1844.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



527 



* 



upper stratum, he is sure to be handsomely requited by 

 a rapid growth of the trees. Although the Yew-tree is 

 a hardy plant, and fond of cold regions (amantes friyora 

 taxi), still it will be much more vigorous in the shel- 

 tered valley than on the bleak hill exposed to the wintry 

 blast. Our western gales here in Yorkshire press far too 

 keenly on its foliage, and render the side which is exposed 

 to their fury as thin and wretched ia appearance as the 

 face of a metropolitan alJerman would be on Easter 

 Sunday morning, after having struggled through 40 long 

 days of unmitigated fasting. Provided you do not care 

 about having your Yew-tree in all the exuberance of 

 uncurbed vegetation, you may apply the pruning knife 

 and shears with a safe and an unsparing hand ; for the 

 Yew-tree will submit to curtailment with good effect, 

 and without any apparent diminution of vitality. If 

 we clip its southern side in imitation of a wall, and 

 allow that which faces the north to flourish in its 

 natural state, we shall have from the same line of 

 trees a walk impervious to the blast of Boreas for 

 ourselves, and a provision of berries for the birds, at a 

 time when their more ordinary supply of food is consider- 

 ably on the decrease. Charming is the appearance of the 

 Yew-tree after the sun has passed the autumnal equinox. 

 The delicate crimson of its fruit, with the dark-green 

 leaves behind it, produces an effect so pleasing to the 

 view, that it can scarcely be surpassed by anything which 

 the southern forests present to the lover of Botany, as 

 he wanders through their mazes." 



NOTICES of NEW PLANTS WHICH are EITHER 



USEFUL OR ORNAMENTAL. 



Pkktascar.vra. Flesh-coloured Pc-ntas. {Greenhouse Shrub.) 

 P. ubiace*. Pentandria Monogynia.— This beautiful half- shrubby 

 plant has been lately introduced to this country from the Con- 

 tinent, and grown in several of the gardens and nurseries about 

 London under the name of Sipanea carnea. It was first received 

 at the Botanic Gardens of Kew, from Mr. Ma< k,y of Liege, and 

 has since been obtained by Messrs. Rollisson and others, from the 

 Jardin des Plantes at Paris. No memoranda were furnished with 

 these plants respecting the native country of the species, and we 

 are, consequently, unable to state with certainty what part of the 

 world claims it as its production. Another species of the genus, 

 P. parvidora, having been discovered hy Dr. Vogel, in the late 

 Niger expedicdon, growing in the western part of Tropical Africa, 

 near Accra, and other plants nearly allied being found in the same 

 neighbourhood, Sir William Hooker, in the " Botanical Magazine," 

 conjectures this to belong to the same locality. As an ornamental 

 plant for the stove, or possibly for a warm greenhouse, this will be 

 hailed as an acquisition of some importance. It has an excellent 

 robust habit, and produces a number of partially-spreading 

 branches, forming a handsome bushy plant, clothed with an abun- 

 dance of large, broad foliage, concealing the stems to the very base 

 with its lively verdure. These branches usually bear flowers as 

 they are formed, even when the plant is in an exceedingly dwarf 

 state, without appearing to have any injurious effect on the con- 

 tinuing growth of the specimen. The blossoms are collected into 

 corymbose clusters and stand erect, displaying their lovely soft 

 flesh-coloured hue to the utmost advantage. When the flowers 

 are first developed they are very pale, but gradually acquire colour 

 With exposure. If the plant is kept growing in a favourable situ- 

 ation, it will continue to blossom, with the formation of new- 

 branches, for the greater par t of the year ; and such is the rapidity 

 of its growth, that it will form a large bush in the course of a single 

 season. Like most soft-wooded plants of quick growth, it requires 

 a rather large pot, and a strong soil, rich in nourishingproperties. 

 And it will probably be beneficial to use an occasional application 

 of manure water, to increase its vigour, especially where large 

 specimens are desirable, in the summer months there is little 

 doubt that it will be found to succeed satisfactorily in a close 

 greenhouse, although in winter and spring a little more warmth 

 is necessary. It is easily propagated by taking off the extremities 

 of the youngshootsassoonas they have acquired a little firmness; 

 and, inserting them in a po t of sand, covered with a bell-glass, and 

 placed in heat, they will take root in ten days or a fortnight, and 

 should be immediately potted into separate pots and encouraged 

 to grow. The generic name, pentas, has been applied by Mr. 

 Bentham, from the division of the corolla being quinary instead 

 of four cleft, as in other allied genera. Although general, this i> 

 not constant, as flowers on the same head are four and five-parted. 

