Jane 9, 1863. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



419 



Bize, sweetness, and perfurno. Of the one hundred and twenty 

 selected varieties of the F. virginiana, iowensis, and other North 

 American species, there are but about twenty-five now under 

 cultivation in our gardens which have sweetness predominant, 

 and only fifteen which have perfume or aroma ; and these are 

 the best selections from thousands of seedlings during the last 

 thirty yearB. — (Mr. W. M. Prince, at American Pomological 

 Society.) 



PORTRAITS OF FLOWERS, PLANTS, AND 

 FEU ITS. 



Zosteeosttlis aeachnites (Cobweb Zosterostylis). — Nat. 

 ord., Orchidaceffi. Linn., Gynandria Monandria. This Orchid 

 is peculiar to Java and Ceylon. Petals dull green, lip yellowish 

 dotted with purple. — (Botanical Magazine, t. 5381.) 



Coccoloba platyclada (Flat-branched Lobe-berry). — Nat. 

 ord., Polygonacea;. Linn., Octandria Trigynia. This remark- 

 able plant was discovered at Wanderer Bay, Solomon's Islands, 

 by Mr. Milne, during Captain Denham's voyage of H.M.S. 

 "Herald." "Being throughout the year covered with innu- 

 merable blossoms, generally interspersed with bright red, and 

 finally dark purple berries, we regard this plant as one of the 

 most interesting acquisitions of our gardens. It is readily mul- 

 tiplied from cuttings." — (Ibid., t. 5382.) 



Higginsia Gheisbechtii (Gheisbeoht's Higginsia).— Nat. 

 ord., Rubiaeese. Linn., Tetrandria Monogynia. Probably a 

 native of New Grenada. Leaves rich velvety green above, and 

 reddish-purple beneath. It is a handsome stove plant. — (Ibid., 

 t. 5383.) 



Anguloa Ruckebi (Mr. Rucker's Anguloa — blood-coloured 

 variety). — Nat. ord., Orehidaceas. Linn., Gynandria Monandria. 

 The original Bpecies is a native of Columbia. This variety is in 

 the possession of Messrs. Rollisson, Tooting. Flowers yellow 

 and crimson. — (Ibid, t. 5384.) 



PlEtTEOTHALLis Reymondi (Raymond's Pleurothallia). — 

 Nat. ord., Orchidaceffi. Linn., Gynandria Monandria. Native 

 of the Caraccas, at an elevation of 6000 feet above the sea. 

 Flowers purple but small. — (Ibid., t. 5385.) 



Aseidistea punctata albo-maculata (White spotted-leaved 

 Dotted-leaved Aspidistra). — Nat. ord., Liliacese. Linn., Octan- 

 dria Monogynia. Native of China, imported by Mr. Bull, 

 Plant Establishment, Chelsea. Flowers in the greenhouse 

 during February.— (Ibid., i. 5386.) 



Febn-leaved Chinese Peimeose.— Raised by Messrs. E. G. 

 Henderson & Son, Wellington Road Nursery. It is crimson- 

 flowered, and has the unusual property of coming true from 

 seed. — (Floral Magazine, pi. 149.) 



Hyacinth San Feancisco. — Yellow-flowered.— (Ibid., 150.) 



Azalea Subpbise. — Called also Madame A. Yerschaffelt. 

 Flowers pale pink, rather frilled, conspicuously blotched with 

 deep crimson on the upper segment. — (Ibid., 151.) 



Aueictjla Peinoess op Wales. — Raised by Mr. C. Turner, 

 Slough. Purple self with white paste. — (Ibid., 152.) 



Mimttlus maculosus.— Three varieties from Mr. Bull's 

 Nursery, Chelsea. Charm, Marvel, and Sparkler, all bright 

 yellow, variously spotted and blotched with crimson. — (Florist 

 and Nomologist, ii., 73.) 



Pear Beitish Queen. — Raised by Mr. Ingram, Her Ma- 

 jesty's gardener at Frogmore. Large, pyramidal, golden- 

 coloured fruit, excellent for dessert, ripe in October. Had a 

 first-class certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society's 

 Fruit Committee.— (Ibid., 80.) 



