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THE FLORIST AND P0M010GIST. 



may be considered as a miniature form of G. dicarpa, to which it is most nearly allied. 

 Among hardy evergreen shrubs, standing in the open air, or at least barely sheltered by an 

 incomplete tiffany covering, Berberis japonica and B. Bealii are specially worthy of note, 

 the latter, perhaps, rather the faster grower of the two. They form tall evergreen shrubs, 

 with large pinnate leaves, having broad leaflets like Holly leaves, and at this season produce 

 plentifully, at the ends of their branches, numerous stiff erect racemes of yellow flowers, 

 which are deliciously rose-scented. 



> Mr. Standish is now engaged in forming a very extensi-ye nursery at Ascot, in a situation 

 which seems to be exceedingly well adapted for the purpose, having considerable variation 

 in respect to elevation and aspect, and both loamy and peaty soils of fine quality. Here it 

 is intended to carry on extensively the culture of the superior kinds, of fruits— such as Pines, 

 Grapes, Peaches, &c, and the first of a series of houses to be devoted to this purpose is 

 already nearly completed. _ This group of forcing-houses it is intended to heat by means of 

 hot water, and Mr. Standish has designed and erected a very powerful boiler of large 

 capacity formed entirely of 2-inch iron pipes, with the siphon bends necessary to connect 

 them. These pipes represent a huge box or trunk, which forms the furnace, and in which it 

 is intended to burn the common turf fuel of the district. Mr. Standish attaches, and we 

 think justly, great importance to having a thorough command of bottom heat ; and in the 

 construction of these houses this is not to be lost sight of. In this new nursery it is designed 

 to grow extensively the fine new varieties of Gladiolus, for which the Bagshot nursery had 

 already become famous, and the popularity of which seems to be on the increase. — M. 



THE WAY TO BLOOM ISABELLA GRAY AND OTHER 



YELLOW ROSES. 



Some time back I received a letter from Mr. Kingsbury, of Bevois Valley Nurseries, 

 near Southampton, on the above subject. I regret that I cannot find his letter, so as to give 

 your readers his experience in his own words. I must, therefore, trust to my memory, and 

 I believe that the following is correct : — He says that he uses a little salt in dry summers 

 over the ground, and that it causes Isabella Gray to give her flowers, and also causes other 

 yellow Poses to give better flowers. He says, that he took some beautiful blooms of Isabella 

 Gray to Mr. Eollisson, Nurseryman, of Tooting, and that neither he nor they had ever seen 

 better blooms of Isabella Gray. Such is his testimony. I believe that Isabella Gray is not 

 suited to out-of-doors culture generally. Mr. May, of Blandford, bloomed it under glass, 

 and told me that it was better than the Cloth of Gold. I doubt not pot culture, with new 

 maiden earth without any dung or strong stimulant, under glass, will be the surest way to 

 obtain its flowers. It is a very tender though free-growing Kose. La Boule d'Or is very 

 hardy, and has wintered perfectly intact out-of-doors with three tiles over its roots and a 

 little straw tied round the base of the plant. The exposed tops also suffered no damage. Its 

 wood is as hardy as that of Gloire de Dijon, which is one of the best and noblest productions 

 of France. 



llectory, SusMon. "W. F. Radclyefe. 



DESTROYING ANTS. 



Reading in the Florist and Pomologist of last month the article " Destroying Ants " 

 induced me to write the following methods of destroying or driving them. If Mr. Pearson 

 will get a few toads and put into his houses they will very soon " catch 'em and kill 'em" for 

 him without the hammer. If they climb up the stem of any tree, place three boards (or 

 two if against a wall), about 2 feet long, so as to form a triangle round the stem where they 

 run up, place a toad there, and soon he will eat them all as they come down or come to go 

 up. If they have holes on the level ground or floor, get some dry sand, sifted fine, and place 

 over the holes so as to fill them. Keep the holes covered as they carry it away, and they 

 will very soon leave the place ; or if their holes are in a wall, or where you cannot put sand 

 on, plaster the hole up with " Gishurst." They will not face this ; or, if their holes are not 

 near the roots of any trees, pour a strong mixture of " Gishurst" into them, and you will see 

 very few ants there after. 



It would increase the value of your excellent periodical if your contributors were to be a 

 little more definite in their dates and figures. For instance, in the Number for last month 

 on the " Fancy Pelargonium," a very plain and well-written article, Mr. Bailey says, " The 

 cuttings should be moderately firm and well-ripened shoots." At what time may we expect 

 to get "moderately firm cuttings?" Perhaps in May, but we must wait until the end of 

 June or July for " well- ripened shoots." Will Mr. Bailey be so kind as to say what week 



