Notes and Gleanings. i8i 



Cantua dependens. — Is not marked as a climber in the catalogues, I ut 

 that is the best way to grow it. Put it against the back wall of a greenhouse, 

 and try it. At the Marquis of Westminster's, Eaton Hall, there is a magnifi- 

 cent plant of Lapageria rosea, planted against a back wall, and spreading about 

 in all directions. It is planted in moist, rich loam, in a border a little below the 

 level of the pathway ; and though Mr. Collinson sometimes counts five hundred 

 flowers on his Lapageria at one time, he has a plant growing next it, in the 

 same border, and under the same conditions, which he values as highly : and 

 that is Cantua dependens. It does not flower continuously, as the noble Lapa- 

 geria may be said to do ; but then the splendid spikes of flowers which it yields 

 in the early part of the season compensate for that. — Floral World. 



On PiEONiES. — The herbaceous and tree paeonies of China are well known 

 to rank amongst the most ornamental plants which have found a place in our 

 gardens. Their large flowers, disposed in elegant disorder, or with graceful 

 regularity, assume the most varied colors, and are appreciated not only by flo- 

 rists, but also by artists, who produce them in their ornamental designs. The 

 plants are, moreover, very hardy, and they have an indefinite longevity. 



The tree-pjEonies thrive in peat-earth, either pure, or mixed with fertilizing 

 substances ; and generally in any sweet, porous garden-earth rendered fertile by 

 well-decayed manure. They commence growing so early in spring, that the first 

 shoots and flower-buds are sometimes destroyed by frosts, if not protected. 

 Nevertheless, they generally develop themselves, in spite of such accidents, 

 from the lower eyes, which give fresh flowers ; and in all cases the plants them- 

 selves are not affected in respect to their vitality. Some persons cultivate tree- 

 paeonies in conservatories, in prepared earth, which is renewed from time to 

 time ; and, thus sheltered from all hurtful atmospheric influences, they develop 

 in perfection their splendid flowers, the duration of which is prolonged by means 

 of shading. 



The herbaceous pceonies succeed in nearly all soils having sufficient depth 

 for their strong roots. They have the advantage of flowering after the tree- 

 peeonies, so that the flowering season may be prolonged from the beginning of 

 May to the end of June. 



All paeonies love water, and principally the herbaceous sorts, which ought not 

 to lack it, not only from the moment when the flower-buds commence to form, 

 till they have perfected their flowers, but also from the beginning of August, 

 continuing until the rains of autumn, to favor the production, at the base of the 

 stem, of strong eyes, capable of yielding vigorous flowers in the following sea- 

 son. To secure the flowering of psonies in full perfection, it is essential to 

 place them in very open positions, but where they may not receive the sun dur- 

 ing the hottest part of the day. 



When masses of the herbaceous paeonies have become strong, and the ground 

 has been exhausted by them, it is indispensable to take them up, and separate 

 them, preserving for planting portions having two or three strong roots, and the 

 eyes well fed, and then to change their position. This operation should take 

 place every six, eight, or ten years. As a general rule, when the flowers become 



