424 



JOUBNAL OF HOETICDLTDBB AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ November 12, 1874. 



is worth cultivation for the great beauty of its leaves when 

 young ; they are light green, beautifully mottled with brown, 

 and droop gracefully : these characteristics are retained for a 

 considerable time. It is rather a vigorous grower, but will 

 submit to cutting back, though it should not be done oftener 

 than is necessary, as the stronger the growth the finer the 

 young leaves. This is a native of the Caraccas. Brownea is 

 closely allied to Amherstia, of which in this house there is a 

 flourishing specimen. 



Dahlia imperialis is flowering finely among the Cycads in 

 the Palm house, and is apparently better with the warmth 

 here afforded than with greenhouse temperature. It is a 

 magnificent ornament for large structures where it can be seen 

 to advantage, though it should be remembered that by grafting 

 on liHputian kinds a dwarfed result has been obtained, with 

 the addition of a finer pyramidal habit, in which condition it 

 is more valuable. This we remark, as from its great size it 

 appears to be one of those things that, having created a sensa- 

 tion, may become neglected, and in time be lost to cultivation. 

 It is possible that the lihputian kinds only, used as stocks, 

 will produce the desired result. In one instance observed in 

 the Eoyal Gardens a strong-growing yellow-flowering kind was 

 used, and no effect on the growth of the scion could be de- 

 tected. During summer these plants may be plunged out of 

 doors in a moderately shaded place, be potted in rich porous 

 soil, without being allowed to suffer for want of pot room, and 

 have a free supply of water. 



PELAEGONIUMS AND GERANIUMS. 



I CANNOT help thinking that one of the effects of the new 

 Pelargonium Society will be to convince us that Pelargonium 

 and Geranium are not distinct species [genera] . I take it that if 

 a plant raised between two supposed distinct species prove in- 

 fertile it may be considered a mule, and goes to prove its parents 

 are distinct, whilst if it prove fertile it proves the contrary. 

 For several years E. J. Lowe, Esq., of Highfield, Nottingham, 

 has been trying to raise a blue Geranium by crossing the Ge- 

 ranium sanguineum with Madame Vaucher zonal Pelargonium. 

 Many of these seedlings have produced red, rose, and white 

 flowers, some with curious foliage, but few would believe they 

 were really the result of the cross attempted. The only thing 

 which made me doubt was I could not imagine, if they were 

 not so raised, how such queer things could be produced from 

 Madame Vaucher. He has just sent me two plants in flower 

 much alike in every respect, and I think no one who sees them 

 can doubt that they are really raised between the hedge Gera- 

 nium and a zonal. The foliage, the way the flower stalks 

 grow, and particularly the colour and veLning of the petals, 

 convince me at any rate that such is the case. Having often 

 laughed with and at Mr. Lowe over these green seedhngs of 

 his, I hasten to humbly "eat the Leek," and declare myself 

 a convert. If I live I will bring one of them to the Society's 

 first show if in flower, and then it can be examined by the 

 savans, and we shall hear what they say about it. 



For the information of the curious I may say the flowers are 

 lilac pink (some see blue in them), and that the shape of the 

 flowers are the exact opposite of what a florist would consider 

 perfection, the petals being long and narrow, reminding one 

 as much of the shape of a Pancratium as of a round zonal 

 Geranium. Though the plant will be despised by the florist, 

 it will be admired by the lovers of curious things, for when 

 well flowered it is really pretty as well as curious. Mr. Lowe 

 thinks it a mule ; I do not much doubt being able to seed it. 

 Time will show which is right.— J. E. Pearson, Ghilwell. 



MILDEWED KOSES. 



FoK the last two years my Hoses have suffered much from 

 mildew, some more than others, but all of them— those under 

 glass, those massed in a quarter-acre bed, those sprinkled over 

 the garden. The soil is a light loam with a bed of marl from 

 2 to 3 feet below the surface, well drained four years ago. 



The Eoses have been well mulched from the stable and pig- 

 sties, top-dressed for the winter and again for the second 

 bloom, with occasional real waterings with a little guano when 

 the weather has been dry. The strange thing is, that in spite 

 of it all the bloom has not been amiss, though I literally 

 cannot find clean foliage to go with it. I think sulphur freely 

 used checked it slightly. 



