IIG 



JOUBNAL OF HOKTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ Angnst 15, 1867. 



coloured spots, varying in size from that of a threepenny- 

 piece to small dots, but usually they are of uniform size, about 

 midway between the sizes stated. The spikes supporting the 

 bloom are not so closely packed with flowers as is the case 

 ■with S. oculata, of which, also, there is a pretty good speci- 

 men in flower at the same time. On the contrary, S. tigrina 

 rarely has more than four blooms to a spike, and often not so 

 many. One of the plants now in bloom has eighteen flower- 

 spikes, each with flowers expanded or in buds that will be open 

 in a day or two. There are two or three more spikes coming, but 

 they will be later. The number of flowers fully expanded and 

 in perfection is fourteen, with two past their best, and thirty- 

 eight in bud ready to burst directly. The expanded flowers 

 that are near together cover a considerable part of the bottom 

 of the hanging-basket in which the plant is grown, each in- 

 dividual bloom measuring from (i to 7 inches between the tips 

 of the wing-petals, the upper petal being proportionably large. 

 The second plant is not so large, but there are thirteen fully- 

 expanded blooms upon it, with fifteen more in advanced bud, and 

 several spikes to come that will probably continue the blooming 

 period for some time. The plant of S. oculata that is in bloom 

 has thirty-five fully-expanded flowers out at this time, with eight 

 more to come. The spikes contain from two to seven or eight 

 blooms each. They are not so large individually as the other, 

 and widely diiYerent in every respect, but both are deserving 

 more attention than they often receive, as the thick fleshy 

 substance of the flowers resembles shell or waxwork, and 

 it requires no great stretch of the imagination to conjm-e up 

 a resemblance to objects both singular and dangerous. I may 

 add that the scent is also very strong, some say sweet, but as 

 this is a matter of taste, and, perhaps, being fastidious in that 

 respect myself, I give no opinion. One thing, however, may 

 be said in favour of this Orchid and its flowers, the latter 

 require no long sticks or wirework-traiuing to bring them into 

 position for being seen, for the flower-spikes are short and the 

 back of the flower rests very often on the bottom or sides of 

 the basket. Our jilants being grown in wire-baskets or rustic 

 wooden ones, the spikes generally protrude at the sides, but 

 sometimes at the bottom, and in all cases hang downwards. 

 The fohage of the plant is also good, and removal from place 

 to place is attended with less of those preparatory arrangements 

 than are requisite for most Orchids. Certainly it cannot be set 

 down on the ground like a flower-pot, bat in a suspended 

 position few plants can possibly look more handsome, and at 

 the same time more remarkable. — J. BoBSOX. 



TABER'S EARLY PERFECTION PEA. 



I OESF.r.TE in the pages of your Journal two strong recom- 

 mendations of this excellent early Pea. With respect to my 

 own experience of it, I may state that when I received an offer 

 from Mr. Taber last season, with the remarks contained in his 

 circular, I was attracted by the description given, seeing that 

 the properties which it was represented to have were just what 

 were wanted. Having tested it, I have found it quite equal to 

 what was represented. 



It appears to be as early as any variety Isnown, with the 

 advantage of being much stronger in the haulm, more produc- 

 tive, and much longer-podded than the early Peas of late 

 introduction. It is several days earlier than Sangster's No. 1, 

 shorter in growth, but very stout and vigorous. It appears to 

 be quite distinct from any other Pea which we have yet had, 

 and I consider it will be a boon to early-Pea growers. 1 observe 

 the Prince Pea is also spoken highly of by one of your corre- 

 spondents. This also I have tested, and find it an excellent 

 late Pea. — SiErnEs Brown, Sudbunj, Sm/'olk. 



[If Taber's Early Perfection is with you several days earlier 

 than Sangster's No. 1, your Sangster's cannot be true.] 



NIEREMBERGIAS. 



