On the centre stands the Messrs. Lee set up a second large collection of very choice plants, which were very well set for effect. They made choice of Alocasia metallica for a centre or key plant; and on each side of it match duplicates to the extent of 12 yards. Among them were pairs of the following-Alsophila australis, a fine Fern; Todea pellucida; Polystichum vestitum, venustum; Lomaria fluviatilis; Pteris cretica albo-lineata and argyrea; Darea cicutarium; Gleichenia dicarpa; Cyathea dealbata; Caladiums, Cordylines, Dracenas, and others. The Messrs Lane sent a collection of forty-four fruit trees in pots, consisting of Peaches, Nectarines, and Grapes. From the Society's Chiswick Garden they sent a dozen of finely grown Begonias of the first class, such as Argentea guttata, Isis, nebulosa, Marshalli, Madame Aldworth, and if there is a difference between it and the last, it is not that they are not alike; marmorata, Rex, and others in fine condition; also, some nice pot Zonale and plain-leaved Geraniums. Here stood a noble specimen of Lapageria rosea, with thirty-six open blooms, from Mr. Uzzell, gardener to her grace the Duchess Dowager of Northumberland, at Twickenham. Then forty-four pots of Japan Lilies, from Mr. Turner, of Slough, and six large specimens of the same from Mr. Cutbush, of Highgate. A noble collection of the free-feathered, branching Amaranths; the wild Cockscombs of three or four shades of scarlet and crimson; and a yellow kind from the Messrs. Veitch. Twelve finely done Gladiolus in pots from Mr. Cattell. A large collection of rare Conifers from Mr. Glendening. A fine collection of the best variegated Geraniums from Messrs. E. G. Henderson & Son, exceedingly well set for effect. They were nine kinds, and four plants of each kind in one row across the stage on this wise-four Golden Harkaway, four Fairy, four Mrs. Pollock, four Yellow Belt, four Empress, four Sunset, the tint of them all, and four Countess. A gentleman, who had seen Sunset planted out at the Wellington Road Nursery, told me a week back it was the best he had ever seen, and he is no bad judge of such things. But an old puzzle asks the question, How would you set up nineteen variegated Geraniums like these in nine rows, and nine plants to be in every row? The very first who shall send me a diagram to do that with shall have a donkey large as the one Mr. Judd refused. Another puzzle stood by these-a lot of variegated little Veronica Andersoni in No. 60-pots, looking for all the world to be that form of an old Cineraria amelloides, and now Agathea cœlestis variegata, of which I hear that which pleases me not. These were from Mr. McIntosh, of Hammersmith, who also sent Thuja orientalis variegata and others. Mr. Williams, of the Paradise Nursery, had there a strange little Orchid, a species of Ionopsis, not unlike some delicate Odontoglossum, and the nondescript plant he sent in June last, which grows in green flaps like some Opuntia, and with as little nourishment, by all appearances. He called it "an unknown plant" he meant an unnamed one. Here, also, stood a strong-leaved yellow-leaved Geranium called Gold Leaf, from the Wellington Road Nursery. It is in the way of Golden Fleece, but stronger, and of a more permanent tint; and eight pots of the pretty little Sedum carneum variegatum, as like young plants of the variegated Alyssum as can be. Then two kinds of Retinospora-obtusa and pisifera-from the Exotic Nursery, and looking like Thuja. Then there were fringed single Tianthus superba hybrida from Mr. Seaming, Shipston-upon-Stour. Mr. Ivery, of Dorking, taking the names of what he thought the best to buy; and being a very keen-eyed Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society, I got him to compare notes with me, when I found we only differed in two names he had over me at the Crystal Palace, and I took his selection at this show to save my credit with the florists for not poaching in their preserves, and here they are; but I looked them all over to checkmate him :-Lady Caroline Legge; Purple Queen, which, by the way, has not one shade of purple in it; Achille; Miss Graham; Madame Vilmorin; Osiris, all in Mr. Standish's lot; and Egerie in that from Messrs. Paul & Son. The Lady Caroline Legge is a pure ivory-white ground, firm as in Stanhopeas, an orange eye, and crimson feathers. Purple Queen is a beautiful lilac ground, variously streaked. Miss Graham, a most ladylike flower in white, and a highly-feathered nest in the right place the throat, of course. Talk about feathering one's nest! here is a good chance at all events. Achille, a fine bright scarlet, with an orange mark in the throat. Egerie is of that peculiar light orange and salmon, after some Dendrobium. But for the comfort of poor relations, there is not one of the race better for a bed than brenchleyensis at 4s. the dozen flowering roots fresh from the Dutch growers. The most curious plant at this show was the great Chiloe Rhubarb plant in fruit-the Gunnera scabra, often mentioned in my accounts of Kew. Another curious one is Campanumœa campanulata, a climber, and a botanical curiosity in the eyes of a gardener no less than some Stapelia flower transformed into a Canterbury Bell, or Campanula flower, a climber from Mr. Standish. D. BEATON. WHAT PREYS UPON FARFUGIUM GRANDE? [Every creeping thing that happens to come near our Farfugiums will have a bite at them; and everything on the wing which has a liking for a Peach or a Plum seems to have the same fancy for the