70 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ July 22. 1888. 
be done ? Some say “ No,” but I am certain it can. There are some 
late varieties that may not bloom until December, such as Eve, Duke of 
Teck, Fleur de Marie, and Daimio, say as representing the different sec¬ 
tions. Well, I admit without a piece of strained canvas, tiffany, wall 
coping, or other protection over them, I never succeeded with those. But 
before I come to speak of their treatment one word as to the query, Why 
try to grow blooms fit for exhibition outdoors ? First, to make their 
culture more general, so that every amateur and cottager with a piece of 
a wall and the desire to have superior blooms to cut either for himself or 
his neighbours, or for the local flower show, may do so. Secondly, success 
is more certain, and a greater profusion of blooms, even with imperfect 
treatment; and, thirdly, constant daily and hourly attention, which 
amateurs cannot generally afford, is not so indispensable. In my own 
case this is only a pastime, a variation from other duties, and if I am 
absent any small boy can water the plants. Even if not watered for a 
day or two, though there may be scorching sunshine, in my prepared 
border the plants do not suffer to the same extent, if at all. Fully ex¬ 
posed in pots this would be fatal to success. At present I have some 300 
planted out, about two-thirds against a south wall and the remainder in 
other aspects, in, say, 100 varieties, not including some seedlings raised 
by myself. Every section is represented, and all are doing well, with 
that bright glossy dark green foliage down to the very soil that Chrysan¬ 
themum growers like to see. Many of the Japanese, as M. E. Pynaert 
Van Geert (early), Madame Audiguier, Agrdments de la Nature, Fabian 
de Medians, and Lord Beaconsfield I may mention as types, and tall- 
growing, they are about 3 feet high and otherwise in proportion. Every 
stem and branch is carefully Bpread out to catch every ray of sunshine, and 
then nailed with shreds of tape to the wall. When I commenced this 
system of growth the wind and storms were my great opponents. Now, 
as the stem-shoots progress I tie or nail them in, and the storm has nothing 
to catch hold of and consequently nothing to snap off. I have used no 
stimulants or chemical manures, as the bordtrwas specially made last 
winter of several loads of well-decayed manure and half a dozen loads of 
the purest yellow loam, in addition to what was there already. This was 
put in the bottom, so that the roots are only now reaching this. Recently 
I put out a thermometer (Fahr.), registered to only 120 c full in the sun 
on this wall. The mercury quickly run up to that limit, and th»n 
smashed the bulb ; the Chrysanthemum did not seem to suffer in the 
least, and the result I attribute to the specially prepared border. With 
the facility of thus getting the wood thoroughly ripened and matured I 
expect healthy foliage of leathery texture, and the stems are so woody 
and durable that I am using some of last year’s for stakes for those I grow 
in pots. Growth is so rapid, but at the same time so matured, that constant 
attention is desirable, if not necessary. I have thinned out some of the 
lower shoots, what I may call the “ breast wood,” and later on I will 
thin the buds. Beyond this general eye to them now and then, and of 
course a plentiful supply of soft water and syringing the foliage in the 
evenings now and then, no further care is necessary for some months to 
come. What I do with some difficulties to contend with, thousands who 
never have a Chrysanthemum can do as well.—W. J. Murphy, 
Clonmel. 
MASDEVALLIA ROSEA. 
“ Queen of the Masdevallias ” is the title with which Professor 
Reichenbach has honoured the species named above, and although all 
orchidists may not be willing to accord it the same dignity, yet all 
will admit that M. rosea is, when well growD, one of the prettiest of 
its type. Few were, however, prepared to see such a specimen as that 
shown by Sidney Courtauld, Esq., Booking Place, Braintree, at the 
Royal Horticultural Society’s meeting on June the 8th this y6ar. Well 
deserved was the cultural commendation awarded for it by the Floral 
Committee, and no doubt many of those who saw the plant in question 
were surprised at its vigorous floriferous condition. This specimen, 
which is represented in the woodcut (fig. 11), was in a 48-size pot, was 
furnished with numerous healthy leaves, and bore over 120 expanded 
flowers, with other young flowers to open. These were curiously dis¬ 
posed round the sides of the plant near the rim of the pot, and thus im¬ 
parted an appearance of a fiioge of rosy flowers, very distinct from the 
habit of other Masdevallias related to this species. The flowers are of 
good size and easily recognised, the lower sepals elliptical and tapering 
into narrow points, which curve slightly outwards ; the upper or dorsal 
sepal tapeis very slightly from the base, being nearly linear and very 
narrow, curving over and between the two other sepals. The colour is a 
rather pleasing rosy hue, with a tinge of lilac in the lower sepals, and of 
crimson in the upper one. In some of the small Masdevallias the scapeg 
are so short that the flowers are hidden amongst the leaves, but this is 
not the case with M. rosea, as the flowers are borne well above the points 
of the leaves, and are consequently seen to the best advantage. 