I purpose this winter clearing the ground, digging, in hopes 

 of burying the germs, and then replanting, having pruned 



and painted thoroughly every stock with boiled sulphur and 

 lime.— E. T. F. 



[The foregoing was sent to our correspondent, the Eev. C. P. 

 Peach, and accidentally mislaid with other papers. He says— 

 As the question is of importance I should like to ask the advice 

 of other Eose-growers. Not knowing the exact position of the 

 Eoses it is difficult to give positive advice. Mildew is often 

 caused by a want of circulation of air, and too much mulching 

 and top-dressing will often bring the roots to the surface, and 

 they then suffer from changes from moist to dry. A light 

 loam requires manure deep at the roots. I do not think the 

 germs of mildew exist in the soil ; like all minute fungus spores, 

 they are floating about iu the air ready to germinate when 

 they find a congenial bed, and any sudden check given to 

 foUage in a growing state will often give a proper nidus for 

 the germs.] 



THE EASPBERRY. 



This past been an unfavourable season for the Easpberry. 

 The crop generally has been very Umited ; a better show of 

 blossom could not have been wished, and the fruit set well ; 

 but the hot dry weather supervened, and entirely checked the 

 growth of the plant and the swelling of the fruit. The con- 

 sequence has been, that generally only one good gathering was 

 obtained, except in places very favourably situated for the 

 cultivation of this very desirable fruit. 



The Easpberry, among small fruits, is next in demand to 

 the Strawberry, indispensable in many ways in the kitchen ; 

 and the order for the usual quantity is always imperative with 

 the housekeeper. The Easpberry is a moisture-loving plant, 

 found wild plentifully in the the northern counties in moist 

 and shady places on the outskirts of woods, associated with 

 Foxgloves and certain varieties of the Dog Eose, which circum- 

 stance gives a clue to its cultivation. The best plantation of 

 Easpberries we ever remember to have seen, occupied a low 

 quarter somewhat shaded by large trees at some little distance; 

 the soil moist, and a deep very sandy loam resting on pure 

 sand. The canes were extremely luxuriant, running up straight 

 and strong. Such a situation should always be chosen, if 

 possible, for a plantation. A north border answers vei7 well 

 in the south, but is too shady in the north. The space behind 

 north walls, however, is too limited and valuable for summer 

 crops. Where there is no choice, the best must be made of 

 any open quarter at command ; and much can be effected by 

 management. 



The first consideration is well trenching the soil to the depth 

 of 2 feet at least, for although the Easpberry is a shaUow- 

 rooting plant, yet deep trenching is advisable to aerate the soil 

 and make the surface sweet. If the land is at all heavy, a 

 liberal dressing must be given of any material which will have 

 the effect of lightening it — such as lime rubbish, burnt clay, 

 sand, leaf mould. We have used sifted coal ashes, mixed with 

 manure bountifully, on heavy clay with the best effect ; and 

 with annual top-dressings of the same the roots wiU soon 

 abandon the clay, and spread themselves among the top- 

 dressing like a mat. 



Although the Easpberry will make very luxuriant growth 

 under favourable circumstances, we do not think it advisable, 

 as with other fruits, to give it much room ; planting in rows 

 4 feet apart each way will be sufficient. The roots do not 

 wander far from the plant. The plants being close shade the 

 soil and protect the roots from the heat of the sun ; and the 

 annual top-dressing will maintain the plants in vigour better 

 than a larger space of ground could be supposed to do. We 

 annually wheel in amongst our Easpberries, and other small 

 bush fruits, unlimited quantities of short grass from the 

 machine-mowings of the lawns ; it shades and keeps the soil 

 moist, prevents the growth of weeds — for it must be remem- 

 bered that this grass contains no seeds of weeds — and finally 

 it is dug into the ground with more manure in winter. 



There are various plans adopted for the support of Rasp- 

 berry canes ; but the best we have tried is training them fan- 

 shaped to wires stretched along the rows espalier fashion, 

 strained from posts at either end, the fruiting canes to be 

 trained right and left, leaving the centre over the stools open, 

 so as to give room for the young canes in summer as they 

 grow. 



Bending the canes over rainbow fashion, and tying the tops 

 together is often practised, and has the advantage of not re- 

 quiring any stakes ; but the plan gives greater facilities to the 

 birds to rest on them when the fruit is ripe ; and bundling the 



