42 



JOUENAL OF HORTICDLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ January 18, 1868. 



of variegation and colour of foliage. SpecimenB at Piltdown 

 are numerous, and seedlings from them occupy a whole quarter. 

 Jimijicrus ericoides is one of the specialities of ilr. Mitchell's 

 nursery. It is really a very pretty tree, and deservedly in- 

 creasing in favour. Less formal and rigid than the Irish or 

 Swedish .Juniper, the Heath-like form of its foliage during the 

 period of gi-owth gives it a very distinctive character. I have 

 seen this plant inserted in more than one nursery catalogue 

 under three different names. This ought not to be. 



Jiiniperiis virt/imanu variegata. — Excepting the Holly and 

 Enonymus, the best, most distinct, and most beautiful forms 

 of variegation in hardy ligneous plants undoubtedly occur in 

 many deciduous ones. The variegation in Conifera? seems to 

 impart an unhealthy appearance to the plant that cannot 

 command even the ordinary epithet of "pretty," especially at 

 the time when the variegation is most wanted — that is, in 

 y?inter. .Such, at least, is my impression of it. Nevertheless, 

 it would be unfair to pass unnoticed the variegated form of 

 the old Red Cedar, which at Piltdown and in other nurseries 

 shows a marked contrast with other kinds, and is one of the 

 most distinct in cultivation. 



Ccdrm deoilara. — If we were to assign social positions to 

 the different kinds of Coniferie, the Deodar would claim the 

 rank of royalty, as one of the grandest and most majestic trees 

 known. Yet its high rank would not have brought it under 

 special notice in this place were there not some evidence 

 respecting it desirable to be obtained. Its perfect hardiness is 

 now doubtful, for large plants of it 10 and 12 feet high in Messrs. 

 Ivery's nursery at Dorking were killed to the ground last 

 vpinter, and had to be dug up ; but there the temperature fell to 

 several degrees below zero. At other places we hear of its 

 having been much injured. My tree, about 18 feet high, had 

 scarcely a leaf browned, but it had not to endure much more 

 than 20° of frost. What is its limit of endurance? 



Another question connected with it is of some botanical 

 interest. Is it a distinct species, or only a variety of C. Li- 

 baui ? As it increases in age it appears to approach more 

 and more closely to Libani, especially as regards foliage — a 

 circumstance first pointed out to me at Linton by my respected 

 friend Mr. Kobson, and, I think, noticed by him in these pages. 

 At Piltdown the soil, i-c, doubtless influence its growth, but 

 the largest plants, 15 to 20 feet high, are forming largo spread- 

 ing branches precisely after the habit of C. Libani. Difference 

 of locality where found produces differences in kinds, wiiich 

 may disappear when both or all are brought together, as it 

 were, on neutral ground, remote from the original districts. 

 There is a problem to be solved which may not unlikely 

 diminish very sensibly the long lists of species, alike burdensome 

 to the memory of the followers of science as it is perplexing 

 to the uninitiated. 



Ccphalotaxm Fortuni.—'H.ere, again, is a question of nomen- 

 clature, there being two kinds under this name— one called the 

 male, the other the female — but upon what grounds ? Mr. 

 Mitchell's largest plants of both kinds are well-grown specimens, 

 showing their habit and character very clearly. The species 

 hitherto known as the male has this year produced a quantity 

 of fruit, the berries being in size and form somewhat Uke those 

 of the common Aucuba, and, when I saw them, green and hard ; 

 the flowers were not observed at the proper time, otherwise the 

 sex of the plant would have been determined. Cephalotaxus 

 is a useful addition to our Yews, forming a compact and circular 

 bush of moderate growth, with foUage bolder, and in one 

 kind lighter in colour, than any other of the family. It will 

 be seen to best advantage in large collections, planted singly or 

 iu pairs apart from other trees. Like all the Taxads, it will 

 eyidently bear pruning to any extent.— Aoolphus H. Kent. 



IS A DRY OR MOIST ATMOSPHERE THE MORE 

 CONGENIAL FOR SETTING MUSCAT GRAPES ? 

 Upon this subject many gardeners differ, the majority, 

 however, advocating a high temperature and dry atmosphere 

 when the Vines are iu bloom ; some few go to the reverse 

 extreme by even syringing the Vines when in flower. 



