208 



JOURMIL OP HOBTICTJLTDRK AND COTTAGK GARDENER. 



[ March 22, 1877. 



if the shoots are thinned and manure ia applied to the plants 

 the flower heads will increase to 4 or 6 inches in diameter ; 

 bat if the stoutest of the shoots are strnok and the plants are 

 grown thinly in rich soil, heads of flowers are produced not 

 less than a foot to 18 iachea across. It is when thus grown 

 that the plants are so attractive. 



They are effective as bedding plants for massing; as border 

 plants for associating in mixture with other flowers ; as shrub- 

 bery plants for planting in lines and spaces at the front of 

 evergreens ; and as pot plants for vases, balconies, terraces, 

 and even conservatory decoration. 



As bedding plants I hava never seen them grown so 'ijell or 

 produce such an impoeing effect as in the ducal garden of 

 Drumlanrig. In that grand garden where all flowers are grown 

 by a master in the art of cultivation none are grown finer than 

 this Sedum, and no beds command more attention than those 

 oooupied wholly with this fine old hardy herbaceous plant. The 

 surfaces of large beds as 1 have seen them were as level as the 

 smoothest lawn — a sea of rosy pink without a ripp'e. Anyone 

 may have beds similarly fine by adopting the same mode of 

 caltare — namely, young plants thinly planted and strongly 

 grown in rich soil. Sach plants are also valuable for mixed 

 beds, borders, or shrubberies, and transplant freely at almost 

 any time during the growing season — even " on a pinch" when 

 the flowers are expanding. 



At another place in the north — Archerfield— plants are 

 grown in great excellence in pots for placing on balconies and 

 other exposed positions. Plants in 8 and 10-inch pots with as 

 many heads of rosy flowers are well worth the trouble of pro- 

 ducing, and will resist the effects of sun, rain, or wind better 

 than most plants. When thus grown the shoota require to be 

 thinned-out, and the soil strong and rich, manure water being 

 applied freely, the pots being plunged in an open place after 

 the manner of growing Chrysanthemums. The Sedums re- 

 quire staking, so as to afford room for the expansion of the 

 heads and to p -event them being broken by their weight 

 during boisterous weather. Smaller plants in 5-inoh pots are 

 useful for plunging in vases and for furnishing ornamental 

 groups in corridors or other draughty positions ; also for 

 window-sills and similar exposed places— in fact, as Mr. Record 

 remarked, these plants " can hardly be put out of place." 



By potting a few plants early and growing them under glass 

 they flower several weeks earlier than their natural season, 

 which is August, September, and October. They are valuable 

 conservatory plants at any season when well grown. Being 

 suooulent in their nataro copious supplies of water are neces- 

 sary to bring them to perfection. 



S. spectabile variegatum is one of the most charming hardy 

 " foliage " plants we possess, and it ia worthy of a place in all 

 gardens and greenhouses. It is constant in its variegation, 

 «nd always attracts when seen in good condition. 



S. spectabile purpureum has darker flowers than the species 

 fPabaria syu. spectabile) and flowers somewhat later, and is 

 a plant worth cultivating; and S. atro-purpureum is distinct, 

 also attractive, by its very dark foliage and fine corymbs of 

 purplish flowers ; this and the variegated typs grown together 

 afford a fine contrast. As generally seen these Sedums are 

 half-starved : cultivite them and they will amply reward by 

 their massive heads of chastely-tinted flowers — striking with- 

 out being gaudy, massive without being coarse. —.T. S. P , 

 North Britain. 



last week in August or first week in September. Peas inNovem- 

 ber, the end of February, and at intervals during the next 

 four months; French Beans, which may be sown in the open 

 ground during April, May, June, July, and August, and under 

 glass the remainder of the year. It is chiefly amongst Greens 

 and salads that the easiest successions are to be found. Cab- 

 bage must be sown the first week in August, early in March, 

 and in April and May; Cauliflower must be sown at the end of 

 August, early in February, and at monthly interv.ils until July ; 

 Broccoli, which supplies the connecting all-the-year-round 

 link with Cauliflower, must be sown during March, April, and 

 May; Brussels Sprouts and Savoys may be sown at the same 

 time ; Parsley in March and Jane ; Turnips from March until 

 the end of July, when the winter crop is sown ; Asparagus, 

 Bhubarb, and Seakale in March ; Celery in heat in March, and 

 again in April ; Cos Lettuce should be sown for summer use 

 in March, April, May, June, and July ; and the Cabbage sorts 

 in August and September for winter and spring use; Endive 

 from April to August. Radishes may be sown once amonth 

 all throughout the year, but in the winter time they must 

 have the protection of a frame. The same remarks apply to 

 Mustard and Cress. The quantity of every vegetable sown 

 must be regulated by the demand, but whether that be large 

 or small a sowing of everything in its season shonld be made 

 every twelve or fifteen days. — A Kitchen Gakdenek. 



