The amateur's first collection is such as are not high priced, yet good; and the second addition contains all the first-rate varieties in cultivation, with very few exceptions.

ARTICLE VII.

ON GUANO.

BY AN AMATEUR FLORIST.

DURING the last summer, autumn, and winter, I had many experiments with the application of guano, a large bag of which I procured, and which has served me thus far, and I find it operates most beneficially on all kinds of greenhouse plants, by a proper attention in its application. To the delicate growing plants I find a smaller proportion is required than in the soft-wooded, quick-growing class. No exact quantity suited to each genus can be given. The plan I adopt is to give sparingly in the first application, and increase the quantity till I perceive its effects exhibit an improvement, and then keep to it. I give a small portion once a-week, scattering it upon the surface of the soil, and it sinks into the ball of earth gradually. Heaths, Epacrises, Tropæolums, Leschenaultias, Kennedyas, Pimeleas, and similar plants, assume a darker green, and more vigorous in growth than I ever saw before. Hyacinths are much improved, and Chrysanthemums are improved by it more than any other plant I have applied it to. Using it with care, and having other due attention, every person will soon perceive its beneficial effects. I find it better to apply the guano by scattering over the surface of the ball, than dissolving it in water, and applying it so; in the former its beneficial properties are gradually transmitted, but in the water much of it passes away rapidly.

Horley, March 25, 1846.

ARTICLE VIII.

REMARKS ON THE GUERNSEY LILY.

BY CLERICUS.

THE Guernsey Lily being a great favourite of mine, and blooming at the end of summer and autumn, renders it worth the attention of all lovers of flowers. These inducements prompt me to send a few particulars relative to it.

The Guernsey Lily-called in France, le lis de Japon-which has been removed by some botanists from the genus Amaryllis, and called Nerine, is extremely handsome: it is a native of Japan, but has long been naturalized at Guernsey, from which place it is named There are from eight to twelve flowers on one plant; the circumference of each flower about seven inches. When in full beauty, it has the appearance of a fine gold tissue wrought on a rose-coloured ground; and when it begins to fade, it is pink. If beheld in full sunshine, it seems studded with diamonds; but by candle-light, looks rather as if it were spangled with fine gold-dust. When the flower begins to wither, the petals assume a deep crimson colour. The flowers begin to appear towards the end of August, and the head is usually three weeks gradually expanding. This plant is said to have been taken to Guernsey by a vessel wrecked there on its return from Japan. There, and at Jersey, it thrives as well as in its native country; and, from both those islands, the roots are annually dispersed over Europe.

These roots, or rather bulbs, are generally brought over in June or July they should then be planted in pots of light earth, and refreshed with water two or three times a week, but very gently. Too much wet, especially before they come up, would rot the bulbs.

About the middle of September, such of the bulbs as are strong enough to flower will begin to show the bud of the flower-stem, which is commonly of a red-colour: they should then be placed where they may have the benefit of the sun, and be defended from strong winds; but by no means must they be placed close to a wall, or under glasses, which would draw them up weak, and render them less beautiful. If the weather be dry, they should still be refreshed with water every second, or if very hot, every day; but if there be much rain, they must be sheltered from it.

When the flowers begin to open, they should be placed under cover to preserve them from rain; but must be allowed plenty of fresh air, or the colours will lose their brilliancy and soon decay. If rightly managed, they will continue in beauty a full month; and, though they afford no perfume, their beauty alone entitles them to a first rank among the children of Flora.

After the flowers have decayed, the leaves will continue growing all the winter; they must be defended from frost, but should have as

much free air as possible in mild weather: when it is both mild and dry, they may stand abroad in the middle of the day. The roots should not be removed oftener than every fourth year, towards the end of June, or early in July; they should then be replanted in fresh earth, and the offsets planted in separate pots. These young plants will produce flowers the third year.

The bulbs of this Lily do not flower every succeeding year, as most bulbs do; but if they contain two buds in the centre, as is often the case, they will flower twice in three years; after which the same root will not flower again for several years, but only the offsets from it.

ARTICLE IX.

REMARKS ON THE FLOWERING STOCKS.

BY A LADY.

Ir now being the season for commencing raising some kinds of these lovely flower garden ornaments, I send a few remarks thereon for present insertion.

First, the kind commonly called the Queen's Stock-gilliflowerin French, giroflée des jardins [Garden Stock]-varies in colour from a pale to a deep red, and is sometimes variegated; but the bright red is most esteemed. As this branches very much, one seed only must be sown in a pot: this should be done in May; water should be given every evening; and, during the heat of the day, the pots should be shaded, to prevent the earth from drying too fast, They must be protected from frost during the winter, either by removing them into the house, or covering them with oak-leaves. The poorer the soil in which they are planted the better they will bear the cold. The following May they will flower, which they often continue to do all the summer, and probably many of the flowers will come out double. In autumn, after they have blown, they usually perish; but when they are in a very poor soil, or are growing among rubbish, they will often last two or three years,

The Brompton-in French, giroflée à tige-and the White Stock are varieties of this kind; the latter will sometimes live three or four years. This species is a native of the coast of Spain, Greece, Italy, Candia, and the isles adjacent,

The Stock-gilliflower has been long established in the English gardens, and is indeed a native of the cliffs by the sea-side. The old English name of Gilliflower, which is now almost lost in the prefix, Stock, is corrupted from the French giroflier. Chaucer writes it Gylofre, but, by associating it with the nutmeg and other spices, appears to mean the Clove-tree, which is, in fact, the proper signification of that word.

Turner calls it Gelover and Gelyfloure; Gerarde and Parkinson, Gilloflower. Thus, having wandered from its original orthography, it was corrupted into July-flower. Pinks and Carnations have also the title of Gilliflower from smelling like the clove, for which the French name is girofle. For distinction, therefore, they were called Clove-gilliflowers, and these Stock-gilliflowers. Gerarde adds the names Castle-gilliflower, and Guernsey-violet.

The Annual, or Ten-weeks' Stock-French, le quarantain; le violet d'été [summer violet]: Italian, leucoio estivo [summer stock] -grows about two feet high: there are many varieties, white, red, purple, and striped; and double and single varieties of each of these colours. It grows naturally on the coast in the South of Europe. By means of a hot-bed they may be raised earlier, but without that help the best season for sowing them is in March and April, and indeed in May also; if they are taken in when the weather becomes severe, they will continue to flower; those planted in May will last to the very end of winter, in the house. A middle-sized pot will contain three or four. To this class there is the valuable additions of the German varieties, requiring similar treatment.

The broad-leaved Shrubby-stock is a native of the island of Madeira; it blossoms from March to May: when the flowers first open, they are white, sometimes inclining to yellow; in a few days they become purple; hence this species has been termed mutabilis, or changeable. This is of quick growth, and may be increased by cuttings, taken as soon as the plant has done flowering: they should be housed in the winter.

Some persons increase the Queen's-stock in the same manner, planting the cuttings in March or April in pots three or four inches wide; in the middle of May they remove them into pots five or six inches diameter, and in July or August into full-sized ones, that is, eight or ten inches; but though these cuttings will generally root, they do not make such handsome plants as those raised from seed: it