Aagast 13, 1868. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



116 



with lanco- shaped leaves of moderate size, and of a deep blood- 

 red colour, the midrib appearing as a broad purplinh band. 

 This colouring, M. Van Ilciutto observes, is varied as the foliage 

 is moved by the wind, so that the i>lant presents different 

 shades of violet, purple, and deep rose, a deep red hue pre- 

 dominating. It is said to grow from about Ij foot to 2 feet 

 high, and the leaves, as will be seen by our figure, have this 

 great advantage over those of Iresine llerbstii, irrespective of 

 their better colour, that they present a clean, flat, even surface, 

 instead of one which is so concave as to appear distorted. 



" Iresine Lindeni has been quite recently introduced from 

 Ecaador by M. Linden, by whom it was exhibited for the first 

 time at the great Ghent Show in April last. It has subse- 

 quently passed into the bands of M. Van Houtte, of Ghent, by 

 whom it is now being distributed.''— (i-'to/isf oiid I'omolvgixt, 

 3 s. i.,16!).) 



PALMS. 



Many species of this genus are the best possible for in-door 

 decoration, and in a small state particularly so. No plants are 

 more easily grown, and none are more tenacious of life than the 

 Talm, enduring alike dust, and cold and heat from open windows 

 and gas-heated air. Who will not say that a small Palm of any 

 species, with the top of the pot covered with Ljcopodium den- 

 ticulatum, is anything but an ugly object in a lady's boudoir, or 

 anywhere else :' Where one plant is grown for this purpose in 

 Britain, a thousand are grown on the Continent, and why? 

 because foreigners appreciate their beauty and gracefulness, 

 and a great demand is at once raised. Nurserymen alive to 

 their own interest build houses espreasly for their culture, im- 

 port seed, and raise them by the thousand, and in three years 

 they are sold to the plant-loving community of Paris for .'i, 'JO, or 

 30 francs each, as the case may be. Belgium supplies large 

 quantities, and even sends them to the Paris market. Such 

 species as Corypha australis, Oreodosa sanchona, Latania bor- 

 bonica, Areca rubra, and many others, are sold to those wish- 

 ing to grow on their own plants, in a small state, at from 8 to 

 20 francs the dozen. Who, then, would be without a Palm in 

 their houses when they can be got so cheaply .' 



We have all been in the habit of looking to the botanic gar- 

 den at home for a sight of a Palm, but nowadays our enterpris- 

 ing nurserymen are bringing Palms within the reach of every- 

 body, and in some private gardens they may be counted by the 

 dozen, and still the wish is for more. What looks neater than 

 a few dwarf Palms dotted through a vinery or Peach house ? 

 They give at once a furnished and elegant appearance to the 

 houses ; and they get at the same time ample room to develope 

 their handsome persistent leaves. No more attention is paid 

 them than three or four waterings a-weel; with warm water, and 

 a slight addition of soil in a larger pot every other year. This, 

 with a sponging once a-month with rain water, maintains them 

 in health and vigour, in a small state for a number of years. 

 Sandy peaty soil is the best for Palms, lightened and enriched 

 with very old leaf soil, and all warm and dry previous to use. 

 A loamy cold soil, and applied in large quantities, is a sure 

 way of having weak yellowish leaves, instead of dark-green 

 leathery ones. 



A common practice with many on receiving a Palm from the 

 nursery is to pot it immediately in a larger pot, and to give it 

 altogether a different soil to what it has been accustomed to, 

 before even studying its proper wants, or the time of year it 

 came to hand. May is the best month to apply additional 

 food to Palms ; and July and .\ugust the best months to get 

 them from any distance. 



The French and Belgian gardeners adopt the following 

 mode of culture. The houses are low, flat-roofed lean-to's, 

 12 feet wide or so. The first 3 feet from the front forms a table, 

 the next 3 feet the pathway, and then a bel of tan or leaves, 

 6 feet wide, wherein are plunged the young Palms. From the 

 moment the young seedlings are transferred from the seed-pan 

 to a 3inch pot they are kept plunged in a tan bed, in order 

 not so much to .supply them with heat, as to keep the soil 

 moist and healthy without water till the roots are in activity. 

