Koyember 4, 1869. ] 



JOUKNAL OP HOKTICULTURK AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



357 



planted from 1 to 2 inches deeper than the rest, so that all may 

 be in bloom at one time. This is supposing several sorts and 

 colours to be used. As a general rule, the blue flowers are the 

 earliest to bloom, and the deepest in colour the first, the red 

 next, the white third, and the yellow last. 



A bed of Hyacinths scarcely ever, or never, requires watering 

 at any period ; the rains that happen after planting are gene- 

 rally more than sufficient, both for the roots and bloom, and 

 after the bloom is over they are rather prejudicial than other- 

 wise, unless very moderate. In the case of severe frost, espe- 

 cially if it follows soon after lain, some protection should be 

 given, and it will be the more necessary if the bod occupy an 

 exposed position. 



How finely Hyacinths can be bloomed in the open ground is 

 wonderfully illustrated each spring in the pretty and pleasant 

 spring garden at Glen Eyre, Southampton, the seat of Mrs. 

 Eyre Crabbe. Though the bulbs employed represent only the 

 ordinary mixed border Hyacinths sold at (he shops, they yet 

 produce heads of bloom that would be thought much of if they 

 could be so produced in pots. Nearly a thousand Hyacinths 

 are bedded out each autumn, generally in long serpentine beds, 

 in lines of red, white, and blue ; they are the feature of the 

 garden, and make a display that can alone be appreciated by 

 those who look upon them. It is now the custom for the 

 leading Hyacinth-dealers to import from Holland specially for 

 bedding purposes second-sized bulbs of leading sorts like 

 Baron Van Tuyll, Charles Dickens, and Emicus among the 

 single, and Bloksberg, King of Wurtemburg, and Eichard 

 Steele among the double, blue flowers ; Duchess of liichmond, 

 Madame Hodson, Norma, and Robert Steiger among the single, 

 and Grootvorst and Waterloo among the double, red flowers ; 

 Grand Vainqueur, Themistocles, and Voltaire among the single, 

 and Anna Maria, La Tour d'Auvergne, and La Virginitc among 

 the double, whites ; and a few shades of yellow as well. These 

 are well adapted for bedding, and there is the additional ad- 

 vantage of securing uniformity in height and hue for any special 

 purpose. 



I trust I shall have carried with me not only the sympathies, 

 but also the resolves, of many of yonr readers, and that they 

 also will strive to emulate in some degree what is being so 

 worthily done by others with the Hyacinth in the open ground. 

 It is not too late to make an attempt in the present autumn, 

 and there is ample material at hand for those who want it. 

 To such, if they labour well and patiently, a large result will 

 accrue as their fitting reward ; and when the forerunner of 

 spring shall call into active play the forces hitherto unseen, 

 but none the less contributory, that compose its gentle govern- 

 ment, they will see that which sweetens labour, gladdens the 

 eyes, and brings reverent thoughts to the heart. — Via. 



bottom heat alone could have started it into growth. If in this 

 I am correct, there may have been many such cases, and no 

 Vino I am acquainted with is so likely to suffer from such a 

 cause as this is, from the fleshy nature of its roots. My brother 

 fruited it on its own roots at Archerfield, and the fact that on 

 entering on the management of a garden like Prumlanrig he 

 has at once planted fifteen canes of it, bears sullicieut testimony 

 to the high estimate he has formed of its merits. 



I see it noted by a writer that this Grape is liable to be spotted. 

 This took place in one house here during the present year to a 

 small extent, where an overdose of sulphur was applied to the 

 pipes, but in no other case ; it was purely exceptional, and 

 other Grapes in the same house were also affected, though in a 

 less degree. — W. Thomson, Dalkeith Park. 



THE GOLDEN CHAMPION GRAPE VINE. 



As the raiser of this Grape, I regret to observe that writers 

 in the columns of the Journal have failed in growing it satis- 

 factorily. They seem to think that its constitution has been 

 debilitated by excessive propagation, but I do not think this 

 has been the case. I have seen it growing in many gardens 

 this year, and with one exception, in great vigour. Mr. Barron, 

 of Chiswiok, called here lately, and I took him to see a garden 

 in this neighbourhood, where the Vine had made rods like walk- 

 ing sticks. I recently called at Airthrey Cistle, the seat of Lord 

 Abercromby, where I saw a houseful of Vines that were planted 

 last May ; they were all vigorous, and up to the top of the house, 

 but the Golden Champion was by far the strongest in the house. 

