a  good  practice.  Now  although  the  layering  Strawberry 
runners  is  a  very  simple  operation,  yet  it  is  one  on  which  opinions 
widely  differ. 

Some  gardeners  consider  there  is  an  advantage  in  planting  the 
runners  in  the  fruiting-pots  in  the  first  instance ;  and  I  am  aware  that 
first-rate  plants  are  obtained  by  this  practice,  and  the  plants  have  been 
in  every  respect  equal  to  those  layered  in  any  other  way.  In  my 
opinion,  the  only  objection  to  this  system  is,  the  unnecessary  trouble  of 
carrying  large  pots  to  the  ground  where  the  runners  are  to  be  obtained. 


266  THE    FLORIST. 

The  most  common  practice  is  to  fill  a  quantity  of  small  pots  with 
soil,  on  which  the  runners  are  laid,  secured  by  placing  a  stone  close  to 
the  plant.  Now,  although  good  plants  are  obtaniable  by  this  practice, 
it  is  open  to  many  objections,  one  of  which  is  the  large  amount  of 
attention  requisite  to  keep  the  soil  in  such  small  pots  suthciently  moist 
to  prevent  the  plants  from  suffering,  for  although  the  runners  will  be 
kept  alive  by  the  parent  plant,  little  progress  will  be  made  unless 
attention  is  paid  to  supply  the  roots  regularly  with  water.  Another, 
and  perhaps  a  more  serious  objection  to  small  pots,  is  that  of  having  the 
roots  coiled  and  cramped  up  in  so  small  a  compass.  I  may  perhaps  be 
told  that  the  plants  should  not  remain  in  the  small  pots  till  such  has 
taken  place,  or  that  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  liberate  them  at  the  time 
they  are  re-potted.  Strong  runners — such  as  should  be  selected  for 
potting — will  in  a  very  short  time  fill  a  small  pot  full  of  roots,  and  it  is 
not  at  all  times  convenient  to  attend  to  the  re-potting  just  at  the  time 
they  require  it.  As  regards  the  liberating  of  the  roots,  it  cannot  be 
done  without  giving  a  severe  check  to  the  young  plants,  nor  are  the 
roots,  after  that  operation,  in  a  good  state  to  ramify  into  the  fresh  soil 
in  which  they  are  potted. 

The  planting  of  the  runners  in  the  ground  in  which  the  old  plants 
are  growing,  though  practised  by  some,  is  not  so  generally  adopted  as 
its  merits  deserve,  as  I  consider  there  are  many  advantages  in  this 
system.  The  practice  is  to  make  a  hole  so  large  that  it  will  contain 
about  as  much  tresh  soil  as  a  48-sized  pot ;  it  is  then  filled  up  with  the 
approved  compost — loam  and  leaf  -  mould,  through  which  a  liberal 
sprinkling  of  soot  has  been  mixed,  to  keep  the  roots  free  from  worms. 
In  this  the  runners  are  pressed  down  and  well  watered.  In  a 
short  time  the  fresh  soil  will  become  full  of  young  fibres,  and  the 
plants  will  grow  vigorously ;  water  will  occasionally  be  required  during 
hot  weather.  In  about  three  weeks  the  plants  are  taken  up  and  potted 
into  the  pots  in  which  it  is  intended  to  fruit  them,  taking  care  that  each 
plant  is  well  watered  before  lifting.  If  this  is  attended  to,  the  plants 
will  lift  with  the  whole  of  the  soil  placed  for  them,  and  their  roots  will 
be  in  a  better  state  to  take  to  the  soil  in  which  they  are  potted  than 
after  being  cramped  up  in  small  pots. 

P.  S. 


NATIONAL  FLORICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
July  7- — Mr.  Thomas  Moore  in  the  chair.  Messrs.  Downie  &  Laird, 
of  Edinburgh,  sent  a  collection  of  fine  Sweet-williams,  remarkable  for 
rich  colours,  and  some  of  them  having  distinct  white  centres.  These 
were  of  fine  shape,  and  if  they  had  possessed  a  smooth  edge  would  have 
been  perfect  in  form.  The  whole  of  them  were  serrated  on  the  edge, 
notwithstanding  which  they  were  beautiful  and  attractive  varieties. 
Mr.  W.  Chater,  of  Saffron  Walden,  sent  some  spikes  of  seedling 
Hollyhocks.  The  best  of  them  were  Beauty  of  Walden,  shaded  rosy 
pink,  high  full  centre  and  good  guard,  to  which  a  first-class  certificate 
was  awarded ;  Sir  William  Middleton,  light  rosy  salmon  ;  and  Buff, 


SEPTEMBER.  267 

No.  1,  pale  creamy  buff — both  of  which  were  awarded  certificates  of 
merit.  A  label  of  commendation  was  awarded  to  Summit  of  Perfection, 
pale  rosy  carmine,  large,  but  loose  in  the  spike,  and  somewhat  rough, 
still  a  useful  variety,  and  of  a  novel  shade  of  colour.  The  same  grower 
also  contributed  some  cut  blooms  of  seedlings,  the  finest  of  which  was 
Queen  of  Buffs,  a  superb  variety  of  a  pale  salmony  buff  colour,  large, 
and  very  high  centre.  This  is  a  first-rate  variety,  and  received  a  first- 
class  certificate.  The  best  of  the  others  were  Sceptre  d'Or,  a  large 
salmon  variety  ;  Ochroleuca,  pale  yellow,  and  large,  forming  a  close 
spike ;  Canary,  pale  yellow ;  Satellite,  light  salmon,  and  Lady  Middle- 
ton,  light  blush,  somewhat  resembling  Joan  of  Arc  in  colour,  and  forms 
a  close  spike.  Mr.  Cole,  of  St.  Albans,  sent  some  seedling  shrubby 
Calceolarias,  the  most  striking  being  Ackbar,  of  a  brownish  crimson 
colour  edged  with  orange,  and  very  dwarf  shrubby  habit ;  a  label  of 
commendation  was  awarded  to  It  for  its  utility  as  a  bedding  variety. 
For  6  Carnations,  first  prize  to  Mr.  C.  Turner,  for  King  John,  Seed- 
ling, Victoria  Regina,  Hope,  Lord  Goderich,  and  Great  Northern ; 
2nd  prize  to  Mr.  Bragg.  Plcotees  :  1st  prize  to  Mr.  C.  Turner,  with 
Mrs.  Dodwell,  Bessie,  Queen  Victoria,  Mrs.  Lochner,  Dr.  Pitman,  and 
Lamia.  Yellow  Picotees :  1st  prize,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  with  Cuirassier, 
Champion,  and  Aurora.  Hollyhocks,  12  blooms  :  1st  prize,  Mr.  C. 
Turner.  Hollyhocks,  3  spikes:  1st  prize,  Mr.  W.  Chater.  Verbenas, 
12  blooms:  1st  prize,  Mr.  George  Smith;  2nd  prize,  Mr.  Weatherill. 
In  these  stands  the  best  were  General  Simpson,  a  very  fine  variety  ; 
Geant  des  Batailles  ;  a  seedling  named  Venus,  pure  white,  with  small 
crimson  eye  and  good  shape  ;  Gloire  de  France,  and  a  light  seedling 
named  Hunt's  Defiance.  Mr.  Salter  sent  a  small-flowered  Antirrhinum 
striped  like  Youngi,  named  LoUipop,  and  a  bedding  Geranium,  Rose 
Unique,  not  bloomed  freely  enough  to  see  if  It  was  useful. 


RIBSTON,  YORKSHIRE, 
THE  SEAT  OF  JQS.  DENT,  ESQ. 
There  are  very  few  gardeners  to  whom  the  name  of  Ribston  is  not 
famihar — the  far-famed  Apple  of  that  name  having  originated  here. 
The  place  is  about  fifteen  miles  west  of  York,  and  about  six  miles 
south-east  of  Harrogate.  JVIany  hundreds  of  visitors  to  the  last-men- 
tioned place  avail  themselves  of  Mr.  Dent's  liberality  during  the  season, 
Ribston  being  shown  on  every  Tuesday.  The  mansion  is  situated  near 
the  river  Nidd.  At  the  east  end  of  It  there  is  an  ancient  chapel ; 
and  within  a  very  few  yards  of  it  (the  chapel)  there  is  a  very  old 
Mulberry  tree.  The  terrace  garden  is  at  the  south  front  of  the 
mansion,  and  about  200  yards  beyond  flows  the  winding  Nldd.  The 
"  bedding  "  in  the  terrace  garden  is  remarkably  wefl  done  ;  every  bed 
is  perfect — no  gaps  or  bare  places,  nor  is  there  any  loose  rambling 
growths  ;  there  is  not  a  poor  bed  In  the  whole  garden,  consequently  the 
effect  is  very  good.     At  a  short  distance  from  this  garden  there  is  a 


268  THE    FLORIST. 

sort  of  irregular  flower-garden,  which  is  a  most  excellent  connecting 
link  between  the  terrace-garden  and  the  pleasure-grounds.  There  are 
a  great  many  of  the  best  kinds  of  Hoses  in  this  garden,  which  have 
been  very  grand  this  season.  There  are  also  some  very  good  raised 
flower-beds  here.  Among  them  there  is  an  oval  raised  two  feet  above 
the  Grass ;  it  is  made  of  Larch  poles  driven  into  the  ground  ;  these 
are  all  covered  with  Ivy.  The  white  Ivy-leaved  Geranium  is  used  for 
the  outside  border  (and  which  hangs  nearly  to  the  Grass)  ;  next  this  a 
dark-coloured  Calceolaria  for  the  second  border,  then  yellow  Calceolaria, 
then  scarlet  Geraniums,  then  Ageratum  mexicanum,  and  for  the  centre 
scarlet  Salvias,  the  whole  forming  a  very  effective  and  pleasing  bed. 
There  are  several  mixed  masses  in  this  garden,  which  are  very  good. 

The  pleasure-grounds,  which  are  extensive,  varied,  and  very  beau- 
tiful, contain  many  fine  specimens  of  trees  and  shrubs  ;  the  evergreens 
are  particularly  fine.  There  are  a  great  many  handsome  promising 
young  Conifers  about  the  grounds,  and  among  them  some  very  fine  young 
trees  of  Cedrus  Deodara.  also  two  very  handsome  young  specimens  of 
Abies  Pinsapo,  one  about  eight  and  the  other  about  twelve  feet  high ; 
both  are  perfect  gems,  of  the  general  appearance  of  which  some  idea 
may  be  gathered  from  the  accompanying  representation  of  one  of  them. 
We  also  noticed  a  nice  healthy  plant  of  Taxodium  sempervirens,  which 
has  stood  out  several  years  unprotected.  It  is,  however,  growing  in  a 
dry  sheltered  spot.  Cryptomeria  japonica  has  also  stood  the  winters 
well  unprotected.  There  is  also  a  fine  tree  of  Pinus  excelsa  ;  there  are 
a  number  of  other  very  flourishing  young  plants  of  Conifers  in  the 
grounds. 

Approaching  the  kitchen  garden  from  the  pleasure-grounds,  there  is 
a  conservatory  and  two  plant-houses,  in  which  there  was  a  good  display 
of  flowers.  Passing  from  these  we  entered  the  kitchen  garden,  which 
is  extensive  and  good.  Notwithstanding  the  season,  the  fruit  crops  are 
an  average.  Peaches,  Apricots,  Pears,  and  Plums  on  the  walls  are  all 
nearly  an  average  crop  ;  they  have  not  had  any  protection  whatever. 
Many  of  the  Apple  trees  in  the  open  garden,  both  dwarfs  and  standards, 
have  a  fair  crop  of  fruit,  not  loaded.  We  were  rather  struck  with  the 
quantity  of  Apples  in  these  gardens,  as  in  going  to  Ribston  we  passed 
some  orchards  that  had  scarcely  a  fruit.  The  cause  of  the  difference 
we  attribute  to  the  trees  in  Ribston  garden  being  annually  attended  to 
in  pruning,  &c.,  and  the  orchard  trees  being  neglected. 

There  are  two  good  ranges  of  glass  houses  in  the  gardens,  besides 
pits,  &c.  Ribston  has  long  been  celebrated  for  its  hothouse  productions. 
Mr.  Abbott,  the  head  gardener,  is  a  most  successful  grower  of  Pines, 
Grapes,  Figs,  Peaches,  &c.  Everything  is  at  present  in  the  greatest 
possible  perfection  ;  the  Pines  are  exceedingly  good  :  Queens  from  five 
to  six  pounds  is  an  ordinary  occurrence  at  Ribston.  We  venture  to 
assei't  that  few,  if  any,  places  surpass  Ribston  for  Grapes.  We  have 
seen  Muscats  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  and  at  many  of  the 
metropolitan  exhibitions,  but  have  never  seen  any  as  good  ;  we  repeat, 
as  good  as  those  we  have  seen  at  Ribston ;  and  at  the  present  time 
they  have  some  bunches  that  will  weigh  four  })ounds  or  upwards.  The 
Black  Hamburgh  Grapes  also  are  first  rate  \  many  of  the  bunches  will 


SEPTEMBER. 


269 


Abies  Pinsapo. 


270  THE    FLORIST. 

weigh  from  two  to  three  pounds  each.  In  fact,  everything,  both  in- 
doors and  out-doors,  is  in  the  best  possible  state,  and  reflects  the  highest 
credit  on  Mr.  Abbott.  Every  part  of  the  place  is  also  in  the  neatest 
order  and  good  keeping. 

Before  closing  this  brief  and  imperfect  notice  of  this  beautiful  place, 
we  may  remark  that  the  spot  where  once  flourished  the  '  original ' 
Ribston  Pippin,  is  about  200  yards  distant  from  the  principal  entrance  to 
the  gardens.  Mr.  Dent  has  enclosed  it  (the  spot)  with  a  substantial  wire 
fence.  A  young  tree,  said  to  be  a  sucker  from  the  original,  is  growing 
where  the  parent  tree  stood  ;  it  grows  pretty  freely,  but  the  stem  is  not 
a  clean,  healthy  one,  and  some  of  the  last  season's  wood  is  dead,  so 
that  it  is  not  likely  to  attain  either  a  large  size  or  great  age. 

Beta. 


FERNS  AND  MOSSES. 

It  has  often  been  a  source  of  wonder  to  me  that  man,  wth  all  his 
imitative  powers — more  especially  the  gardening  class — has  not  made 
Ferns  and  Mosses  more  subservient  to  the  many  decorative  purposes 
to  which  they  are  so  appropriate,  and  to  which  a  bountiful  Creator  has 
set  so  liberal  an  example  in  the  decoration  of  the  universe — from  pole 
to  pole,  from  the  torrid  to  the  frigid  zones,  on  the  mountain's  top  and 
the  cavern's  shade,  and  from  the  tropics'  heat  to  Iceland's  cold,  are  to 
be  found  those  unassuming  yet  most  beautiful  of  Nature's  adornments. 
Yes,  most  beautiful !  For  instance,  take  a  small  portion  of  one  of  these 
plants,  and  examine  its  every  part.  See  the  chasteness  of  its  general 
outline  ;  see  the  accuracy  of  its  divisions  and  incisions  ;  see  the  won- 
derful organisation  of  its  fructiferous  organs  ;  see  the  wonderful  and 
distinct  formation  of  the  same  in  thei;c  every  genera.  In  one  you  will 
find  its  fronds  studded  with  small  circular  golden  forms ;  in  another 
you  will  see  a  brown  marginal  band,  encircling  its  every  incision  ;  and 
upon  another,  the  reproductive  organs  are  produced  in  broad  parallel 
stripes ;  then,  again,  kidney-shaped,  &c.  Then  examine  its  every 
species,  and  see  the  extraordinary  and  distinct  shape  and  make  of  each, 
together  with  their  elegant  and  very  graceful  appearance,  and  then  say 
if  the  class  Cryptogamia  is  not  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  beautiful 
of  all  inanimate  creation. 

Then  why  not  bring  this  class  more  generally  into  use  ?  Is  it 
because  they  wiU  not  thrive  in  our  shrubberies  ? — or  won't  they  do  on 
the  margins  of  our  ponds  and  lakes  ? — or  won't  they  grow  and  cover 
with  a  face  of  green  our  old  unsightly  walls  and  buildings,  and  stumps 
of  old  trees  ? — or,  is  it  even  our  cottage  itself  that  Ferns  and  Mosses 
win  not  do  upon  ?  I  answer  in  the  affirmative  ;  for  many  of  our  most 
handsome  and  hardy  species  luxuriate  in  such  localities.  Then,  again, 
for  the  nooks  and  corners  of  our  stoves  and  forcing-houses,  &c.,  where 
can  we  find  anything  more  at  home  thah  Ferns,  whether  in  pots,  or 
springing  out  from  the  holes  and  crevices  that  otherwise  would  be  un- 


SEPTEMBER,  271 

sightly  ?  Then  why  not  more  freely  introduce  them  ?  I  am  very  glad 
to  see  that  the  cultivation  of"  this  charming  class  of  plants  is  become 
so  popular — aud  justly  so — for  I  am  sure  that  no  admirer  of  nature 
can  pass  one  of  those  most  unobtrusive  of  all  her  works  without  feeling 
a  thrill  of  delight,  and  which  must  lead — as  has  elsewhere  been  justly 
said — 

"  Through  Nature  up  to  Nature's  God  I" 

It  is  not  my  province  or  intention,  here,  to  write  a  treatise  upon  the 
cultivation  of  those  plants,  which  has  so  often  and  ably  been  done  by 
far  wiser  heads  than  mine  ;  but  I  merely  throw  out  these  hints,  to 
endeavour  to  show  what  a  very  wide  field  there  is  open  for  the  more 
natural  cultivation  of  them  ;  sufficient,  I  trust,  to  induce  many  of  your 
readers  to  find  some  nook  or  corner  where  they  can  try  "  effect ;"  and 
if  once  a  trial  be  made,  I  will  vouch  there  will  be  no  stopping  short,  for 
be  it  understood  there  is  no  such  word  as  finality  admitted  into  the 
gardening  vocabulary. 

Ribston  Park,  Wetherhy,  York.  Thos.  W.  Abbott. 


NOTES  ON  THE  NEW  PANSIES  OF  1856. 

Jeannie  (Downie  &  Laird). — A  very  smooth  dark  puce  self,  of  fine 
substance.     Bottom  petal  rather  small. 

Indian  Chief  (Dickson  k  Go?) — Rich  purple  self;  form  and  substance 
extra  ;  size  small. 

Glory  (Hampton). — Pure  white  self,  very  smooth  and  flat ;  fine 
eye,  substance  rather  thin,  form  good,  full  size. 

Defiance  (Hampton). — ^Yellow  self,  of  no  value  whatever  as  a  show 
flower. 

Mrs.  Dodwell  (Fisher). — The  best  yellow  self  out;  imperfect  in 
form  ;  still,  all  points  considered,  the  best  in  its  class. 

Gem  (Syme  &  Middlemas). — A  very  smooth  beautiful  dark  self; 
in  its  composition  perfect,  but  with  me  under-sized. 

Red  Rover  (Schofield). — A  very  distinct  yellow-ground  variety, 
beautiful  in  every  point,  rather  under-sized. 

Cyrus  (Dickson). — Rich  chrome  yellow  ground,  bronze  crimson 
belting  ;  large,  smooth,  and  of  fine  form. 

Rubens  (Dickson  &  Co.) — Rich  yellow  ground,  clear  bronze  belting. 
A  fine  sort,  but  a  bad  doer. 

Charles  Napier  (Dickson  &  Co.) — Yellow  ground,  rich  puce  belting, 
very  fine  and  very  small. 

Splendid  (Schofield). — A  worthless  yellow-ground  variety. 

Earl  of  Cardigan  (Holland). — A  good  pale  yellow-ground  flower, 
much  in  the  style  of  Pandora  (Hunt),  on  which  it  is  a  slight  improve- 
ment. 

Empress  Eugenie  (Stuart).— A  white-ground  flower,  of  no  value 
whatever. 

Princess  (Dickson  &  Son).— White  and  clear  blue  purple ;  large, 
smooth,  and  of  fine  form.     Deficient  in  substance. 


272 


THE    FLORIST. 


Miss  Nighlingale  (Dickson  &  Co.) — White  ground  flower,  extra 
fine  in  every  respect. 

Mrs.  Ham'pton  (Hampton). — A  very  constant  good  white  ground 
flower,  similar  to  Argo  (Paton  &  Small),  but  larger  and  of  better  sub- 
stance. 

Countess  (Addis). — A  singular  and  beautiful  white-ground  variety. 
Colour  of  margin  pale  soft  blue ;  very  distinct,  and  a  useful  show 
flower. 

Sckamyl  Bey  (Douglass). — Rich  smooth  dark  self,  but  too  small 
for  exhibition. 

Mrs.  Dimdas  (Downie  &  Laird). — Straw  ground,  deep  puce  belting, 
very  smooth,  and  of  fine  substance  ;  form  defective. 

BEST  TWENTY-FOUR  VARIETIES  OUT. 


YELLOW   GROUND. 

Alphcus  (Dickson  &  Co.) 

Cyrus  (Dickson  &  Co.) 

Rev.  H.  Gossett  (Turner) 

Emperor  (Hall) 

Catherine  Dundas  (Downie  &  Laird) 

Lord  John  Russell  (Turner) 

WHITE   GROUND. 

Beauty  (Downie  &  Laird) 

Miss  Nightingale  (Dickson  &  Co.) 

Mrs.  Hampton  (Hampton) 

Miss  Walker  (Syme  &  Middlemas) 

Princess  (Dickson  &  Co.) 

Lord  Raglan  (Campbell) 

Birmingham. 


DARK    SELF. 

J.  B.  Gough  (Downie  &  Laird) 
Jeannie  (Downie  &  Laird) 
Gem  (Syme  &  Middlemas) 
Indian  Chief  (Dickson  &  Co.) 
Duke  of  Sutherland  (Tunley) 
Royal  Albert  (Turner) 

YELLOW   SELF. 

Mrs.  Dodwell  (Fisher) 

Yellow  Climax  (Paton  &  Small) 

Golden  Eagle  (Dickson  &  Co.) 

WHITE    SELF. 

Alice  (Hampton) 

Mrs.  H.B.Douglass(Downie&  Laird) 

Countess  of  Strathmore  (Flamden) 

R.  R.  Oswald. 


CULTURE  OF  FUCHSIA  SERRATIFOLIA. 

When  well  managed  this  is  a  valuable  and  truly  useful  plant  for  the 
autumn  decoration  of  our  greenhouses  and  conservatories.  For  these 
last  three  years  it  has  been  a  favourite  with  me,  and  I  have  found  it 
to  realise  my  highest  expectations.  I  strike  my  cuttings  early  in 
March,  placing  them  in  a  gentle  hotbed  ;  in  three  weeks  they  get  well 
rooted,  I  then  repot  them  into  60-sized  pots,  in  a  compost  of  equal 
parts  of  well  decomposed  cowdung,  leaf-mould,  and  loam,  with  a 
sprinkling  of  road-sand.  I  again  place  them  in  a  little  bottom-heat, 
to  establish  them  in  their  pots,  taking  care  to  exclude  the  hot  rays  of 
the  sun  ;  after  which  I  remove  them  to  a  cold  frame,  shifting  them  as 
they  may  require,  but  especial  care  must  be  taken  not  to  let  them  get 
pot-bound.  This  is  a  point  in  the  cultivation  of  this  plant  which 
requires  particular  attention,  for  if  neglected,  the  leaves  either  curl  or 
turn  yellow  and  fall  off.  This  practice  I  follow  till  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember, when  I  give  them  their  final  shift,  leaving  out  this  time  the 
portion  of  cowdung,  which  up  to  this  time  is  employed  ;  this  I  find 
tends  to  throw  them  into  a  flowering  state,  and  to  stop  that  vigorous 


SEPTEMBER.  273 

growth  which  it  is  essential  to  do  at  this  stage.  The  most  important 
point,  however,  to  attend  to  in  cultivating  this  Fuchsia  is  to  keep  on  it 
clean  and  robust  foliage,  which  to  get  in  perfection  will  require  much 
care.  To  attain  this  I  have  used  weak  manure  water  two  or  three 
times  a  week,  taking  advantage  to  syringe  the  plants  with  the  same 
after  a  hot  day,  which  I  find  improves  both  the  health  and  growth. 
After  that  I  leave  them  fully  exposed  to  the  night  air  and  morning 
dews,  and  these,  I  have  learnt  from  experience,  they  enjoy ;  but  after 
you  have  gone  thus  far  a  few  hours  of  midday  sun  will  deprive  you  of 
that  luxuriance  of  foliage  you  have  so  long  been  trying  to  maintain. 
To  guard  against  this,  the  plants  must  be  shaded  at  least  six  hours  a 
day,  if  the  sun  is  hot  in  August ;  as  the  season  advances,  however,  the 
length  of  time  the  shading  must  be  on  must  be  reduced.  By  following 
this  practice  I  have  found  them  do  admirably,  and  amply  rewarded  me 
for  my  trouble.  I  have  now  plants  standing  in  24  size  pots,  with 
which,  for  health  and  vigour  of  foliage,  few  could  compete,  with 
beautiful  spikes  of  flowers,  which  will  be  visible  about  the  middle  of 
October,  when  I  shall  have  but  little  else  to  decorate  my  conservatory 
with,  and  will  prove  a  source  of  gratification  to  all  who  see  them, 

Holland. 


NATIONAL  CARNATION  AND  PICOTEE  SOCIETY. 

August  5. — The  Sixth  Annual  Exhibition  of  this  Society  was  held  in 
connection  with  the  Handsworth  Horticultural  Society,  at  the  Leverets, 
near  Birmingham.  The  exhibition  was  a  very  good  one  indeed.  The 
southern  growers  just  managed  to  keep  their  flowers  to  the  day,  and 
the  extreme  heat  which  has  been  experienced  for  some  time  brought 
the  northern  flowers  well  into  bloom.  Derby,  York,  and  Nottingham 
were  well  represented,  making  one  of  the  best  "  Nationals "  we 
remember  to  have  seen.     We  subjoin  the  awards  : — 

Class  A. — Nurserymen.  12  Carnations.  1st,  Mr.  Charles  Turnei*, 
Royal  Nursery,  Slough,  with  Victoria  Regina,  Prince  Albert,  King 
■  John,  Seedhng  S.  B.,  Ascendant,  Admiral  Curzon,  Seedling  S.  P.  (fine), 
Kirke  White,  Hope,  Poor  Tom,  Royal  Purple,  and  Jenny  Lind ; 
2nd,  Mr.  John  K«ynes,  Salisbury,  with  Flora's  Garland,  Prince  Albert, 
Splendour,  Mayor  of  Oldham,  Squire  Meynell,  Exit,  Lord  Rancliffe, 
Morgan  May,  Admiral  Curzon,  Splendid,  Sarah  Payne,  and  Mr. 
Ainsworth  ;  3rd,  Mr.  R.  R.  Oswald,  New  Vauxhall,  Birmingham,  with 
Sarah  Payne,  Flora's  Garland,  Premier,  Friar  Lawrence,  Prince  Albert, 
Falconbridge,  Uncle  Tom,  Admiral  Curzon,  Beauty  of  Woodhouse, 
Comet,  Lord  IMilton,  and  Lady  Curzon. 

Class  B.— 12  Picotees.  1st,  Mr.  Charles  Turner,  with  IMrs.  Lochner, 
Amy  Robsart,  Sultana,  Mrs.  Hoyle,  Bessie,  Green's  Queen,  Alfred,  Mrs. 
Strahan,  Mrs.  Dodwell,  INIiss  Puxley,  National,  and  Charles  Turner ; 
2nd,  Mr.  Keynes,  with  Mrs.  Kelke,  Theodore,  Mrs.  Barnard,  Mrs. 
Norman,  Countess,  Amy  Robsart,  Mrs.  Bayley,  Miss  Puxley,  Dr. 
Pitman,  Lady  H. Moore,  Venus,  and  Mrs.  Hoyle;  3rd,  Mr.  R.  R.  Oswald, 

NEW    SERIES,    VOL.    YI.,    NO.    LXIX.  T 


274  THE    FLORIST. 

with  Miss  Wake,  Mrs.  Drake,  Lavinia,  Bertha,  Lady  Grenville,  Mrs. 
Kelke,  Eugenie,  Green's  Queen,  Finis,  ]\Irs.  Barnard,  Venus,  and  Lady 
Frankhn. 

Class  C. — Amateurs.  12  Carnations  (not  less  than  nine  varieties). 
1st,  H.  Steward,  Esq.,  York,  with  Squire  JMeynell,  Uncle  Tom,  Fire- 
brand, Falconbridge,  Sarah  Payne,  Falconbridge,  Julia,  Africanus, 
Admiral  Curzon,  Cradley  Pet,  Poor  Tom,  and  Admiral  Curzon  ;  2nd, 
Mr.  E.  S.  Dodwell,  Derby,  with  Premier,  Lovely  Ann,  Exit,  Sarah 
Payne,  Lorenzo,  Admiral  Curzon,  Black  Diamond,  Premier,  Fanny, 
Sportsman,  Seedling  P.  F.,  and  Splendid ;  3rd,  Mr.  Samuel  Eyre,  of 
Nottingham,  with  Lord  Milton,  Premier,  Uncle  Tom,  Lord  Rancliffe, 
Uncle  Tom,  Kossuth,  Firebrand,  Premier,  Firebrand,  Admiral  Curzon, 
Unknown,  and  King  of  Scarlets ;  4th,  Mr.  Samuel  Brown,  Birmingham, 
with  Poor  Tom,  Admiral  Curzon,  Premier,  True  Briton,  Friar  Lawrence, 
Mr.  Ainsworth,  Uncle  Tom,  Premier,  Uncle  Tom,  Lord  Milton,  Admiral 
Curzon,  and  Ascendant  S.  F. 

Class  D. — 12  Picotees.  1st,  Mr.  E.  S.  Dodwell,  with  Eugenie,  Mrs. 
Turner,  Finis,  Calliope,  Helen,  Mrs.  Norman,  Alfred,  Amy  Piobsart, 
Lord  Nelson,  Rosetta,  Miss  Holbeck,  and  Mrs.  Drake ;  2nd,  Mr.  John 
Bayley,  Derby,  with  Duke  of  Devonshire,  Mrs.  Turner,  Amy  Robsart, 
Calliope,  Mrs.  Turner,  Seedling  (heavy  purple),  JMrs.  Norman,  Finis, 
Amy  Robsart,  Miss  Holbeck,  Finis,  and  Venus  ;  Equal  3rd,  Mr. 
Samuel  Eyre  and  Mr.  Henry  Steward  :  Mr.  Eyre's  stand  contained 
Robin  Hood,  Mrs.  Drake,  Mrs.  Eyre,  Lord  Nelson,  Green's  Queen, 
Mrs.  Barnard,  Duke  of  Devonshire,  Amy  Robsart,  Mrs.  Barnard,  Miss 
Holbeck,  Princess  Royal,  and  Dr.  Pitman;  Mr.  Steward  had  Lord 
Nelson,  Mrs.  Barnard,  Alfred,  Eugenie,  Mrs.  Headley,  Amy  Robsart, 
Mrs.  Headley,  Mrs.  Drake,  Florence  Nightingale,  Prince  of  Wales, 
Miss  Holbeck,  and  Countess  ;  4th,  Mr.  Samuel  Brown,  with  I\Irs. 
Barnard,  Amy  Robsart,  Mrs.  Drake,  Miss  Holbeck,  Miss  Wake,  Finis, 
Green's  Queen,  Amy  Robsart,  Mrs.  Norman,  Eugenie,  Venus,  and 
Finis. 

Class  E. — 6  Carnations.  Open  to  all.  1st,  I\Ir.  Charles  Turner, 
with  King  John,  Victoria  Regina,  Squire  Meynell,  Hope,  Cradley 
Pet,  and  a  Seedhng  S.  B. ;  2nd,  Mr.  E.  S.  Dodwell,  with  Lorenzo, 
Christopher  Sly,  \  oung  Milton,  Seedling  P.  F.,  Lovely  Ann,  and 
Admiral  Curzon ;  3rd,  Mr.  John  Keynes,  with  Lord  Rancliffe,  Flora's 
Garland,  Black  Diamond,  Firebrand,  Prince  Albert,  and  Squire 
Meynell. 

Class  F. — 6  Picotees.  1st,  Mr.  Charles  Turner,  with  Amy  Robsart, 
Mrs.  Lochner,  Mrs.  Dodwell,  Charles  Turner  (Holland),  Sultana,  and 
Mrs.  Hoyle ;  2nd,  Mr.  E.  S.  Dodwell,  with  Mrs.  May,  Mrs.  Headley, 
Mrs.  Turner,  Amy  Robsart,  Finis,  and  Mrs.  Norman  ;  3rd,  Mr. 
Henry  Steward,  with  Countess,  Finis,  Venus,  Mrs.  Drake,  Lord  Nelson, 
and  Miss  Holbeck. 

SINGLE    SPECIMENS   IN   CLASSES. — OPEN    TO   ALL. 

Scarlet  Bizarres : — 1st,  Mr.  Ainsworth,  Mr.  John  Keynes;  2nd, 
Admiral  Curzon,  Mr.  S.  Eyre;  3rd,  Ditto,  Mr.  Henry  Steward;  4th, 
Ditto,  Mr.  J.  S.  Hedderley  ;  5th,  Ditto,  Mr.  H.  Steward. 

Crimson   Bizarres : — 1st,   Hope,  Mr.  Charles  Turner  ;   2nd,   Lord 


SEPTEMBER.  275 

Milton,  Mr.  Henry  Steward  ;  3rd,  Black  Diamond,  Mr.  E.  S.  Dod- 
well ;  4th,  Hope,  Mr.  C.  Turner  ;  5th,  King  of  Carnations,  Mr.  John 
Keynes. 

Pink  Bizarres: — 1st,  Tenby  Rival,  Mr.  C.  Turner;  2nd,  Ditto, 
ditto  ;  3rd,  Rainbow,  Mr.  Wood ;  4th,  Premier  (Puxley),  ]\Ir.  c'. 
Turner  ;  5th,  Tenby  Rival,  ditto. 

Purple  Flakes  : — 1st,  Squire  Meynell,  Mr.  J,  Keynes;  2nd,  Premier, 
Mr.  E.  S.  Dodwell ;  3rd,  Ditto,  Mr.  H.  Steward ;  4th,  Julia,  Mr.  E. 
S.  Dodwell ;  5th,  Ditto,  Mr.  Henry  Steward. 

Scarlet  Flakes  : — ]  st,  Sportsman,  Mr.  J.  S.  Hedderley  ;  2nd,  Ditto, 
ditto  ;  3rd,  Ditto,  ditto ;  4th,  Ditto,  ditto  ;  5th,  Ditto,  ditto. 

Rose  Flakes: — 1st,  Uncle  Tom,  Mr.  Henry  Steward ;  2nd,  Lorenzo, 
I\rr.  E.  S.  Dodwell ;  3rd,  Flora's  Garland,  Mr.  John  Keynes ;  4th, 
Lorenzo,  Mr.  E.  S.  Dodwell ;  5th,  Constellation,  Mr.  John  Keynes. 

Picotees.  Red. — Heavy  Edge.  1st,  Mrs.  Hoyle,  Mr.  C.  Turner ; 
2nd,  Ditto,  ditto  ;  3rd,  Mrs.  Norman,  Mr.  J.  S.  Hedderley  ;  4th, 
Sultana,  Mr.  John  Keynes ;  5th,  Mrs.  Norman,  Mr.  James  Taylor. 

Red.— Light  Edge.  1st,  Charles  Turner  (Kirtland),  Mr.  C.  Turner  ; 
2nd,  Ditto,  ditto ;  3rd,  Miss  Holbeck,  Mr.  E.  S.  Dodwell ;  4th,  Charles 
Turner,  Mr.  C.  Turner ;  5th,  Ditto,  ditto. 

Purple.— Heavy  Edge.  1st,  Alfred,  INIr.  H.  Steward ;  2nd,  Ditto, 
ditto  ;  3rd,  Mrs.  JMay,  Mr.  E.  S.  Dodwell ;  4th,  Lord  Nelson,  Mr. 
Wood  ;  5th,  I\Irs.  Bayley,  Mr.  John  Keynes. 

Purple.— Light  Edge.     1st,  Finis,  Mr.  E.  S.  Dodwell;  2nd,  Ditto, 

ditto;  3rd,  Mrs.  Eyre,  Mr.  S.  Eyre;  4th,  Ditto,  ditto;  5th,  Ditto,  ditto. 

Rose. — Heavy   Edge.     1st,  Green's  Queen,   Mr.  C.  Turner  ;    2nd, 

Ditto,  ditto;  3rd,  Venus,  Mr.  J.  Taylor;  4th,  Alice,  Mr.  C.  Turner ; 

5th,  Venus,  Mi-.  John  Keynes. 

Rose.— Light  Edge.  1st,  Mrs.  Turner,  ]\Ir.  E.  S.  Dodwell  ;  2nd, 
Bertha,  Ditto ;  3rd,  Mrs.  Barnard,  I\Ir.  John  Keynes,  4th,  Ditto,  ditto; 
5th,  Ditto,  ditto. 

Premier  Carnation,  selected  from  the  entire  exhibition : — Admiral 
Curzon,  exhibited  by  Mr.  Henry  Steward. 

Premier  Picotee,  also  selected  from  the  entire  exhibition : — Mrs. 
Eyre,  exhibited  by  Mr.  Samuel  Eyre. 

Twenty-three  stands,  each  of  twelve  blooms ;  and  fourteen,  each  of 
six  blooms,  were  staged  for  competition,  with  about  400  single  specimens. 
Three  first- class  certificates  were  given  for  Seedlings: — To  Sports- 
man, exhibited  by  Mr.  Hedderley,  of  Nottingham,  a  scarlet  flake 
Carnation,  of  a  bright  colour  and  very  true  marking  :  it  is  a  sport  from 
Admiral  Curzon ; — to  Llrs.  Eyre,  exhibited  by  ]\Ir.  Eyre,  of  Notting- 
ham, a  light  purple-edge  Picotee  ;  it  has  a  true-veined  edge,  large  petal, 
and  is  a  full-sized  flower  ; — to  Charles  Turner  (Kirtland),  a  bright  rosy 
red-edge  Picotee,  light ;  the  white  of  this  flower  is  very  pure,  without 
the  least  spot  or  bar,  and  much  the  best  of  its  class.  It  was  exhibited 
by  Mr.  C.  Turner,  of  Slough.  Six  blooms  were  also  exhibited  of  Eaii 
Stamford,  a  promising  purple  flake  Carnation. 

Dodwell's  ]Mrs.  Turner,  a  light  rose-edged  Picotee,  was  shown  very 
fine  by  the  raiser,  and  is  a  first-  class  flower.  We  do  not  know  any 
variety  that  has  so  fine  a  petal. 

T  2 


276  THE    FLORIST. 

To  Mr.  George  Tye  are  due  the  thanks  of  the  Society  for  this  very 
successful  meeting  of  the  National  Carnation  and  Picotee  Society. 
The  exhibition  for  1857  will  be  held  at  Manchester. 


HIGH-CLERE, 
THE  SEAT  OF  THE  RIGHT  HON.  THE  EARL  OF  CARNARVON. 
This  princely  demesne  is  situated  near  the  Newbury  and  Andover 
road,  distant  about  six  miles  from  Newbur3^  The  mansion,  an 
elegant  castellated  building  by  Sir  Charles  Barry,  stands  on  an  eminence 
in  the  centre  of  an  extensive  and  beautiful  park,  of  about  2000  acres, 
the  whole  of  which  is  undulated  in  the  most  pleasing  manner  ;  in  fact, 
there  are  few  parks  in  the  kingdom  which  display  a  surface  more 
varied,  or  scenery  more  interesting.  The  pleasure-grounds  are  on  a 
most  extensive  scale,  and,  like  the  park,  present  a  great  diversity  of 
surface.  The  whole  is  laid  out  with  excellent  taste,  and  contains  a  rich 
collection  of  trees  and  shrubs.  Higliclere  has  long  been  celebrated  for 
its  magnificent  Rhododendrons.  Mr.  Carton,  so  well  known  as  one  of 
the  most  successful  hybridisers  of  his  day,  was  for  a  number  of  years 
gardener  at  this  place,  and  his  attention  was  particularly  directed  to 
the  raising  of  new  varieties  of  this  plant.  Of  his  success  the  numerous 
fine  hybrids  produced  from  R.  arboreum,  maximum,  caucasicum,  pon- 
ticum,  &c.,  give  abundant  evidence. 

Near  the  mansion  are  numerous  beds  principally  filled  with  a  choice 
selection  of  Rhododendrons  and  Azaleas.  The  greater  part  of  these 
have  been  taken  up  and  re-arranged  by  Mr.  Phipps,  his  lordship's 
gardener  at  the  present  time.  There  are  also  numerous  detached 
clumps,  belts,  and  single  specimens  throughout  the  whole  extent  of  the 
grounds.  We  noticed  one  plant,  of  the  arboreum  family,  15  feet  high,  and 
10  feet  through,  which  had  been  a  complete  mass  of  bloom.  The  use  of 
Laurels  is  to  a  great  extent  superseded  by  the  Rhododendron  ;  for  the 
various  purposes  for  which  Laurels  are  used  the  Rhododendron  answers 
well,  with  the  decided  recommendation  of  being  one  of  our  gayest 
flowering  shrubs,  Li  some  parts  of  the  grounds  the  walks  are  flanked 
by  shelving  banks  to  the  height  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet ;  these  are 
clothed  with  dense  masses  of  Rhododendrons,  the  effect  of  which  when 
in  bloom  is  grand  in  the  extreme. 

Besides  the  numerous  attractions  presented  by  the  park  and  pleasure 
grounds,  there  are  several  pieces  of  artificial  water.  "  Milford  Lake," 
about  22  acres  in  extent,  is  of  the  most  interesting  character,  its  banks 
are  indented  by  numerous  bays  and  inlets,  while  at  other  parts  they 
rise  boldly  to  a  considerable  height.  The  Rhododendron  is  used  here 
with  the  best  effect ;  the  promontories  are  in  part  covered  by  large 
masses  of  that  plant,  while  in  different  parts  large  masses  of  rockstone 
protrude.  These,  with  a  variety  of  appropriate  trees,  give  to  the  whole 
a  wild  and  picturesque  appearance,  which  is  much  more  pleasing  to 
the  taste  of  most  people  than  the  smooth  even  banks  of  many,  in  other 
respects,  beautiful  lakes. 


SEPTEMBER.  277 

In  a  low  situation  near  the  above  lake  we  noticed  remarkably  fine 
specimens  of  Abies  Douglasi  and  A.  Menziesi,  the  latter  of  which 
undoubtedly  enjoys  a  damp  situation.  The  specimen  in  question  is 
remarkably  vigorous,  without  the  slightest  tinge  of  brown, — so  common 
to  it  in  high  and  drier  places. 

In  a  small  garden  detached  from  the  pleasure  ground  is  a  range  of 
Vineries,  in  two  divisions,  each  about  38  feet  in  length.  The  Vines 
have  been  planted  by  Mr.  Phipps  ;  one  planted  in  the  summer  of  1854 
has  this  season  produced  a  heavy  crop  of  Grapes  of  excellent  quality. 
The  other  division  was  planted  last  summer — 1855 — and  in  this  the 
rods  ai-e  unusually  strong. 

Thinking  that  the  system  of  preparing  the  borders,  &c.,  as  practised 
by  Mr.  Phipps,  might  be  of  interest  to  some  of  our  readers,  we 
requested  a  few  particulars,  which  were  very  obligingly  supplied.  In 
the  making  of  Vine  borders  jAIr.  P.  considers  thorough  drainage  of 
the  greatest  importance.  To  insure  this,  broken  bricks  and  rough 
stones  are  placed  over  the  bottom  of  the  intended  border  to  the  depth 
of  two  feet,  and  over  this  some  turfs  to  prevent  the  smaller  particles 
from  choking  the  drainage.  On  this  is  placed  a  compost  of  the  following 
ingredients  : — three  loads  of  turfy  loam,  one  of  fresh  horse  droppings, 
one  of  lime  and  brick  rubble,  and  half  a  load  of  leaf-mould.  In  about 
a  week  from  the  time  the  border  is  made  it  will  be  found  that  the  mass 
will  have  become  moderately  warm.  The  Vines  are  then  planted  and 
kept  in  a  moist  and  rather  close  atmosphere  for  about  a  month,  by 
which  time  they  will  have  rooted  into  the  border  and  be  growing  freely  ; 
they  are  then  inured  to  more  air,  which  in  a  short  time  is  given  in 
great  abundance.  Mr.  P.  considers  June  the  best  month  for  the 
planting  of  young  Vines.  The  kitchen  garden  consists  of  about  four 
acres  of  land,  in  which  is  a  quantity  of  wall  and  other  fruit  trees,  all 
of  which  are  under  the  best  management.  There  is  also  a  French 
flower  garden,  designed  and  laid  out  by  Mr.  Phipps  ;  the  beds  are 
filled  with  a  choice  variety  of  Geraniums,  Verbenas,  &c.,  which  have  a 
gay  appearance. 

His  lordship  kindly  allows  the  whole  of  the  gardens  and  pleasure 
grounds  to  be  opened  to  the  public  twice  a-week — Wednesdays  and 
Saturdays. 


LOOKER'S  PATENT  IMPERISHABLE  GARDEN  LABELS. 
We  have  tried  some  of  these  labels,  which  are  very  neat,  durable 
looking  things,  and  much  better  adapted  for  placing  out  of  doors  than 
any  form  of  painted  label,  which  are  soon  acted  upon  by  the  atmosphere. 
These  have  the  letters  coloured  with  some  kind  of  vitrified  black,  which 
brings  out  the  letters  effectively.  They  are  cheap,  and  we  can 
recommend  them  to  our  readers  tor  labelling  hardy  plants,  as  the  best 
that  have  come  under  our  notice. 


278  THE    FLORIST. 


THE   AIREDALE    HORTICULTURAL   SOCIETY. 

We  do  not  often  notice  the  proceedings  of  the  various  horticultural 
exhibitions  so  frequent  in  the  midland  and  northern  districts  ;  but 
happening  to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  Bradford  on  the  19th  ultimo,  we 
paid  a  visit  to  Shipley,  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  what  progress  had 
been  made  in  that  district  in  the  culture  of  plants  and  flowers.  We 
found  a  long  and  spacious  tent  well  filled  with  plants,  cut  flowers,  fruits, 
and  vegetables,  some  few  of  the  plants  showing  evidence  of  good  culture, 
particularly  the  twelve  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  exhibited  by  Mr. 
Charles  Henderson,  gardener  to  R.  Milligan,  Esq.,  Acacia,  near  Brad- 
ford, and  which  gained  the  first  prize — a  silver  cup.  Among  these, 
Gesnera  Merki  and  Schubertia  graveolens  were  very  good,  as  also  was 
Tritonia  aurea,  a  plant  excellently  adapted  for  conservatory  decoration, 
as  it  blooms  so  freely  late  in  the  summer.  The  second  prize  was 
awarded  to  E.  Ward,  Esq.,  Bradford,  for  plants  by  no  means  equal 
to  those  we  saw  at  Bradford  last  year  from  the  same  grower.  A 
very  fine  Oncidium  flexuosum  obtained  the  first  prize  for  single 
specimens  of  Orchids.  Four  good  stove  and  greenhouse  plants  exhibited 
by  Mr.  Henry  Tuke,  gardener  to  R.  Nickolls,  Esq.,  Bramley,  near 
Leeds,  were  awarded  a  first  prize.  These  were  AUamanda  neriifolia, 
Aphelandra  cristata,  very  fine,  Cyrtoceras  retiexum,  and  Begonia  Pres- 
toniensis.  Achimenes  were  somewhat  extensively  shown,  but  Ambrose 
Verschaffelt,  Sir  Treherne  Thomas,  reticulata,  and  one  or  two  other 
very  fine  and  distinct  varieties,  do  not  seem  to  be  known  by  the 
exhibitors,  or  they  would  certainly  use  them.  Geraniums  were  also 
shown  extensively,  and  were  badly  grown,  or  rather  flowered.  As  a 
general  rule,  they  are  overpotted  and  not  grown  hardy  enough. 
Sufficient  air  is  not  given  to  them  in  a  growing  state,  and  the  wood 
becomes  soft  and  produces  only  a  few  blooms  and  those  of  very  inferior 
quality.  These  remarks  apply  not  only  to  the  growers  in  that  neigh- 
bourhood, but  generally,  and  we  regret  that  the  simple  instructions 
given  monthly  in  our  pages  are  not  followed,  or  at  least  read  more 
closely.  Nothing  pains  us  more  than  to  see  these  plants  so  terribly 
mismanaged.  Similar  remarks  apply  to  Verbenas,  as  these  are 
generally  grown  too  tenderly,  as  was  shown  by  several  of  the  collections 
exhibited.  Two  of  the  collections,  however,  showed  better  culture,  but 
there  was  still  room  for  improvement.  They  should  have  plenty  of  air 
and  light,  and  be  kept  clean  from  insects.  Fuchsias  were  shown  better, 
awd  six  plants  which  obtained  the  first  prize,  exhibited  by  Messrs. 
Leach  &  Son,  of  Bradford,  were  very  good,  and  included  a  fine  plant  of 
Venus  de  Medici,  but  the  blooms  were  not  in  good  character.  It  is 
evidently  a  free-growing  variety,  and  we  doubt  its  blooming  in  fine 
character  this  season,  thinking  it  will  bloom  finest  from  older  wood. 
Mr.  Parkinson,  of  Bradford,  also  had  some  good  plants.  Some  very 
good  Petunias  were  exhibited,  including  Hermione,  Dr.  Andry,  which 
is  one  of  the  best  and  brightest  coloured  striped  varieties.  Alba  magna. 
Major  Domo,  and  Sappho.  No  one  exhibited  the  new  double  white 
variety,  Imperial.     We  heard  doubts  expressed  as  to  its  usefulness. 


SEPTEMBER,  279 

All  those  who  are  at  all  sceptical  should  see  beds  of  It  in  full  bloom  at 
the  Royal  Gardens,  Froguiore,  where  it  may  be  seen  covered  with  clear 
white  tlowers.  It  is  an  excellent  pot  plant,  but  should  be  grown  hardy 
and  not  nursed  too  much.  As  usual  at  these  meetings,  a  large  number 
of  cut  flowers  was  shown,  many  of  which  had  not  received  the  care  in 
growing  due  to  them,  and  seemed  to  have  been  cut  merely  as  chance 
directed.  This  was  particularly  the  case  with  Vei-benas.  In  York- 
shire, for  some  time  past,  violent  thunderstorms  and  wet  gusty  weather 
have  prevailed.  Under  such  circumstances  bell  glasses  or  some  other 
substitute  (of  course  mounted  on  small  pots)  should  be  placed  over  the 
blooms  four  or  five  days  before  the  show.  Many  of  the  Dahlias  also 
showed  that  sufficient  care  had  not  been  taken  in  protecting  them. 
Some  of  the  Carnations  and  Picotees  were  of  tolerable  quality,  but 
many  very  fine  sorts  have  not  yet  found  their  way  generally  into  this 
district.  Exhibitors  at  these  provincial  shows  would  also  do  well  to 
invent  some  better  plan  of  carrying  their  cut  flowers  than  placing  them 
indiscriminately  in  a  basket  and  selecting  them  in  the  tent.  Cf  course 
this  remark  does  not  apply  to  all,  but  it  does  apply  to  many  ;  and  we 
hope  they  will  take  it  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  is  offered,  bearing  in 
mind  that  what  is  vt^orth  doiug  is  worth  doing  well.  The  first  prize  of 
two  guineas  was  most  deservedly  awarded  to  Mr.  George  Edwards,  of 
York,  for  24  Dahlia  blooms,  and  although  the  season  is  late  here,  these 
were  fine,  particularly  a  noble  bloom  of  Lord  Palmerston,  one  of  the 
finest  flowers  yet  sent  out ;  Salvator  Rosa,  Ablitt's  Incomparable, 
Cossack,  Mrs.  Wheeler,  Yellow  Beauty,  Yellow  Victory,  Lord  Bath, 
Fanny  Keynes,  Corsair,  Miss  Burdett  Coutts,  Ruby  Queen,  and 
LoUipop  ;  the  second  prize  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Schofield,  Leeds  ;  and 
the  third  prize  to  ]\Ir.  T.  Milner,  Bradford.  In  the  class  for  twelve 
Dahlias  Mr.  Edwards  was  again  victorious,  with  good  blooms,  including 
many  of  the  new  sorts  ;  the  second  prize  was  awarded  to  Mr.  Harrison, 
Darlington ;  and  the  third  to  Mr.  T.  Rlilner,  who  also  exhibited  a  very 
promising  seedling  Dahlia  named  Airedale  Beauty,  of  Bathurst  form, 
with  close  high  centre  and  good  outline,  and  of  a  rosy  purple  colour. 
Several  Cucumbers  were  shown,  among  them  a  fine  specimen  of  the 
Himalaya  fully  24  inches  long,  exhibited  by  Mr.  Croft,  gardener  to 
A.  Harris,  Esq.,  of  Bingley,  and  which  obtained  a  second  prize.  This 
is  a  handsome  black-spined  variety,  with  very  short  heel,  but  the 
specimen  was  rather  too  old.  We  should  like  to  see  the  names 
attached  to  plants  and  flowers  more  generally  at  these  shows.  A  great 
number  of  the  cut  flowers  and  plants  were  not  named.  This  should 
be  done,  as  it  enables  visitors  to  make  notes  of  any  of  the  varieties 
exhibited.  We  hope  to  see  this  done  another  season,  and  the  detestable 
practice  of  smoking  in  the  foicer  tents  put  a  stop  to.  It  should  be 
borne  in  mind  that  many  of  the  gentry  who  visit  these  shows  are  in 
the  habit  of  attending  the  metropoUtan  exhibitions,  and  to  them  the 
comparison  must  be  very  apparent.  It  is  also  a  practice  that  would  be 
more  honoured  in  the  breach  than  in  the  observance.  Surely,  while 
contemplating  the  beauty  of  plants  and  flowers  in  a  confined  space, 
pipes  and  cigars  may  be  abandoned. 


280  THE    FLORIST. 


NOTES  ON  THE  MONTH. 
Well,  August  has  passed  away  from  us,  and  a  downright  old- 
fashioned  summer  month  it  has  been  ;  for,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
partial  thundei  storms,  we  have  had  no  rain  since  the  middle  of  July, 
and  up  to  the  17th  the  weather  was  truly  tropical,  the  thermometer 
ranging  by  day  between  80°  and  90°  in  the  shade.  On  the  17th  and 
18th  the  temperature  was  perceptibly  lower,  with  rain  on  the  former 
day,  accompanied  with  an  east  wind  of  considerable  force.  The  extreme 
high  temperature  of  the  last  month  has  brought  to  maturity  the  grain 
crops  very  rapidly.  Wheat  good  everywhere.  Barley  and  Oats  the 
same,  except  on  very  sandy  or  brashy  soils,  where  they  have  ripened 
too  quickly,  and  Barley  especially  has  suffered  in  quality.  Agricultural 
green  crops  wanted  rain,  and  in  many  places  Swedes  are  late  or  thin, 
from  the  ravages  of  the  fly.  Potatoes  seem  good  everywhere,  excepting 
on  poor  sands,  where  the  hot  weather  in  June  appeared  to  set  them, 
and  in  many  instances  they  have  made  but  little  progress  since  ;  in 
these  cases  the  crops  will  be  very  small,  which  however  will  be  more 
than  compensated  for  by  the  fine  appearance  of  those  on  heavier  soils. 
In  this  neighbourhood,  generally  speaking,  the  disease  has  shown  itself 
only  partially,  and  the  bulk  of  the  crops  is  still  looking  green  and 
healthy ;  this  augurs  well,  and  we  may  still  hope  for  a  fair  crop  of  this 
useful  root.  The  prize  Potato  this  season  will  unquestionably  be  the 
Fluke,  which  withstands  the  effects  of  drought  better  than  any  other, 
and  the  crops  will  be  great. 

