110 THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



exceedingly rich and varied, for the leaves are marked and blotched 

 ■with deep yellow, rich orange, and brilliant red, and in combination 

 ■with the bright green ground of the young leaves, and the deep 

 bronzy green of those fully matured, produce a most striking effect. 

 The plant is robust, yet compact in habit, and the leafage is ample, 

 and small examples are well suited for the decoration of the dinner 

 table, whilst large specimens are well suited for figuring in competi- 

 tive groups. It was introduced by Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, 

 Royal Exotic Nursery, King's Road, Chelsea. 



THE USES OF THE GARDEN FRAME. 



RAISING VEGETABLE AND FLOWER SEEDS. 



jN our last number we treated of forcing the cucumber, 

 and while the cucumber is growing, advantage of the 

 space may be taken to raise a number of vegetable and 

 flower seeds, the plants of which will be found useful 

 for planting out in the open ground. Besides these, 

 there may be pans sown with mustard and cress, which, in the 

 course of a few days, will furnish an early salad, and of which a suc- 

 cession may be kept up during the spring. Of the plants which we 

 would raise iu a hot-bed, we would particularize the capsicum, 

 tomato or love apple, and the vegetable marrow. 



The Capsicum. — The pods of the capsicum are highly valued by 

 some as an ingredient in hot pickle. They are used green, and are 

 generally fit for this purpose about the end of August, or beginning 

 of September. The seed should be sown about the end of March, 

 the quantity of seed being regulated by the extent of the cultivation 

 which is intended to be carried out. It should be sown in pots, and 

 covered about a quarter of an inch deep with soil. "When the plants 

 have grown, and acquired about six leaves, they should be pricked 

 off into pans, where they should remain until they have acquired 

 some strength, and then they may again be transplanted in rows on 

 the outside of the bed. About the end of May, or beginning of 

 June, they may be planted out in a warm border, and protected for 

 some time by hand-glasses. "When they are transplanted to the 

 situations they are intended to occupy, they should be two feet 

 asunder, and well shaded from the sun until they have taken 

 firm hold of the ground, after which they may be left to them- 

 selves. 



Tomato or Love Apple. — This is a plant, the fruit of which, is not 

 duly appreciated by the middle classes of the population of this 

 country, otherwise it would be more generally cultivated than it is. 

 Whether for soups, sauce, or pickles, there is, perhaps, no vegetable 

 to surpass or even to equal it. We could here furnish a recipe or 

 two instructing how best to use them, but as that is out of our pro- 

 vince, we must refer the reader to Mrs. Rundall, or some other lady, 

 whose skill in these matters is more becoming tbem than us. What 



