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THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



January 15, 1808 



made an exceedingly pretty picture. Ccelogyne cristata is one of the 

 most beautiful of orchids : it is fine for conservatory decoration, and its 

 white, yellow-throated blossoms lire always greatly in request for spray?, 

 bouquets, wreaths, and table decoration. It is a wonderfully accommo- 

 dating species, and thrives in greenhouse, intermediate house, or stove, 

 provided ample moisture is given, and that it is kept clean. In most 

 gardens it is treated as a cool orchid throughout the year, unless a few 

 plants are put into a warmer house to induce them to flower earlier than 

 the others. 



As indicating the adaptability of the species, we may mention that a 

 small piece, consisting of one old bulb and one healthy one with a pair 

 of leaves, was placed in a small sixty pot, in sphagnum and peat, and 

 stood in a hot, moist, and low-roofed stove, some thirteen years ago. It 

 grew and flow r ered in the second year, and was subsequently put in a 

 pan of moderate size. It increased rapidly, and the growths overhanging 

 the edge of the pan were removed and potted up, until sufficient were 

 obtained to make a good specimen. At present there are three fairly 

 large examples still in the stove, and from which they have never been 

 removed save when the structure has been painted. The variety is a 

 good one, the flowers standing out well on the long racemes. We 

 mention this to show that even in the smallest of gardens, where there is 



Aquilegias. 



FOR beauty of colour and perfection of form the aquilegia is unrivalled 

 among alpine flowers. The great majority of those natives of the vast 

 mountain ranges of Europe, of Asia, and North America are of incon 

 siderable size ; the aquilegia, on the other hand, is, especially i n the 

 instances of A. caerulea and A. chrysantha, a commanding flower, often 

 rising with its luminous blossoms to a height of three feet. Thus, even 

 from a considerable distance, and particularly when assigned a prominent 

 situation, it produces a highly impressive effect. Nothing can be finer 

 from an artistic point of view, than the varieties to which I have already 

 alluded, when adequately grown. During the season intervening between 

 the last of the auriculas (which usually disappear from our vision in the 

 end of April) and the first appearance of the "regal" rose, there is no 

 flower of the garden with which I am acquainted, not even the tulip, the 

 narcissus, or anemone, which excels the aquilegia, unless, perhaps, in 

 fragrance, an attribute which, however, is not entirely lacking in certain 

 forms, such as A. chrysantha and its hybrids, of this exquisite alpine 

 flower. Not only does the aquilegia make supremely attractive, by the 

 aspect of its delicate and graceful beauty, the" early season of summer; 

 but several of its most fascinating forms, including A. canadensis (one of 



luciiLiuii mis 10 bnow mat even m tne smanest 01 gardens, wnere tnere is ,v i . 1 , .° r r 7 — . 0 . — V v . UI 



a greenhouse or other qlass structure, Ccelogyne cristata may and can be ? e Eldest and most enduring of American species), blooms, with 

 ' OJ J the golden columbine as its fairest rontpmnnrnrv. thrniicrhnnt thA n-v^*^ 



grown. 



Vine Borders. 



We have recently removed a very old vine border, where the major pait 

 of the soil has been for sixty-six years. The soil was from four feet nine 

 inches to five feet nine inches deep, and with very little mixture, in the 

 form of lime rubble and broken bricks, to make the borders porous so 

 that water might pass through freely. When these borders were 

 originally made the first principles of drainage could not have been 

 understood by the makers, and certainly not practised. It is impossible 

 to properly use large quantities of liquid manure on such borders, 

 because in the attempt the water will not pass through, and, supposing 

 there is a dry bottom, the upper surface becomes paste, and sour, whilst 

 the bottom may still be dry, as I have found. No one would be so 

 absurd now as to make such deep borders, therefore it is not necessary 

 to argue about them. In taking out the old soil we came to the division 

 where the border was attended to some ten years ago, and where the 

 depth of soil is about two feet nine inches. The soil here was filled with 

 healthy roots, and moist regularly to the bottom, for the drainage, which 

 was of old bricks, absorbs moisture, and gives it off again to the roots 

 when there is no watering. This was completely full of healthy roots. 

