DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



145 



rose nozzle over the surface of the ookinfr coal. 

 New combinations thus take place, which affect the 

 entire combustion of the inflammable i^ases. and 

 where it has been applied the disappearance of the 

 column of black smoke has immediately followed its 

 application. — Ibid. 



Select Plants for Bedding in Flower Gar- 

 dens. — Campanula carpatica alba. The true 

 white-flowered variety of this species has been un- 

 til recently, a rare plant in our gardens (having 

 been generally substituted by an indifferent pale- 

 coloured one,) and though still comparatively rare, 

 it will, ere long, take its place as one of the best 

 white-flowered plants for the flower-garden, afford- 

 insr an excellent contrast to its original type in the 

 blue-flowered one. It is dwarf, and compact, pro- 

 ducing numerous white .open, bell-shaped blossoms, 

 upwards of an inch in diameter, and blooming for 

 a considerable period during July, August, and 

 September. It is specially adapted for planting en 

 masse in beds or parterres, and equally suitable fur 

 a hea\y edging to borders or beds of evergreen 

 shrubs. It is the most readily multiplied by divi- 

 sion from the roots, being otherwise slow of in- 

 crease by cuttings. This species, in common with 

 many others allied, secretes a viscid milk-like fluid, 

 from which I infer that its culture in pots or vases 

 will require a porous material, of which loam 

 should predominate, with one-third dry ferment- 

 ed manure, or dry unfermented leaf-mould, with a 

 sixth part of pounded brick, potsherds, or similar 

 material. 



2. Calandrinia umbellata. One of the most 

 brilliant little plants ever introduced, of a compact 

 decumbent habit, with a greyish furred aspect, and 

 in the absence of the last feature, would readily 



be taken for a linear-leaved species of Thrift- 

 Though its ordinary extent of growth seldom ex- 

 ceeds a .span, it is richly adorned with terminal 

 clusters of violet crimson, salver-shaped blossoms, 

 upwards of an inch in diameter ; and whilst it is 

 equal to the finest kinds of Portulaccas in beauty, 

 it possesses beyond them a feature essential to 

 every good plant, in being perennial in its duration. 

 It was introduced by Messrs. Veitch of Exeter 

 about two years ago, and though now found in all 

 general collections, it is by no means plentiful. 



Nothing can surpass its elfect, en viasse, in a 

 small parterre, or for single effect upon rockwork, 

 or a partially raised mound upon ordinar}' borders. 



Wherever plants arc esteemed as " Nature's jew- 

 els," this should always be found within the cas- 

 ket. 



3. JlnagaUis ccerulea compacta. This is the 

 the most valuable blue-flowered variety, and is 

 known in the nursery collections as A. grandiflora 

 cterulea and A. grandiflora compacta. In growth 

 it is nearly a counterpart of the original small 

 narrow-leaved A. grandifloi-a, but in the present 

 kind assuming a darker green aspect, more dense 

 and compact in its habit, and much more profuse in 

 its bloom, which is of a rich ultramarine blue. It 

 possesses none of the excessive vigor of the stronger 

 varieties. For bedding it is an invaluable kind, and 

 under skilful management, by accumulating and 

 duly restricting its growth previous to its summer 

 bloom, would form a beautiful edging for marginal 

 eti'ect. It is al&o a very ornamental object by its 

 diversified eflfect on limestone rock-work, and forms 

 a lovely contrast for portable specimens in pots or 

 vaf^es, in company with the fine white variety of 

 Lobelia erinus compacta. Gard. Chron. 



DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



The Strawberry Question. — Mr. Editor : The 

 error into which I conceive you have been led, in 

 supposing that Hovey's Seedling was originally a 

 perfect plant, and has in a great measure become 

 pistillate by cultivation, is easily explained. You 

 have been cultivating the Boston Pine, another 

 seedling of Mr. Hovey, as his old Seedling. Mr. 

 Hovey cultivated his Seedling for sale, among other 

 varieties, most of which were staminates, and found 

 it a certain bearer. It was in great demand, and 

 sent by him to all parts of the Union. Where cul- 

 tivated by itself, it proved entirel}' barren, and 

 complaints reached him from all quarters. Unable 

 to account for this barrenness, ho sent his Boston 

 Pine, as the Seedling, believing it a perfect plant, 

 in its place. He sent it to yourself, Mr. Curtis, 

 Mr. Buist and others. Mr. Buist sold both at 

 the same time, as the same plant, having so under- 

 stood Mr. Hovey, and the Boston as the original 

 perfect, at the highest price. The Boston Tine is 

 not perfect, but more or less defective in pistils. 

 and ranking as a bearer scarcely equal to the Ross 



Vol. II. 19 



Pha?nix and Swainstone. Mr. Downing could be 

 easily deceived in its bearing qualities, as he at the 

 same time claimed for the Ross Phoenix and Swain- 

 stone the same character. It is singular, indeed, 

 that Mr. Hovey should still claim for his Boston, 

 that it is a large fruited, perfect plant. I discover 

 that Mr. Prince advertises a new variety, of the 

 same character. Mr. Prince sells them at $5 per 

 dozen, yet will not send a single plant for me to 

 Mr. \Vilder or Mr. Jackson, notwithstanding I have 

 offered $500 for such a plant. I claim that there is 

 no such plant ; that cultivation never changes the 

 original character of the plant. Once defective in 

 stamens or pistils, always so. Once partially per- 

 fect only in both, always so, though more produc- 

 tive some seasons than others. When Professor 

 Lindley shall have progressed so far, as to admit 

 the existence of staminate and pistillate plants, 

 and that the latter only are worthy of cultivation, it 

 will be time enough to consult his articles. I claim 

 to be strictly correct in all the princijiles I have 

 advanced, notwithstanding the " numerous e;rors 



