16 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



the noble family of llhodorea, in which 

 are grouped, the rhododendron, the 

 azalea, Kalmia, menziesia, and some 

 other genera, of similar botanical 

 structure — showy and noble things. 

 There are not many species of Kalmia 

 in cultivation; K. angustifolia nana, 

 and its variety rubra; K. Glauca, and K. 

 latifolia, include all that are generally 

 to be found in nurseries ; the last 

 named, is certainly the finest of its 

 family. The soil in Avhich the Kalmia 

 delights, is one compounded of peat and 

 sandy loam, and a similar course of 

 treatment to that adopted Avith the 

 rhododendron and azalea, is most suited 

 to its habits. It is, however, a mistake 

 to suppose that peat is essentially 

 necessary with these American plants. 

 Sound yellow loam, enriched Avith 

 decayed dung and rotted turf, or leaf- 

 mould, Avill grow any of them to 

 perfection, but the Kalmia is more 

 partial to sand than most others. 

 Messrs. Lane, of Great Berkhampstead, 

 groAV this class of plants on the yelloAv 

 loam of Berkhampstead Common, with 

 the least possible preparation as to soil. 

 The grass is simply dug in and the 

 trees planted, and in the fresh vegetable 

 fibre they root freely, and move 

 remarkably well, and have a beautifully 

 healthy appearance. 



The Kalmia may be propagated Avith 

 moderate certainty from cuttings of 

 young shoots, inserted in sandy peat, 



under handlights; or, by layers at the 

 end of summer. When raised from 

 seed, it should be soAvn in sandy peat, 

 and kept close in a frame till the 

 seedlings are up, and they should then 

 be gradually hardened by exposure to 

 the air, and pricked oft' Avhen large 

 enough to handle. The Kalmia 

 is a good subject for pot culture, and 

 forces Avell, and hence is an acceptable 

 addition to the shrubs groAvn for the 

 conservatory. In the open borders it 

 is perfectly hardy, and blooms in June, 

 producing a magnificent effect Avhen 

 Avell grouped in masses, and associated 

 with subjects Avhich, at that gay season, 

 lend it the relief of contrasted colour. 

 Amongthe varieties of latifolia, Cattell's 

 major splendens is one of the most 

 charming, the flowers almost flat, and 

 as large as a penny-piece. At the June 

 sIioav at the Crystal Palace last year, 

 Mr. Veitch exhibited a splendid hybrid, 

 called picta. This has about a dozen 

 crimson spots in a circle inside the 

 floAver, all marked as regularly as if 

 artificially painted. We shall not soon 

 forget our admiration of it, or of Rho- 

 dodendron javanicum, as shown by Mr. 

 Lane, or Mr. Veitch's Princess Royal 

 rhododendron, which is a cross from the 

 splendid and rare javanicum. As Time 

 turns his great Avheel, let us hope to 

 find fresh pleasures of the sort in the 

 summer that Avill soon burst upon us. 

 E. J. L. 



BOITE A HOUPPE 



OR, SULPHUR DUSTER. 



This is an ingenious contrivance, intro- 

 duced by Messrs. Burgess and Key, the 

 well-known horticultural implement 

 makers, of Newgate-street, London. 



It is a cylindrical tin box (boite), 

 terminating in a perforated orifice, in 

 which is inserted a tuft (houppe) of 

 avooI. When charged with sulphur, it 

 is invaluable for dusting vines, 

 melons, and other plants attacked Avith 

 mildew or red spider, distributing the 



sulphur in an impalpable powder, and 

 most effectually "settling" such pests. 

 The pepper-box instrument, hitherto 

 in use, caused much Avaste, and distri- 

 buted so freely as to be injurious, but 

 this simple instrument performs its 

 work to perfection. As it costs but 

 half-a-croAvn, no possessor of a green- 

 house should be without it. We have 

 tried it, and found the sulphur to 

 escape from it in the form of a light 

 cloud, Avhich reached every crevice of 

 bark and foliage, and, if mounted on a 

 rod, the dusting of vines on rafters, 

 and plants on Avails, is easily accom- 

 plished. It may be used for distri- 

 buting lime in the same way. 



