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JOURIZAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  25,  1899. 
BERBERIS  STENOPHYLLA. 
I  WAS  glad  to  see  the  note  by  “  B.  8.  E.”  about  this  fine  species, 
because  it  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  hardiest  and  most  ornamental  of 
the  evergreen  spring-flowering  shrubs,  J ust  now  it  is  at  its  best  everywhere 
in  all  sorts  of  situations,  soils,  and  aspects.  Whether  planted  singly  or 
in  masses,  it  is  equally  effective,  single  specimens  putting  forth  long, 
curved,  graceful  growths,  which,  when  laden  with  the  light  yellow 
flowers,  is  very  striking,  especially  so  as  I  saw  it  recently  near  Matlock, 
on  a  steep  bank  above  a  path  with  the  branches  high  above. 
On  the  9th  of  this  month  I  saw  a  glorious  mass  of  it  in  a  large 
circular  clump  near  the  flagstaff  in  Kew  Gardens,  and  my  wife  called 
ray  attention  to  its  sweet  perfume,  which  I  had  not  noticed  particularly 
before,  and  which  I  found  delightful  on  g  ung  to  the  windward  side  of 
the  clump,  which  is  several  yards  in  diameter.  I  saw  other  clumps  of 
different  varieties  of  Broom  and  of  double  Gorse  in  full  bloom  in  the 
gardens,  but  none  of  them  impressed  me  so  favourably  as  did  this 
Berberis. 
It  also  answers  well  for  a  rockery  where  the  crags  are  large  and  the 
planting  has  to  be  bold  in  character.  In  such  a  situation  the  growth 
spreads^over  the  rocks  on  every  side,  and  is  sufficiently  prominent  to  stand 
out  as  a  pleasant  feature  m  perfect  harmony  with  the  whole  scene.  As 
a  clothing  for  walls  in  exposed  situations  both  it  and  Darwini  are 
invaluable,  and  as  a  garden  hedge  it  is  thoroughly  efficient  as  a  barrier, 
and  is  so  ornamental  as  to  merit  special  attention,  and  induce  the  inquiry. 
What  is  it?  A  friend  of  mine  has  a  hedge  of  it  which  is  now  entirely 
satisfactory.  It  looks  likely  to  continue  useful  for  a  lifetime  ;  it  bears 
clipping  well,  and  has  a  very  neat  trim  appearance. 
I  have  been  told  that  it  is  a  seedling  fiom  Berberis  Darwini,  and  that 
it  originated  at  Messrs.  James  Smith  &  Son’s  nursery  at  Barley  Dale. — 
Edward  Luckhurst. 
CULTURE  OF  CELOSIAS. 
Eor  the  decoration  of  greenhouses  or  conservatories  during  the  late 
summer  and  autumn  months  Celosias  pyramidalis  aurea  and  coccinea 
are  enduring  and  beautiful,  and  are  well  deserving  extensive  culture. 
The  habit  is  pyramidal,  branched  or  feathered,  and  the  height  depends 
upon  the  culture.  High  culture  encourages  plants  2 1  to  3  or  4  feet  in 
height ;  small  pots  and  high  feeding  produces  very  much  dwarfer  plants  ; 
and  starving  treatment  results  in  smaller  plants  which  not  infrequently, 
from  their  fine  feathery  habit,  are  fully  as  useful  as  those  which  have 
been  more  liberally  treated.  The  varieties  vary  considerably  in  the  mode 
cf  growth,  though  the  pyramidal  form  is  maintained  in  most  plants,  but 
some  branch  very  near  the  base  and  are  grandly  feathered  to  the 
summit,  the  branchlets  arching  over  with  much  grace  and  elegance. 
These  are  the  most  beautiful. 
The  tasselled  forms  are  heavier  in  appearance,  being  a  combination 
of  coarse  feathers  and  small  coc'xscombs.  In  colour,  too,  they  also 
vary  considerably,  pink,  rose,  crimson,  scarlet,  orange,  yellow,  and 
all  the  various  shades  of  those  colours.  Some  plants  in  a  young  state 
are  apt  to  show  a  small  comb,  and  the  impression  is  given  that  the 
strain  is  a  bad  one,  and  under  the  impulse  of  the  moment  the  plants  are 
thrown  away.  That  is  too  hasty  judgment.  Celosia  pyramidalis  is 
a  broken  Cockscomb,  and  a  premature  comb  is  not  an  evidence  of  bad 
strain,  but  we  can  hardly  say  it  shows  a  good  one.  The  plants  have 
a  tendency  to  revert  after  the  removal  of  the  heart  comb  to  the  comb 
form.  These  combs  whenever  exhibited  should  be  removed,  and  this 
will  throw  more  vigour  into  the  feathery  parts,  causing  fine-habited 
plants  and  a  denser  and  more  compact  growth  ;  in  fact,  judicious  and 
early  stopping  (confining  it.  however,  to  the  strong  side  shoots,  and  to  the 
upper  part  so  as  to  preserve  the  pyramidal  form)  is  essential  to  freedom 
of  comb,  and  to  produce  elegant  feathery  plants. 