Garden  produce,  like  that  of  the  farm,  has  suffered  more  especially 
where  a  shallow  soil  or  bad  management  had  not  provided  a  good 
depth  of  open  soil  for  the  plants  to  root  in.  The  past  month  will  teach 
many  a  gardener  a  useful  lesson  of  the  advantages  of  well  trenched 
ground  for  summer  crops.  Peas,  Beans,  Cauliflowers,  Lettuce,  have 
hardly  been  kept  moving,  even  with  the  assistance  of  the  water-pot ; 
and  where  they  had  not  good,  free,  open  soil  they  have  suffered  much, 
and  in  many  instances  failed  altogether.  A  word  on  watering.  Soak 
what  you  water  well,  not  merely  pouring  a  little  water  round  the  stem 
of  the  plant,  but  soak  the  surrounding  earth  ;  this  may  be  only  once 
or  twice  a  week,  but  it  will  do  more  effectual  good  than  daily  sprink- 
lings, where  only  the  surface  is  wetted,  or  just  round  the  plant,  which 
the  dry  atmosphere  and  dry  soil  adjoining  quickly  absorb,  and  leave 
your  plants  very  little  if  any  the  better.  We  say  again,  water 
thoroughly  plants  requiring  it,  and  mulch  if  practicable,  but  to  give 
water  to  plants  in  driblets,  such  weather  as  we  have  had,  is  useless. 
The  season  for  transplanting  evergreens  is  now  upon  us  ;  the  wood  this 
season  will  ripen  early,  and  therefore  planting  may  commence  as  soon 
as  a  favourable  state  of  the  weather  occurs.  A  good  plan  with  large 
trees  is  to  open  a  trench  round  them  at  a  distance  according  to  their 
size,  leaving  the  ball,  but  carefully  taking  up  and  preserving  the  roots 
in  throwing  out  the  trench,  and  cutting  clean  the  ends  of  those  broken 
by  the  operation.  A  little  half  decayed  litter  or  leaves  may  then  be 
thrown  over  the  roots,  to  preserve  them  from  the  air ;    this  will  stop 


SEPTEMBER.  281 

the  tree  from  malcing  further  growth,  and  in  two  or  three  weeks  they 
will  be  in  capital  condition  lor  transplanting.  When  the  tree  is 
removed  the  roots  taken  up  previously  will  be  found  calloused,  in  some 
instances  making  fresh  roots,  and  just  in  a  condition  to  take  hold  of 
the  new  soil  when  planted.  Another  note  we  have  made,  and  must 
press  its  adoption  to  all  who  have  fruit  trees,  whether  wall,  espalier, 
orchard,  or  Gooseberry  bush,  the  principle  is  the  same,  and  that  is, 
"  summer  pruiiing."  I  have  not  time  to  write  a  bit  of  physiology 
to  show  "  the  reason  why,"  but  must  insist  that  it  exists,  and  can  be 
forthcoming  any  day;  take  my  advice,  therefore,  and  proceed  at  once 
to  remove  all  and  every  bit  of  wood  made  this  season,  excepting  what 
you  can  easily  foresee  will  be  wanted  for  bearing,  or  filling  up  the  trees 
where  too  thin.  It  is  a  positive  waste  of  power  to  allow  these  to  remain 
any  longer,  and  I  should  have  noticed  this  last  month,  had  not  my  friend 
the  editor  told  me  he  was  full  of  matter,  and  kept  me  back.  However,  go 
over  every  tree  and  cut  out  to  within  two  or  three  eyes  of  their  base 
this  summer  wood  on  Apples,  Pears,  Plums,  some  Cherries  and  Goose- 
berries and  Currants  ;  it  will  strengthen  the  embryo  fruit  buds  for 
next  year,  and  help  the  formation  of  those  for  the  year  after  :  and  by 
leaving  the  terminal  or  leading  shoots  on  Apples  and  Pears  untouched, 
you  will  frequently  find  fruit  buds  form  on  them  also,  when  the  useless 
wood  has  been  removed  in  August  or  September. 

Flower-gardens  are  everywhere  a  perfect  blaze  of  beauty.  This 
weather  has  brought  out  in  all  their  glory  Geraniums,  Verbenas, 
and  Petunias ;  Calceolarias  do  not  like  it  quite  so  well. 

The  Horticultural  Society  appears  to  "  drag  its  feeble  strength 
along."  Is  its  present  position  a  transition  state  to  a  better  state  and 
vpiser  management,  or  to  Mr.  Stevens'  hammer?  Horticulture  is 
everywhere  flourishing,  except  at  its  head  quarters  at  Chiswick ;  the 
great  body,  however,  is  sound  and  healthy,  and  will,  like  other  things, 
right  itself  in  time.  G.  F.    . 


METROPOLITAN  HOLLYHOCK  AND  DAHLIA 
EXHIBITION. 
An  exhibition  of  the  above  popular  flowers  was  held  at  Cremorne 
Gardens,  Chelsea,  on  the  19th  and  20th  ult.,  and  was  most  successful 
and  satisfactory.  Great  care  had  been  exercised  in  framing  the  schedule, 
which  those  whom  it  most  concerned  freely  and  gratifyingly  acknow- 
ledged ;  and  evident  satisfaction  was  manifested  by  those  who,  in  spite 
of  the  unmitigated  rain,  found  their  way  to  the  gardens,  which  are 
admirably  adapted  to  horticultural  fetes. 

Dahlias  might  have  been  finer  and  more  numerous  ;  but  such  cannot 
be  said  of  the  Hollyhocks ;  these  were,  considering  the  intense  heat  of 
the  weather,  and  its  duration,  far  beyond  what  was  expected.  One 
hundred  and  sixty  spikes,  for  the  most  part  fully  three  feet  in  height, 
closely  yet  symmetrically  set  with  bloom,  the  flowers  giving  an  average 
diameter  of  five  inches,  and  of  those  peculiarly  bright  shades  of  colour 


282  THE    FLORIST. 

for  which  the  Hollyhock  is  so  notable,  were  staged,  the  contributors 
being  Messrs.  Bircham  &  Ward,  Mr.  Chater,  Messrs.  Paul,  the  Rev. 
C.  Fellowes,  Mr.  Grant,  H.  Bowler.  Esq.,  C.  J.  Perry,  Esq.,  and  Mr. 
C.  Turner.  The  collections  of  cut  blooms  were  no  less  abundant,  and 
of  a  quality  quite  unique.  The  Dahlias,  as  a  whole,  were  not  good, 
but  as  the  be^it  growers  of  the  country  contributed,  and  competed  with 
their  best,  this  must  be  attributed  solely  to  circumstances  of  weather 
and  season.  The  eminent  Norwich  growers,  Mr.  C.  Grant,  G.  Holmes, 
Esq.,  the  Rev.  C.  Fellowes,  together  with  IMessrs.  Turner,  Keynes, 
Legge,  Walker,  Kimberley,  J.  Cook,  Esq.,  C.  J.  Perry,  Esq.,  IMessrs. 
Wyness,  Pope,  &c.,  were  foremost  amongst  the  cultivators,  as  the 
annexed  awards  will  demonstrate.  Nor  was  the  meeting  without 
interest  in  the  way  of  seedling  novelties.  Roses  were  well  shown  by 
the  Messrs.  Paul,  whose  collection  comprised  four  first-rate  boxes, 
containing  fifty  bunches.  Messrs.  E.  G.  Henderson,  of  the  Wellington 
Nursery,  St.  John's  Wood,  considerately  contributed  a  van  load  of 
Coniferous  plants,  which,  tastefully  grouped,  formed  an  admirable 
centre  for  the  display  of  the  Hollyhock  spikes  staged  around  them. 
The  Messrs.  F.  and  A.  Smith,  of  Dulwich,  also  made  a  good  display 
with  thirty  specimen  Balsams. 

The  censors  for  Hollyhocks — Mr.  Downie,  Edinburgh  ;  Mr.  Parsons, 
Welwyn  ;  and  Mr.  Turner,  Slough;  for  Dahlias,  Mr.  Spary,  Brighton  ; 
Mr.  Holmes,  Hackney  ;  and  Mr.  J.  Robinson,  Pimlico,  furnish  the 
following  awards : — 

Hollyhocks. — 11  Spikes.  1st  prize,  Messrs.  Bircham  and  Ward, 
Solfaterre,  Souvenir,  Pourpre  de  Tyre,  Lemonade,  Purple  Perfection, 
Brennus,  Seedling,  Fireball  Superb,  Standard,  Vesta,  and  Hon.  Mrs. 
Ashley  ;  2nd,  Mr.  W.  Chater,  with  Lady  JMiddleton,  Walden  Rlaster- 
piece,  Saturn,  Resplendens,  Canary,  Autocrat,  Beauty  of  Walden  (a 
first-class  certificate,  with  the  prize  for  the  best  pink  or  rose  spike  were 
awarded  to  this  variety).  Empress  (best  buff  or  yellow),  Geant  des 
Batailles,  Fanny,  and  ]\Iont  Blanc  ;  3rd,  Messrs.  Paul,  with  Primrose 
Perfection,  Memnon,  Pourpre  de  Tyre,  Narcissus,  Mrs.  Oakes,  Heden- 
ham  Rival,  Beauty  of  Cheshunt,  Solfaterre,  White  Globe  (best  white 
spike),  Glory,  and  Hon.  Mrs.  Ashley. 

9  Spikes.  1st  prize,  the  Rev.  C.  Fellowes,  with  Solfaterre  Improved 
(best  yellow  spike,  as  also  the  best  spike  in  the  exhibition).  Lilac  Model 
(best  spike  mottled  light).  Fireball  Superb,  Purpurea  elegans  (best 
purple  or  plum  spike),  Hon.  INIrs.  Ashley,  Mrs.  Oakes,  Unique, 
Brennus,  and  Lemonade  Improved  ;  2nd,  Mr.  C.  Grant,  with  King  of 
Yellows,  Eva,  Pourpre  de  Tyre,  Beauty  of  Cheshunt,  Souvenir,  Solfa- 
terre, Yellow  Model,  Seedling,  and  Hon.  Mrs.  Ashley ;  3rd,  H.  Bowler, 
Esq.,  with  Atropurpurea,  Hon.  Mrs.  Ashley,  Unique,  Joseph  Clarke 
(to  this  was  awarded  a  first-class  certificate),  Mrs.  H.  Bowler,  Lilac 
Model,  Queen,  Solfaterre,  and  a  Seedling.     4th,  Mr.  C.  J.  Perry. 

24  Blooms.  1st  prize,  Mr.  C.  Grant;  2nd,  the  Rev.  C.  Fellowes, 
3rd,  H.  Bowler,  Esq.  ;  4th,  Mr.  C.  J.  Perry.  The  best  varieties  in 
these  stands  were  for  the  most  part  those  shown  in  spikes. 

24  Blooms  (Dealers).  1st  prize,  Mr.  W.  Chater;  2nd,  Messrs. 
Paul.     The   best  varieties  of  these  two  collections  were  Exquisite,  Nil 


SEPTEMBEB.  283 

Desperandum,  Sulphur  Queen,  Ceres,  Atrosanguinea,  Rosy  Morn, 
Lilacina,  Grandis,  Masterpiece,  Queen  of  Bufts,  Ruby  Queen,  Canary, 
Purple  King,  Leonora,  Lady  Middleton,  Lilac  Queen,  Beauty  of 
Walden,  Autocrat,  Sceptre  d"Or,  Ignea.  These  are  all  I\Ir.  Chater's 
varieties,  and  include  many  of  his  finest  seedlings,  yet  to  be  sent  out. 
In  ]\Iessrs.  Paul's  stand  we  observed  Walden  Rival,  Lord  Jocelyne ; 
Pourpre  de  Tyre,  Mrs.  Oakes,  ]\Iemnon,  Purple  Perfection,  Mr.  Adams, 
White  Globe,  Beauty  of  Cheshunt,  Eclipse,  Hon.  Mrs.  Ashley,  Blushing 
Bride,  Solfaterre,  Charles  Baron  Improved,  Criterion,  Hope,  Rosy 
Morn,  and  Omar  Pacha. 

Dahlias. — 24  Blooms.  1st  prize,  Mr.  C.  Turnerj  with  *Sir  John 
Franklin,  *Col.  Windham,  Malvina,  Captain  Ingram,  Incomparable, 
Sir  F.  Bathurst,  ^Bessie,  '^'Lord  Palmerston,  *Grand  Sultan,  Amazon, 
Rachel  Rawlings,  Harbinger,  Sir  C.  Napier,  *Lord  Bath,  Eclipse, 
Espartero,  Sir  R.  Whittington,  and  Duchess  of  Cambridge  ;  2nd,  Mr. 
H.  Legge,  with  *Admiral,  Sir  C.  Napier,  Crimson  King,  Amazon, 
*Mr.  Seldon,  Duchess  of  Kent,  Glenlyon,  Beauty  of  the  Grove,  *Mrs. 
Legge,  Robert  Bruce,  Rachel  Rawlings,  *Duke  of  Wellington,  Magnet, 
Le  Phare,  *  Louisa  Glenny,  Port  Wine,  Roundhead,  and  JuUien  ;■  3rd, 
Mr.  Keynes,  with  *Lord  Palmerston,  *Lollipop,  *Sir  F.  Bathurst, 
*Lady  Folkstone,  Cceur  de  Leon,  JMalvina,  *Sir  J.  Franklin,  *Rachel 
Rawlings,  Dr.  Gully,  Bessie,  Reginald,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
Admiral  Dundas,  Lord  Bath,  Sir  C.  Napier,  Sebastopol,  and  Annie  ; 
4th,  G.  Holmes,  Esq. ;  5th,  the  Rev.  C.  Fellowes ;  6th,  Mr.  Walker. 

Private  Growers. — 24  Blooms.  1st  prize,  Mr.  C.  Grant,  with  *Miss 
Caroline,  '^Pre-eminent,  *Lord  Palmerston,  Fanny  Keynes,  Malvina, 
Robert  Bruce,  *Cossack,  Amazon,  Lady  Mary  Labouchere,  Lilac  King, 
Lord  Bath,  Yellow  Beaut}',  Sir  C.  Napier,  Lollipop,  The  Nigger,  Sir 
J.  Franklin,  Bessie,  Miss  Burdett  Coutts,  and  Duchess  of  Wellington. 

12  Dahlias.  1st  prize,  J.  Cook,  Esq.,  with  Salvator  Rosa,  Lollipop, 
Rachel  Rawlings,  Constancy,  Beauty  of  the  Grove,  Beauty  of  Slough, 
Duchess  of  Kent,  Miss  Caroline,  Empress,  Sir  F.  Bathurst,  Colonel 
Windham,  and  Essex  Triumph ;  2nd,  G.  Holmes,  Esq.,  with  Lord 
Palmerston,  Caroline,  Sir  C.  Napier,  Sir  J.  Franklin,  Cherub,  Diadem, 
Yellow  Beauty,  Sir  F.  Bathurst,  Miss  Burdett  Coutts,  Bijou,  The 
Nigger,  and  Lollipop ;  3rd,  the  Rev.  C.  Fellowes,  with  Fanny  Keynes, 
Miss  Caroline,  Mrs.  Wheeler,  Lilac  King,  Rachel  Rawlings,  Lord 
Bath,  Marion,  Amazon,  Miss  Burdett  Coutts,  The  Nigger,  Lollipop, 
and  Duchess  of  Wellington ;  4th,  C.  J.  Perry,  Esq. 

Fancy  Dahlias. — 24  Blooms.  1st  prize,  Mr.  Keynes,  with  ^Charles 
Perry,  ^Conqueror,  *  Polyphemus,  *  Carnation,  Lady  Grenville,  *Jonas, 
*Empereur  de  Maroc,  Mrs.  Hansard,  Miss  Frampton,  *Duchess  of 
Kent,  Mrs.  Spary,  Pigeon,  *Model,  and  some  unnamed  seedlings ; 
2nd,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  with  ^Eugenie,  ^Butterfly,  *Marvel,  *Pigeon, 
La  Vogue,  Inimitable,  ^Enchantress,  *Duchesse  de  Brabant,  *Comet, 
Empereur  de  Maroc,  Mrs.  Hansard,  Admiration,  Miquette,  Kossuth, 
Laura  Lavington,  Phaeton,  and  Gloire  de  Kain  ;  3rd,  ]Mr.  H.  Legge, 
with  Butterfly,  *Triomphe  de  Roubaix,  *Vasco  de  Gama,  Baron  d'Arme, 
Malvina,  Attraction,  Mrs.  Hansard,  Annie  Miquet,  Duchess  of  Kent, 
Princess    Charlotte,    Snagretta,    Laura    Lavington,    Gloire   de    Kain, 


284  THE    FLORIST. 

Phaeton,  Pigeon,  Juliana,  Lady  Grenville,  Liliput  von  Branduth,  and 
some  seedlings. 

12  Fancies.  1st  prize,  the  Rev.  C.  Fellowes,  with  *Enchantress, 
Topsy,  Triomphe  do  Roubaix,  Inimitable,  Eugenie,  Miss  Ward,  Lady 
Grenville,  Comet,  *Pigeon,  and  Kossuth ;  2nd,  C.  J.  Perry,  Esq.,  with 
*Triomphe  de  Roubaix,  Pigeon,  Marvel,  *Gloire  de  Kain,  Jonas, 
^Butterfly,  Reine  des  Beiges,  Uncle  Tom,  and  Comet ;  3rd,  Mr.  C. 
Grant,  with  Enchantress,  *Triomphe  de  Roubaix,  *Empereur  de  Maroc, 
Duchess  of  Kent,  Reine  des  Fleurs,  *Wonderful,  Gloire  de  Kain, 
Cockatoo,  and  Comet. 

Note. — Those  Dahlias  to  which  a  (*)  is  affixed,  had  duplicate  speci- 
mens shown  in  the  same  collection. 

First-class  certificates  were  awarded  to  Fancy  Dahlia  Polyphemus 
(Keynes),  flaked  rose  and  purple  ;  to  Fancy  Dahlia  Model  (Keynes), 
also  flaked  rose  and  purple,  but  of  distinct  shades  ;  and  to  Dahlia  Mrs. 
Legge  (Legge),  orange  ground,  with  red  or  cherry  tips.  Lady  Popham 
(Turner),  white,  with  chaste  tip  of  purple,  is  of  first-rate  merit ;  a 
single  flower  only  was  staged.  Fenella  (Holmes),  is  a  small  flower  in 
the  way  of  Amazon.  Unique  (Turner),  orange  and  red.  Of  these  we 
shall  report  more  fully  as  the  season  advances. 


PEAS  AND  CAULIFLOWERS. 
Your  notice  of  these  productions  last  month  is  useful,  by  way  of  in- 
forming us  of  the  comparative  merits  of  the  vegetables  reviewed.  If 
you  will  allow  me  to  recommend,  as  a  second  early  variety,  Prizetaker, 
a  new  variety  belonging  to  the  Marrow  tribe,  your  readers  will  not  be 
disappointed  in  growing  it.  It  is  suitable  for  either  garden  or  field 
culture  ;  grows  three  feet  high,  is  a  prolific  bearer,  and  the  produce 
resembles  the  Green  Marrow  in  colour  and  flavour.  I  have  tried  it 
as  a  field  crop,  as  well  as  in  the  garden,  and  can  recommend  it.  As  a 
later  Pea,  I  have  found  none  to  possess  so  many  good  points  as  Hairs' 
Dwarf  Mammoth ;  this  I  consider  fully  equal  to  the  loest  tall  Peas  as 
regards  flavour,  it  continues  in  bearing  a  very  long  time,  and  even  when 
old  the  Peas  boil  green.  From  its  not  growing  more  than  four  feet 
high  it  is  easily  supported,  and  I  venture  to  say  no  Pea  will  stand  hot 
weather  so  well ;  it  rarely  mildews,  and  is,  for  a  summer  crop,  the  best 
Pea  out. 

Your  readers  should  try  the  Standhouder  Cauliflower,  much  superior 
to  the  Walcheren,  or  any  other  Cauliflower,  for  a  summer  crop.  It  is 
more  especially  valuable  for  autumn  use,  and  where  known  will  super- 
sede all  other  kinds  ;  sown  in  May  and  June,  and  planted  out  at  two 
or  three  times,  it  will  afford  an  unfailing  supply  of  snowy  white  heads 
up  to  Christmas.     I  have  seen  nothing  so  good. 


SEPTEMBER.  285 


ON  HYBRIDISING  FRUITS. 
We  beg  to  refer  our  readers  to  a  paper  inserted  elsewhere  in  our 
present  number,  from  a  correspondent  who  signs  himself  "  A  Country 
Rector."  Our  correspondent  has  broached  an  important  subject, 
which  certainly  has  been  neglected,  but  not  exactly  to  the  extent  he 
states.  It  is  quite  true  that  many  of  the  most  valuable  fruits  of  the 
present  day,  excepting  Pears  and  Strawberries,  were  cultivated  more 
than  a  century  ago,  but  still  there  have  been  some  valuable  varieties 
raised  since  that  time.  Foremost  amongst  those  who  devoted  their 
time  and  practical  knowledge  to  this  subject,  was  the  late  President  of 
the  Horticultural  Society — ]\Ir.  T.  A.  Knight,  of  Downton,  who,  as 
well  as  Mr.  WilUiams,  of  Pitmaston,  raised  many  valuable  productions. 
To  the  former  we  are  indebted  for  the  Acton  Scot,  Spring  Grove,  and 
Mountaineer  Peaches,  and  Downton  Nectarine  (a  valuable  kind)  ;  for 
many  good  varieties  of  Cherries — as  the  Elton,  Black  Eagle,  and 
others  ;  and  for  a  great  number  of  Pears  and  Apples — of  the  former. 
Monarch,  Broompark,  Eyewood,  and  Althorp  Crassane  are  well-known 
and  appreciated  kinds,  as  are  many  of  his  seedling  Apples.  Mr. 
Williams  raised  the  Pitmaston  Orange  Nectarine,  some  Plums,  Grapes, 
and  Gooseberries,  all  of  which  possess  merit.  The  character  of  the 
fruit  raised  by  Mr.  Knight  attests  the  soundness  of  the  principles  he 
followed  in  hybridising,  viz.,  to  obtain  high-flavoured  fruit,  on  plants 
endued  with  a  hardy  constitution,  so  as  to  withstand  the  vicissitudes  of 
our  uncertain  climate,  a  point  which  should  always  be  kept  in  view  by 
hybridisers. 

Notwithstanding  the  success  of  the  above  gentlemen,  and  of  the 
originators  of  new  Strawberries,  which  within  these  few  years  have 
been  very  much  improved,  our  correspondent's  remarks  are  very 
pertinent  to  the  question,  for  assuredly  we  have  not  made  that  progress 
in  originating  new  fruits  as  our  neighbours  on  the  Continent,  or  even 
in  America.  The  Horticultural  Society  ought  to  have  been  at  the 
head  of  this  movement,  but  they  have  themselves  done  nothing  worth 
recording  in  this  way,  and  have  given  but  little  encouragement  to 
those  who  have  endeavoured  to  try  the  experiment.  We  confess  we 
are  somewhat  surprised  that  no  private  individuals  have  taken  the 
matter  in  hand  as  a  commercial  speculation,  for  we  are  assured  a  wide 
field  is  before  them  ;  and,  we  venture  to  say,  not  an  unprofitable  one 
either.  This  is  still  more  surprising,  seeing  the  rapid  progress  made 
by  hybridisers  of  florists'  flowers,  through  whose  exertions  those 
beautiful  varieties  of  Pelargoniums,  Cinerarias,  Heaths,  &c.,  which 
adorn  our  exhibition  tables,  have  been  produced,  certainly  not  a  loss  to 
their  respective  raisers  ;  and  we  advise  those  willing  to  enter  into  the 
prosecution  of  raising  new  fruits,  that  a  good  market  may  at  once  be 
obtained  for  anything  in  the  Iruit  way  they  may  succeed  in  obtaining 
above  the  merit  of  ordinary  kinds,  as  we  may  gather  from  the  avidity 
with  which  inferior  kinds,  which  in  many  instances  are  palmed  upon 
the  public,  are  purchased. 

The  principal  objects  to  aim  at  in  raising  new  varieties  of  fruit  from 


286  THE    FLORIST. 

seed,  is,  first,  to  secure  as  much  vigour  and  hardiness  in  the  progeny  as 
possible ;  for  this  purpose,  one  of  the  parents,  at  least,  should  possess 
these  properties.  New  fruits  will  be  valuable  just  in  proportion  to 
their  power  of  withstanding  the  unfavourable  effects  of  our  climate. 
Next,  that  it  should  be  an  object  to  obtain  seedlings  which  ripen 
earlier  or  later  than  varieties  now  cultivated.  An  Apple,  Peach,  or 
Apricot,  which  could  be  produced  to  ripen  a  week  or  ten  days  before 
existing  kinds,  would  be  valuable ;  and  so  with  some  kinds  of  fruit 
which  should  ripen  later.  Thus  it  is  very  possible  to  obtain  Plums  as 
late  as  the  common  Damson  and  Quetch,  with  a  flavour  approximating 
to  the  Green-gage,  and  hardy  enough  for  orchard  planting.  Again, 
melting  Peaches,  of  good  flavour,  have  not  hitherto  been  met  with  later 
than  September.  We  see  no  reason  why  Peaches  ripening  in  October 
and  November  should  not  be  obtained  of  a  good  flavour  ;  indeed,  we 
know  such  will  be  the  case,  as  we  have  one  already  in  a  recent  intro- 
duction— the  Salway  Peach — which  melts  perfectly,  and  is  exceedingly 
good,  though  ripening  in  November.  We  have  said  nothing  of  the 
Grapes,  from  which  great  things  may  be  expected,  but  hope  our 
remarks  will  put  some  of  our  clever  men  on  the  alert,  and  we 
are  confident  we  shall  soon  have  an  improved  class  of  fruits. 

[Ed,  "  Florist."] 


CALENDAR  FOR  THE  MONTH. 

Auriculas. — If  not  re-potted,  let  it  be  seen  to  at  once,  and  but  little 
attention  will  be  required  for  some  time  to  come.  Give  plenty  of  air, 
a  moderate  supply  of  water,  look  carefully  for  dead  foliage  and  green 
fly.  Prepare  a  cool  well-drained  border,  place  the  plants  in  a  frame 
on  this,  and,  except  in  wet  weather,  take  off  the  lights,  that  they  may 
receive  plenty  of  air. 

Azaleas. — Plants  that  have  their  bloom  buds  prominent  may  be 
kept  out  of  doors  until  towards  the  end  of  the  month,  if  the  weather  be 
mild  and  favourable.  Before  being  taken  under  glass  they  should  all 
be  carefully  looked  over  for  thrips.  Give  the  young  plants  more  air, 
and  let  them  have  all  the  light  possible  after  this,  so  that  the  late 
growths  may  ripen. 

Camellias. — In  fine  dry  weather  these  may  have  a  syringing  now 
and  then.  After  heavy  rains,  examine  the  drainage  of  any  that  show 
the  least  sign  of  its  being  imperfect. 

Carnations  and  Picolees. — Be  attentive  to  watering,  cut  aU  dead 
foliage  cleanly  away  from  the  layers  ;  these  are  the  principal  attentions 
required  for  some  time  to  come.  Keep  tolerably  dry  and  well  turned 
the  soil  required  for  wintering  the  plants  in  small  pots. 

Cinerarias. — Look  well  for  mildew,  attack  it  on  its  first  appearance. 
Use  sulphur  ;  when  properly  applied  it  is  a  certain  remedy. 

Cold  Frames. — These  should  be  cleaned,  repaired,  and  made  ready 
for  all  manner  of  things  :  an  empty  frame  oftentimes  comes  in  very 
useful  when  King  Frost  comes  on  us  rather  suddenly.  Put  a  little 
fermenting   material  into   one,  just  sufficient  to  cause  a  gentle  heat. 


SEPTEMBER.  287 

cover  this  with  about  three  inches  of  light  sandy  soil.  Fill  this  with 
cuttings  of  the  different  bedding  plants.  Shade,  &c.  In  two,  or,  at 
most,  three  weeks,  the  greater  portion  will  be  fit  to  pot  oft",  and  the 
sooner  they  are  potted  the  better,  as  they  will  get  established  before  the 
short  days  set  in,  and  stand  the  winter  better. 

Conservatory  and  IS/ioichouse. — Give  abundance  of  air,  night  and 
day,  as  long  as  the  state  of  the  weather  permits.  Shading  should  now 
be  dispensed  with,  as  the  permanent  occupants  require  all  the  light 
they  can  have  after  this  to  mature  their  wood.  If  any  painting  or 
glazing  is  wanted  to  be  done,  the  present  is  a  very  good  time  for  per- 
forming these  operations.  Every  part  of  these  structures  should  receive 
a  thorough  cleaning  before  the  plants  are  got  in.  If  the  weather  con- 
tinue fair  many  things  may  continue  out  until  the  end  of  the  month. 

Cucumbers. — Those  intended  for  winter  forcing  should  be  planted 
out  immediately,  if  not  done  last  month.  Give  them  plenty  of  air, 
and  a  temperature  of  about  60°  at  night ;  give  them  every  chance  to 
make  strong,  vigorous  growth  for  the  next  six  or  eight  weeks,  you  will 
then  have  little  difficulty  in  getting  plenty  of  fruit  during  the  winter 
months.  Keep  a  moist  growing  atmosphere  to  plants  in  bearing,  and 
use  every  means  to  keep  them  clear  of  green-fly  and  thrips. 

Dahlias. — Carefully  protect  such  blooms  as  may  be  required  for 
exhibition ;  thinning  the  shoots  and  disbudding  will  have  been  com- 
pleted by  this  time.  Those  that  are  grown  for  display  in  the  garden 
only  should  have  the  laterals  cut  away,  or  there  will  be  more  foliage 
than  bloom.  Seedlings  will  require  constant  attention,  particularly  if 
they  have  not  proper  distance  afforded  them  in  growing,  or  some  of  the 
finest  flowers  may  be  overlooked. 

Flower  Garden. — The  strictest  attention  in  trimming  all  rambling 
growth,  in  removing  all  dead  flowers,  leaves,  &c.,  will  now  every  day 
become  more  and  more  necessary,  to  keep  up  the  beauty  and  effect  as 
long  as  possible.  A  few  degrees  of  frost,  a  strong  wind,  or  a  heavy 
shower  of  rain,  will  destroy  the  beauty  of  any  garden,  if  great  care  is 
not  immediately  paid  to  put  everything  into  as  neat  a  trim  as  possible. 

Forcing  Hardy  Shrubs. — Scarlet  Thorns,  Lilacs,  Roses,  Azaleas, 
Rhododendrons,  Kalmias,  &c.,  should  be  potted  early,  so  as  to  get  them 
well  established,  to  ensure  their  flowering  properly. 

Fruit  (hardy). — Look  over  the  Peach  and  Nectarine  trees,  to  see  if 
any  of  the  shoots  want  stopping  or  nailing  in.  Protect  fruit  of  every 
kind  from  wasps  and  birds.  A  little  short  Grass  from  the  lawns,  put 
about  three  or  four  inches  thick  at  the  foot  of  the  walls,  will  prevent 
Peaches  and  Nectarines  from  injuring,  if  any  fall  oft'.  Get  the  fruit 
room  into  proper  order  for  the  reception  of  the  winter  stock.  Gather 
the  fruit  as  it  arrives  at  maturity.  It  should  be  all  gathered  by  hand, 
and  very  carefully,  especially  all  intended  for  keeping. 

Greenhouse  (Jiard-wooded ) . — This  should  be  put  into  thorough  order 
before  the  plants  are  brought  in.  If  any  painting  or  glazing  is  wanting, 
the  present  is  the  time  to  do  it.  Get  the  plants  in  towards  the  end  of 
the  month,  before  heavy  rains  or  frost  come  on — the  tender  sorts  first. 
The  pots  should  all  be  well  washed,  and  the  plants  neatly  tied  and  fresh 
labelled.     After  they  are  housed,  the  side  sashes  should  be  kept  open. 


288  TUE    FLORIST. 

except  during  strong  winds.  They  will  require  proper  attention  to 
watering,  &c.  Soft-wooded  Plants. — Pot  off  all  cuttings  that  are 
struck,  so  that  they  may  get  well  established  before  winter  sets  in. 

IloUi/Jwks. — Continue  to  put  in  cuttings  or  plant  them  out  in  beds; 
a  large  stock  of  plants  can  be  procured  if  diligently  attended  to.  Re-pot 
those  first  struck,  but  do  not  let  them  become  pot-bound,  or  they  will 
start  into  premature  bloom. 

Kitchen  Garden. — As  cropping  for  the  season  is  over,  the  greatest 
attention  should  be  given  to  all  crops  planted  outj  their  growth  should 
be  encouraged  as  much  as  possible,  by  hoeing  and  stirring  the  soil 
between  them.  Continue  to  earth  up  Celery  when  it  is  dry.  Tie  up 
Endive  to  blanch. 

Orchard-Jiouse. — As  the  trees  will  now  have  done  growing,  and  the 
fruit  will  be  ripe  and  ripening,  much  water  will  not  be  required.  Any 
trees  that  are  cleared  of  fruit  should  be  kept  well  syringed,  to  keep  the 
foliage  healthy  as  long  as  possible.     They  will  need  all  the  air  possible. 

Fansies. — Plant  out  those  first  struck  for  early  spring  bloom.  Pot 
up  those  required  for  early  work  towards  the  end  of  the  month.  Con- 
tinue to  put  in  cuttings.  Sow  seed  not  later  than  the  first  week  in  this 
month  ;    if  any  is  saved  after  this  time  reserve  it  for  spring  sowing. 

Peach-forcing. — See  directions  in  previous  Calendars. 

Pelargoniums. — Finally  re-pot  plants  required  for  early  blooming 
towards  the  end  of  the  month.  Stop  first  struck  cuttings  to  make 
bushy  plants.  Let  all  plants  be  well  housed,  and  kept  warm  and  dry  ; 
give  plenty  of  air  during  the  morning.  Late  young  stock  should  be 
pushed  along.  Geraniums,  to  flower  well,  must  make  their  principal 
growth  before  Christmas. 

Pinery. — Plants  in  fruit  should  have  liberal  supplies  of  water,  a 
regular,  bottom  heat,  as  much  air  in  the  early  part  of  the  day  as  can 
safely  be  given,  always  closing  early  in  the  afternoon  ;  fires  will  not  be 
requisite  yet. 

Pinks. — Towards  the  end  of  the  month  plant  out  for  next  season's 
bloom.  If  the  weather  should  be  wet,  defer  it  for  a  short  time.  Plant 
in  good  rich  soil — Pinks  thrive  best  in  that. 

Pleasure  Ground. — Sweeping  will  now  be  almost  daily  necessary, 
in  order  to  keep  up  a  tidy  appearance.  Towards  the  end  of  the  month 
leaves  will  begin  to  be  troublesome,  especially  if  the  weather  be  wet 
and  windy.  This  is  the  best  month  in  the  whole  year  for  transplanting 
evergreens. 

Stove. — Achimenes,  Gesneras,  Gloxinias,  &c.,  should  be  gradually 
dried  off.  Gloriosa  going  out  of  flower  will  require  less  water.  Give 
plenty  of  air,  but  shut  up  early. 

Strawberries  for  forcing. — See  Calendar  for  last  month. 

Tulips. — Look  to  the  roots,  green-fly  are  apt  to  attack  them  ;  keep 
perfectly  free  from  these.     Prepare  soil  for  blooming  them  in. 

Vinery. — Ripe  Grapes  at  this  season  require  a  dry  atmosphere  and 
thorough  ventilation  ;  make  fires  in  cold  wet  weather.  The  late  crop 
of  Grapes,  which  will  be  colouring  towards  the  end  of  this  month,  will 
require  a  little  fire  heat  and  plenty  of  air.  Vines  intended  for  very 
early  forcing  should  now  be  pruned,  and  the  lights  should  be  put  on 
the  house. 


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Trm>x3  hv  C.  Chdhat 


289 


ERICA  SPENCERIANA. 

(Plate  118.) 
For  the  opportunity  of  figuring  the  beautiful  variety  of  Cape 
Heath  which  this  month  forms  the  subject  of  our  plate  we  are 
indebted  to  Mr.  Glendinning,  of  the  Chiswick  Nursery,  in  whose 
hands  is  the  entire  stock  of  it.  It  is  a  cross  between  depressa 
and  hybrida,  and  is,  we  need  scarcely  say,  one  of  the  most  striking 
of  the  many  successful  results  which  have  of  late,  in  so  many 
classes  of  plants,  followed  the  employment  of  the  art  of  the 
hybridist.  It  is,  as  will  be  seen,  a  most  profuse  bloomer,  and  to 
a  colour  new  among  Heaths  it  adds  an  excellent  habit  of  growth. 
It  has  been  distinguished  by  prizes  which  have  been  awarded  it 
by  the  Horticultural  Society,  the  Royal  Botanic  Society,  and  by 
the  Crystal  Palace  Company,  at  their  grand  display  of  plants  and 
fruit  at  Sydenham  in  June  last.  Such  commendations  surely 
render  it  well  worthy  of  attention,  and  therefore  we  have  felt  it  to 
be  our  duty  to  bring  it  thus  prominently  under  the  notice  of  our 
readers.  We  may  add  that  in  our  April  number  we  figured  a 
variety  of  Heath  called  Spenceri;  this,  as  will  be  seen  by 
referring  to  our  plate  for  that  month,  is  quite  difl^erent  from 
the  one  now  described,  which,  for  the  sake  of  distinction,  has 
been  named  Spenceriana.  As  regards  sale,  &c.,  full  particulars 
wtll  be  found  in  our  Advertiser. 


NOTICES  OF  PLACES. 
Mr.  Rivers'  Nursery,  Sawbridgeworth. 

This  nursery,  which  has  long  enjoyed  wide  notoriety  for  fruit  trees, 
Roses,  and  latterly  for  Mr.  Rivers'  experiments  with  orchard  houses 
and  fruit  trees  in  pots,  has  been  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Rivers'  family 
for  upwards  of  a  century,  and  comprises  quite  100  acres.  Fruit  trees  and 
Roses  occupy  a  great  extent  of  ground  ;  besides  an  extensive  home  trade 
in  these  articles,  as  well  as  in  general  nursery  stock,  Mr.  Rivers  has  a 
large  export  trade  with  America  and  the  continent.  As  our  chief 
object,  however,  in  visiting  Sawbridgeworth  was  to  examine  the  orchard 
houses,  our  attention  was  principally  directed  to  that  department. 

The  cultivation  of  fruit  trees  in  pots  dates  back  but  a  short  period, 
and  has  grown  up,  as  it  were,  from  our  unfavourable  springs  of  late 
having  rendered  out-door  crops  of  wall  fruit  very  precarious.  But 
unquestionably  the  great  impulse  given  to  the  erection  of  glass  buildings 
of  this  description  must  be  attributed  to  the  removal  of  the  duty  on 
glass,  which  enables  this  useful  article  now  to  be  purchased  at  a  cheap 
rate.  To  this  wise  policy,  therefore,  we  owe  the  employment  of  glass 
on  so  great  a  scale  in  gardens,  as  well  as  to  its  entering  largely  into 
the  construction  of  public  and  private  buildings.     We  have  at  all  times 

NEW   SERIES,   VOL.    VI.,   NO.  LXX.  U 


290  TiiF  FmnisT. 

strenuously  urged  that  orchard  hovjsos  arc  a  valuable  auxiliary  even  to 
good  gardens,  and  in  our  opinion  indisiiensahie  in  oxpoHcd  and  cold 
situations.  Tlie  cases  of  faihire  that  we  liave  heanl  of  are  very  tew, 
and  can  easily  be  traced  to  other  causes  than  tlie  lauMs  of  tlu-  Imuse, 
while  tlieir  suciess  has  now  llie  test  of  ex|ierience  to  reconnnond  tliem. 
We  fi-el,  therefore,  some  gralilication  in  knowing  that  our  estimate  of 
their  utility  luis  been  satislactorily  proved,  and,  furtlier,  that  ihoy  are 
s|iringiiig  up  in  all  directions,  winch  can  only  arise  from  the  fact  that 
tluir  merits  are  duly  appreciated  by  loyors  ot  fruit.  We  are  not  quite 
sure  wiietlier  fruiting  tiie  trees  in  pots  is  tiie  cheapest  and  best  way  to 
obtain  pern\aneMt  crops,  but  on  this  we  reserve  our  remarks  for  the 
present.  We  must  cominence  with  plants  in  some  shape  or  other, 
and  Mr.  Rivers  and  the  few  other  nurserymen  who  have  so  kindly 
undertaken  to  supply  our  wants  havo  really  got  these  up  so  nicely  to 
hand,  such  charming  little  compact  buslies  reaily  furnished  with  fruit 
buds,  tliat  no  one  can  resist  the  temptation  to  ]iurchase.  Parties  iuive 
now  only  to  build  their  house,  and  despatch  their  order,  au'l  forthwith 
they  can  have  these  miniature  trees  all  ready  to  han<l,  anil  fit  for 
inunediate  work,  and  a  short  six  months  over  may  enjoy  the  fruits  of 
their  labour  without  having  their  hopes  frustrated  by  inclement  seasons 
or  destroying  blights.  As  nurserymen  have  so  obligingly  taken  the 
trouble  to  get  pot  fruit  trees  ready  (or  bearing  fruit  at  once,  why  not 
attempt  the  same  thing  with  trees  for  walls  ?  How  rarely  do  we  seo 
trained  trees,  excepting  what  have  been  cut  back  close  hoirie  and 
presenting  nothing  Imt  five  or  six  strong  shoots,  which  they  tell  us 
must  be  cut  back  again  after  planting.  Why  could  not  a  part  of  their 
stock  of  trained  trees  have  their  shoots  cut  only  half  way  back  ?  With 
Pears,  Plums  and  Cherries  we  should  get  a  few  spurs  the  secontl  year, 
and  with  the  I'each  some  smaller  shoots,  which,  in  all  prol>aliility, 
would  proiluce  fruit  buds.  But,  say  they,  if  we  did  not  sell  them  the  first 
year  they  would  be  too  large  afterwards,  and  unsaleable.  Kor  our  own 
part  we  should  prefer  them  to  trees  clt)sely  cut  back,  and  furnished  only 
with  young  wood,  and  so,  we  believe,  would  most  others.  But,  let  us 
ask,  does  not  the  practice  of  cutting  back  strong  vigorous  young  trees 
often  produce  gum  and  canker?  We  have  seen  A[tricots,  Cherries,  and 
Peaches,  too,  become  gunnned  and  worthless  through  the  severe  pruning 
resorted  to  to  procure  handsome  plants,  /.  <?.,  with  long  straight  shoots, 
and  which  perhaps  have  even  no  leaf  buds  for  one-half  their  length, 
in  conseipience  of  the  gross  habit  induced  by  this  system. 

To  return  to  our  subject,  for  the  above  digression  has  no  reference 
whatever  to  anything  we  saw  at  Sawbridgeworth, — the  orchard  houses 
here  are  of  the  usual  form,  most  of  them  having  an  eipial  span  roof. 
Sonte  of  those  first  built  are  merely  glass  roofs  or  sheds,  the  side  plates 
supported  liy  posts  placed  in  the  ground,  the  space  between  the  siilo 
plate  and  ground  being  fille.l  in  by  clipped  hedges  of  Arl)or-vitie  or 
Yew.  Others,  more  recently  put  up,  have  the  sides  bnanled  up,  and 
are  furnished  with  shutters  niiiiiing  tlieir  entire  length  to  open  for 
ventilation.  The  roofs  are  all  iixed,  but  are  provided  with  the  means 
of  allowing  the  heated  air  to  escape  from  the  apex,  thus  creating  a 
current  of  air  from  the  sides  to  the  angle  of  the   roof     A  very  goo<l 


OCTOTIKR.  291 

idea  of  these  houses  is  given  by  woodcuts  in  our  volume  for  1854,  p.  55. 
T\\Qy  vary  in  length  according  to  circumstances,  and  are  from  16  to  20 
feet  wide  ;  for  fiarticulars,  however,  we  must  refer  our  readers  to  a  work 
Mr.  Rivers  has  puhhshe<l,  entitle<i  "Orchard  Houses." 

The  houses  not  furnished  with  boarded  sides  to  close  up  during  the 
early  spring  months  are  not  so  favouralile  for  Feaclies  and  Nectarin<Mi, 
but  they  answer  very  well  for  Apricots,  Plums,  Cherries,  &c.  The 
cold  winds  of  March  and  April  sweep  through  the  side  he<lge8  rather  too 
freely,  and  all  attempts  at  husbanding  tlie  solar  heat,  so  as  to  obtain  a 
moderate  warmth  through  the  night,  is  lost.  ITiey  were  at  first  tri«fil  as 
an  experiment,  and  so  far  answer  for  the  fruits  we  have  name<l,  but 
for  Peaches,  Vnies,  kc,  the  sides  must  be  boarde<i,  and  made,  when 
clo8e<i  up,  pretty  air  tight.  If  necessary,  the  house  can  then  be  closed 
early  enough  in  the  aftenioon,  to  retain  a  heat  sufficient  to  keep  the 
trees  quite  safe  even  during  sharp  frost.  Our  readers  should  bear  thi« 
in  mind  when  building  these  kinds  of  house.  We  cannot  remember 
how  many  of  these  houses  there  are,  as  they  are  place<i  in  different 
situations  about  the  grounds,  but  they  contain  an  immense  st/Kk  of 
young  trees  of  all  kinds  preparing  for  working  next  season,  and  which 
will  be  ready  for  purchasers  in  a  short  time. 

Two  or  three  of  the  houses  are  filled  with  young  Vines ;  some  are 
trained  to  single  rods  five  or  six  feet  long  each,  for  fruiting  in  the  usual 
way  by  training  thp  shoot  under  the  roof  Another  lot  are  grown  as  bushes, 
merely  by  cutting  down  a  last  year's  Vine  in  the  winter  to  within  four 
or  five  eyes  of  the  pot,  and  allowing  three  or  four  shoots  to  grow,  which 
are  traine<l  to  sticks  place<i  in  the  pot,  and  stopped  when  18  or  20 
inches  long ;  in  this  way  they  form  nice  bushes,  and  when  loade<i  with 
fruit  have  a  novel  appearance.  Some  of  the  prolific  kinds  l>ear  fruiting 
shoots  the  first  year ;  we  notice<l  among  others  Pr<.*coce  de  Malingre,  an 
early  white  Grape,  and  another  calle<l  Muscat  St.  Laurent,  said  to  be 
a  very  suitable  Grape  for  the  open  air. 

The  crop  of  Peaches  and  Nectarines  in  the  principal  fruiting  house 
was  very  go<vl ;  many  of  the  trees  were  quite  loaded.  The  pots  in 
which  the  trees  grow  are  placed  on  a  be<l  of  soil,  into  which  the  ro<jts 
p-enetrate  ;  this,  and  the  help  given  the  roots  within  the  pots  by  watering 
them  with  liquid  manure,  makes  the  fruit  swell  to  a  large  size.  The 
pots  are  lifted  in  the  winter,  and  the  roots  which  have  found  their  way 
into  the  border  carefully  prune<l  in  ;  a  shovelful  or  two  of  fresh  compost 
is  then  place<i  below  the  pot,  to  assist  in  feeding  the  plant  the  following 
season.  By  means  of  his  orchard  houses,  Mr.  Rivers  is  proving  a 
number  of  continental  and  American  Peaches,  some  of  which  are  likely 
to  turn  out  goo<l  varieties.  Of  comparatively  new  or  scarce  kinds  we 
noticed  Mignonne  Tardive,  a  late  Mignonne,  very  fine  ;  Pt'che  a  bee,  a 
very  fine  early  kind  ;  Early  Grosse  Mignonne,  a  variety  ripening 
fourteen  da}'8  earlier  than  the  common  Mignonnes ;  Haines'  Early 
Peach,  goofj ;  Early  York  Peach,  better  kno\vn  than  the  at»ove,  but 
valuable  for  its  earliness  ;  as  is  Scott's  Early  Red,  a  high  flavoure<l 
American  kind  ;  Reine  des  Vergers,  good  ;  Brugnon  monstreuse,  very 
fine  ;  Cooledge's  Favourite,  good  ;  Monstreuse  de  Doue,  fine  ;  R<^>sanne 
Nouvclle,  a  very  handsome  Peach  with  yellow  flesh,  quality  medium  ; 

u  2 


292  THE    FLORIST. 

Desse  Peach,  a  late  kind ;  the  true  Bourdine  Peach,  very  late ;  Belle 
de  Doue  appears  a  very  useful  kind.  The  Cherries,  Plums,  and 
Apricots  had  been  taken  out  of  the  houses  some  time  ;  most  of  them 
were  plunged  out  in  open  quarters.  There  was  a  large  quantity  of 
rigs,  comprising  allthe  best  kinds  in  cultivation,  preparing  for  fruiting 
in  one  or  two  of  the  houses. 

The  excellent  order  everything  was  in,  and  the  admirable  manner 
in  which  the  fruit  tree  department  is  conducted,  ensure  sound  and 
early  productive  trees. 

The  soil  of  the  Sawbridgeworth  Nursery  is  a  loam,  varying  from  a 
strong  to  a  sandy  nature,  according  to  the  character  of  the  subsoil,  which 
is  in  places  clay  alternating  with  beds  of  sand.  These  sand-beds  have 
been  quarried  in  places,  and  Mr.  Rivers  has  taken  advantage  of  these 
pits,  and  has  converted  them  into  a  primitive  kind  of  Grapery  ;  to  effect 
this.  Vines  have  been  planted  on  one  side  the  margin  of  the  pit  in  the 
natural  soil  of  the  nursery,  a  rough  kind  of  framework  is  placed  over 
the  pit,  on  which  are  fixed  glazed  sashes,  covering  it  over  and  resting 
on  the  opposite  side.  The  Vines  are  brought  in  under  the  glass,  and 
fruit  freely — not  large,  of  course,  but  well  coloured.  Some  of  these 
sand-pits  are  10  or  12  yards  long  or  more,  three  or  four  yards  wide, 
and  seven  or  eight  feet  deep.  Nothing  has  been  done  to  the  interior, 
except  making  a  rough  path  along  the  middle,  ending  with  a  seat 
at  the  further  end.  We  had  never  before  seen  old  quarries  turned  to 
so  useful  a  purpose.  Near  one  of  these  Graperies  a  larger  sand-hollow 
has  been  converted  into  a  place  for  plunging  Vines  in  pots  intended  for 
planting  out ;  the  plants  are  five  or  six  feet  high,  and  at  a  distance 
reminded  one  of  the  sloping  banks  of  Vines  on  the  continent ;  but  on  a 
closer  inspection  they  were  of  course  minus  the  fruit. 

We  had  only  time  to  pay  a  very  hasty  visit  to  the  Rose  quarters, 
which,  as  our  readers  are  aware,  are  very  extensively  stocked.  We 
saw,  however,  that  Lord  Raglan,  a  new  Hybrid  Perpetual  Rose,  of  a 
brilliant  dark  crimson  and  fine  form,  is  decidedly  one  of,  if  not  the  very 
best  Rose  out ;  it  was  here  blooming  freely,  and  could  be  distinguished 
at  a  distance  from  others.  Prince  Leon,  bright  crimson,  very  good ; 
Paul  Dupuy,  another  beautiful  Rose,  was  in  great  perfection  ;  Emperor 
Napoleon  and  Deuil  de  Willermorz  are  most  brilliant  in  colour,  but  are 
too  deficient  of  petals  in  the  centre  to  become  first  class  Roses.  We, 
however,  had  not  time  to  go  over  the  Roses  as  we  could  have  wished, 
and  must  wait  for  another  opportunity  to  do  them  justice. 


SCOTTISH  PANSY  SOCIETY. 

The  autumn  meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  at  Glasgow  on  the 
10th  of  Septeniber,  in  connection  with  the  exhibition  of  the  Glasgow 
Horticultural  Society ;  and  although  the  season  has  been  so  wet  and 
cold,  there  was  a  tolerable  display  of  Pansies,  but  the  blooms  were  not 
of  the  best  quality. 

In  the  Dealers'  Class  for  24  blooms,  Messrs.  Paton  and  Small,  of 


OCTOBER.  293 

Glasgow,  were  first,  with  Duke  of  Perth,  Alpheus,  Nonpareil,  Father 
Gavazzi,  Bride  (which  is  a  very  useful  white  ground  seedling),  Sovereign, 
Cyrus  (tine),  Miss  Talbot,  Royal  Purple  (a  good  useful  light  purple). 
Miss  Walker  (one  of  the  best  light  grounds),  J.  B.  Gough,  Sir  C. 
Napier,  Sir  Colin  Campbell  (one  of  the  best  and  most  useful  wliite 
grounds),  Yellow  Climax,  Lord  John  Russell,  Black  Douglas,  Lord 
Palmerston,  Jeannie  (a  very  useful  self),  Charles  Cowan,  Monarch, 
Hebe,  Royal  Visit,  Omar  Pasha,  and  a  seedling.  The  second  prize  was 
awarded  to  Messrs.  White  and  Sinclair,  of  Paisley,  in  whose  stand  we 
noticed  fine  blooms  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Gossett,  Lord  John  Russell,  Lord 
Palmerston,  Sir  E.  Lyons  (a  fine  white  ground  flower),  Venus  (a  white 
self,  of  medium  quality  and  good  eye),  Cyrus,  Youell's  Lady  Jane  (a 
yellow  ground  flower  with  broad  purple  belting).  Hooper's  Yellow 
Model  was  also  shown  in  this  stand,  and  is  by  far  the  best  yellow  self 
Pansy  we  have,  possessing  a  dense  even  eye,  which  is  well  defined  in 
the  side  petals.  Messrs.  Dickson  and  Co.,  of  Edinburgh,  were  third, 
in  their  stand  being  blooms  of  their  new  ones — Countess  of  Roslin 
(white,  with  broad  deep  purple  belting  and  dense  eye,  smooth  and  of 
good  substance),  and  Col.  Windham  (white,  with  rich  plum  purple 
belting  and  dense  eye,  a  fine  variety).  In  this  stand  also  were  good 
flowers  of  Cyrus,  Catharine  Duudas  (yellow  ground  with  rich  maroon 
belting,  eye  not  solid,  still  a  large  and  useful  flower),  Miss  Nightingale, 
Sir  Colin  Campbell,  and  Memnon.    Mr.  Douglas,  Edinburgh,  was  fourth. 

In  the  Amateurs'  Class  for  12  blooms,  Mr.  W.  Campbell,  of  Pollock, 
occupied  his  usual  position  as  1st ;  Mr.  Wm.  Thom,  of  Paisley,  2nd  ; 
Mr.  Wm.  Boyd,  of  Easterhill,  3rd  ;  and  Mr.  James  Gibson,  of  Cathcart, 
fourth. 

18  Blooms:— 1st,  Mr.  Robert  Wardrop,  of  Cathcart;  2nd,  Mr. 
James  Gibson ;  3rd,  Mr.  Wm.  Boyd. 

6  Blooms  (Gardeners')  : — 1st,  Mr.  W.  Wilson,  of  Cathcart ;  2nd, 
Mr.  W.  Boyd. 

6  Blooms  (Amateurs)  :— 1st,  Mr.  W.  Wilson  ;  2nd,  Mr.  W.  Thom  ; 
3rd,  ]\Ir.  M.  Smith,  of  Kilmarnock. 

Open  Class,  for  12  blooms  :— 1st,  Mr.  Robert  Wardrop  ;  2nd, 
Messrs.  White  and  Sinclair ;  3rd,  Mr.  W.  Thom. 

The  prize  for  the  best  self  was  awarded  to  Mr.  W.  Wilson,  for 
Jeannie  ;  for  the  best  yeUow  ground,  to  Messrs.  White  and  Sinclair, 
for  Lord  John  Russell ;  for  the  best  white  ground,  to  Mr.  W.  Thom, 
for  Royal  Visit.  The  premier  prize  for  the  best  Pansy  in  the  exhibition 
was  also  awarded  to  Jeannie,  exhibited  by  Mr.  W.  Wilson.  Two  or 
three  other  seedlings  were  exhibited,  but  none  of  any  merit ;  one  of 
these,  however,  a  yellow  seedling  exhibited  by  Mr.  Boyd,  may  prove  a 
useful  flower,  but  Yellow  Model  is  greatly  superior  to  it. 

