373 



JOTJENAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. [ November lo, isea. 



growth of the second is small though rapid, the leaves 

 small, thin, tissue-like, and altogether iinpromising. After 

 both have gi-own a foot, let us examine the roots. That pot 

 plunged in bottom heat is one mass of thread-like fibres, 

 hut the other has only a quantity of fleshy roots, the same 

 as that plunged had when forcing was commenced, or rather 

 ■when top heat was applied. We leave them growing and 

 it comes a sunny day ; the fii'st holds its head boldly to the 

 sunbeam, but the second shrinks back and flags. However, 

 the weak plant in time gains strength and makes wood 

 equally strong with the tree that has been in the hotbed. 

 Looking at the roots of the foi-mer we find a quantity of 

 fibres. That is enough. 



Now, suppose these jjlants were Figs. That with fibres 

 will have fruit nearly at every eye ; but the other has none 

 at any of its eyes except a few at the tips of the branches. 

 "What is the difference between the growth of the two? The 

 first had fibres to begin with, and it formed iruit-eyes at 

 every joint ; but the second had no fibres, and it formed 

 wood-buds only until fibres were emitted. If we suppose 

 they were Vines, the resixlts are precisely the same : there 

 are no fruit-buds formed when the growth is made by the 

 fleshy roots only, but there are when it is made after the 

 emission of fibres. Surely the evidence is conclusive. 



Stopping the branches is not the direct cause of the 

 formation of fi-uit-buds. All stopping simply Umits the 

 action of the roots, induces the formation of fibres, and if 

 it does not the eyes below the stopping start into growth. 

 A wood-bud has been formed, for buds are formed with the 

 leaf, and not afterwards as is generally supposed. After the 

 leaf is formed, the eye at its axil is either a wood or a bloom 

 bud, and no stopping whatever can transform them either 

 ■way. Vines -will show fruit on green laterals if the eye 

 forced into gi-owth is a fruit-bud. No hai^dening or ripen- 

 ing of the wood can form fruit-buds, but they are solely 

 attributable to the peculiai- condition of the roots at the 

 ■time of development. 



The production of fibres being so essential to the well- 

 being of a plant, their preservation and production are 

 matters of import to all cultivators. I may, therefore, 

 tender a few hmnble remarks and hints as to their preserva- 

 ■tion or removal. — G. Abbey. 



{To be contimted.)] 



more robust kinsman, C. Biebersteinii, but the former still 

 retains its place ; and what I have seen of Centaui'ea ai- 

 gentea inclines me to think that it ■will still less approach 

 its forerunner in merit. — J. Eobson. 



CENTAUEEAS AEGENTEA and CAjI^DIDISSIMA. 



As Centaurea candidissima is unquestionably one of the 

 most important additions made to our flower gardens for 

 some years, the advent of a kindi-ed species with foliage 

 more beautifully cut may be regarded as another advance 

 in the path of out-door embellishment : and C. ai-gentea has 

 been ushered in with a high name as likely to eclipse its 

 predecessor. Its claims to this distinction as a potted plant 

 may, perhaps, be admitted, though I am by no means cer- 

 tain that they will be so ; but what little I have seen of it 

 out-doors inclines me to place it many degrees below C. can- 

 didissima as an effective plant for the flower garden; in 

 fact, judging fi-om tlie plants we have here, I should say it 

 is not so good as C. gymnocarpa, of which there is a bed or 

 two at the Ci-ystal Palace, and which I see a coiTCspondent 

 at page 213 notices. I quite agree ■with him as to the good 

 effect produced by C. candidissima and Amaranthus melan- 

 cholicus in one bod, although I was otherwise well pleased 

 with the main features of the planting. 