 This is the case always where there is a moderate depth of soil, say 

 under or near three feet in depth, and in all ordinary cases this should 

 not be exceeded ; two feet six inches would be much better in low posi- 

 tions, especially when we remember the difficulties there are of obtaining 

 good soil in large quantities. 



Shallow, well-drained borders will take a quantity of liquid manure, 

 as it passes away freely, and warm air goes with it, sweetening the whole 

 and raising the temperature ; then, also, with ordinary care, there is not 



the least fear of over-watering. Whe 

 feet of soil is advisable, as it will not become dry so quickly as a shallower 

 border, a very important point in a dry position and dry summer. I 

 have recently examined such a border we made fourteen years ago, and 

 the drainage is full of roots and perfectly clean, the pieces of brick being 

 covered with healthy vine roots. Lime rubbish is the best material that 

 can be used to preserve the soil in a healthy condition, and it should be 

 used freely near the surface where the use of cow and other liquid manure 

 soon creates a paste, unless the surface is carefully removed annually. I 

 never use organic manure in making a new border as it soon decays, and 

 the borders become sour in a few years. Of lime rubbish about one 

 load to five or six loads of loam should be used with one hundred and 

 fifty to two hundred pounds of coarse bonemeal, a little wood ashes, soot, 

 and some small pieces of crushed brick. If the loam is good yellow 

 stuff such a border will last a long period 5 black soils do not last so long. 

 Alnwick Castle Gardens. George Harris 



Artificial Manures. 



—Seeing that all plants have the same constituents, 

 only more or less combined, and therefore need practically the same food elements, 

 which aie chiefly phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen, with ample light and air, 

 and atmospheric carbon, I have often wondered in what respect the numerous 

 artificial manures so largely offered in trade can differ. If they are really com- 

 binations of plant food, how do they differ ? I do not doubt but that properly 

 applied they are all useful plant foods ; but seeing that they must he com- 

 binations of the three chief artificials— superphosphate, potash, and nitrate- 

 why not call them so, and he content ? If any manufacturer asserts that he has 

 in his compound other plant foods or constituents than are those named, I 

 trust he will explain their nature and give their appellations, otherwise there 

 seems to be no reason to think there is difference but in name.— A. D 



The National 



ysanthemum Societv 



1 . . r . — I have heard reports of 



late in reference to certain proceedings which are said to have been taken by 

 the National Chrysanthemum Society, that, if true, will have a tendency to de- 

 prive the society of its national character. The report, as I have heard it is as 

 follows: The executive of the National Chrysanthemum Society has promised a 

 certain seedsman that if he would offer in prizes for single dishes of 



vegetables to l>e competed for at the November show in 189S, they would not 

 accept any prices for single dishes from any other firm. Also that the societv has 



« n ?5 C • 8 ^ ds " ,an he will put up a stand of onions and other 



IT* I*? 1 1 vf-K-P Cl ^ r l h ° W m ,8 * the y wiU not a,low a »y other firm to pu 



aS 'eceived from a mast re- 



liable authority, I will withhold anything I mav 1 

 the report is contradict 

 the seed trade may ha\ 



of a national society sh 

 horticulture that the offici 

 recognise, all l>eing treatet 



in 



if 



learners 01 any and 



5 may in their wisdom think 



KR OF EQUALITY, 



er until I see if 

 her memhers of 

 think the 



every brai 



doors 



the golden columbine as its fairest contemporary, throughout the greater 

 portion of the month of July ; and is especially luxuriant in a cool and shady 

 position where it is not greatly influenced by the somewhat exacting rays of 

 the sun. Being, as I have indicated, entirely alpine in their character, their 

 nature demands for their successful development, such a situation as this. 

 In my own garden, where they appear to be in perfect harmony with their 

 environment, and have manifestly found a congenial soil, I grow them 

 beneath the overhanging boughs of a line of apple trees, and as the 

 blossoms of these and the flowers of the earlier aquilegias come con- 

 temporaneously, a varied series of floral pictures is thereby produced, 

 which, as Alexander Smith has sung of a widely different theme, though 

 "fair to the eye, 75 are "still fairer to the memory." Such scenes are 

 especially remembered with pleasure in this season of winter glooir. 

 which is not, however, without its steadfast hopes and abiding consolation?, 

 seeing that the snowdrop, the crocus, and the daffodil, with their promise 

 of future and not far-distant loveliness, are already above the ground. 



