THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, April 5, 1859. 
6 
1st. There will be no necessity for covering tbe border 
with anything, though, the later the Grapes, the more 
will roots and branches act in unison. If the stems of 
the Vines, however, are exposed, it would be as well to 
cover or protect them—the stems. 
2nd. The Vines should not be syringed after the fruit 
begin to colour; and the atmosphere then should be kept 
drier, to secure good flavour. We generally syringe until 
the Vines begin to show bloom. We then keep the house 
fair, as respects atmospheric moisture, and give one good 
syringing after the fruit is fairly set; and then give no 
more, as we cannot depend on the purity of our water. 
The giving Are heat until'the fruit is ripe, will depend, 
as you have seen, on circumstances. When Vines are 
used to firing, a sudden deprivation of heat will give 
a check. But, during stoning and ripening, I would 
prefer the temperature, night and morning, to average 
about 60°, and would rather see the thermometer a few 
degrees below that, than above 65°. Provided air were 
given early—say by the time the house got a little above 
70°, I should uot be disturbed if the glass rose fully to 
85°, or more, by sun heat. The weather out of doors—as 
that effects your heat within—must be more studied by 
you than any mere dictum as to giving no fire heat after 
the fruit had been stoned. In some seasons, fire might be 
dispensed with altogether before then, in a late vinery. In 
others, the want of a fire, even for a day or two, in pecu¬ 
liar weather, might be attended with unpleasant results. 
Something will be gained, if you are convinced that 
your Vines are living existences, influenced by every 
atmospheric and other change, and that these changes, 
coupled with observation and thought, must form the 
groundwork of successful practice. All mere definite 
rules, such as might apply to a piece of mechanism, 
however good in themselves, will lead to disappoint¬ 
ment, unless regulated by the circumstances of the 
case. The necessity of thought is alike a source of 
pleasure and of trouble in gardening. Pules, however 
good as to hours and times, cannot be carried out like the 
regular winding up of a watch or clock. The worker 
must think. It. Pish. 
HARDY VARIEGATED PLANTS. 
Several correspondents have written for a list of hardy 
variegated plants, our “ Old Subscriber” amongst the rest. 1 
have searched through many catalogues, nurseries and gardens ; 
and the result of my pleasant labours I have now the pleasure of 
recording. As I value highly the grouping of plants in classes, 1 
think a space in the garden might be usefully devoted to this 
class, more especially the herbaceous kinds—the list of which 
will, I expect, fill my space for this number. 
HERBACEOUS VARIEGATED PLANTS. 
Acorns calamus variegatus, A: gramineus variegatus. Hardy 
marsh perennials, requiring a moist soil. 
Ajuga rubra variegata, A. reptans variegata. Common dry 
garden soil. 
Alyssmi Alpimim variegatum, A. maritimum variegatnm, A. 
saxatile variegutum. Ornamental rock plants. 
Alyssum orientate variegatum —the sweet Alyssum. Requires 
to be propagated by cuttings to preserve the variegation. 
Apium graveolens variegata. Border in common soil. 
Arabis Alpina and variegata, A. lucida variegata, A. mollis 
variegata. Rock plants, but will grow well iu a border or in pots. 
Arum dracontium, spotted stalks. A. pictum, blotched leaves. 
A. zebrinum, striped leaves, beautiful and rare. 
Arundo donax variegata. A large-growing reed, reaching 
fifteen feet high iu good dry soil, leaves beautifully striped. 
Parbarea vulgaris variegata. Finely margined, a hardy 
perennial requiring dry soil. 
Beilis perennis variegata. A double Daisy, with leaves densely 
blotched with palo yellow. 
Calamintha grandiflora variegata. A handsome, variegated, 
beautiful Mint, very hardy, will grow in any dry soil. 
Colchicum autumnale variegatum. Flowers in autumn, but the 
leaves come up in early spring, and are finely striped with yellow¬ 
ish white. 
Comarum palustre variegatum. Requires a moist soil. 
Convallaria majalis variegata. The common Lily of the 
Valley, with striped foliage. 
