476 



JODRNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December U, 1669. 



Bents a certain amount of dead foliage which requires clearing 

 off ; in mild weather, howeyer, it looks well, and as it is easily 

 obtained from seeds, and probably the plants doing daty in 

 snmmer may also be made to do so in winter, as in my case, 

 there will be difficulty in obtaining sufficient plants for all 

 purposes. It seems to bear transplanting very well, and with 

 me is qaite hardy. 



AtjCTjnA jAroNicA. — It is only necessary to say that this is 

 one of the very best shrubs I know for winter bedding, trans- 

 planting readily, and looking well the whole of the winter. It 

 propagates easily from cuttings put in during October. 



AuEEiETiA rcRTUREA vAKiEiiATA.^This protty-growiug plant 

 Beems well adapted for winter decoration, and answers that 

 purpose well, but I have not had suflicient experience of it in 

 quantity to speak of its effect in the distance ; for close in- 

 spection I know of nothing more effective. 



Stti-a olauca. — This grey-ooloured Grass is effective, being 

 of stiff and upright growth, and so is a kindred species Festcca 

 Gi.AncA. EotU are adapted for winter. I am sorry I cannot 

 speak so well of Dactylis glomerata variegata, which somehow 

 has never done well here. 



Abtemisia aroentea. — I cannot recommend this plant until 

 I have had further trial of it ; its foliage is all that can be 

 desired, but it seems not to be so hardy as desirable. 



Aiisscrj SAXATiLE VARiEGATDM. — This is a handsome plant, 

 both in flower and not ; but like most variegated plants it 

 does not flower so freely aa the plain-leaved, but is on that 

 account the better for winter use ; as the time it has to be 

 removed being about the time of its flowering, some reluctance 

 might be felt at transplanting it when just coming into 

 beauty. 



Vaeiegated Thtite. — A pretty plant that may perhaps be 

 worked in to advantage, but I have not used it. 



VracA eleoantissima. — I have not used this for winter 

 decoration for many years, in consequence of its being a pro- 

 minent feature near the spot where winter plants are wanted, 

 but it answers well. 



Pinks. — Bushy plants of these look well where they can be 

 had, their appearance in winter being good, and if only grown 

 for that season, seedlings of some common kind might, perhaps, 

 be quickest grown. I generally use the plain white, which 

 Strikes more freely and grows faster than better varieties. 



Amongst other shrubs which we have at times pressed into 

 winter service, Cupressus Lawsoniana has answered more than 

 once admirably ; the Red Virginian Cedar not so well, but I have 

 not had so much experience with it. The common Laurel has 

 also occasionally been used, and in favourable seasons has 

 answered well ; but Berberis Aqnifolium and Darwinii are less 

 satisfactory. Perhaps, however, by frequent planting they 

 might become inured to transplanting, but it is likely to be at 

 the expense of their healthy appearance. Rhododendrons 

 and other American plants not being adapted for our soil have 

 not been tried. A friend of mine, however, produced a very 

 pleasing effect with the common Heath from a neighbouring 

 waste. Single plants that had been cropped into a suitable 

 shape by animals grazing them, looked tolerably well when 

 introduced into the flower beds, and possibly other common 

 plants might be found serviceable. 



As the object of winter gardening is to present a furnished 

 appearance in the flower beds from the time the summer 

 plants are over up to the middle of March, when all are 

 expected to be removed, it is obvious that the list of flowering 

 plants during that period must be a limited one, and if the 

 season should be severe, it is hopeless to expect much from 

 this source ; nevertheless, those anxious to make the attempt 

 might try some of the earlier-flowering Primroses, of which the 

 single white is the best I have — that being earlier under the 

 same treatment than the wild one. Crocuses and Snowdrops, 

 especially the latter, may also be planted, but it must be borne 

 in mind that these bulbs rarely show themselves above ground 

 till February ; however, their cheerful appearance entitles them 

 to a place in every garden. Winter Aconites transp ant less 

 satisfactorily, but I have not had much experience of them; 

 and Hepaticas are too late for the purpose, as it is winter not 

 spring decoration that we have in view ; and if clearing the 

 beds entirely by the middle of March be strictly adhered to, so 

 as to have a six-weeks spring fallow, as it may be called, it is 

 unpleasant to have to remove at that time plants that have 

 scarcely attained their best. 



