16 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTDBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. 



[ January 4, 1877. 



the most generally known of the family ; it has a Ehnbarb-like 

 appearance, and by some the acrid stalks are eaten. The 

 Ganneras are what are termed coarse-growing plants, and to 

 Bome tastes may be unsightly, but where change and diversity 

 of foliage are required in large borders, shrubberies, and out- 

 of-the-way places they are suitable plants. They are increased 

 by division in spring, and if they have the same treatment 

 afforded that ia given to Khubarb there need be no fear of 

 their not succeeding. Large clnmps in woodland walks and 

 by the margins of water are very bold and imposing.— Vebitas. 



FLOWERING PELAEGONIUMS IN WINTER. 



Our collection of Geraniums has proved of so much value to 

 ns since the beginning of October until now, and apparently 

 will continue equally valuable for some time yet, that we can- 

 not refrain from recalling attention tn the qualities the Gera- 

 nium possesses as a winter flowerer. Until the end of Novem- 

 ber Geraniums of different shades of colour, from pure white 

 to the darkest maroon crimson, were almost the only flowering 

 plants on the side stages of the conservatory ; a few Epacrises 

 and foliage plants being intermixed to avoid tameness in the 

 arrangements. We have now a goodly number of Chinese 

 Primroses, the earliest Cyclamens, Roman Hyacinths, &o., to 

 take the place of the earliest flowered Geraniums ; but those 

 Btill in flower attract most attention from visitors. One of the 

 vineries has also been nearly filled with plants more or less in 

 flower during the above-mentioned period, so that we have 

 been at no loss for plenty of flowers of the brightest kind. We 

 liave a pretty good collection of Chrysanthemums in flower, 

 mostly in a late Peach house, and very interesting they are ; 

 iut as long as the Geraniums are to the fore, with many of 

 them with trusses of bloom as large as the individual blooms 

 of the Chrysanthemums, the latter hold only a secondary posi- 

 tion with us. Fine as they areas plants for decorating conser- 

 vatories and show houses, they are probably even more useful 

 when cut for mixing with other flowers in epergnes, glasses for 

 rooms, and for dinner-table arrangements. At the present 

 time Chrysanthemums and Geraniums form the staple of the 

 ■cut flowers we use; both kinds are arranged so as to stand en- 

 tirely free from other flowers, so that not only are the beauties 

 of the flowers thoroughly open to view, but the time they last 

 fresh in a cat state is wonderfully extended. Large trusses we 

 employ mostly singly in glasses, merely adding a Geranium 

 !eaf or a spray of Fern as a setting. From about the 25th of 

 2^ovember I find the pips are less subject to damp-off than 

 they are for a month before that date ; in fact, if the plants 

 merely have suilioient water to keep them healthy, a full open 

 truss may be expected to keep in good condition for nearly a 

 month, and two or three weeks longer in a cat state if not 

 allowed to remain too long on the plant before cutting. 



As already mentioned, one of the vineries has been nearly 

 filled with plants ; it is a late Hamburgh honse, and up to this 

 date there are still leaves on the Vines and some fruit hanging. 

 Under these disadvantages the Geraniums have not only 

 bloomed well, but flower trusses are still forming on many of 

 the plants and opening every day. We may also note that 

 Bome of the newer kinds which were planted out on trial and 

 potted into 5 and Oinch pots in the beginning of October, 

 have done us good service, some of the finest trusses lately 

 developed being on these plants. Every individual plant is 

 allowed clear standing room, and arranged on the stages with- 

 out raising the plants higher than they have grown. Every 

 plant is thus directly under the eye, and no harm is done 

 them from overcrowding — a point of importance. 

 ■'; Now as to varieties. We have added about seventy varieties 

 to our collection during the past year, and have been tempted 

 io try a few more of the new sorts this next spring. After 

 that we intend to select and keep only the best ; but this is a 

 Jiffioult thing to do unless one is thoroughly imbued with the 

 spirit of the Auricula fancier Alpbonse Karr paints so graphi- 

 cally. Though one may not have such perfect-shaped pips as 

 it might have, still the truss may be fine or the colour unique; 

 or though the truss may be a long way off the " baby's head " 

 standard, yet the form of the pips or freeness in blooming may 

 hold one's hand from utterly destroying those found wanting 

 in other respects. The varieties we name below we can 

 thoroughly recommend as good for the purpose of sapplyicg 

 blooms during the dreariest months of the year. Vesuvius 

 &nd other small-trassing varieties we have found wanting ; 

 those that have given most aatiefaotion in all respects are 

 the larger-trussing kinds, some ot the newer sorts being re- 



markably free flowerers. It is somewhat curious that the 

 darkest crimson flowers and the pnrple-shaded varieties are 

 the best late-blooming kinds; the deep-shaded, large-trussed 

 pinks are the kinds least adapted for very late work; light 

 pinks, scarlets, and salmon-shaded flowers being useful, but 

 not BO good as those possessed of the first-mentioned shades 

 of colonr. Of the dark crimson, purple, and cherry-shaded 

 flowers the following have been best : Earl Manvers, Mrs. 

