556 General Notices. 



flowering than any of the others, as this is their natural season of blooming, 

 and they are easily managed and amongst the showiest objects in our 

 stoves during the dull winter months. These naturally start into growth 

 early in spring, and they should be encouraged by a sharp, moist heat, as 

 they are weakly growers, and ought not to be stowed away in a cool green- 

 house after flowering, as is sometimes done. 



The most suitable soil for the epiphyllum is light, sandy, turfy loam, and 

 good turfy peat, in the proportion of three-fourths of the former to one of 

 the latter, nicely broken up and mixed with sufficient sharp sand to keep it 

 porous, and ensure free drainage after the decay of the fibre. When the 

 specimens attain a large size and occupy pots as large as it is convenient to 

 afford them, they should be liberally supplied with clear, weak manure 

 water, during the growing and flowering seasons, and the pots may be 

 surfaced with rich compost ; this will aflford sufficient nourishment for years. 

 Light iron frames, fixed to the pots, form the best supports for training on ; 

 these are easily moved with the plants in case of repotting, and are not 

 always breaking, as wooden stakes thrust into the soil are. — ( Gard. Chron., 

 1852, p. 677.) 



Mandevilla suaveolens — In a recent visit to the Botanic Gardens at 

 Montpelier, I observed Mandevilla suaveolens growing over a trellis as a 

 hardy climber. With a view to test the severity of the winter, I inquired 

 what species of Passiflora flourished under similar treatment, and learnt 

 that none but P. caerulea would live there out-of-doors ; all others which 

 had been tried had been killed by frost in winter. On my remarking 

 that P. caerulea flourished in England, the gardener assured me that 

 Mandevilla was decidedly more hardy ; and that where P. caerulea flour- 

 ished, he had no doubt Mandevilla would equally. In accordance with this 

 statement, I observe that a branch of Mandevilla which has grown out 

 through tlie roof of my greenhouse is this day (October 18) in perfect 

 flower, having been exposed, about ten days ago, to a frost which injured 

 French beans, Convolvus major, caused the leaves of Mangold Wurzel to 

 droop, and so damaged flowers of Passiflora csrulea against a wall, that 

 they did not expand. I should remark that the greenhouse is span- roofed, 

 so that the Mandevilla was exposed both to wind and radiation without any 

 protection whatever. I mention this to induce others to try Mandevilla, as 

 I intend to do, next year, against a wall where Passiflora flourishes. I may 

 add that the frosts at Montpelier are occasionally so severe that Cupressus 

 lusitanica was severely injured, and oranges and olives killed outright. 

 On the other hand, from the heat of the summer, Nelumbium both flowers 

 and seeds in a tank in the middle of the garden. — ( Gard. Chron., 1852, 

 p. 677.) 



Fruit Room. — Our fruit room is the upper room of a square building 

 against the garden wall, and over the tool-house. An inside stair leads 

 from the tool-house up to the fruit room. The dimensions of it are nearly 

 as follows, 16 ft. by 14 ft., and about 8 ft. high. Around the sides are 

 shelves, made of narrow slips of wood, rough from the saw, about 2 inches 

 wide, having fully half an inch between every one. The floor is very open, 



