134 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 2, 1889. 
gatiug house. These cuttings are best put into 6-in. 
pots with good drainage, which should be covered with 
some fibrous peat; fill up the pot very firmly with 
fine sandy peat and on the surface of all place some 
pure silver-sand. The cuttings should be inserted in 
the middle of the pot, and the whole when finished 
should be covered with a 5-in. bell-glass. These kind 
of cuttings require a fair amount of attention. The 
bell-glasses should be wiped out every day, and very 
little water will be required afterwards if the soil is well 
soaked at the time the cuttings are put in. 
The side shoots are the best to select as cuttings in 
this class of plants, the stronger-growing tops being 
generally too sappy to root successfully, without it is 
such plants as Genethyllis (Darwinias) of sorts, 
Boronia megastigma, and plants of a like nature. 
These kind of cuttings generally take from two to six 
months to root, and a few kinds of plants may require 
a little longer time, but they should be potted off as 
soon as ever they are properly rooted, and not allowed 
to stand for months in the cutting pots, which causes 
the roots to become so matted together, that it is a 
very difficult operation to pull them apart without 
doing serious damage to the young plants.— Kerax. 
-- 
ALMOST FORGOTTEN BEDDING 
PLANTS. 
Anagallis coccinea superba and A. azurea grandiflora 
were, between the years 1840 and 1850, frequently 
seen in bedding-out arrangements, being generally used 
for small beds, and at the foot of standard Boses. 
When seen with the sun shining on them they were 
objects of admiration, and at that time greatly in 
favour with many gardeners, who generally propagated 
them from cuttings in the autumn, and treated them 
much the same as Verbenas. The one drawback to 
them was that they were only fine-weather flowers, as 
they closed during cloudy weather. 
Alonsoa incisifolia. — Beds of this really beautiful 
flower were very commonly met with during the same 
period, and I am pleased to know that a renewed 
interest is being taken in these beautiful flowers, many 
being now grown in pots for the flower markets. They 
can be grown from either seeds or cuttings. The old 
plan was to strike cuttings in the autumn, and winter 
them with the general stock of bedding plants. 
CoMMELINA CCELESTIS AND 0. CCELESTIS ALBA.— 
These used to form a very pleasing feature in the 
flower garden, and were generally admired. The 
blue of C. ccelestis is one of the most pleasing colours 
we have, and considering the beauty of the plant, it is 
surprising how few know it. To raise a stock, seed 
should be sown in heat early in the spring, the 
seedlings pricked off into pans when large enough, 
and when sufficiently advanced potted into sixty-sized 
pots. When well established in these, gradually 
harden off, and then plant out about the end of May 
in light rich soil. The tubers should be lifted in the 
autumn and treated much the same as Dahlias, but 
guarding against extreme dryness. They are started 
in heat in the spring, and if grown on the same as 
seedlings they will make better plants and flower 
earlier. The tubers are edible. 
Eupatorium ageratoides. — This, I think, is 
seldom seen now, but was often seen in mixed borders, 
and was generally known as the White Ageratum. It 
was propagated and grown with the other bedding 
plants. I do not remember having seen a bed of it. 
ToURNEFORTrA heliotropoides. —This is closely 
allied to the Heliotrope, and as its name indicates, 
bears a strong resemblance to it. This particular 
species is more compact in habit than any Heliotrope 
I have met with, bearing its heads of flower quite 
erect on short footstalks. The prevailing colour of the 
flower is pale lilac, and it makes a nice bed, but is not 
of the same value as the Heliotrope when grown under 
glass. It is propagated and grown the same as the 
Heliotrope. 
Verbena Imp^ratrice Eugenie.— This was very 
popular in its day, and deservedly so, for it is one of 
the prettiest striped flowers we have. The foliage and 
habit is distinct from most varieties, and it is more 
hardy than most of the florist’s kinds. 
Verbena Melindris splendens. —This was one of 
the first varieties sent out, and a capital thing for 
covering the ground. Had many of the later varieties 
possessed its habit and constitution it is quite possible 
that they would have retained a greater hold on the 
public fancy than they have done. 
Nierembergia Fn.iCAULis. —This was very gener¬ 
ally made use off in bedding-out arrangements forty 
years since, and at a later date we have seen it exhibited 
as specimens in collections of stove and greenhouse 
plants during the summer and autumn months. Of 
late years it seems to have fallen into the background, 
though, very pretty for either small beds, window boxes, 
or grown in 4-in. pots for general decorative purposes. 
It is propagated generally by cuttings in heat, and 
grown on with the usual stock of bedding plants. 
