306 



JODRNAL OF HORTICDLXUBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ April 20, 1876. 



the collection exhibited by Mr. Donglaa at the Westminater 

 Aquarium last week. The collection embraced also the varie- 

 ties Lilacina grandiflora and Alba. The plants were about a 

 foot high, the flower Btems numerone, and the pips as large as 

 those of ordinary-sized Primroses. The slight protection that 

 these plants require, their easy culture (uot occupying valu- 

 able space under glass during the summer months), and their 

 charming effect when well grown, should render them indis- 

 pensable in every greenhouse however small. They should be 

 included amongst the spring-flowering plants of all amateurs 

 and gardeners. 



M. Hebze, Inspector General, and member of the 



Committee of Agriculture, has contributed the following statis- 

 tics respecting the maeket gardening neak Paris, in a paper 

 read before that Society. At the present time the market 

 gardens in the suburbs of Paris are ISOO in number, covering 

 an area of 1378 hpctares (340-t acres). Those within the walls 

 of Paris occupy 750 hectares (1852A acres). The average size 

 of these gardens is from 60 to 70 acres (IJ acre to IJ acre). 

 They generally contain a dwelling-house, a well, a stable, 

 and a shed. The land lets at from 1000 to 1200 francs per 

 hectare (£16 3s. id. to £19 7s. Gd. per acre), and the house at 

 from 300 francs to 400 francs— £12 to £16. The land is never 

 at rest, and produces from two to three crops yearly. For 

 such a cultivation a great deal of labour is necessary, abundant 

 manure, and frequent watering, and often artificial shelter has 

 to be provided for the crops, so that in these 1800 gardens 

 there are 360,000 forcing frames, and 2,160,000 bell-glasses. 

 The owners rise at two o'clock in the morning in summer, at 

 four o'clock in the winter; the master is always at the head 

 of his men, whilst the wife looks after the women, and it is 

 she alone who attends the market. The population employed 

 in market gardening is about 7500 persons. The value of the 

 stock is e'timited at 8,000,000 of francs (£320,000). 1,200,000 

 francs (£48,000) is spent annually in stable manure, whilst 

 the value of the vegetables sold amounts to 12,000,000 of 

 francs (£480,000), and 300,000 francs (£12,000) is obtained 

 from the sale of exhausted soil. 



We have received the " Annual Report of the Mel- 

 bourne Botanic Gardens," and in every respect is it credit- 

 able to Mr. W. E. Guilfoyle, the Director. We commend the 

 following extract to the attention of flock and herd-masters 

 in torrid latitudes: — "The Doub Grass (Cynodon dactylon), 

 often erroneously called " Doob," is a native of Bermuda, and 

 in my opinion ranks next to the Buffalo Grass (Stenotaphrum 

 glabrum) as a hardy pasture grass for arid climes, though as 

 a lawn grass it is inferior, presenting in the winter a brown 

 and rusty appearance. I can state from experience, however, 

 in New South Wales and Queensland, that where it has been 

 introduced round a station hut horses and cattle, when left to 

 feed as they chose, have collected round it eagerly, refusing 

 the native grasses in luxuriant growth near them so long as a 

 blade of the Doub Grass remained. As to the nutriment con- 

 tained in these two grasses there can be no doubt, as many 

 squatters across the Murray could testify. Respecting their 

 durability the same may be said, as during seasons of excessive 

 drought, when scarcely a blade of them could be seen, so tena- 

 cious of life were they, that when the weather broke they 

 Fprang up in rich luxuriance, and when native grasses were 

 totally destroyed by the drought these two species were the 

 only ones that withstood it." 



Fruits at the Centennial. — The American " Gar- 

 dener's Monthly " states that a space 525 feet long and 100 

 feet wide will be devoted to a continuous exhibition of fruit, 

 BO that anyone at any time may send anything they have. 