Consulting what I consider the nearest approach to Nature's 

 laws in all my experiments in cross-fertilising varieties of fruit 

 trees, flowers, and vegetables, I have had the opportunity of be- 

 ing in search of pollen frequently in aU sorts of weather. These 

 experiments having been made in-doors and out, during bright 

 and sunny, dry and humid, cloudy and wet weather, I must say 

 I have not been so sensibly convinced of the effects produced 



in-doors by a wet or dry atmosphere on the production of 

 pollen ; but I am decidedly convinced, from careful watching, 

 that in a dry hot atmosphere out of doors I could seldom obtain 

 pollen to operate with, whilst on a cool day, with a rather moist 

 atmosphere, I have found pollen always abundant. Therefore, 

 as pollen is the agent needed for fructification, I consider that 

 what holds good out-doors in producing the desired effects 

 should be the aim of the cultivator in an artificial temperature. 

 — WiLLiAii Melville, Dalmeny Park. 



THE CULTURE OF TREE MIGNONETTE. 



It is very easy of culture, and by exercising a little judgment 

 in the sowing of a few seeds at diiierent seasons of the year, 

 and care in cutting away the dead flowers as they appear, 

 it may be had in bloom in the conservatory every month in the 

 year. It may be formed into various shapes according to the 

 taste of the cultivator. Some prefer growing it in the shape of 

 a cone, with one plant in the centre of a pot, the stem of the 

 plant tied to a neat stake, the side shoots regularly stopped 

 and trained, and the flowers pinched-ofi as they appear, till the 

 plant has attained its desired height and size. Others choose 

 to have five or six plants in a 32 or 24-sized pot, and when 

 these are neatly trained they are very useful, and never fail to 

 be admired at this season and onwards for several months. 



I have grown a few very pretty standard Mignonette plants, 

 and as they are generally much admired, I will briefly detail 

 their cultivation. 



About the end of March seed was sown in several small 

 48-sized pots, placing three or four seeds in each. The com- 

 post used chiefly consisted of decayed turf pulled to pieces 

 with the hand, but not riddled, intermixed with horse drop- 

 pings passed through a fine sieve ; sand being added to keep 

 the compost open. In a mixture of this description. Mignonette 

 seems to thrive well and bloom freely. When the seeds were 

 sown the pots were placed in a cold pit, and as soon as the 

 seedlings were large enough to distinguish which were the 

 largest and strongest plants, the best were selected to remain, 

 and the others thinned-out, and thrown away. As soon as the 

 pots were filled with roots, but before the plants became pot- 

 bound, these were moved into 6-inch pots, and in this size 

 single plants will form good heads of bloom if occasionally as- 

 sisted with weak manure waterings. 



Some prefer larger-sized pots in order to grow extra-strong 

 plants, but I rather like 6-inch pots, for they can then be 

 placed in a small vase, and used occasionally for dinner-table 

 decoration. 



When the plants were several inches high, a neat stake 

 was placed to each to keep them erect. The side shoots as 

 they appeared were carefully pinched-off near to the main 

 stem, carefully leaving one or two leaves at the base of each 

 successive shoot to strengthen the plant, and keep the roots 

 active. This I consider rather important, as, if the plant were 

 denuded of all its leaves as the stem progressed, its health 

 would become impaired, and premature decay would set in. 

 Much the same course was pursued until the plants had at- 

 tained the desired height. 



As the plants became established they were removed from 

 the cold pit, and placed on a bed of coal ashes out of doors. 

 They were stopped at heights varying from 16 inches to 2 feet, 

 and as the flower buds appeared these were regularly pinched- 

 out, to force the plants to form a neat bushy head, until about 

 the end of September, when each was furnished with a pro- 

 fusion of shoots, which were allowed to expand then- bloom. 

 By pinching-off the decayed blooms, the plants will continue 

 to flower throughout the winter months ; but to secure the 

 perfection of fragrance, they require both sun and air, and, 

 consequently, when convenient, should be placed in proximity 

 to the openings by which the air is admitted into the houses, 



— QcrSTIN REiD. 



HAVE MERCY ON YOUR PEAR TREES. 



I MUCH regret to see, in your number of the 2nd inst., that 

 my old instructor in Eose-budding, Mr. Charles Ellis, of Upper 

 East Sheen, has been guilty of the great imprudence of allow- 

 ing 276 fruit to ripen on a young Beurie Clairgeau Pear tree, 

 only 11 feet high ; and, not content with this, actually pub- 

 lishes the fact, with the view of encouraging others to go and do 

 similarly. 



After profiting by Mr. Ellis's instructions in Eose-budding, 