leaves of Farfugium. The consequence is, that each season it is well on in June before we are masters of our own Farfugiums, after conquering all its enemies and our tormentors. But sad to say, there is nothing new in our mode of warfare. Greasy Cabbage leaves, or those of a Savoy dipped in a pot out of which a hock of bacon was just taken, will entice and entangle all the slimy snails and slug race, and enable the enticer to rid one acre of land of every one of them in one week, and the unhatched ones come after and go the same gate. Then for the crawlers and creepers, beanstalks and pipy reeds make the best retreat for them by day, and once a-day will clear out the daily entrapped ones by blowing them through the pipes into a can of water. But with them all we had to look, not over the plants, but under them, for days and weeks, to catch very small, light green, mining caterpillars, which stick at nothing that is green and sappy. Now our Farfugiums are well worth the extra care.] NOTES MADE AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE, There was a fine-bloomed specimen of the true Anigozanthus Manglesi at last from Mr. Kinghorn, of East Sheen or Richmond Nursery. Many seeds and dried specimens of this extra- THE general features of this remarkable garden being well ordinary plant have been sent here from Australia in my time, known to the readers of THE JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE from but the living curiosity I never saw till that day. The flower, the many descriptions of it by preceding writers, and a lengthlike those of the whole of this genus, is borne aloft on a long stalkened report of the late Show having appeared from the pen of or scape, which is covered with purple down like the young of Ropalas. The flowers are lacerated more than in any of the older kinds, and are as bright green as an emerald. Mr. Bull was here again at the west end with a lot of fine-leaved plants; and the Messrs. Smith, of Dulwich, by his side with a fine seedling Petunia, named after Madam Smith, a clear white limb and a crimson starry throat; and a new white Fuchsia, called Marchioness of Bath, from Mr. Wheeler, of Warminster. Mr. Cattell and Mr. Standish had a collection of Phloxes in pots-the right way to show them; I have all the names, which will keep till snipeshooting time, the proper time to order them, and to plant new plantations of them. I had another look at the Gladioluses, and found some new ones, and something else: I caught one of the Floral Committee, one who doubtless took more notice of it in detail than I did, I will confine my remarks to such objects as struck me as being more than usually remarkable, and commencing with the interior of the house. The first thing that will strike the occasional visitor having an eye on gardening matters is the progress made by the creepers and stationary plants; those in the tropical end especially being advanced to a condition which gives one some idea of eastern vegetation. Even the more half-hardy plants from Australia, Japan, and China seem to have advanced in a manner that will in a short time give the beholder some idea of the scenery they are meant to represent; but the loftiness of the building will enable them to grow for many years yet suffice it, however, to say, that they were in good health and looked well. The Show itself was not so extensive as has been seen, there Second row-Calceolaria, yellow. being but few plants. No prizes being offered for them, only novelties were sent. Fruit, however, was good, though in some of the classes, as Grapes and Peaches, it was far from plentiful. Melons, Apples, and Plums were well represented; and some Grapes from near Liverpool were magnificent-three bunches of Black Hamburghs weighing 10 lbs. and as black as jet. The White Muscats were also in general fine and ripe, but there seemed a searcity of other White kinds. A large bunch of this colour, however, obtained the first prize for a heavy bunch, beating a Black Hamburgh that was in every other respect its superior. The White one being in fact green, its name did not appear, but it was not the Syrian. Pines were good, but not numerous. A singularity in the growth of this fruit was awarded a prize in the character of a good-sized fruit surrounded by a cluster of gill-suckers, the base of each also containing a small fruit, the whole presenting a mass of fruit, crown and sucker, at once singular and remarkable. There were some good Queens there, but the other kinds were not well represented. The Cut Flowers attracted their full meed of attention. Asters being very fine, as likewise were Dahlias. Gladioluses I think have been better; the season latterly has doubtless been too dry for them and Phloxes. Roses were tolerably good, but not numerous; and Hollyhocks superb; especially the spikes, which is the only legitimate way of exhibiting these flowers. A group of Tritoma uvaria in pots looked well; and what must not be forgotten, as it formed the subject of much conversation amongst gardeners, were a quantity of fruit trees in pots in full bearing Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums. And as I expect they were representatives of orchard-house cultivation, it is likely the admirers of such things felt some little pride at the show they presented. But as I have on former occasions expressed an adverse opinion on this mode of obtaining choice fruit for table, I will say no more than that the specimens at the Crystal Palace Show rather confirmed me in that opinion than produced an opposite one. This opinion, I think, was that of the majority of those present, the fruit being so very small. Third row.