438 
THE COTTAGE GAEDENER. 
March 10. 
Pines, and it is delightful to observe the effects of high 
culture, based on the well-observed natural habits of this 
fruit. I was highly delighted to lind a thorough confirm¬ 
ation of the views 1 had long taken, as to the efficiency 
of sound turfy unctuous loam in the culture of pines. 1 
was delighted, I repeat, not that my views of the matter 
happened to prove correct, hut that a ])rinciple was con¬ 
firmed, about which there could scarcely arfise, here¬ 
after, a necessity for recantation. 
On examining closely the soil of Mr. Pillan’s Pines, 
I found the soil principally strong yellow loam, ob¬ 
tained, 1 was told, from Alnwick town-moor. Instead 
of the surface of the jiots being covered in a neatly- 
finished way, and smoothed down, there were tufts of 
turfy loam here and there, rising above the mass like 
so many pincushions; the leaves of the Pines, broad, 
robust, and ndlky-green, felt to the touch like some 
metallic substance. And why? Simply because every 
sap-vessel was distended with liberal supjilies through 
a vigorous root; the elaborations in Mr. Pillan’s houses, 
metal roofs (requiring shading in extreme weather), 
being, doubtless, ever a match for the “raw material” 
from the root. 
Equal in importance to the staple of the soil is the 
mode of i)otting: a safe and speedy egress for fluids must 
be provided. Thorough drainage secures this, and more. 
There can be little doubt, i think, that the cavernous 
character of the bottom of a well-drained pine-pot is of 
as much importance in facilitating the admission of 
nourishing gases to the root, as in providing for the 
escape of water. Three or four large crocks, ijlaced as 
hollow as possible, with a little coarse material strewed 
amongst tliem, and on this dry turf in lumps, having 
the mere soil beat out, makes a capital drainage, in 
depth about one-fifth of the pot. 
Up to this period Pines should have been kept tole¬ 
rably dry, at least, those for repotting; and the operator 
may water them liberally about a week before the re¬ 
potting process, by which means the soil will bo in an 
equable state, and what we gardeners term “ mellow.” 
The compost being prepared, and in a rather dry con¬ 
dition, abundance of loamy turf in lumps may, in a 
separate state, lay on the right side of the ])Otting bench, 
and these the operator may continue thrusting in con¬ 
stantly as the potting proceeds. One very good plan is, 
after jilacing the ball on the turfy lumps which cover 
the crocks, to thrust in a row of the potting-bench 
lumps of turf; these latter not having the soil beat out 
as in the case of the drainage material; then to fill up 
with the ordinary compost until level with the ball 
surface, when another layer of the turf lumps may 
again be introduced, and then the whole coated over 
two or three inches with the compost. I do not think 
there can be better practice than this, as far as potting 
is concerned. The soil will remain fresh and mellow 
as long as the Pine remains in it, and will permit water 
and air to traverse it in every direction, i lay much 
stress on the soil being dry—not, however, dusty—and 
in that state let the whole be pressed or crammed tightly 
in with the hand ; but on no account should the pot be 
thumped on the bench—a practice which has been ever 
productive of much injury. 
Thus much performed, the plants should be at once 
plunged where they may commence growth, wdthout 
any future handling, beyond the final shifting, or repot¬ 
ting, which will be a J uly, August, or September affair, 
according to the character of the plants, and the aims 
of the proprietor; always bearing in mind, that from 
six to eight months may be calculated on, by ordinary 
culture, from tbe final shift to the “show” for fruit. 
Here lot it be observed, that a jealous eye must hence¬ 
forth be kept on what are termed bottom-heats. I do 
still think it a mistaken view to consider such high 
permanent bottom-heats as *JU° essential. If we are to 
follow' nature’s principles, surely this bottom-heat affair I 
is essentially relative. Light is, doubtless, tbe ))rime 
moving jmwer, and all straining of points, without a i 
reference to the amount of this, must ever prove I’alla- 
cious. Jlulf-pluMjiny, where fermenting materials are 
used, must be resorted to ; it is easy to add more in case 
of necessity. '\Vc would have no watering at root for 
two, three, or more weeks after repotting. 'They will ' 
root much faster, and bo in le.ss danger of “ burning,” 
whilst the soil is mellow than if adhesive, or swelled • 
with moisture; and no wonder—tbe heated moisture is 
not confined, but can ra})idly cscajie at every breatbing ! 
pore in the soil, fl'lie syringe will ])rove a useful ad- ' 
junct to good culture; and a free ventilation, and a 
high afternoon tem))erature, may be used daily after tbe 
middle of the month. E. Eriiington. 
BULBS. 
{Co)itiniicd from ptifie ItH.) 
CYltTANTHUS. 
The two evergreen species of this genus, or rather 
section of Amaryllis, were disposed of in the last article; 
and the following go to rest from the end of October to 
March or April, and flower after Midsummer with the 
leaves on, and so till September, according to the kind, 
and the time they began to grow in the spring. After 
seeing how readily the Valolta purpurea crossed with 
C. olilujuus, there can be no doubt of its crossing with 
some of the deciduous species, whose leaves and flowers 
tbe blood of Valotta would much improve ; and there is 
another section of Amaryllis, called Oantroneimi, which 
is as sure to cross in with these as if we had the crosses 
now before us. Then, if the deciduous cliaracter of 
these Cjfrtanths and (Jastronemas would so influence tbe 
Valotta side of the breed as to go to rest in winter, as 
no doubt it would in time, we should possess a new race 
of summer-flowering bulbs, as hardy (for the summer) 
as Tulips, and with even richer colours, combined with 
finer striping than is seen in the Carnation. 
Any one who knows the ilower of Valotta purpurea 
may see, from tbe short description of the following s])e- 
cies and those of Oastroneina, how easilj' this could be 
effected. Hence it is that 1 put a great stress on the 
value of the genus Cyrtanthus, the bulbs of which are 
not at all difticult to manage, if the proper yellow loam 
is got for them, and the right treatment allowed. These 
bidbs ought to be covered with soil, and not he half-ex¬ 
posed, as we do with llrunsvigias and similar large 
l)ulbs, because they are very susceptible of injury from 
damp in winter while they are at rest, and the covering 
of dry soil saves them much. On account of their per¬ 
manent fleshy roots, it does not do to shake them out of 
tbe soil, like (Jladiolus bulbs, while they are at rest. 
They will resent any jmshing into forced growth in the 
spring beyond the temiierature of a high airy shelf in 
the greenhouse. The one called J'cwfr/cOiYt in the Dic¬ 
tionary, has never been in cultivation, as far as I can 
make out; hut all the species have the flowers more or 
less ventricose, or bulged out in the middle. 
Cyrtanthus anoustifoltos (Narrow-leaved).—A bad 
name, as others of them have the leaves still narrower. 
This is the easiest of them to grow, to flower, and to 
keep, as well as to increase, for it will seed freely, 'f’he 
flowers are four or five, of a rich orange-red, and they 
hang down from one side of the scape. 'J'he leaves are 
about a quartor-of-an-inch wide, and purple at the bot¬ 
tom, like those of Valotta 2 ^urpurea. 
Cyrtanthus oollinus. —This is a native of the hills 
near Genadendal, 100 miles east of Cape Town. It is a 
very handsome kind, with eight or nine crimson, or 
poppy-scarlet, flowers, and with three leaves as narrow 
