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— 
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356 
THE GARDENERS' 
CHRONICLE. 
[May 30, 
highly-fermented manure), well incorporated with small 
brick refuse or potsherds equal to one-fifth of the whole 
amount. 
C. Barleri? being characterised by an extreme 
tendency to form attenuated growth and premature 
flower bade when excited early, a uniform and vigorous 
growth should be encouraged by shortening the ex- 
tremities when required, and, by a careful attention to 
the removal of all flower-buds until the first or second 
week in June, by which time the plants will have accu- 
mulated a vigour of growth equal to a long-continued 
bloom. 
17. Oxalis spectabili: 
pact, half-hi 
to 4 inches in height, and producing a profusion of rich 
purplish ernus2" flowers, „nearly 1 inch in diameter, 
during June and July. itis well fitted for a small par- 
terre, treating it as follows :—Yanc out the ordinary 
soil to the depth of 2 feet, and replace it with 5 inches 
of coarse brick-bats (or similar material), over which 
add 6 inches of coarse, dry turf ings, or dry Moss, 
and fill up with equal portions of friable heath-mould 
and sandy loam. In this the stores should be planted 
in May, according to the weather. After the season of 
bloom is over, and a maturity of growth manifested by 
the progressive decay of le , &e, the bulbs should 
be taken up, replaced in store-pots, each containing ten 
or more bulbs, and preserved in a dry frame, facing 
south or west, until Noveraber, when they should be 
replanted into smaller store-pots (four or six bulbs 
eaeh), in equal portions of friable leaf-mould, heath- 
soil, and sandy yellow loam ; after whieh they should 
be plunged in ashes, or old dry-sifted tan, ina pit or 
frame, facing south or east; protecting them from 
severe frost, and watering only as the bulbs progres- 
sively vegetate. In this position they remain until 
required for the parterre, in April or M. 
18. Oxalis caprina,— This is a very interesting half- 
hardy perennial, requiring a frame or cool greenhouse, 
with protection from frost in winter, producing flower- 
seapes from 9 inches to 12 inches in length, with ter- 
minal clusters of brilliant yellow flowers, each nearly 
1 inch in diameter, during May, June, and July. It is 
suitable for a parterre, requiring a similar treatment as 
t was a favourite plant 
— This is a neat, dwarf, com- 
rdy bulbous plant, growing from 2 inches 
Y 
rounded, it will still appe: 
rightness,” gWhen required solely for a par- 
terre, the bulbs should be taken up as described for the 
6 inches deep. For protection during intense frost, the 
surface should be covered with perfectly dry sifted tan, 
or leaf-mould, to 12 inches in depth, which may be re- 
moved by the first week in March; and in case of 
protracted or unexpected cold, after the plants appear 
above the surface, they may be protected by a few 
hoops extended over the bed, and shielded with mats. 
19. Papaver bracteatum.—Those who wish to pro- 
duce a gorgeous feature in the flower garden will find 
this plant perfectly adapted to their purpose. It is bi- 
ennial in its duration, blooming perfectly but once from 
plants of the previous season’s growth, and for which 
purpose it should be sown in May or Juve, and trans- 
planted in summer or autumn to its intended posi- 
tion. In habit it assumes the form of a large crown 
of leaves sitting upon the ground, from which the 
flower stems arise, attaining from 3 to 5 feet in height, 
having on their summits immensely large, deep scarlet, 
cup-shaped blossoms, expanding by sunlight from 
9 to 14 inches in diameter. "The suecession of bloom is 
limited, but the effect (compared with any other plant) 
is magnificent. I remember seeing a large flower bed 
occupied by this plant solely, about 15 years ago, in 
the then richly adorned flower garden at Bretton Hall, 
Yorkshire. The impression of that gorgeous pyramid, 
as it then appeared, is not forgotten. Where such an 
object is desired, it should be placed towards the back- 
ground. P. bracteatum thrives in any garden soil. The 
strongest plants should be placed in the centre of the 
bed, adding a quantity of rich leaf-mould to each, which 
will heighten the effect by insuring a pyramidal outline, 
or progressive elevation of growth from the margin to 
the centre. 
