176 



JODENAL OF HOBTIOUIiTOEB AJSD COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ March 11, 1869. 



may he placed together in one pot, according to the size of the 

 specimens required. I have seen named varieties in the hands 

 of good cnltivatora grown into as fine specimens as cetdlinge ; 

 they require more care, however, and more easily fail into an 

 unhealthy state. 



The best method for ordinary purposes is to grow seedlings, 

 as large specimen plants can be obtained from seed in lees than 

 twelve months. The seed may either be saved at home from 

 the best varieties, which is the snrest way to secure a good 

 stock, or by purchasing from a respectable nurseryman. A 

 good time to sow is in June for early flowering, and in the 

 beginning of August for late flowering. The seeds are very 

 small, and a half-crown packet does not contain a large quantity 

 of them. They must, therefore, be carefully sown. The best 

 way known to me to do this is to prepare a compost of two 

 parts loam to one of leaf mould, with a liberal proportion of 

 silver sand ; then take a clean pot or pan, and put plenty of 

 crocks in, covering with a little moss to prevent the compost 

 irem mixing with them. Fill the pot three parts full of the 

 compost, the portion near the surface being passed through a 

 £ne sieve, sow the seed thinly on an even surface, and cover it 

 lightly with silver sand. A little damp moss must be placed 

 on the surface until the seeds vegetate, when it may be removed. 

 I generally place the pot in a shady part of the greenhouse. 

 The young plants will appear above ground in a fortnight or 

 less, when they must be carefully protected from the direct 

 lays of the sun, and sheltered from drying winds ; an hour's 

 sunshine will shrivel up the young plants in July or August. 



As soon as the young plants can be handled they ought to 

 be potted singly in 60-sized pots, using the same compost as 

 that described above. The best place for the plants is a position 

 near the glass ; they must still be shaded and sheltered from 

 wind as before, and kept free from green fly. This is the worst 

 enemy of the Calceolaria, and the best method to free the 

 plants from it is to smoke the house with tobacco until the fly 

 is all destroyed. Some cultivators recommend dipping the 

 plants in a solution of an insect-destroying compound, but, 

 whatever system is pursued, the fly must be effectually de- 

 stroyed, otherwise the plants will do no good. 



If the plants are in a healthy state they will soon require 

 shifting into larger pots. At this time one-sixth part of rotted 

 cow manure should be added to the compost, using loam of a 

 iurfy nature. They will require to be shifted twice more after 

 this, using for the last shift pots of from 8 to 10 inches in 

 diameter inside measure. In March and April the flower stalks 

 will be growing upwards, and will require to be neatly staked- 

 out, using small sticks about 18 inches long, more or leas, 

 according to the appearance of the plants.— J. Docglas. 



GENTIANS. 



Among neglected flowers may be included the Gentians, 

 some of which are natives of our own land, others from far-ofi 

 countries. To cultivate them all would take up a large space 

 of ground, supposing they could all be brought together. Some 

 of them are of robust habit, others are of very diminutive 

 stature, but all are beautiful. Perhaps a few remarks upon 

 some of them may not be out of place at this season, as several 

 of them may be found among the flowers of spring. I think 

 they ought more frequently to be met with. They are not a 

 very difiicult race to cultivate, but require care and looking- 

 after. 



Gentiana acaidis is that most frequently met with, and will 

 iear almost any amount of hard usage. I have seen it used as 

 an edging to walks instead of Box, and though often trampled 

 upon and wheeled upon by the careless, yet it might be seen 

 in the spring presenting its large handsome flowers to the sun. 

 I remember seeing, some years ago, in the centre of a flower 

 garden in a very dry situation, a large bed planted with Gen- 

 tiana acaulis, and in spring it was for a length of time a mass 

 of bloom ; indeed, it was so prized for its beauty in spring 

 that it was suffered to remain. Tho impression which it made 

 upon me will not easily be effaced from my memory. During 

 dry weather the appearance of the bed was anything but 

 pleasing, for the plants looked as if dead, but when rain came 

 they revived, the plant being very tenacious of life. This 

 Gentian is said to esiat in some of the Welsh counties, but I 

 have not seen it in its mountain home ; it will grow in almost 

 any soil or situation, but does not bloom so freely in the shade. 



Gentiana alj)i)ia is said to be a variety of G. acaulis ; it is a 

 loyely flower, but has much smaller blooms and of a lighter 



colour. It is an acquisition to our spring flowers, and like the 

 former does well in most places. 



