August 30, 1864. ] 



JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



171 



interesting and also the most popular of the various places 

 of public resort provided at the expense of the Corporation 

 of Liverpool. It is, therefore, a matter of great importance 

 to the inhabitants that they should be maintained in a 

 manner adequate to their requirements. In the respected 

 Curator of the gardens, Mr. Tyerman, we have no hesitation 

 in saying that the Corporation and the public possess an 

 official who, in botanical science, is capapable of realising their 

 expectations to the utmost. Although the season is rapidly 

 advancing into "the sere and yellow leaf," the gardens still 

 present the most attractive appearance; the beds, the artistic 

 arrangement of which is admirable in the highest degree, 

 abounding in the gayest and most enchanting combination 

 ■of colours which floricultural skill could possibly display. 

 The Botanic Gardens, with the extensive park adjoining, 

 form certainly one of the most welcome and delightful boons 

 to the people of Liverpool; and the high appreciation in 

 which they are held is sufficiently indicated by the fact, that 

 the attendance of the public includes on ordinary occasions 

 as many as eleven thousand persons. On Thursday evenings 

 a military band considerably enlivens the scene, and adds 

 very appreciable charms, of a musical character, to those 

 which Flora contributes. It will, no doubt, be as gratifying 

 to the public as it is creditable to the skill and attention of 

 Mr. Tyerman, the excellent Curator, to learn that on their 

 annual inspection yesterday the committee found that the 

 management of the gardens was in every respect unexcep- 

 tionable, and that both in regard to the selection and 

 arrangement of the flowers and plants — which, by the way, 

 we may state, without fear of contradiction, would creditably 

 vie with any public garden in the kingdom — the utmost 

 care and skill had been exercised with the most successful 

 result. The pleasures of the promenade made by the com- 

 mittee were agreeably enhanced by the musical performances 

 of the band of Orphan Boys, who played an admirable selec- 

 tion of music on the grounds ; and we need scarcely say that 

 the duty which devolved upon the committee was through- 

 out of the most interesting description." — E. Fish. 



OEjNTAMENTAL geasses. 



(Concluded from page 125.) 



ANNUAL GRASSES. 



A collection of the smaller species grown in pots is 

 highly interesting, and gives a diversified appearance to 

 mixed borders, the lively green shades and graceful forms 

 of these Grasses adding to the beauty and variety. 



Most of the species are very desirable for bouquets in a 

 fresh state, and when cut and dried, if mixed with Everlast- 

 ings, they are valuable for winter bouquets and in-door 

 decoration generally. 



The soil most suitable for Grasses is a moderately rich 

 loam, neither too light nor too strong, but of intermediate 

 quality. It may be formed of mellow loam two-thirds, leaf 

 mould one-third ; the whole well mixed, chopped with a spade, 

 but not sifted. If the loam be light and poor one-third of 

 moderately-decomposed manure may be incorporated with it 

 in place of the leaf mould. Keep this compost under cover 

 for a few days, so that it may handle the better in the 

 potting. 



The pots to be employed should be large enough to allow 

 of the seed being scattered thinly, for nothing is so destruc- 

 tive to seedlings as thick sowing, for it causes them to spindle 

 up, and to flower weakly and prematurely. Drain the pot 

 well, fill it with the compost to within half an inch of the 

 rim, scatter the seed after levelling the surface, and then 

 cover lightly— not deeper than just to hide the seeds— with 

 fine soil. Place a neat label to each pot, not a large one 

 (for nothing is so out-of-place as a large label to a small 

 plant or pot), with the proper name of each Grass legibly 

 written upon it ; for it is a great drawback to grow a plant 

 and not be able to tell the name of it. 



_ Place the pots in a house with a gentle heat, such as a 

 vinery, or frame employed for striking cuttings or raising 

 half-hardy annuals. The soil should be kept well watered, 

 so as to secure a speedy germination ; but too much moisture 

 is apt to rot the seeds, especially when they are old ; the 

 soil should, therefore, be kept just healthfully moist. When 



the seeds have germinated and the plants appear, be careful 

 to have the pots near the glass ; and when the plants are 

 fairly up, place the pots in a greenhouse or frame, so as to 

 prevent the seedlings becoming weak from excess of heat, 

 giving air freely, and watering sufficiently to maintain them 

 in a growing state. 



