The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-01-22 00:00:00

THE ILITIRPOOId STANDARD.

Igrtruitural anb 30ortirultural

COLUMN.

A short time since we referred to the neglect into which
many of our best herbaceous plants have fallen. On
that occasion we treated upon the most common kinds,
and promised a future recurrence to the subject; in fulfil-
ment of which we will now call attention to a few less-
known, but not less beautiful. We will premise, how-
ever, that the beauties of natural objects are not always
visible at the first glance, but break gradually on the at-
tentive observer; hence it is that the fancies (as they are
called) of florists are often ridiculed by the unobservant.
But this is more particularly the case with herbaceous
hardy plants, which require but little care, and seldom get
the little they require. We have known many persons
who could not see any beauty in the humble Saxifrages ;
but we dare venture to affirm that those very persons
would, if they frequently observed a well-grown mass of
any of the species, soon learn to admire it. Plant the
little Saxifraga hypnoides on some rock-work of light-co-
loured stones, where it will grow most luxuriantly, and
form an emerald green cushion of exquisite beauty; and
when its light, graceful, pearly flower-cups make their
appearance, it will recommend itself to every admirer of
nature, not from any imaginary beauty, but because, es-
thetically speaking, beauty is a part of its nature, and we
cannot help admiring it when we have divested ourselves
of the recollection of gayer beauties, and can pay the same
attention to such humble objects.
But to pursue our subject of neglected flowers, we will
first mention the Soldanellas ; they are small, very small,
it is true ; but they are as lovely as they are small. From
a tuft of flat, circular, dark green leaves rise several light
wiry stems, about two inches high, from the tops of which
depend, in the most graceful manner possible, several
elegant little bells of fairy-like forms, and a rich lilac-
blue colour. Beautiful as these plants undoubtedly
are, they are very rare except in collections of Alpines.
Two reasons exist for this rarity : the first is, they are
too small for the lovers of showy flowers ; the other, they
are supposed to be difficult of culture, and are conse-
quently confined to pots in the alpine bed or frame. The
first objection is a matter of taste ; the second arises from
a neglect to supply a proper situation for plants of alpine
habits. Such small ones as the Soldanellas are totally
unfit for the border, where they are soon lost; but if a
taste exists for such plants, we believe they may be grown
as easily as weeds, if rockeries be formed for them, which,
although objectionable in many ways, as ornamental ob-
jects, are nevertheless more Teasing to the eye than al-
pine frames, with their numerous pots and plunging ma-
terial.

The dwarf Phloxes are all pretty, and few of the showy
summer bedding plants can surpass the beauty of Sapona-
ria ocyrciiides, with its myriads of little lively pink blos-
soms : these and the stately and handsome Dodecatheon
deserve every attention, and form, under the skilful culti-
vator, really splendid objects.
Even the Uvularias, when nicely grown, are very
pretty, and many of the Irises are decidedly handsome.
Iris pumila, and its white variety, are neat little border
flowers. Several of the Columbines are shewy plants, and
deserve cultivation, especially the common one, which
sports into striking varieties. The various species of Co-
reopsis are amongst the most elegant of yellow compo-
site flowers. The Rudbeckias, tco, of the same order, are
very effective in the border, especially fulgens and pur-
perea: the latter has become exceedingly rare, having
been displaced by its more showy congener, the Dahlia.
Several of the Achilleas are much esteemed by connois-
seurs, such as the double variety of A. ptarmica, with its
pearl-white flowers resembling those of Ranunculus pla-
tanifolia. A. Clavennze, if well grown, can hardly be sur-
passed, and some of the yellow species form pretty rock
plants. The genus Campanula contains a great number of
species, of all sizes, from C. pulla, one inch in height,
with its tiny purple bells, up to the tall-growing C. nobi-
lis, four feet high, with bells three inches in length,
but not so handsome as the old favourite, Canterbury
Bell. We have already extended these remarks beyond
our usual limits, without exhausting the subject, and must
leave it till a future opportunity.

