488 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTDBE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 2, 1875. 



enhanced by many pendnlons spikes abont a foot long, bearing 

 a large number of white tranBlnoent flowers. It is well adapted 

 for growing in baskets. A yellow-flowered form, more rare 

 than this, is sometimes met with. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 

 The Oxfoeb Botanic Gaeden we do not consider too small 

 if it were differently arranged. Certainly it wonld do violence 

 to the feelings of everyone who knows its history to have it 

 abolished and another established elsewhere. Such a change 

 is not needed. 



We regret to have to announce the death of M. Al- 



PH0N6E Mas of Bonrg-en-Bresse, at the age of fifty-nine. M. Mas 

 devoted almost the whole of his life to the study of pomology. 

 In his garden at Bonrg were collected almost every variety of 

 hardy fruits he could procure, and there he made his obser- 

 vations which formed the groundwork of Le Verger. We are 

 especially saddened at the occurrence of this event. It was 

 only in September last that the writer of this met his old friend 

 at the meeting of the Soci6t6 Pomologique of France, which 

 was held this year at Ghent, and where he as President of the 

 Society performed all the duties of hie cflice. M. Mas was 

 a man of gentle and amiable ditposition and a sincere friend, 

 and his loss will be much regretted by a large circle, among 

 whom he was well known and esteemed. 



The Flowee Mission has been very successful among 



the patients of the metropolitan hospitals and the poor in the 

 east of London. It is worked from depots where the flowers 

 are sent, and they are arranged in neat little bouquet-holders 

 of paper, with a text of Scripture written on them, and dis- 

 tributed in hospitals, workhouses, and to the sick poor in their 

 homes. Two central depots were opened in March at Mildmay 

 Park and Spitalfields, and in the flower season the average 

 number of bouquets sent out from them was from 3000 to 

 4000. The movement has attracted much attention among 

 ladies, and no doubt its action will be widely spread when the 

 spring flowers come in. In support of the funds of this Mission 

 a bazaar, under the patronage of the Duchess of Cambridge 

 and the Duchess of Teck, was opened at the Hall, Gloucester 

 Road, Kew, and attracted a large number of visitors. 



At the Birmingham Cattle Show Messrs. Carter & Co. 



have a stand of ageicdltubal and hoeticcltdral peoddcts, 

 all very fine, grown from seed raised by them and contributed 

 by the growers. Among the horticultural specimens there are 

 some extraordinary Carrots, Parsnips, Potatoes, &c., in endless 

 variety and of the finest shapes and quality. Onions, too, are 

 in abundance, and the form and size of some of them would 

 have astonished gardeners of no very remote period. 



HEATING WITH PEAT. 

 In answer to your correspondent " W. W." (page 432), I 

 may state that my experience of peat or turf for heating hot- 

 water boilers has been very unsatisfactory. Of course much 

 depends on the quality ; spongy turf cut from the surface of the 

 bog is all but useless except wood or coke is used with it, and 

 even then I have found a great difficulty in keeping up a regular 

 temperature in frosty weather. There is a hard black peat, 

 generally the lower spits of a turf bank, and where all vegetable 

 matter has been long decomposed, which suits much better, 

 and for a small house might maintain a pretty fair temperature 

 without much trouble. — A. McIntosh, Gortmore. 



OUR BORDER FLOWERS— SISTRINCHIUMS. 



These are hardy and half-hardy plants of great beauty, and 

 are well adapted for spring-garden and border culture. They 

 are widely distributed, and are found in many parts of the 

 world. The hardy kinds stand through our winters without 

 injury. They succeed well in a well-drained situation, extreme 

 moisture being fatal to their well-doing. If the soil is of a 

 strong heavy nature it should be removed altogether, and be 

 replaced with the following compost — good sandy loam and 

 sandy peat in equal quantities, with a httle well-decomposed 

 leaf mould and a sprinkling of charcoal dust and sand mixed 

 well together. The soil should be made a little firm before 

 planting. The plants are easily increased by division of the 

 roots after they have matured their growth. The half-hardy 



kinds must be protected through the winter in a dry cold pit 

 or greenhouse where they can be kept from frost, and they 

 may be planted out in the summer, but should be taken in 

 before the frosts set in. Their splendid diversity of colour 

 and graceful habit well repays any labour bestowed upon 

 them. 