After they are of sufficient size to handle, transplant some 

 of the largest with balls into pots filled with the same kind 

 of compost as for the sowing, employing pots of various sizes 

 according to the strength or height of the species. Small 

 kinds, as Agrostis, may be grown in pots 6 inches in diameter, 

 and others in sizes proportionate to their growth. It is 

 essential to distribute the seedlings in threes in the centre 

 of the pot for a specimen — that is, the small patches of plants 

 standing at the points of an equilateral triangle, varying in 

 distance between patch and patch as the species is strong 

 or weak, or a large pot employed. The seed-pots have the 

 holes made in transplanting filled up, and they, as well as 

 the newly-potted plants, are watered, and placed in a cold 

 frame or returned to the greenhouse, watering and sprinkling 

 overhead night and morning with the syringe, so as to secure 

 a healthy growth. Supposing the seeds to be sown in the 

 middle of March, the plants will be in a forward state by the 

 latter part of April or beginning of May. Those in the seed- 

 pots may then be transplanted into spaces in mixed borders 

 in places not shaded or under the drip of trees, nor in spots 

 liable to become dusty during the summer. 



In planting out it is desirable to part the plants into 

 small pieces, placing them in patches of five or more to- 

 gether ; watering them afterwards daily if a dry period ensue 

 until they become established, and again in dry weather 

 after they are advanced for flowering, with clear water both 

 at the root and overhead, sprinkling the tops being often 

 of as much importance as water at the root, especially in 

 smoky, dusty places, where the pores of the plants are often 

 choked by the accumulation of dirt. An occasional applica- 

 tion of weak liquid manure will greatly tend to improve their 

 flowering ; and though these plants have not the grandeur 

 of a Dahlia, Hollyhock, or some other ornaments of the 

 garden, they, nevertheless, deserve these little attentions. 

 If they are not thought worthy of the same care that is ac- 

 corded to other plants, they are not worth their room, and 

 therefore ought to be discarded from the garden altogether. 

 It is the haphazard system of growing annuals that has 

 caused many persons to look upon them as nothing but 

 weeds. Such, also, is the case with the majority of herba- 

 ceous plants. They receive no attention whatever that 

 may be termed " cultivating a plant," and they are dis- 

 carded because not looked after. Now, I do not think there 

 are any plants so likely to please as a selection of the best 

 Grasses grown in pots ; and though I may be a little pre- 

 judiced in favour of them, yet I have found them much 

 admired by those for whose pleasure they were grown. 



If desired to have a succession of spray for bouquets (and 

 what is equal to Grasses for the purpose ?), we plunge half 

 the number of pots to the rim in coal ashes in an open situa- 

 tion out-doors, sprinkling them overhead every evening, 

 except when a shower falling in the day renders it unneces- 

 sary, and watering them daily or bi-weekly at the root as 

 occasion may require, so that they may never lack that ele- 

 ment, nor are they, on the other hand, deluged with it. 



Every second^ watering may be of liquid manure highly 

 diluted, or guano water, at the rate of 1 oz. to the gallon of 

 rain water, which will do much to maintain the foliage in a 

 green state. The pots, bear in mind, must not be crowded 

 together, but distributed at such a distance as to afford 

 sufficient space for the full development of the foliage, and 

 for its being duly acted upon by the all-important influences 

 of light and air. Under these conditions the plants will 

 flower finely, and may be removed when in bloom to vases 

 in-doors to mingle with flowering plants, among which they 

 have an excellent effect. 



If seed be desired one or more of each kind should be kept 

 for the purpose, for they will not produce seed worth saving 

 in halls, drawing-rooms, &e. 



I have passed over those we have in pots in the green- 

 house, which I will now revert to. They being potted off 

 will need water and copious syringings morning and even- 

 ing, beyond which they require no different treatment from 

 other plants. They bloom a month earlier than those out- 



