November 15, 1864. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



387 



Heuchera glabra, prows about 1 foot high, has very pretty 

 pink flowers in May, makes a lovely bed, and is increased 

 by division. 



Saponaria oeymoides with its dense cushions of pink, 

 makes one of the loveliest of beds. It is an evergreen trailer, 

 doing best in light soils, and is increased by cuttings, which 

 root freely in sandy soil in a shady border. 



To these may be added the rose Siberian Violet (Viola 

 Kroekeri) ; Preonia anomala, with red flowers ; P. decora, 

 purplish red ; P. lobata, with rosy flowers ; the double form 

 of P. tenuifolia being fine, and P. tenuifolia, good. Nor 

 must we omit Corydalis bulbosa, a pretty pink-flowering 

 tuberous-rooted plant, which prefers lightish soil, but will 

 grow anywhere, and when we have a bed of Dielytra spec- 

 tabilis in pots, which is most excellent, only it blooms quite 

 late enough, we must rely on Primroses for the rest that is 

 to be done towards decorating the flower garden with red 

 flowers in Bpring. 



Of these the pretty reddish purple varieties of the Primula 

 auricula are excellent; P. Allioni, P. altaica, the lovely 

 P. cortusoides, the pretty P. ciliata, and the handsome 

 Danish P. stricta, are all excellent. The double red Prim- 

 rose of gardens (P. vulgaris plena-rubra), the double purple, 

 and others in red shades are excellent in beds by themselves, 

 as margins to others, or associated with other plants, nothing 

 being prettier than a bed of double red Primroses edged with 

 white double Daisies ,- and, last of all, the different forms of 

 Polyanthus, whether single or double, are very fine. 



As regards other plants, we have Pansies in many shades 

 of colour, and many other reaUy good early-flowering plants 

 might be found, and brought into' use as spring ornaments 

 to the flower garden if, only, all of us would set to in ear- 

 nest, and having found a plant blooming early communicate 

 its name to others through the medium of the horticultural 

 press. 



Having the plants named, or others equal to them, in 

 stock, and they should be stiff strong plants grown in an 

 open situation, and not huddled together in some out-of-the- 

 way corner, they are to be taken up with nice balls. Whether 

 they be deciduous or evergreen plants, herbaceous, bulbous, 

 or tuberous-rooted, they must all be taken up with some 

 earth to them, at least as much of it as adheres to the roots, 

 be planted immediately (closely so as to cover the surface if 

 evergreen, or so as to do so if deciduous by the time they 

 flower), in their several positions, doing the work carefully so 

 as not to break or injure either the tops or roots. This may 

 be done any time in mild weather from October to the middle 

 of February, and when the ground is in good working order 

 so as to insure neatness. It may be necessary to water 

 after planting, but not often, once at planting being enough 

 to settle the earth about the roots. This even is misapplied 

 if the weather be at all wet or showery. A reserve of most 

 kinds should be kept back to fill up any blanks that may 

 occur during the winter, the beds being made good by the 

 beginning of March. 



By the last week in May, or first week in June, all of them, 

 owing to their places being required for summer bedding 

 plants, must be cleared off, and this is done in the same 

 manner as at planting, taking them up with a ball, and re- 

 moving them to their summer quarters, which should be an 

 open yet sheltered sunny situation. After removal water well, 

 especially if the roots are bulbous or tuberous, and continue 

 to do so according to the weather until the plants become 

 well re-established. Such as have done blooming and are in 

 a fit state for propagation should be divided, as in the case 

 of Primulas, or cuttings or slips should be inserted, as in the 

 case of Alyssums and Wallflowers, or seeds sown if pro- 

 pagation is to be effected in that way. If bulbous -rooted 

 they are best divided at the time of planting, if that be in 

 October, but if later it should be dine when the foliage 

 decays. G. Abbey. 



NOTES ON A COLLECTION OF GRAPE VINES 



FRUITED IN POTS IN THE SUMMER OP 1864. 



In the month of March, 1864, I took from my collection of 

 Grape Vines, one plant of each of forty-four sorts, and placed 

 them in a cool vinery with the view of testing. 1. Their 

 suitability for pot culture. 2. Their quality. 3. Their com- 

 parative earliness. The pots were placed on slates so that 



the roots could not escape from the pots ; the rods were 

 trained up the rafters of the house, and the plants fully 

 supplied with weak manure water. The whole of the plants 

 were but one year old and of equal strength. 



