July 23, 1874. 1 



JOURNAL 0? eOKTICDLTDllii: AJJD COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



ri 



of tbe Mnritliian Botanic Society, that Rosa alpina, is the only 

 real Alpine Ecse haviut; a right to that name, anil I deny that 

 it is a mere moiieru botanical terra. The worthy doctor can 

 take ua back to ancient Greece, but I think it will puzzle him to 

 Bay when this pretty flower was first so named : I should rather 

 think ' whereof the memory of man is not to the contrary.' In 

 conclusion, I hope he will excuse my referring him to ' Wood's 

 Tourist's I'lora ' for an accurate description of both these inter- 

 esting infants. — Enw-uiD Copland, Chamounix.^' 



The great interest of the subject to Swiss travellers must be 

 my excuse for thus troubling you. — Edwaed CorLAND, Hotel 

 Mont Ccrvin, Zermatt. 



CALIFOENIAN BULBS. 



In reply to your correspondent " G. S.," asking about the 

 hardiness, etc., of these bulbs, I can inform him and your 

 readers that they have grown in the open ground at the York 

 Nurseries for the last two years, and have not suffered in 

 the least either from frost or rain. These bulbs in their 

 native habitats are accustomed to be dried to such an extent 

 ;that I understand the collectors to say that when collecting 

 ■them the dust almost blinds them. This, of course, is after 

 theii' growing season is over, for during that season they get 

 abundance of wet. It was feared that these bulbs would suffer 

 quite as much from our wet and dropping summers and au- 

 tumn?, but so far they have succeeded admirably. They are 

 planted iu li!,'ht sandy loam prepared with well-decomposed 

 manure. It is a good plan to dig the manure deep down quite 

 below the bulbs instead of allowing it to surround them. They 

 are planted from 3 to 4 inches below the surface. 



I will now proceed to give a list of species I saw growing 

 there, as above described. 



Cyclobothra alba, C. pulchella ; Calochortns luteus, var. 

 oculatus, is an extremely handsome species, producing large 

 golden-yellow flowers, with a purple-crimson blotch near the 

 bate of each petal. Calochortus venustus is white, with a dark 

 blotch near the base of each petal. Calochortus Gunnesoni ; 

 C. elegans is an interesting species, about 6 to 9 inches high, 

 flowers bluish white, beautifully fringed; Brodiaja coccinea, 

 B. terrestris ; Seubertia laxa; Allium ceruuum, A. iiniflorum, 

 A. acuminatum, A. ialcifolium ; Erythronium gignnteum — this 

 Dog's-tooth Violet thrives the best planted in a compost of 

 one-third loam, one-third peat, and one- third river sand.— E. P. 



DELPHINIUM FELIX POULET. 

 I MAY, perhaps, have casually noticed this fine border plant 

 before, but it is certainly worthy of more prominence than it 

 has received. Tlie whole family of Delphiniums are beautiful, 

 rich, and stately border plants. There are, no doubt, many 

 fine varieties of this family that I am not acquainted with, but 

 if any one of them is more strikingly attractive than that 

 above-named, all I can say is I should like to see it^. Felix 

 Poulet was received from the nursery of Mr. Van Houtte, of 

 Ghent, and is one of the best hardy plants ever sent across the 

 water. It is a pillar of pure and dazzling blue, 7 feet high, with 

 a spike as symmetrical as that of a first-rate Hyacinth. It is 

 just one of those flowers that act the part of a garden magnet, 

 drawing aU eyes to itself. Standing amongst a dozen varieties 

 it kills all by its clear intense colour. Those who have room 

 for even only a few herbaceous border plants should never 

 forget Delphiniums, and of them I advise them to especially 

 remember Felix Poulet. — J. W. 



CUCUMBER DUKE OF EDINBURGH. 



As the grower of the Cucumbers sent to the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society (see page 53) by Messrs. Barr & Sugden as 

 Messrs. Daniels' Duke of Edinburgh, and said to be the Mar- 

 quis of Lome, I can say there is a great difference between the 

 two varieties. I have grown the Marquis of Lome for two sea- 

 sons before, and have it now ; and I find the Duke a very free- 

 fruiting kind, which I cannot say the other variety is, and it 

 is much larger. The Cucumbers sent were not grown one to 

 a plant on purpose to be exhibited, but were all cut from one 

 plant bearing other smaller fruit. The largest of them, although 

 only 2 feet long, weighed 3 lbs. «ioz3. — T. Redley, Vxbridijc. 



generally used for lining tea-chests. The paper-hangers usually 

 keep it in stock. — R. M. 



