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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENE3. 



[ October 5, 1876. 



Wooden latticework is about the very worst material on which 

 to attempt Fern-growing ; if snch already exist, it can easily 

 be covered with slate or zinc, with a layer of coarse sand or 

 aBhes upon it to hold moisture. The compost in which I have 

 found this Fern to succeed best is a mixture of two parts 

 fibrous peat, one part sandy loam, a little leaf soil not much 

 decayed, with sufficient coarse silver sand and charcoal broken 

 small to keep the whole porous and sweet. 



If a large specimen is wanted in the shortest possible time 

 it should never be allowed to become pot-bound, but be shifted- 

 on as the roots begin to travel round the pot. The finest 

 fronds, both in A. amabile and A. gracillimum, are generally 

 thrown-up when the roots have fairly filled the pot, but before 

 the plant becomes absolutely pot-bound. 



It is advisable with such quick-growing Ferns as the Adian- 

 tums always to have young stock ready to replace those that 

 have spent their energies. Daring the summer months fre- 

 quent dewings-over with the syringe will greatly benefit the 

 growth, and should also be occasionally resorted to during the 

 winter, especially if the plants are placed near to hot-water 

 pipes. A temperature of 50° to 55' suits it admirably during 

 the winter. It is easily propagated by means of the roots 

 forming a dense mass of growth on the surface of the pot, 

 which, if not removed, will very soon impair the growth of the 

 mother plant. As a Fern for hanging baskets it will doubtless 

 be in great request, as few Ferns look so imposing and so grace- 

 ful. — A. W., Lincoln. 



GEOWING HYACINTHS IN WATEE. 



Having grown a great quantity for a number of years I find 

 the following points if carefully attended insure Buccess: First, 

 selecting those kinds that are best adapted for this mode of 

 growth , a list of which I append. Secondly, the water, whether 

 it be rain, river, or spring, 'must be clean and never allowed 

 to become offenBive. The bulb Bhould be placed so that the 

 water just touches the base ; if higher it will be liable to rot 

 the bulb. They should be put in a cool dark place until the 

 roots have nearly reached the bottom of the glass, when they 

 must be gradually brought to the light (avoiding the chimney- 

 piece), in order that their leaves and flowers may be fully 

 developed in a healthy manner. Keep them if possible in an 

 equable temperature — extremes of heat and cold are injurious. 

 As the water wastes the glasses must be replenished ; keep 

 them nearly fall. By these little attentions spikes of flowers 

 equal to those grown in pots or any other method may be 

 obtained. 



The following are a few Hyacinths best for glasses : — Blue : 

 Baron Von Tuyll, Grand Lilas, Orondates, Argus, Charles 

 Dickens, Prince of Saxe-Weimar, Bloksberg, Mary. White : 

 Grand Vainqueur, Elfrida, Lady Havelock.La Tour d'Auvergne, 

 Themistocles, Voltaire, Qaeen Victoria, Grandeur A Merveille, 

 Anna Maria, Prince of Waterloo. Red : Robert Steiger, Dake 

 of Wellington, Madame Hodson, Von Schiller, Lord Macaulay, 

 Norma, AVaterloo, Grootvorst, Lord Wellington (double rose). 

 — W. B. L. 



THE EOCK GAEDEN NEAE LEICESTEB, 

 Ii is so seldom one has the pleasure of seeing a rock garden 

 surrounded with wild and romantic scenery as this is, that I 

 feel it would be an injustice to lovers of alpines if I did not 

 give a passing notice of so lovely a spot. It is located on the 

 outskirts of Charnwook Forest, on the east side, about seven 

 miles from Leicester and five from Loughborough. I entered 

 the grounds by the north entrance and aBcended direct to the 

 highest point. Looking from this elevated point eastward you 

 see over the vale of Leicestershire, while juBt at the base of 

 the hill are to be seen the disused slate quarries, now con- 

 verted into fine sheets of water. Looking south you see the 

 charming woods belonging to the Earl of Stamford and other 

 owners, and in the distance Bradgate Park — in fact which- 

 ever way the eye turns some charmiDg scenery presents itself. 

 Having taken a good survey I began to descend in the direc- 

 tion of the rock garden and the newly-erected residence of 

 Alfred Ellis, Esq. I had scarcely descended a few yards when 

 I found myself in the midst of a dense plantation of Spruce, 

 Pines, &c, through which I had to wend my way. This re- 

 called to mind pleasant botanical rambles I had enjoyed in 

 the neighbourhood of Ajaccio in Corsica, where the moun- 

 tain sides, and frequently the summits, are densely clothed 

 with Pinus Laricio and other species. The rock garden is 



about half way down, and looks so comfortably and naturally 

 placed that it would not suggest to the eye its being artificial 

 if it were not aurrounded by an iron fence and wire netting to 

 protect the alpines from their enemies the rabbits. 



