Angust 11, 18C3. ] 



JOtTRNAi OP HOETICULTTIRE AJH) COTTAGE GAUDENEE. 



103 



The six sunk beds on the top of the Mount inside the 

 Aj-oades are planted in opposite pairs. The first is, centre 

 Cottage Maid, two rows of Christine round one row of Baron 

 Hugel, edged with Gnaphalium lanatum. The second pair 

 is, ceuti'e Eclipse Calceolaria, two rows of Trentham Rose 

 round two rows of Crystal Palace Scarlet, edged with 

 Alyssum. The third pair, Gaines' YeUow Calceolaria for 

 centre, two rows of Cerise Unique Geranium round two 

 rows of Brilliant Geranium, and edged with Cerastium 

 tomentosum. 



The foiu' beds round the flagstaff are, centre Cottage 

 Maid shaded off by a circle of Trentham Eose, again shaded 

 off by a cu-cle of Christine, a circle of Alma Geranium, the 

 whole edged with Lobeha speciosa. 



So much for tlie Eose Mount. It has taken some time to 

 go round, and you have seen several beds which are not 

 satisfactoi'y, especially where Verbenas or Fuchsias are used, 

 but the general effect is very bright and gay. 



The next beds for you to notice are those on each side of 

 the grand central walk to the Palace. These are very strik- 

 ing, especially as you look down upon them from the terrace 

 above. On the upper side of the steps leading up to this 

 central walk the oblongs are planted with Gaines' YeBow 

 Calceolaria for central stripe, two rows of Crystal Palace 

 Scarlet on each side, two rows of Purple King Verbena, 

 edged ail round with Mangles' Variegated Geranium. The 

 round beds are — centre Trentham Eose, a circle of Prince 

 of Orange CaJceolaiia, edged with Tropobolum elegans. On 

 the lower side of the steps the oblongs have for central 

 stripe Calceolaria amplexicaulis, two rows of Cerise Unique, 

 a stripe of Purple King Verbena, and Mangles' Variegated 

 Geranium aD round. The round beds are the same as those 

 above. 



Mount now to the grand terrace. The main centra! walk 

 leading to the Palace cuts the grand terrace in half. At each 

 end of the terrace are the sunk panels. We will begin with 

 that at the west end. This, as well as the other to the east, 

 are planted aJike. The two circular ends of the foui' corner 

 beds have for centre Amplexicaulis Calceolaria, with a circle 

 of Trentham Eose, while the main pai-t of the bed between 

 the circular ends is planted with Cottage Maid Geranium, 

 and an edging of Flower of the Day goes all round. The 

 long beds of the chain pattern have for centre Crystal Palace 

 Scarlet ; the round have Christine for centre ; while Gaines' 

 Yellow Calceolaria, edged with Alyssum, forms a continuous 

 chain round both. And now supposing we are at the west 

 end of the grand terrace, we will take om- course towards 

 the east. On your left hand, therefore, you have a series of 

 round and oblong beds. The oblong are filled with Ehodo- 

 dendrons, edged with dwarf China Eoses. The round beds 

 here, as well as in the con-esponding set at the east end, 

 have several fresh introductions for trial and criticism. 



The first round bed should especially be noticed, as there 

 ajre three new plants. The centre is the Amai-anthus me- 

 lancholicus ruber, a native of Japan, introduced last year by 

 Mr. Veitch, and now used for the first time here. It requires 

 peculiar management, or you will fail with it. Sow in heat 

 not later than the end of .January. Directly the plants are 

 up place them in a cold frame, excluding frost. When the 

 rough leaves appear pot singly into 4S-pots, keep in a cold 

 frame, gradually hai-dening-off tdl planting-out time, and 

 do not be in too gi-eat a hurry for that. TUl then beware of 

 cold winds and hot sun, and when the pots are full of roots 

 do not let them want for water. At the end of all your other 

 bedding-out, plant your Amaranthus. It is one of the best 

 of the new vajriegated plants for bedding, and in a mass with 

 the sun shining beyond nothing can excel it. 



Bound the Amaranthus is St. Clair Gei-anium, and rovmd 

 St. Clau- a new one of Beaton's, Black Dwai-f, very effective, 

 and a decided acquisition ; the edging is Cloth of Gold. There 

 was, and is stiU, a prejudice against Cloth of Gold. People 

 said it looked unhealthy, but it is gradually gaining favour, 

 and when its constitution has recovered its tone from forcing 

 for propagation, it will supersede Golden Chain. It is vei-y 

 easUy propagated from leaves. No. 2 round bed — centre, a 

 seedli n g of Mr. Gordon's, Uke Christine, but hardly so good ; 

 a cii'cle of Madame Vaucher growing dwarf and blooming 

 well this di'y season; edging Lobeha Paxtoniana. No. 3 

 round bed — the centre is Beaton's Magenta No. 2, a gi-eat 

 improvement on the fii-st of that name ; a circle of Amar- 



anthus, surrounded by Centaurea gymuocarpa ; edging 

 Lobelia speciosa. No. 4, the centre is Centatirea gymno- 

 carpa, Coleus Verschaffelti next, Quercifolium floribundum 

 and Cloth of Gold for edging, the Coleus gradually becom- 

 ing like a piece of dirty flannel. No. 5, the centre another 

 of Beaton's new Nosegays, Amaranthus, Centaurea candi- 

 dissima, and Lobelia speciosa edging. 



