The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-05-14 00:00:00

MISCELLANEA.

As a specimen of the excellent style of communicating
information, upon the most interesting horticultural sub-
ject-,s, adopted in the new periodical ( The Gardiners'
Mocazine of Botany, 87e.,) we quote the following from
an article styled, " Notes upon a few Plants suitable for
CUltivation in Vases."

Sedum Sieholdlii.—How rarely we meet with well-
grown specimens of this very interesting plant ! Our
common enemies the snails, however, have a strong
affection for it, devouring it with greediness wherever
unprotected—hence the reason in some measure why it is
so little seen cultivated as a pot plant ; and more especi-
ally when grown, year after year, into a large specimen,
it is a remarkably interesting autumn-blooming plant, re-
maining in perfection a considerable time, and having a
very graceful appearance. It is a native of Japan, and
was first brought into cultivation in 1838. It is propa-
gated freely either by cuttings or by division of the plant.
The best time to divide them is in the spring, when the
plants first begin to grow, and cuttings may be rooted
when they are an inch or two long. Supposing you have
s rong established plants, the best method will be to shift
them about the end of March, using turfy sandy loam,
and leaf mould, in equal proportions, with plenty of
gritty sand and some charcoal broken. If the plants are
strong give them a liberal shift, say into a pot two sizes
larger, disengaging the roots from the sides of the ball at
the time of shifting ; and if the plants grow vigorously
they will require a second shift in the course of the sum-
mer. Keep the plants in a frame, or in the greenhouse,
and in a situation inaccessible to snails. A little weak
liquid manure will be found beneficial throughout the
season, especially when the plants are in full growth,
When the flowers begin to show colour expose them fully
to the sun, and remove to the vases if the weather is
suitable. After blooming cut the old stems away, and
keep the plants in a comparatively dormant state through-
out winter. The old plants should not be reduced in
size, but should have the ball reduced every spring, and
be kept growing on year after year. teveral other
favourite plants are named, and their treatment as fully
explained. The plates illustrating this serial are elegant
and numerous.

The Stanwick Nectarine, which for the first time
appears in the English market on Wednesday next, is
thus described in the Gardeners' Chronicle
" The original Nectarine tree is in the possession of
his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, at whose seat, at
Stanwick, it has borne fruit for several years, and from
which it derives its name. The Duke received it from
the late Mr. Barker, of Sutedia, in Syria, a gentleman
whose attention had long been turned to the acquisition
of the finest fruit trees of the east, in the hope that they
might be valuable in his native country. It was his
anxious desire that such as proved to be adapted to the
climate of the United Kingdom might be imniediately
dispersed ; and the sale now announced is in furTherance
of Mr. Barker's benevolent design. Tn surrendering his
property in it to the public, the Duke of Northumber-
land has resolved that the proceeds, att2r paying the ex-
penses of propagation, &c., should bt. transferred to a
fund in aid of the Benevolent Institution for the Relief of
Infirm Gardeners; a plan in which Mr. Barker heartily
concurred, and which we trust that the well-wishers to
this excellent charity will heartily support. The sale will
take place on the anniversary of the institution, and the
purchasers will have the satisfaction of knowing that in
this instance they may contribute materially to its funds,
while at the same time they are consulting their personal
interests.

" In excellence the Stanwick Nectarine is as far beyond
all other Nectarines as a Green-gage Plum is beyond all
other Plums. Beyond this praise cannot reach. It may,
nevertheless, be as well to repeat on the present occasion
1,..nt Ira etnt..l 0.,n-sa time a;ll‘..v, •,l,c„ OM 1411 quality
ut
the Nectarine had first become perfectly ascertained—
' The Nectarine forming the subject of this notice is about
the size of an Elruge, and like it in shape, except in being
less heart-shaped at the base. Its skin is pale, like that
of the white Nectarine where shaded, with a violet tinge
next the sun. The flesh is white, exceedingly tender,
juicy, rich, and sugary, without the slightest trace of the
flavour of prussic acid. The stone is middle-sized. ovate,
with rather a prominent sharp edge, very rugged, and of
a chocolate colour. The kernel is sweet, like a nut, pos-
sessing nothing of the Bitter Almond flavour. The fruit
of the Peach-and Nectarine, partaking so much as it does
of the quality of the Bitter Almond, must have been very
deleterious in its unimproved state ; bu; the. varieties
now generally cultivated retain but little of the injurious
properties ascribed to the species by ancient authors
and, when well ripened, they can be generally eaten with
impunity, notwithstanding the slight prussic acid flavour
which pervades even their luscious sugary juice; but
some constitutions are liable to be affected by this trace.
It was, indeed, considered unlikely that amelioration
would be carried much further. For at least a century
little improvement has been effected, and in every variety
the kernels have proved intensely bitter. But at last this
is overcome ; in the specimen above described the dele-
terious quality considered inherent in the species has dis-
appeared; and Mr. Barker himself informed me that his
fruits with sweet kernels may be eaten at a full meal, in
quantities. at any time of the day, and repeatedly, with
perfect safety.'

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.
Stove, Conservatory, AT.—The routine operations un-
der glass are at present little more than attending to
cleanliness, removing faded flowers and leaves, repotting,
and propagating. Ventilation and watering must be
fully carried out and carefully managed.
Flower Garden.—It is usual to begin planting out in
the middle of May, but the present season is so unpro-
pitious that a delay will be advantageous.
Kitchen Garden.—Sow a succession of peas, beans,
and-small sallading, Prick out the various seedlings of
the cabbage tribe. Sow French Beans and. scarlet
runners.