Leaving, therefore, the subject of spring gardening for 

 another occasion, I invite those who have had much practice 

 in winter decoration and have employed other plants than 



those named for the purpose, to give na the benefit of theit 

 experience, as the matter is far from being bo well understood 

 as it ought to be. I have on former occasions described the 

 mode in which we employ coloured materials, aa well as 

 plants, in our winter beds, so that the subject of polychrome 

 decoration, as it has been called, need not be entered into here, 

 further than stating that all who see it admit its Advantages, 

 and the great diversity it affords. In places where severe 

 winters may be expected it constitutes an easy and pleasing 

 mode of giving that beauty to a scene which the elements 

 deny in another form. We only use materials of three colours 

 — red brick dust, coal ashes for black, and a white sand plenti- 

 fnl in the neighbourhood, and I am not sure that more would 

 be desirable. In large beds, however, another colour is worked- 

 in with great advantage, and that is plain turf, which is made 

 to form edgings to different compartments : or it may be cut 

 into strips of 8 or 4 inches wide, and worked into a kind of em- 

 broidery or fancy work as may be thought desirable. Possibly, 

 too, there may be other common things brought into use 

 which have not yet been tried. The eobject, although not new, 

 has never yet become so fasbionahle as to attract the attention 

 which it assuredly deserves, and which at some time it is likely 

 to receive. I will, however, call, attention to it on some future 

 occasion. — J. Eodson. 



NEW GOLDEN COLEUSES. 



The utility of the Colenses for ornamental purposes is so 

 well known, and they can be so easily grown, and make ench 

 fine specimens in so short a time, that the value of those 

 now in cultivation can scarcely be over-estimated. I wish to 

 offer a few notes on them, to show how they have done with 

 me during the past year as pot plants and as bedders. 



I .believe I am not wrong in saying that those previously 

 sent out are of no value compared to the new golden ones. 

 The new varieties differ from the others chiefly in their colours 

 being the richest tints of bronzy crimson, with a peculiar 

 lustrous glow. 



I grow my plants mostly as pyramids in large IS.gized pots, 

 and I keep them hard-pinched for the decoration of the dinner- 

 table. Mixed with other plants they are very effective ; under 

 the chandelier they are perfection. 



I think the variety. Her lUajestij, the best I have ever seen ; 

 it has^aves as broad as one's hand, of a very deep bronzy red, 

 and it very quickly makes a specimen. 



Quee7> Victoria is a very beautiful variety ; the centre of the 

 foliage is of a rich bronzy crimson with a bright yellow edge. 



Princess Royal is a lovely Coleus ; the foliage is not par- 

 ticularly large, somewhat after the style of Queen Victoria, 

 only brighter. The leaves are remarkable for the bright golden 

 hue underneath. They have a most beautiful effect. Growing 

 side by side you cannot see any difference from Princess Alioe. 



Tcifordii aurca did not do well with me for the first year, 

 though I tried several different ways of cultivating it. At last 

 I have succeeded in growing it to perfection. I grafted it on 

 Baroness de Rothschild, and during the last summer in my 

 stove it was like burnished gold. 



Of the other varieties. Princess of Wales, Prince of Wales, 

 and the Duke of Edinburgh are very beautiful. Prince Arthnr 

 and Princess Beatrice are of a golden green hue, the principal 

 veins being beautifully defined by crimson lines. 



I have found the Eeanty of St. John's Wood very handsome 

 as a pot plant, and it is quite distinct from the old Coleus 

 Verschaffelli. 



Daring the past summer I bedded-out upwards of twenty 

 varieties of the Coleus and only two did well— Coleus Veitchii 

 and C. Verschaffelti. During the past summer I have visited 

 several large public parks and gardens. At tbe Crystal Palace 

 I noticed how very effectively and extensively Verschaffelti was 

 used. 



I have come to the conclusion that as pot plants in onr 

 stoves and greenhouses Colenses are invaluable, but in our cold 

 climate of England I believe I shall adhere to Verschaffelti 

 and Veitchii for general bedding purposes. At the present 

 time I have several specimens of Coleus Albert Victor and 

 Baroness de Rothschild in i;4-sized pots, and 2 feet in height. 

 On these I have several different varieties growing. I have on 

 one six or eight varieties growing, and upwards of twenty on 

 one just worked. Their appearance is very novel and interesting. 

 They are very easily grafted. I think it is very effective to 

 see C. Batemani, with its nearly black foliage, grafted on a 



