August 11, 18G6. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



127 



which I purchased from Messrs. Cartor & Co., of Holborn, I 

 had eight plants, and all of them have been beautifully varie- 

 gated. They grew rapidly, and soon made handsome plants. 

 Few plants could exceed them in beauty and gracefulness 

 when they were 2 feet high ; but since that titno I have been 

 much disappointed with them. The lower leaves turn yellow 

 and brown, grow ragged, and give to the plant a shabby appear- 

 ance. I have ono plant with a tine head of flower upon it. 

 Nothing can exceed the beauty of its upper part. Its leaves are 

 long, and of good breadth ; they are beautifully variegated, and 

 hang gracefully, but the four lower leaves are dead and yellow, 

 tho tips of four more are dead and ragged, and the effect of the 

 plant is spoilt. 



My object in writing is to elicit information, whether other 

 growers of this promising addition to our easily-grown varie- 

 gated plants have found the same defect in it. — A Yorkshire 

 Clergyman. 



PORTRAITS OF TLANTS, FLOWERS, AND 

 FRUITS. 



Kleinia fulgens (Brilliant-flowered Kleinia). — Nat. ord., 

 Compositte. Linn., Syngenesia eecroalis. Native of Port Natal. 

 A succulent plant. Flowers scarlet. — (But. Mag., t. 5590.) 



Fkemontia californica (Californian Fremontia). — Nat. ord., 

 Malvaceie. Linn., Pentandria Monogynia. A hardy Califor- 

 nian shrub, introduced by Messrs. Veitch, " undoubtedly the 

 choicest early-flowering shrub introduced of late years." 

 Blooms in June ; flowers yellow. — (Ibid., t. 55'J1.) 



Fernandesia robusta (Stout Fernandesia). — Nat. ord., 

 Orchidacese. Linn., Gynandria Monogynia. Native of Gua- 

 temala. Flowers yellow, lip spotted and barred with crimson. 

 —(Ibid., t. 5592.) 



Sempervivum Paivje (Baron Paiva's Houseleek). — Nat. ord., 

 Crassulacere. Linn., Dodecandria Dodeeagynia. Native of 

 Gomera, one of the Canary Islands. Flowers green. — (Ibid., 

 t. 5593.) 



Sanchezia nobilis (Brilliant-flowered Sanchezia). — Nat. 

 ord., Acanthaceai. Linn., Diandria Monogynia. Introduced 

 from Ecuador by Messrs. Veitch. A most beautiful plant ; 

 bracts bright crimson, and corollas yellow. — (Ibid., t. 5594.) 



Saccolabicm ampullaceum (Bottle-lipped Saccolabium). — 

 Nat. ord., Orchidacea:. Linn., Gynandria Monogynia. Native 

 of Sylhet, Sikkim, and other parts of India. Flowers rosy 

 lilac— (Ibid., t. 5595.) 



Pelargoniums. — Lord Lyon, very large, upper petals bright 

 rosy crimson with a dark blotch ; lower petals rosy pink, slightly 

 veined; throat pure white. Favourite, upper petals crimson 

 maroon, with a narrow fiery crimson edge ; lower petals deep 

 rosy crimson with a dark spot towards the base ; white throat, 

 Both were raised by Mr. Hovle, and in the hands of Mr. Turner, 

 of Slough.— (Floral Man., pi. 301.) 



Rose. — Miss Margaret Dumbraiu, a seedling from La Reine, 

 with large, globular, bright rosy pink flowers, very full. — (Ibid., 

 pi. 302.) 



Azaleas. — Charmer, flowers large, and of good form and sub- 

 stance, deep amaranth, spotted in the upper petals with a 

 darker shade. Vivid, fine form, brilliant magenta. 



Tacsonia Van-Volxemii. — " This charming creeper is a 

 native of New Grenada, where it is cultivated in gardens under 

 the name of Courouba. It found its way into Europe a few 

 years since through M. Van Volxem, a Belgian traveller, after 

 whom it has been named by M. Funck ; but it has remained 

 comparatively little known in this country till the beginning of 

 the present year." Mr. R. T. Pince, of Exeter, who first mvited 

 attention to it, thus describes his method of treatment : — 



'■ Tacsonia Van-Volxemii is undoubtedly one of the finest 

 conservatory climbers ever introduced, second only to the 

 justly and universally admired Lapageria rosea. The healthi- 

 ness, vigour, and rapidity of its growth combine to make it 

 highly desirable for producing immediate effect in conserva- 

 tory decoration. The flowers, which are of a rich rosy crimson 

 colour (fully 5 inches in diameter), are freely produced from 

 the axil of each leaf, and are gracefully suspended on long 

 slender footstalks a foot in length, so peculiarly slender and 

 thread-like that the flowers hang, as it were, clear and detached 

 from the foliage, and have the appearance of brilliantly-co- 

 loured parachutes suspended in the air. Our plant was put 

 into our show-house (the temperature of which is only that of 

 an average conservatory, air being freely admitted, and the 

 thermometer frequently falling as low as 3S° to i0° in winter), 

 in the middle of April, 1865, and by the end of January it had 



covered the ornamental rafter which spans the house, had been 

 clothed with flowers all through tho summer, and was still 

 adorned with them. Tho foliage is also remarkably good, and 

 free from that coarseness which detracts much from other 

 Tacsonias. 