Leaving this subject, however, might I ask through the 

 pages of yom- Journal which is the best Centaurea for bed- 

 ding purposes ? Mr. Thomson in a former article mentioned 

 C. ragusina, a species I am not acquainted with. Is it the 

 same as C. candidissima or not? The flower-gardening 

 public must, I am s<ire, be mvich indebted to Mi-. Thomson 

 for his excellent article on the propagation of this highly 

 desirable genus, which I hope to see extensively grown 

 when it can be had in sufficient quantity ; but in the mean- 

 time I should like to leai-n from those who have grown aU 

 the species which is the best. For my own part I am 

 well content with C. candidissima, and its appearance here 

 far excels that of C. argentea ; but if others think differently 

 let them record their opinions. The small-leaved Cerastium, 

 C. tomentoBum, was by some expected to be eohpsed by its 



HEATING A GEEENHOUSE FEOM A 

 DINING-EOOM YJliE. 



A Devmishire Vicar would feel much obliged by information 

 regai'ding any effectual plan for making use of the surplus 

 heat from a dining-room grate (by means of hot water or 

 air), in warming a greenhouse situated at the back of the 

 fireplace, and on the same level as the room. Are there, for 

 instance, any grates with boilers attached, from which pipes 

 could be caiTied, which would not be a disfigurement to the 

 room? 



[If the greenhouse is small, a square plate of iron, fixed at 

 the back of the grate, and open to the greenhouse, and 

 black on both sides, would, ■with the heat of the chimney, 

 keep out frost, if the fii'e was banked up at night on tlie 

 occurrence of cold nights. 



This could be done better with a boiler at the back of tte 

 grate, but we question if you could have one so made 'with- 

 out an order. There are many stoves with a boiler at the back 

 and one side, but that woidd not be so elegant. If at the 

 back it would be best to have a close boiler fed ■nith water 

 from the pipes in the greenhouse. The pipes must not be 

 below the boiler, better above it ; but you will have to con- 

 fiue them chiefly to the back and ends if there is a doorway. 

 As most dining-room grates are manufactured in pieces, a 

 small boiler might be formed at the back, and one side 

 open to the greenhouse, where the pipes could be fixed. We 

 remember one so arranged, and it would have done veiy 

 well, but the fire in the room was not always used, and it 

 was considered a grievance having to kindle a fire there 

 when not othei-wise wanted. In a cold night coke was 

 heaped up round the boiler, and a plate of iron placed in 

 front to prevent too rapid combustion.] 



STEPHANOTIS FLOEIBUNDA FKUITING. 



Is it not rare for this Stephanotis to fruit in England ? I 

 have fruited it before, at Ciora Castle, but the fniit was 

 small, and did not come to perfection. Nov/, I have a plant 

 ■with seven ft-uits on it measui-ing, on an average, 5 inches 

 in length, and 8 in cfrcumference. The fruit is of a conical 

 shape, the colour a light green. Will it get much larger? 

 What colour ■wiU it be when ripe ? and is the fruit eatable ? 

 When I received this plant in December, 1862, it was in a 

 32-pot. I have shifted it on, and now it is in a No. 2-pot and 

 trained on a ■wfre globe. — Olivee Mokeis, Tolmers, UertfmA. 



THE VAEIEGATED AEABIS. 



Some years ago a discussion took place in the pages of 

 this Joiu-nal about the name of this highly ornamental plant, 

 some calling it Arabis lucida, others A. albida; but 1 believe 

 that commonly the specific name has been di-opped, and the 

 plant has been weU kno-svn as the Variegated Ai-abis — a 

 name at once easy and every way sirfEoiently ex-pressive so 

 long as only one variety was in cultivation. I have heard, 

 however, that another feature has been given to this useful 

 and compaot-gi-omng plant. The pale yellow, or rather 

 cream-coloured, edging of the old variety is said to be turned 

 to the more golden lacing of the best of our Golden Gera- 

 niums, or the yet more bright hue of the Gold- leaved HoUy. 



If this reaUy be the case, the plant will in many instances 

 supersede the Geraniimis of the same hue, as it is perfectly 

 hardy, and in habit as compact as could be ■wished for. 



1 confess, however, that I have not yet seen this Arabis, 

 and possibly it may only be a slight improvement on the- 

 old one, or merely the latter grown under circumstances 

 more favourable to its becoming more of an amber hue. I 

 have had the old kind for many years, and now and then 

 a plant or part of one will assume the normal form, and the 

 coarse green foliage of the original parent wiU appear; but 

 it is less liable to run into that condition than many other 



