November 1, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



349 



to among rosarians (I do not Bpeak of English raisers, but of 

 foreigners). I remember some years ago tbe elder Margottin 

 of Bourg-la-Reine saying to me that he thought we were getting 

 too much of the blood of Gereal Jacqueminot amongst our 

 Roses, and that he was going to try back, at the same time 

 showing to me the plants from which he was hoping to obtain 

 seed ; but he has obtained nothing since that year of any value. 

 We read indeed of such a Rose that it is the " issu de Jules 

 Margottin," or " Victor Verdier," &o., but I think that simply 

 means that the heps have been gathered from these varieties, 

 not that they have been hybridised ; my own impression (it 

 may be a wrong one) being that this is not in any appreciable 

 degree resorted to by our neighbours. There is one thing in 

 connection with this Rose that I would notice, and that is the 

 miserable caricature of it that appears in the " Journal des 

 Roses." I remember when I edited the " Floral Magazine " 

 how often I used to be bantered about Andrews' figures of 

 Roses, and how often the superiority of the foreign artists 

 was lauded. Well, take this plate for an example, and can 

 anything be more wretched? Neither in form, colour, or 

 foliage is it a bit like the Rose, and I am sure that neither 

 Fitch, Worthington Smith, Burbidge, or McFarlane would 

 venture to turn out such a production. Whatever they may 

 do in other matters, we certainly cannot say of the figuring of 

 Roses " they do these things better in France." — D., Deal. 



ADIANTUM FARLEYENSE. 



It is a gem amongst Ferns, and by this time has found its 

 way into almost every collection ; and when for the first time 

 a plant is procured we justly regard it as a treasure that 

 requires our tenderest oare to develops it into all its natural 

 grace and beauty. It is truly the queen of its genus, and 

 those distinct qualities whioh it possesses render a special note 

 on its successful culture desirable. 



The plant is certainly of easy growth, for in the hands of 

 nearly all Fern-growers no difficulty is experienced in pro- 

 ducing fine healthy fronds. But still it is a fact that many 

 cannot succeed with it ; in this case undoubtedly the disappoint- 

 ment of the gardener is equal to that of the employer. Some- 

 times I have found it in a cold fernery, sometimes in a green- 

 house, and planted out as a rockery plant ; it is seldom to be 

 found in perfection in such situations as those. It is extremely 

 tender and delicate when sent out by the trade, and a oheck is 

 often given in transit which is not soon remedied. It delights 

 in a shady quiet atmosphere — no sun, no draughts, and a 

 close barrier between the plants and hot pipes. I find it is a 

 good plan to have the stage slated ovar and covered with a 

 layer of gravel, or cocoa-nut fibre refuse, which I give the 

 preference to. Afterwards I place the plants on inverted pots ; 

 this brings the plants 12 inches higher than the ordinary level 

 of the stage plants, and affords ample room for the Ferns, and 

 enables their graceful weeping to be admired from all sides. 



In paying a neighbourly visit to some of my friends I in- 

 variably find this Fern potted in a compost which is anything 

 but suited to its requirements. On one occasion I discovered 

 it potted in bog peat and silver sand. On such discoveries I 

 invariably recommend the Journal of Horticulture as a remedy 

 for such vexing mistakes. The standard compost for this 

 Fern is usually peat, loam, and charcoal in equal partB. It 

 should be thoroughly mixed, open, and rough. In this they 

 will grow vigorously. Care should be taken in the drainage ; 

 if defective the pots become waterlogged. In potting I have 

 found it a good practice to keep the stool of the plant rather 

 high, as the fronds come more vigorous. When the pots be- 

 come filled with roots I find liberal watering requisite, still 

 given by one, however, who knows from experience when to 

 withhold and when to give. 



P.S. — Have any of your correspondents noticed A. farleyense 

 to produce seed spores? I have carefully watched it, but so 

 far in vain. — John Boxd, Balbriggan. 



SILVER BEET. 

 This Beet is not so much grown as it should be. It is a 

 very excellent vegetable. We have been using it since June, 

 and shall continue using it for some time longer yet. Three 

 long rows of it were sown with the other Beets at the end of 

 April. The plants were thinned out to fully a foot apart, as 

 it produces a bushy head of green leaves, each of which have 

 a very large broad midrib pure white in colour. This is the 

 part that is used. It is. cooked precisely the same as Seakale, 



and many tasting it for the first time take it for this vegetable ; 

 but it is much better than Seakale, and it is much longer in 

 season, and also requires less attention in cultivation. — 

 A Kitchen Gabdener. 



