September 22, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



221 



or continuous vase plant, as its graceful habit, when the plant 

 is really good, cannot well be improved upon. 



Of plants which may be temporarily placed in such a posi- 

 tion for the winter, the most effective we have is Helleborus 

 fcetidus, a Palm-like plant with dark green foliage. It flowers 

 in midwinter or very early in spring, and has well-shaped pale 

 green blooms, the contrast of the two hues being very effective. 

 The plant is easy of transplantation, its numerous fibrous 

 roots allowing of its removal almost without injury, and it is 

 amongst the hardiest of the hardy. Some of the Sempervi- 

 vums are also suitable for outer edgings, but I have only used 

 S. californicum and S. globiferum, these and Sedum glaucum 

 being sufficient, in general, as dwarf plants, for it is not unusual 

 to plant bulbs and early spring-flowering plants in such places. 

 Among the latter the whole family of Primula affords great 

 diversity, as well as the variegated and plain-leaved Arabis 

 albida ; in faot, this class of plants may be extended to aDy 

 length, for in a large vase or basket evergreen shrubs of more 

 kinds than one may be so employed, as well as the hardy early- 

 flowering plants. 



I now come to plants not fitted for vase work in summer, 

 and as the negative here is as important as the affirmative, I 

 believe the following may be considered as unsuitable, although 

 they rank amongst the greatest ornaments of the garden at the 

 time tbey are in bloom. Calceolarias, Verbenas, and Agera- 

 tums all require more support than they can obtain in a vase, 

 and the same may be said of Lobelias, Salvias, Nierembergias, 

 and some other plants of strong growth, as Pentstemons, most 

 of the Fuchsias, and Petunias, excepting where they have 

 plenty of room. Few annuals do well, exoepting dwarf French 

 Marigolds, but I have sometimes been successful with several 

 of the summer annual creepers, as Lophospermum, Maurandya, 

 and the Canary plant ; but generally they present an immense 

 bump just over the collar of the plant, and the shoots seem 

 rather inclined to plait themselves into a sort of thong rather 

 than to spread out in a graceful manner, like the Ivy-leaved 

 Geranium ; consequently I now rarely use them, but it is 

 possible some of the newer annuals may be better adapted for 

 the purpose. Only such, however, as are capable of thriving 

 on a limited supply of food are admissible. 



The list of vase and basket plants which I have given is far 

 from complete, and I shall be glad if others will supplement it 

 with the names of plants which they have found suitable. — 

 J. Robson. 



P.S. — In page 197, second column, ninth line, for "lawn 

 drain " read " sewer drain."— J. R. 



THE NEW GRAPES. 



Some time ago a correspondent of "our Journal" com- 

 plained of his being unsuccessful in making plants from eyes 

 of the White Lady Downe's Grape. I wrote to Mr. Methven, 

 who kindly supplied me with some eyes, and every eye became 

 a plant. This variety is late in starting, as stated by Mr. 

 Thomson and Mr. Methven, but good in constitution, and in 

 all respects equal to that good Vine, the Black Lady Downe's. 

 I recommend all to try it. No bottom heat was used, I never 

 do employ it, as more fruitful hardy plants are obtained with- 

 out it. 



Madresfield Court is excellent in constitution, as free as 

 Frankenthal — in my estimation the best of all the Hamburghs. 

 This is growing strongly and well out of doors against a wooden 

 fence with a south aspect, and on this stock I graft my Vines 

 grown under glass. I offer Mr. Cox, the raiser, my thanks. I 

 think very highly of this Grape. 



Golden Champion is equally satisfactory, and succeeds per- 

 fectly in a house without fire heat. Of my grafted Vines fruit- 

 ing I cannot yet speak. This has been stated to be the largest 

 white Grape ; it is a noble fruit, but not so large as Canon 

 Hall Muscat. 



Of Mrs. Pince, the grafted plants still maintain the first 

 place ; this I recommend. 



