Moi-ch 18, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



215 



bonring inhabitants, who make the wood a favourite day's 

 resort at the season when the Lily ia in bloom. The supply 

 seems to bo endless, and if growers would only study the 

 nature of the Lily no fear need be entertained of reproducing 

 the plant year after year. 



I dud that by placing a number of roots in any useless 

 corner of the garden under trees I can have an unlimited 

 supply. At the present time I have a vast bed in a place 

 where no other flower will grow, and which bed has been there 

 for fifteen years. 



In the wood above mentioned we come occasionally upon 

 what is locally known as the Fly Orchid (Ophrys muscifera or 

 Twayblade). It more closely resembles a fly having alighted 

 on a green blade than anything I have ever seen under house 

 cultivation ; but despite all efforts I have made, I have been 

 unable to grow them. Can any of your readers assist me 

 with this information? — Beta, Ulocrston, 



OUR BOEDER FLOWBBS— MASTEEWORTS. 



This is a small family of border plants of no very striking 

 character, yet interesting as affording variety. I am not aware 

 that we have a native species in this group, yet I believe that 

 Astrantia major is considered by some to be naturalised in our 

 climate. Most of the kinds we have in cultivation are from 

 the Caucasus. They require no particular treatment, but will 

 flourish in moderately good garden soil. They are moisture- 

 loviug plants, but should not be saturated with water. 



Astrantia maxima and A. major are well adapted for shady 

 places in what is termed a wilderness or open spaces in the 

 shade of trees. Astrantia pauciflora and A. minor are worthy 

 of a place in the herbaceous border. A. carniolica is the 

 most interesting of the family, and is worthy of careful atten- 

 tion ; it thrives well in a soil composed of good sound loam, 

 leaf mould, with a little sand all mixed well together, and to ba 

 attended to with water. Their star-like flowers make them 

 desirable where cut flowers are in request. They continue iu 

 bloom for a length of time, and are easily increased by division 

 either in spring or autumn. 



DONDIA EPIPAOTIS. 



_ Many of our early spring flowers are now appearing above 



ground, and will soon reward us for our care of them with 

 their cheerful presence and varied forms. A little diminutive 

 plant seldom met with is beginning to put iu an appearance — 

 viz., Dondia Epipactis. It is sometimes called Astrantia 

 Epipactis and Hacquetia Epipactis, and these synonymes are 

 often not a little puzzling to the uninitiated. 



To see this little gem to perfection it should be grown in 

 pots in a compost of sandy loam, peat, leaf mould, a little 

 Band, with some broken sandstone in a rough state all mixed 

 together. It requires good drainage, and a rather shaded 

 situation will suit it exactly. It should on no account be 

 Buffered to become dry when well established. When grown 

 in a G-inch pot the surface of the soil should be covered with 

 pebbles or spar, and when the little disk-like flowers and leaves 

 appear through them they have a very pleasing effect. 



• I have seen plants do well iu a peat border and on a rockery, 



and they may also be kept plunged among alpines or placed 

 iu a cool fernery. This plant is increased by division after it 

 has completed its growth. Time, patience and care are re- 

 quired to work up a stock. When well established they last 

 for a considerable time. Being of diminutive stature and 

 unable to endure rough handling, I fear that its cultivation 

 will still continue to be neglected. — Veritas. 



MRS. PINCE'S GRAPE. 



I CAN endorse the opinion of your correspondent Mr. Harri- 

 son Weir (see page 158) as regards the quality of this tine 

 Grape, which we find here to be the best flavoured of all the 

 late-keeping sorts. The last bunches are now being used, 

 although to all appearance they would keep good for at least 

 another month, as not a single berry is decayed. In some 

 instancas, however, the jet-blaek colour of the fruit has given 

 place to a foxy red, but without the slightest deterioration of 

 flavour. 



