THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 329 



JPansy, Imperial Blue. — This is a most valuable addition to the 

 now rich list of early-flowering hardy plants adapted for beds. It 

 grows freely and flowers profusely, the colour of the flower a fine 

 tone of blue, with dark velvet blotches. A mass of it has a very 

 chaste appearance, and it begins to flower in A])ril. Those who 

 are familiar with the best bedding pansies, will understand how 

 much we value this, when we say it is an improvement on Tren- 

 tham Blue. 



Viola cornnta. — There are two varieties in the trade. One is 

 called Mauve Queen, and is the one sent out by Mr. Wills, of Hunt- 

 royde ; the other is named Farple Queen, and was ushered into note 

 by Mr. Bennett, of Osberton. When both of them prosper, they 

 are of equal value, the first being of a light slaty purple colour, the 

 other of an indigo tone of purple. But in the majority of cases, 

 Bennett's variety fails, and Wills's succeeds. Therefore any of our 

 readers who determine on employing Yiola cornuta largely are 

 advised to put their chief trust in Mauve Queen as the safest of the 

 two. A third variety is now added, and a very pretty one it is. 

 This is called Princess of Wales ; the top petals are rich lavender, 

 the lower ones creamy white. It is a first-rate autumnal blooming 

 plant, and being quite hardy, continues in bloom far into November. 



!S. H. 



PEACHES AND XECTAEIXES WITHOUT WALLS OR 



GLASS. 



AYIXG so frequently advocated the erection of suitable 

 houses, or of covering walls with glass, for the cultiva- 

 tion of peaches and nectarines, it is with peculiar 

 pleasure I ofter to the readers of the Floral AVorld a 

 few words on the cultivation of these fruits in common 

 garden borders ; in fact, as bushes and pyramids in the open ground, 

 just as apples and pears are grown every w here, I am not dreaming, 

 or inventing ; I wish to encourage experiment, but I wish also that 

 my recommendations may be received with caution. Eirst, then, 

 lot me relate a few facts. Every autumn for six years past I have 

 received from Mr. Josiah Illman, nurseryman, of Strood, near 

 Rochester, Kent, a basketful of ripe peaches, nectarines, and 

 apricots, gathered from trees growing in an open quarter of his 

 nursery. Generally speaking, these fruits have been good, both in 

 size and colour, but not equal to fruits of the same kinds from walls 

 and orchard-houses. Please keep it in remembrance that I have not 

 pronounced these to be the finest peaches and nectarines I ever 

 tasted. Nevertheless, they have generally been good, and some 

 few kinds, such as Noblesse peach and Hunt's Tawny and Red 

 Roman nectarines, have been on several occasions first-rate in every 

 respect. In 18G3, 1804, and 1SG5, the samples were fine ; in 18(56 



