96 COEBESPONDENCE. 



To the Editor of the English Flower Garden. 

 ' Sir — Some of your readers may be glad to be informed that Messrs. Cunningham, Fraser, and 

 Co. of the Comely Bank Nursery, Edinburgh, have the following rare and interesting plants, 

 besides many others: — Jeffersonia diphylla; Hclleborus abchasicus ; Pusehkinia scillioides ; Cyananthus 

 lobalKs ; a fine blue species of Lathyrus ; Linum tanricum ; Salvia nemoralis [nemorosa f] Salvia 

 indica ; Scabiosa eaucasica and argentea ; Silene regia, a beautiful plant which cannot be too 

 extensively grown, of a colour rivalling the Lobelia fulgens ; Baischia ( Lithospermum ) canescens ; 

 Geranium argenteum, a very interesting plant ; Aster Sikkimcnsis, and many others. You would 

 confer a favour on your readers by informing them where other rare plants may be obtained. I 

 find that the Abelia floribunda is quite hardy in Lancashire ; the experience of the last winter has 

 sufficiently proved it. A Subscriber. (Wigan.) 



[We shall most willingly insert such information as will enable our readers to obtain rare plants 

 not usually kept by Nurserymen, but it would be obviously unfair to name one party in preference 

 to others, in the case of those plants generally found in the hands of the trade. We have 

 inserted the above paragraph, but several of the plants there named, although not often seen in the 

 garden of amateurs, are generally kept by the London Florists, though not by provincial ones. The 

 two Salvias, Silene, Geranium, Baischia, Linum and Pusehkinia are, however, much more rare, and we 

 thank our correspondent for his information.' — Ed.] 



Sir — As you requested Subscribers to your most useful little Periodical to keep a register of those 

 delicate plants which have survived this inclement season, I venture to contribute my mite, very 

 trifling though it be. I should state that our garden is on the chalk stratum, open to winds from 

 the east, but sheltered by a hill from the west. The Laurestinus and Portugal Laurel, many of 

 them present that appearance so truly described by the French as ' brule,' whilst No. 8 preserved its 

 leaves in perfect verdure. Our magnificent Banksia Rose is as much covered with buds as usual, 

 and the Bourbons and Chinas appear even healthier than usual. Cuphca strigillosa, quite hardy, is 

 springing up very strong ; Salvia splendens [query fulgens, the splendens being much more tender, 

 Ed.] unsheltered, is also shooting ; Verbenas, partially sheltered, only two or three alive ; Mitraria, 

 coccinea, only a glass over it in March during snow, quite hardy ; Escallonia macrantha equally so ; 

 Abutilon striatum, only a mat in March and snowy weather, and uninjured ; Plumbago Larpentee 

 unprotected and unhurt ; Coronilla, the yellow shrubby species [probably glauca, Ed.] no protection, 

 quite hardy ; Dielytra speetabilis, the same ; Lilinm lancifolium, also hardy ; Lardizabala biternata, 

 (figured in your May number, 1852) covered with a mat, much nipped, but not killed ; Zauschneria 

 ealifornica, Anemone japonica, and Oenothera prostrata, all quite hardy, the two first perfect weeds. 



A Subscriber. {Guildford.) 



TO DESTROY ANTS IN FRAMES AND GREENHOUSES. 

 Mr. W. B. Jeffries, of the Ipswich Nursery, has obligingly favoured us with the following 

 efficacious mode of effecting the destruction of these industrious little pests. There are 

 some grave objections to the use of arsenic and all other deadly poisons, but where the ants cannot, 

 as often happens, be tracked to their hiding place, it is almost impossible to remove the evil in any 

 other way. A strong solution of white arsenic is to be made by pouring a cup of boiling water 

 over a good pinch of the powder, if sufficient time is allowed, and the liquid stirred ; this will be 

 much safer than boiling, for obvious reasons. A sweet paste is now to be made with a little of the 

 solution and some thick honey, to which a small portion of treacle may be added to colour the 

 mixture, so that it may be more easily recognized. It is to be spread on pieces of slate, and laid 

 near their tracks, or the places infested by them, and should be repeated until they disappear. Too 

 much precaution cannot be taken in using the mixture, especially where there arc children or 

 animals in the neighbourhood. 



