64 



A PEOTECTOE FOR PINKS, PICOTEES, ETC., EROM THE 

 RAVAGES OF HARES A'^D RABBITS. 



Theee are few gardeners, either amateur I named. Tlie accompanying sketch, repre- 

 or practical, who have not, to their great , senting a guard formed with a common 



wood hoop, or one made for the purpose 

 witli a good stout hazel rod, and the com- 

 mon bramble, will be found a good and 

 cheap means of preserving the plants. The 

 sketch will sufficiently explain the thing, 

 to enable the mechanic or amateur to make 

 them. H. Howlett. 



Me. Sim's Catalogxtb of Feens for 

 the present season came to hand as this 

 Number was going to press. We can only 

 BOW apprise those friends who have been 

 waiting for copies, that it may be had 

 through the post for eight stamps, on 

 application to Mr. Sim, Foot's Cray, Kent. 



mortification, experienced the fondness of j We shall notice it more fully next 



game for the delightful flowers above- \ month. 



SPERGULA PILIFERA, 



A PERFECT SUBSTITUTE POE GEASS-IAWKS IN VILLA-GAEDENS WITHOUT MOWING. 



Speegula pilifeea, in its style of growth, 

 is a neat dwarf hardy perennial tufted al- 

 pine plant, forming close compact wiry 

 grass-like stems, from a quarter to half an 

 inch in height, at first erect, afterwards 

 decumbent, clothed with closely-set green 

 brishle-like leaves, which, by permanent 

 growth and occasional rolling, forms an 

 unbroken level, velvet-like surface, of the 

 richest conceivable verdure, remaining un- 

 injured in severe drought or intense cold, 

 and assumes the same beautiful verdurous 

 tint during the winter months as in sum- 

 mer. The seedling plant of this highly- 

 interesting object starts into growth with 

 a single unbranched perpendicular radicle 

 or root, and afterwards manifests a re- 

 markable power of extension in its ramify- 

 ing hair-like roots penetrating to the 

 depth of one to two feet ; a fact quite suf- 

 ficient to account for its enduring the 

 opposite extremes of severe heat and cold. 

 In addition to its hardiness, under the 

 vicissitudes of au English climate, its 

 value is considerably enhanced in its 

 adaptation to all the varieties of common 

 garden-soil, requiring but a thin firm sur- 

 face stratum of one-inch ordinary sifted or 

 broken loam. Maintaining its verdant 

 freshness alike beneath storm and sun- 



shine, it combines every needful feature of 

 adaptation with economy, and an uniform 

 aspect of neatness with the least possible 

 care or attention. Its fertility in bloom 

 during the month of July is equally beau- 

 tiful, being at that period studded over 

 with myriads of low, compact, salver- 

 shaped, snow-white blossoms, appearing 

 not as in fancy, but in reality — the living 

 picture of an emerald-green velvet carpet, 

 spangled with innumerable silver stars. 

 From the preceding remarks, it will be 

 seen that the established growth of this 

 plant maintains a dwarf, close web of green 

 verdure, and entirely dispenses with the 

 extra toil and expense of mowing ; its 

 numerous small brittle flower-scapes being 

 removed by the gentlest movement of a 

 wing or brush over the surface of the 

 lawn, either whilst in bloom or afterwards, 

 and these constitute the only surface- 

 growth, or tokens of its beauty, which re- 

 quire this operation but once a-year. 

 For small or medium-sized lawns, ter- 

 races, verges, mounds, etc., this remark- 

 ably interesting and beautiful little plant 

 oilers an object of great interest to every 

 lover of gardening pursuits, and every 

 lady amateur cultivator may superintend 

 and personally manage the slight atten- 