 The opening day will be May the 10th, and it is expected that 

 tropical fruit will then be at once on the tables. Certain 

 periods will be set apart for distinctive exhibitions. July 1st 

 will be devoted to a special display of Southern fruits, and 

 September 11th will be given up to the American Pomological 

 Society. The Bureau of Agriculture has made arrangements 

 for providing 10,000 dishes to exhibitors, should that number 

 be necessary. The Bureau will also furnish tiible room, all 

 free of charge. Premiums will only be offered by individuals 

 or Eocieties. Of fruits, so far, premiums have only been 

 arranged for Apples, but it is hoped others will come in. 



A VERT useful book for those who desire to understand 



why the name of a plant was bestowed upon it is Aloock's 

 "Botanical Names FOE English Readers." It has just been 

 published by Messrs. Reeve & Co. One of the definitions wUl 

 be an answer to a query from a correspondent. " Mueicaia, 



from murex, a fish armed with sharp prickles ; mnrioate — that 

 is, armed with short points or excrescences." 



• • The American " Gardener's Monthly " will be hereafter 



known as the "Gardener's Monthly and Horticulturist." It 

 will continue under the able editorship of Mr. T. Meehan. 



GARDEN VASES. 



Vases are generally more used about small than Tery exten- 

 sive gardens. In the former there is a tendency to have too 

 many vases, but when judiciously placed they add consider- 

 ably to the beauty of the flower garden and pleasure grounds 

 of whatever extent. The situations in which vases are gene- 

 rally most becoming are on the stone blocks at the top and 

 bottom of stairs, about balconies, each side of doorways, 

 and dotted here and there amongst flower beds or small 

 shrubberies. 



In introducing vases the first thing to be considered is the 

 kind and style of the vase. The forms in which they may be 

 had are numerous, and the materials of which they are made 

 are also varied. Beautiful mouldings are formed of terra 

 cotta. They last a considerable time in good order, but ulti- 

 mately, and before a great many years are over, they begin to 

 lose their sharp edges, and decay through exposure to frost 

 and wet. This, of course, is very objectionable in cases where 

 they have to remain constantly outside, but where they are 

 wanted in summer only and can be removed under cover 

 throughout the winter, there can be nothing said against 

 them. 



There are other kinds of vases more to be recommended. 

 Marble makes a splendid and durable vase, but is very expen- 

 sive at first. Hard stone is not inadmissible, but it is not free 

 from the faults of the terra cotta. In shifting and planting 

 them there is always a danger of " chipping." 



For smart outline, variation in form, and great durability, 

 there is nothing surpasses cast iron. Weather of any kind 

 has no power over iron vases. They are not readily injured, 

 and they will last anyone a lifetime. The accompanying 

 figures represent iron castings. They are not selected for 

 their novel appearance or great beauty and artistic character, 

 but they are extremely useful both in size 

 and form, and that is of some importance. 

 Fig. 88 looks exceedingly well on a terrace 

 wall, or about a narrow staircase where a 

 broader one would obstruct the way. Fig. 89 

 is much larger and an excellent form for the 

 centre of a large bed, or as a centre for a 

 number of small flower beds. Raised on a 

 pedestal it has a massive appearance amongst 

 other kinds of sculpture, and it admits of 

 being planted in a design or with a variety 

 of plants. As a real useful vase for general 

 purposes fig. 00 is the best I have seen. It 

 is plain in design, but when planted it looks well. As shown 

 it stands on a pedestal, but it can be lowered to its own 

 bottom in cases of it being set on raised stair blocks or any- 

 thing of that kind. Generally it is much better when pedestals 



Fig. 88. 



Fig. 89. 



iig. 'JO. 



can be done without. Of course on low ground the vases have 

 to be raised, but they should never stand so high that the 

 entire surface when planted cannot be seen. Much of the 

 effect is lost when only the stems of the plants are seen from 

 below. 



It is not desirable to have the vases in themselves of a 

 highly ornamental description. The ornamentation should be 

 done with the plants and flowers. This should always com- 

 mand more attention from the observer than the design of the 

 vase ; and to have the plants in an attractive state throughout 

 the whole year may be accomplished with little trouble. 



