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GLADIOLUS.

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A writer in "The Florist," speaking of the planting gladiolus, says, "If you drive them, that is, grow them in very rich soil, you obtain grand spikes of bloom, some deaths, a fair increase of bulbs, and few or no young bulblets. If you adopt the opposite system, and use light, rich, sandy soil, you obtain moderate blooms, no deaths, and an immense progeny of juveniles."

Of new varieties, Eurydice and Shakspeare are especially recommended as fine flowers and vigorous growers. Madame Furtado is fine as a light flower; Mayerbeer is very rich as a dark-shaded red; Madame de Sévigné is decidedly superior to La Poussin; Fulton is a splendid shaded scarlet, but thin in petal.

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THE ROMAN HYACINTH. I want to say a word in favor of a little bulb which I do not think meets with the attention that it ought, I mean the pretty little Roman hyacinth, ― believing that, in another season, some of your readers who are situated as I am will be very glad to make further acquaintance with it.

I have no means of forcing plants; my object being, as far as greenhouse plants are concerned, to keep them safe from frost. Those who can force, will, therefore, probably think little of a hyacinth like this, which is much inferior in size and beauty to the Dutch varieties; but to me it is a matter of no little pleasure to be able to have at Christmas a pot of hyacinths in full bloom, distributing their fragrance through the room, and that without any extra trouble. By forcing, they can be had, I know, in November; but I think they are not nearly so pretty when forced as when grown naturally. It is a mistake, too, to plant them too thinly: they should be placed with the bulbs almost touching one another. I put six into a 32-sized pot, and have had them now for some weeks in bloom in my sitting-room; their little snowy bells standing well up above the dwarf, stiff, glaucous foliage, and diffusing a pleasant but not overpowering odor throughout the room. Doubtless, if they came in in March and April along with the other bulbs, we should not think a great deal of them: it is the fact of their blooming when they do that really gives them their value; and it is because of this I recommend them to those, who, like myself, are obliged to study what is economical as well as pretty. — D., Deal.

[We are well pleased that our correspondent has noticed this fragrant little flower. It is a very old tenant of our gardens, being introduced in 1596. Formerly it was called Hyacinthus Romanus; but Le Peyrouse has founded on it a new genus, and it is named Bellevalia operculata.]—Cottage Gardener.

PROPAGATING CAMELLIAS. Camellias may be propagated from cuttings, and indeed are largely propagated in that manner; but it is only the single red for stocks. The double kinds grow very indifferently from cuttings: hence they are grafted on stocks of the single red, which is the only eligible mode of propagation to secure a free-growing plant.

NOMENCLATURE of Roses. — It is quite reasonable that the raiser of any new variety of flower should assign to it such a distinctive name as his fancy or interest inclines. Generally, the appellatives given to English flowers are well

selected and short; for, undoubtedly, short names are the best, and easiest to be remembered. When we turn to the nomenclature of French roses, we often find the opposite of brevity; in some instances, no less than six words being used to designate a single variety. We cannot complain of the grand array of princes, dukes, duchesses, marshals, generals, and other high and mighty personages, when they represent known and distinguished individuals: but we do stumble over such appellations as Souvenir de la Reine d'Angleterre, Triomphe de la Terre des Roses, Souvenir de Bernardin de St. Pierre, La Baronne Pelletan de Kinkelin, and which, when uttered by those unacquainted with the French language, have a very odd and even ludicrous effect; still more so, the contractions very often and naturally applied to those lengthy designations for which our French neighbors appear to have an especial aptitude. I know of an instance which afforded me much amusement when it occurred. An honest, hard-working, but somewhat illiterate gardener in this neighborhood, whose ideas of orthography are rather misty when any departure from the strictly phonetic principle is observed, labels his roses for his own and others' recognition. When the name is copied from a catalogue, all goes on rightly enough; but, a catalogue not being always at hand, our friend is left to the resources of his own memory. Some very curious derangements are the consequence. The instance that amused me was the well-known Général Jacqueminot, which was marked General Jack-me-not, the syllables being distinctly separated. It is very usual to recognize that rose about here as "General Jack," Charles Lefebvre as "Charley," and Jules Margottin as "Old Jewels." Mr. Radclyffe knows similar cases, I believe. What Xavier Olibo will become it is not easy to guess, unless "Holybones."

