456 



JOUENAX OF BOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GASDENEE. 



[ December 8, 18G3. 



gems, but any one who may have cultivated both plants to a 

 large size as conservatory ornaments, cannot, I think, hesi- 

 tate in preferring argentea to candidissima ; and I am not 

 sure, or very decided, which of them ^^^ll ultimately become 

 the greater favourite as a bedder. The two plants must 

 both be seen of a large size before their merits can be pro- 

 perly appreciated. 



I cultivate both sorts extensively, and they are both so 

 beautiful, yet so different in their habits, that it is difficult 

 to say which one likes best when planted out. The only 

 rival they have is Cineraria maritima, which has merits quite 

 equal to either of them. 



We had a i-ibbon-bed here this season which was highly 

 admii'ed. It bad a central row of the two Centaureas and 

 the Cinerai'ia, with a row all round of Pm-ple Orache, and 

 outside that a row all round of Stachys lanata (another hardy 

 wliite-leaved gem), then next the grass a row round of trae 

 Lobelia speciosa from cuttings, the only way that can be 

 relied upon for obtaining it true. A better edging would have 

 been the Ai-abis albida variegata, about which another 

 coiTespondent in the same page makes similar mistakes as 

 does Mr. J. Eobson about the Centaureas. My expei-ience of 

 the Arabis is, that the one called albida variegata is wliitish- 

 sulphm- in the spring and yellowish -sulphur- in autumn, just 

 as Bellis aucuba?folia becomes gTeen in summer and beauti- 

 fully variegated in autumn and winter. We cultivate two 

 sorts of the variegated Arabis here, the above and the lucida 

 variegata. This is more yellow than albida variegata, and 

 is easily known fi-om albida, which is covered with pubescent 

 hairs, whilst lucida has a smooth, bright, shining foliage. 



I trust the above will set bedding-plant-cultivators right 

 about these valuable and most useful plants. — John Scott, 

 Merriott Nurseries. 



SOME GAEDENS WORTH SEEING. 



Name, 



Iluwkstone 



Acton Rejnald. 

 Lealon Knolls... 

 yundorneCastle 

 Apley Castle.... 



Acqualate 



L-illeshal! Abbey 

 Condover Park. 

 Walcot Park.... 

 HalstOQ 



— J. E. 



SHBOPSHIEE. 

 Proprietor. 



Viscount Hill Mr. 



Sir Vincent K.Corbet, Bt.. Mi. 



A. Lloyd, Esq Mr. 



Lady Krincktiian Mr. 



St. JolinB. Charlton, Esq... Mr. 

 Sir Tlios. Boughey, Bart... Mr. 



Duke of Sutherland .Mr. 



T. c. Owen, Esq Mr. 



Earl of Powis Mr. 



Mrs. Wright , Mr. 



WOEK FOE THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



Trench, dig, and ridge-over every spare inch of ground 

 whenever the weather will permit these operations to be 

 advantageously performed. This is particularly to be ob- 

 served in gardens the soil of which is of a clayey nature. 

 Cmdiflower, give air freely to these, and also to Lettuce 

 plants under glass. Indeed, the sashes should merely be 

 used to exclude frost, and to throw off rains, for the plants 

 will do all the better in spring if kept hardy and stocky 

 over the winter. Celery, take advantage of the first dry 

 day to eartli-up closely any that may have outgrown the 

 previous earthing-up, and be prepared to protect the ridges 

 in Case of severe frost. Dry stable litter answers very well 

 for the purpose ; but where they can be procured, straw or 

 reed shutters are preferable, as being more easily applied, 

 and causing less litter, and they are also useful in excluding 

 wet. Peas, those sown on a warm border, and also the 

 Broad Beans sown at the same time, as advised, will now be 

 peeping up, and should have the surface soil stirred about 

 them, and a covering of decomposed leaf mould laid over 

 the rows, and also, in the event of cutting winds prevailing, 

 some branches of spruce fir or bh-cb stuck in on the windward 

 side win be useful. Gravel walks shoiild come in for a 

 share of attention in sweeping and rolling. Coal ashes are an 

 excellent material for the back walks, as they bear the winter 

 traffic well, and are always pleasant to walk upon. If frosts 

 set in let the maniu'e necessary for the whole of the spring 

 cropping be wheeled out, laying it in heaps either on the spot 

 where it is to be used, or as near as possible to it. What is 

 not required for immediate digging should be piled in small 

 mounds, and soiled over to prevent evaporation. Take the 



opportunity of bad weather to forward the making of labels 

 for the various crops, tying mats, cleaning naUs, preparing 

 shreds, and looking over stores. 



