^^^^ 



chronous, or equal, or similar, so shall no two beings 

 be born alike ; that a variety in the environing con- 

 ditions in which the progeny of a living being may 

 be placed shall be met by variety in the progeny 

 itself. A wise ordinance it is, that ensures the suc- 

 cession of beings, not by multiplying absolutely iden- 

 tical form, but by varying these, so that the right 

 form may fill its right place in Nature's ever vary- 

 ing economy. — Dr. Hooker, in Gardener s Chron- 

 icle. 



41 



RiCHARDiA, OR Calla ^thiopica.— A plant 

 much grown by amateur gardeners, is a half aqua- 

 tic, and therefore delights to stand in pan of water- 

 whicb, however, should be withdrawn when the 

 plant has done flowering, and shows symptoms of 

 shedding its foliage, [n August the bulbs may be 

 separated, and planted three in a nine-inch pot. — 

 Gardeners' Weekly. 



Thuja Lobbi.— This is by far the most promi- 

 nent tree introduced of late years, with the excep- 

 tion of the Wellingtonia and, perhaps, Cupressus 

 Lawsoniana. I am not certain that it yields to the 

 latter in point of merit, while in rapidity of growth 

 it is even superior to the Mammoth Tree itself A 

 specimen here measured, last December, 19 feet in 

 height, and was 6 feet in diameter, having grown 

 lb\ feet in five years, and in two successive seasons 

 it grew altogether 8i feet. The position which this 

 tree occupies is sheltered, and it has, perhaps, run 

 up faster than it would have done if it had been 

 more exposed ; but the species is undoubtedly of 

 rapid growth. Nothing can exceed the beauty of 

 the foliage on the lower part of the tree — for, unlike 

 many of its class whose branches have a vertical 

 character, they have, in this, rather the graceful 

 curve of the Fern, the flattened side of the foliage 

 being upwards, while the leading stem rises up like 

 a fishing-rod, and is quite as straight. As a tree it 

 is much admired, and deserves to be more exten- 

 sively grown. It is, also, apparently as hardy as 

 the Yew, and will, evidetly, be a popular tree. 



[It is now understood that the tree the English 

 call Thuja Lobbii is our Libocedrus decurrens. — Ed. 

 G. M.] 



How They G-row Endive in England. — This 

 is doubtless the most ornamental of our salad vege- 

 tables, and it is by no means used so much as it 

 deserves to be. Its pleasant bitter taste— I may 

 call it, when well blanched, bitter-sweet — is suffi- 

 cient to recommend it to most palates, putting 

 aside its crispness when well grown. It should be 

 sown on rather v;arm land in the second or third 

 week in June. Hake the surface of the bed, then 

 sow, and cast an inch or so of mould over the seed ; 

 if the earth is dry, water after raking, previous to 



sowing or casting, and should the weather be very 

 parching, shade or cover the bed with straw mats, 

 or some such material, to keep off the scorching 

 rays of the sun. As soon as the plants show them- 

 selves, remove the shade, but do not let the sun 

 burn the plants ; it will be better to cover them 

 with litter during the hottest part of the day, leav- 

 ing them exposed to dews at night, or to rain du- 

 ring the day. If the weather be dull and damp 

 these precautions will not be necessary. Make 

 another sowing about the end of June for late plant- 

 ing, and do not be short of plants, for as this salad 

 is to serve all the winter, a good stock will be re- 

 quired. Some sow in May, but the plants often 

 run to seed prematurely ; if early Endive is re- 

 quired, however, it must be sown then. As soon 

 as the plants are large enough — say when they have 

 five or six leaves, they may be planted out in open 

 ground in rows 1 foot apart, by 1 foot 6 inches, 

 watering them well if they require it. Should they 

 have grown long and crowded in the seed bed, cut 

 off the tops with a long knife as if you were mow- 

 ing, taking care however not to cut too low. This 

 may seem a severe operation, but it will strengthen 

 the plants, and is very much better than allowing 

 them to get too long and drawn. This may be re- 

 peated if you have not opportunity to plant them 

 out. They should be planted in drills an inch or 

 so deep, which will induce the plants to blanch bet- 

 ter. The best soil for Endive is light land with a 

 sharp grit in it. It may be planted all through 

 August and in the first week in September in open 

 ground ; afterwards in sheltered spots until Michael- 

 mas. Plant the late Endive in a rather deeper 

 drill ; this protects the hearts from early autumn 

 frosts. Late Endive should be planted much closer 

 than Early. "Where there are any spare boxes and 

 lights they may be utilized in this way: put them 

 over the plants where they are growing as soon as 

 early frosts come ; then pull up the rows on each 

 side of the box and plant them between those 

 already covered. In transplanting be careful to put 

 them in upright, for if they lay at all on one side, 

 wet will most likely rot them. Keep them dry as 

 possible, and protect them from frost. As soon as 

 large enough, tie tightly on dry days with small 

 willow twigs, which are preferable to bass for the 

 purpose, being stronger and stiffer. 



A good plan is to plant on a sloping bank for a 

 late supply. If you have not such an opportunity 

 throw up a bank about 3 feet high, and plant all 

 over it 6 inches apart. This you will be able to 

 protect from severe weather, though sometimes 

 the plants will stand without any protection. That 



