April 18, 1872. ] 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



at a seed farm is not to eneonrage leaf-growth but seeding. 

 Calliopsis clegans nana, litoot bigh, viitb crimson-eyed yellow 

 flowers, was bushy and free-flowering ; C. nigra speeiosa nana, 

 a fine dark crimson ; C. marmcrata nana, dwarfer in habit, 

 dai-k crimson shading off to yeUow. Braehycome iberidi- 

 folia, one of the most beautiful half-hardy annuals grown, a 

 lavender blue, and its white variety, occupied a considerable 

 amount of space ; and of Candytuft, white, crimson, and 

 pui-ple, there were gi-eat quarters. The Crimson Candytuft 

 was remarkably fine, and though effective anywhere, in sub- 

 m-ban gardens it will not disappoint those who may tiy it, for 

 it produces a rich mass of colour with no more trouble than 

 scattering the seeds. Antirrhinums or Snapdragons, especi- 

 ally those of the very dwarf Tom Thumb varieties, are far too 

 little grown; sown in pots or boxes covered with glass, or any 

 cheap substitute for frames or hand-lights, and the plants 

 fully exposed to the air in favourable weather previous to 

 planting-out, they will continue in bloom till destroyed by 

 frost, presenting various shades and mixtirres of scarlet, crim- 

 son, rose, yellow, and white. Creseia, scarlet, is well worthy 

 of cultivation on account of its splendid colour. Among the 

 Indian Pinks it is scarcely necessary to mention the splendid 

 varieties of Dianthus Heddewigii ; among them we noticed a 

 pretty semi-double white. D. latifoUus splendens, of taller 

 growth, is also very fine in colour, dark crimson, with a dark- 

 lined eye. Alyssum saxatile compactum is one of the best 

 yellow flowers for rockwork ; and Mesembryanthemum glabrum, 

 also with yellow flowers, is well suited for the same purpose, 

 requiring, however, to be raised in heat and planted in a sunny 

 situation. M. tricolor album, very dwarf, with white flowers, 

 is another good rock plant. 



Petunias treated as half-hardy annuals are so easUy raised 

 in quantity from seed, and by careful selection come so true to 

 their colour, that where glass accommodation is not over- 

 large — and it seldom is — a large number of excellent varieties 

 can be quickly raised in a small space ; and it may be noted 

 that those obtained from seed ai'e not so liable to die off as 

 when a stock is propagated by cuttings. There were a gi'eat 

 number of double variously-striped and blotched varieties, 

 gi'own separately and in mixtures. A new rosy magenta variety 

 with a white eye, called La Superbe, is very fine; so, too, is 

 Satin Rose, a paler rose, with a light-veined throat. These 

 are very effective. We also noticed some pretty frmged sorts. 

 Another half-hardy annual, AcrocUnium roseum, is so beauti- 

 ful both in-doors and out, that, though now well known, it 

 should not be passed over ; and of other Everlastmgs there were 

 quarters of mixed HeUchrysums, white, yellow, and various 

 shades from pale rose to dark red. The utility of the flowers 

 for winter decoration is well known. Xeranthemums, which 

 are also very useful Everlastings, were well represented in the 

 white, and a new, very dwarf, dark purple variety. Ehodanthe 

 Manglesii, one of the prettiest of all the Everlastings, it need 

 laardly be said, was extensively grown. 



Sweet Peas and Mignonette are such old favourites that it is 

 no wonder that they are grown by the acre. Of Invincible 

 Scarlet Sweet Pea there was about au acre, and of other kinds, 

 and mixtures of these, probably more than the same extent. 

 Of Mignonette, besides the common and large-flowered, Par- 

 Eons's Giant White and the Giant Crimson, the one showing 

 more white, the other more crimson than the ordinary kind, 

 are fine varieties. The Hybrid Tree Mignonette, of more up- 

 right growth, also occupied a considerable extent of ground. 

 Scabious and Salpiglossis in many varieties seem to be in great 

 demand ; a new dwarf flesh-coloured variety of the former, and 

 a black, or nearly black, variety of the latter, were noted as 

 good. 



The value of the many beautiful Xemophilas both for out- 

 door and in-door culture requires no comment, and we will 

 merely add it was computed that the length of the rows of 

 N. insignis alone was fourteen miles. Yu'ginian Stocks, useful 

 as spring, summer, and autumn-flowering annuals, covered 

 two acres ; Sweet Alyssum an acre ; and Godetias much more, 

 owing to the numerous varieties which are grown. Of these 

 showy flowers G. Whitneyi is one of the finest, having very 

 large rose-coloured flowers with a large crim.son blotch at the 

 base of the petals, and the plant is frte-flowering and of com- 

 pact habit. Godetia roseo-alba is well known — of it there was 

 a pale lilac variety with a crimson spot at the base of each 

 petal — so is G. Liudleyana, but both are of somewhat taU 

 habit : but there are several much more dwarf kinds, as G. rep- 

 tans TomThumb, white, with a crimson blotch, the plant very 

 dwarf and free-flowering, in fact a Httle bouquet, and G. rep- 



tans grandiflora, white. Besides the above, several other de- 

 siralle Godetias might be mentioned. 