Sowing  the  Seed, 
The  culture  required  is  exceedingly  simple.  Erom  the  middle  of 
April  to  the  middle  of  May  is  a  suitable  time  to  sow  the  seed,  and  from 
those  sown  early  in  Juue  I  have  seen  plants  surpassing  in  beauty  and 
freshness  for  autumn  decoration  those  sown  at  an  earlier  period  of  the 
year.  The  seeds  require  to  be  sown  rather  thinly  in  light  moderately 
rich  soil,  and  should  bo  covered  about  an  eighth  of  an  inch  deep.  The 
pots  ought  to  be  placed  in  a  hotbed  having  bottom  heat  of  about  75°,  and 
top  heat  of  65°  to  75°,  with  a  rise  from  sun  heat  and  air.  The  seedlings 
require  to  have  the  soil  moist,  and  yet  if  kept  very  wet  they  are  liable 
to  damp.  It  is  important  they  be  kept  near  the  glass  and  be  well 
Tentilated,  so  as  to  induce  sturdy  growth. 
When  the  plants  have  two  or  three  leaves  in  addition  to  the  seed 
leaves  they  should  be  potted  singly  in  small  pots,  and  not  deeper  than 
the  first  leaves,  returning  them  to  the  hotbed  and  shading  for  a  few  days. 
The  plants  should  be  kept  regularly  moist,  but  still  must  not  be  over¬ 
watered.  Transfer  the  plants  into  larger  pots  as  they  fill  with  roots, 
potting  rather  firmly.  The  last  shift  may  be  into  9-inch  pots,  which  are 
sufficiently  large  for  the  largest  specimens,  and  at  this  move  the  drainage 
should  be  liberal,  whilst  for  the  others  moderate  drainage  will  suffice. 
The  plants,  when  too  tall  for  a  frame,  can  be  removed  to  a  light  house  or 
pit,  near  the  glass  with  light  on  all  sides. 
Watering. 
No  artificial  heat  will  be  needed  provided  the  temperature,  by 
moderate  air-giving,  be  kept  up  so  as  to  be  that  of  a  cool  stove.  The 
plants  are  the  belter  for  light  sprinklings  morning  and  evening  and  the 
floors  and  other  surfaces  kept  moist.  Liquid  manure  may  be  given  at 
every  alternate  watering  after  the  pots  are  filled  with  roots.  Plants  so 
grown  will  be  tall  and  very  effective  for  conservatory  decoration.  After 
they  are  fully  developed  they  require  to  be  carefully  watered  or  they 
will  decay  at  the  stem,  If  kept  very  dry  the  foliage  becomes  yellow,, 
therefore  water  only  to  keep  from  flagging.  The  plants  will  remain  in 
good  condition  for  many  weeks. 
If  dwarf  plants  are  required  it  is  necessary  to  keep  them  in 
small  pots,  standing  upon  boards  or  slates  so  that  they  do  not  root 
through  into  the  hotbed  ;  liquid  manure  may  be  given  at  every  alternate 
watering  and  the  plants  kept  near  the  glass.  The  soil  in  potting  should 
be  made  very  Arm,  and  the  shifts  only  two — i.e,  from  3-inch  to  4^-inch,  and 
from  the  latter  to  6-inch  pots,  the  sides  of  the  balls  at  each  potting  being 
loosened  so  as  to  remove  part  of  the  close  matting  of  the  fibres.  Shade 
for  a  few  days  after  potting,  as  the  plants  from  the  loss  of  fibres  would 
otherwise  flag  and  the  foliage  suffer.  The  drainage  at  the  last  potting 
should  be  liberal,  and  in  all  cases  it  is  better  to  use  half-inch  bones  than 
crocks.  Light  turfy  loam  three  parts  and  one  part  of  old  cow  manure, 
well  mixed  and  broken  up  fine,  will  grow  them  perfectly. — Practice. 
CHISWICK  NOTES. 
Walking  through  the  great  vinery  at  Chiswick  the  other  day,  I 
noticed  how  very  regular!)'  the  Vine  rods  on  each  side,  but  especially 
on  the  warm  side,  where  growth  was  more  advanced,  had  broken  from 
bottom  to  top,  and  just  as  well  close  down  as  at  any  point.  Yet  these 
rods  run  up  very  nearly  vertical  to  a  height  of  some  25  feet.  This  fact 
serves  to  show  that  if  rods  be  slowly  elongated  to  insure  a  good  break  on 
each  section  of  new  wood,  that  breaks  always  come  year  after  year  from 
the  spurs  without  artificial  aid. 
