loam, manured annually with a mixture will bear removing, yet it always checks
of peat and leaf-mould suits them best, and somewhat lessens their growth.
The subsoil should be retentive, for if| When they make their appearance in.
very dry they will not flourish.
Pruning. — They require but
little
the spring, and have been thoroughly
cleared of weeds, thin to six or eight
pruning, except to remove superfluous , inches asunder, and let the surface of
branches, &c., and this is best done in the ground about them be loosened
April. Mr. Glenny says that old plants \ with the hoe. At the close of summer.
which have become bare at the bottor
are easily converted into standards by
selecting the largest bare stem, cutting
all the rest away, and pruning the head I
into shape. If the stem be growing out
when it can be determined which are
the strongest plants, finally thin to three
or four feet, or the Gigantic and Victo-
ria to six. In autumn remove the de-
cayed leaves, and point in a little well
slopingly, you have only to dig up the 1 putrefied stable-dung, and earth up the
plant and place it upright.
stools. In the spring hoe the bed, and
Green-house Culture. — Whilst grow- i as the stalks when blanched, are much
ing, that is from about the end of April less harsh in taste, require less sugar to
to the middle of June, keep them in a , be rendered palatable, and are greatly
temperature of which the extreme at '
night and in the day are 45^ and GQo.
Supply them liberally with water during :
that time, and then remove them to a
cool situation out of doors, otherwise
they will be super-luxuriant and not
flower. t
improved in appearance, dig a trench
between the rows, and the earth from
it place about a foot thick over the stool.
This covering must be removed when
the cutting ceases, and the plants allow-
ed to grow at liberty. As the earth in
wet seasons is apt to induce decay, the
Forcing. — To obtain early flowers, covering may be advantageously formed
place some potted plants in a very gen- of coal ashes or drift sand.
tie heat the last week in December.
To obtain Seed. — Those plants pro-
RHUBARB. Rheum rhaponticum, R.\ dvicc the seed in greatest perfection
hybridum, R. undulatum, and R. palma- I that are not gathered from, but on no
turn. This last is the medicinal
Turkey Rhubarb of the shops — the es-
culent one or pie-plant, as it is familiar-
ly termed, has become quite a common
inmate of our American gardens; its
early growth, affording facility for pies
and tarts, long before green fruit can be
account must they be subjected to the
process of blanching. Two year old
plants often produce seed, but in their
third yearalways. It must be gathered as
soon as ripe, and great care taken that
none is scattered over the beds, for the
plants thence produced often spring up.
obtained, and its close resemblance in and greatly injure the old plants by
flavour to the gooseberry, render it al
most indispensable
growing unobserved amongst them.
Forcing. — Plant a single row three
Varieties. — There are several varie- ■feet apart in ground that has been
ties, of which the most preferable are trenched two spades deep, and dressed
RHU
504
RIC
with well putrefied dung at the time.
The forcing may commence in Decem-
ber ; first cover either with sea-kale or
common garden pots (twelves), but
chimney pots are still better, the leaf-
stalks becoming much longer and finer,
and envelope them with fermenting
dung. When well up, the pots are re-
moved, except when chimney pots are
used, and large hand-glasses substi-
tuted; covering is required every night,
and in dull weather with thick mats.
the roots are placed on a level with
each other, and about an inch belowr
the surface. These being covered with
inverted pots of the same size, may be
placed in a vinery or hot-bed, and on
the approach of spring, probably any
time after January, any room or cellar
will be sufficiently warm. If copiously
supplied with water, the plants vege-
tate rapidly and vigorously, and each
pot will produce three successional
cuttings, the first two being the most
By this mode the plants are very liable plentiful. As soon as the third is ga-
to be broken, as their leaves soon touch thered, the roots may be changed, and
the sides. A frame is much less objec- those removed replajited in the ground,
tionable, formed by driving stakes into when they will attain sufficient strength
the ground on each side of the bed, al- to be forced again in a year's time. If
ternating with the plants. These are to not, it is of little consequence, foryear-
be three feet high above ground, and the old roots raised from cuttings, or even
space between the two rows of stakes
two feet at the bottom, but approach-
ing each other, and fastened by cross
pieces, so as to be only fifteen inches
apart at top. To the sides and top stout
laths are fixed to prevent the dung fall
seed sown in autumn, are sufficiently
strong for use."
Propagation by Division. — Mr. Ro-
gers, a successful cultivator, says, that
" when the rhubarb is propagated by
the root, care must be taken to retain a
the accompanying sketch.
