THE 



SAHDEIi GOIDEa 



CULTURE OF CYTISIJS. 



Febeitaet, 1863. 



YTISUS, genista, and coronilla are conspicuous ele- 

 ='ments in the garland of the spring, and iu the green- 

 house and conservatory are invaluable for their bold 

 and brilliant racemes of golden flowers, which contrast 

 with admirable effect when grouped with camellias, 

 cinerarias, primulas, and azaleas, amongst which they 

 shed a delightful perfume. They all bear patiently some 

 amount of ill-treatment, being very nearly hardy, not par- 

 ticular, even when blooming, about being in the best 

 places, and may be grown to perfection in houses heated 

 only sufficient to keep out frost. They are also, for the 

 most part, very accommodating in habit of growth, 

 and may be lormed into dense bushes, or standards, 

 or with a little care to train out the young growth, and tie it down 

 during the summer, may be formed into half- weeping trees. Yery 

 many of the most desirable hardy kinds will grow in any soil, and 

 almost any position. We see the common laburnum growing freely, 

 and flowering well in the London squares, and the smaller kinds of 

 broom are quite at home on poor chalky or sandy soils, and are 

 charming objects on the fronts of rockeries. The greenhouse kinds are 

 rather more particular, and are well worth the little extra care they 

 require to elevate them horticulturally above the condition of mere weeds. 

 It is as to the management of these that we purpose to offer a few obser- 

 vations. 



General Treatment. — All the stove and greenhouse species of 

 genista and cytisus require a soil composed of peat, one part; leaf-mould, 

 one part ; and turfy loam, one part. When it is required to get up large 

 specimens quickly, the soil may be peat, leaf^ loam, and rotten dung, 

 equal parts, with an addition of sand to render it porous. Frequent 

 shifts are not required, nor do any of them need much pot-room. We 

 have had specimens of Cytisus Atleeana three feet high and two feet across 

 m seven-inch pots, and very handsome specimens may be grown in five- 



VOL. VI. NO. II. c 



