AprU 20, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTIOOLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



331 



and inoreasing in height towards the back, finishing with the 

 highest as the back row. 



A. 



, Kich Yollow — Golden Ruperb 

 Nosegay Geranium. Flowers 

 kept picked off. 



, Deep Crimson— ColeuB Verachaf- 

 feltii. 



6, Purplish Red— Conna rubra su- 



perbissima. 

 5, Pale Yellow— Lady Plymouth 



Geranium. 



6, Purplish Crimson— Ricinus pur- 



pureus major. 

 5, Grey — Leucophyton Erownii. 



Not pinched, but left to grow 



tall. 

 4, Pale Yellow and Green — Pole- 



monium cceruleumvariegatum. 



■1, Grey — Leucophyton Erownii. 

 3, Blue — Lobelia Blue Eoauty. 

 2, Carmine — Alternantbera aranma. 

 1, Pftlo Yellow — Mesembryanthomum 

 cordifoUum variegatum. 



4, Dai-k Blue — -Viola Perfection. 

 8, Crimson — Coleus Verschaffeltii. 

 2, Lilac — Lobelia Omen. 

 1, Grey— Santolina incana. 



3, Blue — Lobelia Lustrous. 



2, Bright Crimson — Coleus Verschaf- 

 feltii spleudens. 



1, Yellow, Pink, and Green — Golden 

 Tricolor Geranium Peter Grieve. 

 Flowers kept picked off. 



D. 



6, Deep Rich Scarlet— Lobelia 



Queen Victoria. 

 5, Pale Yellow — Polemoniam cceru- 



leum varie^'atum. 

 4, Blue— Lobelia speoiosa. 



6, Various— Mixed Gladioli. 



5, Pale Yellow — Viuca major ele- 



gautissima. 

 4, Blue — Viola Perfection. 

 3, Green — Tagetes signata pumila. 



Flowers kept picked off. 



3, Yellow— Golden Feather Pyre- 

 thrum. 

 2, Blue — Lobelia speciosa. 

 1, Grey— Cerastium tomentosum. 



2, 'Wliite— Euonymus radicans varie- 



gatua. 

 1, Green and Black — Semperyivnm 



califomicum. 



In the three examples A, b, c, it will be seen that with the 

 exception of the Lobelia and Viola the plants are all of kinds 

 that are valued solely for their foliage and not for their flowers, 

 so that there could be no doubt about their continuing in full 

 beauty throughout the season. The Viola and Lobelia are 

 both safe plants, but the introduction of other plants into the 

 design for the effect of their blossom requires caution, for the 

 evident reason that the failure of a single line would spoil 

 the appearance of the whole, d and e comprise two useful 

 arrangements for amateurs, the Lobelia, Golden Pyrethrum, 

 and Tagetes being easily raised from seed ; the scarlet Lobelia 

 and Polemonium wintered in a cold frame or pit ; the Gladioli 

 stored during winter in a drawer or upon shelves and planted 

 in April ; and the Sempervivum, Euonymus, and Vinoa being 

 perfectly hardy. — Edward Lcckhukst. 



THE PINE-APPLE NUBSEEY. 



It is a well-known axiom that we cannot put an old head on 

 young shoulders, but it is within the bounds of possibility 

 that a young head may be put on old shoulders, as is exempli- 

 fied in this establishment. It is old in years, yet young in 

 vigour ; and if a tone of matured age pervades it, not less 

 certainly does it partake of the buoyancy of youth where 

 enterprise and life are its prominent characteristics. In a 

 word, in the brisk competitive race of the times this nursery 

 is not likely to lag behind in its aims to hold a place abreast 

 of its contemporaries. This is no ordinary position to attain, 

 and it can only be accomplished by a combination of practical 

 Bkill in home management and the business activity which is 

 essential to make its resources familiar to the outside world. 

 On these principles are founded the success of the most suc- 

 cessful examples of the day, and on these lines are based the 

 governing medium by which this nursery sustains its claims 

 to a foremost place in commercial horticulture. 



Being situated in a pleasant part of the metropolis, and not 

 devoid of outside attractions, it is not to be wondered at that 

 a considerable sprinkling of rank and fashion daily make a 

 rendezvous of its spacious couservutory, which at all times is 

 worthy of a visit, and especially now it is at or near its zenith 

 of beauty. This structure is exceedingly gay, so gay indeed 

 that one can with difficulty take hold of a given point to com- 

 mence a description. Therefore, no detailed notice is at- 

 tempted, but we, in a general way, class it as it is — a grand 

 mass of colour and foliage, blended in a way to command at- 

 tentiop, yet almost to defy analysis. The colour, however, 

 is mainly imparted by Azaleas, of which a central plant of 

 A. Leeana is conspicuous, surrounded with a margin of Tri- 

 teleia uniflora and Lycopods. This is the original plant of this 

 old and good Azalea, which is white with occasional pink 

 flakes, the flowers of good form, and free. As a fine con- 



trast is the darkest and best of the purple Azaleas, Cedo NuUi. 

