218 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Marah 16, 189a. 
baskets or bouquets of outdoor-grovvu garden flowers, a large proportion 
of them being Cactus Dahlias. On inquiry (for I found them very 
agreeable companions) I gleaned, as I had thought, that these displays 
could not be general throughout the island, but had escaped injury from 
frost by being planted in sheltered spots ; this would, I think, equally 
apply to your correspondent’s case in fair and sunny Devon. I can well 
remember over thirty years since how at Teignmouth the Clianthus 
puniceus flowered and flourished with only the protection of a verandah, 
and that pretty Heath-like shrub, Fabiana imbricata, grew and bloomed 
abundantly year after year without any protection whatever, while 
Myrtles and Fuchsias made huge bushes, and the Lemon-scented Verbena, 
Aloysia citriodora, covered a large space of the side of a building. 
Tt would be of interest to know how vegetation has fared there this 
winter since the time your correspondent penned his note. In London 
since then we have had for a time some very severe weather. For 
quite a month the ground was sealed against all garden operations, and 
with me the thermometer registered twice in the first few days of the 
new year 25° of frost, the ice on the lake being more than 7 inches in 
thickness, and skating was general for thirteen days. Notwithstanding, 
I am pleased to be able to record that comparatively little damage 
was done to trees and shrubs, although some of them still carry a 
brown and scalded appearance, amongst which may be named Golden 
Hollies, Elasagnus, Phillyreas, Euonymus, Cotoneaster microphylla, 
and several of the Berberis ; but all these will recover their former 
beauty as new growths are made by warmer weather. The Escallonias 
I am afraid, are past recovery, but these should never be relied upon 
in this latitude, and can by no means be recommended for cultivation 
in or near London. 
But how wonderful Nature is 1 Scarcely had the frost gone from the 
ground when that harbinger of spring, the Winter Aconite, Eranthis 
hyemalis, came peeping up its golden miniature Tulip-like heads where 
it has remained proudly in bloom for fully a month now, to cheer by its 
brightness, and long after the flowers are faded will its fringed collar of 
elegant foliage remain with us fresh and green. Bulbs of this plant 
planted during the autumn are not so early in blooming as those that 
have not been disturbed but left to nature to ripen and die down in the 
ground where they are required to bloom another year. They can be 
bought very cheaply, so that I wonder they are not more generally 
grown. Closely following the Eranthis, the Snowdrops were found 
pushing their way with their little white flowers compressed between the 
foliage. They are well known and a serviceable favourite with all. 
Then we have the Hepaticas, a most pleasing and attractive family, 
especially on days when we are favoured with a glimpse of sunshine, 
the warmth of which causes the flowers to fully expand and command 
admiration. H. angulosa is a much larger flowering variety than the 
common form, but all are worthy of extensive cultivation. Pressing 
hard on the above, we have various varieties of Crocus and Scillas, all 
adding their modest share of beauty to other attractions. 
I often have to deplore the destruction of the Crocus by sparrows, 
but it is the old old tale. Saxifraga Burseriana, of which I possess 
only two small plants, exhibited its searlet buds while the frost was yet 
with us, now its white flowers are fully expanded. S. oppositifolia is in 
bloom, and also S. crassifolia, with its dense masses of pale rose flowers, 
half hidden beneath irs large and leathery foliage, as if seeking protec¬ 
tion from the cold March winds. Daphne mezereum, growing on the 
rockeries and elsewhere, are now in full flower, enhancing its leafless 
and otherwise rigid bare stems with numbers of brilliant red, white, and 
pink blossoms, and coming into bloom so early in each year is both 
showy and welcome. Ehododendron praecox is a very pleasing plant 
for the rockery, both in habit of growth and brilliancy of flower, but 
too frequently the blossoms expand in ungenial weather and get 
punished ; but if only cultivated for its habit, its foliage, and its 
profuse bursting buds (in which undeveloped state it is sweetly pretty) 
it is worthy of a place, and of all that can be said in its favour. Andro¬ 
meda floribunda is also stretching out its Lily of the Valley like 
blossoms, while Erica carnea is literally covered with its pale rosy 
flowers ; this should be grown very plentifully, either as isolated tufts 
or as an edging around Rhododendron beds. Jasminum nudiflorum is 
expanding its bright yellow flowers, as gay and as striking as it can be 
found in December, mocking the extreme frost, which held it in check 
and prevented it from spanning the old and the new years, as it often 
does, contrasting then in beauty with the scarlet berries of the Sweet 
Briar and Cotoneaster Simmondsi, the berries of both of which have 
long since been taken for food by our feathered songsters. Cydonia 
japonica on a wall has already opened some flowers, while this and 
other varieties grown in beds or borders are boldly forming their flower 
buds to furnish bloom ere long. The male plants of Aucuba are also in 
flower. Pulmonaria officinalis and Arabis albida are just commencing 
to bloom, as also are Polyanthus and the common Primrose ; the last two 
are well suited for spring town gardening, and as we devote a large 
space to the cultivation of the Primrose, its magnificent if though 
simple display recalls memories back of bygone days, when I used to 
travel some lone country lane in fair Devon. 
