4G0 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEK. 



[ December 11, 187S. 



shire, where it was growing luxuriantly, and where, I believe, 

 it continues to do bo still; but with as much attention given 

 it aa many other tender plants receive I have lost it two or 

 three times, and have ceased growing it, excepting in some 

 special places; for its unhappy look, even when it does not 

 entirely die-off, leaves so little to admire in it, that something 

 else has been substituted in its stead. Its non-thriving in the 

 south I attribute in a great measure to our dry summers, as 

 ■with plenty of moisture it succeeds. Some years ago I noticed 

 it at Chatsworth in the greatest luxuriance, and more recently 

 I have seen it in the northern counties equally strong. This 

 state of things might be easily accounted for, but in con- 

 nection with it a question arises in my mind. Whether the 

 ordinary form of Dactylis glomerata is so abundant in our 

 meadows as it used to be ? In one or two cases that have come 

 under my immediate observation it is not so, as iields which 

 some years ago at hay-cutting time presented a greater pro- 

 portion of this grass than any other are now almost desti- 

 tute of it. I ask. How is this to be accounted for ? Eecent 

 drainage in the case I refer to has had nothing to do with this 

 r.Bult, for the ground did not require draining, neither has 

 extraordmary manuring been the cause ; but if its disappear- 

 ance be due to a decay in its constitutional power, we may 

 feel assured that the variegated form will be still more affected. 



Doublf Daisies, though not bedding plants for summer, have 

 become a necessity for spring ornament. Residents in the 

 north and west have no difficulty in multiplying them to any 

 extent ; but there are localities in the south where it is not at 

 all easy to keep it through a dry summer. It may be said. 

 Apply the watering pot. But this is not always possible. 

 Water is often not at command in such places, and the neces- 

 sary supply to maintain a healthy condition cannot be afforded. 

 I have more than once lost almost all my stock in a dry season, 

 and I find others are liable to the same mishap. Planting in 

 a shady moist place may be recommended, but situations of 

 this kind cannot always be had for everything ; and the ordi- 

 nary idea that a plant having for its origin one of the commonest 

 of those of our fields, must be hardy enough to endure the 

 open air of this country at all times, is not correct ; for although 

 it will endure any degree of coid, a long period of dry weather 

 is fatal to it, and a lower summer temperature will also be 

 found more beneficial than a dry warm climate. In the north 

 it thrives with the least possible attention in places not the 

 most inviting, and at the proper season furnishes flowers in 

 great abundance. 



Coprosvia Baueriana variegata. — This pretty plant is not 

 so plentiful as might be expected, neither does it appear to 

 be propagated so quickly as many plants. Here I am afraid it 

 has never had the soil necessary for its success ; I beheve a 

 sandy peat suits it best, and on such a soil I have seen it 

 thi-iving almost as well as the Variegated Periwinkle. When 

 well grown its glossy green foliage with a broad, clearly-de- 

 fined margin of cream colour, shining, as it were, in the sun or 

 shade, renders it one of the prettiest plants we have ; besides, 

 in habit it is everything that could be desired. I only wish 

 it would grow faster, and furnish cuttings in greater numbers ; 

 for when they are to be obtained there is no difficulty in 

 striking them. There is also a hope that the plant may prove 

 hardy enough to stand mild winters out of doors. 



Gentianella. — Unlike the Daisies and Pansies, I hardly think 

 this will endure the ordeal of being transplanted twice in the 

 year ; therefore the plants ought to have room enough to grow 

 and flower in the same place for two or three years at least. 

 Much as there has been said in favour of this plant, it certainly 

 has its hkes and dislikes, and amongst the former, a cool 

 moist place in the north or west would seem to be the best 

 place for it. Some time ago I noticed some lines of it in the 

 north of England that were at least 18 inches wide, with an 

 appearance of speading further if allowed ; the soil was a dark- 

 coloured sandy one, and there were a great number of rainy 

 days every season. I had not the good fortune to witness these 

 fine edgings while in flower, but they must have been very 

 grand; and the robust, healthy appearance of the plant was 

 also good. In dry calcareous soils it is not easy to make it 

 do well, though in others like that described it thrives like 

 a weed. 



Mesembryanthemum incanum variegatiim. — There are few 

 plants of recent introduction more popular than this, if we 

 except the Golden Feather Pyrethrum. It seems to glory in a 

 hot bright summer day, and the hotter and drier the better. 