I shall proceed to describe them in the order in which 

 they ripened. Those marked B, are Black; W, White 

 Grapes. 



1. Chasselas Vibert, W. Ripe August 26th. Produced six 

 medium- sized bunches of large well-flavoured berries. It 

 was the earliest and best of the Sweetwater race, and set 

 better than any other. 



2. Grove-End Sweetwater, W. Ripe September 10th. Pro- 

 duced six small bunches, rather loose. Berries large. First- 

 rate. 



3. Muscat de Juillet, B. Ripe September 10th. Produced 

 three small bunches. Berries small. 



4. Chasselas de Falloux, W. Ripe September 10th. Pro- 

 duced ten large bunches. Berries large. A good pot Vine. 



5. Chasselas Bulherry, W. Kipe September 10th. Pro- 

 duced ten large bunches. Berries of medium size ; flavour 

 good. 



6. Almeria, W. Ripe September 10th. Produced ten large 

 bunches. Berries large. A good pot Vine. 



7. General Delia Marmora, W. Ripe September 10th. 

 Produced ten large bunches. Berries large; flavour above 

 the average. Quite first-rate. 



8. Royal Muscadine, W. Ripe September 10th. Produced 

 eight medium-sized bunches. Berries of medium-size. First- 

 rate. 



9. Foster's White Seedling, W. JRipe September 13th. 

 Produced eight large bunches. Berries large. A hardy good 

 Grape. 



10. Muscat St. Laurent, W. Ripe September 13th. Pro- 

 duced six small bunches. A rich-looking Grape of good 

 flavour. Hangs well. 



11. Chasselas Duhamel, W. Ripe September 16th. Pro- 

 duced four small bunches. Berries large. Flavour very good. 



12. Chaptal, W. Ripe September 16th. Produced ten 

 large bunches. Berries of medium size. 



13. Black Hamburgh, B. Ripe September 18th. Produced 

 seven large bunches. Berries large. Still one of the best 

 for pot culture. 



14. White Frontignan, W. Ripe September 18th. Pro- 

 duced six medium-sized bunches. Berries of medium size. 

 First-rate. 



15. Buckland Sweetwater, W. Ripe September 18th. 

 Produced six large bunches. Berries large. A good pot 

 Vine. 



16. Trentham Black, B. Ripe September 20th. Produced 

 one small bunch with large berries. Of doubtful value for 

 pot culture. 



17. Chasselas Musque, W. Ripe September 20th. Pro- 

 duced seven medium-sized bunches which did not crack ; 

 ripened well. Berries large ; of exquisite flavour. 



18. Esperione, B. Ripe September 20th. Produced ten 

 large bunches. Berries large; flavour good. A first-rate 

 pot Vine. 



19. Pope's Hamburgh, B. Ripe September 20th. Pro- 

 duced ten large bunches. Berries large. A first-rate pot 

 Vine. 



20. Black Frontignan, B. Ripe September 26th. Produced 

 nine medium-sized bunches. Berries small. Not so good as 

 the White Frontignan. 



21. Muscat Hamburgh, B. Ripe September 26th. Pro- 

 duced seven small bunches ; shanked. Berries large ; flavour 

 exquisite. 



22. Alicante (French), apparently Black St. Peter's, B. 

 Ripe September 26th. Produced ten Bmall bunches. Berries 

 of medium size : flavour first-rate. 



23. Madeira Muscat, B. Ripe September 26th. Produced 

 three small bunches. Berries small, of exquisite flavour. 



24. Perle Imperiale, W. Ripe September 26th. Produced 

 six large bunches. Berries large, of a rich golden hue ; skin 

 thick ; flesh solid ; flavour good. Hangs well. 



25. Sarbelle Muscat, B. Ripe October 1st. Produced eight 

 small bunches. Berries of medium size. 



26. Purple Constantia, B. Ripe October 1st. Produced 

 eleven medium-sized bunches. Berries of medium size ; 

 flavour exquisite. A good pot Vine. 



27. Ahbee, W. Ripe October 1st. Produced four large 



