March 13,1S9«. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
221 
b&rk being punctured by some insect, it is not surprising to see others 
still believe in the blight being caused by dull foggy weather. I do not 
belong to those, but knowing that foggy weather is favourable to their 
increase, I have avoided calling those ignorant who did not take the 
trouble to find out the origin of the American blight. My knowledge as 
to various diseases being caused by artificial mixtures do not come from 
such vagaries, but until Mr. Tonks is able to give the origin of the 
various fungi I do not consider he is justified in placing my opinion at 
a discount. The Potato and Hop diseases having followed in the rear 
of the artificial manure era, justifies anyone in considering the con¬ 
nection. I am prepared to hear soon of the creation of Chrysanthemum 
At the Chrysanthemum centenary celebration, held by the Rojal 
Horticultural Society at Chiswick on Novemter 5th last year, a few 
other plants of interest were exhibited, and among them was Vriesia 
Marim, a hybrid from M. Truffaut of Versailles. The plant is depicted 
in fig. 30, which shows its characters well, the scape, bracts, and 
flowers being bright red and greenish yellow, spotted with reddish 
brown. Like the other Vriesias, it is easily grown, but requires a 
warm house and plenty of moisture, both in the atmosphere and at the 
roots. 
'disease ; the damping of the blooms has already been attributed to 
artificial manures. Mr. Tonks mistakes me if he thinks I include pure 
Peruvian guano under that heading, for it is a natural manure, though 
"there is greater danger in its application than in the use of stable 
'manure.— G. A. Bishop. 
VRIESIA MARI^. 
Bromeliaceous plants are not such general favourites in England as 
"they are on the Continent, and few nurseries here contain a col’eclion, 
•or even a few species, while in France and Belgium the majority include 
a large representative number of the most attractive forms. Some 
attention has also been paid to hybridising them, and from time to time 
we hear of fresh additions being made in this way, but seldom see them 
except in botanic gardens. The Kew collection is especially rich in 
species and varieties, many having been added from the great collection 
■formed at Liege by the late Professor Morren. 
PLANTING FOR EFFECT. 
Much may be done in tbe grounds attached to the majority 
of country mansions to render them more interesting and pic¬ 
turesque than they are at present at a trifling expenditure. Plea¬ 
sant surprises should be experienced in every nook and turning 
of the grounds and carriage drives, and the wilder and more 
natural they are in appearance in certain parts the better will be the 
effect. In the construction of hardy ferneries, undulated and 
rugged surfaces and irregular outlines should be observed. Rough 
stones, burrs from the brick-kilns, clinkers, roots, butts, and gnarly 
portions of trees, together with any old figures that may be at 
hand, are the most suitable materials. When the logs and butts of 
trees, with the roots sticking upwards, are placed in position, tbe 
intervening spaces should be partly filled with light soil before 
placing the stones, burrs, and clinkers irregularly over the surface, 
afterwards partly filling the interstices with soil. Leaf mould 
liberally intermixed with ordinary garden soil will suit the require- 
