December  21,  1899. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
543 
previously  passed  that  portion  of  the  year  in  the  Riviera.  Severe 
frosts  are  exceptional,  occurring  only  at  long  intervals,  and  snow  is 
almost  unknown  to  the  French  and  Italian  inhabitants  there. 
The  scenery  of  the  western  part  of  this  lovely  district  is  more 
rugged,  and  does  not  contain  perhaps  so  great  a  variety  of  indigenous 
trees  as  is  to  he  found  around  Nice  and  Mentone. 
The  characteristic  tree  of  the  former  neighbourhood  is  the  Aleppo 
Pine  (Pinus  halepensis),  which  covers  acres  and  acres  of  hillsides,  and 
the  Stone  Pine  (P.  pinea)  is  also  met  with,  especially  near  to  the  sea 
shoie.  The  Olive  tree,  the  Orange,  and  the  Cork  Oak,  though  con¬ 
spicuous,  grow  more  luxuriantly  farther  east  and  fruit  more  freely. 
The  Lemon  tree,  too,  is  rarely  met  with  west  of  Mentone.  The 
Eucalyptus  is  prominent  in  most  Riviera  gardens.  Its  whitish  bark 
and  silvery  leaves  render  it  a  handsome  object,  though  its  strong 
growing  and  gross  feeding  roots  make  it  anything  but  a  favourite  with 
southern  horticulturists. 
Amongst  the  many  remarkable  types  of  vegetation,  indigenous  and 
introduced,  that  are  to  he  seen  in  flower  in  the  “Sunny  South ’’about 
Christmas  time,  nothing,  I  think,  strikes  one  more  forcibly  than  the 
Mimosa  trees.  Acacia  dealbata  and  A.  longifolia  are  the  principal 
species.  These  attain  to  a  large  size  in  the  open,  and  b°come  one  mass 
of  yellow.  Having  seen  these  trees  in  flower,  one  need  wonder  no 
longer  whence  come  the  numerous  flowering  shoots  of  Acacia  which 
are  so  prominent  a  feature  in  our  florists’  windows  at  the  present  time. 
In  order  to  convey  a  correct  impression  of  a  Riviera  garden  at  this 
season  of  the  year,  the  best  plan  would,  perhaps,  be  to  ask  the  reader 
to  accompany  the  writer  during  a  stroll  around  a  typical  one,  of  which 
memories  still  linger. 
The  first  step  we  take  inside  the  entrance  gates  brings  to  view  a 
charming  sight,  a  white  lodge  covered  with  the  foliage  and  pretty 
blue  flowers  of  Plumbago  capensis.  Bearing  a  little  to  the  right,  the 
road  passes  between  an  avenue  of  tall  and  graceful  Palms,  composed 
of  Phoenix  canariensis  and  Washingtonia  filifera.  Small  beds  of 
variously  coloured  Hyacinths  are  on  one  side  of  the  drive,  whilst 
Primulas,  red,  white,  and  blue,  in  round  beds,  alternate  on  the  opposite 
side.  A  border  of  mixed  Ranunculi  a  little  further  on  is  noticeable, 
and  immediately  in  front  of  the  mansion  are  two  long  borders  filled 
with  Anemone  fulgens,  the  latter  bearing  thousands  of  the  starlike 
flowers.  The  undulating  lawn  stretching  away  in  front  has  on  the 
far  side  of  it  a  belt  of  vegetation  quite  tropical  in  aspect,  consisting  of 
Bamboos,  various  Palms,  and  Magnolias.  Phoenix  dactylifera,  P.  cana¬ 
riensis,  Cocos  plumosa,  C.  australis,  and  Pritchardia  filifera  are  the 
most  noteworthy  of  the  Palms. 
Magnolia  grandiflora  attains  to  a  large  size,  though  unfortunately 
its  handsome  and  sweetly  scented  flowers  are  not  now  open  ;  they  are 
produced  early  in  the  autumn.  Conspicuous  on  the  lawn  are  several 
finely  shaped  single  specimens  of  Cocos  australis,  C.  Bonnetti,  Brahea 
Roezli,  and  others. 
The  mansion  itself  is  covered  with  that  well-known  climber, 
Bougainvillea  glabra,  and  twining  and  creeping  around  the  balconies 
we  see  the  Lotus  flower,  Coboea  scandens,  Streptosolon  Jamesoni, 
Solanura  jasminoides  and  many  other  beautiful  flowering  plants.  The 
first  mentioned  (Bougainvillea)  is  very  extensively  used  as  a  covering 
for  Riviera  villas. 
