THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, August 23, 1859. 307 
'vitli, liiimefous slender twiggy branches; Younger branches 
Quadrangular. Leaves opposite, somewhat decussate, linear, stiff, 
coriaceous, with a small mucroi Inflorescence axillary, umbellate, 
with very short peduncles and pedicels. Calyx nearly obsolete. 
Corolla consisting of five rotundate, concave, spreading, mem¬ 
braneous, white petals, small. Stamens five or ten, inserted 
between the petals. Filaments very short. Anthers round, 
small, reddish. Style short. Stigma concave or flat. 
This is a very rare greenhouse plant which cannot be too well nor 
too soon known, as it is a very free-flowering plant, and available, 
on account of the liveliness of its flowers, for cutting to make 
bouquets. A compost of about two parts of peat and one of 
good loam, with plenty of sharp sand, is such as it delights in. 
Cuttings put into slight bottom heat in early spring root freely. 
It blooms in July and August. 
Gentiana ciliata. Linn. Nat. ord., Gentianacem. Native 
of the South of Europe, North America, and Siberia.—An her¬ 
baceous plant, with stems sometimes erect and sometimes nearly 
prostrate. Leaves slightly connate, broadly linear or lanceolate, 
keeled, and with reflexed margins. Peduncles long, rather 
angular and hollow. Calyx quadrangular, with a limb of four 
acuminate, keeled segments, two of which are longer, more acu¬ 
minate, and more sharply keeled than the others. Tube of the 
corolla longer than the calyx, veined in lines. Limb of four 
twisted, obtuse, oblong segments deeply ciliated at margins from 
the base half-way up, dark blue. Stamens four. Filaments 
broad, approximating so as to present the appearance of a tube 
surrounding the ovary. Anthers yellow. Ovary angular, uni¬ 
locular, many seeded. Style short. Stigma orbicular, bipartite. 
This beautiful and exceedingly rare herbaceous plant requires 
the treatment given to alpine plants generally—viz., the pro¬ 
tection of a cold frame in winter, during which period water 
should be almost entirely withheld, and a cool, somewhat shady 
place, out of doors, in summer. It should be potted in early 
spring; and the compost may consist of light, fibrous loam, 
with a little peat and plenty of sand : the drainage ought to be 
carefully secured. It is propagated by division and seeds. 
Campanula azurea. BanJcs. Nat. ord., Campanulacece. 
Native of the Swiss Mountains. Hardy, herbaceous, with erect, 
simple, angular stems. Root-leaves on petioles of moderate 
length, ovate, cordate at the base, serrated, and having a few 
scattered hairs on the underside. Stem-leaves sessile, acutely 
ovate or oblong, serrated, slightly hairy. Inflorescence panicled. 
Peduucles and pedicels small, furnished with linear or subulate 
bracts. Calyx segments five, subulate. Corolla narrowly cam- 
panulate, with a limb of five ovate, acute segments, varying in 
colour from azure blue to purplish-red. Stamens five, short. 
Pistil small, slightly hairy. 
A very handsome and not by any means common species of 
this numerous and useful genus. It is perfectly hardy, loves a 
little shade, and any good garden soil. Propagation is effected 
by seeds and division, of the roots. It blooms in the earlier 
summer months.—S. G. W. 
BOUQUET HOLDER. 
The Bouquet holder, described at page 290 of The Cottage 
Gardener, would be unproved if, instead of “ placing under the 
bottom of each cup a circular piece of wood to separate them,” 
the interspaces were filled up with wet sand, serving the better 
purpose of raising the eups, and of steadying them, as well as 
supporting the flowers. A nest oi flat-bottomed gallipots, di¬ 
minishing in size upwards, will do.—-T, 
BURNTWOOD ORANGE : 
THE RESIDENCE OF CHARLES H. MAJOR, ESQ. 
On the 10th inst. we were favoured with a sight of this ex¬ 
ceedingly pretty-place, situated on Wandsworth Common. 
