October 25, 187G. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



3G1 



time longer ; but Omega, which was sown at the same time, is 

 over. As a rale, tall-growing kinds last longer in season than 

 the medium growers. 



Supplanter, like many others, did not prove entitled to its 

 name, and was not nearly so good as its parent, Veitoh's Per- 

 feotion, either in productiveness or quality. It was, however, 

 earlier and had larger pods. 



The Shah proved to be a very early white wrinkled Pea, 

 extremely prolific and of superior quality. As an early kind 

 for cropping and high quality I consider it excellent. 



Standard was very prolific, with handsome well-filled pods 

 of nine to eleven Peas in each of a good size and of a deep 

 green colour. Its quality is of the first rank ; it is a second 

 early Pea of great promise. 



Marvel grew very stiff, having very fine pods, well filled with 

 large Peaa of an exquisite flavour. 



The three last succeeded one another in the order placed 

 from a sowing made at the same time, and they will no doubt 

 make their mark, aa have others of Mr. Laxton's raising. — 

 G. Abbey. 



SPIB.EA JAPONICA. 



As a spring-flowering plant Spirasa japonica is well known 

 for its graceful plume-like flowers rising from a bed of shining 

 green foliage, itself a sufficient ornament ; but its value as an 

 autumn bloomer is not so fully recognised. At the present 

 time no plant is more striking or more valued for conservatory 

 decoration than this, its chaste flowers associating well with 

 other plants, especially late-flowering Geraniums and small 

 plants of Fuchsias. 



Spirteas to flower at the present time should, after the spring 

 blooming is over, be repotted in sandy loam, leaf soil, and a 

 little well-decomposed manure ; they may then be given some 

 glass protection, and not, as is so often the case, placed out of 

 doors in the snowy blast to ripen their growth. They should 

 be placed in a position where they can fully develope and 

 mature their growths. During this time they require unfail- 

 ing supplies of water. Plants standing on a hard bottom and 

 exposed to the sun can hardly have too much water. When 

 settled weather is expected the plants must be taken out of 

 doors, the pots plunged down to the rim in coal ashes, and still 

 kept plentifully supplied with water. When the foliage shows 

 signs of shrivelling give less water, but by no means withhold 

 it altogether. By the beginning of September the plants will 

 again commence growing ; the Bupply of water must then be 

 increased, varying it with weak doses of liquid manure. With 

 good cultural attention plants in 7-inch pots will produce fresh 

 healthy foliage surmounted with twelve to fourteen flower 

 spikes, at a time of year when these charming flowers are not 

 usually seen. — A. W., Lincoln. 



SEACOAST VEGETATION. 



INJTJKY BY FEOST TO THE POTATO CHOP IN Vf. LANCASHIRE. 



Near the western edge of the county of Lancashiie, and but 

 a very few miles south of the estuary of the Ribble, is a tract 

 of low-lying land that has very likely at one period been 

 covered by the sea, which seems to be still receding from the 

 coast. This tract differs in many respects from the class of 

 lands locally termed mosses, as in its composition it presents 

 fewer traces of decayed vegetable matter than is common with 

 the peat moBs, and its specific gravity is much greater. In 

 fact I am not sure but this character of soil presents us with 

 the best example of the prevailing erroneous phrase of desig- 

 nating a sandy soil as a light one, for, bulk for bulk, it is 

 unquestionably one of the heaviest, if not the very heaviest 

 soil we possess. The tract of land to which I refer is composed 

 of a black sand nearly destitute of stones. Such soils no 

 doubt are common onmostcoastB having a low-lying foreshore, 

 as well as by the sides of tidal rivers near their junction with 

 the ocean. The overflowing of the level space with salt water, 

 and the deposit of sands as well as seaweed and other Wreckage 

 for a long period of years, in course of time raise it beyond 

 the reach of tides. This soil is for certain crops eminently 

 fertile, and in the district to which I have called attention it 

 is of great depth, and has been long enough in cultivation to 

 exhibit which crops suit it and which do not prosper so well. 



Being, however, placed near the west coast, where the spray 

 from the ocean frequently reaches a good way inland, timber 

 trees of moBt kinds do not do well, Conifers especially refusing 

 to prosper ; but there are plenty of plants of humbler growth 

 which do very well. Notably the Black Currant thrives and 



produces finer crops of fruit than is met with in most places 

 where the soil is of an opposite character. Gooseberries, too, 

 are remarkably flue, with trees healthy and free from canker 

 or moss. Strawberries also do well ; and amongst vegetables 

 the soil and district is pre-eminently noted for good Celery and 

 Potatoes as well as Carrots and Lettuces. 



