January 13. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENEB. 
283 
the Cestrums, some of which, such as G. aurantiacum, 
though usually grown in a stove, yet, under proper 
treatment, would make a nice companion for our ])re- 
sent favourite in a moderately warm conservatory. The 
name of the genus is appropriate, signifying “ gay 
shrub;” and so far as the present species is concerned 
it may well be termed “ elegant.” First impressions 
are queer things to deal with, though we should admit 
only a tenth of what the ladies say about them. Their 
general influence is to stereotype an idea; and even 
should the opinions formed be based on nonentities, or 
warped by prejudice, it requires accumulated reasons 
and proofs to dissipate the first-formed notions. This 
is so far my case at present. No sooner is this plant 
mentioned, than, without the presto of the wizard, the 
cap of Fortunatus, or the passes of the mesmerist, by 
some means or other, I feel myself straining my mental 
vision on the identical column in the conservatory of 
the Botanic Gardens. It is true, the plant grows very 
well in a pot, and, however grown, it is an interesting 
object; but were I asked how to produce the finest 
effect at the least possible amount of labour, I should 
decidedly say, turn the plant out into a border when 
one yard in height, and against a pillar, where it could 
have air and light all round. Sandy loam, and plenty 
of water, with proper drainage, will gi'ow it well; but it 
will be advisable to give it a little peat when first turned 
out. Everything must be done at first to encourage 
growth; but in the second season, the stronger shoots 
should bo shortened to produce plenty of weaker ones, 
and which will be ripened before winter. After that, 
little pruning, besides pinching a strong shoot, will bo 
required. The shoots, except the leading ones, will 
soon acquire a pendulous position; and these, if well- 
ripened, will have large bunches of flowers at tlicir 
points first; and as these are cut off others will take 
their place farther back on the shoot; and this con¬ 
tinuous nipping-off the wood with the flowers will be 
tbe most of the pruning required. By this treatment, 
a plant has never been without bloom for a twelve- 
month ; but during the whole of the winter it is plenti¬ 
fully supplied. Thus managed, few things will beat it, 
or look more interesting in a greenhouse. It is also 
useful for cut flowers, where people can be satisfied 
with a small piece of the plant to support them. Our 
bouquet-makers, who wire or gum each separate flower, 
would say nothing at all about the shortness of the 
handle. For this purpose, it is something like the 
Scotch kale in the kitchen-garden—a regular “ cut and 
come again,” as, without the removing of the terminal 
bunch of flowers, many of the incipient bunches at the 
axils of the leaves farther back will not have stimulus 
enough to cause them to expand. 
Many, however, who have not a pillar to spare, might 
wish to grow it in a pot, after what some may consider 
this too flaming a recommendation. I will just glance, 
therefore, at its general management. Propagation .— 
Firm, short side-shoots, inserted in sandy soil, under a 
bell-glass, and in a little bottom-heat, strike freely. If 
you inserted the cuttings this or the following mouth, 
potted them directly they were rooted, kept them close 
in a hotbed at first, and more open afterwards, shifted 
as fast as they required it, and hardened off in the 
autumn, you might have small blooming plants the first 
winter. Some orderly folk would object to giving such 
hardy plants such hotbed treatment; and, though it is 
by no means necessary, yet most of those largish-leaved 
American plants enjoy such treatment amazingly, and, 
if properly exposed and hardened ofl’ in autumn, will 
bloom none the worse in consequence. If you neither 
strike early, nor give more encouragement than a cold 
frame in summer, you must not expect the plant to 
bloom until the second winter, under even good general 
treatment. 
Supposing, then, that you have kept the plant in a 
cold pit or a greenhouse in winter, it should be exa¬ 
mined by April, and placed either in the greenhouse or 
pit, so as to encourage growth by closeness and 
warmth; the size of the plant will determine the shifts 
to be given. You will not do much good with a pot 
less than twelve inches diameter, and into that the 
plant should be got by the middle of June at farthest. 
The soil should consist of peat and loam at first, but as 
you shift the loam must be increased ; and then, if after 
all there should seem to be a lack of vigour, top-dress 
with old cow-dung and charcoal, and give weak manure 
waterings. The plant will never naturally make a 
bush; tlie shoots are lanky, and half-inclined to twist, 
one stake must therefore be used as a support; but 
when hasped to this stake, the strongest shoots being 
previously stopped, the points must be fixed in a de¬ 
pendant position to a ring of wire round the rim of the 
pot. By this mode persevered in, something of a 
conical shape will be secured, and by a less obtrusive 
method than a trellis or a forest of slicks; besides, the 
direction given to the shoots will secure their ripening, 
and consequent blooming freely. Everything should 
be done by a close, moist atmosphere, to encourage 
growth, until August approaches, then more air should 
be given, until, by the middle of September, the plants 
are fully exposed. In October they should be defended 
from heavy rains, and towards the end of it safely 
housed. I have never tried it against a wall; I have 
no doubt it would do well protected by glass. In pots, 
besides fresh soil, the chief trouble would be in the first 
year’s growth, as after being establislied the plant would 
have the whole summer for gi-owth and ripening. In 
pruning, bear in mind that bloom is chiefly produced 
on young shoots coming from last year’s wood. The 
bending recommended encourages every bud to break. 
Habrothamnus I'ASCicuLATus.—I canuot boast of my 
success with this in a pot, partly, I believe, from want of 
proper attention. I have seen it very fair against a wall, 
and have no doubt it would be a desirable plant for a 
glass-case before the severity of winter sets in. I men¬ 
tion it here for the purpose of stating, that a gardener 
from Y'orkshiro told me, not long ago, that he had seen 
it there trained up a conservatory column, and almost, if 
not quite, as fine as the plant of elegans he was then ex¬ 
amining. Everything that will bloom freely in a green¬ 
house in winter, and cost little trouble, should at least 
be tried. Among others of the genus, of which I know 
but little, there is H. eganeus, of which I know nothing; 
but if its habit were good, the blue flowers it is repre¬ 
sented to have would render it a great acquisition. I 
may add here, as a note, that the same gentleman, when 
looking upon a blaze of Poinsettia pulcherrima, told me 
that they grew the white variety considerably in the 
north. Now I do not think wo have got that at all com 
mon in the south ; and though, for effect, it would bear 
no comparison with the dazzling crimson, yet the beauty 
might both be enhanced and mellowed by blending and 
contrast. 
Veronica Andersonii. —This is the most beautiful 
shrub of the family. The habit of the plant is compact 
and graceful, and, according as it is treated, it wiU con¬ 
tinue to yield its pretty spikes during the autumn, and 
winter, and spring. In fact, by regulating the time of 
stopping, and then maturing the young growth, flowers 
miglit bo commanded for the most of the year. To 
bloom in winter, cuttings of firm young wood should bo 
inserted in sand, under a bell-glass, before Midsummer, 
potted off in sandy loam and peat, kept in a cold frame, 
freely exposed in autumn, and given an airy position in 
winter in a greonhouso or cold pit, applying no more 
water than it absolutely wants. With such a plant, or 
a young one purchased, begin to push growth along in 
March or April, by giving the plants a closish, warmish 
