1 
July 13. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
279 
green aud luxuriant, and the crop rendered thereby 
j productive and almost certain. 
I have seen, in one garden, even this season, Peas 
turning prematurely yellow; whilst in another, where 
reservoirs of water were preserved and applied with 
gutta percha tubing, the same sorts of Peas were as 
fresh aud luxuriant as if it had rained abundantly 
every day. The Turnip crop, in this district, is late. 
The spring was so dry, that the seed, in many instances, 
has perished. In low situations, the Swedes have come 
up better. I saw this day, the 29th June, in a large field, 
five or six men transplanting Swedes that had grown to 
a considerable size. The rains that are now falling will 
be of the greatest service to these transplantings. The 
other kinds of Turnips are coming up thick, and will, no 
doubt, be an abundant crop. 
Mangold Wurtzel is late, but progressing quickly now. 
Upon the whole, we have reason to be thankful and 
satislied with our prospects in regard to food for man 
and beast, the only drawback being the hay; hut, as 
we have now fine growing weather, the second crop may 
be so abundant as to make up for the deficiency of the 
first. „ T. Appleby. 
BOTANIC GARDENS, BIRMINGHAM. 
The Victoria house here is so largo, that there is 
sufficient Space to grow a good collection of Ferns and 
stove plants, in addition to the plant itself for which 
the house was erected. The Ferns are arranged in 
groups on the floor, aud being of a considerable size, 
the effect they produce on the mind is very pleasing. 
The different shades of green, aud tho varied size of 
the fronds, combined with a judicious arrangement in 
elevating some, and depressing others, so as to produce 
a tasteful picture, rendered these groups a source of 
pleasing emotion. The first group met the eye on 
entering, and was of an irregular long form. In the 
centre was a large Fan Palm, well supported by large 
plants of that palm-like Fern, Bleclmum concovcrdensis, 
fronted with Gymnogramma tartarica, Davallia clegans, 
and Aspidium unitum, and these again fringed with the 
various Lycopods, especially densum. The group to the 
right of this consisting of a noble plant of Polypodium 
spirodacarpium, surrounded by good plants of Adiantum 
I cuneatum, a trapeziforme Polypodium otites, and others. 
The one to the left was formed with Polypodium 
glancum, a large specimen for the centre, encircled with 
Asplenium coriaceum, Pteris nemoralis, and others. At 
the other end there was a noble Cycas revoluta, which 
had just made its new feather-like leaves, the elegance 
of which is indescribable. It formed a group by itself, 
excepting that the soil aud pot or box in which it grew 
were hidden completely by that trailing plant Trades- 
cantia discolor, tho leaves of which are red underneath, 
and variegated on the upper side. There was a group 
; of Ferns on each side of this fine plant, formed with 
; Platycerium aUicorne for tho centre, and Asplenium 
Nidus avis for the other. All these centre Ferns were 
considerably elevated, and their pots hid by the ample 
foliage of those that surrounded them. Those groups 
were not crowded upon each other, there was plenty of 
space allowed for spectators to pass amongst them and 
examine the beauty of each. 1 think this grouping of 
plants is much more ploasing than long, stiff, formal 
lines of plants, which look more like a well-clipt hedge 
than anything else, and are far from pleasing to the eye. 
To conceal the largo mass of pipes necessary to heat 
this largo house, there is a trellised platform placed over 
them, and this platform was covered with stove plants, 
very well grown, and in excellent health. I noted tho 
following in flower, AEschynanthus pulchra and speciosa, 
and Alpinia nutans. This rare!y-seen-in-llowor plant had 
seven spikes of its largo, shining, wax-like flowers upon 
it. (I think its beauty is so great, that it ought to be 
more grown, and better cultivated, in order to induce 
it to flower.) Ardisia crenulata, Balsamina latifolia, 
and its variety alba, two plants almost always in bloom. 
Begonias, eight species in bloom; Clivea nob ills, Glero- 
dendron hastatum, Eugenia jambos; Gardenias, several 
species; Hoya bella, carnosa, and Paxtonii, Melastoma 
holosericea, Medinilla magnifica, three large spikes; 
Justicia carnea superba, Musa rosacea, and coccinea, 
Lantana mutabilis, a pretty species; the Arabian Jasmine, 
Euphorbia speciosa, several largo plants, and E. Boijdii, 
Torenia asiatica, trained on a balloon trellis; Pitcairnca 
punicea, Tabernamontana coronaria simplex, and Briezia 
splendens, besides several others of less note. On tho 
roof there was an Ipomea, with many large lilac- 
coloured flowers, the name of which was unknown, 
though it had some resemblance to I. insignis. Besides 
these, there were several Orchids in bloom ; Aiirides 
crispum, suspended in a basket, and several oucids. 
The Victoria Lily had been planted but a short time, 
but was making rapid growth. Taking all these beauti¬ 
ful objects in succession, this house was a treat, indeed, 
to the admirers of choice plants, and did great credit to 
Mr. Catling, the intelligent curator. 
In the greenhouse there were the usual inhabitants 
intermixed with flowering plants of such things as 
Cinerarias, Geraniums, Petunias, and, especially, Calceo¬ 
larias, the most conspicuous of which was G. Sultan, 
with its large, rich, dark crimson flowers. This variety 
is invaluable as an early blooming plant for pot culture 
for the greenhouse. In the large centre house the noble 
Lilium giganteum was in bloom; the stem was eight 
feet high, and had on it, towards the apex, ten fine, 
large, trumpet-shaped flowers, of a cream-colour striped 
with pink. This is a noble plant for a large conservatory, 
and is by no means difficult to grow and bloom. 
In the grounds I found the hard winter had not done 
so much mischief as in other places; and I ascribe 
that to the soil aud situation. I have been credibly 
informed, that the fine collection of Coniferae at Elvaston 
Castle has suffered greatly. Now, Elvaston is situated 
on a low, flat, and damp locality, with a cold clay 
bottom; whilst the Botanic Garden here is considerably 
elevated, and has a dry sandy subsoil; hence, better 
calculated to carry half-hardy plants safe through a hard 
winter uninjured, or partially so. The only one dead 
was Cupressus torulosa; severely injured, on the north ! 
side, Juniperus macrocarpus. The common Cypress, of i 
which there are several large plants, arc all severely 
injured, but will recover; Picea Webhiana, nearly killed; 
Taxodium sempervireus, slightly hurt. Quite safe are 
Araucaria imbricata, tho Douglas abies, Cryptomeria 
japonioa, CedrusDeodara, Picea nobilis, tenfeot high, and 
all the Pinus tribe. Contrasting these two places, we may 
learn a lesson as to a proper site for a Pinetum: wo 
should choose a moderate elevation aud dry subsoil, and 
avoid a level flat with a damp bottom. 
In a distant hilly part of these Pine grounds there is 
a large collection of Scotch Roses in large masses; 
they were in flower, and I thought them very beautiful. 
In many large places these tiny Roses might be planted 
in groups with the best effect. 
Tlio soil here is poor and sandy, which causes many 
things to flower freely. I was glad to note that the 
Weigelia rosea bloomed very fine. In richer soils it 
grows more freely ; but scarcely evor flowers. Let this 
hint not be lost. It is easy, in most cases, to procure 
poor soils, and in such this beautiful shrub should be 
planted. T. Ai>i>leby. 
(To be continued.) 