FLOWEE GABDEN. 



Flower-borders should now receive a good top-dressing 

 with some well-prepared compost. This should be forked 

 in, and the surface of the borders left as rough as possible, 

 which will give them a fresh appearance, and be of great 

 sei-vice in pulverising stiff' soils by the action of the frosts 

 of winter. Thus the soil will be reduced to a more mellow 

 state for spring operations. The weather is still favourable 

 for executing alterations, and where these are in hand they 

 should be prosecuted with the greatest possible dispatch. 

 Planting or the removal of large trees or shrubs cannot be 

 finished too soon, for it is of the utmost importance that the 

 plants should be afforded some chance of making fresh roots 

 before the cutting winds of Mai-ch arrive. See to even 

 small plants being secured against the wind, for these are 

 often greatly injured by being blown about after planting, 

 which a small stake and a few minutes' work would prevent. 

 Standard Eoses, which by the weakness of theu- shoots and 

 the paucity of their blooms this season, ai'c showing evident 

 symptoms of decay, should have all the surface soil taken off 

 down to the i-oots, and all the suckers removed, after which, 

 a thick coat of well-rotted dung should be laid round them, 

 and covered with a portion of the soil. Tea-scented, China, 

 and other tender Eoses that will not stand the severity of 

 our winters, should now be protected by strewing a good 

 thickness of fern, or any other dry material amongst the 

 stems of the plants ; this, with the addition of some spruce 

 fir boughs stuck all over the beds will afford them aU the 

 protection they require. Those varieties which are budded 

 on the standards may be easily protected by tying on a few 

 furze branches round the head, securing the whole with a 

 strong stake to protect it from the boisterous winds of 

 winter. 



FBt;iT GARDEN. 



Prune, stake, and tie Easpberries, and mulch with some 

 light manure, which may be lightly forked-in in the spring, 

 as it is imprudent to dig deeply about them. If any trans- 

 planting or root -pruning of fruit trees has yet to be done, 

 let it be attended to without fiu-ther delay, and see that 

 those exposed to the wind are securely staked before leaving 

 them. Also, let the ground be prepared for fresh plantations, 

 and the trees planted as soon as possible. Fruit trees are 

 injured by the accumulation of moss and lichen on their 

 branches. Where the hand cannot reach it, a dashing of 

 lime wiU effect its destruction. 



geeenhouse ajjd conservatory. 



We have already alluded to the ill-effects of humidity and 

 stagnant air in plant-houses, as evUs at this season to be 

 guarded against most particularly ; but these are of minor 

 importance compared with one of our own creation, evidence 

 of the existence of which we not unfi-equently see in the 

 drawn and unhealthy occupants of gi-eenhouses. We allude 

 to heat, which, judiciously applied, is of coiu'se of the first 

 consequence, but, employed without judgment, becomes a 

 fertile cause of the evils above described. It must be borne 

 in mind, that a sjiring or summer temperatui-e without the 

 sunlight of one or the other, is altogether an anomalous 

 state of things, and one which cannot be consistently pur- 

 sued with objects so susceptible of such influences as plants. 

 Above aU, high night temperatiu-es should be avoided. We 

 are convinced by experience of the value of the practice of 

 employing night-coverings, and of thus dispensing in a 

 great measure with the use of fires. The leaves of Camellias, 

 Oranges, &c., are liable to a dark scum. This should be 

 cleared away by a sponge at this period, especially as a 

 portion of the interest in pot plants depends on cleanliness 

 both with regard to the leaves and the pots. WhUe the 

 pi-incipal collection of Cluysanthemums is in bloom, a se- 

 lection should be made of the best and most useful for dis- 

 tinctness, and succession of sorts. 



STOVE. 



Do not encourage any fr-esh growth among the plants at 

 this season ; rather aim at that kind of routine management 

 which will serve to consolidate the growths already made, 

 and to develop the blossoms of the late-flowering plants in a 

 proper way. 