Fig, 147
The dung may either be fresh, or
that which has previously undergone
fermentation, and placed all round the
frame eight or ten inches thick, and the
top covered with long litter. The tem-
perature in the interior should have a
range from .55° to 60". If it rises higher,
two or three large holes made through
the top soon corrects it.
A frame renders hand-glasses or any
other coverunnccessary, requires much
ng upon the plants, as represented in bud on the crown of each offset, toge-
ther with a small portion of the root
itself, with, if possible, some fibres at-
tached to it. These offsets may be taken
from roots of three or four years old,
without injury to the plant. They may
be planted where they are intended to
remain, at the same distance and in the
same manner as advised for the seed-
lings."
Taking for Use. — " Scrape away a
little of the earth, then bend down the
stalk you wish to remove, and slip it
off from the crown without breaking it,
and without using a knife. The stalks
are fit to gather when the leaves are
but half expanded, but a larger produce
is obtained by letting them remain till
full grown." — Gard.and Pract. Flor.
RHUS. Seventy-seven species.
Chiefly green-house evergreen shrubs^
some hardy deciduous trees, shrubs,
and climbers, or creepers. The stove
less attention, and produces plants of and green-house kinds increase by ripe
excellent quality. Rhubarb may be cuttings, the hardy species by cuttings
forced without either pots or frame, by and layers. Common soil suits them
merely covering the plants six inches all.
deep with light litter, care being taken
that the plants are not injured.
Mr. Knight's mode of forcing is to Cuttings. Common soil
place " in the winter as many plants as | and Gooseberry
necessary in large deep pots, each pot
receiving as many as it can contain, and i house herbaceous perennial
the interstices entirely filled up by fine t Light rich soil.
eandy loam; washed in. The tops of I
RIBES. Forty-four species and many
varieties. Hardy deciduous shrubs.
See Currant
RICHARDIA {Bthiopica. Green-
Offsets,
RICHJE A fragrans. Stove ever-
RIC
505
green climber. Cuttings. Loam, peat, |
and sand. [
RICINUS. Eight species. Half- i
liardy annuals and green-house ever-
green shrubs. Seeds and cuttings.
Rich soil. R. communis produces ttie
Castor Oil.
RICOTIA lunar ia. Hardy annual.
Seeds. Light sandy soil.
RIDGING is digging the soil into
... parallel ridges in this form — so
AAA „„ ,„ „^„„,„ ;, .1,„,„,,„UI„ ,„ .l.„
deep. In the first place the ground is
measured out in longitudinal beds four
feet wide ; this done, the top spit of the
,^ _- - -0 - - - bed c, is laid on the bed g, and the
as to expose it thoroughly to the second spit of the bed c, is laid on h.
action either of the atmosphere or of The first or top spit of the bed /, is then
frost.
M. Schluber says, "that freezing re-
duces the consistency of soils most re-
markably, and that in the case of clays
and other adhesive soils, the diminution
of this consistency amounts to at least
fifty per cent."
In hoeing clay he found it reduced
from S'xty-nine to forty-five of the scale
already stated, and in the ordinary
arable soil from thirty-three to twenty.
laid on h, so that the top soil and sub-
i soil are kept on separate and alternate
i beds, and may be mixed, reversed, or
! returned as taken out, at the will of
the operator. By this method the ad-
vantages are — much greater exposure
of surface to the action of the weather;
the opportunity of incorporating with
the soil any desirable or obtainable
manures, and at any desired depth ; a
thorough blending of the soil to the
— .; " ^"-j- •■•■^•^^i^ - ^.^.. — f, -■— - —
He satisfactorily explains this phenome- depth of two or three feet ; and it also
non, by observing that the crystals of facilitates the operation of draining,
ice pervading the entire substance of where necessary. It is needless to add,
the frozen sod, necessarily separate the i that when the first thrown-out beds are
particfes of earth, rendering their points sufficiently pulverized, they are levelled
of contact fewer. down, and others thrown out in the
Ridging, however, should not be con- same manner; g, h, i, represent the
fined to the winter, for in summer the ridges thrown out and left as rough as
extra exposure to the air and heat is
highly promotive of vegetation — it im-
pregnates the soil with oxygen, pro-
motes the decay of stubborn vegetable
remains, and disturbs predatory vermin.
possible." — Gard. Chron.
