130 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ February 17, 1863. 



peat, after which sift a little peat and sand very fine, distributing 

 the seed evenly thereon. It requires no covering with soil. 

 Wafer with a very fine rose, cover with a bell-glass, and plunge 

 the pots in bottom heat. In ten day s or a fortnight the plants will 

 appear. Give air by degrees. When they have formed three or 

 four leaves transplant them into 60-sized pots ; and if properly 

 supplied with heat and moisture the plants will bloom in the 

 autumn of the same year. They should not be dried-off until 

 the second year, as the small fibres are not sufficiently strong to 

 cause them to start vigorously in spring. This remark is also 

 applicable to young plants raised from cuttings. 



The stock can be readily increased, as almost every part of the 

 leaves will form plants if a portion of the midrib be retained in 

 each cutting. Divide the leaves transversely, place them in pots of 

 fine sand, cover with a bell-glass, and plunge in a strong heat ; 

 in a short time callosities will form at the base of the cuttings. 

 Repot in good sandy peat, replunging and covering with a hand- 

 glass, giving air occasionally. If the plants to be propagated 

 are very choice, remove them into a large pot, making incisions 

 on the midrib of the lower leaves, placing a few pebbles on the 

 leaves to keep them to the soil : this is the safest method. They 

 will soon root if a good heat is maintained, and may be repotted 

 immediately. ' 



February or the beginning of March is the best time for start- 

 ing the old plants after their winter rest. In potting, the old 

 soil should be carefully removed from the roots. In planting, 

 press the roots gently on the surface of the soil, and give them 

 no water for some time. The soil should consist of half peat, one- 

 fourth loam, and one-fourth leaf mould, mixed well together, and 

 used in a moderately rough state. A thorough-good drainage of 

 potsherds is indispensably necessary. As they progress in growth 

 and fill their pots with roots they are to be liberally shifted, not 

 exactly on the one-shift system, but approximating to it — that 

 is, from a 48-sized pot to a 24, and ultimately to a 16, where 

 they will attain a size, luxuriance of growth, and profusion of 

 flowers suitable for exhibition at our horticultural shows or for 

 adorning the conservatory. The soil should be gradually enriched 

 with some well-rotted dung until they receive their last shift in 

 which they are to bloom, when more loam with lesB peat and a 

 liberal addition of rotten dung may be given, the soil being 

 used in a rough state. 



After they are all potted remove them to a frame where the 

 temperature is about 60°, and when they have commenced grow- 

 ing give them a little water, increasing the quantity as they 

 advance in growth. A little air must be given in fine weather. 

 During their season of blooming a watering with weak liquid 

 manure (sheeps', pigeons', fowls' dung, or guano) may be given 

 occasionally, which will increase the luxuriance of the foliage 

 and the brilliancy of the flowers. When done blooming water- 

 ing to be gradually discontinued, and at last entirely dispensed 

 with, when they should be removed to any out-of-the-way shelf 

 in a warm greenhouse for two or three months until February, 

 when the season for a fresh growth arrives. Gloxinia caulescens, 

 which is unlike any of the others in habit and manner of growth, 

 with a few other species continue in a growing state all the winter. 



The following are good sorts : — 



Alba grandiflora. — Pure white. 



Argyrostigma splendent. — Deep purple, with white throat, and 

 foliage beautifully striped. 



Anom/ma. — BluelobeB, margined with lavender; white mouth 

 and throat, spotted at the base. 



Acme.— Blue lobes, edged and prettily marked with white ; 

 violet throat. 



Baronne de Vrilre.— Mottled lilac. 



Beauty. — Pink lobes ; pure white mouth and throat. 



Brilliant. — Bright crimson, the lobes margined with rose ; 

 rich violet throat. 



Carminata splendens. — Fine rich crimson, large flower. 



Celestial. — Rose lobes ; throat encircled with deep violet ; 

 base of the tube white spotted with brown. 



Cupid. — Light blue lobes with white markings ; pure white 

 throat. 



Daphne. — Pink, edged with white. 



Fairy. — White tube and lobes; the mouth peculiarly en- 

 circled with violet crimson. 



1 Favourite. — Bright rose, shaded with crimson ; throat en- 

 circled with violet ; white tube. 

 Godfrey de Bouillon. — Fine blue. 

 Grandis. — Blush, with carmine throat. 



Maria Van Moutte. — White and carmine. 



Lauretta. — Blue, marbled with white. 

