4G 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE A \'D COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ January 15, 1885. 
walls, the Plum-shaped fruit being borne in clusters and of 
fairly good quality. Muir’s Hybrid Vegetable Marrow we 
grew, but cannot say much about it beyond the fact that it 
is very prolific, or I should say “ they ” were, as we had three 
varieties all being of fairly good quality. 
Not many new Peas were grown here last season, and 
f am inclined to think we now have enough sorts to choose 
from. American Wonder was again early and good. Veitch’s 
Pxtra Early proved quite as early and more robust than 
Paxton’s First Early, and these were followed by William J. 
Telephone again proved the best tall-growing second early, 
and this was followed by Criterion, this being one of the 
best Peas grown. Wordsley Wonder grew to about 30 inches 
fla height, was remarkably prolific, pods of medium size and 
length, and closely packed with sweet wrinkled peas. It is 
a second early sort, and is decidedly distinct and valuable. 
Gladiator is a good cropper, and is a useful second early and 
main crop sort for small gardens, and the same may be said 
Marvel. Culverwell’s Giant Marrow was of little service, 
the variety being much addicted to mildew. Evolution and 
Sturdy are both of medium height, very branching, and pro¬ 
lific, the former having large well-filled pods, and the latter 
rather small pods, closely packed with delicious peas. 
Sturdy is not so liable to mildew as the majority of main 
crop and late sorts are and should be grown in every garden. 
Walker s Perpetual is another branching sort, in other re¬ 
spects much resembling Veitch’s Perfection, and is suitable 
lor late crops, as also are Ne Plus Ultra and Sutton’s Latest 
of All. 
Potatoes are not grown in great variety here. We prefer 
the old Ashleaf and Veitch’s Improved Ashleaf for the early 
crops either in frames or open ground, and to succeed these 
we have Lapstone, Reading Russet, Schoolmaster, Scotch 
Champion, and Magnum Bonum. Schoolmaster will be 
replaced, by Ross’s new sort M.P., this being somewhat 
similar in appearance, more prolific, and good in quality. 
-W. Iggulden, Marstm. 
THE AUBRIETIAS. 
Taken collectively, the Aubrietias constitute one of the most 
valuable genera among hardy alpine plants, a family which in 
early spring time furnishes us with flowers in the greatest profu¬ 
sion. The most ordinary garden soil is suited to their requirements, 
and while many forms are sufficiently good and choice for the 
select garden, they also admirably adapt themselves to any 
variety of circumstances. They can be massed in mixed beds or 
borders. .For edgings or lines, for overhanging ledges of rock, 
for old walls and ruins for rooteries, or on sloping banks, few 
plants are so easily established or more quickly carpet the 
ground than these, and losses are a rarity. Of the almost 
endless variety of ways in which these plants may be employed 
great advantage the Spring Gardens of Belvoir Castle may 
be mentioned as a suitable illustration. There the visitor will 
find them on sloping banks or as a margin for beds, and in other 
cases clothing the sides of huge rugged stones forming the 
upraised beds, and not the least among their special good qualities 
3s that they are well suited to smoky districts. I may mention an 
instance where 1 inserted some small seedlings between the 
chinks of brickwork in a wall with north-westerly aspect. These, 
after the first season, made good headway and are now fine tufts, 
suspended as it were against the wall, which is slightly out of the 
perpendicular, so as to give increased support to a bank of earth 
behind. 
Aubrietias are readily increased by seeds, by division of the 
roots, or by cuttings, the two first-named methods being the 
Safest. Cuttings, however, must be resorted to in the cases of 
extra, fine, forms, and the best cuttings are to be had during the 
year in this way : cut the old plant or p'ants over somewhat close 
after flowering, when in a week or two quantities of young 
breaks will form along the remaining portion of the stem and 
about the base of the plants. When these are from three-quarters 
of an inch to an inch long strip them off with a heel attached, 
and without any further preparation dibble them either into pots 
or pans, or under handlights, in sandy loam ; supply water and 
keep them close until rooted. By following this simple rule 
not one cutting in a hundred need be lost—widely different 
from what is invariably the result when cuttings are made from 
the old straggling shoots, which are sure to be somewhat wiry. 