It  seems  now  to  have  become  a  serious  question  with  the  Committee 
whether  it  is  worth  while  continuing  an  autumn  exhibition  of  this 
flower,  and  we  believe  it  is  now  settled  to  hold  a  spring  meeting  alter- 
nately at  Edinburgh  and  Glasgow,  as  well  as  an  autumn  meeting  for 
seedlings  only ;  thus,  for  the  next  year,  the  spring  meeting  at  Edin- 
burgh, and  an  autumn  meeting  for  seedlings  in  Glasgow ;  and  in  1858, 
vice  versa. 


294  THE    FLORIST. 

There  was  very  little  in  connection  with  the  general  exhibition  calling 
for  special  notice.  The  usual  amount  of  indifferent  cultivation  peculiar 
to  country  exhibitions  seems  to  have  been  displayed,  and  very  much 
has  yet  to  be  learned.  There  were  some  good  plants  from  the  Botanic 
Gardens,  and  from  Messrs.  Austin  and  M'Aslan's  nursery,  but  the 
plants  and  flowers  generally  were  of  inferior  quality.  One  feature, 
however,  connected  with  the  show,  does  command  our  notice. 
We  allude  to  a  silver  cup  offered  by  Messrs.  Syme  and  Mid- 
dlemas,  of  Glasgow,  for  9  spikes  of  Hollyhocks,  12  Dahlias,  and 
12  Pansies.  This  was  won  by  Mr.  Wm.  Gow,  gardener  to  Robert 
Adie,  Esq.,  of  View  Park,  near  Uddingstone,  four  others  competing 
with  him.  So  good  a  prize  should  have  called  forth  better  competition, 
but  the  bad  season  for  Dahlias  and  Hollyhocks  no  doubt  sadly 
interfered. 


OPEN  BRICK  WALLS  V.  PROTECTION. 

It  appears  from  the  opening  of  this  case  for  the  prosecution  that 
plaintiff"  has  occupied  a  very  prominent  position  in  connection  with  horti- 
culture for  some  centuries  in  the  British  Isles,  and  having,  with  but 
few  exceptions,  performed  the  duties  imposed  upon  him  in  a  satis- 
factory and  economical  manner,  would  always  have  continued  to  do  so 
without  a  murmur,  had  the  same  attention  been  paid  to  him  as  at 
the  onset ;"  but  defendant,  a  mere  youth,  comparatively  speaking,  has 
of  late  years  insinuated  himself  into  the  notice  of  many  of  our  horti- 
culturists under  promises  which  certainly  would  sound  very  favourable, 
as  they  were  to  the  effect  that  if  they  would  but  employ  him  (defendant) 
they  would  be  sure  of  good  crops,  no  matter  how  they  planted  their 
trees,  only  that  their  roots  were  somewhere  in  the  ground  ;  and  no 
matter  whether  they  attended  to  their  borders,  or  thinning,  stopping, 
or  ripening  the  wood,  or,  in  fact,  their  trees  might  be  allowed  to  grow 
just  as  they  pleased,  but  a  good  crop  would  infallibly  be  the  result,  if 
defendant  were  only  employed  in  some  one  of  his  garbs  ;  for  be  it 
understood,  he  assumes  various  aspects — sometimes  he  puts  on  a  glass 
structure  called  an  orchard-house  ;  sometimes  another  called  a  glass 
wall ;  other  dresses  he  calls  "  frigi-domo,"  nets,  mats,  canvas,  fir 
branches,  straw  ropes,  &c.,  &c.  Now  all  these  things  tended  to 
dampen  and  throw  plaintiff"  very  much  into  the  shade,  and  he  feared  in 
a  very  short  time  into  oblivion  ;  but  as  he  did  not  wish  to  take  any 
undue  advantage  over  defendant,  it  ^as  decided  to  await  patiently 
till  the  issue  of  some  very  unpropitious  season  should  enable  the  latter 
to  test  his  capabilities  to  the  utmost,  and  as  it  is  allowed  by  all  that  the 
spring  of  1856  was  an  extraordinarily  unpropitious  one,  plaintiff"  decided 
that  the  time  was  come  for  him  to  endeavour  to  vindicate  his  cause  : — 
hence  the  present  action. 

Some  discussion  here  arose  as  to  whether  the  evidence  could  be 
admitted  in  the  manner  it  was  brought  forward,  viz.,  by  circular  letters 
distributed  indiscriminately  through  the  country,  soliciting  the  required 


OCTOBEE.  295 

information ;  but  it  being  shown  that  witnesses  coming  from  every  quarter 
of  the  kingdom  would  be  a  heavy  affair,  and  that  to  send  a  person 
through  the  country  would  be  open  to  objection  on  the  score  of  partiahty, 
therefore  it  was  ultimately  agreed  that  the  evidence  as  brought  forward 
would  be  admissible,  if  duly  attested,  and  bearing  the  post-mark  of 
the  several  localities  from  which  they  came. 

The  following  witnesses  were  called  to  support  the  prosecution  : — 

Mr.  Busby,  Stockwood  Park,  Luton,  Beds.,  stated  that  his  crops  of 
Peaches,  Nectarines,  and  Plums  were  very  fine  indeed  ;  that  he  had  not 
allowed  defendant's  entrance  into  his  grounds  for  these  ten  years ;  that  he 
had  never  failed  to  have  a  crop  when  many  of  his  neighbours,  who  had 
employed  the  defendant,  had  repeatedly  failed.  Witness  stated  that  he 
had  always  used  broad  coping  to  his  walls,  that  his  borders  were  well 
drained,  and  that  he  paid  great  attention  to  the  summer  treatment  of 
his  trees  ;  also,  that  throughout  his  general  observations  he  had  seen 
equally  good  crops  upon  trees  fully  exposed  as  upon  those  protected. 
This  witness  also  further  stated  that  if  the  trees  were  not  too  deeply 
planted,  and  not  overcrowded  with  wood,  the  spring  thinning  began  in 
time,  gradually  thinning  through  the  summer,  and  stopped  towards 
the  middle  of  August,  good  crops,  he  would  venture  to  say,  would  be 
the  result. 

Mr.  H.  Dowling,  Woolstan  Lawn,  Southampton,  deposed  that  fruit 
was  very  thin  in  his  neighbourhood ;  that  in  most  places  they  use  pro- 
tection, but  there  are  better  crops  where  the  trees  were  not  covered ; 
that  he  is  sorry  to  see  such  neglect  in  that  most  essential  point,  draining 
the  borders,  and  that  he  has  generally  seen  better  crops  upon  un- 
protected trees  than  upon  those  protected ;  he  also  stated  that  with  good 
coping  and  well-drained  borders,  he  is  confident  of  better  crops  and 
trees  in  better  health  and  vigour. 

Mr.  Abbott,  Westwood,  Lancashire,  stated  that  the  crops  were  very 
bad  in  his  neighbourhood ;  that  he  covered  his  Peaches  and  Nectarines 
with  canvas  upon  poles,  but  got  no  fruit — Apricots  without  protection, 
good  crops  ;  his  borders  are  thoroughly  drained  ;  that  he  has  generally 
seen  the  best  crops  upon  trees  fully  exposed,  and  his  opinion  upon  the 
whole  is,  that  covering  is  a  very  useless  and  expensive  affair. 

Mr.  Don,  Knole  Park,  Sevenoaks,  deposed  that  the  crops  round  him 
were  generally  as  bad  as  could  be  ;  that  the  defendant  was  employed  in 
a  great  many  cases  in  the  form  of  cotton  and  woollen  netting ;  that  the 
borders  are  not  generally  drained ;  but,  nevertheless,  he  has  generally 
seen  better  crops  without  covering  than  with  it ;  when  he  lived  in  Suffolk 
they  never  covered,  and  he  never  remembered  a  failure.  He  also 
remembered  in  his  young  time  full  crops  of  wall  fruit  upon  the  open 
walls  in  Scotland,  Apricots  especially. 

Mr.  George  Hood,  Mamhead  Park,  Exeter,  was  the  next  witness, 
who  stated  that  crops  of  wall  fruit  were  very  poor  in  his  neighbourhood ; 
that  defendant  was  denied  entrance  to  his  place,  but  his  borders 
wanted  draining,  and  that  he  had  generally  seen  better  crops  upon 
unprotected  than  protected  trees. 

Mr.  Cai-penter,  Great  Barr  Hall,  Birmingham,  next  deposed  that 
Peaches  and  Nectarines  were  bad  crops  in  his  locality ;  Plums,  Apricots, 


296  THE    FLORIST. 

and  Cherries  average ;  Apples  and  Pears  very  thin — some  trees 
were  covered  and  some  were  not.  Haythorn's  hexagon  netting  was 
used,  but  he  has  observed  this  season  better  crops  upon  those  trees 
that  were  fully  exposed  than  upon  those  covered. 

Mr.  George  Sclater,  Stackpole  Court,  Pembroke,  was  here  called, 
and  he  stated  that  the  crops  of  wall  iruit  in  his  neighbourhood  were  very 
bad  indeed,  and  he  might  say  the  same  of  all  out-door  fruits.  The 
only  protection  he  uses  are  ten-inch  coping-boards  ;  his  walls  are  very 
much  exposed  to  the  south-west  winds  direct  from  the  Bristol  Channel, 
and  he  finds  the  coping-boards  very  beneficial  when  the  trees  are  in 
full  bloom,  and  afterwards  laid  aside ;  his  borders  he  well  drains,  and 
he  finds  where  this  is  attended  to,  with  judicious  summer  treatment, 
that  he  gets  equally  good  crops  upon  the  unprotected  as  upon  the  pro- 
tected trees,  and,  this  season,  those  trees  which  were  fully  exposed  are 
by  far  the  best. 

Mr.  E.  Durrant,  Bushall  Park,  Saxmundham,  Suffolk,  stated  that 
the  crops  of  fruit  were  very  thin  in  his  locality.  Some  portion  of  his 
trees  he  covered,  aud  some  he  did  not,  but  has  quite  as  many  where  he 
did  not  cover.  He  has  paid  great  attention  to  drainage  these  last  few 
years,  and  thinks  when  this  is  not  attended  to  a  slight  covering  is 
necessary. 

Mr.  Stevens,  Malvern  Hall,  Solihull,  Warwickshire,  has  not  employed 
defendant  these  four  years  :  his  crops  of  Peaches  and  Nectarines, 
Pears  and  Plums  were  never  more  abundant,  and  his  crop  of  Apricots 
an  average  one.  He  used  formerly  to  employ  defendant  in  the  shape 
of  inch  netting  doubled  and  hung  from  the  coping  over  the  trees,  but  he 
looks  at  protection  now  as  an  unnecesmry  addition  to  garden  expendi- 
ture. He  also  stated  that  the  general  crops  in  his  neighbourhood  were 
very  thin  indeed,  but  very  little  attention  was  paid  to  their  cultivation 
on  scientific  principles.  This  witness  also  stated  that  he  had  care  of 
the  wall  fruit  department  in  the  gardens  of  the  Horticultural  Society  at 
Chiswick,  under  Mr.  Thompson,  some  few  years  since  ;  there  they 
never  used  protection  for  many  of  the  Peaches  and  Nectarines, 
excepting  nine-inch  coping-boards,  and  always  had  good  crops 

Mr.  James  Kitley,  Lyncomb  Vale,  Bath,  next  deposed  to  the  crops 
being  very  thin  in  his  neighbourhood  ;  he  has  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of 
wall,  and  being  immediately  upon  the  freestone  requires  no  drainage. 
Witness  never  uses  protection ;  he  finds  that  he  loses  more  than  he 
gains  by  it ;  it  is  but  seldom  he  fails  in  having  a  crop. 

Mr.  J.  Stevenson,  Lambton  Castle,  Durham,  here  stated  that  the 
crops  were  a  complete  failure  in  his  locality ;  that  he  never  covers,  and 
seldom  fails  to  get  a  crop  ;  he  attributed  his  failure  to  the  want  of  sun  last 
autumn  to  ripen  the  wood  ;  as  a  general  rule,  has  better  crops  without 
than  with  covering. 

T.  W.  Abbott,  Ribston,  upon  being  called,  stated  that  he  had  good 
crops  upon  all  his  walls ;  Apricots  upon  a  west  wall  set  their  fruit  like 
ropes  of  onions  ;  that  defendant  never  enters  his  doors — he  knows  him 
■  well,  but  can  do  without  him ;  he  never  fails  to  have  a  crop.  He  also  stated 
that  his  father,  for  fifty  years,  never  admitted  defendant  to  his  presence, 
and  that  his  crops  of  wall  fruit  were  yearly  the  admiration  of  the  whole 


OCTOBER.  297 

county  of  Suffolk,  in  which  he  resided,  but  judicious  summer  thinning 
was  always  attended  to. 

Mr.  George  M'Ewen,  late  of  Arundel,  but  now  of  Bretton  Hall,  was 
here  ushered  into  the  witness-box  amid  plaudits.  He  stated  that 
many  years  ago  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that,  with  well-drained 
borders  and  thorough  ripening  of  the  wood,  spring  coverings,  as 
generally  practised,  were  unnecessary.  He  also  stated  that  he  highly 
approved  of  temporary  coping,  put  on  just  as  the  blossoms  begin  to 
expand,  and  removed  when  the  fruit  is  fairly  set.  He  further  stated 
that,  notwithstanding  these  views,  he  could  conceive  conditions  in  which 
it  might  be  commendable  to  protect ;  but  not  as  a  general  rule. 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings  an  adjournment  was  asked  for  and 
granted,  in  consequence  of  several  of  the  witnesses  not  being  forth- 
coming ;  therefore  we  must  defer  till  our  next  the  continuation  of  this 
important  case. 

Thomas  W.  Abbott. 

Ribston  Park,   Wetherhy. 


STRAWBERRY  PLANTING. 

I  SEND  you  a  few  hints  on  preparing  ground,  and  planting  this  useful 
fruit,  for  insertion  in  your  periodical. 

Choice  of  soil :  a  deep  soft,  unctuous  loam  is  the  best ;  next,  a  clayey 
or  marly  loam,  if  not  too  heavy ;  lastly,  sandy  loam ;  but  avoid  dry 
sandy  soil,  or  very  shallow  soils  on  gravel,  unless  you  have  great 
command  of  water.  Clayey  soils  should  be  mixed  with  road  scrapings, 
leaf  soil,  or  any  porous  material,  in  addition  to  the  dung  prescribed. 

Trench  the  ground,  whatever  it  may  be,  two  feet  deep,  if  you  can — 
if  not,  eighteen  inches.  Do  not  throw  up  to  the  surface,  however,  the 
subsoil,  if  raw  and  clayey,  but  fork  it  up  and  allow  it  to  lie  at  the 
bottom ;  mix  thoroughly  the  soil,  as  the  trenching  proceeds,  a  good 
dressing  of  rotten  dung,  using  more  of  it  where  the  soil  is  light,  for 
which  cow  and  pig  dung  are  preferable.  When  the  trenching  is  done 
level  the  surface,  and  fork  in  a  few  inches  deep  some  very  rotten  leaf 
soil  or  manure.  All  is  now  ready  for  the  plants :  to  prepare  these  we 
must  go  back  to  the  end  of  June,  when  the  runners  first  push.  Mix 
up  a  few  barrowfuls  of  rich  light  soil ;  take  a  trowel,  and  with  it  remove 
a  good  handful  of  soil  whereabouts  the  runners  can  be  laid  ;  fill  up  the 
hole  with  the  compost,  and  in  it  place  the  young  plant,  making  it  firm, 
and  see  that  future  growths  from  it  are  duly  pinched  back,  water  occa- 
sionally when  dry,  and  in  three  weeks  you  will  have  fine  healthy 
plants  with  a  good  handful  of  roots,  ready  to  take  into  the  new  soil  when 
planted.  Nearly  all  our  great  men  recommend  layering  Strawberries 
in  pots,  both  for  forcing  and  planting  out.  This  takes  up  a  deal  of  time, 
the  plants  are  difficult  to  secure  properly  in  the  pots,  and  they  require 
close  watching  to  keep  them  moist  in  dry  weather  ;  and,  lastly,  if  not 
taken  off  directly,  the  roots  reach  the  sides  of  the  pots,  they  get  matted, 
and  do  not  progress  so  satisfactorily  afterwards ;  whereas,   by  simply 


298  THE    FLORIST, 

layering  them  as  above  they  are  very  easily  managed,  and  would  grow 
on  without  injury  for  a  considerable  time,  if  they  cannot  be  removed. 
Be  assured,  you  will  get  much  better  plants,  and  at  less  than  half  the 
trouble,  by  this  plan. 

Planting : — Large  growing  sorts,  as  the  Victoria,  Queen,  Sir  Harry, 
&c.,  should  have  the  rows  three  feet  apart,  and  the  plants  two  feet 
from  plant  to  plant ;  but  for  common  produce  eighteen  inches  will  be 
sufficient.  Short-topped  kinds  may  be  two  feet  six  inches  apart,  row 
from  row,  and  rather  closer  in  the  row ;  water  occasionally,  pinch  off 
all  runners  as  they  appear  through  the  autumn  :  these  will  bear  well 
the  following  season.  The  crop  will  last  in  perfection  from  three  to  six 
or  seven  years,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  soil  and  management, 
which  I  will  notice  hereafter. 

J.  Mc  D. 


DESCRIPTIVE  LIST  OF  HARDY  CONIFERS,  No.  XX. 
PINUS    LAMBERTIANA: 

THE    GIGANTIC     OK    LAMBERT's     PINE. 

We  again  resume  our  notice  of  this  important  family  of  plants  by 
giving  a  wood  engraving  of  Lambert's  Pine,  taken  from  a  tree  growing 
in  the  Pinetum  at  Nuneham  Park,  near  Oxford. 

Pinus  Lambertiana  belongs  to  the  Strobus  or  Weymouth  Pine 
section  of  the  five-leaved  Pinuses,  and  which  contains,  besides  the 
subject  of  our  present  notice,  P.  excelsa,  from  the  Himalayas,  P. 
ayacahuite,  monticola,  and  the  Weymouth  Pine,  from  North  America. 
They  are  noticeable  for  having  silvery  grey  leaves,  rather  drooping,  and 
for  their  rapidity  of  growth  and  large  size. 

This  noble  Pine  was  discovered  by  Douglas  in  1825,  when  at  the 
head  waters  of  the  Multnoman  river.  This  enterprising  traveller  again 
met  with  it  in  1826,  "  beyond  a  range  of  mountains  running  in  a 
south-west  direction  fi'om  the  Rocky  Mountains  towards  the  sea,  and 
terminating  at  the  Cape  Orford  of  Vancouver.  It  grows  sparingly  upon 
low  hills  and  undulating  country  east  of  the  range  of  mountains  just 
mentioned,  where  the  soil  consists  entirely  of  pure  sand,  and  in  appear- 
ance is  incapable  of  supporting  vegetation  ;  here  it  attains  its  greatest 
size,  and  perfects  its  fruit  in  great  abundance."  Douglas  further  states 
that  P.  Lambertiana  does  not  form  dense  forests,  like  most  of  the  other 
kinds  which  clothe  the  face  of  North  America ;  but,  like  P.  resinosa, 
which  grows  among  them,  they  are  scattered  singly  over  the  plains. 
Its  geographical  limits  appear  to  be  from  40°  to  4o°  N.  lat. 

Lambert's  Pine  attains  the  largest  dimensions  of  any  of  the  true  Pines. 
According  to  Douglas,  it  grows  from  160  feet  to  upwards  of  200  feet  in 
height,  varying  from  20  feet  to  60  feet  in  circumference.  One  that 
he  measured  which  had  been  blown  down  by  the  wind,  was  215  feet 
in  length  ;  its  circumference,  at  three  feet  from  the  ground,  57  feet 
9  inches  ;  at  134  feet  from  the  ground,  17  feet  5  inches  ;  and  this  was 
not  one  of  the  largest  trees  he  saw.     The  trunk  is  unusually  straight,  and 


299 


PINUS    LAMBERTIANA. 


300  THE    PLOmST. 

destitute  of  branches  for  about  two-thirds  of  its  height ;  the  bark  is 
smooth,  of  a  hght  brown  colour  ;  leaves  in  fives,  of  a  bright  silvery  green, 
much  resembling  the  Weymouth  Pine ;  the  cones  are  at  first  upright, 
but  in  the  second  year,  when  they  have  acquired  their  full  growth,  they 
are  pendulous,  and  from  16  to  18  inches  in  length. 

Many  of  the  earliest  specimens  planted  in  this  country  are  dead,  or 
we  should  by  this  time  have  had  to  record  some  large  trees.  Many 
others  have  been  grafted  on  the  Weymouth  Pine  ;  and  whether  from 
this  cause  or  some  peculiarity  about  the  plant,  we  frequently  find 
specimens  not  growing  with  that  freedom  we  should  expect.  Our 
present  illustration  is,  however,  an  exception  ;  for  in  the  deep  loamy 
soil  of  the  Pinetum  at  Nuneham,  it  was  growing  freely,  and  was  in 
vigorous  health.  Planted  in  October,  1846,  it  is  now  above  20  feet 
high  and  of  proportionate  breadth,  and  in  all  probability  will  make  a 
noble  tree.  On  account  of  the  peculiarity  about  this  plant  noticed 
above,  we  do  not  recommend  its  being  too  extensively  planted,  unless 
good  seedling  plants  can  be  obtained,  when  its  gigantic  size  and  upright 
growth  should  secure  it  a  place,  where  its  imposing  appearance,  as  it 
grows  up  to  a  tree,  could  be  seen  to 


NOTES  ON  NOVELTIES  IN  ROSES. 

The  list  which  appeared  in  your  last  Number,  not  professing  to  be 
complete,  or  very  explanatory,  the  following  account  of  the  characteristics 
which  most  of  the  kinds  possess,  with  some  few  additions,  has  been 
derived  from  a  close  examination  of  them  on  a  somewhat  cold,  heavy  soil. 
Of  the  more  recent  introductions,  Lord  Raglan  is  undoubtedly  the 
gem,  and  is  certainly  worthy  of  the  highly  complimentary  name  given 
to  it,  being  of  beautiful  shape,  excellent  habit,  a  sparkling  scarlet 
crimson  centre,  thrown  out  by  the  lower  petals  being  shaded  with  black 
or  very  dark  purple  ;  one  of  its  best  recommendations  is  the  stoutness 
of  its  petals.  Of  the  same  warlike  group,  and  for  those  whose  taste 
prefers  a  thinner,  and  by  some  said  to  be  the  more  "  picturesque"  style. 
Emperor  Napoleon  will  be  admired ;  the  colour,  a  brilliant  crimson,  is 
very  striking ;  while  the  neat,  prettily-shaped  pink  flowers  of  Madame 
Place  will  recommend  it  especially  for  bouquets.  Madame  Masson, 
very  double,  large  size,  and  rich  crimson  colour,  makes  it  a  desirable 
variety  for  exhibition  ;  Gloire  de  France  is  much  of  the  same,  though 
somewhat  darker  colour,  and  shape,  but  not  so  large  or  generally  good 
as  Prince  Leon.  That  good  old  Rose,  Baronne  Prevost,  will,  it  is 
feared,  be  superseded  at  last,  as  between  Madame  Domage  and  Barron 
Larray,  it  is,  it  is  feared,  thrown  in  the  shade  by  their  similarity  in 
style  ;  but  Dull  de  P.  Willermorz  and  Prince  de  la  Moskowa  are  much 
of  the  same  character,  and  both  very  interesting  for  their  intensely  dark 
velvety  crimson  petals,  that  shade  having  been  much  wanted ;  but  as 
they  are  but  little  more  than  semi-double,  we  may  reasoiiably  anticipate 
a  new  race  in  colour  of  Hybrid  Perpetuals  equalling  the  darkest  Bourbon. 
Victor  Trouillard  is,  we  believe,  an  approach  to  it,  but  not  quite  enough 


OCTOBER.  301 

of  "  The  Nigger."  Of  the  recently  introduced  light  coloured  Roses,  to 
Madame  Vidot  and  Belle  Lyonnaise  is  here  given  the  preference,  and 
Duchesse  de  Cambaceres  is  generally  admired  as  a  noble  flower,  colour 
bright  rose,  and  does  not  belie  its  title  as  a  Perpetual.  We  are  much 
pleased  at  the  novel  colour  and  style  of  Souvenir  du  Petit  Corporal — 
the  outer  petals  being  pale  lilac  rose  shading  to  a  bright  crimson  centre, 
and  it  was  hoped  that  a  confident  opinion  could  have  been  given  of  the 
new  striped  Hybrid  Perpetual  Madame  D.  Giraud ;  but  rather  than 
mislead,  should  you  not  in  the  meantime  receive  a  description  of  it,  I 
have  no  doubt  of  being  enabled  to  do  so  in  your  next.  The  high 
character  given  to  General  Jacqueminot  has  disappointed  some  growers, 
from  its  fault  of  not  being  fully  double  being  omitted  in  its  descrip- 
tion in  most  of  the  catalogues ;  its  glowing  colour,  however,  makes  it 
really  a  glorious  flov^er.  Although  not  now  coming  properly  within 
the  description  of  a  new  Rose,  it  is  mentioned  to  give  it  a  general 
recommendation  to  all  who  have  not  added  it  to  their  collections,  it 
having  won  golden  opinions  for  habit,  colour,  and  shape,  and  is  best 
described,  with  but  little  exaggeration,  as  "  a  Perpetual  Brennus." 

Recent  additions  to  the  Bourbons  are  very  few,  but  we  can  safely 
recommend  amongst  those  called  "  new,"  Reveil  as  a  finely  shaped, 
full  sized,  free  blooming  variety,  of  the  richest  purple  colour  and  of  good 
habit ;  and  Souvenir  de  I'Arquebuse,  of  deep  but  brilliant  crimson, 
not  desirable  for  its  shape,  but  for  profuse  flowering  and  strikingly 
effective  colour.  It  is  very  gratifying  that  the  Perpetual  Moss  Roses 
have  lately  been  receiving  some  really  excellent  additions.  Salet  is  the 
nearest  approach  to  the  old  Moss,  and  really  an  autumnal  bloomer. 
Madame  Ory  and  Maria  de  Bourg  are  not  of  equally  robust  habit,  but 
still  very  desirable,  as  they  give  their  flowers  so  late  as  to  be  great 
acquisitions. 

Many  novelties  in  summer  Moss  Roses  have  been  received,  but  as 
they  require  a  season  or  two  longer  to  prove  than  Perpetuals,  I  hope  to 
speak  more  confidently  of  them  another  year. 

C.  G.  Wilkinson. 

Western  Rosert/,  Ealing. 


VINES  AND  VINE  BORDERS. 


Grape  growers  have  lately  been  informed  of  facts  which,  as  our 
neighbours  say,  have  created  a  sensation.  The  Editor  of  the 
Gardeners'  Chronicle  informs  his  readers,  that  to  make  a  fuss  about 
the  soil  of  Vine  borders,  or  to  build  costly  houses  for  their  growth,  is 
useless ;  for  that  this  present  season  very  first-rate  Grapes  have  been 
grown  near  London,  in  the  one  instance  without  any  prepared  border 
— and  in  the  next  under  such  conditions  that  the  generality  of  gardeners 
would  pronounce  impossible.  Let  me,  however,  give  the  editor's  own 
description  more  at  length.  In  the  first  place  we  are  informed,  at 
page  499,  that  under  a  glass  shed  (sic)  in  the  nursery  of  Mr.  Glen- 


302  THE    FLORIST. 

dinning,  of  Chiswick,  Grapes  have  been  produced  this  season  which  at 
the  last  Park  Show  beat  the  entire  field  of  Grape  growers  in  open  com- 
petition, and  carried  away  the  premier  medal  from  such  men  as  Fleming, 
Tillyard,  Henderson,  Turnbull,  Davis,  &c. ;  and  no  small  victory,  sure, 
when  we  consider  that  the  Vines  producing  such  wonderful  results  are 
growing  in  the  natural  soil  of  Mr.  Glendinning's  nursery,  which  forms 
the  floor  of  the  shed  (house),  the  Vines  having  been  planted  against 
the  back  wall  against  which  they  are  trained,  and  for  a  short  distance 
down  each  rafter.  The  only  object  in  planting  them  at  all  appears 
merely  to  furnish  eyes  for  propagating  from  :  the  house,  we  may  apprise 
our  readers,  is  devoted  to  growing  Vines  for  sale.  We  are  next  intro- 
duced, at  page  547,  to  another  Vinery  (also  near  London),  or  what 
must  be,  from  the  description  given  of  it,  a  very  sorry  substitute  for 
one — the  roof  supported  by  fir  poles  to  prevent  it^  tumbling  down  alto- 
gether. In  fact,  the  gardener,  we  are  told,  has  some  trouble  to  keep 
this  crazy  edifice  together ;  while  the  chinks  and  fissures  in  the  roof, 
one  would  suppose,  are  sufficient  to  prevent  his  feeling  any  great 
anxiety  about  ventilation,  even  during  such  weather  as  we  have  lately 
experienced.  As  a  kind  of  set-off  to  the  roof,  we  are  informed  the 
heating  apparatus  was  good,  and  I  should  suppose  there  is  plenty  for  it 
to  do  in  frosty  weather — but  how  about  rain  ?  During  a  shower  the 
scene  inside  would  remind  us  of  Shelley's  lines,  where  he  says  : — 

"  Then  the  rain  came  down,  and  the  broken  stalks 
Were  beut  and  tangled  across  the  walks  ; 
And  the  leafless  net-work  of  parasite  bowers 
Massed  into  ruin,  and  all  sweet  flowers," 

did  not  the  editor  inform  us  to  the  contrary,  for  he  gives  us  a  glowing 
description  of  the  plants  he  found — Scitaminse,  Orchids,  Ferns,  and 
Mosses,  luxuriant  with  health  and  verdure  in  the  damp  atmosphere 
inside.  Well,  what  will  your  readers  say  to  the  above  as  suitable 
quarters  for  the  Vine  ?  Why,  to  sum  up,  instead  of  bunches  with  half 
their  berries  shanked  or  shrivelled,  and  the  remainder  (supposing  them 
Hamburghs),  representing  the  genuine  red  variety  of  that  good  old 
Grape  (which,  somehow  or  other,  always  seems  as  if  it  had  the  misfortune 
to  be  planted  in  dark  damp  houses),  we  are  informed  they  were  even 
better  than  Glendinning's,  and  would  have  beaten  them  if  exhibited  at 
the  same  time  ;  we  must  therefore  conclude  they  were  as  near  perfection 
as  could  be  wished !  These,  too,  are  growing  inside  the  house ; 
but  whether  in  a  prepared  border  or  not  we  forget.  The  talented 
editor  of  the  Gardeners'  Chronicle  sums  up  with  an  aphorism 
which  all  must  admit  to  be  true,  that  "  He  is  the  best  cultivator  who 
can  produce  the  most  with  the  smallest  means."  But  as  in  the 
cases  alluded  to  it  has  a  doubtful  bearing,  inasmuch  as  casual  success 
cannot  be  placed  against  favourable  results  extending  over  a  number 
of  years,  even  if  obtained,  as  in  the  instances  alluded  to,  with  little 
trouble  and  small  means.  I  am  no  advocate  for  trusting  to  chance  in 
these  matters,  nor  yet  for  allowing  good  Grapes  to  be  spoiled  through 
neglecting  common  repairs ;  and,  as  an  illustration  of  Grape  growing 
carried  out  on  directly  opposite  principles,  I  beg  to  introduce  the  readers 


OCTOBER.  303 

of  the  Florist  to  a  worthy  gentleman,  Mr.  Jonas  Nash,  of  Bishop's 
Stortford,  in  Essex,  who,  besides  having  an  extensive  business  as  a 
maltster  and  brewer,  possesses  also  the  very  best  vineries  in  the  kingdom. 
Now,  when  Mr.  Nash  commenced  Grape  growing,  he  determined,  very 
wisely,  as  a  man  of  business,  to  do  the  thing  well.  He  did  not  plant 
his  Vines  in  the  natural  soil  of  his  garden — not  a  very  unsuitable  one 
either — and  he  has  found  it  to  be  sound  economy  to  keep  his  glass  and 
wood-work  in  good  repair;  and  though  his  border  must  have  cost  a  good 
round  sum,  in  addition  to  about  as  substantial  well-built  Vineries  as  I 
ever  saw,  I  venture  to  say  the  produce  has  long  since  squared  off  the 
capital  account,  and  returned  a  large  annual  profit  into  the  bargain  ; — I 
speak  of  the  market  value  of  the  crops  without  knowing  how  Mr.  Nash 
— who  is  a  private  gentleman — disposes  of  his  fruit. 

The  site  for  building  the  Vineries  was  a  sloping  bank  in  Mr.  Nash's 
garden,  the  subsoil  of  which  is  gravel ;  the  principal  range  is  120  feet 
in  length,  in  two  divisions,  one  half  being  planted  with  Muscats,  and  the 
other  with  the  Hamburgh  :  there  is,  besides,  a  separate  house,  planted 
with  the  Cannon  Hall  IMuscat.  The  Vineries  are  of  the  common  lean- 
to  description,  loftier  than  we  usually  see  them,  and  provided  with  front 
sashes  for  ventilation.  The  roof  sashes  are  glazed  with  good  sheet 
glass.  As  the  ground  slopes  away  from  the  front  of  the  houses,  the 
border  has  the  advantage  of  being  almost  wholly  above  the  garden 
level  ;  and  notwithstanding  the  bed  of  gravel  below,  Mr.  Nash 
concreted  the  surface,  to  prevent  any  chance  of  the  roots  passing 
downwards,  and  the  sharp  pitch  of  the  ground  quickly  carries  away  any 
water  which  may  percolate  through  the  border.  Judging  by  the 
retaining  walls  built  at  each  end  of  the  border  to  keep  up  the  soil,  I 
should  say  they  are  nearly  four  feet  deep  at  the  front  of  the  house,  and 
perhaps  thirty  feet  wide  ;  the  depth  at  the  front  is,  if  I  recollect  rightly, 
two  feet,  but  as  the  general  level  slopes  rapidly  the  border  has  a  good 
pitch.  Mr.  Nash  informed  me  the  houses  were  built  thirteen  or  four- 
teen years  since  (I  forget  which)  ;  the  border  was  made  of  turfy  loam, 
old  plaster,  refuse  skin,  hair,  and  dressings  from  a  tan-yard,  and  lastly 
one  hundred  tons  (! ! !)  of  rotten  London  manure  were  added,  the  whole 
well  mixed  together.  Hear  this,  you  who  advocate  maiden  loam  and 
shallow  borders,  and  who  are  afraid  lest  a  little  carrion  or  an  over-dose 
of  manure  should  spoil  the  flavour  of  your  Grapes  and  make  your  Vines 
grow  too  gross.  Why  in  this  respect  INIr.  Nash's  Vines,  when  pruned, 
are  more  like  the  limb  of  a  good-sized  tree  than  the  walking-stick  pro- 
portions of  the  ill-fed  and  of  course  weakly-constitutioned  Vines  so  often 
seen.  The  real  case  before  us,  proved  to  demonstration,  is,  that  to  grow 
the  Vine  to  its  highest  perfection  a  large  amount  of  enriching  food  must 
be  placed  in  a  favourable  condition  for  the  Vine  roots  to  pasture  in  ;  and 
that  provided  the  border  is  well  exposed,  drained,  and  elevated,  and  its 
component  parts  made  sufficiently  porous  for  the  rain  falling  on  it  to  pass 
quickly  through,  it  can  scarcely  be  made  too  rich.  As  for  such  borders 
becoming  sour,  pasty,  and  choked  up  in  the  course  of  time,  I  do  not  believe 
in  it  if  properly  put  together ;  at  least,  here  twelve  years  have  passed  away, 
with  the  Vines  as  vigorous  as  ever,  and  I  heard  that  when  watered  the 
water  passes  as  quickly  away  as  when  the  border  was  first  made.     Mr. 


304  THE    FLORIST. 

Nash  informed  me  that  the  Vines  had  been  allowed  to  carry  such 
enormous  crops  that  he  feared  he  might  overdo  them,  and  this  season 
he  gave  the  borders  the  benefit  of  a  ton  of  "  blood  manure,"  spread 
over  the  surface,  in  addition  to  a  good  dressing  of  dung,  which  is  given 
them  each  spring :  on  examining  the  Vines  where  this  dressing  hap- 
pened to  be  spread  thickest,  the  Grapes  were  certainly  finer  than  else- 
where, a  fact  which  proves  this  kind  of  manure  affords  them  additional 
support.  The  Vines  are  trained  up  the  centre  of  each  light,  and  are 
closely  spurred  in ;  and  where  a  Vine  has  been  trained  with  two  stems, 
up  separate  sashes,  instead  of  one,  I  saw  no  difference  in  the  quantity 
or  quality  of  the  fruit.  Tlie  Hamburghs,  when  I  saw  them  a  fortnight 
since,  were  ripe  ;  the  Muscats  will  ripen  towards  the  end  of  this  month 
(September).  The  crop  was  remarkably  regular  all  over  the  house  ;  the 
bunches  very  uniform  in  size,  with  the  berries  well  swelled  and  beauti- 
fully coloured ;  upwards  of  half  a  hundredweight  may  be  allowed  for 
each  stem — they  have  carried  considerably  more.  The  Muscats  were 
equally  regular  with  the  Hamburghs,  and  were  bearing  the  same  large 
crops  of  splendid  fruit ;  altogether,  they  are  the  best  Vines  I  ever 
witnessed. 

We  see  then,  by  the  above  fact,  that  Vines  will  amply  repay  a  very 
Hberal  outlay,  both  in  the  construction  of  the  house  and  materials  for 
the  border.  I  imagine  that  when  rich  borders  so  often  fail  in  producing 
for  any  length  of  time  fine  Grapes,  the  cause  must  be  looked  for  in  the 
position  of  the  border,  or  the  want  of  sufficient  porous  materials  in  it  to 
keep  it  open.  I  see  no  reason  why  Mr.  Nash's  Vines  should  not  for 
years  to  come  keep  up  their  reputation,  and  they  afford  to  the  Grape 
grower — whether  for  private  families  or  the  market — an  unmistakeable 
proof  of  what  the  Vine  is  capable  of  doing  under  good  management. 

Mr.  Editor,  I  must  now  leave  the  question — how  best  to  secure  and 
retain  first-rate  Grapes — for  the  consideration  of  your  readers.  Gar- 
deners have  difficulty  enough,  I  know,  in  obtaining  the  means  for  doing 
these  kinds  of  things  as  they  could  wish,  and  need  not  a  false  economy 
brought  forward  to  make  matters  worse  ;  for  this  reason  I  have  tres- 
passed so  largely  on  your  space,  to  bring  forward  a  case  in  Grape- 
growing  obtained  by*  following  a  widely  different  plan  to  the  cases 
alluded  to  by  the  editor  of  the  Chronicle,  and  now  leave  your  readers 
to  think  and  judge  for  themselves  which  to  adopt. 

G.  F. 


SELECT  LIST  OF  PINES  AND  FIRS  SUITABLE  FOR 
PARKS  AND  WOODLAND  SCENERY. 

Abies  pichta  grows  much  in  the  way  of  a  compact  Spruce  Fir,  but 
with  very  dense  foliage  of  a  dead  green.  This  is  a  very  distinct  Fir, 
and  perfectly  hardy. 

A.  Nordmanniana. — A  very  noble  tree,  belonging  to  the  Silver  Fir 
section  ;  branches  in  whorls,  thickly  clothed  with  leaves  of  a  dark  glossy 
green ;  quite  hardy,  and  a  fast  grower. 

A.  excelsa  nigra. — A  very  fine  looking  dark  variety  of  the  common 
Spruce. 


OCTOBER.  305 

A.  PiimiUo. — This  dwarf  growing  Pine  is  invaluable  for  planting  for 
cover,  or  for  clothing  the  steep  face  of  hills  or  rocky  ground.  It  grows 
more  than  six  or  eight  feet  high,  and  spreads  itself  for  a  considerable 
distance.  This  Pine  is  not  known  or  planted  near  so  much  as  it  should 
be.  At  high  elevations  on  the  Alps  and  Pyrenees  it  covers  miles  of 
the  mountain  sides,  and  might  occupy  many  similar  places  in  Britain 
where  hardly  anything  else  will  grow. 

Pinus  austriaca.  —  One  of  the  handsomest  of  European  Pines  ; 
grows  very  compactly,  with  foliage  of  a  very  dark  green ;  when  old 
forms  a  very  picturesque  tree.  Is  the  Black  Pine  of  the  Hartz  forests 
in  Germany,  now  to  be  had  very  cheap,  and  deserves  to  be  extensively 
planted  ;  it  forms  a  capital  tree  for  sheltering  game. 

P.  PaUassiana. — Nearly  allied  to  the  above,  grows  rather  looser ; 
becomes  a  fine  tree. 

Pinus  Laricio. — A  very  fast  growing  tree,  with  rather  curiously 
twisted  leaves.  For  shutting  out  offensive  objects,  or  situations  where 
a  quick  growth  is  required,  this  tree  is  a  very  useful  one,  as  well  as  for 
introducing  among  slower  growers  to  produce  effect. 

P.  macrocarpa. — A  very  free  growing,  bold,  distinct  Pine,  excellent 
for  groups  or  as  single  specimens  in  parks,  &c.  It  produces  cones  of 
immense  size,  and  is  quite  hardy. 

P.  ponderosa. — Something  like  the  above,  but  loses  its  leaves  on 
shoots  more  than  two  years  old  ;  this  gives  a  tufted  appearance  to  the 
tree,  but  it  merits  a  trial  for  its  singular  appearance. 

Pinus  Sabiniana. — Much  like  macrocarpa  in  form  and  growth,  but 
has  leaves  of  a  glaucous  green,  and  bark  of  a  silver  grey.  These  three 
are  fine  picturesque  trees  for  parks. 

P.  pyrenaica  (hispanica). — A  beautiful  Pine  of  the  Pinaster  section  ; 
it  grows  freely,  and  forms  a  very  handsome  tree,  with  rather  pale  green 
leaves,  and  the  young  wood  of  a  deep  orange  or  reddish  brown  colour  ; 
by  this  it  is  easily  distinguished  even  at  a  distance.  This  Pine 
produces  good  timber,  and  should  be  widely  planted  for  its  ornamental 
appearance. 

Pinus  radiata. — Closely  allied  'to  the  beautiful  P.  insignis,  of  which 
it  may  be  said  to  be  the  hardy  variety.  Besides  this  valuable  property 
it  grows  more  tree-like,  with  a  straight  bole  and  fewer  side  branches  ; 
it  has  leaves  of  the  same  intense  green  as  insignis.  As  this  has  proved 
itself  perfectly  hardy,  it  should  be  substituted  for  insignis  wherever 
that  is  found  tender.  I  have  radiata  growing  most  freely  and  with- 
out having  a  leaf  injured  where  insignis  has  been  killed  to  the  ground. 
It  cannot  be  too  well  known  or  widely  planted. 

Pinus  Lindlei/ana. — A  very  hardy  and  ornamental  Pine  ;  grows 
freely  in  any  situation  ;  leaves  a  dull  green,  and  the  bark  of  the  young 
wood  a  rich  brown  colour.  Worthy  of  extensive  planting  as  a  valuable 
and  hardy  tree. 

P.  Benthamiana. — A  truly  noble  looking  Pine,  with  strong  robust 
shoots  and  leaves  ;  a  grand  tree  for  the  park.  Young  plants  are  now 
getting  more  plentiful,  and  should  be  made  the  most  of 

P.  Monte::eumce. — This  is  a  Mexican  Pine  of  very  ornamental  appear- 
ance ;  it  resembles  P.  Lindleyana,  but  has  longer  leaves  than  that  Pine. 

NEW    SERIES,    VOL.    VI.,    NO.    LXX.  ^ 


306  THE    FLORIST. 

P.  muricata. — A  hardy  Mexican  Pine  ;  when  young  it  grows  too 
much  in  the  shape  of  a  bush,  but  is  said  to  lose  this  habit  in  time,  and 
become  a  fine  tree. 

P.  tuberculata. — This  is  a  very  ornamental  and  fast  growing  Pine. 
I  have  trees  20  feet  high  planted  in  1850.  It  is  hardy  and  well 
worth  planting  on  a  large  scale. 

Pinus  excelsa. — From  the  Himalayas  ;  should  be  introduced  largely 
into  park  scenery  for  its  rapid  growth  and  beautiful  silvery  foliage. 

Cryptomeria  japonica. — A  species  of  Coniferse  from  China  ;  forms  a 
graceful  growing  tree,  with  small  elegant  foliage ;  very  hardy,  and 
grows  freely. 

Ciipresstis  Lambertiana  and  macrocarpa. — These,  though  chiefly 
adapted  for  lawns,  are  no  less  appropriate  for  the  park,  where  ever- 
green fastigiate  trees  are  much  wanted  ;  very  rapid  growers,  with  bright 
green  foliage.  They  stand  at  the  very  top  of  the  list  as  ornamental 
trees,  and  should  be  planted  accordingly. 

The  following  are  suitable  for  low  damp  situations : 

Abies  canadensis  (the  Hemlock  Spruce). — This  is  one  of  the  most 
graceful  and  ornamental  of  the  Fir  tribe,  and  is  valuable  for  massing, 
but  more  so  for  single  specimens  or  detached  groups. 

Abies  Menziesi. — A  very  ornamental  tree  for  a  damp  situation.  It 
has  leaves  of  a  bright  glaucous  green,  which  distinguishes  it  at  a 
distance. 

Taxodium  distichum  (deciduous  Cypress). — Avery  suitable  tree  for 
low  swampy  situations  or  near  water ;  it  will,  however,  thrive  on  dry 
soils.  It  has  delicate  feather-like  foliage,  beautiful  in  summer,  and 
changing  to  a  dull  red  or  brown  colour  in  the  autumn. 

The  following  are  dwarfer  growing  than  the  above,  and  are  more 
suitable  for  lawns  : — 

Abies  Pinsapo. — A  very  compact  and  ornamental  tree,  perhaps  more 
so  than  any  other  species. 

A.  orientalis. — An  elegant  variety,  allied  to  the  common  Spruce. 

Abies  excelsa  compacta,  elegans,  and  nana  are  very  dwarf  varieties 
of  the  Spruce  Fir.     Well  adapted  for  parterres  or  small  lawns. 

Pinus  si/hestris  pyc/mcea. — A  dwarf  Scotch  Fir  ;  very  ornamental. 

Pinus  Laricio  pj/gmcea — ditto  of  the  Corsican  Fir, — and  has  the 
advantage  of  having  leaves  sometimes  of  a  rich  gold  colour,  making  it 
a  very  ornamental  dwarf  plant. 

Pinus. 

[We  can  confidently  recommend  the  above  list  to  those  of  our  readers 
who  are  looking  out  for  good  hardy  Conifers,  as  it  really  contains  all 
those  that  are  worth  growing,  excepting  Douglasi,  nobilis,  grandis, 
&c.,  and  a  few  untried  ones.  We  expect  our  correspondent  has  omitted 
the  above  as  not  being  exactly  cheap  enough  for  planting  extensively  as 
park  trees.  Those  he  names  we  have  ourselves  proved  to  be  thoroughly 
hardy,  and  parties  wishing  to  improve  their  park  scenery  will  not,  we 
are  sure,  be  disappointed  in  taking  his  descriptions  as  their  guide. — 
Ed.  Florist.] 


307 


NATIONAL    FLORICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 

Aug.  21. — Mr.  E.  Spary  in  the  chair.  First-class  Certificate  to 
Fancy  Dahlia  Carnation.  Form  and  general  outline  good ;  petals 
smooth  and  stout ;  colour,  white  ground  with  narrow  stripes  of  purple  ; 
a  fine  exhibition  variety  and  highly  commendable  for  its  purity  of 
colour.  From  Mr.  J.  Keynes,  Salisbury. — First-class  Certificate  to 
Fancy  Dahlia  Conqueror.  Form  and  outline  good ;  stout ;  colour 
reddish  blush  ground,  striped  and  spotted  with  dark  purplish  crimson. 
From  Mr.  J.  Keynes,  Salisbury. — Certificate  of  Merit  to  Fancy  Dahlia 
Charles  Perry.  Form  medium  ;  size  large,  with  good  compact  centre  ; 
colour  reddish  rosy  ground  flaked  and  striped  with  crimson  ;  a  showy 
variety.  From  Mr.  J.  Keynes,  Salisbury. — Certificate  of  Merit  to 
Fancy  Dahlia  Tam  o'Shanter.  Form  of  petal,  outline,  and  centre 
each  good ;  colour  blush  purple  ground,  striped  purplish  crimson. 
From  Mr.  Dodds,  Salisbury. — Label  of  Commendation  to  Scarlet 
Pelargonium  Kentish  Hero.  Habit  dwarf,  with  average  truss,  flowers 
of  medium  form,  colour  bright  orange  scarlet  with  small  white  centre. 
From  Mr.  S.  Johnson,  Dover. 

Sept.  4. — G.  Holmes,  Esq.,  in  the  chair.  First-class  Certificate  to 
Verbena  Magnet.  Truss  of  medium  size,  with  a  fair  average  number 
of  pips,  which  are  of  good  form  and  of  stout  substance ;  colour  rosy 
carmine  of  a  new  shade.  From  Mr.  Weatherill,  Hornsey-road. — First 
class  Certificate  to  Dahlia  Lady  Popham.  Form  good,  size  medium, 
and  for  a  light  flower  very  stout ;  colour  blush  white  ground,  with  very 
slight  purple  tip  ;  a  decided  advance  in  the  light  flower  class.  From 
Mr.  C.  Turner,  Slough. — First  class  Certificate  to  Dahlia  Royal  Scarlet. 
Form  good,  size  full,  substance  stout,  colour  bright  crimson  scarlet ;  a 
flower  with  great  depth,  good  centre,  and  smooth  petals.  From  Mr. 
Keynes,  Salisbury. — Certificate  of  Merit  to  Dahlia  Duke  of  Devonshire. 
Form  good,  size  fuU,  substance  average,  colour  rosy  lilac  shading  to 
white  at  base  of  petal ;  arrangement  of  petal,  depth  and  outline  quite 
first-rate,  wanting  solidity  and  finish  at  centre.  From  Mr.  W.  Dodds, 
Salisbury.  The  following  w^ere  also  exhibited  : — Dahlias  :  Lord  Car- 
digan, of  average  size  and  full  outline ;  colour  dull  red.  Margaret, 
above  medium  size  and  tolerably  well  formed,  with  cupped  incurved 
florets,  but  the  eye  sunk ;  coppery  yellow,  from  the  eye  being  suffused 
with  red,  the  latter  colour  more  evident  at  the  back,  the  whole  strongly 
flaked,  streaked,  and  mottled  with  crimson.  Edward,  a  large  flower, 
but  flat  on  the  face.  Rowland,  exceedingly  gay,  rather  below  medium 
size,  with  finely  cupped  and  well  arranged  petals,  white  heavily  tipped 
with  bright  rosy  purple.  Duchess  of  Beaufort,  a  good  light ^  flower, 
scarcely  of  medium  size  ;  outline  and  petals  good  ;  blush  white  with 
tips  of  dense  purple.  Fenella,  a  pretty  light  variety  ;  size  medium, 
compact,  well  formed,  and  cupped  ;  blush  white  tipped  with  purple, 
which  is  faint  and  mottley,  producing  the  appearance  of  lilac  tips. 
Alliance,  a  dark  Carnation-striped  variety ;  medium  size  and  average 
form  :  ground  colour  white,  suffused  with  purple  crimson,  marked  with 
,broad  flakes  and  narrower  stripes  and  specks  of  dark  purple  crimson, 

x2 


SOS  THE    FLORIST. 

or  pale  maroon.  Harbinger,  showy,  medium  size,  outline  full,  petals 
cupped,  colour  rich  deep  scarlet.  Saturn,  a  medium  sized  flower,  with 
cupped  florets  ;  bright  yellow,  with  faint  coppery  tips.  Lady  Franklin, 
one  of  a  series  of  dull  red  flowers,  the  red  in  this  case  passing  off  into 
buft",  below  medium  size,  close  and  well  filled  centre. 

Sept.  18. — G.  Holmes,  Esq.,  in  the  chair.  This  was  the  best 
attended  meeting  of  the  season,  there  being  but  a  few  less  than  one 
hundred  entries  of  seedlings  and  collections.  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son,  of 
Cheshunt,  received  a  First-class  Certificate  for  a  fine  white  Hollyhock, 
of  great  purity,  named  Queen  of  Whites ;  it  is  a  very  fine  variety. 
As  was  to  be  expected,  Dahlias  formed  by  far  the  greatest  and  prin- 
cipal attraction.  These  were  brought  from  all  parts  of  the  kingdom, 
and  generally  in  excellent  condition.  Lady  Popham,  a  fine  light  kind ; 
Royal  Scarlet,  a  full  sized  heavy  scarlet,  of  good  form  ;  Duke  of  Devon- 
shire, mottled  lilac,  white  al  the  base — it  has  a  small  petal ;  Conqueror, 
a  dark  striped  fancy  variety,  of  fine  form ;  Charles  Perry,  an  excellent 
shaped  flower,  of  the  same  class,  frequently  throwing  fine  dark  self 
flowers  ;  and  Tarn  O'Shanter,  another  striped  fancy  kind.  These  were 
either  successfully  exhibited  on  the  21st  August  or  the  4th  of  Sep- 
tember, and  shown  again  good  on  the  present  occasion,  but  no  awards 
could  be  made.  George  Holmes.  Esq.,  of  Norwich,  received  a  First- 
class  Certificate  for  a  novel  buff  Dahlia  named  Cherub  ;  this  is  a 
beautifully  shaped  flower,  of  fine  substance,  of  a  peculiar  light  clear 
shade  of  buff.  The  same  award  was  given  to  the  Rev.  C.  Fellowes, 
for  Marion,  white  ground,  edged  and  tipped  with  purple  ;  this  flower 
has  a  close,  well  made  centre,  and  is  of  great  depth.  Mr.  Dodds,  of 
Salisbury,  also  received  a  First-class  Certificate  for  Lady  Paxton,  a 
fancy  variety  of  very  good  form,  and  general  good  quality  ;  colour  red, 
tipped  with  white.  A  Certificate  was  awarded  to  a  pinkish  lilac 
Dahlia,  named  Mrs.  Edwards,  a  neat,  small  flower.  Mr.  Salter,  of 
Hammersmith,  received  a  Certificate  for  a  well  made  fancy  variety, 
which  is  handsomely  and  regularly  striped,  named  Cleopatra.  Mr. 
Barnes,  of  Stowmarket,  sent  Symmetry,  Ophir,  Minnie,  and  Indis- 
putable, but  neither  flower  was  in  good  condition,  and  not  good  in  the 
state  shown.  Mr.  Legge,  of  Edmonton,  sent  several  blooms  each  of 
Fancy  King,  buff"  tipped  with  white,  and  Mrs.  Legge,  yellow  edged 
with  red  ;  these  have  been  exhibited  much  finer  earlier  in  the  season. 
The  same  exhibitor  sent  Delicata,  which  is  a  bad  Reginald.  Mr. 
Rawlings  received  a  Certificate  of  Merit  for  Mrs.  Critchett,  a  flower 
resembHng  Lollipop,  both  in  build  and  colour,  but  it  is  not  so  deep  or 
good,  yet  a  useful  variety.  Touchstone  (Fellowes)  a  greatly  improved 
Mr.  Seldon,  having  a  fine  broad  petal,  with  close  centre ;  and  Midnight 
(Fellowes),  dark  maroon  shaded  with  purple,  are  fine  flowers.  Mr. 
Fellowes  also  sent  Mont  Blanc,  a  promising  white  ;  and  Cavalier,  a  red 
flower,  of  fair  form,  but  no  novelty  in  colour.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Skynner, 
of  Rushden,  sent  a  boxful  of  blooms  of  a  scarlet,  named  Cardinal,  a 
bright  promising  flower,  of  average  form  and  good  centre.  Mr.  Grant, 
Shottesham  Park  Gardens,  sent  four  blooms  from  the  seedling  plant  of  the 
best  fancy  Dahlia  we  have  seen  this  season,  and  quite  new  in  colour — 
bright  scarlet  tipped  with  white  ;    it  is  named  Frances.     Mr.  C.  J. 


