August in, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTDBE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB, 



157 



politan Floral Society. Hfl was one of the few remaining of 

 the old school of southern florists. IIo was kind and genial In 

 his manner, and many of ns who knew him in former days 

 will regret that we have no more the opportunity of seeing 

 him at those exhibitions where florists' flowers were shown. — 

 D., Deal. 



OUE BORDER FLOWERS— HELLEBORES. 



What changes have taken place, and what numbers of plants 

 have been introduced since Helleborus hyemalis found its way 

 to our gardens in l^J'Jfi ! Now it is known asEranthis hyemalis, 

 of which Mr. Robson wrote so charmingly about a short time 

 ago. Too much praise cannot be lavished on this the first 

 harbinger of spring. The Helleborus family, both native and 

 foreign, will flourish in most places. They delight in good 

 loam and decaying vegetable matter. We most of us know 

 how the Christmas Rose, Helleborus niger, is appreciated. 

 We are indebted to Austria for this gem of our gardens. It 

 can be turned to good account for decorative purposes in or 

 out of doors, and is useful for cut flowers. The Winter Aconite 

 and Helleborus niger must have found their way here together, 

 for we are informed that the Christmas Rose was introduced 

 by Gerarde in 1596 ; he must have been an enthusiast in his 

 day among plants. I wish we could have a reprint of that 

 Herbal of his In his own quaint language. 





rig. 20.— HeUeborug viridis. 



Helleborus fadidus should not be passed by unnoticed. Often 

 during the winter and spring in semi-wild places it may be 

 observed showing its great trusses of drooping flowers, as 

 though it were afraid to show its face to the sun ; to see this 

 plant en masse in the open spaces under trees in the neglected 

 Bhrubbery, with their sombre green leaves, where they have 

 been increasing undisturbed for years, dangerous as their 

 medicinal properties are, is a sight not to be despised. Helle- 

 borus viridis, as seen in some of our limestone districts, in 

 copses, and under hedges, in pastures, is a sight worth going 

 some distance to see. When brought into cultivation its 

 curious-looking leaves and pale green flowers claim for it more 

 attention as an early spring-blooming plant than it is at present 

 receiving. Helleborus atrorubens is a more showy plant than 

 the two foregoing Jtinds, and ought to be more generally culti- 

 vated, especially in the shrubbery border, where it is quite at 

 home in moderately good garden soil and in partial shade. A 

 good plant weU established is a very desirable object ; it should 

 not be often moved. Helleborus colohicus is one of the very 

 choicest of the race, and perhaps one of the least known, it 

 requires time and care to have it well established, and when 

 it has done so leave well alone. It ought to be in all collec- 

 tions of herbaceous plants. H. graveolens is an early-flowering 



kind, desirable on account of its greenish-yellow flowers. 

 H. cupreus is one of the earliest-blooming kinds, of dwarf 

 habit and very distinct, and is a good rock plant. H. olym- 

 picus has a pretty effect, being one of the tallest growers, 

 having greenish-white flowers. It is one of the early-bloom- 

 ing kinds. 



A few of these grouped together have a very good effect. 

 They continue long in bloom, and are perfectly hardy. The 

 choicer kinds may be increased by division, which is best done 

 after the flowering season is past. The greatest recommenda- 

 tion of these plants is that they bloom at a time of the year 

 when many other plants are at rest. The more we see of 

 these plants the more interesting they become. 



COMFREYS. 



IIow varied are the circumstances under which our border 

 flowers are found — some at our feet, while many come to us 

 from distant lands ; yet the members of the same family in 

 some unaccountable manner resemble each other in some form 

 or other, though varying widely in aspect and stature. In 

 some we see the giant form as well as plants of smaller dimen- 

 sions, and in no family of plants do we see this eiemplitied 

 more than in the family of Comfreys. 



Symphytum asperrimum is said by some to be vulgar or 

 coarse-looking, and not one of the pleasantest of plants to do 

 with. Granted ; but when in its element a plant of it 7 feet 

 high in pyramidal form is when seen at a distance a sight not 

 soon to be forgotten. It is a capital plant for the back row of a 

 large border, or in a half-wild state left to itself it is equally 

 pleasing. All that is required is a good depth of soil to grow 

 it in — good loam is the best — and it will then take care of 

 itself. S. officinale is sometimes met with in hedgerows and 

 by waysides ; it is said to be in possession of healing properties. 

 S. tuberosum is desirable on account of its yellow flowers ; it 

 is said to be a native of Scotland. Another variety called 

 S. patens belonging to ourselves is also desirable ; it has blue 

 flowers. 



S. bohemioum is one of the choicest of the race, its beauti- 

 ful changeable crimson flowers are a strong recommendation to 

 its introduction to all collections ; it comes into bloom in the 

 early summer, and continues for a length of time. S. orientalo 

 is a grand addition to any collection, having white flowers it 

 contrasts favourably with the darker- coloured kinds; a group 

 of these plants are a host in themselves. S. caucasicum is a 

 very desirable and distinct species. I have a variegated form of 

 this which I should not like to be without, it being thoroughly 

 hardy and of decided colours ; it is of great service as a bed- 

 ding plant where strong-growing plants are in request, espe- 

 cially for centres of large beds ; it is equally effective in border, 

 shrubbery, or wilderness, and is noted by all who see it. There 

 are other kinds that might be named, and ought to be more 

 frequently met with. 



They are all easily increased by division in the autumn; 

 good sound loam, leaf mould, or decayed vegetable matter, 

 with a little coarse sand mixed with the soil, and the ground 

 broken up to the depth of 2 feet, will be a suitable medium 

 for them to develope themselves in. They like moisture, but 

 if too wet they sometimes rot-off. — Veritas. 



WIRE NET FOE PEAS AND STRAWBERRIES. 

 To obtain pea sticks in most of the localities of the three 

 islands ia no joke ; therefore, this year I ordered a quantify of 

 10-yard lengths of wire netting, 2 feet wide and 3-inoh meshes ; 

 these I use for Peas and Strawberries. For the latter a 2-feet 

 breadth put over in spring like an arch enables them to rise 

 while in bloom through the meshes, and when they are ripe 

 they are out of the clay, clean for the mouth, beautiful to the 

 eyesight, and ornamental ; and for Peas I certainly prefer the 

 half-hoop or arch also with them. For a 10-yard length of 

 netting twelve pins of wood are required li inch square and 

 12 inches long pointed at one end, six pieces of galvanised 

 wire 1 yard long, and with four staples of the same material ; 

 fix one of these upon two pins, leaving 2 feet clear to form 

 your arch for the wire, drive your pins into the ground upon 

 each side of your Peas (say 6 or 8 inches), form your arch 

 neatly, and fix your wire over these, and use Carter's Early 

 Gem Pea, and if your land is what it ought to be you will 

 have a return of, may be, an hundredfold. These with me 

 this year are fully 2 feet high, beating all the others in a 

 canter for quantity and quality. 

 If taller kinds are grown jour arch of wire must be regulated 



