348 Calls at Gardens and JWrseries. 



bloom. Intermixed with the other plants, ami placed at intervals on the 

 stai,fe, were a great numljer of plants of Lobelm fiilgens; these, with 

 their ninnerous spikes of brilliant scarlet blossoms stretching above the 

 surrounding foliage, had an exceedingly showy appearance: this is what 

 we have been urging ui)on amateurs and gardeners; the green-house 

 may be made as much a place of ornament in summer as in winter, 

 and instead of the bare shelves and stages, present one mass of living 

 verdure, covered with the varied hues that the open garden ])rescnts 

 when in its greatest splendor. A species of Nerine, probably N. aiirea 

 Sweet, with jellow flowers, was very superb; N. coriisca had been 

 most brilliantly in bloom, a week or two previous. The hibiscuses were 

 flowering profusely. Wistaria Consef|uan« has been planted out here 

 since our last visit, and is trained up the rafters; it has already made a 

 fine growth, and may possibly flower the ensuing year. 



Amonir the few flowering plants remaininir in the stove were the Jpo- 

 inaiV pauiculata, Combretum purpureum, jYymphte^a cffirulea, and Chi- 

 nese hibiscuses: the combretum was superbly in blossom; one or two 

 capsules of seed were formed, and Mr. Hag^erston was in hopes to 

 ripen them. On the old plant of Cereus triangularis here, trained to the 

 back wall, has been grafted a great number of scions of about all the 

 S])ecies and varieties in the collection; the scions all look finely, and, we 

 have no doubt, will every one grow; if they do, the plant will have a 

 singular and splendid appearance, from the varied size and color of the 

 blossoms. Since our last notice (p. 272,) of the practice of grafting in 

 En<rland, several amateurs have been induced to try the experiment. 

 Grafting is easily performed, and the C. triangularis grows rapidly, pro- 

 ducing fine stocks in one season. 



Passing round the garden, we noticed in front of the large range of 

 houses, and bordering the walk, a row of mignonette extending the 

 whole length, the fragrance from which filled the garden; this is the 

 manner in which this delightfully odoriferous plant should be treated — 

 a plant or two is little better than none; it should be sown in large 

 patches. Dahlias have not been planted out here so abundantly this 

 season as heretofore; but what plants we saw were blooming more pro- 

 fusely than they did last year. We were sorry to see that Mr. Gushing 

 had less roots planted than usual, when the new varieties are so much 

 superior to those of last year; but, owing to the soil, or some other 

 cause, they have not flowered so well as they ought to have done, and this 

 is, we presume, one reason. There were some fine now pentstemous 

 in bloom, which were raised from seeds received from Mrs. Marryat. 



The American shrubs here, w hich we have noticed before, are looking 

 excellentl_v,andmany of the rhododendrons, laurels, rhodoras, azaleas, &c. 

 are making fine buds for next season; the magnolias, as well as the oth- 

 ers, have made strong and vigorous growths: in a year or two the bor- 

 der will present one mass of evergreen foliage. Every amateur should 

 see these plants, as we are sure it would be the means of inducing them 

 to pay more attention to them. The roses planted out in the spring on 

 part of the westerly w all border have covered the ground wiih some of 

 the most luxuriant shoots we ever saw. One of the finest displays of 

 blossoms may be ex])ected next season. 



In the kitchen garden, adjoining the wall, INIr. Haggerston showed tis 

 a plantation of young plants of the MaclOra aurantiaca, or osage or- 

 ange, which, as soon as they acquire a little size, will be set out as a 

 hedge. An opjjortunity will then be aflbrtlcd of testing its hardiness 

 and adaptness to our climate as a hedge jjlant; they were growing well, 

 and some of them were two feet or more high. The grounds through- 

 out were in high keeping. 



Oakley Place, Wm. Fratl^s. — We called here mostly to see the 