In the case of dividing the rootstock, the cutting over process 
may still be adopted. This should be done as soon as the plants 
have ceased flowering, then allow them to remain a fort¬ 
night or so, by which time they will break freely, and the 
operation may then be more easily performed, and soon compact 
tufts will be the result. If, however, they are not required for 
stock, the best way to treat them after flowering is by cutting 
away the old flowers with a knife or shears, and work some sandy 
loam and manure among them. This will encourage new roots, 
and as a natural consequence increased vigour to the plants 
themselves. 
Previous to enumerating some of the leading and most 
distinct kinds I may mention that I consider the genus itself 
has been quite overlooked by the floi’ist, and that a wide field for 
improvement presents itself, like the dwarf alpine Phloxes before 
the late Mr. Nelson took them in hand some fe w years ago, and 
which he did so much to improve. I wonder who would object 
to an Aubrietia of snowy whiteness, or some decided rosy red 
tints, something eclipsing (if possible) that lovely gem now 
nestling in the rich reserve garden of Belvoir. Not only is there 
room for improvement in colour, but also in size of b’oom 
individually, and, being free seeders, there seems no great 
impediment in the way; the seedlings also as a rule vary 
considerably. 
Some of the best species and varieties are—A. Bougainvillei; 
A. Campbelli, probably the brightest in colour and very compact, 
of which also there is an improved form and bearing the name A. 
Campbelli Improved; the colour is deep violet blue, and the plant 
though vigorous is very compact; this is certainly of the best and 
most useful of the group. A. deltoidea grandillora is very fine, 
also a free and abundant bloomer, having, in fact, perfect sheets 
of blush-lilac flowers. Then follow A. Eyrei and A. erubescens, 
both distinct and good. Next in order is A. graica, which is 
one of the best; the flowers are large, of a light purple colour, 
habit vigorous, and which can be strongly recommended for 
spring bedding. The next form is A. Hendersoni, the largest- 
flowered variety of the group; colour, deep violet purple. 
Generally speaking, in habit this is not nearly so compact as the 
majority, the shoots being longer and the leaves larger. Then 
we have A. olympica with large violet flowers. Besides the 
above-named there are such as A. antilibani, A. columme-cselestis, 
A. croatica, A. purpurea, and others, the prevailing colour being 
violet and lavender blue, with varying shades. Of the last named 
species there is a neat, compact, and very pretty variegated form, 
unique, so to speak, inasmuch as no other variegated plant so 
thoroughly frost-resisting is so a dmirably adapted for permanent 
edgings as this, and which unfortunately is not sufficiently 
common.—J. H. E. 
VINERIES, VINE BORDERS, AND VINES. 
( Continued from page 24.) 
Heating —Vineries of the dimensions indicated, irrespective of 
the length, of which for the production of Grapes for home consump¬ 
tion 32 to 40 feet are suitable sizes, should be provided with six 4-inch 
hot-water pipes, having evaporating troughs attached to the flows at 
short intervals. These should be placed thus—four in front and 
within 16 inches of the wall, and two in the back situated within 
5 feet of the back wall, which with the two flows and two returns at 
the ends of house will afford ample heating surface for ensuring any 
temperature necessary to the production of good Grapes. In order 
to insure a good circulation of the heated water in the pipes, which 
should be supported by 9-inch brick piers where the pints are made, 
a rise of about an inch in 20 feet must be allowed in the flow pipes, 
and a couple of inches in an opposite direction may be given in the 
return pipes. All joints should be made with iron cement, and each 
house heated by branch pipes from the main must be provided with 
two gun metal screw valves, and one air vent may be fixed in the box of 
the flow pipes at the highest point, and be secured to the rafter half way' 
up. If these pipes are attached to an upright tubular boiler properly 
set there will be very little trouble experienced in stoking and in 
keeping up the maximum temperatures required in the houses heated 
by it. We have one here which heats the range of vineries and large 
central plant-house, together with young men’s apartments, packing 
shed, office, Grape room, and Mushroom house in the rear. 
Glazing.— The glass, as already stated, should be 21 oz. sheet, and 
must be bedded in best old linseed oil putty, allowing three-eighths of 
an inch lap to the squares, and such of the latter as require it in the 
roof should be properly spigged with zinc. The glass in the ends and 
sections of houses should be butted in thin strips of lead prepared 
specially for that purpose, and fixed so that the point where the squares 
c»me together is not visible. 
