July 27, 1871. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTUEB AND COTTAGE GASDENBE. 



65 



of ns who have so long advocated the growth of these alpines 

 and herbaceous perennials to find them now coming so much 

 into favour, for here not only was this garden devoted to them, 

 but in the borders were to be found fine masses of many of our 

 favourites. Delphinium Belladonna and D. Eeteleeri had been 

 very fine ; the former is certainly unequalled for the brilliancy 

 of its azure blue. Nor must 1 omit to mention a summer-house 

 completely covered with Clematis Jaokmanni and Clematis 

 rnbro-violacea with thousands of blossoms open and opening 

 all over it. The plants had been cut down to within 2 feet of 

 the ground, and had now covered the whole of it with bright 

 foliage and still brighter flowers, and afforded another illustra- 

 tion of the many uses to wbioh these showy plants can be put. 



I need say no more to prove that Mr. Webster is " well to 

 the front " in the various departments of gardening, and rarely 

 does one meet husband and wife so thoroughly at one in all con- 

 nected with horticulture as in the kind and hospitable friends 

 to whom I owed a pleasant and profitable visit. — D., Deal. 



GREENHOUSE PLANTS.— No. 5. 



PLANTS SUITABLE FOR PILLAR AND TRELLIS ARCHWAYS. 



In many greenhouses there are wooden or iron pillars sup- 

 porting the roof, and in others there are in addition trellis 

 archways. The fronts of some greenhoixses are so high as to 

 admit of plants being-trained to trellises or wires fixed to the 

 front uprights. For training on these, very vigorous-growing 

 plants are not required ; the freest-growing climbers are not 

 suitable, whilst for others the positions are wholly unsuitable. 

 The following, however, are good : — 



Ahutilon striatum. — Of erect habit. Leaves bright green, 

 with rather long footstalks ; flowers bell-shaped, orange, striped 

 or veined with red. It is of very free growth, the flowers being 

 solitary, and produced from the axils of the leaves almost con- 

 tinuously, but most freely from June to the end of summer. 

 The plant is apt to become bare of shoots at the base. To ob- 

 viate this the shoots should be stopped at every foot of growth 

 upward, and when the plant becomes bare at the bottom 

 the shoots may be oiif to within a few inches of its base 

 in the spring, keeping it rather dry for a short time, and 

 when the fresh shoots are a few inches long repot it, or if it is 

 planted out, remove the surface soil and top-dress. A compost 

 of two parts of light fibrous loam, one part peat, and one part 

 leaf soil or old coiv dung, with one-sixih of silver eand, will 

 grow the plant well. Good drainage is necessary. Keep the 

 plant rather dry in winter, and when growing afford a good 

 supply of moisture at the roots, with frequent syringings. 



Acacia juniperina. — Habit drooping. Leaves small. Flowers 

 pale yellow, produced abundantly in April. 



A. dealbata. — Leaves long, much divided, having a Mimosa- 

 like appearance. Flowers yellow, in May. 



A, oleifolia clegans. — Leaves medium-sized entire, pale green, 

 and glaucous. Flowers yellow, from October to May. In my 

 opinion this is the most graceful of all the Acacias. 



The Acacias require a compost of equal parts of sandy peat 

 and light turfy loam, with one part of leaf soil ; also good 

 drainage, an abundant supply of water when growing, and the 

 soil moist at all seasons. Being liable to become leggy, the 

 best plan is to cat them in after flowering in spring. The 

 plants should be well furnished with shoots from the base, 

 keeping them plentifully branched by frequently stopping the 

 shoots. 



Akehia quinata. — Leaves five-cleft or five-leafieted. Shoots 

 twining. Flowers rosy lilac, produced in March or April. Soil 

 two parts fibrous loam, and one part fibrous sandy peat, with a 

 free admixture of sharp sand and good drainage. The pruning 

 required is to out away the old shoots after flowering, and to 

 encourage fresh shoots from the base. Water the plant very 

 freely in summer, but keep it dry in winter, not, however, 

 allowing the foliage to suffer. Syringe well in summer. 



Bomarea multijiora. — This is a twining plant with orange red 

 flowers. Water it freely in summer, and keep it dry in winter, 

 syringing freely in summer. 



Billardiera mutahilis. — A climbing plant. Flowers crimson, 

 produced in July and August. Prune it early in spring, cutting 

 out the old wood, watering freely in summer, and in winter 

 keep it moderately dry, syringing freely. Soil fibrous loam 

 and sandy peat in equal proportions, with one-third of leaf 

 soil, and a free admixture of sand. 



Brachysema acuminatum. — Leaves rather long, entire, green 

 above, glaucous underneath. Flowers pea-shaped, crimson, 

 in March and April. 



