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JOOENAL OF HORTICUIiTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



( December 9, 



of the principal raigern. These foar ate named Smith, Ditvis, 

 Pethfre, and Clark. Strangely enough, Jersey has as yet pro- 

 duced nothing of value, eo that possibly I may Eorve the cause 

 of truth in vouching for thia jast discrimination. The initials 

 of the raisers are added. 



Of large-flowered varieties some of the best exhibited were, 

 Liiy Harding (C), of a delicate rose pink, a wc-U-known show 

 flower; Trincess of Tcck (P), pure white, of (ziaud tize, excel- 

 lent for cnt blooms; Princess of Wales (D), peaily white, deli- 

 cate rose-lilac tints, of exquisite form in the florets ; General 

 Slade iS), Indian red, tipped purely and clearly with orange, 

 and a very striking show flower ; Guerneey Nugget (P), 

 clear yellow with pink tinge, a fall and disiinct flower; Her 

 Majesty (S), silvery blush, compact, and duaif in habit; 

 Gloria Mnndi (C), brilliant golden yellow, somewhat like the 

 well-known Jardin des Plantes, and a seedling from it, but 

 earlier, being a great acquisition ; Cherub (S;, rosy, golden 

 amber, a large well-shaped flower for cut blooms ; Donald 

 Beaton (S), dark orange red, a very beautiful show flower; 

 Ossian (P), rose, very large, well-shaped, altogether a fine 

 variety; Sir Stafford Carey (F), dark chestnut, edged with gold, 

 very distinct and good ; Mr. Gladstone {Dj, dark red chestnut, 

 perfect shape, and a splendid show flower; Mrs. Cunningham, 

 a sport from Qaeen of England ; Mrs. Brnnlees (S), delicate 

 rose pink, of exquisite form, and having the merit of flowering 

 late ; Miss Marechaux (P), pure white, wide floret?, and very 

 good; Antonelli (S), orange salmon, large, and beautifully in- 

 curved ; Lady Carey (S), rosy lilac, large, and extremely showy ; 

 Eve (Si, pale primrose yellow. Incurved, very perfect as a cut 

 bloom. 



A fine large specimen plant of Little Harry (S), of a bright 

 golden hue, and of exquisite form of "petal" — indeed unsur- 

 passable as such — was also exhibited. Christine aud Golden 

 Christine, were likewise very fine. The former, raised by 

 Smith, is a fine large-flowered variety, of a rosy blush. Golden 

 Christine is a sport from Christine. 



The whole of these varietias, to which many more might be 

 added, were produced in Guernsey, with the exception, I believe, 

 of Golden Christine, and specimens of all wejp sho^n in various 

 ways. 



I may add that the show was not confined to Chrysanthe- 

 mnms, but the fruit was inferior. A basket of late American 

 Peaches was sent from our orchard houses, being the only 

 Peaches there. At Mr. Smith's, of the Caledonia Nursery- 

 one of the Chrysanthemum raisers above mentioned — I also 

 eaw on November 27th a standard Marechal Niel Rose, budded 

 •n a Manetti stock last Jaiy, having twenty-seven blooms on 

 it. All the Roses on the Manetti in this nursery are budded 

 on the principles laid down by Mr. Ridcljffe. Not a sucker is 

 to be seen. Climbing Devoniensis on a west wall was thri^iag. 

 Oae of the i.sland specialities, too, in the shape of bulbs, espe- 

 cially Gladioli, was well represented in this nursery. Gaerneey 

 can thus fairly claim a pre-eminence in Chrysanthemums, 

 bulbs, Chauraontel Pears, and hurricanes. Jersey shares with 

 ns in the last three, but in the first is far behind. — T. C. 

 • BaEniCT. 



-HINTS TO AJIATEURS ON GROWING AND 

 FORCING SEA-KALE. 



Of the few sorts of vegetables suitable for forcing, I am not 

 aware of any that can be forced with such ease and economy as 

 Sea-kale. Its delicious flavour and productiveness, even at the 

 earliest season, have made its culture a source of profit to the 

 market gardener; and because it can be brought to table with 

 much certainty and little trouble when other vegetables are 

 scarce, I am induced to communicate to amateurs and others 

 who have small gardens, a plan I adopted some years ago to 

 supply the large demands made upon me for this vegetable. 



