130 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 10, 1882. 
invaluable ; their long slender stems bearing variously coloured 
flowers rise well above the more sturdy growers. By growing a 
number of plants a long succession can be maintained. Celosias 
with their various shades of rich crimson and yellow combined 
with their lasting properties command for them a foremost place 
during the winter when grown in 5 and 6-inch pots. Euf horbia 
jacquiniteflora should be grown in numbers in small pots, their 
slender stems and brilliant scarlet flowers gracefully arching 
above other plants have a most elegant effect. Amaryllises are 
very handsome ; A. Johnsonii and its varieties are moderately 
cheap, and strong bulbs never fail to produce two and often three 
spikes of flowers. With this variety the flowers are produced 
before the foliage is developed, and are on this account even more 
serviceable. They can be grown in 5 and 6-inch pots providing 
they are liberally supplied with liquid manure while growing. 
Begonia manicata and B. heracleifolia are amongst the most 
useful plants we possess. The flowering season can be greatly 
prolonged by retarding some and bringing forward others in heat 
until their flowers are about to open, when they will stand con¬ 
servatory treatment providing the temperature ranges from 45° to 
60°, and the flowers will last longer than would be the case if 
retained in heat. Tbese are not grown in large numbers now', but 
they are worth any care, and their flowers are also very useful in 
a cut state for vases. Young plants are best annually produced, 
and I consider a good batch of the utmost importance either in 
the stove or conservatory. Lilium longifolium is also useful, and 
if grown in pots for a season or two can be had in flower very 
early in the season. This Lilium I consider the best of all for 
decoration in small pots, and should be grown in every garden. 
Prunus sinensis flore-pleno is scarcely excelled for the purpose 
mentioned. Plants in small pots with from two to six shoots are 
preferable to those of larger size. Their slender shoots can be 
had in a season nearly 2 feet 6 inches in length, and if well 
ripened will be laden with snow-white double flowers at this 
season of the year. 
Many Orchids are charming for this purpose, but I will only 
mention one, Odontoglossum Alexandra. Its-delicate flowers are 
produced on a graceful arching spike, and when the plants are 
judiciously associated with other flowering plants they add con¬ 
siderably to the effect. 
It will clearly be seen from the above that formal arrangements 
are by no means advocated. When plants are staged for effect it 
is important that they be disposed so as to present a varied as 
well as pleasing and striking appearance. This is readily accom¬ 
plished by the exercise of taste and judgment, and a knowledge of 
what plants aie suitable for the purpose.— W. Bardney. 
CENOTHERAS. 
On my return from visiting several gardens in Surrey famous 
for their collections of hardy plants, I see no reason to change my 
opinion about the best hardy (Enotheras expressed on page 101. 
I saw nothing to induce me to add to or detract from the list there 
given, but I find a want of agreement about the names. With 
respect to one w'hich I received and described as (E. riparia, I 
believe the name is incorrect; it is more commonly named 
<E. coespitosa or (E. linearis, the latter being the name given to it 
in the garden at Kew. The true (E. riparia is not unlike (E. fruti- 
cosa or (E. Fraseri, but inferior to them, and as it flowers at the 
same time is not often grown. With respect to the two last- 
named I find a want of agreement, and by gardeners they may 
be taken as one ; but I find that some plants divide the stalk 
and prolong the flowering part of it, the other being generally 
simple-stalked and producing more of an umbel of flowers. 
After consulting “ Loudon’s Encyclopaedia,” I conclude that the 
latter is (E. Fraseri, and the former <E. fruticosa. He gives 
3 feet as the height of fruticosa, and H foot of Fraseri, but 
both exceed these heights in my soil according to situation ; 
the branching species is, however, the taller. Some variation 
exists in the naming of the species I described as HI. mar- 
ginata, a synonym being <E. eximea ; but the former name, 
though sometimes applied to a species with smaller flowers, is 
adopted at Kew for the kind with the large white flowers. A 
species sent to me as (E. prostrata and (E. acaulis with incised 
leaves and medium-sized pale yellow flowers is here a rank weed. 
—C. Wolley Dod. 
r Extended Blooming of Pelargoniums. —I am now referring to 
the Show, Fancy, and Regal varieties. I have often heard different 
growers complain of the short time those keep in flower, especially 
the Show and Fancy types. Some blame the nurseryman, and, I have 
always thought, most unfairly. Mine are now most beautifully in 
bloom, but I have always maintained this is dependent on the system 
of treatment. Cool treatment and partial shade from the strong rays 
of the sun are the secrets of extended bloom. To this I might add 
small pots but rich compost and occasional supplies of liquid manure. 