 I could name a dozen such cases, but will only add that my 

 brother, on taking the management of the gardens at Drum- 

 lanrig, found it necessary to renew the Vines, and determined 

 to plant fifteen Vines of the Golden Champion. Some of these 

 I sent him, and others he raised from eyes this spring. I have 

 not seen them, but those who have tell me that they are, with- 

 out exception, the strongest Vines of their age they ever saw. 

 With me here, it grows alike vigorously either grafted or on its 

 own roots. 



Now, for the exception to this rule, as far as my own obser- 

 vation goes. The gentleman had the plant from me, and not 

 from Messrs. Osborn. I saw it some three months after it was 

 planted ; it had made a miserable shoot about G inches long, 

 and there it stopped. I took it out of the soil, and the con- 

 clusion I came to was, that the plant, when in a dormant state, 

 had been kept far too dry, and the strong and fleshy roots this 

 Vine makes had all perished before it was planted. Strong 



CHOICE EXOTIC FERNS. 



Cheilanthes elegans is an exceedingly pretty, neat-habited 

 species, and one of the most beautiful of the tropical American 

 Ferns. I have a specimen in a No. 1 pot. It is one of the 

 most beautiful Ferns I know. I have had my specimen now 

 three years, and feel well repaid for the care I have taken of it. 



The mode in which I have best succeeded in growing it is 

 potting it in a No. 2 pot, with good drainage. I use charcoal 

 broken up finely in compost, and when potted I put it into a 

 No. 1 pot, and fill up to the rim with cocoa-nut fibre the space 

 between the two pots ; I then plunge the plant in gentle bottom 

 heat. It requires shade ; mine is under the shade of a plant o£ 

 Musa Cavendishii, is quite 2* feet in diameter, and is exceed- 

 ingly fine for exhibition purposes and the decoration of the 

 stove. 



Gymnoqbamha L.i.ucHEANA. — This is one of the best of 

 Golden Ferns, and with me is very free-growing. The under 

 sides of the fronds are thickly covered with golden powder ; 

 the upper surface is of a most beautiful green. A fine speci- 

 men of this Fern is very effective and beautiful. 



Gymnogbamma chrysophylla aukea. — Although old, this is 

 one of the best of the Golden Ferns, and is very easily grown. 

 I have a specimen in a No. 1 pot with lovely fronds reaching 

 over the rim. In my opinion there is not a more beautiful 

 Fern. It is also very useful and effective for the decoration o£ 

 the dinner-table when it is grown in small pots. 



Lomakia gibba. — Of this I have a most beautiful specimeffi 

 in a No. 1 pot, with a stem upwards of a foot in height,Iand 

 resembling a miniature tree Fern. This Lomaria is ^well 

 adapted for exhibition and other decorative purposes. 



GYMN0GBA3I3IA puLOHELLA. — This 13 oue of the finest Silver 

 Ferns I know, and is of very free growth. The beautiful 

 silvery fronds are much more graceful than those of G. tartares. 

 I have a fine specimen of it, and it bids fair to stand in the 

 front of our Fern houses. 



Blechncm coecovadense. — I have a plant with fronds_ up- 

 wards of a yard in length. I recently saw a specimen of it in 

 Sussex, the finest I have ever seen. This Blechnum is valuable 

 for the decoration of the stove, and for exhibition. I could 

 mention many other beautiful Ferns, but my object in offering 

 these notes is to induce others to state what Ferns succeed 

 well with them. There are many kinds not worth growing. 

 When I see a good free-growing Fern I make a note of it, and 

 obtain a plant as soon as possible. — F. P. L. 



NEW GLADIOLUSES. 



On receiving Messrs. Verdier's lists from Paris I found that 

 there was a considerable difference in the names of those given 

 there and those given in my notes taken at Fontainebleau. X 

 therefore at once wrote to M. Souchet, and send herewith his 

 answer. He says some changes have been made in the names, 

 and sends me the following memorandum : — Robert Fortune 

 has been changed to Rosa Bonheur, Eosita to Armide, Maxima 

 to Lacgpede, Asmodee to Horace, Gloria Florum to Canova, 

 Potrarque to Pericles, Phconix to Robert Fortune, and Eleonore 

 has not been sent out, as it was not suffieiently increased to 

 enable him to do so. 



It may be some consolation to those who are bewaiUng losses 

 among their bulbs, that M. Souchet complains of a very sensible 

 loss among his cultures. With regard to any advice as to the 

 new ones, which I have been solicited to give by several cor- 

 respondents, my decided opinion is, from the experience o£ 

 past years, and from what I saw at M. Sonchet]s, that if a 

 hmited sum has to be laid out in new varieties it would be 



