334 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
August 4. 
Matthiola sinuata : Great Sea Stock; Prickly-podded 
Gilliflower. 
Description. —It is a biennial. Root long and tapering. 
Whole herb clothed with densely intricate starry down, in¬ 
termixed with short glandular rigid prickles, which abound 
most on the pods. Stem branched, widely spreading, two 
feet high, round, leafy. Lower leaves broad, spear-shaped, 
alternately toothed, blunt; upper spear-shaped, undivided and 
entire. Flowers the size of the foregoing, but petals of a more 
dingy flesh-coloured hue; not fragrant hy day, but in the 
evening very highly scented, with a kind of aromatic pun¬ 
We fear that the Potato Murrain was promoted to a 
very great extent hy the rains and cold weather which 
prevailed in July, ft is worthy of remark, however, 
that although the haulm was the first to show “ the 
black spot” where growing on the chalk hills of Hamp¬ 
shire and elsewhere, yet, on these well-drained situa¬ 
tions the tubers have remained almost free from disease. 
In the valleys around them the haulm remained the 
longest green, and apparently unaffected, but the tubers 
are very extensively destroyed. 
We hear also from Cheshire, that, “ owing to the wet 
and cold weather, the disease is spreading unmistake- 
ably among the tubers.” 
Another correspondent ( P.), writing from Meath, in 
Ireland, on the 21st of July, says—“I observe to-day 
the Potato disease has unmistakeably commenced in a 
small plot of early Potatoes ( Cockneys ); both the stalks 
and tubers are affected. All other sorts are as yet 
untouched in the garden and adjoining paddock. There 
is invariably, on the underside of every diseased leaf, a 
very small, yellowish insect, which hops like a Turnip- 
fly if disturbed; it is not to be seen on any of the healthy 
Potatoes, although they are covered with aphides which 
do not hop.” 
COYENT GARDEN. 
The supply of summer fruits continues unabated, 
particularly as regards Cherries. Strawberries are less 
plentiful. Of Cherries, the sorts which are now in 
are the Kentish, Bigarreaus, and Blade Caroon. The 
latter is a very old variety, extensively cultivated in 
Buckinghamshire and Herts, and is also known in other 
parts of the country under the name of “ Merries ,” 
which is a corruption of the French word Merisiers. 
As an orchard variety it is very profitable, as it gene¬ 
rally produces most abundant crops, and, from its fine 
uniform black colour, is attractive at the markets. It is 
not, however, a variety worth cultivating in a garden 
collection. The prices which these make are from 2d. 
to 4d. per pound. Apricots from France are also 
plentiful, and realise from Is. Gd. to 2s. per dozen. 
Peaches and Nectarines are very large, well-coloured, 
and of excellent quality ; they still maintain the prices 
we formerly quoted of 2s. each.* 
During the last fortnight there have been large im¬ 
portations of West India Pine Apples, of very excellent 
quality and good size; and, were it not for the pro- 
* By mistake, we said Is. Gd. to 2s. per dozen. 
gency, rendering this species well worthy of a place in 
gardens. Stigma stalkless, bluntly protuberant at each side. 
Pods three or four inches long, convex at each side, all over 
hoary and glandular. Seeds with a membranous border. 
The taste of the whole herb is alkaline and bitterish. 
Places where found. —Sandy sea coast of Wales and Corn¬ 
wall. 
Time of flower ing. —August. 
History. —We have nothing to add to what has been 
stated relative to 'the preceding species. (Smith. Lindley. 
Marty n. Withering. Dodoens. Gerarde.) 
fusion of scale with which the crowns are encrusted, 
they might pass very well for home-grown fruit. Ripe 
Gooseberries are now very common, and make 4d. per 
quart. A few of the Margaret Apple, or, as it is some¬ 
times called, Striped Joanneting, have made their 
appearance. Except the old Joanneting, this is the 
earliest eating Apple we have, but being so much more 
coloured, and, consequently, more attractive to the 
popular eye, it is better adapted for markets than the 
old white variety ; it is also a better bearer. New 
Potatoes continue to come in good condition, and 
make from 2s. to 3s. per sieve. Green Walnuts, for 
pickling, have been offered very generally, during the 
past week, at Is. Gd. per 100. 
The Vegetables are very plentiful, and of good 
quality. They make very much the same prices as we 
have quoted in former reports. 
Flowers of all kinds are in abundance; but the 
bouquets are of a very ordinary description, both as 
regards the flowers employed and the mode in which 
they are made up, compared to what they are during 
the winter months. H. 
PERPETUAL ROSES. 
(Continued from page 270.) 
My former remarks were confined to root-culture; I 
now wish to offer a little advice to the uninformed about 
the branches, foliage, &c. 
In the first place, let me pointedly observe, that as 
with fruit-trees, so with Roses, those who wish to excel 
in their culture must not long permit the ravages of 
insects. 
The winter or spring pruning of Roses is so well un 
derstood, and so much has been said about it, that I 
may pass it lightly by. As a general maxim, it may be 
observed, that very coarse-growing kinds require to be 
moderated in their habits, by pruning away the grosser 
shoots ; whereas, in shy and delicate kinds the practice 
should be reversed. Thinning-out is a most important 
operation; unless this is duly performed, three-fourths 
of the powers of the tree will be wasted in the pro¬ 
duction of crippled blossoms or abortive buds; or, if 
perfect, they will be so crowded in the interior of the 
tree as to produce a confused and neglected appearance. 
I fear that many, from whom better things might be 
expected, neglect a proper degree of thinning. Thus, 
such Roses as Beauty of Billard, which produces an 
amazing quantity of weak shoots, is sometimes seen in 
a smothered condition; the interior full of Roses, which, 
however they convey the idea of exuberance of growth, 
only serve to starve each other, and to break up the 
flowering period prematurely. Then, in such as Coupe 
d'Hebe, Brennus, or General Jacquemenot, the latter a 
