364 Notes and Gleanings. ■ 



Planting Graves. — Graves may be made to look very neat and pleasing by 

 planting an edging, within the stone coping, of a small dark green ivy, such as 

 the smallest-leaved helix, or the purple-leaved variety called minima in our classi- 

 fication, but in trade catalogues Helix minor doneraiiense. Any other very small- 

 leaved ivy would answer nearly as well. In the angles, right and left of the point 

 where the graves meet, small Irish yews or Chinese thujas would be appropriate. 

 Within the ivy edgings plant some neat tufts of double white and double yellow 

 primroses, with tufts of crocuses and Scillas ibirica between ; but polyanthuses are 

 too coarse. Also plant a few hardy herbaceous plants, as it so frequently happens 

 that those who plant graves live too far away to take proper care of them ; and in 

 such cases ivy and hardy herbaceous plants are invaluable, because a little weeding 

 comprises pretty well all that is needed afterwards, and this can soon be done, when 

 the graves are visited, as a labor of love. The best herbaceous plants for the 

 purpose are the following : Double white, double yellow, and double crimson 

 primroses (single ones are not good enough, and, besides, are coarse) ; Saxifraga 

 piilchella and S. hypnoides j the early forget-me-not, Myosotis dissitifiora j the 

 starry sandwort, Arenaria ccespitosa; the pink thrift, Armeria diantJiioidcs ; the 

 (so-called) purple alyssum, Aiibrietia gratidiflora; the white and blue varieties of 

 Campaiiula carpatica. More plants might be named, but no one can want more 

 than half a dozen sorts for this purpose. Floral World. 



Preparation of Manure. — The degree of decay to which it is desirable 

 that manure should be brought before it is used, depends upon the condition of the 

 soil for which it is in preparation. To a damp heavy loam it is best to apply the 

 manure in as rough a state as possible, as every straw would serve for a time to 

 keep the soil open and admit air ; but in almost every other case, manure in an ad- 

 vanced state of decay is the most valuable. Horse dung, by its stimulating quality, 

 is best adapted to cold clayey soils, while cow dung, from its colder nature, is 

 admirably suited to hot sandy soils. Pig's dung is considered the most powerful 

 stimulant of the three ; but whatever kind is used, it is of equal importance that 

 it be thoroughly incorporated with the soil, so that its nourishing constituents may 

 be as equally distributed as possible. English Journal of Horticnltnre. 



Skeleton Leaves. — Having seen an inquiry relative to making skeleton 

 leaves, I think it may be a help to the inquirer to state the plan which Ihave found 

 to succeed very well, and which is as follows : Select mature and perfect leaves, 

 steep them in rain-water until the pulpy part separates readily from the fibres ; 

 this generally takes several weeks, and succeeds best in warm summer weather. 

 When all the soft part has been carefully removed (by the aid of a soft camel's 

 hair brush), steep the skeletons in a weak solution of chloride of lime to bleach ; the 

 more delicate may become white in a few hours, but some will require a clay or 

 more. Next, place those that are flat, such as ivy, between sheets of blotting- 

 paper, and press them with a moderately hot iron. I have found the leaves of 

 holly, ivy, poplar, and pear suit best for making skeletons. A strong cement 

 made of isinglass and vinegar is useful in setting them up. 



S. Grubb, Glenam, Clonmel, in Gardenefs Chronicle. 



