a-i 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
October 10. 
! number of these were then plunged in tan, or other 
fermenting matter, in a large pot, and that again 
plunged in bottom-heat. I used to fancy, that in trans¬ 
ferring the individual plants from pot to pot at the first 
shifting, there was less check given than when the 
youug plants were potted separately from a pan in 
which many stood together. Perhaps this was merely a 
fancy, as when plunged at once in bottom-heat, and in a 
warm, moist atmosphere, very little check could occur. 
I used, also, to have one more intermediate shift, 
generally before placing the plaut in the fruiting-pot; 
but, provided due care is taken in watering, I would 
prefer Mr. Fraser’s method. The danger of a large shift 
is, that a careless waterer is apt to saturate and sour the 
I soil before the actiou of the roots in it keeps it sweet 
and healthy. The uninitiated must keep in mind, that 
under such careful application of bottom-heat the roots 
j will so progress, that, in either case, the top of the plant 
will bo but small before it receives its destined fruiting- 
I pot. Other things being equal, the sooner the plant 
gets into its fruiting-pot, the sooner will a strong, 
healthy plant be produced, and the sooner will the cane 
or shoot be perfectly matured. The maturing business 
is the chief thing now to be attended to, and if not 
already getting sufficiently browned to stand the full 
exposure of a south wall, there is still hope of getting a 
crop early next season. If heavy rains should fall 
during the rest of September, and during October, 
various means should be adopted for throwing it past 
the pot. A very simple mode, is to pile a cone of litter 
over the surface of the pot, with its base neatly ex¬ 
tending beyond its rim. A small bit of wood on the 
south side will keep the cone in its place. The air and 
sun should exert as much influence on the wood and 
leaves as possiblo, with as little mositure as will just 
keep the foliage from being distressed or flagged. 
R. Fish. 
EARLY-FLOWERING BORDER PLANTS. 
( Continued from Vol. XII., page 495.) 
HELEBORUS—HELLEBORE. 
From helium, to kill, and horn, food; some species are 
poisonous. In this genus is one of the earliest of our 
spring flowers, the Christmas Rose, as it is commonly 
called. 
I-Ielleborus atrordbens (Dark-red).—From Hungary; 
flowering in March, and a purple colour; rising afoot 
high. Increased by division when the flowers have 
faded. 
H. cupreus (Copper-coloured).—Flowers as early as 
January; growing nine inches high. Increased by 
division. 
H. graveolens (Strong-scented).—Flowers in Feb¬ 
ruary; has yellow llowers, growing a foot high. 
H. i.ividus (Livid three-leaved).—Colour a dull, livid 
purple; grows a foot high, and flowers in March. There 
is, in gardens, a variety with the leaf-lobes entire, 
flowering in February. 
H. niger (Black).—The Christmas Rose. From 
Austria; growing a foot high ; has black roots, hence 
its name. The flowers are first pure whito, then change 
to a pleasing pink; lasting a long time in flower. 
Increased by division. In severe weather, it is desirable 
to place a hand-light over the plants to preserve the 
flowers from dirt and wet. This plaut may be gently 
forced, and really brought into flower in December. 
Take up the roots and divide them so as to get the 
divisions into six-inch pots, in strong, rich earth ; do 
this in April, and plunge the pots in a cool, shady 
border. About the last week in November, bring a few 
of them into a gentle heat, and as soon as the flowers 
appear remove them into the greenhouse, and they will 
bloom before the new year sets in, much finer than others 
in the open border, unless the latter are protected. They 
ornament the greenhouse at a time when there are few 
plants in flower. There is a variety called angustifolius, 
narrow-leaved, which is the only difference. 
H. Olymticus (Olympian).—From the mountains of 
India; perfectly hardy ; flowering in February; colour 
of the bloom, green shaded with purple; growing a foot 
high. 
II. Orientalis (Eastern).—Also from India, and but 
lately introduced; flowers in February; colour dark 
chocolate; growing a foot high. Increased by seeds and 
division. A very desirable species. 
II. pdrpurescens (Purplish). — From Hungary; [ 
flowering in March; colour purple and green. In¬ 
creased by division. 
II. vernalis (Spring).—An Austrian species; with 
white flowers in March ; growing six inches high ; and 
increased hy division and seeds. 
The Hellebores will all grow in any garden soil en¬ 
riched with well-decomposed manure, or leaf-mould. A 
rather shady border suits them best. 
HELONIAS. 
From helos, a marsh; plants loving a moist place. A 
genus of pretty plants all from North America. They 
thrive well in loamy, peaty soil, with the roots covered 
constantly with moss to keep them moist. 
IIelonias angustifolius (Narrow-leaved). — Flowers 
white, appearing in May, and growing a foot high. 
Increased by division just after the flowers have decayed. 
H. bullata (Blistered). — Flowers yellowish-purple'; 
appearing in April; growing a foot high. Increased by 
division. 
H. erythrosperma (Red-seeded).—Flowers white ; 
blooming in May and June; growing six inches high. 
A very interesting plant. Increased by division and 
seeds, which should be sown as soon as ripe in a pot 
under a cold frame. 
HEPATIC A. 
From hepaticos, the liver, leaves being lobed like it. 
This is a well-known genus of a very neat, pretty flower, 
requiring a light, rather sandy and peaty soil. They do 
not like often disturbing. Where they thrive well, they 
form large tufts, producing scores of flowers on each, 
and are then fine ornaments for the early border. 
IIepatica acutiloba (Acute-lobed). — From North 
.America; flowering in March ; growing only four inches 
high ; with blue flowers. Increased by division. 
II. Americana (American).—Blue flowers in March ; 
! growing four inches high. There are two varieties of 
this species which have white and pink flowers. This 
species may be easily distinguished from our common 
one, triloba, by its only having two-lobed leaves. In¬ 
creased by division after the bloom is over, and by seeds 
as soon as they are ripe, in wide pans or boxes under a 
cold frame. 
H. angulosa (Angle-stemmed).—From North Ame¬ 
rica, with blue flowers in March, growing six inches 
high. Increased by division. 
^ II. triloba (Three-lobed). — Originally found wild in j 
England, but now generally cultivated in gardens. The j 
original species is pink-flowered, appearing in April and 
March. There are the following varieties: — Single 
Rink, Double Pink, Single Blue, Double Blue (this is the 
most rare), and Single White. The Double White has 
often been said to be in existence, but I never could 
meet with it, nor with any one that could positively say 
they had seen it. 
I have potted these plants in five-inch pots, and 
brought them into the greenhouse iu January, and have 
had them in flower a month earlier than those in the 
