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JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



( Marcli 22, 16iT. 



A FLOBAii treat has lately beeu afforded by Messrs. 



Veitch & Sons to the inhabitants residing in the neighbonr- 

 hood of the Coombe Wood Nursebies. It is there where the 

 renowned Hyacinths are grown preparatory to being exhibited, 

 and previona to the departure of the plants for Chelsea they 

 were open to inspection. We happened to see the plants when 

 they were being prepared for removal. Each spike was care- 

 fully supported with a stake of stout wire bent near the bottom 

 so that it could be inserted in the soil below the bulb. The 

 bells were carefully arranged, a few being removed where 

 too crowded, and the pots were placed in others an inch or 

 two larger and the surfaces neatly mossed. The improve- 

 ment resulting from the " dressing " as performed by Mr. Hill, 

 the skilful grower of the plants, was very decided. The quality 

 of the spikes has never been surpassed. Out of X200 plants 

 it would be difficult to find a dozen not suitable for exhibition. 

 The first plant in the house, Lord Derby, we measured and 

 found the spike to be nearly 14 inches in circnmference. We 

 will not now particularise the varieties, which are of the best. 

 The forced Roses and Clematises are also in admirable con- 

 dition. Indeed the nursery generally, which is highly pic- 

 turesque, is in a superior state throngbont. 



We recently saw growing vigorously ia the soil of a 



Geranium pot at Messrs. Eollisson's Nurseries the curious 

 parasitic plant Okobanche major. The two Asparagus-like 

 heads of the parasite were just expanding their flowers, and 

 the Geranium appeared to be in the best of health, notwith- 

 standing the supposed pernicious eSects of this parasite on 

 plants growing near it. 



• — - Gabeya elliptica is generally considered of doubtful 

 hardiness, hence it is deemed desirable to afford it a warm 

 situation or a wall with a south aspect. We were pleased to 

 see two plants forming the background of a drinking fountain 

 in the village of Easington, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, 

 with very healthy deep green foliage, and bearing their graoe- 

 fal long pale green catkins profusely. The plants are about a 

 yard high, but their health and drooping catkins struck us as 

 noteworthy, and not less the peculiar fitness of the plants for 

 the position occupied, anything drooping associating well with 

 water, whilst the dark foliage stood out in bold relief to the 

 masonry. The plants have no shelter except a low Thorn or 

 Quick hedge to the north. 



There is a very simple way of avoiding the disagree- 

 able smoke and qas which always pours into the room when a 

 fire is lit in a stove, heater, or fireplace on a damp day. Put 

 in the wood and coal as usual, but before lighting them ignite 

 a handful of paper or shavings placed on the tup of the coal. 

 This produces a current of hot air in the chimney, which draws 

 up the smoke and gas at once. Not one person out of fifty, 

 says the Scientific American, ever thinks of this easy expedient. 



The correspondent at Alexandria of the Daily News 



writes : You will be glad to receive an account of the remark- 

 able discovery of a new cotton plant, which, from all reason- 

 able appearances, is destined in a very lew years to jreate 

 quite a revolution in the cotton agriculture and business of 

 Egypt. Signer Giaoomo Russi, the Austrian consular agent 

 in the most important cotton district, has published an in- 

 teresting account of the discovery of the new plant. It was 

 discovered on the cultivated property of a Copt in the Menutia 

 district about two years ago. It was found among other cotton 

 plants, and at once attracted attention by its different appear- 

 ance and also by bearing more pods. Next year he ascertained 

 beyond all doubt that the produce was of a superior quality, 

 and that its cultivation in Egypt presented no difficulty. So 

 much interest was excited by the discovery that the small 

 quantity of seed that could be collected was sold at twelve 

 Egyptian sovereigns the ardeb — a high price when it is remem- 

 bered that the very best seed of other cotton never exceeds £1 

 per ardeb. Signor Ilusei mentions that by many people the 

 plant is supposed to be the growth of seed imported from the 

 Brazils, while others think it the result of a mere chance com- 

 bination of mixed seed. Signor Russi does not accept either 

 view, and proceeds to describe the plant as having a long stem 

 and being without branches, so that a good deal of space is 

 saved in cultivation, to the advantage of course of the cultivator. 

 The new plant bears on an average from forty-five to fifty pods, 

 whereas the usual cotton plant averages from twenty-five to 

 thirty-five. 



