280 



JOUENAIi OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GABDENEE. 



[ October 12, 1871. 



graceful objects. They are like bold castinga in bronze, in 

 their rigid symmetry and metallic hue. They are invaluable 

 subjects wherever beds have to be filled that are overrun with 

 roots of trees and shrubs, and probably overhung also by their 

 arms. I know no plant that delights more than this in such 

 circumstances. It picks up materials for luxuriant growth 

 where the soil is almost dust dry to the depth of a foot or more; 

 and its leaves accjnire the deepest bronze and the finest form 

 and size where the roots appear to have the least encourage- 

 ment. This in my opinion constitutes its chief value for open- 

 air gardening. It is hopeless to attempt flowering plants in 

 such circumstances, and yet it frequently happens that beds 

 have to be filled in which flowering plants cannot be expected 

 to succeed. 



This and other succulent subjects should be employed in 

 cases of this kind. The ground may be carpeted with the 

 beautiful little annuals, Sedum ejeruleum, S. dasyphyllum, 

 and others eaey to obtain and easy to keep, of similar dwarf 

 close habit ; and the Echeveria, if planted at free distances 

 over the surface which these will form, will have a pleasing 

 and interesting effect, a combination of soft colouring and 

 striking form. I have observed, as doubtless many have, that 

 the plants vary in character considerably from seed. They 

 vary in the size and shape of the leaves, some being narrower, 

 some broader, some crisped or wavy, and others quite smooth 

 ou the margin ; and the depth of metallic tinge varies as much 

 as anything. Whatever value these qualities may have, it 

 can only be seoured and perpetuated by means of cuttings. 

 This mode of propagation is not often resorted to. 



It appears to be almost the uniform practice of all to rear 

 what stock is wanted from seed. It is much less troublesome 

 to increase it by means of cuttings — no kind of plant is more 

 easily struck. The treatment is simple, and the necessary 

 appUances are common to the worst-appointed gardens. Leaves 

 make the best cuttings — those formed of flowering shoots are 

 apt to spindle too much, and be leggy. The leaves of flower 

 shoots just begun to push are the best ; they are quite large 

 enough, and can generally be got in sufScient quantity without 

 injury to the stock plants. The leaves should be pulled, not 

 cut off, and no trimming of the base will be found either 

 necessary or desirable. If any cut or wound is made on the 

 leaf in any way, it had better be laid aside to dry for some 

 time before being put in the soil — a few hours will do. Any 

 good sandy soil will do for striking them in — they will root in 

 anything. A cold frame to which air is continually admitted 

 is the best place to strike them in, and they may be put in 

 either pots or boxes; they receive less check, however, in being 

 potted on from the former if they are small thumbs or 60'3. 

 Whether pots or boxes be used, it will be best to plunge them 

 so as to do away with the necessity of watering till the roots 

 are struck, after which they may be given water sparingly as 

 they require. Much water snd a close atmosphere are condi- 

 tions to be avoided by all means. — W. S. — (The Gardener.) 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



DiSTBiBUTioN OF Pl4NI3. — We are requested to announce 

 that the First Commissioner of Her Majesty's Works and 

 Pnblic Buildings intends to distribute this autumn among the 

 working classes and the poor inhabitants of London, the sur- 

 plus bedding-out plants in Battersea, Hyde, the Eegent's, and 

 Victoria Parks, and in the Eoyal Gardens, Kew. If the Clergy, 

 School Committees, and others interested will make application 

 to the Superintendents of the parks nearest to their respective 

 parishes, or to the Director of the Boyal Gardens, Kew, in the 

 cases of persons residing in that neighbourhood, they will 

 receive early intimation of the number of plants that can be 

 allotted to each applicant, and of the time and manner of their 

 distribution. 



CoNTiNnous-ELOOMiNG AppLE Teees. — Late in January 



I planted several Apple trees in my garden, one of which is 

 quite a horticultural cariosity, for it has on it no less than four 

 distinct crops of Apples. The tree bloomed at the usual time 

 in spring, and it has continued to bloom up to the present date 

 (October 9tb), each time setting its fruit. In my neighbour- 

 hood there are several Denby's Seedling Plum trees with their 

 second crop of fruit, but I never heard of a continuous-bearing 

 Apple tree. Perhaps some one will kindly oblige me with the 

 reason of this curious phenomenon. — T. J. Haeeison, Farndon, 

 Chester. 



