October 22, 1874. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTIODLTDBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



365 



menoes life with a moderate number of legs, and grows more 

 by degrees as it increases in size and strength. The Centipedes 

 proper, Soolopendra, are undoubtedly good hunters ; the head, 

 which is horny and shield-like, has beneath a pair of formidable 

 jaws, which cut sideways. Under the microscope we detect a 

 slit near the extremity of each edge, from which it is presumed 

 a poisonous liquid is iustilled into the wound. The legs of a 

 Centipede allow of rapid locomotion, and they are covered with 

 such tough scales that a considerable amount of pressure does 

 little harm. We are too apt to imagine that when we discover 

 a Centipede on some plant it has visited the plant to do mis- 

 chief, whereas it is often merely intent upon the slaughter of 

 other species. Sir .John Lubbock has given an interesting 

 account of several small Myriapods of the genus Pauropus ob- 

 served by him to be racing about rapidly amongst dead leaves ; 

 and of one named P. Huxleyi he states that is a " bustling, 

 active, neat, and cleanly little creature," which seems a curious 

 collocation of adjectives, and it has also " a look of cheerful 

 intelligence, which forms a great contrast to the dull stupidity 

 of the Julidie, or the melancholy ferocity of most Chilopods." 

 These Centipedes have one long alimentary canal, therein 

 resembling Lepidopterous larva?. They pass through no regular 

 transformations. — J. E. S. C. 



LAPAGERIA ROSEA. 

 I H.VVK a very large Lapageria rosea growing on a north wall 

 inside the conservatory, which has flowered most magnificently 



are that would thrive in such positions ; I therefore purpose 

 naming afew of those most common and easily-procmable things. 

 First, there is the Calla a>thiopica, or Etliiopian Lily, a plant 

 that throws up several stems with broad dark green leaves at 

 this season of the year, and produces largo white flowers in the 

 spring of the year— a most admirable plant for a window in any 

 position. Next are some of the Cannas, which are used in the 

 flower garden. These are plants with handsome leaves of a 

 large size, and, if taken up and potted carefully, will produce 

 their bloom later on and then die down, when the roots may be 

 preserved like Dahlias in some cool dry place till spring, and 

 then again planted out. These plants, like the Callas, are in- 

 creased by division. Solanums of the Capsicaslrum type, such 

 as were mentioned some time ago, must not be forgotten, as the 

 profusion of bright-coloured berries makes them excellent de- 

 corative plants for windows. The different sorts of Chrys- 

 anthemums, too, are all decorative plants for windows for some 

 time to come ; and if any are growing in the garden, now is the 

 time to take them up and pot into common garden soil, and if 

 watered carefully will flower remarkably well by this treatment. 

 After flowering they may be turned out of doors again, as they 

 are all hardy. The old Hydrangea hortensis is an excellent 

 vrindow plant both for foliage and bloom, and one of the most 

 lasting when in flower. Associated with the above tall-growing 

 plants must be the Myrtle, a rare old favourite, and a plant 

 that will thrive with ordinary attention. Other plants that 

 may be mentioned as suitable for the window in winter, and 

 which may be arranged iu front of the tall plants, are Gera- 

 niums, Cinerarias, Primulas, and Calceolarias, with Hyacinths 

 in pots or glasses. Tulips and Crocuses intermixed with them ; 

 and for suspending from the top of the window a good plant 



Fig. 108.— Lapageria eosea. 



this summer, and I have no doubt it will continue flowering 

 till nest May. I enclose you a few flowers to show you the 

 size they grow to. No plant is more easily grown. We have 

 had an immense quantity of seed from the plant this yeai-. 

 It has been fifteen years growing, and was one of the first 

 plants imported ; and from the earlier plants the flowers are 

 much more brilliant and larger than the later-imported ones. 

 I believe it to be the largest plant in the north of England. — 

 L. Hanmeb, Deanu-atcr, Wihnslow. 



[We never saw more brilliant-coloured or larger flowers. In 

 one cluster of six flowers they were 3.} inches long, and nearly 

 the same across their mouths. We know it must be a most 

 ornamental cUmber, and judging from the leaves and portion 

 of branch sent to us, it must be most vigorous. Not as doing 

 justice to the specimen sent, but to show its mode of growth 

 to those of our readers who may not know the plant, we add 

 this wood engraving ( /!;/. 108). — Eds.] 



NOTES ON VILLA and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



Window Plaiils. — If it were possible to single out any part of 

 plant-growing as being more popular than another iu large 

 towns, I should say it is that of growing plants in windows. It 

 is in reality plant-growing by the million, for who is there that 

 has any fondness for plants at all that does not attempt some- 

 thing of the kind? Happily this increasing love for plants 

 among the population has been recognised by the Government 

 so far as London is concerned, and thoirsands of surplus bedding 

 plants are annually distributed to persons who would not other- 

 wise have the means of procuring them. I need scarcely say 

 that I consider this a step in the direction towards making many 

 towns more comfortable, because they will be more sociable and 

 neighbourly as the love for plants increases. Now I presume 

 that there are yet many people who would devote more of their 

 spare time to window-gardening if they knew what plants there 



will be found in any of the Ivy-leaved Geraniums, Ferns, aud 

 Saxifrages. 



Now let me devote a little space to the treatment of window 

 plants. First as to potting. A plant should never be put into 

 a dirty pot. If the pot have been tised before it should be tho- 

 roughly washed, and be quite dry when used; if not, the soil 

 adheres to its sides, and when the plant has to be turned out for 

 repotting the ball is sure to be broken, and of course the roots 

 of the plant injured. The soil, too, should be used in a medium 

 state of dryness. If too wet it becomes hard and crusty and 

 almost air-tight, consequently no plant will thrive long in it. 

 Potting and pruning ought not to be performed at the same time. 

 Deciduous plants, such as the Fuchsia for instance, ought not 

 to be potted till they have made a start into growth ; conse- 

 quently it is best to do the pruning first and allow the buds to 

 just break into growth, aud then the roots are in a fit state to 

 take hold of the fresh soil. Every pot should be carefully and 

 liberally drained, and the drainage covered with moss or rough 

 material to prevent the soil from washing into it and stopping 

 the outlet of the water. In watering window plants the greatest 

 care is necessary, especially during winter ; for to deluge the 

 roots with water as some do is pretty sure to terminate fatally. 

 Enough water should be given to penetrate the soil thoroughly, 

 and no more. The plan of standing the pots in pans or sauceis 

 is not a good one ; it jtrevents the free drainage of the water 

 from the roots, aud in lime turns the soil sour, and the plant 

 falls into bad health and dies. When watered, the plants should 

 be taken to a place where the water can drain away, if there is 

 no convenience for that in the window. On the other hand, 

 plants must not be kept too short of water when growing freely ; 

 for if the soil be too dry, and the roots cannot obtain enough - 

 moisture from it, the plant suffers that way. When a plant^' 

 requires v.ater it should be watered well ; and as some plant^'^' 

 require more water than others, the difference should be madi^h 

 up by watering these plants oftener, and not make a practice of ' 

 watering every plant at regular periods whether they want it 

 or not. 



Give window plants plenty of light and air now, and do not 



