November 8, 1304. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICOLTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



367 



bad calico." Perhaps you are obliged to have it, and, to 

 your surprise, find it very dear. Tou remonstrate. " Yes, 

 I think it's very dear calico, and no good in it," they answer. 



Then their good nature is wonderful. They will know 

 your business, and will insist upon trying to help you. 



In a country walk you pass by what looks like a huge 

 washhouse. " Is that a washhouse ?" you ask a poor woman 

 in the road. " A washhouse, is it ? Yes, I think. Is it a 

 washerwoman you want ? Allow me to recommend you one ; 

 it's Mistress McFarlane, of Tweedle Street; she's just the 

 most perteeklar woman in fine linen and dressing." 



Staffa and Iona are "done" from Oban, but it was just 

 afraid of the water I was ; so I watched the departing and 

 returning steamer in peace, picturing to myself the damp 

 beauty of Fingal's Cave ; the ruined cathedral standing out 

 against the clear blue sky ; and wondering what Columba 

 would have said to the Free Kirk in Scotland, and whether 

 any Ferns grew upon the weather-beaten island. 



I spent a day on Kerrara, hunting in vain ; but it is not 

 time wasted, for the shores of the island are very beautiful, 

 and the slopes green and sunny, and many a lesson of life 

 may be learned while listening to the quiet music of the 

 waves breaking against the shore. — Filix-Fqjmina. 



DECORATION OP THE FLOWER GARDEN 

 IN WINTER AND SPRING. 



(Continued from page 346.) 



FLOWERING AND VARIEGATED PLANTS. 



Early spring-flowering plants are, as the following lists of 

 those most suitable for planting in masses will show, pretty 

 numerous, furnishing materials for a fine display from the 

 blooming of the delicately-tinted Christmas Rose till the 

 gorgeous queen of flowers herself comes forth. Such plants 

 offer almost every shade of colour in their bloom, diversity 

 of form, habit, and foliage, this in many cases being varie- 

 gated, or otherwise ornamental. Thus the flower-gardener, 

 who is possessed of taste, energy, and intelligence, has at 

 his disposal materials which will enable him to make no in- 

 considerable display during the early spring, spring, and early 

 summer months. Numerous, however, as the materials are 

 now, there is every probability that when a taste has been 

 disseminated a greater demand will arise, and more will 

 be forthcoming. 



As a rule the tints of flowers are lighter during the cooler 

 portion of the year. In spring we have an endless variety 

 of white flowers ; summer abounds more in scarlets and reds ; 

 and autumn in yellows and purples. In a gardening point 

 of view man very much alters the natural distribution of 

 the colours, and the garden is made to teem with scarlet in 

 autumn, and this tells well on' account of the preponder- 

 ance of green at that time. 



Spring-flowering plants may be divided into five sections, 

 according to the colour of the flowers and foliage — viz., 1st, 

 Whites, including those with silvery foliage or white varie- 

 gation; 2nd, Blues; 3rd, Yellows, including those with 

 golden variegation ; 4th, Purples ; and 5th, Reds, including 

 reddish-purples . 



1ST. — WHITE SPKING-FLOWEBING PLANTS. 



Of these the most interesting and beautiful is the 

 Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger). It attains a height of 

 about 1 foot, and is well adapted for a centre to a bed of 

 bright colours on account of the bright green of its foliage, 

 which forms an excellent neuter, whilst the flowers are most 

 interesting, especially when peering from beneath a bed of 

 snow. It will grow anywhere, but prefers a rich light soil, 

 with occasional applications of leaf mould. It is increased 

 by division of the root. 



Arabis alpina, albida, grandiflora, and lucicla, are well- 

 known profuse bloomers, forming a close carpet of whitish 

 foliage. Being of dwarf growth they are well adapted for 

 low beds and ribbon-planting. A. albida variegata, with 

 white variegation, is admirably adapted for edgings. All 

 are most readily increased by division. Small portions put 

 in 6 inches apart in nursery-beds in spring, after blooming, 

 will make fine plants by autumn, and may then be moved 

 with balls to the places assigned to them in the flower 

 garden. 



