8.—1846.] ` THE. 
GARDENERS’ CHRONICTT 
^oc a V e 
‘117 
trator which keeps it in check by depositins eggs in the 
maggots of the Cephus, which hatch and live upon 
them +.— Ruricola. 
WINTER FLOWERS. 
SrENORHMYNOHUS SPECIOSUS.— An old terrestrial orchid 
from the West Indies ; but much neglected. his plant 
will class in point of cultivation with the Bletias, Neottias, 
‘&e., and requires no very particular treatment, except- 
ing a warm and moist atmosphere. It blossoms natu- 
rally under the above treatment in January, and very 
freely. ‘The flowers are scarlet or rather a very lively 
brick ved, Like many of these plants, it should not be 
too much divided, but allowed to increase into stout 
plants, which will throw up six or eight spikes of blos 
soms each. It continues in blossom for two months, 
makes considerable display, and is worthy the attention 
of every one desirous of handsome flowers of easy culti- 
vation in the dead of winter. . 
ERANTHEMUM PULCHELLUM.—BDlues amongst forced 
flowers are rare ; therefore, this plant is very desirable. 
Struck from cuttings in the early part of February, and 
highly cultivated, they will make nice bushes by the 
early part of August, when they should be removed 
from the stove to the cool greenhouse, to check 
further excitement to growth. Introduced to a lively 
temperature of from 65° to 709 in the early part of 
November, and if possible to bottom-heat, they will 
blossom beautifully through December and January ; 
when, if cut down, disrooted, and carried through the 
same routine as the cuttings, they will make better 
bushes still by the autumn following—having more 
flowers in proportion to the foliage. These plants delight 
in abundance of moisture at the root, and are better 
kept in pans of water when in flower. Soil should be 
strong loam, peat, and leaf-mould. 
Poinsettia PULCHERRIMA.— This noble stove-shrub, 
although insignificant in the true flower, has such a sur- 
prising scarlet bract, that it makes under high cultiva- 
tion, an extraordinary display. Few persons, however, 
can find room for it grown to six or eight feet in height. 
The best way is to dwarf it, by cutting in the old plants 
severely late in the spring—say about April. They will 
produce cuttings in a month after, which slipped off, 
struck, and placed under high cultivation, with bottom- 
heat, will make nice plants of two feet high by Novem- 
ber; at which period, if they have been kept in a light 
house, they will begin to blossom. Under this mode of 
cultivation it will be well to put three cuttings in a 5-inch 
pot, and these may have one shift into a 7-inch pot, about 
the early part of August. They will thus make a greater 
display, and wiil not need topping to make them bushy, 
which would searcely be prudent with such late grown 
plants. Soil should be strong loam, peat, and manure, 
with a little sharp san 
ILLBERGIA IRIDIFOLIA.—A native of Rio,and of rather 
modern introduction, is scarcely second to the Poinset- 
tia in display, whilst in point of elegance it is the admi- 
ration of everybody. It wants very similar treatment 
to the terrestrial orchids, in fact, good Pine-apple treat- 
ment will just suit it. Like many other plants for forc- 
ing, early growth is a material point; this secured, a 
withdrawal from the high excitement of the stove to a 
greenhouse in July or August serves to concentrate the 
energies of the plant for flowering. 
EUPHORBIA JACQUINIFLORA. — This most beautiful 
winter flower is, indeed, indispensable to every collec- 
tion; its cultivation is not difficult, although it is some- 
what difficult to get the plants into a bushy state. The 
two or three year old plants make the best bushes, and 
cuttings struck from these, when they “break” in 
February will make nice plants for a small shelf by the 
ensuing autumn. Mr. Beaton has recommended turning 
them on their sides in the course of their cultivation, to 
encourage the emission of shoots from the lower part 
of the stem, and a good plan it is. However, if a lively 
and powerful action of root, through well constituted 
and porous soil and bottom heat, be ensured, they will, 
with “stopping,” break many shoots. If there are 
Plenty of cuttings to be had, I should recommend put- 
ting three in a small pot, which should receive only one 
shift afterwards ; they will thus make more effect than 
single plants. Soil should be sandy heath, leaf soil, and 
loam, all in a lumpy state, to which add plenty of small 
chareoal, pounded crocks, and sharp sand, with the pot 
one third filled with drainage. 
tGNoNETPE.— Everybody's favourite, and is easily 
grown, provided good frame or pit room can be secured 
for it. Two sowings, the one about the first week in 
August, and the other three weeks later, will furnish 
plants for both autumn and spring. They may be sown 
ina smali bed, and, when compact plants, may be trans- 
ferred to 5-inch pots, putting five or six in each pot. 