 A light variety, effective by its bold flowers, is A. Nonpariel, 

 and one of the best of the darks is A. Superba. This is a rich 

 orange scarlet, as free and with flowers as good in form as are 

 those of A. Roi Leopold. The following varieties were also 

 effective :^A. grandis, fine; Grossfiirstin Helene, Eugene 

 Mazel, and President. Several Ghent or Chinese Azaleas 

 added their soft yet distinct colours ; a plant of the typical 

 variety, A. sinensis, being exceedingly well bloomed. 



At the entrance is an excellent specimen of Erica (aristata) 

 Victoria, and a match plant of Aphelexis, both well covered 

 with flowers. Several plants of AmarylUs are interspersed, the 

 best being A. Harrisonii, a pure white ground with maroon 

 stripes ; A. auhoa spleudens, fiery scarlet ; and the showy 

 A. vittata rubra. Early Pelargoniums, Digby Grande and 

 Monte Christo, proved their usefulness for conservatory deco- 

 ration in April. The rest of the flowering plants comprise 

 Hydrangeas and Cytisus, with marginal plants of Stocks, 

 Mignonette, Isolepis, and Lycopodiums, to add sweetness and 

 quietness to the brightness of the collection. 



The foliage plants consist of Yuccas quadricolor and olei- 

 folia, Cordylines, Palms, and Ferns, not overlooking sundry 

 plants of the Variegated Maple, Acer negundo variegata. These 

 plants are in various sizes, and are admirable for lighting up 

 dark corners and in showing to advantage in grouping in con- 

 tiguity to masses of dark foliage. For this purpose this com- 

 mon and easily-grown light-foliaged plant is strikingly effective, 

 and should be generally used for decorative purposes during 

 the spring months. On the north side of the edifice a cool 

 and agreeable change is afforded by the rockery where Ferns 

 and Ivy luxuriate in a semi-natural state ; the Dicksonias 

 especially growing with exceptional vigour. 



The remainder of the glass structures, which are numerous, 

 are filled with a general collection of plants, mostly of a handy 

 portable size, and in excellent order. Not many large speci- 

 mens are to be seen, yet we noticed good Alocacias, an excel- 

 lent form of Anthurium Scherzerianum large in size and rich 

 in colour, Musa ensete, Curculigo recurvata, a nice stock of 

 the useful Palms Plectocoma Andersonti and Cocus Weddel- 

 liana, good Gleichenias, &c. It is not, however, for a few 

 large specimens, but for immense stocks of medium-sized and 

 small plants that the nursery is noticeable. Dracainas, Eu- 

 charis. Gardenias, Heaths, Pelargoniums, &c., are provided in 

 thousands to meet the running demand on decorative plants of 

 this nature. 



Altogether the nursery is worthy a visit alike to the pleasure- 

 seeker looking for a fine floral display, and to the gardener 

 who is as much interested to see work in progress as when 

 perfected and completed. Mr. Bester's supervision cannot fail 

 to be appreciated alike by the Company and the public. 



LITHOSPERMUM PEOSTEATUM. 



As spring-flowering border plants are now being sought 

 after, this beautiful hardy evergreen trailer is recommended as 

 worthy of culture. Although the habit of the plant is pro- 

 cumbent, it is still compact, and a good plant a foot high and 

 through when clothed with its deep blue flowers is exceedingly 

 attractive. It will grow in ordinary garden soil, but has a 

 preference for an admixture of peat. It is a native of France, 

 but is quite hardy. The colour of the flowers is very rich, 

 and show to advantage in the bright green setting of the 

 foliage. As a pot plant it is very attractive at this season of 

 the year ; indeed in the collections of hardy plants staged at 

 South Kensington last week, no plant was more distinct and 

 effective than this lowly yet lively Lithospermum. It is 

 increased by cuttings ; young shoots put in at the present 

 time in gentle heat will strike readily, and will make nice 

 plants by the end of the season. It may also be raised by 

 seed. It is useful for the rockery, for associating with Iberis 

 and other low-growing spring-flowering plants, and as a pot 

 plant in the front row of the greenhouse or conservatory. 

 It is not a gaudy, but is an interesting little plant, possessing 

 inherent beauty, and has claims to extended cultivation. — W. 



FaniT Prospects in Lincolnshire. — A nice change in the 

 weather has set in ; but bright sunny days are followed by 

 frosty nights. On the 1-lth ult. the thermometer stood at 20' 

 at G A.M., and before 12 o'clock the mercury had risen to C0° 

 — a rise of 40' in less than six hours. Fruit trees are densely 

 clothed with blossom. Pears and Plums are well open ; so far 



