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JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ September 22, 1870. 



regard to acquiring a stock of Heliotropes. I see from some of 

 the catalogues that half a dozen cuttings of the best varieties 

 will be sent for a dozen stamps, and half a dozen is a large- 

 enough stock for any greenhouse. I am satisfied that to inex- 

 perienced amateurs, such as I am, a shilling's worth of Helio- 

 tropes will afford as much pleasure as a pound's worth of plants 

 of a rarer kind ; not that I mean to disparage the latter, but 

 when cuttings of Heliotropes and other plants are to be obtained 

 at such a cheap rate, no one need be at a loss in regard to 

 stocking a greenhouse. 



It will be at once apparent that I am writing for the encou- 

 ragement of amateurs as poor as myself, but who do not happen 

 to have as much experience — not that I have much. Indeed, 

 I am not without my fears that your learned readers may be 

 shocked by some things wfiich appear in my paper. I can 

 only say, I am not learned, but am learning, and hope some 

 day to be able to entertain a more highly educated class of your 

 readers than I am addressing at present.— H. S. 



PLANTS FOR BASKETS AND VASES. 

 (Concluded from paye 198.) 



TcopiEOLUiis. — After trying a great number of varieties, in- 

 cluding a fair proportion of seedlings, I am sorry I cannot give 

 them such a good character as I should like. That they flower 

 abundantly cannot be denied, and even the varieties whoBe prin- 

 cipal fault when grown in the open ground is the great length 

 of their leafstalks hiding or concealing so much of the flower, 

 are not objectionable in the vase ; but the trailing Tropaaolums 

 never seem to me to be at home in such a place; the long 

 dangling shoots are few in number, and hang in anything but a 

 graceful manner, struggling to move up and catch hold of some- 

 thing for support, and every wind tosses them about iu a 

 manner that soon renders them the reverse of beautiful. The 

 place for a trailing Tropa>olum is where it can cling to some- 

 thing for support, and ramble over roots or amongst branches, 

 instead of hanging in mid air. The dwarfer varieties, however, 

 are more at home in vases ; they flower, perhaps, more abund- 

 antly than when in the open ground, and the habit is all that 

 can be desired. Perhaps a few short branching sticks put in 

 amongst them may help to secure them against high winds 

 where much exposed, for they are not very strong at the neck, 

 but in general their compact growth renders them easily 

 managed, and nothing can exceed their abundant blooming. 

 The yellow varieties, perhaps, exceed the scarlet in this respect, 

 and certainly they are more useful, as yellow-flowered vase 

 plants are the less plentiful ; but there are some dark-coloured 

 varieties as well, and many intermediate shades. A good white 

 Tropceolum would be valuable ; perhaps there may be one, but 

 I have not seen it. 



Cuphea platyoentea. — Differing widely from the above is 

 this plant, which I would not recommend as a competitor to 

 the Geranium in every place, but where there is a vase in a 

 shady situation it comes in very well ; it is also good late in 

 the season, flowering during the autumn until a nipping frost 

 cuts it off, but rain does not seem to injure it. Its spreading 

 habit renders it suitable for occupying a vase by itself with- 

 out the accompaniment of other plants, but I have known a 

 white-flowered Ivy-leaved Geranium look well when employed 

 as an edging to it, and the plant next mentioned is also well 

 suited for the same purpose. 



Akctoiis eepens. — This has never become so popular for 

 bedding as it deserves to be, but as an edging to other plants 

 in a vase or basket it is valuable. Its beautifully frosted stems 

 and foliage differ widely from those of ordinary pendent plants ; 

 indeed, its growth shows but little indication of hanging, as it 

 extends horizontally from the edge of the vase, forming a sort 

 of frame or guard to the centre, in the same manner as the 

 guard petals of the Anemone or Hollyhock. Without pruning 

 or training it gives a star-like outline to the vase, setting off 

 to advantage a cluster of Ecarlet or other dark-flowered Gera- 

 niums. It may be used with advantage as an edging to most 

 plants having green or dark-coloured foliage. It is not hardy, 

 although it will bear a considerable amount of cold. This 

 Arctotis is easily propagated, for when lying on the ground 

 every joint strikes root. As an edging, it requires but little 

 trimming, excepting, perhaps, directing some of the wayward 

 shoots, and picking off a few of the old leaves in the centre of 

 the plant, which have a tendency to become brown during the 

 summer months. This, however, is not always the case, and 

 in the present season there seems to be less browning than 



usual ; indeed, I have never seen anything to complain of it 

 as a vase plant on that account. 



