132 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ August 13, 1875. 



practice year by year plants may be kept healtby for an in- 

 definite period without changing the pots in wliich they are 

 growing. This in the case of plants which have to be fitted 

 into ornamental receptacles is a matter of great importance, 

 and the modes mentioned can hardly fail to be nsefnl to a 

 large number of cultivators. 



Whichever plan is adopted it is important that the ball of 

 earth is not dry at the time, or the water will not afterwards 

 penetrate it, but will run in channels through the fresh soil. 

 For the same reason, also, it is important that the new soil be 

 made firm — as firm, if possible, as that of the old ball. A 

 complete renovation of the plant will then follow without 

 materially increafing its size. 



By the plan stated I had Azaleas in 7 and 8-ineh pots for 

 ten years in a satisfactory state of health, and I have not the 

 slightest doubt that the same plants can be kept healthy for 

 another ten years without increasing the size of the pota in 

 which they are growing. — Ex-Exhieitob. 



HYDE PAEK. 



Although the continuous showers which fell in July have 

 left their marks on many plants — fostering a coarse growth in 

 most of the Pelargoniums, and imparting a gross habit to 

 Lobelias — still, despite these drawbacks, Hyde Park has pro- 

 bably never been more effective than it is at the present time. 

 It is worthy a visit by all who are interested in garden decora- 

 tion, and will afford both pleasure and instruction to most 

 examiners, and an acknowledgment from all of the general 

 high-keeping which pervades the ornamental department. 



Entering by the Marble Arch to glance at the series of beds 

 parallel with Park Lane we find that, in addition to the rain, 

 the shade of the trees has checked the growth of the edgings 

 of Alternantheras on the one hand, and has induced a pre- 

 ponderance of foliage on the Pelargoniums on the other. 

 Under these conditions the old variety Vesuvius shows to ad- 

 vantage, but the yellow foliage of R. Fish and Creed's Seed- 

 ling is of a dingy greenish hue. Murillo, a glowing crimson 

 Nosegay, is clearly an effective bedder, being rich and free ; 

 and Vulcan, an orange-scarlet Nosegay, is very bright but 

 irregular in growth. ChUwell Beauty, rosy crimson, is dis- 

 tinct and fine ; Mrs. Mernier, of the type of Rose Reudatler, 

 as here seen is no improvement on the old variety ; but Master 

 Christine is fine both in truss and colour. Shakespeare is a 

 very effective orange scarlet, free, and with bold trusses ; and 

 Mr. I. George, glowing crimson scarlet, is very rich. Mrs. 

 Stubbs is aho a good crimson Nosegay. Mrs. Turner has 

 immense trusses of rich deep pink, and although the growth 

 is irregular its effect is very striking. Of the Gold Bicolors 

 the best beds are Black Douglas and Golden Harry Hieover ; 

 Beauty of Calderdale and Perilla being coarse and overgrown. 

 Many of these beds are edged with Verbenas, but the season 

 has not been propitious for their growth. 



Commenciog at Grosvenor Gate we find some very fine beds. 

 Great improvements have been effected here. The turf on 

 which the beds are formed is made to slope towards the centre, 

 along which are plunged a row of specimen Bays and stately 

 Palms. These are in admirable health, and the beds, which 

 are arranged in pairs along both sides, are well filled. It is 

 futile to attempt a description of the tapestry beds, which are 

 elaborate and well finished, and which require more than a 

 passing glance. Of the Pelargoniums, Lady Emily, which is 

 so fine as a pot plant, is not good here as a bedder ; but Ama- 

 ranth is remarkably fine. Mr. Gibbons, a rich pink having a 

 fine truss, is also very good ; and there are fine beds also of 

 Cleopatra. Sibylla is another good pink variety, and Culford 

 Pink is distinct in this section. Amongst the high-coloured 

 sorts Fire King forms a splendid bed, and Briton is intensely 

 scarlet and very telling. General Outram, Wellington, and 

 Bonfire are all valuable bedding varieties, being good in habit, 

 floriferous, and rich. One series of these beds is edged with 

 Albion's Cliffs silver variegated Pelargonium, Iresine Lindeni, 

 Lobelia, and Eeheveria, and the other with Lobelia White 

 Perfection, Alternanthera, and Golden Feather, and these edg- 

 ings by their extreme length are very beautiful. In some 

 instances the old P. Manglesii is employed as an edging, and is 

 very satisfactory ; but P. L'Elegante is a complete failure. 

 There are also some mixed beds, which afford agreeable relief 

 to the formal masses and rigid lines of colour. Palms bright- 

 ened with Calceolarias, Perilla and Golden Abutilon, Gazania 

 splendens and Iresine Lindeni, Golden Pelargonium R. Fish, 

 and Purple Verbena are the best examples of these combina- 



tions. Beds of Colens are, fortunately, not numerous, and the 

 plants have scarcely moved since they were put out. Taken 

 altogether there are fewer blanks than could reasonably be 

 expected, and the general neatness of this part is creditable to 

 those who have the charge of it. 