Peach trees seem to thrive remarkably well ; and although 

 finer fruit and better crops of Apples are no doubt produced 

 in districts where the soil is of a different kind, I have never 

 witnessed cleaner and finer-grown trees, not ft particle of moss 

 cr lichen of any kind being seen on them. This I believe to 

 be due to the sea breezes and saline matter with which the 

 atmosphere at times is charged. Pears in like manner were 

 good, while Raspberries seemed merely to exist. In the flower 

 garden I noticed that Calceolarias did not flourish ; while, on 

 the other hand, I do not think I ever saw the gold and bronze 

 section of bedding Geraniums prosper so well, and many other 

 popular bedding plants were equally at home. With regard 

 to shrubs, Rhododendrons were growing remarkably well, but 

 not so the Laurel, Box, and Laurustinus, and the Aucubas 

 seemed hardly satisfied with their position. 



Amongst agricultural crops Oats and Barley were more 

 generally met with in a flourishing state than Wheat. There 

 had been good crops of hay, and in this district the tendency 

 of the soil to produce moss is so great that it is seldom a field 

 laid down as meadow is allowed to remain longer than five or 

 six years, when it is ploughed up, and undergoes a few years 

 of tillage prior to being laid down in graes again. 



But one of the most important of all crops in the neighbour- 

 hood is the Potato, of which whole fields of great extent are 

 met with, and good cropa are produced, and which were free 

 from disease up to the middle of September when. I last 

 saw them. Bat lest our readers elsewhere should envy too 

 much our brethren in the north-west, it is only right to tell 

 them that whole fields embracing many thousands of acres of 

 Potatoes were blackened by frost on the 25th of August, juBt 

 at the time when the growth was in its most robust condition. 

 A partial recovery took place, but when I saw them about a 

 month afterwards the blackened appearances of the leaves 

 were still visible at a distance. That the crop was injured 

 there can be no question ; and although such frosts are not 

 common they are not unknown, they having occurred before 

 about the same period. It is difficult to account for such a 

 phenomenon. The lowness of the situation might have some- 

 thing to do with it, yet there are lower-lying lands around the 

 coast, which are banked out from the water, not so liable as 

 the district in question to suffer from untimely frosts. Pos- 

 sibly, however, some of those in the same or a more northerly 

 latitude may be liable, as it is difficult to assign any reason for 

 the locality here described being alone subject to such a mis- 

 fortune. Let us hope such visitations as that of the past 

 August are few and far between, and that the fashionable 

 gardening so well carried out in the Botanic Garden and else- 

 where in Southport may not receive such a severe check on 

 an unexpected occasion as did the Potato fields a short dis- 

 tance from it. — J. Robson. 



OUB BOBDEB FLOWEBS-SNAKEWEEDS. 



Snakeweed, Knotweed, and other weeds of the Polygonum 

 family, are among our neglected border flowers, for seldom do 

 we meet with them in cultivation, and yet they are a very useful 

 race of plants. To see Polygonum viviparum in all its beauty 

 moist alpine pastures must be visited. The Teesdale district 

 is one of the habitats where it may be seen in its glory. To 

 see it in perfection the place should be visited during the 

 month of July. It makes a good border plant, and is equally 

 attractive as a pot plant. It requires good drainage, Bandy 

 loam, and full exposure. It is useful for exhibition purposes. 



Polygonum Bistorta is at home in moist, shady, or exposed 

 placeB, and is a pretty plant in early summer. What a beau- 

 tiful sight to see beds of Polygonum amphibium nestling aloDg 

 the banks of the quiet lake, and in many rivers too ! Poly- 

 gonium vacciniifolmm is a charming evergreen rock plant, but 

 is all the better for a little protection during the cutting winds 

 of spring ; its bright shining foliage and pretty rose-coloured 

 flowers have a fine effect. It continues long in bloom ; should 

 have good drainage. Loam and sandy peat meet ita require- 

 ments. Polygonum saohalinense (?) is a grand acquisition to 

 the shrubbery or large herbaceous border. Let it have room 

 and a good depth of loam to luxuriate in, and it assumes a 

 bush-like appearance when established. Polygonum Bnrnonis 