These cases are simply absurd, but not altogether unnatural nor inexcusable. Much more deserving of notice, in my opinion, is the abuse of a term that has now been many years applied; I mean the term "perpetual," as used to designate what is now the most important section of roses as distinguished from Bourbons, Noisettes, and other hybrids. It has been more than once correctly remarked that this term is an abused one: then why perpetuate it? The word "perpetual" not only does not express what the rose is, but also it is not the equivalent for the word the French use; viz., rémontant. Now, the word rémontant does express, as nearly as it is possible to find any word, the idea intended to be conveyed; but, as we have no equivalent English expression for it, it is worse than ridiculous to make a floundering attempt at translating a word which admits of no translation. The usual procedure in such cases is to adopt it. There can be, therefore, no more impropriety in designating this particular section of roses rémontant hybrids than in calling a fiddle a violin. The French themselves make no attempt to translate such words as "jockey," wagon," " ‚” “milord,” &c., although these words contain letters and sounds the very opposite of their adopted orthography and pronunciation. In the same way, we accept such phrases as sang-froid, aide-de-camp, beau-monde, &c., in their original signification, without essaying to render them into English.

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Upon the ground of common usage, then, I venture to suggest that the term "rémontant hybrids" should be substituted for the incorrect "hybrid perpetuals." -English Journal of Horticulture.

TYDEA AND ACHIMENES.

All the species of each genus are so closely allied, and so very much alike, that they are separated on account of differences which only a botanist would detect. The most noticeable differences are, Achimenes has a two-lobed stigma, the ovary bordered by a ring-formed glandular disk. Tydæa has a stigma two-cleft, and the ring-formed disk composed of five distinct glands.

LABELS FOR FRUIT-TREES.

The most enduring labels are those formed of lead, with the names of the kinds of fruit-trees impressed or indented with an iron stamp about half-way through the lead. The labels should be three inches long, one and a half wide, and have a hole through a shoulder left in the middle or one side of the label. The label should be fastened to the tree with stout, flexible lead wire, allowing room for the tree to grow. You will require punch letters of the alphabet, and the figures corresponding to that of the year in which the trees were planted, if you care to date their planting. Labels of this kind only perish with the lead. These are the most durable labels we know. Zinc labels are also good, and last a long time, if the names of the trees be written on them with proper ink, which may be made of one drachm each of verdigris and sal-ammoniac powder, half a drachm of lampblack, mixed with ten drachms of water. The labels should be made bright by rubbing them with sand-paper; then write the names upon them immediately in a clear, bold hand, with a quill pen.

BEGONIA PEARCEI. - This very beautiful species is botanically allied to B. cinnabarina, and it was introduced from La Paz by Mr. Pearce. It possesses the double quality of having both beautiful leaves, and large, showy flowers: the plant has also a very desirable habit. The foliage is very pretty, the upper surface being of a dark velvety green, traversed by pale straw-colored veins, and the under side of a dull red color. The flowers are large, bright yellow, and borne on slender stalks in clusters of two or three. Sometimes only one flower is borne on a peduncle. When this is the case, the flower is much larger some which I have seen were as large as a five-shilling piece.

I have no doubt that this beautiful begonia may be had in bloom all the year round, if care be taken in propagating and resting the plants at the proper time; and as the flower-trusses are produced in large numbers, and the color of the flowers is rich, it will be found invaluable both for summer and winter decoration. The plant thrives well in a mixture of peat, leaf-soil, loam, and silver-sand, and is easily propagated by cuttings or leaves.

To have it in bloom throughout the year, it will be necessary to propagate plants every two months. The young plants should be grown in a brisk temperature, and as near a glass as possible. As soon as they have become well established in their pots, a little weak manure-water will assist them very much if given once or twice a week. A well-grown plant in a 48-sized pot will afford a constant succession of bloom for three months. After the plants have done flowering, water should be withheld for a period of three or four weeks; when they may be gradually started into growth again, so that, after two or three.

dozen plants have been propagated, there may be a constant succession of beautiful flowering specimens.

For drawing-room decoration, I know of no more useful plant, as the flowers do not fade very soon ; and, if small examples are used for this purpose, they will be found invaluable. I have great pleasure in recommending this beautiful plant for all purposes. I. WILLS, in "Cottage Gardener."