-Geranium Trentham or Crystal Palace Scarlet. Sixth row.-Geranium Mangles' Variegated. Some other stripes were done differently to the above, but those having fewest colours invariably looked best. In the circular beds scattered over the ground in the direction of the Rose Mount were some very good mixtures in various ways; and a good Geranium of the Crimson Nosegay class, which I noticed here, was new to me and promises to be a useful one. Verbenas seemed to be but little used, and what Dahlias there were had scarcely begun to flower. Calceolarias everywhere seemed to do well and were in full flower. Lobelia speciosa was also extensively used and with good effect, and some beds of Gazania rigens were as full of flower as it is generally met with. But I did not see any new Tropaeolums, and Petunias were few, and Verbenas were confined to a very few kinds. But the mass of flower was good in a general way; perhaps some of it was going off. The vases, certainly, were not so pretty as I have seen them. This is, doubtless, accounted for by the wind; and the walks, like many things else in the world, are certainly better to look at than to use, as nothing can be really more uncomfortable than the sharp loose gravel they are composed of. Were they more agreeable to walk upon, the turf would not be so much worn. In the matter of walks, utility ought to be as much considered as appearance; but those at the Crystal Palace are as unpleasant to walk upon as anything can well be. The display of fountains was good, and the appearance of the shrubs and trees generally was healthy. Some showed symptoms of having being hurt by the severe weather of last winter; but the appearance of the burnt-up turf by the hot weather in August, struck me and others as being more remarkable than anything I had witnessed in that way since the dry season of 1826, but of the cause of this something will, perhaps, be said hereafter.J. ROBSON. PROPAGATING-PIT NOT ANSWERING. In the grounds I was surprised to see the effects of the dry weather so perceptible, the turf being more burnt up than I ever saw turf in my life, excepting such as had been recently laid down--so brown, in fact, that there seemed no hopes of its Some time ago I put up a small propagating-pit, heated with recovery for many plots of nearly an acre together. I am told hot-water pipes, which are all confined in a brick chamber, and it has never been so bad before. I think excessive wear must surrounded with fireclay; brickbats are put in as loose as possible have had something to do with it. The flower-beds, how-to the depth of about 12 inches over the pipes; I then laid fireever, were in most cases in their prime, and, with the exception clay pavement over these; keeping the joints pretty open, and of the first year, I never saw them look so well. The varieties for plunging material about 4 inches of rough sawdust. For top of plants used in the chain-beds on the terrace gardens being heat I have two-inch drain-pipes set up over three of the pave few and well chosen have a much better effect than where larger ment joinings, and down these pipes I pour water, which finds mixtures are made; for two or three distinct colours, when its way to the heated brickbats below, and sends up a fine looked at at the distance of a hundred yards or more, have a much moisture. better effect than when the bed is broken up into segments of many hues. One of the sets of chain-beds was its whole length planted all alike in stripes running lengthways. The beds being something like 8 feet or more wide, were divided into five rows -the centre row being the Crystal Palace Scarlet Geranium; the two rows next it, Geranium Christina; and the two outer rows next the grass, Verbena Purple King. Nothing could well look prettier than these did, unless it were some rings or bands around some Araucarias and other trees on the upper terrace. These trees occupy a circular space of some 20 feet or more in diameter, a portion nearest the tree of some 6 feet, perhaps, being vacant; the remainder being planted with Lobelia speciosa, having an outside margin of Cerastium and an inside ring of the The soft effect of these two slender rings of Cerastium with the broad band of Lobelia when seen from the balconies was very pleasing-more so than if more glaring colours had been used. There were some other rings of other materials, but the one above pleased me most. same. I was much surprised to find the Perilla nankinensis so little used-in fact, I did not see a plant of it, while in the most gardens I have been in it forms the best feature in them. The Variegated Alyssum has, however, been extensively used at the Crystal Palace with good effect. Some beds having a centre of yellow Calceolaria, then a rim of Scarlet Geranium, and then an edging of Alyssum looked very well; and one panel in the upper terrace having a series of beds surrounding it were all planted in this manner. There were also some very good striped borders at the Rose Mount, one of which consisted thus, beginning at the top or back row: First row.-Geranium Trentham Rose, or one like it. The heat, however, seems to come and go at times, which I cannot understand-sometimes over-hot, at other times too cold: can you give me any explanation? Would it have been better with gravel instead of the pavement? Also, please to say if my plunging material is good, and is it deep enough for small cutting-pots? I find worms work a good deal in sawdust.