Senecio elegans. —There is not so much in the 
double purple Groundsel to recommend it as in the 
foregoing plant, but; small beds of it were a very distinct 
feature and made a pleasing contrast to other more 
showy things. At one time there were not many gar¬ 
deners who did not grow some of it. It is propagated 
in the autumn, but is a little difficult to keep through 
the winter unless great care is taken to prevent its 
damping. — W. B G. 
-- 
PARKS AND GARDENS OF PARIS. 
Jardin Du Luxembourg. 
This public garden is situated on the south side of the 
Seine, in the Faubourg St. Germain, and is well worthy 
of a visit. Che high iron fence encloses some 90 acres, 
variously planted with trees in lines, forming avenues 
running in both directions, and other parts laid out in 
grass and flower beds. The trees in lines are planted 
on grave], and the ground is therefore suitable for 
walking upon whether wet or dry ; and all the grass is 
fenced off, probably on account of the difficulty in 
keeping it fresh in dry weather when there is much 
walking upon it. Some of the finer trees here are 
Paulownia imperialis, the Paper Mulberry (Brous- 
sonetia papyri(era), 30 ft. high ; Tamarisk, 25 ft. high ; 
the Catalpa, both green and golden ; the Purple Beech, 
Tree of Heaven, and others. 
There was at the time of our visit a great profusion 
of hardy and tender plants in bloom in the borders, 
including the Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis Jalapa), Cosmos 
bipinnatus, Nicotiana affinis, Guara Lindheimeri, 
pyramidal specimens of Hibiscus syriacus 6 ft. high, 
and many others. Bather novel were the numerous 
specimens of Pelargoniums about 5 ft. high, extremely 
floriferous, and planted at intervals along the borders. 
Along the sides of the walks surrounding this circular 
enclosure were large Orange Trees carrying young 
fruits, Nerium Oleander in fine bloom, and double 
scarlet and double white Pomegranates, all in large 
tubs. The Pomegranates flower well here. Vases on 
pedestals were filled with New Zealand Flax, Nierem- 
bergia gracilis, and others. 
To describe many of the beds would simply be 
a repetition of many of the plants seen in the Parc 
Monceaux, to which this garden may be compared for 
its well-kept condition. For instance, Cannas, the 
Paper Beed (Cyperus papyrus), 4 ft. to 6 ft. high ; 
Lantanas, standard Plumbago capensis, 5 ft. to 6 ft. ; 
Begonias, Polygonum cuspidatum, fine-leaved trees ; 
and Musa ensete were met with frequently. There 
was, however, a fine bed of Datura suaveolens mixed 
with Yuccas and Dahlias, and edged with Zea Mays 
variegata and Bichardia albo-maculata ; there were 
also isolated groups of the first mentioned. An un¬ 
common bed consisted of Colocasia esculents edged 
with Beet, and there was a very luxuriant mass of 
Nicotiana Tabacum, 6 fc. to 8 ft. high, edged with 
variegated Ageratum, Begonia semperflorens rosea, 
and B. fugifolia. A bed of Statice Limonum, 
and another of Gynerium argenteum were also 
good. Wigandia caracasana grew luxuriantly, and 
a large bed occupied with plants 5 ft. high, bore leaves 
2| ft. long by li ft. in breadth. Small clumps of 
Aralia papyrifera, Clerodendron fcetidum, and a species 
of Solanum with bunches of pale lilac flowers were 
also features of interest, and stood out in great relief 
from the grass. Close by here was a bed of Aralia 
papyrifera mixed with Senecio Petasites, and edged 
with tuberous Begonias and Cineraria maritima. 
Chrysanthemum La Petite Marie, white and yellow, 
formed a bright spot in another place. 
A large bed filled with succulents presented a very 
grotesque appearance. There were specimens of Yucca 
and Dracsena, with stems 6 ft. to 10 ft. high, Agave 
acuminata with a naked stem 6 ft. high, also Dasylirion 
acrotrichum, Agave filifera, A. hystrix, Pereskias, 
Opuntias, Euphorbia canariensis, Cereus peruvianus 
monstrosus, and others. A large enclosed space 
through which the public can walk during the day is 
devoted to the different methods of training fruic trees 
as cordons, horizontal or erect, also vase, fan, standard 
and pyramidal trees. They consisted of Pears, Apples, 
Cherries, Peaches, Gooseberries, and Currants. Beurre 
Hardy and Louise Bonne of Jersey Pears carried good 
crops of fruit. 
Bois de Boulogne. 
This most picturesque and beautiful park was formerly 
a forest abounding with game, but a large amount of 
money has been spent upon it, and it is now one of the 
most fashionable resorts in the vicinity of Paris. It 
covers an area of 3,000 acres, and a beautiful bird’s-eye 
view is obtained of it from the top of the Eiffel Tower. 
