December 21, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOBTICOLTUBB AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



531 



collection of shrubs became the property of another clergyman, 

 and who also prized them highly. He was not disposed, how- 

 ever, to purohase evergreens for Christmas decoration when he 

 had so many shrubs growirig in his garden. The time of pruning 

 was consequently changed. Instead of being done in summer 

 it was done in mild weather during the autumn and winter, 

 and the " prunings " were distributed at Christmas. The 

 shrubs have now been thus pruned for ten years, and not one 

 of them has suffered. They are as perfect and handsome as 

 •8ver, and sprays from them have decorated hundreds of 

 homes. 



In pruning shrubs in winter the work must be carefully 

 •done. The cuts must be smooth and clean — no breaking over 

 the knife — -and should be made on the underneath sides of the 

 branches as much as possible. Shrubs which are regularly 

 End slightly pruned to keep them Bhapely do not require to 

 have more than a few short sprays removed annually ; and 

 these small sprays of Holly, Box, Laurels, &c, are exactly 

 suitable for wreathing, and are always welcomed by many 

 who take special delight in carrying out the good old custom 

 of evergreen -decoration at Christmas in a tasteful manner. 



Venerable customs have deep root in the national mind ; 

 they are appropriate to an old country like our own, and cer- 

 tainly this one — evergreen decoration — is not likely to decay, 

 for it is in the keeping of the youth — sturdy and gentle — of 

 oaoh succeeding generation. The joyonsnees of youth is 

 healthy — healthy to all. A source of pleasure so pure, and 

 even artistic as " Christmas decorations," is commendable. 

 Let us foster it so far as we can, and not restrict it by the fear 

 of any fancied injury resulting to the shrubs. Careful reason- 

 able pruning of shrubs in winter does not and cannot harm 

 th m, while the prunings are " Christmas gifts " costless almost 

 to e the giver, yet highly prized by the eager recipients who 

 bea r them away in triumph, for they are to them (the young) 

 th first evidence that Christmas has really come — the first ex- 

 pression of " good will," which for eighteen hundred years and 

 more has been particularly identified with the festive season. 

 f would not have the shrubs injured, but improved ; and when 

 we can improve the garden and beautify the " church and 

 home" — L like that alliance — I canDot help thinking that it 

 is worth while our doing so. The pleasures of the garden 

 are then taken into the dwelling, the garden becomes a reality 

 and is cherished, selfishness is forgotteD, unity reigns, and the 

 result is to all who can eEJoy it — a " merry ChriBtmas." Now, 

 as my last words, I say Prune judiciously; decorate taste- 

 Sully. — A Retired Gaedenek. 



PLUMBAGO KOSEA. 



Amono the many plants adapted for the adornment of our 

 stoves and intermediate houses at this dull season of the year, 

 none is more worthy of cultivation than the Plumbago rosea, 

 and I think I may Bay none is more neglected. If we find 

 it in a collection of plants at all it is in a straggling condi- 

 tion, placed in a corner out of the way, and grown in a pot 

 containing soil only sufficient for the plant to eke out a 

 miserable existence, or it is dropped in amongst other plants 

 and allowed to push up its racemes of glorious flowers to view 

 as best it can. And why is it ? Is it because the plant is not 

 a novelty ? Is it because it is not adapted for cutting pur- 

 poses ? Is it because it is difficult to grow ? Is it because the 

 plant is not capable of producing a good display of flowers? 

 Has it not a pleasing colour? Ib its season of flowering of 

 short duration? Is it not sufficiently known, or why is it? 

 For my own part I am at a loss to know the cause of its 

 neglect. 



The plant is certainly not a novelty, as it was introduced 

 in 1777. For cutting purposes it certainly is not well adapted, 

 except in caBes where flowers are merely required for an hour 

 or two, when it may be advantageously U6ed ; but on the other 

 hand, where flowers are expected to last for two or three days 

 in a presentable condition, it would be folly to expect the 

 Plumbago rosea to endure for such a time, as the flimsy flowers 

 soon succumb after being severed from the plant. It is true 

 all the flowers of a raceme do not wither and fade at once, but 

 those left are not sufficient to recommend it for general cutting 

 purposes. 