OCTOBER.  309 

Perry,  of  Birmingham,  exhibited  several  kinds — the  best  were  Samuel 
Brown,  a  Ulac,  and  Samuel  Moreton,  a  fancy.  Four  blooms  of  a  good 
shaped  crimson  Dahlia  were  sent  by  Mr.  Smith,  of  Birmingham,  a 
flower  of  a  shade  deeper  colour  than  Sir  F.  Bathurst,  named  John 
Stainton  ;  this  is  a  promising  flower.  Mr.  Briggs,  of  Handsworth,  sent 
several  kinds,  the  best  of  which  was  a  white  named  Miss  Briggs.  Mr. 
Dodds  also  sent  a  large  white  named  Miss  Dodds,  and  an  excellent 
striped  variety  named  Souter  Johnny,  deep  lilac,  striped  with  purple. 
Four  seedling  Hollyhocks  were  sent  by  Mr.  Nicholson,  of  Bushy 
Grove ;  one  of  these,  Beauty  of  the  Grove,  received  a  Certificate  of 
Merit ;  and  a  First  Class  Certificate  was  awarded  to  Hollyhock  Queen 
of  Whites,  a  very  fine  white  variety,  larger  than  White  Globe,  and 
forming  a  close  spike,  exhibited  by  Messrs.  Paul  &  Son.  Mr.  Geo. 
Smith  sent  Fuchsia  Sanspareil,  in  bad  condition  :  but  from  what  we 
know  of  this  flower,  it  will  be  an  acquisition  to  the  light  varieties  ; 
and  another  light  variety.  Marchioness,  colour  of  Queen  of  Hanover, 
but  reflexes.  A  Certificate  of  Merit  was  awarded  to  a  dark  variety 
named  Adonis,  from  the  same  grower.  Certificates  of  Merit  were 
awarded  to  Verbenas  Brightonia,  pale  rose,  good  form  and  medium 
truss ;  and  Mrs.  Beecher  Stowe,  pale  blush  white  with  small  carmine 
centre,  medium  truss,  both  from  Mr.  Weatherill,  of  Hornsey.  Mr. 
Geo.  Smith  sent  two  seedling  Verbenas — Cupid  (Sankey's),  rather 
lighter  than  Victory,  with  large  yellow  eye  and  good  truss  ;  and  Venus, 
white  with  carmine  centre  and  medium  truss,  both  of  which  were 
awarded  Certificates  of  Merit.  Mr.  Cole,  of  St.  Alban's,  sent  two 
useful  bedding  Calceolarias,  one  of  which,  named  rubra,  is  evidently 
a  seedling  between  Prince  of  Orange  and  Beauty  of  Montreal,  of  a 
bright  orange  red  colour,  and  a  dense  bloomer  ;  and  the  other,  St. 
Alban's  Pet,  is  of  Prince  of  Orange  habit,  very  dwarf,  and  of  a  light 
orange  red  colour.  Mr.  Frewer,  of  Stowmarket,  sent  a  showy 
variegated-leaved  Petunia,  of  Prince  Albert  habit,  but  the  flowers  are 
of  a  lighter  purple  colour. 


NEW  PEAS. 


Dickson's  Favourite,  you  say,  is  "  one  of  the  very  best  second  early 
Peas,  producing  an  abundant  crop  of  handsome  well-filled  pods,  having 
from  eight  to  ten  Peas  in  a  pod."  My  experience,  and  that  of  some  of 
my  neighbours,  confirms  this  opinion.  I  have  often  seen  as  many  as 
eleven  Peas  in  a  pod.  With  your  permission,  I  beg  to  recommend  a 
new  Pea,  sent  to  me  this  season  for  trial ;  it  is  called  Veitch's  Perfection 
New  Marrow.  The  Peas  are  the  largest  I  have  ever  seen ;  it  has  from 
eight  to  ten  Peas  in  a  pod.  It  is  a  strong,  vigorous  grower,  from  two 
to  three  feet  high  ;  as  a  summer  Pea  it  is  invaluable. 

Oliter. 


310  TUE    FLORIST. 


PLANTING  OUT  V.  POT  CULTURE. 

The  planting-out  of  such  plants  as  Chrysanthemums,  Salvia  fulgens, 
S.  gesnerifiora,  and  a  few  other  soft-wooded  plants,  during  the  summer 
months,  to  be  repotted  in  the  autumn,  has  frequently  been  recommended 
as  a  means  of  saving  a  great  amount  of  labour,  and  at  the  same  time  of 
obtaining  better  plants  than  by  the  more  common  practice  of  pot  • 
culture.  That  plants  grow  more  luxuriantly  when  their  roots  are 
unrestrained  by  pots  we  have  abundant  proof.  Take  the  Camellia  for 
example.  The  difference  between  a  pot  and  border  plant,  as  they  are 
generally  met  with,  will,  I  think,  be  familiar  to  most  people.  I  say, 
as  they  are  generally  met  with,  for  it  is  well  known  that  the  Camellia 
is  cultivated  to  great  perfection  as  a  pot  plant ;  but  I  think  it  will  be 
allowed  that  the  healthy  pot  specimens  of  this  plant  are  as  rarely  to  be 
met  with  as  are  unhealthy  ones  when  treated  as  border  plants.  Every 
one  conversant  with  the  cultivation  of  plants  knows  full  well  the  unre- 
mitting attention  requisite  to  bring  the  most  common  of  our  pot  plants 
to  perfection.  With  soft-wooded  plants  this  is  particularly  the  case. 
Take  the  Chrysanthemum  for  instance.  To  insure  short-jointed  growth, 
and  a  compact  habit,  so  essential  in  first-class  culture,  the  plants  must 
be  fully  exposed  to  a  great  amount  of  solar  light,  and  room  for  the  air 
to  circulate  on  every  part  of  each  plant.  This  being  the  case,  a  very 
rapid  evaporation  takes  place,  so  much  so  that  the  pots,  when  full  of 
roots,  will  require  watering  two  or  three  times  daily  during  hot  dry 
weather,  for  if  the  plants  are  allowed  to  flag  all  hopes  of  producing  first- 
rate  specimens  is  at  an  end. 

Now,  in  most  gardens  the  requisite  attention  is  not  practicable  ; 
consequently,  the  plants,  in  most  instances,  lose  the  greater  part  of  their 
foliage  long  before  the  time  of  flowering  arrives.  Under  such  circum- 
stances I  consider  it  infinitely  preferable  to  plant  out  than  to  allow  the 
plants  to  suffer  in  the  manner  described. 

Such  soft-wooded  plants  as  it  is  intended  to  put  out  should  be  struck 
from  cuttings  early  in  the  spring,  and  ready  for  planting  as  soon  as  all 
danger  of  frost  is  past.  The  ground  on  which  they  are  to  be  planted 
should  previously  be  well  prepared  by  deep  digging,  and,  if  poor, 
manured.  In  planting  such  plants  as  the  Chrysanthemum,  a  portion 
of  fresh  turfy  loam  should  be  placed  for  each  plant ;  this  will  be  of  the" 
greatest  importance  when  the  time  of  lifting  arrives.  Plants  treated  in 
this  way  will  require  comparatively  little  attention  throughout  the 
summer  ;  a  soaking  of  water  occasionally  during  hot  weather,  and  the 
growth  regulated  by  stopping,  will  be  nearly  all  the  attention  necessary. 
About  the  first  week  in  September  is  the  best  time  to  lift  and  pot 
the  plants.  Previous  to  doing  this  they  should  each  be  thoroughly 
soaked  with  water  ;  if  this  is  attended  to,  and  the  plants  carefully  potted, 
and  placed  in  the  shade  of  a  north  wall,  and  kept  well  watered  at  the 
root,  and  the  foliage  frequently  sprinkled  for  a  few  days,  they  will  in 
a  short  time  commence  growing  without  losing  any  of  their  foliage. 

The  list  of  names  of  such  plants  that  have  been  treated  in  this  manner 
is  at  present  very  limited,  but  I  am  confident  that  it  might  be  practised 


311 


with  a  great  variety  of  hard  and  soft-wooded  plants.  Young  Heaths 
and  Epacrises,  if  planted  in  properly  prepared  borders,  will,  in  the 
course  of  a  season,  make  growth  with  which  pot  plants  would  liave  no 
comparison. 


0.  P. 


HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Although  the  Society's  house  in  Regent-street  did  not  meet  with  a 
purchaser  the  other  day,  when  put  up  to  auction,  we  hear  hopes  are 
entertained  that  an  opportunity  of  disposing  of  it  by  private  treaty  will 
offer  itself  before  long.  In  the  meantime,  we  understand  that  the  Council 
are  actively  engaged  in  organising  a  system  for  the  future  management 
of  the  gardens,  which  in  time  will  make  that  establishment  equal  to 
the  requirements  of  the  Society.  We  are  glad  to  learn,  too,  that  no  rash 
or  sudden  changes  will  take  place,  but  that  the  various  suggestions  and 
plans  for  the  complete  remodelling  of  the  management  and  maintenance 
of  the  gardens  will  undergo  very  careful  deliberation  by  the  Council, 
and  when  the  plan  for  future  guidance  is  fully  determined  on  the 
different  improvements  contemplated  will  be  gradually  introduced,  as 
the  financial  position  of  the  Society  will  enable  the  Council  to  carry 
them  out.  If  all  this  be  true,  we  feel  sure  that  the  Council  are  acting 
wisely,  and  we  hope  a  large  accession  of  new  members  will  be  the  result, 
and  that  another  year  will  see  Chiswick  regain  its  former  position,  if 
it  does  not  entirely  surpass  it,  which,  from  all  we  hear,  it  is  very  Hkely 
to  do. 


The  Bath  Hanoverian  Band  Committee  held  their  last 
Floral  Fete  in  Sydney  Gardens,  on  the  17th  ult.  We  have  before 
alluded  to  the  public  spirit  of  the  gentlemen  forming  the  committee  in 
restoring  horticultural  exhibitions  in  this  city,  and  we  are  pleased  to 
bear  record  to  the  spirited  manner  in  which  the  exhibitors  have  sup- 
ported them  :  as  an  instance  of  this  we  may  cite  Wm.  Simpkins,  Esq., 
of  Everleigh,  Wilts,  who  took  a  van-load  of  large  specimen  plants  a 
distance  of  forty  miles  by  land  carriage,  to  compete  for  their  prizes. 
The  exhibition  was  a  very  varied  and  extensive  one,  and  fully  main- 
tained the  character  of  the  exhibiting  body,  many  of  the  productions 
furnished  being  admirable  specimens  of  good  culture ;  foremost  among 
these  were  the  Fuchsias  exhibited  by  Mr.  Mold,  gardener  to  William 
Simpkins,  Esq. — better  examples  of  good  cultivation  we  never  saw,  and 
that  is  saying  a  good  deal.  Mr.  Moid,  jun.,  of  Devizes,  had  also  some 
fine  plants ;  as  had  • —  Taylor,  Esq.,  Bath.  The  class  in  Miscellaneous 
Stove  and  Greenhouse  plants  was  well  contested,  Mr  Simpkins  being 
first,  and  Mr.  Burton,  of  Laycock,  second.  The  classes  indeed  were 
all  well  contested  :  Heaths,  good  for  the  season ;  cut  flowers,  in  great 
abundance  ;  Mr.  Keynes,  of  Salisbury,  was  first  with  a  fine  collection 
of  Dahlias,  and  besides  had  some  splendid  seedling  flowers,  which  were 
awarded  first-class  certificates.     We  have  not  room  to  enumerate  all 


312  THE    FLORIST. 

the  various  classes,  which  filled  five  or  six  large  tents.  The,  show  of 
fruit  was  extensive.  Wall-fruit  particularly  good,  notwithstanding  its 
scarcity  in  many  places  ;  Pines  only  middling  ;  and  some  of  the  Black 
Grapes  were  a  little  deficient  in  colour.  A  very  numerous  and  fashion- 
able company  visited  the  Gardens  on  their  being  opened  to  the  public  ; 
and  in  the  afternoon  crowds  of  visitors,  brought  by  excursion  trains 
from  the  country,  enjoyed  to  them  the  rare  treat  of  witnessing  a  horti- 
cultural show. 


REVIEWS. 

Priced  Catalogue  of  Plants  sold  hy  Wm.  RolUsson  &  Sons,  Tooting, 

near  London.  1856. 
The  catalogue  for  the  present  year  issued  by  this  well-known  and 
esteemed  firm  is  very  carefully  got  up,  and  contains  an  extensive  assort- 
ment of  general  nursery  stock  not  often  met  with.  The  lists  of  plants  in 
the  different  sections  under  which  they  are  arranged  contain  the  names  of 
nearly  every  plant  worth  growing,  and  where  a  selection  is  made,  it  is 
judiciously  done.  New  and  rare  plants  form  an  important  feature, 
and  are  very  coirectly  described. 


Catalogue  of  Stove,   Greenhouse,  Hardy   Exotic  and  British  Ferns, 

grown  for  sale  by  Robert  Sim,  Nurseryman,  Footscray,  Kent. 
Extremely  well  arranged,  and  the  descriptions  of  each  species  clear, 
comprehensive,  and  correct,  so  far  as  a  hasty  look  over  enabled  us  to 
judge.  The  occasional  hints  on  the  best  way  of  managing  particular 
kinds  will  be  very  valuable  to  young  growers,  to  whose  especial  atten- 
tion we  must  refer  the  author's  judicious  instructions  on  air  and  soil, 
water  and  insects — to  be  found  in  the  introductory  page — as  well  as  to 
his  remarks  on  Ferns  grown  in  glass  cases. 


The  Field  Newspaper. 
We  name  this  weekly  paper  in  our  review,  for  the  purpose  of  adding 
our  testimony  to  the  able  manner  in  which  our  very  old  friend  Mr. 
Errington  conducts  the  gardening  department.  We  should,  in  truth, 
have  been  disappointed  were  it  not  so,  for  Mr.  Errington  has  been  long 
known  to  us  as  a  first-rate  practical  gardener,  as  well  as  a  theorist,  and 
who  perhaps  has  done  more  than  any  other  cultivator  to  effect  a  reform 
in  the  cultivation  of  fruit  trees.     We  wish  him  every  success. 


GOSSIP. 
We  understand  that  Messrs.  Waterer  and  Godfrey,  of  Knaphill,  the 
eminent  growers  of  American  plants,  intend  holding  a  grand  exhibition 
of  that  popular  tribe  of  flowers  at  Manchester,  next  season,  in  connexion 
with  the  Fine  Arts  Exhibition,  which  is  already  creating  much  interest 
in  the  neighbourhood  and  manufacturing  districts  generally. 


313 


CRYSTAL  PALACE  EXHIBITION. 


The  third  and  last  of  these  grand  horticultural  displays  took  place  on 
the  lOtli,  11th,  and  12th  ult.  Considering  the  lateness  of  the  season, 
the  exhibition  was,  in  most  respects,  a  satisfactory  one  ;  for  although 
the  absence  of  the  brilliant  coloured  flowers  which  attract  so  much 
attention  in  May  and  June,  was  sensibly  felt,  there  were  many  inte- 
resting plants  of  another  kind  which  are  often  overlooked  amidst  the 
gay  productions  of  summer,  or  are  not  then  exhibited  at  all.  If  we 
missed  the  Pelargoniums,  Azaleas,  Ericas,  jmd  splendid  groups  of 
Miscellaneous  Plants  and  Orchids,  which  principally  make  up  the  two 
former  exhibitions,  the  eye  had  time  to  admire  the  graceful  and  inte- 
resting appearance  of  the  Ferns  and  Lycopods,  which  were  contributed 
in  abundance,  and  well  repaid  a  close  examination.  The  ever-varying 
shapes  and  tints  of  their  beautiful  fronds  affording  delight  and  gratiti- 
catlon  to  the  eye  of  taste  amply  compensated  for  the  loss  of  their  more 
showy  rivals.  Groups  of  plants  with  ornamental  foliage  were  also  very 
numerous  and  striking  ;  the  collections  exhibited  by  Mr.  Veitch  parti- 
cularly so.  What  noble  and  yet  graceful  forms  the  leaves  of  some 
tropical  plants  assume'! — what  a  study  for  artists  and  modellers  they 
present !  Let  us  hope  that  young  artists  will  avail  themselves  of  the 
opportunity  the  exhibition  of  these  groups  afford,  and  that  we  shall  see 
the  beautiful  foliage  of  many  of  these  plants  transferred  to  decorative 
purposes  connected  with  our  manufactures,  many  branches  of  which 
sadly  want  a  change  in  the  shape  of  new  designs. 

Of  Stove  and  Greenhouse  Plants  there  were  one  or  two  collections, 
and  we  also  noticed  groups  of  Verbenas,  Cockscombs,  Balsams,  Scarlet 
Geraniums,  and  Fuchsias.  Likewise  Achlmenes,  Pitcher- plants,  and 
a  few  of  the  autumn-flowering  varieties  of  Heaths. 

Fruit  was  largely  exhibited,  and  generally  well  grown ;  there  was, 
however,  no  very  striking  productions  to  call  for  particular  notice,  and 
some  exhibitions  were  decidedly  inferior.  Mr.  Tillyard  had  bunches 
of  the  new  Brighton  Grape,  Marchioness  of  Hastings,  which  closely 
resembles  the  White  Nice,  but  is  said  to  be  different :  it  forms  a  large 
somewhat  loose  bunch,  with  oval  berries,  of  a  fine  amber  colour  when 
ripe,  and  has  an  agreeable  flavour.  Mr.  Snow's  Black  Muscat  was 
also  there  in  the  shape  of  a  rather  straggling  bunch,  not  very  large, 
with  oval  berries  of  a  brownish  black  colour  ;  skin  thick,  flavour  very 
musky  and  vinous  ;  stones  rather  large  ;  the  bunches  were  over- ripe, 
and  had  been  in  better  condition.  A  dish  of  Stanwlck  Nectarines, 
from  Devonshire,  are  worthy  of  remark.  They  were  well  grown,  and, 
we  learn,  excellent  in  flavour.  Of  Queen  Pine-apples  there  were  one 
or  two  beautiful  examples  from  Mr.  Barnes  of  Bicton.  Peaches  and 
Nectarines  were  generally  well  ripened,  but  small.  Plums  and  Cherries 
were  good  :  of  the  former,  there  were  some  admirable  specimens  of  the 
Jefferson,  Washington,  Magnum  Bonum,  Kirks,  and  Green-gage  ; 
Cherries,  with  one  exception  (the  Florence),  were  confined  to  the 
Morello  variety.  Of  Pears,  there  were  some  good  Jargonelles.  Apples, 
with  the  exception  of  one  dish  of  Rlbstons,  were  not  particularly  fine. 

As  regards  the  prizes  awarded  under  the  above  heads,  we  may  mention 


314  THE    FLORIST. 

that  they  form  a  long  list,  for  which,  we  regret  to  say,  it  is  wholly  impossible 
for  us  to  find  room.  The  competition  for  them,  in  all  departments, 
was  maintained  with  spirit,  and,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  the  decisions 
of  the  judges  appointed  to  act  on  the  occasion  have  given  general 
satisfaction. 

Cut  flowers,  as  is  usual  at  autumnal  exhibitions,  formed  one  of 
the  great  features  of  the  show.  They  were  very  numerous,  and 
in  some  instances  extremely  good.  The  show  was  too  late  for  Hollyhocks, 
but  this  was  fully  compensated  for  by  the  magnificent  display  of 
Dahlias.  There  were  nine  entries  for  50  varieties,  and  28  entries  of 
24  blooms  each,  besides  a  corresponding  number  for  fancy  kinds  and 
seedlings.  No  seedling  varieties  were  specially  selected  for  prizes,  but 
first  prizes  for  collections  of  seedlings  were  awarded  to  Mr.  Turner,  of 
Slough,  and  Mr.  Keynes,  of  Salisbury ;  the  best  of  which  were  Royal 
Scarlet  (Keynes),  Lady  Popham  (Turner),  Touchstone  (Fellowes), 
Cherub  (Holmes),  Conqueror  (Keynes),  Marion  (Fellowes),  Lady 
Paxton  (Dodds),  King  of  Fancies  (Legge),  Lord  Cardigan  (Keynes), 
Saturn  (Turner),  Mrs.  Legge  (Legge),  Delta  (Turner),  Charles  Perry 
(Keynes),  Edward  (Dodds),  John  Stainton  (Smith),  and  Lady  Franklin 
(Rawlings).  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  awards  *in  this  department: — 
50  Dahlias.  — 1st  prize,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Royal  Nursery,  Slough,  with  Sir 
E,.  Whittington,  Sir  C.  Napier,  Cossack,  Earl  of  Carlisle,  Loid  Palmerston, 
Satirist,  Edmund  Foster,  Kiug  of  Autumn,  Grand  Sultan,  Lollipop,  Kichard 
Cobden,  Lord  Raglan,  Ruby  Queen,  Sir  J.  Franklin,  Miss  Spears,  Exquisite, 
Duchess  of  Wellington,  Capt.  Ingram,  Agincourt,  Yellow  Beauty,  Rosea 
elegans,  Beauty  of  the  Grove,  Sir  F.  Bathurst,  Modele,  Miss  B.  Coutts,  Essex 
Triumph,  Perfection,  Colonel  Windham,  Princess,  Lady  Folkstone,  Chance, 
Lord  Bath,  Admiral  Duudas,  Constancy,  Bessie,  Lady  Popham,  Shaded  Model, 
Tyrian  Prince,  Salvator  Rosa,  Fenella,  Fame,  Butterlly,  Rachel  Rawlings, 
Kclipse,  Delta,  Harbinger,  Cherub,  Mr.  Seldon,  Amazon,  Pre-eminent ;  2nd, 
Mr.  J.  Keynes,  Salisbury,  with  Pre-eminent,  Morning  Star,  Negro,  Rachel 
Rawlings,  Andrew  Dodds,  Amazon,  Salvator  Rosa,  Lord  Palmerston,  Dutche, 
Dr.  Gully,  Lollipop,  Sir  C.  Napier,  Lord  Bath,  Admiral  Dundas,  Miss 
Caroline,  Hampden  Beauty,  Richard  Cobden,  Lord  Cardigan,  Lady  Folkestone, 
Essex  Triumph,  Ruby  Queen,  Princess,  Perfection,  Edward,  Seedling,  Hon. 
Mr.  Herbert,  Lady  Paxton,  Omar  Pacha,  Marshal  Pelissier,  Goldsmith,  Royal 
Scarlet,  Chrysalis,  Seedling,  Duke  of  Devonshire,  Eclipse,  Evening  Star, 
Chameleon,  Grand  Sultan,  Lord  R;iglan,  Exquisite,  Miss  Nightingale,  Seedling, 
Seedling,  The  Nigger,  Annie,  Sir  J.  Franklin,  Seedling,  Duchess  of  Kent, 
Miss  B.  Coutts,  Mrs.  Rawlings;  3rd,  Mr.  1-egge,  ^larsh  Side,  Lower  Edmonton, 
with  General  Faucher,  Duchess  of  Kent,  Mountain  ot  Gold,  Lord  Bath,  Bishop 
of  Hereford,  Fearless,  Hon.  Mr.  Herbert,  Beauty,  Beauty  of  Versailles, 
Amazon,  Seedling,  Brighton  Beauty,  Lilac  King,  Agincourt,  Mrs.  Rawlings, 
King  of  "Yellows,  Robert  Bruce,  Diadem,  Mrs.  C.  Bacon,  Scarlet  King,  Beauty 
of  Sussex,  Annie,  Annie  Salter,  Rachel  Rawlings,  Auticipation,  Ruby  Queen, 
Sir  R.  Whittington,  Ne  Plus  Ultra,  Sir  R.  Peel,  Mons.  Dugere^  Louisa  Glenny, 
Absalom,  Seedling,  Shylock,  Seedling,  Sir  C.  Napier,  Fanny  Keynes,  Seedling, 
Sancho  Panza,  Una,  Mrs.  Legge,  Beauty  of  the  Grove,  Glenlyon,  Goldsmith, 
Morning  Star,  Omar  Pasha,  Crimson  King,  George  Glenny,  Mrs.  Wheeler, 
Duke  of  Wellington ;  4tli,  Mr.  C.  Kimberley,  Nurseryman,  Stoke,  near 
Coventry,  with  Essex  Triumph,  Negro,  Incomparable,  Lord  Palmerston,  Mr. 
Seldon,  Salvator  Rosa,  Corsair,  Lord  Bath,  Constancy,  Bishop  of  Hereford, 
Rachel  Rawlings,  Malvinia,  Seedling,  Mons.  Dugere,  Sir  C.  Napier,  Mrs. 
Rawlings,  Miss  B.  Coutts,  Phantom,  Sir  F.  Bathurst,  Indispensable,  Cossack, 
Agincourt,  Commandeur,  Seedling,  Richard  Cobden,  Amazon,  Roundhead, 
Mr.  Herbert,  Robert  Bruce,  Sir  J.  Franklin,  Lord  Raglan,  George  Villiers, 
Seedling,   Annie   Salter,   Annie,   John    Keynes,    Mr.    Goudry,    Triomphe   de 


OCTOBER.  315 

Roubaix,  Mr.  Charlesworth,  Ruby  Queen,  Pre-eminent,  Admiral,  Lollipop, 
Charlemagne,  Admiral  Dundas,  Laura  Lavington,  Duke  of  Wellington, 
Espartero,  Mrs.  Stowe,  Seedling.  Extra  prizes  to  Mr.  \V.  C.  Drummond, 
Bath,  and  Messrs.  J.  &  J.  Fraser,  Nurserymen,  Lea  Bridge  Road. 

Twenty-four  Dahlias. —  1st  prize,  the  Rev.  C.  Fellowes,  Shottisham  Rectory, 
near  Norwich,  with  Pre-eminent,  Cossack,  Lilac  Model,  Fanny  Keynes,  Mr. 
Seldon,  Robert  Bruce,  Miss  Caroline,  Sir  J.  Franklin,  Fairy  Queen,  Bishop  of 
Hereford,  Touchstone,  Cavalier,  Amazon,  Sir  R.  Whittington,  Rachel  Rawlings, 
Bessie,  Sir  F.  Bathurst,  Miss  B.  Coutts,  Lord  Palmerston,  Marion,  Graud 
Sultan,  Queen  Victoria,  Capt.  Ligram,  Lord  Bath  ;  2nd,  George  Holmes, 
Esq.,  Brook  Lodge,  Norwich,  with  Lord  Palmerston,  Robert  Bruce,  John 
Dory,  Miss  B.  Coutts,  Sir  J.  Franklin,  Cherub,  Sir  F.  Bathurst,  Fanny 
Keynes,  Lollipop,  Susan,  Diadem,  Duke  of  Wellington.  Constancy,  Salvator 
Rosa,  Perfection,  Pre-eminent,  The  Nigger,  Sir  C.  Napier,  Fenella,  Amazon, 
Lord  Bath,  Bessie,  Grand  Sultan,  Duchess  of  Wellington  ;  3rd,  Mr.  Thomas 
Leslie,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Alexander,  Stonehouse,  Ramsgate,  Beauty  of  Thanet, 
Amazon,  ^Ir  Seldon,  John  Keynes,  General  Faucher,  Cossack,  Queen  of  Lilacs, 
Duke  of  Wellington,  Mrs.  Leslie,  Lord  Bath,  Cleopatra,  Agincourt,  Sulphurea 
olegaus,  Comte  de  Chambord,  Grand  Duke,  Robert  Bruce,  J.  Edwards.  Kachel 
Rawlings,  Sir  F.  Bathurst,  Annie  Salter,  Pre-eminent,  Magnificent,  Bishop  of 
Hereford,  Constancy;  4th,  Mr.  J.  Sladden,  Ash,  Sandwich,  Kent,  with 
Duchess  of  Kent,  Cossack,  Pre-eminent,  Fearless,  Mrs.  Seldon,  General 
Faucher,  Bishop  of  Hereford,  Lord  Palmerston,  Amazon,  Richard  Cobden, 
Annie  Salter,  Beauty  of  Thanet,  Admiral  Dundas,  Lilac  King,  Yellow  Beauty, 
Beauty  of  the  Seine,  Lord  Bath,  Lollipop,  Annie,  Rachel  Rawlings,  Salvator 
Rosa,  Perfection,  The  Nigger,  Miss  B.  Coutts.  Extra  prize,  Mr.  John  Cook, 
Florist,  Notting-hill,  London  ;  ditto,  Mr.  C.  J.  Perry,  Birmingham  ;  ditto, 
Mr.  C.  E.  Allen,  Shacklewell.  The  other  exhibitors  in  this  class  were  Mr.  R. 
James,  Rochester  Castle,  Stoke  Newington  ;  Mr.  J.  Slipper,  Florist,  Camden 
Town  ;  Mr.  J.  T.  Hedge,  Reed  Hall,  Colchester  ;  Mr.  Bragg,  Star  Nursery, 
Slough;  Mr.  W.  Wakeman,  New  Church-road,  Camberwell ;  Mr.  C.  Brown, 
Kingswood,  Dulwich  ;  ]\Ir.  John  Walker,  Thame,  Oxon  ;  Mr.  Thomas  Daltou, 
Nottingham ;  Messrs.  Colegate  and  Davies,  Florists,  Tunbridge  ;  Mr.  J. 
Hollingworth,  Maidstone;  Mr.  Fozard,  Hall  Park,  Paddington  ;  Mr.  A.  Hogg, 
Cadlands,  Southampton ;  Mr.  George  Brush,  Gardener  to  E.  Tritton,  Esq., 
Norwood  ;  Mr.  A.  Moffat,  Easton  Park  :  Mr.  W.  Hooker,  Norwood  ; 
Mr.  Gaines,  Battersea. 

Twelve  Fancy  Dahlias. — 1st  prize,  Mr.  H.  Legge,  Florist,  Lower  Edmon- 
ton, with  Duchesse  de  Brabant,  Baron  Alderson,  Princess  Charlotte,  Triomphe 
de  Roubaix,  Empress  Eugenie,  Butterfly,  Gloire  de  Kain,  Miss  Bathurst, 
Fancy  King,  Pigeon,  Topsy,  Amphion  ;  2nd,  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Royal  Nursery, 
Slough,  with  Topsy,  Mrs.  Willis,  Mutabilis,  Miss  Frampton,  Butterfly.  Miss 
Herbert,  Elizabeth,  Comet,  Magician,  Mrs.  Hansard,  Princess  Charlotte, 
Pigeon ;  3rd  prize,  Mr.  John  Keynes,  Nurseryman,  Salisbury,  with  Comet, 
Polyphemus,  Kmpress  Eugenie,  Charles  Perry,  Crystal  Palace,  Tam  o'Shanler, 
Conqueror,  Mrs.  Spary,  Lady  Paxton,  Florence  Nightingale,  Spot,  Lady  Scott 
Douglas;  4th,  the  Rev.  C.  Fellowes,  Shottisham  Rectory,  Norwich,  with 
Empress  Eugenie,  Comet,  Topsy,  Inimitable,  Duchess  of  Kent,  Cockatoo, 
Lady  Grenville,  Jonas,  Triomphe  de  Roubaix,  Kossuth,  Miss  Ward,  Miss 
Frampton.  Extra  prize,  Messrs.  Fraser,  Lea  Brjdge-road  Nursery;  ditto,  ^ir. 
C.  Kimberley,  Stoke,  near  Coventry  ;  ditto,  Mr.  Bragg,  Star  Nursery,  Slough ; 
ditto,  Mr.  W.  C.  Drummond,  Nurseryman,  Bath.  Mr.  Walker,  Florist, 
Thame,  Oxon;  Mr.  George  Brush,  Gardener  to  J.  Tritton,  Esq.,  Norwood ; 
Mr.  J.  Sladden,  Ash,  Sandwich,  Kent  ;  Mr.  C.  J.  Perry,  Handsworth, 
Birmingham  ;  Mr.  C.  Fozard,  Hall  Park,  Paddington  ;  Mr.  S.  Taylor, 
Nottingham  ;  and  Mr.  Gaines,  Battersea,  also  exhibited  in  this  class.  Extra 
prizes  were  awarded  to  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Royal  Nursery,  Slough,  for  a  collection 
of  Seedling  Dahlias,  consisting  of  four  blooms  each  of  Fenella,  Delta,  Roland, 
Satirist,  Duchess  of  Beaufort,  Saturn,  Lady  Pophara,  and  Cherub— three  each 
of  Marion  and  Touchstone  ;  Mr.  J.  Keynes,  Salisbury,  for  a  collection  of 
Seedling  Dahlias,  viz.,  six  blooms  of  Royal  Scarlet,  three  of  Edward,  three  of 
Lord  Cardigan,  six  of  Polyphemus,  six  (fancy)  Lady  Scott  Douglas,  three  (ditto) 


316  THE    FLORIST. 

Charles  Perry,  six  (ditto)  Conqueror,  three  (ditto)  Tam  o'Shanter.  Seedling 
Dahlias. — Three  blooms  of  Lady  Franklin  were  exhibited  by  Mr.  Rawlings, 
Bethnal  Green ;  three  blooms  of  Albion,  by  Mr.  C.  E.  Allen,  Shacklewell, 
Loudon  ;  three  bhjoms  of  seedling  M.M.,  and  a  miscellaneous  collection 
unnamed,  by  Mr.  John  Slipper,  Camden  Town  ;  four  blooms  of  fancy  Dahlia, 
Fancy  King,  by  ilr.  Legge,  Lower  Edmonton  ;  three  blooms  of  Samuel  Brown, 
three  of  Beauty  of  Haudsworth,  and  three  (fancy)  of  Blushing  Bride,  by  Mr. 
C.  J.  Perry,  Handsworth,  Birmingham  ;  three  blooms  of  White  Seedling  and 
three  of  Mr.  Joseph  White,  by  Mr.  G.  Brigg,  Handsworth,  Birmingham. 

Twenty-four  Hollyhocks,  cut  blooms. —  1st  prize  to  Messrs.  A.  Paul  &  Son, 
Cheshunt,  for  Glory,  Solfaterre,  Louis  Napoleon,  Sulphur  Queen,  Glory  of 
Cheshuut,  Brennus,  Beauty  of  Cheshunt,  Village  Maid,  Miss  Ashley,  Hon. 
Mrs.  Ashley,  Pearl,  Lord  Jocelyn,  Lizzy  Improved,  Seedling,  Lemonade,  Seed- 
ling, Memnon,  Avalanche,  Rosy  Morn,  Purple  Perfection,  Queen  of  VVhites, 
White  Globe ;  2nd,  Mr.  W.  Chater,  Saffron  Walden,  Essex,  with  Sulphur 
Queen  improved,  Lilacina,  Mr.  J.  Clark,  Golconda,  Surpass  Lizzy,  Black 
Prince,  Pourpre  de  Tyre,  Cerise  Unique,  Phoebe,  Sceptre  d'or.  Fearless,  Pre- 
eminent, Lizzy  Roberts,  William,  Sulphurea,  Geaut  des  Batailles,  Queen  of 
Oude,  Lizzy,  Incomparable,  Ignea,  Purple  Perfection,  Seedling,  Leonora, 
Seedling ;  3rd,  to  Mr.  C.  Turner,  Royal  Nursery,  Slough,  with  Comet,  Lemon 
Queen,  Souvenir,  Brennus,  Mr.  Parsons,  Vulcan,  Black  Prince,  Argo,  Beauty 
of  Cheshunt,  Lilac  Model,  Julia,  Lizzy,  Crimson  Perfection,  Miss  Ashley,  Ruby, 
Eleanor,  Pourpre  de  Tyre,  Walden  Rival,  Model  of  Perfection,  Orestes,  Canary 
Bird,  Unique,  White  Globe,  Eugenie  ;  4th,  Mr.  Bragg,  Star  Nursery,  Slough, 
varieties  not  named. 

Hollyhocks,  Miscellaneous  Collection  in  Spikes. — 1st,  Mr.  W.  Chater, 
Nurseryman,  Saffron  Walden,  for  Mr.  J.  Clark,  Sir  W.  Middleton,  Seedling  154, 
White  Globe,  Purple  Perfection,  Delicata,  Ignea,  Jabez  Chater,  Sulphur 
Queen  Improved,  Walden  Gem,  Lilacina,  Alexandrina,  Lizzy  Roberts,  Gol- 
conda, Lady  Middleton ;  2nd,  Messrs.  A.  JPaul  &  Son,  Cheshunt,  with  Beauty 
of  Cheshunt,  Seedling,  Purple  Perfection,  Seedling,  Lizzy  Improved,  Seedling, 
Walden  Gem,  Seedling,  Queen  of  Whites,  Seedling,  Louis  Napoleon,  Seedling, 
Solfaterre,  Rosy  Morn. 

Twenty-four  German  Asters. — 1st,  R.  H.  Betteridge,  Esq.,  Milton  Hill, 
Abingdon,  Berks,  with  some  of  the  finest  flowers  ever  seen;  2nd,  Mr.  J. 
Walker,  Thame,  Oxon  ;  3rd,  Mr.  Thos.  Westbrook,  Abingdon ;  4th,  Mr.  R. 
James,  Rochester  Castle,  Stoke  Newington ;  Extra  Prize,  Mr.  John  Lewis, 
Hampton  Wick  ;  ditto,  Mr.  James  August,  Beddington.  The  following  also 
exhibited  in  this  class  :  Mr.  S.  Evans,  gardener  to  C.  N.  Newdegate,  Esq.,  M.P.; 
Mr.  W.  Hudson,  Wandsworth;  Mr.  G.  Smith,  Wade's  Hill,  Herts;  Mr.  W. 
C.  Drummond,  Bath  ;  Mr.  J.  T.  Hedge,  Colchester  ;  Messrs.  Colegate  &  Davis, 
Tunbridge ;  Mr.  Gaines,  Battersea ;  Mr.  W.  Wakeman,  Camberwell ;  Mr.  C. 
Brown,  Uulwich ;  J.  Thomassett,  Esq.  (no  address)  ;  Mr.  P.  Parker,  gardener 
to  P.  Secretan,  Esq.,  Croydon  ;  Messrs.  J.  &  J.  Eraser,  Lea  Bridge  Road ; 
W.  Hodson,  Esq.,  Leytou,  Essex;  Mr.  J.  Bates,  Oxford;  Mr.  W.  Hooker, 
Norwood  ;  Mr.  Taylor,  gardener  to  Hon.  A.  Willoughby,  Twickenham ;  Mr. 
H.Graham,  gardener  to  J.  J.  Cope,  Esq.,  Epsom;  Mr.  Bragg,  Slough;  Mr. 
W.  Monk,  Tottenham  Grove;  Messrs.  A.  Paul  &  Son,  Cheshunt;  Mr.  J. 
George,  gardener  to  J.  W.  Nicholson,  Esq.,  Stamford  Hill ;  Mr.  G.  Lawrence, 
gardener  to  H.  Yates,  Esq.,  Penshurst,  Kent ;  Mr.  G.  P.  Francis,  Hertford. 

Pansies  were  exhibited  by  Mr.  James  August,  Beddington,  Surrey  ;  ditto 
Mr.  W.  Bragg,  Star  Nursery,  Slough. 

Verbenas. —  1st,  Mr.  Weatherill,  Hornsey  Road. 

Fifty  Roses.— 1st,  Mr.  J  Mitchell,  Maresfield,  with  H.P.  La  Reine,  H.P. 
Souvenir  de  Levesou  Gower,  Tea  Vicomtess  de  Cazes,  B.  Acidalie,  H.P.  L'Enfant 
du  Mont  Carmel,  B.  Dupetit  Thenars,  H.P.  William  Jesse,  B.  Louise  Odier, 
H.P.  Auguste  Mie,  H.P.  Geant  des  Batailles,  H.P.  St.  Jean,  B.  Souvenir  de 
Malmaisou,  H.P.  Madame  Hector  Jaquin,  N.  La  Biche,  H.P.  Soleil  d'Auster- 
litz,  B.  Pourpre  de  Tyre,  N.  Ophirie,  H.P.  Baron  de  Kermont,  Tea  Abricote, 
H.P.  Leon  Plee,  Tea  Madame  Macey,  H.P.  Pourpre  Royale,  Tea  Safranot, 
H.P.  Theocrite,  H.P.  Louis  Bonaparte,  H.P.  Baron  de  Heckeren,  H.P.  Comte 
de  Paris,  B.  Aurore  de  Grand,  H.P.   Duchess  of  Sutherland,  C.  Archduke 


OCTOBER.  317 

Charles,  H.P.  William  Griffiths,  H.P.  Pius  the  Ninth,  Tea  Louise  de  Savoie, 
H.P.  Madame  Maisou,  H.P.  Prince  Chipetouzikoff,  H.P.  Due  de  Nemours, 
H.P.  Caroline  de  Sansalles,  H.P.  Jules  Margottin,  H.P.  Le  Leon  des  Combats, 
Tea  Gloire  de  Dijon,  H.P.  Queen  Victoria,  H.P.  Paul  Desprez,  Tea  Virginalis, 
H.P.  Lady  Shelley,  Baronne  Prevost,  HP.  General  Jacqueminot,  H.P.  Alex- 
andrine Bachmetefl',  H.P.  Louise  Peyronney  ;  2ud,  Messrs.  A.  Paul  &  Son, 
Cheshunt ;  dissimilar  to  the  above  stand  were,  B.  Francis  Henricq,  B.  Queen, 
Tea  Madame  Bracey,  Madame  de  St.  Joseph,  B.  Aurore  de  Guide,  H.P.  Baron 
Larry,  Tea  Madame  Villeimor,  Tea  Safrano,  Tea  Devoniensis,  T.  Pombrienne, 
Tea  Narcisse,  Tea  Originale,  C.  Madame  Bosanquet,  H.P.  Comte  de  Nanteuil, 
B.  Amosa,  H.  P.  Triomphe  de  Paris,  H.P.  Duchess  d'Orleans,  B.  Vorace, 
B.  Marquis  d'Ossory,  H.P.  IVIadame  Duchere,  B.  Pierre  de  St.  Cyr,  HP.  Joan 
of  Arc,  H.P.  Count  Bobinsky,  N.  Ami  Vibert,  B.  Edouard  Desfosses,  Tea 
Niphetos  ;  3rd,  Messrs.  H.  Lane  &  Son,  Berkharapstead  ;  4th,  Mr.  E.  P. 
Francis,  Nurseryman,  Hertford.  Messrs.  J.  and  J.  Cranston,  King's  Acre, 
Hereford ;  and  Mr.  E.  R.  Greenus,  Nurseryman,  "Watford,  also  exhibited  in 
this  class. 

For  Twenty-five  Roses. — 1st,  Mr.  Geo.  Brush,  gardener  to  J.  Tritton,  Esq., 
Norwood,  Surrey,  with  B.  Queen,  B.  Palais  du  Crystal,  H.P,  Josephine 
Gordon;  H.P.  Auguste  Mie,  B.  Prince  Albert,  H.P.  Caroline  de  Sansalles, 
Tea  Mrs.  Bosanquet,  Tea  Gloire  ie  Dijon,  H.P.  Dupetit  Thouars,  H.P. 
Madame  Desprez,  H.P.  Paul  Desprez,  Tea  Ophir,  B.  Madame  de  Longchamps, 
Tea  Goubault,  H.P.  Vorace,  H.P.  Marquis  Boccella,  H.P.  Dr.  Jouillard, 
H.P.  Madame  Andre,  H.P.  Gen.  Jacqueminot,  N.  La  Bicbe,  and  five  others; 
2nd,  Mr.  S.  Evans,  Adbury,  Nuneaton  ;  3rd,  A.  Rowland,  Esq.,  Lewisham. 

Twenty-four  Roses. —  1st,  Mr.  Mitchell,  Maresdeld;  dissimilar  to  his  first 
stand  were,  Tea  Adam,  Tea  Josephine  Malton,  H.P.  Reine  des  Fleurs,  H.P. 
Capt.  John  Franklin,  H.P.  Col.  Rougemont,  Tea  Elise  Sauvage,  H.P."  Eugene 
Sue,  H.P.  Madame  Oger,  B.  Souvenir  de  Malmaison ;  2nd,  Mr.  S.  Evans, 
Adbury,  Nuneaton  ;  3rd,  Mr.  E.  P.  Francis,  Hertford  ;  4th,  Mr.  G.  Wortley, 
gardener  to  Mrs.  Maubert,  Norwood  ;  Mr.  G.  Brush,  Norwood,  Surrey,  dis- 
qualified ;  Mr.  Graham,  gardener  to  J.  G.  Cope,  Esq.,  West  Hill  Lodge, 
Epsom,  also  exhibited  in  this  class. 

It  will  therefore  be  seen  from  the  number  of  entries  that  the  judges 
had  no  easy  task  to  perform  in  adjudicating  the  prizes,  considering  the 
brief  space  of  time  allowed  them  for  that  purpose. 

Before  concluding  our  report,  we  must  again  repeat  our  conviction, 
that  the  Palace  is  not  the  place  for  holding  horticultural  exhibitions  ; 
nothing  is  seen  to  advantage,  owing  to  the  strong  glare  of  light  and  the 
many  detracting  objects  around.  We  are  not  alone  in  our  views  on 
this  point,  for  it  was  the  general  opinion  of  all  the  exhibitors,  and 
however  advantageous  the  Palace  may  be  to  the  public — as  a  safeguard 
against  a  rainy  day — it  is  by  no  means  calculated  to  show  plants  off  to 
the  same  advantage  as  a  canvas  tent. 


CALENDAR  FOR  THE  MONTH. 

Auriculas. — These  having  been  repotted,  and  attended  to  as  directed 
last  month,  continue  the  directions  there  given. 

Azaleas. — No  time  should  be  lost  in  getting  these  into  their  winter 
quarters  ;  the  pots  should  be  well  washed,  and  the  plants  neatly  tied. 
Look  carefully  over  them  for  thrips,  and  any  filants  found  infested  with 
them  should  be  placed  in  a  pit  and  be  well  fumigated  with  tobacco 
three   or  four  times.     Those  plants  that  are  well  set  with  bloom  buds 


318  THE    FLORIST. 

should  be  arranged  in  the  most  Hghtsome  places  ;  the  others  may  be 
placed  in  the  more  shaded  part  of  the  house. 

Camellias. — Clean,  tie,  and  get  these  into  their  winter  quarters ; 
thin  the  buds  when  they  are  set  rather  thickly. 

Carnations  and  Ficotees. — Complete  taking  off  the  layers  as  soon 
as  it  can  be  accomplished,  getting  them  established  in  small  pots. 
Those  which  have  already  drawn  root  should  have  plenty  of  air  both 
night  and  day,  and  but  little  water,  keeping  the  plants  clear  of  dead 
foliage  and  green-fly. 

Cinerarias. — These  will  be  growing  fast  at  this  season  and  are  liable 
to  be  attacked  with  mildew,  the  greatest  of  enemies  to  this  plant.  If 
taken  in  time,  however,  it  is  easily  kept  under  by  dusting  the  leaves 
infested  with  sulphur.  Give  a  good  shift  to  such  plants  as  are  required 
for  early  blooming,  with  plenty  of  growing  room. 

Cold  Frames. — Mignonette,  Stocks,  Neapolitan  Violets,  &c.,  in  frames, 
will  require  all  the  exposure  possible  in  dry  weather.  In  many  places 
these  are  turned  to  a  variety  of  uses.  •  Whatever  plants  are  placed  in 
them,  every  endeavour  should  be  made  to  get  the  growths  well 
matured  ;  when  this  is  accomplished,  by  keeping  them  tolerably  dry 
and  giving  abundance  of  air  when  possible,  a  very  great  variety  of 
plants  can  be  safely  wintered  in  these  structures. 

Conservatory  and  Show-house. — All  large  plants  which  have  stood 
out  during  summer  should  now  be  got  in  without  loss  of  time  ;  the  pots 
should  be  well  cleaned,  and  the  plants  tied  if  they  require  it.  Creepers 
done  flowering  should  be  thinned  and  cut  back,  so  as  to  give  all  the 
light  possible.  Do  not  by  any  means  crowd  the  plants,  and  do  not 
admit  either  a  sickly  or  bad  specimen  into  the  house.  Tastefully 
arrange  the  flowering  plants  about  the  house  ;  ventilate  freely  both 
night  and  day,  and  keep  everything  in  the  neatest  order. 

ilucumbers. — Plants  for  winter  hearing  should  have  abundance  of  air 
during  the  whole  of  the  month  if  the  weather  permit — they  should 
have  a  steady  bottom  heat  and  a  night  temperature  of  about  65°. 
Plants  in  bearing  will  require  a  moist  warm  atmosphere,  and  should 
occasionally  receive  a  soaking  of  liquid  manure. 

Dahlias. — No  opportunity  should  be  lost  of  gathering  seed  on  a  dry 
day,  as  well  as  marking  promising  seedlings — such  as  are  thought 
worthy  of  a  trial  the  second  season.  These  should  be  of  a  new  colour, 
dissimilar  in  character  from  existing  varieties,  or  of  greatly  improved 
form.  Pot  roots  may  be  stored  towards  the  end  of  the  month,  if  in  a 
dry  state.  Next  month  wiU  be  time  enough  for  taking  up  roots  from 
the  ground. 

Flower  Garden. — The  late  cold,  wet,  and  windy  weather  has  had 
its  effect  on  these  ;  those  rich  masses  of  colours,  which  but  a  short  time 
ago  reflected  such  briUiancy,  are  now  beginning  to  fade — a  few  degrees 
of  frost,  and  then  all  their  glory  for  this  season  is  gone.  Collect  seeds 
of  any  desirable  sorts.  Take  up  and  pot  all  plants  intended  to  be  kept 
over  the  winter.  If  a  stock  of  cuttings  be  not  already  got  in,  not  an 
hour  should  he  lost  in  doing  so.  '  Clear  away  every  plant  as  soon  as  it 
becomes  unsightly ;  by  clearing  away  all  dead  leaves  and  decaying 
stems,  and  by  keeping  everything  neat  and  trim,  a  tolerable  appearance 


OCTOBER.  319 

may  be  maintained  to  the  end  of  the  month,  unless  very  severe  or  wet 
v^'eather  sets  in.  Plant  bulbs  as  soon  as  the  beds  are  at  Hbcrty. 
Where  alterations  are  intended  proceed  with  them  at  once,  whilst  the 
days  are  a  tolerable  length. 

Forcing  Ground. — Sow  French  Beans.  Prepare  sHght  hotbeds  for 
salads,  and  get  a  good  heap  of  fermenting  materials  together,  to  be  in 
readiness  for  covering  Seakale  and  other  [lurposes. 

Fruit  (Jmrdi/). — Gather  Apples  and  Pears  on  fine  days;  they  should 
be  all  stored  before  the  end  of  the  month  ;  the  greatest  care  should  be 
taken  in  gathering  it,  as  they  soon  show  the  slightest  bruise.  Look 
over  the  fruit  previously  got  in.  The  house  should  be  kept  cool  and 
dry.  We  always  fasten  a  card  on  the  shelf  in  front  of  each  sort — on 
it  we  write  the  name  of  each  sort,  the  date  when  gathered,  and  after- 
wards the  time  when  fit  for  table  :  annual  records  of  this  description 
are  of  considerable  interest.  If  the  weather  should  be  wet,  late  Plums 
— such  as  Golden  Drop,  Imperatrice,  &c. — should  be  gathered,  and 
placed  in  an  airy  situation  in  the  fruit  room.  All  fruit  should  be  quite 
dry  when  gathered.  Look  over  Peach  and  Nectarine  trees,  and  remove 
the  superfluous  shoots  if  there  be  any.  Make  all  necessary  preparations 
for  the  planting  of  fruit  trees,  which  may  now  be  proceeded  with. 
The  first  and  most  material  point  to  be  attended  to  is  the  thorough 
drainage  of  the  borders  ;  if  this  be  not  sufficient  it  is  of  no  use  planting 
fruit  trees,  as  there  will  be  nothing  but  disappointment  eventually,  even 
if  they  should  make  a  little  progress  for  a  year  or  two.  If  the  drainage 
is  perfect,  and  the  border  a  good  loamy  soil,  then,  with  proper  atten- 
tion, there  will  be  few  disappointments.  In  planting,  be  careful  to 
spread  the  roots  well  out,  put  fine  soil  over  them,  but  do  not  tread  on  it, 
the  autumn  rain  will  soon  settle  the  soil.  Cut  out  the  old  Raspberry 
canes,  if  not  previously  done — new  plantations  may  now  be  made. 
Remove  all  runners  from  Strawberry  plants,  if  not  already  done,  and 
manure  and  dig  about  those  in  rows. 

Greenhouse  {Imrd- wooded?) — Now  the  plants  are  housed,  air  should 
be  admitted  abundantly.  In  arranging  the  plants,  set  the  more  delicate 
and  tender  kinds  in  the  more  sheltered  situations.  Make  everything 
as  neat  and  tidy  as  possible.  Sofi-vrooded  plants. — These  should  all 
be  housed  without  delay,  and  after  they  are  all  got  in  a  slight  fumiga- 
tion is  necessary,  to  cleanse  them  thoroughly  before  winter.  Scarlet 
Salvias,  Ageratums,  &c.,  if  housed  before  they  suffer  from  the  weather, 
will  continue  gay  for  a  long  time. 

Hollyhocks. — Like  the  Dahlia,  gather  seed  as  often  as  it  can  be  pro- 
cured ripe.  Cuttings  may  still  be  put  in.  Choice  kinds  should  be 
preserved  by  potting  up  the  roots.  These  produce  cuttings  during  the 
winter,  which  strike  readily  in  gentle  heat. 

Kitchen  Garden. — Continue  to  earth  up  Celery  when  dry,  and  to 
tie  up  Endive  to  blanch.  Towards  the  end  of  the  month  take  up  Carrots, 
Parsnips,  Beet,  Salsafy,  Scorzonera,  &c.,  and  store  away  when  dry  ; 
also  late  crops  of  Potatoes.  Plant  out  a  good  breadth  of  Cabbage. 
Plant  Lettuces  on  sheltered  borders.  Plant  Cauliflowers  under  glasses 
— also  prick  out  a  lot,  either  into  frames  or  a  sheltered  situation,  and  a 
few  potted  and  kept  in  frames  over  winter,  when  planted  out  in  spring, 


320  THE    FLORIST. 

will  oftentimes  come  in  early  and  be  very  useful.  Clear  the  garden  of 
all  weeds,  all  dead  and  decaying  vegetables,  and  throw  up  into  steep 
ridges  all  vacant  ground.  Commence  intended  alterations.  Bear  in 
mind  that  on  heavy  soils  thorough  drainage  is  the  basis  of  good 
cultivation. 

Orchard  House. — When  all  the  fruit  is  gathered,  every  attention 
should  be  given  to  the  perfect  maturing  of  the  buds  ;  a  dry  atmosphere 
and  thorough  ventilation  will  go  a  great  way  towards  effecting  this ;  the 
plants  will  require  but  little  or  no  water  at  roots. 

Pansies. — Such  as  are  required  for  wintering  in  pots  should  now  be 
potted  up.  Strong  plants  should  be  planted  in  beds  for  early  flowering, 
and  the  small  late-struck  plants  wintered  in  stores,  which  may  be 
planted  out  late  in  March  for  the  second  bloom.  Towards  the  end  of 
the  month  plant  out  seedlings. 

Pelargoniums. — Now  is  the  time  to  make  a  strong  healthy  plant, 
such  as  cannot  fail  to  produce  a  crop  of  fine  healthy  bloom  next  season. 
The  principal  cause  of  failure  in  the  growth  of  the  Pelargonium  is  a 
want  of  attention  to  this  one  point — the  plant  should  be  grown  princi- 
pally in  autumn,  and  not  have  all  to  do  in  the  spring.  During  winter 
it  should  be  comparatively  quiet :  at  no  time  let  the  houses  become 
cold  and  damp. 

Pinks. — If  not  already  planted  out,  as  directed  last  month,  no  time 
should  be  lost  in  doing  so,  that  the  plants  may  become  established 
before  winter  sets  in. 

