210 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ March 31, 1670. 



more extensive cultivation than it is at present receiving. Its 

 pretty puce-coloured flowers and lance-Bhaped leaves render it 

 worthy of a place in all collections. 



F. Sieboldii is a noble-looking plant when in full foliage. In 

 a shrubbery border, not too much shaded, it is one of thefineBt- 

 foliaged border plants we have, and would almost vie with some 

 of our more expensive Palm-like plants. 



F. undulata, as its name implies, has wavy leaves, and is a 

 very desirable autumn-blooming plant. 



The Funkias are not a very extensive race, but among the 

 variegated kinds are to be found many that are possessed of 

 great attractions, which ought to secure for them places in all 

 collections where fine foliage is a desideratum. 



Fankia ovata variegata is a charming plant for edgings in a 

 sheltered situation; grown in pots and plunged, it makes a 

 splendid edging, and contrasts well with many of our dwarf 

 bedding plants. Funkia umbc-Uata variegata and Fuukia un- 

 dulata variegata are equally well adapted for the same purpose, 

 but are of rather taller habit. 



The whole family is worthy of cultivation. For pot culture, 

 when well grown, the Funkias will vie with many of our most 

 choice kinds of fine-foliaged plants ; and, besides, they are very 

 accommodating, for they will bear a good share of rough usage. 

 The hardier kinds may be planted in the borders where they 

 are to remain. They are not particular as to soil and situation, 

 but stagnant water is injurious to their well-doing, especially 

 during winter. 



I find they thrive well in a mixture of sandy loam, leaf mould, 

 and peat ; for pot culture the Eame compost may be used, with 

 the addition of a little charcoal dust. The pots should be well 

 drained, and the plants carefully watered as they may require. 

 Care should be taken that the soil in the pots do not become 

 waterlogged at any time, as that might prove very injurious. 

 A cold pit or frame in a rather shaded situation suits the 

 Funkias admirably, but they must have a free circulation of 

 air, and be sheltered from strong winds. When fully exposed 

 ■they are liable to suffer, some of their leaves being of a rather 

 delicate texture ; but they are worthy of all the care, and calcu- 

 lated to produce a gorgeous display, having an almost tropical 

 appearance. 



They are easily increased by division of the roots, after the 

 plants have had a season of rest. I find that when growth is 

 about to commence is the best time to divide them. I have not 

 been able to succeed in raising them from Beed. — M. H., Acklam 

 Hall, Middlcsbrourjh-on-Tees. 



CULTURE OF THE BLACK CURRANT. 



Can Black Currants be made to pay ? I answer, Yes ; they 

 are very profitable when grown as plantation trees. This I 

 shall endeavour to prove in the following paper. 



If possible select for the plantation moist loamy soil, as the 

 Black Currant requires plenty of moisture if at all exposed to 

 the sun; but if ground of this description cannot be obtained, 

 a good mulching of manure during the fruiting season will 

 contribute much towards securing the desired results. 



The ground should be well trenched, and plenty of manure 

 must be trenched in, or dug in afterwards near the surface ; 

 for the plant, like the Grape Vine, is a very gross feeder, and 

 should be liberally supplied. Any of the following will be 

 found useful — viz., all kinds of sewage, nightsoil, dung (and 

 the stronger the better), old sacking, cloth or woollen rags, 

 rotten leaves or fern, wood ashes, soot, or soapsuds; and even 

 sprats have been applied with the very best results. 



The ground, having been treated as recommended, will be fit 

 for planting, which should take place at as early a period as 

 convenient after the fall of the leaf, and before the trees break 

 again in spring ; but sometimes I have planted when the trees 

 were in full leaf, and with a good watering have found them 

 succeed well ; still, unless watering can be attended to, I would 

 recommend earlier planting. Plant 3 feet apart every way, 

 and in lines at right angles to each other ; an acre will there- 

 fore contain 4840 plants. My reason for planting at the above 

 distance is the following. All growers of the Black Currant 

 are aware that the finest fruit is always produced on the 

 strongest wood of last year's growth ; I would therefore cut 

 down to two or three buds every alternate tree, as shown in 

 the accompanying diagram — * • * • * in which the 

 asterisks («) represent the trees . , . » . intended to 

 produce fruit this year, and the dots those which bore last year, 

 and which have been cut down to produce strong growth for 

 bearing next year. As soon as the cut-down trees have started 



and made growths of 2 or 3 inches in length, they should bo 

 carefully looked over, and disbudded where necessary ; to grow 

 fruit successfully, never allow a shoot more than will be re- 

 quired. From this it will be seen that my motive for cutting 

 down every alternate tree is to obtain a constant succession 

 of young and strong wood, and consequently fruit of better 

 quality than would otherwise be the case. 