Hepatica triloba alba, or white Hepatica, is lovely, not 

 growing more than a few inches in height. I have seen 

 many so-called double white Hepaticas, which were only 

 dwarf double Wood Anemones. 



Saxifraga oppositifolia alba is most charming; the bed 

 should be surfaced with small rock stones or clinkers, and the 

 interstices filled with sandy loam and peat in equal parts, in 

 which the plants are to be planted. Saxifrages of all kinds 

 require the same treatment — viz., to be placed on raised 

 beds of rockwork, clinkers, brick, or even flint, and after 

 filling the interstices with soil they should be planted thickly, 

 so as to cover the surface. They then form pleasing beds. 



Stellaria holostea is nothing more than a weed in our 

 woods ; but a very pretty weed it is, flowering abundantly 

 in ordinary light soils from March to June. It is increased 

 by division of the root after flowering ; and the divisions, 

 planted in nursery-beds, make fine roots for moving to the 

 beds in autumn. 



Linaria cymbalaria alba is a pretty trailing plant 3 or 4 

 inches high, and makes a lovely edging or bed if treated in 

 the same way as the Saxifrages. The variegated form is 

 also fine on account of its foliage. It requires a sandy loam, 

 and is increased by division or rooted stems. 



The next plant worthy of notice is Mentha sylvestris varie- 

 gata, the merit of which consists in its foliage : hence it is 

 useful for edgings and line work. It is increased by cuttings 

 and division. 



Phlox Nelsoni, than which nothing is handsomer, should 

 be planted on raised beds, as described for Saxifraga opposi- 

 tifolia, as it is impatient of stagnant moisture. It Likes 

 a sandy soil, and seems all the better of a little peat. 

 Cuttings and division. Phlox nivalis is a fine free-blooming 

 sort, not exceeding 6 inches in height. It does best in 

 raised beds, and is benefited by a little sandy peat. It was, 

 and I believe is, scarce in gardens. 



Of Bellis perennis there are many fine double varieties. 

 They are of most easy culture, it being only necessary to 

 divide the roots. They are fine edging plants. Light sandy 

 soil is best. 



Lamium maculatum (longiflorum) album is another pretty 

 weed of our own hedges, flowering in March and onwards ; 

 growing freely in common soil, and readily increased by 

 division. It grows about 1 foot high, and is very fine when 

 well grown. 



Primula nivea, vulgaris alba, the double form of the 

 first species, and Primula vulgaris alba plena, are well 

 known, and amongst the handsomest of spring flowers. The 

 white Cowslip (P. veris alba) is also pretty. Division. 



Ranunculus amplexicaulis, from the Pyrenees, grows about 

 a foot high, and makes a fine bed. It will grow anywhere 

 in an open situation, and in common soil. It is increased by 

 division. 



Isopyrum thalictroides is a pretty white and green flower- 

 ing plant, attaining a height of 9 inches, and flourishing 

 in sandy loam. Division. 



Iberis sempervirens, saxatilis, corifolia, Tenoreana, and 

 gibraltarica, are fine evergreen under-shrubs, attaining a 

 height of from 6 to 12 inches, and flowering so profusely as 

 to be sheets of snowy white in April and onwards. They 

 will grow in any kind of soil, but bloom earlier in that which 

 is light and sandy. They are most readily propagated by 

 cuttings. 



Trillium grandiflorum, a tuberous-rooted plant, is a charm- 

 ing thing not much more than 6 inches high, delighting in 

 sandy soil, and doing best of all in sandy peat. Increased 

 by parting the roots. 



Iris pumila alba and I. sibirica alba are very neat dwarf 

 plants, flowering in March and April; effective in groups. 

 Division. 



Arenaria balearica is a very pretty trailer, and not less so 

 is A. ciliata. They are increased by division, require light 

 soil, and are always improved by a little peat. 



Ficaria ranunculoides alba is all but a yellow. It is a 

 pretty little plant, growing about 6 inches high, has tuber- 

 ous roots, and is increased by division. A. montana we must 

 also have. 



Antennaria margaritacea is a splendid white-foliaged plant, 

 suitable for forming a band, line, or edging, a foot wide and 

 the same high. The young shoots rise from the stool, and 

 are as white as snow, in April, when the plant may be in 



