.July 28, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



61" 



the flower garden is displayed in the most favourable manner, 

 and none of its finest features is lost. In contrast to this, I 

 may instanoe another ease where a fine walk passing through 

 grounds of great extent, past handsome shrubs, and under 

 noble trees, leads to a small flower garden of such pnny 

 dimensions as to be out of all proportion to its surroundings ; 

 but what tends more than anything 6lse to completely spoil 

 the entire effect is, that one corner of the design becomes 

 visible first, and, consequently, a sort of diagonal view across 

 the beds is all that this fine walk commands, and the im- 

 pression conveyed to the mind is one of disappointment. 



Another important feature is the position of the shrubs near 

 it ; many gardens are enclosed by a belt of sbrubs, and these, 

 by the exercise of a little care in planting, and in their after- 

 management, contribute very much to the general effect. In 

 such a belt the two front rows should ba planted in quincunx — 

 that is, every shrub in one line should be opposite the space 

 between two plants in the other ; they should also bo far 

 enough apart and well back from the beds to admit of their 

 gradual formation into fine handsome specimens. These 

 shrubs should not possess variegated foliage, but should be of 

 a deep green. Of all hardy Bhrubs I know none to equal the 

 Portugal Laurel for such a position ; the handsome outline 

 and deep hue of its foliage, and the ease with which the fiueBt 

 proportions may be imparted to it by the use of the pruning- 

 knife alone— all tend to recommend it as the best shrub to use 

 for this purpose. The common Laurel may have its admirers, 

 but I think if a fair comparison of the two kinds be made, the 

 deeper colour of the foliage, and the more elegant growth of 

 the Portugal Laurel will cause it to find favour with the 

 majority. 



With regard to the introduction of Roses into the flower 

 garden, while objecting to their use in such quantities as would 

 influence or affect the oolouiing of the design, it is by no means 

 intended to assert that some may not be used, and that with 

 the happiest effect in certain instances. I can remember one 

 such, where a small flower garden was laid out on a somewhat 

 confined lawn, shut in by walls on three sides, and with the 

 residence on the fourth. Now, the wall opposite the house 

 was a low unsightly object with a public road close outside ; 

 and to conceal the wall and obtain a higher screen a row of 

 shrubs was planted close to its inner side. This had tbe de- 

 sired effect ; but as there was only space for one line of shrubs, 

 its aspect was that of a formal hedge. To break up this stiff 

 outline, a double line of dwarf conical Rose trees planted thinly 

 produced a pleasing effect; the handsome form of the plants 

 tapering upwards from the turf, with their clusters of flowers, 

 instead of detracting aught from the design, contributed mate- 

 rially to its finish and beauty. 



Vases are almost always out of place in a flower garden ; in 

 fact, it may be stated broadly that nothing should be introduced 

 into the garden itself, in its surroundings, or in the approach 

 to it, but what is so quiet in tone and appearance as to make 

 it entirely subordinate to the garden itself. Ono other word as 

 to the garden seats. These should be of a simple but elegant 

 form, and painted of a quiet neutral tint. Nothing can possibly 

 be in worse taste than tbe lively green colour but too often 

 visible on such seats. — Edwakd Luckhukst, Egerton Souse 

 Gardens, Kent, 



CALADIUM ESCULENTTJM AS A VEGETABLE. 



Travelling north through Philadelphia last summer, I 

 noticed in the 'gardens, grown as an ornamental plant, our 

 common Tanyah (Caladium esculentum). I had no idea it 

 would thrive so well so far north. The leaves were not nearly 

 so large as we have them here sometimes, for I have seen them 

 in favourable localities 3 feet long, and at least 2 feet wide. 

 Here we use it as a vegetable, and think it excellent washed 

 and roasted, as Potatoes are sometimes, with the skins on. 



When living in the north many years ago, we used to dig 

 up in woods roots called Indian Turnips, and bake them in 

 ashes which we made by kindling a fire in the woods. The 

 root of this plant tastes very much like those Indian Turnips, 

 which will give a good idea of them to those who have no know- 

 ledge of them. 



A rich, wet soil, seems to suit them best. In this they furnish 

 one big root and make many offsets in the manner of the com- 

 mon Tuberose, which side shoots make the sprouts for the 

 next year's crop. Besides this, the roots can be more rapidly 

 increased by dividing them into four, and perhaps more, as 

 yon would do a Rhubarb root. 