Fpilobium hirsutim variegatum. A tall willow herb, reaching 
four feet high, foliage well marked with white. 
Fquisetum variegatum. A curiously-barred plant found on 
the sea-shore in Scotland : requires sandy loam and a moist 
situation. 
• Fupliorbia amygdaloides variegata. I have seen this grown in 
lime rubbish and loam, most beautifully striped, having then the 
appearance of rosettes made of white and green ribbon. 
Farfugium grande. A large-leaved variegated Coltsfoot from 
China, but quite hardy. It has been hitherto, on account of its 
scarceness, kept in a stove or greenhouse : requires a light, rich 
soil, in a warm, sheltered border. 
Fragaria vesca variegata —the striped Strawberry. Should be 
grown in poor sandy soil, or it will lose its variegation. 
Funkia lancecefolia, F. ovata, F. undulata. Strong-growing 
perennials, with finely-variegated leaves: require rich, light soil, 
and a dry subsoil. 
Glechoma hederacea variegata — the striped ground Ivy. 
Suitable for covering naked banks. 
Hemerocallis flava variegata. A fine, broad-leaved, herbaceous 
perennial, distinctly striped with yellowish-white: requires a 
deep, dry, rich loam. 
Iris feetidissima variegata. Striped like a ribbon, handsome 
and very hardy : common soil. 
Iris pseudo-acorus variegatus —the common Flag, with leaves 
striped with yellow : requires a moist, peaty soil. 
Koniga maritima variegata, syn. Alyssum Glyce and Adysetum. 
It is an annua], and therefore, must be propagated by cutting to 
preserve the variegation. 
Lilium candidum variegatum —the common white Lily, with 
striped leaves. I once saw abed of this fine variegated plant in 
a nursery near Doncaster, and was much struck with its beauty : 
requires a rich, dry, loamy soil. 
Linaria eymbalaria variegata. Suitable for old walls or rock- 
work. It is prettily variegated with white. 
Melissa officinalis variegata —common Balm, with gold-striped 
leaves: light, common garden soil on a dry bottom. 
Melissa secunda variegata. A side-flowering Balm of great 
beauty : requires the same treatment as the preceding. 
Mentha rotundifolia variegata —striped Mint. Makes a good 
bed by itself, or an edging for tall-growing bedding plants : any 
good soil suits. 
Phlox decussata variegata. A distinctly variegated Phlox of 
great beauty : requires a rich, dry, loamy soil, in an open situation. 
Plantago lanceolata variegata. Finely striped with yellowish- 
white : requires a dry border and rather poor soil, or it will lose 
its stripes. 
Bolemonium cceruleum variegatum. This is a very beautiful 
plant, finely margined with pure white: requires a fight sandy 
soil on a dry, warm border. 
Primula marginata. The foliage of this pretty little Primrose 
is delicately edged with white: requires sandy peat, and a slight 
protection in winter. 
Rumex sanguinea. This is a Dock, with dark, purplish-red 
leaves, very conspicuous amongst other plants : requires a rich, 
cool soil. 
Scropliularia mellifera variegata. A tall-growing hardy herb¬ 
aceous plant, with leaves variegated : will grow in almost any soil. 
Spircea ulmaria variegata —the common Meadow-Sweet, with 
its leaves blotched with yellow ; requires a moist soil, not over- 
rich. 
Veronica Austriaca variegata, V. cliamcedrys variegata. Herb¬ 
aceous plants, requiring common culture. 
Yucca jilamentosa variegata —the striped-threaded Adam’s 
Needle. Yery beautiful and rare: requires a rich dry soil in an 
open situation. 
VARIEGATED GRASSES. 
Aira cespitosa variegata. Very beautiful. 
Dactylis glomerata. 
Juncus conglomeratus. 
Molinea ccerulea variegata. Fine. T. Appleby. 
Improving Whitewash. —The grounds of a beer-barrel added 
to quicklime and water will greatly improve it for a wash. Tallow 
added to, and stirred up with, the lime, when slaking, will render 
the wash more durable.—K. 
