January 22 . 
COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
299 
baslies, being on different rails, will pass each other for the 
ptirposes of ventilation, which juay bo obtained to the extent 
of one half of the whole surface of the sides and ends of 
tlie structure. Top ventilaiion to be obtained through tlie 
apex of the ridges. Tlie iiiternal subdivision of such a 
structure, no matter wliat its size may be, into compartments 
of any desired extent, iiiay be readily accomplished by 
portal)le glass partitions made to move in the same manner 
as the sides.” 
The Cottage Gardeners’ Dictionary.* 
We can only say of this that it has been most carefully 
revised; all good, new plants introduced previously to the 
latter end of last year liave been noticed ; some omissions 
su|iplied ; mid a copious Dictionary of syuonymes added. 
This is all that we can say for ourselves; but we may ventui'e 
to add the opinion of a critic certainly unbiassed in favour 
of the editor—“It is the best, cheapest, ami most useful 
Dictionary an amateur or young gardener can buy.” That 
this ci'itio was right, is told by the fact that one very large 
impression has been sold in so short a time. 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
GARDENING. 
HARDY CYPRIPEDIUMS. 
“ In reference to Mr. Appleby’s list of hardy Cupripediumx, 
i 1 find I have notes of two not included by him, viz (7. 
candidinn and O. humile, and shall be glad to know whether 
they are only synonymous with album and ncuule. 
“ Mr. Appleby will confer the greatest favour on me, for 
one, if he can tell me where to procure plants. For several 
years I have tried in vain, being able to meet with these 
only, calceohis, pubenceiis, acaiile, xprdahilr, and maciaiithum ; 
and 1 have tried nearly all the chief nurserymen.—A. R.” 
[C. candidum and humile are syuonymes of C. album and 
C. acaule. 
We are afraid you cannot obtain the varieties youivish for 
in England. Try Lawson and Sons, Edinburgh ; or, if you 
do not mind the expense, send to Mr. Louis Van Houtte, 
nursei-yman, Ghent. Mr. Appleby knows that he had, very 
lately, a good collection of hardy Cypripediums.] 
PROPAGATION OF VARIEGATED ALYSSUM, CINE¬ 
RARIA MARITIMA, AND SAXIERAGA ilYPNOIDES. 
“ 1. Will seeds of the variegated leaved .d/yss;n?(, C/at’rajv'a 
marithna, and Saxi/rapa hypiiukles, sown round the edge of 
open borders in early spring, make a good edging for those 
borders in the summer? 
“ 2. AVill Cineraria maritima grow if pegged down ? 
“9. Can seeds of the variegated Ahjssum and Cineraria \ 
maritima. be purchased? They arc not mentioned in the 
soedmen's bills sent to me this year, nor could I obtain 
any of these seeds last year.—E. IV. A." 
[1. Yes ; the seeds of^those plants ivould make very good J 
edgings indeed, but not of variegated plants. Variegation 
in plants is only one of the forms of sporting, and sports ' 
do not reproduce themselves from seeds. See our answer 
to (jnestioa No. 9. 
2. Yes ; Cineraria maritima will grow any way j ou choose 
to try, out-of doors, up or down, or sideways, as an excellent 
rock plant, on a dry, sandy bank', on the top of an old ruin, 
and in the best bed for bedding-out. It is an excellent 
centre for a bed, on the standing u]) plan, to be be sur¬ 
rounded by low, variegated plants, or it may be trained low 
to make edgings to high plants, and it will make a mass, or 
a single row by itself. 
9. No; the variegated Ahjssum never seeds at all; and the 
Cineraria maritima ivould only be as the common Ragwort 
of the fields, if it came from seeds; that is, it would be too 
common for people to care for it; but its hoariness, its 
T/ic Cnitir/re Gardeners’ Dietianary. Eilited by G. W. Johnson, Esq. 