 Model. — White, tube pink shaded with violet. 

 Madame Malibrani. — Bright rose. 

 Napoleon. — Carmine red and white. 

 Princess Alexandra,. — White lobes, margined with blue. 

 Princess Beatrice. — Blue, each lobe spotted with violet ; pure 

 white throat. 



Petoniana. — White, with crimson throat. 

 Spectabilis. — Purple. 



Victoria Begina. — Lilac blush, with intense purple throat. 

 Virgmie. — Blush, under lobes bright crimson ; violet throat. 



W. Keanb. 



A TEW DAYS IN IRELAND. 



CABTON. 

 {Concluded from page 118.) 

 But though the scenery in front of the mansion is richly 

 picturesque rather than bold and striking, there is no want of 

 the wild and romantic at Carton, and especially at the glen 

 through which winds the river Vye. Through the natural and 

 art-enhanced attractions of that glen, Mr. Hamilton, of Ham 

 Wood, drove ub to Carton. Now the noise of the little river is 

 heard trattling with some huge boulders, and then its quiet 

 murmur as it passes over a pebbled bed ; now it is lost amid 

 overhanging masses of foliage, or dimly discernible- amid long 

 reaches of bnlLrueb.es ; and anon it comes before us as a quiet 

 pool, reflecting like a mirror the surrounding Bcenery. The 

 banks, and especially the right-side one, along which we pass 

 are equally diversified. Here are steep craggy rocks with the 

 clefts of their faces relieved with lichens, mosses, Ceterach offici- 

 narum, and Asplenium Ruta-muraria and trichomanes — there 

 are lofty mounds, with luxuriant timber, and trailing Ivy, and 

 Ferns disputing for the undergrowth, with some favoured young 

 Conifers standing in a conspicuous position. Anon we come to 

 mounds composed, seemingly, of decayed rocks and wasting 

 wood, covered with large breadths of the common Polypod, or 

 relieved with masses of the Bleehnum boreale, or fields of Sco- 

 lopendriums ; and then again and again, and varying with these, 

 on steep banks and mantling over precipices, no end of Cistus, 

 Hypericums, and Helianthemums, &c, all testifying that here the 

 earnest enthusiasm and the correct judgment of the late Duchess 

 are as manifest as in the other parts of the demesne. Before 

 we have time to weary we come in front of a deep cascade, and 

 on its other side are delighted with one of the most beautiful of 

 artificial lakes. 



Crossing above the cascade to the opposite bank, we pass 

 through embowering trees to the cottage and cottage garden. 

 Here we found fine specimens on the lawn of deciduouB and 

 evergreen trees, but something of the idea of rusticity was main- 

 tained throughout. We cannot be sure of the size of the large 

 flower garden, but its striking characteristics were twofold. 

 First, circular arches for climbers, with rich wreathed festoons 

 going to a good height at the centre. Then secondly, though 

 there were plenty of Calceolarias, Geraniums, and such Crystal 

 Palace Dahlias as for height and fulness of bloom we have 

 scarcely ever seen equalled, the grand features were beds of 

 Pentstemons, Fuchsias, Phloxes, Asters, Antirrhinums, &c, in 

 the good old flower-garden style. Another very attractive though 

 somewhat sad subject was the fine old man, the gardener, Mr. 

 Abercrombie, packed in a large easy chair on wheels, basking 

 in the sun and taking cognisance of the work, as from rheuma- 

 tism and paralysis he had long been unable to walk. Long 

 may he reign in his little province under such kind and generous 

 sovereignty. 



Several pits and frames out of sight supply the plants for this 

 garden, and five men are regularly employed to keep it and the 

 lawn, &c, round it in order. The cottage, chiefly in the Swiss 

 style, is for the residence of the gardener, and a portion is set 

 apart for the family and their friends. The dry rot had attacked 

 the wood, and the whole was undergoing repair, the roof being 

 renewed by an outside covering of small rounded tiles of a dull 

 colour so as not, to interfere with the general outline. On entering 

 the large reception-room one felt as if carried by an enchanter 

 to revel amid the gorgeous beauties of fairyland. The whole 

 of the arched and ribbed roof and walls (unless where there was 

 a mirror to reflect the beauties and enhance the dimensions), 

 was covered by Bhells of every imaginable size, form', and colour. 

 The beautiful arrangements, the exquisite designs, and the con- 

 trasts, the blending and Bhading of colours, must be seen to be 



