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 



