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more ample, more numerous, and brighter colored; and we would not place them in the stove only to hasten their flowering. We know of many amateur cultivators who have these plants in the form of a tree, from ten to twelve feet high, with round heads, studded in all parts with the clusters of flowers. So managed, these plants acquire an aspect and a charm inexpressible. But there is another mode in which, according to my mind, they may be made to acquire a form still more ornamental and picturesque; that is, planting them in the open ground in the open air, and in a good soil: this has been my practice for some years. My plants thus grow kindly, and form pyramids, which are literally covered from the bottom to the top with innumerable umbels of flowers, of the brightest color, and so agreeably changeable, as every one knows.

I set out the plants in their places about the middle of May, or as soon as all appearance of frost is over. I cut off, at this time, all the ill-shaped branches which injure the handsome form of the plants, and nip off the ends of the branches which are too vigorous and I then plant in a light soil very rich in humus. When the autumn frosts arrive, the plants are all taken up and potted, cutting in all the exuberant roots. They are watered lightly, and placed in a good greenhouse temperature, in a dry and light situation, where they are left until they begin to grow again. I would remark that, by this mode, old and deformed plants may be rapidly improved, and, no matter how ill-shaped, be made to take a very handsome aspect.(VAN HOUTTE, in Flore des Serres, Sept. 1847.)

ART. II. Foreign Notices.

FRANCE.

Exhibition of the Royal Horticultural Society of Paris, Sept. 22, 1847. -Those who have seen the shows in London or Ghent, or that of the Cercle Général held last spring in Paris, would be sadly disappointed with the exhibition of the Royal Sociey, which took place last week at the Orangery of the Luxembourg; the flowers were badly arranged-no taste whatever was shown in the grouping of the plants; for instance, China Asters were seen in different corners of the room, and even one collection, to which, bythe-bye, a prize was awarded, was left standing upon the floor during the whole time; added to this, it was impossible to find out to whom some collections belonged, or to whom prizes were awarded, for the officers of the Society had omitted, in many instances, this very necessary duty, even on the second day of the show; moreover, either from accident or design, one of the most splendid of autumn flowers, the Dahlia, was altogether omitted from the schedule of prizes. Among the general collections were here and there a few good specimen plants of Veronica Lindleyana, Cuphea platycentra and miniata, Tillandsia acaulis, Pilocereus senilis, Eschynan

thus Paxtoni, Brugmansia Waymanii, Clerodendron Devoniense, and Anemone japonica, but there were many things quite unworthy of a place in any exhibition. As to Orchids there was scarcely a plant. Cut Roses were numerous and good; those in pots were just as they had been grown for market or private sale, in 4-inch pots; not one fine specimen could be seen. China Asters are now becoming quite a fashionable flower on the Continent, and several good collections were shown, among which were some beautiful varieties of good form, splendid color, perfectly double, and nearly as large as an ordinary Dahlia. The fruit was neither plentiful nor so fine as I have often seen it, but this is alone attributable to the cold miserable weather that has prevailed for some weeks past; there was but one small collection of Grapes, and those not ripe; as to Pines, two small Queens certainly not weighing more than 2 lbs. each, were the sole representatives of French culture. As the Roses attracted the greatest number of admirers, I cannot do better than give the names of some of the finest varieties:-Mr. Berger was awarded the 1st, or Grand Luxembourg Prize, for a large collection, among which I observed, Tea-Scented: Eugène Desgaches, Goubault, Adam, Eugenie Jovain, Devoniensis. Isle de Bourbon: Souvenir de la Malmaison, Béluze, Paul Joseph, Deuil du Duc d'Orleans, Madame Souchet, Reine des Isles Bourbon, Charles Souchet, Manteau de Jeanne d'Arc, Fafait, and Marechal de Villars. China: Clara Sylvain, Cels Multiflore, Virginale, Miellez, Triumphant, Carmin d'Yeble, and Darius. Noisette Lamarque, Julie de Loynes, Solfaterre and Lamartine. Hybrid Perpetual: Aubernon, La Reine, Clémentine, Géant des Batailles, and Acidalie. Mr. Verdier, prize for large collection, in which were many of the before named, together with the Goubert, Elise Sauvage, Don Carlos, Taglioni, Comte de Paris. China: Cramoisie superieure, Madame Breon, Joseph Deschiens. Isle de Bourbon: Proserpine, Comice du Seine et Marne, Madam Nerard, Comte de Rambuteau, Henri Plantier, Leveson Gower, and Phoenix. Hybrid Perpetual: Fulgorie, Duchess of Sutherland, Rivers, Aubernon, and Prince Albert.

