August 24, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



161 



belt of Hollyhocks along the back, with an occasional speci- 

 men of Fuch&ia Kiceartoni standing-out in the centre, with 

 other specimens between but kept well apart, such as Tritomas, 

 the autumn-flowering Asters (Michaelmas Daisy), the tall- 

 growing Campanulas, and masses of Lathyrus. In front of 

 these and among them arranged with strict regard to height 

 and habit of growth, we would have specimens of Bnch kinds 

 as are bold enough to produce an effect singly like the Phloxes, 

 Pentstemons, Aquilegias, Antirrhinums, Spiraeas, Veronicas, 

 and Trade?cantias. There should also be clumps and little 

 colonies of other plants of more lowly growth, like the Geums, 

 Anemones, Gentianas, Violas, Primulas, and many others, 

 keeping each plant or group sufficiently far apart from the 

 others to admit of its full development. Does not this arrange- 

 ment convey to the mind a picture that is as desirable as it is 

 uncommon — a picture, too, that admits of almost endless va- 

 riation? Bulb?, spriDg and Bummer annuals, are all available 

 for our border, as they are certainly desirable. 



"J. S. W." has a border 36 yards long by 2 wide, used 

 hitherto for ordinary spring and summer flowering plants, 

 which he wishes to convert into a hardy perennial flower 

 border. To render this gay next season solely with hardy 

 flowers, three or four times the number would be required 

 that there would eventually be space for. It would, therefore, 

 be better to plant only a certain quantity in the first instance, 

 rilling the intermediate spaces with bulbs and annuals for a 

 few season? 5 , adding to 'the permanent occupants annually as 

 may appear necessary. 



The following list contains only sorts of known merit, those 

 which embrace many varieties, as Phloxes, Pyrethrums, Pent- 

 stemons, Carnations, Primulas. Dianthuses Bhould be planted 

 sparingly at first, and gradually added to as individual taste 

 may induce a preference for either genus. 



Dielytra speetabilis 

 Pyrethrums in variety 

 Dodecatheon elegana 

 Gentiana acaulia 



poeumonanthe 



asclepiadoa 

 verca. 



Trillium grandiflorum 

 Geum coccineum 

 Peeoniea in variety 

 Helianthenaams in vaiiety 

 Campanulas in variety 

 HellnboniB niger 

 Spinea palniata 

 Erica carnea 

 Dianthuses in variety 

 Aquilegias in variety 

 Daphne eneorum 

 Pantstemons in variety 

 Statice lat.i folia 

 Tritoma VJvaria 

 Autirrhinureis iu variety 

 Tradescantia virginica 

 PhloseB in variety 



— Edward Luckhukst. 



Papaver orientals 

 AnemoDes in variety 

 Aster versicolor 



ericoides 



bessarabioas 

 Delphiniums in variety 

 Arum italicum 

 Banunculus aconitifolius 

 Iris germanica 



sut-iana 



reticulata 

 Alyssum saxatile 

 Hollyhocks 

 Veronica spicata 



gentianoides 



Teucrium 

 Potentillas 

 CGnothera macrocarpa 



taraxacifolia 



gigantea 

 Hesperis matronalis 

 Cheiranthus Mardhallii 

 Latbyrua latifolius albus 



rotundiioliUB 



PRUNING ORCHARD TREES. 



