De;em’oer 4, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
490 
Eucalyptus globulus full 20 feet liigb. A less conspicuous but 
charruiag geoup has Azalea amoena, Rhododendron ferrugineuni, 
Skiinmia .japonica, Hypericum patulum, Erica australis, E. codo- 
noides,_ E. mediterranea, Gaultheria acutifolia, Colletia horrida, 
Berberis japonica, Azalea pontica, Pernettya angustifolia, Ber- 
beris^ Darwinii, Kalmia latifolia, Ledum latifolium, Berberis 
Wallichiana, B. dulcis, the variegated Symphoricarpus, Euca¬ 
lyptus amygdalina, Ootoneaster Simmonsii, a Mountain Ash 
laden with the growth of a Honeysuckle, Ribes sanguineum, 
Rhus Cotinus, R. laciniata, Hydi’tingea paniculata grandidora, 
and Viburnum Tinus lucidum. 
In planting it must not be forgotten that all shrubs will not 
answer alike in the same soil. The lovely section included 
under the general des’gnation of American shrubs, of which the 
principal genera are Rhododendrons and Azaleas, will not 
answer in soil containing much lime. On the other hand, while 
they all thrive in peat it is by no means to be regarded as 
indispensable for them. A poor thin soil free from lime is a 
rich one for them. It has only to be drained and trenched, 
and then all the American shrubs may be planted in it with the 
assurance that they will thrive in the fullest sense of the word. 
I have also found certain other shrubs to answer in our poor 
soil, while others will struggle for mere existence. For example, 
Buddlea globosa, all the Spiraeas and Berberises ai’e positively 
rampant in it; but the Ribes, Lilacs, Rhus, Phillyreas, and 
Privets will barely exist. Strange to say, the Tulip Tree has so 
far made a remarkable gi’owth in it. Siberian Crab requires 
stations, yet there are here some of the finest specimens of wild 
Crab I have ever seen, and they have all had a heavy crop of 
fruit this year, one grand old specimen having from a dozen to 
twenty bushels of its yellow-and-crimson fruit was a remarkable 
sight Of Coniferse Wellingtonias cannot be said to answer in 
any but a very deep fertile soil. In one part of a valley here 
thei’e is an alluvial deposit some 8 feet deep, admirably suitable 
for the We lingtonia; but upon the hillside it soon assumes a 
thin impoverished appearance, which affords a clear indication 
how unsuitable such a position is for it. Abies Douglasii also 
requires deep rich soil, but Pinus insignis, Cupressus Lawson- 
iana. Thuja Lobbi, Picea nobilis, P. Nordmanniana, and Arau¬ 
caria all answer admirably in poor soil. Pinus insignis and 
Thuja Lobbi are especially valuable for the quick growth and 
bold effect which both produce in a few years.— Edward 
Luckhurst. 
PARSLEY. 
One of thise everyday vegetables which are always in request, I do 
not think Paisley receives the attention it deserves, and for which it well 
repays. Very inferior strains are very common, and the coarser-growing 
the strain the less profitable are the plants. In a fine strain every leaf is 
available, and we can always use the outer and oldest leaves first, allow¬ 
ing the younger ones to develope into large leaves in their turn before 
having necessity to gather them. In coarse-leaved plants the outer leaves 
are practically worthless, and the young central growths have to be taken 
as they appear in order to meet the demand. I send examples of three 
very distinct and good strains. The darkest leaf represents a Stock, every 
plant of which is like a miniature Todea. The Fern-leafed variety is 
useful for kitchen use, and is very pretty and ornamental, while the 
largest light green leaf is from an ordinarily good strain. The only way to 
secure the strains true is to preserve the best plant only of each variety 
for seeding purposes. It is wonderful how rapidly deterioration of quality 
follows indiscriminate seeding. 
Next to having a good strain is the cultural treatment of the plants. 
Our soil is a bad one for Parsley, numbers of plants dying in early 
summer if left to themselves. Strange to say, however, by transplanting 
the young seedlings this dying-off disease is completely stopped. Our 
system of culture is to sow seed in February or the beginning of March. 
About the end of May the plants are dibbled out a foot to 18 inches apart. 
Parsley must have rich and highly cultivated ground to do really well. It 
will be found a good plan on dry soils to mulch pretty heavily with horse 
droppings. We only make the one sowing in the year, and by gathering 
only the oldest of the leaves the plants are never injured so severely as to 
cause them to throw up small leaves. In order to keep a supply during the 
spring and early summer months a few of the plants are better for being 
cut over in early spring, and more a little later, and either mulched with 
manure, or given a dressing of artificial manure. Under this treatment a 
crop of fresh green foliage is thrown up and the tendency to go to seed 
given a sufficient check to keep the plants producing until the young 
spring-sown plants are ready. Where hard winters are common it is a 
very good plan to lift a supply of plants and pot them in September, 
housing them in cool Peach houses or other similar structures in Novem¬ 
ber. It is very noteworthy, however, that Parsley grown on the single¬ 
plant system as above advocated, and gathered in the manner advised, 
are practically hardy enough to stand most of our winters with impunity. 
Fern leaves, a little dry straw, and in some cases handlights, are aU useful 
as means of preserving the foliage from injury by frost.— R. P. B. 
[All three samples are extremelj’ good, one having a large densel 
curled bright green leaf; tie second i< slightly smaller, but very dense 
and compact, and of an exceedingly dark green shade ; while the thu-d 
has the leaf cut in narrow linear divisions of a similarly dark colour.] 
RIIEXIA VIRGINICA. 
Our figure represeu's one of a small family of plants indigenous to 
the vast continent of North America. Though a small family there is 
something very interesting about them to the lover of choice hardy 
herbaceous plants. Rhexia virginica was introduced to our gardens as 
far b ick as 1759 ; the plants of this species require care and skill to 
cultivate them successfully. Rhexias are but little known and less culti¬ 
vated, and are seldom met with. There are are only four or five species 
enumerated in some of the best works we have, but they are a race of 
plants ( f great beauty with numerous bright rosy flowers, and ought not 
to remain lo iger in the background. 
Their requirements can be met by imitating their native habitats— 
sandy bogs. If they are accommodated with sandy peat and moisture 
success may be expected. They make fine plants on the moist rockery, 
and they will also succeed with care in a cool peat border, but they must 
be supplied with water when required. It requires time to get them 
established, and, except for increase, the plants should not be disturbed... 
They are increased by division when growth has commenced in spring 
They are summer-blooming plants of great beauty, and ought to be much 
more cultivated than they are at the present. When well grown and in 
good condition they would prove telling plants for exhibition purposes 
in collections of hardy herbaceous plants.—N. 
NOTES ON GRAPES. 
Gros Maroc. —Noting Mr. Iggnlden’s remarks on this Grape I w ish to- 
state that I have one Vine four years old on its own roots, which last year 
carried 28 lbs. of Grapes on two rods. This year I have thirty bunches—too 
many, I know, to finish as I should wish. These are fair-sized bunches, 
and I certainly expect them to weigh 40 lbs. This Vine is in the worst 
position possible, but does well. It is planted at the north-west end of a 
span house, the coldest corner; yet this is the easiest Grape we have. 
Very little thinning of the berries is needed, for the stalks lengthen as the 
berries swell. The bunches look very small in their early stages, and 
this accounts for my heavy crop, as I did not expect them to be half their 
present size. As I had cut them at the end of November last year I can¬ 
not say they will keep, but I shall try it this time. Growing with the 
Alicante it presents a very decided contrast both in foliage (which is noiv 
