THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 2. 
105 
the plant by want of room, or other causes, until you 
wish them to bloom. Before that period, a dash with cold 
water over the foliage, and the pots so placed that the 
sun does not strike upon them, are the best preventives 
Irom insects, and the best security for health. When, 
however, a fly appears, smoke directly; never wait fora 
second. The soil should be sandy loam, enriched with 
very rotten dung, or leaf mould, both in a rather dry 
state, Failing these, use a little small charcoal in the 
soil, and give weak manure-waterings. Plants from the 
second sowing may partly be pricked out, and partly 
kept in the seed pan until after Christmas. They will 
then want growing on, and will come in in succession 
to the others. The growth of such plants is greatly 
promoted, after the sun gains power, by setting the 
plants on moss, or plunging the pots in it. By hybridis¬ 
ing the best blooms, and saving the seed, the first cost 
will be all that will be necessary, and therefore it will 
be advisable to get the very best possible at first. In 
saving seed, do not be covetous, two or three pods on a 
plant will be sufficient. In fact, these, well ripened, 
j would contain as much seed as a person with a small 
house is likely to find room for, when changed into 
seedlings. I will, before long, say a few words on 
getting some plants from cuttings. * R. Frsrr. 
CONIFE1LZE. 
(Continued from page 100 .) 
Thuja (The Arbor Vitae).—My pleasant task is nearly 
ended. This genus, Thuja, and Widdringtonia, will 
complete my catalogue of this most interesting and 
useful tribe. I have visited most of the collections of 
these plants in England, and wherever the cultivators 
were readers of The Cottage Gardener they have 
expressed themselves much pleased with my remarks. 
This is very gratifying to me, and I take this oppor- 
| tunity of expressing my gratitude for the kind reception 
I ol my remarks on their culture. I have only to add the 
account of the two above-named genera, and a brief 
description of the modes of propagating this widely- 
spread and useful tribe. 
Thuja flagelliformis (Whip-shaped Thuja). — A 
scarce species, of which very little is known. 
Thuja iiybiuda and T. intermedia. —The same 
remark applies to these two as to the preceding. 
Thuja occidentals (Western or American Thuja).— 
This is a well-known species, and very hardy. It is 
much used in the nurseries as a hedge for sheltering 
more tender shrubs. It thrives best in a moist soil. In 
Canada, its native country, it rises to a considerable 
size, so much so as to rank as a timber-tree. The timber 
is much valued, being so very durable. It is chiefly 
used, on that account, for making articles of furniture. 
There is a variety with the foliage prettily variegated ; 
and at that oft-referred-to place, Elvaston Castle, there is 
a long line of this beautiful variety which has a most 
pleasing effect. This species grows quickly, is more open i 
in habit than any other, and, as it is so hardy, and very 
: moderate in price, it may be planted freely as a nurse 
plant for more tender species. 
Thuja orientalis (Eastern or Chinese Arbor Vitee).— 
It is the Biota orientalis of Endlicher. A handsome, 
densely-branched species, of a rich dark green colour, 
very suitable to plant as a single specimen in the 
; Pinetum. In very severe winters, in exposed situations, 
the foliage is often turned brown on the windward side. 
There are several varieties, the handsomest of which 
is named T. O. aurea, a dense, low bush, with yeliowisb- 
green leaves. The next are T. O. incurvata, T. U. Ne- 
palensis, T. O. stricta, and T. O. variegata argentea. 
Thuja Siberica (Siberian Arbor Vitee).— In my 
opinion this is the handsomest, as well as the most 
hardy of the whole genus. This winter, in my grounds, 
though removed in October from a considerable dis¬ 
tance, I have specimens four feet high, looking as fresh 
and lively as they might be expected to look in the 
autumn in the most favoured locality, whilst the 
Chinese species have suffered greatly, several of them 
being quite dead. It bears removal from a distance 
better than any other, because the roots are more dense. 
I cannot write too much in its praise as an ornamental 
evergreen tree. Every grower will, I am quite sure, 
agree with me, that it is a truly beautiful and extraor¬ 
dinarily hardy tree. It, however, thrives best in a deep, 
cool loam. 
Thuja pendula (Weeping Chinese Arbor Yitie).—A 
very singular species. There is a fine specimen of it 
in the Royal Gardens, at Kew, and another in the 
Apothecaries Garden, at Chelsea. It is very rare. 
Thuja pltcata (Plaited Arbor Yitse).—A native of 
Mexico, and, consequently, rather tender, but it will 
live and thrive in the south, but requires a slight pro¬ 
tection more northerly. 
Widdringtonia, so named in honour of Captain S. 
E. Widdrington, a meritorious naval officer, by Pro¬ 
fessor Endlicher, a celebrated German botanist. Tlie 
genus is composed of two or three species, all, excepting 
one, natives of the Cape of Good Hope. They are 
little better than shrubs, and well ada]ited to ornament 
a winter garden or conservatory. In such a place they 
do not grow so large and fast as to become unwieldy 
or unsightly, and are curious and pleasing in their 
habit. They should be potted in good, sound, pure 
loam, well drained. In Devonshire and Cornwall they 
will live in the open air, and, probably, also in Ireland. 
And here I would remark, that all Coniferie that are 
said to be rather tender should be planted upon raised 
mounds, and should not even be planted there till they 
have attained a considerable size, and become stout 
and woody. Young, tender plants are almost sure to 
perish the first severe frost they are exposed to, but old, 
sturdy fellows will bear the breeze with impunity that 
kills at once their flush-grown younger fellows. 
Widdringtonia cupressoides (Cypress-like Widdring¬ 
tonia).—An elegant tree, growing from ten to twenty 
feet high in its native locality. It is the Thuja cu¬ 
pressoides of Linnaeus. 
Widdringtonia ericoides (Heath-like Widdringtonia). 
—A native of Japan, and more hardy than the rest of 
the genus. It has much the appearance of a strong¬ 
growing Heath—hence its name. 
Widdringtonia juniperoides (Juniper-like Widdring¬ 
tonia).—A low, elegant bush, seldom exceeding six feet 
in height. The leaves are the broadest of the genus. 
Propagation. —The space allotted me is full, and, 
therefore, 1 must defer this concluding section on 
Coniferse till the next opportunity. T. Appleby. 
(To be continued.) 
THE PICOTEE. 
This flower is, at least, as lovely as the Carnation. 
The culture, soil, and propagation, are exactly the 
same for both. They are so much alike in foliage 
and habit that it is impossible to distinguish them by 
the plants. It is in the flower that the difference is 
seen. In the Carnation, the colours upon the white 
ground are disposed in stripes, running upwards from 
the bottom of the petals, sometimes broad, and some¬ 
times narrower; but in thcPicotec,the colour is disposed 
on the outer edge of each petal, and the more even this 
is the more perfect the flower is. 
I think the Picotee even more beautiful than the 