 Moistening the leaves with warm water twice a-day is sufficient 

 for them for months. While in a young state they require 

 more heat than when older. Sorts such as those already in- 

 dicated, with Seaforthia elegans and robusta, Phirnix dactyli- 

 fera and reclinata, Caryota Cnmingii and excelsa, several 

 Chamacrops, Thrinax pai-viflora, Zalacca Wagneri, Cocos coro- 

 nata, Caryota sobolifera, and many others, will thrive and look 

 robust in any house kept a little close and moist. Although 



in French nurseries they are accommodated with tan beds, it 

 is not absolutely necessary when they are four or five years 

 old, and the pots well filled with roots. The front :i-fect shelf 

 is generally tilled with Draca-nas and Pandanuses, and, alto- 

 gether, the house has a very fine appearance. — H. K. (in Tlie 

 iiarth'iirr.) 



THE POTATO DISEASE. 



In the year 1847 I was drawn into a paper controversy on 

 the Potato disease, that year being the third in which it had 

 made its appearance. The theory I advanced was founded on 

 some experiments I had made, and which this season has 

 verified — namely, that the disease cannot exist in " a dry and 

 high " atmosphere. In ordinary seasons in this district (North 

 Devon), the disease has usually shown itself from the first to 

 the middle of .July, but up to this time (August 10th), it is 

 neither to be seen nor heard of. 



Those who have watched the many peculiarities of this 

 disease will, no doubt, be on the alert to see what eilect this 

 unusually dry and hot summer may have upon the constitution 

 of the Potato. Possibly a couple of such summers following 

 one another would tend to stamp-out the disease. 



For the last ten days complaints are very common in this 

 neighbourhood that the tubers in the ground are shooting. 

 Where this is found to be the case with early and second 

 early kinds, they should be lifted at once.— A. McIvklvie, 

 Turriitgton. ^__ 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



We understand that the bulb-growers of Holland have 

 intimated their intention of offering prizes, open to all growers, 

 for distinct kinds of Hyacinths at the First Spring or Hyacinth 

 Show of the Royal Horticultural Society in 18lj',t. The prizes 

 intended to be offered amount to £45 Ss. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



While the hot weather lasts but little can be done in this 

 department, except keeping the ground clean and trenching it 

 as crops are cleared off. Caulijiowerx, make arrangements to 

 sow seed thinly about the middle of the month and again in 

 the first week in September. The former sowing will supply a 

 few early heads, but they will require a considerable amount of 

 protection. The September sowing is chiefly to be depended 

 upon. Plant out a good breadth of the .June and July sowings. 

 They will be more thought of, if they can be protected during 

 the winter, than Broccoli of any kind. Carrol', sow a small 

 bed now and at the end of the month for drawing young in 

 winter and spring. Lrttuces, sow now and at the end of the 

 month for winter and early spring supply. For this purpose 

 the Brown Dutch and Hardy Hammersmith are the best Cab- 

 bage Lettuces. The Black-seeded White and the different va- 

 rieties of the Brown Bath are the best Cos varieties. Continue 

 to plant out suecessional crops. Mushroovis, collect horse drop- 

 pings and cow dung for beds in sheds or houses. Where there 

 is a deficiency of shed or house room, and there is a scarcity of 

 materials for a large bed in winter, it will be a good plan to 

 make a slight bed or two in a sheltered place now. For this 

 purpose nothing is preferable to the half-reduced dung from an 

 old lining. If the bed be built in the ridge form, from 2 to 

 :i feet in width at the bottom, carried to the same height, 

 firmly beaten together, and defended from heavy rains, it may 

 be spawned, earthed, and in bearing before a larger bed could be 

 safely covered-in. Siiinacli. Winter Spinach is always sown at 

 the same time as Cauliflowers for spring planting. OnioiK, 

 Sorniis, Evd Cahbaiji'x, and two or three other sorts are, or used 

 to be, sown also at the same time. 



rnUIT OARDEN. 



The bunches of out-door Grapes may be protected in half 

 globes of glass, which may be obtained at any glass-blowing 

 establishment, and any spare lights from frames or Peach houses 

 might now be profitably fixed against favourite Vines or Peach 

 trees. Where wasps or flies are troublesome the fruit may be 

 defended with gauze or thin bunting ; but where much atten- 

 tion to ripening the %vood is necessary, nothing is better than 

 covering each fruit very thinly with cotton wadding. 



FI.OWEK OARDEN. 



Flower gardening in the autumn may appear an easy matter, 



