February 25, 1855. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
173 
when flies are prolific. Steeping the seed, before sowing, in either 
petroleum or turpentine may by the subsequent diffusion of their 
odour keep some Hies from laying eggs on or eating the smooth 
leaves. It is with an early crop that this preventive measure 
would be likely to answer. 
All the diligence imaginable may fail, however, to prevent a 
serious attack upon a crop of Turnips by so numerous a host of 
Ilie3, that the destruction of them seems inevitable, and in fields, 
as an extreme measure, sheep may be driven over the Turnips, 
keeping the animals well together; the fly will be nearly exter¬ 
minated, and the crop may possibly be saved. The list of 
dressings that have been resorted to is a long one. Whatever may 
b • tried it should be used only when the dew is upon the plants. 
Soot and lime are commonly employed, and they do some good. 
Other applications that might be advantageous could scarcely be 
tried on fields. Mr. Fisher Hobbs’ remedy, stated to be nearly 
infallible, consists of suitable proportions of sulphur, fresh lime, 
gas lime, and road scrapings well combined, then gradually 
strewed along the rows.— Entomologist. 
SELECT ANNUALS FOR STOVE AND 
GREENHOUSE. 
The following notes are written more for the benefit and 
instruction of amateurs than for gardeners, most of whom will 
be already acquainted with the subjects under notice, but should 
any of the latter be reminded of and induced to grow again 
some old and neglected favourite, my efforts will have been more 
than doubly rewarded. 
It is almost surprising what a beautiful display of flowers 
can be obtained, and what a tasteful effect may be produced, by 
the judicious arrangement of about a dozen plants of each of the 
following kinds—Thunbergia alata, Browallia elata and B. spe- 
ciosa, Martynia fragrans, Balsams (Impatiens balsamina or 
I. hortensis), Celosia pyramidalis, and Zea qaponica variegata, 
with several pots of Mignonette (Reseda odorata) filling the 
house with its delicious perfume. With such material we have 
sufficient to fill the stage of a medium-sized greenhouse, and 
present to the eye such a variety of form and colour as none 
but the extremely fastidious would desire to alter or improve. 
Another important point is the small first cost in connection 
with this houseful of plants and flowers. Seed of a dozen kinds 
of plants to be mentioned may be purchased for about 3s., an 
outlay within the reach of all who possess a greenhouse. Tlxe 
cultivation of these annuals is also comparatively easy in most 
cases. Anyone that can grow Cockscombs. Primulas, Fuchsias 
and Pelargoniums, will be successful with Thunbergias, Marty- 
nias, Celosias, Zeas, Ac. Be it remembered that nearly all plants 
present to the eyes of those accustomed to observe, a true index, 
within certain limits, of their cultural requii’ements to a greater 
or less degree. When once the physiology of a plant is even but 
partially understood, and the climatic conditions of its native 
habitat known, it is astonishing how easy the cultivation of that 
plant becomes; therefore I would say to all desirous of being 
successful cultivators, Study the nature of the plants under your 
care, no matter whether it be a Cabbage or a Plum, an Orchid or 
a Vine, and act accordingly. 
Thunbergia alata. —The first plant to which I wish to 
draw attention is the above, a showy stove or greenhouse twining 
plant, growingwell under either hot or cool treatment, according 
to the time of year. It is an old-fashioned flower, too seldom 
seen nowadays, but one which rarely fails to attract a due 
measure of admiration from all who have the pleasure of seeing 
it under favourable conditions. The genus belongs to the family 
Acanthaceas, and embraces about a dozen species and varieties, 
none being annuals strictly speaking, but the species under 
notice is treated as such. Nearly all are natives of the Old 
World, being found chiefly in the East Indies, Madagascar, 
Sierra Leone, Nepaul, and Natal, whilst T. coccinea is said to be 
a native of Trinidad. The species under notice embraces two 
varieties, T. alata alba, and T. alata aurantiaca, from Madagascar, 
and the species T. alata is a. native of the East Indies, said to 
have been introduced into this country about 1823. The genus is 
named in honour of the celebrated traveller and botanist, 
Than berg. 
