70 
THE FLOEIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ March, 
- 31 find, writes Mr. Johnson, of the Belfast Botanic Garden, Lupinus 
arboreus to be one of the best of Seaside shrubs. In some ground-work which I 
had in hand, on rocks that formed a small promontory, I found it to be necessary 
to undulate the ground in order to secure protection for many plants, but Lupinus arboreus 
made good growth, produced its golden flowers in abundance, and firmly withstood the 
keenest blasts of the elements in the most exposed positions. It likewise produced seeds, and 
hundreds of plants came up around, without any other care but that of letting them alone. 
- ©he Times states, in reference to Toughened Glass , that when glass is 
heated to redness, and kept at that temperature for a considerable time, its 
physical properties are changed in a remarkable manner ; it becomes opaque or 
feebly translucent, much harder and tougher, and somewhat like porcelain in appoaranco. 
This change is termed ‘ devitrification.’ M. Siemens has now discovered that when glass is 
heated to redness and then cooled or annealed in oil, its toughness is greatly increased, or, 
what is equivalent, its fragility is greatly diminished, while its transparency remains the 
same. Now that glass is so much used in gardens, this may prove an important discovery for 
horticulturists. 
- ©he value of Peruvian Guano as a manure is well known, and whether 
employed in the dry or liquid state, there are scarcely any fruits, flowers, or 
vegetables to which it may not be beneficially applied, if used with proper 
caution. One ounce per square yard will form a safe and highly beneficial dressing to all 
kitchen-garden crops, as well as to grass lawns, the greenness and vigour of which it will 
greatly improve if applied (mixed with fine soil) in moist weather about May. Flower¬ 
ing plants are most benefited by it when their flower-buds are expanding. As a liquid 
manure for plants in the open ground, 1 oz. to a gallon of water is sufficient; for pot plants, 
if oz. to the gallon. That sold by Mr. S. Hawley, of Forest Lane, and which is warranted 
genuine, has been highly spoken of. A trustworthy source whence to obtain manures of this 
sort is worth noting. It is supplied with full directions for use. 
- ©me great conservatory at Chatsworth is famous during the autumn 
and winter months for its grand display of Epiphyllums of the truncatum type. 
Numerous monstrous hanging baskets filled with these elegant plants are sus¬ 
pended from the rafters; and one side-bench, the entire length of the building, is almost 
wholly occupied by them. The baskets are probably a yard in diameter, and covered at top 
and bottom with the Epiphyllum, so that in the blooming season they are quite enveloped in 
flowers. Amongst the most striking varieties grown are E. violaceum grandiflorum , E. 
Rucker ianum , E. spectabile superbum , and E. Bridgesianum. The varieties of this species of 
Epiphyllum maybe employed in numerous ways for decorative purposes. Thus at Knowsley 
we saw tufts worked on the Pereskia, ornamenting the roof of a plant stove. The masses of 
flower were very effective, while the Pereskia-stem was not at all prominent. 
- ©he following plan for obtaining Early Forced Asparagus is adopted by 
Mr. Tegg, in the gardens at Bearwood. In October, a deep bed, fenced with ordi¬ 
nary Hazel or Ash hurdles, is formed in an early vinery, and in this is placed a 
mass of fermenting material, such as leaves and dung, in about equal proportions; the bed is 
surfaced over with rotten dung, and planted with good roots so thickly that they overlap each 
other. A bottom-heat of from 50° to 55° is sufficient. To insure highly-flavoured produce, 
it is necessary that the temperature of the air be lowered as much as can be afforded, as soon 
as the stems fairly break through the soil. Three inches of soil, or thereabouts, is sufficient 
to produce shoots of a nice green colour. 
- Ht is well known that Early Winter Broccoli often suffers severely from 
the effects of frost, and sometimes whole plantations become irremediably injured. 
One plan of preserving the Broccoli is to pull them up by the roots as 
soon as they turn-in ready for uso, and to suspend them from the roof in an airy shod till 
wanted. By adopting this moans they are preserved from injury from frost, or from rotting 
through exposure to heavy and continuous rains; and they remain fit for table uso for eight 
or ton weeks. 
