JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
370 
that many of the so-called hardy flowers possess no decorative 
value ; but if nurserymen, who know the value of plants and 
flowers better than most people, would only advertise those that 
are really good, they would do good service to all lovers of useful 
flowers. We have both the white and pink varieties of the above 
growing out of doors and under glass here, and for all purposes 
and all positions of a floral decorative character there are few 
flowers equal to them.— J. Muir. 
THE SNOWBERRY. 
This shrub (Symphoricarpus racemosus) when in beautiful 
berry at this season occasionally proves very useful. In a few 
wreaths of choice flowers which have passed through my hands of 
late some of the clusters of this were greatly admired. I send 
you a few sprays, though this season I have gathered many much 
finer. Our plants for the last few years have been laden with 
white berries; indeed, I do not recollect ever seeing fruit so abun¬ 
dant. They are growing in the fowl yard, and whether with the 
hens being so much under them and the manure being washed 
down to the roots is the cause or not of the fertility I cannot say. 
—R. M. 
[Such very fine pure white clusters of fruit as you have sent 
are valuable for many decorative purposes.—E ds.] 
THE POTATO DISEASE. 
The theory which “ Interloper ” has advanced about the 
disease being “ caused by a rupture of some of the organs by a 
glut of rain during some period of the plant’s growth” is in¬ 
genious ; but to make it good it would require to be backed up by 
the necessary evidence, and it would also be necessary for him to 
be able to explain all the facts connected with the disease, and not 
to confine the proofs to a few of them. Let us examine his proofs 
a little—1, “ The cells being ruptured after heavy rains.” This 
may be so, but is the rain the cause of it ? 2, “ Gather from 
reliable sources the results of growing Potatoes under glass, and 
where they are free from excessive moisture, and the evidence 
will show the absence of disease.” If Potatoes are kept dry under 
glass they are often free from disease, particularly in spring, but 
there are exceptions. Mr. Brehaut in Jersey found his Potatoes 
badly diseased one year when grown in his greenhouse entirely 
sheltered from rain. The gardener to Lady Rolle many years 
ago experienced the same thing with Potatoes grown in frames. 
How does “Interloper” propose to account for these ex¬ 
ceptions ? This heading may be included under No. 2. Then, 
again, supposing heavy rains after muggy weather are the pre¬ 
disposing causes of disease, how does “ Interloper ” propose to 
account for the circumstance that the Potato was grown for two 
centuries before 1845 without any of those evil consequences 
arising from gluts of rain of which he speaks 1 There are many 
other little difficulties attending the excessive rainfall theory, 
but perhaps the above will suffice for the present.— Amateur, 
Cirencester. 
BULBS IN BEDS. 
Last year I had an American paper sent to me which gave 
instructions for planting a bed with bulbs so that it would be 
attractive over a considerable period. As the plan appeared 
worthy of trial I tried it, and as it answered my expectations I 
send it to you, as possibly if adopted it may give equal satis¬ 
faction to others. 
“ Make a round bed of any size, and plant an inner circular row 
of Crocus, and next outside a row of Hyacinths ; then a second 
row of Crocus, and next one of Tulips. Continue this until the 
bed is filled—making every second row Crocus, and alternating 
Hyacinths and Tulips between them. The row on the extreme 
edge must be Crocus, and the space inside of the first row should 
be filled with Tulips or Hyacinths. The effect of a bed thus pre¬ 
pared is extremely pretty for a long time, and, thus arranged, it 
may remain undisturbed two or three years. 
“ Snow is no sooner gone than the bed is bright with the cheery 
little Crocus, which apparently covers the whole surface. These 
will hardly have passed away when we have a bed of Hyacinths 
in all their delicate lovely tints. The Tulips then form a climax 
of gorgeousness. The foliage of the Crocus, which is extremely 
delicate and pretty, is in perfection during the flowering of the 
Hyacinths and Tulips, and covers the bed with a lovely green 
carpet, taking away the usual bare look of bulb beds when out of 
their time of bloom. Still another succession might be had by 
scattering the bulbs of the Spanish Iris through the bed. They 
are perfectly hardy, with slender foliage, and furnish exquisitely 
beautiful flowers in every shade of blue, purple, yellow and white, 
[ October 21, 1880. 
and even chocolate. These, following the Tulips, need only seeing 
to be appreciated. 
