February 21, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
145 
despised either as window or table plants or for the greenhouse. 
Their cultivation is comparatively easy, the principal object being to 
obtain well-furnished plants, which is by no means difficult, as they 
will s'and any amount of pinching back without injury, and may be 
left to the discretion of the grower. 
I have found stopping the shoots early in spring the most success¬ 
ful way of obtaining dwarf bushy plants, and it does not in the least 
retard their free flowering. It is always advisable to keep them in 
rather small pots, giving a top-dressing of stable manure or liquid 
water in small quantities to compensate for the restriction. 
V. Traversii.— This is hardy except in very severe winters, is 
free-flowering and of neat habit. It seldom grows more than 1 to 
2 feet in height, and its large spikes of white and purplish flowers some¬ 
what in the way of the well-known V. Andersonii are very attractive ; 
they are produced in the greatest profusion, and last more or less 
throughout the summer. The leaves are of a lively shining green, 
and for this reason the plant is extensively used in some large gardens 
for greenhouse decoration, together with many o'.her tine-foliage plants 
to intermix with spring flowers. It is increased from cuttings with 
the greatest ease in the ordinary way. A native of the Middle 
Island, where it is found abundantly. 
V. salicifolia. —One of the most variable of all the Veronicas, and 
under cultivation runs into many forms. It is one of the principal 
parents of the many hybrids which we have in gardens, among the 
best of which are V. kermesina, V. lindleyana, V. Andersonii, 
V. versicolor, V. linariaefolia, and many others, the merits of which 
are pretty well known and appreciated. The flowers are produced in 
the same way as the above, and are variable both in size and colour. 
This is a desirable plant for the conservatory, and very useful for 
planting between Camellias in beds. 
V. parviflora.— This seems to be only a small variety of the pre¬ 
ceding, has little less than neatness of habit to recommend it to the 
general cultivator. It should, however, find a place where a collection 
is desired. 
_ V. macrocarpa. —Although the most showy and desirable plant 
this is perhaps the most rare in gardens. In habit it is similar to 
V. salicifolia, but from which, as well as the others, it is distinguished 
by its larger and more elegant flowers, and for these merits alone it 
deserves a place in every garden. 
Of hardy species we have a much larger number to choose from, 
and no one that has them nestling among the stones in the rockery 
can doubt their usefulness or appropriateness for this purpose. In 
deed it would be difficult to fiud another class of plants more suitable, 
and possessing the twofold quality of enlivening with their flowers, 
which if not very attractive are interesting through the summer, and 
of breaking the monotony of bare stones and rocks with their shining 
green or glaucous leaves during winter. 
V. elliptic A syn. V. DECUSSATA.— In favourable situations this 
attains considerable dimensions in the course of two or three years, on 
account of which it should be planted in bold positions with good 
backing. It has been confounded with V. formosa, but how I am 
unable to determine, the latter being a small-leaved species from 
Tasmania, while V. elliptica has large broad oval-shaped leaves and 
is very distinct. The flowers, which are produced in clusters, are 
white or purplish, becoming more intense as they grow older. 
Fig. 28 shows a small flowering branch of this plant. 
V. diosMjEFOLIA.— A dwarf bushy species seldom attaining more 
than a foot in height, although only of recent introduction, quite long 
enough to show its qualifications for this work. It has been appropri¬ 
ately named ‘‘The .Rockery Gem,” the numerous flowers covering 
the plant. 
V. pinguifolia. —This is deserving of notice as a desirable plant 
if only for its bright glaucous coloured leaves. It is very neat in 
habit, and has long been confounded in gardens Avith V. carnosula 
from which it is said to differ only in its hairy capsule, the other 
being glabrous ; but apart from this, the leaves of V. carnosula are 
not nearly so glaucous, and are inclined to be oblong. 
Y. salicornoides.— I am not aware that this has flowered in 
this country, although it has been cultivated for many years. It is 
a very much-branched prostrate-growing species, and resembles a 
miniature Cupressus, for which it has been repeatedly palmed off on 
the credulous. It forms dense masses, and although a partial shade- 
loving plant it is apt to damp-off if moisture be allowed to become 
stagnant near its roots. It is easily raised from cuttings placed 
under a bellglass. 
Among others equally desirable are V. laevis, V. amplexicaulis, 
V. anomala, V. chathamica, V. epacridea, V. Haastii, and V. ligus- 
trifolia.—M. S. 
CHALK v. LIME RUBBISH FOR VINE BORDERS. 
I have no recollection of seeing chalk recommended for mixing 
with the compost for Vines but once, and then I felt doubtful as to its 
good effects, or whether the Vines would care to come in contact with 
it or ramble among it, until a few days ago when about to make a new 
Vine border along the front of a house which had been planted with 
Vines in the inside about three years ago. The front wall next which 
the Vines had been planted was on arches, which had been filled with 
bricks packed one on the other, but no mortar used, and on the outside 
of these was packed a quantity of chalk as a further means of keeping 
back the roots, and as all this had to come away to admit of the new 
border it was found that the roots were rambling amongst the chalk 
and clinging to it with small fibres till the apertures between the chalk 
were a network of roots. This I took for granted that the Vines have 
no objection to chalk, but rather a liking for it, and as I have consider¬ 
able difficulty in getting lime rubble for the purpose named I intend to 
use chalk instead. Probably there are many situated like myself at 
a distance from any place where much building is going on, and who 
have chalk close at home, and would be glad to avail themselves of 
it if they could put confidence in the results.—C. W. C. 
HAREEIELD GROVE, NEAR EICKMANSWORTH. 
The seat of George Webster, Esq., is now a monster glass 
establishment. Somewhere about seventy houses, many of them of 
a considerable size, are devoted to horticultural purposes, all produce 
beyond the wants of the family being sent to market. French Beans, 
Tomatoes, and Melons are grown in enormous quantities. Six span- 
roofed houses, each from 100 to 110 feet in length, are used for 
growing Cucumbers. Grapes are extensively cultivated here, fifteen 
houses of various sizes being devoted to them, some of them being 
of a large size. There are also good Peach houses, and several 