Large fruit being a main point, I would recommend that 

 only the largest-fruited plants be propagated, and that all the 

 trees, when in bearing, should be looked over, the largest- 

 fruited marked for propagation, and all defaulters rooted out 

 as soon as the crop is gathered. 



I know nothing more easy to propagate than I he Black Cur- 

 rant. The cuttings should be selected from the strongest wood 

 of last year's growth, should be about a foot in length, and 

 have all the lower buds taken out, leaving only three or four 

 at the top to form the head, the cuttings being quite clear of 

 buds from the ground. When planted they should be made 

 firm in the ground, especially where it is apt to get dry. 



When the leaves fall in autumn the plants intended to be 

 cut back should be pruned at once, and all vacancies filled up. 

 Also give a good dressing of any of the manures I have recom- 

 mended, and dig it in, unless the ground is very hot and dry 

 in the summer, in which case the dressing should remain on 

 the Burface to be washed in by rain. When thus left it will 

 prevent the soil from drying so rapidly as it would do when 

 fully exposed. 



If the above instructions be attended to the trees will require 

 very little attention during the summer, except keeping the 

 ground free from weeds, particularly the Bindweeds, so inju- 

 rious to fruit trees in general, by two or three good hoeings. 



From a rough calculation I find that a plantation of one 

 acre treated as described will give 2420 fruiting trees a-year, 

 and taking the yield at a quart a-tree, and the value at id. per 

 quart, the return will be £40 6s. 8d. Although I have assumed 

 the produce to be a quart per tree, I believe that a plantation 

 so treated and liberally manured, would when once established 

 produce nearer a gallon a-tree. It will therefore be per- 

 ceived that the Black Currant affords a good return for a little 

 extra attention and labour bestowed upon it. — Lancashibk 

 Subscribes. 



A FEW GOOD BICOLOR PELARGONIUMS. 



Like the Tricolors their name is legion, and while, like them, 

 all are beautiful, there are no doubt some which carry away 

 the palm from others. As I have been enabled to grow during 

 the past season most of the kinds advertised by the leading 

 raisers, I would submit the following as those which I have 

 found the most beautiful. 



1. Crown Prince. — A very beautiful-leaved variety, with deep- 

 coloured, dark bronzed chestnut zone. Leaves smooth and 

 good. 



2. Harrison We ir— Avery fine and bold-looking plant ; leaves 

 very thick, smooth, and flat ; altogether one of the best. 



3. Red Ilinrj. — A bright golden leaf with blight red chestnut 

 zone ; the leaves are very much serrated, but an excellent plant 

 for bedding purposes. 



4. Black Prince. — A fine variety, with broad chestnut zone 

 on a golden ground. 



5. Anthony.— A good variety, with light golden leaf and deep 

 reddish brown zone ; flowers salmon rose. 



6. Southern Belle. — Almost the same as Sybil. The zone is 

 very dark, and covers nearly the whole of the leaf, which is not 

 so large as in the varieties already described. It is one of Mr. 

 Morris's seedlings. 



7. Criterion. — Bright golden leaf, beautifully round and 

 smooth, with a dark brownish red zone. The habit is excellent. 



8. Plutiis. — Margin of the leaf bright yellow, with a deep 

 reddish bronze zone. 



9. Sybil. — The description given of Southern Belle will very 

 nearly apply to this very beautiful variety. 



10. Arab. — Greenish yellow ground; bright lively chestnut 

 zone, and good habit and leaf. 



11. — Duke, of Edinburgh. — A plant of very fine habit ; ser- 

 rated leaf, with deep chestnut zone. 



12. Hero of Houndstone.— Vety smooth, and excellent ill 

 foliage and habit, bearing well exposure to the weather. 



13. Prima Donna. — One of Messrs. Downie & Co.'s most 

 beautiful varieties ; margin and disk yellow, with dark red 

 bronze zone. 



I have not giren any notice of the varieties of former years, 