They require much care on their removal, and must be 
placed in a close and moist atmosphere for a week ; in 
tact they should receive cutting treatment. They enjoy 
abundance of light ; no soil or plan will flower them in 
perfection unless they are near the glass. A back shelf 
ina pit, or a frame made up specially for them with 
the glass thoroughly washed, and the pots placed on, or 
rather plunged in, ashes, is the best situation for them. 
It is necessary, in order to make the plants thick and 
stout, to pinch the terminal bud of each off when they 
are thoroughly rooted in the pots, and not before. Air 
must be given abundantly at all times possible. They 
must be well secured against severe frosts by plenty of 
covering, and kept somewhat dry at the root during the 
dark months of November and December. The soil 
may be two parts of turfy loam, and the third equal 
ori Dre AM, E ede NE Margit 
1 Royal Agr. Jour, : v. 6, p. 136, 
parts manure and leaf soil, to which I add coarse sand 
and charcoal siftings. 
YMBIDIUM SINENSE and. ENSIFOLIUM,— T wo Chinese 
terrestrial orchids, which although somewhat incon- 
spicuous as to the colour of the flower, are nevertheless | 
elegant when closely examined, and of delightful fra- 
grance ; the C. sinense is particularly so. The scent 
of the latter is equal to. the best summer Mignonette. 
The only thing to lamentis the slowness of its increase, 
as could a large étock of it be obtained, in large and 
luxuriant masses, it would be invaluable ; and having 
run through their summer's growth, might be housed 
in a moderate greenhouse, and introduced in succession 
through {the whole of the winter. The treatment is 
similar to that of terrestrial orchids, Squares of peat 
and lumps of charcoal suit them well, thé pot being ex- 
tremely well drained. 
n concluding the subject of Winter Flowers for the 
present, I beg to say that a vast number cf other plants 
possess capabilities for this purpose, some of which I 
annex in the following list, and hope thereby to draw the 
attention of others to the subject. Let me not be 
understood, however, as favouring the idea that an; 
ardener, be he ever so clever, can hope to succeed 
with all these things at once, under a mixed system of 
glass. No; where a thorough succession of winter 
flowers is desired, special structures must be provided 
for the purpose, and they must have unremitting atten- 
tion ; in fact, they must form a distinct branch of gar- 
dening by themselves. 
MISCELLANEOUS List, 
Lili-ms Crocuses Cornelian Cherry 
Amaryllises Scillas Honeysue 
lychiums Helleborus Heaths 
Paneratiums Oranges orræas 
Tbn i Idenlandia Eps 
Lilaes Chorozemas Pultenzas 
Syringas Wallflowers Coronillas 
Pelargoniums Anemones Cypripediums 
Euphorbias Calceolarias Polygalas 
Bletias Dianthus Luculia 
Gardenia R. Errington, 
Hepaticas Chimonanth Oulton. 
THE FLEMISH BEAUTY PHAR. 
Synonymes.—La Belle de Flandres, Brilliant, Imperatrice de 
France, Josephine (of some), Bouche Nouvelle, Bose Sire, 
Bosch, Fondante du Bois (of some). 
Ir is very probable that this Flemish variety is in the 
possession of many who may not be aware of the state 
in which it ought to be gathered in order to render it 
melting, sugary, and exceedingly delicious. If allowed 
to hang till it readily parts by merely raising it up, 
without pulling, it is good for nothing. Thus allowed 
to remain after the time it ought to be gathered, it will 
increase in size, and a rich vermilion tinge will pervade 
Bright reddish "ellowish 
russet. brown. 
d 
the russet next the sun, so that no one would think of 
gathering whilst such apparent improvement was going 
on; but it will not become melting if treated with such 
forbearance, and the flesh acquires a disagreeable Anise 
perfume. The discovery of this peculiarity of requiring 
to be gathered unusually early was accidental. Some 
fruit was blown down when the crimson tinge was only 
just commencing to be formed, and when the stalk 
would not separate from the spur without some degree 
of violence ; these proved excellent, and the portion 
left on the tree became the reverse, 1 
The i ion is only a medium 
The flesh is yellowish 
DEO 
sized fruit from a standard. EONS 
white, melting, very sweet and rich. In perfection in 
the end of September and in October. Tree spreading, 
shoots long, rather slender, clear purplish brown, with 
numerous white dots ; buds prominent. Leaves middle 
sized, ovate, tapering, pointed, flat, slightly serrated ; 
petioles long and slender; stipules linear. Flowers 
middle-sized, expanding early ; petals obovate 
The tree bears well as a standard; and as the fruit 
in good situations must be taken from the tree, as it 
were, prematurely, it would probably ripen on the 
northern aspects of walls, and in situations where most 
other kinds cannot attain the degree of maturity they 
require,— R. T. 
I—————— 
THE AMATEUR GARDENER. 