In point of culture it is one of the easiest to grow of all stove 

 plants, and only requires to be grown in quantity to produce 

 a charming effect. Its colour is of the most pleasing hue, and 

 its season of flowering extends over four months, but al- 

 though the plant has already been in cultivation one hundred 



years, I question very much if it has been grown in sufficient 

 quantities to recommend it for general cultivation, otherwise 

 we should meet with it more frequently and in larger quan- 

 tities, as it is only by growing it in quantities that its full 

 beauty is realised. 



After I undertook my present duties in January of last year, 

 I busied myself about the furnishing of all the walls with 

 plants of climbing habit. The walls which puzzled me most 

 were the walls of the Melon houses, there being no accommoda- 

 tion for planting anything out, and the narrow stage over the 

 return pipes against the wall being merely wide enough for 

 8-inch pots. It ocourred to me to cover these walls with Ficus 

 repens. This would have succeeded well undoubtedly, but my 

 ambition was to cover the walls with flowering plants, and I 

 thought that Plumbago rosea might possibly be suitable. It was 

 a happy thought, and some old plants being at oommand these 

 were cared for, and cuttings were procured and propagated. 

 As soon as rooted they received liberal attention by way of 

 potting, light, heat, moisture, and weak applications of liquid 

 manure. The plants were never allowed a cheok, but were 

 hurried on into the 8-inch pots as Boon as ready, the shoots 

 being occasionally pinched as required to induce side shoots, 

 which were freely produced, and by the middle of November 

 the plants were from 6 to 7 feet high, and covered with their 

 charming flowers. Although I had grown the plant more or 

 less for years, still I really did not anticipate such a glorious 

 reward for the little trouble bestowed on these plants, for they 

 continued flowering most freely until the month of March. 

 During the time they were in flower numerous gardeners 

 called here to see the gardens, and I could not avoid notioing 

 the astonishment of one and all on seeing such a charming 

 display of the old Plumbago rosea. The plants were not tied 

 in closely to the walls, but were allowed to hang out from 

 1 to 1J foot over the passage, which considerably enhanced 

 their appearance, their long, arching, pendulous racemes of 

 flowers being thus shown to advantage. 



The same walls, 60 feet long, are now covered with plants 

 which have for the past month been producing thousands of 

 flowers equally aB fine as last year, and so long as I have walls 

 to cover so long shall I find room for a few plants of my old 

 friend Plumbago rosea. The plant is not at all particular as 

 to soil ; those plants now flowering are growing principally in 

 road scrapings, and are well fed with liquid manure. Plumbago 

 rosea is also a very clean plant, seldom being attacked with 

 any insects except thrips, which should be well watched for, 

 as they inorease on it very rapidly. Scale sometimes infests 

 it, but is easily kept down. 



I have tried all sorts of experiments with the plants, by 

 subjecting them to various temperatures before the flowers ex- 

 panded in hopes of getting them to keep well after being cut, 

 but no attempt has nearly succeeded sufficiently for me to re- 

 commend the plant for cutting purposes ; but for the decora- 

 tion or furnishing of stove or intermediate houses with flowers 

 at this dull season of the year the Plumbago rosea stands 

 second to none, but on the other hand, in my estimation it 

 rivals many plants that we have long prized.— James Ollbb- 

 head. 



[The plants referred to were notioed in our columns last 

 week. We never saw a wall more beautifully furnished. — Eds.] 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 

 Wi have received from Mr. J. Sinclair, gardener to Sir H. D. 

 Ingilby, Bart., Ripley Castle, Leeds, a gabden day-book, which 

 he has found of very great use. The book consists of 365 pages, 

 and is so arranged that the value of the vegetables, fruits, and 

 flowers supplied each day from the garden can be expeditiously 

 entered. Full lists of vegetables and fruit are printed on 

 every page, and only the value of each day's supply requires 

 to be added to the money column. There is also a space for 

 "weather observations" and " general remarks." We agree 

 with the compiler that such a book if neatly kept would be 

 useful to gardeners generally, also to owners of gardens ; but 

 the difficulty, as it appears to us, would be in keeping it 

 " neatly," for it is not everyone who can insert figures clearly 

 in spaces only slightly exceeding a sixteenth of an inch be- 

 tween the lines. If a second edition is called for we advise 

 that the pages be made larger and an additional column be 

 added for quantities. We think also the total amounts of 

 each Bection should be provided for, and so arranged that the 

 entire amount "of each day can be oarried forward to the next. 

 The book, however, as at present arranged is concise and in- 



