THiFLO^UL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 303 



culture are uD'fi illy good ; and although the advanta^e3 of this 

 system are nou apparent this year as was the case last year, yet 

 they were sufficiently so to prove to demonstration that it may be 

 adopted v. l .out any fear of failure should the rainfall be below the 

 average, and with the full assurance that, should the summer be 

 Tvet, the crop will be vastly superior to the produce of sets planted 

 in the usual way. As in the case of potatoes gro«-n on tiles, as 

 explained by Mr. Hibberd in his lecture before the Society of Arts 

 early in the present year, the potatoes will not suffer material 

 injury from continued dry weather, provided they have a sufficiency 

 (say twelve inches) of soil heaped over them. If the covering of 

 soil is only three or four inches in thickness, the soil will soon 

 be dried through, the plants cease to grow freely, and the produce 

 be small in consequence. 



Owing to the heat and drought which prevailed in July, there 

 is in many gardens a deficiency of winter greens, and unfortu- 

 nately it is now too late to do much in the way of making it up. 

 A small breadth of winter spinach may be sown if there is a shel- 

 tered border available, with a view to obtain a supply to form a 

 succession to the crop sown at the usual time. If the winter 

 happens to be mild, and otherwise favourable, it will come ia useful, 

 but should it be severe and destroy the crop, it will not be of 

 much consequence, as the border can then be dug over and pre- 

 pared for early spring crops. Turnip tops, which are sent to the 

 metropolitan markets in such immense quantities in the early part 

 of the year, are much appreciated by many persons, and all the 

 turnips not required for the table during the winter should be 

 allowed to remain in the bed. They will furnish a few dishes of 

 greens in the early spring months. Turnips sown too late to form 

 bulbs large enough for the table, will also be found of service for 

 supplementing the other green vegetables towards the end of 

 February and throughout March. 



CrLTIVATION OP THE HEEBACEOUS CALCEOLAEIA. 



BY J. JAMES, 

 Head Gardener, Eedlees, Isle worth, 



[T is entirely a mistaken idea to suppose that herbaceous 

 calceolarias are difficult to grow, or that I have some 

 grand secret in my possession that enables me to grow 

 such immense plants as those which I exhibit at the 

 principal horticultural meetings held in and near the 

 metropolis ; for I have no secrets beyond those which I shall disclose 

 in the course of my remarks. To state the case as plainly as possible, 

 no plants are more thoroughly simple in their habits and require- 

 ments than herbaceous calceolarias. They require no special or 

 extraordinary admixture of soil or manure water, but simple homely 

 fare, and to be attended in a careful and workman-like manner. 



October. 



