294 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEK. 



[ April 21, 1863. 



I admit that a most ready way, where at all applicable, is the 

 old method of layering any shoots long enough for that mode ; 

 but such length of shoots we all know, where the stock in hand 

 is small, is not at all times commandable. 



I would, then, advise that cuttings of the Weigela be put 

 out in precisely the same way, time, and otherwise, as are the 



cuttings of Roses, dibbling them in as thickly and as quickly as 

 we generally do the latter ; giving them more room the following 

 winter by transplanting, and making more bushy plants by 

 judicious pruning. No plant we are acquainted with is more 

 useful for spring forcing, or under proper treatment blooms more 

 freely — certainly none with less trouble. — W. Eabley, Digswell. 



RHODODENDRON SEED, HYBEIDS, AND MANURING. 



I BEG through you to return my best thanks to " D. C. M." 

 for the paper of Rhododendron seed, from which I shall have 

 much pleasure in raising plants. I presume that they are not 

 seeds of the Sikkim varieties, or even of hybrids from them ; but 

 of the hybrid varieties raised between arboreum, ponticum, and 

 catawbiense. Might I venture to ask of your correspondent 

 another question, Whether he has attempted with success crosses 

 between Rhododendrons and Azaleas ? I am aware that some 

 hybrids have been raised between the former and Azalea pontica, 

 but has any attempt been made to breed between the Rhodo- 

 dendrons and Azaleas of the indica type, some of which have 

 proved in several situations quite hardy ? 



I quite agree with " D. C. M." on the question of manure for 



Rhododendrons. I habitually apply it to my plants, and with 

 success. I remember one of the foremen at, I think, Messrs. 

 Waterer & Godfrey's gardens telling me that manure was also 

 very beneficial to many of the Pinuses in spite of the common 

 prejudice on the subject. Of course, in this case, as in every 

 other, very much depends upon the character of the soil. 



As I am also a lover of spring flowers, I congratulate Mr. 

 Browne on his acquisition of the double blue Periwinkle, which 

 I have never seen. I have plants, or a plant at least, of the 

 double purple variety you name ; but I have never prized it in 

 comparison with the blue or white. I fancy this variety is by 

 no means rare ; but should it be so, I shall be very glad to 

 impart some of my stock to other amateurs. — J. K. M. 



FLOWER-GARDEN PLAN. 



1. Geranium Golden Chain, edged with blue 



Lobelia, 



2. Balloon Trellis, covered with small white 



Rose. 



3. Calceolaria Victory. 



4. 7. Verbena Firefly. 



5. 6. White. 



S. Gazania splendens. 



9, 10. Geranium Christine. 



11, 15. Verbena Brilliant de Vaisse. 



13. Calceolaria Aurea floribunda, edged with 

 Baron Hngel Geranium. 



12, 14. Lantana Sellovii. 



16, 19. Verbena Purple King. 



17, 18. Verbena Admiral Duncas. 



20, Geranium Alma, edged with blue Lobelia. 



21, 25. Heliotropium peruvianum. 



23. Calceolaria Aurea floribunda, edged with 

 crimson Minimum Geranium. 



22, 24. Geranium Prince of Orange. 



We do not think that you, our correspondent " Dipeidence," 

 have any reason to feel yourself in difficulty. The main body of 

 your geometrical garden consists of three parts — a centre and two 

 wingB, or they may be treated as three distinct parts, and yet 

 forming a harmonious whole. This is the system of your proposed 

 planting : Your centre is a circle with four beds round it, square 

 on all the sides, except the inner one swept out by the curve of 

 the circle. The circle you plant with Alma Geranium with a 

 verge of Lobelia speciosa, and in this respect we like your arrange- 

 ment much better than the RoseB of " S. E. L." The four beds 

 round are in cross pairs of Admiral Dundas Terbena and Purple 

 King Terbena. Then each wing is centred with a diamond and 

 surrounded with four figures ; the outer lines square and at right 

 angles, the inner line partaking of the character of the lines of 

 the diamond. Roth diamonds are filled with Calceolarea Aurea 

 floribunda, and one is edged with Baron Huge], and the other 

 edged with crimson Minimum Geranium. Thus far the wings 

 are balanced. Of the two Geraniums we think Minimum will 

 be the most tellin?. The wing on the left-hand side has the four 

 beds round the diamond crossed in pairs, two consisting of 

 Lantana Sellovii and two of Brilliant de Vaisse Verbena ; and 

 if the Lantana is on peat and does well, the group will be very 

 nice and come in well with the centre. On the right side the 

 four beds are also crossed in pairs, two beds consisting of Prince 

 of Orange Geranium and two of Heliotropium poruvianum. 



This planting may be defended on the principle of having three 

 centres and three different combinations of planting. The centre- 

 and-balanced-wing principle has, however, been kept up so far 

 as the planting of the diamonds is concerned, and therefore we 

 would have liked better if the four beds round the right-side 

 diamond had been planted in colours similar to those on the 

 left-hand side, so as to balance thoroughly. Besides theae main 

 features, what constitutes a charm of this garden are five beds 

 clustered on each side, owing to an open semicircular space 

 opposite the circle-centre in the main garden. Now these 

 accessory wings are so nearly balanced on each side, that we 

 would be inclined to do it completely, and balance the main 

 wings also, and use the same materials as you have. The 

 largest beds on these subsidiary wings are Eirefly Verbena, 

 which we presume to be a bright scarlet. Very well ; take the 

 plants intended for these two beds, and use them in the right 

 wing in the beds marked for Heliotropes, and bring the Helio- 

 tropes to the Eirefly-beds. Then fill the little circles, Nos. 1 

 and 2, with Prince of Orange Geranium, and in place of them 

 in the right wing have two crossed beds of pink Verbena or 

 pink Ivy-leaved Geranium, &c., and then move your Golden 

 Chain from No. 1 to the two little beds marked white. This 

 would balance the whole ; but we have no doubt the group 

 would look well as you propose. Our opinion, however, is that 

 the change would be more satisfactory. — R. E. 