I Roniton, W. Kent and Co., 51, Paternoster Row. In weekly numbers, at 
j lid. each. Second Kditioii,. 
I \yoolly-like appearance, is not from sporting, it is natural, 
: and it will come from seeds as true as possible. They also 
I’ipen in abundance in the south of France, but no one 
: takes the trouble to gather them, because there is no 
demand for them. 
We do not recollect having ever seen Saxifrmjn hypnoides 
in seed. But who would trouble himself with such seedlings, 
when the parent is the easiest of all plants to propagate by 
division ?] 
CULTURE OF VARIEGATED ALYSSUM. 
“ May I beg the favour of your informing me upon the 
subject of the culture of the variegated Ahjssum. I noticed 
it used very largely at the Crystal Palace as a white edging, 
and wish to know’ if it is an annual, or biennial ? whether 
propagated by cuttings, or from seeds.’—J. S. H.” 
[The culture, the propagation, and the general manage¬ 
ment of the variegated Ahjssum are exactly the same as for 
the common Verbenas, only that it is not tit for being made 
from layers in the autumn. When the cuttings are made 
in August and September, the plants are much easier to 
winter than Verbenas, but they must have no frost. Three 
or four nice plants of it, in six-inch pots, and a hotbed, from 
the end of February, would produce as many spring cuttings 
as any amateur could find room to grow'. They never come 
from seeds ; and if they did, the seedlings would be green ; 
but no bedding-plant is more easy to increase from cuttings, 
or easier td keeji in pots and through the winter; and no 
plant is more charming for a small bed, or for an edging to 
a large one. Meunjh.’s varieyated Scarlet Geranium is the 
next best plant/or all purposes.'} 
CONSTRUCTION OF A GREENHOUSE. 
“ I am about to erect a greenhouse, twenty-one feet by 
thirteen feet w'ide, and you will confer a favour upon me by 
replying to the following questions :— 
“ If the front is seven feet high, what height should the 
back be to obtain the most desirable pitch ? 
“ What size and thickness of glass do you recommend ? 
“ Do you advise the use of a fine, or hot-water? 
“ May I inquire if you approve of A. Kent’s, Chichester, 
system of covering the joint of the glass with zinc and 
felt?—A. B.” 
[The whole matter has been treated on largely', and 
lately. Have the back wall twelve feet. If you can, have 
ventilators in the back wall, or small sashes, at top, made to 
move, for air; have the rest of the roof fixed. Use strong 
sash-bars, as adopted by Mr. Rivers and Mr. Lane, instead of 
rafters and sash-bars, and use sheet glass not less than 
sixteen ounces to the foot. If you prefer Hartley's Patent, 
though the cost be more, you will need no shading. Hot- 
water is cleanest and best, but Hues answer very well. A 
small flue below the door woidd suit such a house, if 
objectionable above. We have had no experience of Mr. 
Kent’s system, but some friends speak highly of it.] 
UNSUCCESSFUL CUCUMBER PIT. 
“ I shall bn thankful to you for your advice respecting a 
Cucumber ]nt, which has never done well from tbe first. 
My master bad a desire, last spring, for the roof to be raised, 
for the better convenience of going inside, but not to have 
the pipes removed. We had the back and end walls raised 
about forty inches, hut glass was preferred for the front. We 
have boards inside the front, to form a two-inch air-way, as 
the soil box comes half-way up to the front lights. 'The box 
is about twenty inches sipiare, with two fiow-pipe.s. just under 
tlie box, and tw'o more which have been used for bottom 
heat before the place was raised. Tbe house is divided ; one 
part being used for Beans and Cucumbers, the other for 
Rhubarb, Sea-kale, or Potatoes in pots; but nothing does 
w'ell in either place. I have plenty of bottom-heat, but am 
short of top-heat. Last summer, I had to shade for every 
gleam of sun; the earth and house was damp, but I could 
not prevent the plants drooping, nor keep oil' the Red 