Pleasure  Ground. — Boiling,  mowing,  and  sweeping  must  be  regu- 
larly attended  to  ;  the  leaves  will  now  begin  to  be  troublesome.  This 
is  the  season  to  proceed  with  alterations.  No  time  should  be  lost  in 
transplanting  of  large  evergreens ;  when  properly  managed,  trees  of 
almost  any  size  may  with  the  greatest  safety  be  removed. 

Roses. — A  more  than  ordinarily  severe  attack  of  mildew  has  sadly 
marred  the  autumnal  bloom  in  most  localities,  but  the  dry  weather  will 
so  ensure  the  perfect  ripening  of  the  wood,  that  they  may  be  safely 
removed  earlier  than  usual.  Where  additions  to  or  new  plantations  are 
in  contemplation,  no  time  should  be  lost  in  removing  some  of  the  old 
soil,  breaking  up  the  under  spit,  and  replacing  it  with  fresh  loam  and 
rotten  manure  in  equal  proportions.  Give  orders  for  plants  early,  to 
prevent  disappointment.  Roses  in  pots. — Those  intended  for  earliest 
forcing  should  now  be  cut  back  and  repotted  in  some  good  soil,  and  kept 
close  and  well  watered,  that  their  new  roots  may  be  made  before 
introducing  them  into  the  greenhouse. 

Stove. — The  most  important  operations  in  this  department,  at  this 
season,  consist  in  keeping  the  plants  clean  and  neat  and  properly 
watered.     The  temperature  at  night  should  not  much  exceed  65°. 

Strawberries  for  forcing. — These  should  now  have  very  little  water 
given  to  them  ;  the  principal  point  to  he  aimed  at  is  to  get  the  crowns 
as  well  formed  and  matured  as  possible  before  the  short  dark  days. 
Pinch  off  all  runners,  and  stir  up  the  sm-face  of  the  soil  when  dry,  if  it 
be  cakey. 

Tulips. — Keep  the  beds  dry,  in  readiness  for  planting  early  in 
November.     The  soil  should  be  frequently  turned. 


v^ 


V, 


j-'MJ^.sMi2i^         .  N"!  Ccmninccta    Splmdms~¥''2Parsorusi- 
Hate  113 


Trznud  hy  C  Outiat 


J'"AruiretvsJ)dt  &  Ztnco 


OlDeliscaiua  Talcterrima 

Tlale  120, 


IrmUi  h  C  Outiot 


NOVEMBER.  321 

OBELISCARIA  PULCHERRIMA. 

(Plate  119.) 

Although  this  plant  appears  to  have  been  long  known  to 
botanists,  a  brief  description  of  it  being  given  in  De  Candolle's 
"Prodromus,"  vol.  v.,  page  559,  pnblished  in  1836,  yet  it  is 
only  within  the  last  year  or  two  that  it  has  found  its  way  into 
British  gardens,  a  circumstance  somewhat  remarkable,  considering 
the  great  variety  of  plants  that  have  been  from  time  to  time 
introduced  by  means  of  seed  from  Texas,  of  which  country  it  is 
believed  to  be  a  native.  For  an  opportunity  of  placing  the 
annexed  representation  before  our  readers  we  are  indebted  to 
Messrs.  Carter  &  Co.,  Seedsmen,  238,  High  Holborn,  by  whom 
it  was  introduced  and  raised,  and  flowered  in  the  latter  part  of 
June  in  the  present  summer. 

It  is  of  erect  growth,  with  slender  stems,  smooth,  and  slightly 
channelled.  The  leaves  are  winged,  with  the  lobes  deeply 
divided.  The  latter  are  long  and  narrow,  and  rather  distant 
from  one  another.  The  flowers  are  solitary  and  have  a  striking 
appearance,  not  unlike  those  of  the  French  Marigold,  the  radiant 
florets  being  reflexed  and  of  a  brownish  copper  colour,  with  the 
points  and  margin  deep  yellow.  The  centre  is  elevated,  ovate- 
oblong,  very  much  resembling  an  acorn ;  and  in  this  respect  it 
approaches  Rudbeckia  columnaris,  a  species  of  a  genus  to  which 
Obeliscaria  appears  to  be  very  closely  related. 

We  are  unable  to  say  whether  it  is  a  perennial  or  not,  but  we 
would  recommend  it  to  be  treated  as  a  half-hardy  annual  until  it 
is  better  known. 


OPEN   BRICK   WALLS   versus   PROTECTION. 

In  resuming  this  case  for  the  prosecution,  which  it  will  be  remembered 
was  adjourned  (see  p.  294  of  our  last  number)  in  consequence  of  the 
non-attendance  of  witnesses,  some  slight  murmurings  were  heard,  when 
it  was  announced  that  several  of  them  were  still  uncourteously  absent, 
although  subpoenaed,  and  their  travelling  expenses  paid  ;  however,  it 
was  ultimately  agreed  to  proceed  without  them,  although  reluctantly  on 
the  part  of  prosecutor,  as  he  wished  to  give  defendant  every  available 
advantage.  The  next  witness  was  Mr.  Wm.  Taylor,  gardener  to  J. 
Costar,  Esq.,  Streatham,  Surrey,  who  stated  that  the  crops  were  good 
in  his  neiglibourhood ;  that  in  some  cases  defendant  was  used  as  nets 
and  canvas,  but  in  most  places  he  was  not  admitted,  and  the  crops  are 
as  good  or  better  than  those  covered,  and  he  has  generally  seen  equally 
good  crops  upon  unprotected  as  upon  protected  trees,  and  in  most  cases 
he  finds  the  uncovered  trees  the  most  healthy.     This  witness  further 

NEW   SERIES,   VOL.    TI.,   NO.  LXXI.  Y 


322  THE    FLORIST. 

stated  that  he  considered  the  dramage  of  borders  is  not  so  well 
attended  to  as  it  ought  to  be. 

Mr.  Thomas  Hunter,  Walsingham,  Norfolk,  was  here  brought 
forward,  and  his  statement  was  that  the  crops  were  very  thin  indeed 
for  miles  around  him  ;  that  protection  was  used  in  several  instances  in 
the  form  of  Haythorn's  netting,  but  he  had  as  much  fruit  where  no 
covering  was  used,  and  more  Apricots  upon  the  uncovered  than  upon 
the  covered  trees,  and  crops  upon  an  open  east  wall  were  far  better  than 
upon  a  covered  south  one  ;  and  this  is  generally  the  case  with  him, 
although  the  trees  are  in  equal  health  and  vigour  ;  his  subsoil  consists 
of  chalk,  consequently  artificial  drainage  is  quite  unnecessary. 

Mr.  Poole,  Pockington  Hall,  Coventry,  next  deposed  to  the  crops 
being  very  short  in  his  neighbourhood :  he  never  remembered  such  a 
failure  ;  that  a  part  of  his  Peaches  and  Apricots  were  covered  with 
Haythorn's  hexagon  and  old  herring  nets  ;  that  his  subsoil  being  gravel 
needed  no  artificial  drainage ;  the  best  crops  he  has  this  season  were 
upon  unprotected  trees  ;  still  witness  considers  a  broad  portable  coping 
necessary. 

Mr.  Wm.  McPherson,  gardener  to  Lord  Calthorpe,  Perry  Hall, 
Birmingham,  here  stated  that  the  wall-fruit  crops  in  his  neighbourhood 
were  almost  a  complete  failure,  and  that  he  had  used  Haythorn's 
hexagon  net ;  also  that  his  borders  are  naturally  drained  ;  he  also 
stated  that  wherever  he  had  been  during  the  past  season  he  had  not 
seen  anything  like  a  crop,  whether  protected  or  not,  they  all  having 
shared  the  same  fate,  even  upon  walls  covered  with  glass  to  protect  them. 
One  place  he  was  at  there  was  a  quantity  of  Pear  trees  under  the 
glazed  walls,  but  there  were  not  twelve  Pears  on  all  the  trees. 

Mr.  Peter  Grieve,  Culford,  Bury  St.  Edmonds,  was  next  called.  He 
stated  that  the  crops  of  Peaches,  Nectarines,  Apricots,  and  Morello 
Cherries  were  very  good  with  him :  that  Plums,  Pears,  and  Apples 
were  very  deficient ;  he  has  a  large  portion  of  wall  twelve  feet  high,  a 
portion  of  which  he  always  covers  with  straw  ropes  and  a  part  he 
leaves  exposed,  and  this  season  the  crops  upon  the  unprotected  are  quite 
equal  to  the  protected  portion ;  the  subsoil  consisting  of  gravel,  artificial 
drainage  is  unnecessary.  Upon  cross  examination  this  witness  stated 
that  he  had  not  always  seen  as  good  crops  upon  unprotected  as  upon 
protected  trees,  and  his  conviction  was  that  a  slight  protection  of  some 
kind  was  indispensable,  especially  for  Apricots.  (This  witness's  mode  of 
protecting  being  rather  novel,  we  will  give  it  at  length  some  future  day.) 

Mr.  Wm.  Tolson,  Copped  Hall,  Tolteridge,  Herts,  next  deposed  to 
the  crops  being  very  moderate  in  his  neighbourhood  ;  that  Haythorn's 
netting  was  used  for  Peaches,  but  Apricots  were  fully  exposed,  and 
good  crops  were  the  result,  although  the  blossoms  were  actually  covered 
with  black  frost  this  spring ;  his  subsoil  being  very  porous,  no  drainage 
is  needed,  and  from  his  general  experience  he  would  very  warily  protect. 

This  being  the  conclusion  of  the  witnesses  for  the  prosecution, 
permission  was  asked  to  make  one  or  two  extracts  to  show  the  light 
defendant  was  looked  upon  by  old  horticultural  writers  of  the  last 
century.  Walter  Nicol,  a  very  celebrated  practical  gardener  and 
author,  says  in  his  works  on  gardening,  a.d.  1798,  "  It  is  a  common 


NOVEMBER.  323 

practice  to  screen  the  blossoms  of  wall  trees  by  sticking  twigs  of  Larch 
or  of  evergreens,  as  Firs  or  Laurels,  betwixt  the  branches  and  the  walls 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  overhang  the  blossoms  where  they  are  thickest, 
and  some  instead  of  these  use  tlie  leaves  of  strong  Fern  ;  but  all  these 
things  are  an  objection,  on  account  of  their  shading  the  blossom  too 
much,  by  which  it  is  rendered  weak,  and  the  fruit  produced  often  drop 
away  before  arriving  at  any  considerable  size,  so  that  all  this  trouble 
goes  for  nothing,  as  there  would  probably  have  been  as  good  a  crop  had 
the  trees  been  left  to  their  chance." 

The  next  extract  was  from  old  Philip  Miller,  who,  it  would  be 
remembered,  was  a  very  celebrated  gardener  at  the  commencement  of 
the  last  century  ;  in  his  "  Gardeners'  Dictionary  "  of  1741,  he  says  that 
"  There  is  not  anything  in  the  business  of  gardening  which  has  more 
exercised  the  thoughts  of  the  curious  than  liow  to  preserve  their 
tender  sorts  of  fruit  from  being  blighted  in  the  spring."  After 
stating  the  contrivances  in  use  in  his  day,  he  goes  on  to  say  "  that 
the  blights  which  are  so  often  complained  of  do  not  proceed  from  any 
inclemencies  of  the  season  ;  where  they  are  most  subject  to  what  is  called 
'a  blight,'  we  shall  find  the  branches  very  small,  weak,  and  not  half 
ripened,  as  also  trained  in  very  close  to  each  other.  These  branches 
are,  for  the  most  part,  full  of  blossom  buds  (which  is  chiefly  obtained  by 
their  want  of  strength)  ;  these  buds  do  indeed  open,  and  to  persons  not 
skilled  in  fruit  trees  show  a  great  prospect  of  a  plentiful  crop,  whereas 
the  whole  strength  of  the  branch  is  spent  in  nourishing  the  flowers, 
and,  being  unable  to  do  any  more,  the  blossoms  fall  off,  and  the  small 
efforts  of  the  fruit  buds  are  checked,  so  that  many  times  the  greatest 
part  of  the  branch  dies  away,  and  this  is  called  a  great  bligJit,  whereas  at 
the  same  time  it  may  be  often  observed  that  trees  which  were  stronger, 
though  placed  in  the  same  soil,  exposed  to  the  same  aspect,  and  subject 
to  the  same  inclemencies,  have  escaped  very  well  when  the  weak  trees 
have  appeared  to  be  almost  dead,  which  is  a  plain  indication  that  it 
proceeds  from  some  cause  within  the  tree."  He  then  goes  on  to  state 
that  all  this  may  be  remedied  by  not  over-crowding  and  by  judicious 
pruning  and  management,  so  as  not  to  exhaust  the  whole  nourishment 
firom  the  roots,  and  by  not  planting  too  deep. 

For  the  defence  it  was  contended  that  the  defendant  had  just  cause 
for  the  course  he  had  pursued,  for  where  was  there  a  philosophical  law 
that  would  bear  out  the  opening  case  for  the  prosecution  ?  for  in  the  first 
place  it  was  well  understood  that  our  seasons  had  very  much  changed, 
that  our  springs  were  too  late,  that  our  summers  were  too  short,  and  our 
autumns  too  cold  ;  in  fact,  that  our  climiite  had  of  late  years  very  much 
deteriorated,  so  much  so  that  defendant  had  become  a  very  necessary 
appendage  to  gardening  operations,  and  it  was  hoped  to  prove  by  the 
witnesses  for  the  defence  that  wherever  well  directed  practical  tests  have 
been  scientifically  applied,  the  decisions  have  always  been  in  favour  of 
defendant ;  for  it  was  well  understood  that  a  rapid  radiation  of  heat  takes 
place  from  the  earth  and  all  porous  bodies  connected  therewith, 
commencing  at  sunset  and  continuing  until  all  the  heat  accumulated 
during  the  previous  day  is  radiated  or  expended,  and  as  has  been  proved 
by  all  keen  observers  of  the  thermometer,  that  the  temperature  of  the 

Y  2 


324  THE    FLORIST. 

atmosphere  is  always  lowest  and  the  frosts  most  keen  about  the  period 
of  sunrise,  these  tests  will  therefore  prove  that  the  accumulated  heat  is 
exhausted  by  this  period,  and  the  clearer  the  atmosphere  the  more 
rapid  the  radiation  ;  hence,  one  great  point  in  defendant's  utility  in 
preventing  the  exhaustion  of  this  radiation.  Again,  as  to  the  staten^ent 
of  those  witnesses  of  prosecutor's,  who  deposed  to  having  had  equally 
good  crops  upon  unprotected  as  upon  protected  trees,  it  was  hoped  to 
show  the  fallacy  of  ihis  ;  for  it  was  very  much  doubted  that  if  two  trees 
in  equal  health  and  vigour,  and  similarly  situated  and  treated  through 
summer,  the  one  efficiently  protected  and  the  other  fully  exposed, 
whether  the  exposed  one  on  an  average  of  seasons  does  equally  well  as 
the  protected  one.  Prosecutor  had  also  laid  very  great  stress  upon 
thinning  his  trees  and  draining  his  borders, — operations  which  were 
certainly  very  desirable  to  the  well-being  of  the  tree  ;  but  what  had  that 
to  do  with  protecting  the  blossoms  through  those  inclement  nights  our 
springs  are  subject  to  ?  We  all  know  that  where  moisture  is,  frosts  will 
sooner  destroy ;  therefore,  as  the  pistil  of  every  flower  contains  a 
certain  degree  of  moisture,  a  covering  of  some  kind  is  indispensable  to 
protect  that  flower.  And  as  to  the  charge  of  being  an  unnecessary  addition 
to  garden  expenditure,  it  was  not  to  be  denied  but  that  he  caused  a  small 
additional  outlay  as  regards  both  material  and  labour  ;  but,  as  a  recom- 
pense, he  invariably  ensured  the  luxury  of  a  crop,  and  no  gentleman 
who  wished  to  enjoy  his  luxuries  would  object  paying  for  them.  It  was 
here  stated  that  those  witnesses  for  the  prosecution  who  had  stated  that 
they  had  equally  good  crops  upon  the  unprotected  as  upon  the  protected 
portion  of  the  trees  would  be  recalled  and  re-examined  touching  those 
points. 

Those  witnesses  upon  being  recalled  and  being  subjected  to  a  sharp 
cross-examination,  testified  that  the  trees  they  had  mentioned  were 
in  many  cases  side  by  side  ;  and  to  make  assurance  doubly  sure  they 
had  in  most  instances  protected  their  best  trees. 

The  following  witnesses  were  called  upon  to  support  the  defence : — 
First,  Mr.  H.  Constantine,  Hillingdon  Court,  Uxbridge,  who  deposed 
to  having  abundance  of  fruit  on  south  and  west  aspects,  but  on  east 
aspects  he  had  scarcely  any  ;  that  he  protects  with  Hall's  garden  netting  ; 
that  he  thoroughly  drains  his  borders  ;  in  several  places  in  his  neighbour- 
hood this  point  is  neglected,  but  their  crops  are  very  inferior ;  he  had 
frequently  seen  crops  cut  off  when  not  protected,  although  he  must 
say  that  he  did  not  agree  with  heavy  protection  excepting  it  is  well 
attended  to. 

Mr.  Jno.  Powell,  Royal  Gardens,  Frogmore,  next  deposed  to  the  crops 
in  general  being  below  the  average  in  his  locaUty,  and  that  Pears,  Plums, 
and  Cherries  were  very  scarce  ;  that  there  was  no  standard  fruit  to  speak 
of ;  that  protection  was  used  in  those  gardens,  and  also  in  the  gardens 
around  him ;  the  covering  tliey  use  in  his  locality  is  what  they  call 
Dorsetshire  cheese  cloth,  on  rollers,  that  can  be  drawn  up  and  down  at 
pleasure.  Netting  is  also  used  for  south-west  aspects,  which  this 
witness  considers  do  not  require  so  much  protection,  on  account  of  the 
sun  not  striking  upon  the  trees  so  soon  in  the  morning.  Artificial 
drainage  is  not  necessary,  they  being  upon  a  bed  of  loose  gravel,  the 


NOVEMBER.  325 

water  quickly  finds  its  way  through  to  the  Thames.  This  witness  also 
further  stated  that  throughout  his  experience  and  general  observations 
he  had  seen  the  advantage  of  protecting  in  spring,  more  especially  Peach 
and  Nectarine  trees ;  he  considers  it  not  only  ensures  a  crop  but  frees 
the  trees  from  the  injurious  effects  of  blister  ;  he  also  considers  the  best 
way  is  to  have  the  coverings  upon  rollers,  so  that  by  a  little  attention 
the  trees  can  be  secured  from  hot  sun,  hail,  drenching  rains,  and  spring 
frosts. 
Ribston  Park.  Thomas  W.  Abbott. 

{To  he  continued.) 


DWARF  BEDDING  DAHLIAS. 

As  almost  every  one  is  enquiring  for  what  are  termed  bedding  plants, 
i.e.,  for  continuous  summer  blooming  plants,  it  is  not  at  all  surprising 
that  Dwarf  Dahlias  should  have  been  resorted  to,  to  add  to  the  variety 
and  beauty  of  our  flower  gardens  and  shrubberies.  These  are  now 
grown  to  a  considerable  extent ;  but  the  question  is  often  asked,  which 
are  the  most  suitable  kinds,  as  hitherto  only  two  or  three  varieties  have 
been  grown  for  this  purpose,  but  there  are  others  that  we  think  equally 
adapted  for  the  purpose  that  have  not  hitherto  been  tried.  The  best  of 
those  already  grown  is,  we  think.  Prince  Arthur,  a  bright  crimson,  very 
erect  habit,  with  flowers  on  short  stiff  footstalks,  yet  well  above  the 
foliage.  Its  height  is  about  two  feet,  and  it  is  in  every  respect  a  good 
kind  for  beds,  for  the  purpose  of  ribboning  or  to  be  grown  as  single 
plants  for  the  borders. 

Zelinda  is  a  dwarfer  kind,  of  a  dark  purple  colour,  and  is  tolerably 
well  known  and  cultivated  ;  height  about  18  inches.  We  have  also  the 
Crystal  Palace  Scarlet,  a  variety  with  starry  ragged  scarlet  flowers, 
which,  if  planted  early,  are  produced  in  profusion.  It  requires  pegging 
down  for  beds,  as  it  is  a  taller  grower  than  the  preceding  sorts.  It 
should  be  grown  in  poor  soil,  or  it  will  not  flower  freely  enough  to  be 
showy.  It  has  been  grown  in  some  localities  for  a  considerable  time, 
and  has  only  recently  received  the  name  it  bears.  Captain  Ingram  has 
never  yet  been  tried  for  bedding  purposes,  being  quite  new.  It  grows 
no  higher  than  Zelinda,  dark  crimson  in  colour,  and  produces  fine 
shaped  flowers  in  great  abundance.  It  is  well  worthy  to  be  grown 
where  a  dark  kind  is  required.  Queen  of  Whites  is  also  a  good  shaped 
kind,  and  very  free  blooming  as  well,  maintaining  its  purity  of  colour  in 
the  hottest  weather ;  height  three  feet.  Titian  is  a  bright  clear  yellow, 
and  shows  its  flowers  well  above  the  foliage,  but,  like  Zelinda  and 
Prince  Arthur,  has  no  pretension  to  form  ;  height  three  feet.  It  will 
thus  be  seen  that  we  are  possessed  of  white,  yellow,  scarlet,  bright 
crimson,  dark  crimson,  and  purple  Dahlias  suitable  for  the  purposes  of 
bedding,  the  tallest  of  which  is  the  Crystal  Palace  Scarlet.  All  these 
enumerated,  however,  if  used  as  bedding  plants,  are  best  pegged  down 
to  the  ground. 


326  THE    FLORIST. 


ROSES,    OLD    AND    NEW. 


Roses,  what  a  theme  !  What  beautiful  things  to  look  at,  to  talk  about, 
to  write  about,  to  smell,  to  cultivate.  Would  that  Dickens  were  a 
lover  of  Roses,  so  that  we  could  have  a  monthly  article  on  their  num- 
berless attractions.  Alas !  Rose  growers  have  not  poetry  enough  in 
their  composition  to  write  poetically  about  such  flowers ;  and  so  I  will 
be  prosy,  and  talk  first  about  old  Roses,  and  yet  not  the  oldest.  I 
wonder  if  any  of  your  readers  remember  the  "  two  thousand  varieties  " 
cultivated  some  thirty  or  forty  years  ago  by  the  Messrs.  Loddiges  at  the 
Hackney  Nursery.  I  do,  and  also  perfectly  recollect  my  surprise  on 
hearing  so  many  euphonious  French  names  applied  to  Roses  appearing 
nearly  all  alike  ;  for  most  of  them  were  varieties  of  Rosa  gallica,  with 
very  slight  shades  of  difference.  Soon  after  this  time  some  lions  made 
their  appearance,  and  the  Celestial  Rose,  with  its  delicate  blush  tint, 
and  the  Tuscany,  with  its  dark  velvety  crimson,  each  sold  at  one 
guinea,  made  a  great  noise  in  the  Rose  world.  Soon  after  this  the 
George  the  Fourth  attained  great  popularity,  and  it  is  still  a  fine  dark 
Rose  ;  this.  Brown's  Superb  Blush,  and  the  Wellington,  were  the  first 
of  the  race  of  Hybrid  China  Roses,  which  for  some  years  were  so 
popular.  It  was  somewhere  about  this  time  that  the  pretty  Noisette 
Rose  was  introduced  from  France,  and  I  perfectly  well  remember  how 
delighted  I  was  on  budding  it  on  standards  of  the  Rosa  villosa,  called 
here  at  that  time  the  "  Double  Apple  Bearing  Rose,"  to  find  it  form 
fine  heads,  and  bloom  most  abundantly.  By  the  way,  this  Apple- 
bearing  Rose,  and  the  Double  Sweet  Briar,  were  at,  or  a  little  before, 
the  time  I  am  writing  about,  the  only  standard  Roses  in  our  gardens. 
I  recollect  one  very  old  standard  of  the  former  which  grew  in  the 
"  front  court "  here,  that  measured  some  sixteen  or  eighteen  inches  in 
circumference  of  stem,  with  a  large  umbrageous  head  like  an  orchard 
Apple  tree  of  twenty  years'  growth  ;  a  heavy  fall  of  snow  towards  the 
end  of  one  October,  before  it  had  shed  its  leaves,  crushed  and  ruined  it. 
To  return  to  my  standard  Noisette  Roses  :  I  was  never  tired  of  admiring 
them.  To  see  standard  Roses  blooming  in  autumn  was  something  wonder- 
ful. It  was,  I  think,  this  same  autumn  that  I  visited  the  nursery  of 
Messrs.  Lee  and  Kennedy,  and  there  I  saw,  to  my  intense  admiration, 
standards  of  Rosa  multiflora.  Tea  Roses,  Moss  Roses,  and  a  host  of 
others,  mostly  summer  Roses.  These  I  was  told  were  imported  from 
France  ;  their  price  was  one  guinea  each.  I  thought  them  very  cheap, 
for  they  appeared  to  my  young  eyes  rich  and  rare  beyond  everything 
I  had  ever  seen.  Soon  alter  this  the  Rose  du  Roi,  or  Crimson  Per- 
petual, or  Lee's  Perpetual,  made  its  appearance,  and  also  the  Palmyra 
or  Blush  Perpetual.  How  they  were  sought  afl:er !  for  a  sweet-smelling 
Rose  blooming  in  autumn  was  a  prize.  Many  other  Perpetual  Roses, 
so  called,  were  then  brought  into  notice,  and  then  in  due  course  came 
Madame  LafFay,  raised  by  M.  Laffay,  one  of  the  first  and  still  one  of 
the  best  of  the  Hybrid  Perpetuals.  Soon  after  this  M.  Laffay  "  gained," 
as  they  say  in  France,  Prince  Albert ;  this  he  thought  a  masterpiece, 
and  accordingly,  relying  upon  its  name  and  quality  to  give  it  great 


NOVEMBER.  327 

popularity  in  England,  he  sent  over  400  plants  for  sale  ;  it  bloomed 
badly  and  could  not  be  recommended,  when  it  was  discovered  that  it 
seldom  or  never  opened  well,  and  only  200  plants  were  sold,  much  to 
the  disappointment  of  the  raiser.  M.  Laftay  about  the  same  time  gave 
us  Dr.  Marx,  La  Reine,  Lady  Alice  Peel,  Louis  Bonaparte,  Comte  de 
Paris,  and  others,  but  not  one  equal  to  Madame  Laftay,  taking  it  all  in 
all.  Some  four  or  five  years  ago  he  styled  himself  "  Innovator  of 
Roses,"  meaning,  I  suppose,  that  by  hybridising  he  intended  to  give  us 
some  new  races  of  Roses  ;  but  I  presume  he  has  failed,  for  of  the  scores 
of  varieties  he  has  "  sent  out,"  as  we  say  in  England,  or  "  placed  in 
commerce,"  as  they  say  in  France,  of  late  years,  scarcely  one  in  twenty 
has  been  found  worthy  of  extensive  culture. 

Another  prolific  raiser  of  new  Roses  was  M.  Vibert,  now  retired 
from  business  ;*  he  and  his  successor,  M.  Robert,  have  given  to  the 
Rose  world  new  Roses  without  end — or  at  least  Roses  with  new  names. 
M.  Vibert  was  one  of  the  first  to  give  us  Roses  in  divisions  ;  we  thus,  in 
his  catalogue,  had  three  divisions  of  Perpetual  Roses,  three  of  Moss  Roses, 
and  three  of  Provins  or  Rosa  gallica,  two  of  Provence  Roses,  one  of  un- 
certain hybrids — "  Hybrides  Incertaines  " — and  so  on.  These  minute 
differences  are,  I  daresay,  very  interesting,  but  not  very  understandable. 
It  is  of  more  interest,  I  think,  to  see  an  estimate  of  the  Roses  gained 
by  MM.  Vibert  and  Robert  within  the  last  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  and 
placed  in  commerce  ;  their  price  the  first  year  has  generally  been  from 
fifteen  to  twenty-five  francs  each.  The  following  list  is  as  nearly  as 
le  correct. 

Family.  Number  of  Roses. 

Rosa  alba 4  varieties. 

Perpetual  and  Hybrid  Perpetuals  .         .     lO."?     do. 

Perpetual  Moss  Roses        .         .         .     .       24     do. 

Summer  Moss  Roses      .         ,         .         .       84     do. 

Damask  Roses  .         .         .         .     .       20     do. 

Cabbage  Roses  and  hybrids    .         .         .       17     do. 

Tea-scenttd  Roses 8     do. 

Noisette  do. 8     do. 

Bourbon  do 28     do. 

Hybrid  China  do 8     do. 

Hybrid  Noisette  do 10     do. 

Hybrid  Bourbon  do 9     do. 

Provins  Roses  (Rosa  gallica)     .        .     .      78     do. 

Provence  Roses     .....       39     do. 

Uncertain  Hybrids 10    do. 


*  I  always  feel  inclined  to  excuse  M.  Vibert  for  his  enthusiasm  leading  him 
to  send  out  so  many  inferior  Roses,  for  the  following  reason.  One  fine  morning 
in  July,  1842,  I  was  at  Angers,  when  he  paid  me  a  visit  at  my  hotel,  bringing 
•with  him  a  fine  bunch  of  pale  yellow  Roses,  with  which  he  delighted  my  eyes  ; 
these  were  blooms  of  Noisette  Solfaterre.  Shortly  after  he  took  me  to  his  garden, 
and  showed  me  a  yellow  Rose  still  more  beautiful ;  this  was  Cloth  of  Gold, 
glowing  in  beauty  under  the  brilliant  sun  of  Angers.  Let  a  Hose  lover  imagine 
my  surprise,  my  delight.  To  my  great  disappointment,  this  Rose,  of  which  I 
bought  all  the  plants  that  could  be  spared,  bloomed  in  England  in  1843  in  a 
very  inferior  manner,  giving  blossoms  merely  of  a  creamy  white  ;  it  has  since 
then  redeemed  its  character.  It  should  always  be  trained  to  a  south  or  south- 
west wall,  its  weak  spray  cut  out,  strong  shoots  encouraged,  and  those  never 
shortened  but  trained  in  a  serpentine  way  to  the  wall. 


328  THE    FLORIST. 

Presuming  that  twenty  plants  of  each  were  sold  the  first  season, 
making  9720,  at  20  francs  each,  the  profit  has  not  been  amiss.  Now 
let  us  see  how  many  of  these  486  varieties  are  still  in  estimation, 
and  we  shall  then  see  something  approaching  to  the  real  value  of 
new  Roses.  Of  Rosa  alba  one  ;  of  Perpetuals  and  Hybrid  ditto, 
four ;  of  Perpetual  Moss  three,  or  perhaps  four ;  of  Summer  Moss 
Roses,  six  ;  of  Damask,  one  ;  of  Cabbage  Roses  and  hybrids,  not  one  ; 
of  Tea-scented,  two  ;  of  Noisette,  two,  viz.,  Aimee  Vibert  and  Phaloe  ; 
of  Bourbon,  not  one ;  of  Hybrid  China,  Noisettes,  and  Bourbons,  not 
one ;  of  Provins  four  or  perhaps  five  ;  of  uncertain  hybrids,  one  ;  of 
Provence  two.  This  latter  group  was  formed  by  M.  Vibert,  and 
answers  to  our  Hybrid  Provence  Roses,  in  which  this  and  the  hybrid 
Cabbage  Roses  of  Vibert  may  safely  be  included.  We  have  thus  about 
twenty-seven  good  Roses  out  of  a  list  of  486,  most  of  which  have  been 
sent  out  within  these  last  few  years. 

In  the  autumn  of  1853  seventy-three  new  Roses  were  sent  out, 
costing  1066  francs  ;*  most  of  these  were  Hybrid  Perpetuals;  out  of 
this  batch  there  are  now  from  seven  to  ten  only  that  can  be  honestly 
recommended.  In  the  autumn  of  1854  about  sixty  new  varieties, 
mostly  Hybrid  Perpetuals,  were  also  "  placed  in  commerce  "  ;  of  these 
about  eleven  are  first-rate  varieties,  although  many  of  them  gave  us  no 
new  characters  as  regards  colour.  In  the  autumn  of  1855  only  about 
fifty  new  Roses  were  sent  out ;  of  these  there  are  about  ten  likely  to 
prove  worthy  of  cultivation,  but  not  one  offering  any  new  character  in 
colour,  as  they  range  for  the  most  part  under  rose,  pale  rose,  and  bright 
rose ;  it  appears  strange  that  such  a  waste  of  names  should  occur,  and 
that  Roses  merely  pretty,  but  not  different  to  those  we  have,  should  be 
ushered  into  the  floral  world  annually.  It  is,  I  think,  owing  to  the 
enthusiasm  of  the  provincial  French  cultivators  ;  they  sow  abundance  of 
Rose  seed,  and  when  they  obtain  a  pretty  Rose  they  love  their  own 
child  so  dearly,  and  think  of  the  few  hundred  francs  that  may  be 
obtained  of  their  dear  friends  the  English,  with  so  much  warmth  of 
feeling,  that  they  cannot  resist  the  temptation  of  giving  it  a  pretty  new 
name  and  sending  it  out ;  besides  this,  there  is  something  so  seducing 
in  a  Rose  of  one's  own  raising,  and  something  so  lovable  in  Roses,  that 
I,  now  a  veteran  Rose  grower,  although  sorely  inconvenienced  by  having 
to  buy  and  to  prove  all  the  Roses  with  new  names,  am  quite  ready 
to  excuse  our  floral  friends  over  the  water. 

It  is  curious  to  find  how  few  new  Roses  have  been  and  are  raised 
from  seed  in  England.  The  Tea  Rose  Devoniensis  is  a  splendid 
exception ;  but  not  one  good  variety  of  the  now  justly  popular  Hybrid 
Perpetuals  has  been  raised  in  this  country.  Messrs.  Paul  bought  the 
stock  of,  and  imported  Victoria,  which,  although  sometimes  good,  has 
not  turned  out  well,  and  two  or  three  others.  An  unnamed  seedling 
was  also  presented  to  the  Messrs.  Wood  by  a  French  florist,  and  named 
by  them  Duchess  of  Norfolk  ;  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  this  Rose 
was  flattered  in  the  figure  taken  of  it,  and  still  more  so  in  its  description 
as  a  "  climbing  Hybrid  Perpetual  Rose."     Rose  enthusiasts  at  once 

*  Horticulture  Francaise. 


NOVEMBER.  329 

pictured  to  themselves  the  fronts  of  their  houses  covered  by  a  climbing 
Rose  like  a  Rosa  sempervirens  in  habit,  giving  large  double  crimson 
flowers.  It  is  really  a  nice  Rose,  with  a  very  moderate  degree  of 
vigour  in  its  growth.  Williams'  Evergreen  Climbing  Rose  has  also 
had  a  false  character.  About  ten  or  twelve  years  since  I  was  walking 
through  the  grounds  at  Pitmaston  with  the  late  Mr.  Williams,  a  most 
ingenious  fertiliser,  when  he  pointed  out  to  me  a  climbing  Rose,  the 
result  of  a  cross  with  the  white  Ayrshire  and  the  yellow  China  or  Tea 
Rose ;  it  was  growing  most  luxuriantly,  and  gave  large  flimsy  flowers 
of  a  dirty  white.  I  remember  that  we  both  thought  it  unworthy  of  culti- 
vation ;  but  soon  after  his  death  it  came  out,  and  was  puffed  off"  as  a 
new  and  very  desirable  climbing  Rose.  All  such  exaggerations  should 
be  discountenanced  by  English  Rose  growers.* 

Among  the  new  creations,  the  Perpetual  Moss  Roses  are,  I  think, 
most  interesting.  Only  a  week  or  two  since  I  gathered  some  fine 
bunches  of  buds  and  half  open  flowers  of  Salet,  a  most  vigorous 
growing  Rose,  and  also  of  Madame  Ory  ;  they  had  the  true  fragrance 
of  the  old  Moss  Rose,  and  carried  one  back  to  June,  thus  giving  us  four 
Moss- Rose-months  instead  of  barely  one.  This  summer  fragrance  is 
so  exhilarating,  it  reminds  us  so  vividly  of  charming  June  days  in  the 
fickle  and  often  gloomy  month  of  October,  that  every  Rose  lover  should 
cultivate  a  few  Perpetual  Moss  Roses. 

The  new  Roses  sent  out  in  1855  have  not  cut  a  brilliant  figure  this 
summer.  Triomphe  de  I'Exposition,  Arthur  de  Sansal,  Ornement 
des  Jardins,  and  Triomphe  d'Avranches,  have  bloomed  well,  and 
are  good  Roses.  Mathurin  Regnier  is  also  likely  to  prove  a  fine 
Rose,  without  any  novelty  in  colour  ;  but  not  a  new  Rose  ap- 
proaches Prince  Leon  or  Jules  Margottin  in  colour,  form,  or  habit. 
Lord  Raglan  has  this  season  been  remarkably  beautiful,  not  scorching 
under  a  burning  sun,  and  being  even  more  brilliant  than  the  Geant. 
Victor  Trouillard,  a  new  Rose,  presented  to  Messrs.  Standish  by  a 
florist  at  Angers,  which  has  been  exhibited  the  past  season,  is  said 
to  be  a  fine  dark  Rose ;  and  Bacchus,  introduced  by  Messrs.  Paul,  has 
thick  shell-like  petals,  and  is  likely  to  prove  an  acquisition. 

There  are,  I  observe,  nearly  forty  new  Roses  to  be  sent  out  this 
autumn  by  the  French  florists ;  most  of  these  are  Hybrid  Perpetuals, 
twenty  of  which  are  described  as  having  shades  of  rose  colour,  six 
shades  of  crimson — three  or  four  of  these  are  seedlings  of  the  Geant. 
There  are  also  two  new  Summer  Moss  Roses  by  Laffay,  both  of  which 
are  rose  coloured,  and  a  new  Perpetual  Moss  by  him,  described  as 
"  rouge  vif  centre  rouge  violace,  superbe."  Three  new  Noisette  Roses 
are  also  offered,  one  white,  another  a  seedhng  from  Lamarque,  "  d'un 
beau  jaune  canari,"  another  crimson  partaking  in  its  habit  of  the 
Bourbon  family.  Three  new  Tea-scented  Roses  are  to  be  sent  out — 
their  characters  as  described  are  an  "oft-told  tale." 

We  still  lack  a  fine  crimson  Tea  Rose,  a  pure  white  Hybrid  Per- 
petual, a  yellow  ditto,  a  good  crimson  Rosa  sempervirens,  a  yellow 

*  The  figure  of  the  Tea  Kose  Souvenir  d'Elise  Vardon,  in  the  Florist  for  last 
month,  is  by  far  too  perfect ;  it  rarely  gives  such  a  flower. 


330  THE    FLORIST. 

Moss  Rose,  and  some  others,  so  that  there  is  still  a  wide  field  open  to 
Rose  growers. 

There  is  one  remarkable  peculiarity  attending  the  cultivation  of 
Roses  ;  they  never  seem  to  fatigue  the  mind  of  the  amateur ;  in  youth, 
in  the  vigour  of  manhood,  and  in  old  age,  their  cheerful  brilliant  tints 
are  always  grateful,  their  perfume  always  exhilarating.  I  have  only 
remarked  a  slight  drawback ;  one,  after  thirty  years  of  admu-ation,  is 
apt  to  become  fastidious,  and  to  require  great  perfection  in  shape,  in 
colour,  and  in  habit.  I  now  scan  a  new  Rose  with  a  most  critical  eye  ; 
at  one  time  a  trifling  difference  in  a  Rose,  if  it  were  a  new  feature,  was 
hailed  with  ecstasy ;  times  are  now  changed,''^  but  then,  Roses  never 
were,  as  far  as  we  know,  so  beautiful  as  they  are  at  the  present  day. 

Thos.  Rivers. 

The  Nurseries,  Sawbridgeworth,  Oct.  20,  1856. 


WILTON   PARK,   NEAR   SALISBURY, 
THE   SEAT   OF   THE   RIGHT   HONOURABLE   SIDNEY  HERBERT. 

This  noble  mansion  is  situated  by  the  town  of  Wihon — so  notorious  in 
the  history  of  Wiltshire.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  Caer-Guilon, 
or  chief  seat  of  the  British  prince  Caroilius,  and  subsequently  the 
capital  of  the  West  Saxon  dominions.  It  was  a  place  of  considerable 
importance  for  some  centuries  prior  to  the  Norman  conquest,  and 
contained  several  religious  establishments,  and  a  mint.  From  the  ninth 
to  the  fifteenth  century  Wilton  suffered  severely  from  the  wars  which 
raged  throughout  the  country  at  different  times  during  that  period. 
Notwithstanding  many  reveises,  however,  Wilton  continued  for  many 
centuries  after  the  Conquest  famous  for  its  monastic  institutions, — 
particularly  its  abbey,  which  was  commenced  as  early  as  the  year  800, 
and  continued  to  flourish  to  the  dissolution,  when  it  was  granted  to  Sir 
William  Herbert,  afterwards  Earl  of  Pembroke.  Its  buildings,  we  are 
told,  were  of  considerable  extent  and  grandeur. 

On  the  site  of  the  celebrated  nunnery  Sir  William  Herbert 
commenced  the  erection  of  the  present  mansion.  It  was  designed  by 
Hans  Holbein  and  Irligo  Jones.  At  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century  Mr.  James  Wyatt  was  employed  to  enlarge  the  building,  and 
adapt  it  for  the  better  display  of  its  rich  stores  of  ancient  sculpture  and 
paintings,  the  collection  of  which  is  very  extensive  and  magnificent. 
The  exterior  of  the  mansion  gives  an  impression  of  vast  dimensions. 
Three  sides  of  the  building  are  surrounded  by  pleasure  grounds ;  at 
the  west  front  is  situated  a  neat  Italian  garden,  from  a  design,  we 
understand,  of  the  late  Countess  of  Pembroke,  who  for  many  years  took 
great  interest  in  gardening.  This  garden  is  nearly  a  square  piece  of 
ground,    and  is    intersected  in   the  middle  by  broad   gravel    walks  ; 

*  Some  years  ago  I  received — what  I  observe  is  now  regarded  as  new — the 
green  Rose,  from  France :  its  petals,  or  flower  leaves,  are  changed  into  sepals 
perfectly  scentless.     1  did  not  propagate  it,  not  thinking  it  worthy  of  cultivation. 


NOVEMBER.  331 

parallel  with  the  walks  are  rows  of  the  Cupressus  macrocarpa,  which 
for  this  style  of  gardening  is  exceedingly  well  adapted.  There  are 
also  numerous  vases  and  baskets ;  tliese  are  kept  filled  with  a  variety 
of  gay  flowering  plants,  which  contribute  greatly  to  the  good  effect  of 
the  whole.  On  the  north  side  of  this  garden  runs  a  broad  gravel  walk, 
considerably  elevated  above  the  garden,  from  which  it  is  divided  by  a 
terrace-wall  surmounted  by  vases  and  statuary.  From  this  part  the 
whole  of  the  garden  is  under  the  eye,  and  presents  a  very  pleasing 
effect.  On  the  south  and  east  sides  of  the  mansion  are  also  geometrical 
flower  beds,  vases,  &c.,  which  are  kept  gay  with  a  variety  of  choice 
trees  and  shrubs.  Of  Coniferous  trees  we  noticed  some  fine  Deodars, 
Taxodiums,  Araucaria  imbricata,  Cupressus  Lambertiana,  &c.  There 
are  also  some  remarkable  Cedars  of  Lebanon, — one,  the  bole  of  which 
measures  231  feet  in  circumference,  with  a  fine  head  in  proportion ; 
there  are  also  several  others  nearly  equally  large.  The  pleasure  ground 
is  divided  from  the  park  by  the  river  N  adder,  and  from  the  kitchen 
garden  by  the  Wily,  their  confluence  being  only  at  a  short  distance. 
The  Nadder  is  spanned  near  the  mansion  by  the  Palladium  bridge — 
which  Js  of  pure  classic  design, — and  at  a  short  distance  another,  termed 
the  Image  Bridge,  leads  to  the  park. 

The  kitchen  garden  consists  of  about  four  acres  of  land,  surrounded 
by  excellent  walls  for  fruit  trees.  Apricots  and  Peaches,  although 
protected  when  in  bloom,  are  only  a  thin  crop.  Plums  and  Pears  are 
also  scarce.  Bush  Pear  trees  are  grown  here  extensively ;  these 
generally  produce  large  quantities  of  good  fruit :  this  year,  however,  as 
is  everywhere  the  case,  the  crop  is  all  but  a  failure.  Our  visit  was  in  the 
early  part  of  August:  at  that  time  all  the  trees  had  been  pruned  of 
superfluous  wood  ;  by  this  practice  the  fruit  buds  are  fully  exposed  to 
the  sun's  light,  and  the  whole  energies  of  the  plant  are  directed  to  that 
only  which  will  be  of  service  for  another  season  ;  this  is  a  practice  which 
cannot  be  too  strongly  recommended.  In  the  kitchen  garden  are 
numerous  houses  for  Vines,  Peaches,  and  flowering  plants.  Also  some 
excellent  pits,  heated  by  hot  water,  for  Pines,  Cucumbers,  and  Melons. 
A  portion  of  the  Pines  was  planted  out ;  these,  and  a  quantity  of 
strong  plants  in  pots,  were  in  excellent  health. 

Of  flowering  plants  large  quantities  are  grown  for  the  decoration  of 
sitting  rooms.  There  are  some  good  stove  plants  and  Heaths,  and  of 
Orchids  there  are  many  good  things ;  the  old  Phaius  grandiflorus  is 
grown  extensively,  and  as  an  autumn  and  winter  flowering  plant  there 
are  few  to  equal  it.  We  also  noticed  some  fine  plants  of  Dendrobium 
nobile,  D.  moniliforme,  and  D.  chrysanthum  ;  Zygopetalum  Mackaii,  a 
most  beautiful  and  sweet  scented  autumnal  flower;  Cattleya  Mossife, 
C.  labiata,  and  C.  crispa  were  also  fine  plants.  Of  Lfelia  superbiens 
there  is  a  large  plant  which  has  flowered  annually  for  several  years  ; 
we  also  noticed  a  few  East  Indian  species,  such  as  Aerides  odoratum, 
Saccolabium  guttatum,  &c.  Those  who  have  been  accustomed  to  see 
the  South  American  Orchids  grown  in  a  high  temperature  would,  we 
think,  be  surprised  to  see  the  luxuriance  of  the  plants  in  question ; 
they  were  standing  in  Vineries  in  which  was  a  quantity  of  ripe  Grapes  : 
consequently  they  were  exposed  to  currents  of  air  both  day  and  night. 


332  THE    FLORIST. 

The  whole  is  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Brown,  whose  name  is 
frequently  mentioned  as  a  successful  competitor  at  the  Salisbury  and 
other  flower  shows,  and  who  for  very  many  years  has  superintended 
this  beautiful  place. 

0.  P. 


THE  DAHLIAS  OP   1855. 


In  our  number  for  January  we  gave  a  tabular  list  of  the  new  Dahlias 
then  about  to  be  sent  out.  The  list  was  supplied  by  eight  gentlemen, 
amateur  growers  of  the  Dahlia,  and  certainly  comprised  the  best  flowers, 
but  by  no  means  placed  in  the  order  of  merit  we  should  assign  to 
them,  after  the  experience  of  another  season.  Twenty  varieties  were 
enumerated,  at  the  head  of  which  stood  Bessie.  This  variety  has  been 
rather  uncertain,  yet  when  in  good  condition  is  still  the  best,  being  a 
beautiful  model. 

If  we  were  to  collect  the  opinions  of  the  leading  growers  Lollipop 
would  most  certainly  head  the  list,  its  freeness  and  constancy  having 
pleased  every  one. 


TWELVE   OF 

THE   BEST 

AS  THEY  STAND  IN  OUR  ESTIMATION 

AS   GIVEN  IN   JANDART. 

NOW. 

1. 

Bessie 

1. 

Lollipop 

2. 

Perfection 

2. 

Lord  Palmerston 

3. 

Mrs.  Wheeler 

s! 

Eclipse 

4. 

Miss  B.  Coutts 

4. 

Colonel  Windham 

5. 

Lollipop 

5. 

Bessie 

6. 

Lord  Palmerston 

6. 

Perfection 

7. 

Duchess  of  Wellington 

7. 

Grand  Sultan 

8. 

Yellow  Beauty 

8. 

Duchess  of  Wellington 

9. 

Grand  Sultan 

9. 

Miss  B.  Coutts 

0. 

Shaded  Model 

10. 

\ellow  Model 

1. 

Eclipse 

11. 

Mrs.  Wheeler 

2. 

Colonel  Windham 

12. 

Shaded  Model 

Constancy  has  so  much  to  do  with  making  a  Dahlia  a  favourite,  that 
it  will  in  a  great  measure  account  for  the  changes  that  have  taken 
place  in  the  position  some  of  the  new  varieties  now  hold  compared  with 
last  year.  Perfection,  hke  Bessie,  has  retrograded  ;  fiine  as  it  is  when 
caught,  it  has  been  late,  and  a  little  undersized,  with  a  want  of  depth ; 
it  should  be  planted  early,  and  grown  strong.  Eclipse  has  been  very 
fine ;  so  also  has  Grand  Sultan.  The  latter  we  have  placed  seventh  on 
the  hst,  yet  it  was  by  far  the  best  and  most  perfect  Dahlia  in  the  entire 
exhibition  at  the  Crystal  Palace.  Lord  Palmerston  is  a  noble  flower, 
a  premier  amongst  the  Dahlias,  coming  fine  from  first  to  last  ;  there  is 
no  Dahlia  equal  to  it  in  habit,  flower  large,  with  strong  upright  foot- 
stalks, and  it  will  become  as  great  a  favourite  for  decorative  purposes 
as  it  is  for  exhibition.  The  Duchess  of  Wellington  has  not  generally 
been  well  managed  ;  we  do  not,  however,  know  any  flower  that  has  a 
greater  number  of  petals,  and  it  is  exquisite  when  in  fine  character. 
Colonel  Windham  is  one  of  those  constant  varieties  from  which  blooms 
may  always  be  depended  upon,  and  is  of  a  very  pleasing  colour,  and 


NO.VEMBER,  333 

good  form.  Mrs.  Wheeler  has  been  very  uncertain,  and  like  its 
parent  the  Duke  of  Wellington  it  should  be  grown  in  poor  soil  and 
disbudded  sparingly,  but  it  has  been  much  finer  in  the  midland  counties 
than  in  the  south.  Among  the  twenty  varieties  given  last  January 
are  Corsair,  Chameleon,  Magnet,  Reginald,  and  Lady  Raglan  that  we 
shall  not  grow  again. 

The  fancy  varieties  sent  out  last  spring  were  nearly  a  failure.  Magician, 
a  continental  production,  is  one  of  the  best.  Florence  Nightingale  is 
good  also,  but  uncertain.  Inimitable  and  Enchantress  have  been 
exhibited  in  the  winning  stands,  and  are  very  useful  varieties.  Mrs. 
Spary  has  also  been  exhibited,  but  is  not  a  first-class  flower. 


THE  WAR  OP  THE  ROSES. 
I  HAD  returned,  after  a  long  day  among  the  partridges,  to  that  which 
every  Englishman  considers  the  natural  sequence  of  his  sport — a  good 
dinner  ;  my  dessert  was  on  the  table ;  my  legs,  I  am  ashamed  to  say, 
were  on  that  vacant  chair,  which  some  day,  I  trust,  being  a  bachelor, 
may  be  more  worthily  occupied  ;  and  in  my  hand  I  held,  dearer  to  me 
than  wine  or  walnuts,  "  A  Catalogue  of  Roses,  by  Thomas  Rivers,  for 
185()-7."  The  Turnips  that  day  had  strikingly  resembled  the  Rose 
immortalised  by  Cowper,  and  which  I  have  always  regarded  as  the 
most  uncomfortable  present,  being  in  a  dripping  state,  which  "  Mary  " 
could  possibly  have  offered.  The  clay,  too,  had  been  particularly 
adhesive,  and  I  remember  that  when  I  came  to  the  "  select  Noisette" 
I  took  a  bumper  of  sherry,  and  felt  that  nothing  but  love  among  the 
Roses  could  have  kept  me  so  long  awake.  Suddenly,  but  without 
surprise  (who  ever  was  surprised  in  that  land  of  dreams,  wherein  I 
myself  have  met,  without  perturbation,  Hercules,  Fieschi,  and  Dick 
Turpin  ?)  I  found  myself  in  my  Rose-garden.  It  was  broad  daylight, 
and  every  Rose  in  bloom.  Kean  was  as  glorious  in  October  as  his 
namesake  in  the  "  Winter's  Tale."  General  Jacqueminot,  H.C.,  with 
the  fair,  ladylike  Triomphe  de  Bayeux  by  his  side  (why  do  not  Rose- 
growers  cultivate  more  generally  this  distinct  and  elegant  variety  ?), 
was  glancing  gloomily  at  his  rival  synonyme,  who  shone  gloriously 
among  the  Hybrid  Perpetuals.  Paul  Ricaut  bent  tenderly  over  Coupe 
d'Hebe,  and  swore  that  Auguste  Mie  was  coarse  and  colourless  in  com- 
parison. But  while  these  summer  Roses  seemed  only  interested  in 
their  own  private  affairs,  among  the  autumnal  bloomers  there  w^as 
evidently  some  great  topic  of  public  import.  I  soon  discovered  that 
the  subject  of  discussion  was  the  Catalogue  I  had  just  been  perusing, 
for  it  was  strewed  over  the  Rose-garden,  so  that  the  dwarfest  might 
read,  and  suspended  to  the  tallest  pillars,  so  that  the  highest  standard 
might  see.  The  Duchess  of  Sutherland  having  been  requested  to 
preside,  the  business  of  the  meeting  commenced.  Her  Grace  began  by 
remarking  that  she  never  remembered,  since  she  had  been  a  Rose,  to 
have  been  agitated  by  more  painful  feelings,  or  to  have  realised  more 
sorrowfully  the  old  adage — "  No  Rose  without  a  thorn."     ("  Oh,  oh," 


S34  THE    FLORIST. 

from  Inermis).  They  had  always  regarded  Mr.  Rivers 's  Catalogue 
with  as  much  reverence  as  a  Roman  Catholic  could  feel  on  receiving  a 
letter  from  the  Pope — ("  Hear,  hear,"  from  Pius  tlie  Ninth) — for  he 
was  indeed  the  Papa  or  Father  of  Roses ;  and  they  had  looked  for  its 
appearance  as  anxiously  as  young  ladies  awaiting  les  modes  from  Paris, 
for  Mr.  R.  was  their  arbiter  elegantiarum,  and  set  the  fashion  in  Roses. 
Now,  for  the  first  time,  the  publication  had  been  received  by  certain 
malcontents  with  evident  disrespect,  and  not  satisfied  with  expressing 
their  complaints  sub  rosa,  they  had  summoned  a  general  meeting. 
She  called  upon  them  to  come  forward  and  state  their  grievances,  that 
the  case  miglit  be  fully  discussed. 

Madame  Guinoisseau,  H.P.,  then  gracefully  rose,  and  a  general 
murnmr  of  admiration  followed  among  the  Field  Marshals,  Generals, 
Colonels,  and  other  gentlemen  present,  as  also  from  the  Emperor 
Napoleon  himself  She  felt,  in  common  with  every  Rose  that  bloomed, 
nothing  but  love  and  respect  for  dear  Mr.  Rivers  :  still  she  thought  he 
had  not  done  her  justice.  Let  them  recall  her  history,  and  judge.  She 
arrived  in  that  garden  in  November  last,  and,  though  a  perfect  stranger, 
had  experienced  a  most  gratifying  reception,  being  placed  in  a  most 
agreeable  locality  and  fed  upon  a  most  liberal  diet.  She  had  done  her 
best,  in  consequence,  to  give  satisfaction,  and  had  good  reason  to  be 
proud  of  her  success.  One  morning,  towards  the  end  of  June,  the 
master  came  his  usual  round.  She  well  remembered  watching  him  as 
he  passed  from  one  tree  to  another,  and  the  feeling  of  envy  which  shot 
through  every  petal  as  he  lingered  with  Madame  Rivers.  He  was 
hurrying  past,  as  though  expecting  to  find  no  beauty  there,  when  her 
first  full  bloom,  on  which  she  had  bestowed  immense  pains,  and  which 
really  was  (to  quote  the  complimentary  language  of  Mr.  Lane  and 
Mr.  Paul,)  "  beautifully  cupped,"  "  large  and  double,"  suddenly  caught 
his  eye,  and  she  saw  him  actually  start.  Then  he  drew  near  admiringly, 
gently  moved  the  flower  into  the  light  most  favourable  to  its  best 
display,  and  gazed,  with  the  happy  smile  of  a  true  florist,  long  and 
fondly, 

"  As  though  within  the  petals  of  a  Rose 
A  sleeping  Love  he  spied." 

