26 



JOUBNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Jonaar; 14, 1875. 



must be kept as well as may be ; and wben it is not raining i 

 the immediately presBing work is cleaning, and securing, and 

 protecting. The frost and snow come, even perhaps before all 

 is BPcnre, and the ground is still undug — unmanured. That 

 is the inevitable result of a wet autumn and early winter. We 

 have next early spring upon us, and not only the winter's but 

 much autumn work in arrears. There has been no help for it. 

 All has been done that was possible under the conditions, yet 

 here is the work undone. What is — what must be — the result ? 

 The owner is uncomfortable, but his discomfort is not nearly 

 so keen as the gardener's, who has plodded on under a crush- 

 ing sense of self-conscious helplessness, and now is drinking 

 the bitters he knew must come. Here is autumn — winter's — 

 work crushed on spring, and a jumbling-together of the three 

 when summer's work cries aloud for labour. The year's 

 muddle is complete, and the garden, instead of being a plea- 

 sure and deUght, is a source of trouble and anxiety to owner 

 and workman. 



In hundreds and thousands of cases the position at this 

 moment is as just described. The long, drizzly, littery autumn 

 was followed by a sudden, early, and prolonged winter. The 

 work, which in an ordinarily mild season would have been 

 completed, is pushed on spring, when every day brings its own 

 demands on the worker, and arrears must be left undone, or 

 at least shuffled over, to the certain disadvantage of everybody 

 concerned. There is a remedy, but the golden season of 

 autumn is lost. That is the time of time of times to press on, 

 by a little extra labour, the seasonable work of the garden. 

 As soon as ever ground is cleared a double-quick march should 

 be made to get it turned up and the manure under. Digging 

 before the surface has become cold by frost or logged with 

 surface water is the royal road to a profitable goal. That 

 makes a garden in winter enjoyable by a sense of order and 

 neatness, benefits the ground by a way nothing else can, gives 

 health and freedom to future crops, lessens summer labour, 

 and concentrates — what is there — adequate strength to the 

 ever-recurring work of the hour, and secures also this great — 

 important — desideratum of making master satisfied and man 

 contented. That may be done by a little timely aid at a 

 critical time, and assuredly nothing pertaining to a garden is 

 better worth the doing. But that time is past, and yet much 

 autumn — winter's — work undone. 



The position is this : The work of two terms heaped on one, 

 and within one short march of another, for spring will soon 

 be on us with its urgent call to duty. To extricate himself 

 unaided, one man must do the work of two. Logic and expe- 

 rience alike drive to that plain fact. Can he do it ? Clearly 

 not. He must have aid, or work be half done and the summer 

 a muddle. Experienced owners who care for their gardens 

 will recognise the state of the case, and their practical acquaint- 

 ance with seasonable routine will suggest the aid they will 

 give unasked. That is pleasant and satisfactory. Those less 

 experienced will naturally lack that discernment, but may not 

 lack the consideration when the case is put before them. A 

 modest, hopeful, plodding man has diffidence in putting his 

 own case, and keeps plodding on. The time comes when he is 

 out of his depth, and compelled in self-defence to revert to 

 the cause of his difficulty. How many kindly employers would 

 then reply, " Why did you not tell me at the time, and I 

 would have helped you?" No doubt there are many such. 

 This is to let them know, while there is yet time, what the 

 position is now, and what they may do to make their home- 

 Burroundings enjoyable and prosperous in the ensuing season. 

 Not, be it observed, as altogether conferring a favour on the 

 man, although he will so regard and appreciate it, but as a 

 work whereby he himself will benefit in the better state and 

 prosperity of his garden, and as winning, by encouragement 

 given at a happy moment, the more willing and consequently 

 more profitable services of a good servant ; and if he happens 

 to be only moderate and such encouragement fails to improve 



him, well then , but I will not pass judgment. 



Now, have I been leading too fast, and shall I apply the 

 lash ? Perhaps it may be necessary. Do not, then, be in 

 haste to make up for lost time in putting on force to manuring 

 and digging the moment inclement weather takes its departure. 