A SDCCESSION OP VEGETABLES. 



Great attention is often paid to keeping up a long suoceFsion 

 of Grapes, Peaches, and other fruits under glass, and it ia 

 considered to be a matter of no ordinary importance to have 

 Grapes "all the year round;" but I consider it is quite as 

 creditable to have a good supply of vegetables of different sorts 

 all the year round. This does not always have the attention 

 it deserves, and even in large gardens there is often a glut of 

 vegetables at one time and a scarcity at another. This is the 

 result, to a great extent, of making too large a sowing and 

 planting of a crop at one time. I have been rather fortunate 

 in securing a lengthy succession of vegetables, which I attribute 

 to attention in sowing the seed, and also m Eolecling sorts 

 for succession. 



No better time than the present could be chosen to begin 

 arranging for a succession of vegetables all the year round. 

 Beetroot, Parsnips, C.irrots, S'llsafy, Scorzonera, and Leeks 

 need only be sown once, and these crops cannot be sown too 

 Boon now. Onions may be sown now, and again during the 



FUCHSIA CULTURE. 



Few plants can equal Fuchsias for profusion of bloom when 

 well grown, and few plants are easier to cultivate; still one 

 often meets with plants falling somewhat short of that grace- 

 fulness of habit and abundance of bloom which ought to 

 characterise a well-grown specimen. Fuchsias, like Radishes, 

 are the better for being grown quickly, and without any extra- 

 ordinary effort plants 3 feet high and as many through can be 

 grown in one season. 



Cuttings procured now, if short and strong, will soon strike 

 iu a close genial heat. The young growths should be taken off 

 from 1 to 2 inches long and inserted in pots in which a large 

 proportion of silver sand has been incorporated with the soil. 

 These if placed in a propagating case or warm frame (such aa 

 a Cucumber bed at work) will root very readily, and in about 

 a fortnight they may be potted-off into CO's, returning them to 

 the frame again for a time, when they will soon require a 

 second shift. This being done and the plants growing well it 

 is time to consider about the training, some sorts forming an 

 agreeable pyramidal shape without much stopping, while othera 

 are stronger growers and require stopping frequently to bring 

 them into the desired shape. A pyramidal shape supported 

 with one stout stick iu the centre has the most natural ap- 

 pearance, though I have seen and grown them in a bush-like 

 form ; but bushes lack the gracefulness of perfectly symmetrical 

 pyramids, the blooms hanging down over the pots so as to 

 almost cover them. 



At their second shift the plants will require to have short 

 stakes placed to support and train the leader to, and should 

 side shoots not form freely the leader should be stopped when- 

 ever 8 or 10 inches of growth are made ; this gives strength 

 to the side shoots and lays a good foundation for the plant. 

 Repot whenever the roots have reached the sides of the pots, 

 being very particular that they never become pot-bound, which 

 is sure to throw them into bloom (of cour.ie if bloom is required 

 in a small state it is not necessary to repot as advised). 

 Attention must at all times through the growing period be 

 paid to shading, watering, and keeping up a moist temperature 

 of 50' to 0')', which suits them admirably, and iu which they 

 mnke most rapid growth. They will require syringing at least 

 twice aday, and the floors and stages must be frequently 

 damped if the weather is at all hot. I often, when they are 

 growing well and have made plenty of roots, water them over- 

 head with a coarse-rosed wateroan — a drenching which they 

 seem to delight in. 



The soil that suits them best is equal parts of good fibry 

 loam and leaf soil or old hotbed manure (in which a great pro- 

 portion of leaves has been used in the making), and a plentiful 

 sprinkling of coarse silver sand, the whole well mixed together ; 

 plenty of drainage must be provided, and a layer of moss over 

 the crocks will prevent the drainage from becoming choked. 

 Liquid manure is beneficial when the i^lants are growing freely; 

 it should be given two or three times a- week provided it is not 

 very strong; weak and often is the safest plan. With this 

 treatment Fuchsias will be found to do well and make hand- 