Suddenly,  and  to  her  great  surprise,  he  rushed  away,  and  darted  from 
the  Rose-garden  ;  but  soon  returned,  to  put  an  end  to  her  suspense, 
and  bringing  with  him  their  respected  guardian,  Mr.  Hirst.  Never, 
never  should  she  forget  her  happiness,  when,  pointing  to  her,  he  had 
said,  in  a  joyous  and  exulting  tone — "  There,  gardener,  there  is  a 
Rose!"  Well,  the  very  next  morning,  just  as  they  were  waking, 
"  with  their  rosy  faces  washed  with  dew,"  she  was  severed  from  the 
parent  tree,  and  found  herself  reposing  on  some  fresh  green  moss,  and 
in  the  society  of  twenty-three  other  Roses,  the  most  beautiful  she  had 
ever  seen.  For  a  time  they  were  kept  in  darkness,  and  so  travelled 
many  miles,  being  at  last  brought  to  light  in  a  spacious  hall,  and  placed 
among  some  hundreds  of  other  Roses,  collected  and  arranged  like 
themselves.  By-and-by,  three  shrewd  and  thoughtful-looking  men 
approached  them,  and  she  was  informed,  in  a  whisper,  by  Mr.  Paul 
Ricaut,  who  had  been  in  -the  habit  of  attending  similar  exhibitions  ever 


NOVEMBER.  335 

since  he  could  remember,  that  these  were  the  judges.  They  stayed 
long  with  some  of  the  groups,  making  notes,  and  examining  every 
flower,  but  at  some  they  gave  but  a  momentary  glance,  just  sliook  the 
head  and  passed.  Arriving  where  she  was  tliey  smiled  most  graciously, 
and  she  was  feeling  particularly  proud  and  delighted,  when  suddenly 
one  of  the  triumvirate  abruptly  seized  her  by  the  neck,  and,  lifting  her 
from  her  zinc  tube,  exclaimed — "Hollo!  what  have  we  here?" — 
"  New  to  me,"  said  No.  2,  "  but  evidently  good  ;  shape  perfect ; 
colour  novel,  most  delicate,  and  beautiful." — "  Why  she  has  petals 
enough  for  two  Roses,"  quoth  No.  3  ;  "  she's  a  gem,  and  no  mistake." 
Back  she  went  to  her  place,  and  on  went  the  judicial  trio.  Again  they 
took  a  general  survey,  again  paid  us  a  visit,  and  finally  placed  beibre 
us,  to  our  unbounded  joy,  a  large  ornamental  card,  whereon  was 
printed,  "  First  Prize."  (Loud  cheers  from  all  parts  of  the  Rosarium, 
the  successful  competitors  colouring  and  blushing,  and  some  turning 
quite  pale  with  emotion.)  She  would  not  indulge  in  further  eulogy  of 
self,  but  would  content  herself  with  stating  that,  on  two  subsequent 
occasions,  she  had  been  equally  "  victorious,  happy,  and  glorious  "  as 
on  her  first  debut.  Had  she  not,  then,  just  cause  for  dissatisfaction, 
when  she  found  herself  classified  by  Mr.  Rivers  among  Roses  "  not 
quite  first-rate,"  merely  described  as  "  bright  rose,"  and  valued  at  one- 
and-sixpence  ?     (Cheers  and  tears.) 

Alphonse  de  Lamartine  might  not  possess  those  charms  and  graces 
which  beautified  the  last  speaker,  but  she  had  been  thrice  successfully 
exhibited  in  her  society  ;  more  than  one  judge  had  pointed  to  her  and 
said  that  she  was  "  the  shape  they  wanted  ;"  Mr.  Lane  had  kindly  said 
that  she  was  "  globular,  and  very  pretty ;"  Mr.  Paul  considered  her  to 
possess  a  "  fine  tbrm,  large  and  full ; "  she  had  been  called  "  a  duck," 
"  a  pet,"  "  a  love,"  and  "  a  darling,"  by  hundreds  of  young  ladies, 
while  scores  of  gentlemen  had  pronounced  her  to  be  "a  stunner,"  "  a 
tidyish  flower,  &c. ;"  she  was  a  great  favourite  with  her  master,  who 
had  budded  her  in  a  most  ample  and  complimentary  manner  ;  and  she 
therefore  did  not  see  why  she  was  to  be  degraded  by  Mr.  Rivers  ;  sl^e 
would  not  endure  it— no,  that  she  would  not ;  and  if  he  came  within 
reach  of  her  thorns,  she  had  a  great  mind  to  scratch  his  eyes  out. 

Miss  Naomi  would  say  that  a  more  industrious,  steady,  little  rose 
than  herself  did  not  grow  in  that  garden.  Now  was  she  not  most^ 
regular  in  her  habits,  punctual  in  blooming,  abundant  in  flowers  of 
never-varying  fulness  and  beauty  ?  Was  she  not  nearly  related  to,  and 
considered  very  closely  to  resemble,  the  distinguished  Duchess  in  the 
chair  ?     What  had  she  done  to  offend  Mr,  Rivers  ? 

Madame  Lamoriciere  would  like  to  be  informed  what  Mr.  Rivers 
wanted.  She  knew  that  she  was  a  little  uncertain,  but  it  was  the 
privilege  of  her  sex  to  be  so,  and  Mr.  Rivers  ought  to  be  the  last  to 
complain  on  that  subject,  for  she  had  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  he 
himself  was  a  regular  flirt.  He  had  said  once  upon  a  time  that  her 
"shape"  was  "exquisite,"  and  now  he  had  deserted  her  for  newer 
charms,  and  had  nothing  to  say  for  her  except  that  she  was  "  bright 
pink."     ("  Shame  !  shame  !  "  from  all  the  ladies.)  _ 

William  Jesse  would  be  blowed—("  Order !  order !")— that  is,  he 


660  THE    FLORIST. 

would  be  blowed  in  a  floral  sense,  if  he  stood  that  sort  of  thing  any 
longer.  •  Mr.  Rivers  had  said  that  he  was  "  certainly  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  large  Roses  in  existence,"  and  now  he  had  put  him  in  the 
awkward  squad.  He  knew  that  he  was  getting  old  and  could  not  stand 
moving  about  to  shows,  but  he  was  not  afraid  of  comparison  with  many 
modern  upstarts ;  and  as  for  that  brute  Beranger,  who  had  usurped  his 
place  in  Class  1,  he  would  fight  him  any  day  in  the  week  for  a  gallon  of 
liquid  manure.  (Loud  cries  of  "  Order.")  He  would  back  the  four 
Roses  who  had  just  sat  down  against  many  who  had  been  promoted  to 
the  first  division.  He  did  not  wish  to  speak  disrespectfully  of  the  fair 
sex,  but  he  would  put  it  to  the  meeting  whether  Miss  Alexandrine 
BachmetefF  had  a  ^reen  eye  or  not?  The  Duchess  of  Norfolk  must 
excuse  him  for  saying  that  he  did  not  think  much  of  her  shape. 
General  Jacqueminot  wore  a  gorgeous  uniform,  but  he  wanted  padding 
— there  was  nothing  of  him.  He  had  lived  for  two  years  next  door  to 
Gloire  de  France,  and  had  not  seen  a  good  bloom  yet.  As  for  La  Reine 
and  ]\Iadame  Campbell  d'Islay,  he  would  only  say  that  in  the  Midland 
Counties  they  were  coarse,  vulgar  Roses.  Madame  Fremion  was 
pretty,  but  too  slight  and  slim  for  his  taste.  He  had  seen  good  blooms 
of  Paul  Dupuy,  but  the  generality  showed  "  an  eye."  As  for  Prince 
ChipetouzikofF,  in  his  opinion  he  was  as  hollow  as  a  drum.  He  should 
move  that  their  mutual  friend,  the  gardener,  be  requested  to  light  his 
pipe  with  "  A  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  selected  Pioses,"  by  Mr. 
Thomas  Rivers.     ("No,  no,"  and  general  disapprobation.) 

Devoniensis  then  rose  in  all  her  beauty,  and  so  delicious  a  perfume 
filled  the  incensed  air,  that  it  did  seem  almost  possible  to 

"  Die  of  a  Rose  in  aromatic  pain." 

She  was  received  and  heard  with  the  most  profound  respect  and 
admiration.  She  said  that  as  an  English  Rose,  born  on  English 
ground — ("  Hear,  hear,"  from  George  the  Fourth,  H.  C.) — she  felt 
bound  to  notice  the  aspersions  which  had  been  cast  upon  the  great 
English  Rose-grower.  And  first  of  all  she  would  ask  them  one  simple 
question — "  Who  reinstated  the  Rose,  as  the  queen  of  flowers,  in  this 
country?"  (Loud  cries  of  "  Mr.  Rivers,"  and  "  We  love  him,"  from 
the  ladies,  during  which  Madame  Laffay  and  some  other  elderly  Roses 
were  removed  in  a  fainting  state.)  Let  them  not  forget  their  debt  of 
gratitude.  Nor  should  they  forget  how  he,  their  founder  and  bene- 
factor, had,  with  unvarying  consistency,  rejected  from  his  catalogue 
those  countless  impostors  who  had  come  of  late  years  fi-om  France  to 
deceive  the  English  public.  There  were  not  more  Hybrid  Perpetuals 
in  this  year's  list  than  in  the  last  ;  five  had  retired,  and  five  had  been 
promoted  to  succeed  them.  Was  it  not  an  error  in  the  right  direction, 
if  Mr.  Rivers  had  pruned  with  a  somewhat  too  trenchant  blade?  She 
thought,  with  all  deference,  that  he  had  done  so.  She  thought  that  the 
first  four  Roses  who  had  spoken  (and  she  would  add  the  name  of 
Mr.  Joseph  Decaisne,  whose  silence  did  him  credit),  certainly  ought  to 
be  in  the  first  class.  But  she  would  remind  them  that  they  were 
distant  many  a  long  mile  from  Sawbridgeworth,  and  that  in  different 
soils  and  situations  the  same  Rose  presented  very  different  aspects. 


NOVEMBER.  337 

She  believed  that  if  Mr.  Rivers  had  seen  the  complainants  as  they 
bloomed  there  in  the  summer,  he  would  have  declared  them  to  be 
"  quite  first-rate  ;"  and  she  was  equally  confident  that  if  Mr.  Jesse 
had  seen  at  Sawbridgeworth  those  Roses  which  he  had  attempted  to 
blight,  he  would  have  refrained  from  uttering  his  calumnies.  Further- 
more, Mr.  Rivers  had  told  them,  "every  Rose  has  its  season;"  and 
some  of  them  might  find  themselves  in  1857  unable  to  maintain  the 
position  they  had  obtained  in  1856.  At  all  events,  let  them  rest 
assured  that  to  merit,  true  and  lasting,  justice  must  be  done  ;  and  that 
Mr.  Rivers  would  be  the  first  to  acknowledge  their  excellence,  when 
fairly  and  fully  proven.  No  really  good  Rose  need  fear  the  aphis  of 
jealousy,  or  the  mildew  of  ignorance  ! 

This  speech  was  received  with  general  applause,  during  which  the 
previous  dissentients  rose  en  masse,  and  expressed  their  perfect  readi- 
ness to  abide  the  test  of  time  (with  the  exception  of  Mr.  William 
Jesse,  who  seemed  to  have  taken  a  dew-drop  or  two  too  much,  and  to 
be  particularly  "cupped").  , 

All  was  now  couleur  de  Rose,  and  while  three  cheers  were  given  for 
Mr.  Rivers,  I  awoke  to  finish  my  sherry. 

S.  R.  H. 


NOTES  ON  THE  MONTH. 
Rain  and  fog,  with  tremendous  storms,  and  a  few  intervening  fine 
days,  characterise  October.  On  some  days,  as  the  18th,  20th,  and 
21st,  there  was  a  delicious  softness  in  the  atmosphere,  seldom  ex- 
perienced in  the  North  i\Iidland  Counties ;  these  quiet  days,  witii  not 
a  breath  of  air  to  move  even  a  ripple  on  the  water,  and  cheered  with  a 
brilliant  sun  (whose  rays,  however,  were  softened  down  by  the  large 
quantity  of  moisture  in  the  air)  are  a  real  luxury  to  enjoy.  To- lovers 
of  country  fife,  there  are,  in  our  opinion,  no  such  enjoyable  days  as  are 
met  with  now  and  then  in  October.  English  landscape,  too  green  and 
monotonous  during  summer,  now  comes  out  in  grand  rehef.  The  gray 
stubbles  mix  well  in  the  distance  with  pastures,  themselves  become  of 
a  more  sober  colour  ;  and  both  are  heightened  by  the  many-coloured 
tints  of  our  woods  and  hedgerow  trees.  Horse  Chestnuts,  Beech, 
Mountain  Ash,  ]\Iaples,  Liquidamber,  Sumachs,  and  some  kinds  of 
Oaks,  present  to  our  view,  at  this  season,  grand  masses  of  colour, 
varying  from  a  deep  orange  to  browTi  and  crimson,  which  change  as 
the  season  advances,  and  contrast  strikingly  with  the  common  Oak  and 
Elm,  which  retain  the  verdure  of  their  foliage  longer.  Would  that  our 
plantation  makers  had  a  painter's  eye  for  warm  colours  ;  we  might  then 
hope  they  would  throw  more  of  it  into  their  woods,  and  make  our 
autumn  landscapes  more  generally  beautiful  even  than  they  are  now. 
That  a  certain  amount  of  moisture  in  the  air  is  favourable  for  con- 
veying odours,  we  are  agreeably  reminded  on  such  days  as  I  have 
been  describing,  by  the  balmy  fragrance  Hoating  in  the  air  whenever  we 
neared  a  garden  containing  Mignonette,  Stocks,  &c.  Oh  !  thought  we, 
if  ever  a  subscription  is  started  to  sow  every  bald  patch  of  ground  by 

NEW    SERIES,    VOL.    VI.,    NO.    LXXI,  Z 


338  THE    FLORIST. 

the  wayside,  and  every  spare  nook  in  each  garden  which  borders  our 
public  roads,  with  Mignonette  and  WallHower,  our  guinea  will  be  forth- 
coming for.  the  purpose.  We  might  go  even  further,  and  ask  our  great 
railway  contractors  whether  they  could  not  accommodate  us  with  a  strip 
on  their  railway  embankments,  to  allow  us  a  li^grant  sniff  of  our 
favourites  when  travelling  by  rail. 

But  we  must  be  practical,  or  our  readers  will  say — Gui  bono  ? 
Well,  then,  to  resume.  The  heavy  rains  and  gloomy  sky  of  the  last 
two  months  make  the  gardener  feel  a  little  uncomfortable  about  his  fruit 
trees,  particularly  those  on  his  walls.  With  little  or  no  crop  on  them  this 
season  to  moderate  their  growth,  the  late  weather  has  pushed  them  into  a 
rank  luxuriance,  and  Peaches  and  Apricots  look  as  green  and  vigorous  as 
they  did  in  July.  The  immature  ripening  of  the  wood  will  induce  gum 
next  spring,  imperfectly  formed  fruit- buds,  and  consequently  the 
prospects  next  season  become  a  piece  of  speculation,  with  the  odds 
ruling  against  anything  like  a  crop ;  the  case  is  a  desperate  one,  but,  at 
all  risks,  where  it  oan  be  done,  let  the  trees  have  the  earth  taken  from 
their  roots  and  be  partially  lifted  ;  it  will  check  further  growth,  and 
should  the  weather  become  dry  in  November,  the  trees  will  give  off  a 
good  deal  of  the  moisture  in  them  by  evaporation,  which  will  help  to 
ripen  the  wood. 

An  excellent  time  this  for  planting  all  kinds  of  trees  ;  do  not  puddle 
them  in,  nor  yet  allow  their  roots  to  be  exposed  to  the  air  a  minute 
longer  than  is  needed.  If  you  have  them  from  a  nursery,  give  a  trifle 
more  than  the  regular  price  to  have  them  carefully  lifted,  with  their 
roots  nearly  entire  and  not  docked  off  to  within  an  inch  or  two  of  the 
stem,  as  is  the  usual  practice.  Never  buy  a  tree  in  a  pot,  if  more  than 
two  years  old — an  old-fashioned  lazy  habit  that,  of  keeping  plants  for 
years  in  pots  ;  let  nurserymen  plant  them  out  in  a  poor  soil  if  they  find 
them  getting  too  large,  and  transplant  them  yearly,  when  they  will  do 
buyer  and  seller  alike  credit  ;  but  a  tree  in  a  pot,  older  than  two  or 
three  years,  is  useless  ;  when  nurserymen  find  their  customers  get  wise, 
they  will  learn  wisdom  themselves.  The  discussion  about  flower- 
garden  arrangements,  now  so  much  the  vogue,  gets  monotonous ;  nothing 
new  is  enunciated  ;  the  subject,  in  fact,  is  used  up.  We  should  like  to 
see  a  garden — a  geometrical  one,  if  you  like — planted  entirely  with 
shrubs  all  evergreen,  or  partly  mixed — coloured  beds  might  be  worked 
up  with  variegated-leaved  plants,  and  others  with  various  tints  of  green. 
Hollies,  Pernettyas,  Arbutus,  Hederas,  Sydonias,  Garryas,  Viburnums, 
Phiflyreas,  Rhododendrons,  Andromedas,  and  other  American  plants, 
hardy  Heaths,  &c.,  &c  ,  kept  within  certain  limits  as  to  height,  might 
form  the  masses  ;  while,  for  points  of  relief,  or  axes  to  balance  the  groups. 
Junipers,  Arbor  Vitae,  and  Cypresses,  should  be  introduced ;  Savin, 
Heaths,  Cotoneasters,  Periwinkles,  Polygala  Chamsebuxus,  &c.,  might 
form  edgings ;  if  colour  were  wanted  in  the  autumn  plant  the  dwarf 
beds  with  late-blooming  Gladioluses,  Tritonias,  &c.,  when  the  flowers 
would  show  well  above  the  foliage  of  the  shrubs :  this,  however,  would 
be  rather  foreign  to  our  scheme,  and  we  name  it,  as  we  saw  lately  in 
Paris  how  extensively  they  use  the  common  Asparagus  in  filling  up  the 
bottom  of  their  beds  of  Lilies  and  Gladiolus,  with  the  best  effect.     We 


NOVEMBER.  339 

should  be  disposed  to  back  a  garden  of  this  sort,  if  well  carried  out, 
against  the  best  parterre-work  out.  At  any  rate,  it  would  be  a  distinct 
feature  in  gardening,  and  we  hope  some  of  our  great  patrons — as  Lord 
Stamford  or  Sir  William  Middleton— will  take  the  matter  up.  Should 
they  do^  so — so  fickle  is  fashion,  and  so  imitative — we  should  soon  hear 
of  nothing  else, 

G.  r. 


NEW  GRAPE. 


Mr.  Fleming,  of  Trentham,  has  forwarded  for  our  examination  his 
new  Black  Grape,  in  reference  to  which  he  informs  us  "  that  it  ranks 
with  any  Black  Grape  we  possess,  and  in  many  respects  is  better — it 
ripens  as  early  as  the  Black  Hamburgh,  and  keeps  longer ;  has  a  higher 
flavour  than  the  Hamburgh,  and  a  very  thin  skin."  Mr.  F.  further 
informs  us,  "  that  with  good  cultivation  the  berries  attain  the  size 
of  the  White  Muscat ;  tliat  it  sets  very  freely,  and  is  a  most  pro- 
lific bearer :  the  leaves  are  of  a  dark  green,  below  medium  size, 
bluntly  lobed,  and  of  a  thick  texture,  which  enables  it  to  withstand  the 
hottest  sun  without  scorching." 

The  berries  of  Mr.  Fleming's  Grape  are  oval,  of  a  deep  purple  black, 
covered  with  bloom  ;  each  berry  has  one  and  sometimes  two  stones ; 
flavour  very  rich,  sweet,  and  vinous,  with  a  thin  skin  and  abundant 
juice.  Taking  all  its  good  qualities  into  consideration,  this  will  prove  a 
very  valuable  late  Grape. 


NEW  INVENTIONS,  &c. 

Mr.  Thomson,  of  Dalkeith  Park,  has  sent  us  a  prospectus  of  a  new 
form  of  boiler  he  has  designed  for  heating  hothouses,  &c.  This  he  calls 
his  retort  boiler,  and  they  are  made  of  two  sizes — the  single  and  triple 
retort ;  the  latter,  Mr.  Thomson  states,  is  capable  of  heating  3,000  feet 
of  four-inch  pipe.  The  single  retort  is  of  the  usual  cylinder  form,  the 
fire  being  beneath  the  boiler,  and  acts  round  its  outer  surface  first. 
The  flame  is  then  returned  through  the  centre  of  the  boiler  (which  we 
consider  important)  ;  consequently,  as  the  draught  is  at  a  point  leithin 
the  radius  of  the  flame  acting  round  the  boiler,  it  is  kept  in-  close  con- 
tact with  its  outer  surface,  and  has  not  so  great  a  tendency  to  rise  and 
waste  its  power  on  the  upper  surface  of  brick-work.  This  is,  in  our 
opinion,  an  improvement ;  as  is  also  the  facility  with  which  the  central 
tube  can  be  cleaned.  We  have  not,  however,  ourselves,  yet  seen  the 
boiler  at  work,  but  report  speaks  highly  of  it.  The  triple  retort  works 
in  the  same  manner,  and  is,  in  fact,  merely  three  cylinders  connected 
together. 


340 


THE    FLORIST. 


A  NEW  GARDEN    IMPLEMENT. 

Recently,  at  Edinburgh,  we  saw  in  operation  an  implement  which 
combines  the  advantages  of  the  hoe  on  an  extensive  scale,  a  harrow,  a 
grubber  or  fork,  and  a  plough,  or,  rather,  a  machine  for  earthing  up 
Potatoes,  &c. — all  this  in  one,  and  easily  worked  by  one  person.  Of 
its  great  utility  we  cannot  possibly  speak  too  highly,  and  to  market 
gardeners  especially,  and  in  those  establishments  where  kitchen- 
gardening  is  carried  on  extensively,  it  will  be  most  valuable.  The 
inventor  of  this  multum  in  parvo  instrument  is  C.  K.  Sivewright, 
Esq.,  of  Cargilfield,  Edinburgh,  who  had  it  tested  in  the  presence  of  a 
few  who  are  interested  in  horticultural  pursuits.  A  sketch  of  this 
implement  was  given  in  the  Gardeners'  Chronicle  for  1849,  page  500, 
and  by  permission  of  the  proprietors  of  that  journal  we  are  enabled  to 
reproduce  it.     Its  cost,  we  believe,  is  about  £4.     The  implement  is  so 


constructed  that  it  can  be  used  with  five  hoes  or  cutters,  and  by  means 
of  a  simple  contrivance  it  can  be  extended  or  reduced  to  a  width  of 
from  twelve  inches  to  two  feet.  By  removing  the  cutters  and  inserting 
iron  teeth  about  eight  inches  in  length,  it  can  be  made  to  answer  the 
purpose  of  a  fork  ;  and  by  moving  these  and  placing  side  knives  in  the 
form  of  a  plough,  ridges  can  be  thrown  up  with  great  ease.  We  were 
told  that  the  saving  of  labour  with  one  of  these  implements  was  very 
great,  one  man  doing  easily  and  most  effectively  the  work  of  four  ; 
indeed,  we  are  quite  convinced  that  it  is  of  great  practical  utility  in  the 
culture  of  Turnips,  Cabbage,  and  other  green  crops.  The  drawing 
given  above  represents  the  machine  as  at  first  constructed  ;  some 
alterations  and  improvements  have  been  made  since  that  time.  Should 
any  correspondent  wish  for  further  information  respecting  it,  we  shall  be 
happy  to  apply  to  Mr.  Sivewright  for  it. 


NOVEMBER.  341 

NORTHERN  ESTIMATE  OF  SEEDLING  DAHLIAS. 

At  Ihe  conclusion  of  the  meeting  of  the  National  Floricultural 
Society  of  the  18th  September,  a  box  of  24  Dahlia  blooms  was  sent 
off  to  Edinburgh  for  the  inspection  of  such  of  our  northern  friends  as 
were  within  reach  of  that  City.  The  blooms  could  not,  of  course,  be 
seen  in  the  freshness  that  surrounded  them  at  Regent-street,  and  many 
were  nmch  injured  by  the  long  journey.  The  following  remarks  are 
furnished  by  the  gentlemen  whose  names  are  attached,  and  as  they  are 
known  to  be  among  the  best  cultivators  of  this  popular  flower  in  the 
North,  their  opinion  will,  we  are  sure,  be  of  value  to  the  growers  in 
the  Northern  and  ]\Iidland  districts. 

Midnight  (Fellowes). — A  beautiful  dark  shaded  flower,  of  first-rate 
outline  and  immense  depth  of  petal.  We  venture  to  predict  that 
this  variety  will  be  found  in  all  good  winning  stands  for  many  years 
to  come. 

Lady  Popkam  (Turner). — A  white  flower  slightly  tipped  with 
delicate  rose.  A  fine  and  well  built  flower  ;  very  deep  and  sym- 
metrical, with  well  rounded  shoulder  and  high  centre.  A  great 
acquisition  ;  first-rate  in  every  resp^t. 

Marion  (Fellowes). — Another  gem  in  the  Fanny  Keynes  class  and 
style,  but  much  whiter,  and  more  clear  in  the  ground  colour  ;  also 
brighter  in  the  tipping ;  to  all  appearance  not  difficult  to  get  up  in 
the  centre ;  good  size  ;  form  first-rate.  A  fine  companion  to  Lady 
Popham. 

Charley  Self  (Keynes). — A  dark  maroon,  shaded  with  crimson 
purple.  In  the  way  of  Grand  Sultan,  but  finer  in  form  than  that 
flower  usually  is,  being  high  built,  with  very  fine  centre.  [This 
variety  is  a  sport  from  Charles  Perry  (Keynes),  a  fancy  flower 
elsewhere  noted. — Ed.] 

Cherub  (Holmes). — Light  orange.  A  full  sized  high  built  flower  ; 
good  in  form,  colour  very  attractive. 

Mrs.  Critchett  (Rawlings). — Buff.  Seemingly  a  very  promising 
flower,  but  did  not  arrive  in  a  state  which  would  enable  us  to  judge 
decidedly  of  its  merits  ;  the  flower  sent  was  rather  young  and  unde- 
veloped, also  it  was  damaged  in  carriage. 

Harbinger  (Holmes). — Very  bright  scarlet,  in  the  way  of  Sir  G. 
Napier,  with  a  better  petal.  Size  medium,  form  good,  centre  very 
prominent. 

Mont  Blanc  (Fellowes). — A  very  promising  white  flower,  with  good 
petal  and  close  centre,  bloom  too  young,  however,  and  damaged  in 
carriage. 

Mrs.  Edwards  (Keynes). — Clear  lilac  petal,  but  so  much  damaged 
we  could  not  judge  of  the  form. 

Touchstone.— U^hi  purple.  Fine  petal  and  outline,  but  this  also 
was  very  much  damaged.  .    . 

Francis  (Grant).— Fiery  red,  with  clear  white  tip  ;  very  distmct ; 
form  good,  size  medium.  «>      j 

Charles  Perry  (Keynes).— Rosy  purple,  striped  and  suffused  with 
maroon  ;  novel  and  attractive. 


342  THE    FLORIST. 

Conqueror  (Keynes). — Rosy  lilac  striped  with  black ;  distinct  and 
good. 

Ladi^  Paxlon  (Keynes). — Red,  tipped  with  white  ;  same  class  as 
Miss  Frampton. 

Cleopatra  (Salter). — Yellowish  orange,  striped  and  spotted  with 
red  ;  good  flower,  and  attractive. 

In  addition  to  the  above  there  were  some  fine  blooms  of  older 
varieties.  The  finest  were  Colonel  Windham,  Captain  Ingram,  and 
a  noble  bloom  of  Yellow  Beauty — on  the  whole  decidedly  the  best 
yellow  to  grow  (Bessie  being  so  hard  to  get).  Pre-eminent  also  and 
Grand  Sultan  were  finer  than  we  had  before  seen  them.  The  Fancies 
suffered  more  in  carriage  on  the  whole  than  the  selfs  ;  this  is  the  cause 
of  the  report  on  the  former  not  being  so  full  as  it  would  otherwise 
have  been. 

(Signed)  John  Downie, 

John  Lamont, 

Sept.  20tk.  C.    K.   SlVEWRIGHT. 


HINTS  ON  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING. 
As  I  fear  the  principles  which  should  be  the  groundwork  of  all  attempts 
to  adjust  the  grounds  and  scenery  in  connexion  with  country  residences, 
however  humble,  are  either  imperfectly  understood  or  rarely  acted 
upon,  I  send  you  a  few  observations  as  they  occur  to  me,  in  reference 
to  this  subject,  considering  your  very  useful  Magazine  a  suitable 
channel  for  allowing  my  own  views  on  this  important  department  of 
rural  affairs  to  drift  under  the  notice  of  your  readers  ;  and  with  some 
hopes  that  the  question  may  be  taken  up  by  others  of  your  correspondents 
for  mutual  discussion.  Unprofessionally  connected  with  the  subject 
myself,  excepting  as  having  had  to  deal  with  the  remodelling  of  three 
places  in  the  country  where  I  have  been  located,  I  have  nevertheless 
been  a  pretty  close  observer  of  the  glaring  faults  in  taste  and  composition 
which  are  committed  even  by  gentlemen  of  admitted  authority  on 
matters  connected  with  other  branches  of  the  fine  arts,  and  therefore 
presume  either  inattention  to  a  few  general  principles,  or  ignorance  of 
what  constitutes  good  taste,  prevails  to  a  great  extent.  As  a  proof  of 
this  rather  sweeping  assertion,  we  have  only  to  notice,  when  on  a  tour 
through  country  places,  the  want  of  congruity  and  true  taste  in  com- 
position, in  the  grounds  adjoining  the  residences  of  many  of  our  clergy, 
the  villas  of  retired  merchants,  and  the  more  ambitious  seats  of  country 
gentlemen,  and  they  will,  I  feel  assured,  be  satisfied  there  is  a  wide 
field  for  improvement  in  all. 

Previous  to  noticing  what  is  doing  in  our  own  day,  it  may  not  be 
out  of  place  briefly  to  comment  on  the  labours  of  those  who  have  gone 
before,  but  whose  works  nevertheless  remain,  as  the  touchstone  of  their 
capacity  for  composing  garden  scenery,  or  for  embellishing  on  a  wider 
scale  the  parks  and  domains  of  landed  proprietors.  A  long  array  of 
names  is  now  before  us  of  those  who  have  contributed  to  build  up  our 
fame,  or  afford  a  theme  for  censure.  Statesmen  and  philosophers, 
poets  and  novelists,  painters  and  sculptors,  landscape  gardeners  proper. 


NOVEMBER.  343 

and  garden  architects,  with  practical  gardeners  and  nurserymen,  have 
all  lent  a  helping  hand  for  nearly  two  centuries  in  producing  the 
different  kinds  of  scenery  which  prevail  in  English  gardens  at  the 
present  time.  But  alas !  when  we  come  to  analyse  with  the  eye  of 
taste  much  that  has  been  thus  done,  by  way  of  improving  the  beauties 
of  natural  scenery,  or  of  haYmonising  the  various  details  of  planting 
and  architectural  accessories,  with  the  mansion  belonging  to  them,  the 
conviction  forced  upon  the  mind  has  a  fault-finding  tendency,  and  the 
exclamation  made  by  the  wise  king  of  Israel,  when  in  later  life  he 
reviewed  his  own  painstaking  and  multifarious  labours — conceived,  as 
he  thought,  in  much  wisdom,  and  carried  on  with  much  discernment — 
that  they  were  only  "vexation  of  spirit,"  applies  with  equal  force  to 
much  of  what  we  have  under  review  at  the  present  time. 

But  I  fear  this  unsatisfactory  state  of  things  is  likely  to  linger  yet 
longer  with  us  ;  we  have  not  yet  attained  a  position,  or  even  come  near 
it,  when  perfection  will  be  the  rule  and  fault  the  exception,  both  in 
architecture  and  in  landscape  gardening,  as  many  modern  buildings 
inform  us  rather  painfully.  It  behoves  us,  then,  to  criticise  our  position, 
and  by  public  discussion  try  to  ascertain  how  far  the  true  principles  of 
taste  pervade  society,  and  whether  or  not  it  cannot  be  brought  up  to 
a  point  sufficiently  advanced  to  enable  us  to  entertain  correct  impres- 
sions of  what  landscape  composition  should  be,  as  well  as  architecture, 
so  as  to  judge  of  their  respective  merits. 

From  the  bowling  green  of  the  olden  time,  garnished  with  quaint 
devices  in  vegetable  sculpture,  with  its  border  of  herbs  and  antique 
arbour,  down  to  the  latest  attempt  at  high  art  in  gardening  as  ex- 
emplified in  the  Crystal  Palace,  a  wide  scope  of  ideas  has  emanated 
fi'om  the  mind  of  man,  and  have  been  put  in  practice  for  beautifying 
and  adorning  his  residence.  Fashion  has  rung  her  ever- varying  round 
of  change  with  this  as  with  other  subjects,  and  although  almost  foreign 
to  the  object  I  started  with,  to  discuss  things  as  they  are  rather  than 
criticise  what  has  been,  it  will  not  take  long  to  notice  the  different 
peculiarities  belonging  to  the  period  named  above,  beyond  which  all  is 
conjecture  and  doubt,  from  more  modern  improvements  having  oblite- 
rated nearly  all  traces  of  the  past. 

M.  A.  S. 
{To  be  continued.) 


DIOSCOREA  BATATAS. 
We  do  not  know  how  far  this  plant,  about  which  so  much  was  said 
18  months  back,  as  a  substitute  for  the  Potato,  may  answer  the  high 
character  given  it  for  an  esculent ;  but  one  thing  is  certain,  it  is  a  very 
ornamental  climbing  plant,  and  as  such  may  prove  useful  in  more 
ways  than  one — for  covering  arbours,  trellis,  and  walls,  there  is 
scarcely  a  plant  grown  for  the  purpose  which  has  such  beautiful  foliage 
as  the  "Chinese  Potato";  while  its  habit  of  growth  is  botli  graceful  and 
elegant.  In  addition,  therefore,  to  its  producing  a  root  of  more  or  less 
value  for  culinary  uses,  it  will  prove  very  ornamental  as  a  chmber, 
where  beautiful  foliage  is  an  object.  ^* 


344  THE    FLORIST. 


AMERICAN  NURSERIES. 

As  many  gardeners  annually  emigrate  to  America,  and  as  our  inter- 
course with  that  great  country  is  daily  on  the  increase,  the  following 
notice  of  one  of  its  nurseries,  taken  from  the  "  Hiykland  (Nevvburgh) 
Courier,'''  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  some  of  our  readers.  "  The  High- 
land Nurseries  are  at  Nevvburgh,  a  town  on  the  Hudson  river,  about 
60  miles  from  New  York.  Passing  from  the  Western  Avenue  along 
Liberty  Street,  the  distance  of  one  good,  round,  plump  mile,  the  seeker 
for  the  attractive  and  interesting  features  of  our  hill  side  town  arrives 
at  the  beautiful  nursery  grounds  of  A.  Saul  &  Co.  When  he  reaches 
these  nurseries,  if  he  in  the  least  admires  the  triumphs  of  floral,  horti- 
cultural, and  arboricultural  science,  he  will  enter  the  grounds  and  feast 
his  ideality  upon  the  productions  of  elaborated  and  nursed  nature.  The 
profusion  of  the  rare  and  useful  in  the  fanciful  and  useful  departments  of 
the  flower,  plant,  and  tree  kingdoms  will  aftbrd  him  ample  opportunities 
for  absorbing  study  and  elevating  contemplation.  Here  he  will  feast 
his  eyes  upon  the  choicest  gems  of  flowers,  there  he  will  gaze  delighted 
upon  exotic  and  indigenous  ornamental  trees  and  delicate  shrubs,  while 
on  every  hand  the  food-bearing  plant  and  the  sustenance-giving  tree 
multiplied  by  thousands,  covering  fruitful  and  highly  cultivated  acres 
will  lead  him  to  reflect  upon  the  bounteous  provision  which  Nature  has 
made  for  the  unceasing  wants  of  her  carefully  protected  children. 

"  The  nurseries  of  A.  Saul  &  Co.  are  well  worthy  of  a  visit.  They  are 
the  best  arranged  and  most  extensive  of  anything  of  the  kind  we  ever 
saw.  They  are  fastidiously  and  neatly  worked  ;  science  and  art  have 
been  the  designers,  and  architects,  and  the  workers  on  these  premises. 
One  hour's  examination  of  the  specimens  is  worth  more  to  the  student 
of  botany  than  weeks  of  plodding  and  painful  research  into  the  text  books 
of  our  schools.  One  inspection  of  these  nurseries  is  worth  more  to  the 
progressive  farmer  than  the  reading  of  agricultural  periodicals  for  years. 
"For  the  present  we  wiU  give  only  a  few  remarks  descriptive  ot  these 
nurseries.  In  extent  they  are  43  acres.  In  variety  they  present  every 
specimen  that  can  be  required  by  a  community  ;  and  much  more,  for 
scarcely  a  beautiful  flower,  a  fancy  shrub,  or  an  adorning  or  a  fruit 
tree,  or  a  valuable  vegetable  can  be  mentioned  which  these  enterprising 
men  have  not  now  growing  on  their  domains. 

"  As  you  approach  the  residence  of  Mr.  Saul  you  see  a  fine  carriage- 
way running  from  the  street  to  the  western  extremity  of  the  nursery 
grounds.  Coming  to  the  dwelling  of  the  proprietor,  on  each  side  of 
the  road  are  borders  containing  an  almost  infinite  number  of  specimen 
shrubs.  The  way  proceeding  to  the  west,  after  leaving  the  house,  is 
bordered  by  specimen  Pear  trees,  the  specimens  numbering  1000. 
Last  year  this  gentleman  exhibited  at  the  State  Fair,  and  at  the  Fair 
at  the  Crystal  Palace,  125  varieties  of  Pears,  and  took  the  premium  at 
each  exhibition.  Around  the  house  are  specimens  of  shade  and  orna- 
mental trees.  Among  these,  pre-eminent  for  their  fine  growth  and 
splendid  appearance,  are  the  Norway  Fir  and  the  Austrian  Pine.  Mr. 
Saul  informed  us  that  these  trees  are  better  adapted  to  our  climate  than 
any  others,   either  native  or  imported.     These    trees   being  so  well 


NOVEMBER.  345 

calculated  to  endure  the  frigidness  of  our  winters,  and  at  the  same  time 
so  surpassing  lovely,  must  ere  long  be  much  sought  for. 

"  From  Mr.  Saul  we  learned  a  most  singular  fact  in  arborary  history. 
Many  trees  taken  from  a  high  southern  latitude  can  endure  the  extremes 
of  our  climate,  and  tlirive  better  than  those  taken  from  a  latitude  as 
far  north  as  our  own.  He  has  in  his  nursery  several  kinds  which  are 
indigenous  to  the  Andes  of  South  America  and  the  Himalayas  of  Asia, 
and  which  thrive  exceedingly  well;  while  other  kinds  taken  from 
California  and  other  places  farther  north  can  scarcely  be  acclimated. 
This  he  accounts  for,  in  the  elevation  of  the  soil  in  which  they  grew, 
the  peculiar  condition  of  the  atmosphere  and  the  universal  hardness 
and  firm  texture  of  the  trees  and  plants  which  are  natives  of  the  region 
in  which  they  are  found. 

"An  India  Rubber  tree,  which  he  has  reared  in  a  greenhouse,  we 
regarded  here  as  a  great  curiosity.  These  trees  require  much  warmth, 
yet  are  quite  easily  kept  alive.  It,  when  cut  into,  sends  out  a  juice 
much  like  our  common  milk  weed,  which  soon  dries  and  assumes  a 
sticky  and  elastic  nature. 

"  During  each  of  the  past  two  years  there  have  been  imported  into  the 
nursery  100,000  Norway  Firs  ;  50,000  Quince  stocks  are  annually  put 
out  in  the  grounds  for  the  purpose  of  improving  the  quality  of  Pears 
by  engrafting,  and  every  other  kind  of  fruit  trees  proportionally.  We 
have  not  the  exact  statistics,  but  we  are  within  bounds  in  giving  the 
number  of  varieties  of  Apple  trees  at  500,  the  Plums  at  100,  and 
Apricots  at  50,  and  the  number  of  fruit  trees  now  ready  for  setting  out 
at  500,000.     Last  year  there  were  fruited  here  200  kinds  of  Pears. 

"  It  does  the  olfactory  nerves  of  one  good  to  enter  his  Rose  grounds — 
they  cover  nearly  an  acre — half  an  acre  of  them  lie  in  a  body.  The 
fragrance  arismg  from  such  a  mass  of  Roses  is  enough  to  breathe 
sweetness  over  the  entire  village. 

"The  varieties  of  ornamental  trees,  shrubs,  Vines,  and  plants  amount 
to  1000  at  least ;  but  as  a  mere  bare  description  of  ^this  nursery  would 
fill  columns,  we  will  let  this  suffice  for  the  present." 


A  FEW  WORDS   ABOUT   ORCHARD  HOUSES. 
I   READ  with  much  interest  your  notice  of  Mr.  Rivers's   Nursery, 
Sawbridgevvorth,  in  the  last  number  of  the   Florist,  but  I  was  not 
interested  with  your  account  of  the  Orchard-house. 

Nearly  at  the  commencement  of  your  article  you  say_  that  "  The 
cultivation  of  fruit  trees  in  pots  dates  back  but  a  short  period,  and  has 
grown  up,  as  it  were,  from  our  unfavourable  springs  of  late  having 
rendered  out-door  crops  of  wall-fruit  very  precarious.  But,  un- 
questionably, the  impulse  given  to  the  erection  of  glass  buildings  of  tliis 
description  must  be  attributed  to  the  removal  of  the  duty  on  glass, 
which  enables  this  useful  article  now  to  be  purchased  at  a  cheap  rate.' 
And  a  little  further,  you  say  that  "  We  have  at  all  times  strenuously 
urged  that  orchard-houses  are  a  valuable  auxiliary  even  to  good 
gardens,   and  in     our  opinion    indispensable    in   exposed    and    cold 


346  THE    TLORIST. 

situations."  That  orchard-houses  are  a  valuable  auxiliary  to  good 
gardens,  I  am  fully  persuaded  ;  but  then  they  must  be  very  different 
structures  from  Mr.  Rivers's  glass  roofs,  resting  on  posts,  and  the  spaces 
between  filled  in  with  Arbor-vitee,  &c. ;  or  even  from  his  more  recently 
erected  ones  with  wood  shutters,  &c. 

Mr.  Rivers  claims  to  be  considered  the  poor  amateur's  friend.  He 
wishes  to  furnish  the  man  of  small  income  with  all  the  dainty  kinds  of 
fruit,  and  to  supply  which  very  large  and  costly  establishments  are 
supported  by  many  of  our  aristocracy.  This  is  a  very  praiseworthy 
motive  ;  but,  with  all  due  deference  to  Mr.  Rivers,  I  cannot  see  how 
his  orchard-houses  will  ever  realise  it. 

I  should  very  much  like  to  hear  your  opinion  on  fruit-trees  in  pots  ; 
as  to  whether  there  is  any  real  economy,  or  any  decided  advantage,  in 
growing  them  in  pots  to  planting  them  in  borders  of  soil.  This  is  a 
point  which  should  be  settled  at  once  ;  and  it  is  to  such  practical  men 
as  yourself  that  the  public  look  for  the  solution  of  such  questions. 

From  my  own  experience,  I  know  that  the  cultivation  of  fruit-trees 
in  pots  is  attended  with  an  immense  deal  of  labour  ;  and  so  will  any 
amateur,  however  enthusiastic  he  may  be,  find  it,  it  he  has  all  the  work 
to  do  himself.  Even  Mr.  Rivers  finds  it  necessary  to  place  the  pots  his 
trees  are  growing  in  on  a  bed  of  soil  for  the  roots  to  penetrate  into  it, 
and  this  notwithstanding  his  liberal  doses  of  liquid  manure. 

Then  why  not,  I  ask,  plant  them  in  the  soil,  and  be  done  with  all 
the  trouble  of  cutting  off  the  roots,  and  placing  fresh  soil  for  them  to 
strike  into  every  year  ?  I  know  what  Mr.  Rivers  has  said  in  favour  of 
growing  the  trees  in  pots,  but  I  cannot  see  there  is  any  advantage  in 
the  system  to  the  fruit-grower  ;  whilst  I  can  see  a  very  serious  objection 
to  it,  namely — that  for  pot-culture  a  much  greater  number  of  trees  will 
be  required  for  an  orchard-house  than  when  the  trees  are  planted  out 
in  borders,  and  consequently  the  nurseryman's  bill  will  be  so  much 
larger.  This  is  a  matter  of  vast  importance  to  the  poor  amateur,  whom 
Mr.  Rivers,  with  his  cheap  houses,  wishes  to  befriend.  I  merely  make 
this  remark  in  support  of  the  view  I  take  of  the  subject,  without 
intending  any  offence  to  Mr.  Rivers  or  any  other  person.  It  has 
been  said  that  by  having  fruit-trees  in  pots  we  can  have  a  greater 
variety  of  fruit,  and  for  a  greater  length  of  time.  I  admit  that  we  can 
have  a  greater  variety  of  fruit,  but  I  am  not  quite  so  certain  that  we  can 
have  them  for  any  greater  length  of  time.  One  good  tree  in  a  border 
will  bear  as  many  fruit  as  six  trees  in  pots,  and  consequently  will  furnish 
fruit  for  the  dessert  for  as  long  a  time  as  the  six  trees  in  pots,  and  with 
a  proper  selection  of  sorts  the  time  might  be  equally  long.  From  my  own 
experience,  I  know  that  twenty  trees  planted  in  a  border  will  bear  more 
fine  fruit  than  sixty  trees  in  pots  in  an  orchard-house  of  the  same  size. 

But  some  may  urge  it  as  an  objection  that  trees  planted  out  will  soon 
get  too  large  for  any  ordinary  orchard-house.  To  this  I  say  no,  with 
root-pruning  and  proper  management. 

There  is,  however,  one  very  great  advantage  to  be  gained  in  growing 
fruit-trees  in  pots  in  orchard-houses,  namely — for  proving  new  kinds 
of  fruit.  This  is  their  legitimate  purpose,  and  to  this  they  should  be 
confined.    This  is  a  nurseryman's  business,  and  to  this  they  should  con- 


NOVEMBER.  347 

fine  themselves,  and  not  attempt  to  teach  practical  gardeners  what  they 
themselves  do  not  understand.  Mr.  Rivers  erred  in  going  beyond  this. 
The  horticultural  world  is  much  indebted  to  him  for  having  originated 
so  easy  a  means  of  proving  foreign  varieties  of  fruits,  &c. 

Glass  is  now  cheap  enough,  consequently  good  houses  can  be 
put  up  at  a  very  moderate  price.  I  am  as  great  an  advocate  for 
orchard-houses  as  Mr.  Rivers,  but  I  would  have  them  well  built.  I 
would  have  them  span-roofed,  with  glass  at  the  sides.  I  would  have 
them  well  ventilated,  and  heated  by  hot  water.  To  attempt  to  grow 
Grapes  in  span-roofed  houses  not  heated  will  end  in  disappointment. 
When  orchard-houses  are  heated  with  hot  water.  Vines  can  be  grown 
up  the  rafters,  and  every  other  kind  of  fruit  can  be  grown  from  trees 
planted  in  the  inside  borders.  A  house  of  this  description,  in  the 
hands  of  a  practical  man,  will  jiay,  which  is  more  than  one  of 
Mr.  Rivers's  houses  will  do  in  the  hands  of  an  amateur. 

Pomona. 


ON  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  PELARGONIUM. 
The  following  brief  remarks,  which  are  seasonable,  we  extract  from 
a  paper  on  the  cultivation  of  the  Pelargonium,  issued  with  Mr.  Turner's 
Catalogue,  from  the  Royal  Nursery,  Slough. 

"  The  successful  cultivation  of  the  Pelargonium  very  much  depends 
upon  its  treatment  in  the  autumn  :  it  is  not  possible  to  have  fine  plants 
in  bloom  in  May  or  June  unless  due  attention  has  been  paid  to  them 
in  the  previous  autumn.  This  is  especially  the  case  with  young  plants  ; 
they  should  have  prompt  and  constant  attention  and  every  assistance 
that  they  can  have  from  the  moment  they  are  struck.  Any  delay  in 
potting  when  needed,  allowing  them  to  be  a  prey  to  aphides,  or  neglect 
in  any  particular,  will  surely  tell  injuriously  upon  the  bloom.  The 
following  hints  are  therefore  offered  in  reference  more  especially  to  new 
plants  from  the  nurseries.  First,  as  soon  as  the  plants  are  received 
(and  the  earlier  they  are  received  the  better)  let  them  be  made  as 
clean  as  possible ;  stir  the  surface  of  the  soil  a  little,  and  place  them  in 
a  light  airy  situation  to  recover  the  effects  of  the  journey:  two  or 
three  days  will  generally  be  sufficient  for  this.  Then  examine  the 
roots,  and,  if  needed  (which  will  usually  be  the  case),  repot  them  into 
the  next  sized  pots ;  good  mellow  loam,  enriched  with  an  equal  bulk  of 
stable  litter  laid  together  a  twelvemonth  previous,  and  occasionally 
turned,  will,  with  the  addition  of  a  little  silver  sand,  be  a  suitable 
compost.  Put  a  stake  to  each  plant,  and  let  them  have  regular  attention 
to  watering,  air,  and  light ;  in  three  or  four  weeks  they  will  be  ready 
for  another  shift  into  the  next  sized  pot,  in  which  they  may  remain 
until  the  end  of  January  or  beginning  of  February,  when  they  should 
be  put  into  their  blooming  pots,  using  pots  suited  to  the  strength  of 
each  plant,  and  bearing  in  mind  that  as  it  is  necessary  that  the 
pots  be  well  filled  with  roots  by  the  time  the  plants  come  into  bloom, 
care  should  be  taken  not  to  overpot.  As  soon  as  the  lower  leaves  turn 
yellow  in  the  spring  a  little  clear  weak  manure  water  may  be  used 
with  advantage,   and  be  continued  until  the  bloom  is  nearly  ready  to 


348  THE    FLORIST. 

expand.  Anything  like  forcing  should  be  avoided,  but  a  Httle  fire  heat 
will  be  beneficial  in  damp,  dull,  and  foggy  weather,  and  also  whenever 
the  temperature  sinks  to  near  40°. 

"  Cleanliness  is  also  a  very  important  thing  to  attend  to  in  the 
culture  of  the  Pelargonium.  No  dead  foliage  should  be  allowed  to 
remain  on  the  plants,  and  if  the  green  leaves  become  dirty  or  dusty 
they  should  be  carefully  washed,  and  the  glass  of  the  house,  both 
inside  and  outside,  should  be  kept  quite  clean.  Fancy  varieties 
require  similar  treatment  to  the  large  kinds  ;  they  will,  however,  bear 
a  little  more  heat  with  advantage  through  the  winter  and  early  part  of 
spring,  taking  especial  care  to  avoid  '  drawing '  of  the  shoots." 


NOTES    ON    BEDDING  GERANIUMS. 
VARIEGATED-LEAVED  GERANIUMS. 

Mrs.  Lennox. — This  variety  has  leaves  with  a  clear  white  margin  of 
good  breadth,  centre  of  leaf  a  pleasing  green,  truss  moderate,  flowers 
a  deep  scarlet,  form  of  petal  bad,  but  better  than  Mountain  of  Light ; 
it  grows  freely,  and  is  valuable  from  the  pure  white  edging  of  its  leaves, 
and  good  habit.  This  makes  the  most  beautiful  bed  of  all  the  variegated 
Geraniums. 

Alma. — Apparently  a  seedhng  frcm  Flower  of  the  Day.  It  is, 
however,  much  superior  to  that  well-known  variety  ;  the  leaves  are  not 
so  much  crumpled,  and  the  margin  is  a  clear  white,  in  which  respect, 
however,  it  is  inferior  to  the  above.  Alma  produces  a  good  truss  of 
bloom  with  well-formed  petals,  grows  very  freely,  both  in  pots  and 
when  planted  out,  and  is  an  acquisition  to  the  flower-garden. 

Mountain  of  Snow. — Very  similar  to  Mrs.  Lennox.  In  our  speci- 
mens margins  scarcely  so  white  ;  in  others  we  have  seen,  quite  so ; 
may  be  used  as  Mrs.  Lennox,  A  fine  variety,  and  carrying  a  good 
truss  of  bloom. 

Silver  King. — Leaves  with  a  broad  margin  of  yellowish  white, 
habit  dwarf  and  compact,  truss  of  bloom  good,  flower  a  rich  scarlet, 
makes  a  rich-looking  bed  from  its  yellowish  tinted  foliage,  and  likewise 
an  excellent  edging  to  the  horse-shoe  or  plain-leaved  scarlets. 

Attraction  (Lee's). — The  leaves  of  this  variety  have  a  greenish  white 
margin,  with  a  band  of  reddish  purple  surrounding  the  centre  part. 
Although  this  and  others  in  the  same  way  are  interesting,  from  having 
the  horse-shoe  mark  combined  with  silver  margined  leaves,  they  have 
not  the  distinct  look  of  those  with  only  two-coloured  leaves,  and  in  our 
estimation  are  not  so  valuable  for  effect.  This  variety  grows  very 
freely  ;   truss  good,  flowers  a  pale  scarlet. 

Countess  of  Warwick. — In  the  way  of  Attraction,  but  much  supe- 
rior. Margin  clearer,  purple  band  well  defined,  fine  truss  of  bloom  of 
a  deep  scarlet,  petals  well  shaped,  a  good  variety  in  its  class. 

Annie. — Leaves  large  and  flat,  with  a  yellowish  margin  ;  has  the 
horse -shoe  marking  well  defined,  truss  of  bloom  large,  flowers  a  good 
scarlet. 


NOVEMBER.  349 


HORSE-SHOE  GERANIUMS. 

General  PeUssier. — A  fine  variety  :  margin  of  leaf  pale  green,  with 
a  well-marked  purple  band  ;  centre  of  leaf  a  yellowish  green,  trusses 
on  long  footstalks,  of  a  bright  scarlet.  This  is  good  either  for  bedding 
or  vases  ;  it  grows  and  blooms  freely. 

General  Simpson. — Horse-shoe  marking  indistinct,  dwarf  habit,  a 
good  truss  with  flowers  of  a  bright  scarlet. 

Boule  de  Feu  (Ward). — Purple  marking  well  defined,  compact 
grower,  blooms  of  a  very  bright  scarlet  with  a  white  eye.  We  consider 
this  the  brightest  scarlet  of  all  the  horse-shoe  class. 

King  of  Scarlets. — Plain  leaf,  dwarf  grower,  large  truss,  and  fine 
petal ;  colour,  rich  scarlet. 


REVIEW. 


A  Descriptive    Catalogue  of    Trees,  Conifers,  &c.     By  Messrs.  A. 