 Let the ground have time to drain, and the surface become 

 naturally firm, dry, and clean to work. Do not be driven to 

 turn under any frost and snow ; the earth is cold enough 

 without any such violently cooling supplement. It takes half 

 the summer to warm ground in which ice is buried G inches 

 deep, and plants cannot grow freely in a soil-temperature too 

 low for their natural requirements, but only exist and invite 



insects. It will therefore be wise to wait awhile for favourable 

 conditions and then press on. In the meantime there is 

 another kind of waiting — steady industrious men waiting for 

 work, with dependent families made hungry by frost. They 

 will be glad to bring up arrears and be benefited. Their labour 

 will be profitable ; the garden manager will have a fairer field 

 for his skill, and produce a better reward by his industry; and 

 the employer may rejoice in the good he has done — good of 

 the best kind, inasmuch that by benefiting others he has 

 benefited himself — a fitting inauguration of the yet new year. 

 —J. Weight. 



OUE FOEGET-ME-NOTS. 



Who has not while strolling by some water side paused 

 to admire our beautiful Forget-me-nots, and whose lovely blue 

 wins attention and charms the eye ? Myosotis palustris — why 

 do we not see this native gem in our moist borders in greater 

 abundance? Is it because it is to be seen in almost every 

 ditch and pool, or is it too common to be taken into considera- 

 tion ? Be this as it may, we have not a more beautiful flower 

 on our native soil, nor one more easy to cultivate when once 

 established. It requires very little care, and will prosper by 

 land or by water. It may be increased by seed or division ; 

 it sows itself, and the seedlings may be moved to the place in- 

 tended for it when large enough. It is a most useful plant for 

 bouquets, and may be made available for indoor decoration. 

 Grown in pans in a cold pit or frames with plenty of air, and 

 well attended to with water, it may be kept in bloom nearly 

 the year round. Beautiful as it is when cultivated, it is seen 

 in its greatest beauty in its own native habitat by the pool in 

 the early morning, when the sun is just peeping upon it and 

 its flowers are bathed in dew, or when evening's mantle sub- 

 dues the light which falls on them. 



It should hold a. very prominent place in the early spring 

 garden ; will succeed in most soils, but should be well suppUed 

 with water in dry situations. When past its best it is easily 

 removed to be replaced by other occupants of the garden. 



Myosotis dissitiflora is a very desirable border flower, often 

 cheering us with its lovely flowers from early spring tQl late in 

 autumn. It is of compact habit, is easily increased by seed, 

 requires Uttle care, but often requires the hoe to hold it in 

 check. 



I think there is a little confusion respecting this and other 

 Forget-me-nots which, if it could, would be as well cleared up. 

 Have we not the same plant under different names ? They 

 are a widely distributed family both in our own and other 

 lands. The alpine species do well on a moderately moist 

 rockery. They are not very particular as to soil ; a compost of 

 good loam, sandy peat, leaf mould, coarse grit or charcoal 

 dust will suit most of them. They require drainage and atten- 

 tion in watering. 



Myosotis azorica is a real gem and an acquisition to any 

 collection. M. californica is a very desirable plant, its flowers 

 being white producing a fine contrast with the blue varieties, 

 and requiring the same treatment. M. rupicola, the queen of 

 the family, ought to be on every rockery in the land and in 

 every collection. Being one of our own native species makes it 

 the more desirable. It is well adapted for edging the foot of 

 the rockery, but requires good drainage and a rather shady 

 situation. It may be grown in pots for indoor decoration, and 

 should be seen in masses to be appreciated ; when so seen it 

 cannot be easily forgotten. — Vekitas. 



DO VABIETIES WEAR OUT? 



The Journal of Horticolture has reproduced an article 

 written by Professor Asa Gray, in the New York Tribune, on 

 the wearing-out of varieties. 



Mr. Asa Gray having done me the honour to notice my 

 opinion on the subject, I have thought it necessary to send 

 him the following answer. — Jkan Sisley, ii/OHs. 



" Sir, — In reply to the article you have published in the X'cw 

 York Tribune, and in which you have done me the honour to 

 refer to me, I take the liberty to lay before you that, in my 

 opinion, there are two incontestable facts — 



" 1, The unity of universal hfe. 



" 2, That every individual is a variety. 



" It follows that in all the universe and among all beings life 

 is transmitted iu like manner. That every creature which 

 exists ought to die and re-enter universal Hfe to make room for 

 other beings of its kind, or more highly perfected than itself. 



" That variabiUty is manifested everywhere. That there are 



