92 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 13, 1860. 
to the compost in the pot, force the water out all over it, being 
careful not to wet the plant. This settles the compost, giving it 
a neat, even appearance, and finishes the operation. Carry 
the plant into the house and take the next plant in hand, repot 
it in a similar way, and so proceed till all are potted that 
require it at that time. The above directions refer to the epi¬ 
phytal species. Terrestrial species require a somewhat different 
mode. T. Appleby. 
(To le continued.') 
SHAW’S TROPHIOLUM BRILLIANT. 
Having often benefited by hints given by your various cor¬ 
respondents, I venture to send one as my turn—and that is how 
to obtain at a trilling cost one of the handsomest baskets of 
bloom I ever saw. 
Having a few plants over at bedding-out time of “Shaw’s 
Tropseolum Brilliant,” I placed three small plants (6d. each), in 
a large wire-work basket two feet across and about twelve inches 
deep, lining it with forest moss, and filling up with good potting 
soil. It was then placed close to the glass in the fernery, and 
the shoots as they grew tied down to the sides of the basket. On 
showing bloom it was put in the conservatory, where it has been 
one mass of bloom the last six weeks, and, judging from appear¬ 
ances, will continue so all winter, as fresh flower-buds appear 
daily. They look and last well in a bouquet. 
Mr. Shaw was much pleased and a trifle astonished when he 
saw the basket. He is not aware of my sending you this descrip¬ 
tion ; but I feel quite sure any one who tries it once will do so 
again. 
I may say here, that larger plants trained up the wall bloomed 
and are blooming well at the extremities; but, like all other 
Tropseolums, the stem looks bare. This is avoided by the basket 
culture, as the long shoots are entwined below the basket, so 
that altogether it makes a very graceful object at a very small 
expense.—R. T. 
and presently elongating itself like a worm. The body of the 
Great Sea Cucumber is of an ovate form, and somewhat pent¬ 
angular. On the angles are five alternate rows of suckers 
arranged in duplicates. The body is almost smooth, and is of a 
verv dark purple on one side, whilst on the other it is whitish ; 
on the darker side are distributed a few suckers. The tentacula 
are ten in number, large and branching, the branches beau¬ 
tifully feathered, and of a dark brown colour, spotted occasion¬ 
ally with white. These creatures are the most plentiful in the 
Shetland Seas, where they have received the name of “Sea 
Puddings.” 
The Angular Sea Cucumber ( Cucumaria pentactes ).— 
WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON THE SEASHORE. 
{Continued from “page 65.) 
Echinodermata ( Continued .) 
Penxact.e. 
The Common Sea Cucumber ( Cucumaria vulgaris ).— 
This animal is of a Cucumber-shape, and attains a size of from four 
to eight inches in length. Its body is five-sided, having suckers 
on all the angles, but none on the sides. Its tentacles are ten in 
number, plumose-stalked, rather large, and of a deep red colour. 
The body-colour of the Scotch and Irish specimens differs; that 
of the former being yellow, of the latter, purple; in other 
respects there is no variation. The muscular system of the 
common Sea Cucumber is highly developed. Great numbers are 
very frequently thrown ashore after a storm on the east coast of 
Eifeshire. And it would seem to be, as its name implies, the 
commonest of the species. On the Irish coast it has been 
dredged in the north, and again in the south, at Youghal. It 
has been frequently discovered in the stomach of the cod. 
The Great Sea Cucumber ( Cucumaria frondosa). — 
It is the largest of all known European species, measuring fully a 
foot in length, and capable of extending itself to the size of three. 
The creature has, in common with all its tribe, the power of chang¬ 
ing its shape at will; now blowing itself with water into a perfect 
ball, now contracting the middle of its body like an hour-glass, 
This is of a long cylinder shape, extremely angular, 
with double ranges of powerful suckers on each of its 
angles. The skin is perfectly smooth and very tough. 
It has ten tentacles more or less feathered, and is 
subject to great variety in its colour. Although its prevailing hue 
is deep purple, it is occasionally of a purplish-white, and some¬ 
times white altogether. The tentacles also vary in colour from 
a purple to a white. Its length is from two to four inches. 
This creature can also change its form at pleasure, and will at 
times so contract its body as to become quite hard to the touch. 
The Angular Sea Cucumber has been dredged at Weymouth, 
and on the coast of Devonshire. There are also several varieties 
found in the Frith of Clyde.—W. 
(To le continued.) 
THE CURATE’S YINERY IMPROVED. 
In the eighth edition of Mr. Rivers’ little volume, “The 
Miniature Fruit Garden,” occurs the following description of 
what he terms “ The Curate’s Vinery— 
“ The annexed figure will convey a correct idea of its shape 
and make. To form a vinery of this description, some dry place 
in the garden must be selected; if not naturally so, it must be 