We come now to the oblong beds on the left-hand side 

 looking east of the half-circle walk, which is intersected by 

 the grand central walk up to the Palace. No. 1 is Countess 

 of Ellesmere Petunia in a mass, edged with Golden Chain 

 and Lobelia Paxtoniana. No. 2 is a seedling Tropseolum of 

 Mr. Gordon's, of a yellow colour, but vrith blood-red spots, 

 which may lead to our having some day a red Tropajolum ; 

 edging Alma Geranium and Lobelia Paxtoniana. No. 3 is a 

 central mass of Geranium Candidissimum, very much like 

 Madame Vaucher, edged with Golden Chain and Lobelia 

 Paxtoniana. This edging is repeated alternately ivith Alma 

 for the remainder of this set of beds. No. 4, central mass, 

 dark orange Calceolaria seedlings. No. 5, centre Tropaeolum 

 elegans. No. G, Prince of Orange Calceolaria. No. 7, centre 

 Comte de Momy Geranium, a new one of the horseshoe 

 race, and very good. 



The circular beds sxurounding the pedestals of vases and 

 statues are planted alternately. First, for central circle three 

 rows of Trentham Eose, one row of Christine each side, and 

 Flower of the Day for inner and outer edging. Second, for 

 central circle three rows of Christine, one row of Crystal 

 Palace Scarlet each side; edging same as the first. Mrs. 

 Whitty, which some say is to supplant Christine as a pink 

 bedder, is planted in the fitrst oblong bed after you have 

 crossed the grand central approach to the Palace, supposing 

 you are still going east and along the great half-circular 

 walk. The diy season has had the same effect on it as on 

 Christine — the floweiing of both is spoilt by their seeding. 

 Then we have another mass of dark seedling Calceolarias, 

 and then a bed of Lord Palmerston Geranium, which for 

 size of truss and petal and glow of colour is not yet beaten. 



A bed of Verbena Great Eastern, and one or two others, 

 and you are now on the grand terrace. Standing with your 

 back to the Palace, on your right are a series of round and 

 oblong beds ; the round with mop-headed Acacias, standard 

 Ehododendrons, and two miserable-looking Cedars, which 

 had much better be removed and planted in the middle. 

 The oblongs have a stripe of Crystal Palace Scarlet for 

 centre, on each side a double row of Christine, and Purple 

 King all round. The round beds are a mass in beautiful 

 bloom and health, notwithstanding the trees, of Aurea flori- 

 bunda Calceolaria edged with Flower of the Day. 



Continuing your walk eastwards along the grand terrace 

 you have a set of round beds alternately with Ehododen- 

 drons, almost repetitions of those at the west, except the 

 last of all, which is worth your inspection. It has for centre, 

 Amaranthus, then a circle of St. Clair, surrounded by a 

 new Geranium of Italian origin, I was told, called Lucien 

 Tisserand — a perfect beauty ; the edging is Cloth of Gold. 



At the Crystal Palace, as at many other places, the season 

 of 18(53 is looked upon as a bad one for bedding plants. 

 Contrasting with the two previous, which were noted for 

 continual wet, this has been the driest known for years. 

 Bitter cold nights have also left their marks on our flower- 

 beds. 



The new bedtling plants for the year which have proved 

 themselves acquisitions are the various Nosegay Geraniums 

 raised by Mi-. Beaton, among which, as named, ai-e Lord 

 Palmerston, Black Dwarf, and Magenta No. 2, not forget- 

 ting the Golden Ivy-leaf and Lucien Tisserand. The Amar- 

 anthus, as Mr. Eobson predicted, is a great acquisition, and 

 Centaurea candidissima, so far, is likewise a gain ; but Coleus 

 Verschaffelti is sentenced to perpetual imprisonment in the 

 greenhouse. F. W. Adet, Tlic Cell, Bunstahle. 



Disease in the Gladiolus. — In many of the largest 

 collections of Gladiolus round London a disease has made 

 its appearance, which is afl'ecting the plant very much in 

 the same way as the Potato disease has attacked the 

 Potato for some years past. The leaves gradually lose 

 colour and die-off as if the growth were over and the roots 

 matured, and all this without the flower-spike having ap- 