Mb. Fbedeeick Waieeeb. — It is seldom that it hap- 



pens that a man is admired and esteemed by everyone with 

 whom he comes in contact, yet few persons could be found 

 to deny that such were their feelings towards Frederick 

 Waterer. He was the eldest son of Mr. John Waterer, who 

 laboured with such assiduity and to such good purpose for so 

 many years at the American Nursery at Bagahot. Here are 

 grown those splendid Ehododendrons which excite so much 

 admiration at the annual shows of the Eoyal Botanic Society^ 

 the result, in a great measure, of Frederick Waterer's skiU. 

 On the death of his father three years ago, Frederick, together 

 with his brothers Michael and John, were left in possession oi 

 the business. Michael, however, withdrew, and thus the sub- 

 ject of our memoir was left co-partner with his younger brother 

 John. He had been warned by his medical adviser that it 

 was necessary for him to exercise great caution, as it was pro- 

 bable that his death might happen suddenly. On Tuesday, 

 October 3i-d, he retired to rest in his accustomed health, and in 

 the morning of October 4th he was found dead. He was only 

 forty-nine. 



PLANTS SUITABLE FOR TABLE 

 DECORATION. 



Those who have never seen a dinner-table adorned witb 

 Crotons, Coleuses, and Caladium argyrites, can scarcely form a 

 right idea of their exceeding loveliness, while those who have- 

 seen them will look upon them as old friends not to he discarded^ 

 W^hether all be seen on the table at one time or in company with 

 other plants, or each variety separately, with epergnes and such- 

 like things, they cannot but give satisfaction to the beholder. 

 Moreover, they have this to recommend them — they are easy to- 

 grow, and their colour is never better than when they are fairly- 

 established in small pots, and they will remain in good conditioQ' 

 a long time without shifting into larger pots. 



All the Ckotoxs may be made useful for the dinner-table, but- 

 those best adapted for that prupose are C. variegatum, G. varie- 

 gatum longifolium, and 0. angustifoUum, especially the two last. 

 I always make it a rule to strike a few of each kind every year;. 

 November is the month I choose. Having prepared a few pots- 

 of peat, loam, and silver sand in equal parts, with bell-glasses to 

 cover with, I take off the cuttings with a stem 4 inches long,, 

 and insert them about 2 inches deep. Here they may remain 

 three or four weeks, after which time the glasses may be taken; 

 off and the pots allowed to remain as they are until about the 

 middle of February, when they wiU be in good condition for 

 potting-off singly in clean di-y 3-inch pots, using a- mixture of 

 two parts loam, one part peat, and one part rotted dung, with a 

 good sprinlding of silver sand. In about six weeks or two months- 

 they will reqiiire shifting into pots a size larger, using the same 

 soil as before. 



I have generally fotmd Crotons to make nice-shaped plauta- 

 without any pinching whatever. C. variegatum forms a pyramid, 

 but if they should not break and grow into the desired shape, 

 the top must be pinched off when about 9 inches high ; they wilt. 

 then send out branches near the bottom. Much better plants,, 

 and a much brighter colour, are got by striking in the autunm 

 instead of in spring. When the plants have grown too large 

 for the table, or require larger pots, their beauty in the stove or 

 conservatory will repay for all the care that has been taken of 

 them. It will be found that the Croton dehghts in a good turfj" 

 loam. 



CoLEUS Vekschaffelti. — This is a most useful plant for the; 

 dinner-table, and has much to recommend it ; first, it is very- 

 easy to cultivate where a stove or warm frame is at hand r. 

 secondly, it may be had at any time of the year by a little fore- 

 thought in striking ; and, thirdly, its heanty is improved by 

 candle-hght rather than otherwise. One way of growing this- 

 Coleus is to pinch it at every joint (or nearly so), but I have- 

 generally found it ready enough to break out into the pyramidal 

 shape without any pinching whatever. This shape I consider 

 looks best on the table, and the leaves are a much larger size- 

 than when pinching is resorted to. Where plants are required 

 for the table at all times of the year, it is a good plan to strike a 

 few cuttings very often, say every two months ; they will strike- 

 standing about in the stove or in a dung-frame. As soon as they 

 are rooted, pot off into small pots ; and as soon as the pots are- 

 nearly full of roots, shift them to the size pot you use on the table 

 — 4-inch pots are large enough ; keep them near the glass, and. 

 never. shade after they are rooted, or they will not be so dark 

 in colour as when fully exposed to the sun. Loam, leaf mould, 

 and dung in equal pai'ts, with a sprinlding of silver sand, is a, 

 irood mixture for them ; and when their work on the table is 