Among the hardy kinds none are more beautiful than Sisy- 

 rinchium grandiflorum, its colour being crimson purple. It is 

 an early bloomer and grows about a foot high, and when well 

 established it produces a charming effect. S. grandiflorum 

 album is equally attractive, its lovely white blooms contrasted 

 with the foregoing being beautlfal indeed. S. striatum is one 

 of the tallest of the family, not so bright in colour as some 

 of the species, but is still a very desirable border plant and 

 continues long in flower. S. convolutum is one of the hand- 

 somest of the whole family ; when well established its large 

 yellow flowers tell us at once that it is worthy to stand high 

 in our estimation ; it should be in all collections of herbaceous 

 plants. S. odoratissimum should have a place on account of 

 its delicious perfume ; it is of dwarf habit and is rather 

 tender, and should be protected through the winter. S. auceps 

 is the commonest and the dwarfest of the tribe. I have seen 

 it very beautiful in early spring used as an edging plant. It 

 soon establishes itself, for it seeds freely and iu some places 

 becomes troublesome as a weed. 



I have sometimes known the early blooms destroyed by our 

 spring frosts, which should be guarded against iu our unsettled 

 climate. A few hoops of small wire made with prongs to run 

 into the ground in the form of a bee hive covered with coarse 

 canvas is a good protection for these plants, and the covers 

 are easily removed when not required. It is not my intention 

 to enumerate the family, or I might name many more kinds 

 worthy of the cultivator's notice. — Veritas. 



Cartee's Geeeu Gage Tomato. — I have this season grown 

 the above Tomato along with three others, and I find it quite 

 an acquisition. The other three varieties were Large Red, 

 Excelsior, and Arlington. It ripens under the same treat- 

 ment quite as early as Large Red, and those who have tasted 

 it here consider it superior in flavour to that variety. I like- 

 wise consider it more productive than either of the other 

 varieties, although the fruit is smaller. These notes refer to 

 the culture in pots and grown under glass. I have it planted- 

 out along with the other varieties, but the season has been so 

 unfavourable for outdoor Tomatoes that I cannot speak de- 

 cidedly on its merits outdoors. — J. Anderson, Hill Grove, 

 Kidderminster. 



PLANTS FOR CUT FLOWERS AND SPRAYS. 



No. 7. 



A1J.1UM. — This is a genus of very valuable plants. A. fra- 

 grans, white striped with green, is delightfully fragrant. 

 A. magicum, white, is also sweet-scented. They flower during 

 June, and are quite hardy, doing well in ordinary soil, but 

 best in sandy loam enriched with leaf soil and well drained, 

 planting the bulbs about 3 inches deep. The flowers keep we>l 

 in water, continuing a long time in bloom. A. ciliatum, white, 

 and A. azureum, blue, are very pretty; A. moly, canary yellow, 

 is also very free and fine; A. triquetrum, white, drooping, is 

 very desirable and earlier than most of the species. These 

 showy plants ought to have a place in every garden, 



ScHizosriLis cocciNEA. — This is a Gladiolus-like plant, and 

 has deep scarlet flowers. I had plants this season with flowers 

 in July ; the plants were moved to a greenhouse in the middle 

 of October, and will flower as in previous years — all through 

 the winter. It is, however, quite hardy, but if its flowers are 

 wanted in winter a light airy position in a greenhouse must 

 be given. The plants are placed outdoors in May, potted in 

 June, and duly supplied with water. They flourish best if 

 under rather than over-potted. Good turfy loam three parts 

 and one part of leaf soil is a suitable compost, but I add a 

 little peat and silver sand, finding that all Irids are improved 

 by peat. For growing outdoors a sheltered position is desir- 

 able, and a sandy well-drained soil. It ought to be grown by 

 everyone wishing flowers to cut in late summer and autumn, 

 also during the winter in a greenhouse. 



Ornithogalums. — These flower in spring or early summer, 

 and are useful ; they are best treated as cool greenhouse 

 plants. 0. thyrsoides, yellow ; 0. arabicum, white with dark 

 centre, and sweet ; and 0. Bergi, white and green, will be eui£- 



