21 8 
JOURNAL  CF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
September  7,  1S93. 
SENECIO  PULCHER. 
The  Groundsels  or  Senecios  are  a  very  extensive  family,  numbering 
nearly  1000  species,  very  variable  in  form  and  size  :  so  remarkable  are 
they  in  this  respect  that  there  is  a  gradual  passBge  from  small  fleshy’  annuals 
to  tall  arborescent  perennials.  They’  occur  in  almost  every  latitude,  but 
arc  particularly  abundant  in  temperate  regions  ;  very  strong  in  Southern 
Africa,  not  less  than  200  species  finding  a  home  there,  and  they  are  very 
plentiful  in  temperate  South  America.  In  this  country  they  are  repre¬ 
sented  by  several  species,  of  which  the  common  Groundsel  (S.  vulgaris) 
and  the  Rag-weed  (S.  jacobaca)  are  perhaps  the  commonest ;  and  if  we 
were  to  judge  the  merits  of  the  family  far  decorative  uses  by  the  former 
standard  we  should  cease  to  entertain  anything  like  friendly  feelings 
Fig.  44.— Senecio  pulcher. 
‘towards  them.  Happily,  however,  many  of  them  are  extremely  showy, 
both  hardy  and  tender  kinds  ;  many’  of  the  alpine  species  are  very  pretty 
rock  plants,  and  by  no  means  common. 
Of  all  the  introduced  hardy  kinds  perhaps  the  subject  of  these  remarks 
is  the  showiest.  It  is  a  vigorous-growing  perennial  with  large  fleshy’  or 
almost  leathery  leaves  of  a  deep  green  colour  and  shining  ;  the  radical  or 
root  leaves  are  variously  dentated  and  lobed,  while  those  on  the  stem  are 
ragged  and  irregularly  cut.  The  flower  stems  are  from  2  to  3  feet  high, 
very  stout,  freely  branching  at  the  top,  and  supporting  numerous  flowers 
with  the  rays  of  a  brilliant  purplish-crimson  colour,  and  the  disc  or  centre 
golden  yellow,  measuring  3  inches  or  more  in  diameter,  and  lasting  a 
considerable  time  in  beauty.  It  flowers  during  the  late  autumn  months, 
when  it  is  of  special  interest  and  very  welcome  ;  and  when  well  cultivated 
it  is  a  most  attractive  plant — indeed  so  effective  is  it  that  there  is  no 
■plant  in  flower  with  the  same  colouration  comparable  to  it. 
Senecio  pulcher  (fig.  44)  is  one  of  those  plants  which  may  readily  be 
cultivated  in  ordinary’  borders  and  with  similar  treatment,  but  especially’ 
does  it  thrive  in  rich  loamy  soil  in  a  damp  situation,  as  it  enjoys  plenty  of 
moisture  during  the  summer  months.  Some  plants  last  season  planted  in 
almost  a  swampy  place  developed  remarkably  and  flowered  very  freely  ; 
in  fact,  a  connoisseur  of  such  plants  stated  he  had  never  seen  the  species 
in  finer  condition.  Some  of  the  flowers  measur.  d  4^  inches  across,  and 
the  rays  were  proportionately  broad,  which  I  consider  was  entirely  due  to 
the  circumstances  under  which  the  plants  were  grown.  As  regards  the 
pot  culture  of  this  plant,  there  in  no  difficulty  in  securing  good  dowering 
plants  by  that  treatment  in,  say,  5  or  6-inch  pots,  using  as  soil  good 
yellow  loam,  leaf  soi  ,  and  we.l-d<  cayed  cow  manure  with  some  wood  ashes 
and  sand,  or  in  lieu  of  the  ashes  fine  nodules  of  charcoal  ;  the  latter  is  of 
decided  advantage  in  growing  the  plant.  Perfect  drainage  is  also  essential, 
and  an  abundance  of  moisture  during  the  growing  season  ;  and  it  would 
be  advisable  to  plunge  the  pots  in  some  material  such  as  sppnt  hops  or 
ashes,  which  would  greatly  assist  to  keep  the  roots  cool  and  moist. — H. 
FRUIT  FORCING. 
Vines. — Early  Forced  in  Pols. — For  affording  a  supply'  of  new  ripe 
Grapes  in  late  March  or  early  in  April,  these  are  in  some  respects  better 
than  planted  out  Vines,  which  are  not  always  satisfactory.  In 
practice  it  is  therefore  found  better  to  secure  stout,  well-matured  canes, 
in  pots,  and  after  cropping  them  throw  the  Vines  away,  new  ones  being 
provided  annually  to  take  their  place.  Those  for  starting  in  November 
will  now  have  the  wood  brown  and  hard,  the  buds  perfected,  and  the 
foliage  sufficiently  matured,  if  not  off.  for  the  removal  of  the  laterals  and 
shortening  the  canes  to  from  6  to  8  feet,  according  to  the  vigour,  trellis  to 
be  occupied,  and  position  of  the  plnmp  buds.  Keep  the  Vines  rather  dry 
at  the  roots  and  in  a  cool  airy  house. 
