1S70. ] 
THE GAEDBN MENTOR. 
22Ji 
of triangular leaves, broad and sbeathing at tlie base, gradually tapering upwards 
to tbe height of 18 in., and terminating in a point. The name ‘’Eush ” is not 
happily applied to it, as it is in reality more like the Blandfordia nohilis^ or some 
allied plant. The flower-stem rises to the height of from 2 ft. to 3 ft., some¬ 
times higher when verj’- strong, and bears at its summit an umbel of from two 
to three dozen flowers of a reddish hue, each flower consisting of three large and 
three small petals, the individual flowers measuring nearly an inch over. When 
in flo^ver, it is very ornamental. The margins of ponds, or lakes, or small tanks 
are the places most suitable for it; but it will flower profusely in a pan 18 in. 
over, if planted in good stiff loam or clay. It is well worth cultivating, and ought 
to be much more frequently met with than it is. It flowers in July and August. 
The w^hite-flowered B. latifolius of Nepal appears now to be quite lost. It 
produces a flower-stem about 1 ft. in height, and would probably bear our win¬ 
ters. Those who have correspondents in Northern India would do well to try to 
re-introduce' this plant, and as the B. umbellatus seeds profusely, possibly the 
B, latifolius may do the same, and if so, a few seeds could be forwarded by post. 
The Buckbean, Menyanthes trifoliata, has strong, creeping, fleshy stems, 
which emit roots in abundance, and are rather thickly set with leaves, especially 
towards their points; these leaves are trifoliate in form, on long footstalks, each 
leaflet from 2 in. to 3 in. long, by 1 in. broad. The flower-stalk rises a few 
inches out of the water, producing about eight or ten blossoms on each, of a rosy 
hue, and very pretty, and also beautifully fringed. It is a very useful, hardy 
plant for the margins of ponds, &c., as it soon makes a fine mass, and is no 
trouble to grow; there appears to be no other species. 
But the dragon-flies seem all to have gone to rest, and the reed sparro'w has 
just set up a sort of spasmodic twitter, reminding one that it is time to leave the 
margin of the grassy pool and hie homewards.—W. Buckley, Tooting, 
THE GARDEN MENTOR. 
0OCTOBER is sometimes a rough and boisterous month, though occasional^ 
a fine one, especially during the early part of it. The short days and 
cold nights tell upon the vital powers of plants. The woods now look 
rich and beautiful in their autumn dress, and doubly so when seen under 
the influence of a bright October sun. 
Kitchen Garden. —The season now drawing to a close has been a very 
unfavourable one for the growth of vegetables, owing to the lengthened drought. 
Daily waterings have been necessary to keep plants growing. Winter Sjnnack 
should now be finally thinned, and the soil between the rows should be kept 
well stirred, to encourage it to grow. A portion of the Endive and Lettuce crop 
should be tied up weekly for succession ; and a good breadth of Lettuce should 
be planted at the beginning of the month on a warm border, to stand the winter. 
Celery should be earthed up, as it becomes necessary, in dry weather. CaulL 