20. Campanula garganica.—This is the next species 
in point of mevit to C. Barleri, being more compact in 
its growth, and more profuse^ in its bloom, but smaller 
in its individual blossoms, whieh are of a dark purplish 
blue. Though less remarkable than the last named 
species (C. Barleri) it will, in many instances, be con- 
sidered quite as beautiful. Its growth is equally adapted 
for culture in pots, vases &c., or for producing a general 
effect in small beds. 
21 is Piotle—Plants which attract almost 
everybody’s attention, must possess, at least, very re- 
markable, if not beautiful features; and this is one. It 
is a half-hardy perennial bulbous plant, of similar 
hardihood with the previously described species, and re- 
quiring a similar treatment, Its habit is exceedingly 
neat and compact, forming in its earlier stages of growth 
a densely close herbage of small glaucous or sea-green 
leaves sitting close upon the soil, but which, as it ap- 
proaches to maturity in April and May, rises from 2 to 
3 inches in height, and is sueceeded by numerous rich, 
transparent, buff-coloured flowers, nearly inch in 
diameter, having a clear green centre, the remaining 
surface being delicately marked with brown lines radiat- 
[: 
ing to the margin ; and which, on examination, assume 
a rich purple tracery or veining, on the reverse or 
under side. The remarkable size and profusion of its 
flowers, l with the diminutive leaves beneath 
them, invest this plant with a degree of interest pos- 
sessed by few others, and when seen fully expanded by 
sunlight, produce an impression of novelty and beauty 
combined, which, to a cultivated taste, “defies forget- 
ting.’— Wm. Wood, Pine. apple-plac 
FANCY TRAINING. 
(Continued from p. 284.) 
No. 9.—This design, with five stakes, has a good ap- 
pearance ; if done with four stakes instead of five, it 
d 
Ww create th | 
H 
— 
does not look near so well, Diameter of hoop, 2 feet 
6 inches; height, 7 feet. 
No. 10.—-Single stem trained up a stout stake, and 
brought down in three stems (with stakes), each about 
30 inches from the ascending stem. 
ES 
eS 
7 Vy 
TA 
THE AMATEUR GARDENER. 
Tus Green Fry.—1f slags and snails are the terror 
of gardeners in reference to their culinary crops and 
other productions near the surface of the ground, the 
numerous tribes of the aphis are equally obnoxious to 
the well-being of bis trees and shrubs. They also thrive 
with provoking fecundity in frames and greenhouses. 
The present season is, in this part of the country (the 
South of Bedfordshire), distinguished by the ravages of 
these minute creatures, who do injury in various way 
They do not eat up the plant on which they dwell, but 
they constitute a sad incubus on its powers of life, both 
by their own pressure and by the gummy excrement 
they so plentifully discharge. Gardens are so generally 
infested by these inseets, and the damage they do is so 
well known, that any contribution to the modes of-coun- 
teracting their injurious influence must be acceptable 
It is well known that tobaeco-smoke, when proper! 
applied, effectually clears the plants in a frame or green- 
house from the aphis, but the same agent, when used in 
open air, is almost useless ; fo e although a puff of smoke 
will dislodge the enemy, it does not kill him 5 he is 
only intoxicated for a time, and will speedily return to 
his predatory attacks. Having myself a choice collec- 
tion of Roses, scattered rather plentifully over about an 
acre of garden-grouud, and all much disfigured with 
green-fly, I turned with interest to the Chronicle of 
May 23rd, and read in the Answers to Correspondents 
the following advice :—“ Aphides are killed by a weak 
solution of smelling-salts in water, or by gas-water 
diluted with six times its bulk of water." As the 
extent of the evil in my garden made it important for 
some remedy to be applied instanter, I resolved to act 
on this recommendation. I could not use the smelling- 
salts, because no proportions axe stated, and I therefore 
commenced operations with the gas-water, of which E 
have a constant supply from a neighbouring gas-house. 
