April 23, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



309 



BhadeB of white, bine, pnrpio, pink, and yellow from April till 

 Jane, when the Bummer bedders now in courBe of preparation 

 will replace them. 



It is a singnlar fact, that while the artistic arrangement of 

 flnmmer beds has met with numerous opponents, no one has 

 ever been found to speak against spring gardening. The love- 

 liness of the flowers, blending so softly and harmoniously 

 with the fresh greenery of the foliage, are so impressive, so 

 bright and seasonable, as to command universal admiration 

 and approval. Nor is the display of vernal beauty confined 

 to the gardens of the rich ; it is open to all, the best spring 

 flowers being raised from seed and cultivated entirely in the 

 open air, ordinary care and painetaking, combined with timely 

 culture, being all that is necessary to secure an ample stock of 

 plants. 



Taken apart from its intrinsic beauty, spring gardening 

 enables one to be more deliberate than of yore in the work of 

 providing the necessary supply of summer plants. The old 

 high-pressure system of propagating the stock so as to be in 

 readiness to plant the bare beds as early in May as possible 

 has become obsolete, for the simple reason that the spring 

 flowers continue in full beauty throughout that month. There 

 is, therefore, ample time for the propagation of many plants 

 for the coming summer display. Take, for example, that best 

 of all dark crimson-foliaged bedders, Coleus Verschaffelti ; 

 one large plant or half a dozen small plants placed in a lively 

 temperature will afford thousands of cuttings in a few weeks, 

 every joint or eye rooting freely in saucers of sand and water. 

 Then there are those unique bedders, the Alternantheras, 

 most lovely in the brightness and variety of their leaf tints. 

 A few strong plants plunged to the pot's rim in a hotbed yield 

 cuttings freely, and which also root readily in pure sand and 

 water. The dark-leaved Iresines, too, are propagated with 

 equal faciUty. I very well remember how, when Iresine 

 Herbstii was first introduced, each portion of stem with a 

 joint was split asunder so as to obtain a plant from every eye. 

 I. Liudeni too was seized upon with avidity, and was very 

 popular for a time, but neither of them have continued to 

 hold the prominent position at first assigned to them, for the 

 simple reason that they are undoubtedly dull-looking and 

 tame. In the Coleus we have both depth and richness of 

 colour ; in the Alternantheras brightness, beauty, and most 

 charming variety ; but these desirable properties are all want- 

 ing in the Iresines. 



Some of the yellow-leaved plants answer best if raised now. 

 A shilling packet of Golden Pyrethrum seed will afford some 

 thousands of plants. Stellaria graminea aurea is easily pro- 

 pagated by cuttings, which grow with surprising rapidity, and 

 emit roots from every joint. Vinca major elegantissima is 

 also readily propagated from cuttings at this season of the year. 

 Coprosma Baneriana variegata is a more difficult plant to in- 

 crease, the cuttings rooting slowly but surely if the pots are 

 plunged to the rim in a brisk hotbed. It is sometimes recom- 

 mended to propagate this plant by layers in prelerence to 

 cuttings — a tedious and unnecessary process, as the cuttings 

 are to be depended upon. A strong batch of both yellow and 

 white variegated Geraniums raised from cuttings now make 

 compact little plants for edgings or second rows. Mesembry- 

 anthemnm cordifolium must not be overlooked here, it is so 

 easily cultivated and so useful withal as to merit a place in 

 every garden. It may be raised from seed ; cuttings, however, 

 root BO freely, and may be taken in such abundance from a 

 few plants, that they are altogether preferable to seedlings. 

 Its chief points of excellence are found in the peculiar soft- 

 ness of its f ohage, in which pale green and yellow are agreeably 

 blended, and in its recumbent, dense, and spreading growth 

 requiring very httle attention after it is once established. 



All the grey-leaved plants may now be propagated with 

 tolerable ease and expedition from cuttings, Santolina, Leuco- 

 phyton, Cerastinm, Achillea, Gnaphalium, Centaurea, and 

 Cineraria maritima, all rooting freely in a lively moist tempe- 

 rature. The Centanreas and Cinerarias may be raised from 

 seed, but the seedUngs grow so slowly that they are of very 

 little use till the second year. Both species prove hardy in a 

 dry, elevated, and open situation, forming handsome specimens 

 if planted singly. The Cineraria with its silvery stems and 

 bright grey deeply serrated foliage possessing a brightness and 

 beauty that is as remarkable under favourable circumstances 

 in winter as in summer. 



The exquisite effect of Tagetes signata pumila under skilful 

 management, bo well exemplified at the Crystal Palace last 

 year, wUl probably induce many persons to assign it a pro- 



minent position in more than one flower bed for the coming 

 season. I would not advise anyone to attempt its culture who 

 cannot afford it almost daily attention, for it grows so freely 

 and flowers so persistently throughout the season, that a few 

 days' neglect would lead to the production of much wild 

 growth and of many flowers which ought always to be removed 

 in the bud. If the seed is sown in gentle heat now, the plants 

 will be in a suitable condition by the time they are required 

 for the beds. 



