50 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICOLTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK, 



[ July 16, 1874. 



no doubt a difficult and onerous task to fulfil, are yet freed 

 from the excitement and anxiety which do possess the exhibitor. 

 It is the latter who can alone say with Troilus — 



" I am giddy ; expi ctatinn -whirls me round. 

 The imaginary relish is so sweet 

 That it enchants m; sense. 



+ » » » * 



I fear it much ; and I do fear besides 

 That I shall lose distinction in my joys. 

 As doth a battle when they charge in heaps 

 The enemy flyiuj,'." 



The Koses exhibited on this occasion were greater in number 

 than at Wisbeaeh, although Mr. House was the only ex- 

 hibitor amongst nurserymen for the <^up for seventy-two 

 blooms. His flowers were very good, as were also those shown 

 by Mr. Draycott, gardener to Sir Bache Cimard, Mr. Farren, 

 and Mr. Fryer. JParticularly fine were Dake of Edinburgh, 

 Marquise de Castellane, Charles Lefebvre, Etienne Levet, 

 Dapuy-Jamain, Madame Lacharme (exhibited in good con- 

 dition), John Hopper, Marechal Niel, and other well-known 

 flowers. There was one part of the arrangement which I 

 think might be well copied in other places. A large tent was 

 placed simply for the exhibitors of Koses and cut blooms to 

 arrange their flowers in, and consequently when the proper time 

 came each exhibitor had simply to carry his boxes to the tent, 

 and then place them. We have seen them at South Kensing- 

 ton and other places shoved about from place to place, and the 

 flowers quite disarranged before the Judges came round. 

 Here again one's enjoyment had to be cut short; invitations 

 poured in on us, and we migbt have remained some days, but 

 ■we were due elsewhere. I had to be at Exeter by the next 

 morning, and could only do so by travelling all night, and the 

 fair city of the west must be my next trysting-place ; this I 

 must reserve for another time. — D., Deal. 



BULBS. 

 Flobists' catalogues now contain a number of bulbs which 

 are reputed hardy, but their hardiness must depend In some 

 degree on the depth at which they are planted, and about 

 which no directions are given. If planted too deep they are 

 beyond the influence of the advancing sun in spring, as well 

 as his ripening power in autumn ; if too shallow they may 

 bo injured both by frost and drought. Nor is their depth in 

 their natural habitat any certain guide — at least, if it is true 

 that the Lilies in California are to be found 2 feet below the 

 surface. Few gardeners here would like to bury their dear- 

 bought treasures so low down. As regards old favourites, as 

 Hyacinths, experience teaches us, but I feel dubious as to 

 newer importations, as Cyclobothras, Brodiaeas, and the like, 

 many of which have very small bulbs, and yet I do not wish 

 to continue them in pots if they will thrive in the open ground. 

 If any of your correspondents have found such bulbs really 

 hardy, and would favour us with a list of them, and the depth 

 at which they have been planted, I believe such information 

 will be valuable to many. — G. S. 



MERCUBY (CHENOPODIUM) AS A COOKED 

 VEGETABLE. 



Some years ago I was in the habit of visiting at a farm not 

 many miles from Lincoln, and I remember a large bed in a 

 corner of the garden, and in the spring of the year the plant 

 was frequently on the dinner-table, and generally approved of. 

 I consider it worthy of more attention than it at present receives. 

 I enclose a paragraph, cut from a local paper, bearing on the 

 subject. — G. Harrison. 



" We would particularly recommend to our readers as in all 

 seasons a first-class vegetable for early spring use the Good- 

 King-Henry Chenopodium, or rather Agathophytum Bonus- 

 Henricus, or English Mercury. This is extensively grown by 

 the Lincolnshire farmers, almost every garden having its bed, 

 which, if placed in a warm corner and abundantly supplied 

 with manure, yields an abundant supply of delicious vegetables 

 a fortnight or three weeks before the Asparagus comes in, and 

 for some wetks afterwards. From a south border we generally 

 commence cutting the Mercury early in April, and continue 

 cutting until the end of June. Some of our friends say they 

 like it better than Asparagus ; but we cannot go that length, 

 though wo like it verv much. When properly grown the young 

 shoots should bo almost as thick as the httle finger, and in 

 gathering it should be cut under the ground, something the 

 same aa Asparagus. In preparing it for use, if the outer skin 



or bark has become tough, strip it off from the bottom upwards, 

 and then wash and tie in bundles the same as Asparagus. 

 It is best boiled in plenty of water, with a handful of salt 

 added. When tender, strain and serve simply, or upon a toast. 

 Some have melted batter with it, others eat it simply with the 

 gravy of the meat. 



" Now, in cultivation, the Mercury will grow anywhere; but 

 to have it in the best form superior cultivation is necessary. 

 To this end you cannot have the ground too deep nor too rich. 

 Hence we should say. Trench the ground 2 feet deep, mixing-in 

 an abundance of rich manure, and plant your plants as early in 

 the spring as possible. As the plant ranks among the perennials, 

 it is necessary to get an abundant yield of shoots, and to get 

 them as strong as possible, and hence in time each plant may 

 be a foot or more in diameter. In planting we generally put 

 the rows 18 inches apart, and the plants 1 foot apart in the 

 row ; and after we begin to cut we drench the ground frequently 

 with manure water, or sprinkle the ground with guano in 

 showery weather. Of course the plants must not be cut too 

 severely until they are thoroughly established, say in the third 

 year, and then you can scarcely injure them. A year or two 

 back we grew a quantity in pots for early forcing; but we found 

 them impatient of heat, and possibly we gave ihem rather too 

 much. Spinach with boiled ham and eggs is a favourite dish 

 with many. Those who like it will be equally well pleased 

 with Mercury. As the plant is a native it may be procured in 

 many places, and those who can procure it may do worse than 

 prepare ground and plant it at once." 



ELSHAM HOUSE.— No. 2. 

 The flower beds and borders are nearly all seen from the 

 house. The first object which attracts attention is the border 

 represented in fig. 13, which is situated on a gentle slope facing 



1. Golden Feather Pyrethrum. 



2. Chveden Blue Pansy. 



Fig. IS. 



I 3. Whit« Daisy edged with pink Daisy. 



4. Red Daisy. 

 I 5. Aubrietia grseca. 



the house, but raised a few feet above the other beds, which 



are nearer to the house. This is a very telling arrangement. 



The Golden-feather Pyrethrum (1) gives it an air of brightness, 



which few other plants would do 



_^ so well. Partly hidden from view 



2 by shrubs, near to a very pretty 



5 summer house, there is a straight 



— — " border 60 yards long {fig. 14), 



— 3 feet wide, planted as follows : — 



B The first line at the back Myo- 



sotis, blue ; 2, White-variegated 

 Arabis ; .3, Cliveden Blue Pansy; 

 4, Saxitraga, as a line of Moss or Sadum ; 5, Eed Daisy. This 

 border is very neat and pretty. 



The bed shown in fitj. 1.1 is a good sample of what spring beds 

 may be made. Here I, Purple Pansy, is very effective; again 

 Golden Feather is most telUng at 2 ; and Aubrietia gra!ca 



Fig. 14. 



