November 2, 1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 403 
“ bis neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.” We get the most 
convincing arguments that A was all wrong, and that when B pro¬ 
pounds the very opposite he equally avers that he only is right. 
One man says Nature is immoveable in her laws, and that all we 
have to do is to observe and give heed to them, as there can be no 
exceptions. Then comes out another who says that there is no law 
of physics, not even the law of gravitation, without great and grow¬ 
ing exceptions, “and that, therefore, the boasted accuracy and 
permanency of so-called physical laws and theories is unfounded.” 
— {Dr. Andrew Clarke.') To me, therefore, experience would be 
much more satisfactory than theory, and one such fact as that I 
have recorded in Mr. Prince’s experience is worth a bushel basket 
of theory. But let all have their say, and I am very much 
mistaken if most valuable matter may not be obtained on a 
subject which I cannot but think is of considerable importance.— 
D., Deal. 
ALNWICK SEEDLING GRAPE. 
I have sent you a bunch of Alnwick Seedling Grapes, together 
with a small piece of Gros Maroc and Alicante, grown in the 
same house under the same conditions. My experience, which is 
limited to one Vine of the first-named variety, is so very opposite 
to that recorded in the Journal of the 19th ult. that I will briefly 
state what I have to note. 
This Vine of Alnwick Seedling was planted in March, 1880. I 
did not attempt to fruit it the first season, but expected to have 
a few good bunches the second year. Hearing of its shy-setting 
character I attempted to fertilise it, but failed. The house is a 
span, running north and south ; it is 50 feet long, 20 feet wide, 
with one row of 4-inch piping all round. This spring, thinking 
an additional rod would help the Vine, I let a young cane extend 
16 feet. To-day I measured it, and find it 2 inches in circum¬ 
ference—a very good serviceable rod. The Vine showed bunches 
well at every lateral ; I pinched all off but ten, and when they 
should have been in flower I tried fertilising with pollen from 
Lady Downe’s and Black Prince, but failed ; nor do I see how 
the pollen is to reach the pistil, owing to a mass of jelly-like 
substance which covers it. I also left some bunches of the second 
crop, which were freely produced, but these did not set, as I had 
no pollen from another variety to apply ; but I noticed very 
particularly there was the same fault as 1 note above. I was so 
disappointed that I cut the second crop as soon as they were past 
setting. I left some of the first crop—half a dozen bunches, the 
same as I send you, just to see what they would come to. You 
will note by the pieces of the two other varieties that the house 
will grow Grapes. Lady Downe’s in this house does not do at all 
well, taking the Alicante as a standard. 
My opinion of the Alnwick Seedling is that it requires more 
heat; still, as I did not use the Alicante pollen I should very much 
like to hear what other correspondents may say on this point. 
1 have selected a position in the Muscat house for this Vine, but 
as this has now two large rods I feel reluctant to move it. Believing 
there was a deficiency of lime in the soil I specially selected this as 
a test plant with Alicante ; the latter benefited very much by a 
heavy application of lime, but none was given to the Gros Maroc. 
I have seen one Vine of the Alnwick Seedling in this neighbour¬ 
hood, and this was very little better than my own. The foliage 
of this is very beautiful now.— Stephen Castle, West Dgnn, 
Norfolk. 
[The bunch of Alnwick Seedling is a very good one, but only 
half a dozen berries attained their full size, some two hundred 
others resembling Black Currants. In this Grape, like the Morocco 
and the Muscat of Alexandria, the stigma has a tendency to exude 
a globule of liquid, which so effectually protects its tissue from 
the influence of the pollen that the ovary is not fertilised. This 
liquid exudation must be dissipated by agitating the Vine, or 
gently drawing the hand down the bunches, before pollen can 
effectually come in contact with the stigma. The exudation 
referred to is usually greatest in a low temperature, and we 
question if sufficient provision has been made for affording the 
requisite temperature for either this Grape or Lady Downe’s with¬ 
out overheating the pipes. The Alicantes are very good in appear¬ 
ance, but would have been better in quality with more heat; and 
the berries of Gros Maroc are very fine, but not well coloured, 
nor so good in quality as we have frequently tasted this Grape. 
Lime would probably benefit this Vine, and more heat improve 
them all. We do not consider one row of pipes sufficient in such 
a house for growing late Grapes.] 
