240 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



}[ March 31, 1863. 



Although, as we have stated, the Pansy has receded before the 

 more fashionable occupants of the parterre of the present day 

 in most places, there are localities where it still retains a re- 

 spectable place, and these are where our variegated and other 

 Geraniums do not succeed. The moist atmosphere of the north 

 is more in accordance with the welfare of this plant than it is 

 with that of many of its rivals, and in such situations beds of 

 Pansies present a cheerful appearance. On the contrary, in dry 

 sunny districts, with long periods in summer without any rain, 

 this plant falls a victim to mildew, which it is not easy to arrest. 

 Some years ago I had a tolerably good collection of show varieties 

 of this plant, but one or two hot summers in succession reduced 

 them sadly ; so that eventually a yellow one called, I believe, 

 Hon. Mrs. Harcourt, was the last survivor of a long array of 

 names, aristocratic, warlike, and I fear I must say vulgar, for 

 the caprice of those who give names to new plants or varieties 

 descends to oddities as well as soars up to celebrities. Of this, 

 however, it is not my purpose to speak ; but continuing the 

 history of the PanBy, I may say that at the present day the 

 number of show varieties falls short of what it was twenty 

 years ago ; and I may also add, that the attempted introduction 

 of very dark varieties into the bedding system did not receive 

 much patronage, so that it has been left for another move in the 

 history of the Pansy to again restore it to favour. 



As before stated, the long dry summer in the south of England 

 was sadly against the Pansy doing well, and in very many cases 

 was fatal to it entirely. Though not an annual, its original state 

 as an occupant in a corn field led to its destruction almost every 

 year, and consequent reproduction by seed. This condition, 

 however, was in some degree altered in the cultivated plant ; still 

 the tendency of the plant was to succumb when it had flowered 

 and ripened seed, and when its roots felt the scorching effeots 

 of a bright sun in the dog days, for mildew carried off large 

 numbers. It was, therefore, not without feelings of much satis- 

 faction that some eight or ten years ago a new race of double 

 Pansies was brought out, which certainly possess the qualification 

 of withstanding the heats of summer better than any of the 

 single sorts by which they were preceded. Eor many years I 

 have disregarded all others but the double kinds, and have often 

 turned them to useful account for furnishing the beds in winter, 

 by striking cuttings in August, and planting them as soon 

 as the beds were at liberty in autumn to receive them. Their 

 tidy, stocky appearance improved the aspect of the beds ; and, 

 planted amongst Eoses or in mixed borders of herbaceous plants, 

 the double Pansy is always worth a place. The only drawback 

 to the kind I have had so long is its liability to return to the 

 single condition from which I expect it was originally a sport. 

 Perhaps one or two plants in a bed may return to the condition, 

 or parts of plants may do so ; but in other respects the double is 

 as perfect as could be wished, and the flowers bunch well in email 

 bouquets. 



I am glad, therefore, to see that other varieties in the double 

 form are making their appearance, and hope they will be im- 

 provements on those we possess. I do not know the qualities of 

 the one lately advertised in the columns of The Jottrnai of 

 HoRTicr/nr/EE, but I should like it all the better if it were a 

 clear bright yellow without the least tinge of other colour in it. 

 Next to that, a good double white would be an acquisition. 

 Perhaps I may be fastidious or whimsical in my choice ; but I 

 like best to look at a flower when in a growing state and attached 

 to the plant, when, it is needless to say, its appearance differs 

 widely from what it presents when forming along with others a 

 bouquet, stand, or pan. In the latter case the artificial arrange- 

 ment to which the flowers are subjected differs so widely from 

 the contrast they individually would have to the plant that pro- 

 duced them, that a bed of flowers and a bouquet must ever be 

 regarded as widely different. It is, therefore, t® the clear yellow 

 and clear white of the double Pansies that we must look for our 

 flower-garden favourites in future; and however meritorious 

 mixed coloured ones may be, there is no place for them in the 

 bedding department. 



It is hardly necessary here to advert to the easy manner in 

 which the Pansy is propagated. Cuttings of the small wiry 

 Bhoots from the centre of the plant are beBt, but the outside 

 branches will also grow. AU the preparation that is required is 

 a little river sand spread over any border and slightly worked-in, 

 a little more sand being placed on the top ; then the cuttings 

 may be put in and shaded for a week or two, watering of course 

 when necessary. It is seldom that they are struck under glass. 