-SENATEUR VAISE. [Your pit, constructed as you say, ought to do you good service; but there must be something wrong in the heating apparatus to cause it to fluctuate as you describe, as a steady and continuous fire ought always to give out a regular heat. It would, however, have been better had you had one pipe nearly exposed, or some larger portion accessible to the air of the house than that which communicates through the drain-pipe openings, which is not sufficient to give atmospheric heat in cold weather. Some little contrivance will, however, enable this to be done even yet-by exposing a little more pipe for top heat, especially in winter when a dry heat or warmth is more sought after than bottom heat. But the variation of heat, if it does not arise from the careless management of the fire, will sometimes be caused by the carelessness of those who made the joints of the pipes stuffing some of the packing material into the pipe, causing a lump and obstruction, checking very much the onward progress of circulation, and subjecting it to entire cessation at times. The hot water may also flow in another direction instead of the one in question. We have more than once known such contrivances not properly supplied with water. Any one of these causes will be sufficient to account for the unsteadiness of the heat given off. The best way, without pulling anything down, is to make sure there is water enough in the impression that they, the nineteen, were doing that which ought to be done. Leave your Roses untouched till the second week of March next, then open the soil round the collar of each, and cut each just below the tuft of shoots which are now in leaf, and the eyes next lowest down on the shoulders of the main roots will push next spring exactly as did the cut-down stools last spring; but you must then assert your authority and your gardening and philosophic powers, and not let more than three or four shoots rise more than 6 inches the whole of next year. In the October of 1862 you may prune them again, leaving one shoot only-the longest and strongest-and all the rest should be cut down to the surface of the ground. The one you leave then to each plant will have to be cut back a little. What about the Asarum? We have been promised the European kind which does on a dry bank but in the shade.] and then try the fire carefully, and feel the pipes all their length : there ought to be very little difference to the touch; if there is, something must be wrong, and they must be examined. An airvent in the pipes at the highest point is also necessary to insure steady regular working; and in laying the pipes they ought always to be a little on the incline to keep all the air at one place i.e., the highest. The brickbat foundation for the plunging-bed need not have been so deep, and we fear the fireclay pavement covering will be too thick. Half the quantity, or less than that, of brickbats and rather small blue slates laid over them would have done as a bed for the sawdust, as, by being small, there would be the more opening for the moisture to pass down through, and for the heat to come up. The quantity of sawdust will be sufficient, as 4 inches all over will do to plunge pots 7 inches high when put close together. If you have access into such a pit you will find slender glass coverings for portion of such bed very useful, and it will hasten the propagation of everything underneath very much. The other portion of the pit might EDGING MATERIALS FOR GARDEN WALKS do for things more easily grown; but all parts of it will do for propagating all kinds of bedding plants. For wintering stock of any kind it would be better to uncover more of the pipe to get a drier heat in the dark days; and moisture is generally given off in sufficient quantities by the wetted sawdust, and the slates being small, water will percolate down to the brickbat foundation, and be given off in vapour accordingly.] VINES IN POTS BREAKING UNSEASONABLY. I HAVE some Vines in pots that are breaking already, in spite of my keeping them dry. I have plunged them under a south wall, nailed horizontally, top-dressed, and watered them, intending as they advance in growth and the weather gets colder to place them either in a warm pit or forcing-house. Shall I be doing right, and do you think I shall do any good with them at so unusual a season? They ought to produce fruit, and the kinds are-Sweetwater, Black Hamburgh, Black Prince, and West's St. Peter's, by name, but it is a white Grape, and is not that kind a black one ?-VITIS. [We hardly understand your case. Placing them against a south wall was a good place for perfecting their growth. As soon as that was done the plants should have been removed to the north side of a wall, and in very hot weather laid on their broad sides and covered with damp mats, &c., to keep them cool. If from the heat and dryness the main buds are actually breaking now, it will be no use to retard them, but the plants had better be placed where they will receive no sudden check from dryness or cold. They should be allowed to move on slowly, giving no artificial heat if the temperature reaches 55° to 60°, adding from 5° to 10° more when the bunches are in bloom. You may thus have fresh Grapes about the new year, instead of waiting till March and April for them. Did you prune your Vines when set against the south