Docomtwr 5, 1667. ] 



JODRNAL OF HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAUDENEK. 



419 



Xruit for tho table. This I do as eoonomioally as possible. I 

 oannothope, therefore, to say much, neither cau I gather mnoh 

 of the opioiona of others, except througli " our .Joarnal." 1 — 

 and I may aa well out with it — have a domestic vine and 

 several ohve branches, and this circumstance curtails my 

 library, and has prevented me, as yet, enjoying " Thomson on 

 the Vine," and other authors. This, however, is not a source 

 of unminglod regret. Does not a family aSord an incentive to 

 zeal of the most natural and forcible kind ? This I am glad is 

 becoming more recognised by employers. A man with his 

 heart in his business, and who can supply himself with 

 books, may have the advantage ; but a man whose heart is 

 in his business, and is backed by half a dozen hearts at homo, 

 each more dear than his own, possesses an inexhaustible mine 

 of power and energy which no other source cau supply. Would 

 that employers would become more cognisant of thia; not only 

 see, but feel it ; then the uncharitable stipulation of " no en- 

 oumbranoe," would soon become a thing of the past. — J. W. 



MR. SALTER'S SEEDLING JAPANESE 

 CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 



In tho last number but one of the Journal there is a short 

 description and allusion to these very interesting and curious 

 flowers ; may I be allowed a short space to invite tho attention 

 of all lovers of plants to these extraordinary specimens '! Per- 

 sons who have been accustomed to view the Chrysanthemum 

 as a florists' flower might at first sight condemn their rugged 

 appearance, but upon closer inspection they will find much to 

 admire in the thread-like florets of various hues, somewhat 

 resembling the long tentacula of the Sea Anemone. There 

 is every shade of colour which the Chrysanthemum assumes — 

 some mottled or variegated, others dark on the upper surface 

 and light underneath. The form of tho buds is very peculiar, 

 the florets taking an upright direction when first coming out. 



A visit to Mr. Salter's nursery at the present time will amply 

 repay the trouble of making a journey to Hammersmith. 



For decorative purposes this last now style of Chrysantbemum 

 will be likely to prove very useful, and the varieties will not be 

 without their admirers. From what Mr. Salter states, these 

 seedlings were produced from Chrysanthemum roseum punc- 

 tatnm, a Japanese plant introduced into England by Mr. For- 

 tune. — X. 



PROPAGATING PELARGONIUMS. 



Complying with your request at page 311, I will now detail 

 my mode of propagating the Pelargonium. It is very simple, 

 although I am perfectly aware that every one has not the same 

 means at command as I have, but generally such eiust where 

 largo numbers of Pelargoniums are wanted. 



As I have already stated, I never begin propagating till the 

 last week in August. I have by that time a number of Melon 

 frames at liberty ; the old Melon plants are cleared out, and 

 about one barrowload of leaf mould and half a barrowload 

 of sand are placed on the old soil left in the frame, and mixed 

 with it for about 4 inches deep. The surface is then levelled 

 and well watered, after which all is ready for tho cuttings. 



I commence first wit'u the most tender varieties, such as 

 Golden Chain, Golden Fleece, Mountain of Light, Honeycomb, 

 and, indeed, all the slow-growing sorts, then follow with the 

 more robust. Generally three persons are employed in making 

 tho cuttings and one lad in inserting them. In doing this he 

 takes hold of the cutting about "2 inches from its base, and 

 pushes it down with his finger and thumb, leaving a small hole 

 where the finger and thumb have been. A lad can put in the cut- 

 tings nearly as fast as three persons can make them. When one 

 light of the frame has been filled, ho takes a watering pot with 

 a wide-holed rose, and gives the bed a thorough soaking, and 

 puts on the sash at once. The second and all the rest of the 

 lights are filled in the same manner, and all the sashes put on 

 after watering. Should the weather prove dull no shading will 

 be requhed ; but if, on the contrarj-, it is very bright, a slight 

 shading will be very beneficial. On no account, however, give 

 air at any time until the cuttings begin to grow, when it may 

 be admitted very gradually, and at the expiration of three or 

 four weeks they will be well rooted. 



The potting of the rooted cuttings with me depends to a 

 great extent upon circumstances ; but as soon as possible I 

 have them potted, and take them at once back to the pits or 

 frames, where they remain as long as the weather wiU allow. 