" Our plant is growing in a mixture of rough peat, loam, 

 and coarse sand, with abundance of drainage, and plenty of 

 pieces of broken brickbats, crocks, sandstone, and old lime 

 rubble, mixed in with the soil. Occasional syringing and 

 copious supplies of water to tho roots during summer and 

 autumn promote luxuriant growth. It may be requisite now 

 and then to cut back vigorous shoots which have flowered, in 

 order to bring up fresh flowering-stems. From the pendent 

 position of the flowers, it is obvious that this beautiful climber 

 can be seen to better advantage trained to a rafter or the roof of 

 the conservatory, than if put against a wall. I have alluded to 

 its comparative hardiness, in support of which, and in addition 

 to the general lowness of the temperature of our show-house, I 

 may say, in conclusion, that we had a plant of it growing lux- 

 uriantly on an eastern wall out of doors, during the summer 

 and autumn of 1805." — (Florist and Pomologist, v., 161.) 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Pay due attention to thinning out and surface-stirring among 

 all advancing crops ; gather and store seeds of such choice 

 vegetables as it may be considered advisable to preserve ; but 

 anything very extensive in this way ought never to be attempted 

 in gardens exclusively devoted to the purpose of cultivating 

 vegetables for families having any pretence to taste, as in most 

 cases disappointment and inferior qualities will be the result. 

 Any one at all conversant with the nature of kitchen-garden 

 produce is well aware how much the qualities of vegetables 

 become deteriorated when grown, seeded, and reproduced upon 

 the same ground year after year; prudence and economy would, 

 therefore, suggest that seed-saving should be left to those who 

 make it both a business and a study. Broccoli, transplant 

 Grange's, Snow's, and Walcheren, and the last spring Broccoli 

 for lifting, to be packed in beds for the winter. Brussels 

 Sprouts, these, together with Savoys and Curled Kale, may still 

 be planted, and every spare bit of ground filled. Cabbage, sow 

 seed. There are so many fine varieties that it is difficult to 

 make a selection; Shilling's Queen, Sprotborough, and Atkins's 

 Matchless are good sorts for standing severe winters, and not 

 running to seed. All, however, are not suitable to every soil. 

 This, however, is the general season for sowing, and it is quite 

 certain that if any plant is to be transplanted prior to, and is 

 to stand the winter, it ought to be grown rapidly, and acquire 

 strength early. Cauliflower, from the 10th to the 20th of this 

 month is the best time to sow this and Walcheren Broccoli for 

 the spring crop. Du-arf Kidney Beam, a few more may be 

 tried for the last supply. Lettuce, sow ; also Endive, Chicory, 

 Winter Spinach, Welsh and Deptford Ouions for drawing young 

 throughout the winter. Peas, top Marrows as soon as they 

 reach the height of their stakes. Dig down exhausted planta- 

 tions of Strawberries, and let the ground be filled with winter 

 stuff if there is not already sufficient of this planted ; make a 

 further sowing of Turnips if these are likely to be scarce before 

 the winter is over. Attend to cutting and drying herbs as they 

 become ready, and do not allow Shallots to remain in the 

 ground after the tops die down, as in the event of a continuance 

 of wet weather they will make fresh roots, which prevent their 

 keeping. 



FRUIT GARDEN. 



No superfluous shoots ought to be kept on Peaches, Necta- 

 rines, and Apricots after this month, so that the wood for the 

 ensuing year maybe well ripened. Pears, Plums, and Cherries 

 on the walls and espaliers are amenable to the same laws. Pro- 

 tect fruit from birds and wasps. The Alpine Strawberry ought to 

 be encouraged this month by trimming off runners and placing 

 slates under the fruit. About the end of the month is a good 

 time to plant a bed of Hautbois Strawberry, if planted earlier 

 the plants sometimes blossom in the autumn. A good breadth 

 of the Grove End Strawberry ought likewise to be planted for 

 preserving-purposes, first making the ground rich with dung. 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



Attend to the gathering and saving of choice perennial and 

 biennial flower-seeds ; these should be watched daily, and col- 

 lected as they ripen. We do not advise this operation to be 

 carried on to a great extent, aB the returns would not be ade- 



