DECEMBER. 571 



ble to uphold their position. Therefore I propose to hung more into notice 

 two or three plants, great favorites of mine, which are now in their glory, 

 and have much to recommend them. The first and finest of all is the Ver- 

 bena venosa, a plant very generally known, but hitherto scarcely used for 

 decorative purposes, but its merits cannot be too highly eulogised ; it is a 

 distinct species, having rosy purple flowers, neat habit, growing from 1 to 

 2 feet high, according to soil and situation ; bears pegging down admira- 

 bly. It is a plant of easy cultivation, being best raised from seed in early 

 spring, and planted out the end of May, when it will begin to flower in 

 August, and continue in perfection through October, but it must be seen in 

 mass or line as we have it, then some idea can be formed of its superior 

 qualities. The next in point of interest is the Tagetes signata (or tenui- 

 folia,) an annual of the Marigold kind, having deep orange colored flowers, 

 beautiful foliage, and a neat bushy habit of growth, height 1 to 2 feet ; an 

 excellent plant for massing. A great error is often committed in planting 

 out annuals in putting them too close together ; thus in the case of Tagetes, 

 one plant in every 4 square feet of ground is quite sufficient. The third is 

 the Double White Feverfew, an old well-known plant, which is Avell adapt- 

 ed for bedding and to grow in line as in the ribbon fashion ; raise it from 

 seed in the spring, when it will flower well late in the autumn. There are 

 two others I shall mention which are very generally used ; but in many 

 places not to the extent they deserve. One is the Calabrian Soapwort, 

 with its pink star-like flowers, one of the best plants for bedding wo have 

 to sustain the gaiety of the flower-garden through the autumn. The other 

 is the little Koniga maritima variegata, a useful plant for bedding and to 

 grow in line, being very hardy, continuing to bloom late in the season. 

 Another very fine late-flowering plant is the Lobelia ignea. These, to- 

 gether witli purple, yellow, and white Fleartease, would create a splendid 

 display after most of the summer things have failed, and as many families 

 do not arrive at their country residences before September or October, in 

 such places hardy late-flowering plants deserve our best attention. — ( Gard. 

 Chron., 1856, p. 077.) 



Autumnal Raspberries. — I have had such an abundant crop of these 

 all last month and up to the present time, for even now the canes are full 

 of fine fruit, that a few words about their culture may perhaps be useful. 

 There are four varieties more particularly worthy of notice. Rogers' Vic- 

 toria — Merveille des Quartre Saisons, yellow ; this is large, sweet, and ex- 

 cellent — Merveille des Quartre Saisons, red ; this is about the size of the 

 Red Antwerp, and very good — Large-fruited Monthly, or to give its long 

 French name, " Framboisier de tous les mois a tres gros fruit." The first 

 is a sort sent out many years ago by a Mr. Rogers, then of King's Road, 

 Chelsea ; it is rather dwarf, not of a very robust habit, and yields fruit nearly 

 all through September. The second and third have their fruit on very long 

 spikes and bear most abundantly all through October, and till destroyed by 

 the frost. Their culture is very simple, as they merely require being 



