310 BUIEF HEMARKS. 



and verdure, together with the fungi, whose seeds are so brought into 

 vegetation, that without this exciting cause might have slept inert for 

 centuries." — Mag. Nat. Hist. 



Compost for Carnations. — To two-thirds of yellowish turfy loam 

 add one-third of old rotten cow-dung, or stable-yard duns?, and jthese 

 being well mixed up together, give a liberal sprinkling of drift or sharp 

 sand. With good drainage and such a compost the plants, with due 

 attention, will grow most vigorously. The mud from a pond, &c., laid 

 out and become properly dry, has been found to suit this class of plants 

 most admirably. An addition of v/ell-rotted dung is required.— ^y« 

 extensive Exhibitor. 



PoTENTiLLAS. — Last autumn I procured the following Potentillas, 

 and had them planted so as to fill a nice-sized round bed ; the most 

 vigorous growers at the centre, and gradually declined to the outer row. 

 The bottom was properly drained, and the soil is a fresh loam tolerably 

 well enriched with leaf mould and rotten dung. They grew admirably, 

 and bloomed most profuse ; certainly nothing could appear prettier 

 than the bed was for many months, each successive day displaying its 

 new beauties. I watered the bed occasionally during the dry season, 

 and nothing more was required but having the branches supported by 

 small sticks, and the bed was wholly covered. The plants are now in 

 fine bloom (November 6th), and likely to continue. The sorts I groAv 

 are — Atrosanguinea, very dark crimson; Bainesii, scarlet with a yellow 

 centre; Brilliant, fine red; Floribunda bicolor, scarlet and velvet; 

 Formosum, rich ro>e ; Fulva, mottled red and lemon; Garnerianum, 

 lively lemon and rosy-red spot at the base of each petal ; Grandiflora, 

 crimson-scarlet ; Hopwoodiana, white and cream-colour, shaded with 

 rose; Incomparable, rich crimson, very large ; Insignis, rich yellow; 

 Mackayana, bright crimson ; M'Nabbiana, vivid scarlet ; Mayana ; 

 O'Brienii, orange; Maculata, lemon and red with numerous dark 

 spots; Menziesii, rich crimson ; Pensoni, fine crimson -red ; Pennsyl- 

 vanica, yellow ; Obscura ; Plantii, scarlet with yellow centre; Eussel- 

 liana, dark crimson ; Thomasa, bright yellow. The bed was in an open 

 situation, and the plants did not draw up weakly, but were robust, and 

 bloomed in profusion. — A Country Clergyman. 



Culture of Cape Bulbs. — Lately, I observed, a correspondent 

 asked for particulars relative to the culture of Cape Bulbs in the open 

 ground, such as Ixia, Sparaxis, "Watsonia, and of the Gladiolus, &c. 

 I have grown them extensively for many years in the following manner 

 with great success. 



I have a south-aspected brick wall on the north side of a flower 

 garden, and a broad border extends in front fifty yards long and tliree 

 broad. The wall is covered with the finest kinds of training plants. 

 A gravel walk is in front, and half the width of the border is devoted 

 to the culture of Ixias, Sparaxis, Gladiolus, &c. I have the tallest at 

 the back, and the lowest (Ixias) at the'front, next the walk. When in 

 bloom nothing has a more delightful appearance. The border is well 

 drained, which is essential to success, and the excess of wet is carried 

 off" by the walk drain. The compost is formed of yellow turfy loam, 

 turfy peat, and well-rotted leaf mould, in equal parts. I plant them 



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