PrawTING.— Reader, did ever see a tender 
mother soothe a child to sleep, and afterwards lay it 
down to rest? The operation, to uninstructed eyes, may 
appear very simple, scarcely demanding a thought, but 
it is really one of great skill and difficulty to perform 
properly. The babe must be so held as to render every 
motion as pleasing as possible ; the tones of the voice 
must be gentle and soothing ; and, in consigning the 
little one to its bed, all the mechanism of the arms of 
the nurse must be exercised to prevent any jarring or 
rough motions disturbing its slumbers. An experienced 
mother can tell at a glance whether the infant is rightly 
put to bed, and from the mode in which the duty is 
performed, can predict the length or shortness of its 
repose. We mistake greatly when we imagine duties 
are easily discharged because they are common, and 
have common things for their subjects; for matters of 
every-day occurrence, and which seem to be perfectly 
easy, often demand a long apprenticeship for their effi- 
cient performance. 
The familiar illustration just noticed has often oc- 
curred to me when engaged in planting, or when con- 
templating the right or wrong methods in which this 
important part of gardening is carried on. An expe- 
rienced eye can te!l whether a proper degree of repose 
(so to speak) is given to a plant when committed to the 
earth, and from the way in which this is done, can pre- 
dict the future destiny of the shrub or tree. Yet to the 
hinking what is app: ly more easy! To dig a 
hole, and thrust the roots into it ; and afterwards to 
tread down the loosened soil, is, with many, the whole 
theory and practice of planting. The result of this ig- 
norance is visible in the great majority of gardens. 
Many productions die; others can only maintain a slow 
and sickly growth. Fruit-trees canker, and ornamental 
shrubs continue dwarfish and dwindling, more f 
improper planting than any other cause. Soils, of 
course, have considerable influence, but planting has 
much more; and when the amateur cannot command 
the former of the exact kind, he may, in a great mea- 
sure, surmount the inconvenience by skilful planting. 
Let two men purchase two collections of Itose-trees of 
precisely the same varieties, age, and general character, 
and plant them in the same soil and aspect, and yet 
the results may be as different as possible, leading at 
first sight to the conclusion that the unfortunate grower 
had been imposed upon in the quality of his plants. 
The Rosary of one will be rapid in its growth, making, 
in some cases, shoots four or five feet long in a season ; 
the flowers will be numerous and fine, and the foliage 
indicative of robust health ;—while the collection of his 
companion will be in all respects the reverse of this. 
On examination, the cause of this marked difference 
will be found to be the different modes of planting pur- 
sued, The trees of the disappointed grower were hur- 
ried into holes just dug pro re na/a, and as hurriedly 
filled up ; while his more successful rival had trenched 
his ground previous to planting, and arranged the fibres 
of the roots as carefully as a mother would compose 
the limbs of the little one to sleep. Neither plenty of 
dung, nor repeated applications of liquid manure, ean 
atone for the first and radical offence; an entire re- 
planting is the only method of attempting a reform, and 
even that may come too late, 
The principles of correct planting in the open ground 
are the same as those which regulate pot culture, allow- 
ance being made for the altered circumstances of the 
plants. Indeed, good planting is even more necessary 
for plants in pots, since they are so artificially situated, 
and have so little chance of being liberated from the 
bad management of man, by any kind intervention of 
Natur tree may possibly get on, in spite of the want 
of skill in the planter, because the soil being favourable, 
the roots may escape from their pent-up position, and 
abundant rains may re-dispose the clods so unceremo- 
niously thrown upon them. But let a plant be once 
badly potted, and its chance of flourishing is gone 
indeed. The pot presents an impassible ba 
roots, and the water applied only makes the 
compact, and less capable of fulfilling its office. There 
is also this difference between planting in the open air 
and in pots: in the one ease the thing only requires to 
be done once, while in the other the operation must 
often be renewed. Yet how constantly is this particular 
forgotten by amateurs who are really fond of flowers, 
whose collections are sickly because the pots are full 
of labyrinths of roots, which in hopeless continuity per- 
form pilgrimages around the walls of their prison, 
seeking a loophole for escape. ‘Turn the mass out of 
the pot and how curious is the spectacle! The soil by 
Some strange process is gone, and in its place there is a 
coil of vegetable fibre, which, in some cases, has tra- 
velled six times round the pot in search of fresh nutri- 
ment. In such cases these efforts of nature are useless, 
and the spongioles find that they 
** —-drag at each remove a lengthening n. 
In two successive papers I propose to expound fa- 
miliarly the best mode of procecding in planting in the 
open air and in pots. In the meantime let me give a 
word of advice on the necessity of acting on philoso- 
phical, or, if you please, physiological, principles, in all 
ardening operations. Nature works by rule, as surely 
as the expert artisan or mechanic, and our wisdom 