Damp Walls. — Mr. Robson can effectually cure damp walls, 

 or, at any rate, the paper will not become discoloured, by 

 ■covering the places affected with thin lead paper, the kind 



PLANTS FOE THE SHADE. 



How ofton we hear the complaint that our garden is so shady 

 that we can grow nothing iu it. To all these I would say, 

 Grow hardy Ferns. They are not only easy to manage, but 

 the diversity in the forms of the leaf to lovers of nature must 

 afford as much pleasure as the most gaudy-painted flower. 

 They can be planted in beds, lines, or clumps ; and if a littlo 

 attention is paid to the various heights of the leaves, &o., they 

 will make quite as effective a show as Geraniums or Verbenas. 

 With the aid of stones, mounds of rockwork can be formed, and 

 when planted with Ferns have a very pretty effect. Many of 

 them being evergreen can be grown iu pots for window decora- 

 tions during the winter, and not being so susceptible to the 

 changes of the atmosphere often succeed better, and give more 

 satisfaction than plants costing double their price. 



Hardy Ferns are not at all fastidious as to the soil they 

 grow in, being as often grown in one kind of foil as another; 

 but they succeed best in light woodland soil or leaf mould, mixed 

 with one-fourth sand, where they are planted as a permanency. 

 The large-growing varieties should have at least 1 foot in depth 

 of soil, and when wanted for winter decorations should be 

 grown in well-drained ,4, 6, or 8-inch pots all the summer. 

 And among the hardy P'erns I know of none more suitable, or 

 indeed more beautiful than our own native Ferns. A list of a 

 few of the most popular for the purpose mentioned I give 

 below, which ai'e often to be found in our summer rambles : 



Adiantum 2'edatnin (Maiden-hair Fern), with its stems of 

 rich dark brown colour, 1 foot in height, its fronds of airead- 

 ing habit radiating liko the spokes of a wheel almost circular. 



Dicksonia 2)unciiIohiihi (Feather Fern). — Itis among the most 

 imposing of our n^uive Ferns, its leaves often reaching 3 and 

 4 feet, and looking not unlike a feather dusting-brush in shape. 



Cystojiteris biilbi/era, with dark brown stems and rich glossy 

 green foliage, rising some 2 feet, and resembling the Dicksonia 

 in growth. 



Oxiniiiida cinnamomp.a (Cinnamon Fern), iu fall time has rich 

 brown masses of fruit, and its loaves, with distinct veinings, 

 re.ich 3 to .5 feet when fully grown, and it is as often seen grow- 

 ing in the strongest sunlight as anywhere else. 



Camptosorns rhi:oph]illa (Walking Fern). — One of the most 

 interesting of the family. The fronds, as they grow, taper into 

 slender prolongations, which droop and touch the ground, and 

 take root at the apex, from which another plant springs. 



Botrychium fumarioidrs (Copper Fern). — Rising some 4 to 

 6 inches in height, of a copperish red colour, the stems and 

 leaves being of the one shade. 



Lygodium palmatum (Hand Fern). — A most beautiful climb- 

 ing Fern, with small leaves about 2 inches in diameter, re- 

 sembling the open human hand. Succuuds best when gr>; ,, a. 

 in hanging baskets. 



Asipidium acrostirhoidcs. — Of a spreading habit ; its fronds 

 usually grow from 1 to 2 feet in length, of a dark glossy green, 

 and it retains its colour all winter out of doors. 



Pohjpodium t'ulgare. — Somewhat resembling the above, but 

 not so compact in its growth — its leaves more upright, rising 

 only 1 foot, of a rather pale colour. 



Axph'niiim cheneum. — This Fern is said to be found all over 

 the north temperate zone ; and though email is very pretty. 

 Its fronds rise about 1 foot in height, of a bright green ; its 

 stems of a glossy black colour. 



Axpleninm Trichomanes. — .A variety of the above, with even 

 smaller fronds, and more difficult to cultivate. 



The various kinds of Hydrangeas, Cannas, Pansies, Mimulus, 

 Coleus, &c., will all do well in a shady or half-shady position. 

 I have also had a bed of Vincas flower fino the whole season, 

 where they did not get more than one hour's sun in a day. 

 Panicum variegatum shows to best advantage when grown in 

 the shade, as do also the different varieties of Tradescantia. — 

 {Aincriciui Gardener's Monthly.) 



CONFERENCE ON THE REGISTRATION OF 



PERIODICAL NATURAL PHENOMENA. 



TuE Council of the Meteorological Society recently resolved 

 to organise a system of observations of natural phenomena, con- 

 nected with the return of the seasons, as well as of such branches 

 of physical inquiry as tend to establish a connection between 

 meteorological agencies and the development of vegetable life. 



