516 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



robbed of all, provided we were left with old Mangles's Variegated, 

 Flower of Spring, and Fair Helen : if we were to be limited to one 

 variety only, our choice, without hesitation, would rest on Mangles's, 

 on account of the variety of ways in which it can be so eflectively used. 

 Our way of managing this variety is somewhat peculiar. It is kept 

 in heat from October till the end of January, and kept constantly 

 pinched. Under this treatment each cutting forms itself into a stool, 

 which when potted off in spring grows into a bushy plant, with many 

 growing points, instead of a tall ungainly plant. It grows with far 

 more variegation in the west of Scotland than it did with us in the 

 east. Among golden varieties, Cloth-of-Gold did so badly in the dry 

 hot seasons that we ceased growing it so largely, and have stuck more to 

 good old Golden Chain. Lut Crystal Palace Gem is the best we have 

 seen of this section, although, owing to the more pretty and effective 

 habit and colour of Golden Pyrethrum, it is not now considered neces- 

 sary to grow so many of these more tender and labour-giving Pelar- 

 goniums. The Pyrethrum is a lovely plant when raised annually from 

 seed and grown in rich moist ground. It has been much too profusely 

 used in many places this season, jaundicing in many cases gardens to a 

 sickening extent. We suppose this is one of the consequences of its 

 easy propagation. 



Amongst a host of bronze zoned varieties of Pelargoniums, Beauty of 

 Calderdale and Bronze Queen are considered the best, taking most quali- 

 ties into account. Imperatrice Eugenie and several other newer sorts 

 are splendid pot varieties, but do not stand the tear and wear of exposure 

 so well. I think it may safely be affirmed that for general usefulness 

 Mrs Pollock bears the palm among tricolors ; Louise Smith, Miss Bat- 

 ters, Sophia Cusack, and Lady Cullum are also good doers ; but for 

 distant effect in extensive flower-gardens, these tricolors and bronze are 

 next to useless. From what we have seen this year, these remarks may 

 be applied to a very wide variety of districts. But there is no doubt 

 some varieties that do well in one jDlace are next to worthless in others 

 — as, for instance. Improved Frogmore is splendid at Drumlanrig, but 

 was found next to useless at Archerfield. 



Everywhere Imperial dwarf Ageratum has been most effective, and 

 from its immense array of lively lavender flowers, it is superseding 

 Blue lobelia for distant effect, and from its compact growth for small 

 scroll-work. Seen at a distance, Lobelia is not worth growing as com- 

 pared to this Ageratum. 



Anthemis (Chrysanthemum frutescens) is unequalled for producing 

 a perfect sheet of white flowers that withstand aU sorts of weather up 

 till November. It is somewhat tall — IJ foot — and best suited for 

 the centres of large beds and mixed borders; and for back-lines to ribbon 



