THE COTTAGE GARDENER, 
495 
September 29. 
nite relief to those clumpy masses of blue, scarlet, &c., 
which it is extremely probable will soon be liable to 
innovation, whether from taste or fashion. This Liatris 
[ is a pale purple, which, if not of the most conspicuous 
character, possesses the merit of “ freshness.” The plant 
i commences blooming in the middle of June by ordinary 
culture; but everybody knows that such things, in order 
i to carry out a special object, may be made to blossom a 
month earlier. 
Now that I am about calling on old acquaintances, I 
may point to some of tire Veronicas, as distinguished 
amongst spiry forms. There has been such a confusion 
of names in this genus, like the Asters, and some 
others, that I am almost afraid to point to species appli¬ 
cable to the case in hand. Those I would name amongst 
spiry forms, are such as are commonly called V. carnea, 
or V. incarnata, V. incana, and some other spiry kinds. 
I freely confess that their colours arc not glowing, but 
their forms are elegant, and will he found of some ser¬ 
vice in the modern bouquet. At the time I write, we 
have some herbaceous beds with several of these Ve¬ 
ronicas in blossom, and were they removed, the beds 
would not carry half their present effect as to outline, 
&c. Some of the Lythrums, too, are spiry and elegant ; 
but as to massing, there is so much of the ditch-weed 
about their foliage as would give a vulgar appearance. 
They are, however, of much utility in the mixed her¬ 
baceous bed or border. The old Dracocephalum specio- 
1 'sum is of this character; but would not come in with 
any massing system on account of its extreme lateness. 
This, like the latest Asters, and some late Phloxes, is 
of much importance in borders, where it is desirable to 
carry out gaiety to the very edge of winter. The Anther- 
icums, too, especially that with such slender flower stems 
and narrow grass leaves, and which used to be called 
either A. liliastrum, or liliago, is a most genteel-looking 
plant of the spiry class; and from its pure white, and 
lengthened flowering, might be worked-up in mixed 
masses where white was requisite. It has a beautiful 
effect near the margin of herbaceous or shrub borders. 
If it be argued, that such herbaceous plants grow too 
high; why they may be readily dwarfed by being potted, 
and the pots plunged. One of the chief causes of the 
decadence of the herbaceous tribes, was, doubtless, the 
neglected and exhausted state in which they but too 
frequently appeared previous to what is termed the 
bedding system becoming general. But Phloxes, for in¬ 
stance, in an old shrubbery border, probably full of tree 
roots, and those receiving annual culture, are widely 
different. The former, with a profusion of lean stems, 
betokening exhaustion, with flowers of half-size, and 
little colour, and which, of course, prematurely cease 
blossoming; the latter, bold-looking, healthy, showy, and 
enduring. Indeed, the same may be said of most of 
these tribes, being like many a pot plant, although long 
known, when placed under high culture, and well 
brought out. 
Having given these few brief hints, in order to set 
other minds at work, and to endeavour to rescue some 
deserving plants, which have merely been under a cloud 
for awhile, but which the return of brighter skies may 
one day again reveal, I will offer a few remarks on 
“odds and ends;”just observing previously, that the 
fine genera or species adverted to here by way of illus¬ 
tration, are by no means qualified to do justice to the 
I design. Our readers will find a host of nice things, 
: possessing such qualifications, in a full and descriptive 
| list of herbaceous plants. 
China, or German Asters. — Do all our readers know 
| that these fine autumnal flowers will transplant without 
damage when coming into blossom ? The fact is un¬ 
questionable, for I have done it this season, and re¬ 
peatedly in previous yeai’s, and remember my father 
practising it almost annually some forty years’ since. 
All they require are good waterings and a liberal soil. 
The best Asters I have seen grown were in a dark 
material, which might be considered a mixture of sandy 
heath soil and humus, or the old decayed remains of the 
wood-pile, the weed-heap, and such like, which material 
had become simply a black mould. But, it may be asked, 
Of what use is this knowledge ? Why this; that persons 
following up a bedding system, and desirous of providing 
a succession after early annuals, or things of ephemeral 
character, may thus make a provision in a reserve ground, 
and be in a position to replace any bed at a couple of 
hours notice. This reserve garden is so important an 
adjunct, by-tlie-by, of every high gardening establishment, 
that 1 continue to wonder how it is that we do not hear 
more about it; some long winter’s evening I will endea¬ 
vour to show forth my ideas on the construction and 
management of such. I remember well, writing a paper 
on this subject- for the late Mr. Loudon, about fifteen 
years since, and one he highly approved at the time; 
and this I did, thinking that some one better able to 
follow out the idea would “ como to the rescue ;” but I 
have never seen an article on the thing since. That 
paper may be found in the back numbers of Loudon. 
However, digression done with, let me take up my tale. 
White Ivy-leaved Geranium. —Really, a gardener, be 
he ever so well up in his points, may learn daily. I should 
have thought, half a score years since, that I knew all 
about the habits of this charming and distinct Geranium; 
hut a piece of necessity has this spring added another 
wrinkle. I had about thirty pots of early struck cuttings 
of last summer, placed on a late vinery back shelf, close 
to the glass in February. This house was to be kept as 
cold as possible, short of freezing, until the vine broke in 
April. They were in five-inch pots, three in a pot, potted 
in strong or adhesive loam. Now, these w T ere placed on 
this shelf because they must be removed, and because few 
things but bedders would stand the situation. They were 
there until the house was closed for the vines, and were 
watered, perhaps, twice during this long period. When 
taken down they looked like plants which had been 
parched by an extremely hot and dry summer; they were, 
i to use a common phrase, mere “ shoe-leather.” IIow- 
i ever, I did not despair, although I thought it a strong 
experiment, but planted them as a band or edging to a 
bed of the Diadematum ruhescens Geranium. This bed 
has been excellent; the Ivy-leaved began flowering just 
after watering in the pots ; they were turned out on the 
27th of May, by my note book, and by July were beauti¬ 
ful ; since then they have increased in beauty in spite 
of the untoward season we have endured. I have bedded 
these things years since, after being kindly treated in¬ 
stead of abused, and had abundance of green foliage 
until near September, when a few straggling blooms 
would appear. 
And thus it is with many things: we have all much to 
learn. I will not offer much apology to our readers, for 
this gardening Olio. I verily believe that this kind of 
information will be occasionally acceptable. 
R. Errtngton. 
SHRUBLAND PARK. 
I had a kind invitation from Sir William and Lady 
Middleton to come down and spend two or three days 
here, to see the progress of the wonderful alterations 
and improvements carried on in the gardens since I 
left this time two years; and here I am, in the midst of 
the bustle, just turned into a private room to write 
down a few hasty notes; but I must put off the main 
details till next week. 
Visitors from town have to enter the park by the 
London Lodge, where Harry Moore still presents the 
first note of preparation to this magnificent place; his 
