223 
THE 
COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
GENTLEMAN, January 10, 1860. 
specimens in July and August for a particular purpose from 
cuttings of the previous October. I have never had such trusses 
of flowers on Geraniums since. One of these was Lucia rosea; 
and so large were the pink trusses, that, at a distance, they were 
taken for fine Hydrangeas. They received attentions, however, 
which I have never been able to give to such plants since. In 
the middle of January they were about six inches high in 60-pots. 
Ihe point of the shoot was nipped out, a 48-sized pot given, and 
that plunged in a bottom heat of 80°, and a top heat of 60° to 65°. 
Five shoots appeared from the single shoot stopped. By the 
time these shoots were three inches in length the pots were 
transferred to 24-sized pots and plunged again ; and when the 
pot was nearly fujl of roots, and these shoots were about four 
inches long, they were all stopped again, and this gave from 
twelvo to eighteen shoots to each plant. By the time these were 
two or three inches long and growing freely the pots were taken 
out, and the plants shitted into large-sized twelves and eights, 
and returned to their old quarters. No more stopping was 
given—all the attention was bestowed on regulating the shoots, 
removing some overgrown leaves, and giving a fair portion of 
water. About the middle of June the bottom heat was declining, 
and the plants were raised partly out of the plunging medium ; 
by the end of June they were raised altogether, and stood for 
some time on the bed. After that, until the end of the season, 
they received rich manure waterings; and when set on the bed, 
and also when placed in the flowering-house, the water was always 
warmed until the water out of doors was warm enough for them. 
Under such modes of management the Scarlet Geraniums may be 
grown quickly to almost any size.. The soil used was fibry sandy 
loam, with a little very rotten dung and leaf mould. When 
manure waterings were given a different kind was used almost 
every day,—such as soot water one day, cow-dung water another, 
superphosphate of lime for a third, and so on. R. Fish. 
SOME OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS.—No. 3. 
THE POPPY ANEMONE. 
Inferior in beauty to none of the early spring flowers is the 
Poppy Anemone; yet it is but very limitedly cultivated at the 
present day. With a little reflection and the nature of the 
flower duly weighed, reason would direct us to shew it more 
respect than it. generally obtains for its charms. Its varieties of 
colours are transcendent, and its composition is of such a nature 
as to form (f may say), a perfect beauty. There is a certain 
freedom, or ease, in this flower that is not common; waving with 
every wind, its petals arc of so delicate a nature, so soit and 
susceptible, as to be affected by every breath of air; opening and 
shutting, and gently obeying the direction and impulse of such 
externals, it is, certainly, very properly termed the Wind Flower. 
Handsome and delicate as this plant is, it has other properties 
to recommend it—viz., its hardy nature and little trouble in 
culture. In fact, it is so hardy that nothing but such severity of 
weather as does not usually happen can make the Poppy 
Anemone sink under it. Indeed, there is no flower more proper 
to make a show in winter and the early spring months ; and 
nothing has a more lively appearance near the mansion than a 
few beds of this old favourite flower. I remember, some years 
since, when living with the Marquis of Camden, Wilderness 
Park, Seal, Kent,-it was our usual practice to grow a great 
quantity of this Auemone expressly for cut flowers ; and surely 
these beauties of Nature are more becoming for decoration than 
many artificial flowers now so much in vogue. 
The culture of this flower is so very simple, that it will be 
useless for me to dwell at any great length upon its culture, as 
almost any garden soil will be found suitable for it. Of the double 
varieties I will speak hereafter in a separate paragraph. 
The seed of the Anemone should always be selected from the 
most distinct, clear colours, and from the best-formed flowers. The 
seed may be sown as soon as ripe, or in March, or in any of the 
spring months, selecting a quiet day for the operation, for the 
seed is so light that the least wind would take it away. Should 
the situation be a damp one, it will be beneficial to elevate the 
beds a little ; but, if otherwise, it will not be requisite. A little 
good light loam and well-rotted cow-manure should be mixed 
with the soil; but if the ground is very cold and heavy, a portion 
of sand should also be added. The beds, thus properly prepared, 
should be well trodden, or allowed at least a week to settle down 
before the seed is sown. The seed being difficult to separate, it 
being covered with a downy substance, it will be requisite to be 
careful in sowing, or it will bo deposited in lumps. In order to 
well separate it, it is requisite to mix it with sand or light 
garden mould, and rub them together, which being thoroughly 
done, the seeds and mould are equally mixed and blended. Sow 
them altogether on a bed made level and even. The seed should 
then he covered with about half an inch of fine mould, and kept 
moist until the plants appear, which will be in about six weeks. 