In seasons like the present, when we hear so much of 

 plants failing and disappointing the expectation of the planter, 

 it becomes us to look around and see which has 'succeeded, and 

 where so, inquiries might be prosecuted to ascertain if a still 

 further improvement cannot be made in the class of plants that 

 have done well this somewhat unfavourable season. Amongst 

 those which have done well I again wish to call attention to one 

 I have on several occasions recommended to more extensive 

 cultivation — Nierembergia angustifolia, as it has made more 

 progress than most plants which I have, and at all times pre- 



sents a greater mass of bloom than anything else in its way ; 

 but, unfortunately, we have only one colour in this plant, and 

 I want to know if the new species introduced by Messrs. Veitch 

 be likely to present us with other hues, that may be extended 

 hereafter when assiduous cultivation is brought to bear upon 

 it and the older specimen. A good blue or a good scarlet 

 Nierembergia would be a gem, and 1 hope we may have such 

 eventually. A good yellow would also be very agreeable, as 

 neat-growing plants of dwarf habit with yellow bloom are by 

 no means plentiful. Gazania splendens is too shy in bloom- 

 ing to become a general favourite. However, now we have a 

 second species of Nierembergia, I hope to hear good things 

 of it, and even it its appearance be not so inviting as could be 

 wished, I nevertheless hope to see its progeny or that of our 

 present species appear in another garb, with the same good 

 habit and free-blooming properties of our present highly orna- 

 mental plant. — J. E. 



WOBURN COTTAGE GARDEN SOCIETY'S 

 EXHIBITION. 



The moralist and the philanthropist are now recognising the 

 fact more fully than heretofore, that the love of change is in- 

 herent to humanity. Hence the very change of employment is 

 often so delightful as to become to us actually rest in labour. 

 The industrious agricultural or gardening labourer may work 

 actively in his garden in an evening, stimulated by the con- 

 viction that he is labouring for himself and those who are so 

 dear to him ; but he can hardly realise the agreeable zest 

 which in addition is felt by the mechanic and the artisan, from 

 the very change in the kind of employment. It is greatly 

 owing to this fact that the best-kept gardens and the best 

 managed florists' flowers are found under the care of the 

 artisan and manufacturing classes. 



This mere change of occupation, however, will not alone meet 

 the natural yearning for variety. The field, and the shop, and 

 factory, even when relieved by the ever-varying attractions of 

 the garden, will in course of time, all, more or less, be im- 

 pressed with a tame monotony. The heart begins to yearn not 

 only for change of employment, but for that change of scene 

 which involves a cessation from our usual labours. " All work 

 and uo play, makes Jack a dull boy." The proverb is quite 

 right, but it often dues more, it often makes Jack a bad boy as 

 well as a dull one. The craving for change often stimulates to 

 conduct that shades with sorrow the course of a life that other- 

 wise might have been bright and joyous. Great moral out- 

 breaks might have been prevented if more healthy and in- 

 nocent outlets had been provided to satisfy alike the exuberant 

 spirits of youth and this natural craving for change. Our 

 gieat social gatherings, our trysts, our fairs, our town statutes, 

 and our village wakes aud feasts, might have all been very 

 useful institutions in their day, though degenerating too often 

 in our times to such scenes of rough vulgarity, ribaldry, and 

 debauchery, as to grieve the hearts of the right-minded and 

 true-hearted. 



The change was the great attraction, loolsed forward eagerly 

 to for mouths, and then under the stimulus of the excitements 

 so lavishly afforded, things were done and money foolishly 

 spent that told most injuriously on many frequenters for long 

 periods afterwards. With this natural craving for change, and 

 now and then freedom from usual toil, in addition to that 

 which the glorious Sabbath ever brings — the poor man's day, 

 the day of the seven, in which the working man may be in 

 reality the gentleman — with this craving, as it were a part of 

 our being, it would be the height of folly to deny all means for 

 its gratification, just as it will be great wisdom to find an outlet 

 for this natural yearning in scenes and circumstances that will 

 improve, elevate, and refine our natures, and insensibly make 

 us better, whilst doing something to make us more intelhgent. 



Woburn. like most country towns, has its annual fair, with 

 the usual accompaniment of stalls, shows, dancing-booths, and 

 drinking-rooms ; and I am inclined to suppose that one of the 

 chief aims of the Committee of the Cottage Gardeners' Society, 

 was to change the mere common aspects of the fair into a grard 

 annual holiday, by means of a horticultural and floral show 

 and a rural fete, in which the arrangements, and the amuse- 

 ments, aud the kind of refreshments, excluding all intoxicating 

 liquors, should be entirely under their control ; and so well did 

 all seem to succeed, so far as I could see in my short visit, that 

 I should much regret to learn that amid such success, even 

 financially considered, there should from any cause be a dis. 



