118 MICKLLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



REMARKS. 



On the Pink. — The stem should he strong, elastic, and erect, and 

 not less than twelves inches high. The flower should not be less than 

 two inches and a half in diameter, the petals should he large, broad, 

 and substantial, and free from large, coarse, deep notches, or inden- 

 tures ; in short, they approach nearest to perfection when they are 

 rose-leaved, or without any fringe at all. The broad end of the petals 

 should be perfectly white and distinct from the eye, unless it be a 

 laced pink, which should be bold, clear, and distinct, leaving a consi- 

 derable portion of white in the centre, perfectly free from any tinge 

 or spot. The eye should consist of a bright, rich, dark crimson, or 

 purple, resembling velvet ; but the nearer it approaches to black, the 

 more it is esteemed ; its proportion 6hould be about equal to that of 

 the white, that it may neither appear too large nor too small. — A. B. 



On Neapolitan Violets. — Neapolitan Violets may be removed 

 from the frames to the open borders. This fragrant flower is often in 

 great request; and as many feel desirous to have the duration of its 

 flowering prolonged throughout the winter, we feel much pleasure in 

 giving insertion to the following excellent directions, kindly commu- 

 nicated to us by Mr. J. W. Thomson, gardener to Alexander Baring, 

 Esq., Grange Park. Early in May the plants are taken from the 

 frames, the whole of the earth being shaken from the roots. The 

 largest are divided into three plants, the smaller into two ; they are 

 then planted in beds, four feet wide, fn rows, one foot apart, and 

 twelve inches in the rows. An east or west border should be chosen, 

 and previously to planting be well dug, and highly manured with well 

 decomposed animal manure. If the summer prove dry, they will re- 

 quire to be frequently watered ; they should remain in the beds till 

 the middle or latter end of September ; they should then be taken up 

 with a portion of soil adhering to the roots, and potted singly into pots 

 (3'2's) filled with a compost consisting of equal parts of sandy loam, 

 well-decomposed leaves, and rich animal manure, or bone dust, but 

 the latter is preferable. When potted, the plants should be well wa- 

 tered, and placed in a shady situation for a fortnight. About the mid- 

 dle of October the plants are plunged into a pit filled with old tan or 

 leaves, and when so placed the plants should not be more than three 

 inches from the glass; this is of great importance, for if the pots be 

 plunged deeper into the beds, the plants are very liable to damp off in 

 the winter months, and during this period they require but little or no 

 water. Air should be freely admitted at all times, except in frosty or 

 wet weather ; for if wetted by rain, they wbuld probably damp off. 

 Mats should be used to protect them from frosts, and where flues are 

 employed, the temperature should not exceed 40° or 45° of Fahren- 

 heit's thermometer. The plants require to be frequently looked over, 

 and decayed leaves removed ; and during summer the runners should 

 be taken off, as they tend to weaken the plant. — Mautel's Flor. 