Paul  &  Son.  Cheshunt,  Herts. 
We  do  not  often  notice  Trade  Catalogues,  unless  characterised  by  some 
special  feature.  Until  within  the  last  few  years,  it  had  been  the  prac- 
tice with  nurserymen  to  issue  catalogues  giving  only  the  names  of 
plants  with  prices,  so  that  intending  purchasers,  unless  well  acquainted 
with  the  various  plants,  could  Ibrm  but  an  inadequate  idea  of  the 
peculiarities  of  the  various  articles  offered.  A  great  improvement, 
however,  has  been  effected  recently  by  various  nurserymen,  and  many 
classes  of  plants  have  been  well  described  ;  still,  trees,  shrubs,  and 
other  plants  have  not  met  with  the  attention  they  deserved.  The  taste 
for  ornamental  planting  has  increased  very  much,  and  many  of  our 
finest  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs  are  now  sought  after  and  much 
used  ;  still,  unless  seen,  those  who  wished  to  purchase  were  not  assisted 
in  making  a  selection  from  the  nursery  catalogues  hitherto  issued. 
Messrs.  Paul's  catalogue  is  not  only  a  detailed  list  of  what  they  have  to 
offer,  but  it  is  in  reality  an  elaborate  guide  to  purchasers,  giving  the 
botanical  name,  height,  English  name  of  each  shrub  or  tree,  with 
suitable  remarks  appended  to  them,  which  will  be  found  of 
advantage  to  those  who  are  unable  to  select  from  nurseries. 


CALENDAR  FOR  THE  MONTH. 

Auriculas.  —  These  plants  having  been  placed  in  their  vsrinter 
quarters  will  require  but  little  to  be  done  to  them  for  some  time.  Keep 
them  clean  and  tolerably  dry. 

Azaleas.— kiiQn^  carefully  to  watering  these,  for  though  apparently 
resting,  if  allowed  to  get  too  dry  at  this  season,  the  flowers  next  year 
will  be  poor.     Give  air  plentifully  on  mild  days. 

Camellias.— l{?iX\j  dust  has  collected  on  the  leaves  of  these,  it  should 
be  washed  off  with  a  sponge  or  syringe  some  fine  morning ;  this  will 


350  THE    FLORIST. 

show  the  flowers  to  the  best  advantage.  Many  of  the  early  sorts  will 
be  coming  into  flower ;  give  them  liberal  supplies  of  water.  They  will 
not  need  any  fire-heat  unless  very  severe  weather  sets  in. 

Carnations  and  Picotees. — It  is  now  full  late  for  potting  into  small 
pots  the  layers  from  the  old  stocks.  If  there  are  still  such  to  be  done, 
no  time  should  be  lost  in  performing  it.  The  stock,  generally,  should 
be  kept  dry.  Avoid  wetting  the  foliage  when  watering.  Giving 
plenty  of  air,  and  keeping  the  plants  clean,  is  the  principal  labour  these 
plants  will  require  for  some  time  to  come. 

Cinerarias. — These  will  now  be  growing  very  fast  and  should  have 
corresponding  room,  more  parficularly  those  intended  for  early  blooming. 
Keep  the  lights  off"  on  all  favourable  occasions,  to  prevent  the  leal- 
stalks  from  drawing.  Repot  young  stock  that  have  not  had  their 
final  shift. 

Cold  Frames. — Plants  of  all  descriptions  in  frames  and  pits  should 
never  be  left  exposed  in  rainy  weather  at  this  season  ;  still  every  oppor- 
tunity should  be  taken  to  give  a  plentiful  supply  of  air,  when  the 
weather  is  fine  and  mild.  Water  not  with  a  rose,  but  individually, 
with  a  small-spouted  pot  that  does  not  carry  a  deal  of  water  or  make 
any  unnecessary  wet ;  as  the  nights  at  this  time  of  the  year  are  very 
long  and  cold,  it  is  necessary  and  indeed  preferable  to  water  all  kinds  of 
plants  in  the  morning,  so  that  all  superfluous  moisture  may  have  a 
chance  to  pass  off"  before  evening ;  it  is  also  well  to  avoid  watering  the 
foliage  as  much  as  possible.  Keep  everything  as  dry  as  the  health  and 
well-being  of  the  plants  will  allow ;  fi"0st  will  by  this  means  be  more 
easily  kept  from  injuring  the  plants.     Cover  well  up  in  frosty  weather. 

Conservatory  and  Show-house. — It  is  of  the  first  importance  in 
managing  plants  that  they  have  particular  and  steady  attention  during 
the  winter  months  as  regards  heat,  air,  and  watering,  and  this  is  more 
particularly  the  case  the  first  few  weeks  after  they  are  housed.  Chry- 
santhemums will  now  help  to  make  a  display  in  these  houses  ;  water 
them  freely.  Chinese  Primroses  are  valuable  decorative  plants  for 
vdnter  ;  they  should  be  watered  with  caution.  Unless  the  weather  be 
very  severe,  much  fire-heat  will  not  be  required  as  yet ;  in  fact,  the 
less  the  better  until  after  Christmas. 

Cucumbers. — Those  planted  out  in  August  and  attended  to  as  directed 
in  previous  Calendars  will  now  be  in  good  condition  for  winter  bearing. 
Keep  the  plants  thin  of  shoots ;  maintain  a  steady,  regular  bottom- 
heat,  and  a  moist  growing  atmosphere,  with  a  temperature  by  day  of 
from  70°  to  76°,  and  at  night  from  65°  to  70°.  Give  air  freely  on 
mild  days  in  the  forenoon,  and  shut  up  early  in  the  afternoon.  By 
these  means  you  will  have  plenty  of  Cucumbers  during  the  winter,  and 
by  not  leaving  too  many  on  the  plants,  they  will  continue  in  bearing, 
with  good  management,  until  July  next. 

Dahlias. — Store  the  roots  for  wintering,  after  carefully  drying  them. 
The  seed  will  require  attending,  or  it  wiU  get  mouldy  and  perish. 

Flower  Garden. — Continue  to  pot  any  plants  that  it  may  be 
desirable  to  keep  for  next  season.  In  the  absence  of  frost,  should  dry 
weather  set  in,  many  of  the  beds  will  continue  tolerable  for  a  short  time 
longer  ;  they  should  be  frequently  gone  over  and  cleared  of  all  decaying 


NOVEMBER.  351 

blooms  and  leaves ;  such  beds  as  are  really  gone  by  are  better  planted 
at  once  with  bulbs  for  spring  flowering.  Those  beds  that  are  latest 
cleared  may  be  filled  up  from  the  preserve  garden  with  Wallflowers  in 
varieties,  Primroses,  Hellebores,  Alyssums,  Hepaticas,  Saxifragas,  and 
a  long  list  of  other  things.  Dwarf  evergreens  in  pots  are  also  useful 
for  such  purposes.  Keep  every  place  neat  and  tidy.  Proceed  with  any 
intended  alterations. 

Forcing  Hardy  Shrubs. — Put  in  the  first  batch  of  Lilacs,  Roses, 
Azaleas,  Kalmias,  Rhododendrons,  &c. ;  plunge  them  in  a  nice  steady 
bottom-heat.  Keep  up  a  moist  atmosphere ;  they  will  not  require  as 
yet  much  fire-heat,  unless  in  severe  frosts. 

Forcing  Groumd. — Make  good  beds  for  Seakale  and  Asparagus. 
Towards  the  end  of  the  month  take  up  the  roots ;  place  a  few  inches  of 
soil  on  the  beds,  on  this  place  the  roots  and  fill  in  between  the  roots  with 
soil.  Give  them  a  good  watering  in  a  few  days,  after  that  little  is 
required  until  it  is  ready  for  use.  Cover  the  frames  at  night ;  give  air 
in  fine  weather.  Sow  Mustard  and  Cress  weekly.  Put  some  Rhubarb 
roots  into  heat. 

Fruit  (Iiardy). — Proceed  with  the  planting  of  fruit  trees  in  open, 
mild  weather.  Where  the  subsoil  is  of  a  gravelly,  porous  nature,  little 
if  any  drainage  will  be  required  ;  but  where  the  subsoil  is  of  a  reten- 
tive, clayey  nature,  the  most  thorough  drainage  should  be  adopted,  in 
order  to  give  the  trees  a  good  chance.  If  the  pruning  has  been  properly 
attended  to  during  summer,  there  will  be  but  very  little  that  will 
require  doing  now ;  if  there  be  any,  it  should  be  done  as  soon  as  the 
leaves  are  oft".  Keep  the  standard  Apple  and  Pear  trees  open  in  the 
centre ;  take  out  strong  upright  leaders  and  branches  that  cross  each 
other.  Figs  should  be  covered  to  protect  the  young  wood  from  frosts. 
Continue  to  nail  whilst  the  weather  is  mild ;  endeavour  to  get  as  much 
of  this  work  done  as  is  possible  before  Christmas.  When  the  Goose- 
berry and  Currant  bushes  are  pruned,  lime  the  ground  and  dig  lightly 
over. 

Greenhouse  (Jiard-wooded). — Water  at  this  season  should  be  given 
sparingly,  but  at  the  same  time  the  plants  must  not  be  allowed  to  suffer 
from  want  of  it.  Admit  air  freely,  but  not  in  currents  ;  keep  a  dry  and 
healthy  atmosphere.  Soft-wooded. — Give  air  carefully  in  cold  weather. 
Do  not  crowd  them,  so  that  they  may  have  all  the  light  possible  ; 
water  when  absolutely  necessary.  Make  fires  to  dry  up  damp  in  wet 
weather,  and  in  frosty  weather  just  sufficient  to  keep  them  in  a  healthy 
condition. 

Hollyhocks. — Keep  these  dry,  yet  growing,  by  giving  them  pot- 
room.  .  . 

Kitchen  Garden. — Now  is  the  season  for  making  alterations.  Dram 
wherever  necessary.  Manure  all  vacant  ground,  and  dig  or  trench,  or 
throw  up  into  ridges.  Earth  up  Celery  when  dry.  Carrots,  Parsnips, 
Beet-root,  &c.,  should  be  immediately  taken  up  and  stored  away,  if  not 
already  done.  Protect  Lettuce  and  Endive  from  frosts,  also  Cauliflowers 
that  are  heading.  Sow  the  first  lot  of  Peas  on  a  warm,  sheltered 
border.  Sow  also  a  few  Beans.  Dress  Asparagus  beds  ;  and  when  the 
weather  is  sufficiently  dry  hoe  among  Cabbages  and  Spinach. 


352  THE    FLORIST. 

Orchard  House. — A  cool,  dry  atmosphere,  with  thorough  ventilation, 
is  all  that  is  at  present  necessary  here. 

Pansies. — Give  plenty  of  air  to  the  stock  that  is  to  be  wintered  in 
pots.  If  not  already  done,  plant  out  those  for  blooming  in  beds,  as  Well 
as  seedlings. 

Pelargoniums. — (See  paper  in  the  present  number,  page  347.) 
Pinery. — Plants  now  showing  fruit  will  require  a  rather  higher 
temperature  to  assist  the  blooming.  Fruit  now  swelling  will  require 
occasional  waterings  and  a  moist  atmosphere.  Fruit  now  ripening  will 
not  require  watering,  and  they  should  have  all  the  light  possible,  with  a 
hot,  dry  atmosphere.  Plants  to  show  fruit  in  January  should  be  kept 
dry,  and  in  a  rather  lower  temperature ;  but  it  should  not  be  kept  too 
low.  Pines  in  all  stages  require  bottom -heat.  The  young  stock  should 
have  air  whenever  the  weather  is  favourable  ;  they  should  have  a 
tolerably  dry  atmosphere,  all  the  light  possible,  and  a  steady  bottom- 
heat,  and  they  will  pass  safely  through  the  winter. 

Pinks. — Pot  up  a  few  pairs  of  each  kind  to  winter  in  frames  with 
the  Carnations.  These,  if  not  required  to  fill  up  vacancies  in  the  beds, 
produce  fine  blooms  if  planted  out  in  'March. 

Pleasure  Grounds. — The  present  is  the  season  for  alterations  here. 
All  wet  and  retentive  soils  sliould  be  well  drained.  Trees  of  every 
description  may  now  be  planted.  Rolling  and  sweeping  are  operations 
which  will  require  to  be  daily  performed  to  keep  anything  like  a  tidy 
appearance. 

Stove. — The  most  important  operations  in  this  department,  at  this 
season,  consist  in  keeping  the  plants  clean  and  neat,  and  well  watered. 
All  plants  done  flowering  should  be  placed  as  much  out  of  sight  as 
possible,  and  all  plants  in  flower  should  be  brought  as  much  as  possible 
into  view. 

Strawberry  Plants. — If  our  previous  directions  have  been  attended 
to  these  will  now  be  good  plants,  with  well-formed,  strong  crowns,  and 
able  to  do  good  work  next  season.  As  they  will  have  done  growing, 
they  should  be  put  into  winter  quarters,  placing  a  sufficient  number  for 
the  first  batch  of  forcing  plants  into  a  cold  frame,  pit,  Vinery,  or  Peach 
house.  Ridging  the  plants  is  as  good  a  mode  as  any  for  wintering  them. 
Tulips. — Choose  every  opportunity  of  getting  them  planted  without 
delay,  before  bad  weather  sets  in.  The  offsets  should  have  been 
planted  as  recommended  last  month. 

Vinery. — When  Grapes  are  wanted  in  April  the  first  house  should 
be  started  immediately.  The  outside  borders  should  have  a  good 
covering  of  leaves,  and  these  should  be  covered  over  with  long  straw ; 
if  this  be  properly  done,  they  will  not  require  anything  more  during  the 
winter.  Some  people  experience  considerable  difficulty  in  getting  their 
Vines  to  break  properly.  Now  this  oftentimes  arises  from  the  wood 
not  being  properly  ripened  the  previous  season.  With  a  moist  atmo- 
sphere and  a  genial  temperature,  there  is  no  difficulty  in  getting  the 
fine,  plump,  well-formed  buds,  on  properly  matured  wood,  to  break 
strong  and  freely.  The  night  temperature  should  not  exceed  50°  till 
each  bud  is  fully  swelled,  when  it  may  be  raised  to  55°;  an  increase  on 
sunny  days  may  be  allowed  of  20°  to  25°. 


'  ■!m^TKsJ?e&  *■  ^iva>- 


Hybnd-  Perpetu.al 

Iffrd-  Jia^lan/ 

Plate   121 


7ypi/f^  fy  r  /^<?/«' 


DECEMBER.  353 


THE  ROSE  LORD  RAGLAN. 

(Plate  121,) 

'_'Si  nous^r.vions  a  couronner— non  pas  une  rosiere— inais  simplcmf>ijt  mi 
rosier,  assurement  notrc  couroiuie  serait  pour  le  Rosier  Lord  Haglaii  11  a  Lieu 
certamement  la  plus  belle  et  la  phis  eclaUntedetoutcsles  Rosas."— Ilortkulteur 
Francais  for  Sept ,  185G. 

This  most  beautiful  and  brilliant  Rose  v/as  raised  from  seed  of 
the  Geant  des  Batailles  by  M.  Guillot,  pOre,  of  Lyons,  and  sent 
out  in  the  autumn  of  1854.  M.  G.  had  also  the  honour  of 
sending  out  its  parent,  the  Geant,  although  he  did  not  raise  it. 
There  is  no  Rose  that  can  at  present  compete  with  Lord  Raglan 
\\\  brilliancy  of  colour ;  its  scarlet  is  quite  dazzling.  In  vigour  of 
habit  it  far  surpasses  its  parent,  for  it  makes  shoots  three  to  four 
feet  in  length,  and  with  good  cultivation  will  form  a  fine  pillar 
Rose.  It  does  not  appear  to  be  so  inclined  to  mildew  as  the 
Geant,  and  will  probably  long  be  a  favourite,  as  it  is  in  all 
respects  a  first-class  Rose. 


ACHIMENES. 


The  new  varieties,  Carmipata  splendens  and  Parsons!,  which  formed 
the  subject  of  one  of  our  plates  in  the  last  number,  were  raised  at 
Danesbury  Park,  near  Welwyn,  Herts,  by  Mr.  Parsons,  the  gardener, 
who  kindly  allowed  us  to  figure  them,  and  which  Mr.  Andrews  has  done 
very  successfully.  These  varieties  are  new  in  colour  and  very  beau- 
tiful. Mr.  Parsons  has  others  also  very  dissimilar  to  existing  kinds, 
among  which  the  best  are  Rosea  elegans  and  Gem.  No  plant  wives  a 
greater  return  in  the  amount  of  bloom  for  the  little  trouble  necessary  to 
its  successful  culture  than  the  Achimenes,  and  it  may  be  had  in  flower 
eight  months  out  of  the  twelve  ;  in  fact,  at  almost  any  time,  if  a  succession 
of  plants  is  provided  and  started  into  growth  at  various  times.  The 
principal  bloom  will  be,  however,  in  July  and  August,  plants  for  which 
can  be  grown  in  any  moist,  warm  place,  whether  house  or  pit,  to  take 
the  place  of  Pelargoniums  and  other  greenhouse  plants.  A  greenhouse 
or  conservatory  can  be  kept  gay  after  the  spring  flowering  plants  are 
over,  if  a  few  each  of  Achimenes,  Fuchsias,  and  Balsams  are  grown  on 
for  the  purpose.  These,  with  Lilies,  make  a  very  interesting  display. 
The  following  are  the  best  old  varieties  of  Achimenes  : — Ambrose 
Verschaffelt,  Baumanni  hirsuta,  Carl  Wolfarth,  Coccinea  grandiflora, 
Gigantea,  Gloxiniseflora,  Longiflora  major,  Louis  Van  Houtte,  Margue- 
ritce,  M.  de  Parpart,  Reticulata,  and  Treherne  Thomas. 


NEW    SERIES,    VOL.    VI.,    NO.  LXXII. 


354  THE    FLORIST. 


OPEN  BRICK  WALLS    VERSUS  PROTECTION. 

{Concluded  from  page  325.) 

The  next  witness  called  for  the  defence  in  this  case  was  ]\Ir.  William 
Ingram,  Belvoir  Castle,  Grantham,  who  deposed  to  the  crops  not  being 
generally  good  in  his  neighbourhood,  although  his  own  crops  of  Peaches, 
Nectarines,  Apricots,  and  Golden-drop  Plums  were  good.  That  he 
uses  straw  mats  suspended  upon  poles,  and  that  for  three  years  suc- 
cessively he  has  saved  good  crops  of  Apricots  upon  south  walls  by  using 
those  mats,  whereas  for  the  three  previous  years  before  he  used  those 
coverings  no  fruit  was  obtained ;  beneath  those  coverings  a  self- 
registering  thermometer  indicated  32°,  and  one  at  the  same  time  fully 
exposed  indicated  24°  Fahrenheit.  His  natural  soil  is  Has  clay, 
which  he  has  well  drained.  This  witness  further  stated,  upon  cross- 
examination,  that  he  had  seen  good  crops  of  Apricots  upon  trees  trained 
to  cottages,  but  he  did  not  consider  those  unprotected. 

Mr.  W.  Elliott,  Lilleshall,  Newport,  Salop,  next  adverted  to  the  crops 
being  very  scarce  with  him  and  in  his  neighbourhood,  whether  pro- 
tected or  not,  all  having  shared  the  same  fate.  That  he  used  light 
canvas  on  rollers,  and  that  he  thinks  it  advisable  to  have  the  greater 
part  of  the  trees  protected,  this  being  his  first  failure  since  he  has  used 
protection  :  his  borders  do  not  want  draining. 

Mr.  John  Spink,  Castle  Gardens,  Warwick,  was  next  brought 
forward.  He  stated  that  he  had  not  known  such  a  scarcity  of  wall 
fruit  these  thirty  years  ;  upon  east  aspects  a  complete  failure — west 
aspects,  rather  better  crops.  He  protects  with  netting ;  his  neighbours 
generally  use  Yew  and  Laurel  branches.  He  considers  that  without 
protection  a  complete  failure  may  be  anticipated. 

Mr.  John  Haythorne,  Woolaton,  Nottingham,  here  deposed  to  the 
crops  being  mostly  a  failure  in  his  neighbourhood,  with  the  exception  of 
Apricots.  He  uses  a  thick  close  net,  evergreen  boughs,  and  frigi-domo, 
which  he  considers  a  good  covering,  and  has  always  found  it,  when 
made  to  take  up  and  let  down,  necessary  to  ensure  good  crops ;  he 
considers  glass  cases  a  sufficient  proof  of  this.  But,  upon  cross- 
examination,  it  was  elicited  from  this  witness  that  although  he  had 
paid  great  attention  to  his  coverings  this  season,  and  had  covered  every 
tree,  he  had  met  with  a  total  failure,  with  the  exception  of  one  from 
which  he  had  to  thin  the  fruit :  the  cause  of  the  failure  of  his  other 
trees  he  could  not  discover,  as  all  were  covered  with  the  same  material, 
and  all  were  in  good  health. 

Mr.  Charles  Keetly,  Osmaston  Hall,  Derby,  next  stated  that  the  crops 
of  wall  fruit  were  very  bad  with  him,  with  the  exception  of  Apricots ; 
that  he  protects  with  haybands,  Yew  branches,  and  old  fish  nets.  He 
has  well  drained  his  borders.  He  has  never,  throughout  his  observation, 
seen  equally  good  crops  upon  the  unprotected  as  upon  the  protected 
trees. 

Mr.  Henry  Hardinge,  Pewsey,  Wilts,  said  that  the  crops  were 
pretty  good  with  him ;  that  fine  netting  and  canvas  were  generally 


DECEHBER.  355 

used  to  protect  with.  He  considers  that  the  borders  are  not  so  gene- 
rally drained  as  they  ought  to  be ;  also,  throughout  his  general 
observations,  he  does  not  remember  seeing  such  good  crops  as  upon 
protected  trees. 

Mr.  W.  J.  Ward,  Prospect  Hill,  Reading,  next  stated  that  he  had  plenty 
of  Peaches,  but  Apricots  were  very  thin  and  all  other  fruits  a  total  failure. 
He  has  been  eleven  years  in  this  place,  and  during  this  time  he  has 
generally  had  good  crops,  but  has  always  used  slight  protection.  He 
has  often  noticed  a  failure  amongst  his  neighbours  where  not  protected. 
Pie  is  no  advocate  for  heavy  protection,  and  thinks  nets  quite  adequate. 

Mr.  Wm.  Cox,  Moseley  Hall,  next  deposed  to  the  crops  being  very 
scarce  indeed  with  him,  and  that  as  far  as  his  practice  extends,  which 
is  over  twenty  years,  he  considers  the  coverings  should  be  glass,  and 
nothing  else.  This  he  has  proved  by  using  old  garden  lights  placed 
lengthways  along  the  top  of  the  .wall,  giving  them  a  fall  of  six  inches 
merely  to  shoot  off  the  water  ;  by  this  plan,  last  season  he  had  a  good 
crop,  but  this  season  none.  He  also  considers  it  an  excellent  plan  to 
place  breaks  with  either  boards  or  straw  hurdles  placed  edgeways 
against  the  wall  at  about  30  or  40  feet  distance  from  each  other,  but 
he  is  very  careful  not  to  place  anything  dark  in  front  of  the  trees. 
This  witness  also  speaks  very  decidedly  as  to  not  having  seen  as  good 
crops  where  the  trees  were  not  covered  as  upon  those  that  were. 

Mr.  Piowell,  Bolton  House,  Gateshead,  next  bore  evidence  to  the  crops 
being  very  scarce  with  him  ;  that  he  protects  with  calico  and  Spruce 
Fir  branches.  His  borders  are  w'ell  drained,  and  the  protected  portion 
of  his  trees  are  the  only  ones  that  have  any  fruit  upon  them. 

Mr.  Wm.  Laudon,  Downton  Castle,  here  stated  that  the  crops  in  his 
locality  were  very  poor,  with  the  exception  of  his  own,  and  that  he  has 
abundance,  and  never  once  failed  a  crop.  He  covers  some  of  his  trees 
with  Haythorn's  hexagon  net  and  Fir  branches ;  those  covered  with 
the  branches  were  by  far  the  best.  This  being  the  place  of  that  cele- 
brated horticulturist,  the  late  Thomas  Andrew  Knight,  Esq.,  the  most 
scientific  principle  had  been  adopted  in  making  the  borders  and  planting 
the  trees  :  hence  one  principal  cause  of  this  witness's  success  ;  but  he 
must  state  that  throughout  his  general  observation  he  had  never  seen 
crops  equal  to  the  protected  ones. 

This  being  the  conclusion  as  regards  witnesses  for  the  defence,  it  was 
considered  that  as  prosecutor  liad  introduced  some  quotations  in  support 
of  his  case,  that  there  could  be  no  objection  if  the  same  course  was 
adopted  for  the  defence.  The  extract  that  would  be  made  was  merely 
to  show,  that  those  who  judiciously  employed  defendant  were  looked 
upon  as  deserving  approbation  rather  than  censure  by  the  author,  who 
was  a  very  highly  influential  man  in  all  scientific  affairs.  P.  Neill, 
Esq.,  F.L.S.,  and  Secretary  to  the  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society, 
says,  in  "Sir  John  Sinclair's  Report,"  1814,  chap,  ix.,  "That  a 
variable  and  unsettled  climate  tends  to  call  into  action  all  the  powers  of 
the  mind  and  to  produce  habits  of  unceasing  attention ;  and  when  a 
gardener  is  able  to  raise  a  tolerable  crop,  both  of  the  more  tender  fruits 
and  vegetables,  he  has  doubtless  more  real  merit  in  accomplishing  this 
object,  even  though  the  articles  should  be  somewhat  inferior  in  quality, 

A  A  2 


356  THE    FLORIST. 

than  he  who  in  a  more  propitious  soil  and  climate  raises  them  to  the 
utmost  perfection."  As  this  case  had  ah-eady  occupied  such  a  very 
considerable  time  no  more  extracts  would  be  brought  forward,  as  it  was 
not  wished  to  unnecessarily  intrude  upon  valuable  time,  it  being  con- 
sidered that  quite  sufficient  had  been  said  to  vindicate  defendant  in  the 
course  he  had  pursued. 

In  summing  up  it  was  hoped  that  very  great  care  and  attention  had 
been  paid  to  the  evidence  as  it  was  brought  forward  in  this  case,  it 
being  a  case  that  materially  affected  a  very  great  portion  of  the  public 
of  this  country,  at  least  the  fruit-growing  portion  of  it,  upon  the 
question  of  economy — economy  now  being  an  almost  universal  motto ; 
this  had  been,  it  appears,  one  of  the  principal  inducements  of  the 
prosecution  in  bringing  forward  this  case.  It  had  appeared  by  the 
evidence  that  in  some  places  a  very  considerable  outlay  had  been  sub- 
mitted to,  in  providing  glass  walls  and  coverings  of  all  kinds  to  ensure 
crops,  while  in  other  places  nothing  of  the  kind  had  been  used  ;  there- 
fore, to  arrive  at  a  conclusion  as  to  which  was  the  most  economical 
system,  or  the  system  which  gave  the  best  results  in  accordance  with 
its  outlay,  the  evidence  would  be  examined  and  analysed.  The 
evidence  here  having  been  minutely  gone  through,  it  appeared  by  the 
analysis  that  twenty-three  of  the  witnesses  had  employed  the  defendant, 
and  out  of  those  twenty-three  who  had  covered  there  were  only  five 
who  had  deposed  to  their  having  good  crops,  and  two  spoke  to  having 
but  middling  ones,  and  the  remaining  sixteen  were  all  bad.  Seven  of 
the  witnesses  had  not  protected  at  all :  four  of  these  seven  speak  to 
having  good  crops,  the  remaining  three  deposing  to  their  generally 
having  had  the  best  crops  upon  their  trees  when  unprotected.  Eleven 
of  the  witnesses  speak  to  their  having  covered  a  part  of  their  trees  and 
leaving  a  part  uncovered,  and  the  whole  of  these  eleven  speak  to  having 
the  best  crops  upon  the  uncovered  trees,  thus  making  in  all  eighteen  of 
the  witnesses  who  depose  to  the  best  crops  upon  their  trees  when  un- 
protected. These,  it  must  be  remembered,  were  not  isolated  cases ; 
therefore,  as  they  occur  throughout  a  wide  extent  of  country,  they  could 
not  be  influenced  by  local  causes.  The  next  point  of  the  evidence 
referred  to  was  in  regard  to  the  temporary  coping  so  strongly  urged  by 
even  plaintiff's  witnesses,  several  of  whom,  who  had  spoken  to  their  not 
employing  defendant,  having  used  this  form  of  protection,  and  consider 
this  simple  and  easy  process  quite  adequate  to  all  their  requirements  ; 
but  this  point  would  he  referred  to  again  in  elucidation  of  some  theo- 
retical points  which  defendant,  in  the  course  of  his  address,  had  brought 
forward,  and  which  it  was  considered  incumbent  to  touch  upon  in — to 
use  defendant's  own  words — a  "  philosophical  point  of  view."  First,  in 
regard  to  the  deterioration  of  our  climate  ;  if  such  were  the  case,  from 
what  cause  did  it  proceed  ?  Was  it  from  increased  humidity? — the 
thorough  drainage  our  lands  of  late  years  has  undergone  at  the  hands 
of  our  agriculturists  would  lead  us  to  look  to  a  different  issue  than 
this.  This  same  rule  will  also  hold  good  in  regard  to  tlie  temperature 
of  our  climate,  for  where  water  is  in  the  soil  no  heat  can  penetrate ; 
therefore,  as  the  water  recedes  from  the  soil  through  drainage,  as  surely 
will  heat  follow  and  penetrate  that  soil ;  and  as  there  are  at  the  present 


DECEMBER.  357 

day  but  few  tracts  of  land  that  have  not  undergone  the  operation  of 
drainage  within  these  last  few  years,  consequently  rendering  it  fit  for 
the  absorption  of  the  summer's  heat,  and  holding  it  in  store  till  the 
temperature  of  the  atmosphere  is  lower  than  that  of  the  earth,  when 
this  accumulated  heat  is  radiated ;  therefore,  this  increased  surface  of 
radiation  must  tend  to  increase  rather  than  diminish  our  temperature ; 
and  as  there  is  no  philosophical  evidence  of  our  being  further  removed 
from  the  equator  and  placed  in  a  colder  latitude,  this  idea  of  decreased 
temperature  must  be  banished.  It  was  also  again  asked  if  this  dete- 
rioration spoken  of  proceeded  from  more  sudden  or  violent  changes  ;  if 
so,  from  whence  do  they  proceed  ?  for  we  have  still  the  same  expansive 
Atlantic  on  one  side,  and  the  same  narrow  channel  on  the  other,  as  when 
Sir  W.  Temple,  in  1683,  wrote  so  enthusiastically  in  reference  to  the 
beautiful  Peaches  his  garden  then  produced,  which  he  stated  had  been 
tasted  by  a  gentleman  from  Gascony,  who  had  pronounced  them  quite 
equal  to  any  that  climate  could  furnish.  Again,  in  our  own  day,  that 
indefatigable  horticulturist,  the  late  Thomas  Andrew  Knight,  Esq. — 
who  is  no  mean  authority  in  these  matters — was  strongly  impressed 
with  the  idea  that  with  judicious  cGltivation  the  Peach  might  be 
sufficiently  hardened  as  to  be  naturalised  to  the  climate  of  England,  so 
as  to  succeed  in  ripening  its  fruit,  even  as  a  standard,  in  the  open  air. 
(Some  expressions  of  regret  were  here  made  that  our  horticulturists  had 
not  followed  up  these  ideas  by  applying  the  same  energies  to  hybridising, 
with  a  view  of  accomplishing  this  end,  as  they  had  devoted  to  the 
opposite  cause.)  The  next  point  in  defendant's  charge  referred  to  was 
where  he  asked  the  question — "What  had  the  ripening  of  the  wood 
and  draining  the  borders  to  do  with  spring  protection  ?  "  This  was  a 
point  it  was  considered  required  some  elucidation,  for  both  those  things 
tended  ulteriorly  to  this  very  point  to  which  defendant  refers,  namely, 
the  moisture  contained  in  the  flower,  in  the  first  place  by  divesting  a 
tree  of  the  means  of  obtaining  a  superabundant  supply  of  moisture 
on  the  one  hand,  and  by  thinning  the  shoots  and  nailing  them  so  as  to 
expose  them  to  the  full  influence  of  the  light  on  the  other,  there  will 
be  a  greater  amount  of  organic  matter  stored  up,  and,  in  consequence, 
the  blossom  will  have  more  strength  and  less  moisture,  to  enable  it  to 
withstand  any  inclemency  it  may  be  subjected  to.  Again,  defendant 
was  certainly  quite  right  in  the  view  he  had  taken  in  regard  to 
radiation  taking  place  most  in  a  clear  atmosphere,  but  he  had  cer- 
tainly, to  a  certain  degree,  criminated  himself  in  making  use  of  these 
words  ;  for,  if  radiation  takes  place  most  in  a  clear  atmosphere,  then 
defendant,  by  shading  too  much  the  objects  he  overhangs,  must  be  the 
means  of  checking  this  radiation  ;  we,  however,  here  find  the  principal 
advantage  of  broad  copings,  which  do  not  check  radiation,  but  allow  the 
walls  to  give  out  their  accumulated  heat,  which  when  given  out  always 
ascends  perpendicularly,  it  therefore  thus  rises  until  it  strikes  against 
the  coping,  which  causes  it  again  to  return,  thus  keeping  the  walls  at  a 
considerably  higher  temperature  than  the  surrounding  atmosphere.  To 
prove  this  it  was  advised  that  two  registering  thermometers  be  placed 
— one  to  hang  within  six  inches  of  the  wall  beneath  the  coping,  and 
the  other  at  about  three  or  four  feet  from  the  wall ;  both  to  be  at  equal 
heights  from  the  ground. 


358  THE    FLORIST. 

Therefore,  in  taking  nil  these  things  into  consideration,  it  was 
considered  that  the  justice  of  the  case  would  be  met  by  returning  a 
verdict  to  the  effect,  that  our  horticulturists  be  requested  to  discharge 
defendant  from  their  service  as  soon  as  possible — except  in  extreme 
cases,  and  that  a  more  general  use  be  made  of  the  temporary  copings; 
and  also,  that  this  verdict  be  accompanied  with  a  request  that  the  same 
gentlemen  will  use  their  utmost  intiuence  and  energies  in  endeavouring 
to  bring  forward  a  more  hardy  class  of  those  fruits  that  now  require 
the  assistance  of  the  plaintiff  in  this  case.  It  was  hoped  and  believed 
that  the  time  was  not  far  distant  when  this  very  desirable  object  would 
be  attained,  so  that  we  should  soon  be  enabled  to  gather  our  Peaches 
from  trees  in  the  open  air  in  favourable  situations.  Verdict  accordingly. 

There  now  only  remained  the  returning  public  thanks  to  the 
several  witnesses  who  had  so  willingly  come  forward  with  their  evidence 
to  assist  in  carrying  through  this  case,  which  was  here  done  m  the  rpost 
eloquent  terms  ;  but  at  the  same  time  regret  was  expressed  that  so  many 
persons  should  yet  be  found  so  reluctant  to  come  forward  to  assist  in  the 
advancement  of  science,  as  had  been  found  to  be  the  case  in  issuing 
the  summons  for  the  information  required  in  this  matter. 

Thomas  W.  Abbott. 

Ribston  Park,    Wetherhy. 


THE  DAHLIAS  OP  1855. 
The  experience  of  the  past  season  proves  that  slight  dependance  can  be 
placed  on  any  opinion  which  may  be  formed  of  the  capabilities  of  a 
Dahlia,  on  its  first  appearance  as  a  seedling.  The  gentlemen  who 
furnished  the  "tabular  fist"  in  January  last  were  all  more  or  less 
wrong.  Nor  do  I  see  how  such  errors  are  to  be  avoided.  Seedlings 
exhibited  for  proof  are  only  seen  by  the  public  at  their  best ;  and  there 
is  no  possibility  of  formifig  any  reliable  estimate  of  their  constancy. 
Nay,  the  very  raisers  may  be  deceived  with  respect  to  this  property  ; 
for  it  sometimes  happens  that  a  flower  is  constant  one  year  and  quite 
the  reverse  another.  There  is,  consequently,  no  reason  for  affirming 
that  the  opinions  recorded  in  January  were  not  correct,  so  far  as  the 
means  of  arriving  at  sound  conclusions  had  been  afforded. 

"  Constancy  has  so  much  to  do  with  making  a  Dahlia  a  favourite," 
that  no  new  variety  can  hope  to  become  established  in  public  esteem, 
which  does  not  reckon  this  as  one  nf  its  primary  qualities.  I  have  long 
felt  that  this  property  is  not  sufficiently  insisted  on.  I  can  call  to 
mind  several  occasions  when,  if  I  had  not  taken  the  precaution  to  form 
a  corps  de  reserve,  by  planting  out  a  few  of  the  constant  second-rate 
varieties,  somewhat  contemptuously  styled  "  useful,"  I  should  have 
found  it  impossible  to  make  up  the  lull  tale  of  presentable  flowers  when 
the  day  of  exhibition  came  round.  I  have  now  arrived  at  the  stern 
determination  of  discarding  (after  a  fair  and  impartial  trial),  all  those 
sorts — however  beautiful  they  may  occasionally  be — which  do  not  offer 
a  reasonable  chance  of  one  good  bloom,  from  two  or  three  plants,  when 


DECEMBER.  359 

wanted.  With  these  ideas  in  my  mind,  it  follows  that  I  differ  con- 
siderably from  the  writer  in  last  month's  Florist  in  my  estimation  of 
the  order  in  which  the  Dahlias  of  1855  deserve  to  be  placed.  If  1  were 
called  upon  now  to  place  them,  1  should  certainly  as-sign  them  very 
different  positions  from  those  in  which  I  located  them  in  the  Florist 
for  November  last,  two  months  before  the  compilation  of  the  "  tabular 
list."  I  should  be  disposed  almost  to  reverse  the  places  of  some  of 
them,  and  should  have  no  hesitation  in  enumerating  the  best  six  Dahlias 
of  the  season  in  the  following  order : — 


1.  Lord  Palmerston. 

2.  Colouel  Windham. 

3.  Eclipse. 


4.  Grand  Sultan. 

5.  Lollipop. 

6.  Miss  Burdett  Coutts. 


Lord  Palmerston  I  consider  one  of  the  noblest  flowers  ever  intro- 
duced. I  fully  concur  in  the  opinion  that  "  there  is  no  Dahlia  to  equal 
it  in  habit,"  &c.  In  forming  our  estimate  of  a  Dahlia,  we  should  not,  I 
think,  dwell  too  much  upon  the  possession  of  isolated  "points."  It  should 
be  considered  as  a  whole.  I  admit  that  there  is  no  one  property,  taken 
singly,  in  which  Lord  Palmerston  is  not  beaten  by  some  individual  flower 
or  other;  but  I  contend  that  for  the  possession  of  a// the  desirable  qualities 
in  a  marked  degree,  it  surpasses  any  Dahlia  sent  out  last  spring.  The 
same  remarks  apply,  with  some  modification,  to  Colonel  Windham  and 
Eclipse,  which  I  place  second  and  third,  respectively.  Grand  Sultan 
is  not  so  constant  as  the  first  three,  but  sufficiently  so  to  afford  a  fair 
chance  of  a  good  bloom,  on  any  given  day,  to  the  grower  who  manages 
his  plant  judiciously,  more  particularly  with  reference  to  disbudding. 
Lollipop  and  Miss  Burdett  Coutts  exhibit  glaring  faults,  each  in  its  own 
way.  Perhaps  it  is  not  too  much  to  assert  that  the  latter  is  indebted 
to  its  constancy  alone  for  being  able  to  hold  its  place.  I  do  not  deny 
that  Lollipop  is  the  most  popular  flower  of  the  batch.  Let  the  fact  be 
granted.  Still  popularity  is  no  proof  of  excellence  :  and  I  am  desirous 
to  draw  attention  to  what  it  is,  rather  than  what  people  believe  it  to  be. 
In  every  respect  save  one,  I  am  ready  to  allow  supremacy  to  this 
variety ;  but  its  defect  of  petal  is  too  conspicuous  to  permit  me  to  place 
it  in  the  first  rank.  I  fancy  I  recognise  in  it  the  type  of  a  progeny 
which  may  exhibit  all  the  virtues,  without  the  one  vice  of  their  parent. 
In  Miss  Burdett  Coutts  a  fault  of  an  opposite  character  prevails.  The 
petals  are  faultless  taken  per  se,  but  produced  in  scanty  numbers  : 
hence  the  interstices  between  them,  which  give  a  jagged  or  milled 
appearance  to  the  circumference  of  the  flower.  Yet,  with  all  this,  its  con- 
stancy and  telliijg  appearance  in  a  stand  will,  in  all  probability,  suffice 
to  keep  it  in  cultivation  until  a  better  formed  flower  of  the  same  colour 
shall  have  usurped  its  place.  I  am  not  sure  that  I  should  be  doing 
justice  in  omitting  to  enumerate  Captain  Ingram  as  a  flower  worthy  of 
commendation.  . 

But  what  of  the  rest?  Are  such  varieties  as  Bessie,  Perfection, 
Mrs.  Wheeler,  and  Duchess  of  Wellington  to  be  utterly  and  unpardon- 
ably  condemned  ?  By  no  means.  Give  them  a  further  term  of  pro- 
bation. There  is  no  doubt  that,  at  their  best,  they  are  more  beautiful 
than  those  I  have  selected.     The  rarity  with  which  they  don  their  best 


360  THE    FLORIST. 

attire  is  my  reason  for  assigning  them  a  less  exalted  position.  I  shall 
grow  them  all  again,  and  it  is  quite  probable  that,  by  this  time  next 
year,  some  of  them  will  have  retrieved  their  characters.  There  are 
many  who  prefer  one  grand  bloom  in  a  season  to  twenty  moderate 
ones,  and  who  find  pleasurable  excitement  in  the  very  uncertainty  of 
the  attainment.  Individuals  of  this  temperament  will,  and  those  who 
grow  for  exhibition  exclusively  must,  cultivate  these  uncertain  varieties; 
but  he  who  loves  to  see  plenty  of  blooms  at  home,  as  well  as  to  show 
them  abroad  occasionally,  will  do  wisely — especially  if  he  is  limited  as 
to  space — to  confine  his  attention  to  those  on  which  he  feels  he  can 
depend.  I  am  by  no  means  insensible  to  the  charms  of  Bessie,  bu 
she  has  proved  so  coy  a  lass  during  the  past  autumn,  and  "  so  hard  to 
get,"  as  the  northern  censors  have  it,  that  I  must  confess  to  some 
abatement  of  my  ardour.  Uncertainty  would  seem  the  besetting  sin 
of  the  yellow  Dahlia.  Yellow  Standard,  IMrs.  Seldon,  Louisa  Glenny, 
and  Duchess  of  Kent,  all  tell  the  same  tale  ;  and  the  marked  declension 
of  Yellow  Beauty,  as  the  season  advanced,  only  confirms  the  notion 
that  the  problem  of  a  good  constant  yellow  variety  is  yet  to  be  solved. 
I  incline  to  think  the  want  will  ere  long  be  supplied.  In  the  collection 
of  Mr.  Holmes — the  second  best  24  at  the  Crystal  Palace — I  remarke<;l 
a  noble  yellow  sort  (a  yearling,  I  presume),  named  John  Dory,  Now 
I  will  hazard  an  opinion  that  this  variety  will  prove  in  the  yellow  class 
what  Lord  Palmerston  is  in  the  dark  scarlet.  I  look  forward  with 
much  interest  to  its  distribution  and  general  cultivation.  Perfection,  if 
not  an  absolute  failure,  has  not  yet  vindicated  the  pretensions  implied 
in  its  name :  still,  I  am  much  deceived  if  we  do  not  yet  find  this  kind 
capable  of  better  things  than  it  has  hitherto  accomplished.  IMrs. 
Wheeler  has  been  occasionally  produced  in  a  manner  that  would  justify 
its  claim  to  the  very  highest  position ;  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
numerous  instances  may  be  found  in  which  plants  failed  to  produce  a 
showable  specimen  throughout  the  entire  season.  I  agree  with  the 
observation  that  "  Duchess  of  Wellington  has  not  generally  been  well 
managed;"  neither  am  I  in  a  position  to  deny  that  "  it  is  exquisite 
when  in  fine  character."  I  can  only  regret  that  it  has  not  been  my 
good  fortune  to  see  it  in  that  condition. 

The  promise  for  the  coming  year  is  great,  and  I  trust  the  perform- 
ance will  not  lag  far  behind.  Notwithstanding  the  worthlessness  of  my 
predictions  with  regard  to  the  Dahlias  of  1855,  I  will  venture  an 
opinion  with  regard  to  those  of  1856,  if  a  small  space  in  next  month's 
number  is  allowed  me  for  the  purpose. 

A.  S.  H. 


NEW    ROSES. 
Now  that  the  Rose  season  is  on  the  wane,  and  admirers  of  this  flower 
are  preparing  to  re-adjust  and  improve  their  collections,  it  may  be  both 
interesting  and  useful  to  take  a  brief  retrospect  of  the  past  year. 

The  summer  Roses,  and,  indeed,  the  first  blooms  of  the  autumnals, 
were,  in  Hertfordshire,  all  that  could  be  wished.     So  much,  however, 


DECEMBER.  3(31 

cannot  be  said  in  favour  of  the  late  blooms  of  the  perpetuals  ;  the  closing 
days  of  September  and  the  openingdays  of  October  were  successively  wet, 
and  many  buds  of  promise  expanded  but  indifferently.  Now  we  have  a 
change,  and  what  a  remarkable  eflfect  a  sunny  day  in  October  produces  on 
a  bed  of  autumnal  Roses,  especially  if  several  preceding  days  have  been 
wet  and  cloudy.  The  rain  ceases,  the  clouds  break  away,  tlie  sun 
again  shines,  and  suddenly  the  Tea-scented,  Chinese,  and  Bourbon 
Roses  are  flushed  with  blossoms,  lighting  up  the  dark  masses  of  foliaoe 
with  their  white,  rose,  orange,  purple,  and  crimson  tints.   At  the  present 

date   (October   20)  the  following  kinds  are  blooming  beautifully  : 

Hybrid  Perpetuals :  Souvenir  de  Reine  d'Angleterre,  Gloire  de  Vitry, 
Bacchus,  Duchess  of  Sutherland,  Prince  Leon,  Geant  des  Batailles, 
General  Jacqueminot,  Comte  Brobinsky,  Comte  Odart,  General  Castel- 
lane,  Jules  ]\Iargottin,  Souvenir  d'Henri  Clay.  Noisette:  Fellenberg. 
Bourbon:  Souvenir  de  la  Malmaison,  Gloire  de  Rosomene,  Queen,  Leon 
Oursel,  Armosa,  Celimene,  Angelina  Bucelle,  Dupetit  Thenars,  Aurora 
du  Guide,  Prince  Albert,  Duchesse  de  Thuringe,  Justine,  Madame 
Cousin,  and  Sir  J.  Paxton.  Chinese:  Fabvier  and  Mrs.  Bosanquet. 
Tea -scented:  Narcisse,  Devoniensis,  Gloire  de  Dijon,  Nisida,  Comte 
de  Paris,  Safrano,  and  Canary.  The  above  kinds  we  can  with  confidence 
recommend  to  those  who  may  wish  for  a  supply  of  hardy  and  realli/  late 
blooming  Roses. 

My  object  at  present,  however,  is  rather  to  say  something  about  the 
novelties  of  the  season  than  to  discourse  on  Roses  in  general.  Presuming 
your  readers  to  be  already  acquainted  with  the  merits  and  demerits  of 
the  older  kinds,  I  shall  take  leave  of  this  part  of  the  subject,  with  the 
remark  that  the  present  year  has  been  more  fruitful  than  many  in  the 
introduction  of  really  valuable  novelties.  The  Hybrid  Perpetuals  are, 
as  usual,  in  the  ascendant,  and  first  among  them  we  name  Triomphe 
de  I'Exposition,  which  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  best;  the  flowers  are 
of  a  beautiful  reddish  crimson,  large,  full,  and  well  shaped  :  the  growth 
is  vigorous,  and  the  plant  appears  equally  suitable  either  for  a  standard, 
pillar,  or  pot  rose.  Arthur  de  Sansal  is  also  an  excellent  variety ;  it  is 
one  of  the  numerous  seedlings  recently  sprung  from  the  Geant  des 
Batailles,  but  possesses  more  of  the  bright  purple  shade  of  many  of  the 
Bourbon  Roses  ;  is  distinct  and  really  good.  Bacchus  (Paul)  is  another 
of  the  same  race ;  the  flowers  are  far  brighter  than  the  Geant,  large, 
full,  and  produced  in  great  abundance,  both  in  summer  and  autumn  ; 
this  Rose,  on  account  of  the  brilliancy  of  its  colour  and  profuseness  of  its 
flowering,  should  he  in  every  collection.  General  Simpson  is  also  an 
excellent  Rose,  of  a  bright  carmine  colour,  large,  full,  and  finely  shaped, 
and,  in  addition  to  its  other  capabilities,  will  probably  make  a  good  pot 
Rose.  General  Pelissier  is  also  very  promising ;  the  flowers  are  of  a 
delicate  rose  colour,  large,  full,  and  very  sweet ;  it  flowers  freely  in 
autumn,  and  appears  likely  to  make  a  good  standard  or  pillar  Rose. 
Helen  (Paul)  is  one  of  the  sweetest  Roses  in  existence  ;  the  colour  is 
blush,  with  rosy  centre  ;  uncertain  out  of  doors,  but  of  great  beauty  when 
grown  under  glass.  Imperatrice  des  Fran9ais  is  also  good  and  distinct ; 
the  flowers  are  flesh  colour,  with  whitish  centre,  of  fine  form,  and 
produced  freely  in  autumn  ;  the  growth  is  vigorous,     ]\Iathurin  Regnier 


362  THE    FLORIST. 

can  scarcely  be  too  highly  spoken  of;  it  is  in  the  way  of  William 
Griffiths,  but  larger,  and  brighter  in  colour  ;  the  growth  is  compact,  and 
it  will  doubtless  form  an  excellent  standard  Rose.  Madame  Knorr  is 
entirely  new  in  style,  being  a  perpetual  Gallica  Rose,  possessing  in  a  high 
degree  the  form  and  fragrance  for  which  the  Gallica  Roses  are  so 
esteemed ;  the  Howers  are  Rose  colour,  with  blush  edges.  Madame 
Desiree  Giraud  is  the  best  of  the  striped  Perpetual  Roses  ;  it  may  be 
described  as  a  striped  Baronne  Prevost,  and  is  recommended  with 
confidence  as  a  large,  full,  and  good  flower.  Ornement  des  Jardins  is 
quite  worthy  of  the  name  it  bears,  for  it  is  one  of  the  most  attractive 
flowers  in  the  garden ;  the  colour  is  brilliant  crimson,  the  flowers  are 
well  shaped,  full,  very  velvety,  and  produced  freely  in  autumn  ;  growth 
moderate.  Pseonia  is  a  large  showy  crimson  Rose,  good  also  for  effect, 
but  what  the  critical  eye  might  pronounce  rather  coarse.  Prince  Noir 
is  a  novelty,  and  an  advance  upon  all  previous  dark  velvety  Roses ;  it 
might  very  appropriately  be  called  a  perpetual  Tuscany,  and  like  that 
old  favourite  is  but  semi-double.  Pauhne  Lanzezeur  is  a  good  Rose  ; 
colour  bright  crimson  changing  to  violet.  Souvenir  de  Reine  d'Angle- 
terre  is  unquestionably  a  first-rate  variety ;  it  is  blooming  now 
(October  20)  equal  to  any  Rose  in  the  garden  ;  the  flowers  are  bright 
rose,  large,  full,  finely  shaped,  and  very  sweet ;  a  vigorous  habit  renders 
it  equally  suitable  either  for  a  standard,  pillar,  or  pot  Rose.  Triomphe 
d'Avranches  is  one  of  those  large,  full,  bright  red  Roses  which  is  sure 
to  please  ;  the  growth  is  compact  rather  than  vigorous.  The  above  are 
all  Hybrid  Perpetuals. 

Among  the  Perpetual  Moss  Roses,  Alfi-ed  de  Dalmas  and  Emilie  de 
Girardin  are  perhaps  the  best  of  the  new  ones  ;  both  are  rose  colour  : 
the  flowers  of  the  former  are  whitish  at  their  circumference,  and 
produced  in  clusters. 

Of  Bourbon  Roses,  Comte  de  Montijo,  rich  reddish  purple  ;  Empress 
Eugenie,  rose,  edges  purple ;  and  Marquis  Balbiano,  rose,  tinged  with 
silver,  are  decided  acquisitions ;  the  two  latter  are  sufficiently  vigorous 
to  be  grown  as  perpetual  blooming,  pillar,  or  climbing  Roses.  There  is 
one  Noisette  Rose  to  which  attention  should  be  directed, — Miss  Gray. 
It  has  been  received  here  from  a  correspondent  in  Philadelphia,  in  whom 
we  have  implicit  confidence,  as  a  variety  of  great  merit ;  the  flowers  are 
of  a  bright  yellow,  egg  shaped,  and  said  to  be  better  than  either  Augusta, 
Cloth  of  Gold,  or  Solfaterre.  It  is  evidently  a  free  growing  hardy- 
constitutioned  sort,  but  our  propagator  has  left  it  no  chance  to  flower 
this  summer  ;  it  is,  therefore,  still  one  that  requires  to  be  taken  on  trust. 
Another  American  variety.  Souvenir  d' Henri  Clay,  we  turn  to  with  more 
complete  satisfaction,  as  we  are  enabled  to  recommend  it  from  our  own 
sighting  ;  the  flowers  are  blush  pink,  in  the  way  of  Stanwell  Perpetual, 
which  it  surpasses,  while  resembling  that  Rose  in  the  good  qualities  of 
fragrance  and  late  blooming. 

Thus  far  I  have  endeavoured  to  lay  before  your  readers  a  brief  sketch 
of  the  most  valuable  novelties  Allowances  must  be  made  for  difficulties 
in  the  way  of  arriving  at  definite  conclusions.  Many  of  the  new  Roses 
travel  some  hundreds  of  miles,  and  often  in  a  weakly  state,  on  their 
way  to  the  English  Rose  grounds  ;  many  require  a  year's  rest  before  they 


DECEMBER.  363 

thoroughly  re-establish  themselves,  and  some  never  regain  the  freshness 
and  vigour  of  plants  transplanted  from  nearer  home.  Hence  the  number  • 
above  given  is  small  in  comparison  with  the  number  of  new  kinds  actually 
introduced.  Let  it,  however,  be  understood  that  the  unnoticed  are  not 
condemned  but  merely  reserved  for  further  trial.  Of  kinds  one  or  two 
years  older  more  positive  information  may  be  given.  Among  these  the 
following  may  be  safely  chosen  as  of  superior  merit : — Moss :  Baronne 
de  Wassenaer,  bright  red  ;  Captain  Ingram,  dark  purple  ;  Gloire  de 
Mousseux,  blush.  H//brid  Perpetual:  Alphonse  de  Lamartine,  rosy 
blush ;  Gloire  de  Vitry,  light  rose  ;  Lord  Raglan,  scarlet  crimson  ; 
Madame  de  Cambaceres,  rosy  carmine ;  Madame  Masson,  reddish 
crimson  ;  IMadame  Martel,  rosy  white  ;  Madame  Vidot,  flesh.  Bourbon  : 
Dr.  Leprestre,  purplish  red  ;  Ferdinand  Deppe,  reddish  violet ;  Omar 
Pacha,  brilliant  red  ;  Prince  Albert,  scarlet  crimson  ;  Reveil,  cherry 
shaded.  This  list  might  be  considerably  extended,  but  I  fear  1  have 
already  trespassed  too  far  on  your  valuable  space. 

William  Paul. 

Nurseries,  Cheshunt,  Herts. 

[This  excellent  paper  should  have  appeared  in  our  last  number,  but 
unfortunately  it  arrived  too  late.  Mr.  Paul's  critique  on  the  new  Roses 
will,  however,  be  read  with  interest,  showing,  as  it  does,  how  some 
varieties  vary  in  different  localities,  as  we  find  that  not  only  Mr.  Paul 
but  many  of  our  correspondents  differ  from  Mr.  Rivers  in  his  estima- 
tion of  certain  kinds.     This,  however,  will  always  be  the  case  — Ed.] 