Lobelias, Violas, Tropfoolums, and Ageratums are all best 

 increased from cuttings. Violas raised now would, of course, 

 be somewhat late, but they would be highly ornamental in 

 autumn. — Edward LncKuuBST, 



ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



April 21st. 



This, the second spring Exhibition, was held under the auspice s 

 of a pleasant summer-like day. Even the most tender plants 

 could be moved with safety, and their admirers could enjoy 

 them as flowers ought to be enjoyed, in leisure and comfort— if 

 the plants had come. The collections were arranged in the 

 western conservatory arcade. More than half the classes were 

 empty, and we cannot describe the Exhibition other than an 

 ordinary one, although the Rhododendrons were massive, the 

 Orchids interesting, the hardy flowers as attractive as any class 

 in the Exhibition, and the cut blooms of Mareohal Niel Rose 

 simply splendid. 



The first class in the schedule was for twelve forced Rhodo- 

 dendrons (open). The only collection was from H. Lane and 

 Son, Great Berkhampstead, with well-bloomed plants of Nero ; 

 Blandyanum, a fine plant; Limbatum; Queen of the West, 

 very effective ; Auguste Van Geert, with immense trusses of 

 blooms; Standard des Flandres; Towardianum; Fatnosum 

 flore-pleno, very Uvely; Minnie, an attractive light variety; 

 Sir Isaac Newton, a rich dark; Imperatriee, and Lord John 

 RuBsell. All the plants were exceedingly well bloomed, and 

 were healthy and fresh. In the corresponding class for amateurs 

 there was no entry. 



In the Orchid class for nurserymen Mr. B. S. 'WilliamB was 

 the only exhibitor. His collection comprised a good plant of 

 Dendrobium nobile, Cypripedinm viUosum with fourteen flowers, 

 Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum with two fine spikes of a dozen 

 blooms each, Camarotis purpurea, MasdevaUia Lindeni, and 

 Odontoglossum phalanopais. The amateurs' class was empty. 



In the Cineraria classes for nine distinct varieties (nursery- 

 men), Messrs. Dobson & Son, Isleworth, had large but rather 

 loose plants of "Wonderful, Premier, Snowflake, Hamlet, Duke 

 of Cambridge, Ensign, Lady Hamilton, Beauty, Andromeda, 

 and a miserable semi-double variety. In the amateurs' class 

 for this plant there was no competition. 



Hardy spring flowers in pots. These were very effective, the 

 first prize for eighteen varieties being secured by Mr. R. Parker, 

 Exotic Nursery, Tooting, with bright examples of Doronicum 

 cordifoUum, D. austriacum, Cardamine trifoha, Tritelia uni- 

 flora and T. uniflora lilacina. Primula elatior Early Admirable 

 very rich, Scilla italica, Spirtea japonica, Saxifraga media, Oro- 

 bua yernus, Iberis linifoha, Muscari racemosum, Dielytra spec- 

 tabilis and D. spectabilis alba, Orobus cyanus. Primula elatior 

 Goldtn Plover, Pulmonaria siberica and Ranunculus amplexi- 

 caulis. Second honours were taken by Mr. Dean with smaller but 

 not less attractive plants, among which bedding Pansy White 

 Swan, Viola Royal Blue, Lithospermum prostratum, Primula 

 cortusoides in variety. Polyanthus Black Knight, White Daisies, 

 and Myosotis, were the most effective. This waa a compact, 

 well-grown, and interesting group. 



The Auricula classes were empty save that for twelve Alpines. 

 Messrs. Dobson & Sons staged plants of no special merit. 



In the miscellaneous contributions a small but interesting 

 collection of double, single, and fancy Polyanthuses were sent 

 by Mr. Dean. Of the single varieties Viceroy (primrose), and 

 The Bride (white), are evidently good bedders, and a large laced 

 variety Hussar is effective. Some of the double varieties were 

 also exceedingly rich. 



Mr. Williams exhibited an attractive group of plants, com- 

 prising choice Palms, Pandanus Veitchii, Anthurium Scherzer- 

 lanum, a nice plant of the Sweet Toxicophl»a spectabUe, 

 Orchids, &c. 



A batch of double Cinerarias were sent by Messrs. E. G. 

 Henderson & Son, two or three of which were reaUy double, the 

 remainder being more or less successful attempts to break from 

 the single form. The same firm also sent some single seedlings 

 containing good flowers. 



The ninety-six cut blooms of Marcchal Niel Rose from Mr. 

 Walker, nurseryman, Thame, Oxon, deserved a medal for their 

 great excellence. Nothing in the Exhibition was better in 

 quality than these fine, fresh, rich blooms. 



The Society's Gardens came to the rescue with gay collections 

 of plants, in which the pots of Solomon's Seal showed to ad- 