RIGIDELL.\ flammea. Stove tuber-
ous-rooted perennial. Offsets or seeds.
Light rich soil.
RINGING is a practice adopted for
, , J . V, I .»,»,^.».». , ,
Mr. Barnes says, " I keep all ground, ; the purpose of checking the return of
as soon as a crop is done with, well the sap, and thereby confining a larger
trenched, burying all- the refuse I pos- ; supply to the blossom. It is removing
sibly can in a green state, casting the j an entire zone of bark, about an inch
earth into rough ridges, tumbling those I wide, around the branch to be ren-
ridges over with a strong fork on frosty dered more fruitful, and taking care
mornings in winter and spring, and ' that the bark be completely removed
during hot sunny days in summer, con- down to the very wood. This was
tinually changing the crops. Keeping designated the ring of Pomona, but it
the hoe at work at all seasons in suit- certainly was not auspiciously received
able weather, forking up all odd cor- by that deity; for although it renders
ners and spare ground without loss of the part of the branch superior to the
time. By this management, I find the wound more fruitfiil for two or three
ground is always in good condition and j seasons, yet it renders the branch un-
never tired by cropping, some judgment sightly by the swelling which occurs
only being exercised in applying such around the upper lip of the wound, and
properties again to the soil that have | is always followed by disease and un-
been taken from it, or. that are likely to fruitfulness. See Ligature.
be retiuired by the succeeding crop." RIPOGONUM. Two species.
An effectual mode of ridging is thus Green-house evergreen climbers. —
described
" Let a, b, c, d, represent a section
Young cuttings. Loam and peat-
RIVEA liliafolia. Stove evergreen
of the ground to be trenched two feet ! twiner. Cuttings. Rich.oam ana peat.
RI V
506
ROC
RIVINA. Seven species. Stove
evergreen shrubs. Seeds or cuttings.
Light soil.
ROBINIA. Seven species and many
varieties. All hardy deciduous trees,
except R. guineensis and 11. purpwea,
which are stove evergreens. Increased
by young cuttings. Loam, sand, and
peat. The hardy kinds are increased
by layers or grafts, and require only
common soil.
ROCAMBOLE. Allium Scorodo-
prasuiii. Sometimes called Spanish
Gallic, has its bulbs or cloves growing
in a cluster. The stem bears many
bulbs at its summit, which as well as
those of the root are often preferred in
cooking to garlic, being of much milder
flavour.
Time of Insertion. — It is best propa-
gated by the root bulbs, those of the
stem being slower in production. The
plantation may be made either in Feb-
ruary, March, or early part of April,
as well as throughout the autumn, in
drills or by the dibble, in rows six
inches apart each way, and usually
two inches within the ground ; though
the plants would thrive better if grown
on the surface as recommended for
the shalot. In other respects they are
cultivated as directed for Garlic. A
very small bed is sufficient for the sup-
ply of the largest family.
ROCHEA. Three species. Green-
house evergreen shrubs. Partly dried
cuttings. Sandy loam, peat, and brick
rubbish.
ROCKET. Hesperis.
ROCK ROSE. Cisttis and Convolvu-
lus Dorycnium.
ROCK-WORK. " Mere rocks, un-
less they are peculiarly adapted to cer-
tain impressions, may surprise, but
can hardly please; they are too far
removed from common life, too barren
and inhospitable, rather desolate than
solitary, and more horrid than terrible.
So austere a character cannot be long
engaging if its rigour be not softened
by circumstances, which may belong
either to these or to more cultivated
spots; and when the dreariness is ex-
treme, little streams and waterfalls are
of themselves insufficient for the pur-
pose : an intermixture of vegetation is
also necessary, and, on some occa-
sions, even marks of inhabitants are
prop
" If such a scene occurs within the
precincts of a park or a garden, no ex-
pense should he spared to meliorate
the soil, wherever any soil can be
found. Without some vegetation
among the rocks, they are only an
object of curiosity or a subject of won-
der ; but verdure alone will give some
relief to the dreariness of the scene,
and shrubs or bushes, without trees,
are a sufficiency of wood. The thickets
may also be extended by the creeping
plants — such as pyracantha, vines, and
ivy — to wind up the sides, or cluster on
the tops of the rocks; and to this vege-
tation may be added some symptoms of
inhabitants, but they must be slight and
few : the use of them is only to cheer,
not to destroy the solitude of the place;
and such therefore should be chosen as
are sometimes found in situations re-
tired from public resort. A cottage
may be lonely, but it must not here
seem ruinous and neglected ; it should
be tight and warm, with every mark of
comfort about it, to which its position
in some sheltered recess may greatly
contribute. A cavity also in the rocks
rendered easy of access, improved to a
degree of convenience, and maintained
in a certain state of preservation, will
suggest similar ideas of protection from
the bitterest inclemencies of the sky,
and even of occasional refreshment and
repose. But vve may venture still fur-
ther. A mill is of necessity often built
at some distance from the town it sup-
plies ; and here it would at the same
time apply the water to a use, and in-
crease its agitation. The dale may,
besides, be made the haunt of those
animals — such as goats — which are
sometimes wild and sometimes domes-
tic, and which, accidentally appearing,
will divert the mind from the sensa-
tions natural to the scene, but not
agreeable if continued longer without
interruption.