 I rather think that this plant Ukes a soil the reverse of that 

 which gives vigour to the GeutineUa. As the plant is liable to 



be cut-off by the first frost it must be protected in winter, and 

 a pot or two kept in a warm place will in general furnish cut- 

 tings for a good supply of plants in spring. As it is not pru- 

 dent to plant them out too early, it is easy to propagate any 

 reasonable number. For covering the groundwork of a bed 

 where fancy figures are introduced I do not think there is any- 

 thing more suitable than this Mesembryanthemum ; certainly 

 there has not been a tender plant introduced of late years 

 that equals it for many purposes, and it seems to be as much 

 at home hanging over the edge of a vase as in a flower bed. 



— J. KOBSON. 



COTONEASTER SIMON SII. 



How conspicuous is a flower, a leaf, or a berry of any rich 

 colour from this time to March ! We welcome all colours, but 

 none seems to have such a striking and decided effect as scarlet. 

 Everything out of doors for the next few months has a dead, 

 cold, chilly, uninviting appearance. Flowers are going ; the 

 calm and beautiful shades of autumnal foliage have passed 

 away, and we have little Ungeriug behind to cheer and beau- 

 tify save the ever-recurring and little-varying sombre shades 

 of evergreens. We therefore doubly appreciate anything apart 

 from foliage. Little there is but berries, and I know of none 

 that have so ornamental an effect as those of Cotoneaster 

 Simonsii. 



It cannot be denied that, as a rule, there has been but one 

 object studied in arranging shrubberies — that of planting solely 

 for spring and summer effect. Autumn and winter are quite 

 overlooked with regard to anything in the way of berries, <S:c. 

 Nothing is expected then but green leaves and bare branches ; 

 yet when we meet with a bush of brilUant-coloured berries 

 they seem to make the same impression on the eye as, in 

 summer, a flowering plant of surpassing beauty amongst 

 others less attractive. Now, and until the birds, which are 

 very fond of them, deprive us of its berries, this Cotoneaster 

 has a very pleasing effect amongst Ehododendrons and other 

 shrubs, also against walls and trellises. It is one of those 

 tractable plants that can be employed for a dozen purposes. 

 Left to grow at will it is straggling and rampant, and in large 

 borders, placed well back, I like to leave it to itself. It grows 

 up amongst the thick masses and over them, at the same time 

 doing no harm, rather otherwise, for it breaks their stiffness. 

 The straggling shoots here show-off their berries to great 

 advantage and give a singularly beautiful effect. If, how- 

 ever, it is desired to keep it more within bounds, the knife 

 will soon bring it to any shape required. Plants of this 

 Cotoneaster make handsome pyramids, standards, or round- 

 headed bushes. In whatever style or in whatever position, 

 in the mixed border or as single specimens, they will always 

 at this time of the year prove highly interesting. To save 

 the trouble of much pruning, and to induce the plant to pro- 

 duce more berries, an occasional replanting will have a very 

 decided infltience. This I especially commend to the notice of 

 persons with only small gardens, and who wish to have a few 

 plants. 



The brilliant scarlet berries are much larger than those of the 

 well-known C. microphyUa, and much prettier to my idea, 

 especially just before they are ripe ; they then have an orange 

 shade on the scarlet. The plant is as well suited for covering 

 walls and trellises as C. microphyUa, indeed it covers a wall 

 faster. It has not the pendulous habit of the latter, nor is it 

 quite evergreen, except, perhaps, in sheltered positions, as on a 

 wall. It is well suited for covert-planting, as much for food 

 as for shelter for the game ; at the same time the effect of large 

 masses near drives, walks, &c., would be excellent. To keep 

 the berries is the difficulty. Nothing comes in better at Christ- 

 mas for wreaths; a few sprays, too, look well by caudleUght 

 if mixed with stands of flowers. Then, again, short bits 

 about .3 or 4 inches long, well studded with fine large berries, 

 such as can be cut from walls — and they are well worth netting 

 for the purpose — have a striking efl'ect intermixed with the 

 fruit, such as Apples and Pears, for the dinner-table. A few 

 of them standing out amongst flat small pans of SelagineUa 

 denticulata placed down the sides of the dinner-table have a 

 very chaste and effective appearance, only to be once seen to 

 be highly appreciated. 



There" is yet one other purpose to which I must draw atten- 

 tion — namely, to make stock to work on C. microphyUa, and 

 at once have a weeping tree not to be surpassed. Handsome 

 as C. microphyUa is, either covering a wall or hanging from a 

 rock, to have a weeping standard of it — to ma who have seen 