Having a small garden, I found it took too much space, time, 

 and tronbie, to treat Sea kale in the usuil way— namely, grow- 

 ing it thinly in beds, and forcing it there. I therefore re- 

 solved to grow my plants in a smiller space, and to force tht-m 

 elsewhere. Accordingly I selected a sunny open spot, trenched 

 the soil2feet deep in November, added a little vrell-decomt'csed 

 manure and plenty of road grit, and strewed enough commr^n 

 salt over the surface to well whiten the soil. All was well 

 jnixed together, and allowed to lie undisturbed until tbe fol- 

 lowing March. As early iu that month as the ground is in a 

 favourable condition for wurking. the seed fhould be sown 

 8 inches apart, in drills 3 inches deep, and if Iho soil is dry I 

 prefer treating the seed in the diilii previous to raking over 



the bed. Tbe appearance of the p'ants above ground mnst be 

 watched for, and their tender fleshy seed leaves guarded against 

 the attacks of black fly, and the email black snail, by timely 

 applications of finely-sifted soot and lime. When the plants 

 are large enough, thinning must commence. It will be best 

 done at intervals until the plants stand about inches apart in 

 the row; of course, care will be taken to leave all the best 

 plants at tbe last thinning during tbe summer. The soil mnst 

 be frequently stirreJ and cleaned, and a good supply of m&nnre 

 water occasionally will bean advantage. 



By the middle of September fair-sized crowns will be formed, 

 and soon after that the foliage will begin to change colour ; 

 some of this may be pulled off, and an inch or two of the soil 

 removed from the bed in order to expose the crowns to tbe 

 sun aud ripen them. After about a fortnight in this state a 

 layer of finely-sifted coal ashes over the bed will protect the 

 crowns from slugs and mice. The latter will often attack the 

 crowns more from mischief than hunger, and leave the pieces 

 at the side, but they dislike burrowing in coal ashes. In taking 

 up the roots for forcing, begin at one end of the bed, anJ trench 

 out the roots carefully, as they are very brittle. Any other 

 mode of proceeding will most likely result in injury to them. 



At whatever time the first dish of Sea-kale may be wanted, 

 preparation for forcing should be made a month beforehand. 

 This I did in the following manner:— A sufficient quantity of 

 heating material, such as stable dung and leaves, was collected 

 into a heap and fermented for a week or ten days, turning it 

 over once during that time. While this process is going on, 

 prepare some pots, tubs, boxes, or any vessels l.'j inches deep; 

 they must be in pairs, for one has to be inverted over the other. 

 Drainage must be secured, and the roots may be planted in any 

 free common soil. For a pot 1 foot in diameter ten roots will 

 not be too many. 



A sufficient quantity for tbe first crop having been potted, 

 and tbe heating material being in readiness, select a spot of 

 ground in some out-of-the-way corner that will admit of a hole 

 being dug 4 feet square, and 3 feet deep. Six inches of drainage 

 should be provided, consisting of biick rubbish, wood, or, 

 indeed, anything that is to be had. Into this hole pitch the 

 manure, mi:: it carefully, and press it down firmly ; then build 

 it up 18 inches higher than the surface of the soil. As soon as 

 tbe heating commences, plunge the vessels containing tbe 

 plants up to the rim in the manure, and press it firmly ronnd 

 them with the hand. Cover these over with the corresponding 

 psrtof the vessel, and let them remain. Now, in order to keep 

 the heat in the manure, and make it rise, the whole mav be 

 covered with rough dryish litter a foot or more thick. Trial 

 sticks must be inserted, and if the dung become too hot, which is 

 not very likely, take oS a portion of the litter. Should it become 

 too cool, an tS-inch layer of heating material may be placed 

 over the whole bed. including the Kale. A moderate temperature 

 of from 50° to GO' is very suitable for Sea-kale. I ought to 

 have said, that after the roots are potted a good watering should 

 be given, and the water should be allowed to drain off before 

 putting the pots in the bed. Examine them at times, and give 

 more if wanted. If the weather is mild, a dish of Kale may be 

 cut in three weeks, and each pot of twelve crowns ought to pro- 

 duce two dishes of six heads each, and if cut carefully so as to 

 leave a part of the crown, more shoots will push forth, and 

 another dish be secured, but tbe weak shoots should be pulled 

 off. For a small supply two pots plunged at a time are sufli- 

 cieut, a succession being started in a week or ten days after- 

 wards. Each bed of the above size will force four dozen roots. 



I am aware that Sea-kale is forced for table iu several ways, 

 and, whore conveniences are at hand, with less trouble ; but bb 

 I write this paper for the amateur, and was for some years 

 obliged to adopt any method of treatment by which I conld 

 increase the supply of this vegetable, I do not hesitate to re- 

 commend the plan to others similarly situated, and hope they 

 will trv it. — TnoMAs Eecobd. 



GESNERA EXONIENSIS. 



ArioNosT the latest introductions of new plants, the beantilal 

 Gesnera exoniensis is unsurpassed. From 1 he easiness of its 

 culture, the length of time it remains in flower, and its vala- 

 able qualities for the decora'ion of the dinner-table, it certain'y 

 deserves a place in every collection of stove plants, and cann Jt 

 fail to become a general favourite. This year, early in Maro'i, 

 I inserted two leaves in S inch pots containing a mixture of 

 pest and silver sand ; I pl:iDgcd the pots in bottom hea*, an! 

 each leaf soon formed three tubers. I tlea phced tbe jonnj 