 Three or four plants, which have hitherto been arranged under 

 other genera, are suspected by Mr. Bentham to belong rightly to 

 this.— Paxt on's Magazine of Botany. 



Stexomessov Hartwegi'i. Mr. Hartweg's Stenomesson 

 \Gr>enhm e bulb. Araaryllidacese. Hexandria Monogvnia.— A 

 pretty little bulbous plant found by Mr. Hartweg at the Hacienda 

 del Ixo, on the ascent to Antisana,iu the province of Quito, at the 

 height of 11.S00 feet above the sea. 1 1 has pretty orange-coloured 

 nodding flowers, growing j n pairs. It should be potted in a com- 

 post consisting of peat and sandy loam in equal proportions. In 

 spring and summer, while the plant is in a growing state, an ample 

 supply of water should be given, but in autumn, when the leaves 

 begin to die off, this should gradually be withheld, and for a few 

 weeks in winter kept quite dry. The temperature in a warm 

 greenhouse will be quite sufficient.- iMa/mv'i/ Register. 



Garden Memoranda. 



Mr. Glendinning's Nursery, Chiswick. — This nur- 

 sery, although one of the oldest in the neighbourhood of 

 London, had almost dwindled into nothing; but during 

 the last season it has undergone great improvement, 

 and several hothouses are now erected for the cultivation 

 of exotics. Too houses, although not large, are admirably 

 contrived to admit of watering and inspection ; indeed, 

 every plant may be said to be under the eye of the culti- 

 vator. The plants a-e, nevertheless, at the same time, 

 all near the light, which is a most important point in hot- 

 house building, and one too frequently made of secondary 

 moment—especially when architects are employed in 

 the erection of these structures. The propagating-house 

 is well contrived for the purpose, and is heated by one 

 of Burbidge and H ea ly's improved boilers, and the 

 bottom heat is communicated by hot water, in iron 

 gutters manufactured by the same party, which answers 

 admirably. Mr. Glendinning approves of iron gutters 

 in preference to those formed of brick, and rendered 

 water-tight by cement; and his reasons are, that he con- 

 siders them more economical and more durable, and 

 a so much less likely to leak. Besides ia case of any 

 alteration, iron gutters can be removed in a very short 

 time, and again re-er^ctcd, whereas no new arrangement 

 of brick and cement can be effected without total destruc- 

 tion Ihe gardening vforld, therefore, owes much to Mr. 



Corbett, who originally brought iron gutters into public 

 use for heating the atmosphere of horticultural build- 

 ings. The plants in the several houses were in vigorous 

 health, and embrace many new species. Among others, 

 we remarked Hallia flaccida, covered with beautiful small 

 lilac blossoms, about the same size, and having consider- 

 able resemblance, except in colour, to those of Chorozema 

 ovata ; here was also in bloom Clerodendron infortuna- 

 tum, a most beautiful specie?, having large and very 

 brilliant clusters of scarlet flowers. This is a great acqui- 

 sit on to gardens, as it is a free grower, and produces a 

 fine head of bloom while in a very young and dwarf 

 state. With regard to treatment, it likes plenty of mois- 

 ture during summer, and does not require a high tempe- 

 rature, which is apt to cause it to grow tall and straggling. 

 Gloxinia Cartoni was blooming finely here, as was also 

 another variety, named bicolor, having pretty lilac blos- 

 soms with a white centre. In this bouse Mr. Glendin- 

 ning called attention to what he considered to be a new 

 yellow-flowered Rondeletis, clothed with abundance of 

 fine foliage, about 6 inches long, but it was not in bloom. 

 In the same collection was the charming Thunbergia 

 chrysops, remarkable for i^s "eye of gold in a field of 

 the richest purple." This being of a somewhat shrubby 

 nature, appears to be of a more permanent character 

 than other species of the same genus, Ilindsia longi- 

 flora, a greenhouse plant of considerable beauty, re- 

 sembling the old Bouvardia triphylla in habit, and 

 requiring nearly the same treatment, was producing its 

 purplish-blue flowers freely ; as was also Gloxinia m*g- 

 niflora, a new variety with delicate pink blossoms ; and 

 near to this was situated a noble Statice arborea, pro- 

 ducing three fine spikes of bloom. In the same house 

 we remarked a plant of Gardenia Sh"ibournije, a hand- 

 some stove climber, having large bell-shaped flowers, 

 white on the outside, and of a deep red within, which 

 forms a fine contrast with the beautiful dark-green foliage. 

 Among other things we observed Habrothamnus fascicu- 

 latus, which, from having the shoots well stopped in, was 

 forming a fine bush covered with large healthy foliage. 

