THE COTTAGE GARDEN Ell AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— October 11,1800. 
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A’LCEOLARJ A ericoides. 
Although ^{g w Fi eii 111 the state in 
wliicli 4t is here represented, straggling upon 
the open border, does not hold out much 
promise of beauty, yet in its natural condition, 
upon its own mountains, it would seem to be 
really handsome. A dried specimen now bp 
fore us, collected by Hnrtweg, in Colomk^b i s 
a branch of a stiff erect shrub. te''»Rnated by 
a dense nahed panicle nine r lC * ,e3 l°ug. Mr* 
Anderson, of Edinbu'r. ,, i from whom this 
was received, raised it from seeds communi- 
i cated to him *y Dr. Jamieson, of Quito, and 
| describes it as a wiry woody shrub, partly up- 
; rigb f *»nd partly procumbent; when the wood 
i<- ripe, very like Erica odore-rosa. Its seeds 
were gathered at the height of 12,000 feet 
above the sea. The whole plant is covered 
with a short coarse felt. The leaves are 
linear, with the edges rolled back till they 
meet. The inflorescence is also covered with 
a small coarse down, that even extends over 
the flowers, which are yellow, with a narrow 
corolla folded upon itself by a bend near the 
middle .—(Horticultural Society’s Journal.) 
LADY DOWN’S SEEDLING GRAPE. 
I observe that in The Cottage Gardener 
for September a correspondent from Sheffield 
asks for information respecting a Grape called 
Lady Down's Seedling. I know the Grape, 
and, if you think the following information 
worth inserting in your next number, you are 
welcome to it. 
About two or three years ago, upon the re¬ 
commendation of a friend, I purchased that 
variety; but wishing, before I gave it a per¬ 
manent place in my Vinery, to see and taste, 
if possible, the fruit, after a good deal of 
trouble I ascertained where it was cultivated, 
and from the kindness of the gardener pro¬ 
cured a few berries as a sample. Whether they were fully 
ripe, or grown under favourable circumstances, or not, I 
cannot say; but certainly the fruit disappointed me. It 
was neither large nor, in my opinion, well-flavoured. Its 
only recommendation was its keeping property ; but in this 
respect it was not superior to the West's St. Peter's , nor to the 
Black Barbarossa, while, in point of si/e and flavour, it was 
infinitely inferior to them. If the berries that were sent me 
were samples of good cultivation, sure I am that it will dis¬ 
appoint the grower. It is, however, perhaps, hardly fair to 
judge positively of a Grape from one, and that so small a 
specimen. It is now cultivated and fruiting this season in a 
gentleman’s Yinery in this neighbourhood, and I shall have 
an opportunity of again testing its merit. 
Should your correspondent wish me to report further of 
it I shall be glad to do it.—H. M. 
[We shall be very much obliged by further information, 
and the oftener you favour us with your notes the more 
shall we be gratified.—E d. C. G.] 
QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 
GARDENING. 
REPLIES TO BEGINNERS. 
Verbena Cuttings. —“ I put in, as you recommended, 
good large pieces, and they will not hold their heads up, do 
what I will, though they have a little heat below them.” 
[Long cuttings, when in a growing state, can, in general, 
be best managed with bell-glasses. In the case of Verbenas, 
all above two inches in length I consider rather long. 
The best to choose are small side-shoots, about that length, 
slipped off with a sharp knife close to the older stem, just 
j dressed a little there; the lower leaves removed ; the flower- 
j bud picked out, if there is any; and then firmly inserted by 
the side of a pot in sandy soil, the pot being half-filled with 
drainage. These—with a little bottom-heat, shade from 
l bright sunshine, and a little air at night—will strike in 
about ten days, when they should be hardened off', before 
being transferred to a cool greenhouse. There is one great 
1 disadvantage in deferring this work to October. The cuttings 
! will strike freely enough either in pots, as above, or when 
! pricked out in such a bed ; but if September has been at all 
hot and dry, it will be difficult to get cuttings that are not 
less or more infested with thrips and red spider, the 
former more particularly. It will be advisable to wash the 
cuttings, when made, in a mixture of such sulphur-water as 
was lately referred to, with some tobacco squeezed into it, 
holding the cuttings by their lower ends, and pulling them 
several times through it, and then allowing them to lie 
several hours, and examining again before inserting them in 
the soil. I have had thrips make their appearance even 
after this precaution ; but it is, so far, a safe preventive, and 
should also be adopted at this season with Calceolaria cut¬ 
tings that there is any doubt about. Of course, if you have 
read previous numbers, you will know how to make each 
joint on a longish stem into two cuttings by splitting it up 
the middle; but the little pieces I have referred to will be 
found the best to deal with at this season.] 
Saving Old Verbenas. — “I lifted my plants last autumn, 
potted them, and placed them on a. table close to a window, 
in a room from whence frost is excluded ; and, though they 
looked well for a while, by Christmas they were sickly, and 
by the end of January they were dead, though Geraniums, 
<fec., kept very well.” 
[There had been little or no fresh root action ; and, when 
the organisable matter stored up in the plant tvas disposed of, 