If time can be spared at all by visitors a stroll or drive 
in the park should certainly be undertaken, and the 
beautiful scenery, consisting of wood, water and flower¬ 
beds, would well repay the trouble of getting there. 
There are two large lakes—the upper and lower—sup¬ 
plied by water from the Seine by immense engines at 
Chaillot. In the lakes are islands planted with fine 
trees, with numerous flower-beds generally of a sub-tro¬ 
pical character, or a green sward sloping towards the 
water’s edge. Everywhere one meets with Swiss 
chalets, rustic bridges, waterfalls, rockwork, and groups 
of trees of very varied character and ornamental 
appearance. At the far end of the park from Paris, 
and facing the Longchamps racecourse, is the best of 
the cascades, where the water tumbles over some rocks, 
falling a distance of 45 ft. Not far from here is the 
Jardin d’Acclimatation, containing botanical and zoo¬ 
logical collections, the latter being better than those at 
the Jardin de3 Plantes. Overlooking this end of the 
Bois are the wooded heights of Fort Valerian, and on 
every hand the views are very fine. 
Those who feel so inclined may spend an hour or two 
to great advantage in inspecting the trees and flower 
beds. By the cascade is a fine specimen of Taxodium 
distichum, 50 ft. high. Elsewhere are groups of Abies 
Pinsapo, 30 ft. to 60 ft. high ; Pinus Laricio, 40 ft. to 
60 ft. ; and Bobinia Pseud-Acacia, laden with red fruit, 
meets you at every step. Oa the islands in the middle 
of the lakes, the beauty and variety of the Poplars, 
Limes, Spruces, Eobinias, Sophoras, the Weeping 
Birch, 35 ft. high, and Sequoia gigantea, 40 ft. to 
60 fc., perfect pyramids of beauty, are simply endless 
as they are charming. There were also, at the time we 
write of, beds of Cannas, Begonias, Gaura Lindheimeri, 
Acacia lophantha, and others in various combinations, 
scattered about in prominent positions on the grassy 
slopes ot the island, facing the visitor on the mainland. 
About the middle of the wood a circular piece of 
ground is surrounded by a wire fence, and within this 
on the sward were numerous beds of flowers and sub¬ 
tropical plants in as well-kept a condition as those in 
the parks within the fortifications of the city. Cannas, 
Marguerites, Solanum marginatum, and Begonias 
grow in great luxuriance. A bed of the Paper Beed 
on a groundwork of Perilla nankinensis had a telling 
effect, but less so than Bicinus Gibsoni, with very dark 
foliage on a groundwork of Ageratum and Marigolds, 
edged with Iresine Verschaffeltii. Another fine bed of 
great size consisted of Negundo aceroides variegata on 
a groundwork of Funkia Sieboldii. A somewhat novel 
bed consisted of a species of Sorghum, with stems 
6 ft. in height bearing large panicles of brown flowers. 
A telling bed consisted of Tagetes patula and Gaura 
Lindheimeri mixed and edged with Iresine Ver¬ 
schaffeltii. The long racemes of white flowers of the 
Gaura rose gracefully above the more solid mass of 
Tagetes. A Begonia bed consisted of B. ascotensis and 
B. Evansiana mixed, edged with B. semperflorens rosea 
and Zea Mays variegata also mixed. The large tassels 
of the red styles of the latter were very striking. 
Description hardly conveys a proper conception of this 
enclosure with its lively green sward, bold and sub¬ 
tropical flower-beds, with restaurants and Swiss chalets 
dipping into the woods behind, and half hidden by a 
wealth of fine-foliaged trees and shrubs. 
-- 
HARDY FRUITS GROWN UNDER 
GLASS. 
In reference to your remarks on p. 100, allow us to 
state that we should be very sorry to deceive the 
public as to the fruit grown here and exhibited at the 
Crystal Palace. There is something in our soil, and 
perhaps much in our foreman’s management, which 
gives a wonderful colour to our Apples, and also makes 
the colourless fruit clear and finished, which has given 
the public, and even those educated people, the horti¬ 
cultural reporters, the idea that our Apples were grown 
under glass. We freely admit that the dishes of 
Alexander aud Calville Blanc were so, but they were 
the only entire dishes that were so produced, in 
order to demonstrate the fallacy of there being any 
great advantage in such orchird-house fruit. The 
splendid dishes of Pomona, Cox’s Orange, The Queen, 
and a few others were half and half, and as they were 
duly matched you will see the difference was but little. 