PAPERS ON AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY,

first is cut, the young plant is in full vigour. But even
then I do not consider it advisable to cut down the old
stem too hurriedly ; in some cases I have found this pro-
ceeding to bring the young plant to a stand still. I have
found the greatest advantage in tieing the old leaves toge-
ther, letting as much light and air as possible surround
the sucker. When it has gained strength sufficient to
support itself, and the oldAleaves begin to show that they
will soon be of no farther use, I take them off, making
as clean and close a cut as I can. The tempera-
ture of our Pine stove ranges from 55 deg. to 75 deg. in
winter, and in the growing months from 75 deg. to 95
deg. ; the extremes may be 50 deg. and 100 deg., with mois-
ture in proportion. You thus perceive that our average
bottom heat is 65 degrees in winter, and 85 degrees during
the growing months ; and I am satisfied that this heat is
sufficient for the roots of the Pine Apple. I might tell
you of instances where I have seen this fruit wintered
without injury, in a night temperature frequently reaching
45 degrees, but such a course of argument is unnecessary.
Our temperature in summer ranges high, and in winter
rather low, and this, with an abundance of moisture at all
times, is a point of success which should not be over-
looked. The top-dressing of the bed every spring is of
the greatest importance : my manner of performing the
operation is, first, to tie up the leaves of the individual
plants with broad bast, as if they were about to be re-
moved to the potting bench, then to remove all the soil
possible, taking care not to materially injure the roots,
filling up again to the requisite height with fresh light
rich earth, not chopped too fine, the object being to allow
the water to pass readily away, and admit abundance of
air to the roots. The application of liquid manure has a
very beneficial effect during the summer months. I have
no particular time or manner of applying it ; say once a
week, if the weather is hot and drying ; or in two or
three weeks, if the contrary ; sometimes we have guano,
or guano and soot purified with lime, the drainings of the
dunghill—in truth, " all's fish that comes in the net" ;
and I have found a change from one to another of advan-
tage. Shading I never use ; indeed, the greatest difficulty
we have to contend with is a want of light and air, and
every means by which these can be increased should he
taken advantage of. By attention to these simple means
I have proved that the Pine Apple can be grown success-
fully, without a bottom heat of 85 degrees in winter, or
95 in summer ; and, simple though they appear, they
bring the cultivation of this fruit within the profitable
reach of every owner of a glass-house. All I contend for
is a bottom heat equal to the average temperature of the
house, and the stool system of propagation ; let there be
a free circulation of air underneath the bed ; let the air
be as sweet there as in any other part of the house, which
is really necessary to the health of the plants ; place the
pipes under the bed, or along the pathway on each side of
it, it matters not ; if the circulation is good the heat will
equalise itself. I will now notice very shortly one or two
of the arguments brought against this system, and the
first, which is at all worthy of notice, is, that the richness
of flavour, so much to be desired, cannot be acquired in a
moist atmosphere. This is an objection worthy of every
consideration, and to any one who has not proved the ac-
commodating disposition of the Pine Apple, is a most seri-
ous one. All experience is in favour of a dry season for the
ripening of almost all fruits ; and we well know that
grapes, or any other of the soft pulpy fruits, become insi-
pid and watery unless ripened in an atmosphere approach-
ing nearly to dryness ; but there is a vast difference
between showers of water overhead and that dew-like
moisture accumulated during the night, only to be dis-
persed the following morning. Withdraw it, and allow
the Pine Apple to be ripened in a parched atmosphere,
when, instead of having fruit full of juicy richness, you
have a dry hard substance, not fit to be compared with the
other. There are cultivators who recommend showers of
diluted manure water overhead, up to the time the fruit
changes colour, arguing that by so doing they add to the
weight of the fruit ; I very much doubt the utility of such
an operation, nor could I expect fruit of a high flavour
after such treatment ; but I do apply it to the roots and
lower part of the stem and leafs, up to the time the fruit
is cut, and have always found an advantage from such a
proceeding.
So far as I am aware, there is only one objection that
will hold good against this system—viz., the ripening et.
retarding of the fruit at pleasure ; by the planting out
method we have power only over the fruit,—the plant is
stationary ; and this is one reason why I prefer the (true)
Black Jamaica to any other variety. I have had it after
being cut six weeks, and knew no difference of it ; and,
should a longer period be desirable, by cutting a little
green, with a good lengthy footstalk, I think it might be
kept much longer.

JOHN RICHARDSON,
Gardener to Henry Sharpies, Esq.,
Oswald's Croft, near Liverpool.

* This is not a solitary instance; for, with the exception of
the two fruit in 1849, the next plant to it has done the same
thing—allowing a few ounces more or less in different years.

THE CHASE

Sir Thomas Hesketh's Harriers will meet on Wednes-
day, at Shaw Green ; and on Saturday, at Devil's Wall—
at eleven o'clock each day, weather permitting.
The Cheshire Hounds—Wednesday, at Marbury ;
Thursday, at Appleton ; Saturday, at Booth's Obelisk—
at half-past 10.
Sir W. W. Wynne's Hounds—The first open day, at
the Kennel—at 11.