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THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



Witsenia cerymbosa. — A pretty purple- 

 flowered herbaceous Irid from the Cape, 

 ■well known, and a general favourite. 

 Easily raised from seed sown on heat the 

 first week in Mny, and may also be in- 

 creased by division ; soil, fibry peat, sandy 

 loam, and leaf-mould. W Maura is a 

 nice specimen to flower in December. 



Xanthoxylon piperitum. — A stove tree 

 from Japan, which we suspect would do as 

 well in a greenhouse, though we never so 

 tried it. The white flowers are produced 

 from September to November, and the tree 

 is always an interesting object. Good 

 turfy loam, with a fourth sand, is the 

 best soil for it. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Shrivelled Grapes.— JET. C. T. — The 



fault of your grapes is, that at a certain 

 stage their growth is arrested, and they 

 then become unsightly, We have no 

 hesitation in tracing the cause to the 

 roots of the vines, and the remedy will 

 be found in a renewal of the roots, and 

 an improvement of their condition. It 

 is highly probable that the vines are in a 

 damp, cold border, and that, in conse- 

 quence, the roots are not able to keep 

 pace with thp demands upon them by 

 the leaves of the vine : and thus, the 

 supply of sap being restricted, it is im- 

 possible for the fruit to swell to proper 

 dimensions. Knowing nothing of the 

 circumstances in which the vines are 

 placed, we can only remark upon the 

 case in this general way, and advise 

 our correspondent to consider how to 

 place the roots in a condition more likely 

 to favour the full development and 

 ripening of the crop. 

 Roses. — A. B. — We do not advocate trans- 

 planting roses annually under every 

 variety of circumstances. Where it is 

 desirable to have large trees on lawns, 

 etc., etc., the roses must be left alone for 

 several years in succession. But to 

 secure fine flowers, and keep the trees 

 regularly renewing their wood, they must 

 be occasionally transplanted, and every 

 alternate year will suffice. Experience 

 has, however, long since convinced us 

 that roses may be moved occasionally, 

 without in the least degree impairing 

 their vigour ; and where the soil is poor, 

 this is the only safe practice for insuring 

 blooms of good quality. — Bob.— If you 

 want to make sure of first prizes, you 

 must constantly cut flowers from maiden 

 plants. In these few words we have 

 communicated a great secret. We leave 

 you to make the best of it, and wish you 

 every success. You see now that your 

 objection to the " bother" of propagating 

 is fooli h. To keep up a succession of 

 young plants you must either propagate 

 or buy. Study the " Rose Book," and 



you will save twenty pounds a-yenr by 

 propagating according to the directions 

 therein given. 



LEMON-TnvME for Garden Embroi- 

 deet.— Allow me to recommend Lemon- 

 Thyme as a very valuable material for 

 garden embroidery. It has been much 

 admired in my garden this year, retain- 

 ing its bright green hue all the summer, 

 and giving a delightful perfume of spike- 

 nard while it was enriched with its 

 purple flowers. The spaces which it 

 fills are edged and dotted with different 

 crocuses which it shows up well in the 

 early spring.— Sf. B., Upper Norwood. 



Roses, Phloxes, and Pinks. — Will you 

 be so kind as to give me a list of six new 

 white roses of this and last year ; also 

 a list of six phloxes, quite distinct sorts, 

 and six distinct varieties of pinks, all for 

 exhibiting. I am happy to tell you that 

 I took Mr. Prior's advice, and travelled 

 from Leicester to Waltham Cross to see 

 Mr. W. Paul's roses. I should like such 

 a treat often. Mr. Paul kindly put me 

 in the care of his foreman, with orders 

 for him to show me anything that I 

 wished to see, and for me to take my 

 own time, which is much pleasanter than 

 being hurried over one's favourite hobby, 

 so I enjoyed my treat very much. I in- 

 tend going annually to bring new roses 

 back with me, as I did on this my first 

 visit, viz., Princess of Wales, Madame 

 Victor Yerdier, Marechal Suchet, Admi- 

 ral la Peyrouse, C. Lefebvre, and Madame 

 W. Paul. I have budded from therc and 

 they are doing well. — J. B., Leicester. 

 [" Six new white roses of this and 

 last year !" When you get a little 

 further initiated in rose lore, you will 

 discover that white roses are as scarce 

 as white elephants ; and to order them 

 by the half-dozen is almost as bold a 

 game as ordering half-a-dozen earth- 

 quakes. Louise Darzins is^a good white 

 hybrid perpetual recently introduced. 

 Pavilion de Pregny has some white in its 

 composition. Octavie Fontaine is a 



