CONTEMPOBART WHITINGS . 
47 
amethyst set in frosted silver ; it requires a 
stove. 
" Hibiscusferox (stinging). — A coarse 
plant, but requiring stove heat; the leaves are 
stinging, and the flowers inconspicuous. 
^' Passijlora amabilis (white-crowned). — 
One of the most lovely of all the passion- 
flowers ; blossoms scarlet with a white fila- 
mentous crown ; it should have moderate 
stove heat. 
" Dipladenia urophylla (taper - point- 
leaved). — A handsome stove bush, with 
copious foliage and deep salmon-coloured 
flowers, which hang gracefully from among 
the branches. 
*' Vriesia glaticofhylla (glaucous-leaved). 
— A pine- apple like stove herb, bearing a 
branched spike of purple flowers issuing from 
amongst a double row of green bracts." 
These, it should be explained, are ia 
addition to more than double the number 
of species previously described by other 
botanists, but only now cultivated in English 
gardens — the "new plants" of the gardens not 
being always new to botanists of experience. 
We are glad to perceive by an announce- 
ment recently made, that the volume for 1849 
is to be still further improved. In accordance 
Avith a wish very generally expressed, the 
publishers have determined to exchange the 
folding plate usually contained in each Num- 
ber, (except in very rare instances,) for one 
of ordinary size, and in lieu thereof to give 
instructions after the description of each 
plant, on its history, culture, treatment, &c. 
This information, now intended to be in- 
ti'oduced for the first time, has long been a 
desideratum, and will be supplied by Mr. 
John Smith, the Curator of the Royal 
G-ardens of Kew. This feature will greatly 
add to the utility of the work ; and will, we 
hope, gain for it increased patronage. 
CONTEMPORAEY WRITINGS, AND 
ORIGINAL NOTES, 
Fumigating Greenhouses. — This practice, 
sometimes necessary for the destruction of 
injurious insects, has the disadvantage of 
leaving behind, for a day or two, the un- 
pleasant odour of the tobacco. In the Gar- 
dener'' s Journal, Mr. Tillery, of Welbeck, 
mentions a remedy, thus : — " I find burning 
Cascarilla bark is the best 'deodorant,' for it 
neutralizes tlie tobacco smell, so as to make 
the odour not disagreeable to the most fas- 
tidious." The plants are to be syringed as 
soon as the tobacco-smoke is nearly dissipated, 
and then the bark is to be burned in one or 
two place?, till the house — kept close for some 
time— is full of the perfume. 
The Ivy. — This plant is not so much em- 
ployed as it deserves for an ornament to the 
garden. As a screen, its rapid growth makes 
it invaluable where large buildings or walls 
unfit for fruit trees require to be covered ; 
and it is equally suitable to be adopted as 
an embellishment among shrubs, particularly 
when the majority are deciduous. The dead 
stump of a tree covered with ivy is a beautiful 
object, standing among the lighter beauties of 
the shrubbery, its massive and dark green 
foliage growing handsomer, as those which re- 
main assume the pallid hue of death. The 
plant has a deep solemnity of look, and an 
appearance of antiquity. The kind called Irish 
Ivy is the best and quickest growing kind, the 
foliage being much finer than the common ivy. 
An ivy fence or screen may be easily formed 
by nailing together a few rough pieces of wood, 
over and around which the ivy will twist and 
enwrap itself, and when it reaches the top, will 
hang out in waving masses, covered on every 
side with its umbellate heads of starry greenish 
blossom. 
Cariiots in old Garden Ground. — It is 
well known that there is often a difficulty in 
inducing carrots to reach perfection in a gar- 
den which has been long under a course of 
cropping. Mr. Mcintosh, gardener at Dal- 
keith, writing to the Cottage Gardener, ob- 
serves : — The culture of carrots is an object 
of some considerable interest to cottagers, in 
many of whose gardens they do not often 
succeed. The following simple plan has been 
for years practised in the garden of the Earl 
of Morton, at Dalmahoy, which, for many 
years prior to its adoption, had ceased to pro- 
duce carrots. The seeds are sown in the usual 
manner, and at the usual time ; and immedi- 
ately after, a quantity of Scotch kale (German 
greens), or savoys, are planted promiscuously 
over the bed, about five or six feet apart. 
These are allowed to grow through the sum- 
mer, and carrots of a large size and free from 
disease is the result. Such is the fact, — what 
is the cause ? 
Lime and Sand Floors. — The plan here 
explained may be advantageously employed 
in various garden structures : — Take good 
washed sand, free from all earth, and the 
ashes of lime, as taken from the lime-kiln, in 
the following proportions, namely, two thirds 
sand, and one third lime ashes. Mix them 
well together, and let them remain in a body 
for three days ; then temper the mortar, and 
form the floor with it three inches thick. Let 
this remain so formed three days, when it 
will bear treading by men, whose shoes must 
be without nails. After it is well and equally 
trodden, beat it with a flat wooden mallet 
every day for two weeks, until it is become 
hard, then use a little water on the surface, 