wall? West's St. Peter's is a black Grape.] ROSES ON POSTS AND IN FESTOONS I HAD an avenue of the above, but alas! last winter Jack Frost cut them all down to the ground, but he kindly spared their lives, and they have all pushed, but instead of throwing up four or five good strong shoots they have thrown up each a regular thicket of small shoots. I have tried various plans but want to obtain information from some more learned man, to enable me to restore as speedily as possible the beautiful festoons of Roses which used to adorn my garden. Ought I to thin away now all the shoots but one, or say four? or will it be best to head down now all but four, so that the strength of the plant may be thrown into the four? and should I in the winter eut down the four or the one shoot to within a foot of the ground, and allow them next year to grow as far as they like, as my object is to have the chains covered as soon as possible? Can I do it by allowing a strong single shoot to remain the full length of the pole, and by keeping it bare of side branches force it to break at the head only like a very long-legged standard Briar for budding ?-W. X. W. [As it happens your Roses had the very best treatment of any Roses in the three kingdoms this summer, and nineteen persons out of twenty would have given them the worst treatment, under AND FLOWER-BEDS. IT is somewhat to be regretted that the mechanical skill directed to various departments of gardening should not devote some attention to walk edgings, which certainly have not received the notice they deserve. It is true that live edgings of various kinds abound in great numbers, and every plant possessing a dwarf compact habit and easy growth may be applied to this purpose; but there are places where a live edging is not practicable, or, in fact, where it will not live. In such places some other edgings must be adopted, and it is to such places that I would call the attention of those having the means of furnishing an article at once durable, cheap, and suitable, and as neat as can be well made. To effect a useful invention in this way will be conferring a boon of considerable importance on the gardening world. And by way of explaining what is really wanted, it will be best to describe what already exists, and the defects of each, with their relative merits as well. For many years I have been in the habit of using common kiln bricks as an edging to walks through dark shrubberies and similar places. These are laid in a diagonal position—one edge and one flat side presenting each an angle of 45° to view, or, in other words, they are laid with an angle edge upwards, thus— and, being placed deep enough in the ground to allow only about 2 inches of the angular side of the brick to be seen, its barrow driven over it does no further damage than chipping the appearance is pleasing, and it is not easily moved; even a wheelangles off a little, and sweeping and all the other ordinary work of cleaning a walk only improve its appearance; so that really little is required as regards durability. But a something more ornamental might, perhaps, be better for some places, and even this might, perhaps, be had at very little more expense than is now paid for ordinary bricks. Another description of edging is one made of artificial stone, or rather cement. Some edgings of this kind have been in use here for many years, and are composed of slabs 6 inches wide and about 2 inches thick-the upper edge being rounded-and are generally laid to appear about 2 inches above ground, and their length being about 30 inches for straight work, with a sort of joint for fitting into each other. They are easily laid down, and hold together pretty well, yet not so steadily as the bricks before described; besides which this edging is expensive where any great quantity has to be done. I can, however, vouch for its durability, as I have not perceived the least flaw in what we have of it, which has been laid some seven or eight years and exposed to all weathers. The maker has also other patterns; but the plain round-topped looks as well as any. Many years ago the kitchen-garden walk edging at Eridge Castle, at the Earl of Abergavenny's, was laid with timber cut to a size somewhat like that of the cement edging described above; but, of course, in such a position just at the surface it soon decayed, and, I believe, has not been renewed: timber, therefore, cannot enter into competition with anything excepting for present use, and to meet a sudden emergency, or in isolated cases where other materials are not forthcoming. Dressed stone is, perhaps, the best of all edgings where it can be had, and I have seen a kitchen garden done with it, and look exceedingly neat; but I fear its expense will prevent it coming generally into use, besides which it is only in places where stone is plentiful that it can be had, and only some description of stone is suitable. The flat slabs called Yorkshire paving are not fit for this work; for, being laid edgeways up, the moisture easily penetrates, and frost often shivers the stone-in fact, it is a general rule in building matters to lay each stone in the same position it was found in where durability is the object sought after. Dressed stone will, therefore, I fear, not come into general use, except in the localities where it is found. A rough line of flints half imbedded into the ground and half out often serves as a useful edging in places where rustic work is appropriate, and even in dressed ground