Theke are many Apple orohards which oan be depended on 

 for a crop of fruit only once in every two years, and the crop 

 then id generally so great numerically that the individual fruits 

 are small and inferior in quality, the trees not having sufficient 

 strength to bring the superabundant crop to perfection ; and 

 yet if the trees had only been treated in a manner which 

 almost any ordinary countryman can be made to understand, 

 a fair crop of fine fruit in a bad season and a heavy crop of 

 superior fruit in a good fruit season would be produced. The 

 way I have adopted, and which has produced these good results, 

 is as follows : — 



My trees had for a few previous years been neglected, and 

 their tops had in consequence become much crowded with thin 

 and imperfectly developed branches ; the leaves were very small, 

 and the trees generally much blighted. A man and an active 

 boy, who could climb well and knew how to use a saw, were set 

 to work during sharp weather in the winter when ordinary 

 work had to be suspended. The man stood below with a long 

 pole and pointed out to the boy in the tree the exact spot at 

 which the branches which appeared to be in the way should 

 be cut off. At least half the tops of the tree3 were in this 

 way thinned out, and plenty of room was made amongst them 

 for the free circulation of light and air. Sufficient firewood 

 was cut out to pay for the work done. The trees after the 

 operation spread over as much space as before, but only having 

 half the number of branohes to support it followed as a matter 



of course that each branch was able to derive double the 

 amount of nutriment from the roots that it had been receiving 

 before, and therefore produced larger and healthier leaves, 

 larger and healthier flowerB more able to withstand the effects 

 of spring frosts, and larger, healthier, and better fruit. An 

 orchard treated thus may even in unfavourable seasons be 

 depended upon for producing a fair crop of fine fruit, and in a 

 favourable season a very heavy crop of superior fruit, and this 

 will last till the trees succumb to natural decay from old age, or 

 from exceptional causes which will of course sometimes arise. 

 The almost general failure in the Apple crop on large trees 

 this season might have been avoided had people not been 

 afraid of making an intelligent use of the knife. — J. E. Ewing, 

 Royal Norfolk Nurseries, Norwich. 



LANTANAS. 



Foe some years past these attractive plants would seem to 

 have been somewhat neglected. They used to be included in 

 most gardens where collections of plants for the greenhouse 

 and flower garden were cultivated ; but latterly it has only 

 been in a few places where justice has been done to them. 

 Yet, although Lantanas are not extensively cultivated, better 

 varieties than ever have been raised, and as soon as the merits 

 of these varieties are sufficiently known their cultivation will 

 almost certainly follow. 



Especially as bedding plants in hot seasons and in dry lo- 

 calities are Lantanas valuable. They resist the effects of 

 extreme heat better than most bedding plants, even better 

 than do Geraniums, for during the present tropical season 

 Geranium beds have a literally "seedy" appearance, their 

 trusses being mostly trusses of seed pods. Verbenas are also 

 dried out, and Lobelias are transient, but Lantanas are freBh 

 and luxuriant, having foliage intensely green and flowers in 

 profusion and in great variety of colour. The plants, too, 

 are quite free from insects without the aid of doctoring, 

 syringing, or fumigating — no small advantage in a season like 

 the present, when most plants have had a fall share of insect 

 or grub enemies to struggle against. 



The effect of a bed of mixed varieties of Lantanas may not 

 be fully as gay as a bed of Verbenas, but it is equally pleasing, 

 and colours are represented in the former which are not found 

 in the latter. The glosBy freshness of the foliage of Lantanas 

 is also such as cannot be rivalled by Verbenas. 



Lantanas grow freely in ordinary garden soil. It should not, 

 however, be too rich and the plants have too much water if 

 a profusion of trusses are desired. They are also admirable- 

 for cultivation in pots for conservatory decoration in summer. 

 The plants may be prepared in cold frames, or may be pluDged 

 in ashes in a warm position in the open air. No plants are 

 more easy to cultivate, and perhaps the only point in which 

 they are not generally admired iB their peculiar perfume. For 

 hot gardens, vases, and sunny sites grow Lantanas. The follow- 

 ing are good varieties : — ■ 



Magenta King. — Colour purplish scarlet ; a free bloomer, 

 and of dwarf habit. Suitable for pots or beds. 



Don Calmet. — Pink, changing to yellow; a vary free bloomer, 

 and good yet dwarf grower. An attractive variety. 



Favourita. — Brownish yellow, changing to Bcarlet, suffused 

 with purple. A diBtinct and effective variety. 



Victoire. — Pure white, with a lemon eye ; a good grower and 

 free bloomer. 



La Manilla. — Bosy pink, deepening in colour towards the 

 centre of the trusses, and changing to yellow at their margin. 

 Free and attractive. 



Mons. Chauviere. — Bed, changing to scarlet, with a yellow 

 oentre. A gay and attractive variety. 



The abovenamed half-dozen varieties are worthy of cultiva- 

 tion in pots, and they are also excellent for bedding purposes, 

 continuing in bloom for a great leEgth of time. I have found 

 theBe plants very valuable, and especially during the present- 

 hot and dry season. — A Sukeet Gaedeneb. 



NEW BEDDING PLANTS. 

 In taking notes of bedding plants this year I can strongly 

 recommend to those who have not tiied it Ageratum Countess 

 of Stair. It is somewhat lighter and much softer and brighter 

 than Imperial Dwarf, a very free bloomer, compact grower, 

 and with good stiff truss thrown well up above the foliage. 

 It is decidedly the best Ageratum I have yet seen. Lobelia 

 Alpha has quite borne out the high opinion I formed of it. 



