JOURNAL 01* HOBTfCULTURB AND COl^TAGE GARDENEE. 



[ Jwiuiuy 18, 1871 



which that garden is cultivated, aud the improvemeuts eiiected 

 in other pai'ts of the grounds. 



PORTBAITS OF PLANTS, FLOWERS, AND 

 FRUITS. 



Ckinum beachynema. Nat. ord., Amaryllideaj. Linn, an:, 

 Hexandria Monogyuia. — A fine sweet-scented plant, a native 

 of Bombay, whence it was sent to Kew in 1870. The bulb is 

 large, conical, and straw-coloui'ed ; the leaves neaa-ly 2 feet 

 long, entire, smooth, unfurrowed, and bright green. Spathes 

 somewhat red at the points. Flowers white, drooping, and 

 fragrant.— (iJof. Map., 5937.) 



SPH.EEALCEA MiNiATA (Vermilioned Sphreraloea). — Nat. ord., 

 Malvaccfp. L/hh. an'., MonadelphiaPolyaudria. The " Painted 

 Mallow " was introduced into England by the Marchioness of 

 Bute in 1798, and was growii both for purposes of greenhouse 

 decoration and that of shrubberies in October and November. 

 Its habiUty of succumbing to frost, however, led to its discon- 

 tinuance as an out-doors flower. It is a branching undershrub, 

 covered aU over with white down, having vermilion-red flowers 

 in cymose racemes, and obcordate petals, somewhat purple at 

 the base.— (Bof. Mar/., 5938.) 



GiLiA ACHiLLE^FOLiA (Achillea-leaved Gilia). — Nat. ord.,Vo- 

 lemoniacea!. Linn, an:, Pentandria Monogynia. — A native of 

 Caiifomis., disiiovered by David Douglas in 1833. An erect 

 ^annual, with the habit of the Scabious, but more pubescent 

 ■ and woolly at the nodes. Flowers globose, of a fine cobalt- 

 T)lue, covered with large projecting stamens. Style exserted. 

 Stigmas thi-ee.— (i3o(. Map., 5939.) 



Agave Bessewana (Besser's Agave). A'«(.oc(i., AmarylUde^. 

 Linn, an:, Hexandria Monogynia. — Leaves m a dense rosette, 

 each one ending in a hard brown spine, and having a contrac- 

 tion towards the base, where the leaf again expands so as to 

 form a semilunar sheath ; upper surface slightly, lower very 

 convex ; marginal spines uptm-ned, brown. Perianth-tube long, 

 narrowly pitcher-shaped, six-furrowed at the top, dark green ; 

 lobes green on both sides and brown at the ends. Filaments 

 yellow-green, longer than the lobes ; anthers orange-yeUow. 

 —{Bot. Map., 5940.) 



Ophb\s LUTEA (Yellow Ophrys). A'lif. oi-rf., OrchideEe. Linn, 

 "an:, Gynandiia Monogynia. — A native of Southern Europe, 

 extending from Crete to Smyrna, and along the coast of Africa 

 from Morocco to Tunis. Petals yellow or yellowish green. 

 Lip nearly quadrate, golden yeUow with a purple disk ; disk 

 velvety, maroon purple, with a poUshed blue or violet centre. 

 — {Bot. Map., 6941.) 



LiTHOsPEEMUM PETE^EUM (Rock Lithospermum). Nat. ord., 

 Boraginese. Linn, arr., Pentandria Monogynia. — A native of 

 Dalmatia, small, much-branched, with short close-set haiis. 

 Flowers in revolute termmal cymes, dense cymes, deep violet- 

 blue. Stamens mth large exserted anthers. — (Bot. il/dfl., 5942.) 



Maceozamia coE-ALLirES (Coral-footed Macrozamia). Nut. 

 ord., Cycadeff!. Linn, arr., Dioecia Polyandria. — The genus to 

 winch this jjlaut belongs is pecuUar to AustraUa, where it 

 ranges from the tropical to the temperate zone. Trunk sub- 

 spherical with a truncate base, 8 inches in diameter. Leaves 

 •forming a very contracted crown, pinnate ; puime about fifty 

 pairs. Male cone 7 inches long, narrow-oblong, bearing a small 

 sharp point on the lower scales, and an erect spine on the 

 upper. Female cone shorter and stouter than the male, being 

 about 4J inches by 3 J when in fruit ; the lower scales with a 

 triangulai' point, the upper with an erect spine. Seeds orange- 

 red.— (Bo«. Map., 5943.) 



Gladiolus puepueeo-auratus (Pm-pled-golden Gladiolus). 

 Nat. ord., Iridefe. Linn, arr., Triandria Monogynia. — This 

 plant came from Natal, where the genus seems to be particu- 

 larly varied and handsome. Stem 3 or 4 feet high. Leaves 

 6 to 9 inches long. Flowers arranged on a spike ; the perianth 

 nearly regular, pale golden yellow with a large purple blotch. 

 —{Bot. Map., 5'dii.) 



