358 THE GARDENER. [Aug. 



of pure soft water through a very fine rose. Indeed it is quite in their favour 

 to have the sashes removed altogether if the weather is not frosty, and other- 

 wise favourable, up to the time when the flower-stems make their appearance, 

 when they must no longer be exposed, in case of frost affecting the young 

 flowers. This is the most critical stage, and much depends on protecting the 

 hidden blossoms for the success that will follow. Be watchful not to wet the 

 leaves in the evenings when watering ; at the same time handle the foliage as 

 little as possible, to preserve the beautiful powder with which many of the 

 leaves are furnished, which powder just suj^plies the part of the bloom found on 

 the leaves of almost every other plant. 



Change the aspect of the frame from a southern to a northern one as soon as 

 the pips begin to open, and keep up an airy interior, which both invigorates the 

 plants generally, and enhances size and colour in the pips. Thin out any very 

 small or deformed flowers as soon as practicable, with the object of obtaining 

 uniform crowns of flowers ; protect the blooms from direct cold currents by 

 airing from below and by the side ventilators. 



Finally, when the blooming season is passed, the plants should be removed 

 to their summer quarters — into a situation, as has already been described, looking 

 north, protected from winds by the shelter of a wall or hedge ; and the only 

 other protection required is a covering to ward off heavy rains. Attend to water- 

 ing and stirring the surface of the soil when it gets mossed over or crusty, re- 

 moving dead leaves, dead flowers, stems, &c. ; and this, with a constant look- 

 out for rot, sums up their wants until potting-time again. 



SELECT LIST OF SORTS. 



Green-edged. — Admiral Napier (Campbell's), Apollo (Hudson's), General Have- 

 lock (Traill's), John Bright (Smith's), Lady Blucher (Clegg's), Star of Bethlehem 

 (Lightbody's), Lycurgus (Smith's), May Morning (Simpson's), Lord Palmerston 

 (Campbell's). 



Grey-edged. — Alma (Lightbody), Duke of Cambridge (Dickson), George 

 Lightbody (Headly), Perfection (Bone's), Unique (Dickson's). 



White-edged. — Earl Grosvenor (Lee), Lady Sale (Smith), Robert Burns 

 (Campbell), Model (Gairns), White Bival (Traill's). 



Selfs. — Apollo (Dickson's), Blackbird (Spalding), Cheerfulness (Tiu-ner), 

 Eliza (Sim's), Lord Clyde (Lightbody's), Formosa (Smith's), Vulcan (Sim's). 



The following are a selection taken from the collection grown by Mr Douglas, 

 St Bride's, Edinburgh, a most enthusiastic Pansy-grower. I shall just give the 

 names as they occur in my note-book, without classing ; all may be relied upon 

 as the first of quality : Fair Maid (Lightbody), a white edge ; Prince of Wales 

 (Ashton), green-edged; True Briton (Hepworth) ; Maria (Chapman's), white- 

 edged ; Lady Jane Grey (Dixon's), white-edged ; Duke of Wellington (Dick's), 

 green-edged ; Maggie Lauder (Lowes), white-edged; Britannia (Smith's), grey- 

 edged; Ne plus ultra (Fletcher), grey-edged ; Lancashire Hero (Chatham), Gene- 

 ral Bolinar (Smith), grey-edged; Richard Headly (Lightbody), grey-edged. 



A FEW CULTURAL HINTS ON ALPINE VARIETIES. 



These of late years have made a great advance in the quality of their flowers, 

 and are now favourably received, and allotted a corner in most gardens. Many of 

 them are very beautiful indeed, equal to dispute the field with stage varieties. 

 Their wants are simple in every way, neither craving the best situation of the 

 garden for a bed — that is, a south border at the bottom of a wall — nor that of a 

 cold, damp, soured place behind a wall. Perhaps the best situation in the 



