103 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Mat 18, 1858. 
The first of these is Gentiana acaulis; indigenous, easy of 
growth, and perfectly hardy, it combines with beauty of 
flower a constant verdure of foliage, at all times and seasons ; 
I and for ancestral Honours of culture, can probably date to an 
earlier day than that of the Saxons. Possessing such peculiar 
recommendations* therefore, it is our opinion, that with its 
close, compact growth, it well deserves, in other gardens, the 
privilege it enjoys at the Palace, where it forms an excellent 
edging round the line of dwarf evergreen beds, that imitate 
in outline the shadow of the scroll, or ornamental work, on 
the north wing of the building. 
In close proximity to this plant, is another which, although 
i like the preceding one, is frequently found in knolls and 
clumps about the American garden, or pleasure ground, is not 
so often employed as we could desire in the manner it is here 
—that is, as an edging plant. We hardly know of a prettier 
plaitt, for a permanent edging, than the hardy and elegant 
little Ulrica lierbacea , particularly when employed, as at this 
place, around beds of Kalmias, Rhododendrons, &c., which, 
j when set off by this neat-foliaged, free-flowering, little plant, 
possesses a greater finish, and more natural appearance to our 
| eye, than any could possibly have without it. Introduced 
j from the south of Europe a long time back, it takes its stand 
among the best and hardiest edging plants we possess, nor 
I does it differ from the native varieties in facility of cultivation, 
whilst it far surpasses most of them in elegance of flower and 
j aptitude of growth for an edging. 
The next, and to our taste the very best of permanent edging 
plants, is the bright-berried Gaidtheriaprocumlens. This plant 
has no beauty of flower to recommend it, but its clustering 
bunches of ruby fruit within an inch of the ground, form a far 
j more smiling and attractive feature (and withal more ap- 
! propriate) than the gaudiest floral display could effect, if placed 
| in the same situation. Not that we are averse to bright and 
showy flowers as edging plants, but these are not to be had at 
all seasons, whereas this trim and compact plant presents an 
almost unfailing supply of berries summer and winter, without 
reference to heat or cold, Leo, Pisces, or any other sign of 
the Zodiac. It is employed here as edging for dwarf Rhodo¬ 
dendron beds, and a more suitable plant for the purpose it 
would be a matter of some difficulty to meet with, as any per¬ 
son may convince himself, who will inspect the plants around 
the circular beds on the right and left of the great centre 
| fountain. This plant concludes our notes upon permanent 
edgings at this place; other durable edging plants, indeed, are 
plentiful, and, we may add, too well known to warrant men¬ 
tioning here. 
The last alluded to, however, is our favourite; there is nothing 
in it at all showy, but it is to us, among plants, what White, 
of Selbourne, is among writers—as beautiful in its retired, un¬ 
ostentatious display, as White is by that engaging charm of 
quiet and refined taste which encircles and perpetuates his 
writings.—J. H. C., Hamilton Place , Sydenham. 
CULTURE OF CELERY. 
Good well-blanched, crisp Celery is at all times acceptable 
at the table of all classes, there being but few to whom it is 
■ not a favourite; therefore, to have it good, and as early and 
late as possible, is one of the points in good gardening to 
which much attention has been paid, and, in many cases, it 
lias been made serviceable a much longer portion of the year 
than most other vegetables. At the same time, there are some 
difficulties in the way of its being obtained early in everyplace, 
to which it is advisable to call attention, as the situation 
which produces early Peas, Cauliflowers, and Potatoes, is not 
i always the one that produces early Celery, for reasons which 
it is proper to consider, in order to arrive at a just conclusion 
! on the matter. 
