62 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



t Julj 18, 1872. 



The one last night (July 12th) and this morning 2.32, pure rain 

 without lightning, a sort of tropical downpour. 

 On the 9th iust. their Imperial Majesties, the ex-Emperor 



and Empress of the French and suite, paid a visit to the nurse- 

 ries of Messrs. George .Tflp.1rmn.ri & Son, Woking, to inspect 

 their splendid collection of Clematis, which is now in full bloom. 



SOLANTJM WAESCEWICZII. 



The accompanying illustration portrays a very handsome 

 species of this large and exceedingly diversified genus ; it 

 is, perhaps, one 

 of the very best 

 kinds for out-door 

 decoration in the 

 summer months, 

 inasmuch as its 

 bold and deeply 

 pinnatifid leaves 

 render it a re- 

 markably effective 

 and distinct fea- 

 ture in the sub- 

 tropical garden. 

 Its constitution, 

 also, is sufficient- 

 ly hardy to war- 

 rant its adoption 

 for conspicuous 

 positions, and the 

 same cannot be 

 said of all the 

 plants I have seen 

 used for this pur- 

 pose. Nothing ex- 

 hibits such bad 

 taste, in my es- 

 timation, as the 

 2ilanting of a 

 number of tro- 

 pical plants in 

 the open air, sim- 

 ply because they 

 are tropical plants, 

 many of them 

 having no decided 

 character to re- 

 commend them, 

 but having to fight 

 with our climate 

 a dreary battle 

 for mere exist- 

 ence. The plants 

 which lend en- 

 chantment to the 

 pleasure ground 

 during the sum- 

 mer are such as 

 the present sub- 

 ject — plants that 

 have large, bold, 

 and decidedly cha- 

 racteristic leaves 

 and a robust con- 

 stitution, which 

 will enable them 

 to develope their 

 beauties even in 

 our somewhat un- 

 genial climate. 



Solanum War- 

 scewiczii is re- 

 markable for its 

 robust and branch- 

 ing habit, and its bold pinnatifid leaves ; in addition, the 

 stem is profusely armed with stout slightly recurved spines. 





Solatium Warscewiczii. 



The petioles of the leaves, as well as the stem, are fur- 

 nished with a coating of short reddish brown hairs. 



There is an im- 

 mense number of 

 species and varie- 

 ties of this genus- 

 Many of them,, 

 being destitute of 

 any distinct cha- 

 racter, are not 

 worthy the ama- 

 teur's attention %, 

 others are very 

 beautiful, but re- 

 quire in-door cul- 

 ture ; neverthe- 

 less, there is a 

 sufficient number 

 of species quite 

 hardy enough to 

 grow in the open 

 air during sum- 

 mer, and forming 

 valuable adjuncts 

 to the flower gar- 

 den. In using- 

 them, however, it 

 should always be 

 borne in mind 

 that these large- 

 leaved plants are 

 very liable to be 

 torn and beaten 

 about by the wind,, 

 therefore the shel- 

 ter of neighbour- 

 ing shrubs or trees 

 will greatly assist 

 them to withstand 

 cold and rude 

 blasts. 



Their culture is- 

 not bv any means 

 difficult. They 

 enjoy good rich- 

 loamy soil and 

 an abundance of 

 water. Early in 

 spring a little seed 

 should be sown, 

 and the plants en- 

 couraged, so that 

 they shall have 

 attained a fair 

 size before re- 

 moval to the open 

 air. Those ama- 

 teurs who have 

 the means of win- 

 tering old plants- 

 should insert the 

 cuttings of the- 

 lateral shoots in 

 a little heat during 

 February, and if 

 well treated they will make better p'ants for the decoration of 

 the garden than seedlings. — Expekto Ceede. 



NEW BOOK. 



My Garden, Its Plan and Culture ; together with a General Description of Its Geology, Botany, and Natural Mistory. 

 By Alfred Smee, F.E.S., &c. London : Bell & Daldy. 



Continuing our notice of Mr. Smee's work, we now furnish I " My fernery next demands description. It is about SO feet 

 ■our readers with a description and view of the fernery. | long, and has about sixty rafters. The glass faces the north 