Royal Black, Perpetual Grape, or Royal Ascot is very free ; the 

 smallest eyes soon make good plants suitable for pot Vines. I 

 have large plants variously grafted ; of them anon. In January 

 last a brother amateur sent me some good eyes. I was very 

 successful in rooting them, growing them on in the same way 

 as softwooded plants for flowering, and stopping them. Al- 

 though this seemed a " very fast " proceeding, I also read in a 

 catalogue now before me that " on the 28th of May, 1868, a 

 house was planted with small canes raised from eyes since the 

 February of the same year (i.e., 1868), which in the October 



following had an abundant crop about the size of marbles to 

 ripen during the winter months." I have many plants of this 

 Vine, and if it be possible for it to perform in such a manner, 

 it will be the best of all Vines for thousands of small Grape- 

 growers, and the raiser deserves public thanks. With me 

 the laterals have not given any fruit, and the plants seem 

 likely only to break at the upper three or four buds of the 

 rods. I send some leaves and three of the laterals for the in- 

 spection of the Editors, to show the health and vigour of the 

 Vines, and I shall be glad of information as to growing the 

 Royal Ascot in this manner, as so far, with me at least, it is a 

 failure. I shall, however, try again and again if any hopes of 

 success appear, and report progress. — R. M. W;Fir View, near 

 Sheffield. 



BEDDING GERANIUMS. 



As mentioned recently in your columns, this has been an ex- 

 ceptional season for bedding plants, but I send a few notes which 

 may be of interest to some of your readers, having seen all the 

 best new and old varieties of Geraniums bedded out and grown 

 as pot plants. I would certainly advise your correspondent 

 Mr. Peach to give them a trial. 



First I will notice the scarlet zonal Jean Sisley, which will 

 surely become the favourite. It stands the weather better than 

 Vesuvius, has a finer-shaped flower with a large, conspicuous 

 white eye, and in brilliancy of colour excels all other Gera- 

 niums that I have seen either as a bedding or a pot plant. 



Next I will speak of the Stella class. Geant des Batailles is 

 the most abundant bloomer I ever saw, being a great improve- 

 ment on Vesta, Bayard, Waltham Seedling, and many others 

 of this class. The colour is more intense, and the plant never 

 exceeds about 8 inches in height. Charlie Casbon is an im- 

 provement on Lady Constance Grosvenor, Cybister, and many 

 others ; it is a most profuse bloomer, produces fine trusses, is 

 very dwarf, and must take the place of the above. 



Of semi or Hybrid Nosegays Claude Lorraine is an improve- 

 ment on Dr. Hogg, for its colour is splendid ; the plant is of 

 a fine habit of growth, and the flower of a nice shape ; it is the 

 first nearly purple Geranium sent out. Docteur Muret has 

 orange-scarlet blooms of immense size, and is a very fine 

 grower. Everyone ought to grow it as a bedding or a pot plant 

 on account of the large size of its blooms. 



There has been of late a great stride in the Christine class, 

 Beauty of Lee being a first-rate bedder, also a good pot plant ; 

 it is of the most intense bright scarlet pink, a good grower, and 

 the best for large beds. Having seen Magenta Christine, Ad- 

 vancer, Mrs. C. Custons, and Beautfi de Suresnes growing side 

 by side, I find Magenta Christine is the best bloomer ; the 

 trusses are smaller, but very abundantly produced. For small 

 beds this is a gem. Advancer stands next ; it is a self-coloured 

 flower, and good for general bedding purposes. There is a 

 variety not yet sent out called Master Christine, which will no 

 doubt eclipse all in this section, and will therefore take their 

 place, being the most abundant bloomer and the richest in 

 colour of any. I have seen this in all stages of growth, likewise 

 at the South Kensington Exhibition, where it was awarded a 

 first-class certificate, and was admired by everyone who saw it. 



I will now notice the white section. Having seen Purity, 

 White Perfection, Madame Martha Vincent, White Wonder, 

 and Turner's Bride, I find the last the best, it being a fair 

 bedder and a good pot plant. The flowers are large and cir- 

 cular, with broad overlapping petals, and far superior to any of 

 the Madame Vaucher class. 



Before closing these few notes I will refer to bedding Tri- 

 colors. It has been a most trying season for this class, a great 

 many losing their colour and foliage. Lady Cullnm and Flo 

 rence certainly retain their colour the best ; the latter is the 

 better of the two. 



Of the Golden Bronze bedding varieties which are now 

 acquiring a fine colour I may mention Plutus, Sybil, Rev. Mr. 

 Radclyffe, Kentish Hero, and Crown Prince. The last-named 

 takes the lead for every purpose, its colour being amongst the 

 most intense ; yet it stands the sun admirably, always retaining 

 its splendid zone, and is in every way distinct from the older 

 varieties. 



Of the plain yellow-leaved section I have taken much notice 

 of Creed's Seedling, which is a most profuse bloomer, producing 

 a number of scarlet blooms long and continuously, and the 

 plant rarely exceeds about 8 inches in height. It makes a 

 splendid bed. Of Yellow Boy, Golden Beauty, Star of Gold, 

 Golden Emperor, Golden Queen, Yellow Sovereign, Little Golden 



