144 THE GARDENER. [March 1869. 



[We have again to apologise for the postponement of many valuable communi- 

 cations. — Ed.] 



Aberdeen. — Sow your Calceolaria seed about the middle of August in pans, 

 on soil of equal parts well decomposed leaf-mould, river-sand, and light loam — 

 cover very lightly, if at all, water with a fine rose, and place the pan in a close 

 frame shaded from the sun. The seed, if good, will soon vegetate ; when it does, 

 give more air, remove the shade, and keep the plants close to the glass. See that 

 they do not suffer for want of water. When they have three leaves developed 

 prick them out in pans or boxes in soil similar to that the seed was sown in, with 

 the addition of a little well-decomposed manure ; shade and keep them close till 

 they begin to grow, then give plenty of air. "When they have made some 

 progress in this position re-plant them, but wider apart — say in boxes 2 inches 

 apart each way. By the time they are well established in the soil, so as to lift 

 with balls, take them up carefully and pot each plant separately in 4-inch pots 

 in soil where decayed manure is substituted for the river-sand. "When they have 

 filled their pots with roots, and before they get pot-bound, shift them into 8-iuch 

 pots, in which they will bloom in June. They must be kept free from their great 

 enemy green-fly by occasional fumigations with tobacco ; and they must never 

 be allowed to flag for want of water. When the flower-stems have grown to 

 some height they should be staked carefully. When in bloom they should be 

 shaded from the noonday sun. This will prolong their season of bloom. 



We shall be very much obliged to Mr Simpson if he will send us a few papers 

 bearing on matters Horticultural in New Zealand. 



P. B. F. — We would plant the centres of your circles with Sensation Chrysan- 

 themum, then a ring of two rows of Crimson King Verbena, and next the grass a 

 band of Cerastium tomentosum, or Alyssum maritimum variegatum. The oblong 

 beds we would plant the centres with Bijou Geranium, then a band of Purple 

 King "Verbena, and finish with a white band next the grass, as in the case of the 

 circles. We think this would be your best arangement of such plants as you 

 name. We certainly would not make the circles less, as you propose. 



Violet. — October is the proper time to put in Calceolaria cuttings, and of the 

 recently made wood. They may be kept as you describe, and should be trans- 

 planted and hardened off before final planting in the open ground. We know 

 of nothing to take the place of Viola cornuta in your case. Sow at once and en- 

 courage the growth, and it will suit you. 



We never raised Cerastium tomentosum from seed, but believe it will be in 

 plenty of time if sown now as you propose. 



A Constant Reader. — We never before saw anything like the branch of black 

 Currant tree you sent us, nor can we suggest what may be the cause of it. As 

 it destroys their fruitfulness, we advise you to lift them and plant them else- 

 where. We would be disposed to give the soil a dressing of quicklime. 



E. Welsh. — The Celery you sent us last spring was of first-rate excellence; we 

 shall be much obliged for a pinch of seed this spring. 