The rockwork itself is not much elevated, but is in mounds, 

 with large stones judiciously and picturesquely placed, with 

 walks winding between. Nearly the whole can be viewed from 

 the windows of the Hall. 



The upper portion — that furthest from the walks, is planted 

 with the coarser kinds of alpines, a few climbers, and dwarf 

 shrubs; while the lower parts — those nearest the eye, are 

 adorned with the dwarfer and rarer species of alpine plants, 

 many of which have become uncommonly fine specimens. 

 For instance, the dwarf Phloxes P. verna, P. frondosa, and 

 P. Nelsoni have formed tufts three-quarters of a yard in dia- 

 meter ; the Aubrietias, Sedums, and Actena novse-zielandiaB, 

 have formed similar masses. Polygonum vaceiniifolium was 

 rambling away finely, yet very neat. Geranium armenium, 

 with its large handsome rose and crimson flowers, was quite 

 at home ; so also was the fine autumn-flowering Sedum spec- 

 tabile. There was a very fine plant of S. Browni (a plant I 

 am afraid bat little known). The Campanulas were quite 

 gay ; Mr. Ellis informed me that he had not succeeded with 

 C. Joysii, which evidently requires to be kept both warm and dry 

 during the winter months. Nierembergia rivularis was remark- 

 ably good, covered with its snow-white flowers. Rubus areticus, 

 the Arctic Bramble, was well represented ; so also were the 

 Cistuses.Dianthuses, Saxifrages. Iriscristata,Onosmataurica, 

 and Samondia pyrenaica, &c, were all excellent specimens. 



Amongst the larger and stronger kinds used for the top I 

 noticed Yuccas, Statices, Lathyruses, Clematises, Berberises, 

 Alyssums, &a. Another plant which struck me as being ex- 

 tremely handsome was Tropffiolum polyphyllum. I should say 

 that its shoots were from 2 to 3 feet long, and abounding with 

 large yellow flowers. This plant I consider is Al as a rock 

 plant or for covering banks. Tropasolum speciosum was also 

 thriving well, but as yet in its infancy. 



Mr. Ellis had adopted a very simple but effective method to 

 supply with moisture those plants which require it constantly 

 and regularly. It was by placing a common flowerpot near 

 the plants filled with water, the hole at the bottom of the pot 

 stopped with damp clay, so as to allow the water slowly to 

 escape; the pots are re-filled every morning. The only objec- 

 tion to this method is the unsightliness of the pots. The 

 difference in the growth where the pots were placed was very 

 apparent. 



A little distance from the rock garden, about half way 

 between that and the residence, were two circular beds cut out 

 of the grass. In the centre of these beds were placed large 

 rocks, so arranged as to give the impression that they were so 

 plaoed naturally, while the remaining portion of the beds was 

 planted with suitable flowers. The Clematis flowers would 

 show well upon the stones if the plant rambled over them. 

 These two beds were unique, they were in such perfect har- 

 mony with the surrounding scenery, and a sort of link between 

 the real flower beds and the rock garden. — R. P. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



A tree of Cedkds deodara, one of those forming the beau- 

 tiful avenue of Deodars at Charleville, the seat of Lord Monck 

 in County Wicklow, is now showing a profusion of youDg cones. 

 We are not aware this has ever been observed before. 



The name commonly given to the Teitojia is " Poker 



Plant" or "Red-hot Poker," neither of which oan be con- 

 sidered either elegant or poetical. In Ireland it is called 

 " Torch Flower," and we recommend this as a name more 

 fitting for so beautiful a plant. 



The Commissioners of Her Majesty's Works and Public 



Buildings intend to distribute this autumn among the working 

 classes and the poor inhabitants of London the Burplus Bed- 

 ding-out Plants in Battersea, Hyde, the Regent's, and Vic- 

 toria Parks ; and in the Royal Gardens, Kew, and the pleasure 

 gardens, Hampton Court. The clergy, school oommittees, &c, 

 by applying to the superintendents of the various parks, will 

 receive early intimation of the number of plants that can be 

 allotted to each applioant, and of the time and manner of their 

 distribution. 



We have received the prospectus of an Intebnatioxal 



Hobticultukal Exhibition which it is proposed will be held 

 in Carlisle in 1877. It says — " The central position of the 



