October 11,1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
339 
groHnd at planting time. Along the margin of shrubberies, on 
banks, and in positions where the soil is not too thin, or the shade 
too dense, Irish Ivy is preferable, as its bolder leaves are more 
effective, but I find after considerable experience that the common 
English Ivy will thrive where the larger leaved one will not. 
The Periwinkles do not, as a rule, seem to be planted so largely 
as their merits deserve. The green leaved British kinds major and 
minor will grow almost anywhere, and are also well adapted for 
planting under trees, where they quickly make a dense green 
carpet. Still more suitable positions for them, however, are on 
banks covered with rough stones, or mounds edged with a wall of 
■tones. If the stronger variety is planted on the top of such 
mounds, and the small leaved one placed in the interstices between 
the stones forming the wall, a little soil being pressed firmly round 
the roots, in a few years the whole forms a dense thicket of green, 
when the drooping shoots are seen to advantage at all seasons, and 
the pale blue flowers give additional beauty during the summer 
months. The variegated forms of major and minor are bright, 
attractive looking plants, which deserve to be cultivated far more 
extensively than they are, for they grow well in almost any soil, 
and are particularly suitable for planting on dry banks and 
rockeries. 
The St. John’s Wort (Hypericum calycinum) grows well in 
the poorest of soil, either in sunny positions or under the shade 
of trees, but the additional labour involved in placing a little 
garden soil about the roots at planting time is amply repaid in the 
shape of strong and rapid growth. Shrubberies, bordering walks, 
and drives are often densely shaded by tall trees of Beech, Chest¬ 
nut, Lime, and Sycamore, which create delightfully shady retreats 
in summer time. In such places it is sometimes a difficult matter 
to settle upon a suitable edging for the shrubberies, which should 
possess the merit of looking well at all seasons, and of thriving 
under such unfavourable conditions. Ivy, as I have previously 
•stated, answers the purpose admirably, and the next best plant 
that I know of is this St. John’s Wort. A shady drive edged on 
either side with it presents a glorious scene when the Hypericum is 
in flower. 
The value of Berberis aquifolium for planting in shrubberies 
and on banks is well known, for it can scarcely be planted in the 
wrong position. B. Darwini will also grow freely enough under 
the dense shade of trees, but to flower it well a sunny position, such 
us a dry bank, should be given it, and as it is altogether such a 
beautiful shrub it fully deserves a good position. Box and Laurels 
both thrive well in shady places on light soils; the former grows 
better and attains a greater height without becoming bare at the 
base when planted in such positions, than any other shrub. 
The Cornish Broom is excellent for establishing upon sunny 
banks; broad masses of it disposed between blocks of Aucuba 
japonica and Golden Privet are extremely effective. Cotoneaster 
microphylla is another capital trailing shrub to plant on sunny 
banks where it is necessary to have dwarf growth. When such banks 
are bordered by walls, if this Cotoneaster is planted in the soil 
above the wall the shoots will gradually trail down it till the base 
is reached. It also has the merit of requiring absolutely no 
pruning or clipping. 
Daphne Laureola (the Spurge Laurel) succeeds well when 
planted under trees, also in various aspects if planted on banks, 
by which means good drainage is secured, but in low damp positions 
it does not thrive. As it only attains a height of about 3 feet, 
it is one of those accommodating plants which give but little 
trouble when once well planted. D. pontica (the Wood Laurel) 
is much prized on account of the delicious fragrance of its flowers. 
It grows a foot taller than D. Laureola, and well repays for the 
trouble of giving extra attention to the preparation of the soil 
before planting. When the land is heavy the holes should be 
18 inches in depth, 3 inches of clinkers or rubble being then placed 
in the bottom, and abundance of leaf mould or peat mixed with the 
natural soil. 
In soils not strongly impregnated with lime Rhododendron 
ponticum thrives well, even under a dense shade, but to enable 
them to do this it is necessary to take out large holes at planting 
time, so that the roots of surrounding trees will not encroach upon 
those of the newly planted Rhododendrons till they have had time 
to establish themselves. Good leaf soil placed in immediate 
contact with the roots promotes rapid root-action.—H. W. C. 
ZEPHYRANTHES CARINATA. 
This charming plant is so seldom seen at exhibitions that there is 
no wonder it attracted more than ordinary attention when shown by 
Mr, J.H. Fitt, Panshanger Gardens, Hertford, at Chiswick on the 25th ult. 
Although by no means a new plant it is not very extensively grown, but 
is exceedingly beautiful, and for this reason no doubt the Floral Com¬ 
mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society considered it worthy of a first- 
class certificate on the above mentioned occasion. The illustration 
(fig. 52) pourtrays the character of the flowers, which are rose-pink in 
colour and very effective. The plant staged by Mr. Fitt, and from 
which the engraving has been prepared, was growing in a pot, but if 
kept moderately dry during the winter this Zephyranthes is said to thrive 
and bloom in the open air. 
ONIONS AND VEGETABLES AT BANBURY. 
Banbury has long been famous for its cakes, its cross, and accom¬ 
panying nursery rhyme; besides, the horticultural Press has annually 
FIG. 52.— ZEPHYRANTHES CARINATA. 
recorded the display of fine Onions and excellent vegetables, but I 
question if ever before such a display of high sterling quality had been 
presented. This will be easily understood when it is stated that such 
doughty champions as Messrs. Kneller, Waite, Wilkins, Lye, Pope, and 
Doherty entered the arena in the fulness of their strength to fight for 
supremacy and the extremely handsome prizes offered by the widow of 
the late highly respected Mr. H. Deverill. 
When success is achieved and such excellent results are shown, one 
•xpects grumblers and other jealous individuals to adversely criticise 
these huge Onions, but I maintain these displays prove a veritable 
object lesson, by showing what perfection can be gained when skill and 
intelligence combined with the highest system of cultivation are 
brought into use. I am assured by the growers that these large bulbs are 
milder in flavour than the small ones, and as such make a wholesome 
appetising dish when served up braised, equal in flavour to best Spanish 
grown, a point worthy of consideration in these days of waning home 
industries and agricultural depression. Probably a combination of both 
systems of cultivation would be found preferable in ordinary circum- 