Nature, again, equally asserts her powerful influence over the lofty 
forest and other trees as well as the most deciduous shrubs, showing how 
sensitive they all invariably are to light and warmth. The catkins of 
several varieties of Willows calls for a burst of admiration ; the earliest 
form with me is a variety known here as the Bitter Willow, which, I 
think, is Salix monandria. Then we have next the Weeping Kilmarnock 
and Salix rigida pendula, hanging thickly studded with their light, 
downy catkins that, when viewed from a distance may be pardonably 
mistaken for flower buds. A variety of pendulous Poplar has very curly 
and fluffy long catkins, while the same dropping from the Hazel and the 
Birch are all very interesting. 
Higher aloft it will be found that the lofty Elms are thickly studded 
with small, singular, if somewhat unattractive, flowers. 
The uppermost buds of Rosa rugosa and several other sorts are almost, 
in leaf, while all the varieties of Pyrus, Lilacs, Ribes, and several 
varieties of the deciduous Spiraeas are fast pushing their latent buds, 
affording all interested a host of wonderful pleasures for study, and,, 
verily, in the words of the poet, we may all soon exclaim — 
“ Spring, sweet spring, is the year's pleasant king.” 
—J. W. Mookman, Dulwich Park. 
USEFUL GARDEN FLOWERS. 
While such popular plants as Stocks, Asters, Phlox, Marigolds, and 
others generally grown, are indispensable in gardens, there are others 
which ought not to be overlooked. Mathiola bicornis, or the Night- 
scented Stock, as it is often more commonly called, is a charming plant,, 
deserving of a place in every garden, not so much on account of the 
beauty of its flowers, which are of a pale lilac colour, and partially closed 
in the daytime, but for the deliciously fragrant perfume they emit in 
the evening, especially after a shower. The plant succeeds best when 
the seed is sown in patches or clumps on the borders where required 
for flowering. It is surprising that this fragrant annual has not become 
a general favourite. 
Then we have the Nemophilas, remarkably free flowering annuals. 
There are several varieties, but I think N. insignia is one of the best and 
most useful. It is of a neat, compact habit, with sky blue flowers with 
a white centre. The Nemophilas are of very easy cultivation, and well 
adapted for the rockery or as edgings to beds and borders, or any position 
fancy may suggest. It is the best plan to sow the seed where the plants 
are intended to flower, taking care to thin them out as soon as they are 
large enough. This is one of the most charming of common garden 
flowers. 
Purple and white Rockets (Hesperis matronalis alba plena and 
Hesperis purpurea plena) are, although well known, seldom met with. 
This is very singular considering that they are as beautiful and sweetly 
scented as the much-prized Stock. They last in bloom a great length of 
time, and the flowers are useful for cutting. I should advise all lovers 
of hardy flowers to obtain a few plants as soon as possible. Propagation 
is easily effected by division of the roots or by cuttings. 
For mixed borders the Achilleas deserve a prominent position, 
and their pure white double flowers are valuable for cutting purposes. 
Aubrietia Leichtlini is a charming little plant for the rock garden, and 
is sure to become a favourite wherever known. Dictamnus fraxinella 
and Dielytra spectabilis cannot be too highly recommended. Doronicum 
plantagineum is, I think, one of the most effective spring flowering plants 
in cultivation, and few plants can excel the splendid display caused by 
this when its countless numbers of large yellow flowers are fully 
expanded, each bloom being from 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Rudbeckia 
Newmaui is most effective in the autumn. It will thrive in almost 
any soil or situation, and is of very free growth, and produces abundance 
of golden yellow flowers with black centres, useful for cutting, and 
lasts a long time in water. I must not close this short note without 
mentioning Anemone japonica, Zauschneria californica, and Centaurea 
montana, for the various parts of the flower garden, besides being- 
indispensable where a continuous supply of cut flowers are in demand. 
—Geo. Parrant, Ashby Lodge Gardens, near Rugby. 
Culture of Peristeria elata. 
Although introduced from Panama in 1826, this Orchid when 
in flower and well grown even now commands attention and 
admiration. As its cultivation is carried out very successfully with 
us, my experience might be of interest to readers of the Journal. 
It is useltss to expect weakly pseudo-bulbs to flower. What is 
wanted are firm and large pseudo-bulbs, and success in flowering, if 
the cultural details are closely followed, is assured. 
Plants in small pots will now be starting into growth, and if 
they are taken in hand at once, will by the end of the season have 
made rapid progress, and developed some good bulbs. Have a 
compost prepared consisting of two parts fibrous loam, with all 
loose soil shaken out, one part good peat, the remaining part being 
made up of soft red sandstone, broken up to about the size of 
walnuts, coarse silver sand, and some chopped sphagnum moss. 
Mix the whole thoroughly, and have it in a fairly moist condition. 
Then prepare some clean pots, and well drain them to a depth of 