 Huish, Brutus, Jessica, Colonel Holden, General Ontram, 

 Diana (the most useful). Purple Prince, John Fellowes. From 

 amongst the scarlet shades the following are recommended : 

 A. F. Barron, Mrs. J. George, Sir John Moore. Some of the 

 small-trussed kinds with scarlet flowers, though not so showy, 

 are good for cutting from and save the others : we note Mrs. 

 Leacroft, Mrs. Whiteley, De Lesseps, and Richard Dean as 

 good, the first three more especially. Princess of Wales is 

 much liked at this season ; it is rosy-scarlet in colour. Onr 

 best pink is still Master Christine. Mrs. Qailter is also good 

 for late flowering. Metoalf is also a good sort ; but the best 

 large-trussed varieties, as previously noted, do not succeed. 

 Polly King, a salmon-shaded flower, is one of the very best. 

 Bev. S. Hey is a good companion flower. White Perfection ia 

 still a good white-floweriug kind. White Swan proves a late 

 bloomer and verv pore, but the trasses are very small. Of 

 the above. Earl Manvers, Diana, Sir John Moore, and Princess 

 of Wales should be grown in quantity, as they will keep on 

 flowering when all other kinds we know are over. — E. P. 

 BBOinEKsiONE (in The Gardener). 



NOTES ON VILLA, and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



Kitchen Garden. — With the beginning of the new vear, if the 

 weather should prove drier, gardening operations will begin to 

 revive. Not only will it be necessary to sow seeds for the early 

 outdoor crops, but I fear before that can be done much lost time 

 will have t« be made up on account of past delay through the 

 continued wet. About this iieigbbourhood amateurs are be- 

 ginning to be anxious about their soil not being trenched; but 

 then I consider it is much beHer not to interfere with it while 

 so fully charged with water. When it is convenient to work it 

 I advise its being ridged instend of flut-digging it. Eidgingnot 

 only exposes the soil more, but water will drain and dry from it 

 better than if the surface is left level. The plan of leaving the 

 digging of tbe soil till the time of planting is fast being given 

 up, even by the humble cottager. The importance of preparing 

 the soil beforehand is now generally ailmitted. The farmers 

 about here, whose land is highly rented, find it profitable to 

 adopt a system of deeper cultivation than orce prevailed. The 

 same system may be applied to a gardtn; therefore as soon as 

 dry enough dig the soil deeply, and if manure is to be added 

 let it be much more decomposed than is usually the case when 

 digging is done in tbe autumn. The soil is so beaten down with 

 heavy rains that it should, when a little dry on the surface, be 

 lightly stirred up between young growing crops. 



I advise the sowing now of Early Mazagan or Early Lonepod 

 BeauB.also Peas, on a border exposed to the south. Sutton's Ring- 

 leader. Kentiph luvicta, Laxton's Alpha, and William I. are good 

 early Peas. The latter is the strongeFt grower and is a good 

 cropper. Tbe seed should be sown in shallow drills at this time, or 

 it is liable to rot. Those who desire early Carrots should sow seed 

 in a frame at once. A deep frame ia necefsary so that the dung 

 may be put inside, and as it is to be dfeply covered with soil it 

 need not be previously heated so much as if for Cacumbers. I 

 generally make a sowing at this timp in rows as near the glass 

 as reasonable, sowing between the Carrots rows of Radishes. 

 These come off in time to allow the Carrots the necessary room. 

 Continue to place Asparagus roots in frames if a succession is 

 wanted. On the surface of this I also sow Radishes. Both the 

 above vegetables require gentle heat. 



The ground allotted for Onions must, if it has been previously 

 prepared, be forked over again the first ovportunity. While the 

 weather is mild plenty of air must be admitted to Cauliflowers 

 in hand-lights and frames, for if they prow too large before the 

 lime for planting-out the check causfd by that operation turns 

 them into " buttons." Lettuces at the fronts of walls must be 

 looked after, as slugs are very busy, and if a little lime and soot 

 is applied occasionally to the surface, and pointed-in it will be 

 beneficial. Prepare all kinds of soils and manures likely to be 

 wanted when fine weather comes, and the work at that busy 

 pr-riod will be expedited. 



rituiT Garden. — Pruning Vines would appear to bo one of 

 the most difficult operations for an amateur to do well, not so 

 much perhaps from a want of knowledge, but from a fear of using 

 tbe knife too freely. I notice in many small houses that too 

 many rods are grown. In some cases they are'uot much more 

 than a foot apart. Now the Vine is very accommodating, but it 

 can be oveicrowded. The rods ought to be 3 feet apart, so that 