They are then housed, and at the present time I have as fine 

 a stock of young plants as if they had been rooted and potted 

 off by the time I commenced putting in my cuttings. I struck 

 about two hundred cuttings early, and at the present time Ujey 

 are certainly larger, but not so healthy-looking. 



Last year, thinking that I might save time, I put in the cat- 

 tings in pots at once, and placed them in the frames, treating 

 them in every other respect like the cuttings inserted in the 

 soil, but tho result was very different. I lost a much larger 

 per-centage of the cuttings, and the plants did not become so 

 strong in the autumn ; and what little growth they made in 

 winter was very spindling and weak on account of the soil be- 

 coming so hard and close, while there was no root-action when 

 the cuttings were striking. I have, therefore, returned to my 

 old plan this year, and although it involves a little additional 

 labour, this is more than compensated for by a strong, healthy, 

 dwarf, clean growth instead of the weak growth mentioned 

 above. — J.imes Stewakt, Nurultam. Park. 



SUCCESSIONAL PEAS. 



The past has been one of the most successful Pea seasons 

 I ever had, and I forward you a statement of the results. 



You will perceive that I commenced gathering Peas on the 

 'Jlst of June. From that date to the 19th of November, when 



1 gathered my last dish from No Plus Ultra, I have no hesi- 

 tation in saying that I have bad a succession of very superior 

 Peas. My greatest foes have been tho sparrows, and they 

 select the choicest Peas. 



Much is said about new varieties of Peas, but I am no 

 hunter after novelties. If I had No Plus Ultra along with 

 Veitch's Perfection, 1 would seek no further for summer and 

 autumn Peas. 



Sangster's No. 1, sown November 12th, 1866 ; in bloom May 

 yth ; gathered June Slat. Made good growth and was well 

 podded ; the pods well filled with good-sized Peas of excellent 

 quality. It continued a long time in bearing, growing with me 

 5 feet high. An old but useful variety. 



Dickson's Favourite, sown November 12th ; in bloom May 

 30th ; gathered June 28th. A good strong-growing Pea, yielding 

 a good crop of large, well-filled pods, of very good quality. It 

 gi-ewwith me 5 feet in height. A very useful standard variety. 



DilUstone's Prolific, sown November 12th ; in bloom May 

 5th; gathered June 14th. A rather slender-growing variety, 

 the pods short and well-filled with Peas ef good quality. Its 

 coming into use a few days earlier than the preceding is a point 

 in its favour, but it soon ceases to produce. Height about 

 3 feet. 



DilUstone's Prolific, sown February 5th ; in bloom May 23rd ; 

 gathered June 26th. Much stronger than those sown in Novem- 

 ber ; larger pods and Peas. I think it is a very good early 

 variety, growing 3 feet high. 



Double-Blossomed Frame, sown February 23rd ; in bloom 

 June 14th ; gathered July 18th. An old but useful kind, which 

 bears hard usage and yields a good crop of very fair quality. 

 Grows about 5 feet high. 



Prizetaker, sown February 23rd ; in bloom June :i'3nd ; 

 gathered July 18th. A most excellent crop of first-rate quality ; 

 fine pods, well filled. It must be used young. One of the best 

 second-early Peas, growing with us about 6 feet in height. 



Prince.-'s Royal, sown April 9th ; in bloom July Ist ; gathered 

 July 27th. One of the finest crops I ever saw. A strong- 

 growing Pea bearing almost to the ground fine large pods, 

 generally well filled with fine large Peas of good quality. It 

 very much resembles Veitch's Perfection ; it continues long 

 in bearing, and grows about 4 feet high. 



Yorkshire Hero, sown April 9th ; in bloom July 1st; gathered 

 July 27th. A very dwarf-growing variety of strong habit, 

 podded nearly to the ground, very prolific ; continues to give a 

 succession of fine Peas for a length of time. An acquisition 

 to those who have a difficulty in obtaining stakes. Height 



2 feet. 



Veitch's Perfection, sown April 2Cth; in bloom July 13th; 

 gathered August 5th. One of the very best Peas in cultivation ; 

 a strong grower, producing large, well-filled pods. The Peas 

 large, tender, sugary, and of first-rate quality. About 4 feet 

 in height. 



Ne Plus Ultra, sown May 9th ; in bloom July 27th ; gathered 

 August 23rd. A very tine, tall-growing Pea, with large, well- 

 filled pods. The Peas when cooked of a beautiful green colour, 

 so desirable in first-class Peas. The height this Pea attains 



