July 27, 1871. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



73 



across ; and Polystichum proliferum angulare, 6 feet across. Of Ly- 

 copods Selaginella circiDalis was 24 inches ; Martensii variegata, 

 26 inches, and Martensii, 3U inches in diameter of head, proving that 

 these things are made a speciality at Colworth. Colenses were shown 

 in the sharp-pointed, sngarloaf, pyramidal style, averaging a height of 

 6 feet, and 5 feet in diameter at the hase, showing the plants must 

 have room ; hnt, as stated above, that may he no deterrent to the pos- 

 sessing and admiring of healthy little plants. 



I have hinted that there was a scarcity of flowering plants in pots, 

 hnt I had nearly forgotten one very attractive feature of a fine com- 

 hination of flowering and bedding plants in a hed, which seemed to 

 command great notice. At the entrance of a large tent Mr. Sheppard 

 had a large long parallelogram bed. raised something like a foot above 

 the grass level, and all the surface that conld be seen was clothed with 

 the greenest moss. In this bed a fine collection of bedding plants, 

 including the Tricolor Geraniums, &c., were arranged in circles, ovals, 

 triangles, and white-leaved and purple-leaved plants and Lobelias and 

 Alternantheras formed alihe the edging and the division to the groups, 

 with Echeverias and Sempervivums for an edging all round. The 

 whole bed, planted much on the same principle as the huge parterre 

 of Mr. Eobson, looked very tempting and pretty. I heard more 

 than one lady say, " I wish I conld lift it as it is," and that done in 

 pieces would not have been difficult, as I presume every, or almost 

 every, plant was in a pot, and the pot concealed by the moss. A vei-y 

 little difference in the arrangement would have presented a beautiful 

 symmetrical parterre, but Mr. Shepherd stated that that was less the 

 object than to get in rather a pretty way as good an assemblage and 

 variety of bedding plants as possible. I could at once see the difficulty 

 of thoroughly balancing' the fine group, as of some plants there were 

 few in number, but doing so would have rendered what was beautiful 

 still more complete and iinished. 



These meagi-e outlines of what was seen in a day chiefly devoted to 

 pleasure, will, I think, convince many, as it has convinced me, that if 

 the town of Bedford will it, it may become as distinguished for its 

 horticultural shows as it has already been distinguished for the clean- 

 liness of its streets, and the cheapness and the excellence of its educa- 

 tional institutions. — B. Fish. 



EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT ON THE 

 BRISBANE BOTANIC GARDEN. 



In the Experimental Department the plants of commercial value, 

 which have been enumerated in former reports, continue to thrive as 

 well as ever. Of these, particular mention may be made of the Indigo- 

 fera tinctoria (ludigo). the Rubia tinctorum (Madder), the Coffea 

 arabica (Coft'ee), the Tbea Bohea (Tea), the Zingiber officinalis 

 (Ginger), the Curcuma longa (Cardamom), the Amomum Melgueta 

 (Grain of Paradise), the IVIanihot utilissima (Cassava) ; the fibrous 

 plants — viz., the Jute (Corchorus capsularis), the Sun Hemp 

 (Crotalaria juneea), the Queensland Hemp (Sida retusa), the China 

 Grass Cloth Plant (Boihmeria nivea), etc. I have been careful in 

 cherishing the development of these- and kindred plants, and it is a 

 matter of satisfaction to know, that beneficial results will likely follow 

 from the increased interest evinced in their cultivation, as is shown 

 from the numerous applications for seeds and plants which have been 

 made during the past year. 



With respect to the valuable practical results that have followed the 

 introduction of several of this order of commercial and food plants, 

 it is a source of gratification to be able to state that in many instances 

 private enterprise has proved successful, the first experiment having 

 been made from seeds or plants procured from the gardens. This 

 especially applies to the articles Cotton and Sugar, which, as generally 

 known, are becoming year by year more important as staple exports of 

 this colony. It is to be hoped and trusted that other plants of com- 

 mercial value and importance, such as Coft'ee, Tea, Tobacco, &c., 

 may claim the attention of the settler, as they are no less a source of 

 profit, nor less easily cultivated, than the Sugar and Cotton plants. In 

 some of the districts — particularly on the sea coast — some thousands 

 of plants of the C' iffee have been distributed in response to applicatious ; 

 and without doubt we shall hear ere long of the plant being extensively, 

 if not generally cultivated. The demand for cuttings and young 

 plants of the Silkworms' trees, Morus alba and Morns mnlticaulis, is 

 greatly on the increase, more especially from East and West Moreton 

 and the Darling Downs districts. 



We have received during the past year hundreds of cuttings of 

 various valuable Grape Vines, and nearly all these, with several Ameri- 

 can varieties already on hand, have been distributed to persons em- 

 barking in the cultivation of the Vine. They are mostly wine-producirg 

 sorts. In the department of Sugar Canes, there has been an immense 

 demand for cuttings during the past year. From all the Sugar-growing 

 districts, the ai^plications have far exceeded any previous demand. 



