272 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ Octotcr 9, 1873. 



are excellent plants for the shrubbery, and will flourish even 

 under the drip of trees. 



At least forty distinct species of Berberis are now in cultiva- 

 tion in England ; one of them, Berberis japonica, was dis- 

 covered by Mr. Fortune on his second visit to China. This 

 magnificent evergreen grows 8 feet high, and has pinnated 

 leaves nearly 15 inches long, the terminal leaflet being, in one 

 specimen, quite .5 inches in length. Mr. Fortune first met with 

 this species in the neighbourhood of Hwuy-chow-foo, about 

 150 miles north of Shanghae, and afterwards near Sunglo, 

 whilst engaged in collecting Tea plants and seeds for the East 

 India Company. It appears that a specimen of the plant was 

 seen by Mr. Fortune on his journey to the Bohea Tea moun- 

 tains ; but, being too large to transport to Shanghae, he was 

 obliged to content himself with carrying off a leaf, with the 

 hope of meeting with smaller examples of the plant in his 

 subsequent travels. On this gentleman's return from the 

 Bohea Tea Mountains, it chanced that he rested a day or two 

 at the house of the parents of his servant, Wang. Having fre- 

 quently desired Wang to endeavour to procure him some young 

 plants of the Berberis without effect — for the natives of the 



Berberis Darwinii. 



Celestial Empire can rarely be persuaded to trouble them- 

 selves in any matter in which their pecuniary interests are not 

 concerned — he one morning called three or four of the family 

 about him, and, showing them the leaf which he had brought 

 with him, promised a dollar to any one who would bring him 

 a small plant of the same shrub. " One of them went out im- 

 mediately, and, to my surprise and pleasure, returned in less 

 than five minutes with a fresh leaf of the plant in question. 

 ' That wUl do,' said I ; ' that is just the thing I want : briug 

 me a young plant with good roots and I will give you the 

 promised reward.' They now held a consultation among 

 themselves in an under tone, and at last said that the plant in 

 question had some peculiar medical virtues, and that the lucky 

 possessor would not part with it. ' Sell me this one,' said I ; 

 ' and you wiU be able to buy a dozen others with the money.' 

 ' No,' said they, ' the plant belongs to our uncle ; he is rich 

 enough, but he requires a little of the plant now and then 

 when he is unwell, and therefore he will not part with it.' 

 This was very provoking; but the Chinese were firm, and 

 there was nothing for it but to go, as sailors say ' upon another 

 tack.' ' Well, at all events,' said I, ' let me see the plant : 

 don't be afraid ; I shall not touch it.' For some time they 



refused to do even this ; but, through Wang's influence, they 

 were at last induced to consent, and led the way down to a 

 small cottage garden, completely covered with weeds. There 

 the beautiful shrub was growing apparently neglected, and left 

 to bloom unseen. It seemed very valuable in the uncle's esti- 

 mation, and he would not sell it, although I tried hard to in- 

 duce him to do so. It might be that he really valued its 

 medicinal properties, but, as it must be common enough in 

 that part of the country, he could easily have replaced it ; it is 

 not unlikely, therefore, that he supposed I should offer some 

 very large sum to induce him to part with it. 



" On the following day another relation of Wang's came to 

 me in a secret manner, and informed me that he was acquainted 

 with another place where the same plant was to be had, and 

 that for a consideration he would go and fetch it. I engaged 

 him at once, merely teUing him that he must bring young 

 plants with good roots, otherwise they would be entirely useless 

 to me. This he faithfully promised to do, and kept Ins word. 

 In the course of the day he returned with three good plants, 

 which he sold me, and which I afterwards took back to Shang- 

 hae. These are now safely in England." — (H'. Thompson's 

 English Flower Garden, Revised by the Author.) 



VAEIETY IN GARDEN BEDS. 



During the past season I have had a few beds which have so 

 successfully broken through the usual monotony of a bedded- 

 out garden that I venture to mention them to you. 



1. A bed of Lilium auratum, with Heliotrope between. This 

 has been magnificent, with a succession of blooms for more 

 than three months past ; as many as eight or ten blooms on 

 several of the Lilies. 



2. A bed of common Sweet Williams, replaced by Lilinm 

 lancifolium sunk in pots. 



3. A bed of LobeUa cardinalis, edged with blue Lobelia. 

 This has been most successful, both LobeUas having flowered 

 abundantly for mouths. 



.5. A bed of Anemone japonica alba, surrounded with Statiee 

 latifolia, and edged with Gazania. This is an autumn bed, 

 and is in perfection at present. 



These have been my real successes this year. Next year I 

 hope to be equally fortunate with a bed of Clematis Jackmanni, 

 another of Agapanthus umbellatns, edged with Gazania (Gera- 

 niums I find grow too tall and hide the foliage of the Aga- 

 panthus), and other combinations. 



I am surprised to see how little imagination gardeners sean 

 to have, and how the same beds of a few varieties of flowers 

 appear year after year. Perhaps some of your correspondents 

 will suggest other beds, especially of herbaceous plants. — 

 H. A. B., Ashjicld, Liverjiool. 



NOTES UPON FERNS.— No. 5. 



It has been a source of deep regret to me that circumstances 

 have entirely prevented me continuing this, or, indeed, any other 

 subject connected with horticulture, for some months. I now, 

 however, seek the earliest opportunity of resuming my brief 

 remarks upon this popular order. In doing so it occurs to me 

 that enough has been said in my former articles of an intro- 

 ductory character to enable my readers, if they desire, to take 

 up the subject, and to prosecute it to whatever extent time 

 and opportunity wUl allow. I purpose, however, leaving the 

 scientific portion of the subject, and step down to the practical 

 matter-of-fact business of cultivation. In doing this I shall 

 quote the most handsome kinds in each genus, together with 

 the general treatment required, indicating at the same time 

 which are best suited for stove, greenhouse, or hardy ferneiy, 

 for pot plants or basket plants. Our readers and amateur 

 Fern-growers, however, must not imagine they have not hi ng 

 to do but read these jottings to become experts in the manage- 

 ment of Ferns ; for although I shall endeavour to make every- 

 thing as plain as possible, the hints here thrown out must be 

 followed up by intelligent practice. 



The first family which I shall deal with is the genus Adi- 

 antum, the members of which are popularly known as Maiden- 

 hair Ferns, a name derived from the slender shining black 

 stems which support the pinnules, and which form such 

 pleasing contrasts with the various shades of green of the 

 different species. Adiantum is distinguished as a genus by a 

 tufted or creeping habit of growth, by the pinna and pinnnles 

 being articulated with the petiole, by its exeentrie costa, by 

 the veins being simple, radiating, and forked, with the apices 



