518 THE GARDENER. [Xov. 



We were iniicli surprised to find Trupceolum Cooperii, a variety- 

 raised in England, next to unknown about London ; and yet we con- 

 sider that of all Tropoeolums for scroll-work and general massing it 

 has no rival, to say nothing of an equal. Everywhere, wherever we 

 have seen it, its character for brilliancy has been the same. It is 

 equally fine in a dry season and in a moist one, and in every sort of 

 soil that ever we have tried it. 



Our intention to refer to succulents, <tc., and combinations, must be 

 postponed, for these Notes are already too lengthy an instalment. 



HOW I GROW MY CINERARIAS. 



Ix recent numbers of the ' Gardener ' a good deal has been written about this most 

 viseful spring and winter flowering greenhouse plant, and as I value it highly 

 and grow it by the hundred from seed, I wish to let it be known, through the 

 medium of the pages of the 'Gardener,' how I grow them, as I think my treatment 

 differs a little from what I have read. I have followed this plan for years, and 

 have Cinerarias in bloom from October to July. This year the first lot came into 

 flower the last week of September : referring to my note-book, I find the seed was 

 sown on the 11th of ]\Iarch, in a seed-pan, and taken to the propagating-pit. There 

 they remained until the plants were covering the soil; the pan was then put into 

 a cooler house, and on the 22d April the young plants were pricked out into com- 

 mon cutting-boxes, and put into a cold frame and shaded for some days, the soil 

 used being sand and leaf-mould with a little loam. On the 23d of June they were 

 potted into 6, 7, and 8 inch pots, according to size of plant : only a few were put 

 into 6-inch pots. I never use small pots for Cinerarias ; the soil I give them is, 

 loam two parts, rotten cow-dung one part, leaf-mould one part, and sand one part, 

 and a few ^-inch bones. They are grown in a cold frame all the summer, and after 

 they are fully established in the pots the sashes are drawn off altogether, and only 

 put on during high winds or heavy rains. I sow a second lot ; and on again refer- 

 ring to my note-book I see they were sown on the 18th of May. I have not, how- 

 ever, noted down when they were put into boxes or when they were potted, but 

 they get the same treatment as the first lot, only they are all put into 6-inch 

 pots, getting a larger shift some time in March, and then they come in for late 

 flowering. I have given over growing named sorts, being convinced that seed- 

 lings are better, and I generally get very good seed ; indeed, some of my last year's 

 flowers were as good as any named sorts I ever saw. This year, however, my 

 plants are not nearly so good as usual, and I attribute that to the following causes : 

 I said the plants were grown in a cold frame all summer ; the frame is a large 

 three-light one, with a fixed stage in it for growing Auriculas. The plants grew splen- 

 didly, but the foliage got spoiled by high winds; and as the foliage was a good bit 

 above the frame, I could not get the sashes drawn on to shelter them ; my stock 

 of potting-soil got done, and I had to begin on a heap not sufficiently rotted, and 

 used a little more leaf-mould than usual amongst it. That, I think, caused the plants 

 to grow stronger and softer than in former years. Our conservatory is now gay 

 with Cinerarias, small plants of Zonal Geraniums, and Vallota purpurea, Primulas 

 &c. J. Heath. 



Clement Pakk, Lochee. 