it is sometimes made to assume a conspicuous appearance by being painted white. As an example of this the names of the railway stations on many of the lines south of London present as true a feature as can well be given in this way, the letters forming the name being marked out on the sloping bank of black coal ashes or small coals, the flints themselves forming the letters being painted white, and each letter about 6 feet wide perhaps; but as this system of naming stations, which I believe originated on the South-eastern line, has become general in many other districts, I need say no more on this head than merely point out flints as being suitable in some instances of forming edgings in gardens, and have been so used long before railways for passenger purposes came into use. Painting them white is, however, not always done, and some people of good taste dislike the glare it presents. Useful in a similar way, and certainly much more ornamental as requiring no painting or colouring, are the rough pieces of spar or quartz found in mining districts; the clear glitter its angular sides present to the sun renders it highly ornamental. Unfortunately, however, it is not to be had in sufficient quantity to meet other than a local demand; and I have only seen it in use in Cumberland and Derbyshire, but believe it to be plentiful in Cornwall and elsewhere, but I have not seen it used there. A most excellent and ornamental walk is often made of the same material in a broken state; and, if my memory be right, those at Trentham, and some, but not all, at Chatsworth were also of this kind. Fancy designs in brickwork or rough earthenware are common enough; and though some look tolerably well, the bulk of those I have seen are in my opinion exceedingly ugly-a clumsy attempt to represent basketwork, perhaps; or some pattern of gable enrichment; or, it might be, some whimsical design of the owner contriving a something which no ordinary ingenuity could keep in order, and, leaning inwards and outwards, offend the eye as much by the bad setting as by the foolish pattern, proving that high edgings in this way are very unsuitable. By far the best design I ever saw in this way was a rounded bead representing a rope of about 2 inches in diameter; but unfortunately the foundation of this rope was not sufficiently bulky to support it in a uniform line, and it was difficult to keep in a correct line; but this defect might easily be overcome by appending this rope or cable to something like the consistency of a brick, and then it would stand. The lengths ought also to be not less than 2 feet, if they could be made of this size; but I believe this cannot well be done with accuracy with such a common material as brick clay, but I throw the hint out for those having the means to try what they can do. A sort of mortise-and-tenon joints ought also to be formed so as to fit into each other when laid down. Many years ago the late Mr. Loudon called attention to a description of edging-tile, made, I believe, at Aberdeen, exceedingly hard and durable; but I fear its expense or some other defect has prevented it being generally known, as it has been lost sight of. Some other makers have at various times presented different articles in the same way for public patronage, but nothing has been yet issued that has received anything like general support. To a limited extent I have seen a cast-iron edging of a fanciful pattern that looked tolerably well; but its expense must preclude its coming into anything like general use. A similar remark holds good in the matter of slate. Although in the districts where these abound I have no doubt but they can be had at a reasonable rate, and if not too slender must look well and answer every purpose. I have, however, little hope of seeing slate edgings generally adopted a hundred miles from where they are procured, though in particular cases they may be had and found to answer. By the above it will be seen that I consider plain bricks the best and cheapest edging we yet possess for the generality of purposes where a live edging is either not available, or where it will not live; and some edgings of this kind that we have had down ten years and more look well still. The only likely thing to move them when placed in a shrubbery is the roots of trees or shrubs getting under them and lifting them up. This force no description of edging could resist, and bricks are easily relaid again. Moss will collect on them, but must be scraped off; and the mere fact of the brick becoming dull is an advantage, as a bright glaring red is not wanted, and betrays the article used. For convenience our kitchen-garden walks are also laid with bricks in the manner described, and they have the advantage of allowing a something to be planted inside them as well; and some compact-growing plant, as Arabis variegata, makes an excellent edging to grow against this line of brickwork. And being taken up in autumn to plant in flower-beds, then denuded of their summer occupants, the bricks remain a still permanent and useful edging ready to allow another crop next year to partly overshadow them, or to answer the purpose of an edging without such help. The uses of a plain brick edging are far from being told yet, for in the geometric garden or parterre it is equally serviceable. Here, however, it is not put forth in such a conspicuous way, but made to act in a more subordinate capacity as follows:Edgings of turf are well known to become jagged and uneven in spite