I should, however, be sorry to follow the example of your 

 correspondent in pulling up all the Lady Downes' variety. We 

 have here a house devoted to the two varieties above named 

 planted rod for rod, and for late keeping both are found to be 

 excellent. Another house of like dimensions is planted with 



West's Black St. Peter's and Black Alicante, and these sorts, 

 although they are doing as well as could be desired, the fruit 

 is nevertheless greatly inferior to that of Lady Downes' and 

 Mrs. Piuce. I should not recommend the extensive planting 

 of either West's Black St. Peter's or Alicante; the former, 

 although a very good variety, is too thin-skinned to hang late 

 in the season, while the skin of the Alicante becomes of a very 

 tough leathery texture, and is very deficient iu flavour. Lady 

 Downes' seldom shrivels, and retains its pleasantly piquant 

 flavour to the last ; but Mrs. Pince is certainly the best 

 flavoured of all the late-keeping sorts that I am acquainted 

 with. — P. Gkieve, Culfonl. 



NOTES FROM MY GARDEN IN 1874. 



GBEENnOUSB. 



In my small way I have not — indeed, cannot have — much 

 to record that will interest others ; but as I have oftentimes 

 found that I was glad of hints which others might have hardly 

 thought worth giving, it may be that even these trifling matters 

 may help some amateur who keeps his little boat close to 

 shore, as I am obliged to do. 



Camellias, then, were, let me say, a failure with me, save in 

 the case of one or two plants, and this 1 attribute to my having 

 placed them out of doors iu summer — a plan, I am aware, 

 often recommended, but one which requires great caution ; for 

 if either the pots are so placed that worms can get into them, or 

 watering is neglected, it is fatal to the blossoming ; the buds 

 are developed to a certain size, and then they gradually become 

 brown and drop off, and this latter is often the case when there 

 is dripping weather iu the autumn. The surface of the pots 

 looks moist and the foliage fresh and green, and one is deceived 

 as to the real state of the balls and roots. My general plan is 

 to leave the few I have in the lower house under the shade of 

 the Vines during the summer, and then move them into the 

 upper house for the winter and spring ; but last year I did not 

 do so, and hence to a great extent the cause of my failure. 

 There are some kinds, such as Dachesse do Berri and Mrs. 

 Abby Wilder, which I find drop the buds more readily than 

 others ; while some of the most satisfactory I find to be Sarah 

 Frost, Mathotiana, .Jubilee, Mrs. Cope, Elegans, Chaudleri, 

 and Imbricata. The old Alba plena, one of the very best 

 whites, I find also very liable to drop its buds. 



Azaleas, on the other hand, were quite a success; indeed 

 they are, with a little care, the easiest grown of all plants, and 

 for a stage of bloom there is nothing to equal them. 



Strawberries were also a great success, and I find nothing 

 better than Dr. Hogg suit my purpose. A friend has told me 

 that, instead of top-dressing the pots when they are placed on 

 the shelf with old hotbed stuff, I should do better to use nearly 

 fresh cow manure, and I am going to try it this season. 



I have discarded Primula japonica from the house, and given 

 it a place in the open border. It is doubtless very showy, but 

 to grow it well it takes up a gieat deal of room and does not 

 afford blooms for cutting, and I therefore prefer giving the 

 room to other things. 



I have introduced a few good-sized plants of Arum, for I am 

 very fond of their large white blooms. Oue of them placed in 

 a tall vase, with a sprig or two of scarlet Geranium and a bit 

 of foliage, looks exceedingly well. 



Of show Pelargoniums, thanks to my friend Mr. Turner, I 

 had a capital display filling oue side of my house ; and the 

 following is my judgment of the new varieties sent out by him 

 in 1874, at least such of them as I have grown. 



Blue Boy. — A purplish flower; the top petals of deep colour 

 with a narrow margin, and with a good deal of novelty about it. 



Countess. — A very grand flower of fine substance ; lower 

 petals salmon pink ; maroon spot on upper petals, white centre. 

 Very good. 



Chieftain. — A nice, but not first-class flower. 



Duke of Camhridije. — I think the finest variety of the season ; 

 bright scarlet, medium black blotch on top petals; free-flower- 

 ing, smooth bright variety. Very brilliant and fine flower, and 

 quite an acquisition. 



Duchess. — Rich crimson flower ; black top petals, narrow 

 edge, white centre. Somewhat delicate in growth. 



Druid. — Lower petals rosy lilac, maroon spot on top petals. 

 Very dwarf habit. 



Flora. — Lower petals rosy purple. D warf and free-flowering, 

 but not a first-rate flower. 



Giant. — Lower petals bright piuk, maroon spot on top petals. 

 Very large, but in form not equal to some others. 