Care must be taken to keep the seeds free from weeds, and on 
the approach of bad weather the beds should bo slightly pro¬ 
tected ; but if the frost should prove very severe, the beds 
should be covered with dry fern or mats, and nothing further 
will bo required during the winter. 
It wiH not be requisite to take up any of the late-sown 
seedlings the first year, unless they appear too thickly or in 
clusters; but a little extra mould should be sifted over the beds 
as soon as the foliage dies down and is cleared away, should the 
bulbs appear near the surface. As the spring advances, the weeds 
will appear, and no time or pains should be spared in kcepiim 
the beds free from them. Should the weather prove dry, the 
plants will be benefited by a good soaking of manure water at 
tunes during the growing season ; but as soon as the foliage 
begins to.decay the Avater must be withheld ; and, as soon as suffi¬ 
ciently ripe, the bulbs should be taken up and properly cared 
i for. In taking up the crop many roots will escape the strictest 
; e . ve ! therefore, if the ground is again levelled and a little fresh 
mould sprinkled over the bed, a plentiful crop will appear the 
: following spring, when many of these will flower. Most of the 
others, being taken up and managed like old roots—that is 
piopcrly liar\ ested, will also show flower the same season if 
j planted in good time 
Judgment must not be passed upon the flowers the first year 
or two, for some of them will appear very indifferent at first and 
afterwards display their charms, forming complete flowers. I 
' consider they should be allowed to stand three years, and then 
| ^ Ie worst sorts should be thrown away and the good ones added 
to the collection. 
The method of propagation is by parting the roots ; and it is 
: requisite, where they are grown for ornamental purposes, to keep 
[ the colours and sorts properly numbered, that thev may be 
known at the time of planting. By so doing we should be able 
to chequer them, by forming a proper.mixture of purples, reds, 
blues, browns, whites, &c.; planting among these, in the’most 
conspicuous places, the mottled or variegated sorts, and (hose 
which shine and blaze with colours of different hues, or planted 
in the style of the present day—striped petticoat and ribbon- 
border fashion. The planting of the Anemone will entirely 
depend upon the season of the year it is required to blossom ; but 
! i' 10 months of September and October are the most suitable. 
They should not be planted more than five inches apart.— 
Edward Bennett, Osberton. 1 
\ 
- - .... ... 
HARDY FLOWERING HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 
( Continued from 'page 198.) 
BERTEROA. 
Nat. ord. Cruciferre. Linn. Tetradynamia Siliculosa, 
Generic Character. — SilicJe sessile, elliptic, orobovate; valves 
flat or concave. Calyx equal at the base. Petals two-parted. 
Smaller stamens toothed. Seeds oval, flat, narrow-margined*. 
Berteroa siutabieis (changeable). Pods compressed, flat, 
elliptic, smooth. 2 ft. White and Pink. July. Levant. * 
B. obliqua (unequal-sided-leaved). Pods flat, elliptic, pubes¬ 
cent. 1ft. White. July. Sicily. Both those species wei’e 
included in the genus Alyssum. 
A genus allied to Arabis, requiring a pure loamy soil. 
Propagated by short side-slioots made into cuttings, and in¬ 
serted in sand under a hand-light in a shady place about August. 
Transplant them as soon as they are rooted into the flower- 
border where they are to bloom. 
BIDENS. 
Nat. ord. Asteracese. Linn. Syngenesia sequalis. 
Generic Character. — Involucre many-leaved, with many leaf¬ 
like bracts at the base. Receptacle chaffy, flat. Corolla some¬ 
times with ligulate rays. Pappus of two or more pointed 
rough, retrograde awns. Seeds four-sided. 
Bidens arguta (arguta). 2 ft. Yellow, June. Mexico. 