Flowers in Autumn. —Now that autumn has come, and with it 
the various-tinted leaves, we still have a few of the old-fashioned 
favourites in our borders to cheer us. Anchusa italica is still in full 
beauty; its lovely blue flowers have a fine effect. Centrocarpus 
gracilis, with bright orange ray florets and a black centre, is one of 
the finest of our late-flowering plants. Jasminum nudiflorum near a 
wall is beginning to unfold its yellow blossoms, and will afford us 
a display through the winter. Erinus alpinus, a lovely edging plant, 
is still in full beauty, and likely to be for a length of time invaluable 
for rockeries and edging. I prefer the rose-coloured to the white 
variety, but they are both beautiful. Helianthus diffusus and H. mul- 
tiflorus are doing good service. Delphinium cashmerianum is a useful 
autumn flower from seeds sown in early spring, grown on in pots, 
and planted out in summer. Varieties of D. consolida of many 
colours are now very beautiful. Salvia patens is making a fine dis¬ 
play. Then the charming Aster elegans, A. Tradescanti, A. dumosus, 
A. trifolius, and hosts of others, are charming. Erysimum pulchel- 
lum is commencing to flower ; its pretty sulphur-coloured blooms are 
very pleasing. Aubrietia deltoidea will be in full bloom in a week or 
two, and will continue through the winter. The two varieties of 
Rosa Lawrenciana, used as an edging, are giving us a fine display 
of their lovely flowers ; they deserve extensive cultivation. Another 
old favourite that I cannot dispense with is Rosa semperflorens, 
always welcome. Primula farinosa seems to have made a mistake ; 
it is flowering now, and is very beautiful. I use it as an edging plant 
in the spring garden. The double sulphur-coloured Primroses are 
coming into bloom. The Alpine Auriculas are also throwing up their 
trusses, and some have already opened their flowers.— North York, 
THE GREENHOUSE AND ITS INMATES. 
POPULAR FLOWERING- PLANTS. 
In the enumeration of species and varieties suitable for cultiva¬ 
tion in small greenhouses I have endeavoured to include only 
those which may be truly termed popular. Large numbers of 
plants suitable for greenhouses are in cultivation, and it would be 
an easy task to fill a volume with their names and the cultural 
requirements of each ; but it is not so easy to write a short 
treatise such as this is, for it is difficult to decide which should 
be omitted and which included : but the following selection in¬ 
cludes most of the plants suitable for an amateur cultivator. At 
the same time there are many others to choose from, although 
their claims have been set aside Ur the present. 
ABUTILONS. 
These are showy easily grown plants. They may be raised 
either from cuttings or seeds. Cuttings strike readily at any 
season of the year when there is heat enough to keep the plants 
growing, and seeds should be sown in spring. Possibly the best 
time to insert cuttings is about the month of August. If this is 
done the cuttings will root and be established before winter 
comes, and the plants will be ready for potting in spring, when 
they will commence growing, and flower as long as growth is 
maintained. Varieties do not come true from seed, but new kinds 
are raised in that way. 
Abutilons grow very freely, and are by no means particular as 
regards soil. Ordinary loam with a little decayed manure and a 
sprinkling of sand suits them admirably. They may be grown as 
climbers or into large plants by shifting on and pinching and 
staking as may be needed. After the pots are full of roots liquid 
manure benefits them greatly. An occasional syringing is neces¬ 
sary to prevent small white aphides attacking them. Scale is 
also liable to be troublesome, but is easily disposed of if attacked 
directly it appears. The following varieties are good : White, 
Boule de Neige ; Yellow , Boule d’Or; Red , Darwinii elegans; 
Rose, Rosaeflora ; 'Variegated, niveum marmoratum and vexillarium. 
The last-named is very beautiful in the form of weeping standards, 
which are obtained by grafting on stocks of the tall-growing 
varieties. 
ACACIAS. 
Acacias are very easily grown greenhouse plants. Soil com¬ 
posed of half loam, half peat, and a little sand suits them. 
After they have flowered they may be advantageously placed out¬ 
side in the full sun with their pots plunged in ashes for the 
summer months. There are numerous species. For a neat-grow¬ 
ing specimen A. armata may be recommended. As a climbing 
kind to furnish neat sprays for indoor decoration A. Riceana is 
worth notice, and the early-flowering A. platyptera should be also 
grown. 
AGAPANTHUS UMBELLATUS. 
The Agapanthus, or African Lily, is a good old-fashioned plant 
which anybody can grow. It may be had in small pots, say 
8 inches in diameter, or it can be grown into large specimens. It 
roots strongly, and delights in strong loam and manure. In 
summer it should be placed outside and supplied with plenty of 
water. In winter it requires protection from frost, and not too 
much water. Large plants may be cut into small pieces with the 
spade, and potted with the certainty of their doing well. The 