Large  beds  of  Pansies,  and  finer  I  have  never  seen,  are  one  mass 
of  bloom.  Cinerarias  just  bursting  into  flower,  gaily  coloured  Tulips 
peeping  through  the  grey  moss  with  which  the  bulb  beds  are  covered, 
borders  of  Carnations  and  Salvias  are  ordinary  sights  in  these  gardens, 
and  the  mention  of  them  will  give  some  idea  of  the  floral  wealth  of  the 
latter  at  Christmas  time. 
Agaves  thrive  remarkably  well,  and  it  is  rare  for  a  garden  to  be 
without  one  of  these  plants  in  flower.  Bushes  of  Gardenias  and 
Camellias,  the  latter  now  in  flower,  are  not  uncommon,  while  there  are 
Roses  everywhere.  These  latter  are  apparently  in  their  element,  for 
they  grow  most  luxuriantly,  and  are  in  full  flower  in  December  and 
again  in  March.  The  lawns  are  beautifully  fresh  and  green,  due  to 
their  having  to  be  resown  every  autumn,  for  late  in  the  spring  they 
are  dug  over  and  left  in  a  rough  state  throughout  the  hot  summer. 
As  we  continue  on  our  journey,  we  pass  by  a  tiny  brook,  near 
which  are  grouped  Yuccas,  Agaves  and  Aloes,  some  of  them  in  flower. 
On  the  banks  of  the  stream  are  planted  mixed  beds  of  Freesias, 
Ranunculi  and  Pansies.  In  dry  and  dark  places,  under  trees,  where 
grass  will  not  grow  satisfactorily,  a  green  covering  is  furnished  by  a 
species  of  Carex.  This  has  dark  green  leaves,  grows  several  inches 
high,  and  thrives  well  on  banks  and  under  the  shade  of  trees. 
Before  passing  through  the  Bamboo  grove,  which  is  so  dense  that 
we  cannot  easily  penetrate  into  either  side  from  the  pathway,  there 
are  a  few  choice  flower  beds  worthy  of  notice,  the  one  of  Imanto- 
phyllums  and  Lilacs  is  perhaps  the  best  of  them.  Others  are  composed 
of  Genistas,  Ghent  Azaleas,  with  Adiantum  for  a  groundwork. 
On  emerging  from  the  fine  mass  of  Bamboos  many  feet  in  height,  we 
are  again  in  sight  of  our  starting  point — the  Plumbago  covered  lodge, 
the  tour  du  jardin  having  been  accomplished,  after  what  has  been 
only  really  a  glance  at  some  of  its  more  interesting  features. — Hortus. 
SPIRiEAS  FOR  FORCING. 
For  the  decoration  of  the  greenhouse,  to  provide  flowers  for  cutting 
and  plants  to  furnish  vases  in  rooms  or  windows,  one  of  the  most 
useful  plants  is  Spiraea  japonica.  It  is  an  admirable  plant  for  forcing, 
and  from  January  onwards  it  may  be  had  in  bloom  with  a  sufficient 
number  of  plants,  and  the  means  for  accelerating  the  growth,  during 
the  early  months  of  the  year.  Plants  are  readily  obtainable  Irona 
clump  a  of  roots  with  well  ripened  plump  frowns.  The  best  are 
imported,  and  they  may  be  obtained  in  November  and  as  late  as 
February. 
For  early  forcing  the  clumps  should  be  potted  in  November,  using 
6  inch  pots  for  the  smaller,  7  and  8-inch  pots  for  the  larger  sizes. 
The  pots  do  not  require  much  draining,  as  Spiraeas  when  in  active 
growth  are  extremely  thirsty,  and  attention  to  supplying  them  with 
water  is  a  great  point  in  their  cultivation.  Very  little  soil,  too,  is 
nee  led  when  potting,  the  clumps  occupying  the  space  within  the  pots 
almost  exclusively,  and  it  really  is  not  advisable  to  give  them  a  large 
amount  of  fresh  soil,  well  grown  clumps  with  bold  crowns  apparently 
not  needing  it.  The  spaces,  however,  may  be  filled  up  with  some 
g  tod  ordinary  potting  soil.  Then  give  water,  and  stand  in  a  cold 
Irame  until  necessary  to  start  them  growing. 
