102 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, November 16, 1868. 
Paint over with oak varnish, thinned with a little turpentine. If 
nicely done, it will not disgrace the Crystal Palace. 
For a finish, I nailed a few crooked sticks round the top, which 
appear like handles, and round the rim a piece of strong rope.— 
Samuel Tattebsall. 
WATERPROOF CEMENT FOR AQUARIUM. 
I have been making an aquarium,—plate-glass front and back 
and slate ends and bottoms,—and was very much puzzled to get 
it water-tight. Here is the recipe for a cement that is waterproof, 
and will stand either heat or cold :—One part, gutta percha ; two 
parts, pitch ; simmered in a ladle, and well stirred. When hot, 
pour it in the joint, and let it cool gradually. When cold, it is 
tight.— Rosea. 
PLANTS FOR RIBBON BEDS. 
Perhaps you will allow me space in your paper to recommend 
two varieties of new annuals,—when I say new, I mean sorts not 
yet generally grown,—which I have found to do admirably with 
me this season. The first is the Nycerinia selaginoides. I sow it 
in March, in shallow boxes, using a light, flue soil, sandy loam, 
and peat earth, with a portion of sand added ; I cover very 
slightly with fine sand and peat soil, press firm with a board, and 
place the boxes in a mild hotbed, or warm pit, near the glass. 
When about an inch high, I harden the seedlings off, by placing 
the boxes in a cold frame, or in some sheltered place out of 
doors, if free from frost. When well hardened, they may be 
transplanted, to form small beds, or ribbon-row edgings, for 
which they answer admirably, not growing taller than a dwarf 
Verbena, and of the same habit, being prostrate on the ground. 
I plant them tliickish in the row (six inches apart) to form a 
mass. I draw 7 a slight furrow, till that with fine soil previous to 
planting, and w r ater every evening, or rather afternoon, for a few 
days, till they take root. They will amply repay, by flowering 
in profusion for a long period : they bloom on successively for 
a long time, just after the style of a Veronica; and when the 
air is condensed they throw off an agreeable odour. 
The other plant is the Veronica Syriaca, sent out, in 1857, by 
Messrs. Henderson, of Wellington Road. I have heard some 
remark that it is not worth growing. I differ widely from them, 
for I consider it a very advantageous annual, of neat habit, and 
perfectly hard}'. For an early spring or summer annual, to last 
a long period in bloom, 1 think it will exceed any annual grown, 
by sowing it about the last week in August, either where it is 
intended to remain, or by sowing it on a light soil on a border, 
from where it could be removed, and transplanted advantageously 
to form ribbon-row's, or beds, after the autumn Howers are 
removed. I have a great quantity of it now, an inch high, 
planted about seven inches from the edges of my walks. It 
comes into bloom earlier than any other annual. In spring, it 
begins to bloom when very small,—about the end of March, if 
mild,—and continues on for upwards of three months. A single- 
row has not the good appearance which a row has with two or 
three others side by side, six inches apart, which is both more 
conspicuous and more telling. I grow the single row occasionally, 
along the walk edgings, just as if it claimed no portion of room ; 
for summer bedding, I am enabled to plant that close : it does 
not interfere—a single row not spreading far. However, I 
allow the party to judge for himself; only I am convinced that a 
double or triple row joined as one, with all properties con¬ 
sidered, will far surpass even the first-class Nemophila insignis : 
it will last double the time in bloom, and have six or eight 
flowers at every joint, fur every one on the Nemopbila ; and, 
in a mass, will, at a distance, look equally as showy, and, when 
approached, will be more interesting.—Win. Melville. 
GYNERIUM ARGENTEUM. 
With reference to the article on “ Gynenum argenteum ,” at 
page 24, Vol. XX., of The Cottage Gardener, F. W. S. 
wishes to state, that he has two plants rather over two years old, 
in bloom for the second season, respectively containing sixty-two 
and fifty-eight spikes of blossom, and averaging ten feet in height. 
These plants have been for the last two months the admiration 
of every visitor to the garden, and, unless damaged by heavy 
rains and wind, will remain in beauty some time longer. 