Senecio pteeonecea (Winged-nerved Senecio). Nat. ord., 

 ' CompositiE. Linn, arr., Syngenesia superflua. — A native of 

 rocky and sandy hiUs on the Moroccan coast. It was only 

 introduced into England last spring. Branches articulate- 

 cyHndiical, with tlu-ee longitudinal ridges running down from 

 the leaf-scars. Involucral scales green, brownish red about 

 the middle. Flowers about thhty, spreading, pale straw- 

 colom-ed. — (Bot. Mag., 5945.) 



Kniphofia caulescens (Stalky Kniphofia). Nat. ord., LUi- 

 acea. Linn, arr., Hexandria Monogynia. — A native of South 



Africa. Trunk G to 10 inches high, with short fleshy roots. 

 Scape 6 to 10 inches high, erect, green, with many scattered 

 bracts. Flowers pendulous, numerous. Perianth yeUow when 

 young, deep blood red after expansion. — (Bot. Map., 5946.) 



Salvia EUBESCENS (Ruddy Salvia). A'df. ord., Labiatffi. Linn, 

 arr., Didynamia MonogjTiia. — A native of New Grenada. Shrub 

 clothed with a pale hoaiy pubescence. Leaves ovate-cordate. 

 Panicle studded with glandular viscid hah's. Flowers scarlet. 

 —{Bot. Map., 5947.) 



WORK FOB THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAEDEX. 



Peoceed mth trenclung, draining, aud all alterations sug- 

 gested preidously for the ground. Asparapus, make a bed to 

 succeed that in use, and on fine days draw off the Ughts to 

 allow the heads to acquu-e their natural flavour and colour. 

 Plant Early Mazapan. Beai>s in a warm situation. Protect 

 Lettuces in bad weather, but expose them freely on all other 

 occasions. Sow for an early crop. Prepare horse droppmgs 

 for Mushroom beds to succeed such as may soon become ex- 

 hausted. Continue the introduction of Rhubarb aud Sea-kale 

 into warmth, to obtain successions of them as plants in use 

 become worn-out. A few Strawberries may now be pushed 

 forward, but do not drive them too fast, or the blossoms are 

 apt to become " blind." Those in frames for succession should 

 have plenty of air in the daytime during mild weather, but at 

 night the Ughts should be put on in order to secure them 

 against frost. 



FEUIT GAEDEN. 



While the weather keeps mild new fruit trees may be planted ; 

 and where old trees, too, are not growing well a portion of the 

 soil may be carefully removed from then- roots and replaced 

 by better material. Old gardens are often crowded with fruit 

 trees, and suice light and an- are requhed more particularly 

 than shade for the important products of the garden, take 

 measures for removing all that ai'e objectionable in this respect. 

 The present is an excellent time for eradicating insects, espe- 

 cially those of the scale family. Where the young wood has 

 become firm, the best of all apphances for this pm'pose are the 

 sponge and s.-^Tiuge, with water from 110° to 130° and soft soap. 

 Let every tie be unfastened, as these are then- favourite hiding- 

 places during winter, and where wh'e treUises are used they 

 should also be thoroughly washed with this mixtme. 



FLOWEE GAEDEN. 



Dig and supply flower beds with fresh soil, attend to the 

 edgings of your walks and beds, reset flints, repau' Box edgings, 

 and rake wormcasts from your lawns with a daisj'-rake. 

 Where grass has failed under trees in the pleasure ground, 

 rake-iu strong manure, or apply manure water to prepare the 

 soil for grass seeds, to be sown later in the season. Collect 

 all sorts of soils, and store-up as many leaves as possible. 

 Owhig to the late mild weather Polyanthuses are throwing-up 

 trusses of flowers. This is not a matter of so much import- 

 ance in seedhugs as in the varieties retained for exhibition. 

 When the plant is strong it often happens that several trusses 

 will show themselves at once, in which case it will be better to 

 remove them aud run the chance of having a side blooin 

 that will often prove most excellent. These flowers, if in 

 frames, should be protected from severe frost, and even those 

 in the open border, though not so liable to suffer, will be better 

 for a few fir branches, 12 or 18 inches long, stuck in the bed 

 at intervals. There are great opportunities for improvement 

 open in this class of flowers, and we trust that our readers 

 generally will during the coming spring endeavour to hybridise 

 and seed those nearest to the standard of perfection — rotundity 

 of outUne added to correctness of marking and beauty of 

 colour. Our continental friends have done much more than 

 our own florists in raising fresh varieties, but then' energies 

 have been directed to obtaining a diversity of colour without 

 reference to form. Keep Auriculas from drip. Beuig alpine 

 in their character, the close confinement of a frame is wholly 

 unsuitable for them, and they therefore requh-e all the air 

 possible. Seed may be sown now in a cold frame, but covered 

 very sUghtly, and when the frames are infested with woodlice 

 we would advise a covering of clean and sweet moss, which 

 keeps the surface secure from the changes of temperature, and 

 will be of service to the germinating plants. It may be gra- 

 dually removed as the young plants spring up. Tulips will 

 only require keeping from severe frosts. Carnations aud 

 Picotees should have abundance of ah, and the amateur will 