There  is  a  fine  set  of  Peaches  and  Apricots  on  the  half-standards  in 
the  lean-to  Peach  house,  and  although  these  are  trying  to  lift  the  roof 
higher,  yet  they  do  not  prevent  the  trees  on  the  back  wall  from  setting  a 
fair  crop  also.  The  trees  now  badly  need  a  loftier  house,  and  one  should 
be  furnished  for  them  ;  the  house  being  then  planted  in  single  line  along 
the  front,  so  that  the  trees  may  be  trained  over  a  low  curvilinear  trellis,  as 
it  is  best  suited  for  such  method  of  culture.  Each  of  the  standard  trees 
is  so  large  that  it  carries  some  fifty  fruits,  and  yet  very  thinly  placed. 
The  trees  would  well  repay  tubbing,  and  having  a  large  house  to 
shelter  them.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  one  of  the  old  and  early  vineries 
is  still  heated  by  a  brick  flue.  The  house  contains  Black  Hamburgh  only, 
and  will  give  a  capital  crop  of  bunches. 
There  is,  for  the  delectation  of  those  Fellows  who  like  them,  a  fine 
collection  of  hardy  alpines  siill  in  pots,  whilst  of  tender  plants  a  very 
large  quantity  has  been  sent  cut,  and  propagation  by  cuttings  and 
seed  raising  is  in  progress  to  secure  stocks  for  another  year.  Quite  a 
nice  collection  of  Caladiums  has  recently  been  secured,  but  these  are 
hardly  likely  to  meet  a  popular  demand.  Still  their  leafage  is  very 
beautiful,  of  that  there  can  be  no  doubt,  and  admirers  of  it  are  not 
lacking. 
Trials. — There  is  being  made  this  year  provision  for  ample  work  for 
the  Fruit  and  Floral  Committees,  and  interest  in  Chiswick  will  not  be  on 
that  ground  at  all  lacking.  For  the  first-named  Committee  there  is  a 
very  extensive  collection  of  Peas  again,  for  raisers  of  Peas  seem  to  be 
irrepressible,  and  will  not  cease  from  their  labours.  It  will  be  interesting 
later  to  see  what  mountains  they  bring  forth. 
Then  there  s  already  well  up  a  big  stock  of  Potatoes,  the  majority 
being  new  ;  a  very  extensive  trial  of  Dwarf  Kidney  Beans,  recently  sown, 
the  varieties  so  far  as  possible  having  been  grouped  according  to  the 
colours  of  the  seeds.  There  is  a  good  trial  of  Tomatoes  in  two  houses. 
In  the  first  the  plants  are  about  20  inches  in  height,  very  stout  and 
sturdy,  and  carrying  bloom.  These  comprise  about  twelve  picked  varieties, 
and  about  ten  plants  of  each.  In  another  house  is  a  later  collection,  two 
plants  of  each  variety  ;  and  in  yet  a  third  house  there  is  that  beautiful 
golden  Peach,  sport  from  the  old  red  Peach  variety,  which  proved  to  be  of 
such  delicious  flavour  at  Chiswick  last  yeai’.  Strawberries  should  also 
offer  a  very  interesting  trial  this  season,  as  both  one  and  two-vear-old 
plants  are  vigorous. 
The  hardy  fruits  on  tree  and  bush  will  also  be  well  worthy  of 
examination.  Plums  seem  to  show  a  capital  set.  For  the  Floral 
Committee  there  will  be  numerous  useful  flowering  stocks  to  overlook. 
Pelargoniums,  Carnations,  Paeonies,  Dahlias,  Chrysanthemums,  Violas 
and  other  things  will  keep  that  body  usefully  engaged.  It  is  not  well 
to  undertake  too  many  things  in  one  season,  but  to  do  what  is  on  trial 
well.  That  is  Mr.  Wright’s  object,  and  it  is  hoped  the  season  will  be 
of  a  nature  to  favour  his  efforts,  as  without  doubt  these  Chiswick  trials 
are  regarded  widely  with  singular  interest. 
Cauliflowers. — Various  members  of  the  Brassica  family,  but  Cauli¬ 
flowers  chiefly,  have  been  grown  in  considerable  quantity  at  Chiswick  to 
constitute  a  trial  in  those  gardens  during  the  coming  summer.  All 
varieties,  sown  at  the  same  time,  treated  alike  by  being  pricked  from  the 
seed  pans  out  into  frames  thinly,  and  thus  helped  to  grow  strongly, 
so  that  from  a  good  batch  of  each  representative  plants  may  be  obtained 
to  plant  out  later.  It  is  so  much  better  in  trials  of  this  nature  to  have 
many  more  plants  than  may  be  needed,  as  then  it  is  easier  to  discern  how 
far  stocks  come  true  to  character  or  otherwise.  There  seem  to  be 
numerous  stocks.  The  Chiswick  soil  is  none  too  tenacious  for  Cauli¬ 
flowers,  but  no  doubt  if  fairly  compressed  and  the  summer  be  drippy  there 
will  be  a  good  trial. — A.  D. 
