12S THE IXOllAL WORLD A^'D GAllDE^' GLUDE. 



olympicus, ILq)atica ungnlosa, Hepatica triloba (in a dozen A-arietie?), Iberis sem- 

 perflorens, Iberis saxatile, Leucojum vernum, Myosotis inontana, Ornitbop;alum 

 arabicum, Phlox alpinus (many varietie?, all lovely), Primula acaulis (tbis is the 

 common primrose, of which Mr. Webb, of Calcot Gardens, near Readin<^. has a 

 remarkable collection, comprising double white, double crimson, double yellow and 

 double lilac, etc., etc., all far too beautiful to become popular, so let the eclectic 

 cultivators obtain and keep them). Primula farinosa, Primnla cortusoides, Primula 

 elatior (manv varieties), Saxifraga oppositifolia, Thalictrum anemonoides, Tussila^o 

 alpina, Yinca minor, Viola tricolor, Viola odorata (many varieties), Alyssum utri- 

 culatum, Androsacea carnea. Anemone Pulsatilla, Arabis CJUicasica, Asperula odo- 

 rata, Cardamine amara, Corydalis bulbosa, Draba aizoides, Erinus alpinus. Helle- 

 borus atrorubens, Helleborus orientalis formosa, Iris alata, Iris fux'cata, Myosotis 

 sylvatic'a, Primula decora, Pulmonaria caucasica, Ranunculus graminens. In this 

 selection only one bulbous plant, namely, Eranthis hyemalis, is admitted, but G. S. 

 will remember that from the bulbs we may select a good iifty, or a hundred, or even 

 a thousand varieties of hardy spring flowers. The fifty now offered are all quite 

 hardy, and adapted to grow in any common garden soil, requiring no special care, 

 and al'l may be had at from ninepence to eighteenpence per plant. ^Moreover, the 

 whole lot may be obtained without difficulty, and may be planted at any time, now 

 as well as anv, or they may be obtained in pots, and will need only to be turned out 

 into a nicely-dug border during showery weather, and afterwards to be kept clean 

 from weeds, and from being overhung by trees. Spring flowers, like other flowers, 

 have not been created in fifties or twelves, and when we determine upon an arbitrary 

 number, we may have to omit good things or admit bad ones. Now the cream of 

 the pres'ent selection is the first 33 ; it will be noticed that we begin the alphabet 

 attain after Viola odorata, having at that point to find 17 more to make up the 

 number. But those 33 form the foundation of any possible thousand or so distinct 

 sorts as for example, we have ourselves about twelve varieties of Primula acaulis 

 (common Primrose), but here we make it count for one only, leaving it to the cultiva- 

 tor to select among the varieties. So again of Hepaticas, Phlox alpinus, etc. But here 

 we must quit the subject, for if we yield to its attractions we shall write about 

 nothing else. 



Potatoes. — Xovice. —The following are first-rate sorts, growing moderately, and. 

 as compared with the generally robust habits of the best kinds, decidedly short in 

 the haulm. -Chinese Early (Stuart and Mein), Fairbalrn's Pink, Smith's Early, 

 King of Potatoes, Mona's "^Pride, Martin's Early Globe, Milky White, Paterson's 

 Victoria. The sorts you inquire about can be obtained of Messrs. Sutton and Sous, 

 Reading. 



PicoTEEs Cakxatioxs, ETC. — J. E. F — It would be bsst to make up your list 

 for this year from the "Garden Oracle," in which we have grouped the varieties ac- 

 cording to merit, to furnish cultivators with an instantaneous key to everything good. 

 It is a°mistake to suppose that these plants cannot be well grown in the suburbs of 

 towns. Mr. Kirtland, formerly of Banbury, and now of Stoke Xewington, one of 

 the first pieotee growers in the country, keeps a good collection, and grows them well, 

 at the Albion Nursery, which is within the four mile radius from Charing Cross, 

 and exactly throe miles from St. Paul's Cathedral. Mr. Kirtland's essays on the 

 cultivation of these flowers will be found in the issues for 1866. 



Catalogues Received. — Messrs. Sutton and Sons, Reading, '' Catalogue of 

 Fern Seeds," and " Amateur's Guide for 1867." — Messrs. Carter and Co., High 

 Holborn, " Gardener's Vade Mecum, 1867." Tbis is a remarkable work, full of 

 interesting matter, and displaying everywhere great ability in its preparation. It 

 is not given away, but sold at Is. — Jlr. John Fraser, Lea Bridge Road, "Cata- 

 logue of Garden and Farm Seeds." — Messrs. Cuthiish and Son, Highgate, '' Cata- 

 logue of Garden and Farm Seeds."— J/e-wr.?. Barr and Sugden, King Street, 

 cZvent Garden, " Guide to Kitchen Garden," and " Guide to Flower Garden, 1867." 



][Jr. B. S. Williams, Rolloivag, '-Catalogue of Flower and Vegetable Seeds." — 



Messrs. Stuart and Mein, Kelso, X.B., "Catalogue of Seeds, Roots, and Imple- 

 ments."— Jir. James Veitch, King's Road, Chelsea, " Catalogue of Garden and 

 Flower Seeds."— J/e-wr^. F. a. Henderson and Son, St. John's Wood, " Catalogue 

 of Flower, Vegetable, and Agricultural fiecds."— Messrs. Hooper and Co., Covent 

 Garden, '■ Spring Catalogue, 1867." Contains many things besides seeds, such as 

 gladioli, sub-tropical plants, roses, fruit-trees, etc., etc. 