 When in flower this presents an unbroken mass of crim- 

 son blossoms, and is one of our most beau iful green- 

 house plants. Here was likewise a Gesnera, said to be 

 G. macrorhiza, producing large bright-scarlet flowers in 

 pairs ; and in the same house was, also in bloom, a plant 

 of Lisianthus glaucifolius. The collection of Heat is 

 wa3 in fine condition, comprising upwards of 200 of the 

 best kinds, and including some scarce and valuable 

 sorts. We remarked among others the beautiful free- 

 flowering Savileana, good plants of Ampullacea, Law- 

 sonii, with small pink blossoms ; Jasminiflora alba, which 

 is one of the best Heaths ; and another variety of 

 Jasminiflora named Vittata, together with Irbyana, and 

 several varieties of Macnabiana, with many others in good 

 health and equally indicating judicious mauagement. 



Miscellaneous. 



The Cineraria, and its Culture. — The name Cine- 

 raria has been given after the Latin word cineres, on 

 account of the ash-coloured down which covers the 

 under side of the leaves. The raott beautiful sorts of this 

 genus come from the Cape and the Canary Islands ; they 

 have been successively introduced into Europe during a 

 period of about 60 years. The leaves of some of them 

 are formed like those of the Poplar (populifolia), others 

 are in the form of a heart, and some again have a down 

 upon their leaves ('anata) ; there are also certain sorts, 

 among;«t which is cruenta, whose foliage his a 

 smooth surface. By the mutual fecundation of these dif- 

 ferent sorts, first the English and afterwards the Belgians, 

 have raised numbers of novelties, each more beautiful 

 than the other. These have again successively given 

 place to other newer and more interesting kinds. It is 

 thus that we have seen mentioned in catalogues, for about 

 10 years past, during which this plant has occupied at- 

 tention, at least 300 varieties. Nevertheless, of these 

 only a few are now considered worthy of cultivation. At 

 the present time there are imported new varieties quite 

 distinct from one another ; this number is, however, very 

 inconsiderable, and does not surpass 25 varieties. These 

 beautiful Cinerarias, some of which have been obtained 

 from seeds, in Belgium and also in France, will serve as 

 new types from which to obtain, by judicious fecunda- 

 tion, farther improvements in this beautiful genus. Re- 

 garding the qualities of the Cineraria as a florist's flower, 

 I have remarked for some years at the Exhibitions ot 

 Brussels, Ghent, Malines, Liege, and Antwerp, that skil- 

 ful florists attach the greatest importance to those kinds 

 which carry themselves well. They prefer those which 

 flower abundantly, and whose flowers are large and well- 

 made ; that is, whose petals are nearly broad enough to 

 fill the spaces between them. To these qualities a good 

 variety should also add beauty of tint, and richness of 

 colour. The improvements of which Cinerarias are sus- 

 ceptible, consist in obtaining the petals broader, and hav- 

 ing novelty of lively and brilliant colours, and at the same 

 time possessing the qualities above mentioned. This 

 plant is not difficult to cultivate; nevertheless, there 

 are some rules to follow, if well-grown plants and an 

 abundance of bloom are to be obtained ; you must pre- 

 pare beforehand at least a year, if you wish to be suc- 

 cessful. Young plants in small pots, bought in from 

 nurseries, about the end of March, may be placed in a 

 greenhouse, where they will not be far from the glass, 

 but they should not be allowed to receive directly the 

 rays of the sun. The plants ought to remain for some 

 days in this situation, and in the mean time soil may be 

 prepared into which to repot them. This should consist 

 of thoroughly decomposed leaf mould, mixed with an 

 eighth part of soil from an old hot-bed. After the first 



potting, when the plants have taken certain hold, re-pot 

 them again, taking out the crocks without disturbing the 

 roots. As the plants become larger, the compost may be 

 made richer, and mixed in the proportion of about three 

 parts of leaf-mould to one of soil. The first potting 

 should take place about the 15th of April, and the second 

 in about a month afrerwards ; at every potting take a pot 

 broader and higher by half an inch than the ball of the 

 plant, and see that the upper roots are not covered too 

 deeply with soil, for that is hurtful in general to all plants. 

 At the commencement of June every Cineraria should be 

 sticked and exposed to the air, placing them where the 

 heat of the sun does not penetrate upon them with too 

 much force. During the months of June and July, great 

 care should be taken to water them, particularly in the 

 afternoon, and when the sun has ceased to shine upon 

 the plants. They may also be watered in the morning 

 before 8 o'clock, without any danger. Towards the end 

 of August, or a little earlier, you will observe at the base 

 of many of the plants little shoots which proceed from the 

 roots, the stem, and the axils of the lower leaves. They 

 speedily root in the upper layer of the ball, and should be 

 carefully taken up, as much for multiplying the rare sorts, as 

 for clearing the plants of young suckers, which would other- 

 wise take away a part of the sap which the plant requires to 

 strengthen it, in order to become a good specimen. If 

 Cmerarias are treated in this manner, they will be covered 

 the following spring with rich and abundant flowers. 