Messrs. René and Margottin had also a large and good collection, comprising the same varieties, but, for the reason before given, I know not if they obtained prizes. Mr. Modeste Guérin obtained the Grand Prize of the Duchess of Orleans, for Roses in pots. The plants were very small, in 4inch pots, but tolerably well blown for the size. Among them were most of the established favorites, together with many of the new kinds of 1846. M. Jacquin Ainé obtained the 1st prize for Greenhouse Plants, comprising Erica ventricosa, mutabilis, capitata, pulchella, and versicolor; Achin enes grandiflora, multiflora, patens, picta, longiflora, and atrosanguinea; Cuphea platycentra, miniata, and strigulosa; Statice Dickensonii, Fortunii, and purpurea; Torenia asiatica and scabra; Tillandsia acaulis, green and brown; Anemone japonica, Chirita sinensis, Bouvardia splendens, Justicia violacea, Polygala mixta, Veronica Lindleyana, Russelia juncea, and various other plants. M. Chauvière obtained the 2d prize for a Miscellaneous Collection, among which the most remarkable were Clerodendron Devoniense, speciosissimum, and infortunatum; Eschynanthus Paxtoni; Cuphea

platycentra and miniata; Brugmansia Waymanii, Cassia corymbosa, Anemone japonica and vitifolia, Lilium lancifolium album, Statice arborea, and Torenia asiatica. M. Michel had a prize for a small collection of Heaths, which were very good for the season; among them were Lambertia versicolor, cupressina, speciosa, linea, varia, mammosa, rosea, verticillata, coccinea, echiiflora purpurea, Swainsonia, arbuscula, soufra, gracilis, erecta, blanda, Bowieana, glutinosa, and ventricosa. M. Cels exhibited a fine specimen plant of Cattleya-crispa, with three or four spikes, covered with flowers. There were also two good plants of schmea longifolia fulgens and Dichorizandra ovata, but as no names were attached, I am ignorant as to whom they belonged; the same will also apply to some good grown plants in another part of the room, viz., Nepenthes distillatoria, Cereus gladiatus, nearly three feet high, Echinopsis valida, and Mammillaria alvidens. M. Bertrand was awarded a prize for a fine specimen plant of Anemone japonica, with nearly 100 flowers; he had also a fine specimen of Cuphea platycentra. M. Malingre was awarded a prize for China Asters, in pots, comprising some very fine flowers, in the different sections known here as German, English, and Russian. Messrs Jamin and Durand gained the 1st prize, or Grand Medal of the Princess Adelaide, for Fruit, consisting of nearly 150 varieties of Pears, and 15 or 20 varieties of Apples. The season has not been favorable; nevertheless, there were some very large specimens, especially among the Pears, such as Duchesse d'Angoulême, Calebasse, Catillac, Bon Chrétien d'Espagne, Colmar d'Arembourg, Van Mons, Triomphe de Jodoigne, Doyenné doré, Belle de Berry, Fondante de Joffart, Beurré Spence, Fondante des Bois, Incomparable, Capiaumont, Noirchaire, d'Arembourg, Bosc, Passe Colmar, and Williams. M. Dupuy Jamain was also awarded a prize for a large collection, but very little if at all inferior; in it were fine specimens of most of the abovenamed; together with some kinds not yet let out, viz., Beurré Bretonneau, Bergamotte soldat, and Princesse Charlotte; also the new Plums, Drap d'Or d'Espéron, large golden fruit, and Reine Claude Monstreuse, with Mirabelle d'Octobre, Prune des Délices, Perdrigon violet, and Fellembourg. M. Goulette exhibited some enormous Melons, cultivated in the open air; M. Vilmorin, some seedling Potatoes, among which I noticed one marked A., middle size, rose color, and very handsome. M. de Villeneuve exhibited a very good collection of Oranges and Lemons, the most remarkable being Lumie du Commandeur and Doux, Perette de Florence, Limonier Pomme d'Adam, Pouzin, Incomparable and Ferrari, Bigaradier d'Espagne and Bizarrerie, Limettier des Orfevres, Cédratier de Rome et des Juifs. M. Houebre gained a prize for a collection of Potatoes. Among the Vegetables was nothing worthy of notice, excepting three or four enormous Potirons and some Patates.-(1lb. p. 654.)

Burnt Earth for Roses, and the Mode of Preparation.-Earth may be burnt at any season of the year. It has been the custom here, for some years, on the decline of spring, when the operations of pruning, grafting, &c. are ended, instead of suffering the rough branches to lie about, presenting an untidy appearance, to collect them in a heap. A wall of turf,

about three feet high, of a semi-circular form, is then built round them. The branches are set on fire, and when about half burnt down, seed-weeds, and such rubbish as collects in every garden and will not readily decompose, are thrown on the top, and earth is gradually cast up as the fire breaks through.

