566 



FOREIGN NOTICES. 



in heat, were scarcely rooted, and wliich after three 

 years still look dwarfish and sickly. Even nurse- 

 rymen of first rate character are apt to forjiet the 

 impossibility of plants doinjj well, when removed 

 from a £Treen-hoiise to a garden. Disappointments 

 of this character, to our certain knowledge, injure 

 and restrict the trade in flowers. 



Next to Roses come the tribes of exotics, which 

 are adapted to our summer climate and make such 

 a goriieous show. Scarlet Pelargoniums, Verbe- 

 nas, Petunias, Fuschias, Calceolarias, and many 

 others, oiler to the amateur opportunities of grati- 

 fying his taste at a small expense. These maj"^ be 

 arransed according to the various colours, and will 

 continue lo bloom profusely until the autumnal 

 frosts. They are, most of them, compact in their 

 growth ; ilieir foliage is less deciduous than that of 

 annuals ; and their whole appearance has that tro- 

 pical character which gives such a charm to gar- 

 dens in the iiresent day. The expense may be an 

 objection, but such things become cheaper every 

 year, and if the reader is disposed to acquire the 

 easy art of propagating plants for himself, the first 

 expense is the only one. Before the summer is 

 jiast, a few purchased plants will have spread so 

 as to allow many cuttings to be made from them, 

 which in methods afterwards to be described may 

 be easily preserved during the winter. We lay 

 much stress on the employment of shrubby exotics 

 for the adornment of summer gardens, because it is 

 found by experience they are kept in order easily, 

 and are inimitable in their power of furnishing ex- 

 quisitely varied groups. H.B. Gardeners' Chr on. 



Peche Reine des Vebgers, {the Orchard 

 Queen Peach.) — The Peche Reine des Vergers is 

 stated in the " Portefeidlle des Horticulteurs ," 

 for December, 1847, to be one of the most impor- 

 tant introductions of the season, inasmuch as it 

 supplies the desideratum of a variety adapted for 

 succeeding as a standard ; for as such it produces 

 abundantly, and its fruit is equal in size and flavor 

 to the finest wall varieties. It was discovered by 

 M. Jamin, two years ago, at Lores, Department 

 of Maine-et-Loire. 



The tree is vigorous ; shoots of an intense violet 

 red next the sun ; the petioles, which are short and 

 thick, are also tinged with the same colour, and 

 are furnished with several glands (which appear 

 from the drawing to be reniform.) The fruit is 

 somewhat oval, but depressed at the summit like 

 the Grosse Mignonne ; it is fourteen centimetres, 

 or five and a half inches in its vertical diameter, 

 and twelve centimetres, or four and seven-tenths 

 inches transversely, and hence upwards of fourteen 

 inches in circumference. The skin is of a fine pur- 

 ple next the sun, and golden yellow where shaded ; 

 the down is fine and short. Flesh white, rayed 

 with red at the stone, from which it parts freely, 

 melting, perfumed, and vinous. The stone is large. 

 The fruit ripens towards the end of September ; 



when ripe its perfume is powerful, and widely dif- 

 fused. 



When we take into consideration the superior 

 climate of France compared with that of England, 

 we will not be disappointed siiould this variety be 

 found not adapted for a standard in this country ; 

 but if it maintains a superiority on an east or west 

 aspect, or even against a south wail in situations 

 where other varieties prove too tender, we may be 

 satisfied with the acquisition. Gard. Chron. 



Rhubarb — This wholesome and agreeable ve- 

 getable has become so popular as a substitute for 

 fruit in the early spring, that no garden should be 

 without it. It will grow anywhere, is so hardy 

 that no frosts will injure the roots, however much 

 j exposed, and is so prolific that a few plants will 

 yield a plentiful supply of stalks for a large family. 

 Yet, notwithstanding the ease with which it is cul- 

 tivated, we often see it badly grown, and some- 

 times hear the complaint that parties have failed 

 in their efforts to get a crop. Our remarks will 

 obviate every objection, if attended to, and enable 

 our readers to grow rhubarb for themselves with 

 ease and success. 



Rhubarb has a hard underground stem, which 

 pushes forth buds plentifully at the crown, or part 

 Nearest the surface ; every one of these buds taken 

 cff >^'ith a portion of root adhering to it, will form 

 a large plant in one season. If you wish to make 

 a plalntation now (although the season is rather 

 too far advanced, it may still be done.) get as 

 many buds or crowns as your bed will admit of, 

 allowing each two or three feet every way, ac- 

 cording to the habits of the varieties you prefer. 

 The plan generally adopted is to purchase as many 

 roots as are necessary to fill the allotted space, but 

 this is a more expensive and far less eligible 

 method than the one now recommended. Last 

 year a new sort of rhubarb was offered in the 

 neighborhood of the writer at 5s. a plant. Some 

 of his friends purchased four or five roots, but he 

 was satisfied with one. On receiving it he placed 

 it in a hole, and covered it up with soil until Fe- 

 bruary, when, on examination, five good buds were 

 developed. The root was then divided into five 

 parts, each of which, at the present time, is a 

 large, flourishing plant, equal to any of those 

 which were not divided. A bed was thus obtained 

 for five shillings, equal, indeed superior, to some 

 costing twenty-five shillings. We are convinced, 

 from actual experiment, that rhubarb may be 

 brought to perfection in one year ; that old beds 

 are inferior to new ones ; and that fresh planta- 

 tions should be made every two years. The old 

 plan of making a bed to descend to posterity 

 should be exploded, in reference to many garden 

 productions. Strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, 

 &c. &,c., should be removed often, if fine healthy 

 produce is wished for. 



Having a sufficient number of buds or ci'owns, 



