JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
t-- 
492 
[ June 14, 1883. 
his new seedling Fuchsia Bella, which is very distinct, and in 
all probability’wilFbecome of considerable decorative value. It 
is the result of a cross between the good 'old species F. fulgens 
and the popular market variety Mrs. Marshall, and possesses the 
characters of both parents—the long'tubular flowers of the former, 
and the floriferous character [of the latter. The colour of the 
corolla is the same as that [of F. fulgens, nearly scarlet with a 
tinge of purple, while the foliage is like that of Mrs. Marshall, 
but darker. The tube and sepals are pink. As the habit of the 
plant is stated to be dwarf, and as it is evidently very floriferous, 
it is not unlikely [ that the variety will become popular. The 
variety Lord Beaconsfield had, if we mistake not, F. fulgens as 
one of its parents, and so had the American variety aurea superba, 
but Bella is quite dissimilar from both, and healthy plants covered 
with long pendulous blooms must be highly attractive. 
- Mr. McIntosh’s garden at Duneevan cannot be 
visited at any period of the year without affording’pleasure to 
those, and they are not a few, who inspect it, while there is always 
something worthy of note that is not without interest to readers 
of garden literature. This is an excellently kept, admirably 
managed, liberally supported, and much-cherished garden, and a 
few of its most prominent features may be briefly referred to. 
- First of all demanding attention are the Rhododen- 
DRONS, These as grouped in several large beds on the smooth 
daisy-less k lawn are, or were a week ago, magnificent, though 
severaFofthe shrubs are not so densely covered with trusses as is 
customary; but where thousands are grown, and these the best 
varieties in commerce, a gorgeous effect is produced. A very few 
of the best varieties which no one can err in growing are Gari¬ 
baldi, warm salmon with crimped petals, prominent stamens, and 
effective truss. Sigismund Kucker is a very dark flower, rich and 
massive. Agamemnon is another dark plum colour, singular by 
its white blotch ; and to complete the trio of the deeper colours 
Joseph Whitworth commands admiration. In contrast with these 
the very light forms Picturatum, blush, maroon blotch ; Sappho, 
white, chocolate blotch ; and Madame Carvalho are chaste and 
charming. As a salmon rose Mrs. R. S. Holford is unsurpassed 
if equalled. Kate Waterer, deep rose ; James McIntosh, rose, 
variously tinted and richly spotted ; Duchess of Mecklenburg 
Strelitz, rosy pink ; James Marshall Brooks, rich pink ; Lady 
Armstrong, bright rose ; Apology, rosy purple with a reddish 
brown blotch ; with Marchioness of Lansdowne and Yauban, 
similar in character, yet quite distinct, are very telling. Michael 
Waterer, a fine standard, has been all aglow with its crimson 
flowers ; and fastuosum flore-pleno with two to three hundred 
trusses is a splendid object on the lawn. These are mentioned as 
representative of this rich collection, in which are hundreds of 
others of equal merit. 
- Associated with the Rhododendrons are numbers of 
American^ Azaleas, rich and fragrant, and which add much to 
the beauty of the garden in June. They are too numerous to be 
particularised, yet the clear yellow Nancy Waterer should be 
grown by all. It is the finest of its colour, and cannot fail to 
give satisfaction. A seedling with orange red flowers has, as it 
deserves, a bed to itself. It is a rich glowing bush that cannot 
be passed without admiration, while the pale viscocephala is 
deliciously fragrant. 
-As a relief to these dense masses of colour are a few 
Conifers, which equally merit notice, as also do one or two 
Oaks, relics of the forest primeval, with gnarled, massive, and 
gigantic trunks, such as only the Oak can produce; hut to the 
Conifers, just two of which may be alluded to. 
- It is here that may be seen the finest specimen in England 
of the beautiful bright green columnar Cypress Cupressus 
Lawsoniana ERECTA VIRIDIS, It is 25 or 30 feet high, and 
admirably furnished from base to summit. This is a pattern 
Conifer for small lawns, and should be grown as such everywhere. 
- Another specimen particularly fine is Abies Al- 
bertiana. This is far more beautiful than the common Hemlock 
Spruce—more stately and massive, yet not less elegant. The 
Duneevan example is 50 feet high—a grand pyramid, which at the 
present time appears as if studded with gold, so bright are the 
young growths and so striking the contrast with the old dark 
foliage. Prince Albert’s Fir is not planted so freely as its merits 
demand, as it is scarcely possible to conceive of a lawn ornament 
more graceful and attractive. Reference to Vines, Liliums, &c., 
in Mr. McIntosh’s garden must be deferred. 
- As Mr. Taylor surmises may be the case with Duke of 
Buccleuch Grape, and as ‘ Single-handed ’ has shown to be the 
case with Magnum Bonum and Scotch Champion Potatoes, plants 
with extra robust constitutions, or which are extra good foragers, 
may have “ TOO much nitrogen ” given them. Some, again, may 
be spoilt at one period of their growth with nitrogenous appli¬ 
cations, and yet be benefited at others. Melons grown in soils 
rich in nitrogen grow rapidly and rankly, but set badly as a rule. 
Grown in moderately “ rich ” loam—that is, not rich in nitrogen 
—the growth is moderate, but of firm fruitful quality. However, 
embryonic seeds demand much nitrogen, and nitrogen given 
after the fruit is set materially helps to swell up good specimens 
and heavy crops. While, then, giving much guano water, 
nitrates, ammonia salts, or stable drainings to other than stunted 
plants in the earlier stages would assuredly do evil, their appli¬ 
cation just before and after the setting period will materially aid 
in securing a full crop, and in assisting the plants to mature it. 
- “ A. H.” writes :—“ The warm sun will enable growers 
of indoor fruit to save the coal. Much discussion is indulged 
in in connection with night temperatures ; but if at any 
time low night temperatures are beneficial it is when the heat 
by day is excessive. Then nothing but benefit can arise from 
a cool air laden with moisture to the dew-point during darkness. 
Moreover, borders are when exposed warmed by the sun, and 
so the sap which Vines and other trees absorb is warm compared 
with what it is in sunless seasons. This of itself is equal to 
several extra degrees of air temperature, for it is only the extent 
to which the plant is warmed that influences its growth, and it 
is the same whether the heat comes from the sun-warmed soil 
or fire-heated pipes.” 
- Mr. Joseph Mallender, The Gardens, Hodsock Priory, 
Worksop, Notts, sends the following report of weather during 
May: —“We had 174*6 hours of bright sunshine, being 36 per 
cent, of possible duration. There were four sunless days, nearly 
seventy hours less than the average of the last two years. The 
first eleven days were cold and showery, with north-easterly 
winds. The rest of the month was fine and warm, the wind 
being principally southerly and westerly during that period. 
The only rain we had was during a heavy thunderstorm on the 
25th, and a fall of 0 33 the next day. Rain fell on twelve days ; 
total fall for the month, 2-31. Mean temperature of air at 9 A.M., 
50-0; mean temperature of soil 1 foot deep, 51-6. The mercury 
on the grass fell below 32° on three nights. The warmest day 
was the 24th, the coldest day the 4th. The mean temperature 
of the month, 510. Large wasps are very abundant this spring. 
The first swarm of bees here came out on the 23rd ult., and the 
Oak was in leaf about twelve days before the Ash.” 
PREPARING STRAWBERRIES FOR FORCING. 
Strawberry-forcing is an important part of the gardener’s 
duties, and the time is at hand for preparing the plants. There 
are different modes of procedure in the layering of Strawberries, 
some being successful under one system, and some another, and 
