376 



JOUKNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



( Uaj 8, lt>73. 



as the plunging material. A comfortable condition of the root, 

 not actually bottom heat— as usually employed, that expression 

 is apt to lead astray — but a steady warmth, is one of the most 

 essential points in the culture of tropical and subtropical 

 plants ; for although the atmosphere may vary in temperature, 

 there is a steady rise or decline in the heat of the soU with 

 the season in most climates. Watering with cold water is a 

 serious evil with plants in pots, and very soon ruins a Balsam. 



The next shift may be into 10-inch or 12-inch pots, if 

 large plants are wanted ; 8 or 9-inch pots are large enough for 

 general decorative purposes. If into 10 or 1'2-inch pots, room 

 should be left for an after top-dressing of dung — sheep's dung 

 we prefer — keeping the plants plunged until they are large 

 enough to be moved into the show house. 



Some pick off the early blooms with the view of retarding the 

 general Howering and strengthening the plants, but we do not 

 think there is much gained ; if the plants be quickly and liber- 

 ally grown, this will not be found necessary. If they have 

 been checked or starved for want of room or water, this picking 

 off the blooms will not make up the difference. 



Some also pick and tie out the plants. We have done the 

 same, but the Balsam is a stubborn subject under training; it 

 resists it obstinately. If done at all, if must be done with 

 much caution and coaxing, like tying down the young shoots of 

 the Vine when vigorous. A specimen Balsam should be grown 

 without pinching or tying. We think when a Balsam is mani- 

 pulated in this fashion, its character is spoiled directly. 



When the plants are removed from the plunging material to 

 the show house, care must be particularly taken not to over- 

 water, especially if in large pots ; yet they must not be allowed 

 to flag. Most of the feeding roots will be near the sides of the 

 pot ; water should be given round the circumference rather 

 than close to the stem, where it maybe allowed to become com- 

 paratively dry. They must never be shaded or crowded, but 

 have plenty of air and no draughts. Plants often sicken off 

 when removed to the greenhouse ; this is owing to the check of 

 removal from the plunging material in a highly cultivated sub- 

 ject ; hence the caution required in watering. 



The Balsam can be grown to a huge size, with attention to 

 potting and grovring on. We have seen them in 18-inch pots 

 from .3 to 4 feet through every way, but we never grow them 

 that size. We once saw a Balsam, grown by a cottager and 

 exhibited at one of the leading provincial shows, which was 

 the above size, and was the wonder of many. The first-re- 

 ferred-to were about a dozen in number ; they were grown in a 

 lean-to house, an old pine stove. The plants were plunged in 

 the pit in front, under the lower sashes of the house, and the 

 upper sliding sashes were entirely wanting ; so that the Bal- 

 sams enjoyed themselves perfectly; abundance of air, no 

 draughts, comfortable at the roots, and the full blaze of the 

 sun. They were grand plants, were neither tied nor pinched, 

 but stiff and short-jointed, the centre stems as thick as a man's 

 wrist. 



When the pots are filled with roots after the last shift, and 

 while the plants are still plunged, they may have a little 

 manure water every time. It is needless to say that the Bal- 

 sam is a gross feeder, and capable of appropriating large 

 quantities of stimulants imder a hot sun ; but when removed 

 to the show house, manure water must be administered with 

 more caution, and none at all when the weather is dull and 

 wet. A Uttio top dressing is better, as they wiU root up to 

 the warm surface. — (The Garih'iwr.) 



HEATING BY THE AID OP A LIME-KILN. 



The principle of the system consists in the combination of 

 a lime-kiln and a hot-water apparatus. One method of ar- 

 ranging these I have actually at work, but I can arrange in 

 any way I choose, so long as I manufacture lime and heat the 

 buildings by hot water. I have two apparatus at work here, one 

 in use for the last seven months, the other for three months. 

 The first-named heats three good-sized houses at some dis- 

 tance from each other, and the other heats a range of vineries 

 200 feet long and IG feet wide. I use ordinary saddle boilers 

 in both cases, and they are suflicieatly powerful for the amount 

 of work which they have to do, but I calculate that with the 

 aid of my improved boiler they could easily do twice the amount 

 of work with the same arrangement. The lime produced fully 

 pays for the fuel, raising the stone, and conveying it to the 

 ppot, so that the heat is actually obtained for nothing. 



