«>2 



JOXJflNAL OP HOBTIOULTURB AND OOTTAGR GABDBKBB. 



I suae 17,1869. 



principal nurseries at a reanonable rate, and the prices will fall 

 as the demand increases. Kept for a long time in the nursery, 

 and but seldom called for, who can wonder that the prices should 

 be high? On the Continent they are in demand, and the 

 charges made for them are in proporlion to the cost of propa- 

 gation and growing them to a size fit for decorative purposes. 

 1 allude to this simply to show nhy the prices should be com- 

 paratively higher in this country than tbfy are in France and 

 Belgium. There is one fact wliich many overlook — namely, 

 that plants raised and grown abroad, though (hey may be 

 dheaper, are not nearly so good as those which have been 

 grown for a time at least, if not actually raised, in this country. 

 The best time for obtaining the plants is in summer, say 

 August, as the growth is then mostly formed, but when not to 

 be carried any great distance, they may be safely removed at 

 any time if protected from cold and >>uiing winds by cartful 

 packing. The worst months to move them are May and Jure, 

 for the plants are then making new growths. They ought to be 

 fresh potted when they are beginning to grow, and at no other 

 time. It is desirable to keep them in comparatively small 

 pots, as they never root freely when placed in a large mass of 

 soil; besides, for decorative purposes they never are so much 

 in request as when in pots of tmnll size, for they can then be 

 placed in vases and in positions for which large pots would be 

 tmsuitable ; therefore, keep them in as small pots as possible. 



The best time to repot is at the end ot April or beginning of 

 May, but if they begin to grow, pot them as they start. The 

 plants may be kept healthy iu the same-sized pots for two or 

 three years, and even then the shifts need not be large, for on 

 turning them out of the pots, as much of the old soil as possible 

 should be removed, and this being done the plant may be 

 placed in a pot little larger than that iu which it was pre- 

 viously growing. Good drainatje thould be given, but it must 

 not take up too much of the pot-room, and should be covered 

 with a thin layer of cocoa-nut fibre, or some of the rougher 

 parts of the compost, nfter the finer part has been sifted out. 

 In potting keep the plants rather high, not burying too much 

 of the stem, at the same time let the roots be covered with soil 

 at each repotting. The compost ought to be well worUed-iu 

 amongst the roots ; pot fiimly, but do not make the soil very 

 hard nor the surface very fine or firm, but leave it bo that water 

 and air will enter freely. 



The most suitable soil is a light peat, which is very fibrous 

 without being spongy, like that from decayed moss, and full of 

 white taud. It should be torn iu pieces wiih the hand and 

 made rather fine, using it finer for the smaller plants, and 

 Ooarser for the largest plants, but it must be used as it is, rough 

 and small together. One-third sandy fibrous loam from turf 

 not cut thicker than 1 inch may be added, and it that cannot 

 be obtained, it is well to omit loam altogether. One-fourth 

 cow dung not lees than a year old, and dry, may be added, as 

 well as one-sixth of silver sand, and the whole well mixed. 



After polling watering should be carefully attended to, not 

 giving more than enough to keep the soil moist, until the routs 

 are working in it, then water well, and when growing fietly 

 ■copious 6uppli<is of water should be given so as to encourage 

 igrowth. When the growths are complete the soil should be 

 kept moist, inclining to dryness in winter. After the plants aie 

 potted, and are beginning to grow, the atmosphere can hardly 

 be kept too moist. Do not syringe over the foliage in the heat 

 of the day, but sprinkle the paths and walls. The plants 

 may be syringed overhead morning and evening, the water 

 being distributed so as to resemble a gentle shower. Syring- 

 ing may be discontinued after the leaves are full sized, for if 

 persevered in too long the foliage may become brown. 



When the plants are commencing to grow, keep the atmo- 

 ilphere rathir close, but still give air eaily enough iu the day 

 to dry the foliage before the sun shines powerfully on the 

 house, which should be closed early iu the afternoon iu order to 

 -economise the sun heat as much as possible. When the growths 

 are maturing, abundance of air and light should be given iu 

 order to perfect them , and to give the leaves that leathery texture 

 and dark green appearance which add so much to the beauty 

 of Palms. Prom March to July or August when the Palms are 

 in a groiving state, slight shading from very hot sun is neces- 

 sary. For this purpose nothing is better than whitening, 

 brought to the consistency of thin paint viith milk, and laid 

 over the glass with a brush. 



The tempprature at night from April to August should be 

 from 60° to 65°, and in June, for the stove species, 70° ; by day 

 it may he from 70° to 75° without sun, and 80°, 85°, 90°, or 

 more, with sun and abundance of air, avoiding cold currents. 



In winter it may be 55° at night, and C0° duiing the early 

 autumn and late summer months. Tie day temperature need 

 not exceed 00° or 65° from fire heat, and 70° or 75° with Bnn. 