RED SPIDER ON Wall-Trees. - I have long used a wash with soft-soap in it to paint the trees; and it answers admirably, though it does not prevent red spider. Can I not, by mixing with the lime and soot for washing the wall some small proportion of coal-tar, or, if that be injurious, say of some other stuff as disagreeable to insects, form a poisonous wash, which would deter even red spider from laying eggs on the wall, and at the same time be innocuous to the trees? H. H.

[It will not do to mix even the smallest portion of coal-tar in your wash for the walls. It would be injurious until so thoroughly dried that it would give off no deleterious fumes; and, when it came to that condition, it would not deter red spider and other insects from depositing their eggs. We know of no material, poisonous or otherwise, that will keep insects from doing so; as the substances which would deter insects, would, we fear, also hurt vegetation. You rightly judge that red spider is deterred by sulphur; but that is chiefly by the fumes sent off by heat, as the red spider will be as merry as possible, will make its webs, and deposit its eggs, amongst nodules of pure sulphur. If a strong heat played on the sulphur, the insects would then be rendered uncomfortable; but even then we have found them seemingly enjoying themselves on it about three feet from the glass. When a wall is plastered with sulphur, and a strong sun plays on it, the fumes then given off are disagreeable to them.]-English Fournal of Horticulture.

THE GRIFFINIA. One species of this plant, G. hyacinthina, is an old and well-known inhabitant of our greenhouses, albeit somewhat difficult to flower, and more apt to grow smaller than larger year by year.

The flowers are very beautiful, of a delicate blue and white, and delightfully fragrant.

Another species, G. parviflora, much resembles the last in habit and flower, but is smaller. It probably is only a variety.

G. intermedia has pale lilac-blue flowers, and differs botanically from the two last. G. Liboniana seems to be a garden variety, and has variegated leaves. In addition to these, G. Blumenavia has lately been introduced from St. Catharine, with flowers of a delicate rosy flesh-color very freely produced. All these are natives of Brazil, and should be grown in pots in sandy loam, with the usual culture of amaryllis. — Adapted from Revue Horticole.

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THUNBERGIA FRAGRANS. A lovely plant, quite distinct from the other thunbergias, and invaluable as a pot-plant, or for covering pillars or trellis-work; being of free growth, with ample dark-green foliage of great substance. It con

tinues flowering throughout the year; but its principal period is during the winter months, a time when white flowers are scarce. Even when grown in a warm stove, it has never shown signs of red spider, to the attacks of which the family are so subject.

The flower is pure white, with yellow eye; and is a most desirable acquisition.- Floral Magazine.

PROTECTING SEEDLING STRAWBERRIES.

To those amateur growers of seedling strawberries, who, having planted seed as soon as it is ripe, by the end of October, get only weak, unthrifty plants, it may be said, that such weak vines can easily be made to live over winter, and thus the loss of a year in experimenting may be avoided. It is only necessary to put a frame over them in November, fill it with leaves at least four inches in depth, lay on a piece of old carpet or a mat, and put the sash on over all. On taking off the glass and leaves in April, the smallest plants, with only a rough leaf or two, will be found fresh and healthy. Plants which would be suffered to perish on account of their insignificant size, by nine beginners out of ten, may thus be saved, and ultimately made to fruit. J. M. M., Jun.

EDITORS' LETTER-BOX.

THE Editors would extend a cordial greeting to all interested in the dissemination of horticultural knowledge, and invite practical contributions from such upon general horticulture, or in the special departments of pomology, floriculture, landscape-gardening, and architecture, the culture of the grape and small fruits, and the raising and forcing of vegetables.

Every communication received is carefully read by those conversant with the subject treated.

While, as to the time of the appearance of any accepted article, the Editors must reserve the right of decision, their policy will be to publish communications as soon as possible. Short articles coming directly to the point, telling just what to do in a practical manner, are what they prefer to present. Of flowery, verbose communications, in which ten lines are consumed in saying what could be well said in one, we have a large supply; and such, if used at all, must be pruned and condensed by us into readable, instructive matter. Experiments, and the results of experiments, are particularly valuable. Our pages are open to all: they will not be used to further private ends, or as a means of advertisement; but it will ever be our object to show what is the best and how to do the best thing in the best way.

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