Writinc. to us on favourite trees a correspondent 



states the last house inhabited by John Milton was in Queen 

 Anne's Gate, Westminster, overlooking the Green Park. In 



demolishing the house the stone tablet erected to his memory ' 

 and affixed to the wall by Jeremy Bentham, who afterwards 

 occupied the next premises, has been carefully preserved. It 

 is about 2 feet square, and bears the following inscription: — 

 " Sacred to Milton, Prince of Poets." It is said that when- 

 Bentham took visitors to view the house he compelled them to- 

 kneel before the slab. The Mulberry tree planted by Milton, 

 which was bo severely scorched at the fire at Mr. Hankey's, is 

 fairly recovered, and that gentleman, who is carrying out the. 

 work of demolition and the erection of colossal mansions on 

 the sites, is extremely anxious as to its welfare. The Ash tree 

 in Beaconsfield churchyard, beneath which Edmund Waller 

 rests, is well preserved. Shakespeare's Mulberry tree and Rons- 

 seau's Walnut tree are all renowned. 



Now that forced flowers play such an important part 



in the decoration of conservatories during the spring months, 

 the value for that purpose of the Japanese Azaleas (A. moUis) 

 must not be overlooked. A. mollis was raised from seeds im-^ 

 ported from Japan by C. Maximowicz. To the late Mr. Van- 

 Houtte must be ascribed the honour of distributing this tribe 

 of Azaleas in several fine varieties, and which are gradually 

 finding their way into many gardens. The flowers are mush 

 larger than those of the Ghent Azaleas, and are varied ki 

 colour, the plants producing dense masses of flower. A 

 few fine varieties which we have recently seen are Comte de 

 Gomer, rose, orange spots; C. Francois Lnppis, rose shaded 

 with magenta ; Comte de Quincey, yellow ; M. Charles Van.' 

 Wambeke, orange and rose ; Alphonse Lavallee, orange and 

 scarlet ; and Dr. Leon Vignes, white spotted with orange. 

 They are quite hardy. 



Few flowers are more valued during the winter monthe. 



than white Camellias, and one of the finest that has recently 

 come under our notice is La Vestale as exhibited at South 

 Kensington by Mr. Charles Turner. Although this was placed 

 in a stand with other white blooms its purity, smoothness, and 

 superior texture of petal were conspicuous and greatly admired. 

 If the plant is as free iu growth as the flower is good in quality 

 it must take a foremost place in choice collections of these- 

 winter flowers. 



The total amount that has been contributed in re- 

 sponse to the appeal made by Mr. Luckhurst on behalf of the 

 widow and eight young children of the late T. C. Sage, who by 

 his sadden death were left totally unprovided for, is £32 14s. 6iJ> 

 This sum has been handed to Mrs. Sage, who is most grateful, 

 and earnestly desires to express her heartfelt thanks for the 

 kindness and sympathy shown to her in her great distress and 

 sorrow. Subscribers to the fund will be glad to learn that the 

 money has been applied to the opening of a small shop for the 

 sale of toys and fancy goods at 0, Crown Road, Fnlham, and 

 that, notwithstanding Mrs. Sage's delicate health, the venture- 

 is prosperous, and is likely to continue so. 



A German journal recommends for the preservation of 



CUT flowers almost indefinitely, either singly or in bouquetSj, 

 that they be dipped in a solution of pure albumen, and after 

 allowing them to become perfectly dry that the operation be 

 repeated several times, each time with fiesh albumen. The- 

 white of an egg is nearly pure albumen. 



One of the most effectual of deciduous shrubs for forcing 



for conservatory decoration is the Guelder Rose (Viburnnm 

 opulus). Messrs. Veitch force many plants of it, and they 

 are in great demand for decorative purposes. Plants in S-inoh 

 pots will produce heads 2 to 3 feet iu diameter, and these when 

 covered with twenty to thirty "snowballs" are extremely 

 effective. A shrub so easily cultivated and prepared for forcing 

 should be increased and grown in all gardens where spring 

 flowers are in request and means are provided for producing 

 them. They may be grown as standards of from 2 to 6 feet in 

 height, according to the purposes for which they are required, 

 and few plants will be more conspicuous at the period of their 

 flowering — February and March onwards. 



• We have received a copy of the sixth edition of " Agkos- 



TOiiBAPHiA," a treatise on cultivated Grasses revised for the Law- 

 son Seed and Nursery Company by Mr. David Syme. Mr. Syme 

 has done his work well, having given historical notes of the 

 Grasses, with the usee and adaptations of the most important 

 species, which are also represented by coloured figures. The 

 treatise is both useful and entertaining, 



Although it has suited the purpose of some writers to 



be facetious when referring to the CuLoiurio PoiATe Beetle, 

 regarding it almost as a myth and its transit across the 