" These, and such other expedients,
will approximate the severest retreat
to the habitations of men, and convert
the appearance of a perpetual banish-
ment into that of a temporary retire-
ment from society.
" When rocks retire from the eye
down a gradual declivity, we can,
by raising the upper ground, deepen
the fall, lengthen the perspective, and
give both height and extent to those at
a distance. This effect may be still
increased by covering this upper
ROC
507
ROC
ground with a thicket, which shall idable, which might otherwise have
cease, or be lowered, as it descends, been unnoticed. A steep, in itself not
A thicket, on other occasions, makes very remarkable, becomes alarming
the rocks which rise out of it seem when a path is carried aslant up the
larger than they are. If they stand side. A rail, on the brow of a pcrpen-
upon a bank overspread with shrubs, dicular fall, shows that the lieii'lit is
their beginning is at the least uncer-
tain, and the presumption is that they
start from the bottom.
" Another use of this brushy under-
wood is, to conceal the fragments and
frequented and dangerous; and a cor
mon foot-bridge, thrown over a cleft
between rocks, has a still stronger
effect. In all these instances the im-
agination immediately transports the
rubbish which have fallen from the spectator to the spot, and suggests the
sides and the brow, and which are
often unsightly.
" Rocks are seldom remarkable for
the elegance of their foVms; they are
dea of looking down such a depth ; in
the Inst that depth is a chasm, and the
situation is directly over it.
'If the body of the rock is intended
too vast and too rude to pretend to to be raised much above the ground
delicacy; but their shapes are often | level, a quantity of soil and rulibish
agreeable, and we can affect those should be carried into the centre of the
shapes to a certain degree — at least s[)ace. This soil, besides serving to
we can cover many blemishes in them support the rockwork, will also form a
by conducting the growth of shrubby , border for the plants to grow in. Hav-
and creeping plants about them. For ing at hand plenty of large rough stones,
all these purposes mere underwood broken bricks, or stony rubbish of any
suffices ; but for greater effects larger kind or colour, proceed with these to
trees are requisite. They are worthy imitate the form of natural rock as
of the scene, and not only improve- | nearly as possible. Rough, bold, an-
ments but accessions to its grandeur, gular projections, and deeply-formed
We arc used to rank them among the chasms, are the principal features in
noblest objects of nature ; and when natural scenery which please us most,
we see that they cannot aspire to the , A rock, with a flat unbroken surface,
midway of the heights round them, the [ whether horizontal or perpendicular,
rocks are raised by the comparison. A presents too much sameness to be pleas-
single tree is, therefore, often prefera- ing to the eye: therefore, in imitating
ble to a clump ; the size, though really . nature, the projections should be varied
less, is more remarkable; and clumps , and bold, and unless raggedness and
are, besides, generally exceptionable, intricacy form principal features in its
in a very wild spot, from the suspicion composition, it will lose much of its
of art which attends them. But a wood effect. If the rock-work be on a large
is free from that suspicion ; and its own scale, it should not be one continued
character of greatness recommends it to i line, but broken at intervals, in one part
every scene of magnificence
lost beneath the surface of the earth,
" On the same principle, all the con- ] and again rising in another part and
sideration which can be should be given
to the streams. No number of little
rills are equal to one broad river; and,
in the principal current, some varieties
may be sacrificed to importance. But
a degree of strength should always be
preserved. The water, though it iieeds
not be furious, must not be dull ; for
dignity, when most serene, is not lan-
guid ; and space will hardly atone for
want of animation.
resuming its sinuous lorm.