It is generally admitted, that the Celery of our gardens is 
I an improved variety of a wild plant found in wet ditches, and 
other marshy places, where it grows, seeds, and reproduces 
itself in the usual way; and it is generally found in most 
vigour when near the sea coast, or tidal river—salt, in some 
shape, being beneficial to it. Now, growing in such stagnant 
places, it can hardly be wondered at if the progress of the 
cultivated plant in dry, hot, garden soils in the summer 
months be slow and unsatisfactory ; for, unless the latter be 
repeatedly saturated with moisture, it will become stunted, 
cease growing, and, very probably, run to seed. This is often 
the reason why Celery is obtained earlier in moist situa¬ 
tions than in dry well-favoured ones. A cool bottom being 
a more fitting element for it than a dry, warm one, on this 
matter hangs the whole secret of Celery growing; and those 
who have not the means of supplying their plants with abun¬ 
dance of w T ater, at the time they want it, cannot well succeed 
in the culture of this half-aquatic plant, unless a more natural 
agent lend its aid ; that is, a wet season. When this is the 
case, Celery may, of course, be grown earlier at the more for¬ 
ward place, than at the cool, moist one. Rut it more often 
happens that the months of July, August, and September, 
arc more dry in dry places than the other months : hence the 
necessity of using artificial means, as copious waterings, &e. 
In very large gardens there is often a diversity of soil, which 
can be appropriated to the various purposes wanted, and it is 
sometimes arranged, when the principal garden is of necessity 
of an extreme kind of soil, to have a piece somewhere else, of 
an opposite kind. If the latter be a mile away, it had better 
not be rejected, as its utility will be found unquestionable, 
even in the article Celery. Although it thrives best on moist 
ground, it does not keep so well there as on drier. The crop, 
therefore, that is intended for the latest use, ought to be 
planted on this dry situation, as being more favourable to its 
preservation ; while the early and principal crop might have 
one more suited to its growth, in the early autumn months. 
Other considerations, of course, as the nature of the season, 
and latitude of the place, being duly attended to at the time. 
The seed of Celery is one of the most sluggish in vegetating, 
but it is one of the hardiest. To have well-blanclxed plants 
early in the summer, some cultivators sow a little seed in a 
hotbed in the autumn, and prick them out in boxes, or pans, 
to plant out in April, when the ground is ready to receive 
them. Rut there is much uncertainty in this plan—the plants 
being so apt to run to seed—that it is advisable not to sow 
until the beginning of January, and by hastening the plants 
on through the early stages of their growth, and not being in 
too great a hurry to plant out, the produce is often quite as 
early. Care must especially be taken to gradually harden the 
plants, so as to inure them to the cool ground before they 
be finally committed to it. 
As a garden crop, Celery is a gross feeder, and drinks in 
liquid manure like a toper. This, however, need not be given 
in too large quantities, or the solidity of the Celery may be 
defective. Manure in the trenches ought also to be well rotted; 
and in very dry weather some covering will be necessary to 
prevent the ingress of sunshine, as well as the imdue evapora¬ 
tion from the surface, or its hardening by repeated watering. 
Decayed or decaying leaves are as good as anything for this, 
or it may be dung in some shape. 
Of the varieties of Celery, it is needless here to remark. 
A good solid white kind is most esteemed; but towards the 
end of the season, a good red kind will be found to keep better. 
There is also an intermediate variety; and many eminent 
growers have appended their names to seeds in the first case 
sent out by them, wdiich are superseded by others in turn. It 
is, therefore, useless giving any precise directions as to kinds, as 
many growers save a little seed themselves of favourite kinds, 
wdiich is sown and grown as “my own kind,” not from any 
exclusive notions oi denying it to others, but as a distinction 
from the other high-sounding names the seed-lists contain. 
Seed sown out of doors on some raised bed, with the least 
possible amount of heat, and, in many cases, without any use 
of glass, will come in early enough, if the seed be sown at the 1 
beginning of March. Of course, in late and unfavourable 
situations, a little more assistance may be given it. One 
thing, however, is necessary to impress on the amateur cul- 
tivator, that is, to prick out the young plants as soon as they 
can be handled; for if they be allowed to stand thick on the 
bed, they become so weak and flimsy as to handle afterwards 
with difficulty, and lose a considerable time in recovering 
themselves. A piece of ground exposed to the full sun ought 
to be selected for pricking them out; and the soil, being en¬ 
riched by manure, need not be deep, and the plants put in, 
three or four inches apart, in dull, show'ery weather, and 
shaded for a few days, if required, soon grow apace; being 
watered, of course, when wanted, which, in the dry, hot weather 
about Midsummer, will be pretty often.—J. Robson. 