 The little suckers taken up may be put into pots 

 of a proportionate size, placed in a hotbed and shaded 

 from the sun, where, in 15 days at most, in August, the 

 roots will show themselves all round the ball. Tiiey 

 should then be put into larger pots, placed close to the 

 wimlowof a greenhouse, and exposed to full light; where 

 they may remain until spring. The parent plants 

 should be put into a cool greenhouse, or frame, about the 

 1 5th of October, and remain there all the winter; they 

 may receive as much light, air, and sun, as possible. 

 Towards the end of January place them farther from the 

 glass at the top of the house, and continue to give them 

 as much air as possible in fine weather. If it is desirable 

 to delay the time of flowering a month or six weeks, pot 

 the plants again into larger pots by an inch, before the 

 flower-stalks rise, and the flowers appear towards the be- 

 ginning of March; large specimens remain in bloom at 

 least six weeks. Cinerarias frrtilise readily, and seed 

 abundantly, particularly when they are placed in a dry 

 situation, where they have air, and every morning receive 

 a sutficient watering. As soon as the seeds are ripe, they 

 should he gathered and put into a dry place, but only for 

 two or three days. Afterwards you must clean the seeds 

 well, and sow them immediately in very fine and rather 

 sandy leaf mould. They will come up in a fortnight or 

 three weeks afterwards ; the young seedlings should b 

 pricked out as soon as they have two well-formed leaves, 

 and two others are beginning to show themselves. These 

 seedlings should be placed for eight days in a hotbed, suf- 

 ficiently warm to induce them quickly to strike root again. 

 As soon as the joung plants have unfolded and formed 

 their first leaves, they ought to be potted afresh, and 

 eight days afterwards placed in the open air, in order to 

 strengthen them before autumn, so that they may the 

 better endure the winter. The seedlings may afterwards 

 receive the same treatment as older plants. A great 

 number of these seedlings, provided they are well taken 

 care of, flower in the spring. You cannot be too careful 

 to t*ke exact notes of seedlings raised from different 

 varieties, until you ascertain which sorts give the best 

 result. If green-fly attacks the plants during winter, that 

 insect may be speedily destroyed, without danger to 

 the plant, by fumigating the house with tobacco- smoke. 

 In spring this should be done very gently, for if the 

 tobacco is too strong, the plants will be injured by it, 

 and perhaps perish. You can never throw tobacco on 

 them in the form* of snuff or otherwise, for the contact of 

 the tobacco would quickly kill the Cineraria. It is, 

 therefore, in spring much better to destioy the green-fly 

 with the fingers, as fast as it appears. In fact, unless 

 you have a greenhouse expressly for this sort of plant, 

 you cannot burn tobacco without hurting other speci- 

 mens, which are not at the time in flower. The Cineraria 

 has very little scent ; it does, however, very well, while 

 in flower, to be placed in the window of an apartment 

 exposed to the sun. It flowers there as well as in a 

 greenhouse for a considerable time; on fine days in April 

 and May, admit air into the room, at least one hour 

 every day. In this point of view it is, perhaps, the most 

 convenient for a drawing-room, and for this reason it 

 may be expected to become a general favourite.— J", de 

 Jonghe, in Revue Ilorticole. 



CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS 



For the ensuing Week. 



I.— HOTHOUSE. CONSERVATORIES, &c. 



Stove plants; which fl >.ver late in the autumn, and espe- 

 cially those that may be taken to the conservatory to bloom, 

 should now, or very soon, be in their fl jwering-pots. The 

 Eranthemum pulchellum, several Justicias, Aphelanura cris- 

 tata, Poinsettia pulcherrima, -E^chynanthus grandiflorus, and 

 many more of that character belong to this class. Another 

 very essential point to be observed with stove plants in geoeraJ, 

 which are removed to the conservatory while in flower, is to have 

 the compost lighter for them, and not give them more pot- 

 room than will just keep them healthy, with the assistance oi 

 liquid manure, as plants of this n.Uire suffer very much in » 

 cool conservatory late in the season, if th y W * rovr ' n * *" 

 heavy rich composts, and in large pots; whereas in a »«•" » 

 that would be the right way to make th«nn flour sh. Du tcti 



Conservatory.— No matter how soon in Augu<i sj*^ Mwsfip 



. 



before we begin to think of "oTter"* o. irs. Genera 

 elongata, Crowea saligna. and some of the Corneas, will now 



