282 THE FLORIST. 



1854; for in the most resent publication on the subject, issued in the earlier 

 part of tlie same year, Mr. Newman mentions one British species only, P. 

 angulare, as known to possess this property. Mr. Baxter has suggested that 

 it may be a result of pot-culture." 



COVERING MATERIAL. 



I HAVE used wire hurdles thatched with straw for this puipose, for 

 the last two years, and can greatly recommend them, as both warm 

 and easy of application ; they come in for Peas in summer, and have 

 a very neat appearance. The frame is 4 feet by 6 feet, of No. (3 wire, 

 and worked in diamonds between with No. 13 wire ; the meshes are 

 6 inches by 8 ; the cost is 2d. per foot, galvanised. They will last 

 good for many years. 



I lay a thin layer of straight straw on the top of one hurdle, and 

 then place another hurdle on the top, and tie them close with fine wire 

 or twine. They are useful for laying on Vine borders, to throw off the 

 rain ; so it will be seen that they are useful in many ways. I should 

 be sorry to be without them, as they are far superior to mats, and if 

 set up when not in use, they soon dry. A thin layer of straw is better 

 than too thick a one, and it does not make them so heavy. I clip the 

 sides straight with the shears, after all is finished. 



There is another use I am going to put them to next winter. I 

 intend to place them endways round some newly planted shrubs, with a 

 stake at the four angles. 



Thomas Holbrow. 



Didsburi/. 



MEDIEVAL GARDENING. 



Our invaluable ancient authority, Alexander Necham, says a '' noble 

 garden " should be arrayed with Roses, Lilies, Sunflowers, Violets, and 

 Pappies ; he mentions also the Narcissus (N. pseudo-narcissus ?) The 

 Rose seems to have been cultivated from the most remote time ; early 

 in the tnirteenth century we find King John sending a wreath of Roses 

 to his lady, par amours, at Ditton ; Roses and Lilies were among the 

 plants bought for the royal garden at Westminster in 1276 : the annual 

 rendering of a Rose is one of the commonest species of quit-rent named 

 in ancient conveyances. The extent to which the cultivation of this flower 

 had been carried between the 14th and 16th centuries, may be estimated 

 by the varieties enumerated by Lawson ; they are the red, damask, 

 velvet, double -double Provence Rose ; the sweet musk Rose, double and 

 single, and the double and single white Rose. The Provence Rose was 

 probably first imported in the fifteenth century, when the occupation of 

 France by the English may be conjectured to have caused the 

 introduction of many additional varieties of fruits and flowers; the 



