130 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



and on two occasions it has also been deemed 

 worthy of a similar distinction at the Crystal 

 Palace. 



The three species of Embothrium most 

 worthy of attention; are, coccineum, here 

 figured, lanceolatum, and strobilinum. The two 

 last-named are scarcely hardy ; we have never 

 known them to bear, without injury, a lower 

 winter temperature than 33 degs., and 40 

 degs. may be taken to be the safest average 

 minimum. The soil which suits them best, is 



a mixture of half peat, half fibrous loam, and 

 a very little sand. They may be propagated 

 by cuttings of the ripe wood, under a hand- 

 glass, in a mixture of peat and sand, equal 

 parts. For conservatory and cool green- 

 house culture, the Proteads are much prized, 

 and there are many interesting particulars in 

 their structure and habit of growth, that 

 add to the pleasure derived from their 

 beauty. 



"PEGGING DOWN." 



Various people use various sorts of ma- 

 terials for this purpose. I have seen many 

 persons employ fern stems, by cutting them 

 off close to a joint, and leaving a small 

 crook at the end to hold down the pegged 

 plant. It answers very well, and is plenti- 

 ful enough everywhere. It should be cut 

 and prepared when green, else it will not be 

 found stiff enough for the purpose. The 

 only objection to it is, that the tops of the 

 pegs show above those plants Avhich do not 

 throw out plenty of leaves to hide them. 



Now, there is a material much better than 

 the fern, or anything else that I know of for 

 the purpose of pegging down ; and that is, 

 one of the shrubs which Mr. Hibberd, in his 

 very interesting article on a " Plan of a Town 

 Garden," in the February number of the 



" Floral World," recommends to be 

 grubbed up and burnt, namely, the snow- 

 berry. Every green twig of that shrub may 

 be brought in for pegging. By cutting them 

 the length required, and giving them a twist 

 in the middle they are fit for use. They 

 will be found to answer the purpose ad- 

 mirably, as they are tough, neat, and dura- 

 ble. They may be prepared in quantities in 

 the winter, tied up in little bundles, and put 

 away until wanted. Should they he too dry 

 when about to be used, an hour or two's 

 ducking will reduce them to working order. 



1(77/:;. M. Westcott. 



[Mr. Hibberd only spoke of destroying 

 those he had to deal with, he did not 



recommend the destruction of Snowberrics.] 



; oooo-coc-c; 



CULTURE OF ROSES. 



To grow roses well you must have shelter 

 from cutting east winds, and if the position 

 is not sheltered it must be made so by means 

 of a wall, a fence of yew, borders of ever- 

 greens, or some other plan that will enhance 

 rather than mar the beauty of the scene. 

 There must be good drainage to carry off 

 excess of moisture. My own way of grow- 

 ing roses in borders, is to take out the soil 

 three feet deep, then lay down a-foot of brick 

 rubbish, then two feet of strong loam, into 

 which an abundance of well-rotted sweet 

 dung has been worked. If the space covered 

 by roses is too extensive for this plan, drain- 

 age must be secured by means of drain pipes, 

 if the soil itself does not serve as a natural 

 filter. In any case the soil must be rich, but 

 none of the old-fashioned exciting composts 

 of bullocks' blood, new pig's dung, or such 

 killing stuff,, must be used. Then, in planting, 

 let them go to their final quarters from the 

 middle of October to the middle of Novem- 

 ber, being first shortened in, and, if possible, 



none should be used, especially of worked 

 standards, that have been grown to any size 

 in pots. Once a year dress the roots with a 

 new supply of rotted clung. During dry 

 weather, when roses are in bloom, they must 

 have plenty of water, not cold and hard from 

 a well, but tepid through exposure to the 

 sun, and occasionally strengthened by the ad- 

 mixture of a little guano. Whatever in- 

 sects appear water is the remedy ; it must be 

 played over them from an engine, and con- 

 tinued till all the pests disappear. Pruning 

 must be performed in March, but not severely 

 unless special circumstances require it, for 

 there is scarcely any rose that will bear close 

 cutting with impunity. With such manage- 

 ment you may insure roses in abundance, 

 whether you live in the north or south, the 

 main requisites being liberality of food and 

 water, moderate shelter, good exposure to 

 the south, and the roots to be disturbed as 

 little as possible. — Rustic Adornments for 

 Homes of Taste. 