of every care in clipping the fringe of grass that overhangs the edge; and to cut these afresh with the spade, commonly used for that purpose, every time they become so uneven cannot well be done, especially in dry weather: hence the propriety of having an edging that requires no such cutting. With this view I have, therefore, had some edgings laid down exactly in the manner described with brick, and turf laid level with the top edge of the brick or a little (perhaps half an inch) above it, the object being to get out of the way of the scythe, and at the same time have the slanting side of the brick as an edging to the walk or flower-bed. Compartments of turf so edged cannot be otherwise than correctly clipped in an even manner, and the brick is scarcely seen. If time and other things allowed, I should like to see every walk and flower-bed so treated, and nothing can well look better and be more permanent, it being no easy matter to damage an edge so formed. And assuming weeds to be troublesome on the walk, salt or any other chemical substance might be used to destroy them, without there being any danger of injuring the edging, which is too often the case when no such protection as a brick exists. In advocating the brick laid in a diagonal direction as the best and cheapest edging where Box, Thrift, and other live edgings are not available, I by no means assert it to be the best that can be adopted; on the other hand, I invite mechanical men to turn their attention to the requirements of the case, and give us something better than we yet possess. And for my own part I am strongly impressed with the belief that something of a cable pattern, having a good sturdy foundation, to be the best that I have seen. A fancy moulding rarely looks so well on a large scale as some simple design, that I do not dislike the plain rounded top; but something more becoming than anything we yet possess will doubtless be forthcoming ere long. One thing must be insisted on-that is, cheapness; for expensive objects are out of the reach of the many, and when much edging is required it will amount to a large sum. Another thing must also be borne in mind-that although long lengths are suitable for straight and continuous bordering, short lengths will be wanted to go round curves and other places. In this respect we have found bricks come in very handy; for by being broken in two and placed with their ends up, a sharp curve may be turned pretty well. Since writing the above, a work by the Messrs. Major, of Leeds, called "The Ladies' Assistant on the Formation of the Flower Garden," has been put into my hands; and amongst many varied designs for geometrical gardens are some designs for edgings as well, one being of wire. Somehow I never regarded a wire frame in any other light than as an adjunct to an edging, and consequently did not mention it in the list of other articles; and I think Messrs. Major must hold a similar opinion, as they say a plate of iron or zinc ought to go in the inside of the wirework to keep the dirt in. They also give some patterns of earthenware and one of cast-iron, but I cannot say that I admire them. Something more simple would, I am persuaded, look better. The designs for gardens are, however, varied and good, and these I will take the liberty of mentioning again. Suffice it to say that the subject of garden edgings has not yet received all the attention it requires, and they may certainly be improved.-J. ROBSON. TRICOLOURED-ZONED GERANIUMS. .... IN a report of a meeting of the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society held on August 27th, your correspondent “D., Deal,” in speaking of the new tricolor-zoned Geraniums, says, "They are very pretty, but they hardly keep their character out of doors. Wherever they can have a little protection, they are very showy and beautiful.' Now, I consider that this is quite calculated to mislead the growers of these Geraniums; and is, moreover, so entirely at variance with my experience in the matter that I cannot help thinking that "D." has never grown them out of doors, nor seen them so grown. It is only in the open air fully exposed to the sun and rain, &c., that they attain anything like their greatest brilliancy, and everything in the shape of protection diminishes the same in a corresponding ratio. This is a fact which does not appear to be generally known; but any of your readers may convince themselves of its correctness by turning a plant of the very varieties which "D." names into the open border, keeping another plant of the same variety under protection, and at the end of the present month report to you as to which plant is the more brilliant.-Z. THE BEDDING-OUT AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. AFTER the festooned Cissus discolor in the Vietoria Lilyhouse at Kew the next prettiest effort in gardening in the kingdom, as far as I can hear, is the long line of ribbon-like-planted beds across the bottom of the grand terrace at the Crystal Palace. I think there are twenty-two oblong beds in the stretch and straight line: their length about 18 feet, and the width, of course, one-third of the length, or 6 feet across; and there are as many circular beds with an extra couple to spare-one between each pair of oblongs, and of the same width. Nothing that has ever yet been done in garden decoration with flowers was ever more telling, or, indeed, one-half so effective as this simple plan and contrast with only three kinds of flowers-two Geraniums