The Feast op Apples. — There are many holidays observed 

 by the Russian Church, but the most prominent are the Honey 

 Festival, on the 1st of August, and the Apple Feast. Both are 

 peasant festivals, and much regarded — at the former the honey 

 is blessed, and at the latter the Apple. No Russian ever thinks 

 of eating an Apple before the 6th of August (old style), when the 

 day's ceremony has blessed the fruit, a restriction which must be 

 attended with very good results in a country predisposed to 

 cholera. The Cathedral of the Repose, Uspenski Sahor, was the 

 first entered by Mr. R. S. Graves, author of a " Yatching Cruise 

 in t je Baltic ;" and the congregation was pressing forward to 

 the priests, who stood in front of the Ikonostast. The leading 

 prieBt, most magnificently dressed, held a gold and diamond- 

 studded cross to all who presented themselves to imprint upon 



it their eager kiss. On his right stood another, who had dishes 

 of blessed Apples on a table before him ; and we observed that 

 all who had kissed the cross received an Apple. — (Scotlisk 

 Farmer.) 



HESPERIS MATRONALIS FLOEE PLENO. 



DOUBLE SOCKET. 



It may not be out of place, seeing that after the last bad 

 Beason for what are called bedding flowers both north and south 

 of the Tweed, and more especially as there have been indications 

 among writers in the latter part of the kingdom of a desire to 

 fall back upon some of the old-fashioned hardy flowers, and as 

 this new periodical will most likely be read by every lover of 

 flowers in the west of Scotland — to bring before their notice a 

 few hardy flowers of real merit, which have been put aside or 

 forgotten in the rage for ribbon-borders and masses of tender 

 flowers, but which with a little care throughout the year would 

 give a fine display of bloom from early Bpring to late autumn. 

 A great variety of these coidd be named, both in colour and in 

 height, and in their season of blooming, but I will only select 

 one at present — the Double Rocket, as during this month (June) 

 it will be in bloom, and there being variety enough in itself both 

 in colour and height to form an excellent contrast. It is possible 

 that it may still be found in some out-of-the-way corner of the 

 herbaceous border, and if so, it will require no recommendation 

 from me. As for the cultivation of it, bo gardener worthy of 

 the name requires to be informed ; but I would just ask them 

 to try a ribbon, of say the first row dwarf double white ; second 

 row of crimson; third, purple; fourth, tall or French white; 

 or say a row of the double yellow Barbarea, and then a row of 

 French white. Or, perhaps, a bed of any convenient length, 

 and say 5 feet wide ; centre row, tall white ; next two rows, 

 purple ; and two outside rows dwarf white, 1 foot from plant 

 to plant, or any such arrangement, and I am sure it will amply 

 repay the trouble next June. 



To the uninitiated, I would say, if there are old plants to begin 

 with, cut down the flower-stems to about 6 or 8 inches from 

 the ground as soon as the flowers are beginning to fade ; stir 

 the soil round the plant, and top-dress with a little light soil, 

 say old rotten leaf mould and sand, in equal proportions. In 

 the course of two or three weeks plenty of young suckers will 

 have been formed from the old stem, and will be striking roots 

 for themselves. These should be taken off, and either planted 

 under a hand-glass or cold frame, in light sandy soil, in a shady 

 corner of the garden, and watered carefully. If not rooted when 

 taken off 1 , they will soon strike in a cold frame or under a hand- 

 glass. Cuttings may also be made of the flower-stems that are 

 left, after cutting off the flowers ; but in general, the suckers 

 from the root will be sufficient. The plants thus obtained Bhould 

 be planted out in common garden soil, with the addition of a 

 little old rotten manure in autumn, or if not convenient then, 

 they may be kept over winter in a cold frame or nursery-bed in 

 the garden, and planted early in spring, not later than March. If 

 planted in what is called an herbaceous border, the dwarf white 

 Bhould be placed in the front row, and the others in the next. 

 If the border is wide, the dwarf in the second row, and so on 

 with the others ; and, by a little care, they will make a fine 

 display next summer. The only enemieB tbey have are Bnails, 

 and a small green caterpillar, which makes its appearance about 

 the beginning of April in the centre of the young flower-stems, 

 and its whereabouts is known by its drawing together the leaves. 

 It should then be hunted out and destroyed. A little sharp 

 sand placed close round the plants when planted, will help to 

 keep the snails at bay. — Alexander Stobeie, Whiteinch,Partick. 



[From the first Number of " The West of Scotland Horti- 

 cultural Magazine," which promises well.] 



ICE TRADE AND MANUFACTURE. 



The trade in ice is now one of great and increasing importance. 

 Ice has always been esteemed as a luxury in warm weather ; and 

 this early led to the storing of it in winter and preserving it for 

 summer use. The GreekB, and afterwards the Romans, at firBt 

 preserved snow, closely packed in deep underground cellars. 

 Nero, at a later period, established ice-houaes in Rome, similar 

 to those in use in most European countries up to the present 

 time. But these means were not enough to supply the luxurious 