I am told by a friend, that plants can be raised from the 

 leaves, the leafstalks rooting in warm, wet soil, but of this I 

 have no knowledge of my own. I think if you were to try that 

 as a vegetable crop in your gardens, it might add one more to 

 the many pleasant table dishes I so much enjoyed in my last 

 summer's trip. — (American Gardener's Monthly ) 



OKEFORD FITZPAINE. 



I feel confident that the name of my kind and valued friend 

 Mr. Radcljffo is so well known, and his opinion on those points 

 of horticulture which he makes his special study so much 

 valued, that a slight record of my annual visit will be accept- 

 able to the readers of the Journal. Many will like to know 

 how he has fared in this strange season, and whether the 

 opinions ho has advanced and the dicta he has laid down have 

 been in any way altered by the experience of the present year. 



It has probably been thought by many who have read his 

 enthusiastic remarks on tho Rose, that he is revelling in some 

 rich, unctuous, loamy soil, such as makes Rose-growing in 

 Hertfordshire a comparatively easy matter ; but I have endea- 

 voured always to correct this notion. His soil is anything but 

 a congenial one, and were it not for his use of the Manetti, and 

 his excessive attention to the wants of bis Roses at all seasons, 

 ho could not possibly succeed. I do not believe the Briar 

 would do at all there, and where that i3 the case I need not say 

 it cannot be said to be a good Rose soil. Then, again, he licks 

 the shelter in some parts of tbe garden that the Rose ought to 

 have, provided that shelter be not caused by overhanging trees ; 

 as I have before explained, a great part of the garden lies open 

 to the S.W. wind, the prevailing wind here, and which sweeps 

 into it with the force of a hurricane, so that his canvas cover- 

 ing for his Peach trees has been often torn to shreds, and once, 

 as we know, his brick wall was blown down. 



I did not come here at this date (July loth), to see Roses, 

 for I knew from my own grrden that was out of the question ; 

 indeed, the first bloom of Rases must be generally over by now, 

 and we are on the look-out for those fine long shoots and that 

 fresh growth of young wood which will give us good blooms in 

 August and September. The French term remontant is much 

 more expressive of their character than Hybrid Perpetual ; they 

 are not perpetual, but they do what no summer Rose does- 

 throw out fresh shoots and give a second bloomiDg season. 

 But I came to see the Rose trees, and certainly no one could 

 look at the debris of Roses on the bushes, the immense and 

 overflowing clusters of dead blooms, and fail to lament not 

 having been to fee them in their beauty — no symptoms of the 

 effects of drought, but everything in the most vigorous state. 

 As to the yellows, it is impossible to conceive anything more 

 vigorous. Triomphe de Rennes is a marvel of beauty. There 

 were six plants of this flower in front of the greenhouse and 

 three of Isabella. Gray, which formed a complete hedge — shoots, 

 fresh shoots 4 and 5 fett long, with great clusters of blooma at 

 the head of them, while hundreds had died away. Isabella 

 Gray is too hard-hearted to display her charms, and so with a 

 true Henry VIII. short and easy method Mr. Radclyffe is going 

 to have her head off and bud Marechal Niel, which is doubtless 

 one of her own children, on her decapitated trunk. He is no 

 admirer of novelties, " varieties without variation," as he 

 styles them, so that they are not to be seen here in great 

 quantities, but when he does get a novelty that he likes he goes 

 in for it with a vengeance. He has lately highly extolled Felix 

 Genero, and although my friend Mr. Peach does not agree with 

 bim, I (if Mr. Peach will allow me to be anything of a judge), 

 think that the balance lie3 with Mr. Radclyffe. It is a good 

 Rose in my opinion. Its shape is admirable, notwithstanding 

 the row of outer petals being often small ; its colour is not red, 

 but a lilac rose ; and it is a free and good bloomer. As to the 

 test which Mr. Peach would submit it to, I fanoy very few 

 Roses would stand that — certainly Charles Lefebvre and Ba- 

 roness de Rothschild would not, yet would Mr. Pea^h discard 

 these? Now, so convinced is Mr. Radcljffe of Felix Genero 

 being a good Rose, that he is going in for fifty of it. And thi3 

 is the way which he adopts with really good Roses. Charles 

 Lefebvre aud Jules Margottin are to bo seen by hundreds, and 

 Comtesse de Chabrillant, John Hopper, and others by dozens. 

 He is equally determined in his proceedings when a Rose dis- 

 appoints him. Mdlle. Marie Cirodde was highly recommended 

 to him ; he bought a dozen, but Bhe is a "vaut rien" and so 

 off she goes this season. He, however, retains some kinds 

 that others have discarded, such as Dae de G»zes and Souvenir 



