516 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



growing species ; the leaves are broader, of a tliinner texture, and of a 

 lighter green colour than Ficiis elastica, surpassing this species both 

 as being hardier and a faster grower, and will no doubt be a valuable 

 acquisition for subtropical gardening. R. D. 



TROPCEOLUM SPECIOSUM. 



Much has of late been said about this lovely climber; and, in my 

 opinion, nothing in its favour has been said that it does not richly de- 

 serve. As the result of this season's experiments differs most materi- 

 ally from my former opinion and experience regarding it, and likewise 

 from that of some of your correspondents, perhaps you will grant me 

 a corner in your magazine that I may detail the mode of treatment 

 that in ray opinion brought about that result. 



The lady whom I have the honour to serve was loud in praise of 

 Tropceolum speciosum, and was most anxious to have a certain wall 

 covered v/ith it in real profusion that in the mean time was covered 

 with other creepers, all of which she was willing to sacrifice for the 

 "favourite" in question. About the 10th of June of this year (just 

 three months ago), I was consulted about the propriety of at once re- 

 moving the old occupants to make room for T. speciosum. As I was 

 of opinion it would do little or no good before the third year, and like- 

 wise as I wished to keep on the safe side, I gave it as my opinion 

 that the season was now too far advanced for doing it, but that if she 

 could make up her m.ind to have the wall comparatively blank for two 

 seasons, I would at once set about with the best of my ability to 

 bring about the desired effect. I was at once authorised to proceed, 

 which I did early the following morning, and began ray operations by 

 rooting out the former possessors. The soil, however, was extremely 

 poor ; and this evil seemed to increase as I considered I had no dung 

 to enrich it with. Having no alternative, and as a last resource, I re- 

 sorted to the piggery ; but here I was again, in my opinion, placed at a 

 disadvantage, as all the dung there was raw and rough — so much so, 

 that I found it impossible to dig it in in the usual way, but had to 

 open out a trench, and, as it were, bury it in one solid mass, cover- 

 insc it over with a few inches of soil. All that now remained was the 

 planting, and for this I had but sorry subjects, all of them being small, 

 weakly, and wiry, none having grown more than 4 or 6 inches, and many 

 of them being only bare roots. I might also mention that previously 

 they were growing among a real confusion of other things — all growing 

 wildly among each other — and consequently were somewhat injured in 



