2S2 



JOTTEKAi OP HOETICULTTJEE AXD COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



[ September 27, 1361. 



judgment of some prevailing influence. Encouragement to 

 those who willingly give their time and labour to this work 

 is never or sparingly given, but too often discouragement 

 follows their exertions. We would advise those who are in- 

 terested in the scarlet Pelargoniums to lose no time in 

 mating their notes for another year, and to inspect the ex- 

 tensive collection now in perfection at Chiswick ; but we 

 'would add this caution, be it remembered, that not every 

 scarlet Pelargonium is of necessity a bedding-out plant, nor 

 suitable for this purpose. It is a general and too common 

 mistake made, that all scarlet Pelargoniums are bedding- 

 out plants. Many of them, scarlets as well as the more 

 delicate-coloured varieties, will never be seen to perfection 

 unless grown in pots under glass, and protected from the 

 sun, rain, and wind As a proof of the justice of this remark, 

 let a visit be paid to the greenhouse in the fruit garden at 

 Chiswick, where many of Messrs. Bull's, Van Houtte's, and 

 Salter's most exquisite varieties may be seen in the greatest 

 beauty and perfection. 



LIVERPOOL BOTANIC GARDENS, 1863- 

 In an article which appeared a few weeks ago, my re- 

 spected coadjutor, Mr. Fish, alluded in terms of great ad- 

 miration to the manner in which these gardens were kept 

 last year, and I was in hopes that we would have had from 

 him one of those lucid descriptions which have made the 

 readers of The Jotoxal of Hoetictjxttjke so well ac- 

 quainted with places of note, both in this country and in 

 the Sister Isle. It is probable, however, that he may have 

 had the advantage of seeing this fine place in the present 

 season, and may, therefore, intend to give us a later ac- 

 count of it; but should this be the case, the few remarks 

 which I am about to make as to its appearance in 1863 may 

 nevertheless, be interesting, as showing the then state of 

 this garden. 



Before I proceed further with the subject of botanic 

 gardens, I may remark that the one here alluded to has 

 more claim to that name than many to which the term is 

 applied. The science of botany, however much the fact may 

 be regretted, is certainly not a popular science, for it is 

 probable that the number who studied it thirty years ago 

 was as great as it is at the present time. In the Liverpool 

 Botanic Garden botany is cultivated in the manner most 

 likely to gain the favour of those who have not the means, 

 nor, perhaps, the inclination to pursue botanical researches 

 to any great extent. Botany and floriculture are agreeably 

 and judiciously combined, and the students in each depart- 

 ment have each their lesson, and a neutral ground on which 

 to meet and discuss progress. In no place to which I have 

 been has more variety in the flower garden ornamentation 

 been brought together, and nowhere was more taste shown 

 or care taken in the management of the plants employed. 



The Botanic Garden of Liverpool is situated on a rising 

 ground to the north-east of the town. It is sufficiently near 

 to be at all times accessible, and not too near to suffer much 

 from the smoke, which in every large town is an obstacle to 

 good cultivation. The approach is by one of those wide 

 open streets which radiate from a central point to some place 

 in the suburbs. Suitable and convenient gates admit the 

 visitor into the garden, which is open to the public without 

 charge. This advantage contrasts favourably with the plan 

 adopted at some other places, where considerable difficulty 

 is met with in gaining admittance, or where a heavy charge 

 is made. The grounds extend over several acres. The outer 

 wall is covered with creepers, and in certain places is used 

 for training shrubs or plants not generally esteemed hardy. 

 A range of plant-houses occupies the northern side of the 

 ground, with some sheds and other necessary offices behind. 

 The ground elsewhere is divided by belts of shrubs or trees 

 marki n g out by irregular and pleasing outlines, several divi- 

 sions, which are planted in various ways. Some contain groups 

 of plants having a botanical affinity to each other ; others a 

 mixture of such plants with some of the popular bedding 

 plants of the day; while some compartments are devoted to 

 showy plants alone. In many instances the latter were in- 

 termixed with plants not often employed for ornamental 

 purposes, and I took a few notes at the time of such as 

 struck me as the most deserving of attention. I will not 

 attempt to describe the series of beds of which those noted 



formed a part, but will simply state what were remarkable, 

 making at the same time such comments as seemed to strike 

 me as necessary. 