The aquilegia, like the orchid, to which it is frequently compared, not 

 unfavourably, by those cultivators who know the full value of this flower, 

 is found in various, and often widely severed mountain regions of the 

 world ; I have not yet heard of it growing in Africa, which is chiefly 



remarkable for the production of bulbous flowers, especially those of the 

 lilis 



• 



order ; but in the other three continents, and prominently in 

 America, its beauty abounds. A. c;erulea, one of the hardiest and 

 loveliest of aquilegias, comes to us from the Rocky Mountains. This 

 has been greatly beautified by hybridisation with A. chrysantha, whereby 

 in addition to its effective original colours of blue and white, it has assumed 

 a yellow hue. A. californica, as its name implies, is a native of the 

 Sierra Nevada ranges in California. This is somewhat arduous of cul- 

 ture, and seldom exists for many years, unless under exceptionally favour 

 able conditions of climate and of soil, for which reason I cannot commend 

 it for universal cultivation. It is, however, an aquilegia of great beauty, 

 and should be cultivated for this reason, notwithstanding its unreliability, 

 as it can be treated as an annual, and grown from seed. Its colour is 

 brightest orange, with suggestions of yellow ; it is of a peculiarly pen- 

 dulous habit, and the spurs are very long. Aquilegia chrysantha, so 

 called by reason of its luminous golden-yellow complexion, which easily 

 distinguishes it from all other North American kinds, also belongs to 

 Californian regions. Of all existing forms this is perhaps the most 

 valuable ; what Perle des Jardins is among roses adapted for garden 

 cultivation this uniquely-coloured species is among aquilegias; but it 

 is infinitely hardier in character, and opens with greater facility than the 

 somewhat capricious rose to which I have referred. No aquilegia within 

 the range of my acquaintance is so enduring as this ; in this respect it is 

 truly remarkable. I have vigorous plan's in my garden, sending up > n 

 June and July great masses of flowers to a height of three feet, which have 

 with only one change of position, lasted for ten years. Next to it in value- 

 and, with the exception of its colouring, which is a combination of dark 

 orange, scarlet, and yellow, partaking of several of its best characteristics 

 though it does not grow to an equal height— is Aquilegia canadensis, 

 which, though it may have been originally a native of Canada, was cer- 

 tainly introduced into this country from Virginia. 



Aquilegia glandulosa, which is a plant of peculiarly tufted habit, from 

 the Altai Mountains in Siberia, requires for its adequate cultivation m 

 the garden a deep, sandy, and well-drained soil. Even under the most 

 favourable conditions it is not greatly to be relied upon ; seldom has * 

 lasted with me much longer than a year ; but it is assuredly more easily 

 gr ° w " , than A ' S . tuarti > which, partaking of the same colours, viz., white 

 and blue, and inheriting from this beautiful species, crossed with A- 

 Witmantana, its finest attributes, would be, if only perfectly reliable 

 (which I am certain it is not), an invaluable acquisition. Its famous 

 raiser, Dr. Stuart, can grow it in Berwickshire with considerable success, 

 ior m that region it seems to find a comparatively congenial soil ; W 

 even there it refuses to be treated as a biennial, as it is manifestly lacki* 

 in endurance and strength. There are many other aquilegias, such J 

 A. Skinnen, of brilliant complexion, and Aquilegia alpina superba, whi» 

 by reason of their highly decorative capabilities, are well worth cultivtf 

 ng wherever they can be induced to flower with facility. Aquileg* 

 alba, which I like much better than its double form, A alba 

 pleno, while distinctive in colour, is much more hardy in character thai 

 tries?, but greatly more attractive than any of the latter, and rivalh* 

 if not absolutely surpassing in brilliancy the nobly-endowed NortJ 

 western American forms, are the exquisite hybrids raised and intro- due* 

 by .Messrs. \eitch, which have, in addition to their lustrous beatt* 

 a supreme qualification for most gardens— they are not liable to decay. 

 Kirkmaidcn. DAVID R. WILLIAMSON. 



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