Seduji Fabaeia. — The sturdy habit of this plant, its glau- 

 cous foliage, and its free- flowering character, entitle it to 

 mention as a vase plant, and its value is further enhanced by 

 its being perfectly hardy, plants in vases having survived the 

 winter and grown wsll. For very small vases, where only one 

 plant can be employed, I do not know anything better than 

 this ; and in a larger vase, if edged with some other plant, it 

 is also of great service, as it never has an untidy appearance. 

 It is astonishing how large a plant of this will grow and flower 

 in a small vase, requiring no support nor attention of any kind 

 save watering ; but even if this be neglected, the plant seems to 

 bear neglect better than many of its class. The flowers are 

 also numerous, and, though not bright, are elegant. There 

 are some other species of Sedum resembling this in outward 

 form, but not so well adapted for the purpose, but I have never 

 been able to make much of the dwarfer or horizontal-growing 

 kinds. S. azoricum variegatum is not so satisfactory, neither 

 is B. Sieboldi variegatum, there not being sufficient clearness 

 in the white colour of either; and S. Kfempferi is likewise 

 only an inferior kind, while S. glaucum is more ornamental in 

 winter, its extreme dwarfness rendering it only useful for cover- 

 ing the ground. Other species are only suited for the same 

 purpose. 



Poetulacas. — Bright, gay, and varied to a degree not equalled 

 by any other plant, these highly-ornamental annuals are, 

 nevertheless, somewhat capricious. In 1868 I had some very 

 good examples in vases of very limited size, but they were very 

 small both last year and in some previous seasons, and I can 

 therefore only give them a qualified recommendation. For 

 very small vases, however, they may be tried, and may do well, 

 requiring no attention after planting beyond watering at times, 

 and picking the dead flowers off to prevent the plant exhausting 

 itself with seeding. The extreme brightness of the colours of 

 the flowers cannot well be matched in anything else, and when 

 at their best the Portulacas are everyone's favourites. 



Mesehbkyanihemums. — A small-leaved species named, I be- 

 lieve, insigne, has often been used here as an edging to plants 

 of more robust growth. It is a compact-growing and elegant 

 plant, with abundance of starry flowers of the richest magenta 

 colour. It is nearly hardy, not unfrequently withstanding the 

 winter even in an exposed vase. Other Mesembryanthemums 

 of more robust growth may be tried, but I have not found any 

 equal to insigne for general usefulness. 



Centaueea gymnocaepa. — The fine habit and form of this 

 render it suitable for planting as a centre, to be surrounded by 

 some other plant of a darker colour ; but it requires somewhat 

 more nourishment than the majority of vase plants. It is 

 superior to C. candidissima for general effect, nevertheless I 

 would not recommend it excepting where variety is wanted. 



Ieesine Heebstii is late in coming into fine condition, un- 

 less good plants are put in at first, but with liberal treatment 

 and a favourable autumn it is often very effective. It stands 

 the wind better than the Coleus, and is a good autumn plant, 

 perhaps the best in its way. 



Echevekia hetallica and other, species are better fitted for 

 a sheltered corner or small formal bed than for vases, where 

 E. secunda is held in great esteem. I have seen a rather good 

 effect produced by planting a number of small or middle-sized 

 plants of E. metallica around the edge of a vase, with a large 

 centre plant of another species, I believe an Aloe ; but I am 

 not an admirer of such plants in general, and hardly think the 

 vase a suitable place for them. 



Having now run through most of the subjects usually planted 

 out for summer effect, I come now to hardy plants, which may 

 be used either for winter display, or to occupy a permanent 

 position. For the latter purpose some variegated Ivies are 

 useful, and a good-sized vase with a Fuchsia in the centre and 

 Ivies hanging round the outside is by no means a bad arrange- 

 ment, for though the Fuchsia may die down in winter, the vase 

 will still be furnished, and the Fuchsia spring up again in sum- 

 mer. The Japanese Enonymuses may also be employed in tho 

 same way, and there is certainly less likelihood of their run- 

 ning into the green state when they are so treated. Much has 

 been said of the value of Vinca elegantissima for this purpose, 

 but it is not without its drawback, as the shoots, by dying off 

 in winter, necessitate a new growth, which, by first rising up- 

 wards, does not acquire a pendent character until the summer 

 is far advanced, especially if the plants are cramped for room, 

 and, perhaps, imperfectly supplied with water; nevertheless, 

 I think the variegated Yinca will have to rank high as a winter 



