118 
CARTER AND CO.’S GARDENER’S VADE-MECUM FOR 1862. 
NEW SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF FLOWER SEEDS {continued from page 116 ). 
Erythrina, varieties. 
These magnificent Shrubs, commonly called “ Coral 
Trees,” are usually grown in the greenhouse ; but in favour- 
able seasons they may with safety be placed out of doors 
in summer, where their dense foliage and splendid racemes 
of brilliant crimson blossoms will show superbly. See 
Nos. 943 to 946. Each, per packet, Is. 
Gynerium argenteum. 
This is the Pampas Grass, the merits of which arc too 
well known to need recapitulation. The seed offered, being 
imported from tbe district of the River Plate, will be found 
to germinate freely. Price per packet, Is. 
Linum luteum corymb iflorum. 
A handsome half-hardy variety of Flax, with hundreds 
of bright straw flowers on each plant. This is quite as hand- 
some a variety, of its colour, though different in habit, as 
the well-known scarlet Linum, to which it would form an 
excellent contrast. Price per packet, 6 el. 
Pentstemon Murrayanus- 
This is by far the most handsome species of this much- 
admired genus, having numerous long tube-shaped flowers 
of a bright vermilion. Price per packet, I s. 
SPERGTJLA PXLIEERA. 
This admirable substitute for Lawn Grass lias stood tile severest tests, and is now rapidly rising in 
public estimation. We annex an Extract from an Article upon it, written by Mr. Shirley 
IIibberd, in the ‘ Gardeners’ Weekly Magazine.’ 
LAWNS WITHOUT GRASS. 
In making our remarks last week on the causes of the wretched appearance too often presented by grass lawns, and tbe 
proper remedies for certain of their defects, we said nothing about substitutes for grass, because the subject is too important to 
be dealt with in a casual way. Thejime is fast approaching, however, when we shall have to say, in our descriptions of gardens, 
what sort of turf is used — the word “ turf” having already several different significations. The reader perceives already that 
we are on the tract of Spergula pUifera, and, mayhap, has already a feeling of repugnance to any so-called substitute for grass ; 
certainly there is repugnance in many quarters, and we may as well own at once that, for general purposes, a grass turf cannot 
be superseded by turf of any other kind. But among the large number of gardeners who speak of Spergula as “ humbug,” how 
manv have really seen it ? Of those who have seen it, how many have seen it as it should be seen, and as it may be seen under 
proper management, well established, and in the best possible condition for a fair judgment of its merits ? Very few we imagine. 
Now seeing is believing, and no one who has visited the garden of Mr. Mongredien, at Forest Hill, has been disposed thereafter 
to say a word against the Spergula, for it is the most remarkable innovation of the present century in the matter of garden 
furniture. For the information of those who have had no opportunity of making acquaintance with good samples of Spergula, 
we may state that, as brought to perfection in Mr. Mongredien’s garden, it forms a thick, moss-like felt, close as piled velvet, 
vivid in its greenness of tint, soft and elastic to the foot, dense in growth, and as even on the surface as the smoothest lawn 
newly mown, but without any mowing at all. This is a land of freedom, and let every man hold and express his opinions freely ; 
but opinions founded in ignorance of facts are worth nothing ; but all that has been said against Spergula has been so said, and 
comes to nothing. 
But the great question is, will it supersede grass ? For certain purposes it will not only supersede grass, but allow of the 
accomplishment of what, with grass, it would be impossible. It forms a close evergreen mossy felt pits habit is procumbent; 
it endures drought with patience when well established ; is improved by being rolled and trodden on, and is more uniform in 
character than any other turf, because formed of one species instead of many, lienee for small lawns laid out lor geometric 
gardens, for broad terrace verges, and for every kind of fancy work, where the most perfect specimens of turfs are essential 
features, Spergula is as much better than grass, as real grass is better than a turf of crowfoot and camomiles. But it will 
probably never supersede grass for large extents of lawns, because its culture is a nicer undertaking. In less than three years 
we believe it to be impossible to form a dense turf on a large scale, and during that period it would require frequent attention. 
The original announcement that it needed no mowing, though truthful — for it neither needs mowing, nor would mowing be 
possible — has nevertheless proved injurious to it. People supposed that as it would not need mowing, it would occasion less 
trouble than grass, whereas there must be more trouble expended on it to do it justice, aud therein lies the secret of success. 
Being of humble growth and spreading laterally, weeds have their own way amongst it, until it has completely covered the 
ground and secured full possession. Grass, plantain, and groundsel are the first enemies that assail it, and with these come 
the various other weeds peculiar to the district. There is no more important detail in management after planting Spergula than 
keeping it sedulously weeded, but that task need not alarm intending cultivators ; it is a question of labour, and no more than 
is required in the formation of a turf ; the time required will depend a good deal upon the thickness of the original planting. 
Very small turfs put close together will meet and close sooner than large turfs at greater distances, and some of the recorded 
objections to it may be traced directly to the fact that large turfs were laid down at greater distances apart, and the plant was 
a long time extending its procumbent stems between them. Yet reason ought to have dictated to those planters that it is only 
on the circumference that any such plant can spread, and minute divisions even to pieces of an inch in diameter would he 
preferable to the laying down of the largest turfs. As the edge of every separate turf will advance two inches in one season, 
turfs at four inches apart will form a close turf in one year, whereas the same quantity in large pieces a foot or so apart would 
be three or four years meeting, meanwhile the bare spaces between and the successive crops of weeds would bring upon the 
Spergula an obloquy which ought to be cast upon the planters for having dealt with it so injudiciously. 
Plants to transplant 2 inches apart, for one acre, £10. Ditto, for one rod, 7s. 6d. 
Seed mixed with sand, sufficient to sow one acre, £2. Ditto, for one rod, Is. 6d. 