During the first two or three days, great care is requisite to keep the pile on fire. Here is the point where many tail. They allow the flame to break through and expend itself before the heap is thoroughly kindled. Constant watching is necessary at this juncture. As the fire breaks through, a layer of bushes and weeds should be added, and then a layer of earth. Follow up this plan, and the fire will spread through the whole heap; and any amount of earth may be burnt, by continually adding to those places where the fire appears strongest. The soil burnt here is the stiffest loam that can be found within our limits, and which is rather of a clayey nature; also turf from the sides of ditches and ponds, in itself naturally sour and full of rank weeds.

Burnt earth has been found beneficial in every instance where applied. In black garden mould, rather wet, in which Peach-trees were disposed to sucker and canker, despite of the use of various manures, two or three annua! dressings of it appear so to have altered the nature of the soil, that they now grow clean, vigorous, and healthy, are free from suckers, and produce roots completely matted with fibre. The like success has attended its application to various other trees.-(Paul's Rose Garden, extract in Gardeners' Chronicle, 1847, p. 639.)

Manures should

Proper Manure for Roses.-That stable manure, which is excellent in most cases, and the kind in general use for Roses, is not of the best description for light sols. Its tender cy is to render them still lighter; and if it can be dispensed with, we think it desirable to do so. be applied here in a more concentrated form. Cow-dung is excellent, especially for the tea scented Roses; and pigeon-dung, rabbit-dung, and night-soil, are all great improvers of light soil. The unpleasantness attending the preparation and use of night soil may in a great measure be done away with by pursuing the following plan:-A basın, or reservoir, should be formed on the ground, to hold a given quantity. In the bottom of this, loam may be thrown, heavy or light, turfy or not, as may be at our command, or whichever is thought best suited to the character of the soil we intend to manure. Upon this the night-soil is lowered from the cart, and a sufficient quantity of loam thrown in to absorb the whole. The heap should then be covered over closely with a layer of earth, about a foot thick, and remain closed for about six months. It may then be broken up, more or less, according to its state, mixing dry soil, or ashes, or burnt earth with it in the operation, and casting it up in ridges. About a month afterwards it may be turned over again, that the night-soil may be well mixed with the loam. In spring or autumn it may be carried to the places where required, and forked in as other manures; or it may be scattered over the beds immediately after they are forked in spring, when it will be washed down by the rains. We cannot conceive of any description of manure to

surpass this, applied in the latter manner, to Roses on light soils. By its use, we administer at the same time a cool and rich fertilizer, and a substance calculated to be of permanent benefit to the soil.—(Ib.)

Moss Roses suitable for Pillar Roses.-On such soils as I have just recommended, the varieties termed "vigorous" may be fashioned into “ PillarRoses," and they are indeed unique when cultivated in this manner. Some of our readers may perhaps doubt whether Moss Roses are suited for this purpose; and writers have too often spoken of them collectively as being of dwarf and delicate growth. What will such say to a pillar formed with the old red Moss reaching to the height of 15 feet? That such a one exists I can confidently assert; for I measured the plant last autumn in company with the owner, who assured me he could have trained it higher, but that he was unable to obtain poles to support it. It cannot be said that the pillar is well furnished with branches the whole height, but I feel confident that many varieties will form handsome, well-furnished pillars 6 or 8 feet high. Surely much more is not required. Ten feet is perhaps the maximum of height desirable even for a Pillar-Rose. Beyond this, not only are the best flowers out of sight, but there is infinite trouble in protecting the plants from the wind, in pruning, &c.

If the reader should wish to see the plant alluded to above, it is in the garden of Mr. Anderson, of Bull's-cross, near Cheshunt, growing within a few feet of the road. When I inspected his Moss Roses last winter, some of the shoots of the previous year's growth were above 6 feet long, and extremely robust, and the main stems had swelled to a considerable size. The mossy calyces were still hanging on the trees, showing there had been an abundance of flowers. There were several other plants of the Moss Rose formed as pillars, two or three of which were nearly equal in height to the one above-mentioned.

Now to what circumstances is this uncommon case due?-for uncommon I admit it to be. Is it owing to situation, soil, the age of the trees, or the fostering care of the cultivator? Partly, I should say, to all. The garden lies open to the sun; the situation is airy; the soil is a brownish loam, not exactly light, but friable, and containing a good share of vegetable matter;-a soil in which Wallflowers and Fuchsias vie with Roses in vigor. The ages of the largest Rose-trees are probably from 12 to 20 years.-(Ib.)

Bones as Manure, and their Use in the Culture of Pelargoniums.— The researches of the chemist and the practical testimony of the farmer having more fully established the value of bones as a manure, not for Turnips only, but for various other crops, it behoves us to ascertain whether they have been employed in gardening as extensively as they deserve. If we find they have not, we ought to lose no time in making use of them. The greatest obstacle to the more general use of bones in gardening, as well as in farming, is their undergoing decomposition so very slowly. But this difficulty is got over by dissolving them in sulphuric or muriatic acid. This plan, however, though excellent as far as Turnip culture is concerned, must be defective, inasmuch as it confers no lasting or permanent benefit on

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