Brachysema hyiridum. — Flowers crimson and cream-co- 

 loured, in March. 



Brachysema latifolium. — Leaves much larger than those of 

 the others. Flowers crimson, in May. 



These plants are subscandent, and of stiff habit. The shoots, 

 however, are rather long, and should not be stopped, but be 

 allowed to hang down. Prune the plant after flowering, cutting 

 it in rather closely, and encouraging fresh shoots, giving a gentle 

 sprinkling overhead morning and evening. Water freely when 

 growing, and keep it dry in winter, but not so as to affect the 

 foliage. Soil equal parts of sandy peat and fibrous loam, with 

 oue-fourthof leaf soil. 



Cohcea scandens variegata. — This well-known variegated 

 climber is very effective on trellises. Its leaves are variegated, 

 being white and pink. The shoots may be trained either up- 

 wards or downwards. The essential point is to secure good 

 fresh foliage in the early part of the season. It is not nearly so 

 hardy nor so rampant as the plain-leaved form. Cat the shoots 

 back in spring, keeping the plants dry for a time, and en- 

 courage young shoots from the base, or where practicable. In 

 winter keep it rather dry, but in summer water well. Syringe 

 freely in the evenings of hot days. Soil sandy loam two parts, 

 sandy peat one part, and leaf soil one part, with good drainage. 



Fagclia hituminosa. — An evergreen twiner, with pretty pea- 

 shaped yellowish purple flowers, in June. The soil should be 

 rough, with free drainage ; it may be peat and loam, with some 

 lumps of charcoal, broken pots, and silver sand. Prune the 

 plant in summer after flowering, thinning out the shoots well 

 where very close. Water freely in summer, but moderately in 

 winter. 



Hahrothamniis elegans. — Of free growth, and very free-flower- 

 ing late in vrinter and in spring, and sometimes it blooms con- 

 tinuously. The flowers are borne in dense clusters, and being 

 drooping h^ve a fine effect. Their colour is bright carmine. 



Habrothamnus fasciculatus. — Flowers crimson, in clusters 

 early in spring. This is one of the finest of greenhouse plants. 

 All the Habrothamnuses are beautiful for cut flowers. 



Habrotliamnus aurantiacus. — Flowers orange, and sweet- 

 scented. It blooms in autumn and winter. 



As the species of Habrothamnus produce their flowers on the 

 current or last year's wood, pruning should be deferred until 

 the flowering is past, and then they may be cut-in rather hard, 

 leaving some shoots at the base so as to keep that part well 

 furnished. Any rampant shoots may be stopped in summer, 

 but not after July. Water freely in summer whilst the plants 

 are growing, and when a good growth has been made and, 

 it becomes stationary lessen the supply of water ; indeed, 

 only give enough water to keep the foliage from flagging. 

 When the flowers begin to expand water copiously. Soil turfy 

 loam and fibrous peat in equal parts, old eow dung one part, 

 charcoal and silver sand half a part each, with a free admixture 

 of sandstone. Good drainage is necessary. The plants are 

 best in borders. 



Hoya carnosa. — An evergreen twiner, with dense clusters of 

 wax-like pinkish-white flowers. It ia a first-rate plant for 

 pillars. Water it freely when floweiing and growing, but when 

 .at rest keep it dry, only do not allow the leaves to shrivel. 

 The plant cannot be kepc too dry in winter. Drain extra well, 

 and aft'ord a compost of equal parts of sandy fibrous peat, fibrous 

 light loam, old cow dung, charcoal in lumps from the size of a 

 hazel nut to that of a walnut, broken bricks, and old lime 

 rubbish, well mixed. 



Mimosa prostrata. — Of prostrate growth, as its name implies, 

 but when trained to wires or a pillar its shoots hang down 

 gracefully, and have a fine effect. The foliage is pretty, and 

 the flowers are pale pink, produced in summer. Soil sandy 

 loam two parts, and one part each of sandy peat and leaf soil, 

 with a free admixture of sharp sand. It seeds freely, and the 

 best plants are those raised from seed sown in a hotbed in 

 spring. Water freely in summer, keeping the plant rather dry 

 in winter. Prune it in spring before the growth commences, 

 thinning out the shoots where too close together, and spur 

 them well in. A gentle syringing in hot weather is very bene- 

 ficial. 



Mitraria coccinea, — This is a fine pillar plant, having splendid 

 scarlet flowers about April or May. Confine the pruning to 

 thinning-out the old wood, and shortening any inegularilies of 

 growth after flowering, and encourage the plant with a gentle 

 sprinkling of water overhead, not watering too much at the root 

 — indeed, giving no water until the soil becomes dry, then 

 afford a good supply before the foliage suffers. In winter keep 

 the plants dry. Soil two parts sandy loam, one part sandy 