In what is known as the subtropical department are some 

 fine beds of flowers. A large bed of Erythrinas in variety is 

 just putting on its coral dress, and in pleasing contrast is a 

 group of light Fuchsias edged with Salvia argentea. Beds of 

 Liliums are just unfolding their thousands of flowers and 

 filling the air with fragrance, and some Pelargonium beds are 

 very fine. Mrs. Turner edged with Purple Queen Verbena, 

 Mrs. Kent, Colonel Wright, Mrs. Gibbons, and especially Cax- 

 ton, are varieties of Mr. Pearson's fine strain of the highest 

 rank for bedding purposes. Associated with these are sub- 

 tropical plants in profusion. Rhododendron beds in which are 

 dotted Lilium auratum and banded with bright Geraniums, 

 and standard Acacias based with succulents and Alternantheras, 

 forming a varied feast of beauty, which on the undulated 

 ground and beneath the shade of the trees is cool yet cheering, 

 and particularly attractive. 



On the broad expanse of turf beyond the drive are also some 

 striking beds of a subtropical nature. These are large and 

 isolated, and are very ornamental. We note, as composing 

 one of these beds, large plants of Seaforthia elegans, Dracaenas, 

 and Ficuses, with an undergrowth of Variegated Maize, Abu- 

 tilons, Coleus, and dwarf Palms ; the whole bounded with 

 Pelargonium Bonfire and edged with Tussilago variegata. The 

 bold foliage of this Coltsfoot and its clear white marking is 

 exceedingly fine, not only for distant effect, but it will bear 

 close examination. It is a hardy edging plant of the first 

 order for large beds. Other beds are planted with Ferdinandia 

 eminens, edged with Eucalyptus globulus pegged-down ; Rici- 

 nus, edged with Melianthus major, and surrounded by Pelar- 

 goniums ; and a bed of Cannas, banded with Princess of Wales 

 Pelargonium, very fine cerise trusses; another bed of Cannas, 

 surrounded by a zigzag of Cineraria maritima compacta and 

 Iresine Herbstii, and edged with Lobelia, which is remarkably 

 effective ; also good beds of Golden Pelargoniums Harry Hie- 

 over, R. Fish, and Creed's Seedling. 



In contrast to this, where foliage and flowers are combined, 

 is a charming example of subtropical gardening in the dell 

 near the Albert Gate. This is both extensive and excellently 

 done. It is an admirable example of tropical scenery. At the 

 bottom is the stream flanked by Ivy-mantled banks, along- 

 which the Osmunda regalis grows luxuriantly, and stretching 

 beyond is the rising ground lightly studded with forest trees, 

 up the trunks of which is trained the Monstera deliciosa. 

 Between these are grouped tall specimens of Dracaena austra- 

 lis, Musas, and tree Ferns. Cyatheas spread their noble fronds 

 over the smooth turf, which is further studded with Palme 

 and Cycads, and lightened by groups of Arundo donax varie- 

 gata and Phormium tenax variegatum. From the base of these 

 variegated plants rises a group of Aralia spinosa, and at the 

 visitor's feet are bright beds of Pelargoniums of Rose Brad- 

 wardine and Triomphe de Stella. The whole arrangement is 

 a triumph of decorative art, and those who have planned and 

 those who have executed it merit the approbation of all lovers 

 of high-class decorative gardening. 



If the prevailing showers have dimmed the bloom of the 

 flowering plants, they have more than compensated by decking 

 the park in a spiing-like robe of green, and in furnishing a 

 setting to the picture which to be seen is to be enjoyed and 

 appreciated. 



NECESSITY THE MOTHER OF INVENTION. 



Accustomed to a good garden, which, thanks to this Journal, 

 every year becomes more productive as well as more attractive, 

 I find myself in a country vicarage where " the Leeks, the 

 Garlic, and Onions of Egypt" are supposed to abound, but 

 unhappily do not. Surveying my resources for a month's so- 

 journ the day after my arrival, I observe a few rows of Peas 

 which seem to have almost done their work, and certainly are 

 past their prime ; there are in addition some Kidney Beans 

 which evidently intend to bear as soon as I leave. I wonder 

 whatever is to become of me aud mine unless we can contrive 

 to exist either on Carrots, of which the supply seems scanty, 

 or on " Taters," as certain rustics call them. A few days have 

 passed, and already I learn that I am better off than I eup- 

 posed. A dish has been brought to table which looked rather 

 like a kind of Cabbage, but was not. Challenged to try it, 



