326 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDEXIXG. 



when no prepai\ation scarcely has heen made for 

 theii' culture. The greatest evil is that of over- 

 cropj)ing-, and even what might be thought only a 

 good average crop should not be allowed till the 

 vines are thoroughly established. The vine is of 

 such a fruitful nature that it would soon exhaust 

 it-self were not the crop greatly reduced, and the 

 bunches themselves considerably thinned of a good 

 number of their berries, when fine -looking grapes 

 are desired. For an amateur in vine-growing, wo 

 would ad\dse only the Black Hambro' and the Sweet- 

 water (common) to be planted. These are two of 

 the best sorts that could be chosen for such a house. 

 Both of these kinds can be grown in a cool house, 

 and ripened xcitJiont any fire-heat, although a trifle of 

 heat in the pipes would be beneficial during damp 

 cloudy weather, and thus be the means of dispelling 

 any excessive amount of atmospheric moistui-e. In 

 a cold house, without any artificial heat, the greatest 

 evil to be apprehended is an attack of mildow, which 

 if not checked at once, will soon disfigure the entire 

 crop. To avoid this drawback the house should be 

 kept as dry as possible during dull, damp weather, 

 ;ind if any symptoms of this fungoid growth arc 

 seen., either paint the pipes with sul]3hur or dust a 

 little very slightly into each bunch. In the event 

 of the former remedy being used, the pij^es should 

 Ite fairly wann at the time of application, and then 

 with the house closed the fumes of the sulphur will 

 be readily discernible, and the mildew forthwith 

 killed. Minute details of culture are not required 

 from us, as the reader will obtain this practical in- 

 formation from the exhaustive articles by Mr. Cole- 

 man. 



Plants.— The culture of all the best suited plants 

 to make the house gay, at least for a few months of 

 the year, will also be found under their respective 

 lieadings. If we named any one genus in particular 

 it would be that of the Pelargonium or Geranium — 

 more particularly the greatly improved t^-pes of 

 single and double Geraniums belonging to the 

 scarlet or zonale class. The beautiful shades of 

 colour in many of the newer kinds, both single and 

 double varieties, cause them to be very attractive. 

 Being also of easy culture, they should be much 

 grown. A few plants also of the scented leaf 

 varieties would no doubt be appreciated. The 

 Geranium will bear being dry at the root better than 

 many kinds of plants, and occasionally no doubt an 

 omission in the watering might occur. On the .other 

 hand, be careful to avoid over-watering. This is a 

 gi-eat mistake, very common in small gardens, and 

 one from which the plants do not in many cases so 

 quickly recover as in the case of the other extreme. 

 Chrysanthemums should be grown, not only for the 



sake of making a display dming the last months or 

 the year, but for the choice and varied character of 

 their flowers. Fuchsias, again, should have con- 

 sideration, being of the easiest culture. Several 

 species of Cactus would prove very interesting, not 

 requiring such close attention as many plants. 

 Xcrlum Oleander, a well-known old jjlant, is also of 

 easy culture. Of bulbous plants that are kept on 

 from year to year, there are the Agapanthus, the 

 Yallota, the Liliums, the Calla or Richardia — all of 

 these are valuable in their season; whilst for the 

 spring months the Hyacinths, the Tulips, the Xar- 

 cissus, with the Crocus and other bulbs in pots, 

 would make the house gay for weeks. Astilhr 

 japonica (also called Spircca japonica), now so much 

 grown for its feathery plumes, should not be 

 omitted. The imported plants generally flower the 

 best. Besides the Cactus already named, there are 

 many succulent plants that are extremely interesting 

 and curious in a collection, even in a small way. 



Of plants grown for the beauty of their foliage, 

 there are the hardier types of Palms, many kinds 

 of tolerably hardy Ferns, Flcus elastica, or the 

 Indian-rubber plant, and the Aspidistra, the last- 

 named being very hardy. In conclusion, be 

 careful not to accumulate more plants than can be 

 grown without injury to each other by reason of 

 overcrowding, as in that case not only will the 

 jjlants suifer, but the general effect will not be so 

 good. 



It may perhaps be thought that we should have 

 included Azaleas, Camellias, and some few other 

 hard- wooded plants in the enumerations just given; 

 but some considerable amount of practice and expe- 

 rience is required before such plants are grown ^xiih. 

 success. By the time any one becomes well 

 grounded in such matters, other portions of this 

 work will abundantly afford the information essen- 

 tial to their successful culture, combined with the 

 practice already attained in dealing with the plants 

 first recommended. Again, we may be thought to 

 have overlooked the Chinese Primula, the Cineraria, 

 and the Cyclamen ; but these, with some few other 

 kinds of flowering plants, can now be purchased so 

 cheaply, and in far better condition than they can be 

 grown among the other plants, that we advise their 

 purchase ; this, however, just before they come into 

 bloom, and not as they are seen when offered for sale 

 by the market growers, when they are in their best 

 condition of bloom, and cannot reasonably be ex- 

 pected to last so long as in the other case. 



Pots and Potting.— Such purchases will not 

 be altogether lost afterwards, for the pots and even 

 the soil can be used again for the general stock. 

 ^Ye do not, however, advise the latter plan to be 



