3o8 Notes and Gleanings. 



Verbenas in Pots. — So many of the lady readers of " The Journal of Hor- 

 ticulture " are not only flower-lovers but flower-cultivators, that I suppose I need 

 make no apology for describing a pretty experiment which may be made with 

 verbenas. If any one takes the trouble to try it next summer, I trust she may 

 be rewarded as was the friend of mine at whose house I saw it in the full flush 

 of success. 



This was the process : In the centre of a good-sized flower-pot filled with 

 nicely-prepared earth my friend placed a tolerably tall stick, say eighteen inches 

 high, and at the foot of this planted a very fine root of verbena, which was just 

 beginning to show a few buds. 



Keeping this in a shady place for a week or ten days, it began to grow rapidly. 

 Instead of allowing the sprays to trail, as is usual, she trained up every branch 

 by passing strings beneath, and securing them to the stick in the centre. She 

 took the greatest care of this pet-plant, watching and arranging every vagrant 

 runner, and moulding with skilful fingers the whole growth into a rounded and 

 compact shape, and bringing the buds up to the top as much as possible. In 

 a few weeks, the bush (for it now had the aspect of a densely-growing bush) was 

 covered with a mass of the most brilliant bloom, overtopping the supporting 

 stick, and hanging down in gay streamers on all sides. The flower-pot stood in 

 front of the piazza, somewhat more elevated than the plants in the flower-beds 

 around. The lady dwelt near a great city, on a road which was a favorite drive 

 in the fine summer-days ; and I cannot tell how many ladies, and gentlemen as 

 well, stopped at the gate to inquire what that splendid neiv flower might be. 



You may be sure that my friend felt a touch of satisfaction at such times. 

 The color she had chosen was that vivid cherry-scarlet, whicli one cannot de- 

 scribe, but the blaze of which one sees so far off; and the shades of scarlet seem 

 best suited for this experiment, not only for their flaming brilliancy, but for their 

 profuse blooming. Mary Lorimer. 



The Early Goodrich Potato, of which favorable mention was made last season, 

 fully sustains its former reputation for earliness, productiveness, and all the 

 qualities which go to make up a first-rate market-potato ; to which may be added 

 its ability to withstand disease, so prevalent the past season. While the Sebec 

 was a failure, and even the Jackson suffered severely in almost every direction 

 in this vicinity, the Goodrich escaped without injury, yielding a good crop. We 

 recommend this variety with confidence, having grown it two years. 



The Harrison, another of Mr Goodrich's Seedlings, a late or winter variety, 

 is even more productive than the Goodrich ; perfectly hardy ; not affected by rot 

 in the least ; yielding immense crops of smooth, handsome tubers of the finest 

 quality. A great acquisition. Both these varieties in cultivation require ample 

 room (being strong and vigorous in their habit of growth) and generous cul- 

 ture. — Transactions Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



Washingtonia gigantea. — Our advice to those about to plant this tree in 

 their grounds is to obtain small plants in pots if possible. It is one of the most 

 difficult of all evergreens to transplant. 



