April 29, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
337 
The system adopted at present is simple in the extreme. The plants 
are grown in a compost of loam and leaf soil with one-third horse- 
droppings and a plentiful admixture of sand to render the soil porous, for 
though water has to be supplied liberally the slightest approach to stagna¬ 
tion about the roots must be carefully avoided. A cold frame is found to 
be the best situation where ventilation can be given freely in fine weather, 
but where also adequate protection from frost can be afforded. The plants 
start into growth quickly in the early spring, and the leaves advance 
rapidly, the flowers this season having commenced showing at the 
commencement of April, and at the meeting on the 13th, when exhibited, 
they were fully expanded on the majority. 
cyme. The corollas are about half an inch in diameter, of a brilliant blue 
colour in the centre shading to white at the margin, and much like the 
common Forget-me-not in shape. They have a delicacy of beauty that 
is very attractive, and when once it is found that the plant can be 
flowered easily and constantly it is certain to become a great favourite. 
SEASONABLE HINTS ON SOME GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 
Early April is a very busy time in these structures, as, besides the 
general cleaning to which the houses and plants should be subjected, there 
is much potting attention. 
Greenhouse Hardivooded Plants .—Before potting or interfering with 
Fig. 63 .—The New Zealand Forget-me-not—Myosotidium nobile. 
Hyosotidium nobile was first introduced to this country through 
Mr. Watson of St. Albans, and plants were exhibited in flower at one 
of the London Horticultural Society’s meetings in March 1858. The 
plant is a native of the Chatham Isles, near New Zealand, an! is botani- 
cally notable as presenting a combination of the characters of several 
genera in the Borage family, its chief resemblance being to Myosotis and 
Cynoglossum ; it was, indeed, first assigned to the last-named genus, but was 
subsequently separated under the name it now bears. The leaves are 
heart-shaped, 8 to 10 inches in diameter, of a bright shining green colour 
with deep veins, and they have been compared to the young leaves of 
Cabbages, to which they possess some resemblance, but the green shade 
is darker and brighter. The flowers are produced in an inflores:encc 
somewhat like that of the Myosotis, and is termed a scorpioid raceme or 
the plants for that purpose it is important that the ball be properly moist, 
for if dry when shifted it is next to impossible to get it thoroughly 
moistened afterwards ; or if that be effected the fresh soil is saturated. 
The roots of the most delicate hair-like character do not take to it kindly, 
the soil being sodden and sour before the roots penetrate it, whereas if the 
fresh soil is not wetted after pottiDg the roots take to it at once, and the 
plants start into free growth. The peat when used ought not to be dry, 
but it must be in a medium state of moisture, so that when pressed firmly 
it will feel clean and elastic in the hand. The plants must be watered 
overnight, so that the water will have had time to drain away, and in this 
state the pot will come away clean from the soil, the potsherds being 
removed with greater facility. If these are very much matted with roots 
it will be better to leave them than destroy a majority of the best roots in 
doing so. Only loose inert soil should be removed from the sides and 
surface, there not being any attempt at loosening the ball. Brain well, 
and use clean potsherds a^ well as pots. Rim the soil tightly around the 
