DeceiMber 30. 
THE COTTAGE GARHENEE. 
243 
value, few things will beat it in winter when thus 
managed. 
As 1 have got upon this genus, I may just allude to 
two more. 
TnoPjEOLmt pentavhyi.ldm is one of the hardiest of 
the tuberous-rooted kinds; a native, I believe, of Monte 
Video. It blooms freely out-of-doors from June to 
November. On this, the 20th of December, it is still 
in fair condition, running along a wire between two 
posts. Like most of the tuberous kinds, you cannot 
predicate with certainty on the time of its growth. In¬ 
stead of starting in spring, you will find that they 
sometimes begin to shew themselves in July, and later; 
and by keeping them cool and dry, the period of start¬ 
ing will always be retarded, and in course of time get 
into a habit. Now, I mention this, because all late- 
starting bulbs of this species will bloom nicely during 
the winter, and profusely in early spring, along the 
rai'ter of a greenhouse, or round a large trellis, if it has 
j)lenti/ of light and air. The soil, however, must be 
open and rather rich if in a medium-sized pot. I have 
seen them thus treated keep beautiful for the most part 
of a twelve month. 
TnopiEOLUM TUBEROSUM. — A Correspondent, lately 
speaking of the pretty nice tubers ho had so success¬ 
fully obtained, but which our English epicures are very 
careless about, added, that he would like much to know 
how to bloom it. Now I question if ever it could be 
made to riyal Lobhiaiium; but there is no saying what 
it might do, if it had house-room, and plenty of it, in 
winter. Even when I have started the tubers early, 1 
never could get the shoots to show bloom until late 
in the autumn. I recollect, that when Erst introduced, 
it was mentioned as a plant that grew three feet in 
height; but three yards, or even three to that would be 
nearer the mark in our moist autumn climate. I have 
been rewarded with a fair portion of bloom twice, in 
both cases late in autumn, in such a mild season as 
this; once, in a greenhouse where there was no heat, 
and once against a wall. In both cases the blooming 
was arrested by frost in November. The plant against 
the wall, as well as that in the glass case, was confined 
in a pot, and the soil was a little peculiar, nearly one , 
half sandy loam, the rest roughish gravel. j 
Manettia bicoi.or. —This, with its red and yellow ' 
tubular flowers, is a gem of the first water. It generally 
blooms from November to April. A warm greenhouse 
is the place for it in winter, such as will suit progressing 
Cinerarias and Geraniums. A cool, airy greenhouse, 
such as would suit Heaths and Azaleas that you did 
not wish to hurry into bloom, would be too cold for it; 
a common plant-stove, far too hot. The same remarks 
apply to most of the family, especially during their , 
blooming periods. This is, therefore, best when trained I 
round a trellis, so as to be moveable; one, two-and-a-half * 
feet in height, will give you means for a nice little plant. 
It is also one of those things for whicli a flat trellis, I i 
mean an upright one-sided one, may be tolerated; as the 
blooms look very nice when thickly studded on such a sur¬ 
face. The soil it likes is formed of equal portions of heath 
mould and loam, both fibry, with sand and charcoal to 
keep it open. Manure-waterings, if weak, may be given with 
advantage during the summer, when the plant is making 
its growth. When standing in the greenhouse in winter, 
a double pot will be useful, to save the roots from being 
at any time suddenly chilled. The water used should, 
for that period, be always warmer than the atmosphere 
of the house. If there is no other convenience, when 
the plant has done flowering, it should be pruned consi¬ 
derably, and bo kept in the closest and warmest end of 
the house, until growth is freely progressing, when it 
must be gradually e.^posed to full light and air. But, 
where there are hotbeds, or forcing-houses, the neatest 
plants for winter use are obtainable from cuttings struck 
about March. The following is the routine for such 
plants. Choose firmish side-shoots, about three inches 
in length; and, as second best, the points of other 
shoots that are getting rather firm ; itisert them in sandy 
soil, with silver sand on the surface; water, and when 
the leaves are dry, place a bell-glass over them, and set 
the pot in a mild hotbed ; shade from sun; in a week, 
plunge the pot, if bottom-heat is not above 75°; ease 
the bell-glass at night with a pebble, to give a little air, 
making it close in the morning; pot as soon as they 
root, and as soon as the small pot is filled, pot again, 
and keep in the hotbed; top the shoots, that you may 
multiply them; an eight-inch pot will grow a nice plant; 
by the middle of June take them to a cold pit, keep 
them rather closish until August; expose them freely 
to sun and air in September; give less air towards the 
middle of October ; by the end of the month remove 
them where they can have a dry heat, or, for want of a 
better, to the warm end of a greenhouse. 
R. El sir. 
THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 
{Conliiuied Jro7H pnge 224.) 
Having given in my last a few hints on cultivating 
this favourite flower, 1 now proceed to give a selected 
list of the best sorts, such as will answer “ Cato’s ” 
purpose, as well as of any other grower who wishes to 
make addition to his stock. Tho list includes good old 
kinds, as well as more recently raised ones. I went 
purposely, at the time they were in bloom, to see a large 
collection, in order to be sure of selecting good varieties. 
large-flowered CIIRYSANTHEJICMS. 
Annie Salter, dee\7 yellow; fine form, very double; 
the best of all yellows. 
Barbette, rosy-pink ; neat flower and good form. 
Beauty, a lovely blush colour; finest form, largo 
flower ; one of tho best. 
Bixio, violet-carmine; good form, and rich colour. 
California, golden-yellow ; very line. 
Chancellor, clear sulphur ; fine form. 
Christine, light rose ; very double, fine form; a good 
show flower. 
Clustered yellow, very double; a tasselled flower of a 
fine colour. 
Cloth of Cold, golden-yellow; extra large; a fine show 
flower. 
ComteRantzan, dark bright crimson; excellent shape; 
a good show flower. 
Cyclops, fawn and buff centre ; good. 
Defiance, clear white; extra form, large and very 
double; fine show flower; has probably won more 
prizes as a white than any other variety. 
Dupont de I'Evre, light carmine, shaded with orange. 
This is a fine variety. 
Duke, a pleasing blush colour, and a fine show flower, 
with good properties. 
Etoile de Versailles, blush - white, tubular florets; 
very double, and one of the latest bloomers. 
Formosa, clear white ; fine form ; a good show flower. 
Fleur de Marie, beautiful clear white, anemone- 
flowered ; fine form ; one of the very best of its class. 
General Rochambeau, light claret; good form. 
General Marceau, light blush ; a fine show flower. 
Gluck, bright golden-yellow, anemone-flowered ; very 
double, largo, and a good show flower. 
Goliah, a large white flower; well adapted for ex¬ 
hibition. 
Hengist, rich dark orange ; fine form. 
Hecuba, salmon, shaded with orange. 
Jenny Lind, pure white, incurved and very double; 
extra good. 