and one Verbena. If you could get the councils of horticultural societies to see the effect of this judicious selection of the fewest things one could use for any effect, perhaps some of them would offer prizes for the best effect from cut flowers at their exhibitions; then there would be something worth going to see at their shows of such flowers. I shall take this opportunity and the privilege of a public writer to recommend the subject to the Rev. Reynolds Holethe gentleman who originated the Rose shows and brought them on so far with great credit to all concerned. We have learned absolutely nothing yet in the way of effective decoration from all the Dahlias, and all the Roses, and all the cut flowers which have been exhibited in England for the last forty years; while Mr. Gordon, the youngest of us all, has in one season done more that way with his disposition of three kinds of plants than the whole of us put together. But you need not believe one word of this: go to the Crystal Palace, and I shall be ready to hear all that you can say for or against my say-and pray just look at the first corner or v-bed opposite the railway entrance, and say if you ever saw such another bed of Scarlet Geraniums in all your travels, But I have seen better beds of Punch than that one. Look again at the top of that side walk for the match pair of gem beds of which I spoke the day they were planted, and see how they tally with my tale. Again, just look on the large bed of Yellow Calceolarias on the north side of the Rose Mount, right opposite the centre front of the great transept, and say if ever you saw such another bed with such kinds of plants, the bulk of them being of Gaines' Yellow Calceolaria, which is, or seems to be, by far the best bedding Yellow Calceolaria that ever was tried. It is a seedling of Rugosa, or of one generation from it. If the plant was out of bloom a botanist could not tell it from Rugosa itself. I never saw any Calceolaria nearly so good. They obtained it from Mr. Gibson, of Battersea Park Gardens; and, of course, Mr. Gaines, of Battersea, knows more about it, and his own real name for it. When you reach the main terrace, just look down on each side of the way to the water temples, and let us hear your notions of these two lines of beds; then turn round and see the grand sight of the place, the said line of twenty-two beds, all in three kinds of plants-two Geraniums and one Verbena as I have just said. The Crystal Palace Scarlet all along the centre of all the beds in one straight line, Christina on each side of it, and Purple King Verbena on each side of Christina. The fact is this: Mr. Kinghorn ought to have had a gold medal struck on purpose for himself for raising Christina, and the medal ought to have been as wide as the shield of Achilles, and he should hang it at the shop door at East Sheen, Richmond. The Geranium Attraction which did so well at the Crystal Palace in 1859 failed in 1860, and again this season, and they will never try it again. The Geraniums in the chain patterns have got the better of the Calceolarias within their circles, and it would be no discredit to England if they, or any one else, would never plant another Scarlet Geranium by the side and in contrast to yellow of any sort. When I was a first fiddler no such thing was ever allowed by the highest artists.-D. BEATON. VEGETABLE PHENOMENA. A FEW days since I purchased two fine large Lemons at a grocer's shop in Hounslow, for medicinal purposes. When on cutting one of them open longitudinally, I was surprised to find that four of the pips or seeds had germinated, the radicle of the largest consisting of two strong fibres about an inch long, the The two parts (including the pip, about midway) extending in plume or stem measuring 14 inch, and of a bright green colour; nearly a straight line along the fruit; the other three being deflected in the shape of a fish-hook. I believe it is nothing uncommon, although to the writer equally unaccountable to find a small Orange within a larger one, the outer integument of the former being precisely of the same colour as the latter. writer would be glad to know if what he has noticed is of as rare occurrence as he presumes it to be.-A. K. The [It is not uncommon for seeds to vegetate in the seed-vessel, and the Lemon fruit is only the seed-vessel of the Lemon tree. We have frequently seen the seeds of the Orange germinate similarly in their surrounding pulp. Peas often germinate in the pod. It is a much more rare occurrence for a perfect Orange to be found within another as you describe.-EDS, J. OF H.] DO ROOTS ESCAPING FROM POTS INTO THE BORDER DISQUALIFY THE PLANTS AS POT PLANTS? I FXHIBITED on Thursday last three Grape Vines in pots at the Worksop Show. They were very superior to any exhibited, and averaged thirteen bunches each. To my surprise, on entering the tent after the Judges had given their decision, I found a card containing these words placed on my Vines :-" Disqualified, grown in open border." Now, I have scores of witnesses who could prove they were grown in pots and never plunged, although they had partly rooted from the bottom hole into some old tan they stood on, which would be impossible to prevent unless they were turned and twisted daily. These Vines were taken to Worksop and back in an open van, remained there all night in a crowded tent, and they are at this time fresh and good and still fit to be exhibited again. I had a large trellis made to fix the Vines and bunches to |