January 21, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
329 
must boast of an Araucaria if they wish to keep pace 
with the times. Fifty times—hundreds we were going 
to say—have we sounded the alarm about the non- 
suitable nature of this Conifer for the town garden, as, 
likewise, for planting where space is limited. But such 
advice must be ill given, judging by how ill it is 
received. Dozens of times have farmers and cottars 
confronted me with the question, “ What am I to do 
with that puzzle-monkey in my front garden, it takes 
up all the room, and darkens the windows?” My 
reply has been, “Cut it down, and plant a small-growing 
shrub instead.” The Araucaria, when planted in suit¬ 
able soil, and where the air is pure, as, likewise, where 
ample room for the perfect development of its branches 
is afforded, is a noble and handsome tree—one with a 
tropical air about it; but when stuck in—for it is rarely 
planted properly — anyhow and anywhere, in stiff, 
water-logged soil, and beneath the shade and drip of 
proved that for sleepers, at least, it was superior even 
to the pitch Pine. 
The Scotch Pine (Pinus Syvestris) for planting 
in high-lying and exposed groufldis of great value, and 
has been very largely used in the formation of hillside 
plantations. The timber of the best form—the High¬ 
land Pine—is of great durability, and the well-known 
beauty of the tree has become, to some extent, pro¬ 
verbial.— A. D. TV. 
-•**<«■- 
AZALEA INDICA FOR FORGING. 
It often happens that a dearth of flowers is experienced 
for a few weeks after Christmas in consequence of the 
great demand there is at that festive season for them 
in abundance for decorations, &c. Being the season of 
the year when we are having the shortest of days, and 
the least amount of sunshine, it is with great difficulty 
yield, and which may be cut with a nice length of shoot 
attached, their usefulness is still more apparent. 
For brightness of colour and freeness to flower 
Wm. Carmichael is about one of the best. The flowers 
are rich carmine, shaded with magenta, and of good 
substance. Following closely on this kind comes Lady 
Musgrave, a very neat compact grower, with flowers of 
medium size, of a light carmine colour, and very 
desirable. Mrs. Carmichael and Emblem are two very 
fine kinds, the flowers being larger than those of the 
preceding varieties, and the colour of each a magenta- 
crimson, beautifully spotted on the upper segments. 
Of the two, Emblem is the stronger grower, and conse¬ 
quently better calculated to bear the knife. 
In Marvel we have a very free-flowering and growing 
kind, with flowers of a bright rose, shaded with violet; 
and in Prime Minister the flowers are soft, pink 
in colour, and produced in clusters. After these have 
New Zonal Pelargoniums. 
other trees, there is unquestionably no more miserable- 
looking or unattractive an object than it presents 
amongst the whole range of our forest trees. 
The Larch (Larix europ.ea) has long been con¬ 
sidered as one of our most valuable timber-producing 
trees, but of late years it has become diseased, princi¬ 
pally owing to the tree being re-produced from imma¬ 
ture seeds, and from such as have been produced in 
unsuitable situations for the perfect development of 
the tree. 
The Spruce (Picea excelsa) is a valuable tree for 
planting where the soil is damp ; and it likewise 
succeeds well at high altitudes, and produces a fairly 
valuable timber. 
The Common Silver Fir (Abies pectinata) has 
long been cultivated in these islands, but has never 
become popular either as an ornamental or timber- 
producing tree. There can be no doubt, however, that 
the timber is very lasting. Indeed, experiments con¬ 
ducted on one of the Scottish lines of railway clearly 
that plants are persuaded to open their blooms at all, 
except they have been properly brought on by easy 
stages. 
If flowers in various shades of colour are wanted thus 
early, no plants will yield a greater amount of blossom 
than well-grown plants of the newer forms of the A. 
amoena type. As there are no white-flowered kinds in 
this type, a few plants of the good old A. indica alba, 
and the semi-double form, A. narcissiflora, may be 
introduced as well; for it is often a difficult task to 
make a good arrangement in flowers without the aid of 
white. The two varieties mentioned force well, and 
may be had early without much difficulty ; so also may 
the fine semi-double variety, Deutsche Perle, which is 
destined to become a very popular and useful kind. 
A. amoena itself is a well-tried and useful sort that will 
produce any amount of double rosy purple flowers, and 
is indispensable in almost any collection. Amongst the 
newer kinds I find the following to be the most distinct 
in colour, and considering the amount of flowers they 
finished flowering, which will generally be by the 
end of January or the middle of February, they 
should be examined as to their needs for larger pots, 
and at once placed in a good growing temperature, 
using the syringe freely amongst them, when they 
will soon start away into good growth. By making 
their growth thus early they may be placed 
outside during the summer and autumn months, where 
they will ripen their wood. A little heat, namely, 
that of an intermediate house, will induce them to 
flower by Christmas, and through the first month of 
the new year.— W. G. 
m + m 
A Distinguished Horticulturist. —M. C. Baltet, 
of Troyes, who is widely known in horticultural circles 
for his persevering efforts in all matters pertaining to 
gardening, has recently been made a Knight of the 
Legion of Honour, as a recompense for his career of 
work and incessant labour. All to whom he is known 
will applaud this distinction. 