WORK FOE THE "WEEK. 



EIICHEN. GAEDEN. 



All the principal early crops should be in the ground anc3 

 properly labeUed, all beds and borders neatly squared off. Box 

 and other edghigs properly trimmed, and the walks clean and 

 well rolled. I cannot press too earnestly on young men who 

 wish to acquire anything like a correct knowledge of their pro- 

 fession, how necessary it is for them to keep a journal of 

 every operation performed in the garden in which they are 

 employed, leavmg sufficient space for each day in their journal 

 to admit of their appending remarks as to the success or other- 

 wise of what was performed. A well-kept journal, with judi- 

 cious remarks on the merits of different crops of fruits, vege- 

 tables, li-c, would be no mean recommendation for future pro- 

 motion. If previously delayed, the main crops of Carrots, 

 Onions, and Parsnip>i should be somi, and adequate propor- 

 tions of iJrocco/i,Ca»ii/oircr,Cf;f;!/,L<-»Hces,Pars;e!/,Si);nacft, 

 Turnips, and TJnjmc. Plant Potatoes. Prick-out Cabbages, 

 Caulijloicers, and Lfttua-s. See that slugs do not destroy 

 crops as they make thek appearance above ground. Sprmklte- 

 soot on young Turnips to prevent theii- destruction by the fly. 



FKUIT GAKDEN. 



The protecting material should be gradually removed fi-om 

 Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots, that the bloom may not 

 suffer by a too sudden exposure. When canvas screens on 

 roUers are employed, of course they are rolled up by day and 

 let down each night ; if the nights, however, are warm, screens- 

 need not be lowered quite down, as a little extra an: by mght 

 wUl be more beneficial than otherwise to the bloom. Fig trees 

 should have then- winter protection removed, and be tlu^ie^ 

 and tied. The bloom of the choicest kinds of Pears should 

 have some protection should frost occur. Where the trees are 

 agamst walls this is easUy done, but with espaUers and low 

 standards the difficulty is greater. For low standards a shght 

 frame, somewhat umbrella-shaped, and covered with cahco or 

 canvas, may be fixed over each tree. Of course the diameter 

 of the frame should exceed that of the tree. For espaliers 

 a width or two of canvas should be fixed on a frame over 

 theline of trees. If the protection is placed 2 feet above the 

 trees it will protect them from a rather severe frost proTided 

 it is not accompanied with wind, in which case screens will have 

 to be fixed to windward as well. 



FLOWEK GARDEN'. 



Take advantage of showeiy weather to complete the plant- 

 ing of deciduous trees and shiiibs without delay, likewise that 

 of any evergreens left unplanted from the autumn, as from the 

 present time to the end of the month is the most smtable 

 season, next to the autumn, for removing most kinds of ever- 

 greens. In plantmg, avoid exposing the roots to the sun or 

 drying wind. Mulch immediately after plantmg to prevent 

 undue evaporation from the soil, as well as to save watering. 

 A good watering overhead with the garden engine on the even- 

 ings of bright days will prove of great use to newly -planted 

 evergreens, and when they are large the stem and some of 

 the principal branches should havehaybands tied round them, 

 which, if damped once or twice daily, will keep the bark moist, 

 and facilitate the flow of sap. Those who have delayed the 

 completion of planting and other arraugements in the flower 

 garden, in consequence of cold and ungenial weather, must 

 push on all such operations to meet the sudden and favourable 

 change in the weather. Spring has arrived, and vegetation is 

 singularly rapid. Weeds must be repressed early. Eoll and 

 mow grass. Look to last year's budded Eoses, and rub off 

 wild shoots from the stock. Continue preparations for bedding- 

 out. ■^Taere Pentstemon gentianoides has not suffered from 

 the last ■ninter, the long stems should be cut back ; the roots 

 wiU throw up abundance of young shoots. Delphinium Cferu- 

 kum and some Dianthuses must not be omitted from the hst 

 of decorative border plants. Note the colour and effects of 

 early spring flowers with a view to future arrangement, as 

 more general attention is now being paid to the spring garden. 

 As the Auricula truss grows, and previous to the pips expand- 

 ing, it -mU be necessary to remove the pips which are mal- 

 formed or overcrowded. This must be done with a parr of 

 very small sharp-pointed scissors, bearing in mind that the 

 less they ai-e handled the better. Take care that seedlings 

 which have just emerged are not exposed to the powerful rays 