Gentiana pncumonantlic is another native beauty, to be met 

 with on some of our moist peat moors. Its large pale blue 

 bell-like flowers peeping out from among the grass and Heather, 

 are a sight worth seeing. It is best cultivated in a moist peat 

 border, but it may be grown in pots. Its roots require a 

 moderately moist soil in which water does not stagnate, and 

 when planted in the border moss or some other material 

 should bo placed over the roots to protect them from drought. 

 If grown in pots they should be plunged over the rims in a 

 rather shady place. There is a white variety, but it is seldom 

 met with, though very desirable on account of the variety 

 which it affords when planted along with the blue-flowered 

 kind. They are very beautiful. 



Gentiana hararica is a charming plant which is a little taller 

 then Gentiana verna. It is at home among moist turfy peat 

 mixed with coarse sand or freestone. Its flowers being of sm 

 intense and very brilliant blue, it deserves extensive cultivation. 

 Gentiana ciliata is a very desirable plant}, growing 8 or 

 10 inches high, and flowering in spikes. The flowers are of a 

 pretty blue and fringed, wh latter circumstance adds con- 

 siderably to their beauty. 1 grows well in a mixture of 

 mellow loam and limestone, requires good drainage, and shonld 

 be kept moderately dry during the winter. 



Gentiana lutca is a first-rate herbaceous plant for borders, 

 growing 2 or 3 feet high, producing whorls of fine yellow 

 flowers, and large handsome foliage. It is very desirable, but 

 seldom met with, and being of easy culture is an acquisition 

 to any collection. 



Gentiana nivalis is another little gem. It is of diminutive 

 habit, growing from 2 to -1 inches high, and has flowers of an 

 intense sky blue. It delights in a rich fibrous loam, with a 

 little sandy peat. Being an annual it is of easy culture, and 

 well repays the little labour bestowed, 



Gentiana amarella, another annual and native Gentian, may 

 be met with in many parts. I have seen acres of ground on 

 the great magnesian limestone ridge which runs through York- 

 shire, studded with this plant, and its different colours, when 

 seen in such masses, have a very fine effect. The colours varying 

 from dull purple to almost white, a mixed patch in the border 

 is very pretty. It attains from -1 inches to 1 foot in height, 

 and is of a pleasing pyramidal habit. It is of easy culture, 

 succeeding best in a mixture of strong loam and limestone. 



Gentiana frigida is another charming plant seldom met with, 

 its flowers being white ; it is very desirable for borders. It 

 grows from 4 to 8 inches high, and succeeds well in a mixture 

 of peat and loam in a moderately dry situation. 



Gentiana verna is another star of the train that must not be 

 omitted ; though one of the least it is one of the most con- 

 spicuons of the family, and perhaps more interest is attached 

 to it than to any other Gentian. Who has ever looked on this 

 beautiful native flower decking our mountain pastures, and not 

 been struck with admiration ? Those who have not seen it in 

 Teesdale, studding acres with its lovely flowers, can have no 

 conception of the impression that it makes on ihe lover of 

 nature ; and I would refer anyone desiring more information 

 on the subject to Baines's " Yorkshire Flora," where there is 

 a most interesting account of the Teesdale flora, which in- 

 cludes some of our choicest native plants. 



Gentiana verna may be successfully cultivated in a peat 

 border or in pots ; it does not suffer in a slightly shaded situ- 

 ation, but must not be allowed to want moisture. When it is 

 planted out, I have found it good practice to place stones or 

 pieces of slate round the plants in dry weather. It succeeds 

 well in a compost of hazel loam, sandy peat, pebbles, and 

 charcoal dust. Good drainage ie esBential. Its lovely flowers 

 will repay early in summer any labour bestowed upon it. 



There are many other interesting Gentians. The dwarfer 

 kinds are all well adapted for roekwork, the taller ones for the 

 borders. — M. H., Acklam Hall, Middleshrough-on-Tces. 



POMOLOGICAL GLEANINGS. 

 Australian Apeicots. — In Dilke's " Greater Britain," we 

 often find him giving his opinion on fruits. In vol. ii., he 

 writes from Bohure, on his way to the lilurray Eiver — "The 

 week before my visit, some ri^ie Oats had been cut down to 

 stubble by the hot wind. On the other hand, the Victorian 

 Apricots, shrivelled by the hot wind, are so many lumps ol 

 crystallised nectar, when you pierce their thick outer coats." 



