JF'loi-al A'btes. 31 



A. Tjtirge Ftichsin. 



In the garden of the Knight of Kerry, at Valencia, there bloomed the past year 

 a fuchsia, Kicarlorici, whose circumference measured 124^ feet around the extremes 

 of the branches. 



The Clematis ns a Garden Flower, 



In a little volume, just published in England, bearing the above title, there is an 

 elaborate plea for the freer use of the Clematis in garden scenery. " An inappro- 

 priate positign can scarcely be found, at home in dressed ground, as bedding plants, 

 as pillar plants, as umbrella plants, as single plants, or in masses, about ruins or 

 rockwork, or amongst grotesque arrangements of tree stumps, they are equally at 

 home. In fact, the bed, the pillar, the wall, the rock, or whichever it may be, is 

 merely the skeleton or foundation on which the glorious blossoms of the Clematis 

 are to be displayed. Viewed in this light, the rootery (over tree stumps) is one of 

 the most appropriate of all places in which to introduce these splendid plants, 

 inasmuch as its picturesque irregularities — its trunks and arms — ^just serve as sup- 

 porters of the gorgeous purple vestments of Queen Clematis, and become, so to speak, 

 the train bearers, who spread them out in all their rich exuberance and amplitude, 

 before the gaze of her admiring and astonished devotees. 



The details of culture under this head are much the same as those which are 

 required for pillar plants ; a deep rich soil must be provided, then annual manuring, 

 and in the summer, liquid manures. 



In regard to training, all that will usually be required will be to lead the young 

 shoots, during their spring and early summer growth, as evenly as possible, over the 

 manes of roots — or rock if planted on a rockery — leaving them afterwards to fill out 

 the picture in their own natural way. 



Tlic Ii'j/-Z,eaved I^elarr/oiiiinii. 



The Garden says, that amongst the numerous plants now in use for the ornamenta- 

 tion of hanging baskets, for draping vases, or for training loosely up conservatory 

 pillars, few surpass the Ivy-Leaved Pelargonium. The green and bronze-leaved 

 varieties are also suitable for use in this way, but the variegated varieties are the 

 most attractive. In addition to their graceful habits of growth, they possess the 

 great advantage of almost entire immunity from the attacks of insects. This is a 

 great desideratum, more especially in the care of plants that are suspended over 

 others ; as in this position, if infested with insects, they quickly communicate them 

 to all plants that grow below theiu. They are also plants of easy culture, and strike 

 freely in sand and loam in small pots. 



Ordinary loam, to which has been added a little well-rotted manure and sand, 

 suits them perfectly. They require little attention beyond stopping, in order to 

 induce them to break sufficiently to afford the proper amount of shoots to give them 

 a well-furnished appearance. An eight or ten inch pot will be found large enough 

 for them, and for large hanging-baskets, two or three plants may be put together, or 

 they may be mixed in this way with other plants, suitable for this description of 

 decoration. 



The old plants may be cut back, and induced to break afresh, or young ones may 

 be struck, and the old ones thrown away, when the baskets or vases are refilled. 



New Double Cer<iniu)n, " fTewel," 



The Journal of Horticulture says that Thos. Laxton, famous for his experiments 

 in hybridizing pears, has also originated a remarkable double Geranium, named 

 " Jewel." The great charm of the flower is the remarkably double form of each pip. 



Mr. Laxton compares it to a miniature rose. It will be of great value for button 

 hole bouquets. The habit of the plant is dwarf, and it blooms very freely. Received 

 a first-class certificate from Royal Horticultural Society. 



