403 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



and bright berries in winter rendering it a very pleasing object. It 

 is, moreover, a valuable rockery plant, and may be introduced with 

 the best effect into any situation where a trailing evergreen shrub is 

 desirable. 



C. thymifolia (the Thyme-leafed Cotoneaster). — Another prostrate 

 evergreen species from Nepal, from whence it was first sent home by 

 Dr Royle in 1 850. The leaves are much smaller than those of micro- 

 phylla, about \ of an inch long, obovate-oblong in form, shining 

 dark green above, and silvery white beneath. The flowers are small, 

 pinkish, appearing in May, and followed by bright-crimson berries, 

 ripe in August. This is a very beautiful little shrub, perfectly hardy, 

 and admirably suited for planting on rockeries. It might be utilised 

 as an edging in the flower-garden, as it has all the closeness of habit 

 which renders the dwarf box so useful, with an appearance quite dis- 

 tinct from, and equally handsome with, that well-known plant. 



Hugh Eraser. 



THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN. 



LEEKS, ONIONS, GARLIC, AND OTHER ALLIACEOUS PLANTS. 



Leeks should be well grown or not attenij)ted at all, for nothing is 

 more unsatisfactory than ill-grown Leeks, while well-grown ones are 

 invaluable to the owner of a small garden who wishes to make the 

 most of it. To have them in the best condition possible, the ground 

 to which they are to be finally transplanted should be prepared in 

 winter by deep digging and very liberal manuring. Indeed, if the 

 soil be thin and light, one-third of the whole body should consist of 

 rich cow-manure, and if possible the whole ground should be soaked 

 during frosty weather with cow-urine or other manure-water. The 

 difference between the produce of land so prepared and land prepared 

 in the ordinary way will more than pay for the extra work and 

 expense, and the ground will be left in first-rate condition for Cauli- 

 flowers the succeeding season. Very much depends also on the 

 raising of plants early enough, and the warmest position and richest 

 soil should be chosen for the purpose of raising plants on, avoiding 

 the too common error of sowing the seed thickly : thin sowings give 

 by far the finest plants. It is best, if possible, to sow them under 

 protection, such as a cold frame or a hand-light affords. As soon as 

 the stems attain the thickness of an ordinary pencil, they should be 

 transplanted. The usual way adopted by amateurs is to leave them 

 where they are sown, but the produce under that system is very 

 inferior. Supposing ground to have been prepared during winter, as 



