March 30, 1893. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
253 
The question of wages, although a tender one to touch upon, is not 
one by any mean^ to be despised, and doubtless the scanty pay of 
•gardeners (of course there are notable exceptions, but these only serve 
to prove the rule) very effectually deters many an intelligent young 
man—one who wants to make way in the world, and is desirous of enter¬ 
ing the profession—from taking the step. 
Let us make the gardener’s calling one well worthy to be embraced, 
attracting to it fit representatives, adequately recompensing the men 
who assist Nature in producing the useful as well as beautiful results to 
be witnessed on every side, and there will be no lack of “ good men and 
true” forthcoming, men who will shed lustre on the “gentle art.” I 
should much like to see this very important matter thoroughly discussed. 
It is one right worthy of such prominence being accorded.—J. B. 
SPIR^AS. 
Some of the most popular of the Spirmas are unrivalled for general 
decorative purposes, and being so easily forced they can be had in 
bloom from Christmas to April and May. When grown in pots 
abundance of water must be applied to bring these plants to per¬ 
fection. Liquid manure, such as drainings from the cowsheds, is an 
excellent stimulant for Spiraeas, and should be applied two or three 
times a week after the flower spikes begin to show. I find the best 
results are obtained by filling a bucket or tub with about one part 
of liquid to two of clear water, and dipping the plants so that the 
water comes over the top of the pot and letting them remain till the 
Boil is thoroughly moistened. Care should be taken not to wet the 
foliage, otherwise it will present a stained and dirty appearance. 
The old S. japonica is too well known to need any comment here, 
other than saying that it is the best of the whole genus for early work, 
for when well ripened clumps are procured and potted early in the 
autumn they will stand hard forcing. Spiraea astilboides is a useful 
plant. The stems grow from 2 to 3 feet in height, forming a 
pretty bush, above which elegant white flowers are produced. It does 
not force so readily as S. japonica, for if subjected to too high a 
temperature it is liable to become drawn. 
S. Aruncus (the Goat’s Beard) possesses sufficient attractions to 
secure its admission into every well kept garden. It grows to a height 
of from 4 to 5 feet. The long feathery plumes are most graceful. It 
prefers a moist shady position, being most effective as a background to 
herbaceous borders and in sheltered corners of the pleasure grounds.— 
G. Pareant, Asiihy Lodge Gardens, Rugby. 
JOTTINGS FROM MEMORY. 
In Mr. J. W. Moorman’s interesting article under the heading of 
“ Jottings from Memory” (page 217) reference is made to the growth 
and hardiness of Fabiana imbricata, the Myrtle, and Aloysia citriodora 
at Teignmouth, Devon. This reminds me of other places where I have 
seen the above mentioned popular shrubby plants flourishing. 
Fabiana imbricata growing against the south front of the Bishop 
of Salisbury’s palace, Salisbury, yields a profusion of its pure white 
long-tubed, Heath-like flowers, in May and June every year. This 
shrub, introduced in 1838, is not so frequently met with in southern 
and western counties in England and Ireland as it undoubtedly 
deserves to be, giving it the protection of south wall and light peaty 
soil to grow in being all the attention it requires, excepting the 
training and securing of young growths to trellis or wall. I have 
seen huge bushes of the Myrtle in the grounds of Appley House, 
Hyde, and, 1 believe, at Binstead, near the same fashionable watering 
place, also at Osborne and other plaees in the Isle of Wight, 
The finest plants of Aloysia citriodora that I have seen growing out 
of doors were at Mr. Dadd’s, North Devon Fernery, Ilfracombe, growing 
and trained against the south wall of his dwelling house. Another 
occupying alike position on the house of C. S, South, Esq., The Close, 
Salisbury; and one trained against the coachman’s house, Emo Park, 
Portarlington, Ireland, covered a good space of wall. At Frognal, 
Foots Cray, Kent, there used to be, and perhaps are still, two fine plants 
(bush plants) growing on either side the steps descending to the flower 
garden from the conservatory. These used to be tied into pyramidal 
form on the approaeh of severe weather, and fern wrapped round them 
and neatly trimmed, first lay on about 6 inches deep of ashes over the 
roots, thus making the plants quite secure during the winter months. 
With me the roots are protected in the manner indicated, the branches 
being killed down to the ground in severe winters, but they push into 
fine growth from the base in due time every season.—H. W. Ward. 
ClRRHOPETALUM PICTURATUM. 
About thirty species of Cirrhopetalum are known, but very 
few of these are in general cultivation. Like their near allies the 
Bulbophyllums, they are remarkable rather for the peculiarity than 
the beauty of their flowers. C. picturatum (fig. 50) is, however, 
attractive alike in form and colour, and no doubt requires only 
to be better known to become popular. It is a dwarf free- 
growing species with ovoid pseudo-bulbs, each bearing one dark 
green, oblong, fleshy leaf from 3 to 6 inches in length. The scape. 
FIG. 50.—CIRRHOPETALUM PICTURATUM. 
which is produced from the base of the pseudo-bulb, is about 
8 inches long. The flowers are borne in a semicircular umbel, and 
the inflorescence has a somewhat curious appearance. The small 
upper sepal is green, spotted with red, and has an awn-like filament 
at the apex. The lateral sepals are about 2 inches in length ; they 
are united by their margins, and form one long blade of an emeiald 
green colour. The lip is very small, almost black, and conspicuous 
only by its vibration with the slightest breath. The prolongation 
of the lateral sepals is characteristic of the genus, and distinguishes 
it from the Bulbophyllums. 
Abundance of light, air, and water are the chief factors in the 
successful culture of this plant. It succeeds equally well in baskets 
or on blocks suspended near the roof in a warm house. C. pic¬ 
turatum is said to have been grown in London fifty years ago, but 
it had apparently disappeared from cultivation until re-introduced 
from Moulmein a few years since.—A. B. 