" So far there is little difference be-
tween this and the common method of
making artificial rock. When, how-
ever, every stone has been arranged to
suit the eye, the interstices between
them are to be filled up with any kind
of rough mortar. Of course fissures,
and similar places intended for the
plants which are to cover the rock,
must be left open, so that the roots may
"Inhabitants furnish frequent oppor- penetrate to the soil beneath the stones
tunities to strengthen the appearances j The next operation is to daub the whole
of force by giving intimations of danger, i mass over with Roman cement. For
A house placed at the edge of a preci- ! this purpose the latter should be mixed
pice — any building on the pinnacle of a | with water until it is of the consistence
crag — makes that situation seem form- \ of thick paint, in which state it may be
ROC
508
ROO
applied to the Btones with a large I nobilis; Phlox ovata; P. subulata ; P.
painter's brush. The spaces between ! nivalis; Vinca minor, florepleno; Cam-
the stones having been filled with rough panula pumila ; Gentiana verna ; Dryas
mortar prevents the cement from being octopetala; Digitalis lutea; Sibthorpia
wasted. The thickness of the latter on europsa ; Arabis alpina; Draba azoides;
the stones need not be more than the Premanthes purpurea; P. Muralis ;
eighth of an inch: it will unite the Antennaria plantaginea ; Gnaphalium
whole into one mass; and rock-work, ! arenanum ; Polypodium vulgare cam-
thus constructed, is beyond all compa- j bricum ; P. dryopteris ; Onoclea sensi-
rison far more natural than that made | bills ; Asplenium adiantum nigrum ;
in the usual way. It has none of that , Pteris caudata ; Adiantum Capillus
disjointed appearance which usually ac- I veneris ; Aspidium rigidum; A. Lon-
companies rock-woA made without ! chitis.
cement. After a few months' exposure ! RODRIGUEZIA, Six species. Stove
to the weather, rock-work thus formed ' orchids. Division. Peat and wood,
(if skillfully made) cannot without care- { ROELLIA. Six species. Chiefly
ful examination be distinguished from a 'green-house evergreen shrubs. R. de-
ratural mass; it will soon cover all hut \currens, a half-hardy annual ; R. mu-
the most prominent parts. If the ce- j cosa, an herbaceous perennial. Seed,
ment be of a colour too light, which, or young cuttings. Sandy loam and
for some situations, may be the case, a i peat.
little lamp-black, or soot, may be mixed R. ciliata is a Cape plant, and re-
with it. Care must, however, be taken I quires a green-house in this country,
that no substance which may make the ! It should be potted in light rich soil,
cement more porous is used, otherwise
it will peel from the stones after a hard
frost. For the benefit of those who
are not accustomed to using cement, I
may mention that no more should be
moistened at once than can be used in
a short time. If the cement be good it
will quickly harden, and will then be in
a manner useless.
" In preserving cavities in the rock
for plants, care should be taken that no
places are left in which the water may
lodge, or, in frosty weather, the ice, by
expansion, would split and peel off the
thin crust of cement, or lowest part of
such as a mixture of peat, leaf-mould,
sand, and loam. Keep it rather dry
when it is not growing, but give it plenty
of water at other times.
RCEPERA.. Two species. Green-
house evergreen shrubs. Young cut-
tings or seeds. Loam, peat, and sand.
R. aurantiaca will flower in an open
border.
ROLANDRA argentea. Green-house
evergreen shrub. Cuttings. Loam and
peat.
ROLLER. This is best made of cast-
iron, and may be had of four different
sizes, viz. with a diameter of sixteen,
them, communicating with the soil be- , eighteen, twenty-two, or twenty-four
neath the stones, so that the water may
drain off.
" In making artificial rock for water-
falls, or other constructions, where the
cement may be constantly exposed to
the action of water, the best water-ce-
ment should be used. Any preparation
that does not quickly indurate under
water, will, in a short time, be washed
away, and leave nothing but the bare
stones." — Whateley.
Plants suited for Rock-work are : —
Rhododendron ferrugineum; R. hirsu-
tum; Arctostaphylos Uva ursi ; Cha-
moeledron procumbens ; Sedum rupes-
tre ; S. Forsterianum ; S. popullfolium ;
inches. The roller and water-engine,
where either the lawns or roads are
extensive, may be combined advan-
tageously.
RONDELETIA. Eleven species.
Stove evergreen shrubs. Cuttings.
Loam, peat, and sand.
ROOTS are either annual, biennial,
or perennial, but in all roots, and under
any mode of management, the fibrous