8 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t January s, uss. 
transplanted, and there seems every likelihood that it will take root 
and flourish .—(Journal of Forestry.) 
SOME SEASONABLE NOTES. 
Shelter. —Recently we noticed an illustration of how much 
benefit a little shelter is. All day the air had been a degree or 
two below freezing point and in rather rapid motion. Wherever 
the wind struck, the ground was frozen ; wherever it was protected 
from the current it was not. What drew our attention most was 
the fact that a breadth of 3 feet on the lee side of a thin Thorn 
hedge remains unfrozen. Still air, as is known, is a good non¬ 
conductor, and when air is still it is surprising how the ascending 
heat of the earth keeps out frost. Perpendicular shelter, however, 
only protects from lateral currents. Vertical currents, which 
descend from unknown heights, can only be guarded against by 
coverings, but the sheltering effect of a thin hedge teaches us 
that even flimsy material, such as nets, may break the current and 
save much by securing a still layer of non-conducting air. 
Arabis lucida variegata. —This is one of the brightest 
among alpines, but it is not often mentioned in lists of such. 
Even Mr. Dod does not mention it. True, it does not thrive in a 
warm soil nor yet in a warm climate, but under the shade of a 
boulder its green and gold foliage charms the eye even in the 
dullest winter months. In many northern districts it is employed 
as a carpet bedder with effect. Its flowers are white, small, and 
inconspicuous. It only grows an inch or two high, and is easily 
propagated. The smallest bits made into cuttings and inserted in 
sandy soil in October will certainly make fine plants by spring. 
Those who have a good stock should simply divide their plants at 
the same time. Many fail with it because they are in too great 
a hurry to raise a stock. Heat and dryness are its enemies. All 
it needs is coolness and moisture. 
Arabis albida is better known, but is not half so much grown 
as it should be. It is one of the hardiest plants in existence, and 
will thrive almost anywhere and under any conditions, which has 
caused many to treat it badly. It, too, is best propagated by 
cuttings in October. These, if placed in a cold frame or under a 
handlight, will be good plants to put out in April. On good soil 
these will give abundance of bloom, which will last for some 
weeks a year after. Even on poor soil it will continue spreading, 
but the bloom will not last so long as when it is generously treated. 
Clumps a yard across at the sides of shrubberies have a telling 
effect. The variegated form makes a good dwarf bedder, but to 
see it in proper form it must be propagated from cuttings in 
October and placed out in April in good soil. Lifting and replant¬ 
ing it in spring is the ordinary way, whereby it has been brought 
into disrepute.—S. H. 
N0TES»GI 
m 
UN 
GS. 
A Sussex correspondent writes to us as follows on hardy 
flowers in January —“What an extraordinary season this is ! 
Here in the garden we have in bloom Carnations, Calendulas, 
Crocuses, Omphalodes verna, Roses, Anemones, Primroses without 
number, Violets, Xeranthemum annuum, Erysimum Perofski- 
anum, Christmas Rose, Helleborus abchasicus, Escallonia ma- 
crantha, and a host of other plants all in the open air. I am 
afraid we shall suffer later on.” 
- Referring to the mildness of the weather, a York¬ 
shire correspondent writes—“ I do not know how the weather is 
in the south, here it is like spring. Carnations are spindling, 
Auriculas throwing up trusses, Roses pushing their growths ; in 
fact everything is growing fast.” In the south, we may inform 
our correspondent that the weather has been unusually fine 
for a long time, and since the opening of the year the days have 
oeen remarkable for their mildness. Many trees are swelling 
their buds, and vegetation is much too forward to be safe. The 
Wheat in some fields in Essex is, we are informed, 9 inches high, 
has a most luxuriant appearance, and is dangerously forward. 
- We are glad to learn that Mr. Woodhead, Shibden 
Head, Halifax, is recovering from his late dangerous illness, and 
we hope he will be sufficiently restored to visit the forthcoming 
Auricula exhibition in London, and show how well Auriculas can 
be grown in glazed pots. He will have, we are informed, nearly 
six thousand flowering plants this spring, and his seedlings are 
looked ^forward to with considerable interest. His best white- 
edged variety has, however, unfortunately just flowered, but the 
plant that was at one time in great jeopardy is now considered 
safe. Unless Mr. Woodhead’s plants have deteriorated since we 
saw them they will rank amongst the best that have ever been 
staged aCSouth Kensington. 
- Mr. Lorenz of Erfurt has sent us an admirably executed 
coloured’ plate of his new Gaillardia picta Lorenziana, 
which has been previously figured and referred to in our columns. 
Assuming that the flowers are faithfully represented in the plate 
before us, this is not only the finest and most distinct Gaillardia 
we have seen, but is one of the most striking border flowers that 
has yet been introduced. Such examples, however, as those in 
question can only be produced by superior cultivation, and we 
shall be glad to see flowers of equal merit during the ensuing 
season. 
- Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons’ collection of Bouvabdias 
at Chelsea includes most of the leading varieties, and among 
them are the new and beautiful double white variety Alfred 
Neuner, and the yellow-tinted Bouvardia flava. The last-named 
is much admired by some visitors to the nurseries, especially by 
ladies, and it certainly is distinct without the dullness that marks 
some shades of yellow. It is of good habit and very floriferous. 
B. umbellata alba and carnea are both handsome varieties with 
wax-like flowers, having long tubes and broad lobes. The bril¬ 
liantly coloured Hogarth, elegans, and Dazzler are very attractive, 
the last-named being particularly showy. 
-In the same nursery the hybrid Amaryllis Autumn 
Beauty was recently flowering well. This plant is a very re¬ 
markable instance of the combination of characters effected by 
hybridising, and deserves notice also for its quality of flowering at 
this season of the year. One of the scarlet-flowering Amaryllises 
was made the seed-bearing parent, being fertilised with pollen 
from A. reticulata ; and the success of the cross was at once evident 
when^the seeds germinated, as the leaves, though larger than the 
latter parent, have the distinguishing white central band. The 
flowers are of moderate size, resembling the pollen parent both 
in that respect, in colour and marking. It is decidedly attractive, 
and will no doubt receive the attention of cultivators when it is 
sent out. 
- It is to be regretted that the exhibition of fruit at 
the Alexandra Palace, which closes on Saturday next, was 
not better supported. The prizes were liberal, and much more 
competition might have been expected. Apples were, however, 
well shown, three very fine collections being staged. Mr. Lewis 
Killick, Langley, Maidstone, was deservedly awarded the premier 
prize for over one hundred dishes of handsome fruits, some 
especially fine. Blenheim Pippin, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Reinette 
du Canada, Warner’s King, Belle Dubois, Lord Derby, Lodding- 
ton, Hollandbury, and Kentish Beauty were the most noticeable. 
Mr. Goodacre, The Gardens, Elvaston Castle, secured the second 
position with about sixty dishes of good even samples, not so 
large generally as Mr. Killick’s, but very creditable and in ex¬ 
cellent condition. Mr. J. Steward, Langford Park, Maldon, 
Essex, took the third position with thirty dishes. In the classes 
for a collection of fruit and for Grapes Mr. Goodacre was the 
only exhibitor, securing the first prize in each for good Pine 
Apples, Apples, Pears, Melons, and Black Alicante Grapes, the 
last named very well colouied. 