When the three species are grown, whether as specimens in 
distinct odours or mixed, the effect is very pleasing. Being 
climbers they are adapted for pillars or trellises, but perhaps 
thoy are most beautiful when grown as large specimens in 
baskets and their slender stems are allowed to entwine about 
the suspending wires or chains or to fall over the sides of the 
baskets in festoons, and their elegant shoots twisting hither and 
thither and giving grace to the whole. Sometimes they are 
grown in pots with some twiggy sticks inserted for them to 
ramble over, but unless the Stic ^s are well covered with natural 
foliage, such as the Spruce Fir, or by the Thunbergias them¬ 
selves, such method is not the most satisfactory way of showing 
off their intrinsic beauty to advantage. One of the best ways to 
show them is to allow the shoots to droop over the pots and 
drape the front of the stage on which they are gi’owing, when 
they will form an edging that for elegance of form and bright¬ 
ness of colour few plants will surpass. Thunbergia alata and its 
varieties are also well adapted for edging groups of plants in large 
ornamental vases and tazzas, their slender and pendent shoots 
furnished at modei*ate intervals with cordate leaves and bold 
dark-eyed flowers, breaking the stiff and formal outlines of the 
vase, &c., without hiding or detracting from its beauty. 
Culture. —This is very simple, and for that reason alone it 
is essentially an amateur’s plant, but it is subject to red spider, 
and in consequence many admirers have ceased to cultivate it; 
but if all the plants of our gardens that are liable to be infested 
with even three or four kinds of parasites were to be eliminated, 
what would become of our Roses, Azaleas, Cinerarias, and 
Chrysanthemums, Peaches, Grapes, Melons, &c., any one of 
which requires about five times the amount of skill and care to 
bring to perfection? Seed may be sown at the same time as 
Stocks and Asters in a shallow box or pan, which should pre¬ 
viously have had drainage and 2 inches of light soil placed 
therein. The soil may consist of loam and leaf mould in equal 
parts, with a dash of silver sand or river sand Amateurs and 
cottagers who cannot obtain leaf mould should use loam of light 
and open character for these and almost all other seeds. The 
holes in the bottom of the box or pan having been covered by 
inverted oyster shells or crocks, and the coarse siftings of the 
soil distributed thereon, the fine soil is added and made level. 
The seeds should not be scattered indiscriminately, but be 
placed singly at distances of about 2 inches apart, not only to 
allow plenty of space for the free development of their large 
cotyledons and subsequent leaves, but inasmuch as they will not 
require pricking off, also to admit of each plant being carefully 
lifted with plenty of roots. Cover the seeds with three-quarters of 
an inch depth of soil, and press it gently down smoothand level, 
■water with tepid water through a rose, and place on a gentle 
hotbed, or in any other warm and moist place. In about six 
weeks, if the seedlings have been duly cared for by keeping the 
soil moist, they will be ready for transplanting into baskets or 
pots in which they are to flower, but it is a good plan to water 
the plants three or four hours previous to disturbing them, so 
that their leaves may become fully charged with moisture, and 
also to cause the soil to cling more tenaciously to the roots, 
thus enabling the young plants to withstand successfully the 
check they are about to receive, and greatly facilitate the 
operation of transplanting. The soil should consist of two parts 
loam, one part leaf mould, and the same proportion cf manure, 
cow or horse, dried, and passed through a half-inch riddle, and 
one part sand. This compost must be used in as rough a state 
as possible in order to allow a free passage to the abundant 
supplies of water the Thunbergias will shortly require. 
In Baskets. —The size of the baskets is immaterial. The 
first operation will be to place some moss on the bottom and 
round the sides to retain the soil, which should then be put in to 
a depth of 3 or 4 inches. Place the Thunbergias on the soil 
at intervals of 5 or 6 inches, with their leaves projecting outside 
the basket. Place in more moss and soil and plants as before 
and continue the operation in layers until the top of the basket 
is reached, taking care that the plants in each layer are opposite 
the spaces of the layer below; the upper sux-face of the basket 
is then furnished with plants at the same distances apart. When 
the planting is completed give a good watering and suspend 
them in a warm and moist atmosphei’e until the plants com¬ 
mence flowering, when they should be moved to a cool gi’een- 
liouse or conservatory. Water should be freely applied both to 
the foliage and l-oots during the growing period, or rather until 
the flowei’ing period, for they continue to grow the whole sum¬ 
mer and autumn if properly treated. 
Tn Pots. —They are very little trouble in this way, as the 
seeds maybe sown in pots at once if so desii-ed; three or four 
seeds in a 6-ineh pot will be quite sufficient. I sow mox - e in the 
seed box than will be required for baskets, and transfer them 
into 6-inch pots, three in a pot, giving them the same soil and 
ti'eatment as l’ecommended for baskets. At no time should 
Thunbergia alata suffer from lack of moistui'e atthei’oots, forany 
insufficiency in that l'espect is sure to be followed by the plants 
being infested with red spider, which quickly disfigure them. 
Therefore keep the enemy at a distance by timely applications 
of water and nourishment, and by taking care that a high tempera¬ 
ture is accompanied by px - oportionate humidity. But should 