Having diluted it as directed I plentifully syringed 
some climbing Roses trained against the house ; but to 
my vexation the insects were unmoved either by the 
smell or the taste of the dose. What followed I relate. 
as a warning. If the aphis was unaffected by the gas- 
water, other things were not. The stone-colour paint 
of the windows was turned almost black, and the green 
of the verandah was horribly metamorphosed. This. 
experiment, therefore, entailed on me much trouble, 
besides failing in its object. This circumstance illus- 
trates the necessity of directions being more minute, 
for I eannot doubt the writer of the above had found 
gas-water effectual, although from some ignorance of 
the manipulation, I did not.* 
Despairing of clearing my trees by any solutions or 
decoetions, I resolved to have recourse to the labour of 
the hands, and recklessly to break the bones of those I 
could not poison, I went over the bushes, in conjune~ 
tion with others equally zealous with myself, and drew 
my fingers up the shoots infested, thus slaying thou- 
sands in a minute. In the same way I pressed to 
death all I found on the Rose-buds, The operation is 
very disagreeable, but it is more effectual than any 
other I know. As the juices of the insects thus de- 
stroyed form a sort of gum on the branches, they must 
be well syringed with water as you proceed. By this 
mode L have got the enemy under, although he is far 
from being quite destroyed. I have since thought of 
another method, which may be preferable, though it 
will require two persons to execute it. As the aphis 
begins to move when the branch is disturbed, I think 
the shoot which is covered with them should be held 
over a basin of water, and be then gently brushed, 
so that tle insects may fall into the basin. These 
modes of procedure may appear very irksome to some, 
but it is to be understood that a well-regulated garden 
is only made so by tiresome processes. But labor vincit 
omnia, and an enthusiastic amateur will rather Jabour 
all night than allow his plans and hopes to be frustrated, 
Au effectual mode of getting rid of the aphis in an easy 
way is still a desideratum.— 77. B. 
Home Correspondence. 
Potato Disease.—1 beg to forward a sample of dis- 
eased Ash-leaved Kidney Potatoes produced in a two- 
light pit, 8 feet in length, and 5 feet in width. The soil 
was composed of three-fourths common garden soil, 
and one-fourth half-deeayed leaves and dung placed 
18 inches from the glass. he plants during their 
growth looked remarkably well, with not the least ap- 
pearance of disease either on the leaves or stem ; when 
sufficiently ripe they were taken up as required, and all 
were good except what grew in that portion of the pit 
that was shaded by the front wall, and consequently a 
little moister, for roots had been dug up; growing in the 
same situation some time previous to the taking up of 
the sample I now send, but no sign of disease was dis- 
cernible upon them; the last lot taken up was nearly 
balt diseased. I regret I did not weigh each lot. The 
seed from whence the erop was produced was grown last 
summer on a dry south border ; it was taken up in the 
last week in July and spread at the foot of a wall, where 
it remained until the middle of September, when it was 
put into a erate and kept there until wanted for plant- 
ing. From the same seed I send some of the haulm of 
a succession crop grown on a bed similar to those made 
for cold hole Cucumbers, and planted on the 18th of 
February. I endeavoured to persuade myself that the 
young shoots at the base of the leaves have sustained an 
injury from some other cause, and the wet getting to it 
had produced decay, which spread over the stem ; but 
on looking further, 1 soon found patches or portions of 
the stems where the water could not effect a lodgment ; 
the part of the bed most affected is 5 feet from the 
bottom of a low hedge 3 feet high, the hedge being on 
the south side. My fears are just beginning to be real- 
ised, and what I have all along anticipated I conelude 
is come.— James Silver, gardener to the Rev. H. Pole, 
Waltham-place, near Maidenhead, Berks. [No doubt, 
Some of your sample have the disease in its very worst 
form, the decay going to the heart]. 
Slugs, &¢.—As E see many besides myself have suf- 
fered and are suffering by the ravages of slugs, snails, 
and worms, “et id genus omne ;” it may be as well if E 
add that my second crops bave been saved by scattering 
over the seed beds, liberally, sprigs and leaves of the 
Elder. I ought not, however, to refer my success to this; 
but I have had the seed beds so treated, and. the plant, 
in every ease, is saved, whereas, most of the earlier 
sowings have been carried off: and for years, in sowing 
Turnips, this practice has been observed by me with 
uniform success. — PS, ‘The following mixture will kill 
ugs Gas water, 1 gallon ; water, 6 gallons ; lime, 
as much as it will take up. This beats plain lime-water 
or gas water.— Knife. ide 
^ * The reason why gas ‘and smelling-salts do not alway: 
act depends upon their varying composition. Of e 
water will injure paint wherever it comes in cont W 
because it immediately forms a brown sulphuret with the 
lead, of which paint consists in part,—Ep. 