W. J. M., Clonmel. 
SENECIO PULCHER. 
The Groundsels or Senecios are a very extensive family, num¬ 
bering nearly one thousand species, very variable in form and 
size ; so remarkable are they in this respect that there is a gradual 
passage from small fleshy annuals to tall arborescent perennials. 
They occur in almost every latitude, but are particularly abun¬ 
dant in temperate regions ; very strong in Southern Africa, not 
less than two hundred species finding a home there, and they are 
very plentiful in temperate South America. In this country they 
are represented by several species, of which the common Groundsel 
(S. vulgaris) and the Rag-weed (S. Jacobsea) are perhaps the 
most common ; and if we were to judge the merits of the family for 
decorative uses by the former standard we should cease to enter¬ 
tain anything like friendly feelings towards them. Happily, 
however, many of them are extremely showy, both hardy and 
tender kinds; many of the alpine species are very pretty rock 
plants, and by no means common. Of all the introduced hardy 
kinds perhaps the subject of these remarks is the showiest. It is 
a vigorous-growing perennial with large fleshy or almost leathery 
leaves of a deep green colour and shining ; the radical or root 
leaves are variously dentated and lobed, while those on the stem 
are ragged and irregularly cut. The flower stems are from 2 to 
3 feet high, very stout, freely branching at the top, and supporting 
numerous flowers with the rays of a brilliant purplish-crimson 
colour, and the disk or centre golden yellow, measuring 3 inches 
or more in diameter, and lasting a considerable time in beauty. 
It flowers during the late autumn months, when it is of special 
interest and very welcome ; and when well cultivated it is a most 
attractive plant—indeed so effective is it that there is no plant in 
flower with the same coloration comparable to it. S. speciosus, 
more recently introduced, is also a brilliant-flowered species, but I 
am much afraid that it will not prove hardy with us, otherwise it 
would be an invaluable addition to our borders. 
Cultivation .—It is one of those plants which may readily be 
cultivated in ordinary borders and with similar treatment, but 
especially does it thrive in rich loamy soil in a damp situation, as 
it enjoys plenty of moisture during the summer months. Some 
plants last season planted in almost a swampy place developed 
remarkably and flowered very freely ; in fact a connoisseur of 
such plants stated he had never seen the species in finer condition. 
Some of the flowers measured 4£ inches across, and the rays were 
proportionately broad, which 1 consider was entirely due to the 
circumstances under which the plants were grown. As regards 
the pot culture of this plant, there is no difficulty in securing good 
flowering plants by that treatment in, say, 5 or 6-inch pots, using 
as soil good yellow loam, leaf soil, and well-decayed cow manure 
with some wood ashes and sand, or in lieu of the ashes fine nodules 
of charcoal: the latter is of decided advantage in growing the 
plant. Perfect drainage is also essential, and an abundance of 
moisture during the growing season ; and it would be advisable to 
plunge the pots in some material such as spent hops or ashes, 
which would greatly assist to keep the roots cool and moist. The 
advantages of pot culture would be great, especially in the case of 
very late-flowering plants, which are liable to be ruined by the 
earlier frosts, as they could then be easily placed under shelter, 
and would be useful for the decoration of the conservatory, being 
well adapted for arranging with groups of plants on the floor. 
As the stems are tall the flowers would in that position be seen to 
greater advantage, and would certainly be most effective. If the 
flowers are very late and it is desirable to secure them from the 
frost it will be necessary to protect them during the night with a 
mat or some covering, as I have found it difficult to move the 
plants when established in the soil owing to the absence of fibrous 
roots to keep the soil together. The plant is liable to the attack 
of a rusty-looking fungus, which frequently affects every part of 
the foliage ; this I think is mainly due in many instances to 
stagnant soil, and charcoal added to the soil appears of great 
benefit, or flowers of sulphur dusted on the foliage is prejudicial 
to its development. 
Propagation .—When we possess such a valuable plant it is of 
great interest to know the best way to increase it and contribute 
in every possible way to its rapid distribution. It is not readily 
increased by division, but there are still two other methods by 
which the stock can be multiplied—viz., by seed and root-cuttings. 
The first plan is not to be encouraged, as, to begin with, the seed 
is very expensive and very slow in germination, which to the 
amateur frequently cause great disappointment. The other 
method—viz., by root-cuttiDgs, is most expeditious though not 