BRITISH  POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 
jVbw.  6. — Mr.  Hogg  in  the  chair.  Four  new  members  were  elected. 
Mr.  Spencer,  of  Bowood,  Calne,  Wilts,  read  a  communication  on  the 
orchards  in  his  neighbourhood,  together  with  some  account  of  the  fruits 
best  adapted  for  that  locality.  Some  remarks  were  also  made  by  Mr. 
Varden,  of  Seaford  Grange,  near  Pershore,  on  the  effects  of  tlie  frost  last 
spring  upon  fruit  trees  growing  at  different  altitudes  and  subject  to 
various  degrees  of  exposure.  Both  these  papers  will  appear  in  the 
Transactions  of  the  Society.  Beautifcd  bunches  of  the  Bowood  Muscat 
Grape  were  exhibited  by  Mr.  Spencer.  A  full  account  of  this  new  and 
excellent  variety,  together  with  a  coloured  plate  of  it,  will  be  given  by 
us  in  an  early  number  next  year.  Mr.  Melville,  gardener  at  Dalmeney 
Park,  near  Edmburgh,  showed  examples  of  a  seedling  Grape,  a  cross 
between  the  Black  Damascus  and  Black  Prince.  It  was  considered  to 
be  no  improvement  on  existing  varieties.  ]\Ir.  Turner,  gardener  to 
J.  Hill,  Esq.,  Streatham,  produced  a  handsome  bunch  of  Barbarossa 
Grapes,  weighing  5  lbs.  7  oz.  Specimens  of  Black  Hamburgh,  ripened 
in  a  greenhouse  without  fireheat,  came  from  Mr.  Spencer.  They  were 
large,  well  coloured,  and  excellent  in  flavour.  Mr.  Tillyard  also  sent  a 
boxful  of  this  Grape  large  and  well  coloured.  A  bunch  of  tlie  curious 
Lady's  Finger  Grape,  or  Cornichon  Blanc,  was  exhibited  by  IMr.  Hogan, 


364  THE    FLORIST. 

Lockwood  Gardens,  near  Huddersfield.  Champion  Grapes  were  also 
furnished  by  Messrs.  Lee,  of  Hammersmith.  Mr.  Tillyard  sent  two 
Black  Jamaica  and  one  Ripley  Queen  Pine  Apple  weighing  about  4  lbs. 
each.  Some  seedling  Pears  and  Apples  were  exhibited,  none  of  which 
were,  however,  considered  worthy  oi  cultivation.  Specimens  of  Portugal^ 
and  other  Quinces  were  shown  by  H.  B.  Ker,  Esq.,  and  a  collection  of 
Oranges  grown  against  an  open  wall  in  Glamorganshire  were  sent  by 
Mr.  Challis,  gardener  at  Margam  Paik,  in  that  county.  They  were 
good-looking  fruit,  and  quite  ripe.  Morello  Cherries  were  shown  by 
Mr.  Tillyard,  and  specimens  of  a  late  American  variety  of  yellow- 
fleshed  Peach  were  exhibited  by  Mr.  Rivers.  It  is  a  freestone  sort, 
and  was  considered  valuable  for  its  lateness. 


POT  CULTIVATION  OP  THE  PHLOX. 
Having  grown  the  Phlox  in  pots  successfully  for  a  number  of  years,  I 
trust  the  following  hints  will  prove  acceptable  to  those  readers  who 
take  an  interest  in  this  lovely  tribe  of  plants,  for  although  all  the 
varieties  are  easy  of  cultivation,  they  are  seldom  seen  so  well  managed 
as  they  might  be  with  a  little  extra  care  and  attention.  About  the 
1st  of  March  a  selection  should  be  made  from  plants  struck  the 
previous  season,  choosing  those  that  are  throwing  up  vigorous  shoots. 
Put  one  plant  in  each  pot,  allowing  not  more  than  two  stems  on  each 
plant,  and  using  pots  from  eight  to  twelve  inches  in  diameter,  according 
to  the  strength  of  the  plants.  Avoiding  excessive  drainage,  pot  with 
rich  fibrous  loam,  adding  a  little  sand  and  well  decomposed  manure. 
The  dwarf  growing  sorts  may  be  placed  under  glass  at  once  either  in  a 
cold  frame  or  greenhouse  and  should  be  kept  as  near  the  glass  as 
convenient.  The  dwarfer  they  can  be  grown  the  better.  Give  air  on 
all  possible  opportunities,  and  a  little  weak  liquid  manure  may  be  given 
with  advantage  occasionally.  For  making  this  nothing  answers  better 
than  sheep  droppings  ;  it  both  adds  to  the  size  of  the  spike  and  imparts 
to  the  foliage  a  dark  shining  green.  The  tall  growing  varieties  may  be 
plunged  out  of  doors  in  any  sheltered  situation  and  be  brought  into  the 
conservatory  or  greenhouse  when  they  begin  to  show  flower,  when  from 
their  having  long  naked  stems  the  pots  may  be  appropriately  placed  in 
the  background  out  of  sight,  and  the  fine  head  of  bloom  shown  above 
the  other  plants.  By  a  careful  selection  of  the  kinds,  and  bringing 
them  in  as  they  show  flower,  a  succession  of  blooms  may  be  kept  up 
from  June  till  October.  When  grown  to  any  extent  in  the  above 
manner  they  make  a  beautiful  display,  and  in  addition  to  their  lovely 
colour  many  of  the  sorts  are  highly  perfumed.  In  re-potting  the 
Phlox,  care  must  be  taken  not  to  break  or  reduce  the  ball,  even  though 
shifting  from  a  twelve  to  an  eighteen  inch  pot,  as  on  this  particular 
inucA  of  the  future  success  of  the  plant  depends.  Should  large 
specimens  be  wanted,  those  that  have  flowered  once  may  be  kept 
through  the  winter  in  a  cold  frame,  or  if  this  is  not  convenient  they 
may  be  plunged  out  of  doors  and  covered  with  three  inches  of  coal 


DECEMBER.  365 

ashes  or  tanners'  bark,  then  taken  up  early  in  spring,  re-potted,  thinned 
to  three  or  four  stems,  and  treated  as  above  directed.  They  will  thus 
amply  repay  any  little  care  and  attention  that  may  have  been  bestowed 
on  them.  In  conclusion,  I  may  remark  that  to  grow  the  Phlox  in 
perfection,  the  plants  should  be  renewed  from  cuttings  at  least  every 
three  years,  either  for  pot  or  out-door  culture. 

John  Downie. 
West  Coates  Kurscri/,  Edinburgh. 


TRITONIA  AUREA. 
The  Tritonia  and  the  allied  genera — the  Ixias,  Sparaxis,  Watsonias, 
&c. — belong  to  a  family  of  Cape  bulbous  plants  which  deserve  more 
general  cultivation.  In  bygone  times  this  family  of  plants  was 
more  frequently  met  with  than  at  the  present  day.  We  do  occasionally 
meet  with  a  few  plants  occupying  a  sunny  spot  in  the  flower  garden, 
or  in  pots  in  the  greenhouse,  where  their  gay  and  various  coloured 
flowers  never  fail  to  excite  our  admiration. 

The  species  which  forms  the  subject  of  the  present  notice  is  of  recent 
introduction,  and  so  far  promises  to  become  a  great  favourite.  As  a 
pot  plant  it  forms  a  desirable  acquisition  for  the  decoration  of  the 
greenhouse  during  the  latter  part  of  summer  and  early  autumn  months, 
the  colour  of  the  flowers  making  a  beautiful  contrast  with  the  greater 
portion  of  plants  in  bloom  at  that  season.  It  may  here  be  remarked 
that  the  bright  orange  yellow  of  this  Tritonia  is  exceedingly  rare 
amongst  our  stove  and  greenhouse  plants :  of  Orchids,  some  of  the 
Epidendrums  have  a  resemblance  to  it,  and  amongst  stove  plants  the  old 
Cestrum  aurantiacum  is  one  of  the  best  that  approaches  somewhat  the 
colour  of  the  Tritonia,  and  is,  by-the-by,  a  bush  that  ought  to  be  in 
every  collection  of  plants.  Sandy  loam  and  leaf  soil  or  peat  form  a 
desirable  compost  for  the  Tritonia,  and  the  bulbs  should  be  re-potted  as 
soon  as  they  are  thoroughly  matured. 

If  this  is  done,  and  the  pots  placed  in  a  pit  where  protection  from 
severe  frost  can  be  given  them,  it  will  be  all  they  require  till  they 
commence  growing ;  when  this  is  the  case,  and  the  pots  are  partly 
filled  with  roots,  they  will  then — and  not  till  then — require  a  moderate 
supply  of  water,  increasing  the  quantity  as  the  plants  advance  in 
growth.  During  the  summer  months  the  plants  may  be  removed  to 
the  open  air,  or  the  glass  removed  from  the  pit  or  frame  in  which  they 
are  standing,  merely  placing  them  over  the  pots  to  protect  them  from 
heavy  rain. 

By  the  end  of  July  the  flower-stems  will  be  making  their  appear- 
ance, and  they  may  then  be  removed  to  the  greenhouse,  where  they 
will  soon  commence  to  bloom,  and  with  the  assistance  of  an  occasional 
watering  with  liquid  manure  they  will  continue  in  perfection  for  a  great 
length  of  time. 

The  colour  of  this  plant  is  one  that  is  much  desired  for  the  flower- 


36G  THE    FLORIST. 

garden.  Hitherto  we  have  few  plants  that  will  equal  its  rich  orange 
colour,  that  are  adapted  for  bedding  purposes.  With  a  little  manage- 
ment it  may  be  grown  in  great  perfection  in  the  open  air.  1  have  this 
season  seen  a  mass  ofit  wliich,  in  the  middle  of  September,  presented  a 
beautiful  appearance.  It  was  planted  on  a  raised  bed  in  a  mixture  of 
peat,  loam,  and  decayed  leaves — in  light  soils,  of  course,  this  preparation 
would  be  unnecessary. 

There  is  a  great  variety  of  plants,  such  as  the  Liliums,  Gladiolus, 
and  several  species  belonging  to  the  genera  above  enumerated,  which 
are  in  themselves  exceedingly  beautiful,  though  not  adapted  for  bedding 
purposes,  in  consequence  of  their  meagre  appearance  as  regards  foliage. 
In  the  neighbourhood  of  Paris  and  other  parts  of  France,  this  defect  is 
remedied  by  mixing  with  them  such  plants  as  will  supply  the  necessary 
amount  of  foliage.  The  common  Asparagus  is  used  extensively  for 
this  purpose,  and  I  have  heard  those  who  have  been  accustomed  to 
visit  those  gardens  speak  in  high  terms  of  the  effect  produced.  This 
Tritonia,  though' less  in  need  of  such  assistance,  would  doubtless  be 
greatly  improved  in  appearance  by  the  admixture  of  a  suitable  "  under- 
growth." 

The  Asparagus,  of  course,  would  only  be  suitable  for  such  plants  as 
would  throw  tlieir  flowers  partly  above  its  foliage,  but  for  dwarfer 
flowering  plants  there  are  numerous  low-growing  evergreens  that  would 
answer  the  purpose  admirably,  and  probably  many  of  the  hardy  Ferns, 
for  certain  situations,  might  be  turned  to  good  account. 

0.  P. 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  OF  SOILS. 
It  is  an  established  law  that  the  constituents  or  substances  which  enter 
into  the  formation  of  a  fertile  soil  and  the  atmosphere  of  plants  and  of 
animals  are  the  same,  that  is  to  say,  the  bodies  of  animals,  the  substances 
of  plants,  and  the  ordinary  soil  and  atmosphere  are  formed  of  the  same 
materials.  The  practical  inference  from  such  a  proposition  is  this,  that, 
in  order  to  obtain  as  large  an  amount  of  produce  as  possible,  it  is 
necessary  that  all  the  constituents  of  plants  and  animals  should  be 
present  either  in  the  soil  or  atmosphere,  or  both.  We  are  unable  to 
alter  the  composition  of  the  atmosphere,  because  certain  of  the  laws  which 
govern  it  cause  a  very  equal  mixture  of  its  constituents  throughout  its 
whole  extent.  We  must,  therefore,  turn  our  attention  to  the  soil, 
ascertain  its  composition,  and  so  change  it  if  necessary,  as  to  present  to 
the  roots  of  plants  all  the  substances  which  are  requisite  for  their  growth 
and  perfection.  As  there  is  generally  more  vacant  ground  in  gardens 
at  this  season  of  the  year  than  at  any  other,  a  few  remarks  on  the 
improvement  of  soils  may  not  be  out  of  place  ;  matters  of  this  kind  can 
have  most  attention  at  this  time  of  the  year.  The  subject  is  one  of 
vast  importance,  and  demands  volumes.  I  can,  therefore,  only  touch 
upon  a  very  few  points.  I  may  premise  that  I  profess  no  great  under- 
standing of  the  subject,  though  I  have  given  it  much  thought. 

A  very  fertile   soil  must  contain   a  considerable   supply  of  all  the 


DECEMBER.  367 

inorganic  ingredients  necessary  for  the  support  of  plants.  In  general  soils 
are  wanting  in  some  or  other  of  these  ingredients,  and  are,  tlierefure, 
not  fitted  to  grow  perhaps  any  one  crop  witli  luxuriance. 

The  first  step  in  the  improvement  of  soils  is  thorough  drainage  where 
it  is  required,  and,  after  that,  deep  cultivation  and  the  addition  of  those 
ingredients  of  which  it  is  most  wanting.  'J  he  advantages  of  drainage 
have  so  often  been  insisted  on,  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  state  them  here. 
By  deep  digging  we  not  only  make  a  free  passage  for  the  roots,  and  let 
the  air  and  rains  penetrate  more  easily  ;  but,  in  addition  to  these,  we 
bring  new  earth  to  the  surface.  This  forms  a  deeper  soil,  and  more  or 
less  alters  both  its  physical  qualities  and  its  chemical  composition.  A 
subsoil  may  gradually  become  rich  in  those  substances,  of  which  the 
surface  soil  has  been  robbed  by  the  rains ;  by  bringing  up  a  portion  of 
this  subsoil  by  deep  digging  we  restore  to  the  surface  soil  a  part  of  what 
it  has  been  gradually  losing.  We  bring  up  what  may  probably  render 
it  more  fertile  than  before.  By  deep  and  frequent  working  of  the  land 
its  parts  are  more  minutely  divided,  the  air  gets  access  to  every  particle, 
it  is  rendered  lighter,  more  durable,  and  more  permeable  to  the  roots. 
The  vegetable  matter  it  contains  decomposes  more  rapidly  by  a  constant 
turning  of  tha  soil,  so  that  wherever  the  fibres  of  the  roots  penetrate  they 
find  organic  food  provided  for  them,  and  an  abundant  supply  of  the 
oxygen  of  the  atmosphere  to  aid  in  preparing  it.  The  production  of 
ammonia  and  of  nitric  acid  also,  and  the  absorption  of  one  or  both  from 
the  air,  take  place  to  a  greater  extent  the  finer  the  soil  is  pulverised,  and 
the  more  it  has  been  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  atmosphere.  All  soils 
likewise  contain  an  admixture  of  fragments  of  those  minerals  of  which 
tne  granatic  and  trap  rock  are  composed,  which,  by  their  decay,  yield 
new  sup[ilies  of  inorganic  food  to  the  growing  plants.  The  more 
frequently  they  are  exposed  to  the  air,  the  more  rapidly  do  these  frag- 
ments crumble  away  and  decompose.  There  are  few  soils  so  stubborn 
as  not  to  show  themselves  grateful  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  this 
kind  of  labour  that  may  be  bestowed  upon  them. 

The  physical  properties  of  soil  have  a  very  great  influence  on  its 
average  fertility.  The  admixture  of  pure  sand  with  clay  soils  produces 
an  alteration  which  is  often  beneficial,  and  which  is  almost  wholly 
physical ;  the  sand  ^opens  the  pores  ot'  the  clay,  and  makes  it  more 
permeable  to  the  air.  I  have  seen  clayey  soils  which  refused  to  grow 
Carrots,  but  which,  after  a  good  portion  of  river  sand  had  been  mixed 
with  it,  and  it  had  been  got  fine  by  frequent  working,  grew  as  fine  a 
crop  of  Carrots  and  of  as  good  quality  as  any  person  could  desire.  The 
admixture  of  clay  with  sandy  or  peaty  soil  produces  both  a  physical  and 
chemical  change.  The  clay  not  only  consolidates  but  gives  body  to  the 
sand  or  peat,  but  it  also  mixes  with  them  certain  earthy  and  saline 
substances  necessary  to  plants  which  neither  the  sand  nor  peat  might 
originally  contain  in  sufficient  abundance.  It  thus  alters  its  chemical 
composition,  and  fits  it  for  nourishing  new  races  of  plants.  Such  is  the 
case  also  with  admixture  of  marl,  of  shell  sand,  and  of  lime  ;  they 
slightly  consolidate  the  sand,  and  open  the  clays,  and  thus  improve  the 
mechanical  texture  of  both  kinds  of  soil  ;  but  their  main  operation  is 
chemical,  and  the  almost  universal  benefit  they  produce  depends  mamly 


368  THE    FLORIST. 

upon  the  new  elements  they  introduce  into  the  soil.     It  is  a  subject  of 

general  remark  that  in   cur  climate  soils  are  fertile — clayey  or  loamy 

soils,  that  is — only  when  they  contain  an  appreciable  quantity  of  lime. 

In  whatever  way  it  acts,  therefore,  the  mixing  of  lime  witb  a  soil  in 

which  httle  or  none  exists,  is  one  of  the  surest  practical  methods  of 

bringing  it  nearer  in  composition  to  those  soils  from  which  the  largest 

return  of  vegetable  produce  is  usually  obtained.     Clayey  soils  are  also 

much  improved  by  burning.     Charred  matters  of  any  kind,  such  as 

charred  peat,  tan,  &c.,  are  valuable  improvers  of  the  soil  when  mixed 

with  it.     Decayed  vegetable  matters  are  amongst  the  best  improvers  of 

the  soil.     They  are  generally  supposed  to  serve  two  purposes  when  added 

to  the  soil :  they  loosen  the  land,  opens  its  pores,  and  make  it  lighter ; 

and  they  also  supply  organic  food  to  the  roots  of  the  growing   plant. 

They  also  serve  a  third  purpose  ;  they  yield  to  the   roots   those  saline 

substances  and  earthy  matter  which  it  is  their  duty  to  find  in  the  soil,  and 

which  exist  in  decaying  plants  in  a  state  more  peculiarly  fitted  to  enter 

readily  into  the  circulating  system  of  new  races.     The  decay  of  vegetable 

substances   beneath  the  surface  of  the  earth  fertilises  the  soil,  which 

nourishes  the  growth  of  other  plants  and  other  vegetables  ;  and  these, 

in  their  turn,  form  the  nutriment  of  animals  ;  and  these,  iigain,  in  their 

turn,  become  the  food  of  other  vegetables.     Thus  there  is  a  perpetual 

change  from  death  to  life,  and  as  constant  a  succession  in  the  tbrms  and 

places  which  the  particles  of  matter  assume.     iS'othing  is  lost,  and  not 

a  particle  of  matter  is  struck  out  of  existence,  although  it  may  disappear 

from    our  immediate   observation.     Under  certain   circumstances   the 

particles  of  matter  may  be  collected  into  a  body  without  a  change  of 

form.  '  When  bodies  suffer  decomposition  their  elementary  particles  are 

never  destroyed  or  lost,   but   only   enter   into   new    arrangements    or 

combinations  with  other  bodies.     When  a  piece  of  wood  is  heated  in  a 

closed  vessel,  such  as  a  retort,  we  obtain  water,  an  acid,  several  kinds 

of  gas,  and  there  remains  a  black  porous  substance  called  charcoal.  The 

wood  is  thus  decomposed  or  destroyed,  and  its  particles  take  a  new 

arrangement,  and  assume  new  forms,  but  that  nothing  is  lost  is  proved 

from  the  fact  that  if  the  water,  acid,  gases,  and  charcoal  be  collected 

and  weighed,  they  will  be  found  exactly  as  heavy   as  the  wood  was 

before  distillation.     In  the  same  manner  the  substance  of  the  coal  burnt 

in  our  fires  is  not  annihilated  :  it  is  only  dispersed  in  the  form  of  smoke, 

or  particles  of  culm,  gas,  and  ashes,  or  dust.    Bones,  flesh,  or  any  animal 

substance,  may  in  the  same  manner  be  made  to  assume  new  forms 

without  losing  a  particle  of  matter  they  originally  contained.     These  are 

all   matters    that   demand   the    attention   and   consideration  of  every 

gardener.     There   should  be  no  waste  of  anything  that  comes  out  of 

gardens  ;  the  pruning  of  trees   should  be  charred  and  restored  to  the 

soil.     It  is  vain  to  expect  vegetables  of  first-rate  quality  unless  the  land 

is  in  the  highest  state  of  fertility,  and  this  is  maintained  by  continually 

restoring  to  it  not  only  those  matters  of  which  it  is  most  wanting,  but 

every  substance  which  will  in  any  way  improve  its  physical  and  chemical 

condition. 

M.  S. 


DECEMBER.  369 

HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Nov.  25. — J.  J.  Blandy,  Esq.,  in  the  chair.  The  exhibition  at  Regent- 
street  on  this  occasion  was  a  most  interesting  one,  not  only  on  account 
of  the  excellence  and  variety  of  the  productions  brought  ibrward,  but 
as  showing  a  revival  of  the  Society  in  its  best  form — that  of  teaching 
practical  horticulture  through  the  medium  of  exhibitions,  which  we 
have  all  along  maintained  is  one  great  means  of  testing  the  merits  of 
cultivation  and  of  cultivators.  Nor  was  the  competition  conhned  entirely 
to  the  productions  of  British  gardeners,  foreign  fruit  being  admitted  to 
competition.  Of  the  various  subjects  produced,  we  may  notice  the 
Muscat  and  Hamburgh  Grapes  of  Mr.  Hill,  gardener  to  R.  Sneyde, 
Esq.,  Keele  Hall,  Staffordshire,  beyond  which  cultivation  could  not  be 
carried  much  further.  The  Hamburgh  and  Muscat  and  Cannon  Hall 
Grapes  of  Mr.  Jones  Nash,  of  Bishop's  Stortford,  which  considering  the 
immense  crops  his  Vines  carry,  were  also  admirable  productions,  'i  here 
was  also  a  splendid  smooth  Cayenne  Pine  from  Mr.  Thomas  Frost,  of 
Preston  Hall,  and  three  finely  swelled  Jamaica  Pines,  from  Dowlais  ;  there 
were  likewise  other  fine  specimens  of  good  Pine  growing  in  the  rooms. 
Of  the  exhibition  of  hardy  fruit,  there  was  a  splendid  collection  of  Pears 
from  Mr.  Snow,  of  Wrest  Park,  consisting  of  Ne  Plus  Meuris,  Beurre 
Ranee,  Passe  Colmar,  Vicar  of  Winkfield,  Old  Colmar,  Beurre  Diel, 
large  and  fine  ;  Marie  Louise,  Chaumontel,  Glou  Morceau,  Winter 
Nelis,  Easter  Beurre,  and  the  Forelle  or  Trout  Pear.  These  were 
awarded  a  first  prize.  Mr.  Ingram  also  had  very  good  fruit.  Next 
came  collections  from  Mr.  Tillyard,  gardener  to  the  Right  Honourable 
the  Speaker,  and  others.  Of  Apples,  Mr.  Snow  had  the  best  grown 
specimens  we  have  seen  this  season  ;  they  were  large,  handsome,  and 
evenly  matched,  and  were  universally  admired.  In  Mr.  Ingram's 
collection  we  noticed  a  rather  new  variety,  Cox's  Seedling,  very  hand- 
some, and  apparently  a  good  keeper.  Of  collections  of  fruit  by  far  the 
best  came  from  i\Ir.  Tillyard,  who  furnished  four  very  nice  Pine-apples, 
American  Cranberries,  Black  and  Dutch  Hamburgh  Grapes,  Red 
Currants,  Oranges,  Rivers's  Donble-bearing  Raspberry,  Winter  Nelis, 
and  various  other  Pears.  Mr.  Ingram  also  sent  a  collection  in  which 
there  was  a  handsome  Cayenne  Pine-apple.  Mr.  Robinson,  gardener 
to  Lord  Boston,  sent  some  nicely  fruited  Otaheite  Oranges  in  pots. 

Of  plants,  though  not  specially  invited,  there  were  some  interesting 
exhibitions,  especially  of  Chrysanthemums.  Mr.  Glendinning  also  had 
a  very  pretty  hardy  Tussilago  with  large  deep  green  leaves,  prettily 
covered  with  yellow  and  cream-coloured  spots;  forrockwork  and  places 
of  that  kind  this  new  Japan  plant  will  be  a  real  acquisition.  A  shoot 
loaded  with  flowers  of  that  most  lovely  of  all  greenhouse  climbers,  the 
Lapageria  rosea,  was  shown  by  Mr.  Veitch.  This  was  stated  to  require 
a  well  drained  loose  porous  soil  and  plenty  of  water  wliile  growing,  and 
to  keep  well  in  rooms  in  a  cut  state.  Messrs.  E.  G.  Henderson  had 
some  handsome  hybrid  Bouvardias  and  other  plants,  among  which  was 
the  graceful  Liparis  longipes.  Calanthe  vestita  was  shown  fine  by  ]\Ir. 
Woolly.  Messrs.  Maule,  of  Bristol,  sent  a  magnificent  cut  brandi 
loaded  with  flowers,  of  the  blue  Vanda,  than  which  nothing  at  this 

NEAV    SERIES,    VOL.    VI.,    NO.    LXXII.  »    B 


370  TUE    TLORIST. 

season  could  possibly  be  handsomer.  Spikes  of  Pampas  Grass  were 
furnished  by  the  Society,  together  with  other  things,  among  which  was 
the  new  fruit-bearing  shrub,  Eugenia  Ugni,  of  which  a  woodcut  illus- 
tration will  be  found  in  our  present  volume. 

Mr.  Rivers  produced  examples  of  pyramidal  Pear-trees,  to  show 
that  when  budded  low  on  the  Quince,  under  certain  circumstances, 
the  Pear  will  push  roots  of  its  own  into  the  ground,  and  sometimes 
eventually  kill  the  stock.  This,  however,  is  a  very  rare  occurrence  ;  in 
the  instance  in  question  the  tree  had  become  cankered,  while  others,  to 
the  amount  of  some  2000,  of  the  same  kind  and  in  the  same  soil,  but 
which  had  not  behaved  in  the  same  way,  were  perfectly  sound.  It  was 
thus  inferred  that  the  tendency  of  the  Quince  to  root  near  the  surface 
had  the  effect  of  keeping  them  sound,  and  in  order  to  increase  their 
surface  fibres  biennial  transplanting  when  young  was  recommended. 
A  young  tree  full  of  fibrous  roots  was  shown  in  illustration  of  this. 

In  vegetable  produce  the  Dioscorea  or  Chinese  Yam  was  largely 
exhibited,  and  commented  on  by  the  Vice-Secretary.  The  merits  of 
this  new  esculent  were  some  time  since  brought  under  the  notice  of  our 
readers,  and  w^e  are  glad  to  see  our  predictions  so  far  verified.  That  it 
will  make  a  useful  addition  to  our  list  of  vegetables  we  doubt  not ;  but 
that  it  will  ever  compete  with  the  Potato,  or  with  our  more  common 
roots,  we  cannot  admit. 

No  fewer  than  thirty-seven  new  members  were  elected  at  this 
meeting.  • 


LANDSCAPE  GARDENING.— No.  VI. 
The  annexed  plan  is  introduced  as  an  example  of  what  all  arrangements 
should  be — expressly  designed  for  and  fitted  to  the  positions  in  which 
they  are  placed.  It  is  always  an  important  point  that  the  principles 
of  a  new  arrangement  should,  as  far  as  possible,  be  reconciled  with, 
and  in  many  cases  derived  from,  existing  facts  ;  and  many  of  the 
happiest  effects  result  from  carefully  seizing  such  as  are  convenient  and 
consistent  with  good  taste. 

When  the  garden  of  which  the  accompanying  plan  now  forms  a  part 
came  first  under  my  notice,  the  terrace  wall  with  its  piers,  on  the 
right-hand  side,  was  already  built  in  masonry  ;  but  it  was  cut  off 
from  the  house  at  one  end  by  the  gravel-walk  sloping  gradually  down 
from  the  centre  line,  instead  of  descending  by  steps  as  shown  ;  and  the 
walk  at  the  other  end  was  similarly  arranged.  The  high  level  walk  at 
the  left  hand  existed,  with  a  rolling  bank  between  it  and  the  level 
terrace.  A  serious  mal-arrangement  also  existed,  in  the  terrace  wall 
and  the  old  wall  on  left  hand  being  both  out  of  parallel  with  a  right 
line  from  the  house  ;  the  former  of  the  two  very  much  so. 

The  first  suggestion  was  to  make  the  rolling  bank  into  a  regular 
inclined  plane,  forming  a  bold  grass  slope,  with  its  base  line  so 
arranged  as  to  make  the  level  plane  at  foot  so  nearly  symmetrical  as 
would  make  it  appear  precisely  so  from  the  house.  Vases  were  of  course 
placed  upon  the  piers  in  wall,  and  to  correspond  therewith  pedestals 


DECEMBER.  371 

surmounted  by  vases  were  placed  upon  the  turf,  at  foot  of  slope,  on  the 
other  side.  A  line  from  the  centre  of  doorway  at  right  angles  with  the 
house  formed  the  working  centre  of  the  design,  and  gave  the  position  in 
this  direction,  for  the  points  marked  on  the  plan  by  the  numbers  4, 
and  13  ;  similar  lines  from  the  centres  of  windows  gave  the  positions 
in  the  same  direction  for  the  point  marked  3.  By  subdividing  the 
distances  between  the  vases,  the  transverse  position  was  obtained 
for  these  points,  as  also  for  those  marked  1  and  2  ;  the  longitudinal 
position  of  which  governed,  and  was  governed  by,  the  boundary  lines 
of  the  beds  on  either  side.  The  rest  of  the  arrangement  worked 
out  naturally  from  these  points,  and  is  so  obvious  on  the  plan,  as  to 
require  no  further  explanation.  I  would  draw  attention  however  to 
one  important  matter  which  should  be  regarded  in  all  similar  cases ; 
namely,  the  avoidance  of  sharp  narrow  points  to  the  beds.  Tliis  is 
often  disregarded  in  designs  which  look  very  well  on  paper,  but  sorely 
perplex  gardeners  in  the  subsequent  planting  and  keeping  ;  in  that  it 
is  practically  impossible  to  make  the  plants  fill  the  beds,  in  such 
intricate  recesses,  so  as  to  produce  that  fulness  and  compactness  which 
constitutes,  next  to  good  arrangement  of  colour  and  habit,  the  most 
important  feature  in  this  kind  of  gardening. 

The  shrubs  recommended  for  the  leading  points  were  as  follow : — 

1.  Irish  Juniper.  I  3.  Golden  Yew. 

2.  Irish  Yew.  |  4.  Golden  Arbor-vitas. 

Nos.  1,  3,  and  4  are  amongst  the  kinds  of  plants  best  adapted, 
but  little  known,  and  seldom  used  for  such  purposes  ;  they  are 
however  very  ornamental  in  appearance,  and  symmetrical  in  habit. 

The  seat  in  the  centre  of  distant  boundary,  with  its  accompanying 
vases  standing  against  the  shrubs,  formed  a  natural  and  appropriate 
finish  to  that  end  of  the  parterre. 

For  the  rest  of  the  plan,  the  old  wall  on  the  lefl  hand  was  pronounced 
a  good  place  for  ornamental  plants  requiring  such  support ;  and  over  the 
walk  was  suggested  a  light  Rose  arcade,  to  give  somewhat  of  shade  to 
it,  relieve  the  unbroken  surface  of  wall,  and  create  a  position  near  the 
house  for  these  deservedly  favourite  plants. 

The  border  between  the  wall  and  arcade  was  to  be  devoted  to  that 
class  of  plants  usually  denominated  herbaceous.  In  too  many  cases 
these  have  been  banished  from  the  parterre,  where  their  irregular 
habits  of  growth  and  seasons  of  flowering  render  them  unsuitable  ;  but 
they  include  many  very  beautiful,  though  old  fashioned  flowers,  and  a 
convenient  place  should  be  allotted  to  them  in  every  garden.  The 
introduction  of  piers  at  intervals,  as  shown,  is  an  improvement  often 
advised  in  old  walls,  and  one  which  may  be  made  at  a  trifling  expense. 

Irish  Ivy  was  proposed  as  an  edging  to  this  border  ;  this  is  easily 
kept  in  order  by  occasional  pruning,  and  is  much  more  ornamental  for 
a  bold  margin  than  Box,  which  in  such  cases  looks  rather  kitchen- 
garden  like. 

The  manner  in  which  the  sloping  gravel  connections  are  managed 
between  the  arcade  walk  and  the  terrace  on  lower  level,  is  often  useful 
when  stone  steps  are  inadvisable,  as  was  the  case  in  this  instance, 
where  it  was  important  that  a  Bath  chair  should  be  able  to  traverse 


872 


THE    FLORIST. 


■without  interruption  from  the  door  in  the  front  to  other  parts  of  the 
grounds. 


^1 


Special  attention  was  also  given  to  a  suitable  arrangement  for  filling 
the  beds ;  in  summer,  with  annuals  and  half  hardy  plants ;  in  winter, 
with  dwarf  shrubs ;  and  in  spring  with  bulbs  :  these  are  given,  as 
they  may  afford  some  useful  hints  to  thers.     The  winter  and  spring 


■■{■■ 


DECEMBER.  373 

furnishing  of  such  gardens  is  a  subject  which  has  not  generally  the 
attention  it  deserves  ;  as  they  are  usually  allowed  to  remain  in  dreary 
barrenness  from  October  to  I\Iay ;  although  with  a  little  labour  and  expense 
they  might  be  made  to  wear  a  cheerful,  interesting,  and  even  gay  ap- 
pearance, when  it  would  be  more  contributive  to  the  beauty  and  enjoy- 
ableness  of  the  garden,  than  even  in  summer  when  life  and  luxuriance 
are  everywhere.  The  bulbs  in  such  cases  are  planted  about  four  inches 
from  the  edges  of  the  beds,  and  four  inches  deep ;  the  summer  occu- 
pants are  planted  or  sown  without  disturbing  the  former. 

The  shrubs  should  be  dwarf  bushes  from  six  to  fifteen  inches  in 
height ;  these  are  arranged  in  the  beds  as  soon  as  the  summer  flowers 
are  over,  and  removed  to  a  reserve  garden  in  May. 

The  plan  is  drawn  to  a  scale  of  32  feet  to  an  inch. 

Summer.  Winter  and  Spring. 

4     Round  Shrub.  Fuchsia  globosa ....  Erica  carnea  herbacea. 

{Margin.  White  variegated  Alyssum  (orAlyssum 
sown  in  April)      ....  Snowdrop,  double. 
Centre.    Blue  Lobelia  .         .      "  .         .         .     .  Ledum  buxifolium. 
Margin.  Venus'  Looking-glass  (sown  in  April)  Yellow  Winter  Aconite. 
Centre.    Dwarf  yellow  Calceolaria     .         .         .  Pernettya  mucronata. 
M  (  Margin.  CoUinsia  grandillora  (sown  in  April)    .  Yellow  Crocus. 

(.Centre.    Heliotrope Rhododendron  ponticum. 

of  Margin.  Lilac  Virginian  Stock  (sown  in  April)   Striped  Crocus. 

\  Centre.     Scarlet  Verbena  .....  Variegated  Box. 
gf  Margin.  Brown  Calceolaria,  dwarf        .         .     .  Blue  Hyacinths. 
\  Centre.    Yellow  Calceolaria       ....  Ilex  scottica. 
■jq/ Margin    Eschscholtzia  (sown  in  April)  .     .  Purple  Crocus. 

\  Centre.    Purple  Senecio     .....  Aucuba  japonica. 

(Margin.  Pink  Sapouaria Pale  Red  Hyacinth. 
Centre.    Pink  Verbena  (planted  amongst  F.ucha- 
ridiuin  sown  in  April)   .         .         .  Laurustiuus. 
j2 /  Margin.  White  Virginian  Stock  (sown  in  April)  White  Crocus. 
\  Centre.    Salvia  patens,  blue          .         .         .     .  Berberis  aquifolium. 

(Margin.  Mignonette  (sown  in  April)         .         .  Van  Thol  &  other  Tulips. 
Centre.    Scarlet  Geraniums  (in  three  varieties.  Rhododendron      ferrugi- 
the  outer  row  on  each  tier  beingplanted  neum. 

on  their  sides  to  keep  them  dwarfer) 
(Margin.  White  Virginian  Stock    .         .         .     .  White  Crocus. 
Centre.    Blue  Larkspur  (raised  from  seed,  trans- 
planted and  pegged  down)         .         .  Berberis  aquifolium. 
(  Margin.  Silcne  peudula         .....  Red  Hyacinths. 
13  }  Centre.    Pink  Verbena  (planted  amongst  Eucha- 

(  ridium) Laurustinus. 

,/.f  Margin.  Eschscholtzia Purple  Crocus. 

Centre.    Purple  Verbena      .         ....  Aucuba  iaponica. 
Margin.  Lilac  Virginian  Stock         .         .         •   Striped  Crocus. 

Centre.    Scarlet  Verbena Variegated  Box. 

Margin.  Brown  Marigold  (raised  from  seed  and  White  Hyacinths. 
I  transplanted)  .... 

18     Centre.  Tagetes   signata,  or  Coreopsis  Drum-  Saw-leaved  green  Holly, 
mondii  (raised  from  seed  and  trans- 
l  planted)  • 

,q  ("Margin.  Collinsia  quadricolor  ....  Y'ellow  Crocus. 

\  Centre.    Ageratum Rhododendron  ponticum. 

„„  5  Margin.  Venus's  Looking-glass         .         .         .  Winter  Aconite. 

I  Centre.     CEnothera  macrocarpa   ....  Cotoneaster  microphylla. 
2j  f  Margin.  White  variegated  Alyssum  .         .         .  Double  Snowdrop. 
t  Centre.    Blue  Lobelia Berberis  Darwinii. 

William  Davidson. 
36,  Great  Russell-street,  Bedford-square,  London. 


17{; 


3/4  THE    FLORIST. 


CALENDAR  FOR  THE  MONTH. 

Azaleas. — A  few  of  the  earlier  sorts  should  be  put  into  heat ;  when 
in  bloom,  they  are  beautiful  objects  for  the  conservatory  at  any  season, 
but  more  particularly  during  the  winter  months.  Those  intended  to 
liower  late  should  be  carefully  attended  to  with  regard  to  watering, 
ventilating,  and  heat.  They  should  be  kept  safe  from  frost,  without  too 
much  fire  heat. 

CamelUas. — These  will  now  be  rapidly  advancing  into  bloom ;  they 
should  have  a  little  air  on  fine  days,  but  guard  against  cold  currents  of 
wind.  They  should  be  well  watered  when  they  require  it.  Keep  the 
house  moderately  warm,  but  do  not  overdo  it  with  artificial  heat. 

Carnatio7is  and  Picotees. — The  foliage  of  these  plants  should  be 
kept  dry  ;  neither  from  rain  nor  watering  should  the  plants  receive  it 
overhead,  and  but  sparingly  at  root.  At  this  season  a  general  cleaning 
is  required,  trimming  oft'  all  dead  foliage.  Expose  the  plants  on  every 
occasion  that  the  weather  is  fine,  by  pulling  the  lights  off. 

Cinerarias. — If  not  already  done,  give  those  for  early  bloom  a  final 
re-potting.  If  large  dwarf  specimens  are  required,  the  plants  must 
have  plenty  of  room,  elevated  near  the  glass.  The  foliage  should  be 
opened  by  pegging  down  the  large  outer  leaves  close  to  the  rim  of  the 
pot.  This  admits  light  and  air  to  all  parts  of  the  plant,  giving  strength 
to  the  shoots,  and  ultimately  size  and  brilliancy  to  the  flowers. 

Cold  Frames. — Guard  against  everything  likely  to  encourage  damp. 
Give  air  whenever  the  state  of  the  weather  permits.  Water  only 
when  absolutely  necessary,  and  then  in  the  forenoon.  Cover  up  well 
at  night,  to  guard  against  frost. 

Conservatory  and  Show-house. — Every  care  should  be  taken  to 
make  these  as  attractive  as  possible  at  this  season  ;  taste  in  the 
arrangement  will  do  much  to  accomplish  this.  Chrysanthemums  will 
be  at  their  best  the  early  part  of  the  month  ;  remove  any  that  are 
going  out  of  flower.  Epacrises,  Heaths,  Camellias,  Begonias,  Cine- 
rarias, Primulas,  &c.,  will  do  much  to  make  a  good  display ;  add  to 
these  a  few  plants  remarkable  for  fine  foliage,  and  there  will  be  no 
difficulty  in  making  them  gay.  The  early-started  Tulips,  Roman 
Narcissus,  and  Hyacinths  will  also  assist  to  make  them  lively.  Keep 
everything  clean  and  orderly.  Give  air  freely  on  all  favourable 
occasions,  but  guard  against  cold  draughts.  A  little  fire  in  the  day 
occasionally  will  be  necessary  to  dry  the  house ;  a  little  will  also  be 
required  at  night  in  frosty  weather,  but  as  little  as  possible  should  be 
used  at  this  season.  Water  any  plants  that  require  it ;  it  should  be 
done  in  the  morning,  so  that  everything  may  get  dry  towards  night. 

Cucumbers. — There  will  be  no  scarcity  of  Cucumbers  now,  if  our 
previous  directions  have  been  attended  to.  If  you  wish  your  plants  to 
continue  bearing  until  Midsummer,  do  not  let  them  carry  too  many 
fruit  at  one  time,  especially  at  this  season ;  nothing  would  be  more  fatal 
to  their  well-being  than  over-bearing  in  the  absence  of  bright  solar 
light.  Keep  a  night  temperature  of  about  65°,  and  from  70°  to  80° 
during  the  day.     Be  careful  they  have  a  regular  bottom  heat. 


DECEMBER.  375 

Flower  Garden.— Aiieni  to  the  protection  of  bulbs,  sheltering  them 
from  heavy  drenching  rains  as  well  as  frost.  Protect  tender  Roses. 
Continue  alterations  in  favourable  weather.  Prune  and  dig  every- 
thing requiring  it.     Sweep  and  roll  lawns  and  walks  when  necessary. 

Forcing  Hard//  S//rids. — Introduce  a  second  batch  of  Lilacs,  Roses, 
Azaleas,  Kalmias,  Rhodoras,  Rhododendrons,  Deutzia,  &c.,  to  succeed 
the  first  lot.  Plunge  them  in  a  nice  bottom  heat  and  keep  the  atmo- 
sphere moist.  A  night  temperature  of  from  50°  to  55°,  and  a  day 
temperature  of  from  60°  to  65°,  will  be  sufficient  at  tliis  season. 

Forc'mg  Ground. — Seakale,  Rhubarb,  and  Asparagus  are  easily 
forced  when  they  have  a  nice  regular  bottom  heat.  Asparagus  requires 
abundance  of  light  when  the  heads  get  above  the  soil  ;  Seakale  and 
Rhubarb  are  best  forced  in  darkness.  Whatever  plan  of  forcing  is 
adopted,  take  care  to  keep  a  regular  succession  of  them.  Sow  IMustard 
and  Cress  weekly. 

Fruit  (hardij). — Continue  the  planting  of  trees  in  favourable 
weather.  Be  careful  in  planting  not  to  plant  the  roots  too  deep. 
Make  new  plantations  of  Currants,  Gooseberries,  and  Raspberries,  if 
required.  In  favourable  weather  proceed  with  the  pruning  and  nailing 
of  wall  trees.  Look  over  orchard  trees,  and  cut  out  any  branches  that 
cross  each  other  ;  scrape  the  moss  off  the  stem.  When  large  branches 
are  removed,  the  wound  should  be  dressed  with  a  little  white-lead  to 
keep  out  wet.  Push  forward  as  much  as  possible  all  operations  in  this 
department.  It  is  a  great  advantage  in  having  it  all  done  before  long 
severe  frosts  set  in. 

Greenhouse  (Jiard-wooded'). — Give  air  on  all  occasions  when  the 
weather  will  admit,  always  avoiding  cold  currents.  Water  very  care- 
fully. Apply  fires  just  sufficiently  to  allay  damp  and  to  keep  out  the 
frost.  Look  over  the  plants  occasionally  and  turn  them.  Soft-wooded. 
— Attend  to  previous  directions. 

Hollyhocks. — These  should  be  kept  growing  if  the  plants  are  late 
struck  and  weakly.  Strong  plants  should  have  plenty  of  pot  room, 
and  be  grown  quite  hardy. 

Kitchen  Garden. — Push  forward  alterations  aud  heavy  work  of  all 
descriptions.  Dig,  or  trench  and  ridge,  all  vacant  ground.  In  frosty 
weather  wheel  manure  on  all  places  where  it  is  required,  and  put  up 
some  in  heaps  where  it  is  likely  to  be  wanted  when  the  adjoining 
grounds  become  vacant.  All  old  hotbed  linings  should  be  cleared  out 
in  frosty,  dry  weather.  Protect  Parsley,  Lettuce,  Endive,  and  Cauli- 
flowers. Earth  up  Celery  when  dry.  Sow  a  few  Early  Horn  Carrot 
and  short-topped  Radish  on  a  warm  south  border.  Sow  some  early 
Peas  and  Beans,  if  not  already  done,  and  look  out  for  mice.  Finish 
dressing  Asparagus  beds,  if  not  already  done. 

Pansies. — Little  will  have  to  be  done  but  keeping  those  in  pots 
clean. 

Peach-forcing. — The  first  house  should  be  got  ready  immediately. 
Before  the  trees  are  tied  they  should  be  carefully  washed  with  tlie  fol- 
lowing mixture  : — A  little  soft  soap,  sulphur,  clay,  and  tobacco-water, 
reduced  with  water  to  about  the  consistency  of  paint :  this  is  to  lie 
applied  with  a  brush,  merely  to  open  the  surface  ;  they  should  then 


376  THE   FLORIST. 

have  a  good  soaking  of  liquid  manure.  The  outside  borders  should 
have  a  good  covering.  If  the  weather  be  mild,  fires  w^ill  not  be 
required  for  a  few  days.  The  night  temperature  for  the  first  three  or 
four  weeks  should  not  exceed  40'^  ;  the  trees  should  be  syringed  two  or 
three  times  a  day,  and  a  moist  atmosphere  should  be  maintained. 

Pelargoniums. — (See  paper  in  last  number,  page  347.)  Tie  out 
the  shoots  of  such  plants  as  are  intended  to  form  specimens. 

Pinery. — The  principal  stock  should  now  be  kept  rather  dry  at  root. 
A  steady  bottom  heat  and  a  moderate  temperature  are  indispensable  at 
this  season.  Plants  now  showing  fruit,  and  plants  intended  to  be 
started  soon,  should  have  a  higher  temperature,  and  wlien  dry  they 
should  have  water — tepid,  of  course.  In  very  frosty  weather  cover  pits 
at  night ;  this  will  obviate  the  necessity  of  using  too  much  fire  heat. 

Pleasure  Grounds. — Continue  alterations  in  favourable  weather. 
Plant  trees  of  every  description  ;  we  removed  several  very  large 
Hollies  the  third  week  in  December,  1855,  during  most  severe  frosts. 
We  removed  them  with  immense  balls  of  earth,  which  was  completely 
frozen ;  and  the  trees  having  to  be  carried  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile 
we  found  it  a  great  advantage,  as  two  horses  easily  drew,  when  every- 
thing was  hard  frozen,  what  four  horses  could  not  draw  when  the  frost 
was  out  of  the  ground.  Every  one  of  these  trees  look  as  well,  and  have 
made  as  good  growth,  as  if  they  had  not  been  moved.  Protect  tender 
trees  and  shrubs.     Roll  and  sweep  lawns  when  necessary. 

Stove. — Give  air  freely  on  all  favourable  occasions,  and  keep  the 
tempv,'-ature  from  50°  to  65°  fire  heat.  Water  when  required.  Look 
out  for  insects. 

Strawherry-f arcing. — If  these  have  been  ridged  as  directed  last 
month,  the  roots  will  be  perfectly  safe ;  but,  in  order  to  keep  the  frost 
from  the  crowns,  we  recommend  some  hurdles  or  pea-rods  to  be  placed 
in  front  of  them,  but  at  a  little  distance  ofF,  and  in  very  severe  weather 
some  straw  or  litter  should  be  thrown  over  them.  The  first  batch  of 
plants  should  now  be  got  in ;  they  should  have  a  gentle  bottom  heat, 
and  but  very  little  top  heat ;  they  should  have  plenty  of  light  and  air 
when  the  weather  permits.  The  Black  Prince  for  a  very  early  sort ; 
but,  take  it  all  in  all,  we  have  no  better  Strawberry  yet  than  Keens' 
Seedling. 

Vinery. — As  the  young  shoots  in  the  early  house  advance  in  growth 
gradually  raise  the  temperature,  so  that  by  the  time  the  bunches  are 
beginning  to  open  their  bloom  the  night  temperature  should  be  about 
65°.  Look  well  to  the  coverings  on  the  outside  border.  Keep  a  nice 
growing  atmosphere. 


GENERAL     INDEX. 


Achimenes,  353 

Airedale  Horticultural  Society,  278 

Air,  giviug,  68 

Almanac,  Edwards*,  24 

Alps,  nature  ou  the,  252 

American  plant  exhibitions,  205,  209,  312 

„         nurseries,  344 
Annuals,  Book  of,  24 
Apple  crop,  235 
Aquilegias,  162 

Aquarium  and  'Wardian  Case,  212 
Balsam,  the,  119 
Bath  Hanoverian  fete,  311 
Bedding  plants,  remarks  on,  78 
Boiler,  Thomson's,  339 
Catalogues,  trade,  reviewed,  58,  253, 

312,  349 
Carnations  and  Picotees,  112 
Carnation  and  Picotee  Society,  273 
Calceolarias,  shrubby,  237 
Calendar  for  January,  28 

„         „  February,  59 

„  „  March,  92 
„  April,  126 
„  May,  157 

„  „  June,  190 
„  July,  222 

„         „  August,  254 

„         „  September,  286 

„         „  October,  317 

„        „  November,  349 

„         „  December,  374 
Cauliflowers  and  Broccoli  all  the  year, 

247 
Cauliflowers,  good,  284 
Cinerarias,  list  of,  161 
Cultivation,  deep,  27,  140 
Correa  cardinalis,  225 
Conifers,  descriptive  list  of  hardy,  76, 

121,  298 


Conifers  suitable  for  parks,  304 
Clerodendrons,  treatment  of,  47 
Clianthus  puniceus,  89 
Currants,  espalier,  124 
Crystal  Palace  schedule,  150 

„       exhibitions,  182,  218,313 
Chrysanthemums,  select,  51 
Dahlia,  Bessy,  1 

,,       Perfection,  1 

,,       ground,  preparation  of,  82 
Dahlias  of  1855,  332,  358 

„       Northern  Estimate  of  Seedling, 
341 

„       dwarf  bedding,  325 

,,       new,  25,  43 

„       list  of  best,  131 
Delphinium  cardinale,  164 
Dioscorea  Batatas,  343 
Drymonia  villosa,  25 
Earwig,  the,  47 
Earwig  trap,  87 
Edgings,  170 
Erica  Spenceriana,  289 
Eugenia  Ugui,  42 
Ferns,  nature  printed,  23,  90 
Ferns  and  Mosses,  270 
Ferns  and  Lycopods,  3 
Fruits,  hybridising,  2G5,  285 
Fruit  trees,  summer  pruning,  229 
Fruit  tree  protection,   103,   136,   167, 

204,  294,  321,354 
Fuchsia  serratifolia,  272 
Fuchsias,  culture  of,  65 
Field  newspaper,  312 
Foliage  versus  flowers,  169 
Garden   implement,  Mr.  Sivewright's 

new,  340 
Gardeners'  Royal  Benevolent  Institu- 
tion, 48, 208 
Gardens  of  England,  reviewed,  253 


INDEX. 


Geraniums,  variegated  and  bedding,  348 

Gooseberries,  espalier,  124 

Gooseberry  caterpillar,  231 

Grapes  from  the  bud  or  eye  the  first 
year,  145,  179 

Grape,  Golden  Hamburgh,  S3 
,,       Mr.  Fleming's  new,  339 

Heaths,  Cape,  97,  289 

High  Grove,  Reading,  248 

Highclerc,  276 

Hilliugdon  Court,  243 

Horticultural   Society,   2,   34,  69,  98, 
116,  149,210,244,  238,  311,  369 

Hollyhock  and  Dahlia  exhibition,  metro- 
politan, 281 

Hovea,  culture  of,  173 

Journey,  notes  on  a,  34,  84,  100 

Labels,  Looker's  Garden,  277 

Landscape  Gardening,  16,  179,  342,  370 

Lane's  (Messrs.)  nursery,  231 

Lawns,  Grass  or  Moss  on,  216 

Lapageria  rosea  var.  albiflora,  70 

Light,  its  influence  on  vegetation,  38, 
110,  163,  203,  226 

Longleat,  Wilts,  259 

Lycopods  and  Ferns,  3 

Month,  notes  on  the,  280,  337 

Mosses  and  Ferns,  270 

National   Floricultural    Society,    142, 
206,  249,  266,  307 

Natural  history,  study  of,  125,  165 

Nurseries,  Exeter,  6 

„         American,  344 

Obeliscaria  pulcherrima,  321 

Orange  tree,  the,  250 

Orchard  houses,  343 

Ouvirandra  fenestralis,  50 

Pansies,  new,  271 

Pansy  Society,  Scottish,  214,  292 

Peach,  the,  13,  53,  71,  108,  130,  174 

Peas,  new,  225,  284,  309 

Pelargonium,  culture  of,  347 

,,  improvement  in,  135 

Phloxes  in  pots,  364 

Picotees  and  Carnations,  112 


Pink,  the,  233 

„      select,  235,  240 
Planting  out  v.  pot  culture,  310 
Plants,  list  of  new,  18 
„      bedding,  73,  122 
„      winter  flowering,  11,  107 
Pleroma  elegans,  239 
Pomological  Society,  British,  242,  363 
Pteris  aspericaulis,  83 
Eendle's  Price  Current,  25,  90 
Eibston,  Yorkshire,  267 
Rivers*  (Mr.),  nursery,  289 
Roses,  notes  on  new,  300 

,,       bedding,  155 

„       old  and  new,  326,  360 

„       war  of  the,  333 
Rose  growers,  advice  to  young,  73 
Rose,  Souvenir  d'Elise,  257 

„     Lord  Raglan,  353 
Royal  Botanic  Society,  197,  228 
Royal  Gardens,  Frogmore,  145 
Rhododendrons,  select,  209 
Rhododendron  Hookeri,  193 
Scenery,  how  to  improve  English,  176 
Shrubland  Park,  151 
Snowdrop,  Crimean,  150 
Soils,  considerations  on,  9,  366. 
Sobralia,  notes  on,  45 
Sonerila  margaritacea,  165 
Strawberry,  M'Ewen  on  the,  233 

„  culture  of,  265 

Strawberries,  to  plant,  297 
Tedworth  House,  Wilts,  170,  194 
Tecoma  fulva,  89 
Thermometers,  cheap,  91 
Thyrsacanthus  rutilans,  155 
Tritonia  aurea,  365 
Tulips,  Mr.  Groom's,  15 
Tulip  Society,  National,  177 
Vandas,  culture  of,  129 
Vines  and  Vine  borders,  301 
Wardian  case  and  aquarium,  212 
Walls,  open  v.  protected,  294,  321,  354 
Wellingtonia,  150 


END  OF  VOL.  VI. 


LONDON : 
BY    S.    WHITWELL,    10,    NORTHUMBERLAND   TERRACE, 
Bagnigge  Wells  Road. 


liillililiiiiilfliiiiiii 

3   5185  00292  4601 


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