Earliest  Forced  House.  —Where  care  has  been  taken  to  preserve  the 
principal  foliage  by  cleanly  culture,  and  a  judicious  encouragement  of 
the  laterals  after  the  fruit  was  cut  to  prevent  prema’ure  ripening  of  the 
principal  leaves,  the  early  forced  Vines  will  new  be  in  a  condition  to  have 
the  laterals  reduced,  also  the  bearing  shoots,  which  will  tend  to  induce 
rest  and  admit  of  early  Aral  pruning.  This  may  be  performed  on  early 
forced  Vines  before  the  leaves  are  all  down,  as  the  wood  being  brown  and 
hard,  and  the  leaves,  or  some  of  them,  turning  yellow,  they  will  not  bleed 
or  s'art  the  buds,  provided  the  house  is  kept  dry,  fully  ventilated,  and 
cold.  The  pruning  will  cause  the  Vines  to  go  more  qui'kly  to  rest,  but 
it  will  have  the  opposite  effect  on  unripe  ones  and  where  the  atmospheric 
conditions  favour  growth. 
If  the  Vines  are  in  good  condition  they  will  afford  bunches  quite 
large  enough  if  pruned  to  a  couple  of  buds  from  the  base,  but  when  they 
are  weak  from  over-cropping,  or  a  long  course  of  forcing,  the  spur  shoots 
may  be  left  a  little  longer  to  secure  larger  bunches.  When  tLis  method 
is  adopted,  shoots  should  be  taken  from  as  near  the  base  as  possible, 
and  not  be  allowed  to  carry  fruit,  but  be  stopped  at  the  sixth  leaf,  the 
laterals  to  one,  and  subsequently  as  produced.  Snch  shoots  are  sure  to 
form  good  buds,  as  the  extra  foliage  tends  to  invigorate  the  Vines,  and 
support  the  fruit  on  the  other  shoot,  which  can  be  cut  away  when  the 
fruit  is  removed  in  favour  of  that  retained  for  fruiting  the  following 
season.  The  alternate  system  of  fruiting  requires  the  shoots  being  kept 
wider  apart  for  development  and  exposure  to  light  and  air. 
If  the  Vines  are  grown  on  the  extension  system,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
cut  to  plump  buds  on  firm  ripe  wood,  being  guided  by  the  space  at 
command,  for  there  must  not  be  overcrowding.  It  is  important  that  the 
house  be  thoroughly  cleansed.  Any  weakly  Vines,  or  those  in  an  unsatis¬ 
factory  state,  may  be  improved  by  removing  the  toil  down  to  the  roots  and 
substituting  fresn  loam,  with  an  admixture  of  one-sixth  old  mortar 
rubbish,  a  tenth  of  wood  ashes  or  charred  refuse,  a  fortieth  of  crushed 
bones,  and  a  sprinkling  of  some  approved  fertiliser.  Lift  any  roots  avail¬ 
able  for  the  purpose,  laying  them  upon  the  fresh  compost,  and  cover  about 
3  inches  deep.  This  is  best  done  before  the  fall  of  the  leaf.  It  is  a  mistake 
to  allow  Vines  when  at  rest  to,  become  dust-dry  at  the  roots.  Comparative 
dryness  is  desirable,  yet  great  injury  is  done  by  allowing  the  border  to 
become  dried  to  the  extent  of  crack:ng  and  seveii  lg  the  rootlets.  Where 
glass  lights  are  at  command,  they  should  be  emp'oyed  over  outside 
borders  to  throw  off  heavy  rains.  In  some  i  laces  such  aids  are  not 
available,  hence  a  covering  of  leaves  and  litter  after  cold  weather  sets 
in  to  prevent  the  soil  freezing,  which  is  an  absolute  necessity  in  early 
forcing,  has  to  content  the  grower. 
Succession  Houses. — Midseason  Vines  have  the  fruit  ripe  or  ripening, 
and  will  need  a  free  circulation  of  air,  especially  in  the  early  part  of 
fine  days,  as  the  night  dews  are  heavy,  and  the  condensation  of  moisture 
on  the  berries  takes  place  rapidly  indoors  if  the  atmosphere  rises  con¬ 
siderably  before  air  is  admitted.  A  little  air  constantly  is  a  good  thing, 
but  it  must  be  increased  early  on  fine  mornings,  and  a  free  circulation 
allowed  whenever  the  weather  is  favourable.  Moderate  air  moisture  is 
essential  for  the  benefit  of  the  foliage  and  the  sound  keeping  of  the 
berries,  but  a  close  stagnant  atmosphere  soon  causes  tho  Grapes  to  spot  and 
decay.  The  laterals  should  be  kept  from  interfering  with  the  access  of 
light  and  air  to  the  principal  leaves,  otherwise  a  good  spread  of  healthy 
foliage  over  black  Grapes  is  one  of  the  best  safeguards  against  their  losing 
colour.  White  Grapes  also  do  not  become  brown  so  soon  when  not 
exposed  to  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun  as  they  do  when  the  foliage  is  thin. 
Where  the  Grapes  have  been  cut  the  laterals  may  be  reduced,  also  the 