“ After the bulbs have finished blossoming the foliage should be 
allowed to ripen, to perfect the bulbs for another year ; but the 
surface may be immediately picked over with a fork between the 
rows and between the bulbs, and Portulaca or Petunia seed may 
be scattered over the bed. These will be growing freely by the 
time the bulbs are gone. After the first year these latter will 
sow themselves and be ready to bloom early. If foliage beds are 
preferred, small plants of Coleus, Cineraria, and Centaurea may 
easily be planted between the bulbs, making the bed very orna¬ 
mental for the remainder of the season.” 
I did not include the Irises, but I have no doubt whatever that 
they would have succeeded equally well, and I shall try them this 
year. The Tulips I employed were Eex Rubrorum and La 
Candeur, and their effect was very beautiful. The bulbs should 
be planted as soon as possible.—A Station Master. 
HOLIDAY NOTES. 
WOOLTON hall. 
From Garston to Wool ton is a distance of 24- miles, and the 
district is one of the most pleasant in the neighbourhood of Liver¬ 
pool. It is not necessary for me to give a description of the 
above-named place, as that task fell to the lot of an abler writer 
than myself, who last year gave your readers a concise and in¬ 
structive account of nearly all the places of note about Liverpool. 
At Woolton Hall there is so much that is good that it is difficult 
to decide what to place first, but what first struck me as being 
worthy of note were the Chrysanthemums. Hundreds are grown 
for specimen blooms, and scores of bushy plants for conservatory 
decoration. Mr. Faulkner grows three or four dozen each of 
white and yellow Cedo Nijlli, and when arranged in lines in the 
glass corridor they have a good effect. The plants grown on 
single stems are of a character rarely to be met with as regards 
strength, and the abundant foliage is of the richest green imagin¬ 
able, all the plants being of the most approved exhibition varie¬ 
ties. In the plant stove I noticed Nympluea caerulea flowering in 
a tub about 40 inches in diameter and 14 or 16 inches deep. It is 
to be regretted that these beautiful plants are not more generally 
cultivated. In the greenhouse was a good plant of Trachelium 
cmruleum bearing its Statice-like flowers in great profusion. On 
the back wall was a large Abutilon Boule de Neige planted in the 
border, giviDg a useful supply of flowers for cutting. This is the 
way Abutilons should be grown where there is space for them. 
Perhaps that which gave me the greatest pleasure at Woolton 
Hall was a fine group of the blue and white Campanula pyramid- 
alis 8 to 10 feet high, and arranged alternately in an octagon¬ 
shaped bed in the conservatory ; the purity of the white combined 
with the rich blue flowers and the noble yet graceful proportions of 
the plants had a most charming effect. This Campanula may be 
grown from seed and flowered within eighteen months from the 
time of sowing. The seed should be sown at the same time and 
treated like early Cinerarias, growing the plants hardy and 
rapidly, which will readily be effected by giving light rich soil 
with exposure to light and air. They should be finally potted by 
the end of August, and if thoroughly ripened in the autumn they 
will produce their lovely flowers in due course the following 
summer. 
The condition of the Peach and Nectarine trees in the houses 
reflect the greatest credit on Mr. Faulkner, who has been growing 
them on the extension system, and thus is rapidly covering the 
large trellises allotted to them, and producing good crops of fruit 
of the finest quality. The varieties chiefly grown here are Belle- 
garde and Violette Hative Peaches, and Pine Apple and Pitmas- 
ton Orange Nectarines, four varieties that are not easily excelled 
for general culture. The young Vines in the vineries are in good 
condition, and promise at no distant date to produce fruit that 
will take prominent positions at some of the provincial shows. 
I take this opportunity of thanking Mr. Faulkner for the courtesy 
extended to me during my visit to Woolton Hall. 
OTTERSPOOL. 
This beautiful place loses none of its prestige under the 
superintendence of Mr. Lindsay, the worthy successor of Mr. 
Hinds. Strawberries in pots are all that could possibly be desired, 
with foliage of a size and quality rarely to be met with, and con¬ 
sequently having crowns of excellent promise. Strawberry 
forcing being a special feature at Otterspool, I naturally looked 
for something good in that line, and I admit that I was fully 
satisfied with what I saw. In cold frames were some very good 
examples of Mignonette grown in pots, and trained as pyramids 
30 inches high. When specimens of this deliciously fragrant plant 
are wanted they should be grown on rapidly to the desired size 