The boiler is placed on the top and built-in in the usual 

 ■way. All material is put into the kiln at the top and drawn 



out at the bottom, just as kilns are usually treated. I may 

 mention that chalk is still better adapted to the purpose than 

 limestone, and that anthracite coal is the best fuel. Coke 

 will also answer well. — John Cowan. 



NEW EOSES AT SOUTH KENSINGTON. 



From " D., Deal's," judgment on Eoses as well as other 

 things there is seldom any occasion to differ, but with re- 

 spect to the Floral Committee and Kose Lyonnais I would 

 like to pass a sUghtly different opinion. Lyonnais has just 

 Uowered with me in a cool greenhouse without any forcing. 

 My note of it is, " Light rose, with crimson rose centre, similar 

 in depth and shape of petal to Victor Verdier. It is a larger and 

 fuller flower. A grand Rose." Etienne Levet is a splendid 

 Itose, and as exhibited by Mr. W. Paul, of Waltham Cross, at the 

 Koyal Botanic (jardens, it well deserved the first-class eertih- 

 cate it received. Another Eose exhibited at the same time by 

 Mr. Paul, Star of Waltham, will be the star of many gardens 

 for a generation to cume. The flowers are of immense depth, 

 of a rosy crimson colour, and the substance of the petals is 

 something remarkable. It i-s a finely perfumed Eose. It well 

 deserved the first honours it received. 



Then, as to the constitution of the Floral Committee. I do not 

 know where a body of more celebrated horticulturists could be 

 found ; I may be excused a quotation from an old song — 

 " Gentle shepherd, tell me where." Of course they need no 

 defence. The Rose is represented by a Paul ; florists' flowers 

 of the old style by Turner ; the Hyacinth by Cutbush ; the 

 Pansy, Phlox, Pentstemon, &c., by Laing; stove and green- 

 house plants by Baines ; Orchids by Pilcher, &c. There may 

 be, and no doubt are, mistakes in awarding certificates, but we 

 may rest assured that the awarding of certificates cannot be 

 left in better hands. — J. Dodglas. 



EXTRACTS FEOM ADDRESS 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE GERMANTOWN HOBTICULTHKAL 

 SOCIETY, BY THE PRESIDENT, JOHN JAY SMITH, Esi). 



Many persons think they are too old to plant. This is an 

 absurdity. Men at even seventy do not hesitate to lay up 

 means for their children ; then why not plant for posterity, 

 and why give up to self what was meant for mankind ? It is 

 founded on a vulgar error, on mistaken and prejudiced notions. 

 Many trees only ten years planted are known to be between 

 30 and 40 feet in height. At 30 feet, a tree, practically speak- 

 ing, will effect all the general pui'poses for which trees are 

 j)lanted. It will then afford shade and shelter. It will dis- 

 play individuality of beauty and character, and confer expres- 

 sion on landscape scenery, while during all the period of its 

 growth, it wUl give pleasure and inspire hope. Very many 

 trees bear fruit in a much shorter period than ten years. 



The uses of trees is a large subject, on which time will not 

 now permit us to enter. One instance must suffice. There is 

 a variety of Gleditschia called horrida, which has a tremendous 

 crop of ugly spines attached all over its body, thrice as nu- 

 merous and dangerous as the triacanthos. It is put to a moral 

 use. When a man has committed a crime against society, he 

 is stripped and sent to the top on a ladder. The ladder being 

 removed, he gets down as well as he can. This mode of 

 punishment is said to be more effectual of reform than even 

 the famed Delaware whipping post, and might be economi- 

 cally substituted. 



Our ancestors were too hasty in cutting down. Hence our 

 great problem in America is how to replace what has been 

 ruthlessly wasted. We must provide shelter for the prauies, 

 and with our great stretch of sea coast, we want to know what 

 trees will flourish near salt water, exposed to pitiless winds ; 

 and we want information regarding the suitability of different 

 vegetations in our variable climates. All this is being studied 

 and made known. I do not despair of seeing the transactions 

 of the society pubUshed, containing such knowledge as this, 

 and much more that our young country is yearning to know. 

 Here is work for a horticultural society to employ its extra 

 means on experiments of world-wide interest. 



We see the necessity of the gardener, tho horticulturist, the 

 nurseryman and the landscape gardener ; for very few will under- 

 take the importation of the plants or trees of each kind re- 

 quired. We must have large magazines of plants, eo to speak, 

 from which each can draw his limited supplies. 



The landscape gardener is appearing in America wherever 

 his services are demanded. We have good artists among us 