 The majority of Palms will succeed in a winter temperature of 

 50°, it the atmos] here he lept dry, and the soil not made wet; 

 and iu rooms they will retain their freshness frcm September 

 to April it the leaves be sponged every three or four weeks, 

 supplying water at a temperature of about 60°, so as to keep 

 the foliage from beconiiug limp. At the end of March they 

 should be placed in heat to start thtm, and kept there until a 

 good growth is well matured. 



The greenhouse sorts will require a winter temperatnre of 

 from 40° to 45°, and from March to August the thermometer 

 may rise to fiom 50' to 55° at night, and 70° to 75° by day; 

 but with sun heat to 80° or 85°. The plants msy be placed in 

 a vinery to mature the growth, and then will be available for 

 greenhouse or in-door decoration. — G. Abbey. 



BEDDING TULIPS. 



I HAVE rend with much pleasure the article under this head- 

 ing in page 335, by Mr. J. W. Cobb. Like him 1 am a oalti- 

 vator of these beautiful flowers, as well as an ardent advocate 

 of their more extended use. The list be has given is a good 

 one, embracing almost every type of variation in these gorgeous 

 flowers, and yet it appears deficient in a few varieties that I 

 think should form a part of every collection. These are Keizer 

 Kroon, in the way of Ducbesse de Parma, but with a broad 

 border of the purest yellow ; flowers large and extremely 

 showy; thoroughly reliable, being always certain, and un- 

 equalled, or at least unsurpaseed. for massing : PiiucesBS 

 d'Autriche, of the stjie of Keizer Kroon, but instead of the 

 yellow bolder, it is broadly feaibered with this c:lour, and has 

 a red flame the whole length of the centre of the petal ; — a bold 

 and showy variety : and Couleur Pi nceau, a pretty flower for 

 beds or massing in colours, rosy crimson edges, with a white 

 flame up each petal ; sometimes almost a self flower, at other 

 times I have seen the petals nearly all while. These belong to 

 the group of edged or bordered flowers. 



Partly an edged flower, but cUssea with the self flowers, is 

 Couleur Caidinul, a very showy flower, having a kind of bronzy 

 crimson ground, and feathered with fiery crimson. The habit 

 of growth and dark colour of the foliage of this variety are 

 peculiar characleiistics belonging to it, and it can, inconse- 

 quence, be easily detected when in a growing slate. Another 

 fine self variety is Cramoisie Supcrbe, of a rosy cerise hue, a 

 fine and showy fliwer ; while its broken form, Cramoisie Boyale, 

 striped and somelimes feathered with white, is also very good. 

 Between the first-named and Monument I cannot detect the 

 slightest difference. Oiber fine self flowers are Van der Neer, 

 deep purplish violet, unquestionably the best of all the self 

 flowers of this hue of colour, as well as being of fine form; 

 and Heine des Viuletles, pale soft violet, a beautiful variety. 



Of yellow flowers I can recommend La Cour de France, deep 

 yellow, feathered and striped with crimson ; and the red-striped 

 Pottebakker, or simi'ly the Yellow Puttebukker with red stripes; 

 it is valuable as gi»i"g variation. A capital flower for bedding 

 purposes is E jsa Mundi, white, delicately feathered with pale 

 rose, exceedingly pretty, and very effective. If Mr. Cobb 

 were to obtain some or all of these, I think he would be pleased 

 with the quality and usefulness of the flowers. 



For forming striking and effective masses of colour, nothing 

 can compare with the Tulip; but a little care should be exer- 

 cised in selecting the proper vaiieties. Either the flowers 80 

 employed should be self-coloured, or, when biculored, should 

 be only such as are showy and striking. Ot self flowers I 

 should recommend Couronne Pourpre, crimson purple; Ver- 

 milion Biillant, brii^bt scarlet crimson ; and Couleur Cardinal, 

 as representing crimson shades. Of purple shades I am con- 

 tent with Van der Neer, Proserpine, and Eeine des Violettes. 

 Ot white flowers. White P.jttebakker and Eosa Mundi. Of 

 yellows, LiiPluio d'Or, or GoMen Prince ; Prince deLigne, pure 

 yellow; and Yellow Pi.ttfebakker, addinu to this group Thomas 

 Moor^. Of edged or bordered flowers, Keizer Kroon, Duchesse 

 de Parma, a splendid bedder, and PrinC'jsse d'Autriche. Of 

 striped flowers, Rovul Standard, sometimes called Silver 

 Standard ; Bride of H^arhm, and Cramoisie Eoyale. 



I must also beg to add a few doulile flowei-s to Mr. Cobb'g 

 list in this division. Gloria Sofia is one which, though scarcely 

 so striking as Tournesol, is yet a most useful and cheap kind, 

 and is edged with deep gold. Overwinnaar, or La Belle Alii- 