A EOSELESS AUTUMN. 



I venture to write a line to say how the Roses have done 

 this autumn in the eastern counties. I am surprised to see in 

 your Journal of October 18th in a letter by Mr. J. W. Moor- 

 man that Messrs. Fish and W. Paul have found this such a 

 Roseless autumn. I am glad to say that this has not been 

 the case by any means here. I quite agree with Mr. Moor- 

 man with regard to the autumn Roses this year. I never 

 had such blooms before of such size, Buch substance, so abun- 

 dant, or of so good a colour, that it was impossible to mietake 

 what a Rose really was, as is so often the case with autumn 

 blooms. 



I will mention a few of the varieties which have done very 

 well. I will begin with the Teas, which I may say have all 

 bloomed abundantly, but especially Marie Van Houtte, Madame 

 Camille, Catherine Mermet, Niphetos, Souvenir d'Elise, and 

 the beautiful though much despised, at least by some, Cheshunt 

 Hybrid. Of the Hybrid Perpetuals, Marie Baumann, Marquise 

 de Castellane, E. Y. Teas (which I think will soon vie with 

 Marie Baumann for first place in the Rose election), Madame 

 Victor Verdier, Capitaine Christy, La France, Auguste Rigotard, 

 Dr. Andry, Comtesse d'Oxford, Jules Margottin, and Comtesse 

 de Serenye have been most conspicuous ; but I could name 

 several more, which would make this letter too long, but I must 

 not omit the Baroness, which has been splendid — much better 

 here this autumn than in the summer, when she was thin. 



My soil is a stiff heavy loam, and, of course, good for Rose 

 culture ; but I attribute the beautiful blooniB I have had not so 

 much on account of the soil, but because a great portion of 

 my RoseB are budded on the seedling Briar, which I have 

 obtained of Mr. Prince, Oxford. I am quite certain that the 

 seedling Briar is the stock on which to grow the Rose, and I 

 most strongly recommend those who grow Roses for exhibition 

 to give the seedling Briar a trial, and I feel certain they will 

 not be disappointed. I have to-day (October 19th), cut a large 

 basket of Roses, and hope to continue to do so for a short 

 time longer, until Jack Frost comes to rob us of our queen of 

 flowers. — Edward Lyon Fellowes, Wimpole Rectory, Royston. 



FORCING ASPARAGUS. 



Last spring in cutting the Asparagus we left one long bed un- 

 touched. This produced many strong shoots, which must have 

 strengthened the roots very much. These stems are yellow 

 and ripe now, and will be cut off close to the surface of the bed 

 at once. In the first week in November a quantity of the roots 

 will be lifted out of this bed for forcing, and the first dish will 

 be cut from them about the middle of December. Asparagus 

 is a favourite dish with our family at all times, but it is doubly 

 valued at Christmas and about that time when choice second- 

 course vegetables are scarce. 



Asparagus is not a difficult vegetable to force. It cannot be 

 forced, however, without a good deal of bottom heat. This is 

 what is most required, and must be had either from hot dung 

 or hot pipes. We force ours above both. A steady bottom 

 heat of 75° brings it on well. Hot-water pipes in beds are 

 generally covered over with boards or some other covering to 

 prevent the stuff in the bed from resting on the pipes ; over 

 the platform of boards 2 inches of very open soil should 

 be spread, then lift the roots, remove most of the Boil from 

 them, and pack them in the bed on the 2 inches of soil as 

 close as they will lie together without covering one another. 

 When the desired quantity is packed-in cover the crowns over 

 to the depth of 2 inches with the same kind of soil as that 

 which is below them, work it well in amongst the roots, and 

 when this has been done give the whole a thorough watering 

 with water heated to 80°. Keep the atmosphere close after 

 this, but provided the bottom heat be 75° the air heat need 

 not exceed 50° or 55°, and this need not be increased. The 

 roots must be kept regularly moist. As soon as the young 

 tops can be seen keep the atmosphere moist, and on sunny 

 days the bed may be damped over with the syringe. Begin 

 cutting as soon as the shoots are 8 inches high ; cut off all the 

 small twigs as soon as they appear. When the whole has been 

 cut lift the rootB out and throw them away. They will not 

 pay to keep. About three weeks after the first lot has been 



