384 
CONTEMPORARY WRITINGS. 
the open ground, are so to plants in pots, 
cceteris paribus. The favourable circum- 
stances are — 1, a loose soil : 2, a rich soil; 
3, a soil well drained. The unfavourable cir- 
cumstances are — 1, a heavy compact soil ; 2, a 
poor soil ; 3, stagnant water. The worst 
mode of potting is that in which finely-sifted 
soil is wholly employed without drainage ; a 
better, but still imperfect mode is, using drain- 
age with a little rough material over it ; the 
perfect mode, as far as we at present know, is 
securing complete drainage, and using the soil 
in a rough state, so as to be permeable by air 
and water. The difficulties — for there are 
difficuties — connected with potting are, — 
1, rapid drying, the roots from their tendency 
to extend outwards being mostly on the out- 
side of the ball at the sides of the pots, and 
thus exposed to heat and currents of air; 
2, exhaustion of the soil from repeated water- 
ing, washing out its nutritive particles, a cir- 
cumstance which takes place exactly in propor- 
tion as the plants are well or ill potted. The 
modes of meeting these difficulties are — 1, in 
regard to drying, to double-pot, as has been 
sometimes done, to plunge the pots, to keep 
the plants in the shade, and to employ pots 
made of hard material, as slate for instance, 
which does not allow evaporation to go on so 
rapidly as porous earthenware pots ; 2, ex- 
haustion of the soil may be prevented by top- 
dressing, and keeping the soil in a condition 
so as only to need a little w r ater at a time. 
The best cultivators, indeed, prefer syringing 
over-head when practicable ; the water that 
trickles off the branches and leaves being 
sufficient to keep the soil moist. 
Pelargonium Lucia Rosea. — This va- 
riety is in its habit and appearance much like 
one of the class called "scarlet" pelargoniums. 
It is a very compact growing plant, with short- 
jointed stems, and good sized leaves, of a soft 
velvety character. The flower-stems are strong, 
and grow erect, so that the trusses of bloom 
are brought well above the foliage ; the colour 
of the flowers is a most delicate soft pink, or 
peach blossom, w T ith a lovely white eye — alto- 
gether a distinct colour among pelargoniums. 
It is a gem for the flower garden, being not 
only perfectly distinct, but also superlatively 
beautiful. Sometimes, when kept in pots, and 
not very freely grown, we have observed it to 
produce but small trusses of bloom, but this 
improves when it is growing freely in the open 
garden. Probably, however, it may in time be 
improved on ; in the mean time it may chiefly 
be valued for its novel colour. 
OENOTHERA MISSOURIENSIS. — This plant 
forms an excellent May flower for beds ; it 
grows with short stems, which recline on the 
ground, and produce lance-shaped leaves, and 
large yellow poppy-like flowers. The readiest 
mode of propagating it may not be generally 
known. Three strong old plants taken up and 
introduced to bottom heat in the month of 
March, will produce plants enough for a very 
large mass. They must be struck precisely as 
Dahlias ; one plant will yield thirty or forty 
sprouts, and they will strike within a fort- 
night. 
Eight Conservatory Climbers. — 1 . Com- 
bretum purpureum., or, as it is now called, 
Poiorea coccinea, a half shrubby plant, with 
oval leaves, and branching spikes of scarlet 
flowers, with conspicuous stamens ; it will 
flower all the summer by stopping the strongest 
shoots occasionally, 2. Echites suberecta, a 
beautiful yellow flowering plant, which has 
generally been grown in the stove, but will 
answer well for the conservatory by spur- 
pruning, like the vine ; it is a very strong 
grower. 3. Ipomoea Horsfallice, a splendid 
plant, with deeply lobed leaves, and bunches 
of crimson blossoms ; should have a warm 
close position. 4. Mandevilla suaveolens, 
a very free grower, with hairy oval leaves, 
and bunches of white deliciously fragrant 
flowers. 5. Passiflora racemosa, a splendid 
crimson passion-flower, which will flower 
freely nearly the whole year ; does best 
grafted upon one of the hardier sorts. 6. Plum- 
bago capensis, an easily grown plant, with long 
slender stems, bluntish leaves, and good sized 
bunches of pale blue flowers ; may be had in 
bloom from April to November, by cutting 
back some of the strongest shoots in summer. 
7. Stephanotis Jloribunda, a beautiful ever- 
green plant, with dark green shining blunt oval 
leaves, and bunches of white deliciously scented 
blossoms ; it is a splendid thing when planted 
out in a conservatory border, and grows very 
fast. 8. Tecoma jasminoides, a very free 
flowerer upon the young wood from July to the 
end of October ; it has much divided leaves, 
and bunches of white flowers, with a crimson 
centre. 
Fences for Plantations. — It is well 
known that thorn or other live hedges do not 
thrive well on the shady side of plantations, 
and more cumbrous fences, such as dry stone 
dykes, are expensive and unsightly. In such 
cases wire fencing may be employed. The 
timber used as standards for the wires will 
cost but little, and may be generally got out 
of the plantation, if an established one. The 
wires, staples, and fitting up, cost about \0d. 
per yard. Such a fence is light and neat, 
and a great saving of land is effected, as the 
wires can be placed close to the trees, while 
hedges must be planted far enough from 
them to be free from the drip of their 
boughs. Besides this, much shelter is secured 
in winter and shade in summer for cattle, 
sheep, &c. 