The management of the plants has precisely corresponded with 
that described as so successful by “ F. B.,” with the addition of 
frequent copious waterings from the garden pond. 
It is surprising that so beautiful a plant as Gynenum ar¬ 
genteum should be, comparatively speaking, so rarely cultivated. 
F. W. S. is not aware of any specimens besides his own in this 
immediate neighbourhood, though fine plants arc to be procured 
at the Woodbriclge Nursery.— Melton. 
SELECT FRUITS ADAPTED TO THE VARIOUS 
LOCALITIES OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
(Continued from page 88.) 
[D. signifies that varieties so marked are to be used only for the dessert; 
Iv., for kitchen purposes; and C., lor cider-making. Those marked 
K.D. are applicable either to kitchen or dessert use.] 
APPLES. 
Red-Streak, c.k. ( Scudamore's Crab). —Medium sized, 
roundish. Skin deep yellow, and streaked all over with 
red. Eye small. Stalk short and slender. Flesh firm, 
crisp, and rather dry. 
Reinette Blanche d’Espagne, k.d. ( Collett's Fall 
Pippin, Fall Pippin). — Large, roundish, oblong, angular, 
with broad ribs ; apex nearly as broad as the base. Skin 
yellowish green in the shade ; orange, tinged with red, 
next the sun ; dotted with black. Stalk half an inch long, 
set in a small cavity. Eye large, open, deeply sunk in an 
irregular basin. Flesh yellowish white, crisp, tender, 
and sugary. One of the largest apples, and of excellent 
quality. November to March. 
Reinette du Canada, k.d. ( Portugal Russet, St. He- 
lenaRusset). —Large, conical, and flattened. Skin greenish 
yellow, brown next the sun. Stalk short, inserted in a 
wide hollow. Eye set in a deep, irregular basin. Flesh 
white, firm, and juicy. November to May. 
Reinette Geise, d. —Medium sized, round, and com¬ 
pressed at both ends, rather broadest at the base. Skin 
yellowish green in the shade ; dull orange, tinged with 
red, next the sun; covered with grey russet. Eye small, 
set in a rather shallow, narrow, and angular basin. Stalk- 
short, inserted in a wide and deep cavity. Flesh yellowish 
white, firm, juicy, rich, and sugary, with a pleasant sub¬ 
acid flavour. A dessert apple of the first quality. In 
use from November to April. 
Reinette Van Mons, d. —Below medium size,flattened, 
and almost oblate, having five rather obscure ribs, which 
terminate in distinct ridges round the eye. Skin greenish 
yellow in the shade, but with a dull and brownish-orange 
tinge next the sun; the whole surface has a thin coat¬ 
ing of brown russet. Eye closed, set in a rather deep 
depression. Stalk half an inch long. Flesh yellowish, 
tender, crisp, juicy, sugary, and aromatic. December 
to May. 
Rhode Island Greening, k.d.— Large, roundish, and 
compressed. Skin dark green, changing to pale green, 
dullish red near the stalk, which is long, curved, and 
thickest at the bottom. Eye small, closed, and sunk in 
an open cavity. Flesh yellow, tender, crisp, juicy, rich, 
and aromatic. November to March. 
Ribston Pippin, d. ( Glory of York, Formosa Pippin, 
Travers' Pippin). —Medium sized, roundish, broadest at 
the base, irregular. Skin greenish yellow, changing when 
ripe to deep yellow; mottled and streaked with red and 
russet next the sun. Stalk half an inch long, slender, set 
in a wide cavity. Eye small, closed, and sunk in an irre¬ 
gular basin. Flesh deep yellow, fine, crisp, sharp, and 
richly aromatic. The king of English dessert apples. 
October to May. 
Rook’s Nest. See Aromatic Russet. 
Rosemary Russet, d. —Medium sized, ovate. Skin 
yellow, tinged with green, tinged with red on the side 
next the sun, and covered with thin pale brown russet. 
Eye small and generally closed. Stalk very long. Flesh 