M rosea is interesting in several respects apart from its cultural value, 
as, although known for about forty yearp, it was not introduced to gardens 
until 1880. The species was discovered by Theodcr Hartweg at Loxa, 
and was described in 1845 by Lindley in the “Annals of Natural History,” 
xv o page 257; it was also described in “ Walpers Annales Botanices ” 
some time after—namely, in 1861, vol. vi., page 192, where reference is given 
to a description by Reichenbach in the “ Bonplandia ” (11, 116). In 
“Walpers Annales” it is grouped with M. coccinea, M. amabilis, M. mili- 
taris, and M. racemosa, as of the first-named type, an arrangement which 
I believe, was adopted by Lindley. The plant was subsequently described 
in other works, but although found by Professor Jameson and collected 
by several travellers, all attempts to import it had been unsatisfactory 
until a few years back, when a healthy consignment made its appearance 
at Mr. Stevens’ sale rooms. It seems that owing to the species frequenting 
a very cool region the transportation through hot tracts on its way to the 
ports for shipment causes the loss of numbers ; but this matter should also 
be a guide to cultivators, for it requires a low temperature to ensure its 
success, being impatient of artificial heat.—L. C. 
WALK EDGINGS. 
Whatever may be the merits of the various articles used as edgings 
to walkp, it seems agreed on, by usage, that one of Box stands pre¬ 
eminent ; and whether we take it for its hardihood, durability, or general 
appearance, as a live edging it would seem the first in its class. Never¬ 
theless, there are places where it is inexpedient to have Box ; places 
where neither that nor anything else will grow ; and places where it 
almost refuses to grow, from a dislike to the soil. Now, though we profess 
to advocate the use of Box in all cases where it will thrive, unless other 
circumstances render another edging necessary, we will, nevertheless, 
advert to other kinds for the special purposes for which they may be 
wanted. 
From time immemorial edgings for paths have been deemed requisite 
for appearance, and in some respects for stability. The various Roman 
causeways, which intersected the cultivated parts of this country during 
the time that wonderful people held possession of it, have all a row of 
larger stones at the edge than in the centre, showing that “ an edging ” 
was not unknown at that early period ; and from them, down to the 
present period, some sort of margin seems to be considered necessary to 
all sorts of pathways, be that a turnpike foot road, a street pavement, or 
the more humble crossing that carries the cottager from his backdoor to 
some outhouse. To all an “ edging ” of some sort seems requisite, and 
all have tbeir edging accordingly. 
Like many other plants, more noticed perhaps, the Box has divided 
itself into varieties, differing in their dwarf or robustness of habit, the 
extremes being denominated “tree,” and “edging Box;” but, in¬ 
dependent of these extremes, there are (as in most other things) inter¬ 
mediate kinds, too coarse for edging purposes in many places, though not 
in all; and in those situations where the very dwarfest kind refuses to 
grow, this stronger growing one may be introduced to advantage. Which¬ 
ever may be used, be sure that all the edging planted in one place be all 
of a kind ; for though we advocated cutting and trimming, yet the jagged 
and very uneven growth that takes place when the dwarf and robust are 
intermixed, or, what is equally bad, half one, and half the other, in the 
same line, renders it necessary to be very exact in having it true. We 
will not here go into the details of planting, which are well known, but 
merely say that we cut but little (seldom any) of the top at the time of 
planting. It is likewise necessary to be careful that the ground on which 
it is planted be all alike in quality, and not to have the roots of one piece 
luxuriating in the rich soil of the kitchen garden squares, and another 
struggling for existence amongst the hungry gravel and other substances 
the walk may be made of. These matters are often neglected, and the 
edging presents afterwards a diversity of growth not to be wondered at 
when we consider the circumstances in which it was placed. It is scarcely 
necessary here to point out the best season for this duty, fer it rarely 
happens that any regard can be had to that; we have planted it at 
all seasons, but prefer the month of April. Whenever it is planted in dry 
weather, it should have the advantage of water for some time afterwards, 
and it will seldom fail to grow, even when its roots have been much 
curtailed. In moist, cool districts, large quantities are often put in 
wiihout any root at all. The middle of the growing season is the worst 
for planting, but we have done that in a case of necessity, and been 
tolerably successful. 
Notwithstanding the reputed hardihood of Box, we have seen it show 
more signs of suffering from spring frosts than many things supposed to 
be more tender. Some frosts we had in the early part of one spring, 
followed by a blight sun, “cut up ” the tender growth of Box edging on 
the east sides of those lines which run north and south, and were exposed 
to the morning sun. This, we suppose, to be owing to the cold air floating 
neatest the ground, and the sudden exposure to unclouded sunshine after. 
Nevertheless, we need not be afraid to plant it in exposed situations ; for, 
though it suffered severely, and for some days was quite black, still it 
recovered itself without any portion falling a victim to the ordeal to which 
it had been subjected. 
We have heard it said, “ There cannot be any good gardening where 
Bi x edging will not grow.” From this we entirely dissent, as we have 
seen an excellent and well-kept garden, where, alter repeated trials, in 
which the Box perished piecemeal, its use was given up, and a dead edging, 
we believe of timber, substituted in its place. This proves that there are 
some soils which do not possess in sufficient quantities the necessary 
iogredients on which Box lives, or some which it dislikes ; consequently, 
afier dragging out a miserable existence, it dies, piece after piece, until 
the edging becomes no edging. It would be difficult to describe the 