The applications for various products of the gardens are largely on 

 the increase. The grand total of recipients of plants and seeds from 

 the gardens numbers 530 persons, irrespective of societies, or private 

 individuals where no such associations exist, who have from time to 

 time been supplied with seed, (fee, for purposes of distribution. Among 

 this number of persons 60,980 plants, cuttings, and packages of 

 seeds of various kinds have been supplied. 



It ia gratifyiBg to be enabled to report that a quantity of the Arto- 



carpus integrifolia (Jack fruit), and other useful plants, have been 

 planted by Commander Bedwell, R,N., during a cruise in the survey- 

 ing schooner " Pearl," on several of the islands bordering the coast. 



A Large Mdsheoom. — [" The cry is still, They come." — 

 Eds.] — This morning was brought to me a Mushroom of the 

 following dimensions : Circumference, 2 feet lOi inches ; dia- 

 meter, 1 foot ; weight, 1 lb. 5J ozs. It was gathered in a field 

 near the river Swale at Helperby, in the North Riding of Tork- 

 shire. — Henky Wilson. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEN GAKDEN. 



Ply the fork incessantly amongst the growing crops of Broc- 

 coli, Cauliflowers, and Winter Greeiis, and continue to manure 

 and trench up every piece of ground as it becomes vacant. 

 Prepare trenches for late Celery ; water the growing crops, and 

 stir the soil about them. Reserve and get ready a patch o£ 

 ground for the sowings of Cabbages to stand the winter ; the 

 soil should be of a light sandy nature, and not too rich, as it 

 encourages a luxuriant growth, which is apt to make them 

 tender. Plant out finally the strongest Endive from the early 

 Sowings, and sow also more for late crops; the Small Green 

 Curled is very good for the purpose. Garlic and SUallotif 

 should now be taken up and dried for storing. Sow also more 

 Lettuce, and keep up a good succession of Radishes and Salads. 

 Pull up the crops of winter Onions; lay them in rows with the 

 roots turned to the sun, and frequently turn them until the 

 stalks are withered, when they will be fit for storing; as they 

 are liable to decay if bruised, they should be carefully handled, 

 and not be thrown about like so many stones. Let them be very 

 dry when stored, and spread out very thinly, not laid in heaps. 

 The late-sown Peas should have attention paid to watering and 

 staking. 



rEUIT GAKDEN. 



Espalier Apples and Pears should have the leaders tied-in, 

 and the superfluous shoots spurred-in. Attend also to choice 

 Apples and Pears planted in the open quarters but not trained ; 

 remove superfluous shoots, and try the effect of tying down- 

 wards the points of some of the strongest shoots. It has a 

 very good efiect on trees inclined .to grow too luxuriantly. 

 Attend to stopping and nailing wall fruit trees in general, 

 and prosecute the thinning of Grapes on the open walls. Re- 

 move all runners from Strawberries not required for making 

 fresh plantations. 



FLOWEE GAEDEN. 



Dahlias which have attained a good size should now have their 

 side shoots properly thinned out. leaving three or four of the 

 strongest and best-set shoots. Examine the fastenings care- 

 fully ; if they have become too tight and are cutting the stem 

 remove them, and retie them with a stronger material, allow- 

 ing plenty of room to admit of the stem increasing in size» 

 See that the pots on the tops of the stakes are gone over every 

 morning, and destroy all the earwigs which are found. A little 

 soot sprinkled on the plants when wet with dew is an excellent 

 preventive to their ravages ; as long as th'it remains the ear- 

 wigs will not touch the foliage. Beds of Phlox Drummondi 

 and strong-growing varieties of Verbenas should have some 

 short busby twigs stuck amongst them, thereby afiording therQ 

 a little support as they grow up, and tending to preserve the 

 outline of the bed. Do not neglect surface-stirring this dry 

 weather ; for my own part I would rather see the surface of the 

 soil looking fresh and rather rough, and covered with little' 

 lumps of earth, than have it raked smoothly, and at the same 

 time as hard as if it were intended for a billiard table. The 

 rockery, a valuable adjunct to the flower garden, should now 

 have a thorough cleaning ; clear away all flower-stems and 

 dead leaves. A few stones had better be placed in front of the 

 tender-rooted species to afford a little shade and protection 

 from the powerful rays of the sun. Half-hardy plants put out 

 here in June should have iheir shoots spread out and peggedl 

 down. Nail the shoots of Fuchsias and Petunias to old stumps 

 or roots that may have been introduced amongst the roekwork j 

 treated in this way they produce a gay and pleasing effect 

 during the autumn months. Carnations and Picotees will re- 

 quire copious watering during the present dry weather. It will 

 be advisable to thoroughly moisten the soil contained in the 

 pots when moisture is applied, which is far better than the 

 little-and-often system. Earwigs are extremely destructive to 

 this class of flowers by eating off the lower part of the petals ; 



