158 



THE FLOEAL WORLD AND aARDEN GUIDE. 



flowers and young trees. There was an 

 apple-tree, from Avhicli we managed to get 

 a pudding the second year. As to my 

 flowers, they were allowed to be perfect. 

 A poet from Derbyshire (Ih: Moore) told 

 me he liad seen no such heart's-ease. I 

 bought the ' Parnaso Italiano ' while in 

 prison, and used often to tliink of a passage 

 in it while looking at this miniature piece 

 of horticulture : 



' My little garden, 

 To me thou'rt vineyard, field, and wood, aud 

 meadow.' 



Here I wrote and read iu fine weather, 

 sometimes under an awning. In autumn 

 my trellises were hung with scarlet runners, 

 which added to the flowery investment. I 

 used to shut my eyes in my arm-chair, 

 and affect to think myself hundreds of 

 miles off. But my triumph was iu issuing 

 forth of a morning. A wicket out of the 

 garden led into the large one belonging to 

 the prison. The latter was only for vege- 

 tables; but it contained a cherry-tree which 

 I twice saw in blossom." 



SELECT PLANTS FOR MASSES. 



CamprtnuJa carpatica alba. — The true 

 white-flowered vaidety of this species has 

 been until i-ecently a rare plant in onr gar- 

 dens (having been generally substituted 

 by an indifferent pale-coloured one), and 

 though still comparatively rare, it will, ere 

 long, take its place as one of the best white- 

 flowered plants for the flower garden, afford- 

 ing an excellent contrast to its original 

 type in the blue-flowered one. It is dwarf 

 and compact, producing numerous white, 

 open, bell-shaped blossoms, upwards of an 

 inch in diameter, and blooming for a con- 

 siderable period during July, August, and 

 September. It is specially adapted for 

 planting en masse in beds or parterres, and 

 equally suitable for a heavy edging to 

 borders or beds of evergreen shubs. It is 

 the most readily multiplied by division from 

 the roots, being otherwise slow of increase 

 by cuttings. This species, in common with 

 many others allied, secretes a viscid milk- 

 lilce fluid, from which I infer that its cul- 

 ture in pots or vases will require a porous 

 material, of which loam should predomi- 

 nate, with one-third dry fermented manure, 

 or dry unfermented leaf-mould, with a sixth 

 part of pounded brick, potsherds, or similar 

 material. 



Calandrinia timldlata. — One of the 

 most brilliant little plants ever introduced, 

 of a compact, decumbent habit, with a 

 grayish-furred aspect, and, in tlie absence 

 of the last feature, would readily be taken 

 for a linear-leaved species of thrift. Though 

 its ordinary extent of growth rarely exceeds 



a span, it is richlj' adorned with terminal 

 clusters of violet-crimson, salver-shaped 

 blossoms, upwards of an inch in diameter ; 

 and whilst it is equal to the finest kinds of 

 portulacas in beautj^ it possesses beyond 

 them a feature essential to every good plant, 

 being perennial iu its duration. 



[Nothing can surpass its effect, en masse, 

 in a small parterre, or for single effect upon 

 rock-work, or a partially-raised mound upon 

 ordinary bordei-s. Wherever plants are 

 esteemed as " Nature's jewels," this should 

 always be found within the casket. 



AncigaV-is ccendea com pacta. — This is the 

 most valuable blue-flowered variety, and is 

 known in the nursery collections as A. 

 grandiflora cocrulea and A. grandiflora 

 compacta. In growth it is nearly a coun- 

 terpart of the original small narrow-leaved 

 A. grandiflora, but in the present kind 

 assuming a darker green aspect, more dense 

 and compact in its habit, and much more 

 profuse in its bloom, which is of a rich 

 idtra-marine bhtc. It possesses none of the 

 excessive vigour of the sti-onger varieties. 

 For bedding it is an invaluable kind, and 

 under skilful management, by accumulat- 

 ing and duly restricting its growth pre- 

 vious to its summer bloom, would form a 

 beautiful edging for marginal effect. It 

 is also a very ornamental object by its di- 

 versified effect on limestone rock-work, 

 and forms a lovely contrast for jjortable 

 specimens in pots or vases, iu company 

 with the flue white variety of Lobelia erinus 

 compacta. ' W. W. 



Wrinkles — Trees may be pruned at 

 any time, without danger, by simply cover- 

 ing the cut parts with shellac varnish. 



Chemical researches by Mr. J. Salisbury, of 

 Albany, show that good varieties of" the 

 apple are richer in those substances which 



strictly go tonourisli the system than pota- 

 toes are; or, in other v.-ords, to form muscle, 

 brain, nerve ; and in short, to assist in sus- 

 taining and building up the organic part of 

 all the tissues of the animal body. — Chemist 

 and Druggist. 