The  earliest  stock  required  to  flower  must  have  the  pots  plunged  to 
the  rim  in  moist  cocoa-nut  fibre  refuse  in  a  strong  bottom  heat,  and 
moisture  supplied  immediately  the  crowns  or  the  soil  appear  dry.  The 
flower  spikes  b  gin  to  show  about  the  same  time  as  the  foliage 
commences  to  unfold.  If  they  do  not  appear  then  they  certainly  will 
not  do  so  later.  A  clump  showing  four  to  six  flowering  stems  will 
subsequently  develop  a  fine  head  of  bloom.  The  principal  help 
required  consists  of  heat,  moisture,  and  light.  A  bottom  heat  of  65° 
and  a  top  heat  of  70°  will  bring  on  the  growth  well  in  January. 
After  that  period  bottom  heat  is  not  quite  so  essential,  but  a  liberally 
heated  house  is  necessary  in  February  and  March.  In  the  months 
following  growth  takes  place  more  naturally,  and  strong  heat  is  not  so 
imperative. 
When  the  flower  stems  are  well  advanced  liquid  manure  may  be 
afforded,  not  applying  it,  however,  when  the  plants  are  dry.  The 
liquid  should  be  weak,  but  it  may  be  frequently  applied.  A  stimulant 
made  by  dissolving  horse,  sheep,  or  cow  mauure  in  water  proves 
valuable,  or  guano  at  the  rate  of  £  oz.  to  the  gallon  may  be  employed. 
When  in  full  flower  and  active  growth  the  demands  of  the  plants  for 
water  is  excessive,  and  during  hot  sunny  weather  in  spring  it  is  found 
to  be  advantageous  to  allow  the  pots  to  stand  in  saucers  of  water. 
It  is  seldom  that  insects  trouble  Spiraeas ;  indeed,  they  are 
practically  exempt  from  attack  during  the  time  they  are  most 
decorative.  Tne  foliage  is  useful  for  mixing  with  cut  blooms,  but  it 
must  be  firm  and  rigid. 
After  blooming  the  plants  should  be  gradually  hardened,  and  be 
planted  out  in  an  open  position  in  the  garden  if  it  is  intended  to 
cultivate  them  for  future  blooming.  They  will  not,  however,  be  of 
any  use  for  blooming  the  following  season,  and  unless  they  are  well 
cultivated  by  dividing  the  clumps  and  planting  in  rich  ground, 
receiving  due  supplies  of  water  and  liquid  manure,  this  trouble  will 
not  be  rewarded  by  their  blooming  the  second  year  if  lifted  aod 
potted.  It  is  not  usually  considered  necessary  to  adopt  this  plan,  as 
the  clumps  are  so  cheap,  and  force  so  readily. 
In  addition  to  the  ordinary  variety  of  S.  japonica,  there  is  a 
dwarfer  growing  and  more  compact  habited  variety  named  S.  j.  com- 
pacta  multiflora.  It  is  equally  as  free  in  flowering,  and  the  spikes  of 
bloom  are  denser,  which  renders  it  a  good  companion  to  the  older 
japonica,  and  especially  useful  for  conservatory  decoration.  Another 
excellent  Spiraea  which  blooms  abundantly,  producing  white  plumes  of 
feathery  flowers,  is  S.  astilboides  floribunda.  Spiraea  palmata,  flowers 
rosy  crimson,  and  S.  Thunbergi,  white,  are  also  excellent  for  forcing, 
or  if  preferred  they  may  be  given  greenhouse  treatment  for  blooming 
later. 
Some  growers  retain  a  portion  of  their  plants  in  pots  after  tney 
have  ceased  blooming,  but  the  amount  of  water  the  plants  need  to 
keep  them  healthy  is  very  great.  Liquid  manure  is  also  given,  and 
sprinklings  of  artificials  watered  in.  The  foliage  must  be  kept  fre-h 
until  the  period  of  its  dying  off.  When  the  plants  start  again  info 
growth  give  a  top-dressing  of  some  fertiliser,  and  assist  grow7th 
frequently  with  liquid  manure ;  but  the  results  are  hardly  commensu¬ 
rate  with  the  trouble  taken,  the  spikes  of  flowers  being  distinctly 
inferior  to  freshly  imported  clumps. — E.  D.  S. 
A  Seed  Trade  Dinner. — The  assistants  in  the  Edinburgh 
seed  trade  held  their  annual  dinner  recently  under  the  presidency  of 
Mr  David  Mitchell.  The  dinner  was  thoroughly  Scottish  in  character, 
and  included  the  indispensable  haggis  and  red-herring.  After  doing  ample 
justice  to  the  repast  the  company  were  entertained  for  some  hours  with 
song  and  sentiment.  The  toast-list  included  the  principal  employers  in 
the  town.  During  the  evening  a  collection  was  taken  for  the  Soldiers 
Widows  and  Orphan  Fund.  The  gathering  proved  most  successful. 
