512 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



ing a few blooms, tliey are growing vigorously and have little appear- 

 ance of flowering, while the old plant of Jackmannii in question has 

 bloomed profusely for some time, and is as like flowering as ever : so 

 that the object of its outdoor culture has been fully secured. Helio- 

 tropes, I find, bear much the same character as Geraniums, and are 

 of little account either for cut-flower or border display. A liberal 

 application of rough sand, well incorporated with the soil in the beds 

 where they are to be planted, I am hopeful will eff'ect an improve- 

 ment. Verbenas last year (1872) did not begin flowering till September. 

 I attributed the fact of the plants being all spring-struck as coinciding 

 with the dull wet season we experienced in postponing their flowering, 

 and accordingly last year propagated all the plants required in the 

 autumn instead of spring. This year flowering began about the 

 middle of July, and for the last six weeks has been in profusion. This 

 has not been at the sacrifice of fresh young shoots for propagating 

 material, as is sometimes the case with autumn-struck plants, for 

 these have also been abundant. Verbenas prove by far the most satis- 

 factory outdoor flowering-plants here. Besides the cut-flower supply 

 being more plentiful than from any other source, they yield a display 

 of bloom till far in the season, the early frosts rarely assuming such 

 severity as to do them permanent injury. The sorts which are found 

 to succeed well in regard to climate, &c., are old Scarlet Defiance, 

 Purple King, and Snowflake : the latter has not such a straggling 

 habit here as I have frequently seen it assume. Judging from 

 the vigorous growth the sorts named make in this soil, I have con- 

 cluded that fewer plants might sufiSce to cover the ground than are 

 frequently used, unless the season proved unusually dry. Planted 

 about 12 inches apart, and pegged out as far as could be done, the 

 growth, besides covering the ground, averages 18 inches high : in this 

 way they would of course be unsuitable for front lines, if such should be 

 the desired arrangement. Passing on to Calceolarias, I find the cool 

 moist bottom the deep peaty soil affords to suit them to a nicety ; and 

 planted out in a growing condition — that is, without being coddled — ■ 

 they give lasting satisfaction. They are much exposed to wind, which 

 when it prevails is generally of no ordinary force ; therefore timely 

 attention to staking is particularly necessary. The worst of these 

 storms I ever experienced here, or in fact elsewhere, was on 26th 

 July 1872, from due east, when some of them were all but torn out by 

 the root. The foliage even of Turnips was blackened as if by frost, at 

 the same time. A valuable shelter has since been provided by the 

 erection of a substantial high wall, which effectually breaks the east 

 and north-east winds in particular, and proves highly beneficial to 

 flower-gardening generally. Regarding varieties of Calceolarias, none 