On our entrance at the lodge gates we saw a great number of 
beds at the side of the long carriage-drive, which leads to the 
house, well filled with bedding plants of evei-y description, and 
most tastefully arranged. We next visited the .geometrical 
flower garden, which consists of twenty-four beds, well filled 
with choice kinds of Geraniums, Verbenas, Calceolarias, &c.; 
also a great number of the best kinds of standard Roses. In the 
centre of this garden are a very neat fountain and basin, which 
add greatly to the beauty of this spot. Wending our way 
through the various walks, we came in contact with several good 
specimens of the Wellingtonia gigantea, Cephalolaxus Fortuni, 
and two remarkably fine plants of the Viburnum iinus multflorum. 
At the north side of the dwelling-house is a handsome span- 
roofed conservatory, 30 feet long by 20 feet wide; in which we 
noticed the beautiful Passiflora ccerulea, which nearly covers 
the interior of the roof, and hangs in festoons. We also observed 
a fine plant of the Acacia pubescens, which covers the greater 
portion of the end wall; also standard Fuchsias in abundance, 
with other equally showy plants, which make the place as gay as 
possible. 
Also on the north side of the house are two terraces, with beds 
and vases well filled with all the choicest kinds of bedding 
plants. 
In the stove we found a handsome plant of the Cganophgllum 
magnifleum , nearly four feet high, and in vigorous growth. We 
were informed by the intelligent gardener, Mr. Johnstone, that 
this plant had grown two feet and a half since March of the 
present year. There were, also, fine bushy plants of the beauti¬ 
ful Begonia rex; Ficus htcidus, four feet high; Stephanotis 
floribunda; Dractena terminalis and ferrea; Croton pictum; 
Gardenia citriodora, and a variety of other plants too numerous 
to mention. The greenhouse also looked remarkably gay with 
Fuchsias, Balsams, Coxcombs, &c. 
In the front of the house we noticed a fine plant of the 
Fscallonia Montevidense, eighteen feet high ; and on the terrace, 
two fine plants of the Oleander splendens, covered with blossom. 
On the lawn we found fine specimens of the Cedrus deodara, 
some of them twenty-five high ; also a plant of Finns Pinsapo, 
twelve to fourteen feet high. The shrubs and American plants 
are particularly fine in general. We especially noticed a hand¬ 
some specimen of the Andromeda floribunda , which was tw-elve 
feet through. 
We next came to what is called the “ Green Walk,” which 
faces a meadow. This walk is 150 yards long, with a broad 
border ten feet wide, filled with all the best kinds of Verbenas, 
Petunias, Geraniums, &c., the whole backed with fine specimens 
of Yews, Arbor Vita, green and variegated Hollies, &c., which 
give this portion of the garden a good effect. At the southern 
end of this walk are a fountain and circular basin. 
In the kitchen garden (wdiich is surrounded with an excellent 
wall), and which is covered with some of the handsomest fruit 
trees we ever saw, we found fine trees of pyramidal Pears of 
the choicest kinds ; likewise Apples and other fruits. The crops 
of all kinds of vegetables are very good. We particularly noticed 
the Fugenie and Napoleon Peas, growing about two feet and a 
half high, and covered with large pods. Mr. Johnstone informed 
us that these two varieties are well worthy of extensive cultiva¬ 
tion, being very early and of fine flavour. 
We cannot conclude this report without noticing the aquarium. 
There is a lean-to house built for the purpose at the eastern end 
of the dwelling-house. On our entering we were much struck 
with the interior, it being nearly filled with tanks containing the 
rarest salt-water fish ; and we were informed that the worthy 
proprietor actually goes to the trouble and expense of procuring 
salt water direct from the English Channel for these curious and 
pretty little fish.—J. P. 
ERUITS ADAPTED TO THE VARIOUS 
LOCALITIES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
(Continued from page 292.) 
PEARS. 
Beurre Duval. —Fruit medium sized or large, of a 
short pyramidal shape. Skin greenish-yellow, covered 
with large dark-brown russet freckles, and with a flush of 
red next the sun. Eye large and open, full of stamens, 
and set in a wide shallow basin. Stalk obliquely inserted 
on the end of the fruit. Flesh yellowish, melting and 
juicy, sugary, and with a fine piquancy. 
A very fine and distinct-looking pear, in use during 
November and December. The tree is hardy, and a good 
bearer as a pyramid. 
Beurre d’Elberg. See Flemish Beauty. 
Beurre Epine. See Beurre de Bance. 