A long bed planted in stripes or ribbon fashion, had a row 

 of Calceolaria amplexicaulis in the centre, a row of dark 

 Calceolarias on each side, then a row of Geranium Tom 

 Thumb, and finally an edging on one side of Stachys lanata, 

 and on the other Antennaria gnaphalioides, the last named 

 being a plant by no means to be despised. 



Two scroll beds were each Verbena, one being a good 

 scarlet and white mixed, and the other purple and white 

 mixed, the latter being the most telling. Both beds were 

 edged with Cerastium. 



A large circular bed was planted entirely with blue 

 Lobelia and Cerastium, the latter forming the ground, the 

 Lobelia being arranged in four heart-shaped figures meeting 

 in the centre ; and intervening between them were four knots 

 of the same near the outer edge. This was a very effective 

 bed, much better than if it had been loaded with more 

 colours. I may also state that another circular bed, having 

 a tree in the centre, had a broad band of blue Lobelia 

 around it at the distance of 4 feet from the collar, and on 

 each side of that band was a single line of Cerastium ; this 

 was also effective, blue and white being in general the most 

 telling colours. 



Another circular bed was Alma Geranium and the dark- 

 leaved Trifolium, usually called the Irish Shamrock, mixed. 

 The combination looked pretty well ; but the bed would have 

 been better with an edging of Cerastium. A similar bed to 

 the last had Geranium Golden Chain instead of Alma ; this 

 also looked well. A circular bed of considerable size had an 

 inner circle of Scarlet Geranium. The outside ring, about 

 4 feet wide, was planted in wedge-shaped panels, alternately 

 blue Lobelia and Variegated Alyssum ; this looked well. 

 Another bed of Perilla and double Pyrethrums mixed, with 

 an edging of Cerastium, likewise looked well. A bed of 

 a more permanent kind was Aucuba japonica mixed with 

 a Delphinium, a ring of Ivy going round the Aucuba, the 

 whole being edged with Stachys lanata. This bed was very 

 good, and doubtless lasting. 



Amongst other beds I noticed a general use of dwarf 

 Dahlias, with some Ageratums. and other popular flowering 

 plants, while for an edging the neat-habited Antennaria 

 divaricata was introduced with good effect, though perhaps 

 not better than the Variegated Veronica, which was also 

 used. A rather pretty Oxalis called rosea, said to be an 

 annual, looked well at the time I saw it, and a yellow Pansy 

 deserved more general cultivation. Several other hardy 

 herbaceous plants were brought into similar use, as one 

 or two Sedums and Saxifrages, a Santolina, one or two 

 Grasses, and sundry other plants not usually met with in 

 fashionable flower gardens. The whole of the grounds were 

 well managed and in good ordeT, reflecting great credit on 

 all concerned; for, independent of the diversity of the floral 

 department, the botanical division was scarcely less attrac- 

 tive. Plants of singular growth, with some of great beauty, 

 were give*n a prominent place, not, however, so as to disturb 

 a systematic arrangement, but in such sort as to lead on the 

 inquiring student by the most attractive means; while to 

 the admirer of the much-abused, as well as much-vavuited 

 flower-gardening of the present day, no place that I visited 

 in 1S63 presented greater variety. J. Eobson. 



PACKING PHALJEXOPSIS, SOPHROXITIS, 



AND BtTRLINGTONIA. 



The peculiarities of the structure in the form of the leaves 

 of these Orchids renders it necessary to use more care in the 

 packing than with the majority of Orehidacea?. I will, 

 therefore, give my reasons for the different packing of the 

 above, Phakenopsis more particularly, the leaves of which 

 are of a much more tender nature, few in number, so suc- 

 culent, and susceptible of injury, hence very liable to rot 

 and fall off from one plant on to another, and cause decom- 

 position of the whole. To prevent this I would, previous to 

 importing, have them partially established on logs of wood 

 from 2.V to 3 inches in diameter, and in length to fit the inside 

 of the case, such to be charred a little on the outside to keep 

 down fungus. To this I attach great importance. Having 