 It is not unusual to put in cuttings of other hardy herbaceous 



plants at the same time — as Alyssum, double Rockets, Phlox, 

 Pentstemons, &c. ; and if advantage can be taken of dull weather 

 to do this work, the success will be the more certain. — <T. Robson. 



DISAS FROM THE CAPE. 



Air answer is given to a question relative to these Orohids in 

 the last Number, from which I beg respectfully to differ en- 

 tirely, and by following it, I am inclined to think, "Fbank" 

 would lose the best part of his collection. I do not know by 

 name any of the Disas there mentioned except grandiflora, but 

 they are probably allied species requiring the same treatment. 

 That treatment I have more than once spoken of in The Joctbicat. 

 OF HobticuI/TTTBE ; and shall, therefore, now merely say that 

 it consists in treating the Disa in a totally different way to 

 Orchids as generally so called. This beautiful terrestrial Orchid 

 inhabits a ravine on the top of Table Mountain at the Cape of 

 Good Hope; and as that is most frequently covered with the 

 mists from the ocean, it will be at once seen that at so high 

 an altitude, where the thermometer sinks to 32°, Orchid-house 

 treatment would not suit it. I have seen quantities of D. gran- 

 diflora with my friend Mr. Leech, of Clapham Park, and have 

 through his kindness a plant, now most vigorous, which will 

 throw up its blooming-stem shortly ; and this has been sub- 

 jected simply to greenhouse treatment, with this addition — that 

 it has stood in a pan of water ever since the autumn, and will 

 continue to be so treated. I do not believe you can give it too 

 much moisture ; and I would advise "Fbamk" to pot his into 

 small pots in peat and sand, give them a good soaking, and, 

 when the signs of growth manifest themselves, to keep them 

 continually wet in a shady part of the greenhouse. Avoid the 

 stove by all means. I should be glad to know by-and-by whether 

 he has succeeded, and whether the sorts he names are all species, 

 or whether some are not varieties of D. grandiflora. He may 

 be confident that the only treatment that suits them is the one 

 detailed above, for the knowledge of which we are indebted to 

 Mr. Leech of Clapham.— D., Deal. 



[We believe this treatment to be right ; but we may hear on 

 the subject from the authority who furnished us with the answer 

 in our last. — Eds.] 



THE ROYAL BOTANIC SOCIETY'S FIRST 

 SPRING SHOW. 



The opening Show for the season was held on Saturday last, 

 and for the early period of the year the display of flowering- 

 plants waB very good ; whilst the beautiful cut Roses shown by 

 Mr. W. Paul, of Waltham Cross, and Messrs. Paul, of Cheshunt, 

 formed of themselves a most attraciive feature. The objects 

 exhibited were arranged with Mr. Marnock's usual good taste, 

 on turf stages in one of the large tents, and the effect of the 

 whole, especially when viewed from the end next the conserva- 

 tory, was excellent. 



Of Hyacinths, excellent collections were exhibited by Messrs. 

 Cutbush, of Highgate, and Mr. W. Paul, who each furnished 

 one hundred pots, the varieties being nearly if not exactly the 

 same as those shown at Kensington on the 18th inst. Early 

 Tulips were likewise shown in good perfection by both these 

 gentlemen. 



Of foliage and flowering plants, good collections were shown 

 by Messrs. Veitch, A. Henderson & Co., Williams, and Bull. 



MeBSrs. Veitch had a fine plant of Rhododendron jasmini- 

 florum ; Princess Bacciochi Camellia, a very handsome plant ; 

 Maranta vittata ; Eriostemon densifolium ; Chamterops humilis ; 

 and Azalea Carminata, a fine pyramid of crimson b),oom. 



Messrs. A. Henderson's plants consisted of Eriostemon densi- 

 folium, a nice bushy plant ; Boronia pinnata ; Aphelexis ma- 

 crantha purpurea ; a handsome plant of Pandarus jayanicus 

 yariegatus ; and large and fine specimens of Dracasna ferrea and 

 Maranta variegata. 



Mr. Bull contributed fine specimens of Azalea Triumphans, 

 Cibotium princeps, Gleichenia flabellata, very large plants of 

 Pandanus utilis and Chandler's Elegans Camellia, also Yucca 

 aloi'iolia variegata. 



Mr. Williams, of Holloway, sent Vanda suavis, with a hand- 

 some spike of its beautiful flowers, Pavetta borbonica, Cordyline 

 indivisa, Azalea Empress Eugenie, and fine plants of Yanda 

 insignia and Dendrobium nobile. 



