November D, 18C8. 1 



JOURNAL OF IIOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



335 



ORNAMENTAL-FOLIAGED PLANTS IN AUTUIMN. 

 SILVER-EDGED versus TRICOLOR PELARGONIUMS. 



LADLY I endorse the views advanced by Mr. 

 Kobson. in page 29(), as to the superiority of 

 Silver-edged IPelargoniums over the Tricolor 

 varieties ; and I do this all the more willingly 

 because I think that by far too great a pre- 

 ponderance has been and still is given to 

 Tricolors over all other varieties of bedding 

 Pelargoninms^I will not say to their detri- 

 ment, for they have not only held their own 

 against the gay invaders of their territorial 

 rights, but they have also forced upon us the conviction 

 that, although the Tricolors may be as beautiful as they 

 are novel, yet they are only adapted for certain purposes 

 and places in the flower garden. Nor is it at all difficult 

 to understand why this conviction has been forced upon 

 us, or, rather, why this reaction is taking place, for have 

 not Tricolored Pelargoniums been planted in every ima- 

 ginable position ? and, therefore, it is easy to perceive how 

 soon a clear understanding of the true value of this at- 

 tractive class of plants should be arrived at. 



The great popularity of Mrs. Pollock and its progeny is 

 not to be wondered at, for, probably, no plant of modern 

 introduction has created a greater sensation in the horti- 

 cultural world, and this, too, in an age so sensational as 

 to perhaps encom-age the introduction of many worthless 

 novelties. To my mind the improvement which is really 

 wanted in Tricolored Pelargoniums to render them really 

 effective for massing and for being viewed from a distance, 

 is a much deeper margin, of a clear bright yellow, or white, 

 as the case may be, and a somewhat more vigorous habit 

 of growth, as this would in a great measure set aside the 

 objection which is taken to them when so planted, on the 

 score of heaviness. Perhaps Mrs. Pollock is never better 

 appreciated than when forming part of a ribbon border 

 arranged somewhat in the following order :— First row, 

 Cerastium tomentosum ; second row. Lobelia speciosa ; 

 third row, Mrs. PoUock : and fourth row, Coleus Ver- 

 schafTelti. 



That some harm has been done to the pure Silver- 

 edged varieties I am ready to admit, because owing to the 

 great attractions and interest which the increasing of Tri- 

 colored varieties has ofl'ered to the cross-breeder, but little 

 attention has been paid to supplying a want which must 

 be felt by all lovers of the flower garden, and that is a 

 variety having the pure white marking of Perfection, com- 

 bined with the broad upturned leaf margin and fine com- 

 pact habit of growth of Flower of Spring. In advocating 

 the introduction of a kind possessing such desirable quali- 

 fications, I would not wish for one moment to detract from 

 the great merits of Flower of Spring, considering it, as I 

 do, to be unequalled by any of its class, as I have before 

 stated in the pages of this .Journal ; but I tliink that a 

 pure Silver-edged variety, equal in all other respects to 

 Flower of Spring, would at once enable us to dispense with 

 all those sorts having such a loose habit of growth as 

 Alma, Jane, Bijou, and Perfection. Not only for this 



No. 397.— Vol. XV., New Seeiee. 



defect should these kinds be discarded, but also for the 

 objectionable downward curve of the foliage, which causes 

 the green centre to become so elevated as to be more con- 

 spicuous than the white margin, and this more especially 

 when viewed from a distance. 



My experience of Gnaphahum lanatum is diametrically 

 opposed to that of Mr. Kobson, for I have always regarded 

 this plant as being most beautiful and efl'ective during the 

 bright and cheerful summer months, with its pretty grey 

 foliage and stems of a peculiarly soft and pleasing hue, 

 but as the autumn advances, and the dulness and mois- 

 ture of the atmosphere increase, the colour changes till 

 it becomes a kind of dull bluish green. 



From a comparison of grey-leaved plants which I have 

 lately made, I find Centaurea ragusina retains its clear 

 greyish whiteness just as well towards the end of October 

 as in the midst of summer, with just the slightest tendency 

 in a few of the oldest leaves to become green. Next to 

 this in whiteness is Cineraria maritima, but this plant is 

 by no means so efl'ective as the former. Centaurea gymno- 

 carpa almost invariably becomes green early in the autumn. 

 The Cerastiums, both Biebersteini and tomentosum, have 

 lost much of the pearly whiteness which renders them so 

 beautiful in summer. Staohys lanata is also somewhat 

 dull, and Salvia argentea has lost nearly the whole of its 

 true colour, and has assumed that dull green appearance 

 to which all grey-leaved plants have a tendency as the 

 year declines. 



As regards dark-foliaced plants, I suppose that for 

 general utility and refined beauty Coleus VerschafTelti is 

 by most admitted to take the lead, but even it must give 

 place to Iresine Herbstii in the autumnal months ; for no 

 sooner does the heat of summer begin to decline than the 

 Iresine throws off its summer guise, and assumes a vigour 

 of growth and freshness of appearance most pleasing to 

 look upon. Perhaps this plant is never seen to such ad- 

 vantage as when planted beside Vinca major elegantissima. 

 Not only is there a close resemblance in the shape of the 

 foliage of these plants, but also no contrast can be better 

 than the deep crimson of the one with the clear bright 

 yellow of the other. — Edwakd Luckhurst, EyerUm House 

 Gardens, Kent. 



MANLEY HALL, STPvETFORD, MANCHESTER, 



The Residence of Sam Mendel, Esq. 

 We often see the greatest results produced under diffi- 

 culties, and in positions the most adverse for theii- success- 

 ful attainment, but with ample means at disposal, and 

 where judgment and energy are brought to bear upon 

 any given subject, the difticulties which stand in the way 

 are quickly removed, and the path which leads to the suc- 

 cessful issue is soon cleared of all obstacles, and the object 

 in view is safely, if not speedily, gained. When, there- 

 fore, such a liberal patron of floriculture and horticulture 

 as Mr. Mendel makes up his miud to sui-round his mansion 

 with the most choice gems to be found in the floral world, 

 it matters not whether the battle-ground chosen be on the 

 Stretford marshes, which are frequently enveloped in the 

 sulphui-eouB smoke from tens of thousands of factory and 

 /' No. 1019.— Vol. XL., Old Series. 



